| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08910305B1 |
Method and apparatus for analyzing mouse cursor path
A computer implemented method comprises determining two or more line segments of a mouse cursor path, determining a slope of each of the two or more line segments, and determining whether the mouse cursor path represents a program simulating mouse movement based on a comparison of the values of the determined slopes. A computing device and computer program product implementing similar features are also disclosed. |
| US08910303B2 |
System and method for manipulating security of integrated circuit layout
A method for manipulating security of an integrated circuit layout, comprising: rendering a PCell that is created by an original user for a successive user; providing an open access to the PCell; providing a PCell evaluator to execute evaluating steps of: getting license information from the PCell, and checking the PCell license information; and generating a layout of a sub-master by instantiating a super-master of the PCell if the PCell license information is valid, or leave the sub-master empty in a PCell view if the PCell license information is invalid. |
| US08910300B2 |
Secure tunneling platform system and method
Disclosed is a system and method for receiving, by a wireless gateway device from a user computing device, a request for network access. In an embodiment, the request is formatted to comply with a different communication protocol, and transmitted to a authentication computing device. The gateway device receives a reply from the authentication computing device that grants the request. The reply is transmitted by the wireless gateway device and to the user computing device. A first communication pathway is established between the authentication computing device and the user computing device, and a request for access to at least one other computing device is received by the authentication device. The request is forwarded, and a reply granting the request is received and forwarded to the user computing device. |
| US08910299B2 |
Emergency information access on portable electronic devices
Improved techniques for facilitating emergency access to one or more contacts stored on a portable electronic device are disclosed. One or more contacts on the portable electronic device are designated as emergency contacts. While the portable electronic device is password-locked, a request to display the one or more emergency contacts on the password-locked portable electronic device is received. Without requiring a password, the one or more emergency contacts are displayed on the portable electronic device. |
| US08910298B2 |
Environmental monitoring device
An environmental monitoring device that monitors the operation of a legacy electronic device is described. In particular, a sensor in the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition is associated with the operation of the legacy electronic device in the external environment. The environmental monitoring device analyzes the sensor data and provides feedback about the operation of the legacy electronic device based on the analyzed sensor data. Moreover, the sensor provides the sensor data without or excluding communication and/or electrical coupling between the environmental monitoring device and the legacy electronic device. In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates monitoring, analysis and feedback of the sensor data without directly interacting with the legacy electronic device. |
| US08910290B2 |
Method and apparatus for token-based transaction tagging
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may monitor a session that facilitates the processing of a transaction. The transaction may represent an action taken against a resource during the session. The apparatus may determine that the transaction qualifies for additional monitoring, and in response, generate a tag. The tag may be unique to the transaction. The apparatus may then associate the tag with the transaction to facilitate tracing of the transaction. The apparatus may then trace the transaction during the processing of the transaction by following the tag, and communicate a message to transfer the transaction to an isolated processing unit. The isolated processing unit processes the transaction in isolation. |
| US08910287B1 |
Methods and systems for preventing malicious use of phishing simulation records
Described herein are methods, network devices and machine-readable media for preventing the malicious use of phishing simulation records. Phishing simulation records often times can reveal which individuals are most susceptible to phishing attacks. In the event that an attacker gains access to these records, the attacker can exploit such information to send phishing attacks to those individuals who are the most susceptible. To address such vulnerabilities, a phishing simulation record of an individual is only associated with an e-mail alias of the individual. Further, such e-mail alias may be deactivated after phishing simulations have been completed. Therefore, even if an attacker were able to identify individuals most susceptible to phishing attacks, the attacker will be unable to send any phishing attacks to those individuals since their e-mail aliases will have been deactivated. |
| US08910285B2 |
Methods and systems for reciprocal generation of watch-lists and malware signatures
The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems for reciprocal generation of watch-lists and traffic models characteristic of malicious network activity. In some aspects, the described methods and systems relate to maintaining data for recognition of malicious network activity. In general, the methods include monitoring network traffic; comparing endpoint data from monitored data packets to endpoints in a watch-list of network endpoints and comparing packet data from monitored data packets to traffic models in a catalog of traffic models characterizing malicious network activity; and determining, based on the comparisons, that a set of data packets comprise suspect network activity. The methods include adding a network endpoint to the watch-list when the determination is based on comparing packet data to a traffic model or adding a traffic model to the catalog when the determination is based on comparing endpoint data. |
| US08910283B1 |
Firmware-level security agent supporting operating system-level security in computer system
A pre-OS security agent runs in an environment independent of the operating system (OS) but interfaced with the file system and able to exchange information with a security application running over the OS. Prior to the start-up of the OS, an indication of a state or condition is obtained relating to a risk of an inability of the security application to function normally, or to a change in the computer system affecting the start-up of the OS. Based on the indication, a set of one or more actions are determined for resolving the state or condition. The pre-OS security agent executes the set of one or more actions in response to the indication. |
| US08910281B1 |
Identifying malware sources using phishing kit templates
An improved technique involves searching for emails having a particular template generated by a phishing kit. Such a template typically includes field names corresponding to credentials that a customer inputs into a spoofed web site as part of a phishing attack. The phishing kit used in a phishing attack is typically configured to construct an email so that it arranges the credentials in a regular, tabular fashion. Accordingly, an administrator configures a receiver to search an email server for emails having a sequence of keywords in a format that matches the particular template. |
| US08910280B2 |
Detecting and blocking domain name system cache poisoning attacks
Concepts and technologies for detecting and blocking Domain Name System (“DNS”) cache poisoning attacks are provided. An inline detector and blocker apparatus implements a detection algorithm to monitor DNS response packets and detects a DNS cache poisoning attack utilizing the detection algorithm. The inline detector and blocker apparatus detects the DNS cache poisoning attack by receiving a DNS response packet and determining that the response packet includes poison data. The poison data may be included within an additional section of the response packet and/or an answer section of the response packet. As appropriate, the inline detector and blocker apparatus removes the additional section and/or the answer section of the response packet to effectively block the poison data from being cached by a DNS caching resolver. |
| US08910279B2 |
Reputation-based threat protection
Information concerning a plurality of identified threats provided by a plurality of preselected sources is stored in memory. An e-mail message may be received over a communication network. The received e-mail message is separated into a plurality of components. The stored information is searched to identify a reputation score associated with each of the plurality of components. It is then determined whether the e-mail is a threat based on the identified reputation score of each of the plurality of components. The determination is sent to a designated recipient. |
| US08910277B1 |
Process-based domain isolation
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for process-based domain isolation are discussed herein. A method embodiment includes determining domains associated with a plurality of content areas and rendering content areas associated with different domains into separate processes, wherein each domain from the one or more domains is associated with a separate process that communicates with its respective individual domain. The method further comprises identifying browsing instances including content areas that can script each other, identifying site instances including content areas sharing a common domain, and controlling communication between content areas across the identified site instances within each browsing instance. |
| US08910276B2 |
Apparatus and method for precluding execution of certain instructions in a secure execution mode microprocessor
An apparatus providing for a secure execution environment is presented. The apparatus includes a microprocessor and a secure non-volatile memory. The microprocessor is configured to execute non-secure application programs and a secure application program, where the non-secure application programs are accessed from a system memory via a system bus, and where the secure application program is executed in a secure execution mode. The microprocessor has secure execution mode logic that is configured to monitor instructions within the secure application program, and that is configured to preclude execution of certain instructions. The secure non-volatile memory is coupled to the microprocessor via a private bus, and is configured to store the secure application program, where transactions over the private bus between the microprocessor and the secure non-volatile memory are isolated from the system bus and corresponding system bus resources within the microprocessor. |
| US08910272B2 |
Computer communication system for communication via public networks
A computer communication system, comprising a client computer (1) with an installed virtual private network (VPN) client (41) and located in a public network (3), at least one server computer (9a, 9b, 9c) located in a corporate network (8), a web server (10) remote from said client computer (1), a gateway computer (20) located in said corporate network, and a VPN server computer (30) located in said corporate network (8). The computer communication system is adapted to run following steps of providing a safe VPN communication connection between said client (1) and at least one of said server computers (9a, 9b, 9c): said client computer (1), using a WEB browser (40), downloads an application (12) from said VPN server computer (30), and said downloaded application (12) automatically configures the VPN client (41) installed on said client computer (1) and establishes a tunnelled connection (50) from said client computer (1) to said corporate network (8), wherein all packets generated by the installed VPN client (41) are forwarded through said tunnelled connection (50) via the gateway computer (20) to the VPN server (30) in said corporate network (8). |
| US08910271B2 |
System and method for handover between interworking WLAN and EUTRAN access systems
This invention relates to the area of Mobility and Handover between heterogeneous wireless networks. The scope of the invention also covers the case when the UE is capable of accessing both the WLAN and EUTRAN access systems simultaneously and also the case where the UE is not capable of accessing both the WLAN and EUTRAN access systems simultaneously. This invention provides a system and method to perform Mobility between the access systems with optimized authentication procedure using security context transfer between the access systems and also minimize the data loss by buffering the data during the handover. More specifically, this invention provides a system and method to support handover between the I-WLAN and the EUTRAN access systems. |
| US08910268B2 |
Enterprise security assessment sharing for consumers using globally distributed infrastructure
Secure content management is enabled as a cloud-based service through which security protection and policy enforcement may be implemented for both on-premise network users and roaming users. The global SCM service integrates the security functionalities—such as anti-virus, spyware, and phishing protection, firewall, intrusion detection, centralized management, and the like—that are typically provided by enterprise network SCM appliance hardware or servers into a cloud-based service that users reach via Internet-based points-of-presence (“POPs”). The POPs are configured with forward proxy servers, and in some implementations, caching and network acceleration components, and coupled to hubs which provide configuration management and identity management services such as active directory services. |
| US08910267B2 |
Method for managing connections in firewalls
The disclosure relates to a method for managing connections in a firewall. The method includes receiving packets from an external network; generating a connection table; determining the total number of currently established connections; determining a level of firewall load by comparing the number of established connections with a threshold; identifying new and established connections based on two-way exchange of packets between a client and server; identifying closed connections based on processing ICMP error messages or flags in a TCP header; and dynamically determining current timeout values for connections from the network protocol type, the connection state, and the firewall load level. The method also includes modifying the last packet processing timestamp if any packet is passed within a given connection or a group of connections; and removing the connection if the last packet processing timestamp differs from the current time by a value greater than the timeout of said connection. |
| US08910262B2 |
Supporting multiple messaging services on mobile devices in a single user experience
A system is described that contains a device including a memory with a management application installed thereon. The management application contains a manager that generates a plurality of user accounts and associates at least one communication service as a messaging account with each user account, and an interface module that generates a user interface that presents the plurality of user accounts and that modifies the user interface based on the identification of the selected user account to present a selected account display. |
| US08910258B2 |
Online signature identity and verification in community
Techniques for electronic signature process management are described. Some embodiments provide an electronic signature service (“ESS”) configured to manage electronic identity cards. In some embodiments, the ESS generates and manages an electronic identity card for a user, based on personal information of the user, activity information related to the user's actions with respect to the ESS, and/or social networking information related to the user. The electronic identity card of a signer may be associated with an electronic document signed via the ESS, so that users may obtain information about the signer of the document. Electronic identity cards managed by the ESS may also be shared or included in other contexts, such as via a user's profile page on a social network, a user's email signature, or the like. |
| US08910257B2 |
Representing security identities using claims
The claims based identity model provides a model which associates security identities with claims. The model represents information contained in the claims, as well as, captures relationships between the security identities described in the claims. Finally, the data model can be easily translated to the existing .NET environment without breaking the backward compatibility for existing .NET applications. |
| US08910253B2 |
Picture gesture authentication
In one embodiment, a picture signature password system may use a picture signature password to determine access to a computing device or service. A display screen 172 may display a personalized digital image 310. A user input device 160 may receive a user drawing set executed by a user over the personalized digital image 310. A processor 120 may authenticate access to the user session if the user drawing set matches a library drawing set associated with the user. |
| US08910250B2 |
User notifications during computing network access
A notification is received that a network device in a computing network has blocked a service request directed towards a network resource of the computing network. A determination is made, based on authentication information associated with one or more of a network endpoint that transmitted the service request and a user at the network endpoint, as to whether the user should be notified of a reason that the network device blocked the service request. If it is determined that the user should be notified, a notification summarizing the reason that the network device blocked the service request is transmitted to the network endpoint. |
| US08910247B2 |
Cross-site scripting prevention in dynamic content
Embodiment relate to systems, methods, and computer storage media for suppressing cross-site scripting in a content delivery system. A request is received for content that includes a scripted item or scripted items. The scripted item is identified within the content. An identifier is associated with the scripted element when the scripted element is an intended scripted element to be associated with the content. The identifier may be a hash value based from a hash function and the scripted item. Prior to communicating the content to a user, the scripted item is identified again to determine if an identifier is associated with the scripted item. If an identifier is associated with the scripted item, the identifier is evaluated to determine if the identifier is appropriate. When the identifier is determined to not be appropriate, the scripted item is prevented from being communicated to a user. |
| US08910242B2 |
Enable/disable method of additional-function unit, system for same, program for same, as well as additional-function unit
The objective of the present invention is to disable functionality of an additional-function unit if an unauthorized program has been installed in an information processing device, thereby preventing an unauthorized program from acquiring, in an unauthorized manner, information from the additional-function unit. The present invention is an enable/disable method for an additional-function unit in an information processing device to which the additional-function unit has been added, which has a step for calculating a first directional function value on the basis of data included in a recording medium storing a boot loader and an operating system so as to store the first directional function value at manufacture time into the additional-function unit, a step for calculating a second directional function value on the basis of data included in the recording medium after the information processing device has been started up, and a step for disabling the functionality of the additional-function unit if the first directional function value and the second directional function value are different. |
| US08910241B2 |
Computer security system
A method of packet management for restricting access to a resource of a computer system. The method includes identifying client parameters and network parameters, as a packet management information, used to determine access to the resource, negotiating a session key between client and server devices, generating a session ID based on at least the negotiated session key, inserting the packet management information and the session ID into each information packet sent from the client device to the server device, monitoring packet management information in each information packet from the client device, and filtering out respective information packets sent to the server device from the client device when the monitored packet management information indicates that access to the resource is restricted. |
| US08910239B2 |
Providing virtualized private network tunnels
Various aspects of the disclosure relate to providing a per-application policy-controlled virtual private network (VPN) tunnel. In some embodiments, tickets may be used to provide access to an enterprise resource without separate authentication of the application and, in some instances, can be used in such a manner as to provide a seamless experience to the user when reestablishing a per-application policy controlled VPN tunnel during the lifetime of the ticket. Additional aspects relate to an access gateway providing updated policy information and tickets to a mobile device. Other aspects relate to selectively wiping the tickets from a secure container of the mobile device. Yet further aspects relate to operating applications in multiple modes, such as a managed mode and an unmanaged mode, and providing authentication-related services based on one or more of the above aspects. |
| US08910238B2 |
Hypervisor-based enterprise endpoint protection
Described systems and methods allow the detection and prevention of malware and/or malicious activity within a network comprising multiple client computer systems, such as an enterprise network with multiple endpoints. Each endpoint operates a hardware virtualization platform, including a hypervisor exposing a client virtual machine (VM) and a security VM. The security VM is configured to have exclusive use of the network adapter(s) of the respective endpoint, and to detect whether data traffic to/from the client VM comprises malware or is indicative of malicious behavior. Upon detecting malware/malicious behavior, the security VM may block access of the client VM to the network, thus preventing the spread of malware to other endpoints. The client system may further comprise a memory introspection engine configured to perform malware scanning of the client VM from the level of the hypervisor. |
| US08910231B2 |
System and method for configuring media services
A system and method for configuring media services is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a portal having a controller element to detect an installation of an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) media receiver in an IPTV media system and adapt at least a portion of the portal according to the installation. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08910230B2 |
Method of transforming HFC CATV analog fiber transmission to digital fiber transmission
A method of converting legacy HFC CATV cable systems, which transmit data over the optical fiber portion of the system using the optical counterpart of analog RF waveforms, such as RF QAM waveforms transduced to corresponding optical QAM waveforms, to improved HFC CATV systems that transmit data over the optical fiber using optical fiber optimized protocols, such as Ethernet frames and other optical fiber optimized digital transport protocols. According to the method, most aspects of the legacy HFC CATV system may be retained, however at the CATV head end, the optical fiber transmitter system is replaced by an improved system that extracts the underlying symbols from legacy waveforms, packages these symbols into optical fiber optimized packets, and transmits downstream. The legacy optical fiber nodes are replaced with improved nodes capable of receiving the packets and remodulating the symbols into RF waveforms suitable for injection into the system's CATV cable. |
| US08910229B2 |
Methods and devices for efficient adaptive bitrate streaming
A method for providing video content from a server to a plurality of media devices is disclosed, the method comprising: determining, by the server, the bandwidth to allocate to each of the plurality of media devices using a hypertext transfer protocol-based live streaming client model or a need parameter vector and providing the allocated bandwidth to each of the plurality of media devices, wherein the video content is transmitted in a plurality of segments from the server, and wherein each segment is transmitted at a bitrate that may vary from segment to segment. |
| US08910228B2 |
Measurement of remote display performance with image-embedded markers
Methods, systems, and computer programs are provided for measuring the performance of a remote display. One method includes an operation for embedding in display frames a respective frame identifier and a respective frame picture. The respective frame picture is placed in a respective region that depends of the value of the respective frame identifier. Additionally, the method includes operations for sending the plurality of display frames to a remote client, and for extracting each received frame picture from the respective region of each received display frame at the remote client based on the received frame identifier. The received frame quality is calculated for each received display frame based on the comparison of the extracted received frame picture with the respective frame picture. Further, the method includes an operation for calculating a remote display quality for the remote client based on the calculated received frame quality for the received display frames. |
| US08910226B2 |
Transmitting apparatus, transmitting method, receiving apparatus, receiving method, program, and content distribution system
A transmitting apparatus, a transmitting method, a receiving apparatus, a receiving method, a program, and a content distribution system capable of stably supplying content to a plurality of terminal devices. A terminal device can receive content streaming distribution from a content distribution server over the Internet. In addition, the terminal device can relay the received content to a different terminal device over the Internet. If the quality of the content distributed in such a manner is degraded (e.g., the amount of delay increases), the content distribution server can control a TV broadcasting apparatus to streaming-distribute the content by on-air broadcast. In addition, the content distribution server can stop broadcasting of the content in accordance with the number of viewers. |
| US08910225B2 |
System and method for capturing, editing, searching, and delivering multi-media content with local and global time
Various acquisition streams are delivered, synchronously or asynchronously, to a server. Those streams having local time indicia are synchronized with the global timeline and the various acquisition streams are then stored. Low bit rate streams corresponding to the stored acquisition streams are generated for use in subsequent editing of the acquisition streams. The editing of the acquisition streams entails reviewing the various acquisition streams and selecting portions for replay. The portions selected for replay are identified through metadata which is then stored. The replay or distribution mode begins by editing the global timeline using the metadata generated in the editing mode so as to produce an edited timeline. The various acquisition streams are then rendered or played back according to the edited timeline to produce a distribution stream. |
| US08910222B2 |
Methods and apparatus for implementing guides and using recording information in determining program to communications channel mappings
A user recovers and records multiple programs communicated simultaneously using a communications channel, e.g., QAM communications channel. The simultaneous communication may be by communicating, e.g., an MPEG-2 transport stream including data corresponding to multiple programs through a corresponding to QAM communications channel. Thus a user device, e.g., a set top box, is able to receive and record programs corresponding to multiple simultaneously broadcast programs using a single tuner. This allows a device to receive and record or display more programs at any given time, than the number of QAM tuners and/or receivers in the user device. Novel user interface features which facilitate a user's ability to identify and record multiple programs corresponding to a QAM channel are also described. Methods and apparatus for determining program to communication channel mappings based on user program recordation information are also described. |
| US08910221B2 |
Technique for providing programming content through a communications network having limited bandwidth
In a cable television system, a specific carrier is assigned to deliver programming content of a program channel to a service area for a period, defined as a function of viewership of the program channel during that period. For example, the program channel is assigned the specific carrier during the time when it has a generally strong viewership. Otherwise, the program channel is assigned a carrier on an as needed basis, i.e., only when one or more subscribers in the service area request such a program channel. Viewing statistics are generated to identify viewership patterns or viewing habits of the subscribers in the service area with respect to a given program channel. In another embodiment, based on the viewing statistics, popular and unpopular programs, program elements, program lineups, program channels are identified on a temporal and/or regional basis. |
| US08910214B2 |
Digital television signal, digital television receiver, and method of processing digital television signal
A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal in a DTV receiver for receiving a digital television signal including a plurality of extended text table (ETT) instances that appear in transport stream packets with common PID values, the ETT instances having common table ID values, each ETT instance comprising a section header and a message body, the section header containing a table identification (ID) extension field that serves to establish uniqueness of each ETT instance, the message body containing an extended text message (ETM) which provides detailed descriptions of a virtual channel or an event associated with each ETT instance, wherein the section header further contains a section number field indicating a section number and a protocol version field indicating a protocol version; demodulating the digital television signal; and identifying at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances. |
| US08910212B2 |
Multiple device storefront for video provisioning system
A system may process metadata associated with video assets; generate, based on the metadata, a first listing of the video assets, where the first listing is compatible with a first type of user device that corresponds to a set top box; and provide the first listing to the first type of user device. The system may further generate, based on the metadata, a second listing of the video assets, where the second listing is formatted to be compatible with a second type of user device that is a different type than the set top box; and provide the second listing to the second type of user device. |
| US08910211B1 |
System and method for dynamic electronic program guide data downloads
Set top boxes (STBs) query a source of electronic program guide (EPG) data to request only the EPG data that it needs. Thus, instead of downloading the entire set of EPG data, the STBs query the source for only a limited amount of EPG data, such as data for the next 2-3 hours of programming. STBs can dynamically request additional EPG data if it needs to do so while a user is perusing the EPG, such as when the user requests additional EPG data that may not have been previously downloaded. Updates and corrections to pieces of EPG data can be efficiently made and sent to the STB, when that EPG data is needed, rather than being sent only during regularly scheduled times along with the entire set of EPG data. |
| US08910208B2 |
Interactive video system
An interactive video system is provided that is capable of combining streaming televised events with video conferencing technology to create a social television experience. A first user is able to connect via a webcam and microphone to a server that combines the webcam video and sound from the microphone with a streaming video that could be a televised event. The combined webcam video, microphone sound, and streaming video is then broadcast to the first user and other users such that the users are capable of viewing the streaming video with the live conferencing video and sound from the first user. This procedure may be repeated such that a plurality of users may video conference live on top of the streaming video. |
| US08910207B2 |
Electronic apparatus, method of controlling electronic apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes an acquiring module, a first output module, a second output module and a third output module. The acquiring module is configured to acquire program information via a computer network upon receipt of an instruction to acquire program information. The first outputting module is configured to create a program guide using program information acquired via a computer network. The second outputting module is configured to receive a broadcast of a program designated in the program guide. The third outputting module is configured to acquire program information of the designated program from the received broadcast of the designated program. |
| US08910206B2 |
Enhanced program metadata on cross-media bar
When a user hovers a screen cursor over a TV channel icon on a cross-media bar (XMB) user interface (UI) for a threshold period, enhanced metadata from PSIP/XDS/EPG that pertains to the program currently available on the associated TV channel is presented in a pop-up window on the XMB UI. |
| US08910204B2 |
Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel. |
| US08910202B2 |
Modification and distribution of video content
A data stream processing system receives a transport stream containing single/multiple program/s and receives alternate content. The system identifies portions of the transport stream to replace with the alternate content. An alternate content data stream is generated that includes the alternate content and at least one sync packet. The sync packet enables synchronous replacement of the alternate content into the transport stream. The system then distributes the alternate content data stream. |
| US08910200B2 |
Device, method and system for service insertion during content display
A system, device and method for service insertion during a video display. A client device detects a video request input, and in response, selects and initiates an advanced service asset while the player buffers the requested video data. The output of the player is displayed in a background field while the media display data of the advanced service asset is displayed in a foreground field. The player display data may be brought to the foreground after a preset time or when the player is ready to display the requested video. |
| US08910199B2 |
Targeted television content display
The invention enables and/or facilitates the display of personalized content to content observers by content providers (e.g., advertisers) who disseminate content over a network. In particular, the invention can be used to enable the display of targeted content to television viewers and/or targeted product placements within a television program. The invention can advantageously enable identification of the content observer(s) observing a content display device at a particular time and/or identification of the content display site, and selection of targeted content for display based on a determination of content appropriate for display to those content observer(s) in accordance with a criterion based on the identity and/or a characteristic of the content observer(s) and/or the content display site. |
| US08910198B2 |
Multicast video advertisement insertion using routing protocols
First video material is transmitted from a video source, over a video content network, to consumer premises equipment, via a hub router. The video source has a source address and there is a first path length between the hub router and the video source. Upon occurrence of a first triggering condition, a short route metric is announced from a supplemental video material server coupled to the hub router. The short route metric causes the hub router to perceive a second path length, between the hub router and the supplemental video material server, as shorter than the first path length. The supplemental video material server has a source address identical to the source address of the video source. Thus, the consumer premises equipment obtains supplemental video material from the supplemental video material server instead of first video material from the video source. Aspects of a system and a supplemental video material server are also disclosed. |
| US08910197B2 |
Update process for interface device based targeted information insertion
Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, at least one multicast update comprising updated targeted information is sent to the user interface devices during a multicast update period. If a given one of the user interface devices is unable to obtain a complete set of the updated targeted information from the multicast update before timeout of the multicast update period, a unicast update comprising at least a portion of the updated targeted information is sent to the given user interface device during a unicast update period. The unicast update may be sent responsive to a request from the given user interface device for a designated portion of the updated targeted information. |
| US08910196B2 |
Broadcast area identification and content distribution
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for broadcast area identification and content distribution. In one embodiment, a broadcast area associated with an electronic device can be identified. Then, content for the broadcast area can be distributed to the electronic device in accordance with distribution parameters. |
| US08910195B1 |
Systems and methods for enhancing audience measurement data
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for enhancing audience measurement data. Offline and online audience measurement data may be compared and correlated to improve the quality of each data and source set. Positive correlations between the offline and online data sets related to a particular event may indicate demographic traits that are likely true, such that outliers may be removed from the set or considered at a reduced weight. Negative correlations may indicate that demographic information within a source set, such as the online measurement data, may be false or suspect. |
| US08910193B2 |
Dynamically binding data in an application
A method for binding data in an application. An expression is created via a framework based on input from a developer. The expression is received at an expression engine wherein the expression describes a relation between a first property of a first data of the application to a first property of a second data of the application. A binding is created between the first data and the second data based on the relation via the expression engine. The first property of the second data is changed based on a change to the first property of the first data wherein the changing occurs because of the binding. The receiving the expression, the creating the binding, and the changing the first property are orchestrated via the framework to manage when the expression is executed in the application. |
| US08910191B2 |
Encoder and decoder driver development techniques
A codec architecture including an audio wave driver and a coded topology driver. The audio wave driver is communicatively coupled to an audio engine and an analog audio codec. The coded topology driver is communicatively coupled to the audio wave driver by a set of interfaces that enables streamlined code implementation, improved operation efficiency and power savings, while allowing vendors to supply differentiating functionality outside of the basic requirements of the operating system. |
| US08910183B2 |
Access to context information in a heterogeneous application environment
Various embodiments of systems and methods to provide access to context information in a heterogeneous application environment are described herein. The context information of a source application is received. The context information is based on the execution of the source application. Further, the context information is stored in one or more context vectors of a global context unit, the one or more context vectors corresponding to the source application and one or more target applications. Furthermore, access to the context information of the global context unit is provided for the one or more target applications upon receiving invoking access indication from the one or more target applications. Also, the source application and the one or more target applications are integrated with the global context unit. |
| US08910181B2 |
Divided central data processing
A circuit configuration for a data processing system and a corresponding method for executing multiple tasks by way of a central processing unit having a processing capacity assigned to the processing unit, the circuit configuration being configured to distribute the processing capacity of the processing unit uniformly among the respective tasks, and to process the respective tasks in time-offset fashion until they are respectively executed. |
| US08910179B2 |
Systems and methods for providing semaphore-based protection of system resources
Embodiments include systems and methods that implement semaphore-based protection of various system resources. In an embodiment, a job scheduling module receives a job execution request from a requesting module (e.g., a CPU or other autonomous module). In response to receiving the job execution request, the job scheduling module identifies a descriptor, where the descriptor includes code configured to access a semaphore-protected resource. The job scheduling module causes a descriptor controller module to execute the descriptor. More specifically, execution of the descriptor includes the descriptor controller module performing a semaphore-based access of the protected resource. The job scheduling module also may coordinate sharing the descriptor among multiple descriptor controller modules (e.g., allowing parallel execution of portions of the descriptor). In various embodiments, using protection status flags or tokens that are accessed by the descriptor, semaphore-based protection of the resource is enforced even while the descriptor is being shared. |
| US08910178B2 |
Performing a global barrier operation in a parallel computer
Executing computing tasks on a parallel computer that includes compute nodes coupled for data communications, where each compute node executes tasks, with one task on each compute node designated as a master task, including: for each task on each compute node until all master tasks have joined a global barrier: determining whether the task is a master task; if the task is not a master task, joining a single local barrier; if the task is a master task, joining the global barrier and the single local barrier only after all other tasks on the compute node have joined the single local barrier. |
| US08910177B2 |
Dynamic mapping of logical cores
A processor that dynamically remaps logical cores to physical cores is disclosed. In one embodiment, the processor includes a plurality of physical cores, and is configured to store a mapping of logical cores to the plurality of physical cores. The processor further includes an assignment unit configured to remap the logical cores to the plurality of physical cores subsequent to a boot process of the processor. In some embodiments, the assignment unit is configured to remap the logical cores in response to receiving an indication that one or more of the plurality of physical cores have entered an idle state. The processor may be configured to load a first of the plurality of physical cores with an execution state of a second of the plurality of physical cores upon the first physical core exiting an idle state. |
| US08910175B2 |
System and method for topology-aware job scheduling and backfilling in an HPC environment
A method for job management in an HPC environment includes determining an unallocated subset from a plurality of HPC nodes, with each of the unallocated HPC nodes comprising an integrated fabric. An HPC job is selected from a job queue and executed using at least a portion of the unallocated subset of nodes. |
| US08910174B2 |
Storage system
Provided is a storage system including a host computer, a memory device, a plurality of resources for allocating a volume of the memory device to an access from the host computer, a memory for storing a correspondence relationship of the plurality of resources, an input module to be used by an administrator for selecting a prescribed resource among the plurality of resources, and a controller for extracting other resources related to the selected resource by using the correspondence relationship, detecting the performance status of the extracted other resources, identifying a related resource having a correlation with the performance of the selected resource among the other resources based on the detection result, and causing an output module to output the association of the selected resource and the related resource. |
| US08910171B2 |
Thread synchronization in a multi-thread network communications processor architecture
Described embodiments provide a packet classifier for a network processor that generates tasks corresponding to each received packet. The packet classifier includes a scheduler to generate contexts corresponding to tasks received by the packet classifier from a plurality of processing modules of the network processor. A multi-thread instruction engine processes threads of instructions, each thread of instructions corresponding to a context received from the scheduler. A thread status manager maintains a thread status table having N entries to track up to N active threads. Each status entry includes a valid status indicator, a sequence value, and a thread indicator. A sequence counter generates a sequence value for each thread and is incremented when processing of a thread is started, and is decremented when a thread is completed, by the multi-thread instruction engine. Instructions are processed by the multi-thread instruction engine in the order in which the threads were started. |
| US08910170B2 |
Managing execution of interdependent tasks of a task dependency chain based on a run-once task attribute
An illustrative embodiment of an apparatus for interdependent task management selects a task from an execution task dependency chain to form a selected task, wherein a type selected from a set of types including “forAll,” “runOnce” and none is associated with the selected task and determines whether there is a “forAll” task. Responsive to a determination that there is no “forAll” task, determines whether there is a “runOnce” task and responsive to a determination that there is a “runOnce” task further determines whether there is a semaphore for the selected task. Responsive to a determination that there is a semaphore for the selected task, the computer-implemented process determines whether the semaphore is “on” for the selected task and responsive to a determination that the semaphore is “on,” sets the semaphore “off” and executes the selected task. |
| US08910169B2 |
Methods and systems to perform a computer task in a reduced power consumption state
Methods and systems to perform a computer task in a reduced power consumption state, including to virtualize physical resources with respect to an operating environment and service environment, to exit the operating environment and enter the service environment, to place a first set of one or more of the physical resources in a reduced power consumption state, and to perform a task in the service environment utilizing a processor and a second set of one or more of the physical resources. A physical resource may be assigned to an operating environment upon an initialization of the operating environment, and re-assigned to the service environment to be utilized by the service environment while other physical resources are placed in a reduced power consumption state. |
| US08910167B2 |
Parallel processing system
Software development tools and techniques for configuring parallel processing systems to execute software modules implementing processes for solving complex problems, including over-the-counter trading processes and foreign exchange trading processes, to execute quickly and efficiently. The parallel processing system may include low-cost, consumer-grade multicore processing units. A process for solving a complex problem may be divided into software modules, including by evaluating the process to determine discrete processing steps that produce an intermediate result on which later steps of the process depend. The software modules created for a process may form a template processing chain describing multiple processing chains of the process that are to be executed. A software development tool for producing configuration information for multicore processing units may evaluate the software modules and the processing chains to determine whether the modules will execute quickly and efficiently on the multicore processing units of the parallel processing system. |
| US08910163B1 |
Seamless migration of non-native application into a virtual machine
A method, system and computer program product for implementing a first Virtual Machine (VM) and a first guest OS in the VM, on a computing system that has a host OS and a host desktop. The first VM has a non-native application associated with the first VM and the first guest OS; means for replacing the first guest OS in the first VM with a different guest OS; a second VM and a second guest OS in the second VM running on the processor; upon a user attempting to launch the non-native application, means for associating the non-native application with the second VM; and means for determining compatibility of the non-native application with the second guest OS; The non-native application is launched inside the second VM. |
| US08910157B2 |
Optimization of virtual appliance deployment
In an embodiment for deploying a new virtual appliance (225) on a data processing center (100) structure information of the new virtual appliance is determined (509-521). The structure information of the new virtual appliance includes an indication of the new virtual machines and an indication of the new software programs of each new virtual machine. Configuration information indicative of a current configuration of the data processing center is retrieved (527). License condition information indicative of license conditions applicable to the data processing center is also retrieved (530-533). A deployment scheme of the virtual appliance on the data processing center is then determined (539,548). The determination of the deployment scheme is performed by optimizing a cost function based on the license condition information, the configuration information and the structure information, and the new virtual appliance may be deployed (551) according to the deployment scheme. |
| US08910152B1 |
Migrating a virtual machine by using a hot-plug event
To migrate a virtual machine from a first physical machine to a second physical machine, a hot-plug event notification is issued to an operating system of the virtual machine in response to an indication that the virtual machine is to be migrated. After issuing the hot-plug event notification, migration of the virtual machine to the second physical machine is performed. |
| US08910149B2 |
On-demand or incremental remote data copy
Files, or other data, may be stored in a package, and the contents of the package may be retrieved incrementally and/or on-demand. In one example, files are packaged into a ZIP file or similar type of package. Additionally, metadata is added to the package that describes the contents of the package at the sub-file level, thereby allowing portions of files to be retrieved by appropriately-configured software. When the package is to be used on a local machine, placeholder files may be created on that machine, which are to be populated by the package's contents at a later time. When a request for data in the package is made, if the data does not reside locally, then a request for the specific data (possibly at the sub-file level) is made, and the placeholder files are populated with the actual package data. |
| US08910146B2 |
Automated time-to-value measurement
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for automated time-to-value (TTV) measurement is disclosed. The method includes: initiating an installation module of an application to install the application on a data processing system; responsive to initiating installation of the application via the installation module, monitoring, via a TTV module of the application, a time period associated with the installation of the application; and recording, by the TTV module, the time period corresponding to the installation of the application. |
| US08910145B2 |
Method and device for installing/uninstalling software modules, with centralized resolution of constraints, in aircraft equipment items
A system, method and device for installation and/or deinstallation of at least one software module, with centralized resolution of constraints, in aircraft equipment items. After having received a list of software module references, the list comprising at least one reference to the at least one software module, and at least one command, linked to the at least one reference, for installation of deinstallation of the at least one software module, the constraints are accessed. This access is independent of the access to the at least one software module. A sequence of basic operations resolving the constraints then is evaluated for applying the at least one command to the at least one reference. |
| US08910141B2 |
Distribution of software updates in wireless multihop networks
Propagation of software updates in a wireless mesh network is handled according to an “informed push” model. Nodes are given the software update that they need, but this is done in response to a sequence of propagating reports on the need for the upgrade (i.e., that node devices have old versions). Each node device executes a reporting cycle in which a report is sent to its neighbors that indicates the types and versions of software items that reside on the device; and for non-resident software items, the lowest versions of which the node device received knowledge from its neighbors. If a node device determines that its reporting neighbor has an old version of a software item and the node device contains a newer version of that software type residing locally, then it sends its neighbor the upgrade. Otherwise, the node “gossips” about the old version to its own neighbors. |
| US08910137B2 |
Code profiling of executable library for pipeline parallelization
A system and associated method for creating a library method stub in source code form corresponding to an original library call in machine-executable form. Sequential code subject to pipeline-parallelization includes the original library call of which source code is not available for profiling. The original library call is annotated for a library method signature to specify formal arguments and parameters accessible to the formal arguments. Memory operations of the original library call are summarized with on one or more idiom sentences, which are mapped to a respective code stub that simulates the original library call. The library method stub is created for profiling of the original library call in source code level such that the sequential code is parallelized via the created library method stub. |
| US08910132B2 |
Client-side script bundle management system
A method of operation of a bundle management system includes: generating a resource bundle with client-based script code based on a client device condition of a potential client device; generating a condition map correlating the client device condition to the resource bundle; generating a bundle set including the resource bundle based on a developer version of the client-based script code; uploading the condition map to a web service system; and configuring the web service system to operate a web service corresponding to the developer version of the bundle set. |
| US08910131B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating an application program for a safety-related control unit
A safety controller designed to control an automated installation having a plurality of sensors and a plurality of actuators. A method for generating a user program for the safety controller comprises the step of generating a source code having a number of control instructions for controlling the actuators and having a number of diagnosis instructions for producing diagnosis reports. Safety-related program variables are processed in failsafe fashion during execution of the control instructions. A machine code is generated on the basis of the source code. At least one checksum is determined for at least some of the machine code. The diagnosis instructions are ignored for the determination of the checksum. |
| US08910130B2 |
Method and system for executing a 3GL program and/or an assembler program within a 4GL runtime environment
Certain example embodiments transform a third-generation language (3GL) and/or an Assembler program so that it can be executed within a fourth-generation language (4GL) runtime environment. Certain example embodiments include a method for transforming a 3GL and/or an Assembler program that is callable by a 4GL program so that the 3GL and/or Assembler program is executable upon call by the 4GL program and from within a 4GL runtime environment. For instance a 4GL identifier may be included in the executable of the 3GL and/or the Assembler program to facilitate execution of the 3GL and/or the Assembler program upon call of the fourth-generation language (4GL) program and within the 4GL runtime environment. |
| US08910129B1 |
Scalable control system for test execution and monitoring utilizing multiple processors
Various example embodiments are directed to systems and methods for managing a plurality of distributed test engines to test at least one device under analysis (DUA). A controller and a control database may be used to manage the plurality of test engines. The control database may have stored thereon a plurality of configuration documents, a plurality of instruction documents, and at least one statistics document. Each configuration document may be associated with at least one of the plurality of test engines and may indicate an execution group of the associated at least one test engine. Each instruction document may be associated with an execution group and may comprise an indication of a testing task to be performed by the execution group associated with the instruction document. The controller may be configured to write to the plurality of configuration documents to assign each of the plurality of test engines to an execution group; write to the plurality of instruction documents to provide, for each execution group, a testing task to be performed by test engines of the execution group on the at least one DUA. The control database may configured to receive from at least a portion of a plurality of test engines an update to the at least one statistics document. |
| US08910125B2 |
Monitoring software performance
Systems, methods and computer program products may provide monitoring of software performance on a computer. A method of monitoring software performance in a computer may include marking at least one of a load request and a store request, the marked request including an effective instruction address and an effective data address, recording the effective instruction and data addresses in a processor core and sending the marked request to a memory subsystem. The method may also include receiving a fabric response for the marked request, recording the fabric response in the core and tying the effective instruction and data addresses and the fabric response together in a sample. |
| US08910124B1 |
Low-overhead method and apparatus for collecting function call trace data
An apparatus and method for aiding in debugging and optimizing software is presented, in particular for instrumenting software to trace function calls. Source code is compiled with placeholder memory ranges. While executing the compiled binary object, a call-trace profiling function is inserted into at least certain of the placeholder memory ranges to log call-trace profiling data. Then, the compiled binary object is restored to its original state by removing the call-trace profiling function(s). A NOP function can be inserted in each placeholder memory range during compilation. |
| US08910119B2 |
System and method for displaying component information of a trace
A system and method for displaying a trace are described. In an embodiment, the described trace display includes a navigational map that illustrates the linear path taken to get to a selected logical unit and may be used to go back to any previously viewed logical unit in that path. The trace display also includes information section to display relevant information about the currently selected logical unit of the trace. |
| US08910113B2 |
Methods and systems for visual code refactoring
Embodiments include a method comprising providing a design interface that depicts a plurality of interface elements of an application under development, each element defined in source code accessible by the application development environment in a declarative markup language. The method can comprise receiving, through the design interface, data representing a selection of a plurality of the interface elements, identifying the declarative expressions corresponding to the selected interface elements, defining a new declarative expression, and generating at least one code segment using the identified declarative expressions. The method an comprise storing the generated code segment in a computer readable medium, with the stored code segment associated with the new declarative expression, so that the new declarative expression can be inserted into the source code in place of the identified declarative expressions and/or can used in a second application under development. |
| US08910104B2 |
Graduated routing for routing electrodes coupled to touch sensor electrodes to thereby balance capacitance on the touch sensor electrodes
A system and method for balancing the capacitive charge on touch sensor electrodes so that every two adjacent routes have the same capacitance as any other adjacent two routes, wherein routing electrodes are spaced further and further apart, or graduated, as they get longer, to thereby balance the capacitance on the touch sensor electrodes without having to add or subtract an offset from each touch sensor electrode. |
| US08910094B2 |
Retargeting semiconductor device shapes for multiple patterning processes
A method includes receiving a design layout file for an integrated circuit device in a computing apparatus. The design layout file specifies dimensions of a plurality of features. The design layout file is decomposed to a plurality of colored layout files, each colored layout file representing a particular reticle in a multiple patterning process. Each of the colored layout files is retargeted separately in the computing apparatus to generate a plurality of retargeted colored layout files. Retargeting each of the colored layout files includes increasing dimensions of a first plurality of features based on spacings between the first plurality of features and adjacent features. The retargeted layout files are combined to generate a combined layout file. Features in the combined layout file are retargeted in the computing apparatus to increase dimensions of a second plurality of features based on spacings between the second plurality of features and adjacent features. |
| US08910092B1 |
Model based simulation method with fast bias contour for lithography process check
Integrated circuit design techniques are disclosed. In some methods, a target layout design having a geometric pattern thereon is received. A set of fast-bias contour (FBC) rules is applied to the target layout design to provide an electronic photomask having FBC-edits. The FBC-edits differentiate the electronic photomask from the target layout design, and the FBC rules are applied without previously applying optical proximity correction (OPC) to the target layout design. A lithography process check is performed on the electronic photomask to determine whether a patterned integrated circuit layer, which is to be manufactured based on the electronic photomask, is expected to be in conformance with the geometric pattern of the target layout design. |
| US08910091B2 |
Method, program product and apparatus for performing double exposure lithography
A method of generating complementary masks based on a target pattern having features to be imaged on a substrate for use in a multiple-exposure lithographic imaging process is disclosed. The method includes defining an initial H-mask and an initial V-mask corresponding to the target pattern; identifying horizontal critical features in the H-mask and vertical critical features in the V-mask; assigning a first phase shift and a first percentage transmission to the horizontal critical features, which are to be formed in the H-mask; and assigning a second phase shift and a second percentage transmission to the vertical critical features, which are to be formed in the V-mask. The method further includes the step of assigning chrome to all non-critical features in the H-mask and the V-mask. |
| US08910090B2 |
Methods involving pattern matching to identify and resolve potential non-double-patterning-compliant patterns in double patterning applications
One illustrative method disclosed herein involves producing an initial circuit layout, prior to decomposing the initial circuit layout, identifying at least one potential non-double-patterning-compliant (NDPC) pattern in the initial circuit layout, fixing the at least one potential non-double-patterning-compliant (NDPC) pattern so as to produce a double-patterning-compliant (DPT) pattern, producing a modified circuit layout by removing the potential non-double-patterning-compliant (NDPC) pattern and adding the double-patterning-compliant (DPT) pattern to the initial circuit layout, and performing design rule checking and double patterning compliance checking on the modified circuit layout. |
| US08910089B1 |
Printing process calibration and correction
Various embodiments include approaches for calibrating a model for a lithographic printing process. Some embodiments include a computer-implemented method for calibrating a model for a lithographic printing process. Some approaches include: identifying parameters for a model of the lithographic printing process; assembling a population of design content including potentially printable features that can be printed by the lithographic printing process; preparing at least one matrix expressing a similarity between the potentially printable features in terms of the parameters for the model; determining a manifold of smaller dimensionality than the parameters for the model which exhibit maximum variation in similarity within the at least one matrix; and selecting a sample dataset of the potentially printable features from the manifold. |
| US08910087B2 |
Method and electronic device capable of searching and displaying selected text
An electronic device includes a storage unit, a touch display unit and a central processing unit. The central processing unit includes a control module, a searching module, and a spit-screen module. The control module generates a first window on the touch display unit to display a text document when the text document is opened, and determines a selected text of the displayed text document by a user according to touch positions when the touch display unit is touched. The searching module searches occurrences of the selected text in the text document, and the control module stores the searched text in the storage unit. The spit-screen module displays each occurrence of the selected text on a second window produced thereby with a size thereof smaller than that of the first window. A related method is also provided. |
| US08910086B2 |
Method for controlling a graphical user interface and operating device for a graphical user interface
A method for controlling a graphical user interface, wherein a menu is defined, in which several objects of the menu are each associated with a function, and a global input gesture is associated with at least a part of the objects, wherein the input gesture can be executed on a touch-sensitive surface of an input device and different display contents can be displayed on a display surface. In the method, a global input gesture executed on the touch-sensitive surface is captured and, independently of the currently rendered display content on the display surface, a function is executed, which is associated with the object that is associated with the captured input gesture. Further disclosed is an operating device for executing the method. |
| US08910084B2 |
Aggregate layout for data visualization techniques
Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention provide for representing a hierarchical dataset as graphical elements in a configurable data visualization having at least one graphical attribute. At least one aggregate function of a plurality of aggregate functions are determined. Aggregate values of the hierarchical dataset for each hierarchical depth level is determined. The aggregate function is used to determine the aggregate values. The data visualization based on the aggregate values is rendered. |
| US08910080B2 |
Image displaying device
An image-displaying device includes a storing unit and a displaying unit. The storing unit stores correlation data between a plurality of thumbnails and a sequence of the plurality of thumbnails. The displaying unit is capable of displaying a predetermined maximum number of thumbnails based on the correlation data. If a displayed thumbnail is selected by a user, the displaying unit displays identification data identifying the selected thumbnail together with the selected thumbnail. If identification data is selected by a user, the displaying unit displays a thumbnail corresponding to the selected identification data. |
| US08910078B2 |
Predictive target enlargement
Techniques for aiding user input with a graphical user interface (GUI) are disclosed. A target object among various command regions of the GUI is predicted, e.g., substantially before the cursor reaches any of the regions. The command region corresponding to the predicted target object is enlarged to facilitate user selection of the predicted target object. Enlarging the predicted target object may cause the target object to overlap and/or occlude nearby command regions. After a first target object is predicted, the prediction may be changed based on updated cursor movements. By using predictive target enlargement, users are given early visual feedback about the target, and are given a larger target to acquire, thereby allowing them to be faster and less precise (their mouse direction can wander) yet still acquire their desired result. |
| US08910075B2 |
Storage medium storing information processing program, information processing apparatus and information processing method for configuring multiple objects for proper display
A game apparatus includes an LCD, and a touch panel is provided on the LCD. On the LCD, a game screen of a tramp game is displayed. When a player performs a touch-on operation on a card object displayed on the game screen, if another card is overlapped with the touched card object, and the overlapping is large, this another card object is moved. Accordingly, a mark and a character (numeric or alphabetic character) of the card object on which the player performs a touch-on operation are displayed to be visually identifiable. |
| US08910074B2 |
System and method for performing auto scroll
Provided is a system and method for performing an auto scroll. The system for performing the auto scroll may include an auto scroll determination unit to determine whether to perform the auto scroll on a page, an auto scroll performing unit to perform the auto scroll on the page so that a main text of the page may be obtained with focus, and a page providing unit to output the auto scrolled page. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, even though a user does not manually scroll to data of the page to be viewed, the data of the page may automatically be scrolled so that the data may be obtained with focus. |
| US08910072B2 |
Browsing and interacting with open windows
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for managing open windows in a desktop GUI are disclosed. In various implementations, within a three-dimensional desktop, the open windows can be displayed in a three-dimensional browsable parade. As the user browses through the open windows in the browsable parade, the open window passing through a designated primary location of the three-dimensional desktop becomes the current active window of the desktop. An application menu bar of the current active window can be displayed on the three-dimensional desktop. The application menu bar and the active window together provide the full range of interactive capabilities that the native application environment of the open window would allow, even though the open window is currently displayed within the browsable parade. |
| US08910066B2 |
Controlling application windows in an operating system
Systems and methods are provided for controlling the appearance of application windows on a computer display screen. A user identifies either an application window currently running on the computer or a new application to be started. The user also identifies a size, shape, and screen location by inputting a geometric shape, such as by drawing a rectangle with a pen or stylus input device, on the display screen. The appearance of the application window is set based on the geometric shape. The application window is resized and moved, for a currently running application, or created, for a new application, on the display screen. |
| US08910064B2 |
GUI program creation supporting apparatus, GUI program creation support method, computer-readable recording medium and integrated circuit
In a case where a screen layout creating unit replaces a generated screen layout with another screen layout, a screen layout comparing unit infers a GUI component in the pre-replacement screen layout, that is similar to a GUI component in the post-replacement screen layout, and correlates the GUI components similar to each other. A connection information restoring unit executes connection restoring processing to associate a processing program, which is associated with the GUI component in the pre-replacement screen layout, with the GUI component correlated by the screen layout comparing unit. |
| US08910054B2 |
Audit action analyzer
Audit reporting applications provide audit users the ability to perform reviews of compliance procedures used throughout a business that require supervisors to take actions on the communication between personnel. The action analyzer tool compiles, filters, and sorts message and action information, allows more advance analytics about the information, and answers complex questions that are not easily available by looking at the raw message and action information. The action analyzer tool breaks down the actions taken in order to determine if the supervisors are trying to take credit for an action that they did not actually perform or otherwise violating the accepted procedures for proper supervision and compliance. The message and action information can be sorted into number of actions taken within a specific time frame, the number of actions performed after a specified date, and/or the number of actions taken without the message being reviewed, to name a few. |
| US08910053B2 |
Mobile terminal, electronic system and method of transmitting and receiving data using the same
Provided are a mobile terminal, an electronic system, and a method of transmitting and receiving data using the same for effectively transmitting and receiving data between the mobile terminal and external electronic devices. |
| US08910049B2 |
User-initiated mode for remote support
Some embodiments disclose a remote support system having an analyzer and a communication link to connect to an event log associated with a monitored system. The analyzer is to monitor the event log over the link and to create a report using information in the event log. In response to the analyzer detecting a user-initiated service mode indication in the information the analyzer includes in the report additional information relating to the user-initiated service mode to facilitate events in the report to be ignored. |
| US08910048B2 |
System and/or method for authentication and/or authorization
A computing platform constructs an application from source code such that the application detects an attempt to access at least one secured entity of the application. Further, the at least one secured entity is registered with an authorization system by providing metadata that is descriptive of the at least one secured entity to the authorization system so that authorization metadata is generated based upon the metadata and a global unique identifier is assigned to the application and the metadata to identify the application and the metadata. The authorization metadata indicates an access policy to the at least one secured entity. |
| US08910047B2 |
Device-specific and application-specific computing device, playback device and method for controlling playback device using computing device
A device-specific and application-specific computing device, a playback device and a method for controlling the playback device using the computing device is disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a user may control the playback device using a control information generated according to a device configuration information of the computing device in his/her possession. |
| US08910046B2 |
Media-editing application with anchored timeline
A media application of some embodiments includes a timeline, which is a composite display area for displaying media clips that are part of the composite media presentation. The timeline of some embodiments includes a primary lane called a spine as well as one or more anchor lanes. The spine represents a primary sequence of media, which, in some embodiments, does not have any gaps. When a clip is deleted or removed from the timeline, the media-editing applications automatically closes the gap created in place of the clip. The clips in the anchor lanes are anchored to a particular position along the spine. Anchor lanes may be used for compositing (e.g., removing portions of one video and showing a different video in those portions), B-roll cuts (i.e., cutting away from the primary video to a different video whose clip is in the anchor lane), audio clips, or other composite presentation techniques. |
| US08910044B1 |
Playlist incorporating tags
In some embodiments, techniques for processing a playlist may include receiving a tag, associating the tag with a playlist, receiving a selection associated with the playlist, determining a media element associated with the tag; and processing (e.g. playing or synchronizing) the media element. In some embodiments, techniques for processing a playlist may include receiving a tag, associating the tag with a media element, receiving a selection associated with a playlist associated with the tag; and processing (e.g. playing or synchronizing) the media element. |
| US08910039B2 |
File format conversion by automatically converting to an intermediate form for manual editing in a multi-column graphical user interface
Data in a first file is accessed. The data is in a first format, and can include text elements and image elements. The elements are displayed in a first window that allows the elements to be manually edited. A user input that causes a change to an element in the first window may be received. The elements, including any changes, are stored in a second file that is in a second (different) format. A second window is used to display the contents of the second file including any changes. |
| US08910038B2 |
Apparatus and method for image separation, layout, and templating
A document processing apparatus accepts input of image information which represents a document, separates the image information as content of the document into regions, associates the image information separated as content into regions with information used to lay out the content, and holds the associated information as learning information. Subsequently, the document processing apparatus lays out the content of the inputted document based on the held learning information and outputs a document in which the content is laid out. |
| US08910037B1 |
Comparing text pages using image features based on word positions
A signature for a page of text is generated. The signature serves as an identifier of the text page. Positions of words in a text page are determined. Positions of multiple second words in the text page are determined relative to the position of a first word in the text page. A signature value is generated that describes the second word positions relative to the first word position. The signature value is stored. Additional signatures for the text page can be generated, each signature describing positions of other words in the text page relative to a word in the text page for which the signature is being generated. The signatures can be used to compare the text page to another text page and generate a measure of similarity that describes the result of the comparison. |
| US08910036B1 |
Web based copy protection
In a method and a system for an Internet copy protection method, a source document markup file is partitioned into a plurality of subsets of text, one or more graphical representations of at least some of the plurality of subsets are created and those subsets of text in the source document are processed to create a transformed document, location information is also generated, which identifies a position in the transformed documents that is equivalent to the position of the textual content which corresponds to the graphical representation in the source document. The transformed document, graphical representations, and location information may then be transmitted over a network to a client device. |
| US08910034B2 |
System and method for managing dynamic document references
Document fragments are managed by the use of fragment objects. Fragment objects contain a reference to a portion of a source document. Referencing documents contain a reference to a fragment object which delivers the content of the fragment of the source document to the referencing document. The source document can be directly updated through updating the fragment of the source document contained in the referencing document via the use of the fragment object. Source document deletion is controlled by storing the references to the source document by fragment objects so that no fragment object has a reference to a non-existent source document. A process for organizing document fragments within a document management system wherein source documents comprise duplicates of the document fragments includes replacing a duplicate fragment with a reference to a single fragment object the fragment object including a reference to a fragment of a source document and an object class method for deletion of the fragment object including instructions to remove the reference to the fragment object from the metadata of the source document to which the fragment object refers. |
| US08910033B2 |
Implementing group content substitution in media works
A classification method and system for possible content alteration of a media work may include criteria regarding content that is feasible for alteration. Such criteria may be maintained in records that are accessible to an interested party. Some embodiments may include a record of primary authorization rights applicable to a possible content alteration. A further embodiment feature may include a record of secondary authorization rights applicable to substitute altered content incorporated in a derivative version. Various techniques may be used to incorporate substitute altered content in a derivative version of the media work in accordance with applicable substitution guidelines. |
| US08910031B1 |
DIF-CRC based fast hashing
A block CRC based fast data hash provides efficient data integrity verification functions. A hash word is generated from block CRCs that are stored along with data blocks in a hard drive for each data and/or parity track of a storage system, such as a RAID array. Each storage system member writes the hash word into a global memory. Thereafter, a director verifies data integrity using all member's hash words with one or more XOR operations. Use of the hash words for data integrity verification saves system bandwidth and CPU processing resources. |
| US08910029B2 |
Iterative decoder
An iterative decoder for decoding a code block comprises a computation unit configured to perform forward and backward recursions over a code block or a code sub-block in each decoding iteration. A first forward/backward decoding scheme is used in a first iteration and a second forward/backward decoding scheme is used in a second iteration. The first and second decoding schemes are different in view of forward and backward processing. |
| US08910026B2 |
Data decoding using side information
Devices and/or methods may decode failed data, e.g., utilizing side information related to the failed data to determine how to decode the failed data. The side information may include, e.g., a decoding-success score representing an estimated amount of errors within a failed data portion, a remaining amount of unread portions of a data block including failed data, an amount of requested portions of a data block including failed data, if the failed data is buffered, and a decoding status of any previously-failed data. |
| US08910024B1 |
Systems and methods for encoding data to meet an output constraint
In a method of encoding data, a data block is received; transformed, error-corrected encoded data blocks based on the received data block are generated and one is selected based on a constraint; and the selected data block is transmitted. The method may include adding, to the received data block, pivot data corresponding to different transformations. In an apparatus, an encoded data generator is configured to generate different encoded data block candidates based on a received data block, and a selector is configured to select one of the candidates to output as encoded data based on a constraint. The encoded data generator may include a transformer configured to apply one or more transformations to the received data block, and an error correction code (ECC) encoder configured to apply error correction to the received data block. The encoded data generator and the selector may be included in a transmitter. |
| US08910018B2 |
Memory with dynamic error detection and correction
A dynamic error correcting table can be embedded on an integrated circuit memory device. The error correcting table includes entries which are created for data when an error is detected and corrected during a read of the data. During subsequent reads, without intervening write or refresh operations, the entry in the table can be used to correct the error by merging the corrected bit with the data output from the array before it is applied to the ECC logic. |
| US08910016B2 |
Time varying data permutation apparatus and methods
Multiple data permutation operations in respective different dimensions are used to provide an overall effective data permutation using smaller blocks of data in each permutation than would be used in directly implementing the overall permutation in a single permutation operation. Data that has been permuted in one permutation operation is block interleaved, and the interleaved data is then permuted in a subsequent permutation operation. A matrix transpose is one example of block interleaving that could be applied between permutation operations. |
| US08910014B2 |
Coding device, error-correction code configuration method, and program thereof
A coding device includes: an inspection matrix generating module that generates a block inspection matrix; and a coding module that generates and outputs a code word from an input message by the inspection matrix. The inspection matrix generating module includes: a degree-allocation unit that prescribes function values of the block inspection matrix by the coefficients of a self-reciprocal polynomial expression; a weight distribution determination unit that prescribes the number of components that are non-zero matrices among the components of each block of the block inspection matrix using a mask pattern; a first degree-altering unit that considers the sum of the components of the k_r-th row block of the block inspection matrix as a cyclic permutation matrix; and a second degree-altering unit that prescribes the row-block number of components that are non-zero matrices among the components of each row block excluding said k_r-th row block of the clock inspection matrix. |
| US08910009B1 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing error detection in data transmission
A transceiver includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes an ECC encoder and a data frame generator. The ECC encoder is configured to generate an ECC parity from user data and at least one bit from a syncmark. The data frame generator is configured to generate a data frame for transmission from the syncmark, the user data, and the ECC parity. The receiver includes a detector, an inverter, and a decoder. The detector is configured to detect a received syncmark in a received data frame. The received data frame includes the received syncmark, received user data, and received ECC parity. The inverter is configured to selectively invert a sequence. The sequence includes the received user data, the received ECC parity, and at least one bit from the received syncmark. The decoder is configured to decode one of the sequence or the inverted sequence. |
| US08909999B2 |
Dynamic voltage scaling system based on on-chip monitoring and voltage prediction
A dynamic voltage scaling system based on on-chip monitoring and voltage prediction is disclosed, comprising a main circuit that has integrated on-chip monitoring circuits, a supply voltage scaling module, and voltage converters, wherein, the supply voltage scaling module comprises a sampling and statistics module designed to calculate the error rate of the main circuit in the current time slice, a state recording module designed to record the error rate and the corresponding supply voltage, an error prediction module, and a state transition probability generation module; the error prediction module predicts the error trend of the main circuit in a future time slice according to the state recording module and the state transition probability generation module, and generates regulation signals and sends to the corresponding voltage converters, so as to generate the voltage required for operation of the entire main circuit. |
| US08909998B2 |
Phase shift adjusting method and circuit
Method and system of adjusting a first phase shift between a first data signal and a clock signal at a sending device. First and second test signals representing first and second test data, respectively, are transmitted to a receiving device. The test signals have respective phase shifts relative to the clock signal. An error detection code is calculated from first and second received data carried by the transmitted signals. The error detection code is transmitted from the receiving device to the sending device. An estimated first received data is calculated from the error detection code, wherein the estimated first received data are calculated under the assumption that the second received data are identical to the second test data. The first phase shift is adjusted on the basis of a comparison of the estimated first received data and the first test data. |
| US08909997B2 |
Semiconductor device that detects abnormalities of watchdog timer circuits
A diagnosis circuit 1 monitors a watchdog timer 2 and supplies a diagnosis result signal 1 indicating whether a monitoring result is normal or not to a diagnosis circuit 2. A diagnosis circuit 3 monitors a watchdog timer 1 and supplies a diagnosis result signal 3 indicating whether a monitoring result is normal or not to the diagnosis circuit 2. The diagnosis circuit 2 determines that the diagnosis circuit 1 or the watchdog timer 2 is abnormal when the diagnosis result signal 1 does not have a value indicating normal. Further, the diagnosis circuit 2 determines that the diagnosis circuit 3 or the watchdog timer 1 is abnormal when the diagnosis result signal 3 does not have a value indicating normal. |
| US08909994B2 |
Dynamic hardware trace supporting multiphase operations
A method and system for tracing in a data processing system. The method includes receiving a plurality of signals associated with an operation during execution of the operation. The method also includes, in response to an indication that the operation is a multiphase operation, during execution of the operation, selection logic, during a first phase of the multiphase operation, selecting and outputting as a trace signal a first signal of the plurality of signals, and during a second phase of the multiphase operation, selecting and outputting as the trace signal a second signal of the plurality of signals. |
| US08909993B2 |
Verifying speculative multithreading in an application
Verifying speculative multithreading in an application executing in a computing system, including: executing one or more test instructions serially thereby producing a serial result, including insuring that all data dependencies among the test instructions are satisfied; executing the test instructions speculatively in a plurality of threads thereby producing a speculative result; and determining whether a speculative multithreading error exists including: comparing the serial result to the speculative result and, if the serial result does not match the speculative result, determining that a speculative multithreading error exists. |
| US08909991B2 |
Fault tree system reliability analysis system, fault tree system reliability analysis method, and program therefor
The present invention is a fault tree system reliability analysis system, comprising: k/n gate splitting means for splitting a disjunctive k/n gate with inputs of OR gates into disjoint conjunctive k/m gates (m≦n) without input of OR gate. |
| US08909990B2 |
Historical software diagnostics using lightweight process snapshots
A debugging and diagnostics system allows users to take lightweight process snapshots of running debuggee processes so the users may analyze those snapshots at a later time. The snapshot mechanism allows diagnostic tools to compare an original process or one or more process snapshots or to compare any of a series of snapshots to each other. The snapshot mechanism further allows users to inspect a snapshot of process memory while allowing the original process to continue running with minimal impact. A user may do historical debugging using process snapshots of a debuggee process taken over time. This allows the user to view the state of the debuggee process as it existed when the snapshot was taken. The lightweight process snapshot is less invasive because it does not require a full copy of the memory and allows the original process to run un-interrupted while specific collections and inspections are completed. |
| US08909986B2 |
Data storing method for solid state drive to preserve data integrity after power failure
A data storing method for a solid state drive is used to preserve data integrity after a power failure. The solid state drive has a flash memory with plural blocks. Each block includes plural pages. One of the plural blocks is set as an old open block. The data storing method includes the following steps. Firstly, the solid state drive is powered on again. Then, the valid data in the old open block are stored into a new open block. |
| US08909985B2 |
Multiple hyperswap replication sessions
A method includes monitoring a plurality of HyperSwap sessions between one or more storage systems located at a first location and one or more storage systems located at a second location, wherein at least one of the one or more storage systems located at the first location and at the second location are designated as a primary storage system. The method includes detecting an error event and freezing communications between the storage systems located at the first location and the second location in response to the error event. The method also includes designating either the first location or the second location as a preferred location and modifying the designation of all of storage systems at the preferred location to be primary storage systems in response to the error event. |
| US08909979B2 |
Method and system for implementing interconnection fault tolerance between CPU
A system for implementing interconnection fault tolerance between CPUs, a first CPU and a second CPU implements interconnection through a first CPU interconnect device and a second CPU interconnect device. The system adds a data channel between a first SerDes interface of the first CPU interconnect device and a second SerDes interface of the second CPU interconnect device, and transmits link connection state information and a link control signal through the added data channel. The system monitors a link state of any one link in a CPU interconnection system, transmits the link state through the added data channel, recovers any one of the connection links when determining whether any one of the first connection link, the second connection link and the third connection link is faulty. |
| US08909975B2 |
Tunnel management method, tunnel management apparatus, and communications system
The present invention relates to communications technologies and discloses a tunnel management method, a tunnel management apparatus, and a communications system so that a node that causes failure of a tunnel management request can be determined. According to the present invention, a response returned by a tunnel management node to an initiating node includes not only a cause value of tunnel management request failure but also information of the node that causes failure of the tunnel management request, so that the initiating node can find the node that causes failure of the tunnel management request and determine the error checking direction. The present invention is applicable to network devices in a communications network. |
| US08909974B2 |
Data processing apparatus, data processing method and recording medium
A data processing apparatus comprising: a gate unit connected to an input or an output of a processing unit and configured to cut off the data input and output; a control unit configured to control a supply of clock to the processing unit; and an instruction unit configured to give an instruction for the clock control to the control unit, wherein the control unit controls the gate unit and controls the clock supplied to the processing unit based on an instruction from the instruction unit, whereby securing a higher power saving effect. |
| US08909967B1 |
Technique for secure computation
A technique for secure computation obfuscates program execution such that observers cannot detect what instructions are being run at any given time. Rather, program execution and memory access patterns are made to appear uniform. A processor operates based on encrypted inputs and produces encrypted outputs. In various examples, obfuscation is achieved by exercising computational circuits in a similar way for a wide range of instructions, such that all such instructions, regardless of their operational differences, affect the processor's power dissipation and processing time substantially uniformly. Obfuscation is further achieved by limiting memory accesses to predetermined time intervals, with memory interface circuits exercised regardless of whether a running program requires a memory access or not. The resulting processor thus reduces leakage of any meaningful information relating to the program or its inputs, which could otherwise be detectable to observers. |
| US08909966B2 |
Wireless power supply apparatus
A wireless power supply apparatus generates an electric signal frequency-modulated or otherwise phase-modulated according to a transmission-side code that is determined beforehand with a wireless power reception apparatus. The electric signal thus generated is transmitted via a transmission coil so as to generate an electric power signal including any one of an electric field, a magnetic field, and an electromagnetic field. The wireless power reception apparatus receives the electric power signal using a reception coil. A control unit changes the impedance of a resonance circuit that comprises the reception coil and a resonance capacitor, according to a reception-side code that is to correspond to the transmission-side code. |
| US08909965B2 |
Circuit, electronic device, and image processing device
An SoC is connected to an SDRAM that is controlled by a memory controller and a memory PHY, and the SoC is operable in a normal mode and in a power saving mode. The SoC includes a block A to be powered off in the power saving mode and a block B not to be powered off in the power saving mode. A memory controller is included in the block A. A memory PHY and signal level holding cells are included in the block B. The signal level holding cells are provided between the memory controller and the memory PHY, and are configured to fix output signals from the memory controller at predetermined levels in the power saving mode. |
| US08909963B2 |
Vehicle network with a control device entering sleep mode when the vehicle velocity is above predetermined threshold and a coprocessor performing selected functions during the sleep mode
A control device (21) for a vehicle network, having a microprocessor (30) and a transceiver (40). The control device (21) can be switched off or switched to a sleep mode during a previously defined state or event during the operation of the motor vehicle and/or the control device (21) can be awakened from the sleep mode during a previously defined state or event during the operation. The disclosed embodiments also relate to a method for operating a vehicle network. |
| US08909961B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting power consumption level of an integrated circuit
Briefly, a method and apparatus adjusts the power consumption level of an integrated circuit by dynamically scaling the clock frequency based on the real-time determined power consumption level. In one example, the method and apparatus changes an actual clock frequency of the integrated circuit to an effective clock frequency based on the maximum clock frequency and the difference between the threshold power consumption level and the actual power consumption level of the integrated circuit in the previous sampling interval. In one example, an effective clock frequency of the integrated circuit in the current sampling interval is determined. In one example, the difference between the maximum and effective clock frequencies in the current sampling interval is proportional to the difference between the threshold and actual power consumption levels in the previous sampling interval. The actual clock frequency of the integrated circuit is changed to the determined effective clock frequency. |
| US08909955B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing characteristics information of a peripheral device to an electronic device by encoding the characteristic information into a power signal
Various embodiments are described herein for a peripheral device and a method of identifying the peripheral device via power cycling. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining characteristic information about the peripheral device, encoding the characteristic information in a power signal at the peripheral device and sending the power signal to an electronic device that is operably connected with the peripheral device. The electronic device can then take action such as adjusting its settings or applications based on the characteristic information of the peripheral device. |
| US08909954B2 |
Branch circuit power measurement and dynamic power distribution
A mechanism is provided for dynamically changing power caps for a set of powered elements. Current being consumed by the set of powered elements P on a branch circuit is measured and available current on the branch circuit is determined. A new total power cap for a current time period t is identified based on a current total power cap and the measured current. A difference in total power caps (ΔTPC) is determined and, for each powered element p in the set of powered elements P at the current time period, a new power cap PC (p,t) is determined based on the previous power cap PC(p,t−1) and the difference of the total power caps to the set of powered elements P. A power cap of each powered element p is then dynamically set to the new power cap PC (p,t). |
| US08909946B2 |
Efficient power management of a system with virtual machines
Efficient power management of a system with virtual machines is disclosed. In particular, such efficient power management may enable coordination of system-wide power changes with virtual machines. Additionally, such efficient power management may enable coherent power changes in a system with a virtual machine monitor. Furthermore, such efficient power management may enable dynamic control and communication of power state changes. |
| US08909926B2 |
System and methodology providing automation security analysis, validation, and learning in an industrial controller environment
The present invention relates to a system and methodology facilitating automation security in a networked-based industrial controller environment. Various components, systems and methodologies are provided to facilitate varying levels of automation security in accordance with security analysis tools, security validation tools and/or security learning systems. The security analysis tool receives abstract factory models or descriptions for input and generates an output that can include security guidelines, components, topologies, procedures, rules, policies, and the like for deployment in an automation security network. The validation tools are operative in the automation security network, wherein the tools perform security checking and/or auditing functions, for example, to determine if security components are in place and/or in suitable working order. The security learning system monitors/learns network traffic patterns during a learning phase, fires alarms or events based upon detected deviations from the learned patterns, and/or causes other automated actions to occur. |
| US08909925B2 |
System to secure electronic content, enforce usage policies and provide configurable functionalities
A computer implemented method and system for managing electronic content security and access within a networked environment are provided. A proprietary wrapper file is created for encapsulating the electronic content upon transferring the electronic content to the computing device of a user. The proprietary wrapper file is configured for enforcing content usage policies on the electronic content and for performing configurable functionalities. A security client application is provided on the computing device in response to a request for accessing the electronic content. A local software component employed for accessing the electronic content is embedded within the security client application. The user is granted controlled access to the electronic content by enforcing the content usage policies through the wrapper file. The activities of the user on the electronic content are monitored and tracked by the security client application to ensure compliance of the activities with the enforced content usage policies. |
| US08909924B2 |
Digital asset management system
Access to a digital asset by a user may be controlled by encrypting the digital asset, embedding the encrypted digital asset in a file, providing a file viewer to the user, responding to a request by the user to access the digital asset by sending a request from the file viewer to a server, the request including identification information related to the user and the file, processing the request from the file viewer, with information in a database related to authorization of the user to access the digital asset, to produce and send to the viewer an encrypted authorization key and responding to receipt of the encrypted authorization key by the viewer by decrypting the authorization key to permit the requested access to the digital asset via the file viewer. |
| US08909921B2 |
Signature management method and signature management device
A signature management apparatus and method of cutting-out streaming data. The signature management apparatus includes a signature-related information preparing device which prepares signature-related information for streaming data, a signature-related information storage device which partitions a sequence header of the streaming data into stream header information needed for reproduction of the streaming data and user header information which a user can freely use for storage, and stores the signature-related information within the user header information in a form that allows no start code to emerge. |
| US08909917B2 |
Secure remote meter access
Generally described, the disclosed subject matter is directed to improved processes for securely accessing a meter. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for providing a mobile meter reader with an authorization that may be used to establish a secure session with a meter is implemented. In particular, the method includes issuing a request for authorization to access the meter from the mobile meter reader. If the mobile meter reader maintains sufficient rights, an authorization having an encoded digital signature is generated at a host computer system and provided to the mobile meter reader. Then the method formulates and transmits an authorization command to the meter having the encoded digital signature that was generated by the host computing system. |
| US08909916B2 |
Using a PKCS module for opening multiple databases
A security initialization system obtains load data that identifies a first database storing security data to be opened. The initialization system determines that a PKCS-based module for opening the first database is already initialized, where the PKCS-based module is already initialized from previously opening a second database. The initialization system causes the PKCS-based module to create a slot to open the first database, without shutting down the PKCS-based module, in response to determining that the PKCS-based module is already initialized. |
| US08909915B2 |
Multi-mode handheld wireless device with shared mode to support cross-mode communications
Various embodiments of the invention relate to a multi-function handheld user device that may have multiple selectable modes of operation for different areas of the user's life, each mode with its own database, applications, preferences, operational restrictions, and access limitations. Various mechanisms may be provided for switching between modes. Within each mode, context awareness and situational awareness may be used to obtain additional information or perform additional functions not directly requested by the user. |
| US08909911B2 |
Power-on/off management system and method of communication device
In a power-on/off management method of a communication device, a display screen of the communication device is powered off, and a signal transmitting function of the communication device is suspended, when a power key of the communication device is pressed upon the condition that the communication device is in a power-on state. A duration time of how long the display screen is powered off is determined, and the communication device is activated according to the duration time when the power key is pressed upon the condition that the display screen is powered off. |
| US08909904B2 |
Combined byte-permute and bit shift unit
A processor includes a decode unit and a byte permute unit. The byte permute unit receives an instruction from the decode unit. The byte permute unit determines whether the instruction corresponds to a shuffle instruction or a shift instruction. For a shuffle instruction, the byte permute unit uses a byte shuffler to perform a shuffle operation indicated by the instruction. For a shift instruction that indicates a shift magnitude, the byte permute unit uses the byte shuffler to byte-level shift a source operand corresponding to the instruction by an integer number of bytes. The byte permute unit also generates a sequence of output bits by bit-shifting the byte-level shifted source operand by a number of bits such that the sum of the number of bits and the integer number of bytes is equal to the shift magnitude. |
| US08909903B1 |
Providing data to registers between execution stages
In some implementations, a processor is provided having a buffer to store one or more instructions, a decoder configured to decode the one or more instructions and generate one or more decoded instructions, a processor register file to store one or more operands, and a plurality of execution units. Each execution unit includes a plurality of execution stages and a plurality of registers. The plurality of execution stages is configured to execute one or more decoded instructions using the one or more operands. The plurality of registers is positioned between the plurality of execution stages to latch data between the plurality of execution stages. |
| US08909901B2 |
Permute operations with flexible zero control
In one embodiment, the present invention includes logic to receive a permute instruction, first and second source operands, and control values, and to perform a permute operation based on an operation between at least two of the control values so that selected portions of the first and second source operands or a predetermined value can be stored into elements of a destination. Multiple permute instructions may be combined to perform efficient table lookups. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08909900B2 |
Storage device and method for updating data in a partition of the storage device
A storage device and method for updating data stored in a partition of the storage device are provided. In one embodiment, a storage device is provided that contains a logical-to-physical address map and a memory with a first partition storing original data and a second partition. The storage device receives from a host device (i) a command to write updated data to a first logical address and (ii) a signature for verifying integrity of the updated data, wherein the first logical address is mapped to a physical address of the first partition. The storage device then stores the updated data in the second partition instead of the first partition and attempts to verify the signature of the updated data. If the attempt to verify the signature is successful, the storage device updates the logical-to-physical address map to map the first logical address to a physical address of the second partition. |
| US08909899B2 |
Emulating execution of a perform frame management instruction
What is disclosed is a frame management function defined for a machine architecture of a computer system. In one embodiment, a frame management instruction is obtained which identifies a first and second general register. The first general register contains a frame management field having a key field with access-protection bits and a block-size indication. If the block-size indication indicates a large block then an operand address of a large block of data is obtained from the second general register. The large block of data has a plurality of small blocks each of which is associated with a corresponding storage key having a plurality of storage key access-protection bits. If the block size indication indicates a large block, the storage key access-protection bits of each corresponding storage key of each small block within the large block is set with the access-protection bits of the key field. |
| US08909897B2 |
Method for generating a delta for compressed data
A translation table has entries that each include a share bit and a delta bit, with pointers that point to a memory block that includes reuse bits. The share bit is set to indicate a translation table entry is sharing its memory block with another translation table entry. In addition, a translation table entry may include a private delta in the form of a pointer that references a memory fragment in the memory block that is not shared with other translation table entries, wherein the private delta references previously-stored content. When a translation table has a private delta, its delta bit is set. The private delta is generated by analyzing a data buffer for content that is similar to previously-stored content. |
| US08909896B2 |
Network efficiency for continuous remote copy
A method for controlling data for a storage system comprises: receiving a write input/output (I/O) command of a data from a host computer, the write I/O command including an application ID identifying an application operating on the host computer which sends the write I/O request; maintaining a record of a relation between the application ID in the write I/O command and a storage location of the data to be written in a first volume of the storage system; determining, based on the application ID, whether a data transfer function between the first volume and a second storage volume is to be performed on the data beyond writing the data to the storage location in the first volume; and if the data transfer function is to be performed on the data, then performing the data transfer function on the data to the second volume. |
| US08909894B1 |
Automatically aligning virtual blocks to physical blocks
Automatically aligning virtual blocks of partitions to blocks of underlying physical storage is disclosed. In some embodiments, a starting offset of a first partition included in a logical container is detected. In some embodiments, a misalignment correction amount for a first partition included in a logical container is detected. In some embodiments, a misalignment associated with a first partition included in a logical container is corrected. |
| US08909892B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for fast context switching of application specific processors
Embodiments of the invention enable fast context switching of application specific processors having functional units with an architecturally visible state. In example embodiments, a processor allocates memory space to store two process control blocks for two active tasks to be performed by the processor comprising one or more custom functional units having a respective processing state not accessible by the processor. A memory controller stores the processing state of the custom functional units currently running a first active task, in a first process control block, in response to a preemptive task switch requirement. The memory controller loads a second processing state of the custom functional units for a second active task, from a second process control block in the memory, in response to the preemptive task switch requirement. The processor may then perform the second active task, based on the second processing state loaded into the custom functional units. |
| US08909890B2 |
Scalable performance-based volume allocation for time-based storage access services
A scalable, performance-based, volume allocation technique that can be applied in large storage controller collections is disclosed. A global resource tree of multiple nodes representing interconnected components of a storage system is analyzed to yield gap values for each node for a specific time period. The gap value for each node is an estimate of the amount of the additional or increased workload that can be allocated in the subtree of that node without exceeding the performance and space bounds at any of the nodes in that subtree for the specific time period. The gap values of the global resource tree are further analyzed to generate an ordered allocation list of the volumes of the storage system. |
| US08909886B1 |
System and method for improving cache performance upon detecting a migration event
A method, computer program product, and computing system for compartmentalizing a LUN into a plurality of portions that are each assigned to one or more hosts. The occurrence of a migration event in which an application being executed on a first host is being migrated to second host may be detected. Any portions within the LUN that are assigned to the application being executed on the first host may be identified, thus generating one or more identified portions. The one or more identified portions may be reassigned to the second host. |
| US08909878B2 |
Implementing timing alignment and synchronized memory activities of multiple memory devices accessed in parallel
A method and circuit for implementing synchronized memory activities of multiple memory devices being accessed in parallel, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. Each memory circuit generates an internal status signal for predefined internal memory activities and provides an output signal coupled to the multiple memory devices. Each memory circuit monitors the generated internal status signal and the output signal of at least one of the multiple memory devices, and responsive to the monitored signals generates a control signal for adjusting operation of its memory activities to synchronize memory activities of the memory devices. |
| US08909876B2 |
Snapshots in a hybrid storage device comprising a magnetic disk and a solid state disk
One or more snapshots of data stored over a period of time are maintained in a hybrid storage device comprising a magnetic disk and a solid state disk, wherein a selected snapshot stores information that allows recovery of data that is stored in the hybrid storage device at a selected point in time of the period of time. The hybrid storage device receives an input/output (I/O) command from a computational device. A category of a plurality of categories to which the I/O command belongs is determined, wherein the plurality of categories comprise writing to an unused block, writing to a used block, reading from an unused block, and reading from a used block. In response to determining the category to which the I/O command belongs, the I/O command is handled by one of the magnetic disk and the solid state disk based on the determined category. |
| US08909873B2 |
Traffic control method and apparatus of multiprocessor system
A method and apparatus for controlling traffic of multiprocessor system or multi-core system is provided. The traffic control apparatus of a multiprocessor system according to the present invention includes a request handler for processing a traffic request of a first processor, and a Quality of Service (QoS) manager for receiving a QoS guaranty start instruction for a second processor from the multiprocessor system, and for transmitting, when traffic of the second processor is detected, a traffic adjustment signal to the request handler. The request handler adjusts the traffic of the first processor according to the received traffic adjustment signal. The traffic control method and apparatus of the present invention is capable of adjusting the required bandwidths of individual technologies and guaranteeing the real-timeness in the multiprocessor system or multi-core system. |
| US08909870B2 |
Cache evictions from data cache based on content of address translation table cache and address translation table
A storage device includes a non-volatile memory, a cache memory and a memory controller. The non-volatile memory stores a logical-to-physical address translation table for managing partitioned data and storage locations thereof. The cache memory stores a data cache and a logical-to-physical address translation table cache which holds a portion of the logical-to-physical address translation table. When the memory controller receives a data read-out request from outside, in the case no empty entry is found in the data cache, among the partitioned data in the data cache, it creates an empty entry to read out the data thereto by evacuating partitioned data of which entries in the logical-to-physical address translation table exist in the logical-to-physical address translation table cache into the non-volatile memory prior to other partitioned data. |
| US08909869B2 |
Cache memory controlling apparatus
A controlling a cache memory includes: a data receiving unit to receive a sensor ID and data detected by the sensor; an attribute information acquiring unit to acquire attribute information corresponding to the sensor ID, from an attribute information memory, the attribute information memory storing the attribute information of the sensor mapped to the sensor ID; a sensor information memory to store information of a storage period, the sensor information memory including a cache memory storing the attribute information; and a cache memory control unit to acquire the attribute information from the attribute information acquiring unit when the attribute information is not stored in the cache memory, and store the acquired attribute information corresponding to the sensor ID in the cache memory during the storage period. |
| US08909863B2 |
Cache for storage and/or retrieval of application information
A request for application information can be received from an application running in a process. The application information can be requested from an information repository, and received back from the repository in a first format. The application information can be converted to a second format, and passed to the application in the second format. In addition, the application information can be saved in the second format in a cache in the process. Also, when application information has been cached in response to a request for the information for a first user object, and a subsequent request for the application information for a second user object is received, it can be determined whether the second user object is authorized to access the application information. If so, then the application information can be fetched from the cache and returned for use by the second user object. |
| US08909860B2 |
Executing parallel operations to increase data access performance
Techniques are described for increasing data access performance for a memory device. In various embodiments, a scheduler/controller is configured to manage data as it read to or written from a memory. Read or write access is increased by partitioning a memory into a group of sub-blocks, associating a parity block with the sub-blocks, and accessing the sub-blocks to read data as needed. Write access is increased by including a latency cache that stores data associated with a read command. Once a read-modify write command is received, the data stored in the data cache is used to update the parity block. In a memory without a parity block, write access is increased by adding one or more spare memory blocks to provide additional memory locations for performing write operations to the same memory block in parallel. |
| US08909859B2 |
Implementing large block random write hot spare SSD for SMR RAID
A method and a storage system are provided for implementing a sustained large block random write performance mechanism for shingled magnetic recording (SMR) drives in a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID). A Solid State Drive (SSD) is provided with the SMR drives in the RAID. The SSD is used in a hot spare mode, which is activated when a large block random-write event is identified for a SMR drive in the RAID. In the hot spare mode, the SSD temporarily receives new incoming writes for the identified SMR drive. Then the identified SMR drive is updated from the SSD to restore the state of the identified SMR drive, and operations continue with normal writing only using the SMR drives in the RAID. |
| US08909857B2 |
Efficient storage of ACL frequent ranges in a ternary memory
Incoming data packets are often processed according to their origination or destination port. In order to efficiently determine applicable rules based on port values, ranges are stored in association with corresponding rules in a ternary memory. In order to reduce the amount of required memory to store these ranges, extra unused bits of the ACL that includes the rule can be used. Further, to maximize the storage capability of these limited extra bits, most common ranges can be stored in one or more bit partitions depending on whether they encompass other most common ranges to be stored in the extra bits. Through partitioning and intelligent bit assignment, many ranges can be stored in the limited extra bits, and can each remain individually addressable. |
| US08909855B2 |
Storage system employing MRAM and physically addressed solid state disk
A storage system includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU) that has a physically-addressed solid state disk (SSD), addressable using physical addresses associated with user data and provided by a host. The user data is to be stored in or retrieved from the physically-addressed SSD in blocks. Further, a non-volatile memory module is coupled to the CPU and includes flash tables used to manage blocks in the physically addressed SSD. The flash tables have tables that are used to map logical to physical blocks for identifying the location of stored data in the physically addressed SSD. The flash tables are maintained in the non-volatile memory modules thereby avoiding reconstruction of the flash tables upon power interruption. |
| US08909853B2 |
Methods and apparatus to share a thread to reclaim memory space in a non-volatile memory file system
A disclosed example method involves associating a shared reclaim thread with an on-board flash memory device to reclaim first memory space in the on-board flash memory device. The shared reclaim thread is associated with a removable flash memory device to reclaim second memory space in the removable flash memory device while the shared reclaim thread is also in association with the on-board flash memory device. Different priorities are assigned to the on-board flash memory device and the removable flash memory device to selectively reclaim the first and second memory spaces based on the different priorities. |
| US08909849B2 |
Pipeline architecture for scalable performance on memory
An apparatus for data storage is presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a phase change memory device comprising phase change memory storage elements. The apparatus further includes control logic to control two or more set pipelines to serve memory requests in a staggered manner, such that set operations of the memory requests begin at different times. |
| US08909848B2 |
Method for managing storage system using flash memory, and computer
To facilitate the management of a storage system that uses a flash memory as a storage area. A controller of the storage system provided with a flash memory chip manages a surplus capacity value of the flash memory chip, and transmits a value based on the surplus capacity value to a management server, on the basis of at least one of a definition of a parity group, a definition of an internal LU, and a definition of a logical unit. The management server displays a state of the storage system by using the received value based on the surplus capacity value. |
| US08909846B2 |
Memory storage device and control method thereof
A control method of a memory storage device for writing an updated data from a host to the memory storage device is provided. The memory storage device provides storage space which is divided into a plurality of physical blocks to access the updated data. The control method includes the following steps: first, determining whether the updated data is a hot data or not; finally, storing the less updated data which is not the hot data into the physical block which has the higher erase counts according to the result of above determination. |
| US08909839B2 |
Electronic device storage tray
A desk-top storage solution for portable computing devices is formed as a storage tray. The storage tray has pockets sized to cradle individual portable computing devices. Each pocket includes a wire management system to enable an electrical connector to be provided within the pocket and secured relative to the pocket to enable the portable computing device to be quickly electrically connected to the storage tray. A USB hub is provided within the storage tray which interconnects with the electrical connectors and enables the portable computing devices to be charged while stored in the storage tray and also synchronized with an external computer while contained within the storage tray. The storage tray has a lid that is connected to the base by position control friction hinges which regulate the motion of the lid relative to the base during ascent/descent while the lid is moved between open and closed positions. |
| US08909832B2 |
Medical data collection apparatus
A physiological data collection device obtains physiological data from a subject interface on a subject. The physiological data collection device includes a data connector such as a USB connector for connecting directly to a computer. When the physiological data collection device is connected to the computer, the physiological data is uploaded to a remote data processing center for computer-based analysis and review by a medical professional. A report can be provided to the subject based on the analysis and review. When the subject interface is physically connected to the physiological data collection device, the data connector is prevented from being connected to an external device such as the computer. |
| US08909827B2 |
Method to allow a host to replace logical path resources it owns
A method for replacing logical path resources, a host is able to replace a logical path it owns with a new logical path. Such a system is especially applicable when the condition of “out of resources” has been reached for a port. With this system, a host is guaranteed that it can replace a logical path it owns with a new logical path. It is not necessary for a control unit to have reached its maximum number of logical paths per port. A host is able to replace one logical path with a new logical path any time. |
| US08909820B2 |
Data transmission methods and hub devices utilizing the same
A hub device includes an upstream port, multiple downstream ports, a first and a second sub-hub module, a data-format detector, a transaction translator, and a controller. The upstream port is coupled to a host device supporting a first and/or a second data format. Each downstream port is coupled to one of a plurality of slave devices supporting a first and/or a second data format. The first sub-hub module supports transmission of data in the first data format. The second sub-hub module supports transmission of data in the second data format. The data-format detector detects the data format supported by the host device and the slave devices. The transaction translator transforms the data format between the first data format and the second data format. The controller determines whether to control the transaction translator to perform data-format transformation. |
| US08909815B2 |
Devices and methods for multiple data streams over USB 2.0
Provided are devices and methods for transmitting two or more data streams through the same cable. An exemplary cable includes at least two sets of conductive points, each set capable of independently transmitting a separate data stream. The cable may be a USB 2.0 type cable, with two contacts assigned for transmitting one data stream, and two other contacts assigned for transmitting another data stream. In some embodiments, one data stream is an audio-video signal transmitted to an audio-video receiver. |
| US08909811B2 |
Peer-to-peer telephony recording
System and method for recording communication sessions in a peer-to-peer communication networks. A conference call may be established between an external end-device, a target agent end-device of a call center and a recorder over a peer-to-peer communication network. After the conference call is established, the recorder may receive media transferred between the external end-device and the target agent end-device and record that media. |
| US08909810B2 |
Systems and methods for multimedia content sharing
The invention provides, in one aspect, a multimedia content sharing system that includes (i) a shared content server which stores items of content (such as still, moving images and audio) and (ii) a plurality of nodes, each of which is in communications with the shared content server via cellular telephone and/or other data networks. The shared content server transmits items of content to a first set of the nodes “automatically,” e.g., without requests by users of those nodes for the items. At least one node in that first set displays the content of received items (e.g., on an LCD screen) and accepts user feedback in regard to those items. That feedback—which may be, for example, a command to copy an item into an “album”, to rotate an item on the display, to block another node from displaying the items, and/or to block a sender (or creator) of the item from sending further items of content from presenting—is transmitted back to the shared content server for distribution to other nodes, which alter their own respective displays of the items accordingly. |
| US08909805B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing streaming content
A method and apparatus for an adaptive Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) streaming service using metadata of media content are provided. The media content may include a sequence of one or more periods. The metadata may include a start time attribute and/or a duration attribute of each of the periods. The metadata may determine a start time of each of the periods, and a start time of each of segments included in each of the periods. A terminal may access segments included in each of the periods, may decode and render data of media content included in the segments, and may play back the media content. |
| US08909804B2 |
Interferometric precise timing distribution with a precision phase detector
A method distributing data in a network is provided. The method comprises measuring the path lengths between a reference clock and a plurality of remote destinations and sending a timing signal from the reference clock to the plurality of remote destinations. The method further comprises measuring the phase between the reference clock and a return signal from each of the plurality of remote destinations and adjusting the phase of the data such that each remote destination receives the data within a skew tolerance. |
| US08909803B2 |
Accessory identification for mobile computing devices
Embodiments disclosed herein provide for identification processes and/or procedures for accessories coupled with a mobile computing device. During identification an accessory can communicate lingo information that includes only those lingoes the accessory can use while coupled with the mobile computing device. The accessory can also communicate accessory protocol information to the mobile computing device during identification. The accessory can be limited to using only those lingoes and/or those protocols identified during identification. Various other accessory information, capabilities, preferences, etc. can also be communicated to the mobile computing device during identification. |
| US08909802B2 |
Multiple address hyperlinks
A form of hyperlink is provided comprising a first component identifying a network entity and a scheme by which to communicate with that entity, and a second component comprising a further scheme and further address by means of which to access a resource relative to the network entity identified by the first component. Such hyperlinks support simple and fast sharing of files and, in some cases, support tunnelling through firewalls to achieve this. The invention also provides related data representations, electronic documents, protocols, signals, methods, devices, systems and other apparatus, and programs for computers. |
| US08909799B2 |
File system firewall
Embodiments of the invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to file system access and provide a method, system and apparatus for a file system firewall. In one embodiment of the invention, a data processing system configured for file system access can be provided. The data processing system can include a file system, an operating system, a set of access rules, each of the access rules having an associated rule key, and a file system firewall disposed between the file system and the operating system. The file system firewall can include program code enabled to permit or deny a file system request according to an access rule in the set of access rules associated with a rule key formed from an application based attribute in the file system request. |
| US08909798B2 |
Method and apparatus of matching monitoring sets to network devices
Monitoring computer devices operating on a network is disclosed. Computer devices are all different and require monitoring settings that are tailored to their specific requirements. One example method of assigning a sample set to a network device operating on a network may include identifying the at least one network device, and identifying at least one object identifier associated with the at least one identified network device. The method may also include transmitting the at least one object identified to a memory location, and comparing the at least one object identifier to a plurality of sample sets and assigning relevancy scores to the plurality of sample sets based on the comparison. The method may also include assigning at least one sample set having a greater relevancy score than the other sample sets to the at least one network device. The sample sets may be SNMP sample sets. |
| US08909797B2 |
Activating a data connection to a data network via a mobile telecommunications network
An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method for activating a data connection from a mobile terminal device to a data network via at least one mobile telecommunications network. In this exemplary method, a connection request from the terminal device is forwarded to a switching unit, activation conditions for activating the data connection are determined based on receipt of the connection request in the switching unit, and a message containing the activation conditions is sent to the terminal device independently of the data connection that is to be established. |
| US08909796B2 |
Storage procedures for application server session persistence
Session persistence storage schemes are provided. These schemes may include identifying a change in a session attribute for an application client session, querying a session persistence table associated with the application running in the application-server environment, and updating an attribute in the record identified by the query of the session persistence table, where the query is made to a session persistence table with session attributes grouped by common traits. |
| US08909794B2 |
Dynamic event server subsystem utilizing session initiation protocol
A server subsystem is presented for mobile communication that provides for efficient and logical movement between applications on different servers. Multiple applications may be used simultaneously and interactively using the server system presented herein. |
| US08909788B2 |
Method and system for using temporary exclusive blocks for parallel accesses to operating means
In at least one example embodiment, the invention relates to a computer-implemented method, a computer-implemented system and a computer program product for controlling the access to splittable resources in a distributed client server system operating in parallel. The resource control system is designed for a plurality of clients connected to the system and is used to maintain consistency of the data. When a client makes a first attempt to access a resource of the server, an exclusive lock for the requested resource is allocated to the accessing client, that blocks the access to the resource for other clients, said exclusive lock only being allocated for a pre-determinable period of time and then automatically discontinued. |
| US08909781B2 |
Virtual access to network services
Methods, systems, and computer readable storage media for providing virtual access to network services. A virtual storage layer contains reference objects configured to reference network services stored in a network computing environment. Network clients access the reference objects through a resource interface based on a resource identifier associated with the virtual storage layer. Initiation of the virtual service by a network client invokes the service in a native computing environment of the service. |
| US08909777B2 |
Systems and methods for dynamic access to program features
The multimedia client-server system provides a multimedia client program with a set of features and a server system that creates feature access information that determines which features are to be made available to a particular user. The server system may send the feature access information to the user such that the information is accessible to the multimedia client program. The multimedia client program may dynamically control the user's access to the program's feature set by using the feature access information to validate and verify the user. In addition, the feature access information may be accessible to the server system, such that the server system may periodically update the feature access information, such as, for example, when the user accesses the server system to download multimedia content. |
| US08909773B2 |
Monitoring digital images
Digital images are monitored by enabling access to a digital image, receiving a notification associated with the digital image from a first user, and regulating access of the first user to the digital image based on the notification received from the first user. |
| US08909771B2 |
System and method for using global location information, 2D and 3D mapping, social media, and user behavior and information for a consumer feedback social media analytics platform for providing analytic measurements data of online consumer feedback for global brand products or services of past, present or future customers, users, and/or target markets
A method, apparatus, non-transitory computer readable storage medium, computer system, network, or system, is provided for using location information, 2D and 3D mapping, social media, and user behavior and information to provide alternative a consumer feedback social media analytics platforms for providing analytic measurements data of online consumer feedback for global brand products or services of past, present or future customers, users, and/or target markets, for companies, organizations, government agencies, and the like, by electronically collecting and analyzing, on a networked computer system using a processor, qualitative or quantitative online social media online communications, activity, and online communications and activity relevant to consumer products or services, or promotions thereof, of interest, in order to provide targeted, location based, 2D or 3D mapped, or impressions to generate online location information data or promotions to provide improved or desired customer perception or sentiment regarding a company's products, services or promotions thereof. |
| US08909770B2 |
Performance estimator for network devices
Techniques for estimating the performance of a network device. In one set of embodiments, a network device can determine one or more performance metrics associated with a feature of the network device that is customizable by a user. An example of such a feature is a user-defined script that is executed via a scripting engine of the network device. The network device can then generate a performance estimate based on the one or more performance metrics. The performance estimate can indicate the likely performance of the network device with the feature enabled. |
| US08909768B1 |
Monitoring of metrics to identify abnormalities in a large scale distributed computing environment
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for finding application latency degradation causes in an application on a distributed computing system. Variables associated with the application and the computing system are identified, including variables that are candidates for being responsible for latency degradation. A total latency is divided into latency components, that each corresponds to an aspect of the total application latency. Each latency component is divided into study classes, that each includes a subset of the candidate variables. For each study class, combinations are generated for the subset of the variables; a latency distribution is determined for each variable combination; the determined latency distributions for the combinations are compared with corresponding latency benchmark values for the same combinations to determine whether a degradation in latency distributions has occurred for particular combinations among the one or more combinations, and a result is provided to a user. |
| US08909767B2 |
Cloud federation in a cloud computing environment
Various methods, devices, and systems are described for cloud federation in a cloud computing network including bridging computing resources between an enterprise and a cloud or among multiple clouds. These techniques involve generating an image of the host system and decoupling it from its underlying computing resources so that it can be migrated across disparate computing resources in a seamless manner. In one embodiment, an enterprise workload can be bridged with cloud resources to receive software as a service. In other embodiments, bridging is performed across multiple public or private clouds, each potentially having disparate computing resources. In addition, users can access and use these cloud services through a web browser or other network interface anywhere in the cloud computing network as if the services were installed locally on their own computer. |
| US08909763B2 |
Computing-device management device, computing-device management method, and computing-device management program
A computing-device management device includes a future load prediction unit that calculates a load prediction value based on load information of the computing device informed by the computing device and determines whether the load prediction value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. A software allocation unit detects, as a target computing device to be in an overloaded state in future, the computing device determined by the future load prediction unit to have the load prediction value exceeding the predetermined threshold value and determines which computing device is to be an allocation destination of at least one software component operating in the target computing device based on a CPU load, a used memory volume, and a data communication volume of the computing device. An informing unit informs the target computing device and the allocation-destination computing device of information of the allocated software component. |
| US08909761B2 |
Methods and computer program products for monitoring and reporting performance of network applications executing in operating-system-level virtualization containers
Provided are methods and computer program products for monitoring the performance of network applications executing within operating-system-level virtualization containers. Methods may include enumerating operating-system-level virtualization containers on a networked device; creating a named pipe accessible by at least one application running in each operating-system-level virtualization container; retrieving, via the named pipe, performance data gathered by the at least one application, including an identification of each operating-system-level virtualization container; generating metrics based on the retrieved performance data; and generating an event incorporating the metrics, including operating-system-level virtualization container identifiers. |
| US08909759B2 |
Bandwidth measurement
Methods for testing network bandwidth availability in a non-intrusive manner. By implementing occasional, base-line bandwidth testing, a more accurate indication of actual transfer rate results. When an application dependent upon network bandwidth is first executed, a series of file transfers takes place utilizing a series of different sized pieces of content. |
| US08909758B2 |
Physical server discovery and correlation
A virtual server system and a method of provisioning a plurality of virtual servers is described. The system may comprise a plurality of physical servers, at least one switch connected to the plurality of physical servers, and a virtual frame director to direct provisioning of a plurality of virtual servers on the physical servers. The virtual frame director may be configured to monitor an event related to a link between each physical server and the switch and, in response to the event, update a virtual server database. The system may comprise a Storage Area Network (SAN) and the virtual frame director may be arranged to configure the network fabric to allow the plurality of physical servers to access to the SAN. For example, the network fabric may be configured to access storage on the SAN from which each physical server is to boot. |
| US08909755B2 |
Software download method and apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a software download method and apparatus. The method includes: acquiring a fanout command and a replacement instruction delivered by a device management server, and replacing, according to the replacement instruction, a software identifier in the fanout command with a software local download address generated for software; delivering the converted fanout command to each terminal corresponding to the fanout command, so that each terminal downloads the software according to the software local download address. The present invention further provides another software download method and software download apparatus. In the embodiments, multiple terminals can be effectively prevented from retrieving data externally, and a local storage function provided by a device management gateway is used to directly acquire download data of the software from a local network of the device management gateway, thereby significantly improving the efficiency. |
| US08909754B2 |
Personal inter-home media exchange network
A system and method support the exchange of media between friends, family members, and 3rd party media providers over a closed and secure media exchange network. The media may include, for example, digital video, digital audio, digital images, digital data, or any form of digital information. |
| US08909752B1 |
Systems and methods for associating data with advertisements
Systems and methods for associating data with advertisements include storing a relationship between a first user and a second user in a memory, receiving an identification of user data from a first user of a website, assigning interest data for the second user based on the identified user data from the first user, associating the interest data with advertisements provided by an advertiser, and providing display data representing the advertisements associated with the interest data to the second user. |
| US08909749B2 |
Predictive context-based virtual workspace placement
A method, information processing system, and computer program product manage virtual workspace migration. A set of information associated with a user is analyzed. A future virtual workspace demand associated with the user is predicted based on the analyzing. At least a portion of at least one virtual workspace associated with the user is migrated from a first location to at least a second location based on the future virtual workspace demand that has been predicted. |
| US08909747B2 |
Method and apparatus for localization in peer-to-peer systems
A multi-layer peer-to-peer (P2P) capability is provided. A multi-layer P2P system includes a plurality of P2P networks associated with a plurality of hierarchical layers. For example, a first hierarchical layer may include a first P2P network including all peer nodes of the P2P system, and a second hierarchical layer may include a plurality of second P2P networks where the second P2P networks of the second hierarchical layer include respective subsets of the peer nodes of the first P2P network. The second P2P networks of the second hierarchical layer may be organized based on one or more characteristics (e.g., the geographic locations of the peer nodes, the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) with which the peer nodes are associated, and the like). A node participating in the P2P system joins the first P2P network of the P2P system and one of the second P2P networks of the P2P system. The node may then interact with the first P2P network and/or the second P2P network for performing various functions within the P2P system. |
| US08909746B2 |
System and method for operating system installation on a diskless computing platform
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for automatically provisioning a diskless computing device and an associated server system. A diskless computing device client incorporates an iSCSI initiator that is used to access resources provided by an iSCSI target that is resident on a server computing device. The iSCSI initiator is implemented in the client firmware, providing INT13 disk services entry points, thereby enabling the client to transparently access virtual storage devices at boot time. The client device conducts an apparently local installation using the virtual storage devices provided by the server computing device. A short signature value is associated with the boot image, uniquely associating the boot image with the specific client hardware configuration. When the client device boots normally, the signature value of the client device is presented to the server computing device to automatically reference the appropriate boot image. |
| US08909743B2 |
Dynamic session maintenance for mobile computing devices
A framework and method are disclosed for supporting changed addresses by mobile network nodes. Such support is provided through enhancements to the mobile network nodes and utilizes DNS servers, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and virtual private network (VPN) servers—or their functional equivalents—to dynamically assign a current network address to a mobile node, provide the current network address to an authoritative name server, and thereafter have correspondent nodes update their addresses for the mobile node based upon an address provided by the authoritative name server. A mobile node registers all of its name-to-address mappings with its authoritative DNS server using a time to live of zero. Furthermore, when a mobile node moves outside its home security domain, the mobile node initiates a virtual private network connection to a virtual private server for a security domain. |
| US08909740B1 |
Video session content selected by multiple users
Systems and methods enable users to exchange content, such as chat text, with other users that are consuming like video media. In one implementation, several users collectively group together to form a video session. The video media played during the video session may be selected by a vote of the users. The users in the video session each consume the same video media, and the video media is played on individual user computer devices in a synchronized manner. The users send chat text to one another over a network using a computer user interface. The chat text is superimposed over the synchronized video running on the individual user computer devices. |
| US08909739B2 |
System and method for upgrading the remote control functionality of a device
A system and method for upgrading remote control application resident on a device. To this end, a markup language file is created. The markup language file has a representation of information used to setup the remote control application to communicate with an appliance. The markup language file may be executed, on the device or an intermediate client with which the device is synchronized, to upload the representation of the information to a remote server. At the remote server, the uploaded information is used to automatically display user-selectable, downloadable data files relevant to the control of the appliance. Downloaded data files, which may include command codes and/or graphical user interface elements, may be used within the device to upgrade the ability of the remote control application to communicate with the appliance. The information uploaded to the server may also be used to generate demographic data regarding consumer preferences. |
| US08909735B2 |
Content delivery network for RFID devices
A method and mechanism for a distributed on-demand computing system. The system automatically provisions distributed computing servers with customer application programs. The parameters of each customer application program are taken into account when a server is selected for hosting the program. The system monitors the status and performance of each distributed computing server. The system provisions additional servers when traffic levels exceed a predetermined level for a customer's application program and, as traffic demand decreases to a predetermined level, servers can be un-provisioned and returned back to a server pool for later provisioning. The system tries to fill up one server at a time with customer application programs before dispatching new requests to another server. The customer is charged a fee based on the usage of the distributed computing servers. |
| US08909734B2 |
Migrating data between networked computing environments
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for predictively migrating data between network computing environments (e.g., cloud computing environments). Specifically, in a typical embodiment, data access patterns for sets of data utilized by a set of services running in a first networked computing environment may be analyzed. Based on the analysis one or more of the sets of data may be identified as candidates to be migrated from the first networked computing environment to a second networked computing environment. Then, a data migration protocol for the one or more sets of data to be migrated to the second networked computing environment may be generated based on the data access patterns and a predicted data migration time. Based on the data migration protocol, the one or more sets of data may then be migrated to the second networked computing environment. |
| US08909729B2 |
System and method for sharing digital media content
A system and method for sharing digital content are provided. A system and method of the present disclosure enable a user to automatically list their media content and also enable automatic placement of the content onto a community web site that the user is participating in. The system and method provide for reading at least one identifier of at least one media content; determining at least one pre-selected community web site from a database and an identity of a first user of the at least one media content; transmitting the at least one identifier and the identity to the at least one pre-selected community web site; and posting the at least one identifier on a first predetermined page of the at least one community web site, the first predetermined page being associated with the identity of the first user. |
| US08909728B2 |
Retrieving content from local cache
A network device transmits, to a cache located proximate to the network device, instructions to store content in the cache. The cache stores the content based on the instructions. The network device further receives a request for the content from a mobile communication device; determines, based on the request, that the content is stored in the local cache; and retrieves the content from the local cache. The network device also creates packets based on the retrieved content, and transmits the packets to the mobile communication device. |
| US08909727B2 |
RDMA read destination buffers mapped onto a single representation
A computer-implemented method, system, and article of manufacture for data communication between a requester and a responder in a remote direct memory access (RDMA) network, where each of the requester and the responder is an RDMA-enabled host of the network. The method includes: sending a request for the responder to provide data, where the request includes a mapped steering tag that is obtained by mapping a set of memory buffers of the requester onto a single representation that allows for identifying each of the memory buffers of the set; and receiving the requested data together with the mapped steering tag and assigning the data being received to the memory buffers of the set consistently with the mapping. |
| US08909726B1 |
Priority based anycast routing
A technique for selecting a network node from a plurality of nodes employing anycast addressing based on a priority. The plurality of nodes is configured with an anycast address. At each node, the anycast address is associated with a unique priority value that represents a priority associated with the node. Traffic destined for the anycast address is forwarded to the node whose priority value indicates the highest priority. If the node becomes unavailable, traffic destined for the anycast address is forwarded to a node whose priority value indicates the next highest priority, and so on. |
| US08909725B1 |
Content delivery network for ephemeral objects
A computer implemented method includes receiving an object scheduled for automatic deletion after a specified viewing period, a specified number of views or a specified period of time. Object push criteria are evaluated. The object is pushed to an edge server cache in response to evaluating. The object is served in response to a request for the object. |
| US08909721B2 |
System and method for providing information on a received communication for an electronic communication device
The disclosure relates to a system, method and device for providing information relating to a received communication for a device. The method comprises: while the device is composing an outbound communication, monitoring for receipt of an inbound communication; upon receipt of the inbound communication, evaluating a subject field of the inbound communication against a subject field of the outbound communication to determine whether the inbound communication is related to the outbound communication; and if the inbound communication is related to the outbound communication, generating a first message on a display of the device providing a warning indicating that the inbound communication has been received and when a send command is activated on the device for the outbound communication generating a second message on the display providing a command for merging the inbound communication with text of the outbound communication. |
| US08909718B2 |
Methods and systems for incorporating a third user into an instant message session
A method and apparatus for incorporating a third user into an instant message (IM) session. In one embodiment, an IM server receives a first IM from a first user directed toward a second user. The IM server makes a determination that the second user is not available to respond to the first IM. In response to the determination, the IM server identifies a third user to whom the first IM is to be forwarded, and automatically forwards the first IM to the third user. In another embodiment, the IM server receives a transfer request from the second user to transfer the IM session from the second user to the third user. The IM server automatically determines a subset portion of a plurality of IMs communicated between the first user and the second user, and provides the transfer request and the subset portion to the third user. |
| US08909717B2 |
Presenting instant messaging contacts listed by proximity to set location
An electronic device having instant messaging (IM) capabilities within one or networks. The technology provides means and methods whereby an electronic device is enabled to evaluate and present information regarding available IM contacts based on geographic criteria. Location information from devices which are associated with instant messaging contacts of a first electronic device are received. IM contacts contact can be display based on geographic location, including proximity to one or more set locations. The technology can be customized dynamically on a per device basis. |
| US08909715B2 |
References to history points in a chat history
A computer-implemented method for managing messages. Responsive to receiving a message at a data processing system, wherein the message comprises only a number of message identifiers and metadata identifying the message as pointing to a number of messages in a message history stored in the data processing system, the number of messages in the message history on the data processing system is identified to form an identified number of messages. A presence of the identified number of messages in the message history is displayed on a display in the data processing system. |
| US08909712B2 |
System and method for a generic mobile synchronization framework
A generic mobile synchronization framework facilitates synchronization of data objects between platforms by comparing these data objects from one platform with a replica of data objects on the other platform. Generic messages identifying the differences in the data objects are converted into an adapted message suitable for use by the underlying synchronization hardware and sent to the platform needing synchronization. That platform converts adapted message to the corresponding original generic messages, and executes them, synchronizing the data objects in that platform with the originating platform. |
| US08909711B1 |
System and method for generating privacy-enhanced aggregate statistics
A system and method for generating privacy-enhanced aggregate statistics within a social network system is provided. Data is collected and processed to gather information to generate the aggregate statistics. A threshold is assigned. The threshold includes a criterion used in making a determination on what aggregate statistic will be generated. In some embodiments, the threshold is a numerical value. In some embodiments, the numerical value, or quantitative data is then translated into qualitative descriptors. In some embodiments, noise is then added to randomize the assigned threshold. In other embodiments, noise is added to the collected data. In some embodiments, checks to guard against attacks from adversarial users are performed. Examples of indications of adversarial behavior include, but are not limited to, manipulation of profiles, continuous manipulation of affinity groups, and manipulation of preferences for one or more users. The threshold is applied and aggregate statistics are generated. |
| US08909705B2 |
Method and system for use in providing network services interchange
Systems and methods are provided in establishing interchanges between consumer electronic (CE) devices and networking services. Some of these embodiments establish an intermediate application programming interface (API) between a plurality of remote CE devices and one or more social networking APIs each corresponding to a social networking service; translate, through an interchange service, communications between the intermediate API and the one or more social networking APIs; identify modifications to a first social networking API; implement a first update to the interchange service such that translations provided by the updated interchange service between the intermediate API and the first social networking API are consistent with the modifications to the first social networking API; and avoid updating at each of the plurality of CE devices relative to the modifications to the first social networking API. |
| US08909702B2 |
System and method for coordination of devices in a presentation environment
A system is provided that coordinates the operation of hardware devices and software applications in support of specific tasks such as holding a meeting. The system includes one or more computers connected by a network, at least one configuration repository component, at least one room control component, and one or more devices and applications for each room control component. Meeting presenters can configure a meeting, or they may use a default configuration. A meeting includes one or more presenters' configurations of devices and applications to accommodate multiple presenters simultaneously. The meeting configurations are stored by the configuration repository component. Each presenter's configuration comprises a subset of the one or more devices and applications. The operation of devices and applications in the meeting is coordinated by the room control component based on the presenters' configurations for the meeting. |
| US08909701B2 |
IMS conferencing policy logic
A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for creating a conferencing access logic. The logic is for allowing access to a conference in an internet protocol (IP) network. The invention entails establishing an allow list of allowed users, setting up a default policy applicable to unlisted users, matching listed users with corresponding conference rights, and assigning a uniform resource identifier (URI) to the access logic. The URI is for identifying and editing elements of the access logic, including the allow list, the default policy, and the conference rights. |
| US08909699B2 |
Using virtual domain name service (DNS) zones for enterprise content delivery
A domain to be published to an enterprise ECDN is associated with a set of one or more enterprise zones configurable in a hierarchy. When a DNS query arrives for a hostname known to be associated with given content within the control of the ECDN, a DNS server responds by handing back an IP address, by executing a zone referral to a next (lower) level name server in a zone hierarchy, or by CNAMing to another hostname, thereby restarting the lookup procedure. At any level in the zone hierarchy, there is an associated zone server that executes logic that applies the requested hostname against a map. A name query to ECDN-managed content may be serviced in coordination with various sources of distributed network intelligence. |
| US08909692B2 |
Computer-implemented system for progressively transmitting knowledge
A computer-implemented system for progressively transmitting of knowledge between system nodes of a network structure comprises a plurality of system nodes and intelligent interfaces by which respective system nodes are coupled with each other for performing a communication. The intelligent interfaces transmit object features of cognition structure objects comprising knowledge, information and data depending on a respective question of a respective one system nodes progressively more faithful to detail from another of the respective system nodes to the one of the respective system nodes. Furthermore, there are disclosed a corresponding method and a computer program product relating to the system and method. |
| US08909688B2 |
Method of seeking semianalytical solutions to multispecies transport equations coupled with sequential first-order reactions
Disclosed is a method of seeking semianalytical solutions to multispecies transport equations coupled with sequential first-order network reactions under conditions wherein a groundwater flow velocity and a dispersion coefficient vary spatially and temporally and boundary conditions vary temporally. This invention provides a method of seeking semianalytical solutions to dechlorination equations coupled with sequential first-order reactions, wherein analytical solutions to complex problems such as inhomogeneous media and unsteady flow are derived by combining a similarity transformation method of Clement and a generalized integral-transform technique (GITT), and are verified through comparison with 2DFATMIC which is a commercial numerical program, and thereby can be utilized in nuclear waste sites contaminated with radioactive materials and decayed daughter nuclides and industrial complexes contaminated with chlorinated organic solvents such as PCE (tetrachloroethene), TCE (trichloroethene) and biodegradable byproducts thereof, and can also be widely used in verification of developed numerical programs. |
| US08909687B2 |
Efficient FIR filters
A processor for calculating a convolution of a first input sequence of numbers with a second input sequence of numbers to generate an output sequence is provided. The processor includes multipliers, each multiplying two real numbers to generate an output; multiplexers to direct the numbers in the first and second input sequences or parts of the numbers to the multipliers; and control circuitry to control the multiplexers to direct the first and second input sequences of numbers to the multipliers dependent on whether the numbers are complex or real. An accumulator adds partial products from multiplications performed by the multipliers to calculate the convolution. |
| US08909686B2 |
Discrete fourier calculation device, radio communication device, and discrete fourier calculation method
A discrete Fourier calculation device includes a twiddle factor table storage unit that stores therein a twiddle factor table that associates twiddle factors with phases of the corresponding twiddle factors; a correction value specifying unit that specifies first and second correction values for correcting a phase of an input signal in accordance with an amplitude of the input signal; a generating unit that corrects the phase of the input signal by using the specified first and second correction values to generate first and second phases; an addition unit that adds an arbitrary phase corresponding to an arbitrary twiddle factor stored in the twiddle factor table, to each of the generated first and second phases; and a rotation calculation unit that acquires, from the twiddle factor table, first and second twiddle factors corresponding to the first and second phases and sums the acquired first and second twiddle factors. |
| US08909683B1 |
Method and system for communicating with internet resources to identify and supply content for webpage construction
A process and system are directed to generating a medium without user involvement in supplying the content. A user makes a series of increasingly granular selections to specify the type of medium to be built, such as a webpage. A query-reply communications protocol is used to identify relevant content for building the webpage from network resources. A resource is queried to determine whether the resource contains any relevant content. The response from the resource, if affirmative, includes the requested content. The query communications are formulated to conduct a keyword type search of the resource. The resource response includes the search results. |
| US08909680B1 |
Intelligent caching of multidimensional cube data
Some embodiments provide a method for rendering a cube view related to a cube stored in a multidimensional data storage. The method identifies a first portion of cube data that is stored in a cube cache and a second portion of the cube data that is not stored in the cube cache. Based on the identifications, the method retrieves the second data portion of the cube data by accessing the cube data storage. The method renders the cube view for display by using the first portion from the cube cache and the second portion retrieved from the multidimensional data storage. |
| US08909676B1 |
Star cluster codeset database for universal remote control devices
A codeset database for a universal remote control device includes a device index table, a key index table, protocol tables, and a set of keycode data structures. A keycode data structure includes a plurality of keycode data structure pointers (KDSPs) and one or more optional keycodes. In a star linking method, a keycode data structure is linked to multiple keycode data structures by pointing to those keycode data structures using multiple KDSPs. In a cluster linking method, a keycode data structure is linked to multiple keycode data structures by being pointed by those keycode data structures. A keycode data structure may not contain any actual keycodes, but a plurality of keycode data structure pointers and other information. A special value inside the keycode data structure is used to indicate whether and how keycode data structures are linked together. |
| US08909674B2 |
System and method for tracking and identifying interests among tenants for fostering community relationships
A system and method of managing interests and activities of residents and potential residents in a multi-unit building are provided. The method comprises: creating and maintaining a first set of records in the database for tenants, each record in the first set of records including fields for a name, contact information, building and interests; creating and maintaining a second set of records in the database for buildings, records in the second set including fields for a building name, address and amenities; creating and maintaining a third set of records in the database for activities, records in the third set including fields for an activity name, organizer, site, participants and activity details; analyzing the database to identify a set of tenant records in the first set of records that match an activity in the third set; and generating and sending notifications using contact information in the set of tenant records relating to the activity. |
| US08909671B2 |
Load shedding in a data stream management system
It is presented a method for notifying at least a first condition in an industrial system by means of a monitoring system in order to draw the attention of an operator monitoring the industrial system to the at least one condition. The method comprises displaying (S1) the first condition in a first portion of a display screen of the monitoring system, determining (S2) by means of eye tracking an area where a user focuses on the display screen, the area where the user focuses differing from the first portion, and alerting (S3) the user of the first condition in order to allow the user to be notified of the first condition in the industrial system. A monitoring system is also presented herein. |
| US08909670B2 |
Image based method of providing memorial information
Described herein is an image-based system for retrieving information about a deceased person or animal and an image-based method of retrieving information about a deceased person or animal. The systems disclosed herein are characterized by the absence of a visible identifier indicating the availability of the information, such as a tag, bar code, and the like. |
| US08909669B2 |
System and method for locating and retrieving private information on a network
A system for document retrieval in a network environment is provided where documents are stored with corresponding privacy codes. A query server computer is in communication with the network and is programmed to generate a privacy index of all documents available on the network indexed by their corresponding privacy codes. The privacy codes define document access permissions that are securely associated with the documents and are assigned by document custodians. A search engine in communication with the network is configured to receive a query from a requester and generate a list of documents from the privacy index which match search parameters of the query and privacy codes of the requester. |
| US08909668B2 |
Method of distributing contents and system
A method of distributing contents including steps of: calculating feature quantities of contents written in a plurality of files by using a common calculation operation; allotting a common ID to feature quantities which are equivalent to each other among the calculated feature quantities; associating the plurality of files with the IDs corresponding to said files, and storing the associated files and IDs into a node of a network; gathering, when obtaining the stored file from the node, information on ID of said file and said node through the network; requesting the node shown in the gathered information to transmit the file corresponding to the ID shown in said information; and transmitting the requested file from the node. |
| US08909664B2 |
System and method for creating a list of shared information on a peer-to-peer network
Today information Peer-to-Peer networks sometimes share improper information. Embodiments of the invention solve this problem by creating a list of shared information for analysis. In particular, a method or corresponding apparatus of an example embodiment includes a network node to obtain one or more searches from a Peer-to-Peer network. Next, the network node compares the one or more searches to one or more criteria. After comparing, the network node updates the one or more criteria to include variations of the one or more searches. Further, the network node issues the one or more searches based on the updated criteria. Next, the network node determines resultant information associated with the one or more searches. After determining, the network node creates a list of the resultant information for analysis. Using the list, an operator or software logic can analyze the resultant information to identify patterns and, in turn, identify improper information sharing. |
| US08909663B2 |
Using historical information to improve search across heterogeneous indices
A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for searching for data. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising identifying a query and a search scope including a set of specified entities; and for each of these entities, estimating a number of documents that would be identified in a search through the entity to answer the query. On the basis of this estimating, a subset of the entities is formed. The query and this subset of entities are sent to a search engine to search the subset of entities to answer the query. In one embodiment, the estimating includes collecting statistical information from queries to build up a historical cache using heuristics or machine learning techniques, wherein the query includes a key word and a scope, and the historical cache contains a maximum number of returned results for an entity given the queries executed. |
| US08909662B2 |
Message based mobile object with native PIM integration
Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for synchronizing data within a native PIM data store in a device an enterprise data. Data modifications generated by mobile applications on the device, or by an enterprise server, are identified and reflected into the native PIM data store. Additionally, a listener is provided to detect modifications to relevant data within the native PIM data store and reflect these modifications in the mobile applications and the enterprise server. The framework which accomplishes this further provides platform-independent access to the native PIM data store. |
| US08909660B2 |
System and method for secured health record account registration
A computer-implemented system is used for implementing an improved personal health record enrollment process. The system includes an electronic medical record system configured to generate configured to generate an index file, the index file associated with patient medical data including the clinical records of the patient, wherein the index file is augmented with encrypted metadata generated based on the patient medical data and configured to include patient authentication information. The system further includes a personal health record web portal configured to implement a patient enrollment process including the steps of receiving patient authentication input, authenticating the patient authentication input based on the received patient authentication input and the encrypted metadata in the index file, and generating a patient enrollment account for the patient based at least in part on the patient authentication information. |
| US08909654B2 |
Information search method, apparatus, program and computer readable recording medium
An information search apparatus is provided. The information search apparatus includes: a character string input unit configured to obtain a character string from a client; a character string information search unit configured to obtain information that includes the character string from an index DB; a similarity calculation unit configured to calculate degree of similarity between the character string and searched information; and an output unit configured to output the searched information in descending order of the degree of similarity. In the information search apparatus, the character string information search unit includes a unit configured to, when the input character string contains a plurality of words, search an index DB, based on each word, that stores words and occurrence position information of the words to obtain a distance between occurrence positions of the words, and the similarity calculation unit includes a unit configured to calculate the degree of similarity based on the distance between occurrence positions of the words. |
| US08909651B2 |
Optimization of social media engagement
Methods for optimizing social media are disclosed. Such methods may include identifying at least one keyword utilized for at least one webpage, identifying social media correspondence referencing the at least one keyword, analyzing content collected from the social media to determine a frequency of references to the at least one keyword and generating at least one report including information based on the analysis. The report may include recommendations for optimizing social media by, for example, increasing visibility by using high-performing keywords. Systems for performing the methods are also disclosed. |
| US08909648B2 |
Methods and systems of supervised learning of semantic relatedness
A method of evaluating a semantic relatedness of terms. The method comprises providing a plurality of text segments, calculating, using a processor, a plurality of weights each for another of the plurality of text segments, calculating a prevalence of a co-appearance of each of a plurality of pairs of terms in the plurality of text segments, and evaluating a semantic relatedness between members of each the pair according to a combination of a respective the prevalence and a weight of each of the plurality of text segments wherein a co-appearance of the pair occurs. |
| US08909643B2 |
Inferring emerging and evolving topics in streaming text
A method, system and computer program product for inferring topic evolution and emergence in a set of documents. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a group of matrices using text in the documents, and analyzing these matrices to identify a first group of topics as evolving topics and a second group of topics as emerging topics. The matrices includes a first matrix X identifying a multitude of words in each of the documents, a second matrix W identifying a multitude of topics in each of the documents, and a third matrix H identifying a multitude of words for each of the multitude of topics. These matrices are analyzed to identify the evolving and emerging topics. In an embodiment, the documents form a streaming dataset, and two forms of temporal regularizers are used to help identify the evolving topics and the emerging topics in the streaming dataset. |
| US08909640B2 |
System and method for propagating classification decisions
A system and method for propagating classification decisions is provided. Text marked within one or more unclassified documents that is determined to be responsive to a predetermined issue is received from a user. The unclassified documents are selected from a corpus. A search query is generated from the responsive text. Same result documents are identified by applying inclusive search parameters to the query, applying the search query to the corpus, and identifying the documents that satisfy the query. Similar result documents are identified by adjusting a breadth of the query by applying less inclusive search parameters and identifying documents from the corpus that satisfy the query. A responsive classification code is automatically assigned to each same result document for classification as responsive documents. The similar documents are provided to the user. A responsive classification decision is received form the user for classification as the responsive documents. |
| US08909636B2 |
Lifestyle collecting apparatus, user interface device, and lifestyle collecting method
Provided is a lifestyle collecting apparatus that collects information for determining a lifestyle of a user, and includes: an object information detecting unit configured to detect object information representing an object around the user; a relevance degree calculating unit configured to calculate a relevance degree of the user to the object, using the object information; an appearance information extracting unit configured to extract appearance information from the object information, and add the relevance degree to the extracted appearance information, the appearance information representing an appearance of the object; and a lifestyle database which stores the appearance information to which the relevance degree has been added, as the information for determining the lifestyle of the user. |
| US08909634B2 |
Notification system and method
A dispatching system adjusts resources to meet real-time changes in demand. When a customer requests service, a work assignment is generated and sent to an employee. When a customer cancels the requested service, a cancellation code is sent to the employee. The cancellation code informs the employee that the work assignment has been canceled. |
| US08909628B1 |
Detecting content scraping
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying a plurality of n-grams in a plurality of resources found in a particular site; determining, for each of the plurality of resources, a count of n-grams that originated in the resource; determining, based on counts of n-grams that originated in the resources, a first aggregate count of n-grams that originated in the particular site; determining a second aggregate count of the plurality of n-grams that were identified in the plurality of resources found in the particular site; and determining, based on the first and second aggregate counts, a site originality score for the particular site. |
| US08909627B1 |
Fake skip evaluation of synonym rules
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs are encoded on a computer storage medium, for fake skip evaluation of synonyms. In one aspect, a method includes determining, using query log data, that a particular search result selected by a user includes a query term included in an initial search query and a particular synonym that was generated for the query term using a particular synonym rule. The particular search result is selected by the user from among search results that were generated using an initial search query and one or more revised search queries that include the particular synonym. The method further includes determining, using the query log data, that a first search result is ranked above the particular search result, and includes the particular synonym for the query term. In response to these determinations, a fake skip count is incremented for the synonym rule that corresponds to the particular synonym. |
| US08909625B1 |
Image search
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for selecting image search results. In one aspect, a method includes receiving image search data specifying images that have been identified as responsive to a query. A set of image group identifiers are received for two or more of the images. Different image group identifiers specify different image groups to which an image belongs. A determination is made that the sets of image group identifiers for two images each include a matching image group identifier. In response to the determination the two images are determined to be near-duplicate images, and a presentation position for a search result that references one of the near-duplicate images is adjusted. Data that cause presentation of search results that reference the near-duplicate images according to the adjusted presentation position. |
| US08909623B2 |
System and method for evaluating search queries to identify titles for content production
Systems and methods are provided to select potential titles for online content using search query logs from web search service providers. A plurality of search queries are collected from one or more web search service providers. A lifetime value is determined for each of the search queries. Potential titles are then selected from the plurality of search queries using selection criteria including the lifetime value of the search queries. The potential titles can then be provided to content developers who develop online content based on the potential titles. |
| US08909622B1 |
Time-based log and alarm integration search tool for trouble-shooting
A packet network troubleshooting system. The system comprises a processor, a memory, and a search tool stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the search tool searches system log, router command, maintenance, alarm, and trouble ticket data stores based on a search request and presents the results in chronological order. The search tool determines search keys for each of the data stores based on the search request. |
| US08909618B1 |
Multi-step platform for image capture and action
A system is provided. The system comprises an at least one computer system, a services database, and an application that, when executed on the at least one computer system, receives a message containing information about a digital image, the information containing a request for a service. The application also transmits an image translation request, wherein the image translation request includes the information. The application also receives a translation containing a service code, validates the services to be provided associated with the service code based on information in the services database, and when validation succeeds, provides a communication service, wherein digital images are associated with the provision of services based on information in the services database. |
| US08909617B2 |
Semantic matching by content analysis
A method, apparatus, system, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide media content. A web page context for a web page is determined and stored in a database. One or more media content files are analyzed to extract information that is stored in the database. The information is compared to the web page context. A matching media content file is determined from the one of the one or more media content files that matches the web page context based on the comparison. The matching media content file is then provided (e.g., to an internet portal web site). |
| US08909614B2 |
Data access location selecting system, method, and program
Access destination determination means determines a read destination and/or a write destination of specified data from nodes corresponding to the data and stored in data store destination storage means. Access probability calculation means calculates an access probability based on a history of accesses to the data, and stores the calculated access probability in access probability storage means. When no node corresponding to the specified data is stored in the data store destination storage means, access probability estimation means estimates an access probability of the data based on access probabilities stored in the access probability storage means, and the access destination determination means determines a write destination of the data based on the estimated access probability. |
| US08909612B2 |
Method, system and program product to improve social network systems
A method, system and program product for advancing a trust stage with a human contact, the method in embodiments comprising: adding for a user a new human contact to the one or more electronic databases; receiving and/or generating identification of a trust stage for the new human contact; receiving a project with project information comprising one or more parameters; receiving and/or determining one or more human contacts to associate with the project; determining for the user a set of next steps for advancing the trust stage for one of the human contacts associated with the project; determining if a predetermined one or more of the next steps have been performed; advancing the trust stage for the one human contact to a higher trust stage; and sending or having sent an electronic communication to the user about one or more next steps that are remaining. |
| US08909611B2 |
Content management system
A method of operating a content management system, the content management system including a central server and a plurality of content servers connected to the central server, each content server associated with a respective location, the method including receiving data at the central server for distribution to at least one of the content servers, accessing user information relating to one or more users at one or more locations, determining, from the user information, whether the received data is relevant to each user, and transmitting the data from the central server to one or more content servers according to whether the data is relevant for users at the respective locations of the content servers. |
| US08909607B2 |
Context sensitive reusable inline data deduplication
A computer identifies a relationship among a subset of a set of data blocks, a basis of the relationship forming a context shared by the subset of data blocks. The computer selects a code data structure from a set of code data structures using the context. The context is associated with the code data structure, and the code data structure includes a set of codes. The computer computes, for a first data block in the subset of data blocks, a first code corresponding to a content of the first data block. The computer determines whether the first code matches a stored code in the code data structure. The computer replaces, responsive to the first code matching the stored code, the first data block with a reference to an instance of the first data block. The computer causes the reference to be stored in a target data processing system. |
| US08909605B1 |
Method and system for accelerating data movement using change information concerning difference between current and previous data movements
Techniques for accelerating data movement from a source storage system to a target storage system are described herein. According to one embodiment, a first data stream is received to be transmitted to a remote storage system over a network, the first data stream having multiple data objects, each identified by a data object identifier (ID). A difference is determined between the first data stream and a second data stream that has been previously transmitted to the remote storage system, including identifying one or more data objects that are added, deleted, and/or modified. Differential object information is transmitted to the target storage representing the difference between the first data stream and the second data stream, as well as one or more data objects that are missing in the second data stream without having to transmit all data objects of the first data stream. |
| US08909602B2 |
Programmatic snapshot and revert of virtualized data center inventory
A snapshot of an inventory of a virtualized computer system is produced and a user-editable code is generated therefrom, so that the inventory can be reconstructed entirely or partially. The snapshot includes identifying data for items in the virtualized computer system, and relationship data that indicate hierarchical and non-hierarchical relationships between the items. The items in the inventory of the virtualized computer system include virtual machines, servers on which the virtual machines are running, one or more data centers in which the servers reside, and logical containers such as folders for virtual machines, resource pools that each contain one or more virtual machines, and server clusters that each contain one or more servers. |
| US08909601B2 |
System and method for implementing shared scalable nonzero indicators
A Scalable NonZero Indicator (SNZI) object in a concurrent computing application may include a shared data portion (e.g., a counter portion) and a shared nonzero indicator portion, and/or may be an element in a hierarchy of SNZI objects that filters changes in non-root nodes to a root node. SNZI objects may be accessed by software applications through an API that includes a query operation to return the value of the nonzero indicator, and arrive (increment) and depart (decrement) operations. Modifications of the data portion and/or the indicator portion may be performed using atomic read-modify-write type operations. Some SNZI objects may support a reset operation. A shared data object may be set to an intermediate value, or an announce bit may be set, to indicate that a modification is in progress that affects its corresponding indicator value. Another process or thread seeing this indication may “help” complete the modification before proceeding. |
| US08909600B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium
There is provided with an information processing apparatus. A holding unit is configured to hold a communication parameter to be used to perform communication with a storage device configured to store a content. A storage unit is configured to store a content. A memory unit is configured to store a record of change for the content stored in the storage unit. A deletion unit is configured to delete, from the memory unit, the record of change used to synchronize the content stored in the storage unit with the content stored in the storage device in accordance with deletion of the communication parameter used to perform the communication with the storage device from the holding unit. |
| US08909599B2 |
Efficient migration of binary XML across databases
Techniques are provided for transporting subset of databases containing binary XML data. In one embodiment, a method is provided that allows transporting binary XML data that conforms to schema by also transporting the schema entries that are necessary to derive the binary XML. In another embodiment, a method is provided that allows transporting binary XML data that does not conform to schema by also transporting the token tables that contain the mapping for the binary XML. |
| US08909597B2 |
Document-based workflows
A workflow application allows users to store, manage, and perform tasks related to workflows comprised of ordered sets of documents. The application provides an interface for creating and managing a workflow. Each document added to the workflow is assigned to a particular position in the workflow. Via the interface, the user saves data defining the workflow. In this manner, the workflow may be shared or preserved for subsequent re-use. The application allows a user to perform various tasks with respect to the workflow. Via an interface control presented by the application, the user instigates such tasks. In response, the application causes the task to be performed for each document in the workflow in an order corresponding to the arrangement of the documents within the workflow. For example, the application may render and print each document in the workflow. Or, the application may generate a combined workflow report. |
| US08909595B2 |
Method for entering, recording, distributing and reporting data
An improved method for efficiently and accurately entering detailed data by yes/no entries so that the data is automatically recorded, optionally automatically distributed and optionally transformed into a readable prose report of the data, which is entered by yes/no markings. |
| US08909588B2 |
Method and system for propagating the state of an object and its uncertainty
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to reducing the computational cost of propagating the uncertainty in the state of an object, which requires the numerical solution of an initial value problem (IVP) ensemble, by means of a computer. The present invention uses an implicit-Runge-Kutta-based (IRK) method that exploits the proximity of the initial conditions within the IVP ensemble. More specifically, one of the IVPs can be solved over a given time span consisting of one or more time steps with an IRK method, and the resulting trajectory can be recorded. The system of equations that arises on each time step of the IRK method can be solved using various iterative methods. The remaining IVPs can be solved over the same timespan using the same IRK method and time steps, together with the recorded trajectory from the first propagation. |
| US08909583B2 |
Systems and methods for providing recommendations based on collaborative and/or content-based nodal interrelationships
In selected embodiments a recommendation generator builds a network of interrelationships between venues, reviewers and users based on their attributes and reviewer and user reviews of the venues. Each interrelationship or link may be positive or negative and may accumulate with other links (or anti-links) to provide nodal links the strength of which are based on commonality of attributes among the linked nodes and/or common preferences that one node, such as a reviewer, expresses for other nodes, such as venues. The links may be first order (based on a direct relationship between, for instance, a reviewer and a venue) or higher order (based on, for instance, the fact that two venue are both liked by a given reviewer). The recommendation engine in certain embodiments determines recommended venues based on user attributes and venue preferences by aggregating the link matrices and determining the venues which are most strongly coupled to the user. |
| US08909579B2 |
Identifying invariant candidates based on proofs
Candidate invariants are selected from a proof of a property. In some exemplary embodiments, a proof of a property with respect to a bounded model having a bounded number of cycles may be obtained. The bounded model may comprise an initial axiom and a transition relation axiom. The proof of the property is a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG). Each non-leaf node of the DAG is deducible from its child nodes. A root of the DAG is the property. Leaves of the DAG are associated with an axiom of the bounded model. A set of candidate invariants may be selected from the DAG. A subset of the set of candidates may be determined such that the subset comprises invariants which are held during each cycle of an unbounded model, wherein the unbounded model is an unbounded version of the bounded model. The invariants may be utilized for model checking of the unbounded model. |
| US08909577B2 |
Device and method for neuromorphic data processing using spiking neurons
A neuromorphic data processing device comprising a plurality of spiking neurons, with each of these neurons comprising: an integrator designed to receive successive analog pulses each having a certain value, and accumulate the values of the pulses received in a recorded value, referred to as accumulation value, and a discharger designed to emit a pulse, referred to as discharge pulse, according to the accumulation value, and a silicon support having two surfaces, the neurons being carried out on at least one of the two surfaces, the integrator of each neuron comprising a metal via of the TSV type between the two surfaces of the silicon support, the metal via of the TSV type forming a capacitor with the silicon support and having an electric potential forming the accumulation value wherein the values of the pulses received are accumulated and according to which the discharge pulse is emitted. |
| US08909575B2 |
Method and apparatus for modeling neural resource based synaptic placticity
Certain aspects of the present disclosure support a method of designing the resource model in hardware (or software) for learning spiking neural networks. The present disclosure comprises accounting for resources in a different domain (e.g., negative log lack-of-resources instead of availability of resources), modulating weight changes for multiple spike events upon a single trigger, and strategically advancing or retarding the resource replenishment or decay (respectively) to overcome the limitation of single event-based triggering. |
| US08909570B1 |
Data mining technique with experience-layered gene pool
Roughly described, a computer-implemented evolutionary data mining system includes a memory storing a candidate gene database in which each candidate individual has a respective fitness estimate; a gene pool processor which tests individuals from the candidate gene pool on training data and updates the fitness estimate associated with the individuals in dependence upon the tests; and a gene harvesting module providing for deployment selected ones of the individuals from the gene pool, wherein the gene pool processor includes a competition module which selects individuals for discarding from the gene pool in dependence upon both their updated fitness estimate and their testing experience level. Preferably the gene database has an elitist pool containing multiple experience layers, and the competition module causes individuals to compete only with other individuals in their same experience layer. |
| US08909569B2 |
System and method for revealing correlations between data streams
The disclosed techniques can provide users with a tool having an integrated, user-friendly interface and having automated mechanisms which can reveal correlations between data streams to the users in a clear and easily understandable way, thereby enabling the users to easily digest the vast amount of information contained in activities within one or more network, to understand the correlations among the activities, to stay informed and responsive to current or new trends, and even to predict future trends. Among other benefits, the disclosed techniques are especially useful in the context of discovering impacts of social networking activities on other types of commercial activities. |
| US08909568B1 |
Predictive analytic modeling platform
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on one or more computer storage devices, for training a predictive model. In one aspect, a method includes receiving over a network predictive modeling training data from a client computing system. The training data and multiple training functions obtained from a repository of training functions are used to train multiple predictive models. A score is generated for each of the trained predictive models, where each score represents an estimation of the effectiveness of the respective trained predictive model. A first trained predictive model is selected from among the trained predictive models based on the generated scores. Access to the first trained predictive model is provided to the client computing system. |
| US08909567B2 |
Method and system for the dynamic allocation of resources based on fairness, throughput, and user behavior measurement
A system and method for the dynamic allocation of resources based on fairness, throughput, and user behavior measurement. A resource allocation decision can be made based on an index value computed by a selection index function. A fairness coefficient and a throughput coefficient, which represent the significance of fairness and throughput can be computed utilizing a reinforcement learning algorithm. The degree of fairness and throughput coefficient can be varied while allocating resources. A user behavior coefficient with respect to a user can be computed to determine the degree of cooperativeness of the user with other users and the value of user behavior coefficient can be updated each time it interacts with the system. |
| US08909565B2 |
Clustering crowdsourced data to create and apply data input models
The collection and clustering of data input characteristics from a plurality of computing devices is provided. The clustered data input characteristics define user groups to which users are assigned. Input models such as language models and touch models are created for, and distributed to, each of the user groups based on the data input characteristics of the users assigned thereto. For example, an input model may be selected for a computing device based on a current context of the computing device. The selected input model is applied to the computing device during the current context to alter the interpretation of input received from the user via the computing device. |
| US08909563B1 |
Methods, systems, and programming for annotating an image including scoring using a plurality of trained classifiers corresponding to a plurality of clustered image groups associated with a set of weighted labels
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for annotating of an image are disclosed. These include scoring the image using a plurality of trained classifiers, wherein each of the trained classifiers corresponds to at least one of a plurality of image groups clustered based upon image similarity, and wherein each image group is associated with a set of weighted labels; selecting one or more of the image groups based upon the scoring; aggregating one or more sets of weighted labels associated with the selected one or more image groups; and annotating the image using the aggregated one or more sets of weighted labels. |
| US08909562B2 |
Markov modeling of service usage patterns
A system for analyzing service usage utilizing Markov models. Records of client requests to the service are extracted from at least one log. The records are grouped by client and sorted by timestamp. A pattern of requests that form an action is detected. Each action has a time. A probability is calculated of a transition from a precedent action to a subsequent action, where the precedent action has a time prior to the subsequent action. A delay time is also calculated between a precedent action and a subsequent action. A probability is calculated for a delay time, such as the likelihood that a delay from a precedent action to a subsequent action will fall within a given time interval. |
| US08909560B2 |
Practical model for high speed file delivery services supporting guaranteed delivery times and differentiated service levels
A practical economic and technical model for building commercial-grade electronic file delivery services that provide the same scale, predictability, and differentiated service levels as physical courier services traditionally used to move electronic data on physical media. Systems and methods for providing such services using a charge-back scheme based on congestion pricing are described. |
| US08909559B1 |
Techniques to facilitate recommendations for non-member connections
Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums which provide a relevance engine for determining a relevance of an individual (either a non-member or another member) to another individual (either a non-member or another member). This relevance engine may use signals in the form of data that the social networking service may learn about the individuals to determine how relevant the individuals are to each other. |
| US08909557B2 |
Authentication arrangement and method for use with financial transaction
A system and method for generating an authentication token which is used by an issuer associated with a integrated circuit card to authenticate a transaction. A personal card reader receives data, including an authentication cryptogram, from the integrated circuit card. The personal card reader uses the data received from the integrated circuit card to select one of at least two default bitmaps stored in a memory portion of the personal card reader. The personal card reader uses the selected default bitmap and the authentication cryptogram to build the authentication token. |
| US08909554B2 |
System for installing programmable features on output devices
A programmable feature such as a software upgrade, updated print driver, new process, etc. is remotely delivered to an output device, such as a printer. First, the customer tenders payment for the feature. Next, the customer is provided with a coupon. The customer subsequently redeems the coupon and receives the requested feature in the form of a feature key in response to redeeming the coupon. The customer uses the feature key to install the feature on the output device. The feature key may be a print job that contains encrypted text. Security measures may be provided to ensure that the coupon and feature key are valid, such as requiring the customer to use a pre-designated decryption key on the feature key before the feature is installed on the output device. |
| US08909552B2 |
Dynamic management and netting of transactions using executable rules
Systems and methods for dynamically managing and netting transactions based on one or more sets of netting rules are disclosed. The present invention dynamically associates transactions with one or more collections based on the execution of netting rules to identify transactions that may be ideal for netting and to perform netting operations and calculations accordingly. The present invention may execute the netting rules according to the priority of the netting rule within a rule hierarchy and utilizes unique solutions allowing for the efficient processing of transactions even as netting rules are created, modified and removed from time-to-time. In addition, embodiments of the disclosed netting system utilize denormalized sets of data and maintain a complete audit trail for all operations. |
| US08909547B2 |
Handheld order unit and cash handling device
Methods and devices allow a handheld order unit to be used with a cash handling device. A handheld order unit may be used by a staff person to enter order information, to display an amount due for the meal or other transaction, to facilitate payment, to print receipts, and to communicate information about the transaction to a cash handling device. The cash handling device may identify the handheld order unit and the assigned user for the unit and determine what financial documents need to be inserted by the user for reconciliation purposes. |
| US08909546B2 |
Privacy-centric ad models that leverage social graphs
The claimed subject matter relates to an architecture that can mitigate privacy concerns in connection with ad targeting or data collection. In particular, architecture can be included in a personal mobile communication device such as a cell phone. During communication transactions between the host device and a peer device, shared information can be extracted either from content included in the communication or from metadata. Based upon the shared information, a social graph maintained on the host device can be updated. In addition, the host device can receive a large set of ads and select or tailor a custom ad from the set based upon the social graph. |
| US08909545B2 |
System to generate and set up an advertising campaign based on the insertion of advertising messages within an exchange of messages, and method to operate said system
A method includes receiving message data at a server from a first remote device. The message data is associated with a message to a second remote device and includes text. The method includes parsing the message data to identify information associated with an advertisement of an advertisement campaign. The advertisement includes advertisement text and a graphical image that corresponds to a pre-recorded audio message. The method includes generating an audio file based on the message data, the advertisement text, and the pre-recorded audio message, and sending the audio file from the server to the second remote device. |
| US08909541B2 |
System and method for manipulating success determinates in software development competitions
In general, in one aspect, a method for developing an asset by competition includes specifying standards for an asset, receiving from potential contestants indicia of interest in participating in an asset development competition in which the contestants compete to develop an asset, and determining an estimated likelihood that the asset development competition will result in an asset that meets the minimum standards based on historical information about the performance of the contestants from whom the indicia of interest were received. Steps may be taken to increase the estimated likelihood of success, upon a determination that the likelihood is less than desired. Steps may be taken to prevent registration by additional participants, upon a determination that the estimated likelihood is at or above a predetermined threshold. |
| US08909538B2 |
Enhanced interface for use with speech recognition
Improved methods of presenting speech prompts to a user as part of an automated system that employs speech recognition or other voice input are described. The invention improves the user interface by providing in combination with at least one user prompt seeking a voice response, an enhanced user keyword prompt intended to facilitate the user selecting a keyword to speak in response to the user prompt. The enhanced keyword prompts may be the same words as those a user can speak as a reply to the user prompt but presented using a different audio presentation method, e.g., speech rate, audio level, or speaker voice, than used for the user prompt. In some cases, the user keyword prompts are different words from the expected user response keywords, or portions of words, e.g., truncated versions of keywords. |
| US08909537B2 |
Device capable of playing music and method for controlling music playing in electronic device
An electronic device includes a music play module that plays music and a voice recorder that records ambient voice around the electronic device. The electronic device further includes a music control module that identifies voice characteristics of the ambient voice, and controls the music play module to pause the playing of the music when the voice characteristics of the ambient voice match pre-configured voice reference information. |
| US08909535B2 |
System and method for tracking persons of interest via voiceprint
Disclosed are systems, methods, and computer readable media for tracking a person of interest. The method embodiment comprises identifying a person of interest, capturing a voiceprint of the person of interest, comparing a received voiceprint of a caller with the voiceprint of the person of interest, and tracking the caller if the voiceprint of the caller is a substantial match to the voiceprint of the person of interest. |
| US08909533B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing and controlling speech recognition and enrollment
A method and an apparatus for performing and controlling speech recognition and enrolment are provided. The method for performing speech recognition and enrolment includes: receiving a Speech Enrolment Start Request and a Speech Recognition Request sent from a media gateway controller (MGC); performing speech recognition and enrolment according to the Speech Enrolment Start Request and the Speech Recognition Request, and obtaining a recognition and enrolment result; and feeding back the recognition and enrolment result to the MGC. |
| US08909531B2 |
Methods and devices for displaying multimedia data emulating emotions based on image shuttering speed
A method and a device for displaying multimedia data are provided. According to the method, the device can operate in a music priority mode and a picture priority mode to simultaneously play music and display pictures according to human emotional feelings. Analyzing pictures to obtain at least one feature value which comprises of a shutter speed value. In the music priority mode, a display effect and a display speed for displaying pictures matches with a played type of music. In the picture priority mode, a display effect and a display speed for displaying pictures match with picture content, and a played type of music matching with the picture content is selected and played while the pictures are being displayed. |
| US08909530B2 |
Apparatus, method, and computer readable medium for expedited text reading using staged OCR technique
A system and method are provided for accelerating machine reading of text. In one embodiment, the system comprises at least one processor device. The processor device is configured to receive at least one image of text to be audibly read. The text includes a first portion and a second portion. The processor device is further configured to initiate optical character recognition (OCR) to recognize the first portion. The processor device is further configured to initiate an audible presentation of the first portion prior to initiating OCR of the second portion, and simultaneously perform OCR to recognize the second portion of the text to be audibly read during presentation of at least part of the first portion. The processor device is further configured to automatically cause the second portion of the text to be audibly presented immediately upon completion of the presentation of the first portion. |
| US08909529B2 |
Method and system for automatically detecting morphemes in a task classification system using lattices
The invention concerns a method and corresponding system for building a phonotactic mode for domain independent speech recognition. The method may include recognizing phones from a user's input communication using a current phonotactic model, detecting morphemes (acoustic and/or non-acoustic) from the recognized phones, and outputting the detected morphemes for processing. The method also updates the phonotactic model with the detected morphemes and stores the new model in a database for use by the system during the next user interaction. The method may also include making task-type classification decisions based on the detected morphemes from the user's input communication. |
| US08909528B2 |
Method and system for prompt construction for selection from a list of acoustically confusable items in spoken dialog systems
A method (and system) of determining confusable list items and resolving this confusion in a spoken dialog system includes receiving user input, processing the user input and determining if a list of items needs to be played back to the user, retrieving the list to be played back to the user, identifying acoustic confusions between items on the list, changing the items on the list as necessary to remove the acoustic confusions, and playing unambiguous list items back to the user. |
| US08909525B2 |
Interactive voice recognition electronic device and method
An interactive voice recognition electronic device converts a received voice signal to a text, and searches a voice databases to find a matched voice text of the converted text. The matched voice text is taken as a recognized voice text of the voice signal if the matched voice text exists in the voice database. The electronic device obtains a predetermined number of similar voice texts if no matched voice text exists in the voice database. The electronic device converts the predetermined number of similar voice texts to the voice signals, outputs the converted voice signals in turn, and selects one of the similar voice texts as the recognized voice text according to the selection of the user. The electronic device obtains the associated answer text of the recognized voice text in the voice database and converts the answer text to voice signals. |
| US08909521B2 |
Coding method, coding apparatus, coding program, and recording medium therefor
A lossless coding technique for near-logarithmic companded PCM that achieves high compression performance is provided. In coding, the coding method that produces the smaller code amount is selected between the prediction coding method, which performs linear prediction of samples in a frame and codes the amplitude of the prediction error, and the normalization coding method, which normalizes the amplitude of the samples in the frame and codes the normalized amplitude, and a selection code that indicates the selection result is output. The samples in the frame are coded according to the selected coding method to produce a compression code. In decoding, the compression code is decoded according to a decoding process corresponding to the coding method specified by the selection code. |
| US08909520B2 |
Pulse encoding and decoding method and pulse codec
In a pulse encoding and decoding method and a pulse codec, more than two tracks are jointly encoded, so that free codebook space in the situation of single track encoding can be combined during joint encoding to become code bits that may be saved. Furthermore, a pulse that is on each track and required to be encoded is combined according to positions, and the number of positions having pulses, distribution of the positions that have pulses on the track, and the number of pulses on each position that has a pulse are encoded separately, so as to avoid separate encoding performed on multiple pulses of a same position, thereby further saving code bits. |
| US08909516B2 |
Functionality for normalizing linguistic items
Computing functionality converts an input linguistic item into a normalized linguistic item, representing a normalized counterpart of the input linguistic item. In one environment, the input linguistic item corresponds to a complaint by a person receiving medical care, and the normalized linguistic item corresponds to a definitive and error-free version of that complaint. In operation, the computing functionality uses plural reference resources to expand the input linguistic item, creating an expanded linguistic item. The computing functionality then forms a graph based on candidate tokens that appear in the expanded linguistic item, and then finds a shortest path through the graph; that path corresponds to the normalized linguistic item. The computing functionality may use a statistical language model to assign weights to edges in the graph, and to determine whether the normalized linguistic incorporates two or more component linguistic items. |
| US08909509B2 |
Dynamically selecting master clock to manage non-linear simulation clocks
Systems and methods that efficiently simulate controlled systems are presented. A simulation management component (SMC) controls simulation of a controlled system by controlling a desired number of nodes, each comprising a controller (e.g., soft controller) and a simulated component or process, which are part of the controlled system. The simulation can be performed in a step-wise manner, wherein the simulation can comprise a desired number of steps of respectively desired lengths of time. For each step, the SMC dynamically selects a desired clock (e.g., currently identified slowest clock) as a master clock for the next step. The SMC predicts a length of time of the next step to facilitate setting a desired length of time for the next step based in part on the predicted length of time. As part of each step, components can synchronously exchange data via intra-node or inter-node connections to facilitate simulation. |
| US08909506B2 |
Program, information storage medium, information processing system, and information processing method for controlling a movement of an object placed in a virtual space
An object placement managing unit changes at least one of a position and a direction of a virtual object based on a value of a parameter associated with a physical quantity that is an attribute of the virtual object. The object placement managing unit determines a first change, which corresponds to a user's operation, in a first physical quantity of the virtual object. The object placement managing unit determines a second change in a second physical quantity. The second change corresponds to and is different from the first change. The object placement managing unit changes a value of a parameter based on the first change and the second change. The object placement managing unit changes, after the value of the parameter is changed, at least one of the position and the direction of the virtual object based on the changed value of the parameter. |
| US08909501B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimization of floor covering and system for user configuration and real time pricing information
A method and system for optimizing surface coverings having user input representative of a construction project, floor plans representative of the project including optional configurations of the plans, user input for selection from a plurality of the plans and options and creating data points representative of one of the plans, merging the plan and options into a set of data points representative of a final plan set, determining room surface selections from user input, deriving contiguity data from the surface areas representative of the surface selections; and optimizing price of floor materials for selected criteria based on pre-determined rules. The system and method weights traffic flow based on room configurations and determines optimal cuts of materials to minimize seams. Further, the system packs the cut materials optimally to fit standard sheet material such as carpet and vinyl. |
| US08909498B2 |
Method and system for testing and calibrating an accelerometer of an electronic device
A method and system for testing and calibrating an accelerometer of an electronic device are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is a test system for an electronic device having an accelerometer with three mutually orthogonal sensing axes, the test system comprising: a test fixture having: a nest defining a cavity for receiving an electronic device; wherein the nest is configured so that, when the test fixture is substantially horizontal, a two-dimensional sensing plane defined by two of the sensing axes of the accelerometer is substantially horizontal and the third sensing axis is perpendicular to the two-dimensional sensing plane and substantially parallel to the force of gravity. |
| US08909497B1 |
System and method for fall detection
Embodiments of the invention relate to spectrally and spatially dissecting accelerometer data from a signal of a motion sensor. Data received from the dissected signal is reduced to statistical averages for selected frequency bands and spatial dimensions. A time segment subject over which the signal was acquired is segmented so that the dissected signal may be evaluated per the segmentation of the time. Change of orientation towards gravity of the sensor is analyzed with respect to a change of orientation from a before impact segment to an after impact segment. The analyzed change in orientation value with respect to a threshold is a factor in determination of a fall of a body to which the sensor is attached. |
| US08909496B2 |
Gravity gradiometer and methods for measuring gravity gradients
Systems and methods for determining a bias-corrected value of at least one component of a gravity gradient tensor using a gravity gradiometer and a measurement bias of the gravity gradiometer wherein the measurement bias varies with time, by taking at least three measurements with the gravity gradiometer positioned in at least two orientations. Any gravity gradiometer can be used, including a Cross-Component Gravity Gradiometer (CCGG), an Orthogonal Quadrupole Responder (OQR), an In-Line Responder (ILR), a Diagonal-Component Gravity Gradiometer, or a Multi-Component Gravity Gradiometer (MCGG). |
| US08909491B2 |
Multi-point interferometric phase change detection method
Provided is a method for measuring multi-point interferometric angle changes beginning with an interferometric device capable of measuring at least one main point and at least one reference point. The method includes recording interferometric intensity changes on two or more spots using the main point and the reference point, and determining a sequence having a plurality of peak, local maximas and a plurality of valley, local minimas. The method includes sampling a first, partial sequence and comparing it to a neighboring, partial sequence using a perturbation analysis and additional calculation(s) to compile all phase angle changes for all measured points. Also provided is a computer implemented method to enable nanometer resolution sensitivity in a noisy signal and for characterization of a material in an interferometric device. |
| US08909487B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for measuring resistance of an inhaler
An apparatus, a closed-loop system and method for measuring the resistance of inhalation systems and/or devices are disclosed. |
| US08909480B2 |
Seismic data filtering based on vibrator-coupled ground model
A vibrator-coupled ground filter improves seismic data recorded during a seismic operation. This filter is based on a ground model that takes into consideration the vibrator system, the coupling system between the baseplate and captured ground, and the coupled ground system. Using acceleration data from the baseplate and the reaction mass, the ground model can be used to derive particular variables for the ground model to help characterize the system. Using the derived variables in a ground filter, the recorded seismic data can be corrected to remove errors in the trace data produced by typical assumptions. |
| US08909478B2 |
Method for calculating the ratio of relative permeabilities of formation fluids and wettability of a formation downhole, and a formation testing tool to implement the same
A method and a tool that implements a method which includes measuring the viscosity and flow rates of formation fluids and obtaining the ratio of relative permeabilities of the formation fluids and wettability of the formation using the same. |
| US08909476B2 |
Method and apparatus for recommending content based on a travel route
An approach for recommending one or more content items for consumption during travel based on one or more travel times associated with one or more travel routes is described. A content item recommendation platform determines one or more travel routes associated with at least one device, at least one user of the at least one device, or a combination thereof. The content item recommendation platform further causes, at least in part, a recommendation of one or more content items based, at least in part, on one or more travel times associated with the one or more travel routes. |
| US08909474B2 |
Methods and apparatus for socioeconomic routing in navigation systems
In connection with a navigation system, a method of providing routing information to a user includes receiving user location information associated with a residence of the user, determining a socioeconomic routing preference based on a socioeconomic status associated with the user location information, and calculating a route between a start location and an end location based on the socioeconomic routing preference. Route guidance is then provided to the user based on the calculated route. |
| US08909472B2 |
Rate discount forecasts for wireless user terminals
A user interface of a wireless user terminal provides a forecast of a future rate discount that may apply at a future time and/or at a possible future location of the wireless user terminal. The forecast may be displayed as a map and/or as textual or graphical information, and may be provided in response to a user request, in response to receipt of a message from the wireless network and/or automatically at a given time. Related systems, methods and devices are described. |
| US08909471B1 |
Voting system and method using doppler aided navigation
A position determining voting system that uses Doppler information from an on-board weather radar to improve the system's accuracy and/or fault tolerance includes a comparison function and an error integration function. The comparison function is used to monitor the independent position sources for correct operation, comparing and identifying a position source that should not be used based on its relative error compared with the other position sources and their characteristics. The integration function provides corrections to relative position sources by integrating the data from multiple absolute position sources when they are mutually consistent. |
| US08909470B2 |
Optical observation device for target acquisition and navigation
An optical observation device for target acquisition and navigation having at least one objective, which is to be turned toward the object to be observed, and at least one ocular, which is to be turned toward the eye of the observer, in a housing, wherein the housing has at least one image reversal system, means for range finding, for location/position determination, for determination of the compass direction, and for displaying data, is distinguished in that an integrated target acquisition module having optoelectronic rangefinder, a GPS position determination, an electronic compass direction determination, and a microcomputer unit for calculating and storing distance and location coordinates of a targeted destination, an integrated navigation module having a display screen, which is arranged externally on the housing, and actuating elements, which are arranged on the housing, for activating functions of the target acquisition and navigation module are provided. |
| US08909466B2 |
System and method for hybrid off-board navigation
A system, method and apparatus for hybrid off-board vehicle navigation are disclosed. In the system, a multi-stop route package is created and sent from a route server to a navigation device. The route package can include a collection of vehicle attributes and corresponding road restrictions for guiding the vehicle towards its destination. The server can optionally push the route package to the vehicle in an email message or other stored communication. When an off-route condition is detected, the navigation device can send a route request to the server that includes the vehicle attributes and the corresponding road restrictions. The server can respond with a partial route correction that is determined based on the vehicle attributes and road restrictions. |
| US08909464B2 |
Driving evaluation system and vehicle-mounted device
A driving evaluation system that divides a traveling route of a vehicle into a plurality of sections and evaluates the driving of a driver of the vehicle includes: a driving data acquiring unit that acquires driving data of the driver for each section; a determining unit that determines whether the driving data acquired by the driving data acquiring unit satisfies the evaluation conditions set to each section; and an upload unit that uploads the driving data to a center which evaluates driving when the determining unit determines that the driving data satisfies the evaluation conditions. |
| US08909462B2 |
Context-based traffic flow control
Providing traffic flow control services includes receiving requests at an arbiter of a traffic control subsystem. The traffic control subsystem is in a first state, and the requests are received from vehicle transmitters in proximity of the traffic control subsystem. Traffic flow control services also include applying a pre-defined condition to the requests and implementing a traffic flow control activity responsive to application of the pre-defined condition. The traffic flow control activity includes maintaining the first state or changing the first state of the traffic control subsystem to a second state. |
| US08909460B2 |
Internal combustion engine with cylinders that can be de-activated, with exhaust gas recirculation by variable control of the intake valves, and method for controlling an internal combustion engine
A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine is provided with a system for the variable actuation of the intake valves. At least one part of the engine cylinders is deactivated, cutting off fuel supply to said cylinders, under operating conditions that do not require the maximum power of the engine and in which one wants to reduce fuel consumption. The intake valves of the deactivated cylinders are kept at least partly open during at least one part of the discharge stages in the deactivated cylinders, hence, in the deactivated cylinders, part of the burnt gases generated during the operation prior to the deactivation flows into the respective intake conduits during the discharge stage of each cylinder. The intake valves are closed after the discharge stage. The intake valves of the deactivated cylinders are further kept closed during the compression and expansion stages in each deactivated cylinder. |
| US08909459B2 |
Knock control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A knock control apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a knock signal normalization portion that normalizes a knock signal using base statistics calculated on the basis of the knock signal. The knock signal normalization portion calculates base statistics on the basis of a last value and a current value of the knock signal and normalizes the knock signal using a base statistic interpolated according to an operating state. |
| US08909454B2 |
Control of compression system with independently actuated inlet guide and/or stator vanes
A compression system includes a compressor with adjustable inlet guide vanes (IGVs) and variable stator vanes (VSVs) that are adjustable independently of each other. IGV and VSV control units produce respective IGV and VSV reference commands responsive to respective first and second inputs that may be responsive to measured properties of the compression system. The second input may be provided by a model of the compressor or of the compression system responsive to measured properties. The second input may particularly be an estimate of a property not directly observable, such as stall margin or efficiency. |
| US08909453B2 |
System and method of measuring and monitoring torque in a rotorcraft drive system
A method of optimizing an operation of a rotorcraft includes measuring actual usage of the tail rotor drive shaft during operation of the rotorcraft, the actual usage including at least a torque measurement. The method further includes a step of adjusting a life of the tail rotor drive shaft based upon the measuring of the actual usage. Another method of the present disclosure includes determining a main rotor mast torque by measuring a tail rotor drive shaft torque and deriving a main rotor mast torque by considering the measured tail rotor drive shaft torque and a total torque output of an engine. A system of the present disclosure is configured for determining the main rotor mast torque in part by measuring the tail rotor torque. |
| US08909446B2 |
Twin clutch controlling apparatus
A twin clutch controlling apparatus includes an ATM control unit for controlling a shift actuator and a clutch actuator and a shift pedal P for carrying out shifting request to the ATM control unit. When a shifting request by the shift pedal P is issued, the ATM control unit drives the shift actuator to change over the shift stage to a next stage gear irrespective of an operational amount of a clutch lever L and then causes the manual operation clutch capacity arithmetic operation value (tqcltmt) to correspond to a clutch capacity corresponding to the next stage gear using an operational amount of the clutch lever L that exceeds a predetermined value as a trigger. If a predetermined period of time elapses while the clutch lever L is not operated, then the shifting request is an erroneous operation and the shift stage is returned to an original gear. |
| US08909445B2 |
Method for determination of gearshift points
The present invention relates to a method for determination of one or more shift points for a gearbox in a motor vehicle which comprises an engine connected to, in order to drive, said gearbox, where a shift point represents an engine speed at which said gearbox is adapted to effecting a downshift or upshift, said one or more shift points are determined on the basis of an engine target speed ωT and a first engine speed difference ΔωTT, said target speed ωT is a desired speed for said engine, said first engine speed difference ΔωTT is a difference between a first engine speed at a first time t1 and said target speed ωT at a second time t2, and said first and second times t1 and t2 are separated by a time period T. The invention relates also to a system, a motor vehicle, a computer program and a computer program product thereof. |
| US08909438B2 |
Swing control system for hybrid construction machine
A swing control system for a hybrid construction machine includes a swing operation lever, a hydraulic pump, an electric swing motor that makes an upper swing structure swing against a lower driving structure in accordance with an electric control signal corresponding to an operation amount of the swing operation lever, a swing parking brake released in accordance with an operation signal of the swing operation lever to drive the swing motor, a control valve which drives a hydraulic cylinder for the swing parking brake by hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump to release the swing parking brake if the control valve is shifted by an input of the operation signal from the swing operation lever, and a controller that controls the swing parking brake through shifting of the control valve or controls driving of the swing motor in accordance with the operation signal from the swing operation lever. |
| US08909434B2 |
System and method for controlling power in machine having electric and/or hydraulic devices
Disclosed is a system for controlling power in a machine. The system includes a controller configured to determine a level of power to be provided or consumed by at least one of an electric device and a hydraulic device based on request signals, operation signals, and a control strategy for controlling at least one of electric power and hydraulic power for the machine, and provide control signals for controlling operation of the at least one device. The control strategy includes a subsystem control and a supervisory control. The subsystem control includes at least one of electric and hydraulic subsystem controls for controlling operation of at least one of an electric device and a hydraulic device. The subsystem control is configured to provide range signals indicative of at least one of a range of acceptable electric power levels and a range of acceptable hydraulic power levels, and the supervisory control is configured to determine the control signals. |
| US08909433B2 |
System of controlling steering apparatus of vehicle and method for supplying current thereof
A system of controlling a steering apparatus of a vehicle that has a motor driving section provided with a motor and a motor shaft, a power delivery section delivering a torque of the motor for assisting maneuvering force to a steering column, and a variable steering section controlling an angle and a length of the steering column by the torque of the motor, may include a first converting section selectively delivering the torque to one of the power delivery section and the variable steering section by using a motor clutch, a connecting section selectively connected to the first converting section and delivering the torque to the variable steering section, and a control portion controlling operations of the motor, and the motor clutch, wherein the motor clutch is a clutch using a first electromagnet, and wherein the control portion controls supply of current to the first electromagnet of the motor clutch. |
| US08909432B2 |
Vehicular illuminating device
A vehicular illuminating device includes a first illuminating part configured to illuminate in a traveling direction of a vehicle, a second illuminating part configured to be able to emit light by using an illumination pattern different from that of the first illuminating part, and a control part configured to control the second illuminating part so that the second illuminating part can illuminate in a direction of a recommended route by using the illumination pattern different from that of the first illuminating part if a route guiding part is guiding the vehicle to a destination along the recommended route. |
| US08909431B2 |
Vehicle comprising an air conditioning system
A vehicle comprising a motor-driven air conditioning system comprising a power control device for controlling the temperature in a space inside the vehicle, and an internal combustion engine equipped with a motor management system that is arranged for determining the energy expended by the internal combustion engine, which internal combustion engine is at the same time used for driving the air conditioning system, characterized in that the motor management system is connected to said power control device and arranged for adjusting the power supplied to the air conditioning system in dependence on the load on the internal combustion engine. |
| US08909425B2 |
Speed-based flow device diagnostic system and method
A vehicle or other system includes a flow device, component, and controller. The controller executes a method of diagnosing flow performance in the vehicle/system. The flow device is a pump, blower, or fan. A calibrated upper speed limit is commanded from the flow device in response to detected enabling conditions. The device is turned off after maintaining the upper speed limit for a calibrated duration. The speed of the flow device is determined during a coast-down interval defined by a period between command of the upper speed limit and attaining a calibrated lower speed limit. An absolute rate of change of the speed over the coast-down interval is calculated, with the controller executing a control action when a maximum absolute slope of the calculated rate of change falls outside of a calibrated range during the coast-down interval. |
| US08909414B2 |
Three-dimensional corporeal figure for communication with a passenger in a motor vehicle
For a three-dimensional corporal figure for communicating with a passenger in a motor vehicle, wherein the three-dimensional corporal figure may be locked in place in the motor vehicle, it is in particular provided that a communication from a passenger and a driver of the motor vehicle, respectively, to the three-dimensional corporal figure is carried out acoustically and/or haptic, and that a communication from the three-dimensional corporal figure to a driver or a passenger of the motor vehicle is carried out optically and/or acoustically. |
| US08909406B2 |
Electric automobile
An electric vehicle includes a malfunction detector configured to continuously monitor a torque command from an ECU as well as one of the followings: signals indicating a rotational frequency of a motor unit; signals indicating a rotational frequency of a wheel driven by the motor unit; signals indicating a rotational direction of the motor unit; signals indicating a rotational direction of the wheel driven by the motor unit; and a motor current, and detect, according to a predefined rule, a malfunction of the motor unit, based on the monitoring information. The electric vehicle also includes a malfunction-responsive controller configured to cause at least one of shut-off of a drive current to the motor unit and braking with a mechanical brake, if the malfunction detector detects a malfunction. |
| US08909404B2 |
Information display system and method
A user interface for conveying tips on driving behaviors or vehicle settings that will improve vehicle efficiency may be provided. The tips may be listed on an information display along with an efficiency impact value associated with each tip. The efficiency impact values may be conveyed in terms of fuel economy, vehicle range, emissions or some other value. Accordingly, the user interface may communicate ways to improve a vehicle's efficiency, as well as quantify the potential improvement in meaningful terms. |
| US08909400B2 |
Control apparatus for vehicular power transmitting system
It is provided a control apparatus for a vehicle provided with an electric motor power source, an inverter, an electric motor, an inverter smoothing capacitor, and a step-variable automatic transmission, the control apparatus being configured to implement a torque reduction control, and to implement a torque reduction limitation control to limit reduction of an output torque of the electric motor to within a range in which a terminal voltage of the inverter smoothing capacitor will not exceed a predetermined withstanding voltage of the inverter and to limit the reduction of the output torque by limiting an amount of change of the output torque per unit time during the reduction of the output torque in the torque reduction control, to within a predetermined torque reduction rate limiting range, and wherein the torque reduction rate limiting range is determined upon initiation of a shifting action of the automatic transmission. |
| US08909398B2 |
Cooling system of electric vehicle
A cooling system of an electric vehicle includes a cooling medium circulation path that circulates a cooling medium to an electrically powered drive unit of a vehicle, a heat exchange unit between the cooling medium and external air, a cooling medium circulation unit, a blower unit that blows air against the heat exchange unit, and a control unit that controls the cooling medium circulation unit and the blower unit, thus controlling cooling of the electrically powered drive unit. The control unit controls the cooling medium circulation unit and the blower unit in a first cooling mode, when a drive force for the vehicle is in a first operational region, and controls in a second cooling mode that provides a higher cooling capability than the first cooling mode, when the drive force for the vehicle is in a second operational region that is higher than the first operational region. |
| US08909396B2 |
Methods and systems for detection and notification of blocked rail crossings
A blocked rail crossing detection and notification system is described. The system includes a processing device, a communications interface communicatively coupled to the processing device and operable for facilitating communications between the processing device and at least one external device, and at least one vehicle detection mechanism placed proximate to a rail grade crossing. The at least one vehicle detection mechanism is communicatively coupled to the processing device and operable to provide signals to the processing device indicative of the presence or non-presence of a vehicle within a defined area surrounding an intersection of a roadway and one or more railroad tracks. The processing device is further programmed to communicate the presence or non-presence of a vehicle along with supporting correlative visual data within the defined area to the at least one external device via the communications interface. |
| US08909394B2 |
Method for determining threat status for combat aircrafts
The invention relates to a method for decision support of a first combat aircraft (1) in a combat situation comprising the steps of: a) detecting (3) a second combat aircraft (2), wherein the second combat aircraft (2) is different from the first combat aircraft (1), b) analyzing (4) the second combat aircraft (2) to determine its type, its sensor capacity and its total weapons capacity, and c) recording (5) the sensor capacity and the total weapons capacity of the second combat aircraft (2) to determine a first geographic zone adapted for defining the detection limit of the second combat aircraft (2) and a second geographic zone adapted for defining a shoot-down limit of the second combat aircraft (2), respectively, wherein the first and the second geographic zone are adapted for decision support of the first combat aircraft (1) in the combat situation with the second combat aircraft (2). In this way, a possibility is provided to assist the pilot in decision support in complicated combat situations while being reliable, fast and easy to handle for the pilot in order to make a quick and efficient decision. |
| US08909392B1 |
System and method to automatically preselect an aircraft radio communication frequency
A system for automatically preselecting an aircraft voice radio communication frequency when operating on or near the airport surface. An extension of this invention can also be used in flight. A sensor input module receives aircraft state information and flight management system (FMS) airport identification data. An airport map database (AMDB) data receiving module receives AMDB data, including AMDB voice radio frequency data. A pre-select communication frequency processing module utilizes the aircraft state information, the FMS airport identification data and the AMDB data, for determining the next pre-select frequency. An output module provides an output signal representing the next pre-select communication frequency to a pre-select communication frequency display. |
| US08909389B2 |
Harvester with a sensor mounted on an aircraft
A sensor for monitoring a plant population in front of a harvester and a transfer process of the crop from the harvester to a transport vehicle is arranged on an unmanned aircraft. The aircraft moves in the vicinity of the harvester in the harvesting mode and communicates in a wireless fashion with a control unit that controls an actuator for influencing an operating parameter of the harvester and/or the transport vehicle (in real time based on signals of the sensor in the harvesting mode. |
| US08909386B2 |
Vehicle control system
In a vehicle control system, an index used to set a running characteristic of a vehicle is obtained based on a running condition of the vehicle. A change of the index that makes behavior of the vehicle crisper is more likely to occur than a change of the index that makes the behavior of the vehicle milder. When it is determined that the vehicle is in a turning condition, the change of the index or a change of the miming characteristic based on the index is less likely to occur than when it is determined that the vehicle is not in the turning condition. |
| US08909384B1 |
Computing apparatus operable under multiple operational policies
A computing apparatus is configured to operate under multiple operational policies. In a method for controlling the computing apparatus, a plurality of sensors are correlated with a plurality of actuators. An operational policy of the multiple operational policies is selected to implement and input from the plurality of sensors is received. The inputs are analyzed to identify at least one of the plurality of actuators to be manipulated based upon the correlation and the selected operational policy to implement. In addition, at least one of the identified plurality of actuators is manipulated based upon the selected operational policy. |
| US08909380B2 |
Intelligent lighting management and building control systems
Methods, systems and apparatuses for controlling and managing a plurality of luminaires are disclosed. One method includes sensing, by a sensor of each of the plurality of luminaires, light received by the sensor, communicating, by a device, with the plurality of luminaires by a device through light pulses, commissioning and calibrating, by the device, the plurality of luminaires using the communication, and placing, by the device, at least one of the plurality of luminaires on a floor plan through the communication with light pulses, wherein the at least one of the plurality of luminaires identifies itself over a network. |
| US08909379B2 |
Winch control system
A control system is provided for a group of winches in a system. Each motorized winch in the system can have a control board that can process and generate control commands for operation of the winch. The control board can receive inputs from an automation control system and/or the other control boards to be used in the generation of the control commands for the winch. |
| US08909378B2 |
Adjustable bed position control
The present invention provides an adjustable bed handheld remote control that may include a handheld housing, a touch sensor on a front face of the handheld housing, a transmitter and the like. The touch sensor may be presented in a slider form and may be adapted to facilitate a user in adjusting a frame position of an adjustable bed. The transmitter may be electrically coupled to a processor and may receive input from the touch sensor, for communication control signals to the adjustable bed in accordance with the input received from the touch sensor. |
| US08909374B2 |
Robot arm control apparatus, robot arm control method, robot, robot arm control program, and integrated electronic circuit
A robot arm includes a grip part which is structured to be separated from an end effector attached to the robot arm. When the grip part is gripped by the user and shifted, the robot arm shifts tracking the grip part. Further, the grip part includes contact sensors, and a tracking control method is switched according to the value of the contact sensors. |
| US08909373B2 |
Robot and method for controlling of a robot
An exemplary robot is disclosed with at least one turnable member wherein a free end of the member is moveable along a programmable path. A force or pressure or contact effect detector is included on an interaction point on the free end of the free member so that signals corresponding to the force or pressure or contact effect are producible. Control of the robot movement is performed according to the programmable path and according to predicted demands in the case of detection. In case of detection, the control will be carried out such that the robot movement is temporarily stopped, slowed down or not stopped and a temporary change of the programmable movement path can be determined in consideration of the produced signals. A homing method for controlling the robot is also disclosed. |
| US08909371B2 |
Specifying a permitted movement range with a pointer
A pointer is guided by a user of a processing machine in succession to a number of locations of a working space of the processing machine. The pointer has first location determining devices which are arranged at predetermined pointer locations relative to a pointer coordinate system in fixed relationship to the pointer. Through interaction of the first location determining devices with second location determining devices arranged at predetermined locations relative to a machine coordinate system in fixed relationship to the processing machine, data describing a geometric relationship of the location determining devices relative to one another are acquired. These data are transmitted to a control device which determines the position of the pointer in the working space based on the characteristic data and based on the data subdivides the working space into a permitted movement range for a component of the processing machine and a complementary prohibited movement range. |
| US08909367B2 |
Machine for machining workpieces and a method of machining workpieces
Machines for machining workpieces, especially metal sheets, include a machining device, a main drive, and an auxiliary drive that is different therefrom. Both drives serve to generate a relative movement between the machining device and a workpiece, wherein the machining device is movable relative to the workpiece and/or the workpiece is movable relative to the machining device with a main movement by means of the main drive and wherein the machining device is movable relative to the workpiece with an auxiliary movement by means of the auxiliary drive. Machines with high adaptability to different machining tasks are provided. Methods of machining workpieces include corresponding method steps. |
| US08909366B2 |
Sewing machine and computer program product
A sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars to a lower end of each of which a needle can be attached, a display portion that is configured to display various information, a first display control portion that causes the display portion to display replacement information, the replacement information being information pertaining to a replacement needle bar that corresponds to a thread spool for which replacement is necessary and that is at least one of the plurality of the needle bars, a specifying portion that specifies a replacement-completed needle bar during a period in which the replacement information is being displayed on the display portion, the replacement-completed needle bar being a needle bar that corresponds to a thread spool that has been placed after replacement, and a second display control portion that causes the display portion to display a result that has been specified by the specifying portion. |
| US08909364B2 |
Substrate processing system and substrate processing method
Provided is a substrate processing system including a group controller which determines a combination of processing apparatuses having the shortest total processing time including the processing end time in a final processing apparatus, determines a predictable elapsed time up to a processing start time by a predetermined downstream processing apparatus for a wafer lot from a processing end time of the wafer lot by a predetermined processing apparatus in the combination of the processing apparatuses, and determines a timing of discharging the substrate to the predetermined processing apparatus or an upstream processing apparatus of the predetermined processing apparatus so that the predictable elapsed time is set within a predetermined time when the predictable elapsed time exceeds the predetermined time. |
| US08909363B2 |
System and method for manufacturing a dental prosthesis and a dental prosthesis manufactured thereby
A dental prosthesis is made by externally machining successive layers of wax, each of which is formed on a previous prosthesis layer and/or on a coping. Each wax layer is used to form a mold in situ over the previous prosthesis layer/coping, and the appropriate prosthesis material is cast or otherwise molded to conform to the wax layer by the mold. |
| US08909362B2 |
Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method
A signal processing apparatus includes a connection section for being attachable to or detachable from an external device which reproduces content and attribute information of the content and a control section for controlling the external device which is mounted on the connection section. The control section acquires the attribute information from an external device, supplies a reproduction request for content to the external device, supplies content reproduced by the external device in response to the reproduction request to a reproduction device by streaming, and determines whether or not the content is completely reproduced using the acquired attribute information, and when it is determined that the reproduction of the content is completed, controlling the external device by stopping the reproduction of the content and notifying that the reproduction of the content is completed to the reproduction device. |
| US08909361B2 |
Method and system for processing high quality audio in a hardware audio codec for audio transmission
Aspects of a method and/or system for processing high quality audio in a hardware audio CODEC for audio transmission are provided. In this regard, an audio signal may be down-sampled via a cascaded plurality of filters and sample rate converters in the hardware audio CODEC. Additionally, a portion of each sample of the audio signal may be selected based on an origin of the audio signal. The selected portion of each sample of the audio signal may comprise 16 or 18 bits. The selected portion may be determined based on a type, a class, a manufacturer identifier, and/or a model identifier of the origin the audio signal. Coefficients of the filters may be configured based on the origin of the audio signal. One or more of the filters may comprise one or more cascaded biquads. The sample rate converters may comprise one or more CIC decimation filters. |
| US08909359B2 |
Process control systems and methods having learning features
A system for operating a process includes a processing circuit that uses a self-optimizing control strategy to learn a steady-state relationship between an input and an output. The processing circuit is configured to switch from using the self-optimizing control strategy to using a different control strategy that operates based on the learned steady-state relationship. |
| US08909358B2 |
Method and system for complex smart grid infrastructure assessment
An infrastructure assessment system integrates with a smart grid infrastructure at all layers of the infrastructure. Data may be collected across layers. Performance metrics may be monitored and simulations may be performed. Action items may be decided upon based on actual behavior of the infrastructure determined from the collected data and on predicted behavior from simulations of the infrastructure. The action items may then be dispatched to be performed on the infrastructure. The effect of the management actions can then be “acquired” by the system via detailed monitoring and can be used, for example, to measure the effectiveness of the decisions or recalibration of the whole system. |
| US08909356B2 |
Appliance control device, registration method of appliance control device, and program
Systems and methods for operating an appliance control device for selectively controlling a plurality of appliances having a same or common identifier are provided. A control unit may receive a request to register the appliance control device with any of the plurality of appliances having the same identifier. In response to the request, the control unit may select a first appliance based on a registration priority of the first appliance relative to the remaining appliances. Upon selecting the first appliance, the control unit may transmit a request to the selected first appliance for registering the appliance control device with the selected first appliance. In some aspects, the relative registration priorities may be assigned to one or more of the appliances based on a prior registration history and/or distance to the appliance control device. |
| US08909352B2 |
Systems and methods for making and using leads for electrical stimulation systems with improved RF compatibility
An implantable electrical stimulation lead includes a plurality of conductors disposed in a lead body, the plurality of conductors each electrically coupling at least one electrode to at least one terminal. The plurality of conductors includes a first conductor and a second conductor. The first conductor includes a plurality of alternating first and second coiled regions. The first coiled regions have tighter pitches than the second coiled regions. The second conductor includes a plurality of alternating third and fourth coiled regions. The third coiled regions have tighter pitches than the fourth coiled regions. The plurality of conductors are arranged into repeating adjacent winding geometries disposed along a longitudinal length of the lead body. The repeating adjacent winding geometries each include one of the plurality of first coiled regions and one of the plurality of third coiled regions axially disposed adjacent to one another. |
| US08909348B2 |
Cochlear implant stabilization and positioning device
A stabilizer is disclosed for use with a cochlear implant receiver stimulator having a body portion and an electrode portion implanted subcutaneously adjacent to a body tissue. The stabilizer is provided for stabilizing the position of the implant receiver relative to the body tissue. The stabilizer has a tissue engaging portion for grippingly engaging the body tissue to fixedly position the stabilizer with respect to the body tissue. The stabilizer also includes a coupler portion for fixedly positioning the stabilizer with respect to the receiver stimulator. The tissue engaging portion and coupler portion cooperatively interact with the receiver stimulator and the body tissue to fix the relative position of the body tissue and receiver stimulator. |
| US08909346B2 |
Frequency specific micocurrent for treatment of dental indications
Protocols are provided for the use of frequency specific microcurrent in conjunction with dental or orthodontic procedures to treat or prevent inflammation induced complications. Specific protocols are disclosed for use in conjunction with gingival surgery and chronic periodontitis, implant/osseous periodontal surgery, general post operative trauma, pulpal trauma, pulpal inflammation, root canal post op, chronic osteonecrosis, osteonecrosis surgery post op, orthodontic pain prevention, and orthodontic mid-adjustment procedures. |
| US08909344B2 |
Head worn brain stimulation device and method
A self-contained portable head worn device and methods to stimulate a portion of the brain of a wearer are presented. A first electrode is held by the head worn device against the scalp of the wearer in a first location and a second electrode is held against the scalp of the wearer in a second location. A pulse generator generates a first electric signal received by the first electrode and a second electric signal received by the second electrode. A power source is connected to the pulse generator. |
| US08909343B2 |
Systems, and methods for neurostimulation and neurotelemetry using semiconductor diode systems
Methods and systems for neurostimulation and/or neurotelemetry of electrically-excitable biological tissue. Embodiments include implanting single or multiple semiconductor diodes and applying a high frequency electrical volume current. Neurostimulation embodiments include local rectification of the volume current by the diode, which can provide a pulsating electrical waveform capable of locally stimulating neural tissue, hi neurotelemetry embodiments, semiconductor diodes can be placed in contact with excitable tissue and a low level electrical carrier wave can be passed through the tissue and implanted diode whereby low level tissue bioelectric events intermodulate with the carrier wave and encode bioelectrical effects. Remote detection and amplitude demodulation of the volume-conducted carrier wave can allow recovery of the bioelectrical waveform and provide a neurotelemetry function, hi other embodiments, implanted diodes are placed in series with a pressure switch or piezoelectric material which enables their function only with the focal application of an acoustic pressure wave. This enables a selectivity amongst multiple diode channels by acoustic wave focusing or alternately by a process of range-gating of a surface applied electrical current to the arrival time of an acoustic wave at a particular device. |
| US08909334B2 |
Electrical stimulation device for locating an electrical stimulation point and method
An electrical stimulation device and method of locating an electrical stimulation point of a human or animal. The device comprises a matrix of electrodes distributed on an electrode pad configured to be applied on a human or animal body and arranged for covering a plurality of the stimulation points of the human or animal. An electronic circuit is connected to the matrix of electrodes and configured for applying an electrical stimulation signal to the electrodes. A feedback signal, in response to an electrical stimulation signal, may be used in assessing the suitability of electrodes as an electrical stimulation point. |
| US08909328B2 |
System and method for quantitatively assessing diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy in type I diabetic biological subject
The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for identifying development of diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (DCAN) in a biological subject. In one aspect, the method includes collecting data associated with heart rates of a biological subject, and processing the collected data to extract primary and secondary components of the collected data by performing a principal dynamic mode (PDM) analysis. A significant reduction of the primary or secondary component at a predetermined time period can be indicative of the DCAN development. |
| US08909326B2 |
Method and apparatus for 3-D imaging of internal light sources
The present invention provides systems and methods for obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) representation of one or more light sources inside a sample, such as a mammal. Mammalian tissue is a turbid medium, meaning that photons are both absorbed and scattered as they propagate through tissue. In the case where scattering is large compared with absorption, such as red to near-infrared light passing through tissue, the transport of light within the sample is described by diffusion theory. Using imaging data and computer-implemented photon diffusion models, embodiments of the present invention produce a 3D representation of the light sources inside a sample, such as a 3D location, size, and brightness of such light sources. |
| US08909321B2 |
Diagnostic imaging apparatus, magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and X-ray CT apparatus
A diagnostic imaging apparatus includes a ventricular volume-variation measuring unit that measures sequential variations in a size of a ventricle within at least one heart beat, from images of a heart scanned in each of a plurality of time phases; a scanning-condition setting unit that specifies a time phase of little cardiac motion based on variations in the size of the ventricle measured by the ventricular volume-variation measuring unit, and sets scanning conditions so as to collect data in the specified time phase; and an imaging unit that collects data based on the scanning conditions set by the scanning-condition setting unit, and reconstructs an image from the collected data. |
| US08909320B2 |
Cable management systems for MRI systems and related methods
The disclosure describes cable management systems that provide adjustable lengths of cables that connect to various electronic medical or surgical tools. The systems can reduce the lengths of loose or hanging cables and define routes that preventing cross-over, looping and/or bunching of loose lengths of long cables. |
| US08909316B2 |
Apparatus and method of assessing transvascular denervation
A catheter apparatus for assessing denervation comprises: an elongated catheter body; a deployable structure coupled to the catheter body, the deployable structure being deployable outwardly from and contractible inwardly toward the longitudinal axis of the catheter body; one or more ablation elements disposed on the deployable structure to move outwardly and inwardly with the deployable structure; one or more stimulation elements spaced from each other and disposed on the deployable structure to move with the deployable structure, the stimulation elements being powered to supply nerve stimulating signals to the vessel; and one or more recording elements spaced from each other and from the stimulation elements, the recording elements being disposed on the deployable structure to move with the deployable structure, the recording elements configured to record response of the vessel to the nerve stimulating signals. |
| US08909315B2 |
Gastroscope
A gastroscope has an insertion tube with a distal end, at which a sensor is located. The sensor has a first electrode produced of an acid-resistant noble metal, and a second electrode produced of silver. An electrical voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, and a change in an electrical variable is measured between the first and second electrodes, when ammonia is present. The gastroscope allows screening of gastric acid and the tissue of the stomach lining for Helicobacter pylori in a manner that is gentle for the patient. |
| US08909314B2 |
Oxygen enhancing membrane systems for implantable devices
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for increasing oxygen availability to implantable devices. The preferred embodiments provide a membrane system configured to provide protection of the device from the biological environment and/or a catalyst for enabling an enzymatic reaction, wherein the membrane system includes a polymer formed from a high oxygen soluble material. The high oxygen soluble polymer material is disposed adjacent to an oxygen-utilizing source on the implantable device so as to dynamically retain high oxygen availability to the oxygen-utilizing source during oxygen deficits. Membrane systems of the preferred embodiments are useful for implantable devices with oxygen-utilizing sources and/or that function in low oxygen environments, such as enzyme-based electrochemical sensors and cell transplantation devices. |
| US08909313B2 |
Device for diagnosis and/or therapy of physiological characteristics of a selected portion of a body by optical reflectance or optical transmission
The invention relates to a device for diagnosis and/or therapy of a selected portion of a body by optical reflectance or optical transmission. The device according to the invention has a laminar body (12) containing a tissue-facing surface (13). The laminar body (12) integrally forms a transmitter opening destined to accommodate a transmitter fiber terminal (24) and a receiver opening destined to accommodate a receiver fiber terminal (38a, 38b). Furthermore, it contains annular light shielding means for shielding said transmitter fiber terminal (24) and receiver fiber terminal (38a, 38b) from ambient light sources. Thereby, said annular transmitter and receiver light shielding means are formed as an annular transmitter light shielding bulge (46) and an annular receiver light shielding bulge (48a, 48b), respectively, which are firmly arranged with respect to said laminar body (12), whereby their free ends are protruding with respect to said tissue-facing surface (13) of said laminar body (12). |
| US08909312B2 |
Signal acquisition circuit for detecting a wanted signal in the presence of an unwanted signal
A signal acquisition circuit detects a wanted signal in a composite signal containing the wanted signal and an unwanted signal, where the highest frequency in the unwanted signal is higher than the highest frequency in the wanted signal. A sensor captures the composite signal and an analog-to-digital converter samples and converts the composite signal to digital format, and a filter subtracts the unwanted signal from the composite signal. The sampled signal contains a first component containing the sum of the wanted signal and the unwanted signal sampled at a first rate at least equal to the Nyquist rate for the wanted signal but less than a second rate that is at least equal to the Nyquist rate for the unwanted signal, and a second component containing the unwanted signal sampled at the second rate. The analog-to-digital converter outputs to the filter a first digital signal containing the first component sampled at the first rate and a second digital signal containing the second component at the second rate. The circuit is useful for detecting a photoplethysmograph signal in the presence of ambient light in a pulse oximetry sensor. |
| US08909311B2 |
Contact lens with integrated pulse oximeter
Apparatus, systems and methods employing a contact lens having a pulse oximetry sensor to detect information indicative of a blood oxygen content and/or pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens, are provided. In some aspects, a contact lens includes a substrate that forms at least part of a body of the contact lens and a pulse oximetry sensor located on or within the substrate that detects information associated with at least one of blood oxygen content or a pulse rate of a wearer of the contact lens. The pulse oximetry sensor comprises one or more light emitting diodes that illuminate a blood vessel of at least one of a region of an eye or an eyelid and a detector that receives light reflected from the blood vessel and generates the information. |
| US08909310B2 |
Multi-stream sensor front ends for noninvasive measurement of blood constituents
The present disclosure relates to an interface for a noninvasive glucose sensor that comprises a front-end adapted to receive an input signals from optical detectors and provide corresponding digital signals. In one embodiment, the front-end comprises switched capacitor circuits that are capable of handling multiple streams signals from the optical detectors. In another embodiment, the front-end comprises transimpedance amplifiers that are capable of handling multiple streams of input signals. In this embodiment, the transimpedance amplifier may be configured based on its own characteristics, such as its impedance, the impedance of the photodiodes to which it is coupled, and the number of photodiodes to which it is coupled. |
| US08909307B2 |
Customized hardware selection for a mobile phone
A method of customizing hardware by an end user for a mobile phone is provided. The method includes receiving from an end-user a selection of a mobile phone shell from a set of mobile phone shells, sending to the end-user a subset of interchangeable hardware components having different functions, and receiving from the end-user a selection of at least one hardware component from the subset of interchangeable hardware components. The subset of interchangeable hardware components is generated based on a compatibility between the selected mobile phone shell and the set of available interchangeable hardware components. |
| US08909302B2 |
In-vehicle apparatus
When connecting a multi-profile device by Bluetooth, an in-vehicle apparatus performs a MAP connection establishment process in succession to an HFP connection establishment process to have a MAP connection established earlier than a conventional timing, thereby reducing a waiting period before receiving a new message arrival notification from the multi-profile device through the MAP connection. |
| US08909300B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method of displaying direction
A mobile phone (10) includes a display (14), an acceleration sensor (54), etc., and a displaying direction of the display (14) is set based on an inclination detected by the acceleration sensor. If the mobile phone (10) is rendered in a horizontal posture or approximately horizontal posture, an image imaged by a first camera module (50) is output so as to be subjected to face detection processing. If a face of a user is detected from the imaged image, a direction of the face is detected. When the face direction is detected, the displaying direction of the display (14) is set based on the face direction. An image is displayed on the display (14) in a displaying direction being set based on the direction of the face of the user. |
| US08909297B2 |
Access management
Methods, computing devices and computer-readable media for access management are disclosed. A method of passcode authentication includes: maintaining a count for failed authentication attempts, displaying a visual representation of a current count for failed authentication attempts on an authentication interface. An additional method of passcode authentication is also disclosed which includes: maintaining a count for failed authentication attempts; determining a current authentication request invalid; determining a delay time based on the count for failed authentication attempts; and delaying submission of a second authentication attempt until after the delay time has expired, wherein the delaying submission manifests in a delayed visual feedback of user input, in a delayed processing of user input, or in an inability to enter user input for during the delay time. |
| US08909295B2 |
Transceiver set selection and communication scheme for a distributed antenna system
According to one embodiment, a method includes establishing a plurality of wired connections between a plurality of nodes. The plurality of nodes include a base station and a plurality of geographically distributed remote transceivers. The base station is assigned to a first set and the base station and a first remote transceiver of the plurality of remote transceivers are assigned to a second set. Each set is configured to wirelessly transmit a respective channel reference signal. Signal quality feedback that indicates the strength of the respective channel reference signals is received from an endpoint. One of the sets is selected to use for transmitting data traffic from the base station to the endpoint based on the signal quality feedback. The method further includes transmitting data traffic from the base station to the endpoint using at least one wireless connection between the endpoint and each node of the selected set. |
| US08909293B2 |
Compact form factor integrated circuit card and methods
A compact form factor integrated circuit card. In one embodiment, a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card is disclosed. In one embodiment, the SIM card has overall dimensions optimized for a particular application; e.g., 12.30 mm (±0.10 mm)×8.80 mm (±0.10 mm)×0.67 mm (+0.03/−0.07). In another embodiment, the SIM card has overall dimensions of 11.90 mm (±0.10 mm)×8.80 mm (±0.10 mm)×0.70 mm (maximum). Multiple complementary SIM card adapters and methods of use are also disclosed. |
| US08909289B2 |
System and method for providing a smart card-based widget service, and smart card for the same
A system and method provide a smart card-based widget service, and a smart card for the same. Status information including information about a service icon and an active status for at least one widget service embedded according to the specification of a user is set. A widget waiting screen image including the service icon of the widget service set in the active status is made and provided to the user terminal. A widget service corresponding to a specific icon is executed according to the selection of the user for the specific icon so that an execution screen image of the executed widget service is provided. A widget service for a waiting screen image is provided regardless of the type and the specification of a user terminal for the smart card. Even if the user terminal is replaced with new one, information of the smart card is maintained. |
| US08909287B2 |
Device network technology selection and display in multi-technology wireless environments
Radio network technology and display thereof can be managed when multiple services and radio network technologies are available to a multi-technology mobile device. Management relies at least in part on a subscriber profile that comprises a network selection profile constructed through market policy, subscriber policy, and application policy for radio technology utilization. Network preference(s) profile is generated on per subscriber, or per subscriber type, basis and is conveyed to a subscriber station over the air. Initial subscriber profile can be delivered at a time of provisioning a multi-technology mobile device, and updated based at least upon subscriber demand, a schedule established by a network operator or service provider, or an event related to coverage area relocation or contracted services. Radio technology preferences and display of associated technologies available to a multi-technology mobile device can be dynamically controlled on a per-call and/or per-application basis. |
| US08909286B2 |
Methods and systems for providing efficient operation of multiple modes in a WLAN system
A method and apparatus that applies medium access control (MAC) transmission opportunity (TXOP) protection for multiple mode operation in a WLAN system. In particular, MAC mechanisms are defined to support multiple mode CTS frames, and multiple mode CF-End frames sent by the AP, each in a format appropriate for the corresponding mode which may also apply to a single mode. MAC mechanisms permit truncation of TXOP duration for releasing the unused portion of the TXOP when no further data for transmission is available. Release of unused protected TXOP is possible for both protected AP transmissions and STA transmissions. |
| US08909285B2 |
Mobile terminal device and controlling method
A mobile terminal device includes a first processor and a second processor. The first processor executes a first process for communication using a first wireless scheme and outputs line setting information for the communication using the first wireless scheme before performing reset process when an interrupt request that triggers the reset process occurs in the first processor during the communication using the first wireless scheme. The second processor executes a second process for communication using a second wireless scheme and outputs a connection request for the communication using the second wireless scheme when the second processor acquires the line setting information from the first processor. |
| US08909284B2 |
SIM card module and interface for external installation to provide broadband to a customer premises
An outdoor broadband unit may be connected to an external portion of a customer premises. The outdoor broadband unit may include a radio frequency (RF) antenna to receive communications from a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network and a printed wiring board. The printed wiring board may include an integrated circuit (IC) chip to implement a subscriber identity module (SIM) to provide services for the LTE network. The IC chip may be soldered to the printed wiring board and have a rated temperature range corresponding to an industrial grade or military grade integrated circuit. The IC chip may provide authentication services for the SIM using a hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) connection. The printed wiring board may further include a control module to implement an air interface for the LTE network. A radome may contain the RF antenna and the printed wiring board. |
| US08909277B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating a communication group using an address book
A method and apparatus for creating a communication group using an electronic address book to facilitate Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) group communication sessions are disclosed. A group definition for determining members of the new PoC Group is composed from one or more contacts from the electronic address book such as by selecting from the address book using the mobile station. The group definition may include logical operators to define the combination of contacts. A name may be specified for the new group. The assembly of the PoC Group list of members may be performed by the mobile station, a communication network server for maintaining PoC Groups (e.g. a Group and List Management Server (GLMS)) or an email server. |
| US08909272B2 |
Control device for allocating resources to communication devices that use differing protocols and methods for use therewith
A control device includes at least one communication interface for communicating first control data with at least one first communication device that utilizes the millimeter wave frequency band in accordance with a first protocol and further for communicating second control data with at least one second communication device that utilizes the millimeter wave frequency band in accordance with a second protocol. A resource controller allocates resources of the millimeter wave frequency band to the at least one first communication device and the at least one second communication device based on the first control data and the second control data. |
| US08909270B2 |
Avoiding interference in cognitive radio communications
A method, apparatus, and computer program for cognitive radio communications are provided. A reference signal is received from a transmitter of a primary system, and the received reference signal is received with an arbitrarily selected beamforming setting. Then, a signal quality metric is calculated from the received and beamformed reference signal. If the signal quality metric indicates that a reception power of the received signal is low, transmission of a data signal to a wireless communication device of a secondary system is scheduled. In the scheduled transmission in the secondary system, the same beamforming setting as was used in the reception of the reference signal is employed. |
| US08909267B2 |
Energy-efficient detection of network connection requests
Embodiments herein include a method implemented by a wireless device for detecting requests to connect to a wireless communications network. The method includes determining a receiver sensitivity that is sufficient, given channel conditions at the device, for the device to detect connection requests. The method then entails dynamically selecting, from among different receiver sensitivity configurations of the device, a configuration that has a receiver sensitivity at least as good as the determined sensitivity and that has less energy consumption than at least one other configuration. Finally, the method includes using the selected configuration for request detection. A wireless device herein thereby reduces its energy consumption when it is disconnected from the network, but intelligently limits the extent of that energy consumption reduction in order to maintain an ability to detect network connection requests. |
| US08909255B1 |
Reverse geocoder
Aspect of the subject technology relate to a computer-implemented method for identifying geographic features related to a location lookup point. In some implementations, the method includes steps for receiving location information for a location look-up point, generating a plurality of search cells containing the location look-up point, wherein the plurality of search cells correspond with a respective plurality of hierarchical map cells and using the plurality of search cells to identify at least one geographic feature that is associated with at least one of the plurality of search cells. In certain aspects, the method can further include steps for providing at least one geographic feature to a user for display. Systems and computer-readable media for generating a geographic feature index are also provided. |
| US08909254B2 |
Venue application for mobile station position estimation
Disclosed is a method, and a system to perform the method, comprising receiving venue infrastructure information at an entity hosted on a mobile station, and selectively providing a portion of the venue infrastructure information to one or more other entities hosted on the mobile station based, at least in part, on a privilege level attributed to the mobile station or a user associated with the mobile station. |
| US08909253B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing location data with variable validity and quality
Methods, systems and computer program products for determining a location of a device based on location information are described. In some implementations, location assist information may be requested so as to determine a location of sufficient quality to satisfy a requesting application. Upon receiving the location assist information, empherides from one or more visible sources may be requested. The location assist information may be used to determine the location of the device until the device has received and decoded the empherides. |
| US08909251B2 |
Localization of mobile computing devices in indoor environments
Various technologies pertaining to localizing multiple mobile computing devices in an indoor environment are described. Pairs of microphone arrays are selectively positioned in an indoor environment. A localization service assigns a frequency and schedule to a mobile telephone, and the mobile telephone begins outputting vibrations at the assigned frequency and in conformance with the assigned schedule. The microphone arrays sense the vibrations, and angles between the microphone arrays, respectively, and the mobile computing device are computed based upon the sensed vibrations. Such angles are subsequently employed to compute the location of the mobile computing device in the indoor environment. |
| US08909247B2 |
Location based sharing of a network access credential
The disclosed subject matter provides for sharing a network access credential based on location information. Location information can include timed fingerprint location information. In an aspect, location information can be associated with a location of user equipment. This location information can be correlated with network access credentials. Location information can be used to access a relevant network access credential. The relevant network access credential can be shared with other devices. In an embodiment, sharing a network access credential can be between mobile devices. In another embodiment, sharing a network access credential can be between a remote computing device and a mobile device. Sharing a credential can allow for access to a network without having to generate or input new credentials. |
| US08909246B2 |
Broadcast tuning concepts
Systems, methods, apparatus, and computer program products are provided for receiving content available for consumption. For example, a user device can receive a message about content available for consumption and access the content via the appropriate provided in the user's broadcast area. Moreover, a user device can be used to access program information based on the user device's location. |
| US08909244B2 |
Distributed positioning mechanism for wireless communication devices
A wireless communication device can determine its position in accordance with a distributed positioning mechanism to minimize bandwidth and power consumption at the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device can detect positioning control messages exchanged between independent pairs of access points in a wireless communication network. The wireless communication device can determine position information associated with each access point of each of the pairs of access points and timing information associated with the pairs of access points based, at least in part, on the detected positioning control messages. The position of the wireless communication device can then be calculated based, at least in part, on the position information and the timing information associated with the pairs of access points. |
| US08909243B2 |
Cast-to-call
A communication device can be equipped with global positioning system (GPS) equipment and one or more accelerometers and/or gyroscopes that can be used to determine one or more of the direction or velocity at which the communication device is “cast” by coupling the location information of the communication device, such as using GPS coordinates, cell tower triangulation, or the like, with the “cast direction” of the communication device—thereby creating a cast vector. The strength of the cast may be analyzed to assist with determining how far the cast vector should be projected. The communication device can then determine which, if any, other communications device, entities, and/or objects are within the cast vector. The direction and strength of the cast can be used to assist in creating either a two or three-dimensional sensible area, that originates with the location of the calling party, and extends therefrom a certain distance. |
| US08909242B2 |
Cooperative spectrum sensing method and system for locationing primary transmitters in a cognitive radio system
In a cooperative spectrum sensing method and system for locationing primary transmitters, each of secondary users transmits to a corresponding one of cognitive radio (CR) base station location information thereof and a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value generated thereby in response to sensing power signals from the primary transmitters. The CR base stations transmit the location information and the RDDI values of the secondary users to a data fusion center such that the data fusion center obtains the number and locations of the primary transmitters based on the location information and the RSSI values received thereby using a learning algorithm to thereby reconstruct a power propagation map of the primary transmitters. |
| US08909241B2 |
Wireless device and communication method
A wireless device and a communication method, which enable a position of the wireless device to be known and enable a frequency which does not interfere with that of another wireless station to be selected, are provided. A wireless device belonging to a second wireless system in which a frequency band to be used overlaps with that of a first wireless system, and a priority with which the overlapping frequency band is used is lower than that of the first wireless system, the wireless device includes: a location receiving unit receiving location information formed of a place name and indicating a location of the wireless device; a geographic coordinate acquiring unit acquiring, based on the location information, geographic coordinates including latitude and longitude corresponding to the location information; and a frequency setting unit accessing a frequency server in which a frequency assigned to a wireless device belonging to the first wireless system and geographic coordinates including latitude and longitude related to a position of the wireless device are stored by being corresponded to each other, by using the geographic coordinates acquired by the geographic coordinate acquiring unit, and acquiring at least one of a frequency that is not assigned to the wireless device belonging to the first wireless system and a frequency which is not at risk of interfering with that of the wireless device, to set the frequency as a transmission/reception frequency. |
| US08909237B2 |
Apparatus and method for estimating carrier to interference and noise ratio in a mobile communication system based on fractional frequency reuse
An apparatus and method for estimating a carrier to interference and noise ratio (CINR) in a mobile communication system based on a fractional frequency reuse are provided. The method includes receiving a report on CINR information on a common zone from a mobile station (MS) allocated a restricted zone, calculating a received signal power value using a CINR value and an interference level value for the common zone of the MS, and estimating a CINR value for a restricted zone using the received signal power value of the MS and an interference level for the restricted zone. |
| US08909234B2 |
Data communication network and data communication method using transmission of soft-decision information
A data communication network to transmit and/or receive data using soft-decision information is provided. A target access point in a data communication network may compute soft-decision information with respect to information bits corresponding to a transmission symbol, and transmit the computed soft-decision information to a destination device or an access point connected to the destination device. The destination device or the access point connected to the destination device may combine soft-decision information of a plurality of access points, and detect information bits based on the combined soft-decision information. |
| US08909231B2 |
Communication system, femto cell thereof, and clustering and handover method of the same
A communication system, femto cell, and clustering and handover method of the same are provided. The method includes storing identity information and customer information for a plurality of femto base stations, generating, when location information of the corresponding femto base stations are received, at least one cluster including at least one of the femto base stations according to the customer information and location information, sharing the identity information of the corresponding femto base station in the cluster. The method is capable of supporting handover between femto base stations so as to secure reliable communication service connectivity for the terminal on the move. |
| US08909230B2 |
Apparatus and methods for performing handover of user equipment between different radio access networks
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a user equipment, an RNC, or an application operable in a wireless communications network and methods. A network controller for wireless communication is configured to transfer data via a first user plane connection in a first radio access network and initiate a handover procedure of transmitting the user equipment to a second user plane connection in a second radio access network. |
| US08909223B2 |
Multicast optimization and aggregation in an enterprise controller
A method and apparatus are provided for managing radio access point (RAP) devices and enterprise controller devices in a wireless communication network. An enterprise controller device registers with a gateway device, and the enterprise controller device receives a registration request from multiple RAP devices that are serviced by the enterprise controller device. As the RAP devices register with the enterprise controller device, the enterprise controller device generates a list of the RAP devices registered with the enterprise controller. As the enterprise controller receives additional registration requests from additional RAP devices, the enterprise controller updates the list. The enterprise controller sends the list to the gateway device with which it registers so that the gateway device is aware of RAP devices serviced by the enterprise controller device. In this way, aggregated messages may be sent from the gateway device to the enterprise controller. |
| US08909222B2 |
Telecommunications network
A method is disclosed for registering a mobile terminal with a cellular telecommunications network, the network having a plurality of location areas and a plurality of extended areas of coverage, each extended area being represented by a list of a subset of cells on one or more the location areas, and the mobile terminal using information about a given one of the location areas to connect to the network. The method comprises transmitting a signal including a temporary identifier, which is unique to the mobile terminal when combined with the location area identifier that identifies the cell in which the temporary identifier was allocated a temporary identifier; transmitting an indication of whether the mobile terminal supports location registration based on extended areas (“soft location registration”); and if soft location registration is supported, performing location registration based on the extended area between the mobile terminal and the network. The above method is compatible with existing deployments of 2G and 3 G networks in both packet switched (PS) and circuit switched (CS) domains. |
| US08909218B2 |
Very far-field communication
A network device receives, from a user device, an inquiry for a selected very-far field communication (VFC) tag and selects, from a group of available base stations, one or more particular base stations of a wireless access network from which to broadcast a tag query for the selected VFC tag. The network device inserts the tag query into a broadcast signal of each of the one or more particular base stations. The VFC tag receives the tag query and transmits a local response signal over a local wireless network. A mobile device within range of the local response signal processes the local response signal and forwards the local response signal to the network device as a tag response. The network device receives the tag response and sends an indication of the tag response to the user device. |
| US08909215B2 |
Control of measurement messaging in a mobile device
A method to control measurement messaging is performed at a mobile wireless device. The mobile wireless device transmits a first measurement message to a radio access network in a wireless network and stores the first measurement message pending receipt of an acknowledgement from the radio access network. Before receiving the acknowledgement to the first measurement message, the mobile wireless device determines at least one parameter included in the first measurement message requires updating. The mobile wireless device deletes the stored pending first measurement message and transmits a second measurement message to the radio access network including an updated value for the at least one parameter in the first measurement message. |
| US08909213B2 |
System and method for evaluating performance of concurrent mobile services of mobile devices
A system method and device for evaluating the Quality of Service (QoS) performance of mobile telephone devices in the concurrent performance of different services through a mobile telephone network is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing a first logical communication channel via the mobile telephone network, communicating first information over the first logical communication channel, establishing a second logical communication channel over a communication network, concurrently with said communicating first information, communicating second information over the second logical communication channel, and determining a plurality of service quality metrics for the first and second information communicated over the first and second logical communication channel. |
| US08909211B2 |
Remote control of devices utilizing a mobile network
Providing for remote control of electronic devices at least in part utilizing a mobile radio access network (RAN) is disclosed herein. A control server is provided that can initiate an OTA message requesting control of a client device. The OTA message can be transmitted via the RAN to the client device, which can initiate a data network call upon receipt of the message. A data network address can be forwarded to the control server to facilitate data exchange between the server and client. The client can act upon and respond to commands issued by the server. As described herein, remote control of a client that does not maintain a persistent data network link can be conducted. Furthermore, key-mapping applications, DLL-based middle-ware, and other interface modules traditionally required to implement control of a remote device can be limited or avoided. |
| US08909207B1 |
Proximal device configuration method and system
Systems and methods for configuring proximally configurable devices deployed to a location using a proximal device configuration tool. The proximal device configuration tool generates a directed beam that is sent to a targeted proximally configurable device where the proximally configurable device enters a configuration mode and received configuration information associated with a context using the directed beam. |
| US08909206B2 |
Communications system, device with dialing function and method thereof
A communications system includes a caller device, a receiver device, and a communications device. The communications device includes a storage unit, a communications unit, and a processing unit. Each called party is assigned an identifier, and has one or more receiver device. Each receiver device is assigned a phone number. The storage unit stores a phone number of each receiver device associated with a called party. The processing unit includes a request receiving module for receiving a request, a request recognition module for determining whether the identifier from the request matched one of the identifier of the called party; an acquiring module for acquiring the phone numbers of one called party when matching. The communications unit dials the acquired phone numbers to establish communications with the receiver device. |
| US08909204B2 |
Portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a communication request receiving unit which receives a communication request from another communication device, a display unit which displays an image based on image data, an input unit which is provided to overlap with the display unit and detects an input of a user, a determination unit which determines whether the image is being displayed on the display unit when the communication request receiving unit receives the communication request, an input determination unit which determines whether a predetermined input is detected by the input unit when the determination unit determines that the image is being displayed, and a display control unit which displays information for starting a communication with the other communication device on the display unit when the predetermined input is detected by the input unit. |
| US08909203B1 |
Disruption blocking in mobile devices
A do not disturb (DND) mode for telephonic devices, in which the DND mode is automatically deactivated after a time increment has elapsed, the DND mode having been activated based on detecting, upon receiving a telephone call, a selection of the control. |
| US08909201B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing multimedia information services over a communication network
In a communications network, a network access point address is determined that is currently associated with at least one of a plurality of subscriber mobile devices associated with a subscription to an information service. Content associated with the information service is formatted to provide subscriber content that is configured to be used by the plurality of subscriber mobile devices. The subscriber content is broadcast from a transmitter at the determined network access point address to the at least one subscriber mobile device over a wireless network. |
| US08909198B1 |
Customized dialing procedures for outbound calls
Various embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and computer program products for selecting a first telephone number associated with an account for a targeted party and dialing the first telephone number to place an outbound call to the party. Accordingly, in particular embodiments, the first telephone number may be dialed to place a subsequent call after a first predetermined period of time as a result of detecting a busy signal for the initial call. Likewise, in particular embodiments, the first telephone number may be dialed to place a subsequent call after a second predetermined period of time as a result of detecting an automated answering device for the initial call. Furthermore, in particular embodiments, a second telephone number associated with the account for the party may be selected and dialed to place a subsequent call as a result of detecting a no-answer condition for the initial call. |
| US08909194B2 |
Physical location verification
A process for secure, safe, and easy provisioning of a wireless device with credentials to connect to a wireless network. A connecting wireless device and an established wireless device both utilize low power transmission at close proximity to exchange wireless connection setting information and/or a password. The connecting wireless device is moved into proximity with the established wireless device and a low power setting is discovered at which the wireless devices may communicate with a sufficiently low error rate. The proximity of the connecting wireless device to the established wireless device is verified and the connecting wireless device is then passed the secret information by the established network device. |
| US08909193B2 |
Authentication method
A method for network equipment to generate authentication information in the mobile communication system, at least includes the following process: set security key corresponding to mobile terminal in network equipment; and network equipment generates authentication information corresponding to mobile terminal based on said security key and a random number. And, a method for mobile terminal to authenticate communication network in the mobile communication network, at least includes the following process: set security key corresponding to mobile terminal in the mobile terminal; and after the authentication information from network equipment is received, the mobile terminal determines whether the network authentication succeeds based on said security key set by the mobile terminal and the authentication information. An authentication method in mobile communication network is also disclosed, and includes the following process: the mobile terminal authenticates the network, and the network authenticates the mobile terminal. |
| US08909191B2 |
Automatic emergency call activation and notification system and method using supporting emergency notification server
An Automatic Emergency Call Initiator (AECI) initiates an automatic emergency call protocol on a mobile communication system, which can be done using signaling messages. The user uses the AECI to initiate the call on a mobile station. GPS or other location data is automatically determined. Data is stored on an Emergency Notification Server (ENS) associated with an event identifier for easy retrieval or notification to emergency responders. The ENS generates an automated call to a call center and also supports the automatic emergency call protocol by storing GPS and identifying info on mobile stations meeting location criteria of the AECI initiated call. The ENS can also tag a mobile station to continue tracking mobile stations coming within a specified distance of the mobile station. A security alert protocol for predetermined mobile stations detected by a network can also be implemented using the ENS. |
| US08909190B2 |
Portable wireless compatibility detection, location and communication device
A portable (e.g., watch-sized) wireless electronic device configurable to reflect the identity, preferences or characteristics of the user, and adapted to determine the nearby presence and location of a compatibly configured device includes a microcontroller, data communications subsystem configured to enable two way digital radio communication; a received signal strength indicator subsystem operably coupled to the data communications subsystem and configured to provides a micro-controller subsystem with information about the strength of received signals; a range estimate indicator subsystem operably coupled to the microcontroller and configured to display an estimate of the range to a target unit based on signal strength observed during a scan for the direction of maximum signal strength; a compatibility indicator subsystem operably coupled to the microcontroller and configured to provide an indication of a possible degree of compatibility of a user assigned to a opposing unit; a computer interface subsystem adapted to communicate with a user's computer; and a user control subsystem configured to enable user input. |
| US08909185B2 |
Frequency agile filter using a digital filter and bandstop filtering
A method of providing frequency dependent signal attenuation. An RF input signal is split into a first signal portion and a second signal portion. Discrete time filtering, a negative group delay and bandstop filtering are applied to the first signal portion to provide a filtered signal portion. The second signal portion is applied to a component, and a component output signal portion is received from the component. The component output signal portion is combined with the filtered signal portion to provide an RF output signal having frequency dependent attenuation. |
| US08909184B2 |
Method and system for selecting a wireless signal based on an antenna or bias voltage
A method for wireless communication is provided and may include configuring at least one capacitor array in an antenna system to control a frequency for receiving external signals. An antenna and at least one inductor in the antenna system may be configured for receiving external signals at a first frequency. An inductor and a voltage source, a capacitor, and/or a ground reference may be configured for receiving the external signals at a different frequency if the frequency is utilized for backscattered signal reception and/or magnetically coupled signal reception. Near field communication (NFC) signals may be received at the different frequency for backscattered signals. Radio frequency identification (RFID) signals may be received at the different frequency for magnetically coupled signals. The first frequency may be within the FM frequency band. The antenna system may be configured to transmit signals to be subsequently received as backscattered signals or magnetically coupled signals. |
| US08909183B2 |
Automatic gain control device
A first frequency converter generates an I-system baseband signal based on a high-frequency received signal and a first local signal with a predetermined frequency band. A second frequency converter generates a Q-system baseband signal based on a high-frequency received signal and a second local signal 90° out of phase with the first local signal. First and second AD converters convert respective amplified I-system and Q-system baseband signals to digital data. First and second over-range detecters detect the over-range of the first and the second CAD converters. An automatic gain controller selects the gain based on the detection information of the over-range and the respective I-system and Q-system baseband signals. An offset setter gives a predetermined offset to the selected gain, and sets a gain after the offset with respect to the first or the second variable amplifier. |
| US08909181B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing fast frequency sweeping of mobile terminal, and mobile terminal
The disclosure provides a method for implementing fast frequency sweeping of a mobile terminal, which includes: performing Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) measurements in communication frequency bands of a mobile terminal according to a preset first frequency sweeping step length, to obtain multiple first RSSI values (S10); making decisions on the first RSSI values to obtain second RSSI values (S11); sorting the second RSSI values; and performing frequency sweeping according to a sorted result (S12). The disclosure further provides an apparatus for implementing fast frequency sweeping of a mobile terminal, which includes: a first RSSI measuring unit, a RSSI deciding unit, a RSSI sorting unit and a frequency sweeping unit. The method and the apparatus for implementing fast frequency sweeping of the mobile terminal according to the disclosure perform the RSSI measurements according to the preset first frequency sweeping step length, and then sort the measured RSSI values. The sorting method changes a traditional manner of sorting the measured RSSI values in an order of the measured RSSI values from largest to smallest according to frequency points, such that an accurate cell-sweeping frequency point can be searched as soon as possible. |
| US08909170B2 |
Very high frequency dielectric substrate wave guide
A radio transceiver device includes circuitry for radiating electromagnetic signals at a very high radio frequency both through space, as well as through wave guides that are formed within a substrate material. In one embodiment, the substrate comprises a dielectric substrate formed within a board, for example, a printed circuit board. In another embodiment of the invention, the wave guide is formed within a die of an integrated circuit radio transceiver. A plurality of transceivers with different functionality is defined. Substrate transceivers are operable to transmit through the wave guides, while local transceivers are operable to produce very short range wireless transmissions through space. A third and final transceiver is a typical wireless transceiver for communication with remote (non-local to the device) transceivers. |
| US08909167B2 |
Wireless communication device for switching antennas
A wireless communication device comprises a first antenna, a second antenna, a switch, and a balun. The first antenna and the second antenna transmit and receive signals. The wireless communication device can use only one antenna (the first antenna) or the two antennas (the first antenna and the second antenna) at the same time according to a comparison between received signal strength indications (RSSIs) of the antennas and a maximum input level of the wireless communication device. |
| US08909166B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling multi band antenna in mobile communication terminal
An apparatus and method for controlling a multi-band antenna in a mobile communication terminal are provided. An apparatus for controlling a multi-band antenna in a mobile communication terminal includes a modem, an antenna unit, a Radio Frequency (RF) processing unit, and a switch module. The modem outputs at least one control signal corresponding to a target frequency band. The antenna unit changes a resonance frequency of the antenna according to the at least one control signal. The RF processing unit includes a plurality of transmission/reception (TX/RX) paths and processes TX/RX signals. The switch module connects the antenna to one of the TX/RX paths according to the at least one control signal. |
| US08909163B2 |
RF bus access protocol and transceiver and methods for use therewith
A method includes determining whether information is to be transmitted via a radio frequency (RF) bus that supports direct intra-device communication between at least three circuits in a millimeter wave frequency band. When the information is to be transmitted via the RF bus, the method determines whether the RF bus is available. When the RF bus is available, the information is converted into RF bus signal, access to the RF bus is secured, and after access to the RF bus is secured, the RF bus signal is transmitted via the RF bus. |
| US08909162B2 |
System and method for transmitting a radio frequency signal through a speaker coil
In accordance with an embodiment, a system has an audio amplifier configured to be coupled to a speaker coil port via a parallel resonant circuit, and a radio frequency (RF) amplifier configured to transmit a RF signal at a first RF transmission frequency. The speaker coil port is configured to be coupled to a speaker coil, and the parallel resonant circuit has a resonance frequency of about the first RF transmission frequency. |
| US08909161B2 |
Transceiver front-end
A transceiver front-end for a communication device comprises a transmit frequency blocking arrangement and a receive frequency blocking arrangement. The transmit frequency blocking arrangement has a blocking frequency interval associated with the transmit frequency and a non-blocking frequency interval associated with the receive frequency, and is configured to block passage of transmit frequency signals between the signal transmission and reception arrangement and the receiver. The receive frequency blocking arrangement has a blocking frequency interval associated with the receive frequency and a non-blocking frequency interval associated with the transmit frequency, and is configured to block passage of receive frequency signals between the signal transmission and reception arrangement and the transmitter. One of the frequency blocking arrangements comprises a network of passive components including at least one transformer and a filter arrangement with a higher impedance at the blocking frequency interval than at the non-blocking frequency interval. |
| US08909158B2 |
Aircraft communication system
An aircraft communication system and corresponding method for establishing a datalink network between participating aircrafts, wherein each participating aircraft comprises a datalink transponder for sending and receiving standard communication messages (M) over a standard communication protocol; said datalink transponders are employed for establishing said datalink network using a standard communication protocol, and wherein said datalink transponders transmitting event driven messages (M) with a predefined structure identifying said messages (M) as test messages (TM) and at the same time comprising message data (MD) for establishing said datalink network, thus providing a datalink network established by transmission of solely messages (M) compliant with said standard communication protocol. |
| US08909157B2 |
Optimizing cell traffic load and interference through high interference indicators
Technologies are generally described for alleviating inter-cell interference experienced by relays in wireless networks such as cellular systems that rely on relays to facilitate some communication between end user devices and base stations (BTSs). A BTS serving a relay may gather information on resource blocks being used to communicate between the relay and an end user. Then, the BTS may send interference indication signals such as High Interference Indicators (HII) or related signals on behalf of sub-communications executed by entities within the cell. Another BTS of a neighboring cell receiving the signals may avoid scheduling on those resource blocks, if possible, thereby relieving the relay link from potentially significant interference. |
| US08909153B2 |
Vehicle communications using a mobile device
A method of providing hands-free services using a mobile device having wireless access to computer-based services includes establishing a short-range wireless connection between a mobile device and a vehicle; receiving speech in the vehicle that is communicated to a mobile voice platform resident on the mobile device via the short-range wireless connection; parsing the received speech using the mobile voice platform to identify vehicle-specific vocabulary; when vehicle-specific vocabulary exists, identifying at least one vehicle-specific vocabulary term that affects vehicle operation; identifying at least one vehicle function of an inter-related group of vehicle functions that is associated with the identified vehicle-specific vocabulary; determining whether to access one or more cloud services based on the identity of the vehicle function; generating a text-based command reflecting audible control of the affected vehicle function; and sending the text-based command from the mobile device to the vehicle over the short-range wireless connection. |
| US08909151B2 |
System and method to avoid saturation of an associating WiGig station
A system and method are provided to facilitate establishing WiGig communications links between WiGig-enabled wireless devices and WiGig PBSS Control Points and Access Points (PCP/AP). The PCP/AP transmits beacons that are intended to assist the wireless devices in locating the PCP/AP. Based on the directional nature of WiGig communications, the beacons are transmitted directionally in a number of sectors in multiple directions simultaneously or in sequence. When devices, such as wireless devices, attempting to connect via a PCP/AP, are positioned very close to the PCP/AP, the devices may be incapable of receiving the transmitted beacons because the low noise amplifier (LNA) located in the individual wireless device receiver may become saturated. The disclosed systems and methods broadcast the beacons at lower power according to different schemes at certain intervals to avoid saturating the LNAs. |
| US08909150B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for short-range wireless communication
Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to enable remote wireless control of an electronic device while in standby mode. Example embodiments of the invention include a method comprising the steps of transmitting, by a device, short-range wireless polling signals via a short-range wireless interface according to a first poll interval; determining whether the device is active, or in a stand-by, low power, idle, or sleep mode state; and when the device is determined to be in a stand-by, low power, idle, or sleep mode state, causing the device to enter into a polling mode for transmitting short-range wireless polling signals via a short-range wireless interface according to a second poll interval that may be the same or different from the first poll interval and ignoring received short-range wireless response signals. |
| US08909146B2 |
Apparatus and method for data transmission using bluetooth signal strength in portable communication system
Provided are an apparatus and a method for transmitting data to a plurality of other terminals through an Object Push Profile (OPP) service in a Bluetooth-enabled portable terminal. The method includes displaying a list of transmittable data items and detecting whether one or more data items to be transmitted are selected when a data transmission event is generated, searching neighboring Bluetooth devices and measuring signal strength levels of Bluetooth signal of the searched Bluetooth devices when detecting that one or more of the data items to be transmitted are selected, displaying a list of the searched Bluetooth devices and selecting one or more Bluetooth devices to receive the selected data items and transmitting the selected data items to the selected Bluetooth devices. |
| US08909143B2 |
Provisioning user attributes for use with mobile computing device
A mobile computing device hosts an operating system and mobile applications. A provisioning application communicates with a secure element and near field communication (NFC) subsystem. It causes display of an interface for users to enter personal attributes for storage in the secure element. Users discriminately select items from their personal attributes for transmission to a third party recipient so only attributes relative to the third party are sent. Software, interfaces, methods, and apparatus typify the embodiments. |
| US08909140B2 |
Transmitter
Systems and methods providing a transmitter for transmitting signals in a near-field communication (NFC) frequency band are disclosed. According to embodiments, a transmitter for transmitting signals in a near-field communication frequency band comprises an antenna, a first current source for generating a first current to excite the antenna, a first detector for detecting a first voltage at an output of the first current source, and means for reducing the current output by the first current source if the detected first voltage exceeds a first predefined threshold. An integrated circuit of embodiments may comprise the foregoing transmitter. A transmitter configuration of embodiments, including means for reducing the current, provides for limited distortion in the transmitted signal and reducing the risk of components in the transmitter being damaged. |
| US08909138B2 |
Method for application selection in a wireless mobile communication device in an NFC system and a corresponding wireless mobile communication device
The invention is aimed at solving the problem of selection of an application and/or configuration in a device of an NFC system having no independent power source or when the power source of the device is temporarily out of operation or does not have an independent power source. To that end, a wireless mobile communication device of an NFC system according to the invention comprises—a sensor of the accelerometer (Ace) type to produce a signal detecting the movement of the said device while the sensor is powered by a field emitted by a coupler close to which the said device is brought,—a processor (Pro) for comparing the said movement detection signal with a predetermined sequence corresponding with an application and/or configuration, and accordingly selecting the said application and/or configuration if the comparison is positive. |
| US08909137B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving data and control information through an uplink in a wireless communication system
An apparatus and method are provided for transmitting data and control information in a wireless communication system. The method include determining if the control information is to be transmitted via a data channel; and if the control information is to be transmitted in the data channel, determining a number of symbols for coded control information in consideration of the data, generating the coded control information based on the number of symbols for the coded control information, generating coded data based on an MCS for the data, multiplexing the coded data and the coded control information, modulating the multiplexed coded control information and coded data by a modulation scheme, performing FT on the modulated coded control information and coded data, performing IFT on the FTed coded control information and coded data based on sub-carrier mapping, and transmitting the IFTed coded control information and coded data via the data channel. |
| US08909136B1 |
Remote valet paging assembly
A remote valet paging assembly includes a panel. A base processor is coupled to the panel. A charge port is coupled to the panel. The charge port is operationally coupled to the base processor. A base transceiver is coupled to the panel. The base transceiver is operationally coupled to the base processor. A base actuator is coupled to the panel. The base actuator is operationally coupled to the base processor so the base actuator may actuate the base processor. A pager is removably positionable in the charge port. The pager includes a remote processor coupled to the pager. A remote transceiver is coupled to the pager. The remote transceiver is operationally coupled to the remote processor. A remote actuator is coupled to the pager. The actuator is operationally coupled to the remote processor so the remote actuator may actuate the remote processor. |
| US08909131B2 |
Repeater
The invention discloses a repeater (225; 325) for a cellular communications system (200, 300), the repeater (225; 325) comprising at least a first antenna with a first and a second antenna beam (226, 227). The repeater (225; 325) is arranged to shape atleast one of its antenna beams (226) electronically, so as to focus that antenna beam (226) on a first transmitting party (215) in the system (200, 300) while minimizing interference from other transmission sources (210). |
| US08909129B2 |
Method for transmitting data, particularly having multimedia contents, in a mobile communication network
A method is provided for transmitting data, particularly having multimedia contents, from a first communications unit to a second communications unit (40; 114) in a telephone communications network, whereby at least one transmission status message assigned to the data is transmitted to the first communications unit. In the event that data cannot be delivered to the second communications unit, an item of information concerning a non-deliverability of the sent data is provided in the transmission status message. |
| US08909127B2 |
Computer-implemented systems and methods for carrying out non-centralized assessments
Systems and methods are provided for carrying out an examination with a client computer. A client computer is booted using a secondary operating system other than a primary operating system of the client computer that is accessed from a computer readable medium provided by an administrator of an examination only on the day of the examination. A broadcast message is sent from the client computer to check for the existence of a local server and to establish communication with the local server. A client application is received from the local server for presenting the examination at the client computer. Assessment content is received for the examination from the local server. The examination including the assessment content is presented to a user of the client computer with the client application, and user responses are received at the client computer and transmitted to the local server. |
| US08909126B2 |
Sheet processing apparatus, and image forming system
A sheet processing apparatus includes a folding unit that folds a sheet, a sheet storing unit that stores the sheet folded by the folding unit, a post-processing unit that performs a non-fold process on the sheet transported from the folding unit, a path select unit that switches the sheet destination to the sheet storing unit or the post-processing unit, and a control unit that detects whether there is a fold process command and/or a non-fold process command, and controls the path select unit according to the detecting result. The control unit controls the path select unit to switch the sheet destination to the post-processing unit when there is a non-fold process command, regardless of a fold process command. |
| US08909125B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including: an ejection section including an ejection roller to eject a sheet from a first sheet passing path to a sheet ejection port and a reverse roller to reverse a transport direction of a sheet transported along a second sheet passing path, the ejection roller and the reverse roller being placed close to each other and close to the sheet ejection port; and a switching lever switches the transport destination of the sheet between the first and the second sheet passing paths for transporting the sheet to the ejection roller and to the reverse roller, respectively. A moving trajectory of a sheet transported along the first sheet passing path between the ejection roller and the switching lever is substantially identical to a moving trajectory of a sheet transported along the second sheet passing path between the reverse roller and the switching lever. |
| US08909123B2 |
Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a first transport unit; a second transport unit that is installed in a recording portion side of the downstream from the first transport unit and transports the medium to an upstream side and the downstream side; a first transport path that guides the medium between the first transport unit and the second transport unit; a second transport path that reverses both sides of the medium; and a third transport path that is installed on the second transport path, the second transport unit reversely transports the medium to the upstream side at a transport speed V1 and put it into the second transport path, the transport speed of the third transport unit, which is driven at the transport speed V1, is changed to a transport speed V2 which is higher than the transport speed V1. |
| US08909117B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
A fixing device that fixes an image on a recording medium includes a rotatable endless belt, deployed in a loop supported by rollers, a nip forming member provided inside the loop formed by the belt, a support member that supports the nip forming member, a counter rotation body disposed outside the loop formed by the belt and configured to form a nip with the belt by being in contact with the nip forming member through the belt, and a heat source configured to heat the belt directly by a radiant heat except at the nip. The support member includes a base portion that contacts the nip forming member and two arms extending from the base portion in a direction away from the nip forming member to partially surround a part of heat generating portion of the heat source. |
| US08909116B2 |
Sliding member for fixing device, fixing device, and image forming apparatus
A sliding member for a fixing device includes at least a fluororesin layer that has a sliding surface, the sliding surface including a first region that is dotted with a plurality of first recesses, and a second region that is dotted with a plurality of second recesses having a diameter larger than the first recesses. |
| US08909114B2 |
Image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable image heating member for heating an image on a recording material, a magnetic flux generator for generating magnetic flux for heating the image heating member, an adjustor for adjusting the magnetic flux distribution so that the magnetic flux acting on an end portion region of the image heating member with respect to a rotational axis direction of the image heating member is decreased, a changing portion for changing a sheet passing position of the recording material with respect to the rotational axis direction within a set range, and a switching portion for switching, when the adjustor is actuated and sheets of the recording material are continuously passed, the set range from a range in which the sheet passing position does not overlap with the end portion region to a range in which the sheet passing position overlaps the end portion region. |
| US08909109B2 |
Developing device having thickness regulation blade
A developing device includes: a casing; a developing roller rotatably supported to the casing; a resiliently deformable blade supported to the casing and extending in an axial direction of the developing roller; and a regulation portion. The developing roller is rotatable in a rotational direction and to carry a layer of developer thereon. The blade has a first surface facing the developing roller. The regulation portion is configured to be in contact with the developing roller to regulate a thickness of the layer of the developer. The blade is formed with a through-hole to allow a material of the regulation portion to pass therethrough to form the regulation portion, the through-hole being exclusively formed in a central area in the axial direction assuming that the blade were divided into three areas each having an identical length in the axial direction with each other. |
| US08909108B2 |
Developing device
An inclined angle that an upstream surface of each groove in an upstream developing sleeve forms with the surface of the upstream developing sleeve is set smaller than an inclined angle that an upstream surface of each groove in a downstream developing sleeve forms with the surface of the downstream developing sleeve. This configuration increases a difference in transfer power between the upstream and downstream developing sleeves, thereby enabling the upstream developing sleeve to transfer a developer to the downstream developing sleeve efficiently. |
| US08909105B2 |
Powder transport device, and image forming apparatus
Provided is a powder transport device including a guide tube that guides a falling powder, a guide member that guides transport of the fallen powder, a transport member that is disposed in the guide member, has a helical member extending in a transport direction of the powder, and transports the fallen powder through rotation, and a swing member that is disposed at a lower end portion of the guide tube, and has a portion which is folded or bent in a direction of enclosing inner wall surfaces of the guide tube and a convex portion which intermittently contacts with the helical member so as to swing the portion. |
| US08909104B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
According to a representative configuration of the developing device and the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the developing device includes: a developing sleeve which bears developer and conveys the developer to a developing region; a developing chamber which supplies the developer to the developing sleeve; an agitating chamber which forms a circulation path with the developing chamber and collects the developer from the developing sleeve; and a conveying unit (a first conveying screw and a second conveying screw) which circulates and conveys the developer in the circulation path. A spiral groove is formed on a surface of the developing sleeve so as to apply a conveying force to the developer in a rotation axis direction of the developing sleeve opposite to a developer conveying direction of the agitating chamber. |
| US08909099B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus of the present disclosure includes a developing device, a support frame, a developer supply mechanism, and a shutter member. The developing device has a developer bearing member that supplies a developer to the image bearing member. The support frame is capable of disposing the developing device selectively at a mounting/demounting position and at a developing position. The shutter member opens a replenishment port formed at the connection portion in tandem with the movement of the developing device from the mounting/demounting position to the developing position and closes the replenishment port in tandem with the movement of the developing device from the developing position to the mounting/demounting position. A direction in which the developing device is moved is different from a direction in which the shutter member performs the opening/closing of the replenishment port. |
| US08909096B2 |
Developing device, process cartridge and drum unit
A developing device for use with an image forming apparatus, includes: a developer carrying member for carrying a developer; a developer regulating member for regulating an amount of the developer carried on the developer carrying member; a first frame for supporting the developer regulating member; a fixing member for fixing the developer regulating member to the first frame; a second frame mounted to the first frame; and a molded resin portion formed by injecting a melted resin material into a space defined by the first and second frames. The molded resin portion is engaged with a first limiting portion provided as a part of the fixing member and projected into the space and is engaged with a second limiting portion provided as a part of the second frame to connect the first and second frame. |
| US08909095B2 |
Process cartridge for image forming apparatus including a hollow alignment shaft
A process cartridge installed in a body of an image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a development device that includes a developer bearer, a rotary developer conveyance member, and a shaft projecting from a development casing in an axial direction, a gear train including an idler gear provided to the shaft projecting from the development casing, a first side plate, and a hollow shaft projecting in the axial direction from the first side plate. The first side plate includes an image bearer positioning portion and a developer bearer positioning portion to support axial end portions of the developer bearer and the image bearer, the shaft projecting from the development casing is inserted into a recess inside the hollow shaft, and the hollow shaft is inserted into a hollow shaft positioning hole formed in the body. |
| US08909094B2 |
Sealing member, toner accommodating container and image forming apparatus
A toner supply container includes a rotatable container body and a sealing member provided at its axial end portion. The sealing member is movable in an axial direction and includes a sealing portion to seal and unseal an opening of the container body when in first and second relative positions, respectively, and a coupling portion positioned to receive a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body. The coupling portion includes an elastically displaceable supporting portion, an engaging portion, and a displacing force receiving portion, which are integrally molded. The engaging portion includes a rotational force receiving portion for receiving a rotational drive force for rotating the sealing member and the container body, and a locking portion. The displacing force receiving portion is provided on the supporting portion at a position closer to the container body than the engaging portion. |
| US08909093B2 |
Toner container and image forming apparatus with a secure seal
A toner container which includes a main body for storing toner, an opening for dispensing toner, and a mechanism for sealing the opening. The mechanism for sealing the opening includes a slidable shutter which includes a cover and an extension, connected to the cover part, including a pushing surface and a blocking surface. The mechanism for sealing further includes a restriction which contacts the blocking surface to prevent the slidable shutter from sliding. |
| US08909088B2 |
Fixing apparatus and image forming apparatus equipped with an air duct for guiding air
In a fixing unit in which a recording material carrying a toner image is heated while conveying in a nip portion to fix the toner image onto the recording material, a measure to prevent both of temperature rise at non-sheet-passing area and condensation slippage using at least one air supplying unit is required. Separately providing air supplying units for these two issues results in the need of a plurality of fans only for the fixing unit, increasing the size and cost of the apparatus. Thus, decreases in size and cost of a fixing unit and an image forming apparatus including the fixing unit can be achieved by using a common air supplying member to prevent both of temperature rise at non-sheet-passing area and condensation slippage. |
| US08909083B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method for fixing heater
An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device including a heating roller heated by a fixing heater, a DUTY storage portion, a heater control portion, a number-of-times counting portion, a number-of-times determining portion, and a modifying portion. The DUTY storage portion stores a first DUTY table and a second DUTY table. The heater control portion reduces the consumption current of the fixing heater based on the first DUTY table when a total consumption current exceeds a setting current. The number-of-times counting portion counts the number of times the total consumption current has exceeded the setting current. The modifying portion causes the heater control portion to control the energization of the fixing heater based on the second DUTY table when the number-of-times determining portion determines that the number of times of excess exceeds a setting number of times. |
| US08909081B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus having: a toner image carrier; a transfer member; a transfer voltage applying device which applies a bias voltage to the transfer member; a voltage controller which performs constant voltage control on the transfer voltage applying device; a transfer contribution current detecting device; an antistatic member for removing static electricity from the record medium after transfer of a toner image; and an antistatic voltage applying device which applies an AC voltage to the antistatic member. The transfer contribution current detecting device measures current values during a current detection time, which corresponds to an integral multiple of a period of the AC voltage applied to the antistatic member, and detects a transfer contribution current value from the measured values, and the voltage controller controls the bias voltage applied to the transfer member based on the transfer contribution current value. |
| US08909065B2 |
Adjustable delayer, method for delaying an input signal and polar transmitter
An adjustable delayer for adjustably delaying an input signal based on a delay adjustment input information describing a desired delay includes a plurality of series-connected tunable delay circuits, wherein a first of the tunable delay circuits is configured to receive the input signal. The adjustable delayer also includes a closed-loop control circuit configured to provide a first delay tuning information to tune a combined delay of the plurality of tunable delay circuits to fulfill a predetermined condition. The adjustable delayer also includes a combiner to combine the first delay tuning information with a second delay tuning information, that is based on the delay adjustment input information, to obtain a combined delay tuning information. The adjustable delayer is configured to tune a delay of one or more of the tunable delay circuits based on the combined delay tuning information. The adjustable delayer is configured to provide the output signal based on one or more signals present at outputs of one or more of the adjustable delay circuits. |
| US08909062B2 |
Optical signal regeneration and amplification of M-PSK and M-QAM modulation formats using reconfigurable wavelength selective processors and phase-sensitive amplifiers
A method for regenerating optical signal includes determining a source optical signal to be regenerated, adding a first pump optical signal and a second pump optical signal to the source optical signal to yield an intermediate optical signal, creating a first conjugate optical signal and a second conjugate optical signal from the intermediate optical signal, and performing degenerate phase-sensitive amplification utilizing the first conjugate optical signal, the second conjugate optical signal and the source optical signal to yield an output optical signal. The source optical signal is modulated with a multilevel modulation format. Each conjugate optical signal has a phase that is a conjugate of a multiple of the phase of the source optical signal. |
| US08909051B2 |
Opportunistic bandwidth stealing in optical networks
In a multi-chip module (MCM), integrated circuits are coupled by optical waveguides that convey optical signals. The optical waveguides provide dedicated point-to-point optical links between all pairs of the integrated circuits. Moreover, for a given point-to-point optical link between a given pair of integrated circuits, other integrated circuits in the integrated circuits steal access on the given point-to-point optical link when communicating information to one of the given pair of integrated circuits so that the given point-to-point optical link is shared by more than the given pair of integrated circuits. Furthermore, the integrated circuits recover errors in messages in the optical signals corrupted by collisions on the given point-to-point optical link using erasure coding. In this way, the MCM may provide an optical network with increased bandwidth relative to a point-to-point optical network. |
| US08909048B2 |
Reflective optical networks
A reflective optical network (10) comprises an optical network unit (14) and an optical receiver (22). The optical network unit (14) comprises a reflective optical modulator (16) arranged to receive a seed optical signal, and a transmitter controller (18) arranged to receive a data signal (20) and to control the modulator (16) to apply the data signal (20) to the seed optical signal, to form an optical data signal. The transmitter controller (18) is arranged to process the data signal (20) to substantially prevent the optical data signal comprising spectral components at frequencies lower than a cut-off frequency, being the frequency at which a power spectral density of said optical data signal is lower than a peak power spectral density of said optical signal by a cut-off power value. The optical receiver (22) comprises an electrical domain high pass filter (26) having a cut-off frequency higher than a linewidth of the seed optical signal. |
| US08909042B2 |
Optical node device, network control device, maintenance-staff device, optical network, and 3R relay implementation node decision method
An economical optical network is constituted by effectively using network resources by using the minimum number of, or minimum capacity of 3R repeaters. 3R section information corresponding to topology information on the optical network to which an optical node device itself belongs is stored, and the 3R section information stored is referred so as to autonomously determine whether or not the optical node device itself is an optical node device for implementing the 3R relay when setting an optical path passing through the optical node device itself. Alternatively, when the optical node device itself is a source node, another optical node device for implementing the 3R relay among the other optical node devices through which the optical path from the optical node device itself to the destination node passes is identified, and this identified optical node device is requested to implement the 3R relay when setting an optical path in which the optical node device itself is a source node. |
| US08909039B2 |
Optical cable testing and management
A method and apparatus for testing an optical cable is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include a receiver for receiving a received pulse train through the optical cable. The apparatus may further include a cross-correlation system in communication with the receiver. The cross-correlation system may be adapted to determine a cross-correlation of the received pulse train and matched filter to an expected pulse train. The apparatus may further include a comparator in communication with the cross-correlation system. The comparator may be adapted to compare the cross-correlation to a threshold. The apparatus may also include an output transmitter, in communication with the comparator. The output transmitter may be able to output a comparison-result output that includes the results of the comparator comparison of the cross-correlation against a threshold. |
| US08909038B2 |
Method and apparatus providing transient control in optical add-drop nodes
A method and apparatus for determining if an optical input signals has been interrupted and responsively replacing an interrupted optical input signal with a replacement optical signal having a similar optical profile (e.g., such as a loopback between OADMs within a backbone network), thereby insuring that transient-induced high speed optical amplifier adjustments are avoided. |
| US08909037B1 |
Auto-focus system using multiple lenses and method thereof
The present disclosure illustrates an auto-focus system using multiple lenses and method thereof, the system is characterized in using multiple lenses and combining multiple focus approaches to improve focus speed and precision. In particular, the system moves multiple lenses simultaneously to perform focusing for reducing focus time efficiently. |
| US08909036B2 |
Optical device
An optical device includes an optical system, a diaphragm unit, a diaphragm unit, a focus-lens driving unit, a diaphragm driving unit, and a diaphragm control unit. The diaphragm control unit controls the diaphragm driving unit in accordance with the position to which the focus lens group has been moved by the focus-lens driving unit, thereby controlling the aperture opening of the diaphragm unit and ultimately limit a light beam passing through the camera system. |
| US08909035B2 |
Photography stand
An apparatus comprising a platform with a center area and a platform support structure rotatively supporting said platform from outside a safe area adjacent to a plane through said platform's rotational axis whereby an image capture device may be positioned longitudinally throughout a range of angles within the safe area about a subject placed on said platform's center area such that the platform support structure will not substantially interfere visually with the imaging of the subject by appearing in said image capture device's field of view in front of or behind the subject. |
| US08909027B2 |
Playback of interactive programs
A method for playing back a program which includes one or more interactive applications. A program which is stored, either in the form of a data stream or as a set of files is played back from a storage device. When playback is started, applications which are detected are launched. Applications are detected in the playback of pushed content when they become available in the playback stream. Applications are detected in the playback of pulled content by comparing the validity ranges of the applications to a current playback index. When special playback modes are used, signals which affect the lifecycle of an application are detected and corresponding signals are generated to maintain the proper state of the application. During these special playback modes, these various notification signals may be conveyed to applications which are configured to operate during these modes. Applications which are not configured to operate during these special playback modes may be terminated when the special modes are initiated and restarted when the special modes end. |
| US08909024B2 |
Methods and apparatus for tutorial video enhancement
A plurality of segment transitions in a video data stream is identified. The identifying the plurality of segment transitions includes recognizing an interface feature of a first application interface displayed in the video data stream and generating metadata associating a selected segment transition with a particular point in the video data stream. The interface feature indicates the selected segment transition among the plurality of segment transitions in the video data stream. A navigation system for navigating among the plurality of segment transitions in the video data stream is provided. Responsive to input, navigation to the selected segment transition is performed and the video data stream is displayed from the particular point. |
| US08909023B2 |
Apparatus and method for adjustment of video settings
An electronic device includes display control logic for adjusting video settings of the electronic device in order to improve the display of portable media player files on the electronic device. The video settings may include picture settings for a display subsystem of the electronic device, video processing methods stored within a processor of the electronic device, and expansion ratios for images received from the portable media player. A method of operating the electronic device may include acquiring media file data, such as the expansion ratio and file type, from the portable media player and using the data to determine the video settings. |
| US08909022B1 |
Methods and systems for providing media content collected by sensors of a device
An example method may include continuously receiving, from a sensor of a computing device, media content collected from an ambient environment of the computing device on an ongoing basis. The method includes storing in a buffer an amount of the media content collected over a sliding time window, and removing stored media content from the buffer as the predetermined time period expires. The method may also include providing, by an operating system of the computing device, a listing of one or more applications configured to run on the computing device. The method further includes receiving, by the operating system of the computing device, a selection of an application from the listing of one or more applications, and based on the selection, causing the selected application to be initiated on the computing device and providing the portion of the media content to the application. |
| US08909019B2 |
System comprising a plurality of distribution devices and distribution device
A system of distribution devices is disclosed. The housing of each distribution device has at least two physically and functionally separate functional regions. At least one first functional region is for connecting and/or storing data conductors. At least one second functional region exclusively for guiding data cables having the data conductors. When a plurality of such distribution devices are grouped next to one another and/or one above the other to form a system of a plurality of distribution devices, the functional regions which are used exclusively for guiding data cables having the data conductors form at least one cable guide channel, which extends continuously in the horizontal and/or vertical direction over a plurality of distribution devices. |
| US08909017B2 |
Spatial filtering of higher order modes in multimode fibers
A mode filter for eliminating the propagation of higher-order modes along a section of optical multimode fiber comprises a graded index (GRIN) lens, preferably of a quarter-pitch length, and a pinhole element in the form of a small core fiber. This configuration creates a Fourier spatial filter assembly that removes higher order modes propagating along an optical fiber while capturing the fundamental mode of the optical signal. A section of GRIN fiber is preferably used as the lens, with the small core fiber disposed at the output of the GRIN fiber lens to collect substantially only the on-axis fundamental mode of the optical signal. Since the higher order modes are shifted away from the origin by the GRIN fiber lens, only the fundamental mode signal is captured by the small core fiber. |
| US08909013B1 |
Traceable cable assembly
A traceable cable assembly comprises: a fiber optic cable including a cable jacket that encloses an optical fiber, and two conductive elements that are embedded spacedly in the cable jacket and that extend along the optical fiber; and multiple lighting units spacedly secured to the fiber optic cable. Each lighting unit includes a connecting seat provided with a light emitting element, and mounted to the fiber optic cable so that the light emitting element is connected electrically between the conductive elements through the connecting seat. A portable power device is detachably coupled to the connecting seat of one lighting unit for supplying a supply voltage to the light emitting element of each lighting unit through the conductive elements. |
| US08909008B1 |
Active optical rotary coupler
Optical signals are transmitted across a rotary junction using an active optical rotary coupler. A rotary optical joint assembly includes a rotatable optical coupler and an optical signal processing system. The rotatable optical coupler aligns two optical fibers for optical communication across a rotary optical junction. The optical signal processing system includes a local optical transceiver that receives the signals and compensates for at least a portion of signal loss or other signal imperfections incurred from transmitting the signal across the rotary optical junction. The local optical transceiver also processes the signals for longer distance transmission. |
| US08909007B2 |
Circuit switchable optical device
A circuit switched optical device includes a first array of intersecting hollow waveguides formed in a first plane of a substrate. A second array of intersecting hollow waveguides is formed in a second plane of the substrate, and the second plane is positioned parallel to the first plane. An optical element within the first array selectively redirects an optical signal from the first array to the second array. |
| US08909001B2 |
Optical modulator
An optical modulator comprises a substrate 4 having a thickness of 20 μm or less and an electro-optic effect, a reinforcing substrate 6 holding the substrate 4 thereon and a resin layer 5 disposed between the substrate and the reinforcing substrate, in which the substrate 4 includes optical waveguides 1 and 2 and control electrodes 3 and 31 which control light waves propagating through the optical waveguide, in which the optical waveguides include at least two optical waveguides 1 separated from each other, and in which the control electrodes 31 disposed between the two optical waveguides are configured to include two electrodes 31 disposed along each optical waveguide, and a thin line 8 conducting the two electrodes 31 at a same potential. |
| US08908999B2 |
Information processor, method, and program for document proofreading
A method, apparatus and program for proofreading a document. The information processor includes a first storage unit for storing output information which includes information text and positional information obtained by performing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) on a source manuscript image. A second storage unit for storing a document file that is proofread by a user, wherein the document file is generated by reading the OCR-processed text according to the order of reading the output information A line movement detection unit for detected movement of a line which includes text in the document file based on the proofreading performed by the user on the document file. A merge unit for reflecting result of the proofreading of the document file in the output information. |
| US08908997B2 |
Methods and apparatus for automated true object-based image analysis and retrieval
The present invention is an automated and extensible system for the analysis and retrieval of images based on region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of one or more true objects depicted by an image. The system uses an ROI database that is a relational or analytical database containing searchable vectors that represent the images stored in a repository. Entries in the database are created by an image locator and ROI classifier that work to locate images within the repository and extract relevant information that will be stored in the ROI database. The ROI classifier analyzes objects in an image identify actual features of the true object. Graphical searches are performed by the collaborative workings of an image retrieval module, an image search requestor and an ROI query module. The image search requestor is an abstraction layer that translates user or agent search requests into the language understood by the ROI query. |
| US08908985B2 |
Image processing including encoding information concerning the maximum number of significant digits having largest absolute value of coefficient data in groups
An image processing apparatus includes: a number of significant digits coding unit encoding information concerning the maximum number of significant digits as the number of significant digits of coefficient data having the largest absolute value in each of groups set in units of the predetermined number of plural coefficient data generated from image data; a zero-run coding unit encoding zero-run formed by a group including only coefficient data a value of which is “0”; an absolute value coding unit encoding absolute values of respective coefficient data other than zero-run with respect to each group; and a sign coding unit encoding positive and negative signs of respective coefficient data other than zero-run with respect to each group. |
| US08908983B2 |
Method of predicting a motion vector for a current block in a current picture
A method of predicting a motion vector for a current block in a current picture includes obtaining, by a moving picture decoding device, a direction of a reference picture of the current picture, based on a display order of the reference picture and a display order of the current picture, obtaining, by the moving picture decoding device, at least three forward motion vectors for at least three blocks other than the current block based on the direction of the reference picture, wherein the at least three forward motion vectors correspond to the at least three other blocks, respectively, predicting, by the moving picture decoding device, a forward motion vector for the current block by using a median operation of the at least three forward motion vectors and decoding the current block in the current picture using the predicted forward motion vector for the current block. |
| US08908980B2 |
Image codec engine
A method implemented in a graphics engine for decoding image blocks to derive an original image is provided. The method comprises receiving at least one encoded image data block at a block decoder, the at least one encoded image data block comprising a plurality of codewords and a bitmap. The method further comprises determining a block type based on the plurality of codewords and selecting a decoder unit among a plurality of decoder units in accordance with the block type. |
| US08908976B2 |
Image information processing apparatus
An image information processing apparatus comprising: an extraction unit that extracts an object from a photographed image; a calculation unit that calculates an orientation of the object as exhibited in the image; and a provision unit that provides a tag to the image according to the orientation of the object. |
| US08908975B2 |
Apparatus and method for automatically recognizing a QR code
An apparatus and method for automatically recognizing a QR code without a need to control the distance for recognition in relation to one QR code or two or more QR codes. The apparatus includes a photographing unit obtaining a surrounding image the QR code including recognition points and surroundings, a QR code recognition unit converting the surrounding image into a grayscale image of a pixel unit, converting the grayscale image into a histogram indicative of a distribution map according to the luminosity of each pixel, extracting only pixels having a luminosity value concentration level corresponding to a threshold or higher based on the histogram, setting the extracted pixels as a candidate pixel group, searching the set candidate pixel group for recognition points through a recognition marker, when the recognition points are conceived, recognizing a region in which the conceived recognition points are placed as a QR code. |
| US08908966B2 |
Image adjustment using extended range curves
A digital image having associated tonal data, including tonal data in an extended range above a normalized value of 1.0, can be accessed. An extended range curve tool corresponding to the digital image can be instantiated, the extended range curve tool including a curve defining a relationship between input tonal values and output tonal values, wherein at least a portion of the input tonal values and output tonal values are associated with the extended range. An extended range histogram also can be generated based on the tonal data associated with the digital image, the extended range histogram including data corresponding to the extended range. Further, the extended range histogram can be presented in conjunction with the extended range curve tool. Additionally, user input specifying an adjustment to at least a portion of the curve can be received and a modified curve can be presented in response to the specified adjustment. |
| US08908965B2 |
Image processor, image processing method, image processing program, and chip circuit
An image processor includes: a first calculator configured to calculate similarity between a first region including a target pixel and a second region including a reference pixel and calculate a multiplication coefficient which increases as the similarity increases; a second calculator configured to calculate a random number; a sum-of-products arithmetic unit configured to multiply a pixel value of each reference pixel by the multiplication coefficient and the random number and compute a sum of the products; a coefficient summation unit configured to multiply the multiplication coefficient by the random number and compute a sum of the products; and a division unit configured to divide the result of the sum-of-products arithmetic unit by the result of the coefficient summation unit. |
| US08908961B2 |
System and methods for arabic text recognition based on effective arabic text feature extraction
A method for automatically recognizing Arabic text includes building an Arabic corpus comprising Arabic text files written in different writing styles and ground truths corresponding to each of the Arabic text files, storing writing-style indices in association with the Arabic text files, digitizing an Arabic word to form an array of pixels, dividing the Arabic word into line images, forming a text feature vector from the line images, training a Hidden Markov Model using the Arabic text files and ground truths in the Arabic corpus in accordance with the writing-style indices, and feeding the text feature vector into a Hidden Markov Model to recognize the Arabic words. |
| US08908954B2 |
Reduction of noise caused by absorption of x-ray photons in pixelated image sensors
There is provided a method and corresponding device for noise generated by absorption of x-ray photons in an image sensor having a number of pixels. The method is based on identifying (S1) so-called hot pixels affected by absorption of x-rays, and calculating (S2), for each hot pixel, directional gradients in a number of different directions in a pixel neighborhood of the hot pixel. The method further involves selecting (S3), for each hot pixel, at least one direction among those directions having lowest gradient, and determining (S4), for each hot pixel, a replacement value based on neighborhood pixel values in the selected direction(s). For each hot pixel, the value of the hot pixel is then replaced (S5) with the determined replacement value. In this way, noise generated by the absorption of x-ray photons in the image sensor may be reduced, while substantially maintaining the resolution (sharpness) in the image. |
| US08908953B2 |
Imaging system and imaging method for imaging a region of interest
The present invention relates to an imaging system for imaging a region of interest, wherein the imaging system comprises a projection data generation unit including a radiation source (2) and a detection unit (6) for acquiring projection data in different angular directions. The projection generation unit is adapted for acquiring projection data in an acquisition region on the detection unit. The imaging system further comprises a reconstruction unit (12) for reconstructing a first image of the region of interest from the acquired projection data and a forward projection unit (13) for forward projecting through the first image of the region of interest for calculating projection data corresponding to regions on the detection unit outside of the acquisition region. The reconstruction unit (12) is adapted for reconstructing a second image of the region of interest from the acquired projection data and from the calculated projection data. |
| US08908950B2 |
Method for ascertaining the three-dimensional volume data, and imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus has a capture device for capturing 1D or 2D image data. A position and/or orientation for a moving section of an examination object is captured, for example using a measuring device, for a plurality of capture times for the image data. A computation device reconstructs 3D volume data from the image data based on projection parameters and based on the position and/or orientation of the moving section of the examination object. |
| US08908948B2 |
Method for brain tumor segmentation in multi-parametric image based on statistical information and multi-scale structure information
A method for brain tumor segmentation in multi-parametric 3D magnetic resonance (MR) images, comprising: determining, for each voxel in the multi-parametric 3D MR image sequence, a probability that the voxel is part of brain tumor; extracting multi-scale structure information of the image; generating multi-scale tumor probability map based on initial tumor probability at voxel level and multi-scale structure information; determining salient tumor region based on multi-scale tumor probability map; obtaining robust initial tumor and non-tumor label based on tumor probability map at voxel level and salient tumor region; and generating a segmented brain tumor image using graph based label information propagation. The present invention is capable of achieving statistical reliable, spatially compact, and robust tumor label initialization, which is helpful to the accurate and reliable tumor segmentation. And the label information propagation framework could partially alleviate the performance degradation caused by image inconsistency between images to be segmented and training images. |
| US08908946B2 |
Information processing apparatus and its control method and data processing system
In order to provide a technology which allows efficient understanding of images of a disease locus and diagnosis supporting information for the images, an information processing apparatus comprises: an input unit which inputs object identification information for identifying an object; an acquiring unit which acquires one or more schemas related to the object and medical image data related to the schema, an identification unit which identifies a disease locus region in medical image data respectively related to each of the one or more schemas, a time-series schema generating unit which generates a time-series schema of the disease locus, a time-series image data generating unit which generates time-series image data of the disease locus, and a display output unit which synchronizes and outputs the time-series schema of the disease locus and the time-series image data of the disease locus. |
| US08908939B2 |
Perfusion imaging
A system includes a perfusion information determiner (124) that determines perfusion information based on a combination of pre-perfusion scan image data and perfusion scan image data. |
| US08908938B2 |
Method and device for providing a segmented volume data record for a virtual colonoscopy, and computer program product
A method and a device are disclosed for providing a segmented volume data record for a virtual colonoscopy, the volume data record having image information relating to the intestines of a creature, which intestines have been labeled by a first and a second contrast agent. In at least one embodiment, voxels representing the first contrast agent, voxels representing stool remains labeled by the second contrast agent and voxels representing intestinal tissue are segmented, the segmentation taking place in a volume data record recorded of the body region of the creature having the intestines, which have been labeled by a first and a second contrast agent. In at least one embodiment, at least sections of the intestinal wall are displayed on the basis of the segmentation in the virtual colonoscopy, even if these sections of the intestinal wall are, in the segmented volume data record, covered by stool remains labeled by the second contrast agent. Further, a computer program product having a computational program for carrying out the method is also disclosed. |
| US08908937B2 |
Method and device for digital image templating
Methods and devices for orthopedic templating are presented. In an example embodiment, a template object is displayed on an output device that is also displaying a target object and a reference object. The target object may be displayed at an unknown magnification level, while the reference object is of a known size. By measuring the size of the reference object as displayed, the magnification level of the target object can be determined. Then, the template object or the target object can be sized such that the template object substantially matches at least a section of the target object. Once matched, the template object may be overlaid, transparently or semi-transparently, on or with the target object. The template object may also be rotated or moved so that it aligns with at least the matched part of the target object. |
| US08908931B2 |
Using photographs to manage groups
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a computer system, an electronic photograph; and identifying, by the computer system, a plurality of users of depicted in the electronic photograph. The computer-implemented method can also include designating a group of users based on the identified plurality of users; and providing information regarding the designated group of users to one or more computing devices associated with one or more of the plurality of users. |
| US08908929B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product implementing anonymous biometric matching
Method, apparatus and computer program product compare biometrics in an anonymous manner. A first collection of biometrics is transformed using a first cancelable non-invertible biometric transform to create a first collection of transformed biometrics. A second collection of biometrics is transformed using the first cancelable non-invertible biometric transform to create a second collection of transformed biometrics. The first and second collection of transformed biometrics are then compared in the transformed domain to determine if any of the transformed biometrics from the first collection match any of the transformed biometrics from the second collection. If a match is found, the parties respectively maintaining the first and second collections of biometrics exchange information confidential nature of the biometrics are maintained by the entities responsible for the collections, since the biometrics are not compared in an untransformed state. |
| US08908928B1 |
Body modeling and garment fitting using an electronic device
Methods and systems for generating a size measurement of a body part of person for fitting a garment include providing photographic data that includes images of the body part and using feature extraction techniques to create a computer model of the body part. |
| US08908927B2 |
Automatic method and system for identifying healthiness of a plant
A system for diagnosing an object that includes a preset of an object, a visual representation associated with one or more sub objects of at least part of the object, and a module to analyze the applicable visual representation. The visual representation is captured by a device and provides a specified status of the object. Further the analysis provides a measure of fit between the preset and the specified status of the object as captured and is carried out based on keypoint descriptors used to separate sub objects on the applicable visual representation. The device has a reproduction capturing device and data connectivity. |
| US08908926B2 |
Method of 3D object delineation from 3D seismic data
A method of 3D object delineation from 3D seismic data comprising the steps of, providing 3D seismic data; processing the data based on at least one characteristic whereby said characteristic is extracted from the data and compared with at least one reference characteristic and delineated based on the comparison, and defining a geological element based on the delineation. The characteristics may be adjusted. Data can be processed based on one characteristic then processed based on a second characteristic or data is processed based on two characteristics substantially simultaneously. Data may be processed n times producing n delineations from which the geological element is defined. An algorithm is provided for processing the data which may shift an evolving shape description of an object between explicit and implicit representations, where each shift applies a transformation to the object. Multiple sources of data may be utilized simultaneously to drive the delineation process. |