| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08899646B2 |
Gripping device
A gripper formed as a single component includes a hoop portion connecting facing arms. Each arm may have a tang end, a jaw end and a pivot intermediate the tang and jaw ends and be attached to the hoop portion at the pivot to be pivotable to change the size of a jaw opening defined by the jaw ends. The hoop portion is cyclically loaded in use and configured to act as a stress concentrator for the gripper and provide a failure point for consistently initiating a failure crack in the hoop portion at time of failure of the gripper. Each of the facing arms is attachable to a base such that at failure, the fractured portions of the gripper are retained to the base. |
| US08899644B2 |
Holder for a beverage container
A holder for a beverage container includes first and second loops that are each coupled to opposing ends of a handle. The first and second loops are sized to be smaller than a target beverage container. The holder is attached to a the target beverage container by stretching the first loop and placing the first loop around one end of the beverage container, then stretching the second loop and placing the second loop around the opposite end of the beverage container. The holder can then be used to easily transport the beverage container, or to attach the beverage container to something, such as a bicycle or backpack. The holder is made of a rugged and durable material that allows repeated use of the handle over many years. |
| US08899642B2 |
Bumper-stay mounting structure and load transmission member
A bumper-stay mounting structure includes a rear side member, a bumper stay and a load transmission member, in the bumper-stay mounting structure, a load being transmitted intensively to a lower side of a rear end portion of the rear side member, the bumper-stay mounting structure, the load transmission member having, on an inner peripheral side of a fastened portion, a protruding portion in a box shape, which protrudes toward the rear portion of the bumper stay in the vehicle longitudinal direction so as to be inserted into an opening of the bumper stay; and a side wall of the protruding portion having a substantially U-shaped cross section that is perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal direction, is opened on a vehicle upper side, and is provided with, at a front end edge of the side wall, a flange extending outward from a side wall as the fastened portion. |
| US08899640B2 |
Vehicle door safety lock handle assembly
A handle assembly includes a support fixable to the door of a vehicle, a grip carried by the support tilting between a rest position and a working position, in which it is at least partially turned transversally with respect to the support, and a mechanical motion transmission device connecting in use the grip to a door locking device for releasing the latter when the grip is in the working position. The handle assembly further includes a counter-weight carried by in the support transversally movable to the same between a first position, in which it is arranged facing, but away from the mechanical motion transmission device, and a second position, in which it intercepts the motion transmission device for stopping the same along at least part of their movement path thus preventing the release of the door locking device. |
| US08899638B2 |
Locking system for a rotatable part
The invention relates to a locking system for a rotatable part, in particular in arrangements in which two parts which can be rotated in relation to each other, for example a die and a punch in a stamping apparatus, have to be aligned exactly in relation to each other. In order to provide a positionally accurate mechanical locking system with a simple design, the invention proposes that a gearwheel (3) having an end-side and/or axially effective toothing system (4) is connected to the rotatable part (2) fixedly in terms of rotation, and that at least one toothing segment (5a-5f) which can move to and fro in the direction of the axis of rotation and/or parallel to the axis of rotation of the gearwheel is arranged over the circumference of the gearwheel, wherein the teeth or gaps between the teeth of the toothing segment and gearwheel can be brought into engagement without play. |
| US08899637B2 |
Round baler tailgate latch
A tailgate latching mechanism for a round bale that utilizes action of the tailgate lift cylinders to release the latch to allow the tailgate to be opened and an independent spring action to cause the mechanism to catch and latch the tailgate into position upon closure of the tailgate. |
| US08899636B2 |
Magnetic latch
A flip cover latch assembly includes a base component, and a flip cover pivotally connected to the base component and configured to pivot between an opened position and a closed position. A first magnet is disposed on the base component at the closed position. The first magnet has a polarity that attracts the flip cover. A second magnet is disposed on the base component at an intermediate position between the closed position and the opened position. The second magnet has a polarity that repels the flip cover. A third magnet is disposed on the base component at the opened position. The third magnet having a polarity that attracts the flip cover. |
| US08899635B2 |
Sliding door multipoint mortise lock with shoot bolts
A multi-point lock assembly with shoot bolts adapted to fit a wide range of door heights with a limited number of standard components. The shoot bolts of the assembly can be trimmed to length and attached to other standard components to form the assembly. |
| US08899632B2 |
Direct action window lock
A window latch for a sliding window having a sliding sash including a latch plate and a housing. The housing includes an engagement element movable relative to the housing from a locked position operatively engaged with the latch plate to an unlocked position disengaged from the latch plate. A handle is operatively coupled to the engagement element and movable from a first position to a second position in a first direction corresponding to the direction the sliding sash to which the handle is attached moves to an open position. The handle operatively moves the engagement element from the locked position to the unlocked position as the handle is moved in the first direction toward the second position. |
| US08899631B2 |
Brunnian link making device and kit
A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. Elastic bands can be utilized to form such links in a desired manner. A disclosed kit includes a template for mounting an initial band and a hook utilized for attaching additional bands to the initial bands placed on the template. The template includes pins that hold the initial band in place while additional bands are linked onto each other. The kit further includes a clip utilized to attach ends once the desired length is formed. |
| US08899630B1 |
Subsea pipe connection assembly and method
A subsea pipe connection assembly has a first flange, a nut magazine positioned against a side of the first flange and having a plurality of nuts therein corresponding to the plurality of holes of the first flange, a second flange having a plurality of holes in alignment with the holes of the first flange, and a plurality of studs extending through holes of the first and second flanges such that the nuts in the nut magazine are affixed to the ends of the studs. A sleeve is affixed to and extending from the second flange. An ROV-delivered frame can be supported on the sleeve of the pipe such that a torquing tool connected to the frame can apply torque to a nut on the stud. The sleeve has a guide surface thereon so as to direct the torquing tool to nuts on the plurality of studs. |
| US08899626B2 |
Assembly with a seat belt height adjuster and seat belt presenter
In an assembly comprising a belt height adjuster (104) and a belt feeder for feeding a belt webbing (110) the belt feeder includes an arm (112) which is adapted to be moved, especially pivoted from a home position into a feeding position by means of a drive. The arm (112) is arranged at the belt height adjuster (104). |
| US08899622B2 |
Internally collapsible steering column assembly
A steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle that includes an inner column tube, a steering shaft supported at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle, and a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction. A telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is coupled during normal operation to a column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted to detach from the column housing in the event of an impact exceeding a predetermined first impact load. A plastically deformable energy absorption device is adapted to be carried least partially by the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure and is fixed in place relative to the column housing during normal operation for maintaining the steering column assembly in an operational position. The energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during impact after the telescoping motor subassembly starts to translate along the column housing, and wherein during the impact, the column housing remains in a fixed position. |
| US08899620B1 |
Rollover protection structure
The ROPS comprises a highly rigid behind-cab-frame, a mounting-plate of which is bolted to the truck chassis. A roof-canopy is integrated into the frame. The ROPS includes a brace which holds the frame upright, and ensures that the roof-canopy remains in position, protecting the cab, during rollover. The frame is bolted into the chassis using the same bolts that hold the cargo-box to the chassis (or longer bolts), whereby installation is quick and easy. The installed ROPS is held fast to the chassis of the truck with great strength and rigidity, but there is no disruption to the structural integrity of the chassis. |
| US08899616B2 |
Airbag deployment control system
An airbag deployment control system for use in a vehicle seat having a trim cover. The airbag deployment control system includes an upper outer liner member having a first end for coupling to an airbag module and a second end for coupling to the trim cover, and a lower outer liner member having a first end for coupling to the airbag module and a second end for coupling to the trim cover. The trim cover is for covering at least a portion of the vehicle seat and the airbag module. The trim cover includes a burst seam for the airbag member to deploy through the trim cover by rupturing at the burst seam upon inflation of the airbag member. The upper outer liner member and the lower outer liner member control deployment of the inflatable airbag member at least two locations. |
| US08899610B2 |
Implement mounting device
A mounting apparatus for mounting an implement to a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes two spaced apart rigid arms fixed rigidly to the front or rear of the vehicle, the mounting apparatus including a movement transfer mechanism, and a pair of extension members linked to the movement transfer mechanism, the extension members configured to move when the movement transfer mechanism is operated, and a mounting means configured to attach an implement, and a housing, characterized in that each extension member includes a bracket, wherein the bracket is configured to engage with at least one or more arms of the vehicle. A method of using the mounting apparatus is also claimed. |
| US08899607B2 |
Reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame
A reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame includes a reinforcing component (2), a connecting component and an eccentric locking component, the vehicle frame comprises a beam (1) and a seat tube (3). The beam (1) can be folded into at least two segments (11, 12). A hinge axle (81), through which various segments of the vehicle beam (1) are hinged with each other, is provided vertically. The reinforcing component (2) is connected to the beam (1) and the seat tube (3). The seat tube (3) is provided with a connecting component. A front end of the reinforcing component (2) is hinged with a front segment (11) of the beam (1), and a rear end of the reinforcing component (2) is connected with the seat tube (3) through the connecting component. The reinforcing and locking device for vehicle frame has good stability, simple structure and low cost. |
| US08899605B2 |
Pedal-driven roller board
The present invention relates to a roller board, and more particularly, to a pedal-driven roller board that converts a reciprocating motion of pedals formed on the board into a rotational motion to drive a gear, so that a user can drive the board without kicking the ground. Furthermore, the pedal-driven roller board includes a derailleur, so that a user can conveniently control the speed of the pedal-driven roller board. Moreover, a user can develop and strengthen his/her muscles by pedaling the pedal-driven roller board. To this end, a pedal-driven roller board according to the present invention includes: a handle disposed at the front side of a board to steer a front wheel; a rear wheel at the rear side of the board; and two pedals formed on the top surface of the board to drive the rear wheel. Further, the pedal-driven roller board includes: a link having an end hinged to the bottom surface of a pedal; a driving gear formed on an end of a crankshaft connected through a shaft to the other end of the link to convert a reciprocating motion of the pedal into a rotational motion; a clutch gear engaged with the driving gear to rotate, and selectively connected to one of either a first speed gear or a second speed gear to rotate same; a first connecting gear and a second connecting gear, which rotatably engage with the first speed gear and the second speed gear, respectively, and are installed on an end of a connecting shaft; a transmission gear installed on both ends of the connecting shaft and rotated by torque transmitted through the connecting shaft from the first and second connecting gears; and a rotation gear engaging with the transmission gear to rotate, and connected to the rear wheel through a rotation shaft to transmit the torque from the transmission gear to the rear wheel. |
| US08899602B2 |
Vehicle suspension support structure
A vehicle suspension support structure including a lower arm (17) formed by, for example, a lower arm 17 rotatably supporting a knuckle for a front wheel, and a shock absorber attenuating vibration of the lower arm (17), wherein a lower end of the shock absorber is rotatably supported by a support bracket 32 that is welded to an upper face of the lower arm (17) formed by, for example, the lower arm 17, and wherein in the upper face of the lower arm (17), a bulged portion 40 is formed where a weld target portion to which an end of the support bracket 32 is welded is formed to bulge upwards as compared to the periphery thereof. |
| US08899597B2 |
Clamping system
The clamping system for clamping a shank, for example a tool shank, into a seat has a spiral-shaped circumferential groove arranged in the wall of the seating hole and a clamping wedge which is provided with corresponding spiral-shaped ribs and is insertable into a recess on the shank. |
| US08899596B2 |
Metal gasket
A metal gasket includes first and second metal plates laminated together to form the metal gasket, and having holes to be sealed. At least one of the first and second metal plates has a half bead surrounding the hole. A surface pressure assistance plate is located at least adjacent to the half bead between the first and second metal plates. The assistance plate has depressions and projections with respect to a thickness direction thereof in at least a peripheral part thereof. |
| US08899594B2 |
Adjustable seal apparatus for mounting a mixing apparatus to a vessel
An adjustable seal apparatus for mounting a mixing apparatus having a movable shaft in sealed engagement with a wall of a vessel and in a selected orientation with respect to the wall of the vessel. The adjustable seal apparatus includes a seal mechanism for creating a gas-tight seal between the shaft of the mixing apparatus and the wall of the vessel and an adjustable mounting mechanism for selectively positioning the shaft in a desired orientation. |
| US08899593B2 |
Intershaft seal
An intershaft seal is provided for inner and outer coaxial shafts which rotate relative to each other. The seal is located in an annular space between the shafts and maintains an axial pressure differential between a fluid pressure on a first side of the seal and a different fluid pressure on a second side of the seal. The seal includes first and second runners which project into the annular space from a first one of the shafts and extend circumferentially around the first shaft such that a cavity is formed between the runners. The seal further includes a sealing ring which is coaxial with the shafts and is located in the cavity. |
| US08899592B2 |
Seal
A seal is inserted into a space to be sealed. First and second end portions of the seal are engaged with first and second end surfaces of the space. The seal is compressed between the first and second end surfaces. The compression strains the seal. The strain includes the rotation of a cross-section of the seal so as to bias the seal into engagement with a surface forming one of an inboard surface and an outboard surface of the space. |
| US08899591B1 |
Dual layer target
A shooting target having two overlaid target sheets. The front sheet provides a user with a photorealistic image of a desired target object (e.g., game animal or human assailant). Behind the front sheet is another sheet having the same image thereon, but with portions of that target which represent vital organs superimposed over the appropriate portions of the target's body. Having the rear sheet that provides the user with the marksmanship feedback behind the visible target sheet provides a more realistic shooting experience by eliminating the “aim-points” of traditional targets. Further, the dual layer target produces a “souvenir” sheet that readily shows which vital organ was struck. |
| US08899589B2 |
Asymmetric paddleball toy with play-direction switching slot
A paddleball toy having a paddle, a bounceable play ball, and an elastic tethering means. The paddle has an impact surface and an elongate handle with a handle longitudinal axis. The paddle has a front side and a back side. The handle connects to the impact surface at a lower end of the impact surface. The impact surface has a direction-switch slot extending from a slot bottom at an interior point of the impact surface to an exterior edge of the impact surface. The elastic tethering means tethers the play ball at a first end of the tethering means to a tether spot on the impact surface adjacent the slot bottom of the direction-switch slot so as to permit the tethering means to pass through the direction-switch slot as the play ball passes the impact surface from front side to back side, or back side to front side. |
| US08899588B2 |
Card reading apparatus and table game system
A card shooter apparatus (1) in a table game system includes a card shooter unit (4) including a card storage unit (2) that stores a plurality of cards (100) in a horizontal stack. A control device (5) constituted by a program storage unit, a computer device, or the like is placed in a lower part of the card shooter apparatus (1). A transparent bottom plate (9) is provided on a bottom of the card storage unit (2). An optical sensor (10) that receives reflected lights of lights applied to end surfaces of the plurality of cards (100) stored in the card storage unit (2), and a DNA sensor (11) that obtains DNA information from a DNA-containing coating applied to the cards (100) stored in the card storage unit 2 are placed below the bottom plate (9). |
| US08899582B2 |
Cylindrical shaft, transport roller, transport unit, and printing apparatus
A cylindrical shaft is provided of which a pair of ends are formed in a cylindrical shape by a press work so as to form a joining portion therebetween. Here, the joining portion includes: a central linear section which is provided on a center portion in an axis direction of the cylindrical shaft and is formed in a linear shape to be parallel to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft; and a folded section which includes a plurality of intersections which are provided on both ends of the center portion and are disposed so as to be extended in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft, and a connection linear section which connects ends of a pair of the adjacent intersections. In addition, the connection linear section is constituted by a first linear section which connects ends on one side of the pair of the intersections and a second linear section which connects ends on the other side of the pair of the intersections and formed shorter than the first linear section. In addition, a distance between the pair of the ends of the center portion is longer than a distance between the pair of the ends of the second linear section. |
| US08899581B2 |
Image processing apparatus, rotation control method for motor, and computer-readable recording medium
An image processing apparatus includes: a transport roller for transporting a sheet subjected to image processing; a motor that drives the transport roller to rotate; and a speed reduction unit that performs a speed reduction control on the motor to temporarily stop the sheet, the speed reduction control being performed in a manner that a stopping time and a stopping distance each satisfy a corresponding target range, wherein the speed reduction control includes: a first control that is a control of reducing a rotation speed of the motor to a reference speed through at least two operations from among a braking operation, a powering operation, and a free running operation; and a second control that is a control of, after a rotation amount of the motor from the start of the speed reduction control reaches a reference value, continuously performing the braking operation until the stop of the motor. |
| US08899579B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus move, when stacking a sheet on a stacking tray, a supporting tray disposed to freely appear above the stacking tray to a first position in which the supporting tray projects above the stacking tray and supports the sheet stacked on an intermediate stacking tray. When these apparatuses discharge a processed sheet bundle, these apparatuses move the supporting tray from the first position to a second position in which the supporting tray supports an edge of the discharged sheet in an upstream side in a discharging direction, and guides the moving sheet bundle to a stacking wall. Further, these apparatuses move the supporting tray from the second position to a third position at predetermined timing, so that the supporting tray stops supporting the sheet bundle and stacks the sheet bundle on the sheet bundle previously stacked on the stacking tray. |
| US08899573B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus has a plurality of trays to store an index sheet provided with a tab at a predetermined position of the index sheet, a setting section to set first information concerning the index sheet stored in the tray for each of the plurality of trays, a receiving section to receive second information concerning an insertion of the index sheet in a job, and a controller to control an execution of the job and an operation of feeding the index sheet. The controller automatically selects the tray in the execution of the job based on the first information and the second information. |
| US08899572B2 |
Printing apparatus with sheet entry inhibiting controller
A printing apparatus comprising an image forming system, a sheet-feeding system, a sheet-transporting system, a sheet-controlling device, a sheet-detection device, a first driving system, a second driving system and a controller is provided. The sheet-controlling device and the sheet-detection device are disposed between the sheet-feeding system and the sheet-transporting system. The sheet-controlling device controls an entry of a sheet into the sheet-transporting system. The first driving system drives the sheet-controlling device, and the second driving system drives a transporting mechanism of the sheet-transporting system. The controller upon receiving an error signal from the sheet-detection device signals the sheet-controlling device to inhibit the entry of the sheet into the sheet-transporting system and signals the transporting mechanism to continue its operation. A duplex printing method is also provided. |
| US08899571B2 |
Sheet-through document reading apparatus
A sheet-through document reading apparatus including: a document tray for containing a plurality of documents; a determination unit that determines a length of a document on the document tray; a feed unit that separates and feeds a document on the document tray; a resist convey unit that performs consistency processing on the document fed by the feed unit; a first drive unit that rotationally drives the resist convey unit; a read convey unit that feeds the document subjected to consistency processing by the resist convey unit; a second drive unit that rotationally drives the read convey unit; a reading unit that reads, at a fixed reading position, the document conveyed by the read convey unit; and a control unit for changing a relative conveying velocity between the resist convey unit and the read convey unit on the basis of a result of the determination by the determination unit. |
| US08899570B2 |
Moving rail assembly and apparatus for receiving and dispensing bill
Disclosed are a moving rail assembly and a bill receiving and dispensing apparatus which are configured such that an angle at which a carriage unit moves along a rail can be adjusted to various angles. The moving rail assembly includes a moving body, a main rail and a sub-rail. The moving body includes a main rotating roller and a sub-rotating roller disposed at a different widthwise position from the main rotating roller. The main rail has a first path for guiding the main rotating roller, and a second path for guiding the sub-rotating roller. The first path and the second path extend parallel to each other. The sub-rail branches off from the second path and extends in a different direction from the main rail. The sub-rail guides the sub-rotating roller. |
| US08899569B2 |
Sheet procecessing apparatus
A sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a processing tray configured to receive sheets to be processed, the processing tray having an ejecting side from which sheets are ejected, and a loading tray provided downstream from the processing tray in a sheet ejecting direction and configured to receive sheets ejected from the processing tray. The sheet processing apparatus further comprises a bending restrainer including a restraining member extending almost parallel to the processing tray and covering a portion of the ejecting side of the processing tray, the restraining member configured to restrain bending of sheets ejected from the processing tray to the loading tray. |
| US08899562B1 |
Apparatus for dispersing impact forces
Apparatus for dispersing impact forces are provided. An apparatus for dispersing impact forces includes a housing having a contact end with an aperture; a contact member located at least primarily inside the housing; a biasing member biasing the contact member toward the housing aperture; and a sensor. The housing contact end is secured to an impact receiving surface. The sensor initiates an alert when an impact force received on the impact receiving surface causes the contact member to shift a predetermined distance from an initial position. |
| US08899557B2 |
In-line device for gas-liquid contacting, and gas processing facility employing co-current contactors
Provided are gas processing facilities for the separation of components in a gas stream and methods of using the same. The facility includes one or more co-current contactors. Each contactor includes a mass transfer vessel having a mixing section. The mixing section receives a gas stream and a liquid contacting stream. The mixing section mixes theses two streams and releases a two-phase flow. Each contactor also includes a separator that receives the two-phase fluid stream from the mass transfer vessel in-line, and then separates a vapor phase from a liquid phase. The separator has a gas-phase outlet configured to release the vapor phase as a treated gas stream, and a liquid-phase outlet configured to release the liquid phase as a loaded treating solution. The contactors may be used to remove water or other contaminant from a natural gas stream or other gas stream. |
| US08899554B2 |
Reverse marked fish tape
The fish tape includes a measuring scale. The tape is scaled from zero to a number equal to the length of the tape. The numbers incrementally increase from the tapes proximal end to the tapes distal end. |
| US08899553B2 |
Power door opener
A power door opener including an actuator having a housing with an electrically powered actuator shaft that can be extended from a closed to an extended position. In one embodiment, a movable push plate is affixed to the actuator shaft and a fixed push plate is fixed in its position with respect to the housing. In the closed position of the actuator shaft, the fixed and movable push plates are aligned to form a combined edge for insertion into the space between a door and door jamb. The actuator shaft extends to move the movable push plate apart from the fixed push plate to spread the space and release the door from the door jamb. Alternatively, a double ended power door opener is located between opposite door jambs and the extending of the actuator shaft forces the door jambs apart to release the door from the door jamb. |
| US08899550B2 |
Connector designed to removably connect two fluid channels
A connector for removably connecting two fluid channels which includes a first element and a second element that fit into one another and wherein the first element includes a body connected with the second element when the second element and the first element are at least partially fitted into one another following a combined relative rotational and translational movement, by a first link between at least one locking pin and at least one locking slot, and wherein the first element includes a single ring mounted around the body and wherein the body and the ring are linked following a combined relative rotational and translational movement by a second link between at least one guiding pin and at least one guiding slot. |
| US08899548B2 |
Valve device for a combustion engine
The invention relates to a valve device for a combustion engine, in particular of an automobile, comprising a housing with at least two fluid connections and a hollow valve element rotatable between at least two rotational positions via a valve shaft supported rotatably in the housing, which valve element comprises at least two openings, which, depending on the rotational position of the valve element, can be connected with the fluid connections of the housing, further comprising an electromotive drive with a drive shaft for rotating the valve element, the drive shaft and the valve shaft being connected via a coupling with one another. According to the invention, the coupling connects the drive shaft and the valve shaft torque-proof with one another up to a predetermined threshold torque and releases the torque-proof connection between the drive shaft and the valve shaft above the predetermined threshold torque, so that rotation of the valve shaft relative to the drive shaft is possible. |
| US08899546B2 |
Wind blade mould including a heating system
A mold for molding a wind turbine blade, the mold comprising a mold body having a front molding surface and a rear face, the mold body having at least one tube therein for conveying a heating liquid therethrough, the at least one tube defining a plurality of laterally spaced heating elements, and a continuous layer of heat conductive material located in the thickness direction of the mold body between the plurality of laterally spaced heating elements and the front molding surface and extending laterally across the space between adjacent heating elements. |
| US08899539B2 |
Guard assembly and method
A guard for structural members is disclosed. It can reduce worker injury with a thin sheet metal or plastic, broadly U-shaped guard plate attached to a structural support through attachment to a pair of clamps, each with a primary and a secondary threaded clamp mechanism. The attachment between the guard plate and pair of clamps may be via a slotted intermediate structure. The primary mechanism has a swivel pad end while the secondary clamps have a pointed, cone-shaped end. is the guard can be used in wind turbine towers to protect workers on a fixed ladder from hitting interior flanges as they climb up and as they climb down. |
| US08899530B2 |
Train direction detection via track circuits
Track circuits and constant warning time devices that can make train direction determinations using multi-frequency track impedance measurements and combinations of frequency tuned shunts. |
| US08899529B2 |
Electrical power transmitting telescopic strut
A telescopic strut comprises a plurality of hollow members arranged to slide one within another between a retracted and an extended position. Adjacent hollow members are arranged to be electrically connected by one or more electrical connector assemblies as the hollow members move between the retracted and extended positions. Each electrical connector assembly includes an electrically conductive pad on one of the hollow members which is in sliding contact with an electrically conductive strip on the other of the hollow members. The telescopic strut may be used to electrically connect a moveable control surface to a fixed aerofoil structure in an aircraft. |
| US08899528B2 |
Blade seal
A blade seal comprises a flexible member having a relatively thick edge opposite a relatively thin edge, and an actuator at least partially embedded in the flexible member for actively deflecting the thin edge with respect to the thick edge upon activation of the actuator. The blade seal may be fixed to an aerodynamic trailing edge of either a fixed aerofoil portion or a flight control surface of an aerofoil for sealing between the fixed aerofoil portion and the flight control surface. Also, a method of sealing an aerofoil using the blade seal. |
| US08899522B2 |
Aircraft fuselage with high strength frames
A fuselage section of an aircraft includes a skin, a plurality of frames positioned transversely to a longitudinal axis of a fuselage of the aircraft, and a plurality of longitudinal stringers at least one of which is configured with a closed transversal section including a stringer hat, two stringer webs, and two stringer feet joined to the skin. At least one of the frames is configured in at least one sector with a frame foot joined to the skin, a frame web having holes at crossing zones with the stringers, a frame cap, and a frame cap extension which does not interfere with the stringers. The frames are joined to, at least, the stringer hats at crossing zones of the frames and the stringer hats. |
| US08899520B2 |
Mid-wing airplane
An airplane includes a wing mounted mid-level on a tubular fuselage. The wing includes carry-through that passes transversely through the fuselage and divides a cabin deck into fore and aft sections. At least one longitudinal passageway in the carry-through structure allows passenger/crew walk-through between the fore and aft sections of the deck. |
| US08899517B2 |
Landing gear
A landing gear, including an elongate axle pivotally connected to a bogie beam, the landing gear further including a locking device for locking the axle at a substantially fixed orientation with respect to the bogie beam, the locking device including first and second barrier arms that are movable between a first configuration, in which they define a barrier so as to maintain the maintain the axle in the substantially fixed orientation with respect to the bogie beam, and a second configuration, in which the axle may pivot about the bogie beam. |
| US08899509B2 |
Dispenser for a roll of absorbent paper tissue or nonwoven material
A device dispenser for a roll of absorbent paper, tissue or nonwoven material is provided. The dispenser has a housing with a first wall provided with a dispensing opening and a movable housing portion, which movable housing portion in an open position allows the dispenser to be refilled. The dispenser has a suspension arrangement for the roll and in which the roll is rotatable. The suspension arrangement is arranged to bias the roll towards the dispensing opening in a dispensing position when the movable housing portion is in a closed position. The suspension arrangement is connected to a pull-back mechanism linked to the movable housing portion for repositioning the suspension arrangement into a refilling position at a distance from the dispensing position when the movable housing portion is moved from the closed position to the open position. |
| US08899507B2 |
Conduit reservoir for intake of an electrical, optical or fluid conduit
A conduit reservoir for intake of an electrical or optical cable or of a hose or other conduit to conduct or transmit at least either a fluid, a signal or electric current includes a carrier that can rotate about a predetermined rotation axis, conduit devices on the carrier and a conduit path defined by the conduit devices and having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, such that the conduit path is defined by the conduit devices in such a way that a conduit originally inserted in the second portion of the conduit path, upon a rotation of the carrier in a first rotation direction about the rotation axis, is simultaneously inserted in the first portion and in the third portion (31) of the conduit path. The conduit devices are configured to permit a movement of a conduit along the conduit path. |
| US08899505B2 |
Brush brake device for a fishing reel
Disclosed is a fishing reel. A brake dial is provided in the side of an outer cover outside of a spool cover. An externally controllable brake device is provided between the brake dial and the spool cover such that the brake device is operated according to adjustment of the brake dial. A brush-type brake unit is fixed to the externally controllable brake device in the side of an inner surface of the spool cover so as to control the rotary force of the spool while laterally moving in response to actuation of the externally controllable brake device. |
| US08899499B2 |
Spray ring and reactor vessel provided with such a spray ring and a method of wetting char and/or slag in a water bath
A spray ring, for wetting char and/or slag in a water bath with a wetting fluid. The spray ring comprises a loop conduit arranged in a loop-line. The loop conduit is at an inlet point provided with an inlet for feeding the wetting fluid into the loop conduit in an inlet flow direction. The loop-line has a plurality of outlet openings for spraying the wetting fluid out of the loop conduit. The inlet flow direction has a component that is tangential to a loop-line flow direction of the wetting fluid through the loop conduit at the inlet point. |
| US08899496B2 |
Horizontally pivotable agricultural sprayer with vertically pivotable segments
The invention concerns an agricultural sprayer with an arm comprising multiple segments, which are pivotable relative to each other, whereby the arm is pivotable out of a transport position into an operating position and/or back into a transport position, whereby the complete arm is attachable to a drawing vehicle, such as a tractor, and pivotable around a first horizontal swiveling axis, whereby at least one of the segments of the arm is pivotable around a second swiveling axis, which is in general vertically aligned in the transport position and whereby the discrete segments comprise units, which are arranged relative to each other per segment such, that a work plane through those units is in general vertically aligned in the transport position, wherein the complete arm is pivoted out of the transport position in the operating position around the first swiveling axis, such that the work plane is generally horizontally aligned. The invention concerns further a system with a tractor and such an agricultural sprayer, wherein a middle segment of the arm is positioned in the operating position on a support surface on the tractor. The invention concerns further a method for pivoting an arm comprising of a multitude of segments, whereby the arm is fully pivoted out of horizontally oriented operation position in a vertically oriented intermediate position and thereafter the discrete enlarging segments, sticking away from the middle segment (4), are pivoted in the direction of the middle section in a transport position. |
| US08899494B2 |
Bi-directional fuel injection method
In certain embodiments, a fuel injector includes a wall separating a fuel passage from an air passage. The fuel injector also includes a fuel injection port extending from a first side of the wall to a second side of the wall for injecting a flow of fuel from the fuel passage into a flow of air in the air passage. In addition, the fuel injector includes first and second feedback lines extending from a downstream end of the fuel injection port to an upstream end of the fuel injection port. The first and second feedback lines are disposed on opposite sides of the fuel injection port. In addition, the first and second feedback lines are disposed entirely within the wall. |
| US08899493B2 |
Air freshener generator for vehicle air conditioning apparatus
An air freshener generating apparatus of a vehicle air conditioning system includes a body in which an inlet pipe is communicated with an outlet pipe and on a circumferential surface of which ball plungers are mounted at intervals along circumferential lines on which the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are located respectively, a cartridge rotatably coupled to the body and having at least one partition wall such that at least one air freshener emitter is filled within spaces defined by the partition wall, the cartridge having through-holes facing the ball plungers, and an actuator configured to rotate the cartridge by a predetermined angle. When the cartridge is rotated by the predetermined angle, air is supplied through the through-hole facing the inlet pipe such that one air freshener is discharged through the through-hole facing the outlet pipe, and the ball plungers are configured to block the rest of the through-holes. |
| US08899492B2 |
Method of controlling system temperature to extend battery pack life
A method for actively cooling the battery pack of an electric vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off, thereby limiting the adverse effects of temperature on battery life, is provided. Different battery pack cooling techniques are provided, thus allowing the cooling technique used in a particular instance to be selected not only based on the thermal needs of the battery pack, but also on the thermal capacity and energy requirements of the selected approach. |
| US08899491B2 |
Thermostatic mixer device
A thermostatic mixer device for sanitary appliances, includes: a cartridge envelope; a distributor bottom member with intake openings for cold and hot water, a delivery opening for mixed water, and elements for controlling and intercepting the delivered flow rate; a mixing member located inside the envelope, forming a cylinder, control openings and passageways for directing hot water and cold water from the intake openings to the respective control openings; a distribution slide valve, sealingly sliding in the axial direction within the cylinder of the mixing member, and cooperating with the control openings in order to partially shut the control openings in opposite senses; a thermometric element for displacing the distributing slide valve against the action of a return spring; and control elements for establishing the temperature desired for the delivered mixed water. The envelope and mixing member form, in a single piece, a sole containment and mixing member which, with its outer portions, forms the envelope containing the mixer device, with its inner portions forms the cylinder cooperating with the distribution slide valve and the control openings, and by cooperation of the outer and inner portions determines the passageways. |
| US08899490B1 |
Smart card
A smart card includes a main stuff body and a data display module. The main stuff body includes a RF antenna, a charge pump module, a first processing module, and a second processing module. The RF antenna is utilized for receiving a read/write signal and a card data signal. The charge pump module is applied for generating inductive working power by coupling resonance when the RF antenna receives the card data signal. The first processing module is deployed for receiving the read/write signal and transmitting a data signal representing the card data to the reader/writer. The second processing module is utilized for transforming the card data signal into a displaying signal for showing the card data. The data display module is applied for receiving the displaying signal to show the card data by inductive working power and keeps in displaying the card data when inductive working power is gone. |
| US08899487B2 |
Biometric identity verification system and method
A card authenticates a cardholder. The card includes a substrate, a sensor module, a wireless transceiver module, and a power circuit. The sensor module includes (a) a biometric sensor adapted to detect biometric information from a person's body, (b) a processor unit adapted to authenticate the person in response to the detected biometric information and generate an authentication signal representing an authentication result, and (c) a memory adapted to store biometric information of a specific individual associated with the card. The wireless transceiver module transmits signals received from the processor unit and receives a wirelessly-transmitted power signal. The power circuit generates at least one supply voltage from the received power signal and provides the supply voltage to the sensor module. An electronic passport is embedded with the card, and a terminal module is used for wirelessly transmitting power to and receiving signals from the electronic passport. |
| US08899483B2 |
Magnetic POS engagement system for mobile devices
A system, method and apparatus designed to activate and trigger a mobile commerce related application, interface and or menu of option and or to affect a process related to mobile commerce by using an activation device located at the Point of Sale (POS) which contains a magnetic or electromagnetic activator and a mobile device with one or more magnetic reed switches, reed relay switches or a Resonant Inductive Coupling Sensor (electrodynamic induction receiver coils). |
| US08899482B2 |
Digital measurement system with magnetic card reader and method for optical applications
A digital measurement system and method for optical applications including a mobile client device having a digital camera and an audio port, and a laser measurement device having a laser and a magnetic card reader. The laser measurement device and the magnetic card reader are electrically connected to the audio port of the mobile client device. The mobile client device is configured to activate the laser at the same time as the digital camera is activated, capture an image of a patient, and calculate position of wear measurements based on a location of a laser mark in the captured image. The mobile client device also allows an order for a frame and lenses to be submitted to a ophthalmic laboratory, and payment transactions to be processed using the magnetic card reader. |
| US08899481B2 |
Apparatus for and method of automatically integrating an auxiliary reader in a point-of-transaction system having a workstation reader
A checkout system for electro-optically reading targets includes a host, a workstation reader, and an auxiliary reader operatively connected to the workstation reader. The workstation reader captures data associated with the targets, and communicates its captured data with the host over a predetermined communications protocol. The auxiliary reader also captures data associated with the targets independently of the workstation reader. The workstation reader automatically integrates the auxiliary reader in the system by automatically detecting the protocol of the auxiliary reader, and by automatically configuring the detected protocol of the auxiliary reader to conform to the predetermined communications protocol of the workstation reader, thereby enabling the auxiliary reader to communicate its captured data with the host. |
| US08899479B2 |
Method and system for monitoring the flow and usage of medical devices
A method for monitoring the flow and usage of a plurality of medical devices (4) in a hospital (2) environment, in which before shipping the medical devices (4) to a hospital (2) identification tags (17) are connected to said medical devices (4) which are detectable at a distance and contain a medical device identification code and, upon receiving the medical devices (4) in the hospital (2) store (13; 14), they are scanned to detect and store the medical device identification codes of the received medical devices (4) as entrance codes in a data base (31;28) and, when medical devices (4) leave the hospital (2) store (13;14) towards an operation theater block (9) or clinical department, they are scanned to detect and store the medical device identification codes of the medical devices (4) which left the hospital store (13; 14) as exit codes in the data base (31;28) and a medical device stock level in the hospital store (13, 14) is calculated on the basis of the previously stored medical device identification entrance codes and medical device identification exit codes. |
| US08899477B2 |
Device detection
Systems and methods for controlling access to wireless gaming devices and networks are provided. For example, access is controlled through one or more levels of security checks, such as a hard security check instead of or in addition to a soft security check. In a hard security check, the user employs an apparatus such as a card or other physical token that can be used to access the wireless gaming device. Such an apparatus may communicate information that identifies the user to the device or may simply be used to produce a signal without which the device is locked to users. The apparatus may further emit a time varying signal to enhance security. |
| US08899476B2 |
Automated document cashing system
Validation of the identity of the user is performed with the use of a card associated with intelligence that identifies the user. Validation of the document involves one or more of: validating the presence of a signature; validating the amount of the monetary transaction document including a manual entry of the amount by the user; validating CAR against the LAR; and validating the banking system parameters and rules for the customer and/or the transaction. To assist in the automatic analysis of data on monetary transactional documents or on remittance documents, the user is prompted to provide a bounding box about the data. An image touch screen may be touched by the user to locate the bounding box and the user may magnify the data to fill the boundary box to exclude other data from analysis. After document and person validation, the system will dispense money or transfer monies to a savings account, a checking account, a smart card, or the like. The system will also write money orders or wire transfer money. |
| US08899475B2 |
Media presenter
A media presenter is described. The media presenter comprises: a chassis including a nose coupled thereto, and including (i) a presenting end distal from the chassis, and (ii) a presenting track extending from the chassis to the presenting end. The media presenter also includes a carriage mounted on the presenting track for movement therealong, and comprising a carriage body coupled to a carriage plate by a linkage, the carriage plate including a cam follower. The media presenter also includes a cam block defining a cam track and being operable to engage with the cam follower to move the carriage between an open position at which media items can be placed on the carriage plate, and a closed position for clamping media items between the carriage plate and the carriage body. |
| US08899474B2 |
Interactive document reader
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems for providing an interactive document reader. |
| US08899471B2 |
Method for sealing curved vacuum glass and curved vacuum glass
A method for sealing the curved vacuum glass comprises: first preparing metallized layer bonded with the glass plate on the edge surface of the curved glass to be sealed by locally heating the metal slurry coating; then air-tightly sealing the edges of two glass plates by using the metal brazing technology, or air-tightly sealing the edges of two glass plates by air-tightly welding the metal sealing sheet between the metallized layers of two glass plates to be sealed. A curved vacuum glass is also provided. The method makes the sealing part have firm connection, good air tightness and good thermal shock resistance. The sealing structure made of the metal sealing sheet is well compatible with the temperature deformation caused by the temperature difference between the internal and external glass plates of the vacuum glass. |
| US08899469B2 |
Automatic rework processes for non-stick conditions in wire bonding operations
A method of performing a wire bonding operation is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) performing a wire bonding operation between a portion of wire and a bonding location using a bonding tool; (b) raising the bonding tool to a desired height; (c) performing a test to determine if the portion of wire is sufficiently bonded to the bonding location; and (d) automatically performing another wire bonding operation between the portion of wire and the bonding location using the bonding tool if, during step (c), it is determined that the portion of wire was not sufficiently bonded to the bonding location in step (a). |
| US08899466B2 |
Devices and methods for introducing a surgical circular stapling instrument into a patient
Introducers for introducing a surgical circular stapler into a patient. Various embodiments comprise cover members that are applied over a stapling head portion of the circular stapler. In some embodiments, the cover members are fabricated from a flexible stretchable material and have a bumper portion that protrudes distally beyond the distal face of the stapling head. The staples may be fired through the cover member and the balance of the cover member is withdrawn from the patient with the stapling head. Other cover embodiments are selectively movable from a position wherein the distal face of the stapling head is covered and other positions wherein the distal face of the stapling head is exposed. |
| US08899465B2 |
Staple cartridge comprising drivers for deploying a plurality of staples
A surgical staple cartridge comprising a first, a second and a third row of staple pockets located on a first side of a cartridge housing having staples therein. The first, the second and the third row of staple pockets are aligned parallel to a knife channel. A first staple driver is oriented to drive at least four staples from the staple pockets simultaneously. A second staple driver configured to eject a staple from the staple pockets and is positioned proximally with respect to the first staple driver. The second staple driver is configured to elect a different quantity of staples than the first staple driver. |
| US08899458B1 |
Device holder
A holder for carrying cell phones and other small items is arranged to attach to a belt or other strap, or to a belt loop. The holder is of simple construction, including an elongated backing member and a cover that is attached to the bottom region of the backing member to form a pocket or holster that is open at the top. The backing member is divided near its upper end by a fold to form a first flap and a generally rectangular opening through the backing member, sized and shaped to accommodate a belt loop, is placed adjacent to and below the fold. A second flap is attached to the backing member at a location adjacent to and below the opening and is arranged to fold upwardly to cover the opening and to form a channel for a belt or other strap. The second flap is secured in that position by folding down the first flap and securing it to the second flap. |
| US08899456B2 |
Bicycle carrier
A lightweight bicycle carrier that is easily adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of sizes and shapes of bicycles and other equipment. The bicycle carrier of the present invention is easily assembled and installed onto the hitch receiver of a vehicle. The bicycle carrier can also be partially disassembled to allow access into the rear of the vehicle without interfering with the vehicle tailgate. The bicycle carrier includes adjustable angular support arms to support bicycles during transport. |
| US08899451B2 |
Rodless dispenser
A dispenser for viscous, extrudable materials uses a sprocket-driven push chain that is drawn from a chain magazine responsive to actuation of a user trigger. The sprocket for the chain is driven by a toothed wheel, which is driven by a first, ratcheting drive pawl, which is actuated by the trigger. A second ratcheting locking pawl prevents the toothed wheel and hence the chain sprocket from rotating backward when the trigger is released. A single “button” or actuator can be actuated by one hand of a user while the user's other hand grasps a chain retractor to pull an extended chain back to a starting position whereat the dispenser can be reloaded. |
| US08899439B2 |
Pressure vessel for gaseous or liquid media
A pressure vessel 1 for storing a liquid or gaseous medium, having a core vessel 2, a support jacket 3 arranged at least partially around the core vessel, an opening 4 arranged on one side of the pressure vessel, and a valve body 5, arranged at least partially in the opening 4, for open-loop control and/or closed-loop control of the discharging and/or filling of the pressure vessel 1. The valve body 5 is provided as a single piece in the region of the opening 4 and is arranged between the core vessel 2 and the support jacket 3 in such a way that the valve body 5 can be fixed in its position, at least partially, by the core vessel 2 and the support jacket 3. |
| US08899437B2 |
Closure with integrated dosage cup
A child resistant closure is provided that is configured to fit over the opening of a receptacle to form a container. The closure includes an inner dosage cup and an outer cap portion that receives and retains the inner dosage cup. The outer cap portion is rotatable relative to the inner dosage cup and defines at least one viewing window that allows for visual indication of a level of contents within the inner dosage cup. |
| US08899433B2 |
Fluid reservoir and method of manufacturing a fluid reservoir
A fluid reservoir includes a housing defining a chamber for receiving a fluid. The housing may be generally rectangular with six orthogonally oriented sides. A plurality of mounting portions are carried by the housing. One or more fittings are selectively attached to respective mounting portions of the plurality of mounting portions. The mounting portions may include mounted surfaces at an intersection of a pair of adjacent sides of the housing. The mounting surfaces may be at angles to both of the respective adjacent sides. |
| US08899427B2 |
Baby bottle with mixing device
A baby bottle including a nipple and separable compartments for holding powdered formula and water. By sliding or rotating a knob to a pre-selected mix position, apertures in the separable compartments are aligned thereby allowing mixture of the powdered formula from an upper compartment into a lower compartment containing the water. The bottle is shaken to thoroughly mix the formula and the water, after which, the bottle and formula mix are ready to use. |
| US08899421B2 |
Multi-level compartmentalized insert for a food holding cabinet having at least one independent sliding compartmentalized tray and cover for same
An insert for a food holding cabinet provides multiple, individual food holding compartments, which can be operated as encapsulated environments. The insert is made from an elongated tray formed to have at least one food product holding compartment, which is formed at one end of the elongated tray. A slid-able is configured to be able slide back and forth and formed to have at least one additional food product holding compartment. A slid-able cover is configured to be able to slide in the elongated tray, over the slide-able cover. Multiple individual food holding compartments can be uncovered, one-at-a-time as need for food product arises. |
| US08899419B2 |
Package with break-away clamshell
A package for accommodating, storing, displaying and transporting an article, such as, pharmaceutical products. The package has a receptacle mountable to a paperboard. The mountable receptacle has a clamshell for receiving, for example, one or more blister cards. The clamshell has a first portion having a first edge and a second portion having a second edge, which opposes the first edge. The mountable receptacle has an extension connected at least to the second edge through a breakable mechanism. The extension is attached to a surface of the paperboard, such that the clamshell can be detached from the paperboard by breaking the breakable mechanism. |
| US08899418B2 |
Packaging
A plurality of small packages, each for approximately a day's supply of tampons, are provided in an outer carrier box. The tampons in the small packages may be provided in a single row, and may be individually adhered to the bottom of the package. Each small package may be tapered to facilitate insertion of the individual package into a small space, such as a pocket, for discrete storage or carrying. The individual package may be formed with an inner box covered by an outer sleeve movable, like a flap, from the inner box to permit ready access to the contents of the inner box. A closure is provided that is resistant to inadvertent opening. The closure may be specifically configured for a tapered end of a tapered package. The closure may conceal the engaging elements thereof from view to inhibit inadvertent opening of the closure. If desired, a feedback feature, such as an auditory or tactile cue, may be provided by the closure to cue the user that the closure is securely closing the package. |
| US08899417B1 |
Tool box
A tool box contains: a body, a lifting mechanism, at least one holder, and a controlling mechanism. The lifting mechanism is fixed on the body and includes a rotating assembly and a guiding member. The rotating assembly has a first end disposed in the body and a second end mounted in the guiding member so as to rotate on the body. The at least one holder is used to hold at least one tool set and is mounted on the rotating assembly of the lifting mechanism, such that the at least one holder is driven by the rotating assembly to lift and rotate. The controlling mechanism includes at least one resilient element for driving the rotating assembly to rotate and a control member disposed in the body, such that the rotating assembly of the lifting mechanism is positioned on the body. |
| US08899416B2 |
Soft plastic insert for use in protective case
An insert for protecting articles to be stored in a protective case. The insert is generally hollow and formed of a flexible thermoplastic material. The insert may be formed by a blow-molding process. The insert is shaped to fit within a protective case, which is also often formed by a blow-molded process. The material used to form the insert is less dense than that of the material used to form the protective case, and therefore the insert material is less stiff, softer, and more flexible. |
| US08899414B2 |
Slide and shell container having tamper evident seal
A slide and shell container includes an outer shell and an inner slide mounted within the outer shell. The outer shell and the inner slide are detachably connected to each other along one or more lines of weakness. Upon separation of the outer shell and inner slide along the one or more lines of weakness, the inner slide becomes moveable within the outer shell between a closed slide position and an open slide position. The two or more lines of weakness define an integral opening strip which is separable from the container in order to separate the outer shell and the inner slide. |
| US08899413B2 |
Combined gift product and chocolate bar greeting card
A gift product which holds a single, individually-wrapped chocolate bar, currency bills, and one or more gift cards. The gift product has a greeting card panel and a chocolate bar container. The internal face of the greeting card panel has a pocket that holds currency bills and a gift card. The gift product is preferably formed from a single blank made of box stock, reinforced paper, or thin plastic. |
| US08899406B2 |
System, mechanism, and method for physically manipulating media
A system, mechanism, and method for physically manipulating media, especially in a data storage environment. |
| US08899403B2 |
Method for operating a transport device and transport device for implementing the method
The invention relates to a method for operating a transport device (10) which has a number of identical transport means arranged one after another in a transport direction, which are able to transport product along an intrinsically closed transport path (33) between stations (28) arranged on the transport path (33). To identify the individual transport means, use is made of selected transport means (RK) which can be detected by means of first sensors (24) arranged or on the transport path (33) as the said transport means pass the first sensors (24), which are distributed over the transport path (33) and subdivide the transport path (33) into individual segments. The transport means may be assigned individually consecutive fixed serial numbers, which are counted from a single starting point (34), and in that the starting point (34) is defined by a specific arrangement of a plurality of detectable transport means (DRK). |
| US08899397B2 |
Clutch control system of clutch apparatus for hybrid vehicle
A clutch control system of a clutch apparatus for a vehicle, includes a regulator valve switchable between a first mode in which a fluid pressure of a hydraulic fluid to a pressurized chamber is regulated to a first predetermined fluid pressure and a second mode in which the fluid pressure to a canceller chamber is regulated to a second predetermined fluid pressure, the regulator valve discharging a portion of the hydraulic fluid as a drain lubricant to the clutch portion, a switching valve switchable between a supply mode in which the hydraulic fluid is supplied to the pressurized chamber and a discharge mode in which the pressurized chamber is connected to a reservoir, and a control valve controlling the regulator valve to be switched between the first mode and the second mode and controlling the switching valve to be switched between the supply mode and the discharge mode. |
| US08899386B2 |
Pneumatically actuable disc brake
A pneumatic disc brake has a caliper which straddles a brake disc, brake pads pressable against the brake disc, wherein a brake-application-side brake pad can be actuated by a brake lever of a brake application device pivotable about an eccentric axis. Against the end side, the brake lever bears a brake ram which is coupled at the other side to the brake pad or to a guide plate coupled thereto. Two pressure rams are aligned in the same direction and spaced apart from the brake ram. The pressure rams are connected in each case to the caliper and to the brake pad or to the guide plate and have a self-energizing device. The caliper has spherical-cap-shaped bearing receptacles in which rest corresponding plain bearing elements, by which the brake lever, and the pressure rams are supported on the caliper. |
| US08899382B2 |
Oil valve assembly of linear compressor
The present invention discloses an oil supply valve assembly of a linear compressor including a shell, the oil being stored at the lower portion of the shell, a cylinder disposed in the shell, a piston disposed in the cylinder, a main body frame to which the cylinder is fixed, and a linear motor connected to the piston, for driving the piston, comprising: a passage formed in the main body frame, for supplying the oil to a gap between the cylinder and the piston; an oil valve being coupled to the main body frame to communicate with the passage, and including an oil suction valve and an oil discharge valve; and an oil cover coupled to overlap with the oil valve and communicate with the passage of the main body frame. By this configuration, the manufacturing process of the oil supply valve assembly is simplified and mis-assembly of the components is prevented by reducing the number of the components. |
| US08899379B2 |
Mason's adjustable chimney-platform arrangement
An adjustable platform assembly for supporting workers and supplies about an elevated work site, the platform assembly being movably supported on an articulable support, the platform comprising a stationary rear bridging panel arrangement having an elongated side platform member comprising a floor and railing assembly at each end thereof, wherein each elongated side platform member floor and railing assembly is independently movable on support members forwardly, rearwardly, transversely and angularly with respect to the bridging panel arrangement, to change the platform assembly back and forth between a generally “H” shape to a generally “U” shape, or any skewed combination thereof, as required. |
| US08899375B2 |
Device for damping and scattering hydrosound in a liquid
A device is provided for damping hydrosound in liquid emitted from a sound-emitting body in the liquid. The device includes a plurality of envelope bodies distributed in the liquid in an area of the hydrosound-emitting body and at a distance from each other. A material, diameter and pressure of each envelope body is configured such that a natural frequency of the envelope body corresponds to an emitted frequency range of the hydrosound so as to dampen the hydrosound. The device also includes at least one mass body disposed in the liquid. The envelope bodies are connected to the mass bodies so as to prevent the envelope bodies from rising up in the liquid. |
| US08899371B2 |
Bulldozer
A vehicle body frame of a bulldozer has a left side frame, a right side frame, a base plate, and a cross member. The left and right side frames each extend in the front and back direction. The base plate spans across between the left and right side frames. The cross member is positioned between a hydraulic pump and left and right hydraulic motors. The cross member protrudes upward from the base plate. The cross member spans across between the left and right side frames. The cross member has a left conduit hole and a right conduit hole which are spaced apart in a left and right direction of the bulldozer. The first and second left hydraulic fluid tubes pass through the left conduit hole. The first and second right hydraulic fluid tubes pass through the right conduit hole. |
| US08899369B2 |
Straddle-type electric vehicle, and mounting structure of electric power controller in electric vehicle
A straddle-type electric vehicle (e.g., electric motorcycle 1) comprising a driving motor and an electric power control unit for controlling electric power supplied from batteries to the driving motor, a case of the electric power control unit is mounted from a location outward of the battery box, and electrode terminals protruding outward from the case are inserted into insertion holes of the battery box. The electrode terminals protruding into inside of the battery box are connected to electrodes of the batteries via electric conductors such as bus bars. In this structure, electric connecting work between the batteries and the electric power control unit can be easily carried out, high-voltage lines can be minimized in length, and the high-voltage lines are not exposed to the outside. |
| US08899368B2 |
Steering apparatus for vehicle
A steering apparatus for a two-wheeled motor vehicle includes a handlebars-side steering shaft supported by a head pipe, a wheel supporting cylindrical shaft supported by a front axle and over which a hub is fitted, and a steering link mechanism. First and second link members of the link mechanism are connected to each other in a plurality of articulations such that the link members can angularly move. An amount of angular movement is limited to a predetermined range, and a distance between a front wheel-side end and the steering shaft-side end of the steering link mechanism can be changed. The front wheel-side end of the steering link mechanism is connected to the wheel supporting cylindrical shaft through a brake caliper bracket member. |
| US08899366B2 |
Electromechanical control system of electric bicycle integrating smart mobile device and cloud services
An electromechanical control system of an electric bike integrating a smart mobile device and cloud services therewith enables a controller of the electric bike to independently monitor and control operation of an electric motor, is integrated with an external smart mobile device with a communication interface thereof, configures cycling control parameters of the controller with the externally available cycling control parameters through an user interface provided by the smart mobile device to adapt to cyclists' physical strength. Cycling information and bike information can be displayed on the smart mobile device or make them openly available through the online function of the smart mobile device for cyclists to easily record or manage related information during bike cycling. |
| US08899364B1 |
Articulated off-road vehicle
The articulated off-road vehicle includes a pivotable chassis and an upper frame extending from the pivotable chassis. Wheels, an engine, and a steering assembly are coupled to the chassis, and the upper frame defines a compartment for drivers and passengers. The pivotable chassis is divided into a front chassis section and a rear chassis section, and a hinge joint pivotally connects the front chassis section to the rear chassis section. A front suspension assembly having a pair of shock absorbers respectively extending at an angle between the top corners of the upper frame and the front chassis section with the shock absorbers pivotally mounted to the upper frame and the front chassis section. Pivotal movement of the front chassis section and concurrent absorption of impact can substantially reduce impact forces imparted to the driver while traversing rough terrain as can thereby increasing safety and comfort for the driver. |
| US08899363B1 |
Vehicle hood hinge structure
A hood hinge structure includes a body attachment part, a hood attachment part and a hinge part connecting the hood attachment part to the body attachment part at a first location. The body attachment part has a contact portion formed thereon and the hood attachment part has a restraining member formed thereon. The contact portion engages the restraining member at a second location forward of the first location relative to a vehicle longitudinal direction to restrain movement of the hood attachment part relative to the body attachment part upon application of a prescribed force on at least one of the body attachment part and the hood attachment part where at least one of the body attachment part and the hood attachment part is moved in a lateral direction to a deformed state while the hood attachment part is in the closed position. |
| US08899362B2 |
Work machine
A work machine includes a front section with a front frame, a first set of ground engaging members and a power source for propelling the work machine, a rear section with a rear frame, a second set of ground engaging members and a load-carrying container. The rear section includes an electric drive system adapted for driving at least one ground engaging member of the second set. The rear section is detachably connected to the front section. The power source of the front section is adapted to power the electric drive system in the rear section in an attached state of the front and rear sections. The electric drive system is adapted for driving the at least one ground engaging member of the second set for self-propelling of the rear section in a detached state. |
| US08899356B2 |
Drill bits, cutting elements for drill bits, and drilling apparatuses including the same
A roof-bolt drill bit may have a forward end, a rearward end, and a rotational axis extending between the forward end and the rearward end. A cutting element for the roof-bolt drill bit may include a cutting face and a peripheral surface extending around an outer periphery of the cutting face. The cutting element may include at least one chamfer region and a peripherally extending chamfer extending from the at least one chamfer region along the outer periphery of the cutting element, a width of the at least one chamfer region being greater than a width of the peripherally extending chamfer. |
| US08899355B2 |
PDC drill bit with flute design for better bit cleaning
A drill bit is disclosed, comprising: a drill bit head having a cutting face with one or more fixed cutting elements; a flow passage extending from the center towards the gage of the bit which has been designed to increase the velocity across the cutting elements. |
| US08899349B2 |
Methods for determining formation strength of a wellbore
A system and a method may determine formation strength of a well. The system and the method may use pressure measurements and temperature measurements to determine controlled fracture pressures before the uncontrolled fracture pressure is reached. The system and the method may use pressure measurements and temperature measurements to determine closure stresses while drilling and may use the closure stresses with core and log measurements to optimize a hydraulic stimulation program. |
| US08899341B1 |
Low pressure, extended coverage, fire protection sprinkler
A low pressure, extended coverage, fire protection sprinkler, e.g., of the upright type, suitable for use in protection of at least extra hazard and high piled storage occupancies, in accordance with the 1999 Edition of NFPA 13, has a body with an internal passageway extending between an inlet end and an opposite outlet end, and a deflector mounted to the body by at least one support arm and disposed in alignment with the axis and generally spaced from the outlet end of the internal passageway. The sprinkler has a predetermined K-factor, e.g., of greater than about 16.0. The sprinkler is configured and arranged to deflect flow of water generally radially outwardly and downwardly of the sprinkler in a predetermined spray pattern. Preferably, the predetermined spray pattern has a generally polygonal shape, e.g., a rectangular shape, when viewed at a predetermined distance below the deflector. |
| US08899338B2 |
Method and apparatus for installing a wireline for logging or other operations in an under-balanced well
An improved apparatus and a method to insert a wireline through a blow out preventer to log an underbalanced open hole well without killing the well or causing formation damage while maintaining well control during the process. A dual throated blow out preventer (10) provides a moveable sealing element (1210, 1402) to allow a wireline (13) and a drill string (25) to be placed in a well for assembly, then seals off the dual throat to isolate the drill string from the wireline, thereby permitting pressure to be maintained on both the wireline through a standard packoff arrangement (1218) and on the drill string using the rams of the blow out preventer (10). |
| US08899337B2 |
Method and apparatus for securing and using hyrdajetting tools
An apparatus for securing and using hydrajetting tools within a borehole includes a housing that defines an inner bore. A flow limiting member may be disposed within the inner bore. The flow limiting member may include a first a first jet in fluid communication with the top of the housing, a first chamber positioned below and in fluid communication with the first jet, and a first cavity aligned with the first jet and in fluid communication with the chamber. A groove may be disposed on an outer surface of the housing, with an anchor assembly that is disposed around the housing and axially slidable and securable within the groove. |
| US08899334B2 |
System and method for servicing a wellbore
A wellbore servicing apparatus, comprising a housing defining an axial flowbore and comprising ports, a first sleeve, a second sleeve movable relative to the housing from (a) a first position in which the second sleeve obstructs fluid communication via the ports of the housing to (b) a second position in which the second sleeve allows fluid communication via the ports of the housing, and wherein the first sleeve is movable relative to the housing from (a) a first position in which the first sleeve does not allow a fluid pressure applied to the axial flowbore to move the second sleeve from the first position to the second position to (b) a second position in which the first sleeve allows a fluid pressure applied to the axial flowbore to move the second sleeve from the first position to the second position, and an expandable seat. |
| US08899328B2 |
Resin sealant for zonal isolation and methods for making and using same
Epoxy-based zonal isolation compositions are capable of being adjusted by varying the epoxy-based compositions for isolating zones in borehole of oil and gas wells under high-temperature, mid-temperature and low-temperature conditions. |
| US08899326B2 |
Oil recovery process
An oil recovery process entails recovering an oil-water mixture from an oil bearing formation and separating the oil-water mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. The produced water includes suspended and dissolved solids and is subjected to treatment which removes suspended and dissolved solids therefrom. The treated water is then directed to a forced circulation steam generator that includes a furnace having a burner, water cooled walls and an evaporator unit. The treated water is pumped through the water cooled walls and the evaporator unit. The water passing through the water cooled walls and evaporator unit are heated to produce approximately 10% to approximately 30% quality steam in both the water cooled walls and the evaporator unit. The steam is collected and separated from a water-steam mixture to produce high quality steam, on the order of 95% or greater quality steam. This steam constitutes injection steam which is injected into an injection well to facilitate the recovery of the oil-water mixture. |
| US08899325B2 |
Method for removing contaminants from wastewater in hydraulic fracturing process
A borehole is drilled from the surface to an underground shale matrix. A pipe is inserted into the borehole. Openings are created in the pipe in fluid communication with fractures in the shale matrix. The interior surface of at least one section of pipe is coated with a contaminant-capturing substance. Fracturing fluid including water, proppants and chemicals is pumped through the pipe and into the fractures in the shale matrix. The fluid re-enters the pipe from the shale matrix and moves toward the surface through the coated pipe section where contaminants are sequestered by the coating. Natural gas or oil from the fractured shale then enters the pipe and moves to the surface to be collected. The coated pipe section remains in the ground permanently such that the necessity of disposing of the captured contaminants is eliminated. |
| US08899323B2 |
Modular pumpouts and flowline architecture
Modular pumpouts and flowline architecture are described. An example apparatus includes a downhole tool to sample fluid from a subterranean formation, and a plurality of fluidly coupled pump modules disposed on the downhole tool. Each of the pump modules includes: a pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet, where the pump inlet is coupled to a first flowline; a first valve assembly having first, second and third ports, wherein the first port is coupled to the first flowline, the second port is coupled to the pump outlet, and the third port is coupled to the first flowline; and a second flowline not fluidly coupled to the first valve assembly or the pump. |
| US08899322B2 |
Autonomous downhole control methods and devices
Autonomous control of a wellbore tool is provided by programming a memory module of a processor with a database having data relating to a selected parameter of interest; conveying a sensor and the processor along the wellbore; and activating the wellbore tool if the processor determines that a measurement provided by the sensor correlates with the database data. The processor may correlate the sensor measurements with a predetermined pattern associated with the data, a preset value, and/or a preset range of values. Well tool activation may occur when the processor finds: a substantial match between a predetermined pattern and at least one measured value; a present value and at least one measured value, and/or a preset range of values and at least one measured range of values. Also, activating the well tool may occur only if a measurement from a second sensor meets a preset criteria. |
| US08899321B2 |
Method of distributing a viscosity reducing solvent to a set of wells
Described are methods of distributing a viscosity reducing solvent to a set of wells terminating in an underground oil reservoir where the variation in the net solvent injection rate is minimized. The net solvent injection rate is the difference between the total solvent injection rate and the total solvent production rate from the set of wells, for example on an instantaneous or daily rate basis. Minimizing this variation can reduce costs associated with surface solvent storage, subsurface solvent storage, and solvent supply, since solvent supply often is least expensive when supplied at near a fixed rate. One option is to operate well pairs and to inject solvent into one well of the pair while producing oil and solvent from the other well of the pair. These methods are particularly useful in solvent-dominated, cyclic or non-cyclic, viscous oil recovery processes. |
| US08899319B2 |
Automated systems and methods for make-up and break-out of tubulars
An automated tubular handling system adapted to make-up or break-out tubulars that includes a rotary drive adapted to operatively grip a tubular to be connected to or disconnected from a tubular string, a controller adapted to receive and process data indicative of a rotation, torque, and minimum time value associated with a make-up or a break-out of the tubular string, and a user interface adapted to convey the received data, the predetermined values, or both, of the tubular make-up or break-out to an operator. The controller compares the rotation, torque, and minimum time values to acceptable predetermined values to determine when the make-up or the break-out is complete. Automated methods are also disclosed. |
| US08899317B2 |
Decomposable pumpdown ball for downhole plugs
A plug for isolating a wellbore. The plug can include a body having a first end and a second end, at least one malleable element disposed about the body, at least one slip disposed about the body, at least one conical member disposed about the body, and an insert secured to an inner surface of the body proximate the second end of the body. The insert can be adapted to receive a setting tool that enters the body through the first end thereof. The insert can include a passageway extending therethrough. The insert can be adapted to release the setting tool when exposed to a predetermined axial force, thereby providing a flow passage through the insert and the body. At least one of the body and the insert can be adapted to receive an impediment that restricts fluid flow in at least one direction through the body, wherein the impediment comprises one or more decomposable materials. |
| US08899314B2 |
Stuffing box
A stuffing box for a wellhead comprises a stationary housing defining a passage for receiving a well tubular, and a tubular shaft mounted on the stationary housing for rotation within the passage and defining an inner axial bore. The inner axial bore is adapted to form a static seal around the well tubular in use, and a dynamic pressure seal is mounted within an annular cavity defined by respective cylindrical surfaces of the stationary housing and the tubular shaft. One or both of the respective cylindrical surfaces are tapered to decrease the radial cross sectional area of a seal travel portion of the annular cavity in an axial direction from a well end of the stationary housing to an opposite second end of the stationary housing. |
| US08899313B2 |
Cutting unit of a hydromechanical slot perforator
A cutting unit for a slot-type perforator is mounted in a casing having a specific edge, driven by a piston or plunger. The cutting unit includes cutting tools associated with a first holder immovable relative to the piston, and a second holder, including a recess, cooperating with the casing's edge, immovable relative to the casing. The holders move relative to each other causing extending and retracting the cutting tools in opposite directions, during piston's movements. The cutting unit includes a retractable mechanism to bring its parts into a transportation position and to fix them therein. The retractable mechanism includes a guide groove made in the second holder, and a connecting rod attached to the first holder. The rod moves through the groove ensuring the return of the second holder into the transportation position, wherein it is fixed absent pressure upon the piston, caused by interaction of the edge and recess. |
| US08899311B2 |
Vehicular air conditioner
When there is no occupant in seats other than a driver seat during a foot mode, an air-conditioning controller executes a single seat concentration mode to prevent blowing of warm air to a passenger seat and a backseat by closing foot outlets on a passenger seat side and a backseat side. In this case, in order to maintain an air volume blown from the foot outlet on a driver seat side when the controller changes the mode from the normal foot mode to the single seat concentration mode, the controller sets a blower level to be lower than in the case of the normal foot mode with respect to the same target blown air temperature. |
| US08899310B2 |
Heat transfer between tracer and pipe
A heat transfer element includes curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of a pipe for attachment thereto; and a channel configured to receive a tracer therein. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with heat transfer cement (HTC) to both the pipe and the tracer. A system includes a pipe and a tracer; HTC; and a heat transfer element having curved mounting surfaces configured to mate with an outer surface of the pipe and attached thereto via the HTC, and a channel in which the tracer is received and secured via HTC. The heat transfer element is configured to effect conductive heat transfer from the tracer to the pipe, or to process flowing through the pipe, when attached with HTC to both the pipe and the tracer. |
| US08899308B2 |
Heat exchanger tube and method for producing it
A heat exchanger tube with a tube axis and with a tube wall having a tube outside and a tube inside, axially parallel or helically encircling inner ribs, with a groove which lies in each case between adjacent inner ribs, being formed from the tube wall on the tube inside, the helix angle, measured with respect to the tube axis, of the inner ribs being smaller than or equal to 45°, the region of the inner ribs which is remote from the tube wall being deformed at regular intervals asymmetrically on one side essentially in the tube circumferential direction, the deformed material of the inner ribs forming protrusions above the groove, the protrusions extending in each case over a finite deformation zone along an inner rib, the markedness of the deformation changing continuously within the deformation zone. |
| US08899304B2 |
Crystallizer for continuous casting
Crystallizer for continuous casting, having a monolithic tubular structure defined by lateral walls (12) in the thickness of which channels (11) are made in which a cooling liquid flows, wherein two adjacent lateral walls (12) define a corner or s edge zone. On at least one longitudinal portion (C) of at least one of the lateral walls (12) and/or of at least one of the corner zones, defining a zone in correspondence with which, during use, the meniscus of the liquid metal is located, a reduction in thickness (13) is made, starting from the external surface, determining a cross section with a reduced area with respect to the remaining longitudinal portions of the monolithic tubular structure. |
| US08899302B2 |
Mold valve
There is provided an improved valve mechanism for use with a casting or injection mold which is quick acting and simple to construct. The valve includes an inlet coupled to the mold cavity and an outlet for venting gas from the mold cavity. The valve further includes a closure oriented perpendicularly to the inlet and movable between open and closed positions for closing off the outlet. The closure has a central axis and the valve is configured to move the closure into the closed position by directing the melt passing through the inlet to impinge substantially coaxially upon the closure so as to transfer a majority of the momentum of the melt to the closure. |
| US08899299B2 |
Leading end assemblies for movable partitions including diagonal members, movable partitions including leading end assemblies and related methods
Leading end assemblies for movable partitions may include a movable trolley, a leading structure coupled to the movable trolley, a diagonal member comprising at least one movable feature enabling the leading structure to move from an initial position to a displaced position, and at least one sensor for sensing movement of the leading structure. Movable partition systems may include a leading structure suspended from a trolley and a sensor configured to sense rotation of the leading structure relative to the trolley. Methods of operating a movable partition may include moving at least a portion of a movable partition along a path from a retracted position to an extended position, rotating a leading structure of the movable partition about a coupling, using a sensor to sense rotation of the leading structure, and ceasing movement of the movable partition in response to a signal generated by the sensor. |
| US08899298B2 |
Window treatment roll-up device
A window treatment roll-up device has: a support base, a rotation base, at least two power springs, a braking member and a control wheel. The support base comprises a first shaft, a second shaft, a third shaft and a fourth shaft, the third shaft and the fourth shaft are engaged with each other, a controlling rope wrapped around the second shaft, the rotation base is jacketed onto the second shaft. The control wheel is disposed on the fourth shaft and configured to be wrapped by a rolling rope. The braking member has a first end and a second end, the first end is tapered such that the braking member is cone-shaped; a spiral slot connecting between the first end and the second end is disposed on a surface of the braking member. The first end of the braking member and the power spring both jacket onto the third shaft. |
| US08899295B2 |
Ultrasonic oscillating unit with holder
The present invention concerns an ultrasonic oscillating unit comprising a converter and a sonotrode (1) optionally connected to the converter by way of an amplitude transformer (2), wherein the sonotrode (1) has a sealing surface (10) which is substantially in the form of a circular ring or a cylinder surface and the ultrasonic oscillating unit has a holder (3) for fastening the ultrasonic oscillating unit to a machine stand. To achieve that it is proposed according to the invention that the holder (3) is fastened directly to the sonotrode (1). |
| US08899294B2 |
Labelling machine for sleeve labels
A labeling machine has a carrousel having a frame at the periphery of which a plurality of mandrels are rotatably mounted, and, at angularly spaced positions around the carrousel, object feeding means, label feeding means and object removing means. Each mandel receives a label strip from the label feeding means, winds it around the body of the mandrel so that a leading end and a trailing end of the label strip overlap. The leading and trailing ends of the label strip are sealed to form a sleeve label. The label strips are sealed by heat sealing means which include a pulse heating bar. |
| US08899288B2 |
Coupling for mounting a labeling machine and method of adjusting a labeling machine
A coupling capable of adjustably cantilever-mounting a machine such as a labeling machine to a mounting structure, wherein the attitude or inclination of the machine to other machinery such as a conveyor can be precisely adjusted. Also, there is a method a mounting a machine to mounting structure with the capability to adjust the inclination of the machine that requires only one person. |
| US08899286B2 |
Pneumatic tire tread
Pneumatic tire tread which reduces tread pattern noise while suppressing air column resonance from circumferential grooves is provided with a number of sets of resonators and at least two types of branch groove shapes; the length of the first branch grooves at least 40% of the length of the contact surface, and groove width between 10% and 25% of the circumferential groove width; the length of the second branch grooves between 40% and 90% of the length of the first branch grooves, and the groove width no less than the first branch groove width; first openings and second openings alternately present on same circumferential groove; length between openings in first branch grooves is no more than 50% of the length of the contact surface; difference between the minimum cross-sectional void ratio in the ribs where the branch grooves are provided and the maximum cross-sectional void ratio is no greater than 10%. |
| US08899285B2 |
Fuel tank opening and closing device
A fuel tank opening-closing device is equipped with a flap valve mechanism 20 and an opening-closing activation mechanism. The opening-closing activation mechanism comprises a nozzle detection mechanism that has a first detection parts and a second detection parts. The first detection parts are linked with the locking member and the locked part so as to move the lock engaging part and the locked engagement part while maintaining each of the overlap widths within the preset range, being pressed by the end of the fueling nozzle. The second detection parts are linked to the locking member so as to move from the locked position to the unlocked position by releasing the overlap width by being pressed by the end of the fueling nozzle. |
| US08899283B2 |
Device for fractioning a volume of liquid
A device for dividing up a volume of liquid contained in an original container by filling bottles that are smaller than the original container, including a source of pressurized gas, a first line running from the source of pressurized gas and opening into the original container so as to place it under pressure, and a line for withdrawing the contents of the original container, connecting the latter to one of the smaller bottles. A second line runs from the pressure source and ends in the smaller bottle to be filled. Means are provided for closing and opening the first and second lines and a member is provided for activating the means for closing/opening so as to open the second line then the pressurization line in sequence, and close these same lines in sequence in the reverse order. |
| US08899280B2 |
Beverage dispensing device having audio and video feedback
Systems and methods for dispensing beverages are provided. Aspects relate to providing audio and/or visual feedback to users during the dispensing of a selected beverage. Audio and video files are stored electronically within the dispenser. In response to the selection of a beverage, audio and video files corresponding to the beverage are selected and presented to a user during the dispensing of the beverage. The sound file may correspond to the type of beverage being dispensed and the video may show a fill state of a beverage container. |
| US08899275B2 |
Apparatus and method for loading tufts into a tuft carrier
A tuft carrier loading apparatus (10) for loading individual tufts (17) into tuft retention sites (9a) spaced along an elongate tuft carrier (9). The apparatus (10) includes a guide for guiding longitudinal movement of the tuft carrier along a path of travel and a plurality of individually and selectively operable tuft feeders (50) spaced along the path of travel, each tuft feeder (50) being operable when selected to feed an individual tuft to a tuft retention site (9a) of the tuft carrier (9). A driver (70) is drivingly connected to the tuft carrier (9) for moving the tuft carrier (9) along the path of travel, the driver (70) being operable to intermittently move the tuft carrier (9) through a series of successive positions whereat predefined tuft retention sites (9a) are moved temporarily into registry with each tuft feeder (50). A controller (60) is provided for controlling selection of the tuft feeders (50), the controller (60) being operable to actuate selected tuft feeders (50) to feed tufts to those tuft retention sites (9a) in registry therewith whilst the carrier (9) is located at each successive position. A detector is associated with each tuft retention site (9a) to detect the presence of a tuft. The driver (70), on detection of an absent tuft in a tuft retention site (9a) following actuation of one or more selected tuft feeders (50) resulting in failure to feed a tuft to the absent tuft retention site (9a), is operable to move the tuft carrier (9) into a position whereat the absent tuft retention site (9a) is moved temporarily back into registry with the or one selected tuft feeder (50) and the controller (60) re-actuates the selected tuft feeder (50) to feed a tuft to the absent tuft retention site (9a). |
| US08899271B2 |
Pressure accumulator
A pressure accumulator includes a housing having a housing cavity, a piston axially displaceable in the housing cavity between a first final position and a second final position and having a pressure surface which together with a wall of the housing cavity delimits at least partially a reservoir connectable to an ICE consumer in a fluid-conveying manner, an energy store cooperating with the piston, the piston being displaceable against the force of the energy store from the first final position into the second final position in that the reservoir is acted on by pressure using a pressure medium, and a locking device for locking the piston in the second final position. A locking tube is connected to the piston and supported within the housing in an axially shiftable manner, and lockable at an end of the housing facing away from the reservoir with the aid of a locking pin. |
| US08899260B2 |
Construction machine
Left and right first and second vertical plates 11, 12, and a partition plate 13 are provided on an upper frame 7. The space above the upper frame 7 is divided into a front section S1 and a rear section S2 by the partition plate 13. A cabin 8 is provided on the left side in the front section S1, and a hydraulic oil tank 16 is provided on the right side in the front section S1. A hydraulic pump 15 is provided on the left side in the rear section S2. A pump suction pipeline 24 is connected from the hydraulic pump 15 in the rear section S2, is entered into the front section S1 while passing through the first vertical plate 11 and the partition plate 13, without passing below the cabin 8, and is connected to the hydraulic oil tank 16. Further, a cover plate 30 is fixed to the outer periphery of the pump suction pipeline 24. A partition-plate-side through-hole 29 is covered, and simultaneously, the pump suction pipeline 24 is supported by attaching the cover plate 30 to the partition plate 13. |
| US08899259B2 |
Faucet mounting anchor
A faucet assembly may include a body housing and an anchor. The anchor may be positioned within a mounting deck, and the body housing may include a mounting tube. The mounting tube may include fingers that releasably engage with one or more structures of the anchor. A screw positioned within the body housing may engage the mounting tube, and draw the mounting tube into the body housing. The fingers of the mounting tube may engage with a structure of the anchor and may close around the structure as the mounting tube is drawn into the body housing. |
| US08899255B2 |
Turbojet nacelle having a removable air intake structure
A turbojet engine nacelle, including an air intake structure for directing an airflow towards a fan of the turbojet engine, a middle structure attached to the air intake structure for surrounding the fan of the turbojet engine, the air intake structure including an inner panel attached to the middle structure and defining a fixed structure with the middle structure, and an outer panel including an air intake lip at the end thereof opposite the middle structure, the outer panel being longitudinally translatably movable relative to the inner panel. The nacelle further includes at least one rod having one end attached onto a flange of the air intake lip and a mechanism rigidly connected to the middle structure for securing and locking the other end of each rod by applying a traction force thereon. |
| US08899253B1 |
Lock-N-leave picnic table cover system
A picnic table cover system, Lock-N-Leave Coverall™, that can be locked to a picnic table and provide a lockable storage volume for picnic articles and personal items thus protecting them from possible theft while also protecting them from flying insects, pests and ambient weather. |
| US08899251B2 |
Pool canopy system
A canopy system comprising a shading element, a support element, and an attachment element member. The canopy system is adapted to provide shade over at least a portion of an above-ground container. The canopy system is configured to maintain its structure during slightly windy and mild weather conditions. |
| US08899249B2 |
Lifting device for umbrella
A lifting device for an umbrella includes a base, a plurality of fixing seats secured on the base, a plurality of movable members each movably mounted in the respective fixing seat, a pressing module movably mounted on the base and pressing the movable members, a threaded rod mounted on the base and connected with the pressing module, and a drive handle connected with the threaded rod. The pressing module includes a driven rod and two pressing rods. Each of the pressing rods is provided with a straight pressing portion that is movable to press the respective movable member and at least one recessed release portion that is movable to receive the respective movable member. Thus, each of the movable members is rotatable freely so that the lifting device is moved on the ground easily. |
| US08899248B2 |
Barrier structure and nozzle device for use in tools used to process microelectronic workpieces with one or more treatment fluids
Apparatuses, and related methods, for processing a workpiece that include a particular barrier structure that can overlie and cover a workpiece. Apparatuses, and related methods, for processing a workpiece that include a particular movable member that can be positioned over and moved relative to a workpiece. Apparatuses, and related methods, for processing a workpiece that include a particular ceiling structure that can overlie a processing chamber. Nozzle devices, and related methods, that include a particular annular body. Nozzle devices, and related methods, that include a particular first, second, and third nozzle structure. |
| US08899246B2 |
Device and method for processing wafer shaped articles
A device for processing wafer-shaped articles, comprises a chuck adapted to receive a wafer shaped article, and a collector surrounding the chuck. The collector comprises a base and a plurality of divider walls, as well as a plurality of nested partitions surrounding the chuck. Each of the plurality of nested partitions is positioned on a corresponding one of the plurality of divider walls, and each of the plurality of nested partitions is vertically movable so as to define a plurality of separate process regions within the collector depending on the vertical position of each of the plurality of nested partitions. At least one of the divider walls comprises an internal exhaust conduit communicating with an exhaust duct underlying the divider wall. |
| US08899245B2 |
Machine and method for treating containers of liquids, and manipulator device for said containers
Machine (10) and method for treating containers (12) of liquids comprising in succession at least a loading station (15), into which the containers (12) to be treated are loaded, and all disposed according to a determinate first orientation, and a washing station (17), in which the containers (12) are subjected at least to washing and are disposed in a second orientation able to promote the fall due to gravity of the dirt and/or washing liquid present in the containers (12). The machine (10) comprises, downstream of the washing station (17) and outside it, a manipulator device (41) which automatically rotates the containers (12) exiting form the washing station (17) so as to reposition the containers (12) according to the first determinate orientation. |
| US08899237B2 |
Mouth tray
A mouth tray includes a wire-like element onto which two bite elements are attached. The element is formed of two U-shaped bows, the arms of which are connected to each other. The bite elements are each attached on the arm-side transitions between the two bows. |
| US08899235B2 |
Tracheal tube connector devices and methods
Various embodiments of tracheostomy tube assemblies including a cannula, a cap, and a flange are provided. The cannula includes a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end being adapted to be inserted into a patient's trachea. The annular cap includes an annular body having a first surface adapted to be received into the proximal end of the cannula to retain a portion of the cap in the annular body. The flange member includes a second surface that engages the proximal end of the cannula such that the proximal end of the cannula is retained between the second surface of the flange member and the first surface of the annular cap. The flange member also includes a third surface adapted to engage an inner surface of the annular body of the annular cap to retain the flange member between the annular cap and the proximal end of the cannula. |
| US08899234B2 |
CPAP mask frame
A continuous positive airway pressure (“CPAP”) mask is provided. The CPAP mask includes a mask support that includes a cavity provided within the mask support. The CPAP mask further includes a mask cushion that is received within the cavity. The mask cushion and the mask support each include an opening. Air can pass from an air delivery tube through the openings and into the mask cushion. The mask cushion can be placed around a patient's breathing orifice to deliver the air to the patient. The CPAP mask further includes a forehead support that is spaced apart form the mask support. A neck portion attaches the forehead support to the mask support. The neck portion is flexible and is molded to both the mask support and the forehead support. The flexible neck portion allows the mask support to move with respect to the forehead support. |
| US08899231B2 |
Methods for providing expiratory pressure relief in positive airway pressure therapy
A method of operating a CPAP apparatus in which the interface pressure is controlled to rapidly drop at the start of expiration by an expiratory relief pressure (ERP) that is independent of instantaneous respiratory flow, following which the pressure rises to an inspiratory level at or shortly before the end of expiration, or at the onset of an expiratory pause, if any. The ERP is an increasing function of the inspiratory pressure. The expiratory pressure follows a template that is a function of the expected expiration time, the magnitude of the template being equal to the ERP. The current estimated proportion of expiration is determined by comparing the expiration time of the breath in progress to low-pass filtered expiratory durations measured for a number of the preceding breaths. |
| US08899229B2 |
Powder delivery devices
A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, the delivery device comprising: a substance supply unit for supplying a dose of substance to be delivered to the nasal cavity of the subject, the substance supply unit including an inlet and an outlet; a nosepiece unit including a nosepiece for fitting to a nasal cavity of the subject and being in fluid communication with the outlet of the substance supply unit; and a mouthpiece unit including a mouthpiece in fluid communication with the inlet of the substance supply unit and through which the subject in use exhales such as to entrain substance from the container chamber and deliver the same through the nosepiece, and at least one temperature modifier for reducing a temperature of the exhaled air flow such as to reduce the absolute humidity thereof. |
| US08899227B2 |
Air filtration device having subsections lacking fluid communication
A filtering device 10 that includes a housing 12 having a plurality of subsections 32, 34, and 36 where each subsection contains a filter element 26, 28, and 30. An inlet 18 is disposed at a first location on the housing 12, and an upstream air distribution system is placed in fluid communication with the inlet 18 and with each of the subsections 32, 34, and 36. A downstream air distribution system is located in fluid communication with each subsection 32, 34, and 36, and an outlet 20 is in fluid communication with the downstream air distribution system. The subsections are fashioned such that each subsection 32, 34, and 36 is not in fluid communication with each other. Using a filtering device so constructed, airflow through the device may be better managed to enable overall product service life to be increased while minimizing pressure resistance of the total filter. |
| US08899224B2 |
Submergible combustion burner
A burner apparatus includes a first tube having a first longitudinal bore and a second tube having a second longitudinal bore. The second tube is disposed within the first longitudinal bore such that an annular space is defined between the second tube and the first tube. The burner apparatus further includes a nozzle formed at a tip of the second tube. A plurality of side holes are formed in the nozzle. The side holes are slanted relative to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle and are in communication with the second longitudinal bore. |
| US08899223B2 |
Hot surface igniter shield for a gaseous fuel appliance
A gas burner assembly is provided that has a hot surface igniter. The hot surface igniter is equipped with a shield that protects the igniter from e.g., impact or other damage during cleaning or use. The shield is configured with the gas burner in a manner that can minimize the aesthetic impact on the flame while also providing ignition at low and high gas flow rates. |
| US08899222B2 |
Cook stove assembly
A combustion chamber, having an upper part and a lower part, may include an annular constriction, in combination with the combustion chamber, to aid in directing partially combusted gases such as carbon monoxide away from the periphery of the combustion chamber back toward its center, and into the flame front. The annular constriction may also impede the flow of partially combusted gases located at the periphery, thus increasing the time these gases spend within the combustion chamber and increasing the likelihood that any products of incomplete combustion will undergo combustion. The combustion chamber may further comprise a dual burner cooktop for directing combustion gases and exhaust to multiple cooking vessels. In further embodiments, the combustion chamber may be made of, lined, or clad with a metal alloy comprising iron, chromium, and aluminum. |
| US08899221B2 |
Quiver apparatus for crossbows and bows
An apparatus for crossbows. The crossbow has a stock attached to a bow and the bolt has an arrowhead attached to a shaft. The apparatus includes an arrowhead bracket attached to the stock, the arrowhead bracket having a first arm containing a first receptacle and a second arm containing a second receptacle. The apparatus may include a hood operatively attached to a cap, the hood being operatively configured to receive the arrowhead. The hood may be engagable with the first or second receptacle. The apparatus may contain a brace positioned on one side of the stock and having a first leg pivotally attached to a second leg and wherein said first leg is configured to engage the shaft of the bolt. The apparatus may also include a selective attachment member that will selectively attach the first and second leg together when the legs are pivoted together. |
| US08899217B2 |
Bowstring cam arrangement for compound long bow or crossbow
A compound bow or crossbow employs bowstring cams with bowstring cam grooves and power cord cam grooves. Preferably a pair of generally identical power cord cam grooves are positioned axially above and below the bowstring cam groove. The power cords are anchored to a fixed anchor point, e.g., a pylon, on the near end of the riser or on the near side of the crossbow bar or stock. The power cords do not cross over to the other limb. The reduction in the number of cam wheels and pulleys and in the number of strings or cords results in greater efficiency and higher transfer of energy from the bow to the arrow or bolt. There is no drop-off in pull weight at full draw. The bolt or arrow accelerates throughout the travel of the bowstring, resulting in significantly higher velocity. |
| US08899214B2 |
Exhaust gas recirculation device for an internal combustion engine
A recirculation device includes an air intake duct (3) which is followed by a manifold (6), means for introducing recycled exhaust gases, for mixing same with the fresh air let in. This device is designed to inject the exhaust gases by forming two counter-rotating adjacent vortices (14, 15), owing to a twin tubular mixer nozzle (10, 11) in communication with a common exhaust gas supply duct, positioned tangentially with respect to the two nozzles, placed side by side. The two vortices (14, 15) are self-sustaining to the outlets (7) of the manifold (6). Such a recirculation device is applied, in particular, to an air intake duct (3) of oblong cross section and/or to a manifold (6) with a flattened inlet (5) and/or a flattened plenum (8), in particular for a motor vehicle engine. |
| US08899213B2 |
Vacuum carburetor fuel drain systems and methods
Systems and methods for draining fuel from a carburetor of a combustion engine can include a first control valve in communication between a fuel source and a fuel chamber of a carburetor and a second control valve in communication between the fuel chamber of the carburetor and a drain reservoir. The first and second control valves can be coupled and operable such that, upon disengagement of the engine, the first control valve can be closed to block a supply of fuel to the fuel chamber, and the second control valve can be opened to connect the drain reservoir to the fuel chamber, which can operate to draw liquid fuel from the fuel chamber into the drain reservoir. The fuel can then be moved from the drain reservoir into a fuel storage tank, where it can be stored until needed by the carburetor. |
| US08899212B2 |
Method and system for improving engine starting
An engine system and method for improving engine starting are disclosed. In one example, engine port throttles are adjusted to improve fuel vaporization of a fuel that includes alcohol. The system and method may improve engine starting and emissions. |
| US08899208B2 |
Internal combustion engine piston having axially extending cooling bores
The present invention relates to a piston (10) for an internal combustion engine, comprising a piston head (11) and a piston skirt (16), wherein the piston head (11) has a circumferential ring part (15) and a circumferential cooling channel (23) in the region of the ring part (15), wherein the piston skirt (16) has piston bosses (17), which are provided with boss bores (18) and which are arranged on the underside (11a) of the piston head (11) by means of boss connections (19), wherein the piston bosses (17) are connected to each other by means of running surfaces (21, 22). According to the invention, at least one axial bore (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d), which is closed to the outside and which is arranged between a running surface (21, 22) and a boss bore (18), is provided inside a piston boss (17), the at least one bore (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d) opens into the cooling channel (23), and the cooling channel (23) and the at least one bore (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d) contain a filling (27) of sodium and/or potassium. |
| US08899206B2 |
Balancing device for engine
A balancing device for an engine includes a crankshaft for converting reciprocal motion of a piston of the engine to a rotary motion, at least one electromagnetic force generator mounted apart from the crankshaft by a predetermined distance and generating an electromagnetic force, and a control portion controlling the electromagnetic force generator to generate an electromagnetic force offsetting an unbalanced force occurring according to a rotational position of the crankshaft. |
| US08899205B2 |
Valve apparatus for an internal combustion engine
A method includes coupling a cylinder head to a cylinder block. A valve member is then moved into a valve pocket defined by the cylinder head such that a first stem portion of the valve member engages an actuator. A first portion of the biasing member is then disposed against a second stem portion of the valve member, the second stem portion being opposite the first stem portion. An end plate is then coupled to the cylinder head such that a second portion of the biasing member engages the end plate. |
| US08899201B2 |
One way clutch with vibration damper for an engine starting system
A starting system for a hybrid vehicle includes an internal combustion engine having a crankshaft rotatably supported within an engine block. The starting system includes a pinion gear driven by a starter motor, a drive plate having a set of teeth in constant meshed engagement with the pinion gear, and a one-way clutch. The one-way clutch is adapted to selectively drivingly interconnect the drive plate and the crankshaft. The clutch includes an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with the crankshaft, an outer race coupled for rotation with the drive plate, and a plurality of roller elements positioned radially therebetween. A fastener couples the drive plate to the outer race and compresses an elastomeric damper between the drive plate and the outer race. |
| US08899194B2 |
Two-stroke engine
A two-stroke engine (1) includes a combustion chamber (3) which is defined by a piston (5, 44) which is mounted in the cylinder (2) to reciprocate. The piston (5, 44) has a first control surface (62) which controls an outlet (9) out of the combustion chamber (3) and two second control surfaces (63) for the transfer windows (11, 13) of at least one transfer channel (10, 12). At least two transfer windows (11, 13) are arranged on opposite sides of the cylinder bore (60). At least a first recess is provided on the piston skirt (36) which extends in the peripheral area between the two second control surfaces (63) and which is separated from the transfer window (11, 13) via a section of the piston skirt (36) in every position of the piston (5, 44). |
| US08899193B2 |
In-line six internal combustion engine
One non-limiting object of the present invention is to provide modifications to conventional in line 6 cylinder engines capable of increasing their efficiency in operation. This includes modifying the central two adjacent piston and cylinder assemblies of the engines. The modifications involve (1) changing the camshaft so that the central two adjacent piston and cylinder assemblies have their four stroke cycles in phase rather than 180° out of phase, (2) providing a communicating passage between the combustion chambers of the central two piston and cylinder assemblies and (3) modifying either the hardware or programming for the control of the fuel injectors of the central two piston and cylinder assemblies so that they can be selectively controlled not to inject fuel during the operation cycle thereof. The modifications contemplates providing a new cam shaft in which not only the cams relating to the central two adjacent piston and cylinder assemblies are modified to change 180° out of phase to in phase, but the cams relating to other piston and cylinder assemblies in order to provide a somewhat balanced application of the driving forces during each cycle. |
| US08899191B2 |
Cooling apparatus of engine
A cooling apparatus of an engine includes a cooling fan, a fan housing, and a shroud guiding cooling air from the fan housing to the outer circumferential surface of an engine body portion. Further, a cooling air passage passing throughout in a cylinder head from one side surface of the cylinder head to the other side surface thereof is formed in the cylinder head, and a narrowed or throttle guide portion which guides the cooling air from the interior of the fan housing to an inlet opening of the one side surface of the cooling air passage is formed in the shroud. |
| US08899190B2 |
Temperature dependent flow control for combustion engine piston squirters
An engine assembly includes an engine block that defines a cylinder bore. A reciprocating piston is disposed in the cylinder bore, and has a first side and a second side. The first side cooperates with the engine block to partially define a combustion chamber, and the second side is opposite the first side. A piston squirter is disposed adjacent to the second side of the piston and configured to expel a received flow of engine oil onto the piston. A thermal fluid valve is disposed in fluid communication with the piston squirter and is configured to selectively restrict the flow of engine oil to the piston squirter in response to a temperature of the engine oil. |
| US08899188B1 |
Lightweight portable lift/ramp device for pets
The present general inventive concept relates generally to an animal lift, and more particularly to a portable, lightweight ramp device with collapsible side panels to eliminate the visual cliff perceived by a user animal. |
| US08899183B1 |
Chilled fog incubator for fish eggs
A chilled fog incubator using ultrasonic disruption of water to maintain metabolite transfer for developing salomonid eggs, the incubator includes an incubation space, an air chamber, a sonication chamber, a control box having a pump, a chiller, a reservoir partition, a control switch panel, wheels, and specimen trays. |
| US08899182B2 |
Pet fountain assembly
A pet drinking fountain assembly having a pump forming part of a fountain mounting arrangement that includes a lift tube coupling a cover to the pump coupled to a lower basin by a mount. The mount and lift tube attenuate pump noise and vibration by providing isolation from the basin and cover and can function as dampeners. In a preferred embodiment the pump is part of a pump module that includes a module housing to which the pump is attached by another noise-attenuating mount. Each mount is formed by one or more suction cups with the cups and lift tube made of vibration dampening material, such as a resilient vibration dampening or isolating material that can be an elastomeric material. The module includes a lift tube coupling discharge that registers in fluid flow communication with a pump outlet and can include a ring or bushing therebetween providing additional noise attenuation. |
| US08899178B2 |
Indexed feed dispensing mechanism
An improved livestock feeder provided with an adjustable feed dispensing mechanism including control levers which are operatively connected to the feed metering gates to control the flow of feed to livestock. The dispensing mechanism features a control lever which engage an array of indexing holes formed in the feeder to position the feed gate within the opening to adjust the amount of feed dispensed from the hopper. The dispensing mechanism includes a graduated scale corresponding to each of the index holes to provide a standard setting for the feeder which can be utilized by an animal producer to supply of feed flow at a given stage in the animal's life cycle to obtain a desired growth rate. |
| US08899174B2 |
Device and method for fabricating display device
A device for manufacturing a display device includes a deposition source; a deposition thickness calculator for calculating a deposition thickness of a deposition material deposited on a substrate; and a controller for controlling a power of a heater which heats the deposition source by comparing the deposition thickness calculated with a reference thickness. The controller controls the power of the heater either at least one time for each substrate on which the thin film is to be deposited or at regular intervals while the deposition material is deposited. Influence of measurement noise that is included in a quartz crystal sensor for measuring a deposition speed may be minimized, and distribution of deposition thickness of an organic light emitting material may be reduced, thereby increasing the yield of the deposition process and producing quality display devices. |
| US08899172B2 |
Substrate treatment apparatus and substrate treatment method
A substrate treatment apparatus includes: a substrate holding unit which horizontally holds a substrate; a substrate rotating unit which rotates the substrate held by the substrate holding unit about a vertical axis; a treatment liquid supplying unit which supplies a treatment liquid to an upper surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding unit; an opposing member to be located in opposed spaced relation to the upper surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding unit in contact with a film of the treatment liquid formed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to receive a lift force from the liquid film; a support member which supports the opposing member; and an opposing member holding mechanism which causes the support member to hold the opposing member in a vertically relatively movable manner. |
| US08899170B2 |
Object locating apparatuses
An illustrative embodiment of an object locating apparatus includes a cartridge having a cartridge interior; a float in the cartridge interior; a float attachment line attached to the float and the cartridge; a water-dissolvable float retainer tablet retained in the cartridge interior; a cartridge cap in the cartridge interior; and a spring normally sandwiched and compressed between the cartridge cap and the float retainer tablet and adapted to expand and push the float from the container interior upon dissolving of the float from the retainer tablet. |
| US08899165B2 |
Folding floating vessel
A foldable floating vessel providing a large surface area and heavy payload capability when deployed into a liquid, such as a manure lagoon. The vessel may be folded for transport using linear actuators to fold two hulls of the vessel from a first position substantially horizontal to a second position substantially vertical. Driving and steering assemblies are provided on a center frame to which the foldable hulls are pivotably connected. |
| US08899163B2 |
Biomass pulverizing apparatus and biomass/coal mixed-combustion system
A biomass pulverizing apparatus includes a pulverizing apparatus body including a feedstock supply pipe, the pulverizing apparatus body for supplying biomass feedstock from above in a vertical axial direction, a pulverizing table for placing the biomass feedstock, a drive section for rotationally driving the pulverizing table, a pulverizing roller for pulverizing the biomass feedstock by a pressing force, the pulverizing roller being operated in conjunction with the rotation of the pulverizing table, a blower unit for forming an upward flow upward from below on the outer peripheral side of the pulverizing table so as to jet conveying gas for conveying the pulverized biomass powder in an air stream, a classifier, the classifier for classifying the biomass powder accompanied with the conveying gas, and a blowing gas introduction section. |
| US08899162B2 |
Unitized shelving
The shelf assembly comprises a shelf having top and bottom surfaces. The shelf includes at least one support rail that is secured to the bottom surface of the shelf and runs parallel to one side of said shelf. The support rail also has a tab slot, which is located in a side and adjacent to an end thereof. The shelf assembly also comprises a shelf bracket having a lip and a skirt that extends perpendicular from said lip. The lip and the skirt extend along a length of the shelf bracket, and the shelf bracket has a first tab, which is located in the lip and configured to be removably received in the tab slot. The shelf bracket also has anchoring tabs that are located on an end thereof and configured to be received in a shelving support frame. |
| US08899161B2 |
Railroad tank car manway assembly
A manway assembly features a nozzle defining a central opening. The nozzle has a groove or a plurality of grooves. A hinge pivotally attaches a cover to the nozzle so that the cover may be pivoted between an open position, where the central opening is generally uncovered, and a closed position, where the central opening is generally covered by the cover. Retainers secure a plurality of latch segments to the cover so that the latch segments may slide with respect to the cover. A latching mechanism moves the latch segments into engagement with the groove of the nozzle sidewall when the cover is in the closed position. The latching mechanism also removes the latch segments from engagement with the sidewall groove when the cover is to be opened. |
| US08899157B2 |
Aerial transport installation with back-and-forth movement and multiple sections
An aerial transport installation with back-and-forth movement includes two carrying-hauling ropes extending in two individual closed loops between two end terminals separated from one another by an intermediate station which is provided with a double pulley. The latter is provided with two grooves having different groove root diameters, such that the ratio of the diameters is equal to the ratio respectively of the axial distance between the first bull-wheel and the double pulley and of the axial distance between the second bull-wheel and the double pulley. The speeds of the vehicles are also different in the two loops. |
| US08899155B2 |
Consumable ammunition assembly having a nitroguanidine case and method of making a consumable ammunition assembly having a nitroguanidine case
The present disclosure describes various embodiments of nitroguanidine-based consumable ammunition assemblies and methods of producing and using these assemblies. In one embodiment, for example, a nitroguanidine-based consumable ammunition assembly can include a projectile, a Combustible Cartridge Cased body using nitroguanidine as the primary energetic material, and a composite case base interfacing with the CCC body. |
| US08899149B2 |
Letterpress printing plate
A letterpress printing plate, made of a material having flexibility, includes a plurality of raised parts to applying ink to, the raised parts including a raised part for solid shade, and a buildup part formed at a backside position of the raised part for solid shade with respect to the printing plate. |
| US08899147B2 |
Compact blender for fruit juice
A compact blender with a drinking water connection tube, supporting conventional tap water connections has a water dosing valve to pressure water distributed to the blending compartment or jug. Water flows from the connection tube, to a splitting device, from where inlet tubes that allow passing of water inside the blending compartment. The lid has external protrusions with inner cavities connected a duct with holes that introduce drinking water inside the blending compartment. When the frozen fruit capsule is introduced through the lid and the operation button is pushed, the exact amount of water is dosed by the water dosing valve. When water enters the blending compartment, the motor starts running turning the axle of the rotor and blades, so that water is mixed with the frozen fruit capsule thus generating the juice to be dispensed. |
| US08899144B2 |
Popcorn popping machine with overhead oil pump
A popcorn popping machine is provided including a cabinet, a popcorn popping kettle mounted within the cabinet, and a pump mounted at a height above a height of the kettle that is configured to pump oil from a container of oil and deliver the oil to the kettle. Control circuitry is provided for operating the pump to deliver oil to the kettle. |
| US08899140B2 |
System for evacuating cartridges
A system is for evacuating cartridges, applied to a firearm 1. The firearm includes a breech 14, a firing chamber 12 in which the projectile that will come out through a barrel 13 is fired. The evacuation system includes an evacuation tray 2, adapted to receive the cartridge following deflagration of an ammunition, and a movement mechanism 3, adapted to move the tray 2. The movement mechanism 3 turns the evacuation tray 2 about an axis “X”, parallel to the axis of the barrel 13 of the firearm 1, in a preset and appropriately cadenced way, passing from a first position, where the cartridge is received, to a second position, where the cartridge is expelled by the expulsion mechanism 5, and vice versa. |
| US08899134B2 |
High-efficiency wheel lug nut socket for use in automotive racing pits
An improved, high-efficiency wheel lug nut socket is provided for use in racing pits, in order to minimize the time required for race car wheel changeovers. The socket is designed with an inner operating surface including concave surfaces and intervening apex surfaces, dimensioned so as to permit a hexagonal lug nut to be received therein with full clearance between the inner operating surface and the lug nut outer surface. The socket is normally used with a conventional high-speed pneumatic automotive wrench. |
| US08899132B2 |
Spindle unit, table unit, and machine tool
A spindle unit having a tilt shaft for rotating and tilting a spindle head so that a posture of a spindle changes including: the spindle head rotatably supporting the spindle, a tool being attached to a front end of the spindle; a spindle head support having a mutually separated pair of side walls, the spindle head support supporting the spindle head between the pair of side walls in a rotatable and tiltable manner; two power transmission mechanisms provided along the pair of side walls of the spindle head support for transmitting rotational drive power to the tilt shaft; and two drive source devices of the tilt shaft provided between the pair of side walls, the output shafts of the drive source devices being arranged to face the side walls and being connected to the power transmission mechanisms. |
| US08899129B2 |
Steering device for construction machine
A tilt-up mechanism for tilting up an upper column of a steering column from a drive position to a tilt-up position is configured independently from a tilt angle adjusting mechanism and a column length adjusting mechanism. When an operator who is to get on/off an operator's seat steps on and operates a pedal of the tilt-up mechanism, an engaged state of a lock pin with respect to a tilt-up member is disengaged. The tilt-up member is rotated around a support shaft, by a spring force of a tilt-up spring, whereby the upper column is tilted up together with a steering wheel in a direction (A) away from the operator's seat. At this time, the tilt angle and the column length can be held at positions adjusted in advance. |
| US08899127B2 |
Safety trigger mechanism and functional frame for motion furniture
The present invention discloses a safety trigger mechanism and functional frame for motion furniture for driving a drive mechanism of motion furniture. The safety trigger mechanism includes a mounting board, and a pull wire, a fork and a first restoring spring connected in turn. The fork is mounted turnably about a first rivet on the mounting board by the first rivet, and a bent hook is disposed on one end of the fork and interlocked with a driving arm of the drive mechanism. The safety trigger mechanism further includes a safety hook with a notch, which is mounted turnably about a second rivet on the mounting board by the second rivet. One side edge of the safety hook abuts against the bent hook of the fork, and the driving arm has an arresting pin disposed thereon. The initial position of the arresting pin is in the notch of the safety hook, and the arresting pin is detached from the notch of the safety hook when the safety hook turns clockwise. Since the arresting pin of the driving arm is hooked by the safety hook to ensure that the drive mechanism cannot be unfolded, the present invention has more safety. Even if a large external force acts on the driving arm, the drive mechanism won't unfold itself. |
| US08899125B2 |
Counterbalance assembly
A mechanical arm assembly comprises an arm rotatable about a pivot, a first force generating device for maintaining the arm at a datum, and a second force generating device for compensating for the first generating device to maintain the arm in positions other than the datum. |
| US08899121B2 |
Spindle drive
A spindle drive having a threaded spindle driveable in a rotational fashion, a carriage adjustable via the threaded spindle along a guide rail, and several guide carriages arranged in front and behind the carriage in the feed direction to support the spindle, with the guide carriages arranged in front of the carriage in an accumulating motion being pushed together successively by the carriage towards the spindle end, and with the guide carriages arranged behind the carriage being entrained by a coupling mechanism and moved into allocated support positions. Coupling elements are provided on the guide carriages and the carriage, that cooperate together and can be operated by switching elements fixed on the guide rail, by which the guide carriages arranged in front of the carriage are automatically coupled during the successive displacement motion, and by which the entrained guide carriages upon reaching their support position are automatically decoupled and fixed. |
| US08899120B2 |
Linear actuator
A linear actuator is provided which includes a motor and a screw as an output shaft and in which the rotational movement of the motor is converted into the linear movement of the screw, wherein at least one retainer to hold a plurality of balls is disposed at the inner periphery of a hollow rotor of the motor, a ball screw is formed at the outer periphery of the screw, the balls are engaged with the ball screw such that the screw is set coaxial to the rotor, and wherein the screw provided with the ball screw is moved linearly by means of the rotation of the balls disposed circumferentially at the inner periphery of the rotor. |
| US08899109B2 |
Device for ascertaining a fill level of a medium
In the case of a device for ascertaining a fill level of a medium inside a collection container, having at least one measuring chamber, in which an ultrasonic sensor is arranged, connected to conduct media to the collection chamber, and having at least one antechamber connected upstream from the measuring chamber, which has at least one inlet opening for the medium from the collection chamber, at least one flow damper for the medium, according to the invention, is arranged in at least one subarea of the antechamber. Thereby multiple antechambers, which are connected in series one behind another to conduct media, are connected upstream from the measuring chamber. |
| US08899108B2 |
Flow sensor with multi-position laminar flow element having integrated bypass channels
A flow sensor includes a main flow body, a laminar flow element, and first and second bypass channels. The first bypass channel is formed in, and extends at least partially around, the outer surface of the laminar flow element, and is in fluid communication with the main flow channel and defines a first bypass flow passage between the laminar flow element and the main flow body. The second bypass channel is formed in, and extends at least partially around, the outer surface of the laminar flow element, and is in fluid communication with the main flow channel and defines a second bypass flow passage between the laminar flow element and the main flow body. |
| US08899102B2 |
Method and apparatus for trapping single particles in microfluidic channels
Methods and apparatus for improving measurements of particle or cell characteristics, such as mass, in Suspended Microchannel Resonators (SMR's). Apparatus include in particular designs for trapping particles in SMR's for extended measurement periods. Methods include techniques to provide differential measurements by varying the fluid density for repeated measurements on the same particle or cell. |
| US08899101B2 |
Apparatus for sample handling
A sampler (10), in particular for use in testing the dissolution behavior of pharmaceutical products, wherein the sampler (10) comprises: a vial holder (20) for accommodating a plurality of vials (22a, 22b); a sampling needle assembly (30) with a plurality of sampling needles, wherein the sampling needle assembly (30) and the vial holder (20) may be moved relative to one another in such a way that the sampling needles of the sampling needle assembly (30) may be inserted into the vials of the vial holder (20); and a pump unit (40) with a plurality of diaphragm pumps (42a, 42b) which are designed to convey a fluid via the sampling needle assembly to the vials in the vial holder (20) and to withdraw a fluid therefrom. |
| US08899100B2 |
Testing protocol for a double walled tank
A protocol for testing the integrity of a double-walled underground storage tank. |
| US08899095B2 |
MRI compatible and air-actuated olfactometer
An olfactometer is disclosed. Such an olfactometer may include a control unit, an odor box, and a nose piece in communication with the odor box. The control unit may include a reservoir, and a compressor for supplying pressurized air to the reservoir. The odor box may include at least one compressed air actuated valve, and at least one odor canister in communication with the valve. A compressed air flow and a breathable air flow are both released from the reservoir and directed to the valve. The compressed air flow actuates the valve to thereby direct the breathable air to the odor canister to odorize the breathable air. The odorized breathable air is then directed to the nose piece. |
| US08899094B1 |
Evaluation of ballistic resistance of steel in terms of ballistically induced plasticity
The present invention is typically embodied as a method for studying ballistic resistance of one or more steel materials. A projectile is caused to strike groups of steel samples made of the same steel material, and the ballistic limit V50 of each steel material is determined. Prior to the V50 testing, a sample of each steel material is metallographically imaged so as to reveal austenitic bodies therein. The austenitic volume fraction of a sample of each steel material is measured via VSM at least once prior to the V50 testing and at least once subsequent to the V50 testing. Subsequent to the V50 testing, a microhardness distribution is mapped characterizing a sample of each steel material in the vicinity of the ballistic crater. The empirical results are assessed in light of the inventively discovered mechanism of plasticity of the steel that is ballistically induced in relation to austenite-to-martensite transformation. |
| US08899091B2 |
Method for producing such a metal closure with separate disc and ring from a single closure blank
A method of production for a 2-piece “Combo” style closure (1′), having a disk (10′) constrained within a peripheral ring (20′). The “combo” style closure (1′) is produced from a conventional one-piece closure shell (1) by cutting the sidewall (20) in the vicinity of the top plate (10) to produce the ring (20′) and disc (10′) respectively. |
| US08899090B2 |
Quenched and tempered joint cage
A cage having a plurality of cutouts for receiving rolling bodies of a joint includes a quenched and tempered steel, and the entire cage has a substantially uniform ductility over its cross section without surface hardening. The cage may be produced by forming a closed base body, cutting out a plurality of cutouts, fully hardening the cage by heating and subsequently quenching the cage, and tempering the cage. |
| US08899089B1 |
Apparatus to produce self-piercing and clinch nut and method for producing self-piercing and clinch nut
An apparatus to produce a self-piercing and clinch nut includes a first forging die assembly, a second forging die assembly, a third forging die assembly, a transfer mechanism, and a controller. The first forging die assembly is configured to subject a blank to first processing. The second forging die assembly is adjacent to the first forging die assembly and configured to subject the blank to second processing after the blank has undergone the first processing in the first forging die assembly. The third forging die assembly is adjacent to the second forging die assembly and configured to subject the blank to third processing after the blank has undergone the second processing in the second forging die assembly. The controller is configured to control the first forging die assembly, the second forging die assembly, the third forging die assembly, and the transfer mechanism to operate. |
| US08899087B2 |
High strength, high carbon steel wire and method of producing the same
The present invention provides a method which enables a steel wire to be highly strengthened with maintaining good ductility. Specifically, the present invention provides a method comprising: subjecting a high carbon steel wire material having carbon content of 0.85 to 1.10 mass % to a pre-stage drawing process with a predetermined magnitude of drawing, to form an intermediate wire material; subjecting the intermediate wire material formed by the pre-stage drawing process to a patenting treatment in which tensile strength of the wire material is adjusted to a range of 1323 to 1666 MPa; then subjecting the patented steel wire material to a subsequent drawing process including the final drawing. |
| US08899086B2 |
Pre-rounding element on a rounding apparatus
A pre-rounding element (14) is used in a rounding apparatus (4) for rounding can body blanks from sheet metal blanks. The lower element part (22) of the pre-rounding element (14) is displaceable by an actuation element (23). This allows the adjustment of the pre-rounding element even during operation of the rounding apparatus. Preferably a measurement of sheet metal blank properties takes place. The measurement may include a thickness measurement and/or a strength measurement of blanks. The pre-rounding element is controlled in dependency of the measurement result. This allows a constant rounding result even with varying sheet metal properties. |
| US08899079B2 |
Independently controlled rollers for take-down assembly of knitting machine
A knitting machine includes a take-down assembly that includes a first take-down roller and a second take-down roller. The first take-down roller is configured to rotatably contact and apply tension to a first portion of a knit component. The second take-down roller is configured to rotatably contact and apply tension to a second portion of the knit component. The knitting machine further includes a first actuator that actuates to selectively adjust tension applied by the first take-down roller on the first portion of the knit component. Furthermore, the knitting machine includes a second actuator that actuates to selectively adjust tension applied by the second take-down roller on the second portion of the knit component. Additionally, the knitting machine includes a controller that is operably coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator to selectively and independently control actuation of the first actuator and the second actuator. |
| US08899077B2 |
Surface treatment method for glass substrate and article manufactured by the same
A surface treatment for a glass substrate includes at least following steps: the glass substrate is provided; a fastening device is provided, the fastening device defines a receiving groove corresponding to the glass substrate; the glass substrate is positioned in the receiving groove, and the fastening device is heated to achieve a softened glass substrate; a insert is provided; and the insert is hot pressed and inserted to the softened glass substrate. An article manufactured by the surface treatment method is also disclosed. |
| US08899076B2 |
Gas treatment device
Disclosed is a gas treatment device that can efficiently regulate the temperature of a gas without being affected by load. Said device is provided with: a compressor (1); a heat exchanger; a separator; an expander (3); a refrigerant gas flow control valve (22); a branching channel (13); a first branching-channel heat exchanger (24) and a second branching-channel heat exchanger (25); a first outlet channel that is connected to a liquefied process gas outlet on the separator and that bypasses the first branching-channel heat exchanger (24); a second outlet channel that is connected to an outlet on the expander (3) and that bypasses the second branching-channel heat exchanger (25); a first thermometer (23) in a main channel; a second thermometer (26) in the branching channel (13); a third thermometer (27) in the separator; a flow control valve (20) on the main channel; and a control means (5) that controls the flow control valve (20) and/or the refrigerant gas flow control valve (22) on the basis of temperatures measured by the first through third thermometers (23, 26, 27). |
| US08899075B2 |
Air separation method and apparatus
A method and apparatus for separating air in which an argon refining column of a distillation column system is reboiled with a liquid air stream. The argon refining column further refines crude argon produced by a crude argon column connected to a lower pressure column of the distillation column system. At least one intermediate reflux stream is formed, at least indirectly, from at least part of the liquid air stream, and is introduced into the lower pressure column at a level thereof above where a crude liquid oxygen column bottoms of a higher pressure column of such system is further refined to increase a liquid to vapor ratio below said level and therefore, argon recovery from the argon refining column. |
| US08899073B2 |
Parallel plate type refrigerant storage device
A refrigerant storage device that arranges two end plates to form a cavity and includes a turbulator plate within the cavity. The turbulator plate is arranged within the cavity to reinforce the cavity by providing a plurality of reinforcement portions between the end plates. The cavity is sized and the turbulator plate is configured so a liquid portion of refrigerant flowing through the cavity collects onto the turbulator plate. The device has a rectangular shape that simplifies vehicle packaging and allows the device to be readily integrated into a plate-type refrigerant-to-liquid coolant heat exchanger. The device is formed by a stacking arrangement of parts that provides for a readily scalable design. |
| US08899072B2 |
Ice maker mounting adapter for ice and beverage dispenser
An adapter for mounting an icemaker on top of an ice bin of an ice and beverage dispenser has a lid mounted for both sliding movement and pivotal movement relative to the remainder of the adapter. The lid normally covers an inlet to the ice bin. To expose the ice bin inlet for visually inspection of the interior of the bin and/or to accommodate manual filling of the bin with ice, the lid is manually slid forward off of and then be rotated away from the bin inlet to fully expose the inlet. The lid at all times remains connected to the adapter so that it is not lost or exposed to unsanitary conditions. |
| US08899070B2 |
Refrigeration device with a holder for a section of a refrigerant line
A method for preventing condensation on a surface of a domestic refrigeration device and a corresponding domestic refrigeration device having a refrigerated chamber, a refrigerant line, and a refrigerant circulation system structured to transfer heat energy from the refrigerated chamber into the refrigerant circulation system via the refrigerant line. The refrigerant line may include a heat-emitting section in heat-conducting contact with a trim strip of the refrigeration device running below the refrigerated chamber. |
| US08899067B2 |
Refrigerating apparatus
A refrigerating apparatus including a control unit which starts the operation of the refrigerant compressor in response to an operation signal and which regulates the pressure reducing device so that the temperature of a refrigerant in the water heat exchanger becomes +80 ° C. or more and the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator becomes 0 ° C. or less. The control unit detects a state where a cold storage amount in the cold storage unit reaches a predetermined amount or more and another state where the control unit judges whether the hot water storage tank is full of the hot water, after the elapse of a predetermined time from the start of the operation of the refrigerant compressor, and it stops the operation of the refrigerant compressor when one of the states is satisfied. |
| US08899062B2 |
Plate-type heat pump air conditioner heat exchanger for a unitary heat pump air conditioner
A plate-type heat exchanger having a first heat exchanger portion configured to receive a refrigerant flow and a hot side coolant flow having a lower temperature than the refrigerant flow, a second heat exchanger portion configured to receive the refrigerant flow exiting from the first heat exchanger portion and a cold side coolant flow having a higher temperature than the refrigerant flow exiting from the first heat exchanger portion, and an internal heat exchanger portion sandwiched between the first heat exchanger portion and the second heat exchanger portion. The refrigerant flow through the plate type heat exchanger is in non-contact thermal communication with the hot side coolant flow and the cold side coolant flow. The cold side coolant flow transfers heat energy to the refrigerant, which in turn transfer that heat energy to the hot side coolant flow. |
| US08899056B2 |
Air conditioner
An air conditioner includes a compressor, first and second heat exchangers connected with high pressure piping, low pressure piping connecting the second heat exchanger to a compressor suction port, a pressure reducing mechanism arranged to reduce pressure in the high pressure piping, a bypass passageway, a vessel connected to the bypass passageway, and first and second opening/closing mechanisms. The first heat exchanger is connected to a compressor discharge port. The bypass passageway is arranged to divert refrigerant from the high pressure piping to the low pressure piping without passing through the second heat exchanger. The first opening/closing mechanism is arranged to open/close a first portion of the bypass passageway that connects the high pressure piping to the vessel. The second opening/closing mechanism is arranged to open/close a second portion of the bypass passageway that connects an upper part of the vessel to the low pressure piping. |
| US08899055B2 |
Device and method for cooling and dehumidifying room air
The invention relates to a system and method for cooling and dehumidifying air in a room. The system includes a processing unit structured and arranged to process a coolant to achieve a cooling that exceeds cold due to evaporation, wherein the coolant cools and dehumidifies air coming into contact with the coolant. The system also comprises a distribution unit arranged to expose the coolant to the air and a collecting unit structured to feed the coolant that has come into contact with the air into the processing unit. |
| US08899047B2 |
Gas turbine power plant having fuel heating means
Provided is a power plant including a gas turbine that uses a fuel gas as a fuel; a fuel gas cooler that cools the fuel gas, which is to be pressurized in a fuel gas compressor and re-circulated, using cooling water; and a dust collection device that separates/removes impurities from the fuel gas that is to be guided to the fuel gas compressor; wherein the power plant further includes heating means that heats the fuel gas that is to be guided to the dust collection device using the fuel gas that has been used to generate an anti-thrust force acting on a rotor of the fuel gas compressor. |
| US08899046B2 |
Method of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, and an apparatus
The present invention relates to a method of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy using a non-gaseous working medium present in an apparatus comprising a plurality of heat exchangers and an outgoing shaft. In accordance with the invention, the apparatus used comprises a multitude of chamber units, a chamber unit comprising an inlet for introducing heat exchange medium and an outlet for discharging heat exchange medium as well as a closed chamber having a heat exchanger wall for exchanging heat between working medium inside the closed chamber and the heat exchange medium introduced into the chamber unit via said inlet for introducing heat exchange medium and heat exchange medium is passed around so as to do work when it is giving off heat to a chamber unit containing relatively cool working medium and recuperate heat when it is passed through a chamber unit containing relatively warm working medium. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the method. |
| US08899042B2 |
Internal combustion engine and associated operational method
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine and operating method. The internal combustion engine includes a fresh air system for the supplying of fresh air to at least one combustion chamber; an exhaust gas system for the carrying away of exhaust gas from the at least one combustion chamber; an exhaust gas recycling system for the recycling the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas system into the fresh air system; and at least one additional valve, configured in the fresh air system upstream of at least one inlet valve associated with the at least one combustion chambers. A control device is configured to actuate at least one additional valve such that at least one of a particle content in the exhaust gas and a fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine are at least one of optimum and optimal comprise for at least one environmental parameter. |
| US08899039B2 |
Reservoir and master cylinder
Provided is a reservoir having first and second partitions. The first partitions partition a brake reservoir chamber and clutch reservoir chambers. The first partitions extend in a length direction of the vehicle and are formed uprightly along the sidewalls. The second partitions connect the first partitions and the sidewalls adjacent to the first partitions. The second partitions are formed uprightly at middle positions of the respective sidewalls in the length direction of the vehicle. The brake reservoir chamber and the clutch reservoir chambers are formed to face the sidewalls. |
| US08899038B2 |
Release actuator employing components with different coefficients of thermal expansion
An actuator includes a capturing part, a retained part and a heating element which applies heat to the retained part or the capturing part responsive to selective application of power to the at least one heating element. The capturing part attaches to a first object and has a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The retained part attaches to a second object and has a second coefficient of thermal expansion. The retained part is insertable into the capturing part in a first state of the actuator. The retained part is held in contact with the capturing part via an interference fit to hold the first and second objects proximate to each other in a second state. The retained part is ejected from the capturing part in a third state. Applying heat via the heating element causes a transition between the second and the first or third states of the actuator. |
| US08899034B2 |
Hydraulic system with fluid flow summation control of a variable displacement pump and priority allocation of fluid flow
A system has a variable displacement pump that supplies pressurized fluid to power a plurality of hydraulic functions. Each hydraulic function has a control valve with a variable source orifice controlling fluid flow between the pump and a flow summation node, and a variable metering orifice controlling fluid flow between the flow summation node and a hydraulic actuator. Variable bypass orifices in the control valves are connected in series between the flow summation node and a tank. As the metering orifice in a control valve enlarges, the source orifice enlarges and the bypass orifice shrinks. This alters pressure at the flow summation node, which is used to control the output of the pump. Components are provided to give selected hydraulic functions different levels of priority with respect to consuming fluid flow from the pump. |
| US08899032B2 |
Stator centering plate
A stator assembly for a torque converter includes first and second blade plates, a one-way clutch assembly disposed axially between the blade plates and a centering plate. The one-way clutch assembly has an inner race with an outer circumferential surface, an outer race with an outer circumferential surface, and a plurality of blocking elements disposed radially between the inner race and the outer race. The centering plate includes a ring portion grippingly engaged with the outer race outer circumferential surface and an annular portion with an inner circumferential surface arranged to radially position the inner race outer circumferential surface. In an example embodiment, at least one of the blade plates is made by stamping. |
| US08899027B2 |
Hybrid electric vehicle particulate regeneration method and system
A method is applied to regenerate particulate matter in a particulate filter of a hybrid electric vehicle having a combination of a combustion engine and an electric motor for propelling the vehicle, the hybrid electric vehicle having an electrically heated catalyst disposed in flow communication with the particulate filter in an exhaust system of the vehicle. The method determines whether the combustion engine is or is not combusting fuel, and under a condition where the combustion engine is not combusting fuel, the catalyst is electrically heated until it has reached a temperature suitable to cause ignition of the particulate matter. The electric motor is used to facilitate rotation of the combustion engine at a rotational speed suitable to draw air into and be exhausted out of the combustion engine into the exhaust system, across the catalyst, and into the particulate filter to facilitate ignition of the particulate in the filter. |
| US08899026B2 |
Arrangement for introducing a liquid medium into exhaust gases from a combustion engine
Arrangement for introducing a liquid medium into exhaust gases from a combustion engine, having a mixing duct, an injector for injecting the liquid medium into the mixing duct, and an inlet duct situated upstream of the mixing duct. The inlet duct has a first duct section which is annular in cross-section and a second duct section which is annular in cross-section. The second duct section is situated downstream of the first duct section and surrounds the mixing duct. The first duct section surrounds the second duct section. The mixing duct further has a flow reversal section via which an annular outlet of the first duct section is connected to an annular inlet of the second duct section and which is configured to reverse the direction of flow of the exhaust gases flowing through the inlet duct, to flow through the second duct section in a direction opposite to that of the exhaust gases in the first duct section. |
| US08899024B2 |
Engine exhaust purification device
An engine exhaust purification device comprises: a selective reduction type NOx catalyst; an oxidation catalyst disposed on an upstream side of the NOx catalyst; a reducing agent adding device which adds an NOx reducing agent to an exhaust gas of an engine; a control device which controls the reducing agent adding device; and an NO2 ratio calculation device which estimates an NO2 ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx catalyst. The NO2 ratio of the exhaust gas flowing into the NOx catalyst is calculated by a catalytic reaction model where the oxidation reaction of NO in the oxidation catalyst is numerically formulated, and the NO2 ratio is reflected to calculate an amount of ammonia adsorbed on the NOx catalyst by a catalytic reaction model where a chemical reaction concerned with the reduction of NOx in the NOx catalyst is numerically formulated. |
| US08899019B2 |
Air-fuel ratio control apparatus
An air-fuel ratio control apparatus of the present invention includes a determination section and a reverse direction correction introducing section. The determination section determines whether or not an output of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor falls within a predetermined range whose center corresponds to a target value corresponding to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. When the output of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor falls within the predetermined range, the reverse direction correction introducing section temporarily introduces, to an air-fuel ratio correction in a direction requested by the output, an air-fuel ratio correction in a direction opposite to the requested direction. |
| US08899016B2 |
Integrated WGS/ECD exhaust treatment device for internal combustion engine having an EGR loop
An integrated water-gas-shift (WGS) and emissions control device (ECD) catalyst for treating exhaust from an internal combustion engine. The engine is assumed to have an EGR loop, such that exhaust is recirculated back to the engine's intake. A WGS catalyst on the EGR loop, for conditioning the EGR flow, is integrated with a catalyzed ECD on the main exhaust line, for reducing pollutant emissions. |
| US08899015B2 |
Catalyst degradation detection device
A catalyst degradation detection device, determines whether a three-way catalyst has degraded on the basis of the maximum value of the amount of oxygen stored by the catalyst. When determining whether the three-way catalyst has degraded, the amount of stored oxygen is calculated, and the responsiveness of change in the output signal of an oxygen sensor to oxygen concentration change in catalyst-downstream exhaust is measured. Then, on the basis of the responsiveness of the oxygen sensor which measured the oxygen storage amount, the oxygen storage amount is corrected by reducing the same such that the worsened the measured responsiveness relative to a reference value, the greater the reduction in the oxygen storage amount used in determining whether the three-way catalyst has degraded. The corrected oxygen storage amount used is prevented from deviating from the correct value on the basis of a worsening of the responsiveness of the oxygen sensor. |
| US08899014B2 |
Emission control system for internal combustion engine
An emission control system for an engine includes a catalyst and an exhaust-gas sensor provided downstream of the catalyst in a flow direction of exhaust gas. The exhaust-gas sensor includes a sensor element that includes a pair of electrodes and a solid electrolyte body located between the electrodes. The emission control system further includes a constant current supply portion that changes an output characteristic of the exhaust-gas sensor by applying a constant current between the electrodes, a rich direction control portion that performs a rich direction control after a fuelling-stop control, and a characteristic control portion that performs a rich responsiveness control during the rich direction control. In the rich direction control, an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is made to be richer. In the rich responsiveness control, the constant current supply portion increases a detection responsiveness of the exhaust-gas sensor with respect to rich gas. |
| US08899009B2 |
Fuel anti-icing and APU compartment drain combination
A heat exchanger has a first passage to be connected to a source of fuel. The heat exchanger has an outlet to communicate the fuel downstream. A second passage connects to a source of air. The air passes adjacent to the first passage to heat fuel in the first passage. A jet pump is positioned downstream of the second passage to receive air from the second passage. The jet pump includes a tap connected to a housing compartment to drain fluid from the compartment. A method is also disclosed. |
| US08899005B2 |
Bi-directional drive system for turf groomer and turf brush application
A bi-directional drive system for turf grooming and brushing operations is provided. In various embodiments, the system includes a reel deck assembly having a reel blade assembly rotatably supported on a reel blade shaft axially rotatable in a reel blade shaft rotation direction. The system additionally includes a first positive engagement member rotatably connected to the reel deck assembly, and an attachment member releasably connected to the first positive engagement member. The attachment member is simultaneously axially rotatable in an attachment member first axial rotation direction that is the same as the reel blade shaft rotation direction, or an attachment member second axial rotation direction opposite to the reel blade shaft rotation direction. The bi-directional rotation is implemented by selective engagement of a drive system connected to the reel blade shaft. |
| US08899003B2 |
Methods of providing stacks of wet wipes with improved wetness gradients
A method of reducing a wetness gradient development for a package of wet wipes is provided. The method includes, after wet wipes are enclosed within a package to form the package of wet wipes, locating the package of wet wipes in a first orientation such that a first side of the package of wet wipes faces downward and an opposite second side of the package of wet wipes faces upward to form a first wetness gradient after a preselected amount of time. Prior to opening the package of wet wipes to access the wet wipes enclosed within the package of wet wipes, inverting the package of wet wipes according to a predetermined turning schedule to place the package of wet wipes in a second orientation such that the first side of the package of wet wipes faces upward and the second side of the package of wet wipes faces downward to form a second wetness gradient that is different from the first wetness gradient. |
| US08899002B1 |
Tray loader and method
An apparatus and method is provided for loading objects having a first degree of hardness onto a tray having a different degree of hardness where sliding contact between the objects and the tray would cause damage. The tray loading is accomplished by engaging and holding objects in a carrier. The carrier carries the objects to a position over the tray and lowers the objects onto the tray surface, avoiding abrasion between the objects and the tray. The carrier includes sensors for verifying the presence of the objects. |
| US08898997B2 |
In-wall hydronic thermal control system and installation method
A system for installing tubing of hydronic thermal control systems in the walls, including ceilings, of buildings. It allows for the stable incorporation of the tubing in the walls while ensuring good thermal conductivity between the tubing and the building's room. The system features a wall including a hydronic thermal management system. The wall comprises a vertically-extending wall support structure, tubing panels secured to the wall support structure, the panels being constructed from wood material, tubing in the tubing panels for carrying a heat transfer fluid, and drywall panels secured over the tubing panels. A filling material is applied between the tubing and the drywall panels. Also a high thermally conductive layer, such as aluminum foil, is used between the filling material and the drywall panels or between the filling material and the tubing panels. |
| US08898995B2 |
Plug assembly and a method for sealing a hole
A dual stage plug assembly 10 which provides a first sealing stage which is cooperatively provided by the insertion members 12, 14 (including the unexpanded portion 24) and a second sealing stage which is provided by selectively expandable member 24. The plug assembly 10 is selectively inserted into a hole, such as hole 80, which is formed in a tangible entity, such as basement wall 82, and the members 12 and 14 cooperates with member 24 to seal the hole 80, thereby preventing water and/or other liquid from entering and passing through the hole 80. |
| US08898991B2 |
Wind turbine tower base assembly with detachable tower base rings
A tower base ring assembly is provided for securing a wind turbine tower to a foundation. A top ring is configured for securing to a wind turbine tower. A bottom ring has an open center and a plurality of radially oriented troughs spaced circumferentially about the open center, with each trough having an outer end. The top ring and the bottom ring are detachable from one another, and the tower base ring assembly is connectable to the foundation. |
| US08898990B2 |
Modular building blocks with interlocking reinforcement rods
A modular building block assembly comprises a modular building block having a first load-bearing surface with a key. There is a recess in the key. The recess has a shoulder disposed therein and side walls extending from the shoulder to a mouth thereof. A reinforcement rod extends into the recess and a coupling for connecting vertically aligned reinforcement rods is disposed in the recess. The vertically aligned reinforcement rods each threadedly engage the coupling. A locking plate engages the coupling to prevent the coupling from rotating relative to the locking plate. The locking plate sits within the recess and rotation of the locking plate within the recess is prevented by the side walls of the recess. |
| US08898989B2 |
Gusset block construction
Gusset Block Construction deals with a block that is cored from all sides. The blocks are cubes and elongated cubes with a pyramid or elongated pyramid shaped cavity on each side resulting in a block in which each of the twelve edges is central on a gusset shape extending from said edge to the central axis of the block. With the use of a second octahedron block that fits within the pyramid shaped cavities a wall that requires no fastening can be built by placing octahedrons in the top cavities of a layer of blocks and placing another layer of blocks on it. These blocks will be able to come apart at the joints during an earthquake without completely disassembling and can return to original position when the earthquake stops. They can be molded in a two piece split mold and are scaleable; tapered piers could be made. |
| US08898988B2 |
Mechanical locking system for floor panels
Floor panels (1b, 1c) provided with a mechanical locking system made of a separate material in order to reduce snapping resistance during vertical displacement. |
| US08898986B1 |
Hanger bar
A runner hanger comprising a metal strip having a plurality of spaced upper holes, a lower portion including a lower edge interrupted by a series of regularly spaced notches, the notches being configured to receive a hollow reinforcing bulb of a grid runner extending transversely to the hanger, the notch having a pair of longitudinally spaced ledges configured to support the bottom sides of a reinforcing bulb, the notches having a bendable tab carrying one of the ledges, the tabs being precision machine bent at an angle relative to a plane of the lower portion that allows a grid runner reinforcing bulb to be inserted when tilted in the associated notch and prevents the bulb from falling out of the notch when the runner is upright. |
| US08898985B2 |
Ceiling panel system
A ceiling panel system includes a plurality of grid members that are operable to form a grid suspendable from a ceiling, the grid having grid member intersections; and a plurality of ceiling panels, each ceiling panel including a planar surface and a plurality of upturned edges arranged about the periphery of the planar surface. The upturned edges include a catch operable to attach the panels to the face of the grid intermediately to the intersections to form a ceiling surface. |
| US08898982B2 |
Modular floor system
A modular floor system comprises modular floor panels and zippers that are fabricated in a manufacturing facility and subsequently installed in a facility. By virtue of being fabricated in the manufacturing facility the modular floor is subsequently installed in the sports facility with minimal labor and cost, while providing superior performance. |
| US08898976B2 |
Wallboard corner finishing strip
A corner bead strip is provided for finishing a wallboard corner joint, includes a flexible plastic body having a first flange and a second flange, each flange with a corner edge and an opposite free edge. The corner edges are joined by a central flex zone formed by a plastic composition distinct from a plastic composition used for forming the flanges. A web of paper covers a surface of the body. |
| US08898971B2 |
Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods
An apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic (PV) module on a surface, including a support with an upper surface, a lower surface, tabs, one or more openings, and a clip comprising an arm and a notch, where the apparatus resists wind forces and seismic forces and creates a grounding electrical bond between the PV module, support, and clip. The invention further includes a method for installing PV modules on a surface that includes arranging supports in rows along an X axis and in columns along a Y axis on a surface such that in each row the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the longest side of a PV module and in each column the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the shortest side of a PV module. |
| US08898968B2 |
Solar power unit and system
One aspect of the present invention relates to a solar power unit comprising a frame, configured to be integrated into a building structure, for supporting a solar panel, the solar panel for generating a power signal, and a front cover for securing the solar panel to the frame. |
| US08898965B1 |
Integral solar/wind turbine railroad signal bungalow assembly
An integrated railroad signal bungalow assembly where a railroad signal bungalow is surrounded by an external frame, which supports a walkway structure assembly. The walkway structure assembly, in turn, supports one or more solar panels and a wind turbine. The solar panels and wind turbine supply power to equipment in the railroad signal bungalow. |
| US08898963B1 |
Roofing shingles with reduced usage of conventional shingle material and having a combination vertical and lateral lap extension
A roofing shingle includes a shingle body having a buttlap portion with a butt edge and a headlap portion with a head edge, a first side edge and a second side edge. An exposure zone extends from the butt edge toward the headlap portion and is configured to be exposed to the environment when the shingle is installed on a roof. A water impermeable sheet is attached to the shingle body and has a width, length, first end and second end. The width extends from between about the butt and head edges to beyond the head edge of the shingle body. The length extends from between about the first and second side edges to beyond the first side edge. The sheet is formed from a different material than the shingle body. |
| US08898957B2 |
Safety guard or gate
A safety guard or gate for placement in a frame of an opening to prevent a child or pet from passing though the opening. The present invention includes an adjustable means for adjusting the guard to fit the width of the frame, wherein the adjustable means has a first end and a second end to form an axis along which the means can be adjusted. The invention further includes an attachment means for securing the guard to the frame; and a securing means for securing the adjustable means to the attachment means. The securing means prevents the adjustable means from disengaging from the attachment means along the axis when in a locked position, and allows disengagement and reengagement of the adjustable means in direction that transects the axis when the securing means is in an unlocked position. The present invention further includes methods for using the safety guard, and systems that include elements of the safety guard. |
| US08898953B2 |
Counterflow insect trap
A device for attracting and capturing or otherwise disabling insects includes a fan mechanism structured and arranged to provide an outflow of air out of the device to atmosphere, and to draw an inflow directed counter the outflow from atmosphere into the device, the outflow being substantially within the inflow outside of the device. The flow mechanism is also structured and arranged to provide an insect attractant in the outflow. The device can include mounting structure being adapted to position the device with the outflow directed in a substantially downward direction. The outflow attracts insects to the vicinity of the device, and the inflow urges the insects to enter the device. An insect disabling structure is arranged with the flow mechanism to capture or otherwise disable insects being urged into the device by the inflow. |
| US08898952B2 |
Animal trap
An animal trap for restraining animals, such as raccoons. The trap includes a hollow body having an entrance opening, an external and an internal grip member spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the body, and a biased restraint member adapted to move towards the grip members when released to engage an extremity of an animal inserted through the entrance opening. A trigger assembly is adapted to restrain the restraint member until proper engagement with a respective trigger member. The trigger assembly releases the restraint member via a first directional force or an opposite second directional force applied to a trigger member. A ground stake having jagged teeth and a swivel chain may be used for anchoring the trap. |
| US08898950B1 |
Ice fishing strike indicator
An ice fishing strike indicator preferably includes a support base and a strike indicator. The strike indicator preferably includes an indicator housing, a pop-up indicator and a trigger member. The pop-up indicator is slidably biased upward in the indicator housing. The trigger member preferably includes a support tube, a trigger rod and a fishing line reel. The support tube is retained by the indicator housing and adjustably retained by the support base. The trigger rod is slidably retained in the support tube. A trigger finger is formed on one end of the trigger rod and the fishing line reel is retained on the other end thereof. The trigger finger hooks into the pop-up indicator. Rotation of the fishing line reel by a fish strike causes the trigger finger to release the pop-up indicator. A light emitting strike indicator may be used for night time fishing. |
| US08898946B1 |
Magazine adapter
A magazine adapter includes a base that is structured to fit within the magazine well of a firearm, and to accept a magazine designed for smaller caliber ammunition than the original firearm. The adapter includes a bolt catch actuator slidably mounted therein. Magazines for which the adapter is intended include an upwardly extending rear projection of the follower, projecting from an opening in the rear of the magazine housing when the follower is in an upper portion of the magazine. When the upwardly extending projection pushes upward on the bolt catch actuator, the bolt catch is actuated, holding the firearms bolt in a rearward position. The magazine adapter thereby facilitates use of the original firearm controls with a caliber conversion unit, or with an upper receiver and barrel combination of a different caliber. |
| US08898937B2 |
Screw-adjustable connector apparatus for telescoped wear and support members
An earth engaging wear member is rearwardly telescoped onto a support member and is releasably retained thereon by specially designed connector apparatus extending through aligned connector openings in the wear and support members. The connector apparatus includes a spool member rearwardly bearing against the wear member, a shim member forwardly spaced apart from the spool member and having a sloping rear surface, and a wedge screw member interposed between the spool and shim members. The wedge screw member has a non-tapered body threadingly engaging the spool member side portion, and a non-threaded, radially sloped surface area rampingly engaging the sloped shim surface area. Threaded advancement of the wedge screw member rearwardly moves the wear member relative to the support member to tighten an operationally-created loosened interfit therebetween. |
| US08898930B2 |
Method for treating a transport support for the conveyance and atmospheric storage of semiconductor substrates, and treatment station for the implementation of such a method
The aim of the invention is to provide a method for the treatment of a transport support (1) for the conveyance and storage of semiconductor substrates, with said support (1) possibly having first undergone a cleaning operation using a liquid. The method includes a treatment stage in which the transport support (1) is placed in a sealed chamber (4) connected to a vacuum pump (5) and said transport support (1) is subjected to the combined action of a subatmospheric pressure and infrared radiation to favor the removal of foreign bodies on the walls of the transport support (1).The invention also concerns a treatment station for a transport support (1) for implementation of the method. |
| US08898929B2 |
Textile dryer
An apparatus for drying gloves is provided, including a main member, at least one light source, and at least one air source. The main member includes an outer surface configured for receiving a glove, and a plurality of apertures disposed along the outer surface. The light source emits a UV-C light, and the air source blows air. The UV-C light from the light source and air from the air source can at least partially pass through the outer surface. The apertures are in communication with at least the air source. |
| US08898928B2 |
Delamination drying apparatus and method
An apparatus for delamination drying a substrate is provided. A chamber for receiving a substrate is provided. A chuck supports and clamps the substrate within the chamber. A temperature controller controls the temperature of the substrate and is able to cool the substrate. A vacuum pump is in fluid connection with the chamber. A tilting mechanism is able to tilt the chuck at least 90 degrees. |
| US08898923B2 |
System and method for setting measurement force thresholds in a force sensing caliper
An electrically powered caliper is provided which includes a scale member, a slider, a displacement sensor, a force sensing arrangement and a signal processing portion. The signal processing portion is configured to receive a force signal and indicate a respective force corresponding to the respective position of the slider. Force data is acquired comprising a plurality of respective forces corresponding to respective positions of the slider. The signal processing portion defines an acceptable measurement force range defined by at least a minimum force threshold that is determined such that it exceeds a compensation force corresponding to at least one force component included in the force signal that is independent of user variations of the measurement force. It may analyze acquired force data to identify pre-contact data, and set the minimum force threshold for a current measurement procedure based on that pre-contact data. |
| US08898919B2 |
Coordinate measurement machine with distance meter used to establish frame of reference
A portable articulated arm coordinate measuring machine includes a distance meter to measure 3D coordinates of at least three targets to establish a position and orientation of the articulated arm within a frame of reference established by the at least three targets. |
| US08898918B2 |
Instrument for measuring length, and method and device for controlling the size of a fuel rod
The invention relates, in particular, to an instrument for measuring length, comprising an inductive sensor comprising an elongate body and a tip that is movable along a longitudinal axis. The body contains windings and defines a first cavity receiving a magnetic core. The instrument further comprises a casing which extends the body along the longitudinal axis, and which defines, together with the body, a second sealed cavity containing the tip. The capacity of the casing to resiliently deform along the longitudinal axis is greater than the capacity of said casing to resiliently deform along axes that are orthogonal to said longitudinal axis. |
| US08898917B1 |
Combination level and protractor
A multi-purpose measurement apparatus having a combination spirit level and a protractor, for precise measurement of orientation and angle of a material, the apparatus having a frame for resting against the material, said frame having a strip of ruler markings at the bottom portion of the face of the frame and the bottom portion of the rear of the frame, said frame further having a slot at a substantially centermost position of the frame; a clear, global housing, forming front and rear windows on the frame and in the slot at the substantially centermost position of the frame, the housing filled with an oil composition. |
| US08898914B2 |
Bow and arrow long-range sighting device and system
This disclosure relates to a long-range sighting device for an archer's bow. The long-range sighting device including a strip of material having a length, a width, a perimeter and a plurality of holes disposed therein, wherein the strip of material is supportable by a string of a bow. |
| US08898913B1 |
Masonry circular saw stabilizing and supporting shoe
A supporting and stabilizing shoe used with a masonry circular power saw. A shoe frame rigidly mounts to the saw's motor frame. A plate that is preferably substantially planar and bifurcated to form two substantially co-planar members with a gap therebetween pivotably mounts to the shoe frame. A spring biases the plate away from the blade, but can be overcome, and an adjustment knob tightens the plate in position relative to the blade. This provides for depth adjustment for the blade and keeps the blade at a desired angle, such as ninety degrees, to the workpiece surface. The plate extends longitudinally from the motor frame beneath the drive mechanism and the blade of the saw to provide a stable surface upon which the saw can rest during use or storage. |
| US08898911B2 |
Tool accommodating replaceable blade
A cutting tool utilizing a replaceable blade has a body which defines a blade-accepting pocket having an interior within which the body of the blade is nestingly accepted when inserted within the pocket and for releasable securement of the blade within the blade-accepting pocket. Furthermore, the blade-accepting pocket includes an abutment surface against which a surface of the blade body bears against when the cutting edge of the blade is moved into cutting engagement with an item being cut with the tool. |
| US08898909B2 |
Electric shaver
An electric shaver generally includes a handle assembly and a head assembly mounted on the handle assembly. The head assembly is pivotable between a first orientation and a second orientation. A biasing element is fixed to one of the head assembly and the handle assembly and is free from being fixed to the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly. The biasing element is configured such that when the head assembly is pivoted from the first orientation into the second orientation the biasing element contacts a surface of the other of the head assembly and the handle assembly and bends to apply a counteracting force that biases the head assembly back toward the first orientation when the head assembly is not held in the second orientation. |
| US08898908B2 |
Method for manufacturing a facade panel
A method of manufacturing a facade panel for the outer lining of a building in which tiling forming the outer surface of the panel is formed on the surface of the back panel meant to be the background of the facade panel. Tiling is attached to the back panel and the seams between the tiles are seamed with the help of a seam mass. A bottom panel on top of which a tile controller is set to adjust the locations of the tiles positioned upside down. The back panel is pressed on top of the tiles whereupon attachment spikes attached to the back panel penetrate the seams between the tiles. The tile seams are filled with a jagged rough mass and then filled with a hardening seam mass and attachment spikes attached to the back panel penetrate into the seam mass. |
| US08898904B2 |
Method for coating a steering wheel and corresponding steering wheel
A method for coating a steering wheel and a corresponding steering wheel having a steering wheel rim comprising a steering wheel skeleton having a foam layer applied thereto and intended to be encompassed by a cover layer made of leather or plastic are provided. In order to simplify production, the cover layer is positioned on the steering wheel rim as a strip and is fixed to the foam layer on one end. The cover layer strip is then glued onto the foam layer and the lateral edges of the cover layer strip are sewed together in a known manner. |
| US08898900B2 |
Oil baffle for gas turbine fan drive gear system
A turbine engine includes a housing supporting compressor, turbine sections, and an epicyclic gear train including a carrier. Sun gear and intermediate gears are arranged about and intermeshing with the sun gear. The intermediate gears are supported by the carrier. A baffle includes a lubrication passage near at least one of the sun gear and intermediate gears for directing a lubrication on the at least one of the sun gear and intermediate gears. |
| US08898895B2 |
Method for producing multilayer substrate and desmearing method
A method for producing a multilayer substrate involves: a base-material pretreatment step in which a hole forming step and a metal adhesion step are performed in no particular order, the hole forming step being a step of subjecting a core base material having at least an insulating layer and a first metal layer to a hole opening process, the metal adhesion step being a step in which a predetermined metal or metal ion is made to adhere to the other surface of the insulating layer; a desmearing step of performing desmearing by plasma etching; a cleaning step of cleaning the core base material by using an acidic solution; and a plating step of applying a plating catalyst or a precursor thereof onto the insulating layer and performing plating. |
| US08898882B2 |
Press-in element for pressing into a non-pierced or pierced component and also method for the manufacture of the press-in element
Described is a press-in element for pressing into a non-pierced or pre-pierced component. The press-in element has a head part having a ring surface confronting the component and a neck part which projects away from the ring surface, i.e. from the component contact side. The head part further has a ring-like projection surrounding the neck part with a radial spacing and projecting away from the ring surface. The neck part has a radially outwardly projecting ring bead, which can be formed as a continuous ring bead or as a ring bead interrupted at points. The apex of the ring bead has an axial spacing from the ring surface which is larger than the axial spacing of the apex of the ring-like projection from the ring surface, which lies radially within this projection and together with it and the ring bead forms a pocket which receives material of the component. |
| US08898879B2 |
Random tile installation using non-random installation technique
A method of manufacturing a modular textile system includes dividing a textile web into a plurality of frames that define carpet tiles to be formed from the textile web, providing each frame with an indicium, and forming the textile web into a plurality of carpet tiles. The indicium may include at least one of a variously oriented indicium and a variously positioned indicium for indicating the orientation of each carpet tile in an installation. |
| US08898875B2 |
Method of manufacturing piezoelectric vibrators
Providing a method for manufacturing a package capable of achieving reliable anodic bonding between the bonding material and a base board wafer even when the bonding material having a large resistance value is used. Providing a method for manufacturing a package by anodically bonding a bonding material, which is fixed in advance to an inner surface of a lid board wafer made of an insulator, to an inner surface of a base board wafer made of an insulator, the method including an anodic bonding step where an auxiliary bonding material serving as an anode is disposed on an outer surface of the lid board wafer, a cathode is disposed on an outer surface of the base board wafer, and a voltage is applied between the auxiliary bonding material and the cathode, wherein the auxiliary bonding material is made of a material that causes an anodic bonding reaction between the auxiliary bonding material and the lid board wafer in the anodic bonding step. |
| US08898872B2 |
Space-creating shower curtain hook
A space-creating shower curtain hook hanging from a shower curtain rod. It includes a shower rod hook engaging the shower curtain rod; a neck disposed upwards and inwards from the shower rod hook; a first connector disposed along the neck engaging a shower liner; and a stem connected to the neck and disposed downwards. The weight of the shower liner causes the space-creating shower curtain hook to rotate about the shower curtain rod, contacting the stem to the shower liner, and disposing the shower liner outwards of the shower curtain rod. |
| US08898862B1 |
Push-button, locking hinge assembly
A push-button, locking hinge assembly includes a base element, a push-button element, a cap element, an assembly to lock these three elements about a central axis, and a release assembly allowing the cap element to pivot 360 degrees transversely to the central axis and in relation to the base element. Geometric ends of the hinge assembly allow insertion into any two components to be so releasably pivoted and repositioned, and then locked into a desired position relative one to the other. |
| US08898860B2 |
Hinge device for doors, shutters or the like
A hinge device for rotatably moving a closing element includes a fixed element anchorable to a stationary support structure coupled to a movable element anchorable to the closing element for rotating around a first longitudinal axis between an open position and a closed position. The device further includes at least one slider movable along a second axis between a compressed and an extended position. One between the movable element and the fixed element includes at least one operating chamber defining the second axis so as to slidably house the slider, the other element including a pivot defining the first axis. The pivot and the slider are reciprocally coupled so that to the rotation of the movable element around the first axis corresponds the sliding of the slider along the second axis and vice versa. |
| US08898858B2 |
Cleaner-head for a vacuum cleaner
A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner has a rotating brush bar driven by an air-cooled motor, which is mounted inside the cleaner head with at least a section of the motor being located inside the brush bar. To cool the motor in use, an external casing of the motor is provided a plurality of air-cooling holes comprising at least one air intake and at least one air exhaust. These cooling holes are connected—intake to exhaust—to form one or more air-cooling paths through the inside of the motor. Each air intake is connected to an upstream clean air inlet by a stationary—not rotating—intake duct, and each air exhaust is similarly connected to a downstream clean air outlet by a stationary—not rotating—exhaust duct. This avoids the problems associated with using the rotating brush bar itself as a duct for carrying cooling air to the motor. |
| US08898849B2 |
Windscreen wiper blade having a built-in washer liquid conduit
The invention relates to a windshield wiper blade of a motor vehicle, comprising an elongate flexible strip, wherein at least one end of the strip is covered by a cap with a built-in conduit provided with a nozzle offset on the side of the flexible strip relative to the longitudinal median plane of said flexible strip. |
| US08898846B2 |
Cleaner for suction coagulator
A cleaning device for cleaning a coagulator has a housing defining an interior chamber with a prong extending along a central axis to receive a coagulator bore. An insertion guide with an opening along the central axis guides insertion of the tip of the coagulator onto the prong. Pliable wipers extend inward from the sidewalls of the chamber toward the prong, so that the wipers deform by contact to wipe against the coagulator in operation. The wipers can be formed as part of a pliable tubular member that is inserted into the chamber in the housing and held in place by an end cap that incorporates the insertion guide. |
| US08898843B2 |
Electric toothbrush capable of receiving user operations
An electric toothbrush includes a body portion, a portion of which is gripped by a user, and a brush part that is exchangeably attached to the body portion. The body portion includes a switch that is a contact-type sensor unit arranged on a portion that excludes the gripped portion, and that receives operations from the outside, and a control unit for controlling operations of the electric toothbrush in accordance with an operation received by the contact-type sensor unit. If a first operation is received by the contact-type sensor unit, the control unit outputs an indication that operations can be received for a certain time period, and if a second operation received by the contact-type sensor unit in the certain time period is an operation that corresponds to a predetermined operation pattern, the control unit controls operations of the electric toothbrush in accordance with the second operation. |
| US08898842B2 |
Anti-decubitus ulcer mattress overlay system with selective elevation structure
An elevation structure system possesses anti-decubitus ulcer characteristics, and may cooperate with a mattress overlay also having anti-decubitus ulcer capabilities as part of a mattress overlay system, in which multiple elongate, positionally adjustable, relatively moveable risers are configured for selective placement in conditions of transverse, subposed, under engagement with the sides of an overlay to create substantially non-inclined, elevated, depth-supplemented regions at locations along the length of the overlay. The evelation structure and overlay may each include a dynamic-response core expanse formed of an open-cell, compressible viscoelastic foam coated with elastomeric, moisture- and gas-flow-managing, differential-thickness coating structure load-transmissively bonded to the entirety of the outside of said core expanse to function as a dynamically-responsive unit therewith. |
| US08898841B2 |
Encounter and contact mattress or pillow for small children and babies, particularly for premature babies and newborns
An encounter and contact mattress or pillow, is made up of at least one cloth-like or blanket-like base body having two functional sides that are configured to be the same, similar, or different, and serve for support, wherein the one side is suitable for facing toward a contact person and the other side is suitable for offering a premature or newborn baby or infant a support surface. The base body is divided up into at least three regions, namely into an edge zone region (8), a transition region (6), and an encounter region (5), and the encounter region (5) is configured in such a manner that a transfer of tactile and/or acoustic stimuli and/or heat from one side to the other side of the encounter and contact mattress (1) is possible. |
| US08898840B1 |
Head and neck support device
A head and neck support device is disclosed for positioning about a neck of an individual. A generally U-shaped pillow encircles the neck. The head and neck support device comprises a rear supporting panel, primary supporting panel and a secondary supporting panel for defining a pillow enclosure frame and a pillow cavity. The pillow cavity receives the generally U-shaped pillow. The primary supporting panel applies a first opposing force for supporting the head and neck in a generally vertical position. The secondary supporting panel applies a second opposing force for supporting the head and neck in a generally vertical position. |
| US08898838B1 |
Method and apparatus for a convertible patient bed
A convertible patient bed is disclosed that includes: a middle section, a top section, and a bottom section, each section further includes a first lateral subsection and a second lateral subsection; a push-pull motor coupled to push the top section and to pull the bottom section to transform the patient bed into a chair, a sliding motor coupled to slide the said first lateral subsection and said second lateral subsection in and out of each of the middle section, top section, and bottom section respectively at a predetermined angle to change the width of the patient bed; and a motor coupled to an opening and a cover in the middle of the middle section to accommodate to the needs of a patient. |
| US08898837B2 |
Medical image diagnostic apparatus
In order to provide a medical image diagnostic apparatus in which a mechanism for drawing a top plate into a gantry can be connected to the top plate without the collision, a pin 17 is provided in an end portion of a top plate 70, and a hook 12 that is connected to the pin 17 is provided in the connecting mechanism 82 that is moved on a top plate receiving portion. According to a position of the connecting mechanism 82 on the top plate receiving portion, the position of the hook 12 varies to connect to the pin 17. |
| US08898831B1 |
Counterbalancing assembly for folding furniture
A counterbalancing assembly for an article of folding furniture comprises at least one piston extending between a support assembly and a furniture component, said piston being biased to resist a downward force of gravity acting on the furniture component. An upper mounting bracket secures a first end of the piston to the support assembly, and a lower mounting bracket secures a second end of the piston to the furniture component. One or both of the upper and lower mounting brackets includes a worm gear and a mounting element that is threaded onto the worm gear. Each such mounting element has a portion adapted to engage a complementary fitting defined by a respective end of the piston, such that rotation of the worm gear causes a corresponding linear movement of the mounting element, and thus, linear movement of the respective end of the piston. |
| US08898829B1 |
Modular bed frame end board
A bed frame end board that can be easily disassembled and reassembled to replace damaged components and reduce the cost and labor associated with refurbishment of dormitory beds including a vertically oriented rail configured to interlock with a bed frame side member, an outboard panel, and an inboard panel; and vertically spaced apart cross members having opposite ends fixed to the posts, wherein the outboard panels are releasably fixed to the rail by a fastening system having a slotted fastening clip on the rail and a stud on the outboard panel engaging a slot in the clip, and wherein the cross members are releasably attached to the posts with a threaded fastener and stabilized against rotational movement with respect to the post by dowels received in aligned bores extending into abutting surfaces of the panels and posts. |
| US08898826B2 |
Bathtub back support systems
A back rest device for a bathtub comprising a rest member having a front surface and a back surface, at least one suction cup, a cover with pockets, and at least one insertable pillow. The rest member is placed against a bathtub back and on a cushioned bathmat that suctions to the floor of the bathtub. The suction cups are attached to the back surface of the rest member to facilitate the attachment of the rest member to the bathtub back. The cover with pockets is attached to the front surface of the rest member and the insertable pillow is placed inside the pockets to create additional comfort. |
| US08898823B2 |
Template for closet flange
Provided are templates, methods, and kits for installing closet flanges. The template can include a body having a sidewall and a bottom as well as a plurality of tabs connected to the body, with one or more of the tabs configured to delineate the location of a fastener hole in a closet flange. |
| US08898814B2 |
Releasable vest
A releasable vest having a front panel; front shoulder strap elements that include at least one front shoulder strap attachment opening; a back panel; a first waist belt element and a second waist belt element that are releasably coupled to the front panel and extend from the front panel; at least one release loop that is capable of being passed through an opening formed in at least one of the waist belt elements and an opening formed in the front shoulder strap elements; and a release lanyard that is capable of being passed through the release loop so as to releasably secure the waist belt elements and the shoulder strap elements to the release loop. |
| US08898812B2 |
Garment having integrated perspiration barriers
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a garment or undergarment (e.g., a T-shirt) which is provided with integrated multi-layer perspiration barriers uniquely configured to provide high levels of evaporative cooling and moisture vapor transmission. The perspiration barriers are integrated into the sleeve and torso portions of the garment such that such perspiration barriers actually define the underarm portions thereof. Each of the perspiration barriers is preferably comprised of four layers, each of which is formed from two separate panel pieces. The various layers included in each of the perspiration barriers, the manner in which such layers are stacked upon and attached to each other, and the manner in which the layers forming each perspiration barrier are integrated into the garment are specifically adapted to collectively promote evaporative cooling and a vapor transmission effect which provides superior perspiration absorption and evaporation, in addition to enhanced user comfort. |
| US08904561B2 |
Mechanical detection of Raman resonance
An atomic force microscope based apparatus and method for detecting Raman effect on a sample of interest utilizes first and second electromagnetic sources to emit first electromagnetic radiation of frequency Vi and second electromagnetic radiation of frequency V2 onto a probe tip, which is coupled to a structure that can oscillate the probe tip. The frequency Vi and the frequency v2 are selected to induce Raman effect on a sample engaged by the probe tip that results in Raman force interactions between the probe tip and the sample. Oscillations of the probe tip due to the Raman force interactions are then measured. |
| US08904558B2 |
Detecting web browser based attacks using browser digest compute tests using digest code provided by a remote source
The detection of web browser-based attacks using browser tests launched from a remote source is described. In one example, a digest is computed based on the content of an HTTP response message. The message is modified and sent to a client device that also computes a digest. The digests are compared to determine whether content has been modified by malware on the HTTP client. The results of the test are analyzed and defensive measures are taken. |
| US08904552B2 |
System and method for protecting data information stored in storage
A system and method are provided for protecting data information stored in a storage medium. The system includes a memory unit which is divided into a plurality of storage regions in which data information is stored; a domain unit which includes a plurality of OS domains, which are access subjects, and loads the data information stored in the storage regions that are accessed by the OS domains; and a control unit which controls access of the domain unit to the memory unit. |
| US08904550B2 |
Selection of sandbox for initiating application
Methods and devices selecting a sandbox for initiating an application are described. In one aspect a method includes: providing within a hybrid record access application, a selectable option to access an attachment associated with a record, the record being associated with one of a plurality of sandboxes, the hybrid record access application configured to access records associated with the plurality of sandboxes, the plurality of sandboxes configured to prevent data from moving between different sandboxes; and initiating within the sandbox associated with the record, an application to access the attachment when selection of the selectable option is received. |
| US08904543B2 |
Discovery of application vulnerabilities involving multiple execution flows
Methods and systems for security analysis of an application are disclosed. One system includes a flow-insensitive analyzer, a control flow assessment module and a flow-sensitive analyzer. The flow-insensitive analyzer is configured to conduct a flow-insensitive analysis on the application to obtain a set of potential vulnerabilities in the application. In addition, the control flow assessment module is configured to determine, for each of the potential vulnerabilities, a relevant set of control flows that include the respective vulnerability. Further, the flow-sensitive analyzer is configured to perform, by a hardware processor, for each relevant set of control flows, a flow-sensitive analysis of at least one of the control flows in the corresponding relevant set to assess the validity of the respective vulnerability. |
| US08904542B2 |
System, method and computer readable medium for evaluating potential attacks of worms
A method for evaluating potential attacks of worms, the method includes: associating, in response to information representative of a network and of worm entities, between worm entities and potential worm sources to provide associated worm sources; determining potential worm attacks that start from the associated worm sources; and evaluating at least one potential worm attack security metric associated with the potential worm attacks. |
| US08904534B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting scans in real-time
A method and apparatus for detecting scans are described. In one example, a plurality of flows is allocated into a plurality of bins associated with different source internet protocol (SIP) addresses. A set of bin characteristics for at least one bin of the plurality of bins is generated if the at least one bin reaches a predefined flow capacity. Afterwards, the set of bin characteristics is compared to a scan characteristics list to determine if a potential scan exists. |
| US08904532B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for detecting botnet
A method, an apparatus, and a system for detecting Botnet are disclosed. The method for detecting Botnet includes: obtaining an address information about a control host in a Bot sample by using an auto breakout environment; sending a query request message to a traffic analysis device to obtain an address information of a Bot host connected with the control host, in which the query request message carries the address information about the control host; and receiving a query response message returned by the traffic analysis device, in which the query response message carries the address information of the Bot host connected with the control host. The method for detecting Botnet can obtain the Botnet information in real time and construct a topology of the Botnet. |
| US08904531B1 |
Detecting advanced persistent threats
Techniques are provided for detecting the source of an APT-based leaked document by iteratively or recursively evaluating a set of network security logs (e.g., SIEM logs and FPC logs) for events consistent with APT behavior according to a set of heuristics to generate a reduced set of security events for consideration by the CIRT. A method of detecting an APT attack on an enterprise system is provided. The method includes (a) receiving, in a computerized device, an indication that a document has been leaked outside the enterprise system, (b) evaluating a log of security events of the enterprise system using a set of heuristics to produce a reduced set of events potentially relevant to the APT attack, and (c) outputting the reduced set of events over a user interface for consideration by a security analysis team. A system and computer program product for performing this method are also provided. |
| US08904530B2 |
System and method for detecting remotely controlled E-mail spam hosts
A system for detecting a remotely controlled e-mail spam host. The system includes an E-mail spammer detection unit and a host traffic profiling unit. The E-mail spammer detection unit identifies E-mail Spammers based on SMTP traffic characteristics. The host profiling unit extracts traffic components from the plurality of Internet traffic associated with an E-mail Spammer; interprets the extracted traffic components and determines whether the E-mail Spammer is a compromised host. The system may also include a botnet controller detection unit that analyzes traffic associated with compromised E-mail Spammers and identifies the botnet Controller remotely controlling the compromised E-mail Spammer. |
| US08904528B2 |
Method and apparatus for translation of business messages
A system and method are provided for translation of business messages between trading partners. A routing slip is determined based upon information related to the sender and information related to the recipient of the business message. The business message is processed using business data rationalization in accordance with the routing slip, wherein business data rationalization includes parsing an arbitrary syntax of the business message and applying semantically meaningful names to individual data elements or sets of elements of the business message identified by the arbitrary syntax. |
| US08904524B1 |
Detection of fast flux networks
Improved techniques of identifying a malicious communication involve a lightweight evaluator obtaining a domain name directly from a network transmission. The lightweight evaluator performs a query of the domain name on a database of known network transactions. Results of the query include IP addresses to which the domain name has resolved in prior transactions and Time To Live (TTL) values for each of those IP addresses. To such results of the query, the lightweight evaluator applies a set of heuristics which are arranged to determine whether the domain name could plausibly be a FFDN. Based on the result of the application of the heuristics to the domain name, the lightweight evaluator sends to a backend evaluator the domain name and a command to confirm whether the domain name is a FFDN. |
| US08904521B2 |
Client-side prevention of cross-site request forgeries
Cross-site request forgeries (“XSRF”) can be prevented using a client-side plugin on a client computer. The client computer accesses a content provided by a third party host via a network and generates a request to a web application as directed by the content. The client-side plugin determines whether the request is associated with suspicious activities based on the content, a source of the request and a list of approved hosts associated with the target host. In response to a determination that the request is associated with suspicious activities, the plugin removes authentication credentials from the request and sends the request to the web application. |
| US08904512B1 |
Distributed multi-processing security gateway
A system and method for a distributed multi-processing security gateway establishes a host side session, selects a proxy network address for a server, uses the proxy network address to establish a server side session, receives a data packet, assigns a central processing unit core from a plurality of central processing unit cores in a multi-core processor of the security gateway to process the data packet, processes the data packet according to security policies, and sends the processed data packet. The proxy network address is selected such that a same central processing unit core is assigned to process data packets from the server side session and the host side session. By assigning central processing unit cores in this manner, higher capable security gateways are provided. |
| US08904508B2 |
System and method for real time secure image based key generation using partial polygons assembled into a master composite image
A method including: receiving, at a first device, a challenge provided from a second device, wherein the challenge includes an encoding algorithm and a request for credentials from the first device; and outputting, from the first device to the second device, a response to the challenge, wherein the response includes at least one image, the at least one image including an article of evidence arranged according to the encoding algorithm. |
| US08904506B1 |
Dynamic account throttling
A user account may be throttled to restrict access once aberrant behavior is detected. Upon receiving a request to access the user account, a determination of whether the user account is in a throttled state may be made. In some aspects, when the user account is not in a throttled state, user account access may be determined based at least in part on an access credential. Further, in some aspects, when the user account is in a throttled state, user account access may be determined based at least in part on an access credential and other client information associated with the user account. |
| US08904505B2 |
Method for establishing a protected setup and wireless registration requesting device implementing the same
A method and apparatus for automatically establishing a wired protected setup between an enrollee requesting registration and a registrar granting registration are provided. The method includes: determining whether a power line communication (PLC) between the enrollee and the registrar is possible; and if it is determined that the PLC with the registrar is possible, receiving a personal identification number (PIN) from the registrar through the power line and transmitting an acknowledgement (ACK) message to the registrar through the power line as a response to the received PIN. |
| US08904503B2 |
Systems and methods for providing access to data accounts within user profiles via cloud-based storage services
A computer-implemented method for providing access to data accounts within user profiles via cloud-based storage services may include (1) identifying a user profile associated with a user of a cloud-based storage service, (2) identifying a plurality of data accounts within the user profile associated with the user of the cloud-based storage service, (3) detecting a request from a client-based application associated with the user of the cloud-based storage service to access at least a portion of data stored in a data account within the user profile, (4) locating a unique account name that identifies the data account in the request, and then (5) satisfying the request from the client-based application associated with the user to access the portion of data stored in the data account via the cloud-based storage service. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08904502B1 |
Systems and methods for rating organizations using user defined password gates
A system and method for implementing password gates for entities and/or content is disclosed. A password gate may determine whether a select group of users are allowed to access a particular entity and/or content in order to rate and/or provide commentary with respect to that particular entity/content. The select group of users may be permitted access based on the ability to satisfy the password gate. A password gate may comprise a question that only a select group of users can correctly answer. Users may be able to create password gates and/or vote on existing password gates associated with entities and/or content. The highest rated password gate may be presented to a user attempting to gain access to a particular entity/content. |
| US08904501B2 |
Method and system for automated emergency access to medical records
This invention is a method and a system for accessing medical records of an injured party by an emergency responder through a secure website, utilizing a portable emergency access card provided with at least one item of information of the victim, while offering safeguards for the confidentiality of the victim's information and records. |
| US08904497B2 |
Providing an operational dashboard
Systems, methods, and devices for providing an operational dashboard are described herein. One method includes receiving operational data associated with a system, receiving credentials associated with a user of a user device including a number of display elements configurable by the user, and determining a particular portion of the operational data to provide to the user via the display elements of the user device based, at least in part, on the credentials. |
| US08904493B1 |
Image-based challenge-response testing
Various implementations for verifying that a user device is being operated by a person are described. In some implementations, a method includes receiving a challenge request. The method selects two or more first images from a first image category and one or more second images from one or more second image categories, which are distinct from the first image category. The method sends a challenge to the user device for presentation to the person. The challenge includes a challenge parameter and data describing the two or more first images and the one or more second images. The method receives a challenge response from the user device describing a user selection of at least one image from among the two or more first images and the one or more second images and determines a result of the challenge based on the challenge response and the challenge parameter. |
| US08904492B2 |
Method of controlling information processing system, computer-readable recording medium storing program for controlling apparatus
A method includes generating, by a relay apparatus, association information on the basis of access information such that a plurality of pieces of code included in a received application program are associated with information on permission for executing the plurality of pieces of code, and sending the received application program and the generated association information to a client apparatus configured to execute the received application program, receiving the received application program and the association information from the relay apparatus, and executing, by a client apparatus, a piece of code that is permitted to be executed and not executing a piece of code that is not permitted to be executed with reference to the association information when the client apparatus executes the plurality of pieces of code included in the received application program. |
| US08904488B2 |
Managing online shop using instant messaging system
An instant messaging system may be used to allow an auxiliary account to log in and manage an online shop of a primary account user. The primary account user creates an online shop in an online shop server, and associates itself with one or more auxiliary accounts in an instant messaging system. Upon authorization by primary account user to allow an auxiliary account to manage the online shop, the system records an authorization relation between the auxiliary account and the primary account. The authorization relation may be recorded in the instant messaging system. Based on the recorded authorization relation, the system allows a user of the authorized auxiliary account to manage the online shop system through the instant messaging system. An instant messaging server serving for this purpose is also disclosed. |
| US08904487B2 |
Preventing information theft
An embodiment generally relates to a method of preventing information theft. The method includes receiving access information including a password, comparing the access information to stored access information, and verifying a destination of the access information to determine if the destination is valid for the access information. The access information is transmitted based on the comparison to the stored access information and the verification of the destination. |
| US08904486B2 |
Method and system for autonomic security configuration
A method, system and computer program product for autonomic security configuration may include controlling a security configuration of at least one resource forming a solution based on a plurality of security requirements. The method may further include applying the plurality of security requirements across a plurality of resources independent of a resource type. |
| US08904480B2 |
Social authentication of users
User authentication is provided. A social network associated with a user of a client device is monitored to determine whether a set of designated users are currently logged in and authenticated to access a secure resource. A video connection is established between the user of the client device and the set of designated users that are currently logged in and authenticated to access the secure resource. In addition, an authentication request screen is sent showing captured video authentication data corresponding to the user of the client device to the set of designated users that are currently logged in and authenticated to access the secure resource. |
| US08904476B2 |
Retrospective policy safety net
These and other objectives are attained with a method and system for evaluating an access policy change. The method comprises the step of providing an access control mechanism having a first policy, and an audit log having entries of accesses made under that first policy. The method comprises the further steps of submitting a second policy to the access control mechanism, comparing the log entries to the second policy, and based on the results of the comparing step, taking one of a predetermined number of actions. |
| US08904466B2 |
Digital media distribution device
A digital media distribution device that includes an encoder, a decoder coupled to the encoder, and a transcoder coupled to the decoder. The encoder is configured to encode input data that is received by the digital media distribution device into a first data format. The decoder is configured to decode output data to be output by the digital media distribution device. The transcoder is configured to convert the encoded input data from the first data format into a second data format. The digital media distribution device is configured to be coupled to a computer network. |
| US08904463B2 |
Live video broadcasting on distributed networks
The techniques related to providing a live program over the Internet are described. According to one aspect of the techniques, a data stream representing a live program is preprocessed to produce a plurality of substreams, each of the substreams comprising decimated samples of the data stream. The number of substreams is relatively large so that the bandwidth requirement for delivering one of the substreams is relatively low. With a group of seeding boxes receiving the substreams, a group of boxes in services are designated to receive the substreams from the seeding boxes, each of these boxes including the seeding boxes is able to support multiple outbound streams (e.g., greater than 2) so that there are enough data suppliers to service the ordering boxes or colonize more boxes to become the data suppliers. As a result, a live program can be timely serviced by peer boxes, significantly reducing the computation and bandwidth burdens on a server(s). |
| US08904461B2 |
Broadcast signal receiving device and method for executing data broadcasting application of the same
A broadcast signal receiving device includes a profile management module that manages user profile information indicating whether to execute a data broadcasting application received via a channel, an application filtering module that filters data composing a data broadcasting application from data signals of broadcast signals, and an application management module that executes a data broadcasting application composed of the filtered data and according to the user profile information. |
| US08904460B2 |
Methods and apparatus for locating leakage of digital signals
A leak defined by coordinates is located in a network. A signal emitted from the leak is detected at first, second and third points having first, second and third sets of coordinates, respectively. Propagation delays t1, t2 and t3 of the signal are measured, which include the propagation delays between the leak and the first, second and third points, respectively. The time difference Δt12 between delays t1 and t2 and the time difference Δt23 between delays t2 and t3 are calculated. The approximate location of the leak is determined by solving for the coordinates of the leak in at least two hyperbolic equations, where the equations are defined by the time differences Δt12 and Δt23, and by the first, second and third sets of coordinates. |
| US08904459B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing media content for mobile devices
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to access a broadcast of media content in response to a request to record the media content from a mobile communication device, and adjust a format of the media content based at least in part on a user profile associated with the mobile communication device where the user profile comprises device format preferences. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08904457B2 |
Archiving a live media presentation
A computer-implemented method for archiving a live media presentation includes archiving the live media presentation as it is being streamed from a live server, wherein the archiving includes recording the live media presentation in fixed-length segments. A segment name is associated with each of the segments, wherein each of the segment names includes a time stamp. The fixed-length segments are stored on a video on-demand (VOD) server. A manifest is generated that describes at least a portion of the live media presentation and identifies a uniform resource locator (URL) to be used by a client device to access a first one of the segments, wherein the URL includes the segment name of the first segment. |
| US08904455B2 |
Personal video recorder functionality for placeshifting systems
PVR functionality is enabled on a media player of a placeshifting system, which allows a user to record media programs from locations that are physically remote from a source of the media programs. The media player may receive program schedule information and present the program schedule information to the user. Based on user input, the media player identifies a media program and associated schedule information. When the media program is scheduled to play, the placeshifting device directs a media recording device to receive the media program and to store the program. The placeshifting device may digitize, transcode, and/or transrate the media program, if necessary, and transmit the media program to the remote device for playback. |
| US08904454B2 |
Method and arrangement for storing and playing back TV programmes
The invention relates to a method and a PVR server for storing and playing back TV programs, in particular to an improved method for operating a network PVR and to an improved PVR server (102). The inventive method consists in determining the number of users storing in the personal archives thereof a determined TV program, which is stored in the memory (108) of the PVR server (102). When the user number is less than a predefined limit value, an erasing signal occurs to them and the program is cleared during a configurable period of time if no user selects said program as to be preserved. |
| US08904453B2 |
Systems and methods for seamlessly switching between media streams
Systems and methods for switching between encoded media streams are disclosed. A system may be configured to receive at least two media streams of differing qualities that are associated with an identical media asset. The system can seamlessly switch between a first media stream and a second media stream using an algorithm that can determine which frames of a second stream must be discarded to sync the second stream with the first media stream. The two media streams can then be cross faded to switch from the first media stream to the second media stream. |
| US08904452B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing dynamic pricing services for an interactive information distribution system
A method and apparatus for providing subscription-on-demand (SOD) services for a interactive information distribution system, where a consumer may subscribe to packages of on-demand programs for a single price and view the programs in the subscribed package at any time for no additional cost. The apparatus and method are embodied in a combination of software, which provides a so called navigator, and hardware, including a subscriber terminal that provides certain functionality for the navigator and service provider equipment that supports the functionality of the terminal. As such, graphical user interface functionality is distributed between the service provider equipment and subscriber equipment (subscriber terminal). Such distribution provides an enjoyable, real time interactive process for accessing SOD services that allows the subscriber to rapidly identify and access a subscription service. In addition, a non-subscriber of a particular service is quickly identified and provided the opportunity to, through the use of a graphical user interface, subscribe to the programming provided by the system. |
| US08904451B2 |
Systems for prioritizing video processing events based on availability of media file and agent to process the event type
This disclosure relates to methods and systems for queuing events. In one aspect, a method is disclosed that receives or creates an event and inserts the event into a queue. The method determines at least one property of the event and associates a priority with the event based on the property. The method then processes the event in accordance with its priority. |
| US08904449B2 |
Remote control unit for activating and deactivating means for payment and for displaying payment status
The invention relates to a remote control unit for intelligent digital audiovisual reproduction systems, comprising storage means, payment means, a sound control circuit, display means and a metal chassis wherein said remote control unit comprises a distant radio frequency transmitter that is associated with a radio frequency receiver connected to the sound control circuit of the audiovisual reproduction system. |
| US08904443B2 |
System and method for improving home network GUI response time and presentation
GUI presentation in a home network is improved by using a video encoding tailored for GUI, while using normal video encoding for video presentation. Also, GUI command response time is shortened by reserving, for transmission of commands originated by a user input device, a time slot in a contention free period (CFP) of a transmission cycle between a client device receiving the commands and a server executing them. |
| US08904437B2 |
Similar content search device and computer-readable storage medium
According to one embodiment, a phrase similarity is reduced when a common genre characteristic word is included in a program of interest interested by a user and a similar phrase program including the same phrase. A genre similarity is increased when a common genre characteristic word is included in the program of interest and a similar genre program including the same genre as the program of interest. The similar phrase program is presented based on the phrase similarity, and the similar genre program is presented based on the genre similarity. |
| US08904436B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing preferred broadcast information
A method and apparatus for providing preferred broadcast information are provided. A Social Networking Service (SNS) server is requested to search for pieces of information in an SNS that are related to at least one broadcast channel by providing at least one keyword that identifies the at least one broadcast channel to the SNS server. The pieces of information are extracted from the SNS server. Preferred broadcast information is extracted from the pieces of information. The preferred broadcast information is provided to a user of the apparatus. |
| US08904435B2 |
Electronic program guide for indicating availability of past programs
A system and method for providing an electronic program guide for television or radio programs includes presenting listing of present or future programs on-screen, presenting listings of past programs on-screen and indicating whether the past program is available again at a future time. Also, a system and method for handling information controllable from an electronic program guide for television or radio programs comprises receiving information in a user's system, storing the received information in the user's system, displaying access to the stored information by means of a user interface and enabling the user to select one of a plurality of management options for controlling the operation of the stored information through the user interface. |
| US08904434B2 |
Information display apparatus and information display method
According to one embodiment, an information display apparatus, comprising: a first display controller configured to display a broadcasting station information to identify a plurality of broadcasting stations on a screen; a acquiring module configured to acquire one or more short comments with respect to the broadcasting station information from a server connected through a network; and a second display controller configured to display the one or more short comments on the screen on each of the plurality of broadcasting stations. |
| US08904431B2 |
Current device location advertisement distribution
In embodiments of current device location advertisement distribution, a mobile network operator receives television content from a content service and can then communicate the television content to a client device via a wireless distribution point. A device location service determines that a current location of the client device is not within a geographic region associated with the client device, and updates the current location of the client device from location data that identifies the current location of the client device. The television content can then be updated for distribution to the client device along with advertisements that correspond to an advertising locale, which includes the current location of the client device. |
| US08904429B2 |
Electronic device and method for information about service provider
The method of providing information about service providers according to the present invention for achieving the technical goals includes setting regional information of the electronic device based on regional information received through a user interface unit or location information obtained by a location information module, transmitting the set regional information to a server, receiving information about a service provider related to the transmitted regional information from the server, and displaying the received information about the service provider. |
| US08904424B2 |
Object and resource security system
According to the invention, a method for securing a plaintext object within a content receiver is disclosed. In one step, a secure portion of a secure object and a plaintext remainder of the secure object are received. Which portion of the secure object is the secure portion is determined. The secure portion is decrypted to provide a plaintext portion. The plaintext object that comprises the plaintext portion and the plaintext remainder is formed. The plaintext object is stored including authentication and authorization. |
| US08904422B1 |
Subscription and channel management technology
Subscription and channel management technology, in which a system allows a user to subscribe to a subset of the available channels on a content delivery network and personalize at least one channel. The system identifies a user identity of the user and stores, in a user database, channel subscription information for the user identity based on the subset of channels to which the user subscribed and the user personalization. The system identifies a downloader device associated with the user identity and controls the downloader device based on the channel subscription information stored in the user database. |
| US08904419B2 |
System and method for measuring television audience engagement
A system and method are disclosed that measures audience engagement with a program based on the time a user spends viewing the program. A program's ability to retain viewers is referred to as the “stickiness” of the program. The viewership for a program is determined by the system and then compared to viewership of various other programs in order to assess the audience retention for the analyzed program as compared to the retention of the other programs. The system calculates a “stickiness index” for the program, which is a numerical representation of the analyzed program's stickiness as compared to the average of the other programs. The system may generate a report including the analyzed data and calculated stickiness index for advertisers, agencies, media sellers, or other parties that are interested in assessing viewership of the analyzed program. |
| US08904418B1 |
Logging TV viewing activities using an infrared detector
A system for logging the TV viewing activities at a household includes a TV messaging device at the household and a remote TV viewership measurement server communicatively coupled to the messaging device. The TV messaging device receives an infrared signal including a TV operation code from a remote control device within the household. The infrared signal is directed to a particular TV to perform a predefined operation. The TV messaging device generates a TV operation message including the TV operation code and a household identifier associated with the household and transmits the TV operation message to the TV viewership measurement server. Upon receipt of the TV operation message, the TV viewership measurement server tries to identify one of multiple TV devices within the household as being the target of the TV operation code and updates TV viewership data associated with the household in accordance with the TV operation code. |
| US08904413B2 |
Magazine box
A magazine box is provided for removably storing a plurality of disc-storing magazines used in a disc apparatus for feeding a disc to each of a plurality of disc drives. The magazines each include a tray for storing the disc, a case for removably storing the tray, and a first locking mechanism for releasably locking the tray to the case. The magazine box further includes a second locking mechanism for releasably locking the case of each of the plurality of magazines to the magazine box, and the second locking mechanism maintains the locked state at least during the automatic tray-ejection from the case in the disc apparatus is conducted. |
| US08904409B2 |
Providing interface support for application workspace persistence
The method and system of the present invention include recording a first transition by an agent interface between a first session and a second session of a plurality of sessions in a communication utility. The first transition is recorded in a transition record. Responsive to receipt of a request to initiate a third session by the communication utility, a transition frequency is determined using the transition record. Whether to accept the request to initiate the third session is determined using the transition frequency, and the request to initiate the third session is accepted. |
| US08904404B2 |
Estimating migration costs for migrating logical partitions within a virtualized computing environment based on a migration cost history
Responsive to a hypervisor determining that insufficient local resources are available for reservation to meet a performance parameter for at least one resource specified in a reservation request for a particular logical partition managed by the hypervisor in a host system, the hypervisor identifies another logical partition managed by the hypervisor in the host system that is assigned at the least one resource meeting the performance parameter specified in the reservation request. The hypervisor estimates a first cost of migrating the particular logical partition and a second cost of migrating the another logical partition to at least one other host system communicatively connected in a peer-to-peer network based on at least one previously recorded cost stored by the host system of migrating a previous logical partition to the at least one other host system. |
| US08904398B2 |
Hierarchical task mapping
Mapping tasks to physical processors in parallel computing system may include partitioning tasks in the parallel computing system into groups of tasks, the tasks being grouped according to their communication characteristics (e.g., pattern and frequency); mapping, by a processor, the groups of tasks to groups of physical processors, respectively; and fine tuning, by the processor, the mapping within each of the groups. |
| US08904395B2 |
Scheduling events in a virtualized computing environment based on a cost of updating scheduling times or mapping resources to the event
Systems and methods for scheduling events in a virtualized computing environment are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises scheduling one or more events in a first event queue implemented in a computing environment, in response to determining that number of events in the first event queue is greater than a first threshold value, wherein the first event queue comprises a first set of events received for purpose of scheduling, wherein said first set of events remain unscheduled; mapping the one or more events in the first event queue to one or more server resources in a virtualized computing environment; receiving a second set of events included in a second event queue, wherein one more events in the second set of event are defined as having a higher priority than one or more events in the first event queue that have or have not yet been scheduled. |
| US08904388B2 |
Scripting language executor service for applications
A method and system for executing scripts on virtual machines is provided. The system includes an executor service that accepts scripts, parameters, authentication information from another process that needs to invoke a script on a target virtual machine (or group of virtual machines). The executor service remains running even after a script has completed execution. The executor service accepts any number of scripts and places them in a command queue. Agents running on the target virtual machine(s) check-in with the executor service to receive scripts from the command queue. Also, the executor service may directly invoke a script using a persistent connection to a virtual machine management center. |
| US08904387B2 |
Storage manager for virtual machines with virtual storage
A storage manager connects containers of virtual machine (VM) images and virtual storage device data within hosts. The storage management provides a set of northbound application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow configuration of images associated with VM images and virtual storage devices provided to the operating systems and applications within virtual machine images. The northbound APIs, include methods for creating a virtual storage container that contains storage for the VM instance and also at least one virtual storage device to be provided to an operating system executed by the VM, a method for causing an attach of the virtual storage container to the host and a method for causing a deployment of the virtual storage device within the host. A set of southbound APIs are provided by the host, including at least a method that creates virtual storage devices and a method that attaches virtual storage devices to the host. |
| US08904382B2 |
Creating instances of cloud computing environments
Embodiments of the present invention provide a flexible approach to construct/create instances of cloud computing environments. Specifically, under embodiments of the present invention, an image of a virtual machine instance is created from the following components: image bits; content such as the liner notes, manual, metadata, etc.; end user information (so that the image can be customized for one or more specific end users); values provided to an installer; and cloud based values (e.g., IP address, hostname, etc.). By constructing the virtual machine using this approach, dynamic aspects of the image are managed external to the static binary representation of the image. This would include artifacts such as documentation, install scripts, binary files, etc. Additionally, user supplied data can be captured dynamically and copied to customize the image at the time of instance creation. Still yet, embodiments of the present invention provides system level configuration to construct the virtual machine. |
| US08904380B1 |
Software installation on a multi-chassis network device
A multi-chassis router allows an administrator to install software from a single user interface. The multi-chassis router automatically forwards the software to each chassis within the multi-chassis router when given a single command to install the software from an administrator. The multi-chassis router also automatically validates the software on each chassis. After reporting the results of the validations, the multi-chassis router may wait for the administrator to issue a commit command before committing each chassis within the multi-chassis router to the software. Alternatively, in response to a failed validation or for other reason, an administrator can issue a single ROLLBACK command. This allows each chassis within the multi-chassis router to have the same software during all stages of a software installation and ensures software on each chassis is compatible with software on every other chassis. |
| US08904377B2 |
Reconfiguration of computer system to allow application installation
A method and apparatus for installing an application on a computer are disclosed. Following receipt of a request to install an application, a software state, comprising the new application and several of the applications installed on the computer, is derived. Then, the method determines whether the software state can be implemented on the computer. If the software state cannot be implemented on the computer, then the method derives another software state. This is repeated until the derived software state can be implemented on the computer system, or until determining that no software state exists which can be implemented on the computer system. |
| US08904373B2 |
Method for persisting specific variables of a software application
Some embodiments of the invention provide a variable persister that allows an application running on a device to efficiently make a set of variables persistent across termination and relaunch of the application. According to some embodiments of the invention, an application executing on the device can utilize this archiving service by simply having its persisted variables declared in the application's code as variables that are to be persisted. Based on such declarations, the variable persisting service of the device stores the values of the set of persisted variables in a non-volatile storage archive (e.g., disk, flash storage, etc.) when the application terminates, and retrieves these values from the archive when the application restarts such that the values of the persisted variables are restored to a state before the application was last terminated. |
| US08904370B2 |
Optimization of meta-template instantiations
An illustrative embodiment provides a computer-implemented method for an alternate type system for optimizing the evaluation and use of meta-template instantiations. The computer-implemented method obtains a source code, instantiates an element of the source code to form an instantiated element and identifies a meta-template within the instantiated element to form an identified meta-template. The computer-implemented method creates an entry for the identified meta-template in a first data structure, wherein the entry comprises a set of mapped entries, creates an associated entry in a second data structure linked to the entry comprising the set of mapped entries, wherein the associated entry represents the set of mapped entries, and uses the associated entry of the second data structure in combination with the entry of the first data structure. |
| US08904368B2 |
Instantiating a composite application for different target platforms
A method, system, and computer program product for instantiating a composite application for different target platforms. In an exemplary manner, a template that describes a composite application having a plurality of application components is created. The template includes a composite application component assembly descriptor and a plurality of platform-specific handlers. The composite application component assembly descriptor lists each application component of the composite application. The platform-specific handlers handle the deployment of application components for the different target platforms. The composite application component assembly descriptor is evaluated to identify platform-specific implementations of the composite application components. The composite application is instantiated using one of the plurality of platform-specific handlers. The platform-specific handlers are included in the template for a platform-specific deployment for one of the plurality of target platforms. |
| US08904364B2 |
Execution in workflow BPM engine
An apparatus and a method for executing a workflow in a business process management (BPM) engine is described. A business process management (BPM) process definition is generated based on a business process at a BPM generator of a BPM system. The BPM process definition is translated into a Java source code at a translator engine of the BPM system. The Java source code is compiled into a Java byte code at a compiler engine of the BPM engine. The processing device of the BPM system is configured to execute the Java byte code. |
| US08904362B2 |
Method and apparatus for display of windowing application programs on a terminal
An apparatus may include a network interface to facilitate communication with a second apparatus, and one or more machine-readable media with instructions executable by one or more processors to perform facilitating accessing a windows application resident on the second apparatus without executing locally the windows application resident on the second apparatus. An apparatus may facilitate providing windowing functionality to permit use of a windows application resident on the apparatus without requiring more than windowing information of the windows application to be provided. An apparatus may facilitate providing windowing information for display. An apparatus may facilitate provision of windowing information associated with a program executable on the apparatus configured to run a multi-user operating system, the program resident on the apparatus. One or more non-transitory machine-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US08904361B2 |
Non-intrusive method for logging of internal events within an application process, and system implementing this method
A method and computer system logs events occurring in an application in a single or multi-computer environment, functioning non-intrusively and transparently vis-á-vis this application. A first computer node receives a communication from a client; the first computer node executes a transactional application that provides services to the client. A process of the transactional application includes a call to a first function. In response to the call to the first function, a modified function is executed that calls both the first function and second recording function. The call to the recording function is detected at a secondary computer node, different from the first computer node. The recording function executes at the second node to store logged data at the second computer node, the logged data representing execution of the first process. |
| US08904359B2 |
On-demand monitoring of memory usage
A method, system, and computer usable program product for on-demand monitoring of memory usage are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An indication of a memory leak in an application is detected where the application is operating in a data processing system and using a memory associated with the data processing system. An instruction to begin monitoring a memory usage of the application is received responsive to the detection. Responsive to receiving the instruction to begin, the memory usage of the application is monitored. An instruction to dump a data related to the monitoring is received and the data is dumped. An instruction to end the monitoring is received and the monitoring is ended. The detecting, the beginning, the dumping, and the ending may occur while the application remains in operation and while the application uses the memory. The memory leak is confirmed using the data. |
| US08904354B2 |
Rule based syntax software test case generator
A system and computer implemented method includes receiving an input file containing a mark-up language based description of a syntax diagram having multiple elements and variations for multiple elements describing a set of test case queries, checking and validating the syntax diagram via a parser running on a processor, and generating and storing, on a computer readable medium, the set of test case queries by calculating permutations of the elements in the syntax diagram. |
| US08904348B2 |
Method and system for handling errors during script execution
The present disclosure is directed to a method and system for bulk-loading data into a data storage model. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present disclosure a script having a plurality of statements is executed. Executing the script includes executing the plurality of statements in a predetermined order. One or more failed statements are identified. Each of the one or more failed statements are re-executed according to the predetermined order. |
| US08904347B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for building software by composition
A method and system are disclosed for building complex real-time software that scales well to a large number of processors or CPU cores. The software design and implementation method are based on a combination of object composition (hierarchical assembly) and desynchronizable inter-object interactions. |
| US08904340B2 |
Use of temporary optimized settings to reduce cycle time of automatically created spreadsheets
Aspects of the present invention provide a solution for reducing cycle time of automatically created spreadsheets. Specifically, an embodiment of the present invention provides a way to create a spreadsheet from data that is in a native format more quickly and/or efficiently. To do so, the invention accesses a control file using optimized settings to create the spreadsheet. Then, after creation of the spreadsheet, the invention uses a second control file having the final settings to modify the spreadsheet in preparation for output. The invention may use agents to perform all or a portion of these activities. |
| US08904337B2 |
Semiconductor device design method, system and computer-readable medium
A semiconductor device design system comprising at least one processor is configured to define a resistance-capacitance (RC) extraction tool for determining a distance between first and second through-semiconductor-vias extracted from a layout of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate and the first and second through-semiconductor-vias in the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device design system comprising the at least one processor is also configured to extract parasitic parameters of a coupling in the semiconductor substrate based on the distance determined by the RC extraction tool and a model of the coupling included in a simulation tool. |
| US08904335B2 |
Evaluation of pin geometry accessibility in a layer of circuit
Evaluation of electrical accessibility within a layer of a circuit to pin geometries residing within a cell boundary of the circuit is provided. The evaluating includes, for instance, checking along substantially parallel pin geometry access paths of the layer to determine possible points at which a respective pin geometry of the pin geometries within the cell boundary may be accessed. The evaluating also includes identifying which points of the possible points are accessible access points by any route of the possible routes for electrically connecting to a respective pin geometry of the pin geometries from a first side or a second side of the cell boundary, wherein at least one point of the possible points is identified as not being an accessible access point based on the at least one point being inaccessible by the possible routes. |
| US08904333B2 |
Mixed signal IP core prototyping system
A system for prototyping an integrated circuit (IC) that has a mixed signal intellectual property (IP) core includes implementing the IP core using discrete programmable digital ICs and discrete analog ICs by partitioning the IP core into a digital IP portion and an analog IP portion. |
| US08904332B1 |
Display process
The present disclosure relates to a method for visualizing an electronic circuit design. The method may include receiving the electronic circuit design, wherein the electronic circuit design includes at least one timing constraint. The method may also include identifying the at least one timing constraint and displaying, at a graphical user interface associated with the one or more computing devices, the at least one timing constraint and a physical routing associated with the electronic circuit design. The method may further include receiving a user input associated with the electronic circuit design and dynamically updating a graphical representation of the at least one timing constraint, in response to the received user input. |
| US08904326B2 |
Semiconductor device design method, system and computer program product
In a semiconductor device design method performed by at least one processor, location data of at least one electrical component in a layout of a semiconductor device is extracted by the at least one processor. Voltage data associated with the at least one electrical component and based on a simulation of an operation of the semiconductor device is extracted by the at least one processor. Based on the extracted location data, the extracted voltage data is incorporated, by the at least one processor, in the layout to generate a modified layout of the semiconductor device. |
| US08904325B2 |
Verification test set and test bench map maintenance
Aspects of the invention provide for the maintenance of user modified portions of a map between a test bench and a test set generator during an iterative electronic design process. Various implementations of the invention provide for matching sections within a design for an electronic device with corresponding sections in a map between the elements in the design to elements in a graph representation of the design. The matched sections are then compared to determine if any discrepancies exists, such as, for example, if the design has been recently changed. If any discrepancies do exist, then it is determined whether the section of the map can be updated or must be replaced entirely to resolve the discrepancies. Various implementations of the invention provide that the process can be repeated during an iterative design flow such that as the design is modified during the iterative design flow, the map can be updated to reflect the changes. |
| US08904319B2 |
Method and apparatus for merging EDA coverage logs of coverage data
An electronic design automation technology merges coverage logs. The coverage logs are generated by verification of a hardware description language circuit design. The coverage logs are merged as the coverage logs are generated, without waiting for all pending coverage logs. Another electronic design automation technology also merges coverage logs. The merged coverage logs include a first coverage log of a first simulation of a hardware description language circuit design and a second coverage log of a second simulation of the hardware description language circuit design. The first simulation is based on a first hardware verification language coverage model of the hardware description language circuit design. The second simulation is based on a second hardware verification language coverage model of the hardware description language circuit design. The second hardware verification language coverage model is newer and different than the first hardware verification language coverage model. |
| US08904318B1 |
Method and apparatus for performing optimization using don't care states
A method for designing a system on a target device includes determining a realization set of a signal that includes one or more representations of the signal where at least one of the representation is influenced by a Don't Care Set (DCS) and all representations are equivalent. The realization set is propagated through the system with the signal. The realization set is used to perform a plurality of separate optimizations on the logic. |
| US08904317B2 |
Parameter setting circuit and method for integrated circuits
A parameter setting circuit and method for an integrated circuit apply a pulse current to a pin of the integrated circuit during a programming mode of the integrated circuit, and then extract the difference between the voltage on the pin and the DC component of the voltage on the pin to determine a setting signal for parameter setting to an internal circuit of the integrated circuit. By this way, an input pin, an output pin or an input/output pin of the integrated circuit may be used as the pin implementing the parameter setting function. |
| US08904313B2 |
Gestural control for quantitative inputs
A method for value specification in a responsive interface control, the method including: displaying an interface control in a user interface on a touch display device, wherein the interface control is an interactive interface element configured to set an interface value selected from an ordered continuum of values; detecting a shape of a touch gesture input on the interface control on the touch display device; and changing the interface value in response to detecting a change in the shape of the gesture input. |
| US08904312B2 |
Method and device for touchless signing and recognition
A touchless sensor device (110) for touchless signing and recognition is provided. The sensor device can include a recognition engine (114) for recognizing at least one finger sign (140), and a controller (120) for composing a text from the recognized at least one finger sign and providing predictive texting. A recognized pattern can be an alphanumeric character or a finger gesture. The controller can generate a trace (145) from the finger sign. The trace can include spatio-temporal information (153) that is characteristic to a touchless writing style. The controller can provide text messaging services, email composition services, biometric identification services, phone dialing, and navigation entry services through touchless finger signing. |
| US08904307B2 |
Parameter input receiving method
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for reducing a user's operation procedures in a pop-up menu and for effectively locating the user's desired processing. A computer (1) displays a pop-up menu based on a list of at least one processing item stored in advance at a position designated by data indicative of a display request in a display unit (14) in response to receipt of the data indicative of the display request of the pop-up menu through an input unit (13). While continuing the display of the pop-up menu in response to receipt of data through the input unit (13) indicative of one processing item selected from the list, the computer (1) displays a form for receiving a parameter input corresponding to the processing item, receives input data for the form through the input unit (13), and stores the data as parameters of the processing item. |
| US08904305B2 |
Automatically hiding controls
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for automatically hiding controls. In one aspect, a method includes displaying at least a portion of a content region of a user interface and at least a portion of a control region of the user interface, wherein the control region is peripheral to the content region; and determining that the portion of the control region of the user interface has been displayed for a predetermined period of time, then automatically removing the portion of the control region from display. |
| US08904303B2 |
Terminal and method for using the internet
A mobile communication terminal is provided. The mobile communication terminal includes a memory, a touch screen, and a controller. The touch screen is configured to display an Internet address input window, at least a portion of an Internet page corresponding to an Internet address in the Internet address input window, and a virtual key pad. The controller is configured to generate a duplicate window of the Internet address input window in response to a first touch input performed on the Internet address input window, move the duplicate window in response to a drag operation, store the Internet address in a memory in response to dropping the moved duplicate window on a key in the virtual key pad, and generate a short-cut by assigning the stored Internet address to the key. |
| US08904302B2 |
Identification of semantically relevant concepts in a graphical model
In an embodiment, a plurality of graphical elements of a graphical model may be displayed on a display device. An indication of a graphical operation involving a first graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements may be received. The graphical operation when performed may establish a relationship between the first graphical element and one or more other graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements that are compatible with the graphical operation. Two or more graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements that are compatible with the graphical operation and one or more characteristics associated with the first graphical element may be identified. A visual indication may be provided on the display device. The visual indication may indicate that the identified plurality of graphical elements is compatible with the graphical operation. |
| US08904300B2 |
Managing and displaying schedule
A system including a view creation unit for creating a view for displaying schedule data on at least one of a weekly basis, a monthly basis, and a yearly basis and a view for displaying schedule data on a daily basis; and a display control unit for displaying, on a display unit, a weekly, monthly, or yearly first view created by the view creation unit, displaying, in a position corresponding to a predetermined date in the displayed first view, a daily second view corresponding to the date, and displaying schedule data with respect to the second view in a manner that a display position and displayed time periods are associated with each other. |
| US08904294B2 |
Screen sharing
A method of transferring image data from a first terminal to a second terminal connected via a communication network, the method comprising: displaying on a screen of the first terminal a screen image generated by a processor executed application; a processor executing a communication client to: establish a communication event between the first and second terminals and display at the first terminal an interactive selection component; a user at the first terminal actuating the selection component to select at least one object displayed on the screen to be shared with the second terminal, wherein the communication client accesses data defining displayed object dimensions and adjusts the selection component based on those dimensions to cause the at least one object selected by the window selection component to be displayed on a screen of the second terminal by transferring image data over the communication network in the established communication event. |
| US08904290B2 |
Non-hierarchical multi-hash table model for menu data representation
A method for supporting versions of a menu includes identifying menu items for an application. The menu items are in a first menu and have state data used by functions to perform operations. The method includes generating indices from the menu items, generating a first table that includes the indices and the functions, and generating a second table that includes a portion of the indices. The indices in the first table correspond to the functions, the portion defines a subset of menu items for a second menu, and the portion of the indices corresponds to a portion of the state data. When an operation is to be performed, an index for the subset of menu items is used to determine state data corresponding to the index in the second table, and the index is used to determine a function corresponding to the index in the first table. |
| US08904287B2 |
Previews of dialogs in applications
Displaying a preview image is disclosed. An indication to display a preview image is received. The indication is based at least in part on an interaction with a menu item in an application and the menu item is associated with a dialog used to provide input to the application. In response to receiving the indication, a preview image of the dialog is obtained and the preview image is displayed with the menu item. |
| US08904283B2 |
Extendable meta-data support in final form presentation datastream print enterprises
Methods, systems, and apparatus for generating and associating meta-data with a final form presentation datastream document where the meta-data is structured in accordance with the datastream component architectures. Meta-data objects (“MDOs”) are architected as components of a presentation document and thus are well defined to allow applications to reliably access and process the meta-data contained therein. The MDOs may be associated with other components of the document and are architected to be extensible and flexible while still adhering to an architectural structure. The MDOs may be descriptive (no affect in document presentation) or operational (affects document presentation if processed). Standard types of MDOs may include XML standard information, JDF standard information, PWG standard information, and digital signature information. A variety of standard categories further define typical meta-data forms and applications thereof. |
| US08904281B2 |
Method and system for managing multi-user user-selectable elements
A method for associating a characterization attribute with a document in a computerized system is disclosed, the method comprising providing a primary insertion of a document associating at least one intrinsic characterization attribute with the document, and providing a secondary insertion of the document associating at least one extrinsic characterization attribute with the document. A method for changing the level of details of a document representation in accordance with a magnification of the document representation is also disclosed. A machine readable medium containing machine executable instructions providing a method for building a multi-user document vector is also disclosed, the method comprising a first plurality of documents associated with a first user, a second plurality of documents associated with a second user and a multi-user document vector comprising the first plurality of documents and the second plurality of documents. |
| US08904280B2 |
Recursive flows in variable-data printing document templates
A method, system and a computer program product for generating, rendering and printing documents 100,110,120 from a variable-data printing document template 130 which defines a document defining a layout of nested document portions 150 comprising content which is variable in response to input data 140. There is provided a way of expressing and treating nested flows, thus enabling the creation of complex document designs for Variable Data Publishing material used in Digital Publishing. |
| US08904274B2 |
In-situ mobile application suggestions and multi-application updates through context specific analytics
A system for implementing simultaneous functionality for a wireless communications device (WCD), including a processor for a first specially programmed computer in the WCD for: displaying, on a screen of a GUI for the WCD, a visual representation for a first application; receiving, via the GUI, input data for a plurality of fields for the first application; presenting respective sensory representations of a plurality of applications via the GUI while maintaining the visual representation on the screen; and receiving, via the GUI, respective inputs selecting the applications while maintaining the visual representation. The system includes a processor for a second specially programmed computer processor separate from the WCD for: identifying respective portions of the input data usable by the applications; simultaneously populating the first application and the applications with the input data and the respective portions of the input data, respectively; and implementing the first application and the applications. |
| US08904273B2 |
System and method of format specification
A value formatting system for determining format specifications in reports is provided. The value formatting system comprises a format collection unit for collecting data value attributes and patterns for a data item in a report, and a format merging unit for merging the collected data value attributes and patterns into a format specification for the data item. |
| US08904266B2 |
Multi-standard viterbi processor
Various embodiments relate to a multi-standard Viterbi decoder. Based on programmable values for constraint length, generator polynomials, and code rate, the multi-standard Viterbi decoder may adhere to a specific convolutional code standard. At a given time, the multi-standard Viterbi decoder may receive a variety of convolutional codes through a channel and may process them using various forms of the trace back method. Various embodiments include a branch metric unit and path metric unit that include a variety of sub-units that may or may not be active based on the value of the programmable value. Various embodiments also enable the multi-standard Viterbi decoder to handle different forms of convolutional codes, such as tail-biting codes. In some embodiments, the multi-standard Viterbi decoder may also process at least two convolutional codes concurrently. |
| US08904262B2 |
Providing capacity optimized streaming data with forward error correction
In an example embodiment, there is described herein a methodology were the Forward Error Correction (FEC) data for a data stream is distributed into a plurality of FEC sub-streams. Subscribers to the data stream indicate which of the plurality of FEC sub-streams should be provided to them. The distribution of FEC sub-streams are limited to subscribed FEC sub-streams. FEC sub-streams with no subscribers are not forwarded beyond a distribution point such as an access point (AP). |
| US08904261B2 |
Data management in solid state storage devices
A mechanism is provided for controlling a solid state storage device in which the solid state storage comprises erasable blocks each comprising a plurality of data write locations. Input data is stored in successive groups of data write locations, each group comprising write locations in a set of erasable blocks in each of a plurality of logical subdivisions of the solid state storage. The input data is error correction encoded such that each group contains an error correction code for the input data in that group. Metadata, indicating the location of input data in the solid state storage, is maintained in memory. An indication of validity of data stored in each data write location is also maintained. Prior to erasing a block, valid input data is recovered from the each said group containing write locations in that block. The recovered data is then re-stored as new input data. |
| US08904258B2 |
Modulation-forward error correction (MFEC) codes and methods of constructing and utilizing the same
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to binary block transmission codes for high-speed network transmissions. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to bounded-disparity run-length-limited forward error correction codes and methods of constructing and utilizing same. In one embodiment, a method for generating binary block bounded-disparity run-length-limited forward error correction transmission codes comprises selecting an existing base code, deriving a sub-code from the existing base code, having properties indicated by disparity bound, run-length limit and minimum distance, ascertaining a plurality of codewords and control characters from within the sub-code, encoding Messages to be transmitted with at least one codeword from the plurality of codewords, transmitting codewords from a transmitter to a receiver, and decoding the codewords into Messages. |
| US08904250B2 |
Autorecovery after manufacturing/system integration
Testing methods in a pre-programmed memory device after it has been assembled into a final customer platform include issuing a self-test command to the memory device, the memory device reporting results of a self-test of pre-programmed data executed responsive to receiving the self-test command, and issuing a self-repair command responsive to the results indicating repair of the pre-programmed data is needed. |
| US08904246B2 |
Variable acknowledge rate to reduce bus contention in presence of communication errors
A variable write back indicator control is provided to control the amount of data to be re-transmitted when a packet error occurs. A hardware controller obtains an indication that an acknowledge rate or an amount of set write back indicators of a data frame is to be adjusted. The indication is based on an error rate of data transmission over a communication bus. Based on obtaining the indication that the amount of set write back indicators is to be adjusted, one or more write back indicators are adjusted. |
| US08904244B2 |
Heuristic approach for faster consistency check in a redundant storage system
A method for reducing an amount of time required for performing consistency checking in a redundant storage system includes steps of: providing an information repository associated with each of a primary drive and at least one redundant drive; storing, in the information repository, information relating to input/output failures on the primary drive and redundant drive; determining a likelihood that one or more regions of the primary drive and/or redundant drive contains inconsistent data as a function of the information stored in the information repository; and performing consistency checking on the one or more regions of the primary drive and the redundant drive determined to have at least a prescribed likelihood of containing inconsistent data to thereby reduce the amount of time required for performing consistency checking. |
| US08904242B2 |
Cloud service recovery time prediction system, method and program
A recovery schedule storing means (81) stores a recovery schedule for a failure of a cloud service with respect to each computing resource type or each application service. A resource usage profile storing means (82) stores a resource usage profile specifying an application service or a computing resource used when each user uses the cloud service. A recovery time predicting means (83) predicts a service recovery time with respect to each user based on the resource usage profile and the recovery schedule. A recovery time presenting means (84) presents the predicted service recovery time to the user. |
| US08904238B2 |
System and method for capturing logging information
A method, computer program product, and computer system for receiving, by a processor, an initiation indication that a test is initiating on a computing device. A logging process is activated to record to a log one or more log messages generated as a result of the test in response to receiving the initiation indication that the test is initiating. A completion indication is received that the test is complete. The logging process is deactivated to stop recording to the log in response to receiving the completion indication that the test is complete. The one or more log messages are associated with the test in response to receiving the completion indication that the test is complete. |
| US08904237B2 |
Framework for testing and evaluating mobile communication devices
A framework and associated systems and methods for testing mobile communication devices are disclosed. An exemplary method includes receiving user-action data from each of a plurality of user-action-capture devices. The user-action data received from the user-action-capture devices includes data that characterizes a plurality of user actions that were performed on the user-action-capture devices. The user-action data is consolidated into generic representations of the user actions to create a superset of generally-applicable-user-action data, and each generic representation of a user action in the superset represents two or more similar user actions. The generally-applicable-user-action data is then used to test mobile communication devices that are different than the user-action-capture devices. |
| US08904235B2 |
Online debug system and online debug method for information processing device
An online debug system for an information processing device is provided that enables easily connecting a debug device for online debugging to an information processing device while maintaining minimum required functions of the information processing device as a product. The online debug system has a debug device that transfers a directive from outside to thereby debug a navigation system. The navigation system includes a debug daemon that debugs the navigation system and a data expansion unit that reads a communication driver group stored in a USB memory via a connection terminal and validates it. A serial communication driver as the communication driver group validated in the navigation system enables the debug device communicate with the debug daemon. |
| US08904233B2 |
Electronic apparatus
A failure caused by a soft-error including MNU, of an electronic apparatus is prevented, while suppressing increase of a mounting area, power consumption, and processing time. The electronic apparatus stores data indicating the state of a flip-flop included in a sequential logic circuit within an arithmetic unit, each time when execution is performed on a check point provided for every predetermined number of instructions. When a symptom of a soft-error is detected, the apparatus sets the state of the flip-flop included in the sequential logic circuit within the arithmetic unit, based on the data stored after execution of the instruction at the immediately preceding check point, and restarts execution from the next instruction, being subsequent to the instruction associated with the immediately preceding check point. |
| US08904232B2 |
Preventing audit loss for asynchronous target
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to auditing operations. In aspects, operations may be audited synchronously and/or asynchronously to one or more audit targets. When auditing synchronously, audit records may be written synchronously to an audit target. When auditing asynchronously, a buffer may be used to store audit records until the audit records are flushed to an audit target. If an error occurs in auditing, a policy may be evaluated to determine how to respond. One exemplary response includes failing an operation that triggered a subsequent audit record. Furthermore, if a buffer was unable to be copied to an audit target, the contents of the buffer may be preserved and one or more retries may be attempted to copy the buffer to the audit target. |
| US08904228B2 |
Methods and systems for repairing memory
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may comprise identifying one or more portions of the memory having defects. The method may also include storing one or more addresses in the memory defect list, each of the one or more addresses associated with a portion of the one or more identified portions. The method may further include indicating to components of an information handling system that the one or more identified portions are unusable such that the other components are prevented from allocating and using the one or more identified portions. |
| US08904226B2 |
Migrating stored copies of a file to stored encoded data slices
A method begins by a processing module identifying a set of stored files that includes an original file and one or more back-up copies of the original file. The method continues with the processing module dispersed storage error encoding one of the set of stored files to produce a plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module facilitating storage of the plurality of sets of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module facilitating deletion of the set of stored files. |
| US08904224B2 |
Providing replication and fail-over as a network service in data centers
Techniques for providing session level replication and fail-over as a network service include generating a replication rule that replicates network traffic destined for a primary server from an originating server to a network controller and installing said rule in a switch component, identifying flows from the originating server to the primary server, replicating each incoming data packet intended for the primary server to the network controller for replication and forwarding to replica servers, determining said primary server to be in a failed state based on a number of retransmissions of a packet, to selecting one of the replica servers as a fail-over target, and performing a connection level fail-over by installing a redirection flow in the switch component that redirects all packets destined to the primary server to the network controller, which forwards the packets to the replica server and forwards each response from the replica server to said originating server. |
| US08904221B2 |
Arbitration circuitry for asynchronous memory accesses
A data processing system comprises a processor operating according to a first clock signal and a memory operating according to a second clock signal. The data processing system causes the processor to read data from the memory at least in part in response to a signal from first synchronizing circuitry and a signal from second synchronizing circuitry. The first synchronizing circuitry comprises a first storage element that samples a signal synchronized to the second clock signal in combination with a second storage element that samples an output of the first storage element. The first and second storage elements are triggered by inverse transitions in the first clock signal. The second synchronizing circuitry comprises third and fourth storage elements configured in a similar manner, except that they sample a signal synchronized to the first clock signal and are triggered by inverse transitions in the second clock signal. |
| US08904218B2 |
Portable device and method for providing voice recognition service
A portable device and a method for controlling the device are disclosed. The portable device includes sensors configured to sense user inputs; a sensor hub configured to activate a main processor and control the sensors including a touch sensor, the touch sensor sensing touch inputs while the portable device is in a standby mode; and the main processor configured to execute an application and control the portable device, wherein, when the portable device is in the standby mode, the touch sensor is in an active state and at least one of the sensors except the touch sensor is in an inactive state, and when the touch sensor detects a first touch input which corresponds to a pre-stored pattern, the sensor hub activates the main processor and switches the portable device from the standby mode to an active mode. |
| US08904217B2 |
System and method for managing power consumption in a computer device
A system and method is disclosed for managing power consumption in a computing device. A policy controller determines whether an aggregated power consumption of a plurality of external interface controllers in a computing device is greater than a policy power limit. On determining that the aggregated power consumption is greater than the policy power limit, the policy controller may set a first external interface controller at a negotiated power level, and set a second external interface controller at an adjusted power level, wherein the first external interface controller and the second external interface controller are set based on the policy power limit and the aggregated power consumption. |
| US08904215B2 |
Electronic device and power consumption measuring method thereof
An embodiment is directed to an electronic device, including a power management device, the power management device generating a plurality of powers according to power management information, and a processor, the processor including a plurality of power blocks supplied with the plurality of powers through a plurality of power lines, and including a power consumption measurement block that measures power consumption of respective power blocks of the plurality of power blocks. |
| US08904214B2 |
System and method for conserving power in a medical device
A system and method for conservation of battery power in a portable medical device is provided. In one example, a processor arrangement that includes a plurality of processors is implemented. At least one of these processors is configured to execute the critical functions of the medical device, while one or more other processors assume a reduced service level, thereby drawing significantly less power. According to this arrangement, the medical device conserves energy by drawing the additional electrical power needed to activate the additional processing power only when needed. |
| US08904213B2 |
Saving power by managing the state of inactive computing devices according to specific constraints
A system method and computer program product for managing readiness states of a plurality of computing devices. In response to a request, a computer system operates to either: provide one or more computing devices from an inactive pool to an active pool, or accept one or more active computing devices into the inactive pool. An Inactive Pool Manager proactively manages the inactive states of each computing device by: determining the desired number (and identities) of computing devices to be placed in each inactive state of readiness by solving a constraint optimization problem that describes a user-specified trade-off between expected readiness (estimated time to be able to activate computing devices when they are needed next) and conserving energy; generating a plan for changing the current set of inactive states to the desired set; and, executing the plan. Multiple alternative ways of quantifying the desired responsiveness to surges in demand are provided. |
| US08904212B2 |
Power management utilizing proximity or link status determination
Methods and apparatuses for power management are disclosed. In one example, proximity of link status of a wireless communication device is used to determine whether a power conservation mode is implemented. |
| US08904207B2 |
Communication method of a terminal and an access point for power saving
Provided is a communication technology of an access point and a terminal that may decrease power consumption by changing an operation state of the terminal from an awake state to a sleep state when a data stream to be transmitted to the terminal is absent or has completed in a transmission opportunity (TXOP) duration. |
| US08904203B2 |
Power supply assembly for a terminal having ethernet energy supply operating in plurality of operating modes under the control of logic unit with one DC/DC converter
A power supply assembly for a terminal having Ethernet energy supply, includes a split device with an Ethernet energy supply connection (A1) that connects to an Ethernet cable which is set up to supply energy and with an output to provide a first DC voltage (U1), a logic unit coupled to the split device, a DC/DC converter coupled to the logic unit and connected to the output of the split device in a switchable manner, and a voltage (U) that supplies the terminal being provided at an output of the DC/DC converter under control of the logic unit. |
| US08904198B1 |
Electrical device recharging kiosk assembly
A electrical device recharging kiosk assembly includes a housing that has a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending between the top and bottom walls. The housing has a plurality of storage spaces therein for holding an electronic device. Each of the storage spaces includes an opening extending through the perimeter wall, a compartment aligned with and accessible through the opening, a door for closing the opening to the compartment, and a lock to lock the door. A charging implement for recharging a battery of the electronic device is positioned within the compartment. A control is mounted on the housing and is electrically coupled to the lock of each of the storage spaces. The control unlocks a door of one of the storage spaces to allow access to a selected one of the storage spaces and to the charging implement positioned therein. |
| US08904184B2 |
Certification of authenticity of media signals
Media signals such as audio and/or video signals are certified as being authentic. A private key and a corresponding public key are provided. For a current media segment of the media signal, a signature is created using the private key to sign data based on media content of the current media segment combined with a signature from a media segment present at another point within the media signal where the signature from the media segment present at another point within the media signal is created by signing with the private key data based on media content of the media segment present at the other point within the media signal. The signature is included in metadata of the current media segment of the media signal and the public key is included in a second metadata of the media signal. |
| US08904183B2 |
Efficient technique to achieve non-repudiation and resilience to DoS attacks in wireless networks
A computationally efficient message verification strategy that achieves non-repudiation and resilience to computational denial of service attacks in conjunction with a broadcast authentication protocol that authenticates messages using a combination of a digital signature and a TESLA MAC. When messages are received at a receiver, the verification strategy separates the messages into messages with the same sender identification. The strategy then determines whether the TESLA MAC authenticator is valid for each message and discards those messages that do not have a valid TESLA MAC. The strategy collects the messages that have a valid TESLA MAC for each sender identification and performs a batch verification process on the group of messages to determine if the messages in the group have a valid digital signature. This strategy verifies each message in the group of messages if the batch verification process shows that the group of messages has a valid digital signature. |
| US08904181B1 |
System and method for secure three-party communications
A system and method for communicating information between a first party and a second party, comprising the steps of receiving, by an intermediary, an identifier of desired information and accounting information for a transaction involving the information from the first party, transmitting an identifier of the first party to the second party, and negotiating, by the intermediary, a comprehension function for obscuring at least a portion of the information communicated between the first party and the second party. The data transmission may be made secure with respect to the intermediary by providing an asymmetric key or direct key exchange for encryption of the communication between the first and second party. The data transmission may be made secure with respect to the second party by maintaining the information in encrypted format at the second party, with the decryption key held only by the intermediary, and transmitting a secure composite of the decryption key and a new encryption key to the second party for transcoding of the data record, and providing the new decryption key to the first party, so that the information transmitted to the first party can be comprehended by it. |
| US08904178B2 |
System and method for secure remote access
A method and apparatus for directing a client to establish a secure connection with a server across a public network. The server and the client exchange a Server Authentication Public Key, a Client Authentication Public Key, and a Remote Service Unique Identifier (RSUID) during a registration process. In one embodiment, the method includes the client transmitting to the server a client information package having the RSUID and a client challenge information package encrypted with the Server Authentication Public Key, the client receiving from the server a server information package having the RSUID and a server challenge information package and a portion of the received client challenge information encrypted with the Client Authentication Public Key, the client decrypting and verifying the server challenge information package with the Client Authentication Private Key, and, the client transmitting to the server an encrypted portion of the received client challenge information. |
| US08904177B2 |
Authentication for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network
A method for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network may include authentication of a node within a wireless home networking environment after discovering a wireless home mesh network. The authentication comprises (1) transmitting a first message, the first message including (i) an encrypted pass-phrase being a pass-phrase encrypted with a public key of the node of the wireless home mesh network, (ii) a checksum of the encrypted pass-phrase, (iii) a public key of the wireless node, and (iv) a checksum of the public key of the wireless node, and (2) receiving a second message, the second message including a code to indicate whether the wireless node has been successfully authenticated along with the challenge text verification process to ensure the message was not tampered or sent by another node. |
| US08904176B2 |
Protecting the information encoded in a bloom filter using encoded bits of data
Illustrated is a system and method that includes identifying data stored as an entry in a list. The system and method also includes truncating the entry to create a truncated entry. It further includes transforming the truncated entry into a hash, the hash used to set an index position value within a Bloom filter. The system and method also includes an interface module to transmit the Bloom filter. |
| US08904174B2 |
System, method and computer program product for product license management
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for product license management for a clustered environment having a plurality of nodes is disclosed. The method includes unlocking a product on a first node of the plurality of clustered nodes; responsive to unlocking the product on the first node, indicating an unlocked status of the product on a shared storage device accessible to the plurality of clustered nodes; and transmitting a self-unlock message from the first node to remaining nodes of the cluster to enable the remaining nodes of the cluster to self-unlock the product on the respective remaining nodes based on the status indication of the shared storage device. |
| US08904166B2 |
Secure client-side communication between multiple domains
Methods and systems for secure client-side communication between multiple domains is provided. Such methods and systems can provide for decreased communication latency particularly effective for dynamic multi-domain and/or multi-tenant environments while allowing for granular security or specific security of messages and operations with regard to users, user sessions, groups, organizations, permissions sets, applications, or any other logical delineation. Such methods and systems may involve a variety of security components, for example, at least one set of instructions including a plurality of defined instruction to be utilized by users of the set of instructions to communicate, and cryptographic construct data in order to verify the data integrity and the authenticity of messages sent and received using the secure client-side communication between multiple domains. |
| US08904163B2 |
Contextual history of computing objects
Various features for a computer operating system include mechanisms for operating where a single native application, in the form of a Web browser, exists for an operating system, and all other applications run as Web apps of the browser application. A computer-implemented object tracking method includes instantiating, a first time, an operating system object on a computing device; automatically identifying contextual meta data that defines a state of objects that are open on the computing device, other than the instantiated operating system object, when the operating system object is instantiated; and storing the identifying contextual meta data in correlation with the operating system object, wherein the contextual meta data identifies one or more objects that are active in the operating system when the operating system object is instantiated. |
| US08904158B2 |
Storage system with boot appliance for improving reliability/availability/serviceability in high density server environments
The present invention is directed to a boot appliance for a data storage system. The boot appliance is a self-contained, pre-configured device that serves as a boot device for multiple servers. The boot appliance contains multiple hard drives which are configured into one or more RAID volumes. Each volume is divided into multiple partitions, with each partition serving as the boot drive for any server connected to it. The boot appliance provides its own environmental controls and Ethernet connection which may be used for providing alerts regarding the health of the components of the boot appliance and/or data storage system to a monitoring system, such as a network management system. The boot appliance may provide a boot drive and operating system image to multiple servers at the same time. |
| US08904155B2 |
Representing loop branches in a branch history register with multiple bits
In response to a property of a conditional branch instruction associated with a loop, such as a property indicating that the branch is a loop-ending branch, a count of the number of iterations of the loop is maintained, and a multi-bit value indicative of the loop iteration count is stored in a Branch History Register (BHR). In one embodiment, the multi-bit value may comprise the actual loop count, in which case the number of bits is variable. In another embodiment, the number of bits is fixed (e.g., two) and loop iteration counts are mapped to one of a fixed number of multi-bit values (e.g., four) by comparison to thresholds. Separate iteration counts may be maintained for nested loops, and a multi-bit value stored in the BHR may indicate a loop iteration count of only an inner loop, only the outer loop, or both. |
| US08904153B2 |
Vector loads with multiple vector elements from a same cache line in a scattered load operation
Mechanisms for performing a scattered load operation are provided. With these mechanisms, an extended address is received in a cache memory of a processor. The extended address has a plurality of data element address portions that specify a plurality of data elements to be accessed using the single extended address. Each of the plurality of data element address portions is provided to corresponding data element selector logic units of the cache memory. Each data element selector logic unit in the cache memory selects a corresponding data element from a cache line buffer based on a corresponding data element address portion provided to the data element selector logic unit. Each data element selector logic unit outputs the corresponding data element for use by the processor. |
| US08904152B2 |
Efficient complex multiplication and fast fourier transform (FFT) implementation on the ManArray architecture
Efficient computation of complex multiplication results and very efficient fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) are provided. A parallel array VLIW digital signal processor is employed along with specialized complex multiplication instructions and communication operations between the processing elements which are overlapped with computation to provide very high performance operation. Successive iterations of a loop of tightly packed VLIWs are used allowing the complex multiplication pipeline hardware to be efficiently used. In addition, efficient techniques for supporting combined multiply accumulate operations are described. |
| US08904143B2 |
Obtaining additional data storage from another data storage system
A main data storage system has a main storage control and data storage, and a user interface, the main storage control in communication with a local storage control of a local data storage system with local data storage. In response to a request to increase data storage from the user interface, the main control determines whether the main data storage is out of space. If so, the main control sends a command to the local control to create data space in local data storage. The local control creates the data space and associates the data space with the main control; and, in response to the local control creating data space in the local data storage and notifying the main control, the main control updates its metadata with respect to the data space, creating the impression that all the data is stored in the main data storage. |
| US08904141B2 |
Merging a storage cluster into another storage cluster
A method for merging a source electronic memory storage cluster into a destination electronic memory storage cluster may include designating a source storage cluster having a first configuration; designating a destination storage cluster having a second configuration; receiving a configuration database including mapping information associated with the first configuration of the source storage cluster; merging the configuration database for the source storage cluster into the destination storage cluster; identifying a conflict between the source storage cluster configuration and the destination storage cluster configuration by comparing mapping information for the imported configuration database for the source storage cluster to mapping information for a configuration database associated with the second configuration of the destination storage cluster; resolving the identified conflict between the source storage cluster configuration and the destination storage cluster configuration; and merging the configuration database for the source storage cluster into the destination storage cluster after resolving the identified conflict. |
| US08904138B2 |
Global distributed memory reshape operations on range-partitioned arrays
Embodiments are directed to reshaping a partitioned data array. In an embodiment, a computer system identifies a block length parameter that describes the number of data blocks in the range-partitioned flattened representation of the array that appear consecutively in each locale. The computer system then identifies a stride parameter that describes the amount of separation between data blocks in the range-partitioned flattened representation of the array that appear consecutively in a plurality of locales. Based on the identified block length parameter and the stride parameter, the computer system determines which of the data blocks on the plurality of locales are to be sent to other locales to produce a local version of the reshaped array. The computer system then receives data blocks from the different locales in the distributed system and reconstructs the array based on the received blocks to create a local version of the reshaped array. |
| US08904136B2 |
Optimized shrinking of virtual disks
Various systems and methods shrinking a storage object. For example, one method can involve receiving a request to shrink the storage object. The storage object can comprise multiple storage locations. The method can also involve receiving a list that identifies a set of the storage locations. The list can be generated in response to the request to shrink the storage object. The method can also involve reading data from a set of storage locations in the storage object that are not identified in the received list and copying the read data from the first storage object to a second storage object. |
| US08904134B2 |
Method and system of communication between a transponder and a base station
A transponder having a transmitting and receiving device for receiving commands and transmitting data and command processor for executing commands, and a programming device for changing the memory contents, and a data memory which has a first memory area and a second memory area, whereby the first memory area has the first value or a second value, and when the first memory area has the first value, the content of both memory areas can be changed and, in the case of read access to the second memory area, the transmitting/receiving device transmits a predefined or no data stream instead of the memory content of the second memory area. |
| US08904133B1 |
Storage apparatus and storage apparatus migration method
A source remote copy configuration in a source storage system is migrated to a destination storage system as a destination remote copy configuration. The destination primary storage apparatus of the destination storage system defines a virtual volume mapped to the primary volume provided by the source primary storage apparatus which is a storage area of the virtual volume; takes over a first identifier of the primary volume to the virtual volume; transfers, when the virtual volume receives an access request, the access request to the source primary storage apparatus to write data in the primary volume; and takes over the first identifier from the virtual volume to another primary volume provided by the destination primary storage apparatus, after completion of copy of data from primary volume of the source primary storage apparatus into primary volume of the destination primary storage apparatus and secondary volume of the destination secondary storage apparatus. |
| US08904129B2 |
Method and apparatus for backup and restore in a dynamic chunk allocation storage system
Backup and restore operations are made possible in a storage system that has dynamic chunk allocation (DCA) capability. In a DCA storage system, a chunk of physical storage area is not allocated to a segment of a volume until a write command is received targeting the segment of the volume. During a restore operation of the volume in the DCA storage system, the wasting of storage capacity when a backup image of the volume is restored is mitigated by preventing allocation of physical storage areas to segments of restore data that are only void data. |
| US08904126B2 |
System and method for performing a plurality of prescribed data management functions in a manner that reduces redundant access operations to primary storage
Systems and methods are disclosed for performing a plurality of prescribed data management functions in a manner that reduces redundant access operations to primary storage, where the system includes a data management engine for performing data management functions, including at least a snapshot function and a back-up function. An electronic service level agreement (SLA) specifies a schedule for performing data management functions, where point-in-time images of data include a reference to a baseline image and difference data indicating changes at a later, specific point in time. The data management system also creates a point-in-time image of the primary storage data in response to a schedule requiring some data management functions to be performed concurrently, and communicates the difference information to secondary storage to update the back-up copy of the primary data, such that the primary storage is accessed only once for all updates to the secondary storage. |
| US08904120B1 |
Segmented fingerprint datastore and scaling a fingerprint datastore in de-duplication environments
A storage server is coupled to a storage device that stores data blocks, and generates a fingerprint for each data block stored on the storage device. The storage server creates a master datastore and a plurality of datastore segments. The master datastore comprises an entry for each data block that is written to the storage device and a datastore segment comprises an entry for a new data block or a modified data block that is subsequently written to the storage device. The storage server merges the entries in the datastore segments with the entries in the master datastore in memory to free duplicate data blocks in the storage device. The storage server overwrites the master datastore with the entries in the plurality of datastore segments and the entries in the master datastore to create an updated master datastore in response to detecting that the number of datastore segments meets a threshold. |
| US08904119B2 |
Method and structures for performing a migration of a logical volume with a serial attached SCSI expander
Methods and structure for migrating a logical volume with a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) expander are provided. The expander comprises a plurality of physical links with associated transceivers (PHYs). The expander further comprises a control unit operable to select a logical volume, and to initiate migration of data from the selected logical volume to a backup logical volume. Further, the expander includes a Serial SCSI Protocol (SSP) target of the expander operable to intercept commands directed to the selected logical volume responsive to the control unit initiating the migration, and an SSP initiator of the expander that is operable to generate commands directed to the backup logical volume based on the intercepted commands, and to provide the intercepted commands to the selected logical volume. |
| US08904108B2 |
Methods and structure establishing nested Redundant Array of Independent Disks volumes with an expander
Methods and structure are provided for provisioning a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) volume via an expander that can be used to provision a RAID volume managed by an external RAID controller. The structure includes a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) expander. The expander comprises physical links with transceivers (PHYs) that directly couple with storage devices, a protocol target and a control unit. The control unit provisions a first RAID volume with multiple storage devices that are directly coupled with the PHYs, and is further masks the storage devices from a SAS domain, by presenting the PHYs directly coupled with the multiple storage devices as a single PHY coupled with a single logical device. The control unit is also operable to provision a portion of a second RAID volume on the logical device in response to the expander receiving a command from a RAID controller. |
| US08904104B2 |
Hybrid storage system with mid-plane
The present invention relates to semiconductor storage systems (SSDs). Specifically, the present invention relates to a hybrid storage system with a mid-plane. In a typical embodiment, a mid-plane is provided. Coupled to one side of the mid-plane is a system control board and a communications module having a set (at least one) of ports. Coupled to a second side of the mid-plane is (among other components) a first RAID controller, which itself is coupled to a double data rate semiconductor storage device (DDR SSD) module having a set of DDR SSD units. Also coupled to the second side of the mid-plane is a second RAID controller, which itself is coupled to a hard disk drive (HDD) module having a set of HDD/Flash SDD units. |
| US08904102B2 |
Process identifier-based cache information transfer
Embodiments of the invention relate to process identifier (PID) based cache information transfer. An aspect of the invention includes sending, by a first core of a processor, a PID associated with a cache miss in a first local cache of the first core to a second cache of the processor. Another aspect of the invention includes determining that the PID associated with the cache miss is listed in a PID table of the second cache. Yet another aspect of the invention includes based on the PID being listed in the PID table of the second cache, determining a plurality of entries in a cache directory of the second cache that are associated with the PID. Yet another aspect of the invention includes pushing cache information associated with each of the determined plurality of entries in the cache directory from the second cache to the first local cache. |
| US08904101B2 |
Content-addressable memory lookup device supporting iterative lookup operations
In one embodiment, multiple content-addressable memory entries are associated with each other to effectively form a batch content-addressable memory entry that spans multiple physical entries of the content-addressable memory device. To match against this content-addressable memory entry, multiple lookup operations are required—i.e., one lookup operation for each combined physical entry. Further, one embodiment provides that a batch content-addressable memory entry can span one, two, three, or more physical content-addressable memory entries, and batch content-addressable memory entries of varying sizes could be programmed into a single content-addressable memory device. Thus, a lookup operation might take two lookup iterations on the physical entries of the content-addressable memory device, with a next lookup operation taking a different number of lookup iterations (e.g., one, three or more). |
| US08904096B2 |
Storage device and information processing system
A storage device able to make a redundant write operation of unselected data unnecessary and able to optimize an arrangement of pages to a state having a high efficiency for rewriting, wherein the storage device has a first memory unit, a second memory unit having a different access speed from the first memory, and a control circuit, wherein the control circuit has a function of timely moving the stored data in two ways between the first memory unit and the second memory unit having different access speeds in reading or rewriting. |
| US08904094B2 |
Memory system in which extended function can easily be set
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a controller, an extended function section, and an extension register. The controller controls the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. The extended function section is controlled by the controller. The extension register which is provided with a certain block length capable of defining an extended function of the extended function section. The controller processes a first command to write header data of a command to operate the extended function section to the extended function section through the extension register, and a second command to read header data of a response from the extended function section through the extension register. |
| US08904093B1 |
Managing lifetime of limited usage storage devices in a caching system
A cache server receives wear usage information associated with a storage device, and receives an object to be cached in the storage device. The cache server also determines whether to store the object in the storage device based on the wear usage information. The cache server provides the object to the storage device for storage when it is determined that the object is to be stored in the storage device, and prevents the object from being stored in the storage device when it is determined that the object is not to be stored in the storage device. |
| US08904090B2 |
Non-volatile memory device, devices having the same, and method of operating the same
A flash memory and a method of writing data to a flash memory during garbage collection of the flash memory is provided. First, a garbage collection process on a victim block of flash memory may be initiated. A garbage collection process may comprise a plurality of garbage collection operation. A program command and corresponding program data may be received. After a first garbage collection operation has finished and a portion of flash data from the victim block has been written to a free block, a portion of the program data may be written to that free block. If data remains in the victim block, a second garbage collection operation may be performed. |
| US08904088B2 |
Method of managing a solid state drive, associated systems and implementations
One embodiment of a method includes loading, by a memory controller, a boot image from a solid state drive to an operating memory of a computing system during an initialization operation of the computing system. The initialization operation initializes components of the computing system. |
| US08904084B2 |
Solid state drive device
The solid state drive device includes a memory device including a plurality of flash memories and a memory controller connected with a host and configured to control the memory device. The memory controller includes first and second cores, a host interface configured to interface with the host, and a flash memory controller configured to control the plurality of flash memories. The first core is configured to control transmission and reception of data to and from the host. The second core is configured to control transmission and reception of data to and from the memory device. |
| US08904083B2 |
Method and apparatus for storing data in solid state memory
A method and a storage device for storing data in a flash memory drive are disclosed. In order to increase data throughput, the drive includes a cache memory including a tag memory and a plurality of flash devices coupled via a plurality of channels to the cache memory. |
| US08904081B1 |
Composing a virtual disk using application delta disk images
According to a system and method for composing a virtual disk for a virtual desktop, the virtual desktop is booted from a virtual disk comprised of a base disk image and a user delta disk image that receives all disk writes to the virtual disk. Disk space is allocated on the virtual disk for a file associated with a selected application to be provided to a user of the virtual desktop. Then the virtual desktop is recomposed offline by linking the base disk image, an application delta disk image including the file associated with the selected application, and the user delta disk image. The recomposing includes modifying meta data of the application delta disk and the user delta disk so that the file associated with the selected application is mapped to the disk space previously allocated. |
| US08904080B2 |
Tape backup method
A secure data parser is provided that may be integrated into any suitable system for securely storing and communicating data. The secure data parser parses data and then splits the data into multiple portions that are stored or communicated distinctly. Encryption of the original data, the portions of data, or both may be employed for additional security. The secure data parser may be used to protect data in motion by splitting original data into portions of data, that may be communicated using multiple communications paths. |
| US08904078B2 |
High speed serial peripheral interface system
A serial peripheral interface (SPI) system including a bus adapter is disclosed. The bus adapter may include a data converter that may be adapted to receive respective first and second data from a first master output peripheral input (MOPI) line and a chip select line from a SPI master device. The data converter may also be adapted to interleave the first and second data, and the data converter may be adapted to transmit the interleaved first and second data synchronously with a second clock signal on a second MOPI line. The bus adapter may also include a clock rate adjuster adapted to generate the second clock signal to transmit to a SPI peripheral device. The second clock signal may be adapted to enable the SPI peripheral device to read the transmitted data. |
| US08904074B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing configuration files in a distributed control system
The invention described herein provides a system and method for distributing and applying a configuration file from a master device (102) to a slave device (104) in a distributed control system (100). According to aspects of the invention, a configuration file is saved at a master device (102) and distributed to the slave device (104) via the data payload of a fieldbus protocol, such as the CANopen protocol. Aspects of the present invention may be used to further configure an I/O island or sub-network (108) that is attached to the slave device (104). Further aspects of the present invention may be used to repair or replace failed devices in a distributed control system (100). |
| US08904073B2 |
Coherence processing with error checking
An apparatus for processing and tracking the progress of coherency transactions in a computing system is disclosed. The apparatus may include a finite-element state machine, a processor, and a scoreboard circuit. The finite-element state machine may be configured to track the progress of a transaction as well as detect errors during the processing of the transaction. The processor may be configured to transmit coherence requests dependent upon the transaction. The scoreboard circuit may be configured to track the requests and associate responses. |
| US08904071B2 |
Semiconductor device, control method for the semiconductor device and information processing system including the same
The core chips each include a timing control circuit that outputs a timing signal synchronized with the outputting of parallel data to the interface chip. The interface chip includes a data input circuit that captures parallel data in synchronization with the timing signal. With this arrangement, the timing to output the parallel data and the timing to capture the parallel data are both synchronized with the timing signal generated in the core chips. Therefore, even if there is a difference in operation speed between each core chip and the interface chip, the parallel data can be accurately captured on the interface chip side. |
| US08904070B2 |
Systems and methods for digital MRA compensation
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing system is discussed that includes: an analog to digital converter circuit, and a magneto-resistive adjustment circuit. The analog to digital converter circuit is operable to convert an input signal into corresponding digital samples. The magneto-resistive adjustment circuit is operable to reduce signal asymmetry in the digital samples due to sensing by a magneto-resistive head to yield a corrected output. |
| US08904069B2 |
Data processing apparatus and image processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus may include a buffer unit, a data write control unit, a data read control unit, and a buffer area determination unit. The data write control unit may write the input data to the storage area determined by the buffer area determination unit, and output a data write completion signal indicating that the writing of the data is completed when the writing of the input data is completed. The data read control unit may read the data from the storage area determined by the buffer area determination unit, and output a data read completion signal indicating that the reading of the data is completed when the output of the output data generated based on the read data is completed. |
| US08904066B2 |
Using a plurality of buffers to provide audio for synchronized playback to multiple audio devices having separate device clocks
According to one embodiment, a media system communicates with an aggregate device that includes multiple media output devices. When providing media data for presentation, the system adjusts for device clock drift by resampling the media data provided to a media output device based at least in part on a device clock rate difference between a device clock of one of the media output devices and a device clock of another of the media output devices. |
| US08904063B1 |
Ordered kernel queue for multipathing events
An improved technique for handling events in a multipathing driver employs an event queue and a queue manager that run in the kernel of a computing system. The queue manager receives events raised by the multipathing driver, as well as events raised by software constructs, such as application programs. Records of events are added to the event queue in the order the queue manager receives them. Event records may be consumed chronologically by external software. Preferably, the event queue is sufficiently large to store all events arising out of most predicted fault scenarios. Also, the queue manager is sophisticated and can perform certain diagnostic and analysis tasks without the aid of external software. |
| US08904059B2 |
Method for controlling a data transfer on a serial transmission data transfer bus
Method for controlling a data transfer on a serial transmission data transfer bus by means of a central processing unit and associated system. The method includes various steps, including determining an available bandwidth for a data bus, determining an available computing capacity percentage of the central processing unit, and determining a maximum data rate that a data transfer can be performed on the data bus based on the available bandwidth and the available computing capacity percentage. Furthermore, the method provides that the data transfer rate is controlled to not exceed the maximum data rate. |
| US08904058B2 |
Selecting direct memory access engines in an adaptor input/output (I/O) requests received at the adaptor
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for selecting Direct Memory Access (DMA) engines in an adaptor for processing Input/Output requests received at the adaptor. A determination is made of an assignment of a plurality of processors to the DMA engines, wherein each processor is assigned to use one of the DMA engines. I/O request related work for a received I/O request directed to the storage is processed by determining the DMA engine assigned to the processor processing the I/O request related work and accessing the determined DMA engine to perform the I/O related work. |
| US08904057B2 |
System, method and storage medium for setting an interruption compensation period on the basis of a change amount of the input data
During a period from a time when an input coordinate is interrupted to a time when an interruption compensation period, which is set on the basis of a moving speed of the input coordinate, elapses, an example information processing apparatus determines that an operator continues an input operation, and performs coordinate complementation. Specifically, as the moving speed of the input coordinate increases, the interruption compensation period increases. Then, when the interruption compensation period elapses, the information processing apparatus determines that the operator has ended the input operation. |
| US08904056B2 |
Multi-host wireless input device
Embodiments of the invention are directed to input devices configured for use with computing devices. The present invention relates to methods and devices for establishing, maintaining and managing, wireless connections with between an input device and one or more host devices that the input device is paired with. The input device may include sensory feedback indicating the host device actively paired with the input device, and may enable switching between host devices. |
| US08904054B2 |
Method and apparatus for mode switching of interface ports
A computer-implemented method for mode switching of an interface port comprising detecting a device coupled to a port of a computer, selecting to disable a data pin of the port if it is determined that an output of the device has a data pin and powering the device using a power pin of the port. |
| US08904052B2 |
Combined input port
An input port for an electronic device for receiving different types of connectors, memory cards, or plugs. The input port includes an outer wall defining a receiving aperture, a substrate positioned within the receiving aperture. A first set of contacts is positioned on the substrate at a first depth into the receiving aperture and a second set of contacts is positioned on a first surface of the outer wall at a second depth into the receiving aperture. The first set of contacts is configured to communicate with a first connector and the second set of contacts is configured to communicate with a second connector. |
| US08904049B2 |
Battery pack monitoring system and method for assigning a binary ID to a microprocessor in the battery pack monitoring system
A battery pack monitoring system is provided. The system includes a master microprocessor and a first microprocessor. The master microprocessor outputs a first signal from an output port thereof to induce an input port of the first microprocessor to have a first low logic voltage. The master microprocessor sends a message having a first binary ID from the communication bus port thereof through a communication bus after outputting the first signal. The first microprocessor receives the first binary ID at the communication bus port thereof and stores the first binary ID in a non-volatile memory of the first microprocessor when the input port of the first microprocessor has the first low logic voltage. |
| US08904041B1 |
Link layer address resolution of overlapping network addresses
A system, apparatus, and method for link layer address resolution of overlapping network addresses is disclosed. In one aspect, the method performed on a first device includes receiving a first address resolution request from a second device, the first address resolution request having a sender network address and a target network address, wherein the target network address is an overlapping network address that is a gateway address of the second device and a network address of a third device, creating a first address resolution response having a sender link layer address associated with the first device, and sending the first address resolution response to the second device. |
| US08904038B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for improving application performance across a communications network by node replication
An apparatus, method and system to enable dynamic replication of Web servers across a wide area in response to access patterns by Web clients as well as in response to customer requests. The method for dynamically replicating one or more parent nodes on a network in response to a user request by a policy manager. The policy manager transmits the user request to an event module. The event module transmits the user request to a data consistency module, wherein the data consistency module maintains integrity of the data on the parent node. The event system communicates with a resource management module to ensure proper utilization of network resources, and transmits the routing request to a request routing module for appropriately balancing the network load. The request routing module is capable of providing optimal routing based on the network resources. |
| US08904037B2 |
Efficient data transfer within a virtual network
Improvements for the efficiency of data transfer within interconnected components of a virtual network, and in particular components of a single physical computing device are provided. The components exchange data as if they were communicating over an actual communications network using networking protocols. Data packets to be sent from one component to another are buffered by final destination address to improve efficiency of packet delivery. |
| US08904034B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing network congestion and core network entity
The disclosure discloses a method, an apparatus and a core network entity for processing network congestion, which enable: extracting adjacent data packets which have the same number as that of the preset interval value from an output port queue when the output port is detected to be in congestion state, and acquiring the source terminal address information of the adjacent data packets; searching for the source terminal transmitting the most data packets according to the source terminal address information; and transmitting a congestion information to the source terminal transmitting the most data packets. By extracting adjacent data packets which have the same number as that of the preset interval value from an output port queue when the output port is detected to be in congestion state, and acquiring the source terminal address information of the adjacent data packets; searching for the source terminal transmitting the most data packets according to the source terminal address information; and transmitting the congestion information to the source terminal, the disclosure makes the source terminal decrease the data transmission rate, so as to eliminate the network congestion. Therefore, the success rate of eliminating the network congestion is increased. |
| US08904030B2 |
Automatic multimedia upload for publishing data and multimedia content
Disclosed herein is a method and system for utilizing a digital data capture device in conjunction with a Bluetooth (BT) enabled mobile device for publishing data and multimedia content on one or more websites automatically or with minimal user intervention. A client application is provided on the BT enabled mobile device. In the absence of inbuilt BT capability, a BT communication device is provided on the digital data capture device. The BT communication device is paired with the BT enabled mobile device to establish a connection. The client application detects capture of data and multimedia content on the digital data capture device and initiates transfer of the captured data, multimedia content, and associated files. The digital data capture device transfers the captured data, multimedia content, and the associated files to the client application. The client application automatically publishes the transferred data and multimedia content on one or more websites. |
| US08904029B2 |
System and method for managing media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media distribution system having a controller to identify a plurality of media presentation devices of a user of the media distribution system, identify one or more distribution preferences supplied by the user for distributing media content to the plurality of media presentation devices, receive media content from one of a plurality of media sources of the user, determine a media content type from the received media content, and distribute the received media content to one or more of the plurality of media presentation devices according to the one or more distribution preferences and the media content type. The one or more distribution preferences comprise in part media content distribution arrangements assigned by the user between the plurality of media sources of the user and the plurality of media presentation devices of the user. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08904028B2 |
Scalable cluster router
Generally, this disclosure describes a scalable cluster router that includes a plurality of server-class computers interconnected together to form a router. Each server may be configured to independently schedule switching of packets to reduce the switch speed requirements on a per server basis. Each server may include a scheduler that independently load balances packet flows across servers of the cluster. Router capacity may be incrementally scaled by adding more servers, and router capacity may be increased by load balancing techniques within individual servers. |
| US08904022B1 |
Split streaming system and method
A split streaming system and method are provided in which a stream of data (that can be video, audio or textual data) is split and sent over a plurality of stream reflectors to a stream recipient. Each stream reflector performs time gradient replacement to manage the split streaming. |
| US08904021B2 |
Communication dongle physically coupled with a media device to automatically discover and launch an application on the media device and to enable switching of a primary output display from a first display of a mobile device to a second display of the media device through an operating system of the mobile device sharing a local area network with the communication dongle
A system, apparatus and method related to a communication dongle physically coupled with a media device to automatically discover and launch an application on the media device and to enable switching of a primary output display from a first display of a mobile device to a second display of the media device through an operating system of the mobile device sharing a local area network with the communication dongle is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a mobile device to access a multicast capability of an operating system responsive to a user interacting with an selector on a header bar of a browser application of the mobile device and/or an indicator on a menu bar of the operating system of the mobile device, a media device, and a communication dongle that communicatively couples the mobile device with the media device through a local area network that is commonly shared between the mobile device and/or the communication dongle. |
| US08904020B2 |
Method which permits a block-based file to be played out during transmission
A file (FI) is transmitted via a first channel (CH1). In addition, a second channel (CH2) is used to transmit play parameters (D1, D2, R1, R2) which comprise at least one set (Di, Ri) of information about a play rate (R1, R2) and a delay time (D1, D2) for the file (FI) which is to be transmitted by the first channel (CH1). On the basis of the play parameters (D1, D2, R1, R2), it is possible to determine a time for starting to process the file (FI) which is to be transmitted. |
| US08904016B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting network services
An approach is provided for selecting a network server. An apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause, at least in part, the apparatus to load from one or more network servers configuration information of one or more network servers used by a service provider network. The apparatus is also caused to select a network server in the service provider network based at least in part on at least one of network server latency and the network server load. The apparatus is further caused to set the network server as default network server used for at least one of current and future session on one or more user equipment. |
| US08904013B2 |
Social hotspot
In one embodiment, a method includes broadcasting, from a first mobile device, a message having an identity of the first mobile device and conditions for connecting to a network through the first mobile device and receiving, at the first mobile device, a request from one or more second mobile devices that includes second user identifiers corresponding to respective second users of the one or more second mobile devices. The second user identifiers correspond to respective user accounts of one or more second users in a social-networking system. The method also includes determining, at the first mobile device, whether the one or more second mobile devices are authorized to access the network through the first mobile device and, if the one or more second devices are authorized to access the network, then configuring the first mobile device to provide the second mobile device network access. |
| US08904011B2 |
Resolving information in a multitenant database environment
Disclosed herein are techniques for creating a representation of dependency relationships between computing resources within a computing environment. In some implementations, one or more sources for dependency analysis may be identified. Each source may be capable of being accessed to provide computing functionality via the computing environment. Each source may include one or more references to a respective one or more computing resources. Each computing resource may define a unit of the computing functionality available within the computing environment. A plurality of dependency relationships may be identified based on the one or more sources. A dependency relationship representation may be created based on the identified dependency relationships. |
| US08904008B2 |
Assignment of resources in virtual machine pools
Systems and methods are provided for assigning and associating resources in a cloud computing environment. Virtual machines in the cloud computing environment can be assigned or associated with pools corresponding to users as dedicated, standby, or preemptible machines. The various states provide users with the ability to reserve a desired level of resources while also allowing the operator of the cloud computing environment to increase resource utilization. |
| US08904007B2 |
Connection distribution within a connectional parallelism architecture
Example embodiments provide various techniques for distributing connections within a connectional parallelism architecture. In one embodiment, a method is provided where resource utilizations of connection groups are measured. Here, each connection group is assigned to one of multiple processors. A probability distribution is accessed that maps probabilities assigned to relative resource utilizations. A relative resource utilization of one of the connection groups is determined based on a resource utilization of the one connection group relative to other resource utilizations of other connection groups. A probability from the probability distribution is identified based on the determined relative resource utilization, and based on the identified probability, a connection is assigned to this connection group for execution by one of the processors assigned to this connection group. |
| US08904001B2 |
Service access
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for configuring end user equipment. A service broker may transmit access settings to an access node where the access settings are for a predetermined service provider. The access settings may be transmitted to end user equipment so that the predetermined service provider can access the end user equipment in order to configure the end user equipment to receive a service provided by the service provider. |
| US08903999B2 |
Method and system for calculating and charting website performance
A web performance index tool along with related systems and methods for calculating and charting website performance that provide a single metric snapshot indicating how an end user would perceive the performance of a website. The metric provides an objective way to evaluate website performance by using an algorithm that measures the speed, quantity, and quality of the web content. |
| US08903997B2 |
Network analysis
A method of analyzing a network is disclosed that may include a plurality of interconnected network components, and a network model with component configuration data for each of the network components and component interconnection data for each connection between network components. The method may also comprise selectively altering component configuration data for a first network component, or selectively altering component interconnection data for a first connection, thereby selectively altering a modeled state of the first network component or the first component connection within the network model, propagating the effect of such altering of a modeled state throughout the network model in dependence upon configuration data and interconnection data relating to the first network component and in dependence upon such data relating to other connected network components, monitoring the effect of said propagation on other network components within the network model. Also disclosed is a system for analyzing a network. |
| US08903995B1 |
Performance impact analysis of network change
A network server analyzes a change in the network, including performing a machine-learning analysis of an extrapolation space. The server accesses observed data from multiple counters that each record samples for a metric in the network. The server performs a CART (classification and regression tree) analysis of the observed data to select the counters whose metrics affect a target network performance, such as latency. The server estimates an extrapolation space based on the observed data for the selected counters. The server then performs a machine-learning analysis of the extrapolation space based on a kriging model of the selected counters. |
| US08903994B2 |
Read-throttled input/output scheduler
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, read throttled input/output scheduler applications and methods are provided. A read-throttling input/output scheduler takes write requests for data captured from a network, provides this data to a system that persists the captured data, and takes read requests from external user systems. The rate of read and write requests is determined by maintaining two sliding windows over previous write requests, with the second window being longer then the first. The read-throttling input/output scheduler is configured such that, when write requests activity exceeds a threshold as determined over the first window, the read-throttling input/output scheduler throttles the flow of read requests. A storage medium is provided onto which the read and write requests are forwarded. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US08903992B2 |
Trigger method of computational procedure for virtual machine migration and application program for the same
A method of triggering a computational procedure for virtual machine migration includes receiving by a cloud server, reply connection data from a client end host, and determining if the computational procedure for virtual machine migration is initiated according to the reply connection data. The virtual machine migration is performed upon completion of the computational procedure. A browser intercepts the reply connection data to reply to the cloud server when the client end host accesses a web page via the browser. The reply connection data from the client end host is used for determining whether the computational procedure is initiated or not so as to lower a cloud server computation load by reducing the computational procedures performed. |
| US08903991B1 |
Clustered computer system using ARP protocol to identify connectivity issues
A secondary computer tests local network connectivity in assuming responsibility from a primary computer for a network service. The secondary computer issues an address resolution protocol (ARP) command on a network interface and monitors for an expected ARP response. The ARP command is a broadcast command including a network address of a gateway between a local network segment and external network(s). If the expected response is received (which includes the gateway network address and data-link-layer address), correct connectivity is confirmed. Otherwise there is a potential problem with the connectivity. For example, a switch providing layer-2 message forwarding may be improperly configured so that the secondary computer is erroneously not connected to the same network segment as the gateway, making it impossible for the secondary computer to use the gateway for service communications. The secondary computer initiates a remedial action such as investigating and/or repairing the potential connectivity problem. |
| US08903988B2 |
One activity report for interception purposes
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for optimizing monitoring capacity in a telecommunication system comprising at least one information element receiving unit. One activity report request along with identities of a target to be monitored are received at the element receiving unit. At least two information elements belonging to a first element group, related to the specified target by different identities and comprise duplicate information are also received at the target. The element receiving unit selects one of the received at least two elements. |
| US08903986B1 |
Real-time identification of URLs accessed by automated processes
Outbound network traffic originating from a client computer is monitored, and requests to access URLs in the outbound network traffic are detected. Detected requests to access URLs are compared to each of a plurality of rules, in order to determine whether specific ones of the detected requests were initiated automatically by a process or manually by a human user. Where a rule of the plurality applies to a detected request, a rating concerning the request is adjusted. The rating indicates a likelihood as to whether the request was initiated automatically or manually. Depending upon whether the rating concerning the request reaches a threshold, the request is categorized as being either automatically initiated by a process, or manually initiated by a human user. Only those requests categorized as being manually initiated by a human user are logged. |
| US08903985B2 |
Sharing status information across a plurality of communication networks
A method and system for sharing status information across a plurality of communication networks is presented. Such a method and system is adapted to collect and make available network session status information and to collect and make available network user status information. |
| US08903984B2 |
Flexible logging, such as for a web server
A flexible logging system is described herein that operates with a web server to provide activity logging in a way that is customizable to include a variety of data fields, can capture both client and server log information to a single location, and can provide data to an analysis engine directly to provide near real-time reporting. The system captures events within the web server as they occur and can provide reporting before the final response occurs. During request processing in the web server, server extension modules raise log events whenever an event occurs. The system matches the received data to a log definition and writes the data to any log that matches. Thus, the flexible logging system provides a rich, flexible, and fast platform for content providers and administrators to get a real-time view of the state of requests to their web servers. |
| US08903983B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for managing, modeling, predicting, allocating and utilizing resources and bottlenecks in a computer network
A method and apparatus for managing, modeling, predicting, allocating and utilizing resources and bottlenecks in a computer network managing, predicting and displaying of capacity, allocating and utilizing of resources, as well as actual and potential performance-degrading resource shortages in a computer network, is provided. Specifically, exemplary implementations of the present invention provide a method, system and apparatus for calculating, detecting, predicting, and presenting resource allocation, utilization, capacity bottlenecks and availability information, in a computer network, particularly in a virtualized computer environment. |
| US08903982B2 |
Computer system, management server and configuration information acquisition method
A computer system includes a management server which includes an acquisition unit for acquiring the configuration information and performance information of the storage apparatus and the host computer respectively at different timings, and a comparison unit for comparing, when a configuration change of the storage apparatus is commanded externally, a performance value of components in the storage apparatus subject to the configuration change and a performance value of components in a connection relationship with the components. The acquisition unit determines that an unknown component has been added in the storage apparatus when the difference in the performance values compared with the comparison unit exceeds a predetermined threshold, and reacquires configuration information from the storage apparatus. |
| US08903978B2 |
Method and apparatus for pairing a mobile device to an output device
Methods and systems for associating or pairing a mobile device with a local output device via a central or mobile connect server system are provided. Pairing is performed by initiating a pairing request from an output device that is passed to the mobile connect server for processing. The mobile connect server responds to the request with a pairing code that is displayed by the output device. A user of the mobile device then enters the displayed pairing code in the mobile device. The mobile device transmits the entered pairing code to the mobile connect server and, in response to a match, the mobile device is paired to the output device. Pairing can enable various functions, including an ability to apply stored user preference data to control programming or other information displayed by the output device in response to commands entered in the mobile device. |
| US08903972B2 |
Method and apparatus for sharing contents using information of group change in content oriented network environment
Provided are a method and apparatus for sharing content, using information regarding a group change in a content oriented network environment. In a case where a group to which a target user equipment belongs is changed from a first group to a second group, the target user equipment may transmit, to a first group member management device, the information regarding the group change. The first group member management device may update information about a group to which the target user equipment currently belongs, based on the information regarding the group change. In response to a receiving of a content request from a requesting user equipment, the first group member management device may transfer the content request to the target user equipment. |
| US08903971B2 |
Message architecture for an appliance communications network
A message architecture is provided for use in a communications network for an appliance having at least one component and further enabled to communicate information about the at least one component. The message architecture includes first and second identifiers where the first identifier identifies the form of the second identifier and the second identifier identifies at least one component in the appliance. |
| US08903969B2 |
Central service control
Central service control may be provided. First, a control message from one of a plurality of framework applications may be inserted into a database. In response to the inserted control message, a trigger may be actuated in the database. In response to the trigger, the control message may be transmitted from the database and received by a plurality of redundant services. Next, from each of the plurality of redundant services in response to the received control message, the control message may be transmitted to each of a plurality of servers. From each of the plurality of servers, acknowledgements of receipt of the transmitted control message transmitted from each of the plurality of redundant services may be received. In addition, from each of the plurality of servers, status and results of an action requested by the received control message may be received. |
| US08903962B2 |
Method and apparatus for loading a landing page
A Universal Serial Bus (USB) modem/Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) device is provided that when connected to a host device, presents itself as an Ethernet endpoint to the host device, without requiring additional software/drivers to be downloaded to the host device. Embedded in the USB modem/WWAN device are various modules that provide functionality allowing either automatic connection to the Internet or redirection to a local Web User Interface (UI) that a user may employ to configure the USB modem/WWAN device and/or manually connect to the Internet. Additionally, the USB modem/WWAN device employs predetermined rules to determine whether or not/how the redirection occurs, including in scenarios where wireless connectivity to the Internet is unavailable. |
| US08903961B2 |
Method and system for communication sessions
A method and computer program product includes calculating a score for one or more communication sessions on a communication device, associating the score with the one or more communication sessions, and measuring a performance metric on the communication device. The performance metric may be indicative of a load on the communication device, and may be caused, at least in part, by the one or more communication sessions. If the performance metric on the communication device falls outside an acceptable value, a number of participants in at least one of the one or more communication sessions may be reduced based on the score associated with the at least one of the one or more communication sessions. |
| US08903956B2 |
On-demand virtual storage capacity
A system, method, and computer program product for providing on-demand storage capacity on a remote storage server to a customer is provided. A virtual array site code is received. The remote storage server is virtually connected to a local storage server of the customer in response to receiving the virtual array site code. Subsequent to receiving an activation request from the customer, a command is executed on the remote storage server to provide the virtual array site code to the customer. A virtual array site object is created on the local storage server corresponding to an array site object on the remote storage server. |
| US08903955B2 |
Systems and methods for intelligent video delivery and cache management
Network operators are striving to find ways to provide stable video services amid a rapid increase in video data traffic. In order to provide stable video services with constrained network resources, network operators attempted to reduce video file sizes and to cache videos for future use. However, network operators failed to exploit user information and to leverage benefits of distributing these functionalities across the network. This disclosure provides systems and methods for efficiently delivering video and managing video caches by exploiting user information and by distributing video delivery functionalities across the network. |
| US08903953B2 |
Event media file discovery
A computer implemented method and computer program product provides for announcing file availability. A source device receives a uniform resource locator (URL). The source device reports the URL, the URL corresponding to an event and to a network addressable server. |
| US08903952B2 |
Video streaming using adaptive TCP window size
Methods and apparatuses for streaming a video stored on a server to a display device over a network are provided. The TCP receive window size is adjusted to achieve a more uniform transmission of video segments of the video over the network to reduce the bustiness of network traffic. |
| US08903951B2 |
Speculative database authentication
Speculative processing of authentication messages may include transmitting a first series of simultaneous messages to a database client, the first series of simultaneous messages including a handshake message and a first authentication acknowledgement message, receiving a second series of simultaneous messages from the database client, the second series of simultaneous messages including an authentication message and a database message, and transmitting a database acknowledgment message to the database client. In some implementations, the second series of simultaneous messages is received from the database client substantially without delay after the transmission of the first series of simultaneous messages. |
| US08903949B2 |
Systems and methods of specifying service level criteria
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture to generate file transfer monitoring criteria are disclosed. An example method obtains a file transfer log file from a first network entity and obtains from the transfer log file file transfer metadata that is associated with file transfer activity between the first network entity and a second network entity. The file transfer metadata is used to generate a file transfer monitoring criterion that is associated with selectively monitoring the file transfer activity between the first network entity and the second network entity. Service level criteria associated with the file transfer event is automatically updated based on the file transfer monitoring criterion. |
| US08903948B2 |
Data processing system, information terminal, data processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing data processing program
The amount of communication between a server 10 and an information terminal 30 is reduced. After asset data has been updated by a data updating unit 14, the server 10 transmits identification information and version information for the asset data to the information terminal 30. The information terminal 30 determines whether the received version information is stored in a browser cache 36. When the received version information is not stored in the browser cache 36, the information terminal 30 requests the server 10 to transmit the asset data associated with the version information. When the received version information is stored in the browser cache 36, the information terminal 30 does not request the server 10 to transmit the asset data associated with the version information. |
| US08903946B1 |
Reduction in redirect navigation latency via speculative preconnection
Methods, systems, and computer storage mediums for reducing navigation redirect latency by using speculative preconnection. A redirect speculation value is retrieved in response to a request for a source Uniform Resource Locator (URL), where the redirect speculation value is based on the source URL. The redirect speculation value includes the source URL, a target URL, and a probability factor. A preconnection to the target URL's hostname is then initiated based on the probability factor. Next, a response from the request to the source URL is received, where the response includes a redirect URL. Finally, the preconnection is used to process the redirect URL when the redirect URL is similar to the target URL. |