| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08925122B2 |
Fully articulable shower curtain rod
Shower curtain rod designs for providing a shower curtain rod that allows the wet, inner-stall facing side of a shower curtain to be quickly and easily rotated 180-360 degrees. This rotation allows the wet, inner-stall facing side of the shower curtain to be positioned so that it faces out into the room rather than facing the shower stall. This facilitates faster and easier drying of the wet, inner-stall facing side of the shower curtain due to improved airflow and the lower humidity of the room. These features facilitate ease of cleaning and/or inspecting of the shower curtain, while also reducing the opportunity for mold, mildew and bacteria to grow on the curtain as the shower curtain has an improved drying time. |
| US08925121B2 |
Method and system for rapid and controlled elevation of a raisable floor for pools
A rapid elevation floor system for a pool at least partially filled with pool water, including a raisable floor for disposing over the bottom of the pool. The raisable floor is combined of a plurality of modular floor elements, at least some of which include a ballasting receptacle. The ballasting receptacle is adapted to receive and discharge a volume of a flotation fluid lighter than the pool water, enabling the pool water to occupy any part of the volume when unoccupied by the flotation fluid. When the raisable floor is disposed beneath the surface of the pool water, the amount of the flotation fluid contained in the raisable floor is adjusted to render the specific weight of the raisable floor as equal to, or as slightly greater than the specific weight of the pool water, such that pumping of the flotation fluid into the ballasting receptacle(s) urges a rapid elevation of the raisable floor. |
| US08925117B2 |
Clothing and apparel with internal flexibility sipes and at least one attachment between surfaces defining a sipe
Devices with one or more internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, to provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability. The device includes at least a first bladder, chamber or compartment. An internal sipe is defined by at least a portion of two opposing internal surfaces that can move relative to each other in a sliding sideways motion, one of which surfaces is a surface of the first bladder, chamber or compartment. The device includes at least one attachment between the portions of said first and second surfaces defining at least one internal sipe, and at least one attachment is located at a central portion of the first bladder, chamber, or compartment. Siped devices can be used in apparel or clothing. |
| US08925115B1 |
Low profile medical kit
A first aid systems for an ultra compact first-aid pouch configured to fit behind the ballistic plates of a protective vest are disclosed. In this configuration, the first-aid kit is protected from shrapnel and tearing, is easily locatable and removable and does not effect the user's freedom of movement. When the first-aid pouch is removed from its protected location, it presents the first-aid equipment in a logical and easily viewable manner. |
| US08925114B2 |
Perspiration concealing brassiere
A perspiration concealing brassiere having a brassiere-shaped body with a left side and a right side, and a left sleeve and a right sleeve both coupled to the brassiere-shaped body, the left and right sleeves each defining an arm placement zone, extending outwardly away from at least one of the left and right sides of the brassiere-shaped body, and having a fluid inhibiting layup spanning an inferior portion of the sleeve, the fluid inhibiting layup including an outer layer, a mid-layer located between the outer layer and an inner layer and being of a material that is operable to absorb and retain fluid, the inner layer being located beyond the mid-layer and being of a material different from the mid-layer. |
| US08931108B2 |
Hardware enforced content protection for graphics processing units
A graphics processing unit (GPU) is configured to access a first memory unit according to one of an unsecure mode and a secure mode. The GPU may include a memory access controller configured to allow the GPU to read data from only an unsecure portion of the first memory unit when the GPU is in the unsecure mode, and configured to allow the GPU to write data only to a secure portion of the first memory unit when the GPU is in the secure mode. |
| US08931105B2 |
Method, system and software product for transferring content to a remote device
The present invention relates to a method for transferring content to a device, the method including the steps of: receiving a request for content from the device; delivering a uniquely identifiable, ephemeral player to the device; and transferring content to the device, for presentation on the device by the player. The invention has particular application to digital rights management in respect of the distribution of audiovisual content such as film and television programs, advertisements and live event broadcasts over communication networks such as the Internet. |
| US08931104B2 |
Digital rights management method and apparatus
A digital rights management (DRM) method and apparatus are provided. The DRM method includes generating a rights object request message for requesting a rights object corresponding to content stored in a media player and transmitting the rights object request message; receiving a rights object response message corresponding to the rights object request message from a media server which receives the rights object request message; and obtaining a rights object using the rights object response message. |
| US08931101B2 |
Application-level anomaly detection
An example includes intercepting one or more activities performed by an application on a computing device. The intercepting uses an instrumentation layer separating the application from an operating system on the computing device. The one or more activities are compared with one or more anomaly detection policies in a policy configuration file to detect or not detect presence of one or more anomalies. In response to the comparison detecting presence of one or more anomalies, indication(s) of the one or more anomalies are stored. Another example includes receiving indication(s) of anomaly(ies) experienced by an application on computing device(s) and analyzing the indication(s) of the anomaly(ies) to determine whether corrective action(s) should be issued. Responsive to a determination corrective action(s) should be issued based on the analyzing, the corrective action(s) are issued to the computing device(s). Methods, program products, and apparatus are disclosed. |
| US08931100B2 |
Disinfection of a file system
A method for determining appropriate actions to remedy potential security lapses following infection of a device by malware. Following detection of infection of the device the device undergoes a cleaning operation. As part of the cleaning operation infected electronic files and any other associated files or objects are removed from the device. From timestamps associated with the infected files and associated files and objects, either directly or from another source such as an anti-virus trace program, the time of infection can be estimated. This allows the system to reference timestamps on the device to determine the source of the infection. Additionally, if the type of infection is identified timestamps on the device can be used to determine where there are particular areas of vulnerability due to user actions on the device. |
| US08931099B2 |
System, method and program for identifying and preventing malicious intrusions
Computer system, method and program product for identifying a malicious intrusion. A first number of different destination IP addresses, a second number of different destination ports and a third number of different signatures of messages, are identified from a source IP address during a predetermined period. A determination is made that in one or more other such predetermined periods the source IP address sent messages having the first number of different destination IP addresses, the second number of different destination ports and the third number of different signatures. Based on the determination that in the one or more other such predetermined periods the source IP address sent messages having the first number of different destination IP addresses, the second number of different destination ports and the third number of different signatures, a determination is made that the messages are characteristic of a malicious intrusion. |
| US08931096B2 |
Detecting malicious use of computer resources by tasks running on a computer system
A method, apparatus, and computer program product for identifying malware is disclosed. The method identifies processes in a running process list on a host computer system. The method identifies ports assigned to the processes in the running process list on the host computer system. The method determines whether any one of ports that is currently in use in the host computer system is not assigned to any of the processes in the running process list. The method then makes a record that a hidden, running process is present as a characteristic of an attack in response to a determination that one of the ports is currently in use but is not assigned to any of the processes in the running process list in the host computer system. |
| US08931095B2 |
System and method for assessing whether a communication contains an attack
Communications can be processed with multiple countermeasures to identify attacks. Each countermeasure can compute a probability of a communication containing an attack and an accompanying confidence score indicating confidence in the probability. Combining the probabilities can produce a composite probability and associated confidence of the communication containing an attack. The composite probability and confidence scores can be produced from a weighted combination of the individual countermeasure probabilities and confidence scores. Weighting factors can be generated or obtained from a database that stores profiles of confirmed attacks. |
| US08931093B2 |
Malicious request attribution
Methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for malicious request attribution are presented. For example, according to one aspect, requests for one or more records may be received from a requesting computing device. A determination may be made that the requests are of a malicious nature. Responsive to determining that the requests are of a malicious nature, one or more requests for obtaining information about the requesting computing device may be generated, and communicated to the requesting computing device. In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more requests for obtaining information about the requesting computing device may be configured to cause the requesting computing device to fail to properly render at least a portion of a web page comprising at least one of the one or more records. |
| US08931092B2 |
System and method for computer inspection of information objects for shared malware components
Embodiments of a system and method for computer inspection of information objects, for example, executable software applications for common components that may include elements of computer viruses, items from hacker exploit libraries, or other malware components. Information objects may contain identified sequences of instructions, each of which may be identified and hierarchically grouped based on their structural relationship(s). In the software context, programming languages may include multiple components that include functional code; these components are often shared between programmers. In some embodiments, an inspection of the hierarchical relationship of components (e.g., constituent functions) in the information objects may allow for identification of common components shared between programs. In some embodiments, authorship of objects or components in the objects may be identified by comparisons between component samples. In some embodiments, inspection of the relationship between components is limited to component groups having a specified structural size, complexity, or eccentricity. |
| US08931090B2 |
Safe file transmission and reputation lookup
A method of safe file transmission and reputation lookup is provided. As a part of the safe file transmission and reputation lookup methodology, a data file that is to be made available to a data file receiver is accessed and it is determined whether the data file needs to be provided a protective file. The data file is wrapped in a protective file to create a non-executing package file. Access is provided to the non-executing package file where the associated data file is prevented from being executed until data file reputation information is received. |
| US08931085B2 |
Download optimization in the presence of multicast data
There is provided a method for optimizing a download of requested data to an electronic data processing unit that is currently receiving unrequested multicast data through a router included in a network. The unrequested multicast data corresponds to at least one multicast data group. Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) V2 Leave Messages are sent to the router for the at least one multicast data group. IGMP Membership Queries issued by the router for the at least one multicast data group are ignored, so as to cause the router to terminate a transmission of the unrequested multicast data to free up available bandwidth for the download of the requested data. |
| US08931083B2 |
Multi-layer multi-point or randomized passwords
A method of authenticating a user of a computing device is proposed, together with computing device on which the method is implemented. In the method a modified base image is overlaid with a modified overlay image on a display. At least one of the modified base image and modified overlay image is moved by the user. Positive authentication is indicated in response a first point relative to the base image reference point being aligned with a second point relative to the overlay image reference point. |
| US08931082B2 |
Multi-security-CPU system
A computing system includes a first security central processing unit (SCPU) of a system-on-a-chip (SOC), the first SCPU configured to execute functions of a first security level. The computing system also includes a second SCPU of the SOC coupled with the first SCPU and coupled with a host processor, the second SCPU configured to execute functions of a second security level less secure than the first security level, and the second SCPU executing functions not executed by the first SCPU. |
| US08931081B2 |
Device identification for externalizing password from device coupled with user control of external password service
Information and data stored by a mobile device is protected by comprising applying password-protection to the locally-stored information without persistently storing the corresponding password locally. Rather, the corresponding password is stored by a remote password server. In response to a trigger event on the mobile device, such as an unlocking action by the user, a request is sent by the mobile device to the password server to retrieve the corresponding server, and the corresponding password is returned to the mobile device. The mobile device can then use the password to access the protected information. If the user determines that the mobile device is lost, stolen, or out of the user's physical control, the user may access the password server and disable the sending of the password to the mobile device, thereby thwarting attempts to access the protected data on the mobile device. |
| US08931080B2 |
Method and system for controlling the execution of a function protected by authentification of a user, in particular for the access to a resource
A method and system for controlling the execution of a function protected by authentication of a user and which is provided for example for the access to a resource. The method includes inputting, by the user, of personal data using an input device, authenticating the user with the input personal data for authorizing or not authorizing the execution of the function; in a secure card connected to the input device, storing limited validity authentication data dependant on the input data; when the card is connected to a processing device by which the user generates a message whose processing implements the function, using the stored data, taking into account the limited validity, to authorize or not authorize the execution of that function. |
| US08931076B2 |
Secure route discovery node and policing mechanism
A computer implemented method for obtaining a secure route. A trusted host sets a node security association for a trusted host. The trusted host receives, at the trusted host, a client communication request directed to a destination host. The trusted host builds a secure route query comprising a trusted host address, a destination host address, and at least one security level, to form at least one secure route. The trusted host sends packets from the trusted host to the destination host based on the at least one secure route. The packets are responsive to the client communication request, and the packets each have a security label that matches the security level. |
| US08931074B2 |
Adaptive system behavior change on malware trigger
A hardware secured flag mechanism which is activated by trusted Anti-Malware (AM) software. Upon being activated, the information handling system takes action to reduce user exposure even if the AM software is subsequently subverted. In certain embodiments, the flag mechanism is only reset by user intervention at a BIOS or other off-line mechanism. In certain embodiments, the flag mechanism may only be reset via a signed unlock key stored on an external memory device such as a universal serial bus (USB) key. |
| US08931073B2 |
Firewall access control with border gateway protocol attributes
Packets are routed from at least one internet protocol (IP) address in accordance with border gateway protocol (BGP); while carrying out the routing in accordance with the border gateway protocol (BGP), at least one border gateway protocol (BGP) attribute associated with the at least one internet protocol (IP) address is noted. A firewall policy is applied to the packets from the at least one internet protocol (IP) address based on the at least one border gateway protocol (BGP) attribute associated with the at least one internet protocol (IP) address. Techniques may be implemented, for example, on a router or on a separate firewall device coupled to a router. |
| US08931071B2 |
Biometric authentication for video communication sessions
Systems and methods for integrating biometric authentication with video conference sessions are described. An individual seeking to participate in a video conference may first be identified with a biometric parameter such as an iris scan based on a comparison of the scanned iris with a database of stored parameters. If authorized, the system may connect the individual to the video session. In addition, the system may generate dynamic tags that allow the participants to identify and locate individuals in the video conference. For example, if one of the participants is speaking and moving within the room, her tag may change color and move with her on the video screen. |
| US08931059B2 |
Method and apparatus for cross DRM domain registration
A content moving device may provide content to plurality of different user devices using a plurality of different DRM systems. The content moving device provides for registration of the DRM systems associated with the user devices. The content moving device may verify a user device by a DRM ID associated with the user device. A domain size may be used to limit the number of content user devices that may be approved for access. |
| US08931058B2 |
Systems and methods for permission arbitrated transaction services
Systems and methods disclosed allow a permitting party to share personal information with a receiving party. The receiving party may use the information to authenticate the permitting party, assess the permitting party, determine if the permitting party is compatible with one or more other users associated with the receiving party, or validate the permitting party. The permitting party may define how much of the permitting party's personal information is shared, and/or limit the use of the information for one or more specific purposes. A requesting party may also set up criteria for the types of information it wants to review along with the intended use of the information. The systems and methods disclosed also enables permitting parties the ability to grant requesting parties access to requested information. |
| US08931056B2 |
Establishing privileges through claims of valuable assets
A service accessible by a set of entities may be provided to each entity at a different service level (e.g., with a different set of privileges) based on the privilege level of the entity. However, many users may attempt to perform malicious activities through the service, and may do so with impunity if the penalties of detection are inconsequential. Instead, privilege levels of entities may be established based on the claims of assets having identifiable value. Such claims may be established by submitting an asset identifier to the service, such as proof of a software license identified by the submission of a license key purchased at a substantial cost. The penalties of malicious activities performed by such users may include the invalidation of such asset identifiers. Establishing the privilege levels of respective entities in this manner raises the penalties, and hence the deterrence, of attempted malicious use of the service. |
| US08931053B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless security enhancement using multiple attributes monitoring, continuous and interleaved authentication, and system adaptation
The present invention is an adaptive secure wireless communications system and method. Generally, the present invention may be operable to address challenges and threats to a secure communication session. The secure wireless communication system of the present invention may operate one or more of the following: multiple physical-layer attributes monitoring; multiple parameter confidence testing related to transceiver (Tx-Rx) specific environment and transmitter receiver hardware characteristics; continuous and interleaved authentication; and security enhancement using dynamic adaptation of the transmission system parameters based concurrent and/or conjugated transmission of data-carrying signal and security control information. The real-time physical-layer related monitoring and interaction between transmitter and receiver, using Tx-Rx related physical environment, of the present invention may effectively reduce many wireless security threats including interception and spoofing. |
| US08931051B2 |
Scalable and highly available clustering for large scale real-time applications
Scaling and highly available clustering for large scale real-time applications is provided. A ring may be formed which includes multiple nodes for providing a set of services in a system. When a network partition is detected which affects communications between each of the nodes in the ring, the formation of additional rings is prevented by shutting down nodes which include a minority of voting nodes in the ring while maintaining the availability of the nodes which include a majority of the voting nodes to continue providing the set of services in the system. |
| US08931047B2 |
System and method for securing virtualized networks
A method and apparatus that secures a dynamic virtualized network is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a device learns a current network policy of the dynamic virtualized network, where the dynamic virtualized network is a virtualized layer 2 network that is overlaid on a layer 3 physical network. In addition, the current network policy includes multiple network policy elements, where each of the multiple network policy elements identifies an authorized endpoint in the dynamic virtualized network. Furthermore, the layer 3 physical network includes multiple network access devices. The device further determines a network security policy for the dynamic virtualized network from the current network policy. The network security policy includes one or more second network policy elements that are a different network policy element than one of the multiple network policy elements of the current network policy. In addition, each of the one or more second network policy network elements adds an additional policy on how network traffic is processed in the dynamic virtualized network by a port of one of the plurality of network access devices. The device further applies the network security policy to each network access device that is affected by the network security policy. |
| US08931046B2 |
System and method for securing virtualized networks
A method and apparatus that secures a dynamic virtualized network is described. In an exemplary embodiment, a device learns a current network policy of the dynamic virtualized network, where the dynamic virtualized network is a virtualized layer 2 network that is overlaid on a layer 3 physical network. In addition, the current network policy includes multiple network policy elements, where each of the multiple network policy elements identifies an authorized endpoint in the dynamic virtualized network. Furthermore, the layer 3 physical network includes multiple network access devices. The device further determines a network security policy for the dynamic virtualized network from the current network policy. The network security policy includes one or more second network policy elements that are a different network policy element than one of the multiple network policy elements of the current network policy. In addition, each of the one or more second network policy network elements adds an additional policy on how network traffic is processed in the dynamic virtualized network by a port of one of the plurality of network access devices. The device further applies the network security policy to each network access device that is affected by the network security policy. |
| US08931045B2 |
Method and apparatus for management of multiple grouped resources on device
A method and computing device for managing grouped resources comprising receiving, at the computing device, a policy for a set of grouped resources; applying the policy; locking at least one of the computing device or the set of grouped resources associated with the policy; waiting for receipt of an authentication parameter at the computing device; verifying the authentication parameter; associating the set of grouped resources with the authentication parameter; and unlocking the least one of the computing device or the set of grouped resources. |
| US08931041B1 |
Method and system for visibility and control over access transactions between clouds using resource authorization messages
A computing system detects an access transaction based on one or more resource authorization messages transmitted via a resource authorization protocol. The access transaction pertains to access of a protected resource by a consumer cloud, the protected resource hosted by a provider cloud. The computing system generates relationship data based on the resource authorization messages. The relationship data can indicate a resource owner that is granting the access, the consumer cloud, and/or the provider cloud. The computing system performs an access control action in relation to the access transaction based on the relationship data. The access control action can be allowing the consumer cloud access to the protected resource or denying the consumer cloud access to the protected resource. |
| US08931039B2 |
Method and system for a document-based knowledge system
A document-based storage and knowledge production solution designed for use as a primary information system is disclosed. It uses Authentication, Privacy and Security Standards to ensure the source and reliability of the information in the stored documents. It uses Information and Document Standards to explicitly define the information content held in each document. Electronic documents from separate authors, from the same or separate legal entities, are stored together in the same system and can be used in aggregate for the generation of new knowledge. Variations are used to accelerate response times. Other variations describe the method's use as a Variable Electronic Health Record System in which different parts of the system can be produced by separate manufacturers. This is possible because the underlying document-based knowledge system stores the separate documents from each manufacturer's system in such a manner that they can be understood by systems from other manufacturers. |
| US08931037B2 |
Policy-based access to virtualized applications
When a request is received to execute a virtualized application, an application virtualization client component evaluates an execution policy to determine if the application may be executed. If the application virtualization client component determines based on the execution policy that the virtualized application may be executed, the application virtualization client component publishes the virtualized application. The application virtualization client component publishes the application by making the virtualized application available for execution if the application is installed, and installing the virtualized application if it is not installed. The application virtualization client component also evaluates the execution policy during execution of the virtualized application. If the application virtualization client component determines that the execution policy is no longer satisfied, the application virtualization client component unpublishes the virtualized application, thereby preventing execution of the virtualized application. |
| US08931036B1 |
Transformation of extensible markup language documents for web services customization
A system is provided comprising at least one processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory that, when executed, receives a first request from a client device for access to a first web service and accesses a policy associated with the first web service. The system also selects a second plurality of data elements from a first plurality of data elements based on the first request and based on the policy wherein the second plurality of data elements is associated with the first web service. The system also provides the second plurality of data elements to the client device and receives a second request from the client device for a first set of data values associated with the second plurality of data elements. The system also authenticates the second request and provides the first set of data values in response to the second request. |
| US08931027B2 |
Media gateway
Disclosed is a media gateway that processes AV signals offered over various channels into AV stream data and wirelessly transmits the AV stream data to a client such as PC or TV The media gateway includes: a broadcast signal receiver for selecting a broadcast signal and dividing the selected broadcast signal into video and audio signals; a video decoder for decoding the video signal into a displayable image signal; an A/D converter for digitally converting the audio signal; an encoder for encoding the digitally converted audio signal and the image signal; a data communication unit for transmitting/receiving AV stream data and a client control command to/from a data communication unit on a client side; and a main processor for controlling a tuner in the broadcast signal receiver according to a client control command conforming to HTTP standards received through the data communication unit and transmitting AV stream data obtained by encoding a broadcast signal of a channel selected by the tuner to a client side. |
| US08931023B2 |
Method and system for providing feedback based on monitoring of channels at a customer premise
An approach for providing feedback based on monitoring of channels at a customer premise is described. A digital signal representing a plurality of channels transported over a media broadcast network is received at a set-top box apparatus. A determination of whether one of the plurality of channels satisfies a predetermined criterion relating to performance of the media broadcast network is performed. A network feedback signal based on the determination is generated, at the set-top box apparatus, for transmission to a network monitoring node of the media broadcast network. |
| US08931020B2 |
Remote management system for at least one audiovisual information reproduction device
Method for remote management of at least one audiovisual information reproduction device comprising a host server connected to each audiovisual information reproduction device, the host server comprising a database containing management information for each audiovisual information reproduction device, wherein the host server also comprises a site manager communicating with the database, and comprising a number of screens, at least one first screen comprising a menu displaying the list of audiovisual information reproduction systems, validating the choice of each audiovisual information reproduction device causing the display of a first series of screens that the operator can use to modify the operating parameters of at least one selected audiovisual information reproduction device and/or a second series of screens that the operator can use to order at least one song for downloading onto the audiovisual information reproduction systems from a chosen list of devices or to delete at least one song, and/or a third series of screens displaying information about the use of an audiovisual information reproduction device. |
| US08931016B2 |
Program handoff between devices and program network offloading
Methods, devices, and non-transitory storage mediums provide a program handoff between user devices. The program handoff permits a user to select a user device with which to resume a playing of the program. The program handoff also permits a user to set a reminder for playing the program. Methods, devices, and non-transitory storage mediums provide for an application layer-based network offloading of programs. A program is buffered based on a network offloading time and the program is played from a buffer during an execution of a network offload. Network offload prediction is used to minimize network offload time and buffering. |
| US08931013B2 |
Method and system for controlling a queue for communicating content in a broadcast communication system
A system for scheduling content includes a scheduling system having a plurality of queues each having a priority level and a block type. The scheduling system assigns content to one of the plurality of queues. The scheduling system obtains a channel block from a schedule manager and assigns the plurality of queues to the channel block based on the priority level and block type. A communication system communicates the plurality of channel blocks to a user device through a channel using the channel blocks. |
| US08931008B2 |
Promotional philosophy for a video-on-demand-related interactive display within an interactive television application
Systems and methods for providing an interactive display having indicators of video-on-demand programs are described. The systems and methods select indicators for inclusion in the interactive display according to a promotional selection algorithm. |
| US08931003B2 |
Image display apparatus and method for operating the same
A multifunctional display device and a method of controlling the same are disclosed herein. The method may include displaying a first card object in a first area of the display, displaying a second card object in a second area of the display, and partially displaying a third card object in a third area of the display to indicate that additional card objects are available for display. The first card object may be configured to display a video image and the second card object may have at least one link for connecting to a server. Based on a request to change the displayed card objects, the third card object may be displayed in the second area of the display and a fourth card object may be partially displayed in the third area of the display. |
| US08930997B2 |
Method and system to request audiovisual content items matched to programs identified in a program grid
A method to obtain visual content items matched to scheduled programs comprising: providing a program guide display that includes a grid with grid locations that identify scheduled programs, and that correspond to respective a scheduled program air times and a respective program sources; wherein the program guide extends over a time frame prior to the current date; providing an icon associated with a grid location that indicates that a visual content item matched to the program identified by the grid location currently is available; providing an identifier that is encoded in computer readable storage device and that is associated with the grid location and that indicates a location where the visual content item can be obtained; and accessing the location indicated by the identifier in response to a user selection of the grid location associated with the icon. |
| US08930991B2 |
System and method for delivering content to mobile devices
A system for generating an optimized video including in-stream events for video content and advertising content selected at the time of playback. The system includes a manifest generating module configured to retrieve video content from a content repository for listing in a content manifest in response to a received request from a mobile device, the content manifest including at least one advertisement insertion point. The system further includes an advertising event correlation module configured to retrieve one or more advertisements based on a correlation between advertisement properties and playback properties and an advertisement serving module configured to provide the retrieved one or more advertisement for insertion into the at least one advertisement event insertion point. |
| US08930987B2 |
Systems and methods for adaptively transmitting media and advertising content
Embodiments provide methods and systems for presenting advertisements associated with a particular media. The advertisement may have several versions, any one of which may be presented, based on several factors, including the length of time between transmission and receipt of any particular version. The transmission of the advertisements and related media content is optimize in order seamlessly transition between advertisements and media content. |
| US08930986B2 |
Receiving apparatus capable of receiving digital contents and commercial messages
A receiving apparatus comprises a recorder of the received digital contents and commercial messages. Commercial message retrieved from the recorder is interposed into a digital content or between a pair of digital contents in accordance with the type of commercial message. Interposition of commercial message is controlled by internal information, such as history of actually displaying the same commercial message, or history of skipping the same commercial message. The receiving apparatus controls the repetition time of displaying the same commercial message, or decision whether or not actually displaying a specific commercial message, or the order of displaying commercial messages. Skip of commercial message is prevented unless display has been repeated over a minimum requirement, or user agrees with a compensation for the skip. Repetition of the same commercial message ceases with skip repeated over a limit. Notice of interposing commercial message or of compensation for skip is made in advance. |
| US08930983B2 |
Broadcast receiving apparatus and method for controlling the same
The present invention relates to an apparatus capable of transmitting video data to a display panel. The apparatus includes a managing unit configured to manage history information on a program transmitted to individual display panels in association with display panel information, a first determination unit configured to determine whether the program transmitted to the display panels is a restricted program that requires authentication information, a second determination unit configured, if the program is determined to be the restricted program, to determine, using the history information, whether the display panel is a display panel that displayed the restricted program in the past, and a control unit configured to transmit video data of the restricted program to the display panel if the display panel displayed the restricted program in the past. |
| US08930979B2 |
Apparatus and methods for identifying and characterizing latency in a content delivery network
Methods and apparatus for identification and characterization of latency in a content delivery network. In one embodiment, interaction of users with content is recorded via the collection of a plurality of tuning records; the latency is then utilize to adjust the timing on the tuning records to account for lapses in time for sending these from between entities of the network and the user devices, and for processing occurring at the devices as required. The latency is determined by taking into account an experimentally or manufacturer-derived device specific latency component, and a network latency component. The network latency component is determined in one variant by sending a message to the device from the network requesting a current system time (or other response). Once the timing of the tuning records is adjusted, these tuning records may be relied upon as being accurate representations of subscriber interaction with content on a second-by-second basis. Accordingly, tuning records may be obtained and analyzed for content which lasts for very short periods of time (e.g. advertisements). |
| US08930977B1 |
Tracking user affinity through interactions with media files
A user's interactions with a media player during the playing of a media file may provide a variety of information regarding the user's interests in the media file, or in any objects, images, sounds, individuals, things or themes expressed or described therein. A media player or the software operating thereon may be modified to receive interactions from the user and/or to analyze such interactions in order to associate the user with such objects, images, sounds, individuals, things or themes. The user's interactions may also be analyzed by a media service, an online marketplace or any external location in order to identify any items related to such objects, images, sounds, individuals, things or themes, or for any other purpose. |
| US08930975B2 |
Methods and systems for compensating for disabilities when presenting a media asset
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for supplementing media assets in order to compensate for a particular disability of a user. Specifically, a media guidance application determines whether or not a user can comprehend a media asset based on the particular disability of the user. Upon determining that the user cannot comprehend the media asset, the media guidance application supplements the media asset with supplemental data, which compensates for the particular disability of the user. |
| US08930974B2 |
Disk-shaped information recording medium, disk cartridge, and information recording/reproducing apparatus
The disk-shaped information recording medium having an outer diameter and an inner diameter comprises a substrate having a predetermined thickness, a first side that is one side of the substrate, a second side that is the other side of the substrate, a cylindrical portion forming a through hole formed at a center of the substrate, and a thin portion formed so as to surround an outer diameter of the cylindrical portion. The thin portion is thinner than the predetermined thickness and includes a non-inclined surface and an inclined surface formed on an outer diameter side of the non-inclined surface. The inclined surface is inclined at a predetermined angle to the non-inclined surface and is larger than the non-inclined surface in the thin portion. |
| US08930968B2 |
Method and driver for processing data in a virtualized environment
A data processing method and driver capable of reducing transactions between operating systems (OS) in a virtualization environment that supports a plurality of operating systems are provided. The data processing driver reads, when reading data, an Inode of next data. Then, the data processing driver determines whether or not to request an Inode to a host OS by comparing the read Inode with a requested Inode. |
| US08930966B2 |
Searching social connections of a user
The present invention is directed to methods and systems for providing personal connection alerts. The user desires to have a personal connection with a target person. An indicator for a target is provided by the user. The indicator is often the name of the target, but can also be a picture of the target, or other information. A record for the target is created based on the received indicator. The target record is stored. A variety of additional information regarding the target may be obtained from external or internal sources and also stored in the target record. Then the target record is periodically compared with the user's social sphere of influence, which comprises the user's primary and secondary connections. The comparison includes at least comparing the target with the user's secondary connections. When the target record matches at least one of the user's secondary connections, an alert is provided. |
| US08930965B1 |
Event-driven state-machine sequencer
A method includes, in a communication device, defining multiple state machines including states and respective state conditions that depend on a set of events. Relative priorities are defined, to be applied among the state machines in scheduling the state machines for execution in response to the events. The events are monitored and the state conditions are evaluated based on the monitored events. The state machines are executed based on the evaluated state conditions using a scheduling order that depends on the priorities. |
| US08930964B2 |
Automatic event correlation in computing environments
Systems and methods of automatic event correlation for computing environments are disclosed. An example method may include parsing an event message to identify an event, and marking the event message when the event is related to a previous event. The method may also include adding the marked event message to a trail of events. The method may also include parsing the trail of events. The method may also include changing the marked event message when parsing the trail of events confirms a condition in the computing environment. |
| US08930962B2 |
Processing unexpected messages at a compute node of a parallel computer
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for processing unexpected messages at a compute node of a parallel computer are provided. Embodiments include receiving, by the compute node, a portion of a message from another compute node of the parallel computer, the message comprising a plurality of separate portions; in response to receiving the portion of the message, determining, by the compute node, whether one of the applications executing on the compute node, has indicated that the message is expected; if one of the applications executing on the compute node has not indicated that the message is expected, storing, by the compute node, the portion of the message in an unexpected message buffer within the compute node; and if one of the applications executing on the compute node has indicated that the message is expected, storing the portion of the message at a storage destination indicated by the message. |
| US08930961B2 |
Automatic mutual exclusion
An automatic mutual exclusion computer programming system is disclosed which allows a programmer to produce concurrent programming code that is synchronized by default without the need to write any synchronization code. The programmer creates asynchronous methods which are not permitted make changes to shared memory that they cannot reverse, and can execute concurrently with other asynchronous methods. Changes to shared memory are committed if no other thread has accessed shared memory while the asynchronous method executed. Changes are reversed and the asynchronous method is re-executed if another thread has made changes to shared memory. The resulting program executes in a serialized order. A blocking system method is disclosed which causes the asynchronous method to re-execute until the blocking method's predicate results in an appropriate value. A yield system call is disclosed which divides asynchronous methods into atomic fragments. When a yield method call is made, shared memory changes are committed if possible or reversed and the atomic fragment is re-executed. |
| US08930957B2 |
System, method and program product for cost-aware selection of stored virtual machine images for subsequent use
A system, method and computer program product for allocating shared resources. Upon receiving requests for resources, the cost of bundling software in a virtual machine (VM) image is automatically generated. Software is selected by the cost for each bundle according to the time required to install it where required, offset by the time to uninstall it where not required. A number of VM images having the highest software bundle value (i.e., highest cost bundled) is selected and stored, e.g., in a machine image store. With subsequent requests for resources, VMs may be instantiated from one or more stored VM images and, further, stored images may be updated selectively updated with new images. |
| US08930952B2 |
Efficient lock hand-off in a symmetric multiprocessing system
Provided are techniques for providing a first lock, corresponding to a resource, in a memory that is global to a plurality of processor; spinning, by a first thread running on a first processor of the processors, at a low hardware-thread priority on the first lock such that the first processor does not yield processor cycles to a hypervisor; spinning, by a second thread running on a second processor, on a second lock in a memory local to the second processor such that the second processor is configured to yield processor cycles to the hypervisor; acquiring the lock and the corresponding resource by the first thread; and, in response to the acquiring of the lock by the first thread, spinning, by the second thread, at the low hardware-thread priority on the first lock rather than the second lock such that the second processor does not yield processor cycles to the hypervisor. |
| US08930948B2 |
Opportunistically proactive resource management using spare capacity
Embodiments perform opportunistically proactive resource scheduling for a plurality of resource-consuming entities. The scheduling is based on both current entitlement (or demand) by the entities and predicted future entitlement (or demand) by the entities. Resources are allocated based on the current demands, while any remaining resource capacity is further allocated to entities based on predicted demands. In some embodiments, the scheduling is performed on a cluster of hosts executing a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) in a virtualized datacenter to implement load balancing. |
| US08930930B2 |
Updating a computer system
A method, computer program product, and system for updating a computer system may include collecting data describing usage characteristics on a customer computer system. Available updates may be stored on a support system together with one or more relevant rules. A recommendation engine may be used to analyze the data describing usage characteristics and to recommend one or more changes based on evaluation of one or more relevant rules for each available update. Changes having one or more attributes and one or more successor relationships to recommend for installation in the computer system may be selected. |
| US08930924B2 |
Method of encoding and decoding a graphics path sequence into a layered scheme
This invention relates to a method of encoding a path in layered form so as to allow partial decoding and progressive rendering while decoding. The path is made of an original sequence of original draw commands, each corresponding to an original portion of a drawing. The method of encoding includes transforming at least one original draw command into an approximating draw command according to a geometrical approximation of the corresponding original portion of a drawing, to obtain a reduced sequence, encoding the reduced sequence into an encoded reduced sequence, and encoding a reconstruction information set representing the difference between the reduced sequence and the original sequence. |
| US08930922B2 |
Software-to-hardware compiler with symbol set inference analysis
A software-to-hardware compiler is provided that generates hardware constructs in programmable logic resources. The programmable logic resources may be optimized in terms of being configured to make additional copies of regions on memory devices other than on the programmable logic resources (e.g., RAM). This facilitates multiple reads during a single clock cycle. Symbol set analysis is used to minimize the size of regions to allow for more efficient use of hardware resources. |
| US08930921B2 |
Compilation and placement of instructions in a memory system
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a computer system is provided where the computer system includes a main processor, first and second active memory device. The computer system is configured to perform a method including receiving an executable module generated by a compiler, wherein the executable module includes a code section identified as executable by a first processing element in the first active memory device and a second processing element in the second active memory device. The method includes copying the code section to memory in the first device based on the code section being executable on the first device, copying the code section from the first active memory device to an instruction buffer of the first processing element and copying the code section from the first device to the second device based on the code section being executable on the second device. |
| US08930920B2 |
Self-optimizing interpreter and snapshot compilation
A method for a compiler includes receiving, by the compiler and from an interpreter, a representation of a code section having a control path that changes the representation. The representation has profiling data, and the profiling data has a threshold. The method further includes performing, by the compiler and based on the threshold, a partial evaluation of the interpreter executing the representation, compiling, by the compiler, a machine code of the representation, with the control path replaced by a deoptimization point during the compilation of the machine code, triggering the deoptimization point during execution of the machine code, and returning execution to the interpreter based on the triggering. |
| US08930912B2 |
Method and system for performing software verification
Described is a method, system, and computer program product that provides control of a hardware/software system, and allows deterministic execution of the software under examination. According to one approach, a virtual machine for testing software is used with a tightly synchronized stimulus for the software being tested. A verification tool external to the virtual machine is used to provide test stimulus to and to collect test information from the virtual machine. Test stimulus from the verification tool that is external to the virtual machine provides the stimulation that incrementally operates and changes the state of the virtual machine. The stimulus is created and coverage is collected from outside the virtual machine by first stopping the virtual machine, depositing stimulus, and then reading coverage directly from the virtual machine memory while the machine is stopped. |
| US08930910B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus is disclosed that includes a list information storage unit that stores list information on additional programs having been transmitted to equipment connected via a network, the additional programs capable of dynamically interrupting another program of the equipment with processing thereof; a combination information storage unit that stores combination information indicating a combination of the additional programs, the combination showing that the additional programs are capable of being activated; a determination unit that determines whether an activation of the additional programs having been transmitted to the equipment is possible based on the list information and the combination information; and a transmission unit that transmits the additional program deficient in the combination indicated by the combination information to the equipment if the activation of the additional programs is determined to be impossible. The additional programs dynamically interrupt the another program with the processing thereof when being activated. |
| US08930909B1 |
Debugging using presentation layer representations of objects
Exemplary embodiments enable debugging executable code using a debugger in a computational device that provides a programming environment including a presentation layer. For example, an exemplary method includes providing a first marshalling function that receives a portion of information manipulated by the executable code and produces a presentation layer representation of the portion of the information. The presentation layer representation is compatible with a debugger that debugs the executable code. An exemplary method also includes debugging the executable code to produce a presentation layer representation of the portion of the information with the first marshalling function so as to display the presentation layer representation of the portion of the information to a user via a display device. The debugging also includes modifying the presentation layer representation of the portion of the information to produce modified information for use by the executable code, a device, or a user. |
| US08930895B2 |
Automatically displaying a related file in an editor
Art editor within an integrated development environment displays a related file automatically. When a user enters a command to open a first file in the editor, the editor not only displays the first file's content (in a “primary editor”) but also automatically displays a second file's content (in a “related editor”), where the second file is related to the first file. In other words, when a first file is displayed in the editor, a file that is related to the first file is automatically displayed also. If the primary editor later displays a different file, then the file shown in the related editor will likely change as well, since the file shown in the related editor will be related to the “new” file in the primary editor. In other words, whatever is displayed in the related editor “tracks” whatever is displayed in the primary editor. |
| US08930890B2 |
Software model skinning
An apparatus, network and methods for skinning normalized meta-model compliant software models are provided. In one embodiment a set of terminology is derived from a software application. A normalized meta-model compliant software model is derived from the application. A “skin” is derived that uses the terminology of the software application. The skin is then applied to the model. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US08930888B2 |
Modelling serialized object streams
Modelling a serialized object stream can include receiving a stream of bytes corresponding to the serialized form of a first object, creating an empty initial model for containing a generic object and a generic class, and, upon detection of a class from the stream, constructing a corresponding generic class object in the model using a processor. Upon detection of a new object from the stream, a corresponding generic object in the model can be constructed. Further objects and classes in the model that are associated with the generic objects and classes can be referenced. |
| US08930886B2 |
Identifying application resources through implicit application models
Determining a discrete application boundary. A method includes identifying one or more initial components of an application. The method further includes identifying statically and/or dynamically related components of the one or more initial components of the application. Identifying statically related components and identifying dynamically related components is performed iteratively. The method further includes identifying a discrete boundary for the application based on statically related components and dynamically related components. |
| US08930884B2 |
Efficient extraction of software dependencies from program code
Calls to stop functions are identified in a computer program file. The stop functions are functions that interact with external resources. Parameters of the calls to the stop functions that are references to the external resources are identified. An analysis is performed over the computer program file to find out possible values of the parameters of the calls. |
| US08930878B1 |
System to combat design-time vulnerability
This application discloses a computing system implementing tools and mechanisms that can incorporate a security co-processor into a circuit design modeling an electronic device. The tools and mechanisms can configure the security co-processor to monitor at least a portion of the electronic device. The tools and mechanisms can generate at least one security action for the security co-processor to initiate when the security co-processor monitors the electronic device failing to conform to rules in a rules database. |
| US08930874B2 |
Filter design tool
A method according to an embodiment of a filter design tool is provided and includes receiving filter parameters for an analog filter through a user interface, where the filter parameters include an optimization parameter related to an application requirement of the analog filter, optimizing the filter for the optimization parameter, calculating a design output based on the optimized filter, and displaying the design output on the user interface. The method can further include receiving viewing parameters that specify the design output to be displayed. In various embodiments, the user interface includes an input area, a viewing area and a window area in one or more pages, where the input area is contiguous to the viewing area in at least one page. The filter parameters can be entered in the input area and the design output is calculated and displayed in the contiguous viewing area substantially immediately. |
| US08930872B2 |
Staggered island structure in an island-based network flow processor
An island-based network flow processor (IB-NFP) integrated circuit includes rectangular islands disposed in rows. In one example, the configurable mesh data bus is configurable to form a command/push/pull data bus over which multiple transactions can occur simultaneously on different parts of the integrated circuit. The rectangular islands of one row are oriented in staggered relation with respect to the rectangular islands of the next row. The left and right edges of islands in a row align with left and right edges of islands two rows down in the row structure. The data bus involves multiple meshes. In each mesh, the island has a centrally located crossbar switch and six radiating half links, and half links down to functional circuitry of the island. The staggered orientation of the islands, and the structure of the half links, allows half links of adjacent islands to align with one another. |
| US08930869B2 |
Method, program, and apparatus for aiding wiring design
A wiring-design aiding method for causing a computer to execute generating paths for buses so that the buses do not cross each other with respect to a wiring area including at least one wiring layer, the paths being represented by corresponding graphics The computer further executes verifying, for each bus, whether wires for nets belonging to the bus are successfully extracted from a component to which the bus is connected; and recording, in the wiring area, graphics representing the nets belonging to a bus for which it is determined in the verification that all the nets belonging to the bus are successfully extracted. The bus-path generation is re-executed with respect to the bus for which it is determined in the verification that at least one of the nets is not successfully extracted. |
| US08930866B2 |
Method of converting between non-volatile memory technologies and system for implementing the method
A method of designing a charge trapping memory array including designing a floating gate memory array layout. The floating gate memory layout includes a first type of transistors, electrical connections between memory cells of the floating gate memory array layout, a first input/output (I/O) interface, a first type of charge pump, and an I/O block. The method further includes modifying the floating gate memory array layout, using a processor, to replace the first type of transistors with a second type of transistors different than the first type of transistors. The method further includes determining an operating voltage difference between the I/O block and the second type of transistors. The method further includes modifying the floating gate memory array layout, using the processor, to modify the first charge pump based on the determined operating voltage difference. |
| US08930864B2 |
Method of sharing and re-using timing models in a chip across multiple voltage domains
A method and a system for timing analysis of a VLSI circuit or chip design considering manufacturing and environmental variations, where the design includes multiple instances of a gate or macro instantiated at more than one voltage domain by sharing and re-using abstracts. The timing analysis of the chip includes a macro abstract instantiated in a voltage domain different from the domain during abstract generation. Timing models are re-used across chip voltage domains or across chip designs. Moreover, a statistical timing analysis of a chip design takes into consideration the voltage domains wherein at least one timing abstract model generation time voltage domain condition differs from the macro instantiation domain in the chip. The invention further provides sharing and re-using the statistical timing models or abstracts. |
| US08930861B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for constructing a data flow and identifying a construct
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for creating a hardware design. In use, one or more parameters are received, where at least one of the parameters corresponds to an interface protocol. Additionally, a data flow is constructed based on the one or more parameters. Further, an indication of one or more control constructs is received, where a hardware design is capable of being created, utilizing the constructed data flow and the one or more control constructs. |
| US08930856B2 |
Mask rule checking based on curvature
Aspects of the invention relate to techniques for mask rule checking based on curvature information. The curvature information comprises convex curvature information and concave curvature information. The convex curvature information for a vertex of a mask feature may comprise a convex curvature value derived based on the size of a circle that passes through the vertex, is tangent to an edge and does not cross any other edges. The concave curvature information for the vertex may comprise a concave curvature value derived based on the size of a circle that is tangent to two edges that form the vertex and does not cross any other edges, and of which distance from the vertex measured from the nearest point is no more than a predetermined number. The generated curvature information is compared with threshold curvature information to determine mask rule violations. |
| US08930855B2 |
Control of search results with multipoint pinch gestures
A device incorporates a touch-enabled screen configured to accept a user's interaction with the touch screen to control display of the results of searches for information online and for listings within ecommerce sites. A user's interaction with multipoint pinch gestures, applied to the touch screen and immediately above item data listings, navigates through large volumes of search results. By touch-selection of a facet of the item data returned in an item listing, a user may scale a characteristic of the selected facet of item data according to an application of multipoint pinch gestures. By application of a pinch-out and a pinch-in gesture respectively, a date facet of metadata may be scaled backward and forward in time. |
| US08930854B2 |
Display method and information processing apparatus
A display method executed by an information processing apparatus having an operating section, a display section, and a control section exercising display control over the display section, wherein a folder having a plurality of objects stored therein includes: displaying a folder icon representing the folder on the display section; and displaying a locus associated with a dragging operation performed on the folder icon using the operating section under control exercised by the control section and deploying and displaying object icons representing the objects on the locus. |
| US08930853B2 |
Organization representation framework and design method
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for developing a business and/or technical architecture of an organization. The invention includes the ability to identify and create specific elements which are required for a specific architecture framework and putting these specific elements together within a set of models or views, and allowing access through a visual representation of the architecture framework, along with an apparatus comprising the technical features to accommodate the method allow selection of one or a number of elements to generate further visualizations and/or links to further database or operating tools while allowing interaction with know organizational representations. |
| US08930852B2 |
Touch screen folder control
Techniques are provided for manipulating folder and file icons on a screen of an electronic device. A folder icon representing a folder is displayed on a screen, in a first mode, at a first location on the screen. The folder may contain a plurality of individual files and the folder icon is configured to indicate the plurality of individual files. An activation event is detected comprising a movement from the first location on the screen to a second location on the screen. In response to detecting the activation event, the folder icon is displayed on the screen along with icons representing the individual files on the screen. The screen may display the icons of the individual files as fanning out from the folder icon and/or may display the icons of the individual files entirely outside of the folder icon. |
| US08930850B2 |
Method for generating an on-screen menu
A method for generating an on-screen menu comprising menu buttons and other menu items, e.g. help text, is characterized in that one or more groups of menu buttons or menu items are defined, wherein a group comprises one or more menu buttons or menu items and has associated a defined area on the screen. A state is assigned to a button, the state being “enabled” or “disabled”, wherein only an enabled button or item may be displayed, and wherein within a group not more than one button or item may be enabled. The state of a button can be changed by commands associated with other buttons. |
| US08930849B2 |
Enhanced media content tagging systems and methods
Exemplary enhanced media content tagging systems and methods are described herein. An exemplary method includes a media content tagging system recording a live transmission of media content in response to a user request that the media content be recorded, receiving, from a media content access device, tag data representative of a user-defined tag specifying a segment of the media content, optimizing the user-defined tag, and distributing the optimized user-defined tag to another media content access device for use by the another media content access device to identify and present the segment of the media content. In certain embodiments, the optimization of the user-defined tag may be based on an analysis of aggregated user-defined tags, an analysis of the media content, or a combination thereof. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08930847B2 |
Method for displaying windows
A method for displaying a plurality of windows includes dividing a display screen into first and second display areas. The plurality of windows may be rearranged in the first and second display areas and new windows may be displayed in the first and second display areas based on prior windows displayed. |
| US08930838B2 |
Display apparatus and display method thereof
A display apparatus and display method are provided. The display apparatus includes an image receiving unit which receives a 2D or 3D image, an image outputting unit which displays the 2D or 3D image received through the image receiving unit, an OSD processing unit which generates an OSD picture overlapped with and shown on the 2D or 3D image displayed through the image outputting unit, and a control unit which controls the OSD processing unit to adjust a transparency of the OSD picture when the 3D image is displayed through the image outputting unit. |
| US08930835B1 |
Multi-level architecture for image display
A system and method for providing the dynamic display of content and related advertisements are provided. The advertisements are displayed based on predetermined customer types. A network resource, such as Web page, can include a plurality of dynamic content modules. Depending on the available display area and additional display criteria, each dynamic content module displays a subset content and related advertisements. Each dynamic content module corresponds to an integration of multiple layers of content, such as text, graphics and image rendering information. |
| US08930830B2 |
Context-aware composites of functional modules
A computer-implemented system to receive user input at a first functional module, to issue an instruction from the first functional module to change a value of a first context item in response to the user input, to receive the instruction at a context services provider, and to issue, via the context data services provider, a notification of the changed value of the first context item. The notification is received at a second functional module based on an association of the second functional module with the first context item, and first functionality of the second functional module is generated based on the notification of the changed value of the first context item. |
| US08930823B2 |
Image forming apparatus having display device displaying first group of functions including functions of higher frequency of use and second group of functions including functions of lower frequency of use
An image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions and executing a function designated from the plurality of functions includes a display device for displaying a function selection image allowing a user to designate any of the plurality of functions. The display device displays a first group of functions of which frequency of use is higher than a prescribed threshold value, and a second group of functions of which frequency of use is not higher than the threshold value, on mutually different function selection images, with a display item indicating that functions are displayed distinguished from each other. The image forming apparatus further includes: a designating device receiving a user input designating any of the plurality of functions displayed by the display device; and an image forming unit executing the function designated by the input received by the designating device. |
| US08930822B2 |
Method for human-centric information access and presentation
In a method for composing and presenting information in a user context, the information shall be presented for the user on a man-machine interface in the form of a visual or graphic display. The method comprises steps for determining a user context in which the information is required, selecting a set of content sources, and the content components are retrieved from the content sources. The information in selected content components are computed using an information measure that reflects the information as perceived by human cognition, and an optimum presentation of the selected content components are determined and presented for the user. |
| US08930819B1 |
Visualization of the reach of a post by a member of an on-line social networking system
A system for visualizing the reach of a post by a member of an on-line social networking system may be designed to increase awareness of the members, as to which degree their posted updates are noticed and reacted to by other members. When a member creates a post, either through the on-line social networking website itself or through an application programming interface (API) that allows to include a share user interface (UI) control on a third web party site, the system monitors events associated with the post, collects statistics with respect to the monitored events and uses this data to generate a visualization of the reach of that post. Example visualization provides the creator of the a sense of how many other members interacted with the post. |
| US08930812B2 |
System and method for embedding, editing, saving, and restoring objects within a browser window
In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention provides the ability to embed and edit rich content into a browser document. Embedded objects are not backed by installed desktop applications. Instead, in one embodiment, the embedded objects are Asynchronous Javascript and XML (AJAX) components that adhere to a set of design patterns, which are embedded within editable HTML documents. For example, a user composing an email message can embed a spreadsheet into the email in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The spreadsheet is implemented, in one embodiment, as an AJAX component adhering to the Ajax Linking and Embedding (ALE) design pattern. Since it is an ALE component, the embedded object is fetched across the network so that it may be instantiated and used regardless of the user's location. The user can edit, manipulate, and save the embedded object while remaining in the context of the container document. |
| US08930810B2 |
User interface (UI) color scheme generation and management according to visual consistency of visual attributes in the color scheme
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of generating a UI visual presentation attribute scheme while preserving visual consistency of selected visual presentation attributes in the color scheme is provided. The method includes establishing a hierarchy of UI elements in a directed acyclic graph of nodes. The method yet further includes computing a visual presentation attribute for each child node of the hierarchy descending from a selected parent node according to an established transformation rule. Finally, the method includes exporting the hierarchy into a visual presentation attribute scheme. To the extent the visual presentation attribute is a color, the visual presentation attribute scheme can be a color scheme applicable to an application to define the color scheme of the application. |
| US08930807B2 |
Web content management based on timeliness metadata
A server receives a hypertext request from a client. The server looks up a hypertext document, wherein looking up comprises obtaining a first HTML element and a second HTML element and combining the first HTML element and second HTML element into a hypertext document, in response receiving the hypertext request from the client. The server parses the hypertext document for timeliness tags. The server generates at least one header tag based on the timeliness tags. The server determines whether at least one expired tag is among the timeliness tags. Responsive to a determination that at least one expired tag is among the timeliness tags, the server can look up a timeliness tag rule corresponding to the at least one timeliness tag. |
| US08930805B2 |
Browser preview
In general, embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for previewing, in a safe environment, a given web page that is or may be conducting dangerous or fraudulent activity, including malware distribution and phishing activity. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to previewing a given web page in a safe environment by obtaining and breaking down the source code behind the given web page and constructing a preview of the web page without any potentially harmful images, scripts, executables, and/or the like. |
| US08930803B2 |
Detecting codewords in solid-state storage devices
A method for detecting codewords in solid-state storage devices. The method includes the steps of: obtaining respective read signals by reading memory cells that stores a group of codewords, where each of the read signals includes N signal components corresponding to respective symbols of the codeword; producing an ordered read signal by ordering the components of each of the read signals according to a signal level; producing an average read signal by averaging corresponding components of the ordered read signals; determining a reference signal level that corresponds to each of q levels of the memory cells in relation to the average read signal with predefined probabilities of each symbol value occurring at each symbol position in the codeword, where the symbols of the codeword are ordered according to the symbol value; and detecting the codeword corresponding to each of the read signal in relation to the reference signal levels. |
| US08930793B2 |
Method of communicating signal data in GNSS using LDPC convolution codes and a system thereof
A method and system for communicating signal data in GNSS system using LDPC convolution codes. The method involves, at transmitting end, formatting signal data into a set of subframes. Each subframe of the signal data can be encoded in accordance with a parity check matrix defining Tanner graph representation of LDPC convolution codes. The encoded signal data can be interleaved and added with a Sync word field to transmit an interleaved block of encoded signal data through a communication channel. At receiving end, the interleaved block of encoded signal data can be de-interleaved after it is received from the communication channel. The Tanner Graph shows the connectivity in time invariant parity check matrix. A message passing technique is used to decode the LDPCCC encoded message. The encoded signal data can be decoded through the message passing technique to obtain the signal data primitively transmitted at the transmitting end. Such method and system are capable of achieving error free performance over the GNSS communication channel for effective navigation data communication, and also provide good BER performance over a wide range of Signal-to-Noise ratios. |
| US08930782B2 |
Root cause distribution determination based on layout aware scan diagnosis results
Aspects of the invention relate to yield analysis techniques for generating root cause distribution information. Suspect information for a plurality of failing dies is first generated using a layout-aware diagnosis method. Based on the suspect information, potential root causes for the plurality of failing dies, and suspect feature weights and total feature weights for each of the potential root causes may then be determined. Next, the probability information of observing a particular suspect that is related to a particular root cause may be extracted. Finally, an expectation-maximization analysis may be conducted for generating the root cause distribution information based on the probability information and the suspect information. Heuristic information may be used to prevent the analysis from over-fitting. |
| US08930781B2 |
Method and apparatus for defect recovery
A signal processing circuit includes a plurality of processing-circuit modules and a logic control circuit. The plurality of processing-circuit modules is configured to process an electrical signal. The plurality of processing-circuit modules has at least one processing parameter that is adaptively adjusted based on the electrical signal. The logic control circuit is configured to receive signals from the plurality of processing-circuit modules, validate the processing based on the received signals, and control a storage circuit to sample and store a value of the processing parameter when the processing is validated. Further, the logic control circuit is configured to control the storage circuit to maintain the value of processing parameter when the processing fails validation, and to control the storage circuit to recover the processing parameter in the plurality of processing-circuit modules to the stored value when the plurality of processing-circuit modules is disturbed by a defect. |
| US08930778B2 |
Read disturb effect determination
An apparatus comprising a non-volatile memory and a controller. The controller is coupled to the non-volatile memory and configured to (i) accumulate a read disturb count for a first region of the non-volatile memory, (ii) accumulate error statistics for a second region of the non-volatile memory, (iii) determine, based upon both the read disturb count and the error statistics, whether the first region has reached a read disturb limit, and (iv) in response to determining that the first region has reached the read disturb limit, relocate at least some data of the first region. |
| US08930777B2 |
Method for operating an electronic device
A method for operating an electronic device that is supplied with electric power by a continuous energy accumulator. A predetermined ending of the first program is monitored in a program step by a second program. If the first program is not switched off as predetermined, the second program generates an error message which is displayed immediately when the device is switched on again. |
| US08930774B1 |
Computer kiosk and related systems and methods
Computer kiosks include input/output devices interactive user applications for local users. The operation of the interactive user applications, input/output devices and other kiosk hardware are monitored by software modules resident thereon, with status reporting to a remote computer system. The remote computer system allows users to monitor the operation of multiple, geographically disparate computer kiosks, and to remotely input commands thereto. Analytics relating to kiosk and application usage can also be captured and reported. |
| US08930772B2 |
Method and system for implementing a test automation results importer
A test automation results importer allows for the results of automated test cases to be imported into a test management platform thereby providing the integration of otherwise incompatible automation platforms with test management platforms. This system utilizes the automation platform for the creation of a generic automation results file containing a data format that allows the results to be easily understood by the test management platform. The automated test results may be stored in a pre-defined area of the test management system on the management system platform. This process virtually integrates a third party automation platform with another third party test management platform to create a virtual single platform to conduct testing from automated test case creation to automated test case results documentation. |
| US08930766B2 |
Testing mobile applications
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for identifying test cases. One example process includes operations for identifying a mobile application to perform testing upon. A test environment and at least one risk situation associated with the mobile application are identified. For each of the at least one identified risk situations, at least one risk situation-relevant context parameter is identified. A standard operations path is created, as is at least one operations path-variant for each of the at least one identified risk situation-relevant context parameters. The corresponding operations path-variant is analyzed to identify a set of test cases for the context parameter, for each of the at least one identified context parameters. |
| US08930763B2 |
Method and apparatus for testing data warehouses
Disclosed is a method of qualifying a change to software modules in a data warehouse comprising a database storing a plurality of data sets and said plurality of warehouse software modules, the method comprising determining if a change has been made to any of the software modules; selecting the software modules which are affiliated with the change to construct a reduced schedule of software modules; identifying the tests which are affiliated with the change to thereby identify a reduced set of tests; executing the reduced schedule of warehouse software; running the reduced set of tests; and if no warehouse software execution errors arise and no warehouse test execution errors or failures arise, qualifying the change to the one or more software modules as a success. |
| US08930758B2 |
Automated testing of mechatronic systems
An arrangement for providing integrated, model-based testing of industrial systems in the form of a model-based test design module, a test execution engine and an automated test infrastructure (ATI) component. The ATI component includes a keyword processor that interfaces with test commands created by the design module to implement the testing of a specific industrial system. Configuration and deployment information is also automatically created by the design module and used by the ATI component to set up and control the specific industrial system being tested. |
| US08930757B2 |
Operations management apparatus, operations management method and program
A correlation model is updated quickly in the case that monitored metrics are changed.The correlation model storing unit 112 stores a first correlation model including a correlation detected for a pair of metrics in first plural metrics. The correlation model updating unit 103, in the case that a metric is added, judges existence of a correlation for each of pairs of metrics obtained by excluding the pair of metrics in first plural metrics from pairs of metrics in second plural metrics including the added metric and the first plural metrics, and generates a second correlation model by adding the detected correlation to the first correlation model. |
| US08930750B2 |
Systems and methods for preventing data loss
For preventing data loss in storage systems, a detection is made that a storage device in a plurality of storage devices is experiencing a malfunction. The type of malfunction is determined. A SMART rebuilding technique, a normal building technique, a data migration technique, or a user data backup technique is selected to preserve the data in the storage device based on the determined type of the malfunction. The selected technique is performed on the storage device. |
| US08930743B2 |
Preventing cascade failures in computer systems
A computer hardware-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product prevents a cascading failure in a complex stream computer system causing an untrustworthy output from the complex stream computer system. Multiple upstream subcomponents in a complex stream computer system generate multiple outputs, which are used as inputs to a downstream subcomponent. An accuracy value is assigned to each of the multiple outputs from the upstream subcomponents, and weighting values are assigned to each of the inputs to the downstream subcomponent. The accuracy values and weighting values are utilized to dynamically adjust inputs to the downstream subcomponent until an output from the downstream subcomponent meets a predefined trustworthiness level. |
| US08930736B2 |
Inferred electrical power consumption of computing devices
The power consumption of a computing device is inferred from the utilization rates of individual components of the computing device and a utilization-to-power-consumption transfer function that was derived by benchmarking that, or an analogous, computing device. The inferred power consumption of a computing device is aggregated to infer the power consumption of various groups and super-groups of computing devices. The historical power consumption of computing devices is inferred based on the utilization rates of individual components of the computing devices at relevant times in the past. Historical power consumption is used to derive a power consumption profile of a computing device and the inferred current power consumption of such a computing device is compared to such a power consumption profile, and to the historical power consumption, to identify deviations therefrom, which can provide proactive detection of potential hardware faults, software glitches, or other errors. |
| US08930734B1 |
Managing power states of a computing device
In general, this disclosure describes techniques for managing power consumption states of a computing device. In one example, a method includes detecting, using at least one sensor of a computing device comprising a plurality of components, at least one indication of user contact with at least one surface of the computing device, wherein the at least one indication of user contact conforms with a touch pattern. The method further includes in response to detecting the at least one indication of user contact with at least one surface of the computing device, modifying a power consumption state of the computing device, wherein which components of the computing device receive power is based on the power consumption state. |
| US08930731B2 |
Reducing power consumption in data centers having nodes for hosting virtual machines
According to an aspect of the present invention, nodes for hosting of new virtual machines (VM) are selected according to approaches designed to reduce power consumption in a grid. In an embodiment, the approaches are designed to facilitate the possibility of freeing one or more nodes from hosting VMs to power down the nodes, thereby reducing power consumption. Thus, an example approach is based on provisioning a new VM on a node which currently (immediately prior to provisioning) has the maximum resource consumption. Another example approach is based on provisioning a new VM on a node which currently has small-sized VMs in terms of resource requirements. In yet another embodiment, the approach is based on provisioning a new VM on a node located in a geographical area having low power tariffs. |
| US08930729B1 |
Enhanced utilization of power over ethernet
An embodiment of the invention includes a circuit to determine the power lost between a network device and a network power supply. Using this determination, an embodiment of the network device may increase its power consumption by an amount equal to the difference between the actual cable power loss and the worst-case cable power loss. This allows the network device to draw more power than allowed by network power standards without triggering the power-limiting circuitry of the network power source or overloading the network power device. The network device can determine an operating configuration that utilizes this additional power consumption to improve performance. The network device may also determine the existence of network power device or cable fault conditions, and adjust its operating configuration as necessary. Operating configurations can include enabling additional or more powerful wired or wireless network interfaces. |
| US08930728B1 |
System and method for selecting a power management configuration in a multi-core environment to balance current load demand and required power consumption
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising generating a plurality of power profiles for a corresponding plurality of processing cores, wherein each power profile of the plurality of power profiles includes power consumptions of a corresponding processing core under various operating conditions; generating a plurality of candidate configurations, wherein each candidate configuration comprises corresponding candidate operating conditions for the plurality of processing cores; and based at least in part on the plurality of power profiles, selecting a first candidate configuration of the plurality of candidate configurations for managing the plurality of processing cores. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08930727B1 |
Personal computing device having single-cell battery
The present invention features a personal computing device that may be powered by a single battery having a single lithium-ion cell or by a plurality of lithium-ion cells connected in parallel. The personal computing device may provide computing power comparable to that of conventional laptop computers and execute an operating system and application software comparable to that executed by conventional laptop computers. Furthermore, the battery's time between charging, when used to power the personal computing device, may be similar to the time between charging of a multi-cell battery when used to power a conventional laptop computer. |
| US08930724B2 |
Semiconductor device predictive dynamic thermal management
A semiconductor device includes a memory storing a lookup table including stored values associated with modes of operation of a component of the semiconductor device. A monitor monitors an operating parameter of the component in real-time, and reports a calculated value associated with the same. A power manager determines a change in the mode of operation of the component based on a comparison of the calculated value with a corresponding stored value, and adjusts a current mode of operation of the component in real-time. |
| US08930722B2 |
Distribution of tasks among asymmetric processing elements
Techniques to control power and processing among a plurality of asymmetric processing elements are disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more asymmetric processing elements are power managed to migrate processes or threads among a plurality of processing elements according to the performance and power needs of the system. |
| US08930719B2 |
Data protection method and device
An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding additional information into a digital information in an integral manner. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and device for data protection. |
| US08930718B2 |
Apparatus for and a method of providing content data
Apparatus and a method are described to enable reading apparatus to access content data of an optical disc such as a DVD where the content data carried by the DVD is encrypted by an encryption technique that requires a decryption key or keys. Reproduced content data corresponding to the encrypted content data is provided and this reproduced content data, at least some of which may be encrypted using a different technique, is made available for access by a reading apparatus. The reproduced content data may be stored on the same optical disc as the encrypted content data or at a different location, for example on a storage medium which may be coupled to the reading apparatus or at a location on a network that can be accessed by the reading apparatus. |
| US08930712B1 |
Metric obfuscation system
A system for metric obfuscation may include one or more processors and memory. The one or more processors may receive a dataset comprising a plurality of metrics that relate to user demographic information and may generate a seed based at least in part on the dataset. The one or more processors may initialize a pseudorandom number generator with the seed and may generate a plurality of pseudorandom numbers using the pseudo-random number generator. The one or more processors may generate a plurality of obfuscated metrics corresponding to the plurality of metrics, wherein each of the plurality of obfuscated metrics is generated at least in part based on a corresponding metric of the plurality of metrics and a corresponding pseudorandom number of the plurality of pseudorandom numbers. The one or more processors may provide the plurality of obfuscated metrics. |
| US08930711B2 |
Critical security parameter generation and exchange system and method for smart-card memory modules
A storage device contains a smart-card device and a memory device, which is connected to a controller. The storage device may be used in the same manner as a conventional smart-card device, or it may be used to store a relatively large amount of data. The memory device may also be used to store data or instructions for use by the smart-card device. The controller includes a security engine that uses critical security parameters stored in, and received from, the smart-card device. The critical security parameters may be sent to the controller in a manner that protects them from being discovered. The critical security parameters may be encryption and/or decryption keys that may encrypt data written to the memory device and/or decrypt data read from the memory device, respectively. Data and instructions used by the smart-card device may therefore stored in the memory device in encrypted form. |
| US08930710B2 |
Using a manifest to record presence of valid software and calibration
A system and method for verifying that operating software and calibration files are present and valid after a bootloader flashes the files into the memory on a vehicle ECU before allowing the operating software to execute. The ECU memory defines a memory segment for the operating software and the calibration files. A software manifest is provided in a memory slot before the operating software segment in the memory. Likewise, a calibration manifest is provided in a memory slot before the calibration segment in the ECU memory. After the software has been flashed into the ECU memory, a software flag is set in the software manifest memory slot and each time a calibration file is flashed, a calibration flag for the particular calibration file is set in the calibration manifest. |
| US08930706B2 |
Method, device and network for authenticating the position of a navigation receiver
This document describes a method of processing data which consists in detecting and storing in a device the stream of navigation messages and the physical parameters of the signals received in a receiver originating from the satellite-based or terrestrial navigation systems and its comparison with the original data transmitted by the navigation system with respect to a time reference common for all the signals. The stream recorded generates a signature which is unique for each instant and each position over the whole service area (Earth or other planet or celestial body). The result of the processing of the data for a particular point of the Earth serves to validate and authenticate the position and the time reference that are delivered by the navigation receiver as well as the quality and authenticity of the signal received. |
| US08930695B2 |
Telecommunications apparatus and method, storage medium, and program
The present invention relates to a telecommunications apparatus and a method, a storage medium, and a program for determining whether or not an other side communicating apparatus is near in a network. In a transmitting apparatus, a transmitting unit transmits a sending-message, and a control unit receives a response message to the sending-message, which includes acknowledgement information based on shared data and transmission information in the sending-message. The transmitting apparatus also includes a first judging unit that judges whether a response time of the acknowledgement message is less than a predetermined time. A receiving apparatus includes a generating unit that generates the acknowledgment information and transmits the response message to the transmitting apparatus. |
| US08930692B2 |
Mechanism for internal processing of content through partial authentication on secondary channel
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to performing processing of content through partial authentication of secondary channel. An embodiment of a method includes performing a first authentication between a source transmitting device and a sink receiving device for communication of data streams, and performing a second authentication between the source transmitting device and a bridge device such that the second authentication is independent of the first authentication and the sink receiving device remains uninfluenced by the second authentication. The bridge device includes an intermediate carrier device coupled to the source transmitting device and the sink receiving device. The method further includes transmitting a data stream having encrypted content from the source transmitting device to the bridge device. |
| US08930690B2 |
Offloading packet processing for networking device virtualization
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for offloading packet processing for networking device virtualization. A host maintains rule set(s) for a virtual machine, and a physical network interface card (NIC) maintains flow table(s) for the virtual machine. The physical NIC receives and processes a network packet associated with the virtual machine. Processing the network packet includes the physical NIC comparing the network packet with the flow table(s) at the physical NIC. When the network packet matches with a flow in the flow table(s) at the physical NIC, the physical NIC performs an action on the network packet based on the matching flow. Alternatively, when the network packet does not match with a flow in the flow table(s) at the physical NIC, the physical NIC passes the network packet to the host partition for processing against the rule set(s). |
| US08930686B2 |
Deduplication of encrypted data
A mechanism is provided which allows to de-duplicate encrypted data such that the de-duplication ratio for encrypted data is similar to the de-duplication ration of the corresponding un-encrypted data and the purpose of encryption is not obfuscated, i.e. only the originator of the data (the client) can decrypt—and hence read—the data. This is achieved by interwoven the de-duplication algorithm with the encryption algorithm in a way that the data are encrypted with a key that is generated from the unencrypted data. Afterwards, that key is itself encrypted with an encryption key being private to a particular client. Due to the fact that the private key is not effecting the encrypted data stream, it can still be de-duplicated efficiently. |
| US08930685B2 |
Deployment of a software image on multiple targets with streaming technique
Deploying a software image from a source data-processing system on target data-processing entities of a target data-processing system, the software image including memory blocks being individually accessible, with a predefined subset of the memory blocks defining a bootstrap module. The deploying includes downloading the bootstrap module onto a main one of the target data-processing entities from the source data-processing system, booting the main target data-processing entity from the bootstrap module thereby loading a streaming driver in the bootstrap module, and serving each request of accessing a selected memory block of the software image on the main data-processing entity by the streaming driver. |
| US08930682B2 |
Handling media streams in a programmable bit processor
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a bit processor that includes an execution unit to, responsive to an instruction for access of data of a first bit width, access data of a second bit width, the second bit width having a different number of bits than the first bit width when some of the data accessed includes non-stream data. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US08930679B2 |
Out-of-order execution microprocessor with reduced store collision load replay by making an issuing of a load instruction dependent upon a dependee instruction of a store instruction
An out-of-order execution microprocessor for reducing the likelihood of having to replay a load instruction due to a store collision. The microprocessor includes a queue of entries, each entry configured to hold information that identifies sources of a store instruction used to compute its store address and to hold a dependency that identifies an instruction upon which the store instruction depends for its data. A register alias table (RAT), coupled to the queue of entries, is configured to encounter instructions in program order and to generate dependencies used to determine when the instructions may execute out of program order. In response to encountering a load instruction the RAT determines whether sources of the load instruction used to compute its load address match the sources of the store instruction in an entry of the queue, and if so, causes the load instruction to share the dependency of the matching store instruction. |
| US08930674B2 |
Systems and methods for accessing a unified translation lookaside buffer
Systems and methods for accessing a unified translation lookaside buffer (TLB) are disclosed. A method includes receiving an indicator of a level one translation lookaside buffer (L1TLB) miss corresponding to a request for a virtual address to physical address translation, searching a cache that includes virtual addresses and page sizes that correspond to translation table entries (TTEs) that have been evicted from the L1TLB, where a page size is identified, and searching a second level TLB and identifying a physical address that is contained in the second level TLB. Access is provided to the identified physical address. |
| US08930672B2 |
Multiprocessor using a shared virtual memory and method of generating a translation table
A multiprocessor using a shared virtual memory (SVM) is provided. The multiprocessor includes a plurality of processing cores and a memory manager configured to transform a virtual address into a physical address to allow a processing core to access a memory region corresponding to the physical address. |
| US08930671B2 |
Logical address offset in response to detecting a memory formatting operation
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, and systems for a logical address offset. One method embodiment includes detecting a memory unit formatting operation. Subsequently, in response to detecting the formatting operation, the method includes inspecting format information on the memory unit, calculating a logical address offset, and applying the offset to a host logical address. |
| US08930670B2 |
Partition redispatching using page tracking
Illustrated embodiments provide a computer implemented method and data processing system for redispatching a partition by tracking a set of memory pages, belonging to the dispatched partition. In one illustrative embodiment the computer implemented method comprises finding an effective page address to real page address mapping for a page address miss in response to determining the page address miss in a page addressing buffer, and saving the mapping as an entry in an array. The computer implemented method creates a preserved array from the array in response to determining the dispatched partition to be an undispatched partition. The computer implemented method further analyzes of the preserved array for a compressed page in response to determining the undispatched partition is now redispatched, and decompresses the compressed page prior to the partition being redispatched. |
| US08930669B2 |
Tiered data management method and system for high performance data monitoring
A method for managing memory in a system for an application, comprising: assigning a first block (i.e., a big block) of the memory to the application when the application is initiated, the first block having a first size, the first block being assigned to the application until the application is terminated; dividing the first block into second blocks (i.e., intermediate blocks), each second block having a same second size, a second block of the second blocks for containing data for one or more components of a single data structure to be accessed by one thread of the application at a time; and, dividing the second block into third blocks (i.e., small blocks), each third block having a same third size, a third block of the third blocks for containing data for a single component of the single data structure. |
| US08930667B2 |
Controlling the placement of data in a storage system
A method, computer readable storage medium and computer system for controlling the allocation of data to one of a plurality of storage units of a storage system, the method comprising: accessing a source storage unit comprising the data; gathering file system level (FS-level) metadata from the source storage unit; analyzing the gathered FS-level metadata for determining if the data should be moved to one of the other storage units, said other storage unit acting as a destination storage unit; and in case the data should be moved, displaying an indication of the destination storage unit and/or automatically moving the data to the determined destination storage unit. |
| US08930666B1 |
Virtual disk carousel
A virtual disk carousel is provided that is capable of creating disk images from optical disks and storing the disk images. The virtual disk carousel includes a bridge device configured to expose disk images stored at the virtual disk carousel to a computer by way of a standard storage device. When the computer performs read requests on the standard storage device exposed by the bridge device, the bridge device receives the requests from the computer, retrieves the appropriate portion of the disk image from the virtual disk carousel, and provides the portion of the disk image to the computer. The bridge device might also include a display and user input controls for managing the operation of the bridge device. The virtual disk carousel might also provide a user interface for managing the disk images, selecting a disk image to be exposed to the computer, and for performing other functions. |
| US08930665B2 |
Data access system and data access method
A data access system and a data access method achieving effects of power saving and access synchronization during data access are provided. The data access system includes a data processing unit, a bridge device and a memory device. The data processing unit sends an access request signal to initiate data access of at least one unit data. The access of unit data is completed within a plurality of clock cycles of a reference clock signal. The bridge device generates an access signal according to the access request signal, the reference clock signal and a leading time. A pulse of the access signal is determined by the leading time within the clock cycles. The memory device executes the access of the unit data according to the access signal. |
| US08930659B2 |
Computer system, memory management method and program thereof
A computer system, having a non-volatile storage unit (152), a main storage unit (151), and a data processor (102) including a memory management unit (102A) for managing a program stored in the non-volatile storage unit and the main storage unit to transfer a program stored in the non-volatile storage unit to the main storage unit, wherein the memory management unit (102A) includes a program storage control function of storing a program subjected to predetermined data conversion and a program yet to be subjected to predetermined data conversion in the non-volatile storage unit, and a function of combining programs subjected to predetermined data conversion so as not to bridge over a boundary between blocks at the execution of the program storage control function, as well as, at a first access to a certain block, expanding all the data included in the block to a corresponding block of the main storage unit. |
| US08930652B2 |
Method for obtaining a snapshot image of a disk shared by multiple virtual machines
Methods for obtaining a snapshot of a shared virtual machine (VM) image are described herein. In response to a request for obtaining a snapshot of a first VM image stored in a storage disk accessed and shared by a plurality of VMs, a virtualization manager selects a VM from the plurality of VMs hosted within one or more hosts. First needs to notify others to prepare for the snapshot by pausing, etc. A process associated with the selected VM is configured to capture a snapshot from the first VM image, generating a second VM image to be stored in storage disk. Thereafter, the virtualization manager notifies the plurality of VMs to utilize the second image after the second VM image has been generated. |
| US08930649B2 |
Concurrent coding of data streams
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module concurrently receiving a first data stream and a second data stream for transmission to a receiving entity. The method continues with the DS processing module segmenting each of the first and second data streams to produce a first plurality of data segments and a second plurality of data segments, dividing one of the first plurality of data segments into a first plurality of data blocks, and dividing one of the second plurality of data segments into a second plurality of data blocks. The method continues with the DS processing module creating a data matrix from the first and second plurality of data blocks and generating a coded matrix from the data matrix and an encoding matrix. The method continues with the DS processing module outputting one or more pairs of coded values of the coded matrix to the receiving entity. |
| US08930645B2 |
Method and apparatus using linked lists for streaming of data for soild-state bulk storage device
Methods and apparatus facilitate data streaming in bulk storage devices by generating linked lists containing entries for both user data and metadata. These linked lists containing mixed data types facilitate receiving and outputting user data, and to insert or ignore, respectively, metadata corresponding to that user data without interrupting flow of the user data. |
| US08930638B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting target-side security in a cache coherent system
A cache coherency controller, a system comprising such, and a method of its operation are disclosed. The coherency controller ensures that target-side security checking rules are not violated by the performance-improving processes commonly used in coherency controllers such as dropping, merging, invalidating, forwarding, and snooping. This is done by ensuring that requests marked for target-side security checking and any other requests to overlapping addresses are forwarded directly to the target-side security filter without modification or side effects. |
| US08930637B2 |
Arrangement
An arrangement includes a first part and a second part. The first part includes a memory controller for accessing a memory, at least one first cache memory and a first directory. The second part includes at least one second cache memory configured to request access to said memory. The first directory is configured to use a first coherency protocol for the at least one first cache memory and a second different coherency protocol for the at least one second memory. |
| US08930635B2 |
Page invalidation processing with setting of storage key to predefined value
Processing within a multiprocessor computer system is facilitated by: setting, in association with invalidate page table entry processing, a storage key at a matching location in central storage of a multiprocessor computer system to a predefined value; and subsequently executing a request to update the storage key to a new storage key, the subsequently executing including determining whether the predefined value is an allowed stale value, and if so, replacing in central storage the storage key of predefined value with the new storage key without requiring purging or updating of the storage key in any local processor cache of the multiprocessor computer system, thus minimizing interprocessor communication pursuant to processing of the request to update the storage key to the new storage key. |
| US08930634B2 |
Speculative read in a cache coherent microprocessor
A cache coherence manager, disposed in a multi-core microprocessor, includes a request unit, an intervention unit, a response unit and an interface unit. The request unit receives coherent requests and selectively issues speculative requests in response. The interface unit selectively forwards the speculative requests to a memory. The interface unit includes at least three tables. Each entry in the first table represents an index to the second table. Each entry in the second table represents an index to the third table. The entry in the first table is allocated when a response to an associated intervention message is stored in the first table but before the speculative request is received by the interface unit. The entry in the second table is allocated when the speculative request is stored in the interface unit. The entry in the third table is allocated when the speculative request is issued to the memory. |
| US08930633B2 |
Reducing read latency using a pool of processing cores
In a read processing storage system, using a pool of CPU cores, the CPU cores are assigned to process either write operations, read operations, and read and write operations, that are scheduled for processing. A maximum number of the CPU cores are set for processing only the read operations, thereby lowering a read latency. A minimal number of the CPU cores are allocated for processing the write operations, thereby increasing write latency. Upon reaching a throughput limit for the write operations that causes the minimal number of the plurality of CPU cores to reach a busy status, the minimal number of the plurality of CPU cores for processing the write operations is increased. |
| US08930628B2 |
Managing in-line store throughput reduction
Various embodiments of the present invention manage a hierarchical store-through memory cache structure. A store request queue is associated with a processing core in multiple processing cores. At least one blocking condition is determined to have occurred at the store request queue. Multiple non-store requests and a set of store requests associated with a remaining set of processing cores in the multiple processing cores are dynamically blocked from accessing a memory cache in response to the blocking condition having occurred. |
| US08930618B2 |
Smart memory
An apparatus comprising a storage device comprising a plurality of memory tiles each comprising a memory block and a processing element, and an interconnection network coupled to the storage device and configured to interconnect the memory tiles, wherein the processing elements are configured to perform at least one packet processing feature, and wherein the interconnection network is configured to promote communication between the memory tiles. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a receiver configured to receive network data, a logic unit configured to convert the network data for suitable deterministic memory caching and processing, a serial input/output (I/O) interface configured to forward the converted network data in a serialized manner, a memory comprising a plurality of memory tiles configured to store and process the converted network data from the serial I/O interface, and a transmitter configured to forward the processed network data from the serial I/O interface. |
| US08930616B2 |
System refresh in cache memory
System refresh in a cache memory that includes generating a refresh time period (RTIM) pulse at a centralized refresh controller of the cache memory and activating a refresh request at the centralized refresh controller based on generating the RTIM pulse. The refresh request is associated with a single cache memory bank of the cache memory. A refresh grant is received and transmitted to a bank controller. The bank controller is associated with and localized at the single cache memory bank of the cache memory. |
| US08930614B2 |
Data storage apparatus and method for compaction processing
According to one embodiment, a data storage apparatus includes a flash memory and a controller. The controller includes a compaction processor. The compaction processor performs the compaction processing on the flash memory, to dynamically set a range of compaction processing targets based on a number of available blocks and an amount of valid data in each of the blocks, and to search the range of compaction processing targets for blocks each with a relatively small amount of valid data as the target blocks for the compaction processing. |
| US08930613B2 |
Memory system in which extended function can easily be set
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a controller, an extended function section, and an extension register. The controller controls the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device. The extended function section is controlled by the controller. The extension register which is provided with a certain block length capable of defining an extended function of the extended function section. The controller processes a first command to write header data of a command to operate the extended function section to the extended function section through the extension register, and a second command to read header data of a response from the extended function section through the extension register. |
| US08930612B2 |
Background deduplication of data sets in a memory
Apparatus and method for data management in a memory, such as but not limited to a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of data sets in a memory are identified as having a common data content and different physical addresses in the memory. A selected one of the data sets is marked as valid data and the remaining data sets are marked as stale data responsive to evaluation of at least one variable parameter associated with the physical addresses at which the data sets are respectively stored. |
| US08930611B2 |
Storage system and control method thereof
Proposed are a storage system and its control method capable of dealing with the unique problems that arise when using a nonvolatile memory as the memory device while effectively preventing performance deterioration. This storage system is provided with a plurality of memory modules having one or more nonvolatile memory chips, and a controller for controlling the reading and writing of data from and in each memory module. The memory module decides the nonvolatile memory chip to become a copy destination of data stored in the nonvolatile memory when a failure occurs in the nonvolatile memory chip of a self memory module, and copies the data stored in the failed nonvolatile memory chip to the nonvolatile memory chip decided as the copy destination. |
| US08930608B2 |
Switch disk array, storage system and data storage path switching method
A disk array for a storage system that includes a dual controller disk array and a server includes a disk frame and two controller nodes. Each controller node includes a switch, where a port of the switch is connected to a port of a switch of a peer controller node. Each controller node is configured to detect whether the peer controller node is invalid through the port. When it has been detected that the peer controller node is invalid, a local controller node enables the peer controller node to send, through the port of the switch of the peer controller node, received data from the server to a port of a switch of the local controller node. |
| US08930604B2 |
Reliable notification of interrupts in a network processor by prioritization and policing of interrupts
In a data network, a node determines whether to handle data-dependent events using the node's hardware interrupt buffer or instead using an available fallback action. The node classifies each detected event as being one of a plurality of different categories of events and determines, based on the classified category, whether to handle the detected event using the hardware interrupt buffer of the node. Each different event category can be assigned its own scale factor, where the available (i.e., currently unused) capacity of the hardware interrupt buffer is allocated based on those programmed scale factors. If the node determines to handle the detected event using the hardware interrupt buffer, then the node stores a hardware interrupt corresponding to the detected event in the hardware interrupt buffer. Otherwise, the node handles the detected event using a fallback action. |
| US08930603B2 |
Interruption facility for adjunct processor queues
Interruption facility for adjunct processor queues. In response to a queue transitioning from a no replies pending state to a reply pending state, an interruption is initiated. This interruption signals to a processor that a reply to a request is waiting on the queue. In order for the queue to take advantage of the interruption capability, it is enabled for interruptions. |
| US08930601B2 |
Transaction routing device and method for routing transactions in an integrated circuit
A transaction routing device (e.g. an interconnect) for routing transactions in an integrated circuit includes arbitration circuitry for performing arbitration between a plurality of candidate transactions using attribute values associated with the candidate transactions. Candidate transactions are selected for routing to a destination device in dependence on the arbitration. In a cycle in which a new candidate transaction is received, the arbitration is performed using a default attribute value as the attribute value for the new transaction. Meanwhile, the actual attribute value is stored to an attribute storage unit. In a following processing cycle, if the new candidate transaction has not yet been selected for muting, then the arbitration is performed using the actual attribute value stored in the storage unit. |
| US08930600B2 |
Protecting circuit for basic input output system chip
A protecting circuit for a basic input output system (BIOS) chip of a computer includes a platform controller hub (PCH), an inverting circuit connected to the PCH, a BIOS socket to connect the BIOS chip, and a controlling circuit connected between the inverting circuit and the BIOS socket. The PCH outputs a first signal or a second signal, and a third signal. The inverting circuit outputs an inverted signal with a level contrary to the first or second signal. The controlling circuit receives the first or second signal and the inverted signal, to output a processing signal to the BIOS socket, thereby controlling write-protection states of the BIOS chip. |
| US08930597B1 |
Method and apparatus for supporting low-latency external memory interfaces for integrated circuits
An external memory interface includes an input/output (IO) logic unit operable to convert a rate of data from a first rate corresponding to a memory controller/schedule unit to a second rate corresponding to an external memory device. The external memory interface also includes a latency adjustment unit, operating in a timing domain of the memory controller/schedule unit, operable to add between 1 to [(second rate/first rate)−1] cycles of latency of the second rate. |
| US08930593B2 |
Method for setting parameters and determining latency in a chained device system
A storage system and method for setting parameters and determining latency in a chained device system. Storage nodes store information and the storage nodes are organized in a daisy chained network. At least one of one of the storage nodes includes an upstream communication buffer. Flow of information to the storage nodes is based upon constraints of the communication buffer within the storage nodes. In one embodiment, communication between the master controller and the plurality storage nodes has a determined maximum latency. |
| US08930592B2 |
Multipath load balancing optimizations for alua storage systems
Techniques for performing I/O load balancing are provided. In one embodiment, a computer system can receive an I/O request destined for a storage array, where the computer system is communicatively coupled with the storage array via a plurality of paths, and where the plurality of paths include a set of optimized paths and a set of unoptimized paths. The computer system can further determine whether the I/O request can be transmitted to the storage array via either an optimized path or an unoptimized path, or solely via an optimized path. The computer system can then select a path in the plurality of paths based on the determination and transmit the I/O request to the storage array via the selected path. |
| US08930587B2 |
Universal Serial Bus devices supporting super speed and non-super speed connections for communication with a host device and methods using the same
Universal Serial Bus (USB) devices supporting super speed and non-super speed connections for communication with a host device includes a plurality of endpoints (EPs), a non-super speed connection port, a super speed connection port and a configuration unit. The non-super speed connection port and the super speed connection port are connected to the host device. The configuration unit is arranged for dividing the EPs to first and second groups of EPs according to a bandwidth requirement, determining whether a super speed connection with the host device is successfully established and configuring the first group of EPs to operate at a super speed and configuring the second group of EPs to operate at a non-super speed when the super speed connection with the host device is successfully established such that the USB device communicates with the host device at both the super speed and the non-super speed. |
| US08930582B2 |
Method and apparatus for regulating communications between multiple transmitters and receivers
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that regulates communications between a plurality of transmitters and a receiver. The system comprises a plurality of cells, wherein each cell controls communications from a transmitter in the plurality of transmitters to the receiver. A single token flows through a ring which passes through the plurality of cells, wherein the presence of the token within a cell indicates that the corresponding transmitter may communicate with the receiver. |
| US08930581B2 |
Implementation of a web-scale data fabric
Methods and systems for processing business operations transactions and associated augmented customer data using a Web-Scale Data Fabric (WSDF). According to embodiments, a plurality of computer servers are configured for economical large scale computation and data storage with resilience despite underpinning commodity hardware failure and grow-shrink capacity changes of nodes and associated interconnectivity. The servers communicate with direct attached storage (DAS) and include a co-processor coupled for computation capacity. The servers can connect to an external computer network (ECN) for external client input and output, as well as other functionalities such as physical-to-virtual network connectivity mapping and maintaining resilient storage of data received from the ECN or computationally derived from the received data. |
| US08930579B2 |
System and method for synchronizing operations of a plurality of devices via messages over a communication network
A system and method synchronize operations of a plurality of devices via messages over a communication network. A plurality of devices are communicatively coupled via a communication network, and the devices have their local clocks synchronized to a high degree of precision a technique, such as IEEE 1588, for synchronizing their local clocks. Event messages can be sent that include an identification of an event, as well as a timestamp that is based on the local clock of the sender. The recipient of an event message determines if it is configured to act on the identified event, and if so it takes its action based on the timestamp included in the event message. In certain embodiments, the events that are to trigger an action and/or the specific responsive actions to be taken for a given event are dynamically programmable for each device. |
| US08930578B1 |
Systems and methods for sharing digital information between mobile devices of friends and family using multiple LAN-based embedded devices
A method for sharing digital information is provided. The method may include, at a first local area network (LAN)-based embedded device, inviting a second LAN-based embedded device to share digital information between the first and second LAN-based embedded devices; synchronizing the digital information between the first and second LAN-based embedded devices; and maintaining communication between the first LAN-based embedded device and the second LAN-based embedded device. Said inviting may include, at the first LAN-based embedded device: receiving an identifier of a second mobile device, and transmitting to the second mobile device a first WAN IP address and first access credential; and at the second LAN-based embedded device: receiving the first WAN IP address and first access credential from the second mobile device, and transmitting to the first LAN-based embedded device a second WAN IP address and second access credential. |
| US08930571B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling communication between a host computer and communication devices
A site controller adapted to be used in an automated monitoring system for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices via a host computer connected to a first communication network is provided. The site controller is configured for controlling communication with the host computer and a plurality of communication devices that define a second communication network associated with the plurality of remote devices. Briefly described, in one embodiment, the site controller comprises a transceiver configured to communicate with the plurality of communication devices via the second communication network; a network interface device configured to communicate with the host computer via the first communication network; and logic configured to: manage communication with each of the plurality of communication devices, via a first communication protocol; and manage communication with the host computer via a second communication protocol. |
| US08930565B1 |
Method and system for providing data streams in a virtual environment
A method and system for providing content in a virtual environment. A host computer hosting a region in a virtual environment provides an event stream including a plurality of event data segments identifying activity occurring in the virtual environment to a client computer participating in the virtual environment. The host computer receives a request to provide virtual environment content including imagery data associated with the virtual environment to the client computer, and provides a content stream including a plurality of content data segments containing virtual environment content at a content stream bandwidth based on an event stream bandwidth associated with the event stream to the client computer. |
| US08930559B2 |
Adaptive hypertext transfer protocol (“HTTP”) media streaming systems and methods
An exemplary adaptive Hypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) media streaming system may be configured to stream a media program from an HTTP media streaming server subsystem to a client device during an adaptive HTTP media streaming session in which predefined segments of the media program are progressively downloaded from the HTTP media streaming server subsystem to the client device by way of a network connection. For each next predefined segment of the media program to be downloaded, the server subsystem may dynamically select, based on one or more of the exemplary factors disclosed herein, a version of the next predefined segment of the media program from a plurality of versions of the next predefined segment of the media program and download the selected version of the next predefined segment of the media program to the client device. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US08930556B2 |
Authentication based on random bits in satellite navigation messages
A system and methods for location authentication are presented. A subset of demodulated server received navigation signals are selected synchronized to client bit frames to provide synchronized server bit frames. A function of the synchronized server bit frames is computed to provide a server signature set. A client signature set and the server signature set are compared to provide a comparison result, and a location of a client device is authenticated based on the comparison result. |
| US08930554B2 |
Transferring session data between network applications accessible via different DNS domains
In a method for transferring session data from a first application accessible via at least one DNS name in a first DNS domain to a second application accessible via at least one DNS name in a second DNS domain, a computer receives via the first application a first HTTP request from an HTTP client, and in response, the computer establishes a first session with the HTTP client. The computer receives, from the HTTP client, a second HTTP request comprising an identifier of the second application, and in response, the computer stores in a memory a data structure identifiable by a data structure identifier and containing data pertaining to the first session. Responsive to storing the data structure, the computer transmits, to the HTTP client, an HTTP response comprising the data structure identifier, a redirection status code, and a URI comprising a DNS name in the second DNS domain. |
| US08930547B2 |
Techniques for achieving storage and network isolation in a cloud storage environment
Techniques for achieving storage and network isolation in a cloud environment are presented. A single Internet Protocol (IP) address is presented to multiple storage tenants that use storage in a cloud environment. When each tenant accesses the IP address, a specific identity of the tenant is resolved and the storage stack for that tenant is sent to the tenant's storage machine having the tenant's storage. The tenant is directly connected to its tenant storage machine thereafter. |
| US08930540B1 |
Determination of device usage patterns
A computer identifier is received at a first computing device. The first computing device then collects data from a second computing device. The second computing device is associated with the computer identifier. The first computing device uses the data to identify an appropriate time to schedule a task on the second computing device. The first computing device then schedules the task to be performed on the second computing device at the identified time. |
| US08930537B2 |
Zoning of devices in a storage area network with LUN masking/mapping
Host port information is pulled directly from the switch before zoning is performed and is organized by chassis as an assist for mapping and masking an entire chassis. A graphical user interface allows a user to select storage by chassis to map and to select servers by chassis to map. The user then applies that mapping such that all servers selected are mapped to all storage selected. The user may repeat this mapping for another set of storage and servers. In a mixed environment, an icon may be shown in the graphical user interface to represent the mix. When the LUN mapping/masking is done, the LUN mapping/masking may be provided to the SAN manager to perform zoning. The LUN mapping/masking defines which host ports see which storage ports. |
| US08930535B2 |
Method for managing computer network access
A client computer initiates a first communication session at a first network address and receives therefrom a second network address. The client computer then initiates a second communication session at the second network address and receives therefrom an access configuration including a control setting for a communication protocol capable of being utilized during a third communication session. Concurrent with the second communication session, the client computer initiates a third communication session at a third network address whereupon the conveyance of data to or from an instantiated process on the client computer via the third communication session is controlled based on the control setting for the communication protocol. |
| US08930528B2 |
Method and system for partitioning directories
A method of partitioning directory. Accesses, e.g., shared/exclusive, and/or waiting requests, e.g., shared/exclusive, to access one or more files with a directory are monitored, e.g., incrementing/decrementing respective counters. The waiting requests are queued to be granted at a later time. The directory is determined to be primed for partitioning if a number of waiting requests to access the directory is greater than a threshold value of a plurality of heuristics and optionally further based on satisfying the condition for at least a programmable time threshold period. A trigger signal is automatically generated if the directory is primed for partitioning. The trigger signal causes a file system to partition the directory. It is appreciated that the plurality of heuristics is user programmable. |
| US08930525B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring business transaction performance
A method for measuring business transaction performance, includes the steps of, at a top-level component, assigning a correlation tag and original time stamp to a server request, passing the original time stamp with any server requests from the top-level component to one or more subsequent components, and computing an aggregate latency over a predetermined interval at the top-level component and at each subsequent component based on the original time stamp. |
| US08930521B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for enabling monitoring of a resource
To enable adaptive monitoring of the resource, metrics about the workload received at the resource from one or more clients are used to derive monitoring feedback comprising a recommendation as to how the monitoring should be performed. This is then used as input to a decision making process controlling the monitoring of the resource. The recommendation may be for the monitor to increase or decrease its monitoring interval. The resource may decide to increase or decrease its monitoring depth or checking, or may suggest a new monitoring depth to the monitor. |
| US08930520B2 |
System for analyzing user activity in a collaborative environment
A system is described for analyzing user activity in a collaborative environment. The system may include a memory, an interface, and a processor. The memory may store a plurality of data items. Each data item may be related to at least one other data item. The processor may receive a request to alert the user when an action is performed on a selected data item. The processor may also receive a relation threshold identifying at least one other data item related to the selected data item. The processor may detect the action being performed on the data item identified by the relation threshold. The processor may transform data describing the action into an alert. The alert may include the data describing the action, the data item, and a description of the relationship between the data items. The processor may provide the alert to the user via the device. |
| US08930518B2 |
Processing of write requests in application server clusters
An application server of a server cluster may store a payload of a write request in a local cache and thereafter serve read requests based on payloads in the local cache if the corresponding data is present when such read requests are received. The payloads are however later propagated to respective data stores at a later suitable time. Each application server in the server cluster retrieves data from the data stores if the required payload is unavailable in the respective local cache. According to another aspect, an application server signals to other application servers of the server cluster if a required payload is unavailable in the local cache. In response, the application server having the specified payload (in local cache) propagates the payload with a higher priority to the corresponding data store, such that the payload is available to the requesting application server. |
| US08930513B1 |
Latency measurement in resource requests
Systems and method for the management and processing of resource requests by a service provider, such as a content delivery network (“CDN”) service provider, on behalf of a content provider are provided. The CDN service provider can measure the performance associated with the delivery of resources to requesting client computing devices from various computing devices associated with the CDN service provider. In one embodiment, the CDN service provider can utilize commands responsive to an initial request for a resource that causes the requesting client computing device to transmit one or more supplemental resource requests. Information associated with the processing of the sequence of resource requests can be used to measure CDN service provider latencies. |
| US08930506B2 |
System and method for automatically addressng devices on a communication network
A system and method automatically assigns unique addresses to devices connected on a communication bus based on the parameters measured by each device. Assignment of addresses may be provided centrally by a controller or may be distributed, in which each device negotiates with other devices to assign unique addresses to each device. |
| US08930503B1 |
Resource locator remarketing
Methods, systems, and apparatus for resource locator remarketing are presented. In one aspect, a method includes receiving visitation data from a publisher, the visitation data specifying a device identifier and a resource locator specifying a resource that was provided to a user device; identifying a content feed that includes regular expressions, each regular expression specifying matching character strings and a set of content items that are eligible to be provided to user devices corresponding to visitation data including a resource locator matching one of the regular expressions; identifying, a first matching regular expression that matches the resource locator specified by the visitation data; selecting a content item from the content items that correspond to the first matching regular expression; and providing data that causes presentation of the selected content item to the user device. |
| US08930502B2 |
Internet vehicle data logger framework that provide data controller by the user in standardized human understandable format via web services
Software applications that retrieve, log, and communicate vehicle-related data are implemented within a system that includes a plurality of vehicles, a worldwide network, at least one web server, at least one database server, and a plurality of internet-enabled back-end devices. Each vehicle has at least one internet-enabled front-end device, which is communicably coupled to the vehicle's computer system access device. The internet-enabled front-end device of each vehicle retrieves the vehicle-related data through a software application, which is also used to send the vehicle-related data to the web server. The web server collects data from each vehicle and properly organizes and stores the data on the database server. The web server and the database service implements a system software to manage and process the data from each vehicle. Once the system software processes the data, the internet-enabled back-end devices can access the data through external applications or information systems. |
| US08930500B2 |
Method and system for accelerating receipt of data in a client to client network
A method and system for accelerating receipt of data in a client to client network. The method includes the steps of intercepting queries and responses, storing the intercepted queries and responses in an acceleration server and transmitting the intercepted responses to clients submitting intercepted queries. The system includes at least one acceleration server designed and configured to perform the steps included in the method. |
| US08930495B2 |
Automatic electronic publishing
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for publishing an electronic document. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A distribution module retrieves a distribution list identifying at least one user that is to be notified about the publication of the electronic document. As such, when a transfer module sends the electronic document to a network location, a messaging module automatically notifies the at least user from the distribution list of the publication of the electronic document and provides instructions to the at least one user for retrieving the electronic document from the network location. Other systems and methods are also provided. |
| US08930494B2 |
Secure method of synchronizing cache contents of a mobile browser with a server
A method of securely synchronizing cache contents of a mobile browser with a server includes initiating a session between the browser and server, including transmission of browser state information regarding the cache contents and an authentication key to the server; maintaining a record of data sent from the server to the browser for storage in the cache; maintaining a record of the state information regarding the cache contents transmitted from the browser to the server; and transmitting data requests from the browser to the server, in response to which the server uses the key as a seed generation function and accesses each the record of data and returns only data that does not already form part of the cache contents, and wherein the data includes a result of a hash of data generated by the generation function for authentication by the browser before updating the cache contents with the data. |
| US08930488B2 |
Method and system for the multi-criteria management of presence notifications
Multicriteria management method for presence notifications proposed by a means of instant communications comprising a list of contacts that is not empty and connected to a presence server, such method comprising the following steps: configuration of rules to filter the presence notifications to be displayed and transmitted from the presence server; automatic configuration of presence information; automatic broadcasting of presence information on social networking and microblogging tools. |
| US08930487B2 |
Object-based modeling using model objects exportable to external modeling tools
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for object-based modeling using modeling objects exportable to external modeling tools. A modeling client can host modeling logic and an application programming interface (API) to create, access, manipulate, and import/export modeling objects used in modeling applications, such as engineering, medical, financial, and other modeling platforms. In aspects, the source data accepted into the modeling client can be consumer or business-level applications, whose cell, database, or other data content can be extracted and encapsulated in an object-oriented format, such as extensible markup language (XML) format. The modeling client can exchange one or more resulting modeling object directly with external platforms, such as mainframe platforms, middleware databases, and others, via the application programming interface (API) on a programmatic basis. Costs and maintenance savings over mainframe-based modeling tools can thereby be achieved, while providing greater power than consumer or business-level tools. |
| US08930485B2 |
Information processing apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having program stored thereon
By generating second data transfer status managing information for managing a data transfer status between the first storing unit and a third storing unit provided in the second storage apparatus, and third data transfer status managing information for managing data transfer status between the second storing unit and a fourth storing unit provided in the second storage apparatus based on the first data transfer status managing information; and transferring data between the first storing unit and the third storing unit based on the second data transfer status managing information, transferring data between the second storing unit and the fourth storing unit based on the third data transfer status managing information, and transferring the first data transfer status managing information, the data transfer status between multiple storing units in a migrating storage apparatus may be reproduced in another migrated storage apparatus. |
| US08930478B2 |
Method and system for organizing electronic messages using eye-gaze technology
Organizing messages received and transmitted over a network is described. In one aspect, a method includes tracking where a user is gazing as the user is composing an outgoing message on a first computer system. During a composition time period in which the user is composing the message, a relevance rating for one or more of a plurality of gaze areas is determined. The relevance rating of a gaze area is based on a number of times the user's gaze dwells on the displayed message associated with the gaze area after the user's gaze is directed away from the displayed message. The method further includes identifying at least one displayed message that is related to the outgoing message based on at least one of the relevance ratings, and associating an identifier for at least one of the at least one related message with the outgoing message. |
| US08930477B2 |
Schedulable e-mail filters
An e-mail filter may be associated with a schedule defining a recurrent active time period. As such, some e-mail filters may be active at specific times of day and on specific days of the week and inactive the rest of the time. Before applying any filters, the current time is determined and it is determined which filters are active. The determination of which filters are active is based on the current time being within the active time period. |
| US08930474B2 |
Time-managed electronic mail messages
Systems, method sand computer program products for facilitating the automatic deletion of received emails after a user-selectable time period has elapsed are disclosed. In various embodiments, email messages contain a header field referred to as an “Expiration Time” header field that dictates the length of time the email will reside in a designated Inbox prior to its automatic deletion by an email server. The server is able to automatically delete the received email as long as the email is residing in a folder that is synched to the server. A user receiving the email has access to the Expiration Time Header field and can modify its value if desired and allowed by the sender. The user can move the retrieved email to a folder that is not synched to the server, thus preventing the email from being automatically deleted by the server. |
| US08930470B2 |
Event notification in interconnected content-addressable storage systems
Some of the embodiments herein provide a seamless cloud of storage. This storage may be content-addressable storage. An end application may or may not be exposed to the fact that content-addressable storage is used. Various embodiments herein provide event notification, which may allow applications or users to subscribe to particular events (such as storage of an X-ray by a particular entity). Some embodiments provide for a shared archive. A shared archive may provide homogeneous access to medical data, etc. that was previously stored into the CAS cloud by heterogeneous applications, varied data types, etc. Additionally, embodiments herein allow for the creation and distribution of virtual packages. For example, a user may create a virtual package for all images related to a patient so that she may have a virtual package of all of her medical data to present to a referring physician. |
| US08930467B2 |
Mobile communication terminal
A mobile communication terminal has an e-mail automatic reply function. The mobile communication terminal is set as to an allowable time difference, ringing and an e-mail automatic reply by an e-mail automatic reply function, and performs a domain analysis, etc. on the header information of the received e-mail message if the setting is made valid. Then, in the domain analysis, it is determined whether or not the time difference between an area (region) set by the roaming function and a region from which an e-mail message is sent is equal to or less than an allowable time difference, and if it is equal to or less than the allowable time difference, the mobile communication terminal notifies the receipt of the e-mail message by ringing. On the other hand, if the time difference is larger than the allowable time difference, the mobile communication terminal automatically sends a reply mail without notifying the receipt of the e-mail message. |
| US08930464B1 |
Email content pre-caching to a local archive store
An email archive system and associated techniques are described. Archived emails may be stored locally on a user's client computer in a local archive store. The email archive system and associated techniques may interact with an email message system and an email client application. |
| US08930463B2 |
Super-emoticons
Techniques are described for generating and displaying “super-emoticons”. Super-emoticons are similar to smileys in that they may be generated in response to a participant in a textual conversation entering a specific sequence of textual characters. However, super-emoticons differ from smileys in that super-emoticons are programmed to demonstrate more sophisticated behaviors, including but not limited to: moving out of the text insertion location, interacting with other display elements, interacting with users, changing appearance based on context, exhibiting randomly selected behaviors, and making use of information from services. |
| US08930462B1 |
Techniques for enforcing data sharing policies on a collaboration platform
Techniques for enforcing data sharing policies on a collaboration platform are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system for enforcing data sharing policies on a collaboration platform including a communication module configured to capture a subscription request from a first user to follow a second user in a collaboration platform. The system may also include an asset and profile module including at least one computer processor configured to determine authorization classification associated the first user and the second user. The system may further include an enforcement module including at least one computer processor configured to determine whether to approve the subscription request based at least in part on the authorization classification associated with the first user and the second user. |
| US08930461B2 |
Download and configuration management engine for gaming system
A slot management system including a download and configuration server-based sub-system and method is disclosed for use with game devices, systems, and methods is provided to enable users to monitor, control, and modify game devices and other related activities. A download and configuration system controller and method is provided for managing the download and configuration server-based sub-system. |
| US08930460B2 |
Method and system for determining and sharing a user's web presence
A method and system for determining and sharing a user's web presence have been disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises providing web presence information associated with a first user from a first computer having a first software module. The web presence information is received at a second computer. The web presence information is used to dynamically inform a second user communicating with the second computer of a website that the first user is viewing. |
| US08930458B2 |
GPS pathfinder cell phone and method
A device and system for use before and after a disaster which incorporate a “Whole Community” response is illustrated. The system can be readily customized for use in other markets and scenarios and easily adapted into uses by emergency management. The device incorporates a GPS radio and/or cell phones with, pre-programmed instructions which are uploaded automatically in the device's memory via wireless technology prior to the unit's first use. Radios on the units can enable the searchers to audibly communicate with each other without cell towers. The system can be employed by cleanup teams, insurance adjusters, and any number of pre/post response teams focused on mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery operations. The system can contain a modifiable and functional, virtual badge and can export data gathered in the field, as well as integrate this data with other, pre-existing software via software APIs contained within the system and cell phone software. |
| US08930456B2 |
Method and system of suggesting contacts through the display of public posts within a social networking service
A system and method for displaying public posts within a social networking service. In one aspect, a method includes determining a plurality of suggested contacts associated with a user of the social networking service, with each suggested contact of the plurality of suggested contacts being associated with a plurality of public posts. For each suggested contact associated with the plurality of public posts, the method includes ranking the plurality of public posts for the suggested contact and selecting one or more public posts from the plurality of public posts for the suggested contact based on the ranking. The method further includes providing for the display of the selected one or more public posts along with a corresponding confirmation interface component allowing acceptance of the suggested contact as a contact of the user. Machine-readable media are also provided. |
| US08930454B1 |
Providing a shared online search experience
Allowing users to share an online search experience is disclosed. The method includes hosting an interactive virtual session. The interactive virtual session enables a primary user to control the interactive virtual session. The interactive virtual session is displayed at least in part on a computer associated with the first user. The method further includes providing access to the interactive virtual session to at least one secondary user. The secondary user has limited functionalities for interacting with the virtual session. A search query is received from a computer associated with the primary user. At least one search result is determined based on the received search query. The search results are sent to the computer associated with the user for display as part of the interactive virtual session. The search results include at least one representation of an item of interest in the one or more items of interest. |
| US08930452B2 |
System and method for automatically posting user-location information to a social network
Methods and systems for automatically interfacing with Internet-based social networks for safely providing friends of a mobile user with location updates. In particular, a system and method are provided for automatically posting user-location information to a social network. A system interface receives user data including a location update activation indicator and location update conditions. A navigation engine obtains information associated with the current location of the mobile user. A social network client module of the system is configured to determine that the location activation indicator is active and to determine that a location update condition is met. A communications interface automatically posts a location update to the social network if the social network client determines that at least one location update condition is met. |
| US08930444B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling remote user interface servers using a multicast message in a home network
An apparatus and method for controlling a Remote User Interface Server (RUIS) in a Remote User Interface Client (RUIC), wherein the method includes rendering an RUI page for controlling RUISs, receiving an input of a control command for controlling the RUISs from a user through the RUI page, generating a multicast control message for transmitting the input control command in a form of multicast, and transmitting the multicast control message to the RUISs. |
| US08930433B2 |
Systems and methods for a floating-point multiplication and accumulation unit using a partial-product multiplier in digital signal processors
An embodiment of an apparatus performs a floating-point multiply-add process on a first multiplicand, a second multiplicand, and an addend. A leading 0 bit is added to a mantissa of the first multiplicand to form an expanded first mantissa, and a partial-product multiplication is performed on the expanded first mantissa and a mantissa of the second multiplicand to produce partial-product sum and a partial-product carry mantissas. Leading bits of the partial-product sum and carry mantissas are changed to 0 bits if they are both 1 bits, and the partial-product sum and the partial-product carry are shifted right according to an exponent difference of a product of the first multiplicand and the second multiplicand. Otherwise both the partial-product sum and carry mantissas are arithmetically shifted right according to the exponent difference. The first and second multiplicands and the addend can be complex numbers. |
| US08930430B2 |
Chromatic dispersion estimator and method for estimating a chromatic dispersion
A chromatic dispersion estimator for estimating a chromatic dispersion in an input signal block comprises a transformer for transforming the input signal block into a transformed signal block in frequency domain, a chromatic dispersion compensator for compensating a certain chromatic dispersion in the transformed signal block to obtain a compensated transformed signal block, an inverse transformer for inversely transforming the compensated transformed signal block into time domain to obtain an output signal, an adaptive filter for filtering the output signal to obtain a filtered signal, and a determiner for determining upon the basis of the filtered signal whether the certain chromatic dispersion corresponds to the chromatic dispersion in the input signal block. |
| US08930428B2 |
Random number generation circuit
According to one embodiment, a random number generation circuit includes an oscillation circuit and a holding circuit. The oscillation circuit has an amplifier array and a high-noise circuit. Amplifiers are connected in series in the amplifier array, and the amplifier array has a terminal between neighboring amplifiers. The high-noise circuit is inserted between other neighboring amplifiers in the amplifier array, and the high-noise circuit generates noise required to generate jitter in an oscillation signal from the amplifier array. The holding circuit outputs, as a random number, the oscillation signal held according to a clock signal. |
| US08930409B2 |
System and method for supporting named operations in a distributed data grid
A system and method can support one or more named operations in a distributed data grid. The distributed data grid includes one or more cluster nodes that can provide the one or more named operations associated with one or more resources in the distributed data grid. The distributed data grid can publish the one or more named operations to a client. Furthermore, the distributed data grid can perform the one or more named operations in the distributed data grid upon receiving a request from a client. |
| US08930408B2 |
Attribute-based linked tries for rule evaluation
An embodiment for evaluating rules pertaining to an event includes providing a rule trie comprising multiple nodes, wherein match conditions must be met to trigger a given rule, and each match condition corresponds to a different node. An attribute trie is provided for a string attribute, which includes a node sequence having a value. The string attribute is extracted from the event and also has a value. The value of the extracted string attribute and the value of the node sequence are compared, by traversing a path extending along the node sequence. Responsive to determining that the values of the extracted string attribute and the node sequence are the same, notice is provided that the match condition of a particular node of the rule trie has been met by an attribute of the received event. |
| US08930407B2 |
Incremental clustering of indexed XML data
In a data storage and retrieval system wherein data is stored and retrieved in pages, said data comprising connected nodes arranged such that each page stores only complete nodes, said connected nodes being connected via a plurality of overlapping tree structures, a method of minimizing page retrieval in the face of changing relationships between nodes comprising: selecting at least two of said overlapping tree structures; incrementally adjusting a page node structure dynamically based on real time workload, separately according to each selected tree structure, to form modified partitions for each tree structure, each modified partition being so as to minimize page faults; for each modified partition calculating a modification gain to indicate which partition has provided a greater minimization of page faults; and selecting the tree structure and modified partition corresponding to the best modification gain. |
| US08930403B2 |
Fine-grained relational database access-control policy enforcement using reverse queries
A method of providing access control to a relational database accessible from a user interface is implemented at a policy enforcement point, which is located between the database and the user interface and includes the steps of: (i) intercepting a database query from a user; (ii) assigning attribute values on the basis of a target table or target column in the query, a construct type in the query, or the user or environment; (iii) partially evaluating an access-control policy defined in terms of said attributes, by constructing a partial policy decision request containing the attribute values assigned in step ii) and evaluating the AC policy for this, whereby a simplified policy is obtained; (iv) deriving an access condition, for which the simplified policy permit access; and (v) amending the database query by imposing said access condition and transmitting the amended query to the database. |
| US08930400B2 |
System and method for discovering knowledge communities
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for discovering knowledge communities. Embodiments of the present invention may comprise providing user access to a network of documents, gathering document access data relating to user access of each document in the network of documents and document authorship and review data, and establishing relationships between users and documents based on the document access data and document authorship and review data. Further, embodiments of the present invention may comprise establishing a network of users that are linked by common document access patterns based on the relationships between users and documents, and clustering communities of users within the network. |
| US08930399B1 |
Determining word boundary likelihoods in potentially incomplete text
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining word boundary likelihoods in potentially incomplete text. In one aspect, a method includes selecting query sequences from the query, each query sequence being at least a portion of a word n-gram, the word n-gram being a subsequence of up to n words selected from the second sequence of words of the query, and for each query sequence: determining one or more query sequence keys for the query sequence; determining at least one of a word boundary count and a non-word boundary count for each query sequence key, each word-boundary count and non-word boundary count being dependent on the context of the query sequence; and associating, in a data storage device, the at least one word boundary count and non-word boundary counts with each query sequence key. |
| US08930394B2 |
Querying sensor data stored as binary decision diagrams
According to certain embodiments, a search query for a search of samples of sensor data is received. The search query indicates one or more requested values of one or more data parameters. The samples are represented by a characteristic function indicating whether a given binary representation represents a sample. A query function representing the one or more requested values is formulated. The query function and the characteristic function are used to identify one or more samples that have the one or more requested values. |
| US08930393B1 |
Referent based search suggestions
Computer-implemented methods for providing suggestions for a search based on previously viewed content are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving information on previously viewed content, and receiving a request to enter a query into a search field subsequent to receiving the information on the previously viewed content. The method also includes identifying, based on the content, at least one entity referred to in the content, and providing an identifier of the at least one entity for display with the search field. Systems and machine-readable storage media are also provided. |
| US08930390B2 |
Mouse gesture assisted search
A system and method for method for performing a web search by a search engine for content including: providing a first search results page to a user in response to a search query; providing an interface for submission of an input action representing a search command, wherein the interface is associated with the search results page; receiving the input action; reformulating the search query to incorporate the search command represented by the input action; and providing a second search results page to the user in response to the reformulated search query. |
| US08930389B2 |
Mutual search and alert between structured and unstructured data stores
An approach is provided that search unstructured data sources with a search engine using initial search terms. Search hits received from the search engine are gathered and possible search terms are retrieved from the search hits. Entities are extracted from the search hits where the entities correspond to the extracted terms. The extracted entities and terms that are extracted are used to query structured data sources, such as tables in a relational database. Query results are then received from the queries performed on the structured data sources. These query results are used to further search the unstructured data sources to again receive search hits from which terms and entities are extracted. Search hits and the extracted entities are stored in a results data store for analysis. |
| US08930388B2 |
System and method for providing orientation into subject areas of digital information for augmented communities
A system and method for providing orientation into subject areas of digital information for augmented communities is provided. Topics are provided for subject areas. Each subject area is associated with an augmented community and each topic is hierarchically organized under a fine-grained topic category. Evergreen indexes are maintained and includes topic models that are each matched to topics associated with each augmented community. Interrelatedness of the evergreen indexes is determined by identifying the topics found in the topic hierarchy for each evergreen index that are shared. A social network including neighbors made up of each augmented community associated with each interrelated evergreen index is formed. A user interest is determined and each of the plurality of topic models for the evergreen indexes is evaluated against the digital information. Access to the digital information via the identified best matched evergreen index and the identified other evergreen index is provided. |
| US08930386B2 |
Querying by semantically equivalent concepts in an electronic data record system
Embodiments of the present invention enable processing of concept-based query requests submitted to a query service within a healthcare transaction framework. In embodiments, a terminology service within the healthcare transaction framework manages terminology content (concepts represented by a set of terminologies). In embodiments, search criteria from a data access query request are submitted to the terminology service to extract a set of concepts from the terminology content that are associated with the search criteria. In embodiments, equivalence search criteria include a seed concept, and the terminology service returns a set of equivalent concepts comprising the seed concept. In embodiments, classification search criteria include a classification identifier, and the terminology service returns a set of concepts associated with the classification identifier. In embodiments, the query service generates and submits a data access query comprising predicates associated with the returned set of concepts. |
| US08930381B2 |
Methods and systems for runtime data anonymization
System and methods for anonymizing data is disclosed. The method includes intercepting a communication, identifying sensitive data in the communication and transmitting data to an anonymization engine for masking. Masked data is received from the anonymization engine and transmitted to a client device. |
| US08930378B2 |
Labeling samples in a similarity graph
Particular embodiments of a social-networking system maintain one or more data stores storing a social graph comprising user nodes, concept nodes, and edges connecting the nodes. Particular embodiments may determine a confidence score with respect to a user node and a concept node, wherein the confidence score is based at least in part on affinity scores associated with the edges along a sequence of nodes between the user node and the concept node in the social graph. The confidence score may be based on an overall probability that a random walk starting at the user node will end at the concept node. This overall probability may be determined by calculating, for each edge in the random walk, the probability of taking that edge during the random walk, based on the affinity score associated with that edge. |
| US08930377B2 |
System and methods thereof for mining web based user generated content for creation of term taxonomies
A system for creation of term taxonomies by mining web based user generated content according. The system includes a network interface enabling access to one or more data sources; a mining unit for collecting textual content from the one or more sources and generating phrases, the generated phrases include sentiment phrases and non-sentiment phrases; an analysis unit for generating at least associations between a non-sentiment phrase and a sentiment phrase based on the generated phrases, wherein an association between a non-sentiment phrase and at least one corresponding sentiment phrase is a taxonomy; and storing the taxonomies in a data warehouse storage connected to the network wherein responsive to a query the system provides a sentiment to a non-sentiment phrase provided in the query. |
| US08930376B2 |
Search result abstract quality using community metadata
A system and method is described herein that uses community-based metadata to improve the manner by which a search engine generates an abstract for a document, such as a Web page. The community-based metadata may comprise, for example, tags or descriptors associated with the document by users of a Web service, such as users of a social bookmarking Web service. By using community-based metadata to help identify text fragments within a document that are most suitable for generating the abstract, an embodiment of the present invention generates an abstract that more accurately represents relevant document content as compared to conventional abstract generation algorithms. |
| US08930374B2 |
Method and apparatus for multidimensional data storage and file system with a dynamic ordered tree structure
An approach is provided to determine one or more dynamic ordered tree structures and transition tree structures (e.g., based on one or more transitions of a device) to facilitate querying and/or accessing data stores. An apparatus and method determines to generate at least one index structure, determines to associate index objects of the generated index structure with one or more data objects of at least one data store, determines to generate at least one transition index structure based on the at least one generated index structure, and determines to associate the transition index structure with index objects corresponding to one or more data objects of at least one data store based on a transition of a device. Also, the method and apparatus determines to generate at least one query, and determines to generate at least one transition index structure where a current index structure to resolve the query is absent. |
| US08930373B2 |
Searching with exclusion tokens
An aspect includes phrase searching using exclusion tokens. A token division unit is configured to divide an input character string to be searched into a plurality of tokens. A token position definition unit is configured to set each token to be excluded in an occurrence position calculation as an exclusion token and to set each token to be included in the occurrence position calculation as a headword token, and define an occurrence position for each headword token. A position offset information assigning unit is configured to assign, to each of the exclusion tokens, position information obtained with the headword token followed by the exclusion tokens and to assign the headword token followed by the exclusion tokens as a starting point. An indexing processing unit is configured to perform indexing on the plurality tokens such that whether or not the exclusion tokens follow one of the plurality of tokens is identifiable. |
| US08930367B2 |
Non-transitory computer-readable medium, information classification method, and information processing apparatus
There is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process. The process includes: acquiring posted information items, each of the posted information items including at least either of a text information item and an image information item; generating text information items including text items in such a manner that image information items are removed from the posted information items, and classifying the text items into first categories; generating image information items including images in such a manner that text information items are removed from the posted information items, and classifying the images into second categories; associating the classified text items and the classified images with each other on the basis of the first and second categories to obtain results; and outputting the text items and the images for each of the results. |
| US08930358B2 |
System and method for presenting search results
System and method for presenting search results. Search results may be mixed and/or prioritized based on one or more criteria. Search results may be mixed and/or prioritized based on user profile data, preferred advertiser/merchant rankings or a combination thereof. Search results may presented to a viewer on a display device simultaneously along with broadcast and/or streaming content. The search results may be “pushed” to a client-side device and presented along with related broadcast content. Alternatively, the search results may be based on one or more user-provided search criteria. |
| US08930357B2 |
Domain expertise determination
A user's domain expertise may be estimated through several factors by monitoring different aspects of a user's interaction with a web browser. Based on the user's domain expertise, search results may be presented to the user that is commensurate with their expertise, resulting in a more efficient and productive on line session. A user's expertise in a knowledge domain may be determined from the user's behavior, including analyzing search queries, monitoring how the user navigates between and through websites, and analyzing the specific cites visited. As a user interacts with a browser, the user's estimated domain expertise may be updated and used to provide appropriate and useful search results. In many embodiments, a user may have different expertise levels for different technical domains. |
| US08930354B2 |
System and method for organizing content
A method for organizing content includes receiving a first query from a first connected device, the first connected device operated on a first platform and associated with a user. The method further includes searching multiple reliable online depositories for first content relevant to the first query, organizing the first content into menus of relevant material, and making the first content available to the first connected device. The method further includes making the first content available to a second connected device, the second connected device operated on a second platform and associated with the user. |
| US08930352B2 |
Reliance oriented data stream management system
A computer-implemented method comprises receiving a plurality of data streams into a data stream management system, wherein each data stream is obtained from a data streaming source and a reliance level is associated with each of the data streaming sources. When a continuous query is registered that specifies a reliance level attribute, the query is executed over the plurality of data streams using only those data streams obtained from a data streaming source associated with a suitable reliance level. For example, the reliance level attribute may establish a minimum reliance level, such that data stream having a lesser reliance level are not used. CQL may be enhanced with such an extra attribute which allows end users to specify the desired reliance level when submitting a query. |
| US08930345B2 |
Query optimization in a parallel computer system to reduce network traffic
A database query optimizer optimizes a query that uses multiple networks. The query optimizer optimizes a query to reduce network traffic on a network or node that is overloaded or above an established parameter in a node/network attribute table. The query optimization to reduce network traffic may result in a sub-optimal query in other respects such as execution time. The result is a query optimizer that rewrites or optimizes a query to execute on multiple nodes or networks to reduce traffic on a network or node according to the loading characteristics and assigned attributes of a node or network. |
| US08930343B2 |
System and method for collecting document
Provided is a system and method for collecting a document. The system may include an identification information receiver to receive, from a host of a site, identification information of a document of which an update may occur, a collection request transfer unit to transmit a collection request for the document based on the identification information, an update information collector to receive update information of the document from the host, and a search result provider to provide, to the host, a search result extracted from the update information of the document, in response to the search request being received from the host. The system for collecting the document may reduce load of a web site, and may improve accuracy of the document to be collected. |
| US08930342B2 |
Enabling multidimensional search on non-PC devices
Multidimensional search capabilities are enabled on a non-PC (personal computer) device being utilized by a user. An original query submitted by the user via the non-PC device is received. A structured data repository is accessed to extract structured data that is available for the original query, where the extracted structured data represents attributes of the original query. The extracted structured data is provided to the user in the form of a hierarchical menu which allows the user to interactively modify the original query, such modification resulting in a revised query. |
| US08930341B2 |
Mobile communications device with electronic nose
Systems and methods for a mobile electronic system that gathers and analyzes odors, airborne chemicals and/or compounds. A signature or representation of the odors, airborne chemicals and/or compounds can be generated. Extrinsic data associated with the odors, airborne chemicals and/or compounds or capturing the odors, airborne chemicals and/or compounds can be identified. A model can be generated based on the representation and the extrinsic data. Filters can be generated based on the extrinsic data. The model can be searched for candidate matches, solutions, or other results based on the representation and the filters. Results can be generated based on the search and candidate matches. |
| US08930339B2 |
Search engine performance evaluation using a task-based assessment metric
The subject disclosure is directed towards evaluating search engine implementation performance using a task-based assessment metric. Logged user activities associated with the search engine implementation are processed into sessions and atomic events corresponding to the user activities within the sessions. The atomic events corresponding to the user activities are classified into tasks based on similarity of the queries within the user activities. After applying the task-based assessment metric to task information associated with the search engine implementation, an evaluation mechanism determines indicia of search engine implementation performance in terms of user behavior. |
| US08930338B2 |
System and method for contextualizing query instructions using user's recent search history
Disclosed is a system and method for providing search suggestions to a user based on the user's previously entered search queries. A computing device stores a global set of search suggestions. The computing device receives over a network from a user computer operated by a user one or more alphanumeric characters forming a portion of a search query. The computing device determines a search suggestion to the portion of the search query from the global set of search suggestions based on a search history of the user, the search history of the user comprising a plurality of search queries entered by the user within a predetermined period of time. The computing device transmits to the user computer the search suggestion for display by the user computer. |
| US08930335B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information search method and program
One embodiment provides an information processing apparatus, including: a search module configured to perform a search on a plurality of pages with a designated search condition, the pages being managed by an application program capable of managing information by arranging at least one object in any desired layout on each page; and a display controller configured to display at least one object extracted through the search on a screen of a display module as a search result, with a layout of each object on the page kept unchanged. |
| US08930332B2 |
Method and system for partitioning search indexes
Methods and systems for partitioning search indexes are described. In one embodiment, such a method includes identifying, via a partition manager, a search index to be partitioned, where the search index includes a plurality of entity types, and wherein each of the plurality of entity types associates records stored in a data store with the respective entity type within the search index. The method further includes partitioning, via the partition manager, the search index into a first partitioned search index and a second partitioned search index, correlating, via a partitioning scheme, a first subset of the plurality of entity types with the first partitioned search index, and correlating, via the partitioning scheme, a second subset of the plurality of entity types with the second partitioned search index. |
| US08930331B2 |
Providing unique views of data based on changes or rules
In one embodiment, a method comprises creating and storing, in a revisioning database, one or more data objects; wherein a first plurality of the data objects is associated with a base realm representing data shared across all users of the database; wherein a second plurality of the data objects is associated with one or more child realms, wherein each of the child realms represents data local to a project, wherein each of the users is associated with one or more of the child realms; wherein the revisioning database associates each data object to a realm identifier value and to a version identifier value for a plurality of versions of the data object, wherein each of the versions represents a change to the data object by any of a plurality of users; receiving a request from a first user to view a third plurality of data objects in the revisioning database; selecting, based on the base realm, the particular realm, the version identifier value for the data objects in the third plurality, and one or more rules associated with the particular realm and the first user, data objects in the third plurality that can be viewed by the first user; creating a particular data view that includes only the selected data objects; and providing a display of the particular data view to the first user. |
| US08930328B2 |
Storage system, storage system control method, and storage control device
It is provided a storage system including a storage device for storing data, and a controller for controlling data read/write in the storage device. The controller includes a processor for executing a program, and a memory for storing the program that is executed by the processor. The processor executes deduplication processing for converting a duplicate part of data that is stored in the storage device into shared data, and calculates a distributed capacity consumption, which represents a capacity of a storage area that is used by a user in the storage device, by using a size of the data prior to the deduplication processing and a count of pieces of data referring to the shared data that is referred to by this data. |
| US08930323B2 |
Transaction processing system, method, and program
Using a KVS transaction processing mechanism, four lock states are managed. When a local transaction refers to and updates a map entry, the local transaction is graded up to a global transaction. Start processing as the global transaction is first performed to determine a transaction ID. A committed value, a value being updated, and a transaction ID being updated are then inserted into all map entries for which LX locks are being acquired at present. Another local transaction is then started for all map entries for which S locks are being acquired at present to acquire S locks. Next, the original local transaction is committed. As a result, the LX locks acquired are graded up to GX locks. After the termination of the global transaction as the waiting target, acquisition of S locks (GX locks) is tried as a global transaction. |
| US08930320B2 |
Distributed computing backup and recovery system
The distributed computing backup and recovery (DCBR) system and method provide backup and recovery for distributed computing models (e.g., NoSQL). The DCBR system extends the protections from server node-level failure and introduces persistence in time so that the evolving data set may be stored and recovered to a past point in time. The DCBR system, instead of performing backup and recovery for an entire dataset, may be configured to apply to a subset of data. Instead of keeping or recovering snapshots of the entire dataset which requires the entire cluster, the DCBR system identifies the particular nodes and/or archive files where the dataset resides so that backup or recovery may be done with a much smaller number of nodes. |
| US08930309B2 |
Interval-controlled replication
Various systems and methods for interval-controlled replication are described. For example, one method involves a node receiving a first interval indication indicating start of a first interval. After receiving the first interval indication, an application on the node initiates a first write, which includes the node initiating a first local write and a first remote write. The first local write accesses a local storage. The first remote write accesses a remote storage and replicates the first local write. The node waits for acknowledgements indicating that the local and remote writes have finished, as well as for a second interval indication, before the first write from the application is treated being complete. |
| US08930308B1 |
Methods and systems of associating metadata with media
A system for associating metadata with at least one media file is provided. The system includes a memory storing transcription information associated with the at least one media file, at least one processor coupled to the memory, and a component executed by the at least one processor and configured to associate metadata with the at least one media file by storing an association between the transcription information and the metadata within the memory. In the system, the transcription information may be synchronized with the at least one media file and the association engine may be further configured to associate the metadata with a portion of the at least one media file by storing an association between a portion of the transcription information and the metadata. |
| US08930307B2 |
Method for removing duplicate data from a storage array
A system and method for efficiently removing duplicate data blocks at a fine-granularity from a storage array. A data storage subsystem supports multiple deduplication tables. Table entries in one deduplication table have the highest associated probability of being deduplicated. Table entries may move from one deduplication table to another as the probabilities change. Additionally, a table entry may be evicted from all deduplication tables if a corresponding estimated probability falls below a given threshold. The probabilities are based on attributes associated with a data component and attributes associated with a virtual address corresponding to a received storage access request. A strategy for searches of the multiple deduplication tables may also be determined by the attributes associated with a given storage access request. |
| US08930304B2 |
Knowledge discovery from citation networks
In a corpus of scientific articles such as a digital library, documents are connected by citations and one document plays two different roles in the corpus: document itself and a citation of other documents. A Bernoulli Process Topic (BPT) model is provided which models the corpus at two levels: document level and citation level. In the BPT model, each document has two different representations in the latent topic space associated with its roles. Moreover, the multi-level hierarchical structure of the citation network is captured by a generative process involving a Bernoulli process. The distribution parameters of the BPT model are estimated by a variational approximation approach. |
| US08930301B2 |
Systems and methods for content response prediction
Techniques for predicting a user response to content are described. According to various embodiments, a configuration file is accessed, where the configuration file includes a user-specification of raw data accessible via external data sources and raw data encoding rules. In some embodiments, the raw data includes raw member data associated with a particular member and raw content data associated with a particular content item. Thereafter, source modules encode the raw data from the external data sources into feature vectors, based on the raw data encoding rules. An assembler module assembles one or more of the feature vectors into an assembled feature vector, based on user-specified assembly rules included in the configuration file. A prediction module performs a prediction modeling process based on the assembled feature vector and a prediction model, to predict a likelihood of the particular member performing a particular user action on the particular content item. |
| US08930300B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for classifying user activity using temporal combining in a mobile device
Components, methods, and apparatuses are provided for determining activity likelihood function values for an activity classification for two or more past epochs based, at least in part, on signals from one or more sensors of a mobile device. A method may comprise, for each of a plurality of activity classifications, determining activity likelihood function values for each of the plurality of activity classifications for two or more past epochs. The activity likelihood function values may be based on signals from one or more sensors of a mobile device. The method may also include combining the activity likelihood function values to determine a likelihood function for an activity classification at a present epoch. The method may also include inferring a present activity of a user co-located with the mobile device to be one of the activity classifications based on the determined likelihood functions for the activity classifications at the present epoch. |
| US08930292B2 |
Learning and auditory scene analysis in gradient frequency nonlinear oscillator networks
A method for learning connections between nonlinear oscillators in a neural network comprising the steps of providing a plurality of nonlinear oscillators, with each respective oscillator producing an oscillation distinct from the others in response to an input and detecting an input at an at least first oscillator of the plurality of nonlinear oscillators. Detecting an input at an at least a second oscillator of the plurality of nonlinear oscillators, comparing the oscillation of the at least first oscillator to the oscillation of the at least second oscillator at a point in time, and determining whether there is coherency between the oscillation of the at least first oscillator and the oscillation of the at least second oscillator. Changing at least one of the amplitude and phase of a connection between the at least first oscillator and the at least second least oscillator as a function coherency between the at least first oscillator and the oscillation of the at least second oscillator. |
| US08930291B1 |
Cortical neuromorphic network, system and method
A cortical neuromorphic network, system and method employ a plurality of neuromorphic nodes arranged in a network layer. The cortical neuromorphic network includes a neuromorphic node of the network layer in which the neuromorphic node includes a spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP) synapse and a neuromorphic neuron. The neuromorphic node is configured to receive a feedforward spike signal from selected ones of a plurality of input neurons of an input layer and to provide an output spike signal as a recurrent spike signal to the neuromorphic nodes of the network layer. A combination of the recurrent and feedforward spike signals is an excitatory spike signal of the neuromorphic node. The cortical neuromorphic system includes the neuromorphic nodes configured to operate according to a cycle and time slots of synaptic time multiplexing. The method includes receiving and weighting the excitatory spike signal using the STDP synapse and producing the output spike signal. |
| US08930288B2 |
Learning tags for video annotation using latent subtags
A tag learning module trains video classifiers associated with a stored set of tags derived from textual metadata of a plurality of videos, the training based on features extracted from training videos. Each of the tag classifiers is comprised of a plurality of subtag classifiers relating to latent subtags within the tag. The latent subtags can be initialized by clustering cowatch information relating to the videos for a tag. After initialization to identify subtag groups, a subtag classifier can be trained on features extracted from each subtag group. Iterative training of the subtag classifiers can be accomplished by identifying the latent subtags of a training set using the subtag classifiers, then iteratively improving the subtag classifiers by training each subtag classifier with the videos designated as conforming closest to that subtag. |
| US08930284B2 |
Extended system average interruption duration index (ESAIDI) metric to assess the system reliability impact of distribution automation failures
A method for assessing survivability of a distributed automation power grid due to a failure including: identifying a location of a failed section of a grid and isolating the section; aggregating sections of the grid downstream from the failed section into a first group and sections of the grid upstream from the failed section into a second group; computing, using a Markov chain, a first parameter indicating whether a communication network of the grid is operational after the failure; computing, using a Markov chain, a second parameter indicating whether enough backup energy exists for the second group after the failure; and computing, using a Markov chain, a third parameter based on the first and second parameters, wherein the third parameter is indicative of the time required for the grid to be restored to its operating state prior to the failure, and the third parameter is computed by evaluating ESAIDI ( τ ) = ∑ j = 1 C ϕ j τ ( M _ j ( τ ) D _ j ( τ ) ) . |
| US08930279B2 |
System and method for prepaid account replenishment
A method of processing a transaction for provision of funds to a mobile telephone prepayment account associated with a mobile telephone is disclosed. The method includes: an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) receiving, from a card associated with a user of the mobile telephone, information identifying a financial account associated with the user of the mobile device; the ATM receiving, from a user, an identifier associated with the mobile telephone; the ATM receiving, from the user, information indicating an amount of funds to be provided to the mobile telephone prepayment account; and the ATM sending, to a financial institution associated with the financial account, an instruction to transfer the indicated amount of funds from the financial account to the wireless service provider, so as to provide the indicated amount of funds to the mobile telephone prepayment account. |
| US08930276B2 |
Method of multiple algorithm processing of biometric data
A method performs processing of biometric information to create multiple templates. This allows biometric systems to be flexible and interact with a plurality of vendors' technologies. Specifically, a biometric sample is captured from a sensor and transmitted to a processing component. The biometric sample is then processed by a first algorithm to yield a biometric template and the template is stored and associated with a record identifier. The biometric sample is also processed by a second algorithm to yield a second template. The second template is stored and associated with the record identifier. |
| US08930271B1 |
System and method for a mobile wallet
A computer-implemented system and method for providing offers to a mobile device includes receiving at least one offer from at least one merchant at an offer computer system and determining, by the offer computer system, an offer to present on the mobile device based on at least one characteristic of a user of the mobile device, the offer providing the user a discount from a price of a product or service. The method includes receiving a request for a code to provide to a merchant, the code being generated for the mobile device that belongs to the user. The method includes receiving, from a mobile device, an indication from the user to use the offer and sending, by the offer computer system, to the mobile device an offer code to be displayed on the mobile device to be received by a merchant. |
| US08930269B2 |
System and method to adjust insurance rate based on real-time data about potential vehicle operator impairment
The method, system, and computer-readable medium facilitates monitoring a vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle during the course of vehicle operation to determine whether the vehicle operator is impaired (e.g., distracted, drowsy), log data relating to vehicle operator impairment for further analysis, and send the data to a server for analysis. The method, system, and computer-readable medium may monitor the vehicle operator, the environment ahead of the vehicle, and/or forces acting on the vehicle using either or both of optical sensors or accelerometers. In particular, one optical sensor may monitor the vehicle operator to detect eye blinks, head nods, head rotations, and/or gaze fixation. Another optical sensor may monitor the road ahead of the vehicle to detect lane deviation, lane centering, and time to collision. The accelerometers may detect acceleration in the direction of vehicle travel and/or lateral acceleration. The data gathered by the various sensors may be scored to determine whether to change a property and casualty insurance rate charged to vehicle operator and/or vehicle owner and/or vehicle policy. |
| US08930266B2 |
Techniques for progressive purchasing
Techniques for progressive purchasing of a device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for progressive purchasing of a device includes receiving information indicating a payment for a device from a customer, determining a payment pattern by the customer based on a recorded customer payment history and the received information, identifying a functionality to be enabled in the device based on the determined payment pattern, and enabling the identified functionality. The identified functionality is selected from a plurality of functionalities associated with the device. |
| US08930263B1 |
Credit data analysis
A computer system receives credit information relating to a consumer and a number of high scorers, and determines credit score factors associated with the consumer and the high scorers. The system may construct flippable score factor displays comprising consumer specific information specific to a credit category that may be reversed to display explanatory text regarding how that credit category affects their credit report. The score factor display may include a comparison between the consumer's scores and the high scorers' scores in a number of categories. Scores of high scorers may be periodically refreshed. Additionally, the group of high scorers may be limited according to a particular demographic, such as a geographic location, that may be selectable by a user. |
| US08930257B1 |
System and method for user defined markets for electronic trading
A system and method for user defined markets for electronic trading is disclosed. In one embodiment, a technology platform is provided that allows a user to define a new market for electronic trading and automatically generate the new market for live trading. In one embodiment, the new market is automatically tested using a trading simulator that simulates the new market for electronic trading. |
| US08930250B1 |
System and method of evaluating an investment portfolio
A system and method for performing a diagnostic evaluation of an investment portfolio by categorizing the assets in the portfolio, establishing thresholds for each category and identifying assets that are not in compliance with the established thresholds. |
| US08930245B2 |
Methods, systems and machines for identifying geospatial compatibility between consumers and providers of goods or services
Geospatial compatibility between consumers and providers of goods or services is identified. The system allows consumers to find service providers with service areas encompassing their location or merchants within a desired shopping area, and allow consumers to query about consumers within a specified area, for example to identify a potential customer base or consider regional advertising. A digital map interface allows users to enter one or more locations or areas of interest and later performs location or area additions, modifications or removals. The system provides the geospatially matched consumers and vendors with information on how to contact one another, but is kept simple by leaving actual contact between the matched parties to separate outside communication channels independent of the system. Processing requirements are reduced by pre-calculating an inner rectangle for complex polygon geographical areas so that simple point-rectangle calculations can confirm locations within the area as being within the polygon. |
| US08930244B2 |
Method, medium, and system for processing requisitions
A single instance, multi-tenant procurement system, includes an access module to provide access to a plurality of end users associated with an organization to their respective accounts, each account being customized by a super user of the organization, a search engine to execute searches for products offered by one or more suppliers, a transaction module to process and track one or more requisitions generated by the plurality of end users, a business rules module to apply business rules established between the organization and the one or more suppliers to process the requisitions, and a data repository to store data generated on the system. |
| US08930238B2 |
Pervasive symbiotic advertising system and methods therefor
An advertising system and methods, including an ad service that one of generates, presents and receives information pertaining to an ad presentation, an ad presentation output device that outputs the ad presentation at a presentation location, a user response receiver at the ad service that receives a user response transmitted from a mobile device based on the ad presentation at the presentation location, an ad service transmitter that transmits an executable object to a target device specified in the user response, wherein the target device includes a memory and a processor for executing the executable object to provide a service to the user on the target device, wherein the service is modified based on information one of accessed and determined by the executable object on the target device. |
| US08930234B2 |
Method and system for measuring individual prescience within user associations
Systems and methods are provided for identifying an influencer from a pool of people based on past interactions with one or more items. A popularity metric is determined for a particular item, and an earliness of interaction metric is determined for a person in the pool based on an interaction with the particular item by the person. A prescience metric is calculated for the person based on the popularity metric and the earliness of interaction metric for the person, and the influencer is identified based on the prescience metric for the person and prescience metrics calculated for other people in the pool. |
| US08930232B1 |
Claim and progression management
The present invention is a computer implemented method and system for gathering information from a user related to, filing for, and obtaining government benefits, such as Social Security benefits. The present invention also enables the user to track the benefit application approval process and reminders when certain data or responses are due. There is a feature which enables the user to modify the data submitted for the benefits when circumstances warrant. There is also a decision appeal process feature. |
| US08930228B1 |
Interactive systems and methods for insurance-related activities
Systems and methods for performing insurance related activities are provided. Software can be implemented to provide an application that includes an interactive interface for use by insurance professionals in managing clients, marketing insurance, and storing information. The application can include multiple layers directed to particular stages of the insurance-client relationship. Aggregation services can also be incorporated into the application. Interactive insurance-and-client specific display pages can be incorporated to aid in understanding a client's current insurance information and to generate presentations. “Value” calculators may be implemented to illustrate a comparison of a client's current level of protection to a client's current financial state. Interactive tools for evaluating a customer's financial condition during retirement and how life insurance affects a customer's financial condition are also provided. |
| US08930227B2 |
Online system for training novice drivers and rating insurance products
A system for determining vehicle driver hazard detection proficiency and calculating insurance discounts, wherein an Internet device presents a visual presentation of a continuous drive through a driving environment having driving hazards, an Internet device records locations viewed by a user within the visual presentation, a computer algorithm that compares the recorded user viewing locations with defined locations of hazards within the visual presentation of the continuous drive, to determine a hazard detection proficiency, a computer memory device comprising at least one minimum hazard detection proficiency criteria corresponding to an insurance discount; and a computer analytics device that compares the determined hazard detection proficiency of the user with the minimum hazard detection proficiency criteria and determines whether to award the insurance discount to the user. |
| US08930226B1 |
Gathering, storing, and retrieving summary electronic healthcare record information from healthcare providers
The system and method of the invention describes a unique approach to gathering patient treatment information in summary form from a universe of health care providers, each using any form of patient information management; converting that information to pointers that can be searched by a healthcare provider before or during treatment to determine if further information needs to be acquired from the original provider; and a variety of methods to provide access to detailed healthcare treatment and diagnosis information from the original provider through an access and display method provided by the Health Care Provider housing the records if available. The system and method envisages one or more providers of repository services, each offering various ways for healthcare providers to update and maintain summary information, and each providing for continual exchange of information among them to ensure complete access to all available information. |
| US08930225B2 |
Estimating healthcare outcomes for individuals
A method and apparatus for predicting a health benefit for an individual is provided. Outcomes from a first simulation on a set of simulated individuals reflecting a population are stored and used to determine a first risk function and corresponding cost values. Outcomes from a second simulation on a set of simulated individuals reflecting having a healthcare intervention are stored and used to determine a second risk function reflecting the intervention and corresponding cost values of the intervention. A benefit function is derived from the difference of the first and second risk functions. A cost function that describes the cost of the intervention is derived from the respective cost values. The derived benefit function and cost function are used to predict the corresponding benefit and cost of the healthcare intervention for a given individual. Individuals can be ranked by degree of expected benefit. |
| US08930224B2 |
Personalized management and comparison of medical condition and outcome based on profiles of community patients
The invention can be directed toward a method for personalized management and comparison of medical condition and outcome based on patient profiles of a community of patients. The method can include the steps of providing a database of patient profiles, providing a user interface for inputting a query of the database from a user, generating a query result including one or more matching patient profiles from the database, and displaying the query result as a correlation medical condition parameters of the user with a medical outcome. |
| US08930223B2 |
Patient cohort matching
A computer hardware-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product matches a current patient to a specific patient readmission cohort. The specific patient readmission cohort, made up of patients having a shared attribute, has a historical likelihood of hospital readmission within a predefined post-discharge length of time for members of the specific patient readmission cohort. A database describing a current patient is selected, based on the cost and speed of accessing that database, as well as the probability that the database describes a similar attribute for the current patient as the shared attribute in the specific patient readmission cohort. If the current patient meets the requisite criteria for entry into the specific patient readmission cohort, then a recommendation designed to reduce a likelihood of hospital readmission of the current patient is generated. |
| US08930221B2 |
Health care biometric surveillance and online provider communication
A graphical user interface provides clinical information in the form of a first health feed, patient-generated information in the form of a second health feed, and biometric surveillance from a peripheral device in a third health feed. The graphical user interface may provide improved access to patient-generated information to the provider and improved access to clinical information to the patient or caretaker for the patient. Additional health feeds may include data from peripheral devices, third-party sponsored applications, or other forms of health feedback. |
| US08930218B1 |
Systems and methods for building medical diagnostic apparatus using a digital library
The medical data analysis system automatically identifies medical information sources which correlate to anomalies identified in a set of patient medical data relating to an identified patient. The system includes a digital library for providing access to a plurality of information sources which relate to interpreting patient medical data and possible diseases associated with the patient medical data. A data characterization module calculates normative variations of a set of patient medical data to identify anomalies. Based upon this statistical analysis, a digital library interface module searches the digital library for information sources relating to the set of patient medical data and interpretations of the identified anomalies. There is also an information access module which provides an authorized user, such as a physician, with access to the information sources returned by the digital library interface module and relating to this set of patient medical data. |
| US08930217B2 |
Method and system for optimizing savings benefits
A method is provided for optimizing savings in financial accounts, including healthcare and retirement accounts for an employee and or participant. The method includes receiving information about the participant and financial accounts for which the participant is eligible to use and or using, and generating for the participant a savings hierarchy recommending the order and amounts to be contributed to the financial accounts from the participant's budgeted savings dollars. The method also includes determining generating the savings hierarchy for both full year and partial year activity by the participant. The method further includes transmitting the recommendations to the participant via data displayed as a graphical user interface with a graphical representation of the savings hierarchy to provide the participant with ease of understanding the recommendations for optimizing the budgeted savings dollars or selected contribution amount. |
| US08930213B2 |
Medical information event manager
An event management system and method detects the occurrence of events as a function, at least in part, of information and data gathered from monitoring one or more patients with a medical information system. Event detection processes can be defined and then triggered to cover any of a variety of circumstances. For instance, event detection processes can be defined that, when triggered, indicate that a certain patient (or patients) would make a suitable candidate for that clinical trial, a patient is a candidate for a certain type of treatment, or hospital resources are being utilized in a certain manner. That is, such events may relate to the efficiency or inefficiency in use of certain resources, or such events may concern usage under certain circumstances. |
| US08930211B2 |
Method of operating a medical device
A method of operating a medical device having a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is structured to store a number of operating routines, each of at least some of the number of operating routines being associated with a number of operating features of the medical device, and wherein the processor is adapted to execute a first one of the number of operating routines enabling a first set of operating features. The method comprises receiving an enablement code associated with a second operating routine, executing the second operating routing for a predetermined period responsive to receipt of the enablement code, wherein execution of the second operating routine enables a second set of operating features, and terminating execution of the second operating routine responsive to expiration of the predetermined period. |
| US08930207B2 |
Medical product dispensing systems and methods
Methods and systems for transferring restricted distribution medical products to an over-the-counter general sales environment are provided. Methods and systems of dispensing non-prescription, behind-the-counter medical products from a vending machine in a general sales location are also provided. In some embodiments, methods and systems are provided for dispensing a medical product from a vending machine in a general sales location based, at least in part, on biometric data collected from the purchaser and, in some instances, based on self-selection and/or de-selection criteria, is provided. Further, methods and systems of switching prescription medical products to non-prescription, over-the-counter medical products are provided. |
| US08930203B2 |
Multi-function analyte test device and methods therefor
Methods, device and systems including receiving a request for a therapy profile for treating a medical condition, determining using a processor a plurality of therapy profile parameters, assigning a weighted value to each therapy profile parameter based on a hierarchy determined by the medical condition, querying a database to identify a stored therapy profile with therapy profile parameters that most closely correspond to the determined plurality of therapy profile parameters based on the hierarchy, generating an output data corresponding to the identified stored therapy profile, the output data a medication dosage information are provided. Also provided are systems and kits. |
| US08930201B2 |
Method and an apparatus for processing an audio signal
An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving, by an audio processing apparatus, an audio signal including a first data of a first block encoded with rectangular coding scheme and a second data of a second block encoded with non-rectangular coding scheme; receiving a compensation signal corresponding to the second block; estimating a prediction of an aliasing part using the first data; and, obtaining a reconstructed signal for the second block based on the second data, the compensation signal and the prediction of aliasing part. |
| US08930199B2 |
Method and an apparatus for processing an audio signal
A method of processing an audio signal is disclosed. The present invention includes receiving, by an audio processing apparatus, coding identification information indicating whether to apply a first coding scheme or a second coding scheme to a current frame; when the coding identification information indicates that the second coding scheme is applied to the current frame, receiving window type information indicating a particular window for the current frame, from among a plurality of windows; identifying that a current window is a long stop window based on the window type information, wherein the long stop window is followed by only long window of a following frame, wherein the long stop window includes a gentle long stop window and a steep long stop window; and, when the first coding scheme is applied to a previous frame, applying the gentle long stop window to the current frame, wherein: the gentle long stop window comprise an ascending line with first slope, the steep long stop window comprise an ascending line with second slope, and, the first slope is gentler than the second slope. |
| US08930198B2 |
Low bitrate audio encoding/decoding scheme having cascaded switches
An audio encoder has a first information sink oriented encoding branch, a second information source or SNR oriented encoding branch, and a switch for switching between the first encoding branch and the second encoding branch, wherein the second encoding branch has a converter into a specific domain different from the spectral domain, and wherein the second encoding branch furthermore has a specific domain coding branch, and a specific spectral domain coding branch, and an additional switch for switching between the specific domain coding branch and the specific spectral domain coding branch. An audio decoder has a first domain decoder, a second domain decoder for decoding a signal, and a third domain decoder and two cascaded switches for switching between the decoders. |
| US08930197B2 |
Apparatus and method for encoding and reproduction of speech and audio signals
A method comprising receiving at a user equipment encrypted content. The content is stored in said user equipment in an encrypted form. At least one key for decryption of said stored encrypted content is stored in the user equipment. |
| US08930194B2 |
Configurable speech recognition system using multiple recognizers
Techniques for combining the results of multiple recognizers in a distributed speech recognition architecture. Speech data input to a client device is encoded and processed both locally and remotely by different recognizers configured to be proficient at different speech recognition tasks. The client/server architecture is configurable to enable network providers to specify a policy directed to a trade-off between reducing recognition latency perceived by a user and usage of network resources. The results of the local and remote speech recognition engines are combined based, at least in part, on logic stored by one or more components of the client/server architecture. |
| US08930192B1 |
Computer-based grapheme-to-speech conversion using a pointing device
Methods, systems and apparatus for a computer based grapheme-to-speech conversion using a pointing device. In one aspect the method of grapheme-to-speech conversion comprises the steps of presenting a plurality of grapheme-labeled regions and touchscreen, receiving an indication that at least one grapheme-labeled region has been touched by a pointing device, producing a phoneme corresponding to the grapheme via an audio speaker, and setting an audible duration of the phoneme corresponding to the amount of time the grapheme has been touched. |
| US08930186B2 |
Speech enhancement with minimum gating
A speech enhancement system enhances transitions between speech and non-speech segments. The system includes a background noise estimator that approximates the magnitude of a background noise of an input signal that includes a speech and a non-speech segment. A slave processor is programmed to perform the specialized task of modifying a spectral tilt of the input signal to match a plurality of expected spectral shapes selected by a Codec. |
| US08930179B2 |
Recognition using re-recognition and statistical classification
Architecture that employs an overall grammar as a set of context-specific grammars for recognition of an input, each responsible for a specific context, such as subtask category, geographic region, etc. The grammars together cover the entire domain. Moreover, multiple recognitions can be run in parallel against the same input, where each recognition uses one or more of the context-specific grammars. The multiple intermediate recognition results from the different recognizer-grammars are reconciled by running re-recognition using a dynamically composed grammar based on the multiple recognition results and potentially other domain knowledge, or selecting the winner using a statistical classifier operating on classification features extracted from the multiple recognition results and other domain knowledge. |
| US08930178B2 |
Processing text with domain-specific spreading activation methods
A method for performing natural language processing of free text using domain-specific spreading activation. Embodiments of the present invention ontologize free text using an algorithm based on neurocognitive theory by simulating human recognition, semantic, and episodic memory approaches. Embodiments of the invention may be used to process clinical text for assignment of billing codes, analyze suicide notes or legal discovery materials, and for processing other collections of text. Further, embodiments of the invention may be used to more effectively search large databases, such as a database containing a large number of medical publications. |
| US08930173B2 |
Vehicle behavior estimation device
A vehicle behavior estimation device includes: a storage unit configured to store a restriction condition at a point of a vehicle for which behavior is estimated; vehicle state data that includes position information and speed information of the vehicle; behavior parameters that include speed information and acceleration information of the vehicle; and physical restriction conditions that include an upper limit and a lower limit of the acceleration information; and a processor configured to obtain the vehicle state data by using the restriction condition at the point; calculate behavior parameters of a vehicle model that satisfy a physical restriction condition from the vehicle state data and the restriction condition at the point; update the vehicle state data of the vehicle model based on the behavior parameters; and repeat processing to calculate behavior parameters by using the updated vehicle state data and to update the vehicle state data. |
| US08930172B2 |
Methods and systems for parameter-sensitive and orthogonal gauge design for lithography calibration
Methods according to the present invention provide computationally efficient techniques for designing gauge patterns for calibrating a model for use in a simulation process, and which minimize degeneracy between model parameters, and thus maximize pattern coverage for parameter calibration. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods of designing gauge patterns that achieve complete coverage of parameter variations with minimum number of gauges and corresponding measurements in the calibration of a lithographic process utilized to image a target design having a plurality of features. According to some aspects, a method according to the invention includes transforming the space of model parametric space (based on CD sensitivity or Delta TCCs), then iteratively identifying the direction that is most orthogonal to existing gauges' CD sensitivities in this new space, and determining most sensitive line width/pitch combination with optimal assist feature placement which leads to most sensitive CD changes along that direction in model parametric space. |
| US08930171B2 |
Method of modeling spatial correlations among integrated circuits with randomly generated spatial frequencies
A computer-implemented method, computer system, and computer program for modeling spatial correlations among a set of devices. A method includes: assigning a set of physical coordinates to each device in the set of devices; representing one of a process parameter or an electric parameter for each device as a sum of at least two stochastic terms, wherein the at least two stochastic terms are chosen to satisfy the spatial correlations; simulating formation of the set of devices using the physical coordinates and the at least one of the process parameter or the electric parameter; and obtaining statistical properties of the set of devices from the simulation. |
| US08930169B2 |
Capacitive ultrasonic transducer and endo cavity ultrasonic diagnosis system using the same
A capacitive ultrasonic transducer (c-MUT) comprising a silicon substrate and a transducer element which comprises transducer cells, each of which is constituted by a first electrode equipped on the top surface of the silicon substrate, a second electrode placed opposite to the first electrode with a predetermined gap therefrom and a membrane for supporting the second electrode, wherein a trench is equipped between the adjacent transducers and a conductive film is formed in the trench. |
| US08930168B2 |
Trimming of operative parameters in electronic devices based on corrections mappings
An embodiment of an electronic device having a plurality of trimmable operative parameters is provided. The electronic device includes a trimming circuit for applying a plurality of trimming actions to each parameter for causing a corresponding correction of the parameter, for at least one reference parameter, a measuring circuit for measuring the reference parameter responsive to the application of at least part of the trimming actions, and for forcing the application of the selected trimming action for the reference parameter. For each non-reference parameter different from the at least one reference parameter, the electronic device includes a selection circuit for selecting one of the trimming actions for the non-reference parameter corresponding to the selected trimming action for the at least one reference parameter, and a biasing circuit for forcing the application of the selected trimming action for each non-reference parameter. |
| US08930162B2 |
Providing points of interest to user devices in variable zones
Receiving point of interest zones and alerts on user devices comprises communicating, by a user computing device to a remote computing device, a request for point of interest data corresponding to points of interest within a proximity of the user device; presenting the received point of interest data; identifying a particular point of interest; and outputting an alert regarding the particular point of interest. Receiving point of interest zones on user devices comprises communicating a request for point of interest data; receiving the point of interest data from the remote network device wherein a size of the point of interest zone is determined based on a density of points of interest in the proximity of the user, and wherein the shape of the point of interest zone is expanded in a direction of travel and contracted in the opposite direction; and presenting the received point of interest data. |
| US08930161B2 |
Apparatus and method for diagnosing fault of multi-sensor of motor
Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method for diagnosing a fault of a multi-sensor of a motor. The apparatus includes: a plurality of tachometers attached to the motor to measure rotation speeds; and a plurality of processors each connected directly to the plurality of tachometers to receive the measured rotation speeds, thereby securing a plurality of directly obtained rotation speeds, sharing the obtained rotation speeds with each other, thereby obtaining a plurality of indirectly obtained rotation speeds, and performing a fault diagnosis on the plurality of tachometers using the plurality of directly obtained rotation speeds and the plurality of indirectly obtained rotation speeds. |
| US08930160B2 |
Measurement system for the wireless position-independent measurement of the temperature
The invention relates to a measurement system for the wireless and position-independent measurement of the temperature of the load of an oven with high accuracy using passive temperature probes. The measurement system for the wireless measurement of the temperature of food or workpieces in ovens has an interrogation unit located outside the oven chamber, one or more interrogation antennas located in the oven chamber and at least one passively operated temperature probe with a probe antenna and at least one temperature sensor designed as a resonator, said temperature probe being freely movable within the oven, characterized in that the temperature sensor has at least two resonances with different temperature coefficients of frequency, wherein the electrical equivalent circuit diagrams of the resonance elements differ only slightly from each other. |
| US08930157B2 |
Temperature compensated digital pressure transducer
A digital pressure transducer includes a sensor, a memory component and a microprocessor. A correction algorithm and set of correction coefficients are provided and stored in the memory. An application applies the correction coefficients to convert digitized values to pressure values. The transducer may include a read/write port adapted to communicate with a computer terminal; and at least one read-only port adapted to communicate with a host device. A method of calibrating a digital pressure transducer includes storing a correction algorithm and correction coefficients in the digital pressure transducer separate from a host device. |
| US08930154B2 |
First and second voltage measurements to adjust a voltage measurer
Examples disclose a processor with a measurement point to receive an input voltage and a voltage measurer to obtain a first voltage measurement. Further, the examples provide the processor with a switch, based on a signal, to enable a second voltage measurement at the measurement point. Additionally, the processor is to adjust the voltage measurer based on a difference between the first and second voltage measurements. |
| US08930153B2 |
Metering device with control functionality and method thereof
A metering device includes a first transformer that receives an analog waveform and generates a first stepped-down output signal; a second transformer that receives the analog waveform and generates a second stepped-down output signal; first biasing circuitry that receives the first output signal from the first transformer and generates a first digital signal within a first range, wherein the first biasing circuitry includes a switching device for switching between a first and second operational sub-range; second biasing circuitry that receives the second output signal from the second transformer and generates a second digital signal within a second range; and a processor assembly in communication with the first biasing circuitry, wherein if the first digital signal saturates the first operational sub-range, the processor assembly controls the switching device to process the first output signal in the second operational sub-range. |
| US08930136B2 |
Static heading detection in personal navigation device
A personal navigation device configured to determine heading readings continuously using data from a sensor in the personal navigation device. Heading readings are selected corresponding to a periodic event. A representative heading is determined from the selected heading readings. When a portion of the selected heading readings has a value within a range of the representative heading, a static heading indicator is asserted to indicate the personal navigation device is moving in a static heading. The static heading indicator may be used to smooth an estimated trajectory of the personal navigation device. |
| US08930134B2 |
Systems and methods for high-precision indoor positioning, navigation and shopping behavior profiling
A positioning system for determining the location of a portable device includes a radio network. The radio network includes radio network nodes for communicating with the portable device and measuring signal strength from the portable device. The radio network also includes a Near Field Communication node for communicating with the portable device and at least initially providing the portable device with configuration information to enable the portable device to pair with the radio network nodes. The system also includes a positioning server for receiving signal strength information from the radio network, determining a location of the portable device, providing the portable device with a graphical representation of its location within a floorplan, receiving an indication of a desired product from the portable device, determining a location of the product, calculating and providing the portable device with a route from the location of the portable device to the product. |
| US08930133B2 |
Generating a path for a mobile drive unit
A system for transporting inventory items includes an inventory holder and a mobile drive unit. The inventory holder has a frame with device openings. The mobile drive unit is operable to dock with an inventory holder and undock with an inventory holder. When undocked from an inventory holder, the mobile drive unit is further operable to traverse a path from a first location to a second location. The path passes through at least a first device opening of the inventory holder such that the mobile drive unit passes beneath the inventory holder while moving along the path. |
| US08930127B2 |
Localization method for mobile robots based on landmarks
A method for estimating the location and orientation of a mobile robot with respect to landmarks whose positions are given using a sensor for measuring bearings of the landmarks with respect to the robot, where bias errors are present. The method comprises using the sensor to obtain bearings the landmarks. The location and orientation of the robot with respect to the landmarks is estimated, based on the measured bearings, and bias errors associated with the measured bearings are corrected to obtain corrected bearings. A correction function is used to finds the minimal sum of squared errors between measured bearings and the corrected bearings. The location and the orientation of the robot is determined to be where the sum of squared errors between measured bearings and the corrected bearings is minimal. |
| US08930123B2 |
Systems and methods for determining traffic intensity using information obtained through crowdsourcing
Systems and associated methods for utilizing crowdsourcing probes to obtain traffic information are described. Such traffic information includes location, date, time, speed, and speed limit information. Embodiments allow for the determination of traffic intensity, or road congestion, through the calculation of a road speed capacity factor. Embodiments provide that the traffic information and traffic intensity information may be visualized through a user interface. |
| US08930117B2 |
Hybrid drive system and method
Embodiments of the invention provide a hybrid drive system including a power source. The hybrid drive system can include a hydraulic system operatively coupled to the power source. The hydraulic system can include at least one hydraulic module coupled to the power source and at least one accumulator fluidly coupled to the hydraulic module. The drive system can include at least one drive wheel operatively coupled to the hydraulic system. The drive wheel can be configured and arranged to receive power only from the hydraulic system. The hydraulic system can be configured and arranged to supplement power provided by the power source to the drive wheel. The hybrid drive system can include an electronic control unit in communication with the power source, the hydraulic module, and a sensor associated with the accumulator. |
| US08930116B2 |
On-board real-time speed control setpoint variation using stochastic optimization
Vehicle apparatus adjusts a vehicle powertrain of the vehicle in response to a speed setpoint. An optimizer selects a control policy to periodically generate speed adjustments for applying to the speed setpoint to operate at increased efficiency. The control policy is based on a value function providing an optimized solution for a cost model and a transition probability model. The transition probability model corresponds to a driving state defined according to a plurality of dimensions including a time-of-day dimension and a geographic region dimension. The transition probability model and the control policy have inputs based on road grade and speed. The optimizer collects road grade data during routine driving of the vehicle to construct a observed transition probability model and uses divergence between the observed transition probability model and a set of predetermined transition probability models to identify a control policy for use during the routine driving. |
| US08930114B1 |
Electronic anti-lock trailer braking system
Disclosed is an antilock braking system for trailers equipped with electric brakes. A control module captures wheel speed data, analyzes it, and determines if wheel slip is occurring. Braking signal to the trailer wheels is reduced using pulse width modulation techniques to reduce the braking force as necessary to eliminate wheel slip. A particular system uses a central microprocessor, two hall-effect speed sensors, and three solid state relays for isolation and control. The ABS works in conjunction with an existing trailer brake controller installed in the tow vehicle. |
| US08930111B2 |
Braking force control apparatus and braking force control method for vehicle
A vehicle braking force control apparatus includes a controller that performs a front-rear braking force distribution control in which the braking forces applied to the left and right rear wheels are controlled individually so that a wheel speed of each of the rear wheels is equal to a target wheel speed of the rear wheel, which is set based on a predetermined relationship between the wheel speed of the front wheel and the target rear wheel speed of the rear wheel, and that corrects the target wheel speed of at least one of the left and right rear wheels, based on a parameter related to a change rate of load shift amount in a vehicle transverse direction, so that the target wheel speed of the rear wheel on a ground contact load increase side is less than the target wheel speed of the rear wheel on a ground contact load decrease side. |
| US08930108B2 |
Method for actuating a retarder of a motor vehicle
A method of actuating a retarder of a motor vehicle, for example a hydrodynamic retarder of a commercial vehicle, in which during overrun operation the driver uses an operating element to call for a braking action by the retarder. To implement the method simply, conveniently and inexpensively, the accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle is used as the operating element for demanding a braking action by the retarder. In such manner that when the torque of the drive engine of the motor vehicle becomes negative due to overrun operation, the braking action demand is signaled by at least partially releasing the accelerator pedal. |
| US08930106B2 |
Braking/driving force control device
A braking/driving force control device includes an operating unit that executes an acceleration operation and a deceleration operation by an integral pedal, a stroke sensor that detects a stroke amount due to an operation of the operating unit, a load sensor that detects a load due to an operation of the operating unit, and a control unit that controls acceleration of a vehicle based on a stroke amount detected by the stroke sensor and further controls deceleration of a vehicle based on a load detected by the load sensor. |
| US08930105B2 |
Method for setting a brake system of a vehicle in the event of a collision
In a method for setting a brake system of a vehicle, braking force is built up automatically in the event of a collision. In the process, the position of the collision on the vehicle is determined and the build-up of braking force is implemented as a function of the position of the collision. |
| US08930104B1 |
System and method for distributing torque and a powertrain using the same
An apparatus and a method for distributing torque from a power source to a plurality of vehicle wheels, where the method can include obtaining data indicative of a rotational velocity of one of the wheels and data indicative of a position of the accelerator, determining a wheel acceleration based on the rotational velocity data, comparing the wheel acceleration and at least one of the rotational velocity data and the position data with a respective threshold condition, signaling the actuator to engage the second subset with the torque of the power source when at least one of the threshold conditions is met, and signaling the actuator to disengage the second subset from the power source when none of the threshold conditions is met. The apparatus can include a powertrain with a system having a control device that can distribute the torque in accordance with the method. |
| US08930103B2 |
Control method for a dual-clutch transmission
A method for controlling a drivetrain of a motor vehicle. The vehicle comprises a drive engine and a dual-clutch transmission. The dual-clutch transmission comprises a first friction clutch and a second friction clutch together with a first transmission unit and a second transmission unit, in order to establish a first power transmission branch and a second power transmission branch. The dual-clutch transmission comprising a clutch actuator device for actuating the friction clutches and a gearshift actuator device for engaging and disengaging gears of the dual-clutch transmission. The method assuming that the motor vehicle is being driven in a high original gear and comprising the following steps: derivation of a first shift signal from an actuation of a control element by the driver; calculation of a target gear, which is lower than the original gear and which corresponds to the first shift signal; selection of an intermediate gear between the original gear and the target gear, opening of the friction clutch corresponding to the original gear and closing of the friction clutch corresponding to the intermediate gear, in order to transmit drive power via the power transmission branch corresponding to the intermediate gear; and engagement of the target gear, opening of the friction clutch corresponding to the intermediate gear and closing of the friction clutch corresponding to the target gear in the event that a second shift signal is derived from an actuation of a control element by the driver. |
| US08930093B2 |
Forklift truck
A forklift truck includes a truck body, a fork, a mast, tilting and lifting mechanisms, tilt and lift levers, tilting and lifting operation detectors, a lifted height detector, a load detector, an auxiliary switch, a tilt angle detector and a controller. The controller controls the lifting and tilting mechanisms based on signals from the tilting and lifting operation detectors and the auxiliary switch. The controller controls the lifting and tilting mechanisms to cause the fork to be lifted and tilted to horizontal position of the fork if a load is present on the fork, the fork is in a lower lift region where the lifted height of the fork is at or lower than a first threshold value, the lift lever is placed in operative position to lift the fork, the auxiliary switch is in operative position and the fork is not in the horizontal position of the fork. |
| US08930091B2 |
Measurement of bulk density of the payload in a dragline bucket
In particular embodiments of the technology, the bulk density of the payload in the bucket of a large electric dragline is measured during the carry phase of dragline operation by scanning the loaded bucket using a boom mounted scanner to provide data relating to the volume of the loaded bucket. Suitable methods can further include calculating the volume enclosed by the surface of the payload and the known base and sides of the bucket to give payload volume, and dividing the payload volume into payload weight data derived from rope length and motor current data to give the payload bulk density. Methods of screening data points originating from surfaces other than the bucket and payload, and methods of dealing with bucket ope and sway are also described and claimed. |
| US08930088B2 |
Method for positioning at least one component, in particular a seat, in or on an aircraft or spacecraft, and aircraft or spacecraft
The present invention provides methods for positioning at least one component, in particular a seat, in or on an aircraft or spacecraft comprising the following steps: controlling at least one light source of the aircraft or spacecraft to display at least one desired position of at least one component; and positioning the at least one component in the at least one desired position displayed. |
| US08930087B2 |
Systems and methods for interference reduction during keyless ignition authentication
Methods and apparatus are provided for interference reduction during keyless authentication. The apparatus includes a control system having a controller configured to detect an authentication event and deactivate at least one device within the vehicle. The control system is also configured to transmit an authentication command and to reactive the at least one device within the vehicle in response to receiving a valid authentication signal. The method includes an authentication method for a user to operate a vehicle wherein an authentication event is detected and at least one device within the vehicle is deactivated. An authentication command is transmitted and the at least one device within the vehicle is reactivated in response to receiving a valid authentication signal. |
| US08930086B2 |
Driver assistance system for a motor vehicle, motor vehicle, and method for operating a driver assistance system
A driver assistance system is provided for a motor vehicle, which has a first ascertainment device, the first ascertainment device implemented to ascertain at least one parameter that characterizes a possible fatigue of a current driver of the motor vehicle. In addition, the driver assistance system has a second ascertainment device, which is implemented to ascertain a degree of fatigue of the driver based on the at least one ascertained parameter. In addition, the driver assistance system has an opening device, which is implemented to at least partially open at least one window of the motor vehicle if the ascertained degree of fatigue of the driver exceeds a first predetermined threshold value. |
| US08930085B2 |
Control system for vehicle
A control system for a vehicle, includes: a controller that is configured to obtain an index on the basis of a running condition of the vehicle, to vary a running characteristic of the vehicle on the basis of the index, and to vary details output from an effect producing device, which applies a stimulus to at least part of five senses of a driver of the vehicle, on the basis of the index, wherein when a variation in the running characteristic because of a variation in the index decreases, quickness of a behavior of the vehicle, the variation in the index in response to a variation in the running condition is relatively delayed, as compared with when the variation in the running characteristic because of the variation in the index increases quickness of the behavior of the vehicle. |
| US08930083B2 |
Electric power steering system having fail-safe control module operation
An electric power steering system is provided. It comprises a steering assist assembly and a motor assembly that actuates the steering assist assembly. A control module that provides steering assist commands to the motor assembly, the control module including a circuit board having a first portion having circuits thereon and a second portion that includes at least one sensor circuit that receives signals from at least one sensor subsystem. A potting material coats only the first portion of the circuit board. |
| US08930082B2 |
Steering method and steering system for an industrial truck
A steering method for an industrial truck includes manually steering at least one steerable wheel with a steering transducer. The at least one steerable wheel is hydraulically connected or mechanically connected with the steering transducer. An angular position of the at least one steerable wheel is detected. At least one additional steerable wheel is motor-steered as a function of the detected angular position. |
| US08930075B2 |
Control method of an active suspension of a car
A control method for an active suspension of a vehicle, wherein the determination of an optimal camber angle of the active suspension includes the steps of: estimating the slip angle of the wheel of the active suspension; estimating the vertical force which weighs on the wheel of the active suspension; estimating the transverse force which is transferred to the ground by the wheel of the active suspension as a function of the slip angle of the wheel of the active suspension and as a function of the vertical force which weighs on the wheel of the active suspension; and determines the optimal camber angle as a function of the transverse force which is transferred to the ground by the wheel of the active suspension. |
| US08930064B2 |
Method and system for automated and manual data capture configuration
A client and server are operable within a community of clients for transferring vehicle diagnostic data captured from vehicles. The server includes a central library for storing captured vehicle data (CVD) prior to receiving client requests for CVD from the central library to compare to CVD within a client's local library. The client request may include vehicle identification data and client settings so that the CVD provided to the client is from another client configured to the same client settings and from a type of vehicle that matches a vehicle-type identified by the vehicle identification data. Alert requests transmitted by a client or server can be received by a client or a remote alert device to provide notice that another client has requested CVD. CVD can be associated with data tags that reduce the burden in locating the CVD and include data relating to the capture of the CVD. |
| US08930063B2 |
Method for determining object sensor misalignment
A vehicle system and method that can determine object sensor misalignment while a host vehicle is being driven, and can do so without requiring multiple sensors with overlapping fields-of-view. In an exemplary embodiment where the host vehicle is traveling in generally a straight line, the present method uses an object sensor to track the path of a stationary object as it moves through the sensor's field-of-view and compares the sensed object path to an expected object pat*h. If the sensed and expected paths of the stationary object deviate by more than some amount, then the method determines that the object sensor is skewed or otherwise misaligned. |
| US08930062B2 |
System and method for detecting and isolating faults in pressure sensing of flush air data system (FADS)
A system and method for detecting and isolating faults in pressure ports (2) and pressure transducers (3) of a pressure sensing system are disclosed. The system comprises a set of pressure ports (2) flushed to a nose cap (1) of a space vehicle in crucifix form. Three pressure transducers (3) are connected to each pressure port (2) through pneumatic tubes (4) for measuring surface pressure from the pressure ports (2). Separate power supplying units (7, 8, 9) are connected to the three pressure transducers (3) for powering the pressure transducers (3) at each pressure port (2). A processing unit (10) is configured to acquire voltage inputs corresponding to the measured surface pressure from the pressure transducers (3). The processing unit (10) executes one or more levels of fault checking to detect and isolate pressure transducer failures and blockage of the pressure ports (2) based on the voltage inputs. Hence, it is possible to enhance the accuracy and reliability of the pressure estimation of the FADS, cushion pressure. |
| US08930055B2 |
Dual-rotor motor for electric vehicles with a continuously variable transmisssion system with planet gear and control method thereof
The present invention relates to a dual-rotor motor for electric vehicle, wherein an output shaft is at least partly located in a housing and arranged rotatably relative to the housing, a stator is sleeved around the output shaft, an outer three-phase winding is arranged outside the stator, an outer rotor is sleeved around the outer three-phase winding and arranged rotatably relative to the stator, an inner three-phase winding is arranged inside the stator, an inner rotor is inserted in the inner three-phase winding around the output shaft and arranged rotatably relative to the stator, and a continuously variable transmission system with planet gear and dual-rotor motor for electric vehicle and a control method thereof are provided, the dual-rotor motor for electric vehicle of the present invention is designed skillfully and unique in structure, by cooperating with the planet gear, it can sufficiently make use of the wide speed adjustable range of the motor to regulate speeds, compared with an automatic stepped or continuous variable transmission cooperating with a traditional internal combustion engine, the structure of the transmission system is simpler, and has advantages of stepless speed change and high transmission efficiency, and ultimately improves the vehicle performance, therefore the present invention is suitable for large-scale popularization. |
| US08930054B2 |
Integrated anti-theft device for an electric bicycle
A drive unit for an electric bicycle comprising an electric motor and an energy storage device is provided. The drive unit includes a locking mechanism for locking the energy storage device and a control device. The control device is operatively connected to an actuator of the locking mechanism for the energy storage device. The actuator is fastened detachably to the drive unit. The control device is configured to evaluate signals received via a terminal in order to release or block one function of the drive unit as a function of at least one received signal. An electric bicycle, a method for operating an electric bicycle and a computer readable medium also are provided. |
| US08930053B2 |
Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes, as a drive power source, a hybrid system that has an engine and a motor. The control apparatus includes a control unit configured to reduce an output of the hybrid system and maintain or increase an engine rotation speed when a driver performs an accelerator operation and a brake operation simultaneously. |
| US08930048B1 |
Enhanced compound steering law for general low thrust mission
The disclosed method involves calculating, with at least one processor, a desired orbit for the spacecraft. The method further involves calculating a velocity change required to achieve an orbit eccentricity, a velocity change required to achieve a semi-major axis, and a velocity change required to achieve an orbit inclination; all of which correspond to the desired orbit for the spacecraft. Also, the method involves calculating the direction of the vector sum of the velocity change required to achieve the orbit eccentricity, the velocity change required to achieve the semi-major axis, and the velocity change required to achieve the orbit inclination. Further, the method involves activating at least one propulsion device of the spacecraft in the direction of the vector sum in order to change the current orbit of the spacecraft to the desired orbit for the spacecraft, thereby changing the orbit eccentricity, the semi-major axis, and the orbit inclination simultaneously. |
| US08930047B2 |
Systems and methods for determining a positional state of an airborne array antenna using distributed accelerometers
Systems and methods for determining a positional state of an airborne array antenna using distributed accelerometers are described. One such method includes receiving and formatting acceleration data from each of a plurality of accelerometers mounted at different locations along the array antenna, receiving position and orientation data from an inertial navigation service (INS) mounted on the array antenna, generating an INS estimated position for each accelerometer based on the position and orientation data from the INS, generating an accelerometer estimated position for each accelerometer based on the acceleration data, determining a position and orientation of each accelerometer based on the respective INS estimated position and the respective accelerometer estimated position, determining an estimated position of a center and an orientation of the array antenna based on the determined position and orientation of each accelerometer, and adjusting a direction of the array antenna based on the estimated position of the array antenna. |
| US08930046B2 |
Derived rate monitor for detection of degradation of fuel control servo valves
A system for detecting degradation of a servo valve; having a controller, a servo valve, a position sensor, and a rate monitor. The controller receives inputs and transmits command data. The servo valve has an actuator and is conductively coupled to the controller to receive command data from the controller and move the actuator in response to the command data. The position sensor operably associated with the servo valve for measuring movement of the actuator and transmits corresponding movement data to the controller. The rate monitor coupled to the controller and position sensor for receiving the command data and the movement data as inputs respectively. The rate monitor processes the inputs to produce a steady state rate error signal. The rate monitor compares the steady state rate error signal to selected operational limits and produces a telemetry output when the operational limits are exceeded. |
| US08930045B2 |
Relay attack prevention for passive entry passive start (PEPS) vehicle security systems
A passive entry passive start (PEPS) vehicle security system configured to thwart a relay attack on the system. The system includes one or more ultra wideband transceivers (UWBX) installed on a vehicle and configured to transmit a request pulse at a request time. A mobile UWBX, possibly installed in a nomadic device such as a smart phone, is configured to transmit a reply pulse in response to the request pulse. A controller is configured to determine a distance between each UWBX and the mobile UWBX based on a time interval between the request time and a time that corresponds to when the reply pulse is received by the each UWBX. The controller may also be configured to unlock doors of the vehicle only if the distance is less than an unlock threshold. |
| US08930042B2 |
Mobilized sensor network for structural health monitoring
A method and apparatus for inspecting an object is provided. Movement of inspection vehicles relative to a surface of the object is controlled using a controller. Generation of data about the object by sensor systems configured to generate the data when the sensor systems are in a configuration with respect to a location on the object for inspection and receiving power from the inspection vehicles is controlled using the controller. The data generated by the sensor systems is stored. |
| US08930037B2 |
Energy manager with minimum use energy profile
A system and method for maximizing the value of power generated by a residential power generator. A home energy manager device is configured to implement a minimum energy usage profile during a peak demand event such that a maximum amount of power generated by the consumer can be sold back to the utility. For renewable energy sources such as solar cells, peak demand events often correspond with peak output of the renewable energy source. For example, hot sunny summer days are conducive to maximum solar power output and, typically, also result in maximum power demand for powering air conditioners. |
| US08930034B1 |
Computing an operating parameter of a unified power flow controller
A Unified Power Flow Controller described herein comprises a sensor that outputs at least one sensed condition, a processor that receives the at least one sensed condition, a memory that comprises control logic that is executable by the processor; and power electronics that comprise power storage, wherein the processor causes the power electronics to selectively cause the power storage to act as one of a power generator or a load based at least in part upon the at least one sensed condition output by the sensor and the control logic, and wherein at least one operating parameter of the power electronics is designed to facilitate maximal transmittal of electrical power generated at a variable power generation system to a grid system while meeting power constraints set forth by the electrical power grid. |
| US08930032B2 |
System and method for wireless irrigation control with a remote application
Provided are a system and method for wireless irrigation control with a remote application. The system includes a processor and plurality of interactive zone switches for connection to at least one irrigation device; each zone switch further operable to detect a state of a connected irrigation device. Non-volatile memory is coupled to the processor and provided with executable instructions to direct operation of each interactive zone switch. There is at least one remote application to establish a schedule within the non-volatile memory for operation for each interactive zone switch and to receive the schedule from the non-volatile memory in response to a users desire to review or modify the schedule. A wireless network component is coupled to the processor and the non-volatile memory and is in communication with the remote application to schedule operation of at least one interactive zone switch and at least one irrigation device. |
| US08930031B2 |
Laundry machine
A laundry machine includes a drum supported at least two spaced apart support locations for rotation about a rotation axis. A balance correction system is able to apply a variable amount of a balance correction mass at a selectable angular location of the drum at least two spaced apart locations along the drum rotation axis. A controller receives outputs of a set of sensors, and is programmed to continuously calculate balance corrections to apply. |
| US08930029B2 |
Methods and apparatus for differential energy based airside economizer changeover
Methods and apparatus for controlling an economizer in a ventilation system based upon moisture related properties of a first input air source and a second input air source to minimize energy for conditioning air in a structure. |
| US08930025B2 |
Work robot
A work robot for executing a work for operating an object includes a robot body for capturing an image including the object. During a teach mode, the captured image is correlated with an operation content taught by an operator and held. During a work mode, the captured image is acquired, an image similar to the acquired image is searched, and the object is operated according to the operation content correlated with the image captured in the past which has been found as a result of the search. |
| US08930023B2 |
Localization by learning of wave-signal distributions
A robot having a signal sensor configured to measure a signal, a motion sensor configured to measure a relative change in pose, a local correlation component configured to correlate the signal with the position and/or orientation of the robot in a local region including the robot's current position, and a localization component configured to apply a filter to estimate the position and optionally the orientation of the robot based at least on a location reported by the motion sensor, a signal detected by the signal sensor, and the signal predicted by the local correlation component. The local correlation component and/or the localization component may take into account rotational variability of the signal sensor and other parameters related to time and pose dependent variability in how the signal and motion sensor perform. Each estimated pose may be used to formulate new or updated navigational or operational instructions for the robot. |
| US08930022B1 |
Systems and methods for determining a status of a component of a robotic device
Methods and systems for determining a status of a component of a robotic device are provided. An example method includes triggering an action of a component of a robotic device, and responsively receiving information associated with the action of the component from a sensor. The method further includes a computing system having a processor and a memory comparing the information with calibration data and determining a status of the component based on the comparison. In some examples, the calibration data may include information derived from data received from a pool of one or more robotic devices utilizing same or similar components as the component. The determined status may include information associated with a performance of the component with respect to performances of same or similar components of the pool of robotic devices. In one example, the robotic device may self-calibrate the component based on the status. |
| US08930021B2 |
Interchangeable modular robotic unit
A modular, mobile, robotic unit having an octagon frame with a removable top and a bottom. The frame is of a substantial diameter to hold various attachments. Centered on the faces of the sides of the frame are utility augment ports capable of equipping utility augments. A magnetic fastener strip is located between a plurality of utility augment port shields and a magnet. The frame has an inner compartment housing a plurality of electronics and a plurality of components. The frame has a main compartment crib enclosure, a power supply crib enclosure located below the main compartment crib enclosure, and a waterproof crib enclosure coupled to a platform on the top of the frame. Ultrasonic collision detection sensors are attached to the sides of the frame. Mobility augmentation ports are coupled onto the top and bottom of the frame to hold mobility augments for attaching various transportation methods. |
| US08930018B2 |
Method for controlling material flows, E.G., in the form of bulk material and the like and corresponding device
A device for controlling material flows may include at least one feeding device for feeding material of at least one type of material, at least one output device for outputting material of at least one type of material, a transport device for transporting the material, at least one sensor for determining at least one state-dependent parameter of the device, and a control device for controlling the devices, the control device being designed to process event-based signals, e.g., signals from the at least one sensor. |
| US08930013B2 |
Adaptively tracking spectrum features for endpoint detection
A method of controlling polishing includes polishing a substrate having a second layer overlying a first layer, detecting exposure of the first layer with an in-situ monitoring system, receiving an identification of a selected spectral feature and a characteristic of the selected spectral feature to monitor during polishing, measuring a sequence of spectra of light from the substrate while the substrate is being polished, determining a first value for the characteristic of the feature at the time that the first in-situ monitoring technique detects exposure of the first layer, adding an offset to the first value to generate a second value, and monitoring the characteristic of the feature and halting polishing when the characteristic of the feature is determined to reach the second value. |
| US08930010B2 |
Intelligent assembly system and method of use
A manufacturing system and method for manufacturing a product include storing product-related information with the product. The product-related information may be stored on one or more tags secured to a portion of the product and may be used to facilitate or control an aspect of manufacturing. During manufacturing, product-related information may be updated, for example, to reflect completion of a manufacturing operation. |
| US08930005B2 |
Acoustic signatures in a playback system
Embodiments described herein provide for acoustic signatures in a playback system. According to an embodiment, a playback device transmits an acoustic signature. According to another embodiment, the user interface on a controller is responsively modified based on an acoustic signature that was detected from a playback device. According to some embodiments, an acoustic signature can be transmitted simultaneously with audio by a playback device. |
| US08930001B2 |
Method of model identification for a process with unknown initial conditions in an industrial plant
A method of model identification for a process with unknown initial conditions in an industrial plant, the method comprising collecting a set of manipulated variables and corresponding set of process variables from the process; obtaining a plurality of manipulated variables from the collected set of manipulated variables; for each of the plurality of manipulated variables, obtaining optimal model parameters of a model transfer function and computing a model fitting index for optimized simulated process variables generated by the model transfer function using the optimal model parameters; identifying a best model fitting index among the model fitting indices computed; selecting a manipulated variable associated with the best model fitting index as an initial steady state condition for the model transfer function; and selecting the optimal model parameters corresponding with the best model fitting index as the best model parameters of the model transfer function to tune the controller. |
| US08929997B2 |
Active fixation leads and method of assembly
An active fixation lead may have a lead body formed at least in part from an inner member and an outer sheath. The inner member may include a pace/sense lumen and one or more cable lumens. The inner member may include one or more longitudinally extending crumple zones that are configured to reduce stress within the pace/sense lumen that could otherwise be caused by compressive forces applied to the lead. |
| US08929993B2 |
Electrode arrangements for suborbital foramen medical lead
A medical lead includes a plurality of electrodes on an annular distal end portion of the lead. The electrodes may be arranged along a circle concentric with the center of a void defined by the annular portion. The annular medical lead design is well suited for application of electrical signal therapy to the suborbital nerve at its point of exit from the inferior orbital foramen in the skull. |
| US08929987B2 |
Electrical bushing for an implantable medical device
One aspect relates to an electrical bushing for an implantable medical device, having an annulus-like holding element for holding the electrical bushing in the implantable medical device, whereby the holding element includes a through-opening, at least one elongated conducting wire extends through the through-opening, and an insulation element for forming a hermetic seal between the holding element and the conducting wire is arranged in the through-opening. One aspect provides for a cermet-containing bearing element to be arranged between the insulation element and the conducting wire. |
| US08929986B2 |
Medical device communication and charging assemblies for use with implantable signal generators, and associated systems and methods
Communication and charging assemblies for medical devices are disclosed herein. A communication and charging assembly in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a support element, with a communication antenna and a charging coil coupled to the support element. The charging coil can include wire loops having a plurality of wires and the support element can include a mounting surface shaped to match the charging coil and the communication antenna. In one embodiment, the communication and charging assembly are mounted in a header of an implantable signal generator. |
| US08929976B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining cardiac performance in a patient with a conductance catheter
An apparatus for determining cardiac performance in the patient. The apparatus includes a conductance catheter for measuring conductance and blood volume in a heart chamber of the patient. The apparatus includes a processor for determining instantaneous volume of the ventricle by applying a non-linear relationship between the measured conductance and the volume of blood in the heart chamber to identify mechanical strength of the chamber. The processor is in communication with the conductance catheter. Methods for determining cardiac performance in a patient. Apparatuses for determining cardiac performance in a patient. |
| US08929974B2 |
System and method for examining an illuminated object
In a system and a method for examining an object containing a fluid liquid, the object is illuminated with measuring light and images are temporarily shortly subsequently recorded. The images are evaluated per pixel to determine perfusion data from a high frequency portion above 1 kHz and to determine further information about properties of the object from a low frequency portion below 100 Hz, such as a degree of oxygenation of hemoglobin, a concentration of hemoglobin or a concentration of ICG. This information determined by evaluation is displayed in a form of an image in superposition with a white light image of the object. |
| US08929972B2 |
Arterial spin labeling MRI-based correction factor for improving quantitative accuracy of blood flow and volume images
Arterial spin labeling MRI is used to provide a patient specific correction factor to correct a image provided by a non-ASL imaging modality (e.g., DSC MRI). More specifically, a first blood flow image is taken using the non-ASL imaging modality, and a corresponding second blood flow image is taken with ASL. Some or all of the voxels in the first image are selected according to a predetermined selection method. A correction factor (CF) is computed to be the ratio of second image BF to first image BF averaged over the selected voxels. Thus, CF is the average of ASL/non-ASL blood flow over the selected voxels. This correction factor is applied to all voxels of an image equally, but can differ from patient to patient. This correction can be applied to one or more non-ASL blood flow images. |
| US08929971B2 |
Determining respiratory or circulatory health condition in animals for improved management
A method and system for managing at least one animal is disclosed. The method can include imaging, such as ultrasound imaging, a lung of a live animal, such as a ruminant or bovine. The imaging can be performed to determine a degree of respiratory damage from past respiratory illness. After imaging, information regarding respiratory damage can be used to select at least one aspect of the treatment, care or disposition of the animal. For example, the information can be used to select the amount or type of feed provided to the animal at a feedlot. The information also can be used to select how long the animal should be housed at the feedlot prior to slaughter. If an animal is diagnosed with a respiratory illness, information about its degree of respiratory damage from past respiratory illness also can be used to select the appropriate medical treatment or lack of treatment. |
| US08929968B2 |
Dual electrode system for a continuous analyte sensor
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for a continuous analyte sensor, such as a continuous glucose sensor. One such system utilizes first and second working electrodes to measure analyte or non-analyte related signal, both of which electrode include an interference domain. |
| US08929965B2 |
Light-guiding devices and monitoring devices incorporating same
A sensor module for detecting and/or measuring physiological information from a subject includes a housing with at least one optical emitter and at least one optical detector supported by the housing. A first light guide is in optical communication with the at least one optical emitter and is configured to deliver light from the at least one optical emitter into a body of a subject. A second light guide is in optical communication with the at least one optical detector and is configured to collect light from the body of the subject. The sensor module includes a motion sensor and a processor. The motion sensor is configured to sense motion information from the subject and the processor is configured to remove motion artifacts from signals produced by the at least one optical detector in response to signals produced by the motion sensor. |
| US08929963B2 |
Devices and methods for reducing wireless communication in a patient monitoring system
The present disclosure relates generally to patient monitoring systems and, more particularly, to wireless patient sensors and patient monitors. In an embodiment, a patient sensor device includes an emitter configured to emit light into a tissue of a patient as well as a detector configured to detect the light from the tissue of the patient and produce a corresponding electrical signal. The patient sensor also includes signal processing circuitry configured to receive and convert the electrical signal of the detector into detector signal data. The patient sensor also includes a wireless module communicatively coupled to a patient monitor and configured to transmit a physiological parameter value, the detector signal data, or both, to the patient monitor. The patient sensor also includes a processor configured to determine whether the patient sensor or the patient monitor should calculate the physiological parameter value based, at least in part, on the detector signal data. The processor is also configured to calculate the physiological parameter value for the patient based, at least in part, on the detector signal data, if the processor determines that the patient sensor should calculate the physiological parameter value. The processor is also configured to send the detector signal data to the patient monitor, via the wireless module, to calculate the physiological parameter value for the patient based, at least in part, on the detector signal data, if the processor determines that the patient monitor should calculate the physiological parameter value. |
| US08929956B2 |
Data communication terminal, information storage medium and data processing method therefor
A contact receiving unit (110) receives a contact request from another person. An incoming get-through unit (120) allows the received contact request to get through. Note, however, that when the contact request has not got through, if a sender of the contact request is not registered in a communicator registering unit (140), then an incoming presenting unit (130) presents the contact request that has not got through, by a predetermined display image. On the other hand, if a communicator of the contact request that has not got through is registered in the communicator registering unit (140), then a specific presentation unit (150) presents the contact request that has not got through, by a specific display image. |
| US08929954B2 |
Headset computer (HSC) as auxiliary display with ASR and HT input
The present invention related to human/computer interfaces and more particularly to a headset computing display device that accepts voice commands and tracks head motions to provide command inputs to and receive display information from a software application executed on a host computing device. An example embodiment of the present invention includes a method of, and corresponding system for, operating a native Smartphone or PC application, simultaneously displaying an output of the application through the Smartphone or PC screen and a headset computing display device, and using speech and head tracking commands to control the native application. The present invention enables hands-free operation of a Smartphone or PC application. |
| US08929953B2 |
Method and arrangement for coordinating polarizations in a wireless communication system
An object of the present invention is to enable coordination of VP/HP polarizations generated by cross-polarized, i.e. orthogonally polarized antenna configurations, of one radio device with another radio device. The object is achieved by a method in a first eNB (100c) of coordinating polarizations of the first eNB with polarizations of an additional eNB (100a). The polarizations are generated by an antenna configuration comprising at least two orthogonally polarized antennas. The first and additional eNB (100c, 100a) communicate wirelessly with a UE (150a). The method comprises the steps of establishing a first amplitude and/or phase offset of the antenna configuration generating a vertical or horizontal polarization, and a second amplitude and/or phase offset of the antenna configuration generating a polarization orthogonal to said polarization generated by the first amplitude and/or phase offset, defining the polarization generated by the first amplitude and/or phase offset to be vertical and the polarization generated by the second amplitude and/or phase offset to be horizontal, determining a polarization of the UE, and coordinating the defined polarizations with polarizations of the additional eNB based on the determined UE polarization. |
| US08929952B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus
A wireless communication apparatus of the present invention comprises a switching unit, provided between a transmitting circuit and/or a receiving circuit of at least one communication system and a demultiplexer, for connecting the transmitting circuit and/or the receiving circuit of the communication system to antenna either directly or by way of the demultiplexer. When a communication system having the switching unit is solely operated, the transmitting circuit and/or the receiving circuit of the operating communication system is connected directly to the antenna without the demultiplexer. Therefore, it is possible to reduce insertion loss of the circuit and thus to improve receiving sensitivity and reduce power consumption. |
| US08929951B2 |
Actuating device of wireless access point
An actuating device of a wireless access point (WAP), the WAP includes a first module, a second module with a power requirement, and an actuating device. The WAP has a first voltage range and a second voltage range. The actuating device includes a switching unit and a voltage regulating unit. The switching unit receives an input voltage and has two output terminals. The switching unit outputs a first voltage via the first output terminal when the input voltage is within the first voltage range, and outputs a second voltage via the second output terminal when the input voltage is within the second voltage range. The voltage regulating unit is coupled to the output terminals to convert the second voltage to the first voltage. The second module is coupled to the second output terminal of the switching unit. |
| US08929946B2 |
Antenna apparatus of mobile terminal
A mobile terminal and manufacture of same are provided. The mobile terminal includes: an antenna; a first case at which the antenna is disposed; a second case coupled to the first case; a main PCB disposed at one side of the second case; and a sub-PCB disposed at an opposite side of the second case, the sub-PCB being connected to the main PCB through a cable, wherein the sub-PCB is electrically coupled with the antenna when the first case and the second case are coupled together. |
| US08929935B2 |
Location determination for white space utilization
A technique for a wireless device to obtain white space information from a component configured for cellular communication, such as a cellular phone. The wireless device and cellular phone may communicate using a short-range connection, such as a peer-to-peer connection, ensuring that the white space information, which is location based, generated by the cellular phone is also accurate for the location of the wireless device. With such white space information, the wireless device can comply with regulatory requirements for white space use by accessing a regulatory database identifying, by location, available white space channels. When the cellular phone is configured for accessing a wide area network, the cellular telephone may provide the white space information as a set of channels available for white space communication. Channels of the set may be prioritized based on one or more parameters, including frequency, permitted transmit power or detected noise. |
| US08929933B2 |
Spectrum allocation for base station
Embodiments include processes, systems, and devices that allow a white space base station to request available frequency ranges for white space transmission in a local area. A white space finder service models a primary user device's transmission signal propagation area using terrain data associated with the local area of the primary user device. The white space finder service also determines, based on the location of the white space base station and the modeled propagation area, one or more locally available, non-interfering frequency ranges and provides them to the white space base station. The white space base station compares the provided frequency ranges to policies and selects one or more of the available frequencies that accommodate the policies. The white space base station also maps the transmission frequency ranges to virtual frequency ranges for transmission by a software-defined radio employing spectrum virtualization. |
| US08929930B2 |
System and method for initiating auxiliary functions in a telecommunication network
A method for initiating a service including initiating a communication to a destination according to an address of the destination; detecting the address during initiating of the communication; determining whether the detected address is associated with a trigger function; and triggering a request for the service when the detected address is associated with a trigger function. The request for the service is separate from the communication. |
| US08929927B1 |
Adjustment of communication parameters in a coverage area based on prevalence of eCSFB devices in the coverage area
Disclosed herein are methods and systems that may help to adjust, e.g., CDMA paging and access parameters in a coverage area, based on the prevalence of devices that are configured for enhanced circuit switch fallback (eCSFB) in the coverage area. For example, a base station in a radio access network (RAN) may: determine a measure of circuit switch fallback (CSFB) device prevalence in a coverage area, use the measure of CSFB-device prevalence in the coverage area as a basis for updating one or more paging parameters for communications via a paging channel defined under the first air-interface protocol; and apply the one or more updated paging parameters to communications with devices via the paging channel defined under the first air-interface protocol. |
| US08929926B2 |
Method and system for supporting multiple paging areas
A wireless communication network comprising a plurality of paging controllers capable of communication with a plurality of base stations within a coverage area of the network is provided. At least one of the plurality of paging controllers is configured to assign one or more paging identifications (PG IDs) to a subscriber station within a paging area when the subscriber station requests to enter idle mode, wherein each of the one or more PG IDs is associated with a paging offset, and transmit the one or more PG IDs to a base station in communication with the subscriber station. The subscriber station only monitors the PG ID having a shortest paging offset among the one or more PG IDs. |
| US08929925B2 |
Method and system to reduce harmonic interference of broadband wireless devices to GPS receiver
A technique for reducing interference in a GPS-equipped wireless device having a transmitter is provided. In doing so, a GPS signal is acquired, and it is determined whether the GPS signal contains valid GPS data, the GPS signal having a GPS frequency range. If the GPS data is not valid due to the noted second harmonic interference, the transmit power levels of the transmitter within different categories of frequency blocks (frequency blocks corresponding to the second harmonic of the transmit frequency of the device interfering with the GPS frequency range entirely, partially and only slightly) are selectively and iteratively determined. The power levels in these frequency blocks are iteratively and selectively reduced to help determine valid GPS data. |
| US08929923B2 |
Method and device for locating terminal by using base station
The present invention provides a method for locating a terminal by using a base station, and the method includes steps as follows: constructing a locating message by expanding a location report message or via an independent message; sending the locating message to a locating judgment center; and locating the terminal by using the locating message. The present invention is helpful to reduce the power consumption of the User Equipment (UE). |
| US08929922B2 |
Mobile device for venue-oriented communications
Methods and systems associated with a mobile device for venue-oriented communications are presented. An example mobile communication device may include a wireless transceiver, a user interface, and control logic. The wireless transceiver may receive a plurality of digital audio streams from an access device located at a venue. The user interface may receive a selection of one of the digital audio streams from a user of the mobile communication device. The control logic includes a channel selection module that may generate an audio signal representing the selected one of the digital audio streams. The user interface may provide the generated audio signal for presentation to the user. |
| US08929921B2 |
Tagging images with a GPS-enabled camera
A method and device of geographically tagging images by capturing an image, determining a position based on detection of satellite signals and a wireless network signal, and tagging the image with the determined position is provided. |
| US08929916B2 |
System, method and database for determining location by indirectly using GPS coordinates
A database stores results of scans for wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi) access points, some of them directly associated with GPS coordinates. Mobile electronic devices detect access points, details of which are sent to the database. Contents of the database are analyzed for relations between the scanned access points and previously stored GPS coordinates. If a relation is found, the GPS coordinates are used for determining or estimating the location of the mobile device. |
| US08929915B2 |
Providing information to a computing device based on known location and user information
A method includes receiving a beacon from a mobile device at an access point associated with a transportation station. The beacon includes identification information that identifies the mobile device. The method includes receiving, at the access point via a network, information from at least one service provider based on a location of the access point and the identification information. The method also includes sending the information to the mobile device. |
| US08929913B2 |
System and method for employing geographically overlapping autonomous static and mobile wireless networks for asset tracking
A supply and distribution chain and various systems, methods and elements associated with autonomous static and mobile wireless networks for asset tracking. In one embodiment, the chain includes: (1) masters associated with static sites and configured to establish autonomous static networks for the static sites, (2) mobile units associated with carriers and configured to join the autonomous static networks when in range thereof and create autonomous mobile networks when out of range of the autonomous static networks and (3) sensors associated with assets and configured to join the autonomous static networks when in range thereof and join the autonomous mobile networks when out of range of the autonomous static networks. |
| US08929912B1 |
Address validation for personal emergency response systems
A server verifies that an address of record for a personal emergency response (PERS) device is in agreement with a current address of the PERS device. The PERS device has a docking station and a wearable unit. At start-up, the docking station places a call to the server and the server receives coordinates of the wearable unit. The coordinates are reverse-mapped into the current address and compared with the address of record. If the current address and the address of record differ, the address of record is updated to reflect the current address. |
| US08929911B2 |
Mobile device and geographic information system background and summary of the related art
The present invention provides a system and mobile device for providing geographic information to a user. The system includes a mobile device that is wirelessly connected to a geographic database. The mobile device includes a plurality of sensors for determining a first location and a first direction. A controller is adapted to provide information requested based on local queries and distal queries. In addition, the controller can respond to thematic queries of each variety, wherein the database search is limited to objects, entities or features that fit within a selected theme. Finally, the controller is adapted to select and order query results based upon two- and three-dimensional query windows. |
| US08929908B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating reverse link loading in a wireless communication system
Method and apparatus for estimating reverse link loading in a wireless communication system. The reverse link interference is measured and reverse link receiver noise is measured. The reverse link interference is compared to the reverse link receiver noise, for example, by dividing the interference power by the receiver noise power. The reverse link receiver noise can be measured in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system by nulling transmission from access terminals within the cell and nearby during a null time and frequency interval. Power measure in the null time and frequency interval is receiver noise power. The reverse link interference can be measure by several means. For example, local null time and frequency intervals can be designated. The access terminals within the cell null their transmissions during the local time and frequency intervals. Access terminals outside the cell continue to transmit during the local time and frequency intervals. Power measured in the local time and frequency interval is interference power. As another example, interference power can be measured by subtracting pairs of pilot symbols that are contiguous to each other in time or frequency. |
| US08929904B2 |
Method and apparatus for reinforcement of broadcast transmissions in MBSFN inactive areas
A method for a wireless communication system includes broadcasting that a first service is available in a first MBSFN and a second service is available in a second MBSFN. The method includes supporting a service not broadcasted as available. For example, supporting the first service with the second MBSFN and/or supporting the second service with the first MBSFN. The supporting or reinforcing can be done by echoing. The echoing is scheduled along with the owned service. |
| US08929898B2 |
Method and arrangments for an event triggered DRX cycle adjustment
The invention relates to methods and arrangements for an event triggered DRX cycle adjustment. A user equipment located in a serving cell of a mobile communications network monitors downlink communication at predetermined time intervals when operating in discontinuous reception mode. The user equipment also performs communication parameter measurements regarding at least one of the serving cell and one or more neighbor cells. After the occurrence of a first event, the user equipment sends at least one of measurement data and a first event report to the network. The sending is triggered by the occurrence of the first event. The monitoring is caused to be performed at shortened time intervals after the occurrence of a second event, wherein the second event is defined to indicate a higher probability of receiving a handover command than the first event. |
| US08929894B2 |
Handover failure messaging schemes
Handover parameter settings are automatically adapted in access points in a system to improve handover performance. Reactive detection techniques are employed for identifying different types of handover-related failures and adapting handover parameters based on this detection. Messaging schemes are also employed for providing handover-related information to access points. Proactive detection techniques also may be used for identifying conditions that may lead to handover-related failures and then adapting handover parameters in an attempt to prevent such handover-related failures. Ping-ponging may be mitigated by adapting handover parameters based on analysis of access terminal visited cell history acquired by access points in the system. In addition, configurable parameters (e.g., timer values) may be used to detect handover-related failures. |
| US08929887B2 |
Shared book reading
Techniques for sharing book reading experiences between users of different telecommunications devices are described herein. |
| US08929880B2 |
Uplink interference management for a heterogeneous wireless network
User equipment (UE), referred to herein as an interfering UE (130), can be detected that is proximate to a low-power cell (120), such as a micro-cell, pico-cell, femto-cell, a relay, or the like. The interfering UE (130) can be transmitting to the base station (110) at a power level that is producing high interference affecting uplink performance between a different UE and the low-power cell (120). A power adjustment message (140) can be generated at the base station (110). The power adjustment message (140) can be conveyed (156) from the base station (110) to the interfering UE (130). The power level adjustment message (130) can cause the interfering UE (130) to lower its transmission power (164), which reduces the high interference, thereby improving uplink performance between the different UE and the low-power cell (120). |
| US08929878B2 |
Transaction management
Transaction identifiers for transactions are managed to mitigate potential mismatches that may occur in the event a message associated with the transaction is not delivered to the intended destination. For example, in the event an access terminal accepts a bearer context request, the access terminal may not immediately release the transaction identifier associated with that transaction. In this way, in the event the access terminal receives a second bearer context request associated with that same transaction identifier (e.g., due to the accept message not reaching the network), the access terminal may send a second accept message in response to the second bearer context request. |
| US08929877B2 |
Methods and systems for content processing
Mobile phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some aspects relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others concern user interface improvements. Other aspects relate to imaging architectures, in which a mobile phone's image sensor is one in a chain of stages that successively act on packetized instructions/data, to capture and later process imagery. Still other aspects relate to distribution of processing tasks between the mobile device and remote resources (“the cloud”). Elemental image processing (e.g., simple filtering and edge detection) can be performed on the mobile phone, while other operations can be referred out to remote service providers. The remote service providers can be selected using techniques such as reverse auctions, through which they compete for processing tasks. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US08929874B2 |
Systems and methods for remotely controlling a lost mobile communications device
Systems and methods for remotely controlling a lost mobile communications device are disclosed. Authorization credentials may be received and a command request for an action to be performed by a lost mobile communications device may further be received. A command corresponding to the command request may be transmitted to the lost mobile communications device. In response to the transmission of the command, information about the lost mobile communications device may be received and interpreted to determine whether the transmitted command was performed or not performed by the lost mobile communications device. A notification may be provided based on whether or not the command was performed by the lost mobile communications device. |
| US08929870B2 |
Methods, apparatus, and system for venue-cast
A communications method for broadcasting an event includes generating a plurality of media streams at an event and providing a service to receive the media streams. From the service, an interface can be generated to select a subset of the media streams. Media streams can include audio, video, or other formats that are selected from alternative broadcasting channels provided at the event. |
| US08929867B2 |
Automated electronic messaging to a person with whom another form of communication is exchanged
A method of, within an electronic messaging client that communicates using a first form of communication, receiving from a user an input identifying a tag that identifies at least one communication session corresponding to a second form of communication. The tag can be processed to identify at least one electronic messaging address associated the person with whom a communication is exchanged during the identified communication session. A recipient identifier field in the electronic messaging client can be automatically populated with the electronic messaging address. The electronic message can be communicated to the person using the electronic messaging address. The electronic messaging address also can be selected from list identifying a plurality of communication sessions corresponding to at least a second form of communication. |
| US08929866B1 |
Touch pad addressing of voice messages
A system for transmitting voice messages from a caller location to a receiver location using a plurality of computers each coupled to another through a network such as the Internet. The system also has a plurality of handheld portable recording-delivery devices which are coupled to the network. Each handheld portable recording-delivery device can convert voice input into digital data for transmission through the network. Destination information for the digital data being transmitted is based on input from a touch pad on the handheld portable recording-delivery device. |
| US08929861B2 |
Personnel access system with verification features utilizing near field communication (NFC) and related methods
A personnel access system may include a mobile device(s) comprising a first near field communication (NFC) device, a wireless device, and a first controller configured to generate an access request. An access control device may be associated with a personnel access position and include a second NFC device configured to receive the access request, and a second controller configured to generate a verification request for the mobile device(s) based upon the received access request. A verification device may be configured to receive the verification request from the access control device, and send a verification message to the mobile device(s). The first controller may be configured to receive the verification message via the wireless device, and generate verification data based thereon. The second controller may be configured to selectively grant personnel access based upon the verification data. |
| US08929859B2 |
Systems for enabling subscriber monitoring of telecommunications network usage and service plans
Methods, servers and systems for directly accessing and modifying charging information maintained within a telecommunications operator's business and operating systems' infrastructure from user equipment. A mobile application server may receive a charging request from a user equipment, identify a relevant charging system based on the received request, send a charging request to the identified charging system for processing, receive a first response message including charging information from the identified charging system, generate a second response message based on the charging information included in the first response message, and send the generated second response message to the user equipment. The received charging request may include various types of information, including information for transferring cost or billing information from a first billing category to a second billing category. |
| US08929856B1 |
Emergency services routing proxy cluster management
Systems and methods for clustering emergency services routing proxies are provided. The described features allow a group of ESRPs running as individual servers or a group of virtual servers, to be referenced using a single URI. In one implementation, an emergency services routing proxy device includes an emergency services routing proxy node configured to route a call to a downstream entity, the call received from an upstream entity. The device further includes a cluster manager configured to receive registration information from the emergency services routing proxy node, the registration information including a routing service identifier. The cluster manager may be further configured to identify the emergency services routing proxy node for call routing based on a comparison of an identifier included in the call with the routing service identifier. |
| US08929855B2 |
Enabling location determination of user device originating emergency service call
A method is provided for processing emergency service calls from a user device to a PSAP, the user device having an associated line number and being configured to originate calls from fixed and mobile access networks. The method includes determining whether a call from the user device originates from a home location in a fixed access network. When the call is determined to have originated from the home location in the fixed access network, the call is routed to the PSAP, where a location of the user device is determined based on the Automatic Number Identification (ANI) included in signaling associated with the call. When the call is determined not to have originated from the home location in the fixed access network, adding pseudo-ANI to signaling associated with the call and routing the call to the PSAP, where the location of the user device is determined based on the pANI. |
| US08929852B1 |
Method and system for managing a wireless communication device to apply a revised scanning order in response to external events
Methods and system for managing, during an external event, a wireless communication device configured to search for an available wireless communication system from among a plurality of wireless communication systems in accordance with a first priority order. Upon detecting that an external event has occurred, a communication network may determine, based in part on the external event, a period of time that is associated with the external event, and cause the wireless communication device to search, for the determined period of time, for an available wireless communication system from among the plurality of wireless communication systems in accordance with a second priority order instead of the first priority order. Upon expiration of the determined period of time, the communication network may cause the wireless communication device to search for the available wireless communication system in accordance with the first priority order instead of the second priority order. |
| US08929850B2 |
Method and system for preferentially connecting designated receiver of emergency phone call
A method and system for preferentially connecting a designated receiver of an emergency phone call are provided. An emergency phone call to a predetermined service organization is made when a specific pattern is input or a specific button is pressed. A service organization receives the emergency phone call, recognizes a user as a ward by determining customer information according to the user's calling ID (CID), and simultaneously requests a phone call connection to a plurality of guardians of the ward according to the user's customer information. When a specific guardian of the plurality of guardians receives a phone call, a phone call between the ward and the specific guardian is connected by using a communication repeater of the service organization. |
| US08929848B2 |
Interference-robust receiver for a wireless communication system
An interference-robust receiver includes an RF signal processor, a frequency conversion interface and an analog signal processor. The RF signal processor provides an RF signal. The frequency conversion interface includes a passive mixer for generating an intermediate frequency signal by down-converting an in-band part of the RF signal to a passband of a filter and down-converting an out-of-band part of the RF signal to a stopband of the filter. The filter can thus filter the intermediate frequency signal with the passband and the stopband. |
| US08929846B2 |
Generic electromagnetically-countered methods
Various electromagnetically-countered systems are provided and include at least one wave source irradiating harmful electromagnetic waves and at least one counter unit emitting counter electromagnetic waves for countering the harmful waves. Various generic counter units of such systems and various mechanisms are provided to counter the harmful waves by the counter units by matching configurations of the counter units with those of the wave sources, matching shapes of such counter waves with shapes of the harmful waves, etc. Various methods are provided for countering the harmful waves with the counter waves by such source or wave matching. Various methods are also provided for the counter units as well as counter waves. Various processes are provided for providing such systems and counter units. Various electric and/or magnetic shields may be used alone or in conjunction with such counter units to minimize irradiation of the harmful waves from the system. |
| US08929845B2 |
Instrument LO used as alignment signal source
A system can include an input signal source, a local oscillator (LO), and an intermediate frequency (IF) receiver to receive an input signal from the input signal source and an LO signal from the LO. The IF receiver can include a switch to switch between the first and second inputs to provide an output. The IF receiver can generate a calibration signal from the LO signal. |
| US08929844B2 |
Variable gain control transformer and RF transmitter utilizing same
According to one embodiment, a variable gain control transformer comprises a primary winding connected to differential inputs of the variable gain control transformer, a secondary winding for providing a single ended output to a load, and an output control circuit coupled to the secondary winding, the output control circuit configured to provide up to approximately 12 dB of gain control. Variable gain control may be achieved using first and second variable resistors of the output control circuit, wherein the first and second variable resistors are implemented by respective first and second pluralities of source-drain resistances produced by respective corresponding first and second pluralities of selectable field-effect transistors (FETs). In one embodiment, the variable gain control transformer further comprises a variable capacitance tuning circuit coupled between the differential inputs, the variable capacitance tuning circuit implemented using a plurality of selectable fixed capacitance unit cells. |
| US08929843B2 |
Antenna power coupler having a variable coupling factor
An antenna power coupler having a variable coupling factor is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a coupler configured to generate a power detection signal based on transmit signal power associated with a plurality of transmission technologies and a variable attenuator configured to apply a selected attenuation factor to the power detection signal to generate an adjusted power detection signal, the selected attenuation factor associated with a selected transmission technology. |
| US08929841B2 |
Method and system for a touchscreen interface utilizing leaky wave antennas
Methods and systems for a touchscreen interface utilizing leaky wave antennas (LWAs) are disclosed and may include configuring one or more leaky wave antennas utilizing conductive traces in the touchscreen interface for communication of wireless RF signals. RF signals may be communicated utilizing the configured LWAs. A resonant frequency of the LWAs may be configured utilizing micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) deflection. The LWAs may be configured to communicate the RF signals in a desired direction. The LWAs may comprise microstrip or coplanar waveguides, where a cavity height of the one or more leaky wave antennas is dependent on spacing between conductive lines in the waveguides. The touch control commands by the touchscreen interface may be sensed utilizing capacitance, inductance, and/or resistance measurements. |
| US08929840B2 |
Local oscillator buffer and mixer having adjustable size
Selectable sizes for a local oscillator (LO) buffer and mixer are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, LO buffer and/or mixer size may be increased when a receiver or transmitter operates in a high gain mode, while LO buffer and/or mixer size may be decreased when the receiver or transmitter operates in a low gain mode. In an exemplary embodiment, LO buffer and mixer sizes are increased and decreased in lock step. Circuit topologies and control schemes for specific exemplary embodiments of LO buffers and mixers having adjustable size are disclosed. |
| US08929832B2 |
Apparatus and method of reporting logged measurement in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of reporting a logged measurement in a wireless communication system are provided. A user equipment receives a Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) configuration and logs measurements based on the MDT configuration to collect a logged measurement. The user equipment receives an information request from a base station, to request the logged measurement, and transmits an information response to the base station that includes a part of the logged measurement and an availability indicator indicating that all entries in the logged measurement are not included in the information response. The availability indicator indicates a total size of the logged measurement to be received by the base station or an expected number of segments of the logged measurement to be received by the base station. The availability indicator further indicates a last segment of the logged measurement to be received by the base station. |
| US08929829B2 |
Improvements relating to data transfer apparatus
A data movement controller (20) for controlling the movement between a shared data store (18) and a local data store (16) such that the data can be used by a plurality of parallel data processing elements is described. The data movement controller (20) comprises a set of data registers (56, 58, 60) which, in use, are loaded with different data parameters (57, 61, 62) to define a plurality of different ways in which data is transferred between the shared data store (18) and a set of processing elements (12). The data parameters (57, 61, 62) define a set of time delays for transferring portions of the data to predefined ones of the plurality of processing elements (12) and the type of overall data transfer that is to be carried out. The transfer of data in this programmable manner facilitates efficient use of the data movement controller (20) with SIMD associate processors (12) and in one example, the efficient processing of a stream of multiple-source digital data received at radio telecommunications base station to remove distortion due to multi-path effects. |
| US08929828B2 |
Method of coding using multiple transmit chains for reduced exposure to electromagnetic radiation
Embodiments of methods and apparatuses for transmission from an electromagnetic signal transmitting device utilizing a plurality of transmit chains based on a code that reduces exposure to electromagnetic radiation. One method is utilizing a plurality of chains, adjusting at least one of a phase or an amplitude of at least one of the transmit chains based on a code, wherein the codebook of code words is generated using at least one parameter that characterizes the electromagnetic radiation intensity, and wherein the number of code words satisfies a criterion for quality of reception at an intended receiver, and wherein the code words are selected, during operation of the transmitting device, in response to data that are to be transmitted. |
| US08929825B2 |
Method for sending a scan response based on a multi-carrier system, and base station
The present invention discloses a method for sending a scan response based on a multi-carrier system, and a base station, wherein the method comprises: a base station receives a scan request signaling sent by a terminal; and responding to the scan request signaling, the base station determines a carrier the terminal needs to scan and sends a scan response message to the terminal. |
| US08929824B2 |
Apparatus and method for exchanging information on device in communication between devices
To provide information of a device in communication between devices, an operating method of a device includes including device information of the device in a message defined by a communication protocol used to connect to the other device; and transmitting the message comprising the device information using the communication protocol. The device information comprises at least one of a device type, support of a mirror link, mobile communication network connection support, automatic execution of an application corresponding to the device, vendor identification information, and product identification information. |
| US08929816B2 |
Multiple apparatus selection via touch
A system for expediting connection establishment between apparatuses. In at least one example implementation, an apparatus may transmit discovery messages and may receive response messages. If any of the response messages are determined to satisfy predetermined response criteria, the apparatus may further determine if any of these response messages (e.g., the messages that were determined to satisfy the predetermined response criteria) are associated with apparatuses that satisfy selection criteria for the selection of multiple apparatuses that may, in some instances, operate together as a group. Apparatuses that are determined to satisfy the multiple selection criteria may then be selected, wherein connection establishment is expedited for the selected apparatuses. |
| US08929812B2 |
Hybrid RF polling loop for NFC device and retry mechanism
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method of controlling a near field communications (NFC) system, including: reading a number of low power iterations N from a memory; performing N low power polls; performing a normal power poll. Further, various exemplary embodiments relate to a method of controlling a near field communications (NFC) system, including: performing a low power poll of a tag; detecting a tag; initiating a first activation of the detected tag; receiving an indication that the first activation fails; reading a number of retries N from a memory; performing a second activation. |
| US08929808B2 |
Antenna driver circuit for NFC reader applications
A power amplifier, supplied by a supply voltage, to drive an antenna to output a magnetic field, comprising a differential stage configured to output an output signal to drive the antenna, and a feedback stage configured to receive a common mode output voltage from the differential stage and to output a feedback voltage to regulate the output common mode signal to be proportional to the supply. |
| US08929801B2 |
Image forming device having sheet discharge guide
An image forming device including a main frame, a fixing unit, and a sheet discharge guide. The main frame is formed with a sheet discharge opening. The fixing unit includes a heat member and a pressure member providing a nip portion in cooperation with the heat member to fix a developing agent image onto a sheet at the nip portion. The sheet discharge guide provides a generally U-shaped guide surface configured to turn around the sheet discharged from the fixing unit toward the sheet discharge opening. The sheet discharge guide is displaceable toward and away from the nip portion between a non displaced state and a displaced state. The sheet discharge guide is configured to guide the sheet toward the sheet discharge opening at the non displaced state and the displaced state. |
| US08929800B2 |
Image forming apparatus
Provided is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit with a plurality of developing devices, a sheet transport unit, a sheet position measurement unit that measures a position of the sheet during the transport in a direction crossing a sheet passage, a displacement correction unit that moves the sheet during the transport in the sheet-passage crossing direction to correct a displacement of the sheet, and a control unit that carries out the displacement correction for the sheet by the displacement correction unit for the measured sheet depending on the measurement result by the sheet position measurement unit if the developing device located on a upstream side is used, and carries out position correction for an image and reduces an interval of the image formation for each sheet if the developing device located on the upstream side is not used. |
| US08929799B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus having: a slit plate in which a plurality of slits of different widths are provided, the slit plate being movable in an amount proportional to an amount of movement of a elevating plate; a sensor unit disposed such that the slits pass between a luminous element and a light-sensitive element, the sensor unit outputting a detection signal that indicates whether light emitted by the luminous element is in a transmitted state or not; and a control unit that stores positions of the elevating plate corresponding to the widths of the slits, and identifies a position of the elevating plate corresponding to a slit width derived from a detection signal outputted by the sensor unit, thereby deriving a remaining quantity of sheets on the elevating plate. |
| US08929797B2 |
Medium transport apparatus, scanner apparatus, and recording apparatus
A medium transport apparatus includes a medium guide member that forms part of the curved transport path and guides a medium to a downstream side, and that is provided so as to be capable of pivoting at an outward side from the curved transport path, and that changes the size of a space of part of the curved transport path by pivoting. The medium guide member has a pivot axis that is in an upstream side direction of a guide surface that guides the medium. |
| US08929790B2 |
Fuser unit
A fuser unit, which heat-fixes a developer image transferred on a recording sheet, the fuser unit includes: a cylindrical member having flexibility; a heat generation member that is arranged at an inside of the cylindrical member and generates radiation heat; a nip member that slidingly contacts an inner periphery of the cylindrical member; a first reflection member that extends along the heat generation member to corresponds with at least a range of a heat generation part of the heat generation member; a second reflection member that is arranged, at an outside of the heat generation member, to at least one of end sides of the first reflection member in the longitudinal direction, and a backup member that forms a nip region by nipping the cylindrical member between the nip member and the backup member, wherein the second reflection member is separated from the first reflection member. |
| US08929788B2 |
Fixing device having a fixing pad and a pressing pad and image forming apparatus incorporating the same
A fixing device includes a fixing belt rotatable in a predetermined direction of rotation; a pressing belt to frictionally contact the fixing belt and rotatable in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of the fixing belt; a stationary fixing pad disposed inside a loop formed by the fixing belt; a stationary pressing pad disposed inside a loop formed by the pressing belt; and a fixing belt heater disposed inside the loop formed by the fixing belt to heat the fixing belt. The fixing pad presses against the pressing pad to form a fixing nip therebetween with the fixing belt and the pressing belt interposed between the fixing pad and the pressing pad. A recording medium bearing an unfixed toner image is conveyed through the fixing nip in a state in which the unfixed toner image contacts the fixing belt. |
| US08929786B2 |
Image forming apparatus, system, and method using a superimposed voltage signal and a direct voltage signal
An image forming apparatus includes a transfer unit configured to transfer a toner image onto a recording medium; a power supply unit configured to apply one of a superimposed voltage in which an alternating-current voltage and a first direct-current voltage are superimposed and a second direct-current voltage to the transfer unit; and a power supply control configured to, when the power supply unit outputs the superimposed voltage, instruct the power supply unit to output the first direct-current voltage at a first timing, and, when the power-supply unit outputs the second direct-current voltage, instruct the power-supply unit to output the second direct-current voltage at a second timing which is later than the first timing. |
| US08929784B2 |
Rotating body, transfer unit, and image forming apparatus
A rotating body for use in an image forming apparatus has an outer surface in which one or more grooves are formed. The one or more grooves are oriented at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° with respect to a longitudinal direction of the rotating body. |
| US08929780B2 |
Toner container, image forming apparatus, toner container producing method and toner container recycling method
A toner container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus, the toner container including: a cylindrical container which accommodates a toner; a cap portion which holds the cylindrical container such that the cylindrical container can rotate in a circular direction, with an end of the cylindrical container inserted in the cap portion; and a sealing member lying between the end and an inner surface of the cap portion, wherein the toner in the cylindrical container is discharged to an inside of the cap portion through an opening provided in the end and the toner in the cap portion is discharged to an outside through a toner discharge port provided in the cap portion, as the cylindrical container rotates, and wherein the cylindrical container is provided with a seal receiving surface for fixing the sealing member, and the sealing member is fixed to the seal receiving surface. |
| US08929779B2 |
Toner container and image forming apparatus in which the toner container has protrusions which interact with the image forming device
A system with a container including a protrusion, and a receiver to receive the container. The receiver includes a slide block that is movable relative to a body of the receiver, the slide block including two surfaces, a first surface, initially contacted by the protrusion of the container during insertion of the container into the receiver, having a first slope to resist movement of the container towards the receiver, and a second surface, subsequently contacted by the protrusion of the container during the insertion of the container into the receiver, having a second slope to interact with the protrusion of the container to assist movement of the container towards the receiver. This construction provides the user with a changing insertion force to indicate proper mounting of the container. |
| US08929769B2 |
Laser printer cartridge with increased toner storage capacity
Remanufactured laser printer toner cartridges and methods of manufacture by which predetermined structures internal to the toner hopper section are removed preferably by a robotic laser cutter, a volume increasing cap is provided for the modified toner hopper section and the cartridge is re-assembled to yield a remanufactured toner cartridge that has a capacity to store toner that is significantly increased in comparison to the storage capacity of the OEM toner cartridge. |
| US08929766B2 |
Image forming apparatus sequentially outputting a sheet having been subjected to image formation processing to a paper output tray
An image forming apparatus capable of effectively cooling down a sheet having been subjected to fixing processing while preventing an apparatus from becoming larger in size and a sheet conveyance failure from occurring is provided. The image forming apparatus (10) includes a sheet conveyance path (16), a fixing device (22), a conveyance roller (26), an upper sheet guide (60), a lower sheet guide (62), and a cooling fan (40). The conveyance roller (26) is disposed downstream of a heat-treatment portion in the sheet conveyance path and configured so as to convey a sheet passing the heat-treatment portion to the paper output tray. At a position corresponding to the position of the conveyance rollers (26), the upper sheet guide (60) is provided with a ventilation portion (604) configured so as to make the cooling air from the cooling device (40) pass through. At a position opposed to the ventilation portion (604) of the upper sheet guide (60), the lower sheet guide (62) is provided with a ventilation portion (624) configured so as to make the cooling air from the cooling device (40) pass through. |
| US08929765B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is configured to electro-photographically form an image and includes a main body frame which includes a side wall, an outer cover which covers an outer face of the main body frame, a high-voltage board which includes a high-voltage generator circuit configured to generate a high voltage and supply an electric power to a device requiring a high-voltage power source, and a main board which includes a main control circuit configured to perform a control on an image forming process of the image forming apparatus. In a side region which is formed by the side wall of the main body frame and the outer cover, the high-voltage board and the main board are disposed along the side wall to overlap with each other at least partially, and the high-voltage board is disposed on an outer side relative to the main board. |
| US08929763B2 |
Fusing device and image forming apparatus
A fuser portion is configured to include a fuser roller, a tension roller, an endless fuser belt stretched over the fuser roller and the tension roller, a heater unit for heating the fuser belt, and a pressure roller pressed to the fuser roller through the fuser belt. The heater unit is so arranged as to be pressed to the fuser belt, while the tension roller has a thermal insulation layer arranged on its outer circumference touching the fuser belt. |
| US08929760B2 |
Transfer device with bias output device and image forming apparatus including same
A transfer device includes a rotatable image bearing member to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, a nip forming member to contact the surface of the image bearing member, and a bias output device to output a bias current to alternately form a transfer-direction electric field to transfer toner charged with a normal polarity in a toner image formed on the image bearing member to move therefrom to a recording medium and a return-direction electric field to return the toner from the recording medium to the image bearing member. A transition time T1 from a first time at which a current for forming the transfer-direction electric field reaches its maximum (It) to a second time at which a current for forming the return-direction electric field reaches its maximum (Ir) is longer than a transition time T2 from the second time to the first time. |
| US08929757B2 |
Image forming apparatus for detecting and correcting thickness and area ratio of toner layer
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit having an exposure unit and a developing unit; a detection unit configured to detect a thickness and an area ratio of a toner layer of a pattern image formed by the image forming unit; a storage unit configured to store data indicating permissible ranges for the thickness and the area ratio of the toner layer; and a correction unit configured to change, when the thickness or the area ratio of the toner layer detected by the detection unit falls outside the corresponding permissible range indicated by the data stored in the storage unit, a spot diameter of the laser beam so that the thickness and the area ratio of the toner layer respectively fall within the permissible ranges. |
| US08929756B2 |
Developing device, image forming apparatus, and method for changing duty ratio
A developing device includes a developing roller, a magnetic roller, a capacitor, a transformer, a switching section, a control section, a temperature detecting section, and a storage section. When changing the duty ratio of a control signal in multiple sequential steps, the control section determines the resonance period based on the temperature and temperature characteristic data and changes the duty ratio of the control signal to the next step during a changing time slot which is one of the first and second halves of a period of voltage fluctuation of the capacitor based on the determined resonance period, the one half in which the current flowing through the switching section is smaller than in the other half of the period. |
| US08929750B2 |
Signal generating circuit, optical signal transmitting apparatus, signal receiving circuit, method for establishing optical signal synchronization, and optical signal synchronization system
To enable signal position detection, frequency offset compensation, clock offset compensation, and chromatic dispersion amount estimation in a communication system based on coherent detection using an optical signal, even on a signal having a great offset in an arrival time depending on a frequency due to chromatic dispersion. An optical signal transmitting apparatus generates specific frequency band signals having power concentrated on two or more specific frequencies and transmits a signal including the specific frequency band signals. An optical signal receiving apparatus converts a received signal into a digital signal, detects positions of the specific frequency band signals from the converted digital signal, estimates frequency positions of the detected specific frequency band signals, and detects a frequency offset between an optical signal receiving apparatus and an optical signal transmitting apparatus. Moreover, the optical signal receiving apparatus detects a clock offset between the optical signal receiving apparatus and the optical signal transmitting apparatus from an interval between the estimated frequency positions of the specific frequency band signals. Furthermore, the optical signal receiving apparatus estimates temporal positions of the detected specific frequency band signals and detects a chromatic dispersion amount from a difference between the temporal positions of the specific frequency band signals corresponding to different frequencies. |
| US08929747B1 |
Reducing pulse narrowing in the transmitter signal that drives a limiting E/O converter for optical fiber channels
A transmitter reduces or minimizes pulse narrowing. In one approach, an optical transmitter is designed to transmit data over an optical fiber at a specified data rate using on-off keying. The transmitter includes a pre-converter electrical channel and a limiting E/O converter. The pre-converter electrical channel produces a pre-converter signal that drives the limiting E/O converter. The pre-converter electrical channel is designed to reduce pulse narrowing in the pre-converter signal. In one implementation, the pre-converter electrical channel includes a pre-emphasis filter that is designed to minimize pulse width shrinkage. |
| US08929746B2 |
Differential driver, circuits and devices including the same, and method(s) of manufacturing the same
The present disclosure relates to a differential drive circuit. The differential drive circuit generally includes a differential driver, a first transmission line coupled to a first output node of the differential driver, and a second transmission line coupled to a second output node of the differential driver. A laser diode is coupled to the first and second transmission lines. The first and second transmission lines have different delays, lengths, or impedances. In some embodiments, the delay between the first transmission line and the second transmission line is 0.2-0.4 times a rise time or fall time of a signal on either transmission line. |
| US08929745B2 |
Optical transmission apparatus
A first clock modulator branches a light beam, varies a phase difference of the resulting light beams according to a first clock, and causes interference of the light beams. A second clock modulator branches a light beam from the first clock modulator and synchronized with the first clock, varies a phase difference of the resulting light beams according to a second clock, and causes interference of the light beams. A third clock modulator branches a light beam from the first clock modulator and inversely synchronized with the first clock, varies a phase difference of the resulting light beams according to a third clock, and causes interference of the light beams. The second clock and the first clock have identical cycles and differing phases. The third clock and the second clock have phases that differ by a 1/2 cycle. Four data modulators modulate the light beams from the clock modulators. |
| US08929743B2 |
Scheme of remote control of the slicing level of a receiver in a smart transceiver
A scheme is described of remote control of the slicing level of a receiver in a smart SFP (or SFP+, or XFP) duplex (or BiDi, or SWBiDi) transceiver in a communication system using an operating system with OAM and PP functions, an OAM, PP & Payload Processor, a transceiver, a BERT, and an optical link in the field. |
| US08929740B2 |
Methods, systems and devices for integrating wireless technology into a fiber optic network
The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic network configuration having an optical network terminal located at a subscriber location. The fiber optic network configuration also includes a drop terminal located outside the subscriber location and a wireless transceiver located outside the subscriber location. The fiber optic network further includes a cabling arrangement including a first signal line that extends from the drop terminal to the optical network terminal, a second signal line that extends from the optical network terminal to the wireless transceiver, and a power line that extends from the optical network terminal to the wireless transceiver. |
| US08929738B2 |
Resilience in an access subnetwork ring
Embodiments herein include a resilient add-drop module for use in one of multiple access subnetwork nodes forming an access subnetwork ring. The module comprises a dual-arm passive optical filter and a cyclic arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). The dual-arm passive optical filter is configured to resiliently drop any wavelength channels within a fixed band uniquely allocated to the access subnetwork node from either arm of the access subnetwork ring and to resiliently add any wavelength channels within the fixed band to both arms of the access subnetwork ring. The cyclic AWG is correspondingly configured to demultiplex wavelength channels dropped by the dual-arm filter and to multiplex wavelength channels to be added by the dual-arm filter. Configured in this way, the module in at least some embodiments advantageously reduces the complexity and accompanying cost of nodes in an optical network, while also providing resilience against fiber and node failures. |
| US08929737B2 |
Optical line terminal and optical network unit
An optical line terminal which includes an observing unit that observes information of any one or all of an arrival interval of frames, an instantaneous bandwidth under use of a flow, a queue length of a queue temporarily storing the frames, and a traffic type, and a stop determining unit that dynamically determines a sleep time to be a period in which a sleep state where partial functions of the ONU are stopped is maintained, on the basis of the information obtained by the observing unit. The ONU is entered into a sleep state, immediately after communication ends, after a predetermined waiting time passes from when the communication ends, or after a waiting time determined on the basis of the information passes from when the communication ends. |
| US08929731B2 |
Apparatus for measuring performance of coherent optical receiver
An apparatus for measuring performance of a coherent optical receiver includes a beam splitter splitting light into first and second paths, a first optical modulator modulating the first path light, a variable optical attenuator controlling an optical power of the first optical modulator, a first polarization controller transmitting a signal controlling polarization of an output of the variable optical attenuator to the coherent optical receiver, a second optical modulator modulating the second path light, a variable optical delay line delaying time of an output of the second optical modulator, a second polarization controller transmitting a signal controlling polarization of an output of the variable optical delay line to the coherent optical receiver, a network analyzer measuring performance of the coherent optical receiver and controlling the optical modulators, and a controller transmitting a control signal to the optical modulators. |
| US08929728B2 |
Method and system for implementing automatic protection switching for transmission equipment
A method for realizing an automatic protection switching of a transmission device is provided, and the method includes that: according to a received automatic protection switching trigger condition and information of each line sub-card, which are transmitted by a cross sub-card via a Time Division Multiplexing Fabric to Framer Interface (TFI5) frame, a control sub-card determines to execute protection switching, and sends a protection switching command to the cross sub-card; and the cross sub-card completes the protection switching action. A system for realizing an automatic protection switching of a transmission device is also provided. According to the technical solution of the present invention, the automatic protection switching of the transmission device in an Optical Transport Network (OTN) is achieved conveniently. |
| US08929725B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and control method thereof
In an image capturing apparatus that allows input of instructions to the image capturing apparatus by shaking the apparatus, without using an operation unit, it is determined whether or not the image capturing apparatus is shaking. Then, in a case in which it is determined that the image capturing apparatus is shaking, at least some of the operations of the operation unit are invalidated. |
| US08929723B2 |
Recording apparatus, imaging and recording apparatus, recording method, and program
Disclosed herein is a recording apparatus including: an input section configured to input data to be recorded; and a recording control section configured to reserve a recording region beforehand on recording media by updating file management information about the recording media to which the data is to be recorded, the recording control section being further configured such that when the data input through the input section has reached a predetermined data amount, the recording control section records the input data to the reserved region. |
| US08929722B2 |
Recording/reproducing device
A recording and reproducing device reproduces content management information from a recording medium and inputs the content management information to a control unit via a recording and reproducing processing unit. An image generation unit generates a menu screen using content information in the management information extracted by the control unit, and outputs the menu screen via a display processing unit. When content is to be dubbed by a user, the content dubbing destination and the preset time to dub the content are entered to the control unit via an operation unit, and these entries are held in a schedule management unit. |
| US08929721B2 |
Methods for identification of highlight game events and automated generation of videos for same
Methods, systems and computer readable media for automated creation of videos for interactive entertainment involving at least one individual, based on events that occur within that interactive entertainment are provided. One method includes storing a video history of a session of the interactive entertainment for an individual and examining the interactive entertainment for the session to identify events designated as significant. The designation as significant for each event being predefined to meet a threshold. Then, selecting segments of video from the video history of the session of the interactive entertainment. The selected segments being for a set of the identified events. The method then generates a video defined from the selected segments of video. The video is playable to show the selected segments of video in a selected order for the individual and saving the video. |
| US08929720B2 |
Apparatus and method for identifying insertion zones in video material and for inserting additional material into the insertion zones
An apparatus and method for automatic detection of insertion zones within pre-recorded video material are provided. The apparatus includes a video analysis unit configured to automatically determine at least one candidate insertion zone within the pre-recorded video material suitable for receiving additional material to be inserted and configured to generate zone meta data defining attributes of the insertion zone, and an insertion module configured to receive additional material for insertion and arranged to generate an output representative of the pre-recorded video material with the additional material placed on an insertion zone such that the additional material adopts the image attributes of the insertion zone as the pre-recorded video material is played. The automatic determination of at least one insertion zone is based on one or more of feature shape, size, duration, movement, color, and the video analysis unit is configured to automatically detect a plurality of scene changes in the pre-recorded video material, said scene changes identifying a plurality of scenes in the pre-recorded material, such that the pre-recorded video material can be analyzed on a scene-by-scene basis in order to identify instances of an insertion zone in different parts of the pre-recorded video material separated by the detected scene changes. |
| US08929716B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program, whereby playback of PG and TextST images can be controlled from a BD-J application. There are defined a mono PG/TextST stream of a PG/TextST image that is a mono image serving as a 2D image, a stereo PG/TextST stream of a PG/TextST image that is a stereo image serving as a 3D image, and a PG/TextST stream for offset of a PG/TextST image that is a mono image to be used fro generating a stereo image along with an offset value for giving disparity to the mono image, as a PG/TextST stream of a PG/TextST image. An stream selecting API selects a mono PG/TextST stream, a stereo PG/TextST stream, or a PG/TextST stream for offset. The present invention may be applied to a BD player configured to play a BD, or the like. |
| US08929715B2 |
Information processing device, information processing method, and program
The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program, whereby playback of PG and TextST images can be controlled from a BD-J application. There are defined a mono PG/TextST stream of a PG/TextST image that is a mono image serving as a 2D image, a stereo PG/TextST stream of a PG/TextST image that is a stereo image serving as a 3D image, and a PG/TextST stream for offset of a PG/TextST image that is a mono image to be used for generating a stereo image along with an offset value for giving disparity to the mono image, as a PG/TextST stream of a PG/TextST image. An stream selecting API selects a mono PG/TextST stream, a stereo PG/TextST stream, or a PG/TextST stream for offset. The present invention may be applied to a BD player configured to play a BD, or the like. |
| US08929711B2 |
Analog signal recording system
One embodiment of the present invention provides a signal-recording system. During operation, the system receives a wideband multi-channel radio frequency (RF) signal, which includes a plurality of single-channel RF signals modulated at different carrier frequencies. The system down-converts the received wideband multi-channel RF signal to baseband, and records the down-converted signal. |
| US08929707B2 |
Multi-port adapter block
An adapter block constructed to mount to more than one mounting configuration of a telecommunications panel. The adapter block including a housing constructed to slide mount to a panel, and pivot mount to a panel from either a front or a rear of the panel. The housing including flexible levers that provide a snap-fit connection to secure the adapter block relative to the panel in each of the mounting configurations. The adapter block providing access to cable terminations of the block in each of the mounting configurations. |
| US08929706B2 |
Fiber optic cable storage enclosure
In one embodiment a fiber optic storage enclosure (FOSE) includes a fiber tray configured for coupling with a fiber optic device having a connector and a cover movably coupled to the fiber tray configured for coupling with the fiber tray and the fiber optic device and movable between a closed condition to cover the connector of the fiber optic device and an open condition to allow access to the connector of the fiber optic device. The cover may serve as a shield to prevent injury from a laser of the fiber optic device and include a viewer to allow a user to view a portion of the fiber optic device when the cover is in a closed shielding position. |
| US08929702B2 |
Modular opto-electrical cable unit
A modular cable unit for oilfield wireline includes multiple cable modules. The cable modules are interchangeable to achieve a modular cable unit with desired telemetry and electrical properties to suit a specific application. The cable modules can be an optical fiber module, a power cable or an opto-electrical module assembly. The cable modules that make up the modular cable unit are preferably arranged in a triad configuration defining a substantially triangular tangent periphery and are surrounded by a polymeric casing having a circular periphery. The triad configuration of the modular cable unit contributes to an improved mechanical strength. A floating-tube type optical fiber element with improved mechanical strength is also disclosed. |
| US08929700B2 |
Single-package dual optical-function device
A four-fiber collimator is coupled to the optics of a single interleaver to produce the functionality of two co-packaged interleavers. Two fibers of the collimator are coupled to the core optics of a single interleaver to produce two pairs of output beams. The other two fibers of the collimators are coupled to receive the reflection output beams. The geometry of the optical fibers in the bundle is controlled to produce interleaver outputs with no offset. In another embodiment two fibers of the four-fiber collimator are coupled as inputs to and the other two fibers as outputs from a Fabry-Perot etalon. The geometry of the fibers and the focal length of the collimator are controlled to produce two outputs with peaks offset by a predetermined amount. |
| US08929697B1 |
Light injection system
A light injection system includes a radiation source, an optical waveguide, and an optical component. The radiation source emits radiation and is oriented relative to the optical waveguide such that a first portion of radiation emitted from the radiation source couples into the optical waveguide as emitted from the radiation source and a second portion of radiation emitted from the radiation source bypasses the optical waveguide as emitted from the radiation source. The optical component redirects at least some of the second portion of radiation emitted from the radiation source that would otherwise bypass the optical waveguide and enables at least some of the redirected radiation to couple into the optical waveguide instead of bypass the optical waveguide. |
| US08929695B1 |
N port fiber optical switch
An N port fiber optical switch includes a movable housing having a perimeter and N corners; a plurality N of optical fibers positioned within the housing and inside the perimeter; and a plurality N of actuators, wherein each actuator is positioned on a corresponding corner such that when selectively activated one or more of the actuators urges the movable housing and the plurality of optical fibers to a selected switch position. The switch provides short switching times and high power handling while allowing for a large number of ports and provides the capability of interfacing with and switching between a variable number of ports. |
| US08929693B2 |
Semiconductor package and semiconductor device including the same
A semiconductor package and a semiconductor device including the same. The semiconductor package includes: a package substrate; a plurality of connection elements that are disposed on the package substrate; and a semiconductor chip that includes at least one optical input/output element that transmits/receives an optical signal to/from the outside at an optical input/output angle with respect to a direction perpendicular to a bottom surface of the package substrate, and is electrically connected to the package substrate through the plurality of connection. |
| US08929687B2 |
System and method for candidate sorting and clustering
A system for organizing a plurality of candidates based on the relative similarity of a first candidate with respect to the remaining plurality of candidates is disclosed. The system includes a controller in communication with a storage device configured to receive and accessibly store a generated plurality of candidate images. The controller operable to analyze each of the plurality of candidate images to determined a numeric thumbnail based on a number of identified features in each of a plurality of grid elements of an array and a sum total number of all identified features in the array, calculate a similarity score between one of the plurality of determined numeric thumbnails and each of the remaining plurality of determined numeric thumbnails; and generate a logical group image order as a function of the highest similarity score between the one of the plurality of determined numeric thumbnails and each of the remaining plurality of determined numeric thumbnails. |
| US08929681B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
In an image processing apparatus for carrying out a plurality of correction processes on an input image, a multi-dimensional histogram of the input image is calculated, and a feature amount of the input image for which a specific correction process has been carried out is analyzed based on the multi-dimensional histogram. Then, based on the result of the analysis, correction parameters to be used for another correction process are calculated. |
| US08929679B1 |
Systems and methods for changing contrast based on brightness of an output for presentation on a display
Certain implementations of the disclosed technology may include systems and methods for changing a contrast level associated with an output for presentation on a display in response to detecting a change in a brightness level. According to an example implementation, a method is provided. The method includes determining, by a computing device, a first brightness level associated with an output for presentation on a display. The method also includes determining, by the computing device, a first contrast level associated with the output for presentation on the display. Responsive to detecting, by the computing device, a change from the first brightness level to a second brightness level, the method includes changing, by the computing device, the first contrast level to a second contrast level. |
| US08929678B2 |
Method for automatic contour filter positioning for medical X-ray imaging
A method is provided for automatic contour filter positioning for medical X-ray imaging in an X-ray apparatus comprising a collimator and at least one movable contour filter actuated by a motor based positioning subsystem, wherein a digital image in a frame of rows and columns of pixels is rendered for processing and obtaining control data for applying a contour filter. The method comprises identifying exposure of subareas, preparing for filter positioning, and defining filter position. |
| US08929676B2 |
Blurring based content recognizer
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for identifying regions of interest in an image and identifying a barcode in a degraded image are provided. A region of interest is identified by pre-processing an image, generating a binary image based on a metric calculated on the pre-processed image, and analyzing regions of the image identified using connected components and other analysis. A barcode is identified by searching a population of barcodes, degrading ideal image intensity profiles of candidate barcodes, and comparing the degraded ideal image intensity profiles to an image intensity profile of the degraded image. |
| US08929674B2 |
Compression of high bit-depth images
A method of storing an image is disclosed. A frequency-domain representation of the image is received, the frequency-domain representation having a plurality of bit-planes. The frequency-domain representation is divided into a first set of bit-planes and a second set of bit-planes, the first set of bit-planes being a higher set of bit-planes than the second set of bit-planes. The first set of bit-planes and the second set of bit-planes is partitioned into a plurality of partitions. At least one partition from the second set of bit-planes is inserted into the plurality of partitions of the first set of bit-planes to produce a plurality of arranged partitions of the image. The arranged partitions of the image are stored. |
| US08929672B2 |
Method of compressing image data
In a method of compressing image data which include a plurality of pixel values which are associated with a respective pixel, the pixel values are coded for at least some pixels in accordance with the following steps: determining an estimated pixel value of the respective pixel in dependence on the pixel value of at least one predetermined other pixel while using an estimation rule; and forming a difference value of the respective pixel which corresponds to a predefined relation between the pixel value and the estimated pixel value of the respective pixel and quantization of the difference value in accordance with a difference value quantization rule. The quantized difference values of the pixels are compressed in accordance with a compression rule. |
| US08929669B2 |
Image evaluation apparatus that calculates an importance degree of each of a plurality of images
An image evaluation apparatus is provided, which calculates a characteristic value indicating a state of appearance of objects corresponding to person a and person b appearing in image A and an object corresponding to person b appearing in image B. Subsequently, the image evaluation apparatus specifies person b′ as the photographer of image B and calculates a likelihood degree indicating accuracy of the determination. Further, the image evaluation apparatus calculates an importance degree of each of images A and B according to the characteristic values of person a and person b appearing in image A and image B and the likelihood degree of the photographer of image B. |
| US08929662B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating super-resolution image using prediction and stabilization of high-frequency information of image
Image restoration by restoring a high-frequency component of a deteriorated image. A high-frequency image information predicting and stabilizing method includes: determining a shooting area, which is a high-frequency area that includes an overly-restored high-frequency component, in an input image; predicting a high-frequency component of the input image by applying different deterioration models to the shooting area and a remaining area in the input image; and stabilizing a high-frequency component of an edge area by using an edge blur kernel determined to be parallel to an edge direction of the input image. |
| US08929657B2 |
System and method for indexing object in image
The present invention relates to a system for providing a supplementary service by identifying an object in an image and comprises: an image service server and a user terminal. The image service server provides image information and includes a database that manages metadata for the provision of the service. The user terminal dynamically generates control command information according to the information for the object selected in the image. In addition, the user terminal receives the information for the object selected in the image that is displayed on screen and transfers the information to the image service server. Furthermore, the user terminal receives from the image service server the preset supplementary service that corresponds to the information for the object selected. |
| US08929655B2 |
Image evaluation apparatus and camera
To provide an image evaluation apparatus and camera which are capable of evaluating an image which is comprehensively good. An image evaluation apparatus comprising: a storage portion which stores a plurality of images when an imaging portion of a camera has continuously imaged in a predetermined time interval a plurality of frames of a subject in a photographing area of the camera, and an image evaluation portion which evaluates a plurality of the images stored in the storage portion, based on a characteristic amount showing a state in which the subject in the photographing area changing in chronological sequence, when the plurality of the images is imaged. |
| US08929653B2 |
Signal processing apparatus and method, and program
Signals are provided which allow colors in a wider color range than predetermined standards, which can be handled by apparatus according to such predetermined standards. A primary color converter converts first color signals having primary color points in a wider color range than the primary color points according to BT.709 into second color signals based on the primary colors according to BT.709. A photoelectric transducer converts the second color signals into third color signals according to photoelectric transducer characteristics defined in a numerical range wider than a range from 0 to 1.0 of color signals corresponding to a luminance signal and color difference signals according to BT.709. A color signal converter converts the third color signals into a luminance signal and color difference signals. A corrector incorporated in the color signal converter corrects the color difference signals into color difference signals. |
| US08929650B2 |
Image color correction
Color-correcting a digital image comprising P pixels (P≧4) is presented. Each of the P pixels has a respective color. Color strengths of the P pixels are determined based at least on respective intensities, respective saturations, or both respective intensities and respective saturations of the P pixels. A subset of the P pixels less than all of the P pixels is determined. The pixels in the subset have respective color strengths in a range of respective color strength. All other pixels of the P pixels have respective color strengths outside of the range of respective color strengths. Color correction is determined for the P pixels based in part on the colors of the respective pixels in the subset which are the only pixels of the P pixels used for determining the color correction. The colors of the P pixels are corrected based on the color correction. |
| US08929648B2 |
Image processor capable of classifying original as color original quickly
An image processor reads an image from an original, divides the image into a plurality of blocks, and performs a determination process on each block. Through the determination process, a block is classified as a first color block or second color block. The image processor classifies the original as a color image when a number of first color blocks reach a prescribed number before the determination processes for all of the plurality of blocks have been completed. The image processor classifies the original as the color image when a number of first color blocks determined through the determination processes for all of the plurality of blocks is fewer than the prescribed number and a color ratio is greater than a prescribed ratio. The color ratio is the sum of the number of the first color blocks and the number of the second color blocks to the plurality of blocks. |
| US08929643B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving multiview camera parameters for stereoscopic image, and method and apparatus for transmitting multiview camera parameters for stereoscopic image
Provided is a method of receiving multiview camera parameters for a stereoscopic image. The method includes: extracting multiview camera parameter information for a predetermined data section from a received stereoscopic image data stream; extracting matrix information including at least one of translation matrix information and rotation matrix information for the predetermined data section from the multiview camera parameter information; and restoring coordinate systems of multiview cameras by using the extracted matrix information. |
| US08929638B2 |
Correction of saturation banding artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging
Systems and methods for correcting saturation banding artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging in which artifact and reference calibration scans are used to create one dimensional or two dimensional correction profiles, which are subsequently applied to actual diagnostic imaging scans to correct the saturation banding artifacts. |
| US08929635B2 |
Method and system for tooth segmentation in dental images
A method for segmenting a feature of interest from a volume image acquires image data elements from the image of a subject. One or more boundary points along a boundary of the feature of interest are identified according to one or more geometric primitives with reference to the displayed view. A foreground seed curve is defined according to the one or more identified boundary points. A background field array that lies outside of, and is spaced from, the foreground seed curve by a predetermined distance, is defined. Segmentation is applied to the volume image according to foreground values obtained according to image data elements that are spatially bounded on or within the foreground seed curve and according to background field array values to create a segmented feature of interest. |
| US08929632B2 |
Temporal difference encoding for angiographic image sequences
A method of visualizing changes in blood flow in a digital subtraction angiography (DSA) image sequence is disclosed. A time-contrast curve is generated for all pixels in each image of the DSA image sequence. A reference parameter for each time-contrast curve to be used as a first time point is specified. The value of the reference parameter for each time-contrast curve is determined and an arbitrary parameter is specified for each time-contrast curve to be used as a second time point. An output image is generated by applying a color-coding of the difference between the first time point and the second time point to all pixels. |
| US08929631B2 |
Method and device for automatically adapting a reference image
A method and a device for reference image adapting in the field of fluoroscopy-controlled interventional repair of abdominal aortic aneurisms on angiography systems are proposed. Displacements which can be brought about as a result of introducing instruments, such as when a stent is deployed in an aorta, are automatically corrected. It is also possible to correct such displacements which initially cannot be perceived in the image due to the angle of view. |
| US08929629B1 |
Method and system for image-based ulcer detection
A system and method for ulcer detection which may generate a vector of grades including grades indicative of a probability that the image includes an ulcer, for example an ulcer of specific type. For each grade, generating may include finding ulcer candidates within the image, and for each ulcer candidate, building a property vector describing properties of the ulcer candidate and employing a trained classifier to generate the grade from the property vector. The grades may be combined to obtain an indication or score of the probability that the image includes an ulcer. |
| US08929625B2 |
Method and device for side-effect prognosis and monitoring
A method for radiotherapy monitoring is provided. The method comprises calculation of treatment-guiding indices of side-effects based on processing image derived descriptors and measurement values of selected disease specific biomarkers and optionally questionnaire data. A computer program product is also provided. |
| US08929624B2 |
Systems and methods for comparing different medical images to analyze a structure-of-interest
A method of analyzing a structure-of-interest (SOI) in a patient. The method includes obtaining a first medical image of a patient. The first medical image includes an identified structure-of-interest (SOI). The identified SOI has a corresponding local measurement. The method also includes receiving a second medical image of the patient and selecting an SOI in the second medical image. The selected SOI has a corresponding local measurement. The method also includes automatically determining that the selected SOI is the identified SOI based on corresponding location data of the identified and selected SOIs, respectively, and linking the local measurements of the selected and identified SOI. |
| US08929623B2 |
Method and computer for aiding determination of obstructive sleep apnea
A computer for aiding determination of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) includes a storage device storing with a medical image and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU executes a method for aiding determination of OSA. The method for aiding determination of OSA includes the following steps. The medical image is obtained. An upper airway model is established. A narrowest cross-section and a nasopharyngeal boundary cross-section are defined in the airway model. A cross-sectional area of the narrowest cross-section and a cross-sectional area of the nasopharyngeal boundary cross-section are calculated. A stenosis rate is calculated according to the cross-sectional area of the narrowest cross-section and the cross-sectional area of the nasopharyngeal boundary cross-section. The stenosis rate is provided. In addition, in the method for aiding determination of OSA, a respiratory flow field simulation may be further performed to obtain and provide a flow field pressure distribution of the upper airway model. |
| US08929622B2 |
Method and apparatus for in vitro analysis of the physical response of blood-vessels to vaso-active agents
A method includes determining, with a computing device, one or more of a hue value, a saturation value, and an intensity value of a pixel in a region of interest of an image of a blood vessel sample. A physical response of the blood vessel sample to a vaso-active agent is determined based at least in part on one or more of the hue value, the saturation value, and the intensity value. |
| US08929620B2 |
Method and apparatus for simultaneous acquisition of multiple examination data
Disclosed is an image acquisition workstation including a multiple examination mode. In the multiple examination mode, a user selects an anatomical view or procedure prior to acquiring data. When the image data is acquired, the acquired data is stored in a data structure related to the selected procedure or anatomical view. As the user selects a procedure or anatomical view prior to each data acquisition, the image acquisitions can be acquired in any order. |
| US08929618B2 |
Fake-finger determination device
Fingerprint images that are required for fake-finger determination can be acquired with a single input operation, and the user-friendliness and the determination accuracy of a fake-finger are improved. This device has moving means for moving a sensor surface, on which a finger as a determination object is placed, relatively to the finger, sensing means for acquiring fingerprint images of the finger before and after the sensor surface is moved, derivation means for obtaining a deformation level of the fingerprint before and after the sensor surface is moved based on two types of fingerprint images obtained by the sensing means, storage means for storing a deformation threshold related to the deformation level of the fingerprint to determine whether the finger on the sensor surface is a real finger or a fake-finger, and determination means for determining whether the finger placed on the sensor surface is a real finger or a fake-finger based on comparison results of the deformation level of the fingerprint obtained by the derivation means and the deformation threshold. |
| US08929608B2 |
Device and method for recognizing three-dimensional position and orientation of article
A recognition device and method capable of recognizing 3D position and orientation of an article at low calculation cost. A 2D image of a region, where articles are randomly located, is obtained by a camera, and 3D information of generally the same region is obtained by a range sensor. A space, where an article to be taken out is considered to exist, is roughly limited. Based on the limited space, a search condition for searching the article by 2D image processing is set, and 2D positional information on the image of the article is obtained. Then, 3D point data used to recognize the 3D position and orientation of the article is selected, and a view line in the 3D space, extending from the camera to the article, is calculated, whereby the 3D position and orientation of the article is calculated. |
| US08929606B2 |
Vehicle identification based on an image
A machine may be configured as a vehicle identification machine to identify a model of a vehicle based on an image that depicts a dashboard of the vehicle. As configured, the machine may receive an image of the dashboard, where the image depicts a layout of instrumentation within the dashboard. The machine may identify the layout of instrumentation by processing the image. For example, the machine may process the image by determining a position of an instrument within the layout of instrumentation, determining an outline of instrument, or both. The machine may access a data record that correlates a model of the vehicle with the identified layout of instrumentation and, based on the data record, identify the model of the vehicle. The machine may then provide a notification that references the vehicle, references the identified model of the vehicle, or references both. |
| US08929605B2 |
Image processing method and image processing apparatus for generating vehicular image
An image processing method for generating a vehicular image includes the following steps: providing a first image, wherein the first image has a first specific region, and pixel data of each pixel in the first specific region is converted to a predetermined value; providing a second image, and overlapping the first image and the second image to form an overlapping region; comparing the predetermined value with pixel data of each pixel in the first image overlapped on the second image to generate a comparison result; and determining whether pixel data of each pixel in the overlapping region is pixel data of the first image or pixel data of the second image according to the comparison result, and accordingly generating the vehicular image. |
| US08929604B2 |
Vision system and method of analyzing an image
A vision system comprises a camera that captures an image and a processor coupled to process the received image to determine at least one feature descriptor for the image. The processor includes an interface to access annotated map data that includes geo-referenced feature descriptors. The processor is configured to perform a matching procedure between the at least one feature descriptor determined for the at least one image and the retrieved geo-referenced feature descriptors. |
| US08929603B1 |
Autonomous lock-on target tracking with geospatial-aware PTZ cameras
An autonomous lock-on target tracking system and method with geospatial-aware PTZ cameras includes a camera imaging a terrain space. The camera acquires images, and first and second images are aligned. A frame-differencing operation produces a resultant image including blobs corresponding to elements in the terrain space. One of the blobs is classified as an object and tracked as a target. The target is tracked by determining the distance between a centroid of the target and a center of a field of view of the camera, and instructing the camera to move through the distance. The distance is continually updated as the camera and the target move. |
| US08929597B2 |
Method of tracking objects
A method of object tracking is provided with creating areas of a tracking object and a non-tracking object respectively; determining a state of the tracking object and the non-tracking object is separation, proximity, or overlap; creating at least one separation template image of a separation area of the tracking object and/or the non-tracking object if the tracking object is proximate the non-tracking object; fetching all feature points of an overlapping area of the tracking object and the non-tracking object if the tracking object and the non-tracking object overlap; performing a match on each of the feature points and the separation template image so as to calculate a corresponding matching error score respectively; and comparing the matching error score of each feature point with that of the separation template image so as to determine whether the feature points belong to the tracking object or the non-tracking object. |
| US08929592B2 |
Camera-based 3D climate control
A climate control unit is controlled by constructing background and foreground models of an environment from images acquired of the environment by a camera. The background model represents the environment when unoccupied, and there is one foreground model for each person in the environment. A 2D location of each person in the environment is determined using the background and foreground models. A 3D location of each person is determined using the 2D locations and inferences made from the images. The controlling of the climate control unit is according to the 3D locations. |
| US08929586B2 |
System and method for detecting potential property insurance fraud
A system and method for assessing a condition of property for insurance purposes includes a sensor for acquiring a spectral image. In a preferred embodiment, the spectral image is post-processed to generate at least one spectral radiance plot, the plot used as input to a radiative transfer computer model. The output of the model establishes a spectral signature for the property. Over a period of time, spectral signatures can be compared to generate a spectral difference, the spectral difference can be used to determine whether a change in the condition of the property was potentially fraudulently caused. |
| US08929585B2 |
Hazard detection for asset management
An approach that detects locations of hazardous conditions within an infrastructure is provided. This approach uses satellite imagery, GIS data, automatic image processing, and predictive modeling to determine the location of the hazards automatically, thus optimizing infrastructure management. Specifically, a hazard detection tool provides this capability. The hazard detection tool comprises a detection component configured to: receive visual media containing asset location data about a set of physical assets, and hazard location data about potential hazards within a vicinity of each of the set of physical assets. The detection component further receives graphical information system (GIS) data containing asset location data about each of the set of physical assets. The hazard detection tool further comprises an analysis component configured to: analyze the visual media to determine if a hazardous condition exists for each of the set of physical assets; and apply the GIS data to the visual media to determine a location of hazardous conditions within the infrastructure. |
| US08929584B2 |
Component having a micromechanical microphone structure
Measures for dynamically regulating the microphone sensitivity of a MEMS microphone component at low frequencies by way of variable roll-off behavior are proposed. The micromechanical microphone structure of the component, which is implemented in a layer structure on a semiconductor substrate, encompasses an acoustically active diaphragm having leakage openings which spans a sound opening in the substrate back side, and a stationary acoustically permeable counterelement having through openings which is disposed in the layer structure above/below the diaphragm. The component furthermore encompasses a capacitor assemblage for signal sensing, having at least one deflectable electrode on the diaphragm and at least one stationary electrode on the counterelement, and an arrangement for implementing a relative motion between the diaphragm and counterelement parallel to the layer planes. |
| US08929582B2 |
Earpiece positioning and retaining
A positioning and retaining structure for an in-ear earpiece. An outer leg and an inner leg are attached to each other at an attachment end and attached to a body of the earpiece at the other end. The outer leg lies in a plane. The positioning and retaining structure have a stiffness that is greater when force is applied to the attachment end in a counterclockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg than when force is applied to the attachment end in a clockwise direction in the plane of the outer leg. The positioning and retaining structure position an earpiece associated with the earpiece in a users ear and retains the earpiece in its position. |
| US08929580B2 |
Sound generation system, sound recording system, sound generation method, sound recording method, sound adjusting method, sound adjusting program, sound field adjusting system, speaker stand, furniture, speaker cabinet, and speaker device
Provided are a sound generation system and a sound recording system, which are placed in a room to adjust sound. A columnar body is disposed around a sound source to adjust how much sound of a low-tone range, as well as of a middle- and high-tone range, is absorbed and diffused. Moreover, a columnar body is disposed around a recording device to adjust how much sound of a low-tone range, as well as of a middle- and high-tone range, is absorbed and diffused. The columnar bodies may be made of a combination of different diameters and/or lengths. The arrangement distances may be random. With the columnar body disposed at the most appropriate location, it is possible to adjust sound in a wide band. |
| US08929577B2 |
Bone conduction device including a balanced electromagnetic actuator having radial and axial air gaps
A bone conduction device configured to couple to an abutment of an anchor system anchored to a recipient's skull. The bone conduction device includes a vibrating electromagnetic actuator configured to vibrate in response to sound signals received by the bone conduction device, and a coupling apparatus configured to attach the bone conduction device to the abutment so as to impart to the recipient's skull vibrations generated by the vibrating electromagnetic actuator. The vibrating electromagnetic actuator includes a bobbin assembly and a counterweight assembly. Two axial air gaps are located between the bobbin assembly and the counterweight assembly and two radial air gaps are located between the bobbin assembly and the counterweight assembly. No substantial amount of the dynamic magnetic flux passes through the radial air gaps. |
| US08929572B2 |
Method and apparatus for expanding listening sweet spot
A method and apparatus of expanding a listening sweet spot. A method of expanding a listening sweet spot with respect to signals output from speakers includes: obtaining an HRTF (head related transfer function) at a position of a listener's ear; moving a first virtual ear around the position of the listener's ear; obtaining an HRTF at each position of the first virtual ear; and processing a signal to be input to the speakers using the obtained HRTFs to output to the speakers. |
| US08929571B2 |
Method for creating an audio environment having N speakers
Method for creating an audio environment having N speakers HPi, i=1 . . . N fed by N signals Si, i=1 . . . N generated from M theoretical signals STj, j=1 . . . M provided to feed M theoretical speakers HPTj, j=1 . . . M , wherein: position information is determined relating to the N speakers HPi, i=1 . . . N and a listening point, the two theoretical speakers HPTj and HPTj+1 which would be angularly closest to a speaker HPi, the signal Si is determined according to the following equation: Si=Gi[STj(GpijGeij)+STj+1(Gpi(j+1)Gei(j+1))]e−iωτi wherein: Gpij and Gpi(j+1) are panning gains, Geij and Gei(j+1) are balancing gains Gi and i are a positioning gain and delay, respectively, which enable the speakers HPi, i=1 . . . N to be virtually repositioned in terms of distance so that all sounds intended to simultaneously arrive at the listening point according to the encoding format actually arrive therein simultaneously, irrespective of the remoteness of the speakers relative to the listening point. |