最新美国发明专利第2015-03-03期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US08973161B2	Method and apparatus for nanomechanical measurement using an atomic force microscope A control-based approach is provided for achieving accurate indentation quantification in broadband and in-liquid nanomechanical property measurements using atomic force microscope (AFM). Accurate indentation measurement is desirable for probe-based material property characterization because the force applied and the indentation generated are the fundamental physical variables that are measured in the characterization process. Large measurement errors, however, occur when the measurement frequency range becomes large (i.e., broadband), or the indentation is measured in liquid on soft materials. Such large measurement errors are generated due to the inability of the conventional method to account for the convolution of the instrument dynamics with the viscoelastic response of the soft sample when the measurement frequency becomes large, and the random-like thermal drift and the distributive hydrodynamic force effects when measuring the indentation in liquid.
US08973152B2	Apparatus and method for guaranteeing integrity of real-time vehicle data and vehicle black box system using the same A vehicle black box technique guarantees the integrity of vehicle data stored in a black box in real time by forming input data streams as block data and performing a signature using a signing key and nested hashing. Each vehicle black box includes a reliable unique signing key supporting a non-repudiation function. An error correction function is provided by a unique algorithm for generating integrity verification data even when an error occurs from the vehicle data.
US08973150B2	Methods and apparatus to mitigate a denial-of-service attack in a voice over internet protocol network Methods and apparatus to mitigate a Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack in a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) network are disclosed. An example method comprises receiving a communication session initiation message from a communication session endpoint, determining whether the communication session endpoint is associated with a probable DoS attack, and sending to the communication session endpoint a communication session initiation response message comprising a DoS header when the communication session endpoint is associated with the probable DoS attack.
US08973144B2	System and method for kernel rootkit protection in a hypervisor environment A method includes creating a soft whitelist having an entry corresponding to a first guest kernel page in a guest operating system (OS) in a hypervisor environment including a hypervisor. The method also includes receiving an access attempt to a second guest kernel page, and generating a page fault when the access attempt is made to the second guest kernel page. In addition, the method includes determining that the second guest kernel page does not correspond to the entry in the soft whitelist, and denying an execution of the second guest kernel page if the second guest kernel page does not correspond to the entry in the soft whitelist.
US08973142B2	Compromised insider honey pots using reverse honey tokens According to one embodiment, a method for setting a trap to detect that an intruder has compromised a client end station (CES) in an attempt to gain unauthorized access to enterprise data provided by a server is described. The method includes causing a honey token to be placed on the CES secluded within a configuration repository, wherein the honey token is metadata and/or instructions indicating how applications can seemingly access the enterprise data but that is actually invalid, and the honey token is placed on the CES and not on the server. The method also includes causing attribute values to be installed on a security gateway for a security rule causing the security gateway to monitor network traffic for attempted use of the honey token, and to generate an alert when a set of one or more packets that include the honey token are received.
US08973141B2	Universal actor correlator Precorrelation of data applied to use cases by a module intermediate to the data and use cases provides normalized data across multiple sources for more effective analysis. For example, network sensors provide network telemetry to a precorrelation core, which extracts and normalizes the data to correlate actors to events. Universal actor correlation improves visualizations by creating a mesh of events tied to each other through a common actor.
US08973140B2	Handling information security incidents Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for handling information security incidents are presented. In some embodiments, a computing device may receive information indicating that a network address is associated with an information security incident. Subsequently, the computing device may monitor activity associated with the network address. Based on the monitoring, the computing device may determine whether the network address represents an information security threat. In response to determining that the network address represents an information security threat, the computing device may cause one or more remediation actions to be performed. In some arrangements, the information security incident may be a denial of service attack. In additional or alternative arrangements, the network address may be located in a particular net block, and the computing device may evaluate one or more remediation criteria, which may include analyzing network activity for one or more other addresses that are located within the net block.
US08973138B2	Secure layered iterative gateway In methods and a device for mitigating against cyber-attack on a network, a distributed intermediary device is placed into a network between computers or network nodes of the network to mitigate cyber-attacks between the computers or nodes of a network from remote systems. Threats are assessed by utilizing internal information assurance mechanisms of the device to detect such cyber-attacks without requiring external modification of the software and/or hardware of the computers or nodes of the network to be protected. The device prevents attacks at the platform level against the OS and network resources.
US08973137B1	Systems and methods for detecting illegitimate out-of-band authentication attempts A computer-implemented method for detecting illegitimate out-of-band authentication attempts may include 1) identifying a text message that includes a confirmation code for an out-of-band authentication procedure, 2) detecting an attempt to access the text message, 3) determining that the attempt to access the text message was configured to avoid user participation, and 4) performing, in response to determining that the attempt to access the text message was configured to avoid user participation, a remediation action that addresses an illegitimate out-of-band authentication attempt that includes the attempt to access the text message. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08973135B2	Selectively scanning objects for infection by malware Techniques are described herein that are capable of selectively scanning objects for infection by malware (i.e., to determine whether one or more of the objects are infected by malware). For instance, metadata that is associated with the objects may be reviewed to determine whether update(s) have been made with regard to the objects since a determination was made that the objects were not infected by malware. An update may involve increasing a number of the objects, modifying one of the objects, etc. Objects that have been updated (e.g., added and/or modified) since the determination may be scanned. Objects that have not been updated since the determination need not necessarily be scanned. For instance, an allowance may be made to perform operations with respect to the objects that have not been updated since the determination without first scanning the objects for infection by malware.
US08973134B2	Software vulnerability notification via icon decorations A computer identifies computer software applications installed on a computer. The computer sends an electronic request to a program on a server computer that extracts information about the computer software applications identified having a vulnerability. The computer receives the information that is extracted. The computer generates an icon decoration for the vulnerability, wherein the icon decoration readily displays the level of risk associated to the vulnerability and information about a security update for the vulnerability. The computer adds the icon decoration onto each icon of the one of the computer software applications identified and each icon of electronic documents associated to the one of the computer software applications identified.
US08973132B2	Automated security analytics platform with pluggable data collection and analysis modules Pluggable network security modules provide a collaborative response across plural networks by allowing modules associated with detection and neutralization of a network security threat to plug into a network security platform of other networks. Plugging the security modules in provides an automated insertion of detection and neutralization tools into the network security platform to respond to potential threats based upon proven successful responses at other networks.
US08973131B2	Refinement-based security analysis A method, computer program product, and computer system for assigning, by a computing device, a value to a first data-flow of a first summary associated with a control flow graph and assigning the value to a second data-flow of a second summary associated with the control flow graph. The first data-flow with the value is identified to flow into a type of sink. The second data-flow with the value is identified not to flow into the type of sink. The first summary of a behavior of the first data-flow is refined in response to identifying that the first data-flow does flow into the type of sink. Refinement of the second summary of a behavior of the second data-flow is skipped in response to identifying that the second data-flow does not flow into the type of sink.
US08973130B2	Device and method for providing SOC-based anti-malware service, and interface method A device in which a system-on-chip (SOC) providing an anti-malware service is mounted and a method of performing the anti-malware service are provided. The device includes: a storage unit which stores a function library which is a collection of operations provided for use in the SOC providing the anti-malware service; and a scanning data sender which forms SOC transmission data with data to be scanned for viruses by calling at least one of the operations, and transmits the SOC transmission data to the SOC. Accordingly, a mobile device scans files for viruses and filters packets at a high speed.
US08973128B2	Search result presentation A data presentation system for a search engine may use classified or tagged elements in a resulting document to create a search result document that has portions redacted, modified, or changed based on the tags or classifications of elements within the document. The document may be rebuilt from the search engine database at presentation time with one or more elements changed or modified. The permission settings for a user or other factors may be used to determine which elements within the document are permitted to be accessed.
US08973125B2	Application layer authentication in packet networks In a communication network, assume a first computing device is an end user device, a second computing device is a gateway server, and a third computing device is an application server. A method comprises the following steps. The second computing device authenticates one or more packets received from the first computing device. The second computing device marks the one or more packets with a first-layer identity before routing the one or more packets toward the third computing device such that the third computing device is able to authenticate the one or more packets from the first computing device by confirming an association between the first-layer identity and a second-layer identity. For example, the first-layer identity may comprise a link layer identity assigned to the first computing device and the second-layer identity may comprise an application layer identity assigned to the first computing device.
US08973123B2	Multifactor authentication Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to identity technology. In aspects, a user device requests access to a service provided by a relying party. In response, the relying party indicates required claims and may also indicate claims providers from which the required claims may be obtained. The user device may obtain the required claims from different claims providers, and send the claims obtained from the different claims providers in one or more messages to the relying party. The relying party may verify the claims or employ a validating service to verify that the claims are valid prior to providing access to the requested service.
US08973121B2	Method and system for visiting a third party application via a cloud platform A system and a method for visiting a third party application through a cloud platform are disclosed. The method includes: receiving a cloud platform account and cloud platform password information inputted by a user; searching a stored binding information mapping table according to a third party application selected by the user to obtain the third party application and obtain access information not comprising cleartext password corresponding to the cloud platform account information, and transmitting the access information to the third party application server; and receiving authentication succeed information returned by the third party application server. According to the present disclosure, complexity of user's operations may be reduced when the user logs on frequently and security level of the user for visiting the third party application may be improved.
US08973120B2	System and method for receiving requests for tasks from unregistered devices Embodiments of a system and method for receiving task requests from unregistered devices are described. Embodiments may include a communication interface service configured to receive from a communication device a message indicative of a request to perform a task. The communication interface service may determine that the communication device is not registered with an existing account that provides information for performing said task. The communication interface service may obtain identification and authentication information for an existing account via a communication channel. The existing account may be an account for that is accessible via a network-based interface. The communication channel through which the identification and authentication information is received by the communication interface service may be any communication channel that does not include the network-based interface of the existing account. Additionally, the communication interface service may use the identification and authentication information for performance of the task using the existing account.
US08973119B2	Secure method to exchange digital content between a scanning appliance and SMS-enabled device A method and apparatus for exchanging digital content between a scanning appliance and a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises: transferring digital content via a network to a remotely accessible data storage server, the digital content being generated from a document; receiving, in response to user input via a first graphical user interface, a phone number; sending a first text message to a first device after validating the phone number, the first text message including a code; receiving, in response to user input via a second graphical user interface, the code being input by a user; sending a second text message to the first device, the second text message including an address of the digital content in the network; monitoring whether the digital content has been accessed; receiving a request for the digital content from the first device, the request including the address retrieved from the second text message; and sending, in response to the request, the digital content and an indication of a type of the digital content to the first device, the type information for use by a browser in determining software on the first device capable of rendering the digital content on a display of the first device.
US08973116B2	Pattern entropy password strength estimator A password evaluation system is provided for determining the password strength of a password. A password is provided for evaluation. The password is parsed and substrings are identified from the password. Each substring is associated with a pattern that can generate the substring. The substrings are scored to determine a substring strength measure for the substring. The substrings are combined to identify non-overlapping substring combinations, which together make up the password. The combinations are assigned a combination strength score based in part on the substring strength of the substrings contained in the substring combinations. The substring combination with the lowest combination strength measure is identified and the associated combination strength measure is used as the password strength measure for the password.
US08973115B2	System and method for assembling and analyzing a candidate application for a credential An automated system and method for assembling and analyzing a candidate application to determine a type of credential in a professional credentialing area for the candidate is provided. The automated system may facilitate the receipt of application materials from various sources and may enable review and appraisal of the application by multiple parties. The application may be tailored to a specific type of requested credential.
US08973114B2	One time password authentication of websites A method including generating a first and second One Time Password (OTP) token from a shared clock, receiving a third OTP token, and comparing the second and the third OTP tokens. A system including a number generator residing on a first server to generate first and second One Time Password (OTP) tokens from a shared clock, a transmitter residing on the first server to transmit the first and the second OTP tokens, a receiver residing on a second server to receive the first, the second, and a third OTP tokens, and a comparator residing on the second server to compare the second and the third OTP tokens to authenticate an identity of a party who generates the third OTP token.
US08973112B2	System and method for providing a normalized security list A system and method for providing a normalized security list including a first module configured to generate a first normalized security list of user identifications within a network and a second module configured to generate a second normalized security list of user identifications within the network. The system and method may also include an equalizer module configured to compare the first normalized security list with the second normalized security list, equalize the first normalized security list based on the second normalized security list, and equalize the second normalized security list based on the first security list. The system and method may also include a processing module configured to perform an audit of user identifications within the network by processing the first equalized normalized security list and the second equalized normalized security list and generating audit results based on the processing.
US08973111B2	Method and system for securing electronic transactions A method for secure electronic transaction over a computer network, comprising: at a trusted relationship profile server computer: storing a unique identity of a trusted computing unit; generating a confirmation message regarding the unique identity of the trusted computing unit in response to a request from the trusted computing unit; at a security proxy server computer: storing real credentials and local credentials of a customer in a secure vault; receiving the confirmation message and permitting a login process to be performed with the security proxy server using the local credentials, provided the confirmation message is valid; and replacing the local credentials submitted in the login process with the real credentials. A corresponding system for secure electronic transactions is also provided.
US08973107B2	Method and apparatus for securing keystrokes from being intercepted between the keyboard and a browser The invention described herein provides a method and system for foiling a keylogger by creating a custom keyboard driver and passing the keystrokes directly to the browser in an encrypted format. The browser (which is used to access the Internet) has a component that decrypts the keystroke before it is sent to the website. Thus the present invention enables the user to go to any website and enter sensitive information (passwords, credit card numbers, etc.) without the keystrokes being intercepted by Keyloggers.In general terms, the invention described herein provides a method and system for (1) modifying the keyboard driver, (2) encrypting the keystrokes between the keyboard driver and the browser, and (3) notifying the user if the invention has been compromised.
US08973100B2	Trust-based authentication in a social networking system A social networking system determines whether a user is a real public figure or is the correct “public persona” of an individual who is famous within a particular domain. The system selects one or more trusted agents. A trusted agent is a user who has been confirmed or is otherwise trusted within the system. The system traverses the social graph of the trusted agent to score and identify additional users who have a sufficient connection to the trusted agent to authenticate them as other confirmed public personas/figures. The system computes confidence scores of the connections of the trusted agent, considering the strength of the connections and other relevant factors. The system provides confidence scores for one or more target users in the social network based on the confidence scores of the friends or connections connecting the trusted agent and the target user.
US08973096B1	Fraud detection in adaptive authentication systems There is disclosed some techniques for processing an authentication request which includes a user identifier and current user data. In one example, the technique comprises receiving the authentication request at an adaptive authentication system which includes a database having a set of entries with each entry of the set of entries including an identifier and previous user data in connection with previous authentication requests. The adaptive authentication system constructed and arranged to perform an adaptive authentication operation on the authentication request as well as an unsupervised machine learning operation on the authentication request.
US08973095B2	Authenticating a user of a system via an authentication image mechanism In an embodiment, the present invention includes a method for receiving a request for user authentication of a system, displaying an authentication image on a display of the system using a set of random coordinates, receiving a plurality of gesture input values from the user, and determining whether to authenticate the user based at least in part on the plurality of gesture input values. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08973089B2	Secure socket policy files for establishing secure socket connections Exemplary embodiments involve a computing system requesting and receiving a socket policy file from a policy file server via a secure socket connection, identifying that the security policy requires communicating with a content server via a secure socket connection, and communicating with the content server via a second secure socket connection. The socket policy file specifies a security policy governing socket connections to a content server over a transport protocol layer. Additional embodiments involve requesting a socket policy file via a non-secure socket connection, receiving (via the non-secure socket connection) a placeholder socket policy file requiring requests for socket policy files to be communicated via a secure socket connection, establishing a secure socket connection with the policy file server, and submitting a request for the socket policy file to the policy file server via the secure socket connection.
US08973086B2	Mobile equipment having television function, method of storing information of television program, and program of storing the same A mobile equipment having television function, which renders a user to watch a television program, characterized in that said mobile equipment comprises: a data storing section for storing image data and voice data transmitted through digital broadcast wave; and a display control section for conducting a display with a predetermined timing for confirming whether said user hopes to watch the television continuously or said user hopes that the television program being watched is stored, in a case that start of an application program preventing said user from continuing to watch said television program is indicated by said user.
US08973083B2	Phantom gaming in broadcast media system and method This invention provides a system and method of integrating video games into live sporting events, or the converse, in an interactive way. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a viewer watching a broadcast sporting event can elect to become a “phantom participant” in an event. At one or more designated points in the event (e.g., a golf tournament), the viewer's set-top box will switch from feeding the broadcast event to the viewer's television screen to feeding a stream from a video game unit to the same television screen. The video game unit is configured to receive information from the broadcast feed that includes information such as, but not limited to, the event location, the hole being played (in the golf example), the participants, and statistics related to the performance of the participants. This information may be used by the video game unit to present the viewer with the opportunity to “virtually” compete with the participants in the broadcast event.
US08973081B2	Content receiver and content information output method In a receiver for downloading video content including 3D video and outputting the downloaded video content to a removable medium, information concerning 3D video is made usable also by the removable medium.A content receiver includes a download control unit for receiving, via a network, video content and reproduction control information for use in reproducing and outputting, to outside, the video content and an output control unit for exporting the received video content to an external medium. In the content receiver, when outputting the video content to an external medium, the output control unit records, based on first 3D video information delivered being included in the reproduction control information and indicating a state of 3D video existence in the video content, second 3D video information indicating whether the video content includes 3D video in management information of the external medium for recording the video content.
US08973079B2	System and method to manage a content stream A method of managing bandwidth usage at a customer premises includes receiving a content stream at a set-top box device coupled to a display device. The method also includes receiving a signal at the set-top box device from an external power interface. The signal indicates that a low power state has been detected at a power outlet of the external power interface, the power outlet associated with the display device. Further, the method includes sending a signal to a source of the content stream in response to receiving the signal indicating the low power state. The signal indicates that the source is to cease sending the content stream to the set-top box device.
US08973068B2	Video on demand delivery optimization over combined satellite and wireless broadband networks Video content may be delivered in a wireless network based on network load information relating to radio interfaces for the wireless network. A method may include receiving a request, from a set-top box, for video content from the set-top box to the wireless network and determining, based on the load information, whether a portion of the wireless network corresponding to the set-top box is in a first state or a second state. The network may further include transmitting the video content when the portion of the network corresponding to the set-top box is in the first state and delaying transmission of the video content when the portion of the network corresponding to the set-top box is in the second state, until the portion of the network corresponding to the set-top box enters the first state.
US08973066B2	Media content delivery A server can receive information identifying media content to be offered to users at a discount or at a particular time of release. The offer can also include information identifying a minimum number of acceptances by users needed for the offer to be valid. During a predetermined period, if the number of acceptances has reached or exceeded the minimum number needed, the server may transmit a media stream containing the media content to the users. Furthermore, the offer may include multiple tiers of discounts and/or times of release.
US08973065B2	IPTV off-path admission control signaling in the presence of network address translation Off-path admission control signaling in the presence of a network address translation (NAT) device may be provided. In response to a request for a content asset, a placeholder classifier may be created. The placeholder classifier may be used to allocate resources for providing the content asset to the client from a content server. The content server may communicate with the client, traversing the NAT device to identify a destination address and port for the client to which the content will be provided. The placeholder classifier may then be updated with the destination address and port.
US08973064B2	Parallel television based media recording A control device that interacts with a television system. The control device may receive a user input identifying a video selection. At least one module of the control device may display video information corresponding to the video selection. The control device may alternately, or in addition, cause display of the video information on a television system. The control device may respond to a second user input identifying a storage selection by triggering storage of the video information in a storage unit corresponding to the storage selection. The control device may also receive a third user input identifying a replay request for other video information that may be selected from a plurality of stored videos. The control device may direct display of the other video information on the television system and/or on a display of the control device.
US08973062B2	Multimode physical layer module for supporting delivery of high-speed data services in home multimedia networks A multimode physical (MMP) layer circuit for physical (PHY) layer handling of signals transported over a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) cable in a home multimedia network, wherein the signals are compliant with at least two different PHY layer modes. The MMP layer circuits comprises a plurality of PHY transceivers respectively coupled to a plurality of TP channels of the HDMI cable through a HDMI connector, wherein each PHY transceiver of the plurality of PHY transceivers handles signals transported over its respective TP channel according to a PHY layer mode of the transported signals; and a controller is coupled to the HDMI connector and to each of the plurality of PHY transceivers, the controller recognizes the PHY layer mode of signals transported over each of the plurality of TP channels and sets each of the plurality of PHY transceivers according to the recognized PHY layer mode.
US08973055B2	Differentiated PSIP table update interval technology An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.
US08973054B2	Differentiated PSIP table update interval technology An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.
US08973052B2	Differentiated PSIP table update interval technology An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.
US08973051B2	Navigation method and system to provide a navigation interface A communication device includes a memory storing computer instructions and a processor coupled to the memory to execute the computer instructions to provide a graphical user interface at a display coupled to the communication device. The graphical user interface includes a visual navigation trail having a selectable category. The memory also includes instructions executable by the processor to receive a signal at the communication device indicating a selection of the selectable category. Further, the memory includes instructions executable by the processor to cause the graphical user interface to display, in response to the signal, a menu including the selectable category and a peer category related to the selectable category. The menu automatically becomes navigable via directional keys at a remote control device when the menu is displayed.
US08973050B2	Free-wheel system A method including receiving a request to start recording a sequence of navigational inputs to be received by a user device; storing each navigational input of the sequence when each navigational input is received; receiving a request to stop recording the sequence of navigational inputs; stopping the recording of the sequence of navigational inputs; receiving an assignment of a trigger to invoke an execution of the recorded sequence of navigational inputs; storing the assignment of the trigger; identifying when the trigger is received or occurs; and executing the recorded sequence of navigational inputs on the user device based on the identifying.
US08973049B2	Content recommendations Content recommendations may be provided. First, in response to a received input and concurrent with a shrunken programming content, a media guide may be displayed. The media guide may comprise a first card, a second card, and a third card. The first card may comprise a plurality of recommendation types. The second card may comprise a plurality of subcategories corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of recommendation types. The third card may comprise a plurality of content program names corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of subcategories. The plurality of content program names may be in an order. Next, in response to a selection of a one of the plurality of content program names, an action card maybe displayed. Then a selected one of the plurality of actions may be executed.
US08973046B2	Method and apparatus for creating dynamic webpages in a media communication system A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet Protocol Television system having a controller to create a template defining a format of presentation of an webpage or HTML page using an iTV or IPTV application system, receive a request for the page from a subscriber of the iTV or IPTV system. The system can access application system subscriber data for the subscriber and a presentation of the page is dynamically adapted according to the application system subscriber data. In one alternative at, the page can be dynamically adapted by changing in content or by changing a look and feel of an HTML page or webpage. In another alternative, the webpage or HTML page can be dynamically adapted by modifying graphic user interface elements based on the application system subscriber data. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08973045B2	System and method for creating hierarchical multimedia programming favorites A hierarchical indexing system, which includes a plurality of indexing servers and a search agent. The plurality of indexing servers are configured to index electronic programming guide data. The search agent is in communication with the plurality of indexing servers. The search agent is configured to receive a request to display multimedia programs associated with multimedia programs frequently being accessed by a device, to search the indexed electronic programming guide data for multimedia programs associated with the frequently accessed multimedia programs, and to output a favorites list of multimedia programs based on the indexed electronic programming guide data and the frequently accessed multimedia programs.
US08973044B2	Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor, a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
US08973041B2	Information descriptor and extended information descriptor data structures for digital television signals According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor, a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
US08973039B2	System and method for providing fast channel surfing A system and method for enabling television watchers to “channel surf” faster and reduce the amount of bandwidth used over a network to communicate television channels to end-users. Electronic programming guide information and images associated therewith may be communicated to an end-user. An image associated with a video program may be displayed on an electronic display (e.g., television) in response to an end-user selecting a channel prior to video programming being displayed. By displaying an image prior to the video programming, the end-user may determine whether he or she wants to watch the video program prior to the video programming being displayed, which improves the speed of “channel surfing.” Because end-users can view the image when selecting a channel, a network can be configured to distribute the channels that are currently being watched rather than distributing many on a continuous basis, thereby preserving bandwidth.
US08973036B2	Mapping mobile device electronic program guide to content A user computing device, such as mobile device, is provided with an electronic program guide (EPG). The EPG lists video content that is available or being broadcast on one or more websites. The video content may be considered to be premium content or user content. Premium content may be video content that is available from the website of a commercial broadcaster. Premium content may be generated by the commercial broadcaster. User content may be video content that has been generated and provided to websites for viewing and sharing by users such as members of the websites. An EPG may display listings of both user content and premium content.
US08973033B2	Broadcasting system and method of providing a personalized broadcasting service in the same A broadcasting system where user's participation is allowed, additional information personalized for each of users/local areas/time is inserted into an AV and the AV including the additional information provides a user and a method of providing a personalized broadcasting service in the same are disclosed. The method of providing a personalized broadcasting service in a broadcasting system includes inserting additional information registered by a first user into an AV, and displaying the AV into which the additional information is inserted for a second user.
US08973030B2	Process for providing targeted user content blended with a media stream In accordance with one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided for inserting spot content into a media stream. The method includes receiving, at a client system, a media stream that includes one or more media content units and at least one spot marker. The at least one spot marker designates a spot location for inserting one or more spot content units and includes a category of a media content unit. The method further includes detecting the at least one spot marker in the received stream, and selecting at least one spot content unit based on the category of the media content unit. In response to the detection, the selected at least one spot content unit is inserted into the stream at the spot location, thereby generating a stream including the one or more media content units and the selected spot content unit.
US08973029B2	Backpropagating a virtual camera to prevent delayed virtual insertion A method for video insertion using backpropagation may include determining a first camera model from a first frame of the sequence. The method may also include determining a transition location. The method may further include generating a transform model based on an analysis of the first frame and a second frame that occurs earlier in the video sequence and applying the transform model to the first camera model to generate a second camera model for the second frame. The method then includes inserting an insertion into one or more frames earlier in the sequence between the second frame and the transition location based on the second camera model, wherein the inserting is performed before displaying the frames. A system for video insertion using backpropagation includes search, transition, track and insertion subsystems.
US08973028B2	Information storage medium storing metadata and method of providing additional contents, and digital broadcast reception apparatus Disclosed are an information storage medium storing metadata for providing additional content during a broadcast program, the metadata including information indicating whether to insert second additional content instead of first additional content, which is underlying additional content of the broadcast program, and a locator of the second additional content, a method of providing additional content by using the same, and a digital broadcast reception apparatus.
US08973027B2	Secure distribution of video on-demand An interactive information distribution system for providing secure distribution of video-on-demand content. The interactive information distribution system includes at least one programming source for storing at least one partially encrypted video program, and a distribution center including a remote server. The remote server stores the at least one partially encrypted video program received from the at least one programming source. The remote server also processes the partially encrypted video program corresponding to a subscriber requested video program to produce a fully encrypted video program. A subscriber-side distribution network, coupled to the distribution center, causes transmission of the fully encrypted video program to the requesting subscriber.
US08973025B2	Method and system for providing security within multiple set-top boxes assigned for a single customer Two or more set-top boxes are installed in a household. A communications link, preferably a physical link, is provided between or among the set-top boxes. One of the boxes is designated as a “master” box while the other box or boxes are “slaves.” The slave box will use the communications link to communicate in a secured and encrypted manner with the master box. If that communication is severed, e.g., if an attempt is made to move the slave box to another household to provide unauthorized service in that household, the slave box will stop working when it can no longer communicate with the master box.
US08973024B2	Video control apparatus and control method for video control apparatus Whether or not HDCP authentication is necessary is determined and managed for each device connected to an HDMI port. In selector control, when switching to an HDMI port to which is connected a video signal output apparatus that requires HDCP authentication, DDC access is turned off by setting an HPD signal to Low. Communication is then resumed after a predetermined amount of time has passed by setting the HPD signal to High and thereby turning the DDC access back on. When switching to an HDMI port to which is connected a video signal output apparatus that does not require HDCP authentication, the HPD signal is kept at High, and video and audio data is output without resuming the DDC access.
US08973018B2	Configuring and relaying events from a storage controller to a host server A mechanism is provided for relaying events from a storage controller to a host server. Responsive to identifying an event occurring within a storage device, a notification is sent to a device server in the host server with which the event is associated. A server virtual disk is identified using a unique identification of the server virtual disk. Responsive to identifying the server virtual disk, at least one device executing an application on the host server is notified of an impending degradation in a mode of operation.
US08973013B2	Composing analytic solutions An approach for composing an analytic solution is provided. After associating descriptive schemas with web services and web-based applets, a set of input data sources is enumerated for selection. A desired output type is received. Based on the descriptive schemas that specify required inputs and outputs of the web services and web-based applets, combinations of web services and web-based applets are generated. The generated combinations achieve a result of the desired output type from one of the enumerated input data sources. Each combination is derived from available web services and web-based applets. The combinations include one or more workflows that provide an analytic solution. A workflow whose result satisfies the business objective may be saved. Steps in a workflow may be iteratively refined to generate a workflow whose result satisfies the business objective.
US08973011B2	Multi-core resource utilization planning Techniques for multi-core resource utilization planning are provided. An agent is deployed on each core of a multi-core machine. The agents cooperate to perform one or more tests. The tests result in measurements for performance and thermal characteristics of each core and each communication fabric between the cores. The measurements are organized in a resource utilization map and the map is used to make decisions regarding core assignments for resources.
US08973006B2	Circuit arrangement for execution planning in a data processing system A circuit arrangement and method for a data processing system for executing a plurality of tasks with a central processing unit having a processing capacity allocated to the processing unit; the circuit arrangement being configured to allocate the processing unit to the specific tasks in a time-staggered manner for processing, so that the tasks are processed in an order to be selected and tasks not having a current processing request are skipped over in the order during the processing; the circuit arrangement including a prioritization order control unit to determine the order in which the tasks are executed; and in response to each selection of a task for processing, the order of the tasks being redetermined and the selection being controlled so that for a number N of tasks, a maximum of N time units elapse until an active task is once more allocated processing capacity by the processing unit.
US08973003B2	Workflow management server and method Even when an error has occurred in a device that is executing an activity, the workflow is continued as much as possible. When an error has occurred in an activity that is in progress in a device X, a server notifies the device X of an alternative device. The name of the alternative device (device Y) is displayed on the device X. The operator can send a job catalog request from the device Y to the server and select an aborted job from the provided job catalog. The server is notified of the selected job. When password authentication has succeeded, the device Y is permitted to continue the activity.
US08973002B1	Business rules batch processor A business rules batch processor is provided that includes a business rules manager that sends a plurality of pending requests to a rules database for processing. A business rules orchestrator receives statuses of the pending requests from the business rules manager. The business rules orchestrator manages the batch processing of the pending requests by assessing the rules database usage and job requirements of the pending requests.
US08973000B2	Determining multiprogramming levels A method of managing the execution of a workload of transactions of different transaction types on a computer system. Each transaction type may have a different resource requirement. The method may include intermittently, during execution of the workload, determining the performance of each transaction type. A determination may be made of whether if there is an overloaded transaction type in which performance is degraded with an increase in the number of transactions of the transaction type. If there is an overloaded transaction type, the number of transactions of at least one transaction type may be changed.
US08972999B2	Method and system for detecting program deadlock The present invention relates to a technology for deadlock detection in a program, and more particularly relates to a technology for detecting deadlock in a program through lock graph analysis. The present invention provides a method for detecting deadlock, comprising: obtaining lock information related to locking operation in a program; generating a first lock graph based on the obtained lock information, wherein each node in the first lock graph comprises a set of locks comprising at least one lock and a set of program locations comprising at least one lock location; extracting a strongly connected sub graph in the first lock graph; unfolding the strongly connected sub graph in the first lock graph to generate a second lock graph, wherein each node in the second lock graph comprises a single lock; and extracting a strongly connected sub graph in the second lock graph, the strongly connected sub graph in the second lock graph indicating a deadlock in the program.
US08972997B2	Work item processing in distributed applications A system for organizing messages related to tasks in a distributed application is disclosed. The system includes a work-list creator to create a work list of the top-level work items to be accomplished in performing a task. Work-item processors are distributed in the system. The work-item processors process the top-level work item included in a task and also append additional work items to the work list. A work-list scheduler invokes the work-item processors so local work-item processors are invoked prior to remote work-item processors.
US08972993B2	Method and system for scheduling computer processes using a common scheduling interface According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for use in scheduling execution of a computer process includes registering a plurality of scheduling engines available to schedule execution of the computer process. The method also includes receiving a request to schedule execution of a particular computer process, and, in response, selecting one of the plurality of scheduling engines to schedule execution of the particular computer process.
US08972992B2	Proactive monitoring tree with state distribution ring A system that displays performance data for a computing environment. During operation, the system determines performance states for a plurality of entities that comprise the computing environment based on values of a performance metric for the entities. Next, the system displays the computing environment as a tree comprising nodes representing the plurality of entities and edges representing parent-child relationships between the plurality of entities. Then, for each parent node in the tree, the system determines counts of one or more performance states for descendants of the parent node in the tree. Finally, the system displays a graphical representation of the determined counts while displaying the parent node. In some embodiments, displaying the graphical representation of the determined counts includes displaying a circular ring comprising visually distinct sections associated with different performance states, wherein the visually distinct sections are sized proportionately with the determined counts for the associated performance states.
US08972991B2	Systems and methods for exposing processor topology for virtual machines The present invention is directed to making a guest operating system aware of the topology of the subset of host resources currently assigned to it. At virtual machine boot time a Static Resource Affinity Table (SRAT) will be used by the virtualizer to group guest physical memory and guest virtual processors into virtual nodes. Thereafter, in one embodiment, the host physical memory behind a virtual node can be changed by the virtualizer as necessary, and the virtualizer will provide physical processors appropriate for the virtual processors in that node.
US08972987B2	Managing software content in virtual desktop environments Software is managed in a virtual desktop environment by discovering virtual appliances contained in the virtual desktop environment, and for each virtual appliance discovering the virtual machines belonging to the virtual appliance. Software is further managed by discovering the standalone virtual machines comprised in the virtual desktop environment, and for each discovered virtual machine, introspecting each virtual machine to detect non-virtual applications and virtualized applications running in the virtual machine. For each detected application, identification is made of the operating system on which the application is running.
US08972985B2	Hypervisor-based stack pre-fetch cache A hypervisor, associated with a device, receives guest operating system code that includes an instruction to switch to a new stack provided in hardware associated with the device. The hypervisor provides, to a guest page table associated with the hypervisor, a query for writable pages provided in proximity to the new stack, and receives, from the guest page table and based on the query, the writable pages provided in proximity to the new stack. The hypervisor provides test instructions to the new stack in order to determine whether one or more faults occur, and switches from a current stack to the new stack when no faults occur based on the test instructions.
US08972983B2	Efficient execution of jobs in a shared pool of resources Embodiments of the invention relate to a shared group of resource and efficient processing of one or more jobs in the share group of resources. Tools are provided in the shared group of resource to assess and organize a topology of the shared resources, including physical and virtual machines, as well as storage devices. The topology is stored in a known location and utilized for efficient assignment of one or more jobs responsive to the hierarchy.
US08972981B2	Implementing network traffic management for virtual and physical machines A virtualization framework provides security between multiple virtual machines with respect to network communications between the virtual machines and between the virtual machines and a physical network coupled to the underlying physical computer platform. The virtualization framework includes a network interface controller driver that provides an interface to the platform network interface controller and supports execution of a plurality of virtual machines. Each virtual machine includes a virtual network interface controller that provides a network communications path between the virtual machines and to the network interface controller driver. Each virtual network interface controller further contains a programmable network packet filter that controls the selective transfer of network packets with respect to a corresponding virtual machine.
US08972978B2	Multitenant hosted virtual machine infrastructure A multi-tenant virtual machine infrastructure (MTVMI) allows multiple tenants to independently access and use a plurality of virtual computing resources via the Internet. Within the MTVMI, different tenants may define unique configurations of virtual computing resources and unique rules to govern the use of the virtual computing resources. The MTVMI may be configured to provide valuable services for tenants and users associated with the tenants.
US08972974B2	Multiple invocation points in software build task sequence Methods, apparatuses, and systems for handling multiple invocation points in a software build task sequence are described. A computer may receive a task sequence. The task sequence may include instructions for combining a first image and a second image to form a third image, installing a first software stack on the computer from a fourth image, and installing a software component to a second software stack already installed on the computer. The computer may receive an indication of a start point to begin executing the task sequence, and may execute the task sequence beginning at the start point.
US08972971B2	Image instance mapping A method and system for image instance mapping is provided. The method includes receiving from change agents on virtual machine instances periodic monitoring data indicating changes for each virtual machine instance. The periodic monitoring data is analyzed and unique updates are applied to the virtual machine instances. High level semantic updates to the virtual machine instances are identified and updates associated with a golden master image are tracked. High level semantic updates to the golden master image are identified and in response, a version tree configured to track drift of each virtual machine instance with respect to golden master image is maintained.
US08972969B2	Out of band services updates Out of band component updating may include receiving a data structure that includes information regarding a component of an application. It may further include determining, from the data structure, that an updated version of the component is available. Out of band component updating may also include storing the updated component in a local data store. It may additionally include, during execution of the application and without shutting down the application, updating the component with the stored updated version of the component. Updating the component may include loading the updated version of the component in a time that is substantially similar to that of a time to load a previous version of the component.
US08972968B1	Alternate service for applications Disclosed are various embodiments to accommodate incompatibilities between differing versions of client and server applications. The client application establishes, via a network of a client computing device, data communication with a interface of a primary server application in a server computing device, the interface including a server version identifier. The client application obtains, via the interface, the server version identifier. Based upon the server version identifier, the client application establishes, via the network of the client computing device, data communication with an alternate server application.
US08972963B2	End-to-end patch automation and integration A method of automating patching of a computer system includes determining whether a computer patch is available for a computer system of a customer, determining a patch management policy of the customer, determining a patch window of the customer based on the determined patch management policy, and directing application of the computer patch to the computer system at the determined patch window.
US08972956B2	Application deployment in heterogeneous environments Techniques are disclosed for evaluating an application to determine a processing environment suited for executing the application. A request may be received to execute the application. If execution data identified for the application do not satisfy a first set of criteria, the application is deployed for execution on a first processing environment. If the execution data satisfy the first set of criteria, the application is deployed for execution partially in time on a second processing environment, based on the execution data. The second processing environment provides a higher capability than the first processing environment in terms of at least one resource type.
US08972955B2	Reducing network trips for remote expression evaluation An expression can be evaluated in a remote debugging environment with one single round trip across the network. An expression evaluator on a local machine can compile the expression into a language-independent intermediate language (IL) that encodes all the information needed to evaluate the expression in the absence of a symbol table. The IL can include instructions that manipulate state inside the debuggee process, as well as logical operations needed to process the information. The IL language can be turing complete so that any computation needed to determine the state to read and write and how the information gathered is to be combined can be performed. The IL can be sent to the remote computer and can be interpreted on the remote computer. The IL can be interpreted on the remote computer using a stack based mechanism, without the need to access symbolic information on the local computer.
US08972953B2	Methods and systems for internally debugging code in an on-demand service environment A remote debug session for a server group is provided. A server group including multiple servers that perform workload sharing receives a request to debug code executed at the server group. The code is executed on behalf of a client of a database associated with the server group. One of the servers of the group initiates a debugging session and establishes a communication connection with the client. The one server maintains the connection open with the client for the duration of the debugging session. Subsequent requests related to the debug session can be handled in a number of ways by the server group, and all communication to the client about processing the requests is through the connection by the one server.
US08972952B2	Tracer based runtime optimization for dynamic programming languages A method and an apparatus that generate tracer data randomly and infrequently for origins and destinations of values created during runtime of a compiled code of a source code is described. A tracer graph may be updated to record the origins and destinations of the values during the runtime. The compiled code may be optimized to reduce processing resources between the origins and the destinations of the values according to the tracer graph. The optimized compiled code may be executed for at least a portion of the source code.
US08972951B2	Embedding performance monitoring into mashup application development Computer systems, methods and program products can facilitate embedding performance monitoring into a mashup application that is being created in a mashup application development environment. A mashup application analyzer identifies mashup application performance monitors that are applicable to a mashup application that is being created in a mashup application development environment. An instructor is provided to instruct the mashup application development environment to embed selected ones up of the performance monitors into the mashup application that is being created in the mashup application development environment, responsive to a selection from the performance monitors. A provisioner instructs the mashup application development environment how to provision the selected ones of the mashup application performance monitors in the mashup application that is being created in the mashup application development environment, responsive to a selection of provisioning options for the selected ones of the mashup application performance monitors.
US08972948B2	System and method for generating application requirements A method for execution by a processing module begins by receiving inputted requirements and parameters. The method continues by generating application requirements based on the inputted requirements, the parameters, and verification feedback. For one or more application requirements, the method continues by determining whether the generating of the one or more application requirements is consistent with valid system states and correctness criteria to produce one or more verification results. For the one or more application requirements, the method continues by comparing the one or more verification results with one or more verification thresholds to produce the verification feedback.
US08972947B2	Data presentation in integrated development environments Methods and apparatus are provided to access and present data from a process executing on a separate device, with the data being presented in a form suitable for the type of data, such as a graphical structure that represents the data. The methods include receiving a request to display a first data object stored in a memory of a second computing device, wherein the first object is of a first data type in a process configured to execute on the second computing device, generating an expression configured to convert the first data object to a defined data format, sending the expression to the process, executing the expression in the process to produce intermediate data that represents the first object in the defined format, receiving the intermediate data, creating a second object of a second data type based upon the intermediate data, and displaying a graphical structure of the second object.
US08972943B2	Systems and methods for generating reference results using parallel-processing computer system A method for debugging an application includes obtaining first and second fusible operation requests; if there is a break point between the first and the second operation request, generating a first set of compute kernels including programs corresponding to the first operation request, but not to the second operation request; and generating a second set of compute kernels including programs corresponding the second operation request, but not to the first operation request; if there is no break point between the first and the second operation request, generating a third set of compute kernels which include programs corresponding to a merge of the first and second operation requests; and arranging for execution of either the first and second, or the third set of compute kernels, further including debugging the first or second set of compute kernels when there is a break point set between the first and second operation requests.
US08972937B2	Distributed parallel build system Systems, articles of manufacture, and methods for managing distributed parallel builds comprising identifying one or more software components in a software project; determining a build configuration for each software component, wherein the build configuration includes a mapping from each software component to a set of build servers, the set selected on an optimizing factor including capability; and building each software component using the mapped set of build servers in the corresponding build configuration, wherein the building includes compiling one or more source files associated with each software component to one or more object files, by distributing the one or more source files to one or more compilation machines.
US08972935B2	Application server and method for managing a service An application server (102) along with various other devices and method are described herein for managing a service (e.g., communication service) which is provided to a user. As described herein, the application server with the help of aspect oriented programming is capable of automatically adding functionality to an original service without directly modifying the target application code of the original service. In particular, the application server when automatically adding functionality to a certain application can automatically detect which features are still missing within the certain application, and which are already supported.
US08972933B2	Non-literal representation of programming language code Exemplary embodiments may provide methods, systems and devices for providing non-literal representations of programming language code. The non-literal representation of a portion of code may provide a representation of the semantics of the portion of code that is different from the source code representation. The non-literal representation may change the way the code is output to a user in order to improve readability of the source code, and may not modify the underlying structure or semantics of the code. While improving readability of the code, the non-literal representation may also retain important information about the underlying code associated with the non-literal representation.
US08972932B2	Method, framework, and program product for formatting and serving web content The present invention provides an approach and corresponding framework that separates data from its formatting/view by generating the dynamic JavaScript (data) as a set (e.g., at least one) of JavaScript (data) objects, without any HTML formatting. Then, a set of JavaScript functions can be created that takes the set of JavaScript objects as a parameter, and outputs all or a subset of this data object in a format determined by this JavaScript function. In general, these formatting functions can be static, rather than dynamic, JavaScript. This approach has the advantage of providing a much greater degree of formatting flexibility, without the need for each new format to establish a connection with the back-end system providing the data.
US08972925B2	Tracking application development and distribution Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for tracking development and distribution of software applications. In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of: identifying a software application available from a software application distribution system; retrieving at least image data from an image file, which is associated with the software application, from the software application distribution system without retrieving the software application; detecting a watermark in the image data; and storing information associating the detected watermark with the software application distribution system from which the identified software application is available.
US08972923B2	Method and apparatus and software code for generating a hardware stream processor design Embodiments of the invention provide a method of automatically generating a hardware stream processor design including plural processes and interconnect between the plural processes to provide data paths between the plural processes, the method comprising: providing an input designating processes to be performed by the stream processor; automatically optimizing parameters associated with the interconnect between processes within the design so as to minimise hardware requirements whilst providing the required functionality; and generating an optimized design in accordance with the optimization.
US08972922B2	Method for forming an electrical connection between metal layers A method includes forming a connection between a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The second metal layer is over the first metal layer. A via location for a first via between the first metal layer and the second metal layer is identified. Additional locations for first additional vias are determined. The first additional vias are determined to be necessary for stress migration issues. Additional locations necessary for second additional vias are determined. The second additional vias are determined to be necessary for electromigration issues. The first via and the one of the group consisting of (i) the first additional vias and second additional vias (ii) the first additional vias plus a number of vias sufficient for electromigration issues taking into account that the first additional vias, after taking into account the stress migration issues, still have an effective via number greater than zero.
US08972921B2	Symmetric placement of components on a chip to reduce crosstalk induced by chip modes A method and system to control crosstalk among qubits on a chip are described. The method includes placing two or more components symmetrically on the chip, the chip including the qubits, and driving two or more ports symmetrically to control the crosstalk based on controlling coupling of chip mode frequencies and qubit frequencies.
US08972919B2	Static timing analysis method and system considering capacitive coupling and double patterning mask misalignment A method for analyzing an IC design, comprises: using a computer implemented electronic design automation tool to perform a parasitic RC extraction for a layout of the IC design, the parasitic RC extraction outputting for each of a plurality of routing paths, a nominal capacitive coupling, a minimum capacitive coupling and a maximum capacitive coupling, where the minimum and maximum capacitive couplings correspond to circuit patterning in the presence of double patterning mask misalignments; and performing one of a setup time analysis or a hold time analysis of the IC design using a computer implemented static timing analysis tool. For a given flip-flop having a launch path and a capture path, the setup or hold time analyses is performed using the minimum capacitive coupling for one of the launch and capture paths and the maximum capacitive coupling for the other of the launch and capture paths.
US08972918B2	System and method for functional verification of multi-die 3D ICs A system and method is disclosed for functional verification of multi-die 3D ICs. The system and method include a reusable verification environment for testing each die in a stack of dies individually without having to simultaneously operate all of the dies in the stack. The system and method includes converting an input/output (“IO”) trace from a die verification test from a first format to a second format to improve performance.
US08972915B2	Static timing analysis of template-based asynchronous circuits Effective timing and power characterization flows are described for asynchronous circuits. Verification can be provided for both relative-timing constraints as well as performance (e.g., throughput) targets using commercially-standard STA tools. Fully-automated scripts are developed that verify all relative timing assumptions (e.g., isochronic forks) as well as the gate-level performance of any circuit designed with these templates. Library characterization can be utilized and asynchronous logic cells not found in standard-cell libraries, such as dual-rail domino logic and dynamic C-elements with staticizers, can be characterized in terms of both their timing and power. These values are a function of both input slew and output load and are preferably captured in an industry standard format, such as the Liberty™ file format, before being compatible with commercial STA tools. Using a characterized library, timing correctness and performance of an asynchronous circuit can be analyzed either through back-annotated simulations or preferably static analysis.
US08972913B1	Concurrent multiparameter simulation system A system and a method are disclosed for concurrently simulating multiple parameters of a design of an electrical circuit. A first simulation time and a first set of environmental parameters is determined and the design is simulated for the determined first simulation time. Multiple simulation engines, each analyzing on simulation parameter, simulate the design based on the first set of environmental parameters and the first set of environmental parameters are updated based on the results of each of the simulation engines. A determination is made whether the simulation results have converged. If the simulation results have not converged, each of the analysis engines simulated the design using the updated set of environmental parameters. If the simulation results are determined to be convergent, the simulation system determines a second simulation time and repeats the simulation process for the second simulation time.
US08972912B1	Structure for chip extension One embodiment relates to a method of achieving an circuit dimension which is greater than a size of an exposure field of an illumination tool. A first area of a first reticle field and a second area of a second reticle field are defined. An extension zone is created as a region outside the first area, and includes a first layout shape formed on a first design level. A corresponding forbidden zone is created for the second reticle field as a region inside the second area where no layout shape on the first design level is permitted. A second layout shape is formed on a second design level within the forbidden zone. The first and second areas are then abutted. Upon abutment of the first and second areas, the second layout shape overlaps the first layout shape to form a connection between circuitry of the first and second reticle fields.
US08972911B2	Image processing device and computer program for performing image processing It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing device for allowing an actual-image-closer pattern to be formed based on the design data, or its simulation image. In order to accomplish the above-described object, the proposal is made concerning an image processing device which includes an image processing unit which sets the operation condition of a charged-particle beam device on the basis of the design data on a semiconductor element. Here, the image processing device accesses a library for storing device-condition information on the charged-particle beam device, pattern types, and a plurality of combinations of pattern information on each pattern-region basis. Moreover, the image processing device forms a composite image of each pattern region, using the pattern information on each pattern-region basis, and based on the device-condition information and the selection of a pattern type from the pattern types.
US08972910B1	Routing method A method includes generating one or more routes usable for implementing a conductive path of an integrated circuit. A corresponding cost function value for the one or more routes is calculated according to a first cost function, including adjusting the corresponding cost function value based on whether the corresponding route is at least partially assigned to be formed in a conductive layer by a first patterning process or a second patterning process. The integrated circuit has electrical devices and the conductive layer, and the conductive layer has a first set of conductive lines formed by the first patterning process and a second set of conductive lines formed by the second patterning process. The first set of conductive lines has a unit resistance less than that of the second set of conductive lines. The conductive path electrically connects two of the electrical devices of the integrated circuit.
US08972901B2	Fast cursor location Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for fast mouse pointer location. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for fast mouse pointer location includes determining a contemporaneous location of a mouse pointer in a GUI of a host computer, dimensioning in memory of the host computer different shapes and arranging the shapes to proximately meet at a point of intersection, overlaying the shapes in the GUI at a position proximate to the contemporaneous location of the mouse pointer, displaying the shapes in the GUI for a brief period of time before hiding the shapes from view in the GUI and repeating the determining, dimensioning, overlaying and displaying for different movements of the mouse pointer in the GUI.
US08972893B2	Notification area that persistently rearranges elements Embodiments described herein are directed to managing elements within a notification area of a graphical operating system. The elements may include any graphic, logo, or image associated with running software. A user indicates which elements can be displayed in the notification area, consequently creating a list of potentially displayable elements. For each listed element, an order of display, file location, and display status is designated. The user may freely change the order in which elements are displayed in the notification area by repositioning the displayed elements. Elements may be permanently removed from the notification area, resulting in their deletion from the list. Only elements entered into the order list, at the discretion of the user, are displayable within the notification area.
US08972891B2	Method for handling objects representing annotations on an interactive input system and interactive input system executing the method An interactive input system, method and computer readable medium for handling objects representing annotations on an interactive input system are disclosed. The method includes creating an annotation on the interactive input system, associating the annotation with a temporary grouping region, and in the event that a threshold amount of time passes before a further annotation is created within a threshold distance of the temporary grouping region, disabling the temporary grouping region to thereafter prevent automatic grouping with the annotation of any further annotation.
US08972890B2	Aminated menu bar The present invention provides a transition between two or more menu bars. The transition provided is both useful and aesthetic in that is enhances the aesthetic transition between the menu bars and serves to notify a user of such a transition. The transition is animated with one of a number of different animation techniques, such as rotation, scrolling, shading, virtual lighting, and the like. Three-dimensional graphics mapping may be provided to enhance the animation of the menu bar.
US08972888B2	Graphical user interface for filtering a population of items Graphical user interface for filtering a population of items. The graphical user interface may be implemented as a method on a system comprising a computer server or other computing device. The system defines a library of available criteria to be used in filtering a population of items to identify items of interest. Each criterion has a graphical representation. The system receives an indication of at least one of the criterion to be applied to the population as a filter and also accepts an indication of a tier of the filter to which the selected criterion is to be associated. The system identifies a list of items of interest satisfying a current set of criteria defining the filter. A graphical representation of the filter is displayed by the system while it is being constructed by the user. In one embodiment, the items are securities such as stocks.
US08972884B2	Presenting information pertaining to a plurality of tabs in an instant messaging application Presenting information in an instant messaging (IM) application includes loading a tab configuration file comprising attribute information pertaining to a plurality of tabs in a main interface in the IM application, the attribute information comprising presented content information associated with the plurality of tabs; receiving a selection of one of a plurality of tabs in the main interface; retrieving attribute information that corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of tabs based at least on the tab configuration file information; and dynamically creating an extended window for the tab; and displaying the presented content information of the selected tab in the extended window.
US08972883B2	Method and device for display time and timescale reset A portable electronic device including a calendar application operable to display a calendar application at a first time and first timescale as well as a second time and second timescale different from the first time and first timescale, a memory operable to store a sequence of user inputs associated with a first time and first timescale, and an input unit operable to detect the sequence of user inputs, wherein the calendar application returns from the second time and second timescale to the first time and first timescale upon detection of the sequence of user inputs.
US08972878B2	Screen icon manipulation by context and frequency of Use Dynamic device management is provided based on a change in context. The management can be for one or more of icons, application, operating system(s), preferences, display characteristics, and the like. Detection and/or monitoring of one or more of presence information, environmental information, user information, recent activity information, inbound/outbound communication information, external stimuli information, geopositional information, temporal information, calendar information, user information, biometric information, and security information can be used as inputs to determining a change in this context.
US08972873B2	Multi-environment widget assembly, generation, and operation Widget creation, editing, augmentation, tracking and deployment is provided. Embodiments may include a Widget Assembly Application (“WAA”). The WAA may employ generalized widget templates selected by a user for customizing or assembling widgets. A generator may render previously assembled widgets when requested. The generator may use a skeleton specific to the target server type and widget, and code supporting the generator and the WAA may employ recursive eye-catcher syntax. Widgets may be deployed from any discovered instance to additional remote widget containers of the same or different type.
US08972871B2	Supporting user interactions with rendered graphical objects A graphical object is rendered to a pixel buffer, such that a software application executing on a computing device displays the contents of the pixel buffer via a user interface. An invisible element is created and positioned under the cursor in response to detecting that the cursor is positioned over the feature being displayed via the user interface. The software application automatically repositions the invisible element in accordance with a movement of the cursor. A change in the position of the invisible element is determined, and the graphical object is repositioned within the pixel buffer in accordance with the change in the position of the invisible element.
US08972870B2	Providing alternative representations of virtual content in a virtual universe An invention for automatically reducing a load on a server functioning with a virtual universe is provided. In one embodiment, there is an alternative representation tool, including a detection component configured to detect a load on a server, and a determination component configured to determine whether the load on the server exceeds a predefined threshold. The alternative representation tool further comprises a rendering component configured to provide an alternative representation of a virtual content renderable in the virtual universe to reduce the load on the server in the case that the load on the server exceeds the predefined threshold.
US08972869B1	Method and system for managing a virtual meeting A computer-implemented method, computer-readable medium and system for managing a virtual meeting are disclosed. Invitees for a virtual meeting may be automatically determined based upon a selection of one or more groups made using a graphical user interface. Each invitee may be notified of the virtual meeting. Users may conveniently attend the virtual meeting. A recording of the virtual meeting may then be made accessible to members of one or more groups selected using the graphical user interface. In this manner, the setup of a virtual meeting and the distribution of a recording of the virtual meeting can be improved.
US08972868B2	Task decomposition with data availability The subject matter disclosed herein provides methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for task decomposition of a task of a workflow. In one aspect there is provided a method. The method may include selecting, for decomposition, a task from a workflow including a plurality of tasks; indicating whether one or more portions of information associated with the decomposed task are restricted; and providing, to another user interface, the decomposed task including the one or more restricted portions. The received command is executed at the database. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described.
US08972867B1	Method and apparatus for editing heterogeneous media objects in a digital imaging device A method for editing media objects in a capture device having a display is provided. The method displays a representation of each media object, where each media object has a plurality of media types associated therewith. The plurality of media types includes at least two of a still image, a sequential image, and a video clip. The method enables selection of a media object to edit and invokes a plurality of edit screens for editing the plurality of media types. In each one of the plurality of edit screens, a representation of the media object's content and items to be applied to the media object are displayed. Each one of the plurality of the edit screens invokes soft keys to ease use and operation of the capture device and facilitate creation of multimedia presentations on the capture device.
US08972860B2	Player instance management Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for media player instance management. In one aspect, a method includes receiving one or more requests from an application to load a plurality of media players referenced in a document to be presented by the application, in which each media player is configured to present respective content in a respective presentation area of the document presentation and determining an order for loading the media players based on a visibility and dimensions of each respective presentation area.
US08972854B2	Graphical creation of a document conversion template The template creation system enables a graphical selection of one or more fields from within a database system. The template creation system identifies a source format of the received fields that can be exported from the database system. The template creation system identifies a target format readable by a document editing system. For example, the document editing system may be a word processing application that stores files in an application-specific format. The template creation system creates one or more template rules based on the identified source and target formats for converting the data from the source format to the target format. The template rules may then be stored in an XSLT style sheet.
US08972852B2	Two-stage rendering of web page containing scripts Provided is an information processing apparatus including a structure analysis unit that analyses display control data including multiple structural units, in each of which information relating to display control is written, and extracts the structural units included in the display control data, a first structuring unit that generates first structured data for display control by linking, except for a structural unit in which information involving script processing is written, the structural units including at least a structural unit in which information relating to a layout of a display screen is written, among the extracted structural units, a second structuring unit that generates second structured data for display control by linking all of the extracted structural units, and a display control unit that displays a display screen using the first structured data, and, at a stage the second structured data is generated, redisplays the display screen using the second structured data.
US08972844B2	Dynamic digital document fields behavior A field attraction module attracts/detracts interaction to/from particular fields of a digital document. The module detects interaction in the digital document corresponding to a plurality of fields of the digital document is detected. The module determines field attraction weights associated with the plurality of fields. The field attraction weights represent a degree to which presentation of the digital document is modified for selectively attracting interaction to at least one of the plurality of fields. The module determines that a first of the plurality of fields is associated with a greatest of the field attraction weights. The module modifies presentation of the digital document to attract interaction to the first field in the digital document in accordance with the greatest of the field attraction weights.
US08972842B2	Method of processing data for an information processing apparatus According to one embodiment, a method of processing data for an information processing apparatus includes extracting, displaying, transmitting and updating. The extracting extracts keywords from a Web page being displayed by a browser. The displaying displays the extracted keywords. The transmitting transmits a keyword and attribute data associate with the keyword to a retrieval site, if the keyword is selected from the displayed keywords. The updating updates the displayed keywords if the browser acquires the Web page.
US08972841B2	Method, system, apparatus and content model for the creation, management, storage, and presentation of dynamic objects The invention includes structures and schema for organizing and inter-relating objects, data, or files, including relational, network, hierarchical, and entity-relationship models, among others, that are dynamic, that is changing with time. This includes manipulating structures by conversion, compression, compaction, and compilation, for various purposes. Also included is generating structures for storing, organizing, and managing dynamic objects for retrieval and presentation. A discussion group for collaborative participants is also provided. A time-based dynamic object within a plurality of stored dynamic objects is stored. Each dynamic objects comprises a plurality of predefined attribute fields. Requested dynamic objects are assembled in real time so that the requested dynamic objects are displayed on the basis of the start-time attribute field of each requested dynamic object. A different threaded discussion associated with the each displayed requested dynamic object is provided with each displayed requested dynamic object based on the displayed requested dynamic object's start time.
US08972840B2	Time ordered indexing of an information stream Methods and apparatuses in which two or more types of attributes from an information stream are identified. Each of the identified attributes from the information stream is encoded. A time ordered indication is assigned with each of the identified attributes. Each of the identified attributes shares a common time reference measurement. A time ordered index of the identified attributes is generated.
US08972839B2	Media presentations including related content Media presentations including related content are described, including presenting a workspace and a content shelf, presenting a media presentation in the workspace, designating a portion of the media presentation based on parsing the media presentation according to a predetermined criterion, and displaying a content related to the portion of the media presentation in the content shelf.
US08972838B2	Data transmission detecting device, data transmission detecting method and electronic device thereof A data transmission detecting device including a detecting module and a detection value calculating module is provided. The detecting module has a plurality of receiving terminals and receives a first data and a second data during a first period. The detecting module calculates a total detection value according to the first data and the second data, and performs an error check comparison by comparing the total detection value with an error check code. When the detecting module again receives the first data during a second period, the detection value calculating module transmits an auxiliary detection value to the detecting module, so that the detecting module calculates a corresponding total detection value according to the auxiliary detection value, and performs the error check comparison by comparing the total detection value with the error check code. The first period and the second period are two successive periods adjacent to each other.
US08972837B2	Read/write operations in solid-state storage devices Methods and apparatus are provided for reading and writing data in q-level cells of solid-state memory, where q>2. Input data is encoded into codewords having N qary symbols, wherein the symbols of each codeword satisfy a single-parity-check condition. Each symbol is written in a respective cell of the solid state memory by setting the cell to a level dependent on the qary value of the symbol. Memory cells are read to obtain read signals corresponding to respective codewords. The codewords corresponding to respective read signals are detected by relating the read signals to a predetermined set of N-symbol vectors of one of which each possible codeword is a permutation.
US08972836B2	Method and system for forward error correction decoding with parity check for use in low complexity highly-spectrally efficient communications A receiver receives an inter-symbol correlated (ISC) signal with information symbols and a corresponding parity symbol. Values of information symbols are estimated utilizing parity samples that are generated from the parity symbols. One or more maximum likelihood (ML) decoding metrics are generated for the information symbols. One or more estimations are generated for the information symbols based on the one or more ML decoding metrics. A parity metric is generated for each of the one or more generated estimations of the information symbols. The parity metric is generated by summing a plurality of values of one of the generated estimations to generate a sum, and wrapping the sum to obtain a parity check value that is within the boundaries of a symbol constellation utilized in generating the information symbols.
US08972832B2	Optimized scheme and architecture of hard drive queue design Computer-implemented methods and systems may perform one or more operations including, but not limited to: receiving input data from a source; applying an interleaving protocol to the input data to generate at least one component codeword; decoding the at least one component codeword; determining a first convergence value of at least one decoded component codeword; computing extrinsic data associated with the at least one component codeword according to the bit error count and the first convergence of at least one component codeword; determining a second convergence value associated with the at least one component codeword according to the extrinsic data associated with the at least one component codeword.
US08972829B2	Method and apparatus for umbrella coding A communication system and a method are provided. The communication system includes an encoder configured to encode source data and output an encoded frame including a mother code or a plurality of concatenated daughter codes based on an encoding option. The mother code and the plurality of concatenated daughter codes have a same number of coded data symbols. The mother code includes a first source number of source symbols and a first parity number of parity symbols. The daughter code includes fewer source symbols and fewer parity symbols than the mother code.
US08972825B2	Channel estimation in adaptive modulation systems A device (20) for an adaptive modulation communication system is provided. The device (20) comprises an input device (21) adapted to receive, from a communication channel, data encoded through a FEC code. A FEC decoder (23) connected downstream of the input device (21) is also provided for FEC decoding the received encoded data and providing error information determined by the FEC decoding. The device according to the invention further comprises means for measuring first error information of the encoded data before FEC decoding the received encoded data, and means for measuring second error information determined by the FEC decoder (23). Means (25) for estimating a condition of the communication channel based on both the first error information and the second error information are also provided.
US08972822B2	Memory module and semiconductor storage device A memory module includes a plurality of memory chips stacked on top of one another, each of the plurality of memory chips including a memory cell unit that is divided into a plurality of blocks, and an address scrambling circuit that processes an input address signal and that selects a block to be operated.
US08972819B2	Memory circuit incorporating radiation-hardened memory scrub engine An example integrated circuit includes a first memory array including a first plurality of data groups, each such data group including a respective plurality of data bits. The integrated circuit also includes a first error detection and correction (EDAC) circuit configured to detect and correct an error in a data group read from the first memory array. The integrated circuit also includes a first scrub circuit configured to access in a sequence each of the first plurality of data groups to correct any detected errors therein. Both the first EDAC circuit and the first scrub circuit include spatially redundant circuitry. The first EDAC circuit and the first scrub circuit may include buried guard ring (BGR) structures, and may include parasitic isolation device (PID) structures. The spatially redundant circuitry may include dual interlocked storage cell (DICE) circuits, and may include temporal filtering circuitry.
US08972801B2	Motivating lazy RCU callbacks under out-of-memory conditions A technique for motivating lazy RCU callbacks under out-of-memory conditions. In response to detecting an actual or potential OOM condition, non-lazy callback processing is performed for all processors whose RCU callback lists are non-empty due to at least one callback permitting lazy callback processing being present.
US08972798B2	Performance and fault management system A network device is configured to receive information from a plurality of device. The network device is configured to further analyze the information and determine that a performance or fault issue exists relating to operation of a device. The network device is configured to further send first information to a user device. The user device is to receive an instruction on eliminating the performance or fault issue. The network device is configured to further receive second information to resolve the performance of fault issue relating to the operation of the device; and send a notification to resolve the performance or fault issue relating to the operation of the device.
US08972790B2	Memory controller and memory access system with error detection using data comparison of loop-backed signals A controller section outputs a first signal and a second signal holding a phase relationship with the first signal. The second signal is received by a memory I/F section via a FIFO memory of an error detecting section. The memory I/F section performs timing adjustment for the first and second signals, outputs the first and second signals after the timing adjustment to a memory, and loops back the second signal. A data comparator compares the looped-back second signal with the original second signal outputted from the FIFO memory and corresponding to the looped-back signal.
US08972785B2	Classifying processor testcases Embodiments of a testcase checker system are disclosed herein. Embodiments of a testcase checker system may include an instruction set simulator configured to simulate execution of instructions of a testcase on a microprocessor using a reference model associated with an architecture of the microprocessor. The instruction set simulator may generate logging data associated with the each instruction based on the simulated execution of that instruction. The testcase checker system may also include checker module comprising a set of rules. Each of these rules may be associated with a boundedly undefined condition. The checker module is configured to receive the logging data associated with an instruction from the instruction set simulator and process the logging data based on the rules to determine if any of the rules are violated.
US08972784B2	Method and device for testing a system comprising at least a plurality of software units that can be executed simultaneously A programmable operating time period of at least one software unit is changed to a settable operating time period. Furthermore, a testing system for validating the system and for setting the at least one settable operating time period is provided. Furthermore, the system is tested using the testing system, wherein the testing includes varying the at least one settable operating time period for detecting synchronization errors of the system. Thus, a test of a system including software units for synchronization errors is enabled by the targeted change of operating time period.
US08972773B2	Cache data processing using cache cluster with configurable modes Processing cache data includes sending a cache processing request to a master cache service node in a cache cluster that includes a plurality of cache service nodes, the cache cluster being configurable in an active cluster configuration mode wherein the plurality of cache service nodes are all in working state and a master cache service node is selected among the plurality of cache service nodes, or in a standby cluster configuration mode, wherein the master cache service node is the only node among the plurality of cache service nodes that is in working state. It further includes waiting for a response from the master cache service node, determining whether the master cache service node has failed; and in the event that the master cache service node has failed, selecting a backup cache service node.
US08972772B2	System and method for duplexed replicated computing Systems and methods are disclosed herein for a replicated duplex computer system. The system includes a triplet of network elements, which each maintain a clock signal, and a monitor at each network element for monitoring incoming clock signals. Each network element interfaces with a fault containment region (FCR). The system provides the ability to transition to a duplex system if one of the fault containment regions fails. The three network elements are able to send their clock signals to the other network elements and receive their own clock signal and clock signals from the other elements. The monitors are configured to detect discrepancies in the clock signals of the network elements. If a monitor determines that an FCR has failed, each network element is reconfigured so that the FTPP system operates in a duplex mode without the faulty FCR by replacing the clock signal from the faulty element with its own clock signal.
US08972771B2	Connection control apparatus, storage system, and control method of connection control apparatus A connection control apparatus includes an active control unit that performs routing of data to a first device connected to a port of the connection control apparatus by using an address of the first device, and a standby control unit that, when the active control unit causes a failure, performs routing of data to the first device by using the address of the first device and by using route information indicating a connection route to a second device connected to a port of an adjacent connection control apparatus connected to the connection control apparatus, the standby control unit performing routing of data to the second device by using the route information upon the adjacent connection control apparatus being unable to perform routing.
US08972770B1	Systems and methods for conducting experiments on applications Systems and methods for conducting a set of experiments on an application having a plurality of users are provided. Each experiment is identified by a respective experiment identification (ID) and is associated with a respective group of experimental variations of the application. A system includes an entropy source module that assigns a user group number to a designated user. The user group number is less than or equal to an entropy cap, which is less than an expected entropy, which represents a total number of different states of the experiments. The system includes an experiment module that determines a designated one of the experiments to be conducted on the application. The designated experiment is identified by a designated experiment ID and is associated with a designated group of experimental variations of the application. The experiment module assigns a designated variation to the designated user based on the user group number.
US08972767B2	Method and apparatus for synchronizing the time reference of a dynamically activated processor to the system time reference Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for synchronizing at least one newly activated processor with at least one previously running processor. Each processor is configured to generate a heartbeat and operate according to a STICK. When a previously deactivated processor is added, the heartbeat of each active processor is reset and the current STICK is transmitted to the newly activated processor on the next heartbeat. The newly activated processor may then add the heartbeat period to the acquired STICK and begin incrementing the STICK and normal operation after the next heartbeat.
US08972763B2	Method, apparatus, and system for energy efficiency and energy conservation including determining an optimal power state of the apparatus based on residency time of non-core domains in a power saving state A processor may determine the actual residency time of a non-core domain residing in a power saving state and based on the actual residency time the processor may determine an optimal power saving state (P-state) for the processor. In response to the non-core domain entering a power saving state, an interrupt generator (IG) may generate a first interrupt and the device drivers or an operating system may use the first interrupt to start a timer (first value). In response to the non-core domain exiting the power saving state, the IG may generate a second interrupt and the device drivers or an operating system may use the second interrupt to stop the timer (final value). The power management unit may use the final and the first value to determine the actual residency time.
US08972762B2	Computing devices and methods for resetting inactivity timers on computing devices Computing devices and methods for resetting an inactivity timer of each of a first and second computing device are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises establishing a communication channel between the first computing device and the second computing device, receiving activity input responsive to a user interaction at the first computing device, resetting the inactivity timer of the first computing device, and transmitting a notification via the communication channel to the second computing device that the activity input was received at the first computing device, the inactivity timer of the second computing device being reset in response to receipt of the notification.
US08972758B2	Charge recycling between power domains of integrated circuits A mechanism is provided for efficiently recycling a charge from a power domain that is discharging. A side of a discharging power domain normally coupled to a voltage supply is disconnected from the voltage supply. The side of the precharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply is currently disconnected from the voltage supply. The side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply is connected to a side of the precharging power domain normally coupled to the voltage supply. A side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to the ground is disconnected from ground. The side of the discharging power domain normally coupled to ground is connected to the voltage supply, thereby precharging the precharging power domain with the charge from the discharging power domain that would normally he lost due to leakage.
US08972757B2	Powered device classification in a wired data telecommunications network In a wired data telecommunication network power sourcing equipment (PSE) coupled to a powered device (PD) carries out an inline power discovery process to verify that the PD is adapted to receive inline power, then a plurality of classification cycles are carried out to convey a series of inline power classes back to the PSE. The series of inline power classes may all be the same, in which case the PD is legacy equipment and is adapted to receive the power level corresponding to that class. If they are not all the same, information is thus conveyed to the PSE which may, for example, correspond to a specific power level to be applied or to other information.
US08972752B2	System and method for providing modular and scalable power infrastructure outside of usable it space In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for providing scalable and modular power infrastructure outside of usable rack space is described. The system may include a chassis configured to mount on the side of a rack. A power cable interface box (PCIB) may be disposed within the chassis, and the PCIB may receive alternating current (AC) power. The system may further include at least one power supply unit disposed within a slot of the chassis, with the at least one power supply unit receiving AC power from the PCIB and outputting direct current (DC) power to a busbar. The system may also include a battery back-up unit (BBU) element disposed within the chassis. The BBU element may charge from and discharge to the busbar.
US08972744B1	Preventing data imprinting in memory A method and system of preventing data imprinting. The data includes a payload and a token that may be stored in a memory. The token provides information about the payload format and determines how that payload may be interpreted. The data field may be corrected and read into a device or may be converted and then written back to the memory.
US08972741B2	Method of modification of authorization details for a biometrics authentication device, biometrics authentication method, and biometrics authentication device A biometrics authentication device utilizes biometrics information and performs individual authentication enables secure modification of authorization details for an authorized agent other than the principal. A verification device verifies biometrics information registered on an IC card against biometrics information detected by a detection unit. When results in satisfactory biometrics authentication, modification of authorization details of an authorized agent, registered on the IC card, is permitted. Authorization details for an authorized agent can be securely modified on a card on which biometrics information for the principal and the authorized agent is registered.
US08972738B2	Incorporating data into an ECDSA signature component During generation of a signature on a message to create a signed message, a signer determines one of the signature components such that particular information can be extracted from the signature component. The particular information may be related to one or more of the signer and the message to be signed. After receiving a signed message purported to be signed by the signer, a verifier can extract the particular information from the signature component.
US08972733B1	Techniques to prime a stateful request-and-response communication channel Techniques for handshake-free encrypted communication are described. An apparatus may comprise a reception component and a precomputation component. The reception component may be operative to receive a priming message from a client using a stateless network protocol, to establish a communication channel to the client, and to transmit a response to the priming message over the communication channel to the client. The precomputation component may be operative to determine the response in response to the reception of the priming message from the client. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08972731B2	Systems, devices, and methods for securely transmitting a security parameter to a computing device Embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described herein generally facilitate the secure transmittal of security parameters. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a representation of first data comprising a password is generated at the first computing device as an image or audio signal. The image or audio signal is transmitted from the first computing device to the second computing device. The password is determined from the image or audio signal at the second computing device. A key exchange is performed between the first computing device and the second computing device wherein a key is derived at each of the first and second computing devices. In at least one embodiment, one or more security parameters (e.g. one or more public keys) are exchanged between the first and second computing devices, and techniques for securing the exchange of security parameters or authenticating exchanged security parameters are generally disclosed herein.
US08972730B2	System and method of using a signed GUID A method and apparatus wherein the method includes the steps of generating a globally unique identifier (GUID) for a security system appliance, saving a public key and private key of the security system appliance in a memory of the security system appliance, a manufacturer of the security system appliance generating a signed version of the GUID and the public key, saving the signed version of the GUID and public key in the memory of the security system appliance, the security system appliance sending a registration message including the signed version of the GUID and public key to a security system server and the security system server authenticating the security system appliance using the signed version of the GUID and public key of the security system appliance and a public key of the manufacturer.
US08972717B2	Automatic delivery selection for electronic content Computer program products and methods for the secure delivery of a message in a communication system. The method includes identifying a best method for delivery of a message including considering preferences of a sender and a recipient and sending the message from the sender to the recipient using the identified method.
US08972712B2	Device for reprogramming an embedded system to allow the system to return to an initial embedded system information or a reprogrammed embedded system information A reprogramming device is used for reprogramming embedded systems. The reprogramming device comprises a microprocessor, a memory programmed with software to accomplish the reprogramming of distinctly different embedded systems architectures, and one or more hardware devices that facilitate communication over multiple protocols contained in a portable package designed for both one-time and multi-occurrence use scenarios. In some embodiments, the reprogramming device is able to be used to enhance one or more attributes of performance of existing embedded systems through the reconfiguration of internally stored parameters. In some embodiments, the reprogramming device is also to be used to extract and receive information and instruction from existing embedded systems and enable useful presentation of this information. As a result, the reprogramming device is able to be used to adjust and/or monitor the parameters of the on-board diagnostics computer of a vehicle to ensure peak performance and detect errors.
US08972711B2	CPU core unlocking device applied to computer system A CPU core unlocking device applied to a computer system is provided. The core unlocking device includes a CPU having a plurality of signal terminals and a core unlocking executing unit having a plurality of GPIO ports connected with the corresponding signal terminals of the CPU. The GPIO ports of the core unlocking executing unit generate and transmit and transmit a combination of core unlocking signal to the signal terminals of the CPU to unlock the CPU core.
US08972702B2	Systems and methods for power management in a high performance computing (HPC) cluster Embodiments of the invention broadly contemplate systems, methods, apparatuses and program products providing a power management technique for an HPC cluster with performance improvements for parallel applications. According to various embodiments of the invention, power usage of an HPC cluster is reduced by boosting the performance of one or more select nodes within the cluster so that the one or more nodes take less time to complete. Embodiments of the invention accomplish this by selectively identifying the appropriate node(s) (or core(s) within the appropriate node(s)) in the cluster and increasing the computing capacity of the selected node(s) (or core(s) within the appropriate node(s)).
US08972696B2	Pagefile reservations A system and method for maintaining a pagefile of a computer system using a technique of reserving portions of the pagefile for related memory pages. Pages near one another in a virtual memory space often store related information and it is therefore beneficial to ensure that they are stored near each other in the pagefile. This increases the speed of reading data out of the pagefile because total seek time of a disk drive that stores the pagefile may decrease when adjacent pages in a virtual memory address space are read back from the disk drive. By implementing a reservation system that allows related pages to be stored adjacent to one another, the efficiency of memory management of the computer system is increased.
US08972692B2	Dispersed storage network virtual address space A dispersed storage network utilizes a virtual address space to store data. The dispersed storage network includes a dispersed storage device for receiving a request relating to a data object stored in the dispersed storage network and determining a virtual memory address assigned to the data object. The virtual memory address is within a virtual memory address range of the virtual address space that is allocated to a vault associated with a user of the data object. The virtual memory address is further assigned to a data slice of a plurality of data slices of the data object. The dispersed storage device uses the virtual memory address to determine an identifier of a storage unit within the dispersed storage network that has the data slice stored therein.
US08972691B2	Addressing cross-allocated blocks in a file system A mechanism is provided for cross-allocated block repair in a mounted file system. A set of cross-allocated blocks are identified from a plurality of blocks within an inode of the mounted file system, based on a corresponding bit associated with each cross-allocated block in a duplicated block information bitmap being in a first identified state. The set of cross-allocated blocks are repaired using a user-defined repair process. Then one or more of the set of cross-allocated blocks are deallocated based on results of the user-defined repair process.
US08972687B2	Memory system having a plurality of types of memory chips and a memory controller for controlling the memory chips A memory controller converts controller output signals output from a controller into memory input signals according to the operation specifications of memory chips to operate, and outputs the resultant to the memory chips through a common bus. The memory controller also receives memory output signals output from the memory chips through the common bus, and converts the received signals into controller input signals receivable to the controller. This allows the single memory controller to access the plurality of types of memory chips. As a result, the memory controller can be reduced in chip size, lowering the cost of the memory system.
US08972685B2	Method, apparatus and system for exchanging communications via a command/address bus Techniques and mechanisms for exchanging information from a memory controller to a memory device via a command/address bus. In an embodiment, the memory device samples a first portion of a command during a first sample period and samples a second portion of the command during a second sample period, the first portion and second portion exchanged via the command/address bus. The first sample period and the second sample period are concurrent with, respectively, a first transition of a clock signal and a second transition of the clock signal. In another embodiment, a mode of the memory device determines a relationship between the first transition and the second transition.
US08972679B2	Storage device in a locked state A method for managing a storage device including identifying a lock timing for the storage device when coupling to a device, transitioning the storage device into a locked state in response to detecting the storage device decoupling from the device, and configuring the storage device to remain in the locked state if the storage device is re-coupled to the device after the lock timing has elapsed.
US08972678B2	Efficient backup replication A system for backup replication comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to determine data present in a most recent backup not present in a previous backup; transmit an extent specification; and transmit data segment fingerprints of the one or more data segments. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US08972676B2	Assigning device adaptors and background tasks to use to copy source extents to target extents in a copy relationship Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for assigning device adaptors and background tasks to use to copy source extents to target extents in a copy relationship. A relation is provided of a plurality of source extents in source ranks to copy to a plurality of target extents in target ranks in the storage system. One target rank in the relation is used to determine an order in which the target ranks in the relation are selected to register for copying. For each selected target rank in the relation selected according to the determined order, an iteration of a registration operation is performed to register the selected target rank and a selected source rank copied to the selected target rank in the relation. The registration operation comprises indicating in a device adaptor assignment data structure a source device adaptor and target device adaptor to use to copy the selected rank to the selected target rank and adding an entry to a priority queue for the relation for the selected target rank. The selected source rank is copied to the selected target rank using as the source and target device adaptors indicated in the device adaptor assignment data structure for the selected target rank in response to processing the entry in the priority queue added to the priority queue for the selected target rank.
US08972674B2	Compensation for solid state storage A method and system for storing and retrieving data using flash memory devices. One example system includes an apparatus within a flash memory configuration. The flash memory configuration includes a plurality of memory cells, where each memory cell has a charge storage capacity for use in implementing digital storage. The apparatus includes a processing arrangement configured to access each of the memory cells in a write operation and a read operation. The apparatus also includes an instruction set for instructing the processor to impose target charge levels for defining a plurality of data values for each of the memory cells. The target charge levels are programmably movable with respect to the charge storage capacity.
US08972668B2	Transactional memory that performs an ALUT 32-bit lookup operation A transactional memory (TM) receives a lookup command across a bus from a processor. The command includes a memory address, a starting bit position, and a mask size. In response to the command, the TM pulls an input value (IV). The memory address is used to read a word containing multiple result values (RVs) and multiple key values from memory. Each key value indicates a single RV to be output by the TM. A selecting circuit within the TM uses the starting bit position and mask size to select a portion of the IV. The portion of the IV is a key selector value. A key value is selected based upon the key selector value. A RV is selected based upon the key value. The key value is selected by a key selection circuit. The RV is selected by a result value selection circuit.
US08972660B2	Disk subsystem and data restoration method A disk subsystem and a data restoration method with which the rise time when the disk subsystem is restored can be shortened.A disk subsystem and data restoration method whereby, when the power of the disk subsystem is shut off, the shared memory management table is saved to non-volatile memory together with the cache data and, when the power of the disk subsystem is restored, the shared memory management table is referenced and the duplex data is assigned by two non-volatile memories and restored to each of two shared memories.
US08972657B1	Managing active—active mapped logical volumes A method is used in managing active-active mapped logical volumes. A mapped logical volume is created. The mapped logical volume includes first and second mapped logical volumes. Ownership of the first mapped logical volume resides with a first storage processor of a storage system and ownership of the second mapped logical volume resides with a second storage processor of the storage system. The mapped logical volume is managed. An access to the mapped logical volume is provided to the first and second storage processors.
US08972653B2	Memory management method, and memory controller and memory storage apparatus using the same A memory management method and a memory controller and a memory storage apparatus using the same are provided. The method includes applying different detection biases to read data stored in physical pages of a rewritable non-volatile memory module and calculating the number of error bits according the read data. The method further includes estimating a value of a wearing degree of each physical page according to the calculated number of error bits and operating the rewritable non-volatile memory module according to the value of the wearing degree of each physical page. Accordingly, the method can effectively identify the wearing degree of the rewritable non-volatile memory module and operate the rewritable non-volatile memory module by applying a corresponding management mechanism, so as to prevent data errors.
US08972652B2	Data refresh in non-volatile memory A method of reducing read errors in a non-volatile memory device that result from bit-line or word-line disturb conditions generated by erase operations includes selecting a subset of a memory array for refresh after each erase operation. A pointer to the refresh target section is updated as part of the method to direct the refresh operation to the appropriate subset of the memory array. Refresh may be performed subsequent to an erase operation or concurrently therewith. By distributing the time consumed by refresh operations over many erase operations so the relative refresh time for any one erase becomes small.
US08972650B2	Methods and systems for performing efficient page reads in a non-volatile memory Systems and methods are disclosed for increasing efficiency of read operations by selectively adding pages from a pagelist to a batch, such that when the batch is executed as a read operation, each page in the batch can be concurrently accessed. The pagelist can include all the pages associated a read command received, for example, from a file system. Although the pages associated with the read command may have an original read order sequence, embodiments according to this invention re-order this original read order sequence by selectively adding pages to a batch. A page is added to the batch if it does not collide with any other page already added to the batch. A page collides with another page if neither page can be accessed simultaneously. One or more batches can be constructed in this manner until the pagelist is empty.
US08972647B2	Kernel memory locking for systems that allow over-commitment memory Provided are techniques for allocating logical memory corresponding to a logical partition in a computing system; generating a S/W PFT data structure corresponding to a first page of the logical memory, wherein the S/W PFT data structure comprises a field indicating that the corresponding first page of logical memory is a klock page; transmitting a request for a page of physical memory and the corresponding S/W PFT data structure to a hypervisor; allocating physical memory corresponding to the request; and, in response to a pageout request, paging out available logical memory corresponding to the logical partition that does not indicate that the corresponding page is a klock page prior to paging out the first page.
US08972644B2	Data forwarding circuit, data forwarding method, display device, host-side device, and electronic apparatus The timing controller determines the number of data lanes (11, 12, 13), which are used to transfer data, based on information in relation to an amount of data to be transferred during a predetermined time period. Out of the plurality of data lanes (11, 12, 13), the determined number of data lane(s) (11, 12, 13) are used to transfer data. Further, a data lane(s) (11, 12, 13) which is not used in the data transfer is deactivated.
US08972643B2	Field bus network adapter and field bus network subscriber with field bus connections A field bus network adapter includes a first field bus connection configured to connect a first field bus cable, a second field bus connection configured to connect a second field bus cable, and N number of third field bus connections configured to connect a third cable each. The first field bus connection and the second field bus connection are connected to the N number of third field bus connections such that (i) data received at the first field bus connection are output at a first of the N number of third field bus connections, (ii) data received at an nth of the N number of third field bus connections are output at an (n+1)th of the N number of third field bus connections, and (iii) data received at an Nth of the N number of third field bus connections are output at the second field bus connection.
US08972642B2	Low latency two-level interrupt controller interface to multi-threaded processor Systems and method for reducing interrupt latency time in a multi-threaded processor. A first interrupt controller is coupled to the multi-threaded processor. A second interrupt controller is configured to communicate a first interrupt and a first vector identifier to the first interrupt controller, wherein the first interrupt controller is configured to process the first interrupt and the first vector identifier and send the processed interrupt to a thread in the multi-threaded processor. Logic is configured to determine when the multi-threaded processor is ready to receive a second interrupt. A dedicated line is used to communicate an indication to the second interrupt controller that the multi-threaded processor is ready to receive the second interrupt.
US08972638B2	Serial data communication system and serial data communication method When transmitting serial data from a master device to a slave device, it is possible to promptly detect a communication error if any occurs. Serial data transmitted from the master device to the slave device has two or more continuous bytes of dummy data having an identical structure. When the slave device recognizes the dummy data, communication error processing is executed. Assume that the serial data is shifted by an affect of a noise. In this case, “a text end control code (ETX)” is also shifted and the serial data cannot be recognized and no data reception end process is executed. However, during a period after this, a part of the first dummy data and a part of the second dummy data are received and one dummy data is recognized. Thus, the slave device can promptly execute the communication error processing.
US08972637B1	Governance of storage A computer program product, system, and computer implemented method comprising intercepting, by an interceptor, IO send on an IO path to a storage array; sending a copy of the IO and metadata to a message bus, and enabling a consumer to register with the message bus to consume events sent to the message bus.
US08972633B2	Apparatus with a memory controller configured to control access to randomly accessible non-volatile memory An apparatus includes a printed circuit board with a plurality of printed circuit board traces, a memory controller mounted on the printed circuit board coupled to one or more of the plurality of printed circuit board traces, a plurality of non-volatile type of memory integrated circuits coupled to the printed circuit board, and a plurality of support integrated circuits coupled between the memory controller and the plurality of non-volatile type of memory integrated circuits.
US08972630B1	Transactional memory that supports a put with low priority ring command A transactional memory (TM) includes a control circuit pipeline and an associated memory unit. The memory unit stores a plurality of rings. The pipeline maintains, for each ring, a head pointer and a tail pointer. A ring operation stage of the pipeline maintains the pointers as values are put onto and are taken off the rings. A put command causes the TM to put a value into a ring, provided the ring is not full. A get command causes the TM to take a value off a ring, provided the ring is not empty. A put with low priority command causes the TM to put a value into a ring, provided the ring has at least a predetermined amount of free buffer space. A get from a set of rings command causes the TM to get a value from the highest priority non-empty ring (of a specified set of rings).
US08972626B2	Content reproducing device and content reproduction control method A content reproducing device includes: an input unit connected to a source side via a content transmission channel for transmitting a content and a control signal transmission channel for transmitting an address representing a physical connection relation of a device; an output unit connected to a sink side via a content transmission channel for transmitting a content and a control signal transmission channel for transmitting an address representing a physical connection relation of a device; and a switch provided between the input and output units and assuming one of a first connection state of connecting between the input and output units and a second connection state of connecting the input unit and a content reproducing unit, the device acquiring the address at the sink side in the first connection state, and setting the acquired address as the address provided to the source side in the second connection state.
US08972616B2	System and method for prioritizing iSCSI data transmission using data center bridging enabled switches A method of prioritizing data transmissions between a SCSI initiator and a SCSI target in a network system with DCB enabled switches. The method includes a switch controller detecting a SCSI set priority response transmitted via a first pair of switch ports from a SCSI target to a SCSI initiator, which communicate SCSI messaging and transmit I/O data via the first pair of switch ports. In response to detecting the SCSI set priority response, the priority data established by the SCSI target is retrieved and, based on the retrieved priority data, the switch controller autonomously sets the DCB priority for the first pair of switch ports to a first DCB priority value correlated to the retrieved priority data. Transmission of the I/O data between the SCSI initiator and the SCSI target is supported with a priority of the first pair of switch ports set to the first DCB priority value.
US08972615B2	Communication with input/output system devices A computer program product is provided for performing: obtaining, by a channel subsystem, a transport command word (TCW) specified by an operating system, the TCW comprising an address of a transport services request block (TSRQB) and an address of a transport services response block (TSRSB); obtaining the TSRQB; building at least one command request based on the TSRQB, and sending the at least one command request from the channel subsystem to at least one network entity, the at least one command request including at least one of a fiber-channel generic services (FC-GS) request, a fiber-channel link services (FC-LS) request, and a fiber-channel link-level function (FC-SB) request; receiving a response to the at least one command request from the at least one network entity; and storing the response to the TSRSB based on the address of the TSRSB obtained from the TCW.
US08972614B2	Half-duplex SATA link with controlled idle gap insertion A method includes receiving in a storage device multiple commands from a host, and sending responses to the commands from the storage device to the host, over a half-duplex link that does not enable simultaneous transmission by the host and by the storage device. An idle gap is inserted between two of the responses, during which the host has priority to send one or more subsequent commands on the half-duplex link.
US08972612B2	Collecting asymmetric data and proxy data on a communication network A system, method, and apparatus for collecting data streams, such as data packets, on a network, such as the Internet, are disclosed. A metadata portion of at least one of the data streams is analyzed on the network and evaluated using a metadata processing engine to identify a relationship between at least two of the plurality of data streams, e.g., a relationship between multiple users of interest, a new user of interest, etc. Evaluation of the metadata and the relationships can be performed algorithmically, as predetermined by an analyst or as provided as preset options by the network monitoring system (NMS). An interface manager can receive the new user of interest, evaluate the new user of interest for redundancy against existing users of interest of the NMS; then communicate the new user of interest to at least one access device to collect data streams associated with the new user of interest.
US08972611B2	Multi-server consolidated input/output (IO) device An input/output (IO) device for connecting multiple servers to one or more network interfaces. The device includes a network connection module comprising one or more network interfaces, and a virtual host interface configured to enable communication with a plurality of host servers. The device includes IO controller configured to connect each of the host servers to one or more of the network interfaces such that the connections between each host server and corresponding one or more network interfaces are operationally isolated and independent from one another.
US08972606B2	Channel subsystem server time protocol commands A protocol for communicating with the timing facility used in a data processing network to provide synchronization is provided via the execution of a machine instruction that accepts a plurality of commands. The interaction is provided through the use of message request blocks and their associated message response blocks. In this way timing parameters may be determined, modified and communicated. This makes it much easier for multiple servers or nodes in a data processing network to exist as a coordinated timing network and to thus more cooperatively operate on the larger yet identical data files.
US08972605B2	Secure location identification service A first server may: receive, from a second server, a request for location information associated with a first user device having a first identifier and a second identifier, or a request for information to identify one or more second user devices located in a particular geographic area; determine the second identifier based on information stored by the first server mapping the second identifier to the first identifier; provide, to the third server, the second identifier to request the location information associated with the second identifier; receive the location information associated with the second identifier; and provide, to the second server, the location information associated with the user device based on receiving the location information. The first server may provide information regarding the geographic area to the third server to receive the information identifying the one or more user devices in the geographic area.
US08972603B1	Managing encoded multi-part communications Techniques are described for providing managed computer networks. In some situations, the techniques include managing communications for computing nodes of a managed computer network by automatically determining to separate a particular outgoing packet or other outgoing communication from a source computing node into multiple parts (e.g., multiple packets) to be independently sent using two or more alternative network paths between the sending computing node and the destination for the communication. For example, a manager module associated with the source computing node may automatically determine to encode the outgoing communication into a dynamically determined quantity of multiple parts (e.g., by using a configurable erasure code), such as based on current information about available alternative paths, and another manager module associated with the destination may receive at least some of the multiple parts and decode them into the original outgoing communication, which is then provided to the destination.
US08972600B2	Method and apparatus for a fault resilient collaborative media serving array Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for a fault resilient collaborative media serving array comprising a plurality of nodes. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for creating a fault resilient collaborative media serving array where the array nodes do not share memory, the serving of a content file is accomplished by the collaborative efforts of many nodes in the array, and where there is no fixed allocation of sessions to nodes.
US08972597B2	Method and system for enabling generation of a summary of a data stream A summary of a data stream, comprising a plurality of segments, is generated. A data stream, comprising a plurality of segments, is transmitted to a plurality of users (step 300). Ratings in respect of at least one of the plurality of segments of the data stream are collected from a plurality of users (step 306). This enables a summary of the data stream to be generated on the basis of the collected ratings (step 308).
US08972596B2	System and method for effecting communications among devices in different domains employing different operating protocols A system for effecting communications among a plurality of devices situated in a plurality of domains employing differing operating protocols; the system including: (a) at least one topology agent situated in a source domain of the domains and configured for effecting operation of the system among the domains; (b) at least one negotiator agent situated between the source domain and a respective other domain and configured for selective coupling with a respective topology agent; the at least one negotiator agent implementing quality of service parameters provided by the respective topology agent to convey communications from the source domain to the other domain; and (c) a plurality of proxy agents; at least one proxy agent being situated in each respective other domain and configured for implementing quality of service policies received from the respective negotiator agent to effect the communications within the respective other domain.
US08972593B2	Load sharing method, load sharing system and access server A load sharing method, system, and access server has been disclosed. The load sharing method includes: sending request information to at least two authentication authorization accounting servers, receiving respective state information sent by the at least two authentication authorization accounting servers according to the request information, determining a load sharing ratio among the at least two authentication authorization accounting servers according to the respective state information, and sharing loads among the at least two authentication authorization accounting servers according to the load sharing ratio. The access server can adjust the load sharing ratio among the authentication authorization accounting servers dynamically, which improves user access performance.
US08972589B2	Location-based access control in a data network A request for network access is received from a client device at a network entry device of a network infrastructure. The network infrastructure determines a physical location of the client device and determines authorization of the client device based on the physical location. The approach can include providing the physical location along with other user credentials to an authorizing device. The method can also include determining a level of service based on the physical location. Communication for the approach can make use of the IEEE 802.1X protocol.
US08972588B2	System and method for automatic discovery of topology in an LTE/SAE network A system, method and computer program product are disclosed for monitoring a telecommunications network that comprises a plurality of Mobility Management Entity (MME) nodes and a plurality of evolved UTRAN NodeB (eNodeB) nodes coupled by S1-MME interfaces. A Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) association identifier is assigned to an SCTP association between interconnected MME and eNodeB nodes. Specific S1-MME messages allow discovering the MME nodes and the eNodeB nodes with their network identifiers, identifying the connections between them and populating proper tables for this topology information.
US08972585B2	Method for splitting a load of monitoring a peer to peer network In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method for splitting a load of monitoring a peer to peer network. The method has a first node in the peer to peer network receiving information reported by a second node in the peer to peer network, including information concerning which nodes are connected to the second node. The method further has the first node connecting to nodes different from the nodes that are connected to the second node using the received information. The method still further has the first node reporting information, including information concerning which nodes are connected to the first node, such that the second node also has access to the reported information, thereby splitting the load of monitoring the peer to peer network among the first and second nodes.
US08972584B2	Remote card reader access Computing devices for providing a web service interface to a communication layer of the smartcard reader.
US08972582B2	Method and apparatus enabling reauthentication in a cellular communication system A method (and corresponding equipment) for use in reauthentication—after a first, full authentication by a first authentication server (23a)—of a communication session involving the exchange of information between a terminal (21) and a server (24), the method including: a step (11) in which the first authentication server (23a) and other authentication servers (23b) are each assigned a respective unique realm name; and a step (13) in which during authentication between the terminal and the first authentication server (23a), the first authentication server (23a) transmits to the terminal (21) a reauthentication identity including the unique realm name assigned to the first authentication server. Then, later, during reauthentication, to make possible that the reauthentication is performed by the same authentication server (23a) as performed the full authentication—i.e. by the first authentication server (23a)—the reauthentication identity is included in a request for reauthentication.
US08972581B2	Server clustering in a computing-on-demand system A device may provision two or more servers, each of the servers including a network interface. In addition, the device may enable the network interface in each of the provisioned servers, create a shared volume, assign the shared volume to each of the provisioned servers, and enable a clustering application on each of the provisioned servers to form a cluster comprising the provisioned servers, the cluster having a heartbeat via the network interfaces.
US08972575B2	Server-side web analytics system and method There is provided a server-side web analytics computer implemented system and method. In an embodiment the system has at least one computer server for receiving an electronic request from a web enabled source. The computer server has a web application for creating a log message from the electronic request. The computer server further has an automated server-side web analytics system for processing the log message into an action message and for processing the action message into a reporting message. The server-side web analytics computer implemented system generates asynchronously and in near real-time web analytics data from the reporting message.
US08972573B2	Triggering actions based on changes in a network connection The described embodiments provide a system for performing an action based on a change in a status of a wired or wireless network connection for the system. During operation, the system detects the change in the status of the network connection. In response to detecting the change, the system determines a state of the system. The system then performs one or more actions using the determined state.
US08972571B2	System and method for correlating network identities and addresses The system and method for correlating network identities and addresses described herein may include a log correlation engine distributed on a network that identifies relationships between certain network identities and Internet Protocol (IP) and Ethernet addresses in the network. In particular, the log correlation engine may analyze various event logs that describe activity in a network to learn relationships between network identities and network addresses and generate alerts in response to discovering changes in the learned relationships. For example, the log correlation engine may identify authentication events described in the logs to map network identities to IP addresses, and may further analyze the logs to map the IP addresses to Ethernet addresses. Thus, the log correlation engine may discover new and changed relationships between the network identities, the IP addresses, and the Ethernet addresses.
US08972566B1	Distributed statistical detection of network problems and causes In a network, a set of machines communicate pairwise, each conditionally adjusting messages in response to its own local state, and each in response to statistical methods conditionally propagating those messages, with the effect that problems with that network, or with a subset of its machines, are reported to a receiver/server. Only a substantially constant number of reports are made to the receiver/server, even when there are a substantial number of such machines able to detect that problem. When a problem is reported, a similar technique causes the machines to collectively evaluate and report suggested causes for that problem. Messages are propagated from each machine to another using locally random global locality. The machines in the network, in response to statistical techniques, organize hierarchically in O(log n) time, where n is the number of machines in the network, substantially without any requirement for nonlocal message exchange.
US08972565B1	Detecting content and user response to content A first set of data including a first tracking identifier for a first webpage component and a destination address for the first webpage component is accessed. A second set of data that includes an address for retrieving a second webpage component, is accessed. The address includes a second tracking identifier. Whether the second tracking identifier is the same as the first tracking identifier is determined. The second webpage component is associated with the destination address when the second tracking identifier is the same as the first tracking identifier.
US08972556B2	Method and apparatus for management of network communications A method and apparatus for maintaining a communication link through a NAT or other boundary device. Keep-alive messages (keep-alives) are transmitted and received by the boundary device to maintain the link therethrough. Address information of a keep-alive purports that keep-alive has traversed or is to traverse a predetermined portion of the communication link, such as a wireless “over the air” portion. However, the keep-alive is inhibited from traversing the predetermined portion. This may be accomplished by one or more of: spoofing the origin of the keep-alive such that it only appears to have traversed the predetermined portion; and causing the keep-alive to be discarded before traversal of the predetermined portion. Discard may be facilitated by configuration of the TTL field of the keep-alive or by use of a filtering device.
US08972555B2	IPsec connection to private networks A server hosting system and method of connecting to managed servers using IPsec are disclosed. The server hosting system includes a plurality of managed servers, and first and second secure communication appliances. The first secure communication appliance is configured to connect to a tenant appliance at a first tenant using an IPsec tunnel, and further configured to route data between a first managed server of the plurality of managed servers and the tenant appliance at the first tenant. The second secure communication appliance is configured to connect to a tenant appliance at a second tenant using an IPsec tunnel, and further configured to route data between a second managed server of the plurality of managed servers and the tenant appliance at the second tenant.
US08972554B2	Methods and apparatus to measure mobile broadband market share Methods and apparatus are disclosed to measure mobile broadband market share. A disclosed example method involves receiving first information indicative of a first network interface device used at a first time, receiving second information indicative of a first Internet protocol (IP) address used at the first time, and identifying an instance of mobile broadband data card Internet access when the first network interface device is a broadband data card and the first IP address is associated with a first broadband Internet service provider (ISP).
US08972551B1	Prioritizing service requests Disclosed are various embodiments for prioritizing service requests. A service request destined for processing by a service provider is obtained in at least one computing device. The service provider is configured to provide a service. The service request includes at least one client-specified parameter indicating a priority of the service request. A load associated with the service is determined. The service request is prioritized for an initial processing stage of the service provider when the load meets at least one threshold. The prioritizing for the initial processing stage is based at least in part on the at least one client-specified parameter. The service request is prioritized for an additional processing stage of the service provider when the load meets the at least one threshold. The prioritizing for the additional processing stage is based at least in part on the at least one client-specified parameter and a result of the initial processing stage.
US08972547B2	Method and apparatus for dynamically configuring virtual internet protocol addresses A host node connected to a network using an Internet Protocol automatically identifies multiple adapters connected to the same network, preferably by broadcasting a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) request for assignment of an IP address on a first adapter, and listening to the request on a second adapter, thereby determining that both adapters are on the same network. The host preferably causes an IP address to be generated for one of the adapters, and automatically configures the adapters to share the IP address thus generated as a virtual IP address, assigning one of the adapters as a primary adapter. Preferably, the host automatically detects deactivation of the primary adapter and switches the virtual address assignment to a different adapter.
US08972546B2	Apparatus system and method for booting a server from a storage system An apparatus, system, and computer readable medium are disclosed for booting a server from a shared storage system. The present invention teaches at least one server having at least one processor, a storage system having a plurality of storage drives and at least one boot volume corresponding to the at least one server, and a switch fabric having at least one switch; the switch fabric isolates boot traffic form storage traffic and enables communication between the server and the boot volume of the storage system. In some embodiments the switch fabric includes one or more partitionable switches that isolate boot traffic from storage traffic. The boot volumes may be a redundant array of storage devices. In certain embodiments, the present invention also includes devices external to the server, switch fabric, and storage system.
US08972541B2	Method and apparatus providing access network aware presence to applications A method and system for detecting and communicating access network capability information to an application server such that the application server may adapt its service offerings in response to changes in the access network associated with one or more user terminals. The service adaptations may comprise increases or decreases in service level, depending upon whether the access network capability has increased or decreased.
US08972531B2	Methods and systems of retrieving seismic data by a data server Retrieving seismic data by a data server. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: retrieving a seismic data slice from a seismic data volume, the datums logically organized in parallel layers, the retrieving by: sending a request for the seismic data slice from a client computer to a data sever over a network connection, the request spans at least a quarter of the layers in the seismic data volume, and the data server is remote from the client computer; extracting data values associated with the seismic data slice from the seismic data volume by the data server; sending, by the data server, datums residing within the seismic data slice, the sending such that at least some cache lines of a processor of the client computer filled responsive to the request comprise datums that span more than one layer; and then rendering the seismic data slice on a display device.
US08972528B2	Presenting an image of assembled components A ring design machine receives one or more selections of gemstones and one or more selections of settings and allows a user to “mix and match” gemstones and settings and view a selected gemstone in a compatible setting for that gemstone. To present the gemstone in the setting, the ring design machine presents a combination image that depicts the gemstone in the setting. The ring design machine, which may be implemented using a computer programmed by software, may present the combination image to the user in response to receiving a selection of the gemstone and a selection of the setting from the user via a network.
US08972521B2	Method and device for operating wind farm power grids with improved data transmission protocol A method and apparatus for the operation of a wind farm grid system. Methods and apparatus are provided for networking between the farm management system (farm master) and individual wind turbines (WKA) of a wind farm via a central network for the purpose of data transmission in both directions. The central network may be configured as a ring, star, line, or tree having a physical layer which communicates with a data link layer which is in communication with a wind farm protocol (WPP) application layer through a WPP real-time driver.
US08972516B2	Network based storage and accounts Managing information related to an entity. The method includes storing a cache of data particular to an entity. The cache of data is related to the entity and controlled by the entity. The data in the cache of data is organized into a number of distinct subject matters. Access is provided to a portion of the data to a third party. Access is provided based on the third party being a service provider providing services related to the one of the distinct subject matters. Access is provided while restricting access to other portions of the data to the third party. Additional data is received from the third party. The additional data is added from the third party to the cache of data and the additional data is organized into the one of the distinct subject matters such that the additional data is also related to and controlled by the entity.
US08972515B2	Computer architectures using shared storage Shared storage architectures are provided. A particular shared storage architecture includes an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) system. The ESB system includes shared storage including data and file system metadata separated from the data. The file system metadata includes location data specifying storage location information related to the data. An infrastructure function of the ESB system is provided to enable messaging between providers and consumers through the shared storage.
US08972514B2	Data transmitting and receiving method, data transmitting and receiving system, master device, and slave device In a data transmitting and receiving method of a demand assignment type, a master device schedules an occupancy band of a fixed size for requesting a band to the master device by slave devices, with respect to a specific number of slave devices for each cycle, and the slave device waits for assignment of the occupancy band of the fixed size based on the schedule and performs message transmission of requesting a band for data transmission to the master device, thereby suppressing an influence of pressure on the data transmission band and preventing line utilization efficiency from decreasing while avoiding signal collision on a Random Channel.
US08972512B2	Message delivery systems and methods Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for handling large numbers of messages of one or more message types. In embodiments, the scalable messaging system reads from lists of recipient addresses and template messages, mergers them into messages, removes known blacklisted addresses, facilitates the rapid delivery of these messages via a dynamic queuing and dynamic message server deployment, and stores errors and other statistics. In embodiments, the scalable messaging system may include messaging system instances at different locations.
US08972511B2	Methods and apparatus for analyzing social media for enterprise compliance issues In some embodiments, a non-transitory processor-readable medium includes code that causes a processor to receive, at a compliance device, a message from a source communication device addressed to a destination communication device. The code causes the processor to analyze at a context engine, the content of the message to determine a first risk level associated with a preference of an organization. The code further causes the processor to analyze at a regulatory engine, the content of the message to determine a second risk level associated with a regulatory standard of a specific industry and to define a composite risk level based on the first risk level and the second risk level. The code further causes the processor to send a notification to an administrator if the composite risk level satisfies a criterion, and to send the message to the destination communication device irrespective of the composite risk level.
US08972509B2	Automated rich-content messaging Various embodiments include systems, methods, and software for automated rich-content messaging. Some such embodiments generating messages to be sent via email, MMS, social media, or other electronic mechanisms from a business application based on message templates authored within a content management program. Messages may be generated and sent based on event occurrences, monitored data conditions, and the like.
US08972506B2	Conversation mapping A method may include receiving communications associated with a communication session. The communication session may correspond to a telephone conversation, text-based conversation or a multimedia conversation. The method may also include identifying portions of the communication session and storing the identified portions. The method may further include receiving a request to retrieve information associated with the communication session and providing to a display, information associated with the identified portions.
US08972505B2	Method and system for maintaining contact information Techniques for synchronizing personal contact information with or from different sources are disclosed. Through a website (i.e., a server or system), all fractional personal contact information is consolidated, synchronized, processed or updated. In return, any of the resources may be synchronized to get a copy of the latest version of the contact information. When contacts in a list by a registered user are also registered with the server, any of the contacts may update their respective contact information that can be timely reflected in the list. As a result, the registered user always has a latest version of the contact information for some or all of his/her contacts without even knowing some has already been changed or updated. Based on the contact information, other features including proof delivery of emails, recycling of deleted contacts, a “black” list, contact relationship levels and anonymous email, short messaging and calls are provided.
US08972500B2	Data share system, data process apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium A data process apparatus for sharing shared data among plural data process apparatuses participating in an event. The data process apparatus includes a participation notification reception unit configured to receive a participation notification from each of the plural data process apparatus including first and second data process apparatuses in the event, a notifying unit configured to notify the second data process apparatus to the first data process apparatus as a data obtain target from which the shared data is to be obtained. The second data process apparatus is a data process apparatus from which the participation notification has already been received by the participation notification reception unit.
US08972499B2	Automated web conference presentation quality improvement A slide presentation file created by a web conference client device at an initial presentation quality using one version of an application is uploaded to a web conference server device that implements a state sharing mechanism for web conference slide presentation quality improvement during a web conference among a group of web conference client devices. The web conference server device is requested to begin rendering and distribution of presentation slides as part of the web conference among the group of web conference client devices using the state sharing mechanism. A rendered web conference presentation slide of the slide presentation file is received from the web conference server device. A determination is made that the rendered web conference presentation slide of the slide presentation file is rendered at a presentation quality different from the initial presentation quality of the uploaded slide presentation file.
US08972497B2	Automated encoding of field operators for absent fields In one example a method includes: selecting, by a computing device, a message description that indicates a pre-defined operator is associated with a message data field; receiving, by the computing device, information associated with the message data field; responsive to determining that the information indicates the message data field does not include data, determining, by the computing device, whether to include, in a second message that is associated with the message description, a data value for the message data field of the second message based on the pre-defined operator that is associated with the message data field, wherein the data value is stored by the computing device and is associated with the message data field.
US08972492B2	Image processing apparatus, control method for image processing apparatus, and program An image processing apparatus connected to a Web server and including a Web browser for displaying an operation screen provided by the Web server and a processing unit that, when requested to execute image processing by the Web server based on access from the Web browser, executes the requested image processing, where it is determined, depending on a destination of access by the Web browser, whether or not to supply information about the image processing apparatus to the destination of access, and if it is determined that the information about the image processing apparatus should be supplied, the information about the image processing apparatus is supplied to the destination of access made by the Web browser.
US08972491B2	Consistency-based service-level agreements in cloud storage environments An application programming interface is provided that allows applications to assign multiple service-level agreements to their data transactions. The service-level agreements include latency bounds and consistency guarantees. The applications may assign utility values to each of the service-level agreements. A monitor component monitors the various replica nodes in a cloud storage system for latency and consistency, and when a transaction is received from an application, the monitor determines which of the replica nodes can likely fulfill the transaction in satisfaction of any of the service-level agreements. Where multiple service-level agreements can be satisfied, the replica node that can fulfill the transaction according to the service-level agreement with the greatest utility is selected. The application may be charged for the transaction based on the utility of the service-level agreement that was satisfied.
US08972490B1	User discovery in socially-aware data storage systems Information processing techniques for managing user discovery requests in a computing system such as a socially-aware data storage system. In one example, a method comprises the following steps. A user discovery request is sent from a first client to a socially-aware data storage system. The user discovery request comprises a social score computed for the first client. A list of other clients associated with the socially-aware data storage system is received at the first client from the socially-aware data storage system. The list of other clients is based on the social score computed for the first client.
US08972489B2	Providing a client interface for a server-based web application programming interface Disclosed methods, systems, and articles of manufacture, including processor-readable mediums, relate to providing a client interface for a server-based web application programming interface (API). In a disclosed method, a client device receives a first discovery document that is represented in a first machine-readable language and that includes information describing a plurality of resources of a first API of a server device. Based at least in part on the first discovery document, the client device executes a first set of instructions represented in a second machine-readable language that is different from the first machine-readable language, to generate a first library that includes instructions represented in the second machine-readable language and that enables the client device to interface with at least one of the plurality of resources of the first API.
US08972488B2	System, methods, and media for providing in-memory non-relational databases Providing a first control process that executes in a hardware processor, providing a first server process that executes in a hardware processor, that responds to write requests by storing objects in in-memory, non-relational data store, and that responds to read requests by providing objects from in-memory, non-relational data store, wherein the objects each have an object size; forming a plurality of persistent connections between the first control process and the first server process; using the first control process, pipelining, using a pipeline having a pipeline size, requests that include the read requests and the write requests over at least one of the plurality of persistent connections; using the first control process, adjusting the number of plurality of persistent connections and the pipeline size based on an average of the object sizes; and using the first control process, prioritizing requests by request type based on anticipated load from the requests.
US08972484B2	Method and apparatus for efficient and accurate analytics with cross-domain correlation A method of generating analytics to provide an analysis of data from distinct data domains includes collecting sensor data from at least two distinct data domains, deriving parameters from the collected data, wherein at least one of the parameters is a first domain parameter derived from one of the data domains and at least another one of the parameters is a second domain parameter derived from the other data domain, providing a data model that enables a user to specify at least one of the first parameters and at least one of the second domain parameters and generate at least one rule based on the selected parameters, and generating analytics that analyze the collected data against the rules to determinate whether the rules have been satisfied and provide results of the analysis to a user of the analytics.
US08972482B2	Automated remote site downloading on a geographic drive A remote site downloading system is disclosed in which a local computer establishes a session with a content server, and a content file and geographic destination drive are selected. The local computer is typically on a first access network and the user wishes to have the file downloaded to a geographic drive, i.e., a remote site computer whose location and other properties are mapped in a mapping file on the local computer. The geographic drive is usually on a different access network in a dynamic location such as a hotspot or a fixed location such as broadband cable or DSL. The local computer is specially programmed to allow selection of the geographic target drive, pack information comprising cookies and a URL, and sends it to the remote geographic drive computer, where it may act as a proxy to cause downloading from the content server to the geographic drive on the remote site computer.
US08972480B2	Enhanced barrier operator within a streaming environment Techniques are described for processing data. Embodiments receive streaming data to be processed by a plurality of processing elements. An operator graph of the plurality of processing elements that defines at least one execution path is established. Additionally, a first processing element in the operator graph includes a barrier operator that joins the output of one or more upstream operators included in one or more of the plurality of processing elements. Embodiments initiate one or more timeout conditions at the barrier operator. Embodiments also determine, at the first processing element, that one or more timeout conditions have been satisfied before data has been received from each of the one or more upstream operators. Upon determining that the one or more timeout conditions have been satisfied, embodiments generate output data at the barrier operator without the data from at least one of the one or more upstream operators.
US08972479B2	Methods and apparatus for online program application execution between servers An information processing system includes a first server and a second server. The first server includes a first executing unit configured to execute an application at a first speed, using input information items sequentially obtained, and a first transmission unit configured to send a result of execution of the application to a terminal. The second server includes a reproduction data obtaining unit configured to obtain reproduction data containing the input information items sequentially obtained, for reproducing a state of the first executing unit, an input information obtaining unit configured to obtain input information items sequentially sent from the terminal in response to an input information transmission instruction to the second server, a second executing unit configured to execute the application, and a second transmission unit configured to send a result of execution of the application by the second executing unit to the terminal.
US08972478B1	Using append only log format in data storage cluster with distributed zones for determining parity of reliability groups Techniques for a data storage cluster and a method for maintaining and updating reliability data and reducing data communication between nodes, are disclosed herein. Each data object is written to a single data zone on a data node within the data storage cluster. Each data object includes one or more data chunks, and the data chunks of a data object are written to a data node in an append-only log format. When parity is determined for a reliability group including the data zone, there is no need to transmit data from other data nodes where the rest of data zones of the reliability group reside. Thus, inter-node data communication for determining reliability data is reduced.
US08972475B2	Network secure communications in a cluster computing environment Secure communications are provided over a network in a distributed workload environment having target hosts which are accessed through a distribution processor by a common network address. Secure communications are provided by routing both inbound and outbound communications with target hosts which are associated with a secure network communication through the distribution processor. Both inbound and outbound secure network communications are processed at the distribution processor so as to provide network security processing of communications from the target host and network security processing of communications to the target host.
US08972472B2	Apparatus and methods for hardware-efficient unbiased rounding A system and method for unbiased rounding away from, or toward, zero by truncating N bits from a M bit input number to provide a M−N bit number, and adding the equivalent value of ‘½’ to the M−N bit number unless the input number is negative, or positive, respectively, and the N truncated bits represent exactly ½. The method for rounding away from zero may include outputting a (M−N) bit truncated number if the M-bit input number is negative and the sequence of N truncated bits comprises a most significant bit of 1, followed by zeros; and otherwise, computing and outputting a sum of (a) a number that has an equivalent value of one followed by (N−1) replicas of zero, the one provided by applying a logical operation on the most significant bit of the sequence of truncated bits and (b) the (M−N) bit truncated number.
US08972471B2	Arithmetic module, device and system An arithmetic module is provided, including a first adder, a first shifter coupled to the first adder, a multiplier coupled to the first shifter for receiving an external coefficient signal, a digit alignment unit coupled to the multiplier, a second adder coupled to the digit alignment unit, and a second shifter coupled to the second adder. The arithmetic module reduces the overall computation time effectively, as compared with a scalar processor, by employing a serial data connection design, and also significantly reduces power consumption of the digital signal processor by requiring fewer input and output ends than those of a multi-issue processor.
US08972468B2	Method for distributing a certified application employing a pre-certified master application template A computer system is used to distribute an application using a data resource. An application using a data resource is created using an authoring environment. The application is converted into a certified master application template. The certified master application template is used to create a certified application and certified data resource. The certified application and certified data resource are distributed. During the distribution of the application, the certified master application template is modified and a new certified data resource is created. The new certified data resource is distributed.
US08972467B2	Method for selecting a data set from a plurality of data sets by means of an input device The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for selecting a data set from a plurality of data sets by means of a multi-touch input device, the data sets being connected with each other according to a topology of a graph, the input device comprising: a multi-touch screen, a motion sensing unit, and an acceleration sensing unit, the method comprising: displaying a view by the multi-touch screen, the view comprising a plurality of GUI elements, each GUI element representing one of the data sets, whereby one of the GUI elements is used as current GUI element; detecting, by the motion sensing unit, one or more first tilting motions; determining at least one candidate GUI element in dependence on the one or more first tilting motions; highlighting the at least one candidate GUI element; detecting a first shaking motion; automatically selecting, upon the detection of the first shaking motion, the data set represented by the highlighted GUI element.
US08972466B1	Efficient reverse name lookup in a file system A method and apparatus for performing a reverse name lookup in a file system is described. A file system driver executing on the computing system agent may receive a reverse name lookup request for an inode number. The file system driver retrieves a disk inode, corresponding to the inode number, a first block number of a first directory entry (dentry), the first dentry identifying directory data blocks where the inode number and a file name are stored. The file system driver searches the first dentry for the inode number to find the corresponding file name, and retrieves the file name from the first dentry.
US08972464B2	File handling for naming conflicts A file operations engine is provided that manages many user interactions with their files via a computer system. The operation engine may provide a user with the option to keep both files that have a file name conflict. It may further permit the user to rename a file involved with a file name conflict. The operations engine may also automatically rename one of the files of a file name conflict by appending a character to a root of the filename. The character may include the lowest integer available for the root in a destination for the files. The operations engine may provide the option to keep both files as part of a pre-calculation of potential errors for a requested operation. The operations engine may place file name conflicts in an error queue and permit the user to select an option to keep both files after the conflict is encountered.
US08972459B2	Data change tracking and event notification The described implementations relate to updating views in a database system. One implementation can identify an active view that retrieves records from a database and determine one or more physical tables in the database that are referenced by the active view. The implementation can track one or more columns in the physical tables that are used by the active view and identify a change to the physical tables in a transaction log of the database. If the change does not affect the one or more columns, the change can be treated as an ignorable change for the active view.
US08972456B2	Analyzing software-usage information Various embodiments of systems and methods for analyzing software-usage information are described herein. Traffic numbers are obtained from data stored in a database using measurement objects that are associated with one or more keys. The measurement objects output the traffic numbers and the one or more keys are related to elements of the data. Identifiers and categories are assigned to the measurement objects. The categories represent attributes of a software product. A data structure comprising the identifiers, the traffic numbers, and the categories is generated and stored. The stored data structure and a header comprising one or more fields are used to generate a report.
US08972454B2	Capturing image data A screen capture application captures image data by receiving a signal defining a display area for which image data is to be captured, accessing metadata relating to components within the defined display area, and, for components within the display area, storing an image of the component and storing associated position data. The screen capture application may store positional relationships between the components within the defined display area, the positional relationships including ordering of the components relative to each other. The screen capture application may store the components as a plurality of layers within a layered image file. The screen capture application may store the component images in respective files and store the position data in a control file. The control file may include details of the respective component image files.
US08972447B2	Persistent object linkage using ghosting A system that persistently maintains and exposes one or more previous object hierarchies to which an object belonged across one or more hierarchy destroying operations, such as operations that delete parent objects, add parent objects subsequent to addition of their descendent objects, forward objects to or from the hierarchy, and/or modify hierarchy determining rules. A user interface object allows user access to one or more persistent hierarchies for the corresponding object. A hierarchy list or the like allows a user to select a desired one of the persistent hierarchies. A persistent hierarchy can be accessed in the disclosed system through a display object associated with any object within the hierarchy, including the root, leaves, and any intervening objects. When objects are deleted, “ghost” objects are maintained and displayed to the user in the hierarchical positions of the deleted objects when a persistent hierarchy is displayed.
US08972446B2	Order-independent stream query processing In a system and method for order-independent stream query processing, one or more input streams of data are received, and the one or more input streams are analyzed to determine data which is older than an already emitted progress indicator. The data which is older than the already emitted progress indicator is partitioned into one or more partitions, and each of the one or more partitions are independently processed using out-of-order processing techniques. A query is received, rewritten and decomposed into one or more sub-queries that produce partial results for each of the one or more partitions, where each of the one or more sub-queries correspond to a partition. A view is also produced that consolidates the partial results for each partition. The partial results are consolidated at a consolidation time specified by the query to produce final results, and the final results are provided.
US08972444B2	Nonstandard locality-based text entry A computer-implemented method of providing text entry assistance data includes receiving at a system location information associated with a user, receiving at the system information indicative of predictive textual outcomes, generating dictionary data using the location information, and providing the dictionary data to a remote device.
US08972436B2	Translation model and method for matching reviews to objects Disclosed are methods and apparatus for matching sets of text to objects are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a set of text is obtained. For instance, the set of text may include a review. A numerical value is determined for each of a plurality of objects, where the numerical value indicates a likelihood that the corresponding one of the plurality of objects is a subject of the set of text. Each of the plurality of objects has an object type defined by a set of one or more attributes, each of the set of one or more attributes having associated therewith a corresponding set of one or more parameters, wherein the numerical value is determined using the set of text and a value of each of the set of one or more parameters for each of the set of one or more attributes. One of the plurality of objects that is most likely to be the subject of the set of text is identified based upon the numerical value that has been determined for each of the plurality of objects.
US08972434B2	Multi-phase search and presentation for vertical search websites The present invention provides a methodology and system for efficiently performing travel reservation queries and presenting significant search results to a user. A travel reservation search engine constructs a first query from one or more constraints. The first query has a threshold probability of returning a first set of search results that will lead to the purchase of a travel reservation. Additionally, if determined necessary by the search engine a second query is constructed from one or more constraints. The second query returns a second set of search results.
US08972433B2	Systems and methods for programmatic generation of database statements Computer-based systems and methods for programmatically generating code, such as Structure Query Language (SQL) code to perform an operation on a database. A code generation engine, referred to herein as an Alchemy engine, receives a request in a first language, such as an XML-based language, and translates the request into a second language, such as an SQL-based language. The translation process utilizes information stored in a metadata database.
US08972432B2	Machine translation using information retrieval Systems, methods, and apparatuses, including computer program products, are provided for machine translation using information retrieval techniques. In general, in one implementation, a method is provided. The method includes providing a received input segment as a query to a search engine, the search engine searching an index of one or more collections of documents, receiving one or more candidate segments in response to the query, determining a similarity of each candidate segment to the received input segment, and for one or more candidate segments having a determined similarity that exceeds a threshold similarity, providing a translated target segment corresponding to the respective candidate segment.
US08972428B2	Providing an answer to a question left unanswered in an electronic forum Systems and methods are provided for providing an answer to a question left unanswered in an electronic discussion forum. In some embodiments, a question that has not been answered may be identified in a first discussion forum. A second discussion forum in which to present the question may be determined, where the second discussion forum is more likely than the first discussion forum to result in an answer to the question. The question may then be presented in the second discussion forum, and one or more responses to the question may be received in the second discussion forum. It may then be determined whether one of the one or more responses includes a good answer to the question, and when the determination is that one of the one or more responses includes a good answer, the good answer may be presented in the first discussion forum.
US08972427B2	System and method for providing electronic supplemental content associated with printed content in a printed publication Supplemental content may be provided to users that is associated with printed content found in printed publications. Via, for example, a client computing platform a user may provide information identifying a specific publication, and then a content image (or images) representing the printed content. The content represented in the content image may be identified. This technique for identifying printed content may facilitate identification of printed content without requiring a machine-readable marker being included in the pages of the printed publication. Based on the identification of the specific printed content, supplemental content associated with the identified content may be accessed via the client computing platform.
US08972425B2	Efficient globally optimal interpretation of documents A method is provided for parsing a document having a plurality of lines on which items are listed spanning one or more lines. It includes: obtaining a plurality of candidates, representing hypothetical items within the document, each candidate spanning one or more lines and having a local cost representing a confidence in a quality of the candidate compared to a model; determining labeling costs for intervals of the document defined between pairs of lines, each interval containing candidates therein, each labeling cost reflecting a configuration of the candidates within the interval; identifying a best labeling for each interval based on the labeling costs determined for that interval, the best labeling corresponding to one of the configurations of the candidates within the interval; defining a global objective function; and selecting a subset of the candidates such that the global objective function is optimized, based on the identified best labelings.
US08972421B2	Systems and methods for propagating a global filter to individual datasets A user can define a filter to applied be to one or more datasets. The filter includes a specification of a field to filter. Upon applying the filter to a dataset, if the specified field cannot be found in the dataset, a field in the dataset is selected as a default field to filter. Selecting what field in the dataset should be the default field is based on evaluating a set of rules. The default field is then filtered according to the filter criteria.
US08972419B2	Item selecting apparatus, item selecting method and item selecting program In an item selecting apparatus performing a selection of an item to be recommended for each user, it is performed to calculate, with respect to each usage registration of an item by a user, an elapsed value as a difference between a time point of creating the item or staring providing of the item and a predetermined time point, acquire a usage characteristics of each user based on the elapsed value and calculate a freshness value representing a degree of freshness about each item. Further, using correspondence rules of different characteristics corresponding to the usage item on the correspondence rule corresponding to the usage characteristics of each user, calculate a priority of the item for each user, based on the novelty index and performing a selection of the item.
US08972417B2	Suggested out of network communication recipients Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems and machine readable medium for recommending an out-of-network communication by determining a set of potential recommended members of a social networking service based upon one or more recommendation criteria. In some examples the recommendation criteria may include: a profile similarity to a previous target of an out-of-network communication, a degree of correspondence between an interest and intent of the sending member, and a likelihood of response.
US08972411B1	Selection of sponsored content using multiple sets of query terms Multiple sets of words and phrases can be used as query terms for accessing sponsored content. Sponsored content is associated with item terms. The query terms are matched with the item terms. The result of the matching operation is a numerical score for each item of sponsored content that can be used to select sponsored content. Conditions present across the set of matched terms are detected. Such conditions can include the occurrence of a matched query term in multiple sets of query terms. This condition can be addressed by determining a number of unique matching query terms across all sets of query terms. The score given to an item of sponsored content can be adjusted if such a condition occurs. For example, the score could be adjusted according to a function of the number of unique matching query terms across all sets of query terms. If the number of matching query terms across all sets of query terms is low, such as one or two, then the function can define a penalty to be applied to the score given to the item of sponsored content. If the number of matching query terms across all sets of query terms is higher, such as three or more, then the function can define an adjustment to be applied to the score given to the item of sponsored content.
US08972410B2	Identifying related objects in a computer database Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for identifying related objects in a computer database. In one representative implementation: (a) a feature vector that describes an existing object is obtained; (b) comparison scores are generated between the feature vector and various sample vectors; (c) a set that includes at least one designated vector is identified from among the sample vectors by evaluating the generated comparison scores; (d) a computer database is searched for matches between label(s) for the designated vector(s) and labels for representative vectors for other objects represented in the computer database; and (e) at least one related object is identified based on the identified match(es).
US08972408B1	Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for addressing popular topics in a social sphere Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufactures for addressing popular topics in a social sphere. The method or the system continuously monitors conversations in online forum(s), identifies trend(s) of interest, identifies one or more content items that match the trend(s), and delivers the one or more content items to appropriate forum(s). The method or the system may aggregates conversations in a target forum to identify a trend and automatically responds to the trend by identifying and delivering matching existing content items to a target forum. The method or the system may further catalog a newly created content item upon creation and may identify a trend by employing some third-party products or services, by executing one or more Internet bots to monitor the online conversions, or by using trending application(s) offered by forums or social network websites.
US08972407B2	Information processing method for determining weight of each feature in subjective hierarchical clustering An information processing apparatus determines a weight of each physical feature for hierarchical clustering by acquiring training data of multiple pieces of content in triplets with label information indicating a pair specified by a user as having a highest degree of similarity among three contents of the triplet and executing hierarchical clustering using a feature vector of each piece of content of the training data and the weight of each feature to determine the hierarchical structure of the training data. The information processing apparatus updates the weight of each feature so that the degree of agreement between a pair combined first as being the same clusters among three contents of the triplet in a determined hierarchical structure and a pair indicated by label information corresponding to the triplet increases.
US08972406B2	Generating epigenetic cohorts through clustering of epigenetic surprisal data based on parameters A method, computer program product, and system generating epigenetic cohorts for a specific time period through clustering of epigenetic surprisal data at a specific time comprising. receiving a phenotypic and/or demographic parameter and a cluster characteristics input from a user; searching the epigenetic surprisal data at a specific time for the parameter and storing matches in a repository; generating a cluster comprising a centroid for each parameter by populating the cluster based on the matches of the parameter with the epigenetic surprisal data at a specific time period; determining at least two epigenetic cohorts for a specific time period from the cluster for each parameter and based on the input from the user; and if the cohorts do not match the input of the user, reporting the cohorts determined to the user and returning to the step of receiving a parameter and characteristic input from a user.
US08972404B1	Methods and systems for organizing content A computer-implemented method executes instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The method includes accessing a hierarchy of clusters, wherein each cluster includes at least one content file, and a label is associated with each cluster. The method further includes calculating a topic purity score for each cluster, and selecting a first cluster and a second cluster from the hierarchy of clusters, wherein the topic purity score of the first cluster and the second cluster are less than a purity threshold. The method also includes creating a third cluster by combining the content files included within the first cluster and the second cluster, determining a parent category of the first cluster and the second cluster, wherein the parent category is at a level within the hierarchy higher than a level of the first cluster and the second cluster, and associating a label of the parent category with the third cluster.
US08972399B2	Ranking based on social activity data Various technologies described herein pertain to using social activity data to personalize ranking of results returned by a computing operation for a user. For each of the results returned by the computing operation, a respective first affinity of the user to a corresponding result and a respective second affinity of the user to the corresponding result can be calculated and used for ranking the results. The respective first affinity of the user to the corresponding result can be calculated based on correlations between social activity data of the user and social activity data of a first group of historical users that clicked the corresponding result. Moreover, the respective second affinity of the user to the corresponding result can be calculated based on correlations between the social activity data of the user and social activity data of a second group of historical users that skipped the corresponding results.
US08972397B2	Auto-detection of historical search context Architecture that automatically detects historical search contexts as well as behaviors related to a search query. Machine learning and hand-authored rules are employed to automatically identify search contexts. Historical information likely to be useful in the current context is surfaced. When a user enters a search query or executes another search behavior, past behaviors are exposed which are contextually related to the current behavior. The architecture also provides automatic discovery of historical contexts, features related to the contexts, and training or authoring of a system for classifying behavior into contexts, using some combination of the machine learning and/or hand-authored rules. A runtime system classifies the current user behavior into a context and surfaces contextual information to the user.
US08972396B1	System and methods for determining relevance between text contents The present application discloses a computer-assisted method for determining relevance between a first text content and a second text content, and displaying relevant contents.
US08972393B1	Disambiguation of term meaning A meaning of a term is determined using the contents of a corpus of books through use of metadata about the books within the corpus, terms in the same work which provide context, and so forth. Users may query to determine the meaning of a term. Users may also build vocabulary skills by testing as well. A changing meaning of a term over time may be determined and utilized as well. Searches are facilitated by the enhanced ability to determine meaning of the terms, particularly in context. Feedback from the searches may also be used to refine future searches.
US08972392B2	User interaction based related digital content items Methods and systems to locate related digital content items in a content access log. In one embodiment, the method comprises extracting user events from a content access log, tagging each event as positive or negative, determining if a content item is positively interacted and processing the tagged items in a sliding window to determine positive interactions between a pair of content items.
US08972390B2	Identifying web pages having relevance to a file based on mutual agreement by the authors Methods and systems for providing related web pages are disclosed. One method includes identifying a plurality of web pages, wherein the plurality of web pages each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the world wide web provides a platform for sharing web pages, and wherein each web page includes a document or information resource that is suitable for the world wide web and is accessible through a web browser. The method further includes generating a list of inquiries based on the plurality of web pages, providing, the list of inquiries to at least one author of the first file, receiving from the at least one author at least one response to the list of inquiries, selecting a subset of the plurality of web pages based on the at least one response, and storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of web pages.
US08972389B2	Use of ontology to find a category of a selected keyword in a webpage Embodiments are provided for displaying ontology data. An ontology is displayed for a selected item. The ontology presents representational elements associated with the selected item, a combination of the representational elements defining and/or establishing a context for the selected item. The representational elements are categorized on a hierarchical path, the elements ordered by scope size. The ontology can be navigated in multiple directions with the directions including items broader in scope, and items narrower in scope. Navigating in one of these directions includes a displayed representational element from the ontology having a scope size reflecting the navigated direction.
US08972385B2	System and method for tracking patent ownership change A computer-implemented method and system are provided for automatically tracking change in ownership status of patents listed in a database at a patent registry. The method comprises receiving input from a user identifying one or more patents of interest to be tracked and, based on the input received, automatically performing a search of the registry database to identify changes in ownership status for any one or more of the patents of interest. The search results are formatted and transmitted to a user. The automatic search may be conducted on a regular basis thereby notifying as user of any intervening changes in ownership.
US08972384B2	Automatic information presentation of data and actions in search results Architecture that inserts one or more label items in search result entries. In addition to the typical search result caption (title, snippet, and link), the architecture includes the label component of one or more of the label items in the result entry. The number and type of label annotations are based on the query. When a particular label item is selected (e.g., hover, mouse click), a presentation component (e.g., expansion object, pop-up window) launches proximate to a label item in response to interaction with the label item and presents additional information from the target webpage. The additional information can include an action and data related to the search result entry and the target webpage. The data can be obtained from a data source other than the target webpage.
US08972382B1	Universal query search results Generally described, embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to generate a universal query result set from several different search index result sets by including identifications of items from the different search index result sets in an accurate manner. After a query has been submitted, search index result sets are received from several different search indexes, an allocation score for each search index is computed and a universal item score for the top-level item identified in each search index is computed. The method then combines the allocation score and the universal item score for the top level item for each search index result set and adds the item with the highest combined score to the universal query result set.
US08972381B2	Techniques for three-step join processing on column partitioned tables Techniques for processing joins on column partitioned tables are provided. A query includes a first-Column Partition (CP) table joined with a second-CP table. The query is decomposed into a three-step process and rewritten and processed.
US08972380B2	System and method for monitoring events against continual range queries A method (and structure) for monitoring continual range queries against events includes decomposing each range query with one or more predefined virtual constructs, building a query index, and using the query index to match an event with the range queries.
US08972378B2	Formulating global statistics for distributed databases The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for formulating global statistics for parallel databases. In general, embodiments of the invention merge (combine) information in multiple compute node level histograms to create a global histogram for a table that is distributed across a number of compute nodes. Merging can include aligning histogram step boundaries across the compute node histograms. Merging can include aggregating histogram step-level information, such as, for example, equality rows and average range rows (or alternately equality rows, range rows, and distinct range rows), across the compute node histograms into a single global step. Merging can account for distinct values that do not appear at one or more compute nodes as well as distinct values that are counted at multiple compute nodes. A resulting global histogram can be coalesced to reduce the step count.
US08972377B2	Efficient method of using XML value indexes without exact path information to filter XML documents for more specific XPath queries A system and method is provided for query processing comprises: creating an index of a database and ordering a set of index candidates from the index into a list based on a set of heuristic rules. A query defining a query path is then reduced into a list of single path expressions. Each index candidate is matched against the list of single path expressions according to the ordering of the index candidates. The matched candidate nodes are also verified to insure that they satisfy the query path.
US08972374B2	Content acquisition system and method of implementation A system is provided which solves content acquisition issues by providing an automated method to acquire content in mass and maintain an association between available meta-data and the actual content, e.g., video file. The system includes a first component configured to log network traffic. The system also includes a second component configured to correlate downloaded content of the logged network traffic with an XML stream of URLs and respective content descriptions.
US08972372B2	Searching code by specifying its behavior Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving a first specification that identifies program code behavior associated with a plurality of documents. The specification includes an input-output pair with a first data entity and a second data entity. The systems and methods further include identifying one or more documents, within the plurality of documents, that are configured to (i) use at least a portion of the first data entity as an input to program code associated with particular ones of the documents, and (ii) provide at least a portion of the second data entity as output associated with the program code, wherein the particular ones of the documents correspond to a positive matching between one or more constraints associated with each document and one or more constraints associated with the specification, and generating search results comprising the identified one or more documents.
US08972371B2	Search engine and indexing technique A local search engine geographically indexes information for searching by identifying a geocoded web page of a web site and identifying at least one geocodable web page of the web site. The system identifies a geocode contained within content of the geocoded web page of the web site. The geocode indicates a physical location of an entity associated with the web site. The system indexes content of the geocoded web page and content of the geocodable web page. The indexing including associating the geocode contained within content of the geocoded web page to the indexed content of the geocoded web page and the geocodable web page to allow geographical searching of the content of the web pages.
US08972368B1	Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing search results having contacts from a user's social graph Provided are systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing search results having contacts from a user's social graph are provided herein. A search query is received from a user of client computer, and a point of interest responsive to the search query is determined. A person associated with the point of interest is identified, and a relationship in a social graph between the person and the user is identified. A search result that includes the point of interest and information about the person in the user's social graph associated with the point of interest is generated, and the search result is transmitted over a network to the client computer.
US08972367B2	Information processing system, server apparatus, control method of server apparatus, program and storage medium A server apparatus of an album site has a data storage area DB, and manages data in relation to the name of a management unit which is a unit for collectively managing the data. A client apparatus manages a data group which contains at least one image file in the client apparatus in relation to a data group name corresponding to the data group, and uploads the data group and data group name to the server apparatus. The server apparatus determines whether a management unit name corresponding to the data group name uploaded from the client apparatus exists in the data storage area. If it is determined that no corresponding data group name exists, a new management unit name corresponding to the data group name is automatically defined, and the data group is stored in relation to the management unit name.
US08972365B2	Storage system and storage device A storage system having a plurality of storages. The each of the storages include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor executes a process including transmitting an update request for data which is commonly stored in the plurality of storages according to a predetermined transmission order indicating a path to transfer the update request. The process includes updating data when receiving an update request from another storage. The process includes changing the predetermined transmission order to a transmission order in which one or more storages included in the path are excluded according to the number of times the update request for the data is received.
US08972364B2	Defining new rules for validation of network devices A system and method for actively validating a network device is provided. Nodes in a network game community are prompted to engage in interrogation and response to facilitate the identification of nodes operating with hacked, modified and non-typical game configurations. In one embodiment, a query is presented to a user's machine which triggers a response, and where the response indicates whether certain data at the user is valid and wherein invalid data is suggestive of illegal community behavior. Functions are triggered and data is queried to determine whether the state of game environment is operating according to known metrics or constraints.
US08972363B2	Rule discovery system, method, apparatus and program A system includes a unit to generate a set of free itemsets with a frequency in a database greater than or equal to a threshold value, a unit to generate a rule candidate with, a conditional part set to the free itemset α, and a consequent part set to an item x not sharing an attribute with the free itemset, and finds a set of attributes of an antecedent part of the rule by depth first search, the attribute not included in neither α nor x, a unit to collate the rule to the database to judge validity of the rule, and a unit to check for minimality of the rule decided to be valid to output the rule when the rule is minimal.
US08972360B2	Position invariant compression of files within a multi-level compression scheme An aggregated file is generated, by storing a plurality of initially provided files in a sequence. A computational device executes a first set of compression operations on each of the plurality of initially provided files to generate a plurality of compressed files that replace the plurality of initially provided files, wherein starting locations of the plurality of compressed files and the plurality of initially provided files are identical, and wherein predetermined bit patterns are stored in empty spaces that follow each of the plurality of compressed files. The computational device sends the aggregated file to a linear storage device configured to perform a second set of compression operations on the aggregated file.
US08972359B2	Compact floating point delta encoding for complex data A method and apparatus for compression of complex data signals within a telecommunications base station. The method includes representing a sample of a complex value discrete time signal using 2(L−N)−S mantissa bits and 2N+S exponent bits to realize peak output signal to noise ratios over a wider dynamic range compared to a conventional L-bit uniform quantization format. The increases in dynamic range and peak output SNR is achieved without increasing the average number of data bits per sample and with relatively simple computational effort.
US08972356B2	Device, system, method and program for data integration process A data integration processing device configured to integrate a plurality of graphs includes: an integration processing method selecting means 4 for selecting an integration processing method used for integration of inputted graphs; and an integration process executing means 6, having a plurality of integration processing methods, for integrating a plurality of graphs by executing an integration process in accordance with an integration processing method selected by the integration processing method selecting means 4 from among the plurality of integration processing methods. The integration processing method selecting means 4, with respect to each of nodes in inputted graphs, selects an integration processing method used for integrating lower nodes in accordance with frequency that the lower nodes are consistent, when upper nodes are consistent.
US08972354B1	Systems and methods for preserving individual backed-up files in accordance with legal-hold policies A computer-implemented method for preserving individual backed-up files in accordance with legal-hold policies may include (1) providing at least one legal-hold policy that specifies the manner in which individual backed-up files that potentially relate to legal proceedings are to be preserved, (2) identifying at least one file that has been backed up, (3) identifying at least one legal purpose for preventing deletion of the backed-up file, (4) applying, in response to the identification of the legal purpose, the legal-hold policy to the backed-up file, and then (5) preserving the backed-up file in accordance with the legal-hold policy identified in the file metadata associated with the backed-up file. Various other systems, methods, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08972338B2	Sampling transactions from multi-level log file records A log file contains operation records, each operation record is of a certain type, and each operation record is associated with a transaction. A plurality of operation records is read from the log file into a record store. Records of the plurality of operation records of each operation record type are sampled at a predefined sampling rate. Operation records in the plurality of operations records are identified that are associated with completed transactions of which the sampled operation records are associated. The identified operation records are then extracted from the record store into a data store.
US08972337B1	Efficient query processing in columnar databases using bloom filters A bloom filter is generated for efficient query processing for unsorted data in a column of a columnar database. Bloom filters represented as bitmaps are generated for data blocks storing data for a column of a columnar database table. An indication of a query directed toward the column is received and the bloom filter for each data block is examined to determine which ones of the data blocks do not need to be read in order to service the query for the select data. Data is then read from the data blocks storing data for the column excepting the ones which do not need to be read.
US08972333B2	Reflecting the quantitative impact of ordinal indicators Embodiments of the invention may help improve the accuracy of individually tailored prognoses in dealing with individual patient prognoses for cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and/or other diseases. Alternate embodiments of the invention may be useful in improving the accuracy of predictions in a variety of other contexts and fields. A method according to various embodiments of the invention includes generating a univariate impact reflecting index (UIRI) based on an indicator, the indicator having a monotonic relationship to a focal conclusion, wherein the UIRI spaces subscales of the indicator according to a magnitude of impact of the indicator to the focal conclusion.
US08972330B2	Identification of significant sequences of fault codes by statistical hypothesis testing In some aspects of the present application, a method for identifying significant events related to machine problems. The method includes receiving one or more machine problems; determining one or more machine problem classifications based on the one or more machine problems; generating a probability distribution that the one or more machines problems are related to the one more machine problem classifications; determining if one or more events are associated with the one or more machine problems during a predetermined time interval; and determining if the one or more events are significantly related to the one or more machine problem classifications using a statistical algorithm.
US08972328B2	Determining document classification probabilistically through classification rule analysis A classification application identifies patterns and evidences within representative documents. The application constructs a classification rule according to an entity and an affinity determined from the patterns and evidences. The application processes the representative documents with the classification rule to evaluate whether the rules meet acceptance requirements. Subsequent to a successful evaluation, the application identifies confidence levels for patterns and evidences within other documents.
US08972322B2	Apparatus and method for extending a default model of a terminal Provided are an apparatus and method for adding a variety of concepts to a default model by combining a linked model with the default model and linked data that is to be matched with the linked model. The apparatus may generate first relationship information about a relationship between a concept included in the default model and a concept included in the linked model and second relationship information about a relationship between a concept included in the linked model and a concept included in the linked data. The apparatus may combine the default model, the linked model, and the linked data, based on the first and second relationship information.
US08972315B2	Apparatus and methods for activity-based plasticity in a spiking neuron network Apparatus and methods for plasticity in spiking neuron network. The network may comprise feature-specific units capable of responding to different objects (red and green color). Plasticity mechanism may be configured based on difference between two similarity measures related to activity of different unit types obtained during network training. One similarity measure may be based on activity of units of the same type (red). Another similarity measure may be based on activity of units of one type (red) and another type (green). Similarity measures may comprise a cross-correlogram and/or mutual information determined over an activity window. Several similarity estimates, corresponding to different unit-to-unit pairs may be combined. The combination may comprise a weighted average. During network operation, the activity based plasticity mechanism may be used to potentiate connections between units of the same type (red-red). The plasticity mechanism may be used to depress connections between units of different types (red-green).
US08972312B2	Methods and apparatus for performing transformation techniques for data clustering and/or classification Some aspects include transforming data for which at least one constraint has been specified on a portion of the data, the at least one constraint relating to a similarity and/or dissimilarity of at least some of the portion of the data. Techniques comprise determining a first transformation that approximates the at least one constraint using a cosine similarity as a measure of the similarity and/or dissimilarity of the at least a portion of the data, applying at least the first transformation to the data to obtain transformed data, and fitting a plurality of clusters to the transformed data to obtain a plurality of established clusters. Some aspects include classifying input data by transforming the input data using at least the first transformation and comparing the transformed input data to the established clusters.
US08972309B2	Automatic updating apparatus, automatic updating method, and programmable storage medium embodying program to perform method for automatic updating An automatic updating apparatus includes a traffic receiver that receives numbers per unit time of the access of more than one menu displayed in a screen and calculates rates of variability with respect to the numbers of the access to each menu, and a menu updating unit that updates a menu display in the screen based on the rates of variability.
US08972306B2	System and method for sensor tasking A system for sensor tasking includes a plurality of sensors operable to perform one or more tasks and a processor. The processor may receive a mission, wherein the mission comprises one or more tasks to be performed by one or more of the plurality of sensors. The processor may also receive one or more environmental conditions associated with the mission and generate a fuzzy cognitive map. The fuzzy cognitive map includes a plurality of nodes and weighted links, wherein one or more of the plurality of nodes are associated with one or more of the environmental conditions. The processor may be further operable to select one or more of the plurality of sensors to perform each of the one or more tasks based at least on a state of the fuzzy cognitive map and schedule each of the one or more tasks to be performed by the respective selected one or more sensors.
US08972303B2	Track data encryption A method for using a secondary PAN is disclosed. The method includes providing a secondary PAN associated with a primary PAN, where the secondary PAN has at least one end portion that is the same as the primary PAN, but has a middle portion of that is different than the primary PAN.
US08972302B2	Information service method, information service unit, recording or reproducing controlling method, and recording and/or reproducing unit Unique identification information is prerecorded on a disc. The identification information is registered to a server along with user's license when he or she buys the disc. When an terminal unit reproduces data from the disc, identification information is read and transmitted to the server through the Internet. The server creates a key that controls to reproduce data from the disc in accordance with the license identified by the identification information and transmits the key to the terminal unit along with the user's license information for the disc. The terminal unit controls to reproduce contents of the disc in accordance with key and license information transmitted from the server. The license for each disc is managed in accordance with the identification information. Thus, different services can be provided for individual discs.
US08972301B2	Information processing device, data processing method, and program An information processing device includes: a local memory unit storing data including encrypted content; a memory storing data including key information to be used in a process of reproducing the encrypted content; and a data processing unit selectively reproducing encrypted content stored in a disk or the local memory unit, wherein the data processing unit reads a medium ID from the disk when the content to be reproduced is stored in the disk and reads a medium ID from the memory when the content to be reproduced is stored in the local memory unit.
US08972298B2	Merchant category codes in a proxy card transaction Transmitting category codes to payment instruments in proxy card transactions comprises receiving a first payment request to authorize a proxy card transaction, the first payment request identifying a proxy account of a user for payment of the transaction and a merchant category code associated with the merchant; selecting a financial account associated with the proxy account to fund the transaction; communicating a second payment request to authorize the transaction to a financial account system associated with the selected financial account, the second payment request comprising the merchant category code associated with the merchant; receiving an authorization for the transaction from the financial account system to fund the transaction using the selected financial account; and communicating an authorization for the transaction to the merchant computing device in response to receiving the authorization for the transaction from the financial account system to fund the transaction using the selected financial account.
US08972297B2	System and method for conducting a transaction at a financial transaction terminal using a mobile device The systems and methods described herein allow greater access to a banking platform via a mobile device. The customer can initiate a financial transaction using a mobile device, a bank can inform the customer of the nearest financial transaction terminal to perform that service, and the customer can complete that financial transaction at the financial transaction terminal using the mobile device as a user interface. While conventional systems may use a mobile device to transmit payment information at a point of sale terminal of a brick-and-mortar merchant, the embodiments described herein can allow a customer to conduct a transaction at a financial transaction terminal using the mobile device to initiate a transaction at a location away from a financial transaction terminal, to locate the nearest financial transaction terminal providing the required services, and as a user interface while communicating with the financial transaction terminal.
US08972296B2	Dongle facilitated wireless consumer payments Computing systems and methods for facilitating consumer transactions in retail and other establishments include communication interfaces adapted to couple a computing system to a plurality of third party mobile electronic devices, storage components adapted to store user information, participating merchant information, or any combination thereof, and processors in communication with the communication interfaces and storage components. The processors are adapted to facilitate automatic wireless transactions between third party users of the third party mobile electronic devices and the participating merchants when the third party devices are present at the participating merchants without any affirmative activity by the third party users.
US08972295B2	Dynamic visual statistical data display and method for limited display device Embodiments include methods for distributing visual display information related to a plurality of items to one or more display devices, and methods for rendering visual display information related to a plurality of items by a display device. Embodiments also comprise display devices, servers, and computer-readable media embodying one or more of these methods. Embodiments display of large data sets and associated statistics, such as trading activity of securities or other business statistics, on devices with limited-size display screen, e.g. smartphone or tablet. Embodiments enable visual navigation of large dynamic data sets via relative and absolute contextual statistics. Embodiments combine dynamic visual displays with a multi-tiered navigation structure, supporting more effective information gathering and processing across a variety of users with different objectives. Embodiments provide more relevant, individualized user experience through flexibility to observe patterns, correlation, and contextuality, and to explore subsections of the data quickly via unique navigation paths.
US08972294B2	System and method for payment structures in the purchase and distribution of consumables, including heating oil or propane A new ecosystem may comprise a central system operable to monitor the consumption of a commodity at the premises of a consumer, interface with suppliers and retailers of the commodity and perhaps tank monitors, process data collected therefrom, and implement a payment structure that can alleviate the burden of consumers having to pay for an entire delivery of the commodity—the consumer is only responsible for paying for the amount actually consumed during a time period at a prevailing price during that time. The payment structure can also significantly reduce a retailer's working capital required to float the purchase of the commodity before it is paid by its consumers. The central system may provide a web based user interface through which a consumer can lock in a price to pay for the commodity. Alternatively, the price may be fixed when the commodity was delivered to the consumer's tank.
US08972289B2	Media delivery platform A method of delivering an audio and/or visual media file including, for example, one or more of full or partial master recordings of songs, musical compositions, ringtones, videos, films, television shows, personal recordings, animation and combinations thereof, over the air wirelessly, from one or more servers to an electronic device with or without an Internet connection, said method comprising transmitting and audio and/or visual media file in compressed format to said electronic device, and wherein the electronic device is effective to receive said audio and/or visual file and playback said audio and/or visual content on demand by a user.
US08972287B1	Multiple criteria buying and selling model A system and method for aggregating demand is provided. At least one seller may sponsor a deal room to aggregate selling goods/services from a plurality of buyers. The demand aggregation system can include a dashboard for allowing the at least one seller to set up DealRooms, price curves, offers, products, customers, and/or customer groups, for example. The dashboard can include a plurality of wizards for configuring such information. The demand aggregation system can also include seller displays for notifying buyers of changes in prices relative to ship dates and times of order. The demand aggregation system can also include a predictive modeling and reporting function. An algorithm is employed to utilize product information to post a probability chart on a product price point.
US08972286B2	Transaction authorization system for a mobile commerce device Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses and methods that allow a user to wirelessly transmit payment information from a mobile device to a point-of-sale terminal by the user performing only a single action or supplying only a single input to the mobile device. For example, some embodiments of the invention allow a user to assign a default payment vehicle to a particular key or “pay now” icon of the mobile device so that activation of the particular key or icon, alone, causes the mobile device to wirelessly transmit information about the default payment vehicle. In some embodiments of the invention, a user using the single action option of the mobile device does not need to go through an authentication procedure before the mobile device transmits the default payment information. In some embodiments of the invention, if a user uses the single action option, the mobile device is configured to transmit the payment information without needing to first launch an electronic wallet software application installed on the device.
US08972284B2	System and method for controlling outdoor signs A system for controlling outdoor price signs for fuel products includes a control center. The control center determines a price for a fuel product for a number of fuel stores. The control center receives a variety of data that may have an impact on fuel prices, including competitive data from a neighborhood store. The control center has a number pricing formulas and applies a selected formula to set a fuel price at one of the fuel stores. The price is sent to a store controller. The store controller passes the fuel price information to a point of sale device that updates a pump price and an outdoor controllable sign. The sign includes feedback that it not only received the correct price but that it correctly displays the price and the price is legible.
US08972279B2	Matching audio advertisements to items on a shopping list in a mobile device Methods and apparatus are provided for matching audio advertisements to items on a shopping list in a mobile device. Audio advertisements are matched to items on a shopping list by obtaining the shopping list from a mobile device of the user; applying a speech recognizer to at least one audio advertisement detected on a microphone of the mobile device; identifying one or more key words in the at least one audio advertisement; comparing the one or more identified key words to one or more items on the shopping list stored on the mobile device; and storing the information related to the at least one advertisement if the one or more identified key words match the one or more items.
US08972276B2	Executed workload Methods and apparatuses enable generation of an executed workload electronic record. The executed workload record indicates data related to one or more performance metrics by which performance of a work task is evaluated. One such performance metric is an expected time for completion of the task. Performance of the task can be monitored to determine an actual completion time for the task to compare against an expected completion time. The executed workload record can be used for evaluation of workers. Executed workload records provide centralized, aggregatable information for evaluation purposes.
US08972273B1	Method and system for providing information to market participants about one or more power generating units based on thermal image data A method for providing information to a market participant about a power generating unit based on thermal image data comprises the steps of: acquiring thermal data from a smokestack of a power generating unit; recording one or more images of the acquired thermal data; transmitting the recorded images to a central processing facility; analyzing the recorded images to determine the operational status of the power generating unit; and communicating information about the operational status of the power generating unit to the market participant.
US08972272B1	Workstation with bedside portal A room-based terminal near the patient's bedside is used to supplement the operation of a patient care computing device to improve contemporaneous data capture and information accessibility during a healthcare provider's rounds. The particular benefits of the stationary terminal and patient care computing device augment each other in providing superior workflow.
US08972267B2	Controlling audio video display device (AVDD) tuning using channel name A television, or other device with television tuner, can be controlled to directly tune to a specific channel name, such as a broadcaster's station name, by using EPG metadata to provide a correlation between a channel number and channel name.
US08972265B1	Multiple voices in audio content A content customization service is disclosed. The content customization service may identify one or more speakers in an item of content, and map one or more portions of the item of content to a speaker. A speaker may also be mapped to a voice. In one embodiment, the content customization service obtains portions of audio content synchronized to the mapped portions of the item of content. Each portion of audio content may be associated with a voice to which the speaker of the portion of the item of content is mapped. These portions of audio content may be combined to produce a combined item of audio content with multiple voices.
US08972263B2	System and method for performing dual mode speech recognition A system and method for performing dual mode speech recognition, employing a local recognition module on a mobile device and a remote recognition engine on a server device. The system accepts a spoken query from a user, and both the local recognition module and the remote recognition engine perform speech recognition operations on the query, returning a transcription and confidence score, subject to a latency cutoff time. If both sources successfully transcribe the query, then the system accepts the result having the higher confidence score. If only one source succeeds, then that result is accepted. In either case, if the remote recognition engine does succeed in transcribing the query, then a client vocabulary is updated if the remote system result includes information not present in the client vocabulary.
US08972261B2	Computer-implemented system and method for voice transcription error reduction A computer-implemented system and method for voice transcription error reduction is provided. Speech utterances are obtained from a voice stream and each speech utterance is associated with a transcribed value and a confidence score. Those utterances with transcription values associated with lower confidence scores are identified as questionable utterances. One of the questionable utterances is selected from the voice stream. A predetermined number of questionable utterances from other voice streams and having transcribed values similar to the transcribed value of the selected questionable utterance are identified as a pool of related utterances. A further transcribed value is received for each of a plurality of the questionable utterances in the pool of related utterances. A transcribed message is generated for the voice stream using those transcribed values with higher confidence scores and the further transcribed value for the selected questionable utterance.
US08972257B2	Systems and methods to present voice message information to a user of a computing device Systems and methods to process and/or present information relating to voice messages for a user that are received from other persons. In one embodiment, a method implemented in a data processing system includes: receiving first data associated with prior communications or activities for a first user on a mobile device; receiving a voice message for the first user; transcribing the voice message using the first data to provide a transcribed message; and sending the transcribed message to the mobile device for display to the user.
US08972256B2	System and method for dynamic noise adaptation for robust automatic speech recognition A speech processing method and arrangement are described. A dynamic noise adaptation (DNA) model characterizes a speech input reflecting effects of background noise. A null noise DNA model characterizes the speech input based on reflecting a null noise mismatch condition. A DNA interaction model performs Bayesian model selection and re-weighting of the DNA model and the null noise DNA model to realize a modified DNA model characterizing the speech input for automatic speech recognition and compensating for noise to a varying degree depending on relative probabilities of the DNA model and the null noise DNA model.
US08972254B2	Turbo processing for speech recognition with local-scale and broad-scale decoders Environmental recognition systems may improve recognition accuracy by leveraging local and nonlocal features in a recognition target. A local decoder may be used to analyze local features, and a nonlocal decoder may be used to analyze nonlocal features. Local and nonlocal estimates may then be exchanged to improve the accuracy of the local and nonlocal decoders. Additional iterations of analysis and exchange may be performed until a predetermined threshold is reached. In some embodiments, the system may comprise extrinsic information extractors to prevent positive feedback loops from causing the system to adhere to erroneous previous decisions.
US08972242B2	Visual analysis of phrase extraction from a content stream A system may include an extraction engine to extract candidate phrases from a content stream, and an analysis engine to assign the candidate phrases visual cues and display the visual cues to an operator.
US08972240B2	User-modifiable word lattice display for editing documents and search queries An “Interactive Word Lattice” provides a user interface for interacting with and selecting user-modifiable paths through a lattice-based representation of alternative suggested text segments in response to a user's text segment input, such as phrases, sentences, paragraphs, entire documents, etc. More specifically, the user input is provided to a trained paraphrase generation model that returns a plurality of alternative text segments having the same or similar meaning as the original user input. An interactive graphical lattice-based representation of the alternative text segments is then presented to the user. One or more words of each alternative text segment represents a “node” of the lattice, while each connection between nodes represents a lattice “edge. Both nodes and edges are user modifiable. Each possible path through the lattice corresponds to a different alternative text segment. Users select a path through the lattice to select an alternative text to the original input.
US08972236B2	Method and apparatus for performing real-time, in-the-field switching-order simulation for an electric power system One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for performing a real-time, in-the-field switching-sequence simulation for a power system that includes a plurality of switching devices. During operation, the system receives, at a hand-held device, topology information associated with the power system, a set of user-definable rules, and a request to perform an operation on a switching device in the power system. In response to the request, the system identifies the switching device from the plurality of switching devices, obtains instant status information associated with the plurality of switching devices, and runs a simulation based on the topology information, the user-definable rules, the status information, and the identified switch device. The system determines whether the operation is allowed based on an outcome of the simulation.
US08972230B2	System and method for using indirect texturing to efficiently simulate and image surface coatings and other effects Water surface and other effects are efficiently simulated to provide real time or near real time imaging on low-capacity computer graphics computation platforms. Water and other surfaces are modeled using multiple independent layers can be dynamically adjusted in response to real time events. The number of layers used in a given area can be adjusted to reduce computational loading as needed. Different algorithms can be employed on different layers to give different effects. The multiple layer modeling is preferably converted to polygons using an adaptive polygon mesh generator based on camera location and direction in the 3D world to provide automatic level of detailing and generating a minimal number of polygons. The visual effects of water droplets and other coatings on see-through surfaces can be modeled and provided using indirect texturing.
US08972225B2	Method and system for constructing optimized network simulation environment A method of constructing an optimized network simulation environment according to the present invention includes the steps of identifying communication equipment models for relaying a message to/from real equipments out of communication equipment models within a network model, as major models, calculating the order of abstraction priority for major models, performing batch-mode abstraction for non-major models, driving a simulation, determining whether a difference between a simulation execution time and an actual time spent is within an allowable delay value, performing adaptive abstraction for the major models, and evaluating a result of the simulation. If the method according to the present invention is used, a real-time simulation having fidelity and reliability for the function and operation of real equipments can be guaranteed.
US08972223B2	Platform matching systems and methods Pursuant to some embodiments, a platform matching system, method, apparatus and means are provided which include identifying at least a first benchmark test procedure to evaluate at least a first and a second target platform for use with an application, the at least first benchmark test procedure including at least a first unit test; receiving test result data from tests performed on the at least first and second target platform using the at least first benchmark test procedure; and performing a matching analysis to determine which of the at least first and second target platform is a best fit for the application.
US08972221B2	Estimating solar irradiance components from plane of array irradiance and global horizontal irradiance A computer implemented method of estimating at least one solar irradiance component, the method comprising: obtaining a sensor measurement from an instrument to provide a measured global horizontal irradiance (GHImeasured), wherein the measured global horizontal irradiance (GHImeasured) consists of at least an estimated diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHIestimated) and an estimated direct normal irradiance (DNIestimated); providing at least one modeled component, wherein at least one of the modeled components is a modeled global horizontal irradiance based on an atmospheric model (GHI model); calculating an irradiance estimate modifier (IMOD) in a computing device according to the measured global horizontal irradiance (GHImeasured) and the modeled global horizontal irradiance (GHI model); and providing at least one estimated solar irradiance component by a computing device according to the irradiance estimate modifier (IMOD) and at least one modeled component.
US08972219B2	Method and system of monitoring electrical brushes Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems of monitoring electrical brushes in electrical rotating machinery. One embodiment of the method comprises continuously measuring at least one parameter associated with an electrical brush; and determining, using the at least one continuously measured parameter associated with the electrical brush, maintenance for the electrical brush.
US08972217B2	System and method for predicting temperature values in a data center A system and method for evaluating equipment in a data center, the equipment including a plurality of equipment racks, and at least one cooling provider. In one aspect, a method includes receiving data regarding each of the plurality of equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, the data including a layout of the equipment racks and the at least one cooling provider, and a power draw value for each of the equipment racks, storing the received data, determining air flow between the at least one cooling provider and each of the equipment racks, determining inlet and exit air temperature for the at least one cooling provider based on the layout, the power draw and the airflow, and for each equipment rack, determining inlet and exit air temperature based on the layout, the power draw and the airflow.
US08972216B2	Methods and apparatus for calibration of power converters Methods and apparatus for a power regulator according to various aspects of the present invention may comprise a sensor adapted to generate a measurement of a voltage or a current. A memory may store a correction parameter that corresponds to the measurement, and a correction system may be adapted to adjust the measurement according to the correction parameter.
US08972214B2	Touch sense determined by characterizing impedance changes in a transmission line A touch panel or screen has a serpentine transmission line fabricated on a substrate, e.g., printed circuit board, LCD, plasma or LED screen, etc., and has a constant impedance. Touches to the touch panel will cause changes of impedance of the transmission line at the locations of the touches. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is used for determining the locations of the changes of impedance of the transmission line by accurately measuring the return pulse times at the source of a plurality of pulses, and then converting the return pulse times to X-Y coordinates of the touch panel or screen.
US08972208B2	Flow meter device In a flow meter device of the present invention, a time measuring section of the flow meter device includes a first counter which starts counting at a starting point of measurement of propagation time; and a second counter which starts counting at an end point of the measurement of the propagation time, and performs counting at a higher speed than the first counter. A propagation time TO is finally obtained by subtracting time Δt which is measured by the second counter and passes from the end point until the first counter counts up, from time T which is measured by the first counter and passes from a starting point until the first counter counts up after the end point. A flow calculating section calculates a flow with high accuracy using the propagation time TO. Thus, lower electric power consumption can be achieved, and accuracy of measurement of flow can be improved.
US08972207B2	Digital flowmeter A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver.
US08972205B2	X-ray characterization of solid small molecule organic materials The present invention provides, inter alia, methods of characterizing a small molecule organic material, e.g., a drug or a drug product. This method includes subjecting the solid small molecule organic material to x-ray total scattering analysis at a short wavelength, collecting data generated thereby, and mathematically transforming the data to provide a refined set of data.
US08972204B2	Gas discriminating semiconductor sensors Sensing particular gases in a mixture uses precise modulated heating. Sensor relative responses are compared at different temperatures and compared with known relative responses to identify gases and concentrations. Heater current sensors provide feedback control and microprocessor inputs. A processor controls complex impedances and varied frequencies in the sensors. Sensor responses at varied complex impedances and at varied frequencies are compared with known responses at those impedances and frequencies to determine existence and concentration of particular gases. Heater and sensor buses are separate or combined.
US08972203B2	Disaster-affected area estimation device and program By using information collected on-site, estimation of a damage area at that time and also prediction regarding subsequent expansion of a disaster-affected area are performed. The estimation device includes a storage unit that stores an exposure calculation formula expressing an exposure amount, which is an integrated value of the concentration of a material with respect to time, at a certain time and a certain position, by using the diffusivity and flow rate of the material; an information-acquisition unit that acquires position information of disaster victims at a prescribed time as input information; and a calculation unit that obtains a critical value of the exposure amount by applying the position information of each disaster victim at the prescribed time to the exposure calculation formula and that specifies the disaster-affected area at the prescribed time on the basis of the exposure calculation formula for when the critical value is obtained.
US08972199B2	Portable evaluator of amount of exercise and the method of evaluating amount of exercise A portable evaluator of amount of exercise detects an acceleration and angular speed of the user. After using an exercise identifying procedure to identify the exercise type, the portable evaluator finds a corresponding strength formula to evaluate the amount of exercise done by the user. The result is displayed for reference. By detecting the acceleration and angular speed, the portable evaluator identifies exercise types that involve rotations. Different formulas are used for different kinds of exercise.
US08972194B2	Method and system for pulse neutron capture sigma inversion In some aspects of the invention, a computer-implemented method of obtaining sigma values from pulsed neutron capture decay curve is disclosed. The method can include selecting spectra collected by pulsed neutron instrument disposed down a borehole traversing a rock formation, the spectra including capture interactions and inelastic interactions; and modeling the selected spectra using a nonlinear model to obtain sigma values relating to one or more reservoir properties.
US08972191B2	Low dose single step grating based X-ray phase contrast imaging Phase sensitive X-ray imaging methods provide substantially increased contrast over conventional absorption based imaging, and therefore new and otherwise inaccessible information. The use of gratings as optical elements in hard X-ray phase imaging overcomes some of the problems impairing the wider use of phase contrast in X-ray radiography and tomography. To separate the phase information from other contributions detected with a grating interferometer, a phase-stepping approach has been considered, which implies the acquisition of multiple radiographic projections. Here, an innovative, highly sensitive X-ray tomographic phase contrast imaging approach is presented based on grating interferometry, which extracts the phase contrast signal without the need of phase stepping. Compared to the existing phase step approach, the main advantage of this new method dubbed “reverse projection” is the significantly reduced delivered dose, without degradation of the image quality.
US08972190B1	Systems and methods for generating transit trips Systems and methods for generating transit trips between an origin and a destination are provided. Searches can be undertaken to identify optimal departure times from a source station and/or one or more intermediate stations while maintaining a lowest cost arrival time at a destination station. In this manner, public transportation journey schedules for routes can be determined and recommendations can be provided even if different journey schedules show identical costs.
US08972188B2	Method of creating map alterations for use in a navigation device An end-user can input a correction to a map error, directly on the device. The device is then able to use the correction without external processing of the correction. Hence, it is no longer necessary for an end-user to simply report errors to the map vendor over a web link, then wait for that map vendor to verify the error, update its maps and finally supply the end-user with updates—a cycle that can take months and sometimes years to complete. Instead, the navigation device can use the correction immediately. End-users can also share corrections with other end-users and also with a shared remote server that aggregates, validates and distributes correction.
US08972187B1	Varying the degree of precision in navigation data analysis For a segment of a route, a navigation data gathering system and method may progressively increment the precision of data analysis in proportion to the number of people actively on a route segment. Navigation data may be anonymized to preclude the possibility of correlating navigation data with personal data to track users or infer private information. Further, the system or method may determine if information for a route segment can be used at all based on the number of users of that segment. If the number of users does not exceed a threshold, the information collected on that route may not be used for other purposes. Thus, the system and method may use navigation data related to a busy section of an interstate highway at the level of precision with which the data is gathered, but reduce the level of precision of data available for a rarely used road segment.
US08972186B2	Electronic guide system, contents server for electronic guide system, portable electronic guide device, and information processing method for electronic guide system Tour guide contents stored in a tour guide apparatus carried by a user at a tour destination are provided with points of interest information and map data. This information includes latitude and longitude information for the site of each point of interest, and information on the providers of the information and the categories of information. The latitude and longitude information is provided for each site in relation to map data. By matching these pieces of latitude and longitude information to the map data, points of interest information can be laid out on the map and displayed. This makes it possible to select interesting site information to be displayed on the map based on the information provider, for example, points of interest information provided by provider A for restaurants and another set of information provided by provider B for hotels.
US08972175B2	Navigation using crowdsourcing data Method, computer program product, and apparatus for providing navigation guidance to vehicles are disclosed. The method may include receiving crowdsourcing data from a plurality of vehicles, determining information corresponding to a route of interest to at least one vehicle using the crowdsourcing data, and providing navigation guidance to the at least one vehicle using the information determined. The crowdsourcing data includes on board diagnostics data (OBD) correlated with time stamps and GPS locations of a vehicle, where the on board diagnostics data includes odometer information, speedometer information, fuel consumption information, steering information, and impact data.
US08972172B2	Wireless sensor network traffic navigation analytics A mobile sensor receives a mobile sensor location and destination. The mobile sensor determines, from a repository of road segments, a plurality of routes having a first endpoint corresponding to the mobile sensor location, and a second endpoint corresponding to the destination. The mobile sensor receives transit data from a plurality of peer mobile sensors, wherein each transit data comprises a peer mobile sensor's velocity and a peer mobile sensor's location. The mobile sensor stores at least one transit data based on the peer mobile sensor's velocity and peer mobile sensor's location corresponding to at least one of the plurality of routes, thereby forming at least one stored transit data. The mobile sensor determines that a sampling period has expired. The mobile sensor reports a route corresponding to a stored transit route having best transit data or no transit data, wherein the route is among the plurality of routes.
US08972171B1	Collective vehicle traffic routing Systems and methods provide a route and turn-by-turn directions based on estimates of current and future traffic along the route. A client device may request turn-by-turn directions between an initial and a final location. A server may identify a plurality of routes between the locations. Each route of the plurality of routes may be divided into route segments. For each route segment of a particular route, the server may estimate a travel time. The travel time may be based on estimated vehicle volume data generated from information received from other vehicles. The server may estimate a total travel time for the particular route. The server may repeat this estimate for each of the plurality of routes between the locations and select the route with the lowest estimated travel time. Based on the selected route, the server may generate turn-by-turn directions and transmit the directions to the client device for display.
US08972170B2	Navigation system acquisition and use of cellular coverage map data A mobile device can obtain wireless network signal strength map data that indicates, for various nearby geographical regions, the wireless network signal strength in each such region. A mobile device can transmit that data to a vehicular navigation system responsible for automatically selecting a high-quality route of vehicular travel between a specified source and destination. The system can take the wireless network signal map data into account when selecting that route. When selecting from among multiple different routes of vehicular travel between a specified source and destination, the system may employ an algorithm that considers wireless network signal strengths along those routes, in addition to the other factors. Consequently, the system can select a longer route having better signal strength over a shorter route having worse signal strength. The system can present the selected route within a set of suggested routes, potentially along with reasons for each route's suggestion.
US08972168B2	Tracking a mobile device Embodiments for determining a route a consumer takes while traversing a retail store are disclosed. The embodiments include determining a store location of a retail store and a map corresponding to the layout of the retail store, receiving waypoint data including a plurality of positions within the map corresponding timestamps, determining a route in response to the waypoint data, and providing the route and the map for display.
US08972167B1	Enhanced geocoding An enhanced geocoding module may be used to determine various physical addresses located on the same street. The enhanced geocoding module may create a grid around a predetermined location and request the physical addresses of various coordinate points located on the grid. Additional features of the module may include a display that displays the grid with physical addresses located on the same street, various statistics related to a user of the enhanced geocoding module, and a color-coded scheme that indicates the status of individuals/groups located at the physical addresses.
US08972166B2	Proactive mitigation of navigational uncertainty Methods and devices for navigation and/or guidance. A device may be configured to predict an uncertainty of positioning data in the area, the prediction being based at least in part on a dynamic navigation model. The device may further be configured to guide the mobile entity based at least in part on the predicted uncertainty of the positioning data in the area. By predicting and guiding while the mobile entity is outside the area, the device may proactively mitigate an impact of the predicted uncertainty of the positioning data by initiating rerouting of the mobile entity, updating an inertial navigation system, and/or issuing an alert regarding the predicted uncertainty to of the positioning data to an operator of the mobile entity. The dynamic navigation model may comprise at least one of an environment model, a cost model, one or more positioning system models, and an excursion route model.
US08972165B2	Enhanced location information for points of interest Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for identifying a serviceable address that is associated with a street network connection point and a parcel drop-off point. For example, in one embodiment, the serviceable address may be associated with a street network connection point that is part of a digital map. The serviceable address may also be associated with a parcel drop-off point that includes parcel drop-off point information, such as a parcel drop-off point geo coordinate associated with the parcel drop-off point and street network connection point geo coordinate associated with the street network connection point.
US08972162B1	Power management systems and designs Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for managing the power consumption of an automotive vehicle, and thereby for optimizing the power consumption of the vehicle. The devices and systems for managing the power consumption of the vehicle typically include power management logic that can calculate an applied power for the vehicle engine based on information provided from the external environment of the vehicle, the operational status of the vehicle, one or more command inputs from a driver, and one or more operational parameters of the vehicle.
US08972158B2	Semiconductor device providing a current control function and a self shut down function Aspects of the invention are directed to an ignition semiconductor device that includes an output IGBT for ON-OFF control of a primary current in an ignition coil and a current control circuit for controlling a magnitude of the primary current in the ignition coil, the current control circuit being operated by the voltage between the gate terminal and the emitter terminal. The current control circuit can include a sense IGBT, a sense resistance, a gate resistance, a reference voltage, level shift circuits, a self shut down signal generator, a self shut down circuit, an operational amplifier, a MOSFET, a gate voltage control circuit , a pulse generation circuit, and a switching circuit. The self shut down signal generator, on detecting an abnormal state, can deliver a self shut down signal and the pulse generation circuit can generate a pulse signal to short-circuit the switching circuit.
US08972152B2	Method and system for inhibiting engine idle stop based on operating conditions Methods and systems are provided for controlling the automatic shutdown of an idling vehicle engine. When the vehicle is parked in an enclosed space, the idling engine may be automatically shutdown, while when the vehicle is parked in an open space, the automatic shutdown may be delayed based on an ambient temperature. In this way, the vehicle cabin may be maintained at a temperature that provides enhanced driver comfort while allowing wasteful engine idling to be reduced.
US08972149B2	Control system implementing derate based on air characteristics A control system for a machine is disclosed. The control system may have an engine configured to combust a mixture of fuel and air and generate a mechanical power output and a flow of exhaust, and a sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of the machine moving between zones having different air characteristics. The control system may also have a controller in communication with the engine and the sensor. The controller may be configured to selectively adjust operation of the engine based on the signal in an amount related to the air characteristics.
US08972145B2	Systems and methods for predicting traffic signal information Systems and methods for predicting traffic signal information are provided. An exemplary method includes obtaining data from a plurality of types of sources and analyzing the data to predict states of a plurality of traffic signals. The data include crowdsourced data. The predictive traffic signal information may be used to adjust an operation of an on-board system of a vehicle.
US08972139B2	Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor A control system that performs control of an electric motor is described. The control system may include a rotating body inertia torque computing unit that uses a rotational state of a vehicle wheel when braking is applied to the wheel to calculate an inertia torque of rotating bodies residing within a span behind the wheel, among members that rotate by the driving force of the electric motor. The control system also may include a controller that performs control of the electric motor to cancel the inertia torque of the rotating bodies based on the calculation result from the rotating body inertia torque computing unit.
US08972130B2	Control device for vehicle An ECU determines whether or not there is an abnormality (shift pattern abnormality) in a combination of shift signals provided from a shift position sensor. After occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU determines whether or not a first condition that a shift pattern has changed into a normal pattern of a drive range, a second condition that a brake is ON and a vehicle is in a stop state is satisfied, and a third condition that an accelerator is OFF are satisfied. When occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU stops generation of driving force of the vehicle and prohibits switching to the drive range. When ECU determines that the above-mentioned first to third conditions are satisfied after occurrence of the shift pattern abnormality is determined, ECU switches the shift range to the drive range indicated by the shift pattern.
US08972129B2	Determination of optimum tractor reverse speed Machines, such as large tractors used in earthmoving, operate in a cycle of pushing forward and reversing to a starting point. The net performance of the machine is a function of the speed at which the reverse segment is performed. Generally, using the highest gear for reverse accomplishes the goal of the fastest return. However, some high slope grade conditions may result in higher speeds using lower gears. A combination of slope, track speed vs. drawbar pull, and track slip may be used to recommend a gear and track speed with the greatest ground speed for reverse operation.
US08972127B2	Control system for automatic transmission and method thereof The control system for an automatic transmission may include, a detecting portion of driving information adapted to detect the driving information including a temperature of an engine coolant, temperature of a transmission oil, a positional change of an accelerator pedal, a current shift-speed, and driving speed. a control portion adapted to determine a virtual positional change of the accelerator pedal based on an actual positional change of the accelerator pedal and a tip-in speed transmitted from the detecting portion of driving information, to determine a target shift-speed according to the actual positional change of the accelerator pedal or the virtual positional change of the accelerator pedal and the driving speed, and to control a shift to the target shift-speed. an actuator adapted to engage the target shift-speed according to a control signal received from the control portion.
US08972125B1	Operator induced oscillation filter to prevent instability from operator A system for controlling manual input device damping, and a related method and computer program product are disclosed. The system may comprise a manual input device mounted on a machine, a sensor that transmits to a controller an input signal indicative of the motion, acceleration, and/or deceleration of the machine, a variable damper that selectively alters the resistance of the input device to displacement based on a command signal transmitted by the controller, and a controller configured to adjust the resistance of the input device by adjusting the damping provided by the variable damper based on filtering of a historical trend of oscillation amplitudes at a frequency of concern.
US08972121B2	Electromotive drive device for construction machine An electromotive drive device of an electric motor-driven mini-excavator, which is capable of lengthening its operating time, includes an electric power storage device, a motor-generator, a hydraulic pump, a plurality of directional control valves which respectively control the flow of pressurized fluid, and a plurality of operating devices which respectively operate the plurality of directional control valves. The electromotive drive device is provided with a bidirectional converter which decelerates the motor-generator to an idle revolution speed when X seconds have elapsed in a state in which the plurality of directional control valves are all not operated. The bidirectional converter performs regenerative control to convert an inertial force of a rotor of the motor-generator to power and charge the electric power storage device when it decelerates the motor-generator from a standard revolution speed to the idle revolution speed.
US08972119B2	System and method for heavy equipment navigation and working edge positioning A system and method for automatically controlling working edges on a heavy equipment vehicle is provided. A GNSS/INS system determines a location of the vehicle. A vision system calculates a location of the working edge in a vision system coordinate system by obtaining images of a target connected to the working edge using a camera with a fixed field view that incorporates the relative movement of the target and determining the relative position of the target in the images. The location is then transformed to the navigation system coordinate system. The transformed location information is used by a working edge control system to control the placement of the working edge.
US08972115B1	Motor driven power steering and method for driving the same A motor driven power steering (MDPS) may include: a vehicle speed sensor configured to sense vehicle speed; a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a power pack; a current sensor configured to sense an amount of current applied to the MDPS; a storage unit configured to store a thermal resistance value based on the vehicle speed with respect to the temperature of the power pack; and a control unit configured to calculate an estimated temperature by reflecting the thermal resistance value based on the vehicle speed with respect to the temperature of the power pack and the current amount applied to the MDPS into a temperature estimation function, and drive a motor according to the calculated estimated temperature.
US08972110B2	Method for generating request command of wheel alignment apparatus using motor-driven power steering The present invention relates to a method for generating a request command of a wheel alignment apparatus using a motor-drive power steering (MDPS). After a vehicle having the MDPS mounted therein is parked, a steering angle is detected, and an MDPS motor is controlled through a request command of a motor angular velocity to align a wheel with the center. Accordingly, the motor angular velocity of the motor which is actually driven may be controlled to improve the precision of motor control, regardless of external disturbance such as tire frictions or loads.
US08972107B2	Vehicle-mounted communication device and navigation device A vehicle-mounted communication device includes wireless units 3a and 3b that switch a frequency that performs wireless communication with antennas 2a and 2b between a frequency for wireless communication for ITS and a frequency for wireless LAN communication, a parking determination unit 6 that determines whether or not a vehicle is parked, a parking position storage unit 6a that stores as a parking position a position where it is determined that the vehicle is parked by the parking determination unit 6, and a wireless control unit 4 that controls the wireless units 3a and 3b to perform the wireless communication for ITS with the antennas 2a and 2b when the vehicle is running, and switch the wireless communication for ITS or the wireless LAN communication to be performed with the antennas 2a and 2b on the basis of the parking position stored in the parking position storage unit 6a when the vehicle is parked.
US08972100B2	System and method for facilitating transportation of a vehicle involved in a crash A system, method, and computer-readable medium to facilitate treatment of a damaged vehicle by gathering crash information, estimating an extent of vehicle damage, and requesting transport of the damaged vehicle from the crash site to a treatment facility.
US08972097B2	System and method to enhance the utility of vehicle inspection records by including route identification data in each vehicle inspection record A handheld, portable device is used to facilitate inspection of vehicles, by generating an electronic vehicle inspection record that can be used by fleet operators to provide evidence of complying with required vehicle inspections. When the vehicle inspection record is generated, route identification data is added to the inspection record. The route identification data defines which of a plurality of predefined routes the vehicle has serviced, or will service, during a time period proximate the inspection of the vehicle. Fleet operators can thus use archived inspection records as evidence of compliance with inspection requirements, and to document what route a vehicle serviced at a particular time.
US08972089B2	Hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle having a controller controls output torque of an engine and output torque of a generator motor so as to apply requested torque to a drive shaft. The controller performs engine intermittent operation to stop operation of the engine when a given engine operation stop condition is satisfied, and start the engine when a given engine start condition is satisfied. The controller makes an in-cylinder injection valve abnormality determination while causing a total amount of fuel to be injected from an in-cylinder injection valve, and makes a port injection valve abnormality determination while causing the total amount of fuel to be injected from a port injection valve. If at least one of abnormality determinations concerning the in-cylinder injection valve and the port injection valve has not been made, the engine is operated so that the load of the engine falls within a predetermined range.
US08972088B2	Location-based vehicle powertrain regulation system A vehicle control system to control operation of a vehicle includes a powertrain system operable according to a plurality of operating modes that drive the vehicle. A sensor is mounted to the vehicle to detect a quality of air surrounding the vehicle. A vehicle control module is configured to select an operating mode of the powertrain system. The operating mode is selected to reduce at least one emission exhausted from the vehicle that contributes to a low air quality measure by the sensor.
US08972085B2	Mode selection control system for an electrically variable transmission A mode selection control system and method for controlling an electrically variable transmission. The system and method calculate respective costs for operating the vehicle in a plurality of operating modes based on a battery discharge penalty and the costs associated with operating the electrical and mechanical portions of the transmission. The method selects an operating mode having the lowest calculated cost.
US08972083B2	System and method for aircraft thermal capacity prediction A technique for identifying, projecting, displaying, and enhancing the thermal capacity for an aircraft is disclosed wherein the thermal capacity is defined as the amount of time or range the aircraft can continue until a thermal limit is exceeded.
US08972082B2	Aircraft flight deck displays and systems and methods for displaying integrated minimum safe altitude and minimum vectoring altitude information on a display device in an aircraft A method is provided for displaying integrated minimum vectoring and safe altitude information on a display device in an aircraft. The method comprises displaying a graphical representation of a safe altitude sector and a vectoring altitude sector on the display device, and displaying a graphical representation of the aircraft on the display device to indicate the current location of the aircraft and a minimum altitude value associated therewith. The safe altitude sector corresponds to a first geographic area having a designated minimum safe altitude value associated therewith. The vectoring altitude sector corresponds to a second geographic area having a designated minimum vectoring altitude value associated therewith that is below the designated minimum safe altitude value. The graphical representation of the aircraft is displayed within at least one of the graphical representation of the safe altitude sector and the graphical representation of the vectoring altitude sector.
US08972074B2	System and method for optimal load planning of electric vehicle charging A system for optimal planning of electric power demand is presented. The system includes a node comprising one or more smart charging plug-in electric vehicles (SCPEVs), a processing subsystem, wherein the processing subsystem receives relevant data from one or more sources; and determines an optimized SCPEV load and optimal charging schedule for the node by applying an operations research technique on the relevant data.
US08972072B2	Optimizing power consumption in planned projects Automatically accesses, from a database, the rate of power consumption of each object on a displayed list and automatically calculating the power consumption of each object over a planned period time of use of the object. Then, during actual use, the actual power consumption of each object on the list is automatically tracked over the planned period of time of use and the difference between the planned and actual power consumption of each object on the list is automatically calculated. The difference for each object on the list is displayed so that the user may take action interactively.
US08972071B2	Systems and methods to predict a reduction of energy consumption A computing device for use with a demand response system is provided. The computing device includes a communication interface for receiving customer data of a plurality of customers, wherein the customer data includes a participation history and historical consumption values for each customer for participating in at least one demand response event. A processor is coupled to the communication interface and is programmed to select at least one customer from the plurality of customers by considering the participation history and the historical consumption values for each of the customers. The processor is also programmed to estimate a future reduction in energy consumption for the customer based on the customer data and to determine whether the estimated future reduction in energy consumption is substantially accurate.
US08972070B2	Multi-interval dispatch system tools for enabling dispatchers in power grid control centers to manage changes A system tool that provides dispatchers in power grid control centers with a capability to manage changes. Included is a user interface and a plurality of scheduler engines. Each scheduler engine is configured to look ahead at different time frames to forecast system conditions and alter generation patterns within the different time frames. A comprehensive operating plan holds schedules generated by the plurality of scheduler engines. A relational database is coupled to the comprehensive operating plan. Input data is initially received from the relational database for each scheduling engine, and thereafter the relational database receives data from the scheduling engines relative to forecast system conditions.
US08972065B2	Distribution of call-home events over time to ameliorate high communications and computation peaks in intelligent control system The current application is directed to an intelligent control system that includes intelligent thermostats and remote servers that spread call-home events over time to avoid large peak computational and communications loads on intelligent-control-system servers. The spreading of call-home vents over time is effected by use of call-home splay values pseudorandomly generated for intelligent thermostats.
US08972063B2	Facility controlling system and method When, in an administering device, there has been an evaluation that a user is authorized to enter into any given controlled region, the occupant counts of a movement origin controlled region and of a movement destination controlled region are updated by an occupant count updating portion and stored in a storing portion, where the occupancy statuses specified by the individual occupant counts in the storing portion are reported to an air-conditioning controlling device. In the air-conditioning controlling device, electricity-saving control parameters corresponding to the applicable occupancy statuses are obtained from an electricity-saving control information storing portion by an air-conditioning controlling portion in response to occupancy statuses reported by the administering device, to cause air-conditioning equipment, corresponding to the applicable region, to perform electricity-saving operation based on the electricity-saving control parameters.
US08972061B2	Autonomous coverage robot A mobile floor cleaning robot includes a robot body supported by a drive system configured to maneuver the robot over a floor surface. The robot also includes a cleaning system supported by the robot body, an imaging sensor disposed on the robot body, and a controller in communicates with the drive system and the imaging sensor. The controller receives a sequence of images of the floor surface; each image has an array of pixels. For each image, the controller segments the image into color blobs by color quantizing pixels of the image, determines a spatial distribution of each color of the image based on corresponding pixel locations; and for each image color, identifies areas of the image having a threshold spatial distribution for that color. The controller then tracks a location of the color blobs with respect to the imaging sensor across the sequence of images.
US08972053B2	Universal payload abstraction Robotic payloads are abstracted to provide a plug-and-play system in which mission specific capabilities are easily configured on a wide variety of robotic platforms. A robotic payload architecture is presented in which robotic functionalities are bifurcated into intrinsic capabilities, managed by a core module, and mission specific capabilities, addressed by mission payload module(s). By doing so the core modules manages a particular robotic platform's intrinsic functionalities while mission specific tasks are left to mission payloads. A mission specific robotic configuration can be compiled by adding multiple mission payload modules to the same platform managed by the same core module. In each case the mission payload module communicates with the core module for information about the platform on which it is being associated.
US08972052B2	Celestial navigation system for an autonomous vehicle A navigation control system for an autonomous vehicle comprises a transmitter and an autonomous vehicle. The transmitter comprises an emitter for emitting at least one signal, a power source for powering the emitter, a device for capturing wireless energy to charge the power source, and a printed circuit board for converting the captured wireless energy to a form for charging the power source. The autonomous vehicle operates within a working area and comprises a receiver for detecting the at least one signal emitted by the emitter, and a processor for determining a relative location of the autonomous vehicle within the working area based on the signal emitted by the emitter.
US08972048B2	Self-service beverage and snack dispensing using identity-based access control A token-based system providing self-service vending of snacks or beverages. The system includes a vending machine with a controller selectively dispensing goods. A token reader is linked to the controller. Tokens are provided to users of the system that each includes access data. During use, the token reader reads the access data and provides it to the controller. The controller dispenses a unit of the goods based on the access data read from the token. The system provides token-based vending with the token being a handheld or wearable object providing the access data, such as with an RFID tag on a bracelet or pin or with a barcode or magnetic stripe on a card or room key. The vending machine may be a beverage dispenser that dispenses a drink with a user obtaining a disposable container near the dispenser and presenting their token to the token reader.
US08972047B2	Pharmaceutical dispensing systems and graphical user interfaces associated with same A pharmaceutical dispensing system includes a frame having first and second opposed sides, a plurality of cells configured to house pharmaceutical pills, a first touch screen display on the frame first side, and a second touch screen display on the frame second side. A plurality of dispensing shelves configured to receive filled pill containers are accessible from the second side of the frame for removal of pill containers therein. The pharmaceutical dispensing system includes a processor and memory coupled thereto. A computer program resides in the memory and is executable by the processor for displaying a cell inventory graphical user interface (GUI) within the first touch screen display, and a series of GUIs within the second touch screen display that include status information about a prescription order at a respective stage of completion by the pharmaceutical dispensing system.
US08972046B2	Feed station for feeding flat items to a processing apparatus A feed station feeds a flow of items along a transport path, in which a path, a path point W2 is orthogonal to the position of a first transport roller, a path point W3 is orthogonal to the position of a sensor, and a path point W4 is orthogonal to a second transport roller. A distance between W3 and W4 is smaller than the minimum length of the flat items and is greater than or equal to a distance between W4 and a path end point Wend. A distance between Wend and an intake point W4-Wend of the subsequent goods processing apparatus is much smaller than the W4-Wend distance. A transport velocity distance between the separated flat items at the start of the transport path is controlled to a minimum distance and is always the same size when the items leave the feed station.
US08972044B2	Automated sample test system, and method for controlling same A method for controlling an automated sample test system includes a samples conveyance line for conveying samples racks, each holding samples, to a plurality of processing units, and an empty-rack stock section in which to stock samples racks not holding a sample. The control method is designed to collect information on whether the processing units are in need of a supply of empty samples racks, and then supply empty samples racks from the empty-rack stock section to the processing units based on the information. Decreases in throughput can be prevented by leveling the number of empty samples racks supplied to the processing units that require empty samples racks.
US08972043B2	Network-based grocery store The present invention is a method and system for a network-based grocery store. The invention provides for network-based order placement, fulfillment, and delivery.
US08972041B2	Package delivery kiosk including integrated robotic package lifting assembly with shelving system Described herein is a package delivery kiosk (PDK) including an integrated robotic package lifting assembly and shelving system. The system includes a PDK, associated front end and back end package delivery management systems, including portals for the consumer, retailer, common carrier, sender, and recipient, a package inventory management system, integrated retailer access, and a real and automated retailer bidding system. The shelving system has shelves with receiving apertures and dividers configured to fit into the receiving apertures, where the dividers each have a receiving slot. A package retrieving apparatus includes a base, a vertical support interconnected with the base, and a package picker module. The package picker module is oriented to move up and down on the vertical support. The package picker module includes grippers configured to surround and grip the object. A kiosk includes a kiosk body having a package delivery slot and an interface slot.
US08972033B2	Methods and apparatus for embedding codes in compressed audio data streams Methods and apparatus for embedding codes in compressed audio data streams are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein to embed a code in a compressed audio data stream comprises an unpacking unit to determine a plurality of transform coefficients associated with the compressed audio data stream, the plurality of transform coefficients being represented by a respective plurality of mantissas and a respective plurality of scale factors, and an embedding unit to modify a mantissa in the plurality of mantissas and a corresponding scale factor in the plurality of scale factors to embed the code in the compressed audio data stream.
US08972032B2	Method for overload protection of SMA device A method for detecting a mechanical overload condition of an energized linear actuator to prevent commanding an activation signal to the linear actuator that may mechanically overload the linear actuator includes monitoring feedback variation of a movable element associated with the linear actuator including monitoring a present feedback signal of the movable element, monitoring a previous feedback signal of the movable element, comparing the present feedback signal and the previous feedback signal and determining the feedback variation based on the comparing. The feedback variation is compared to a feedback variation threshold. An input signal associated with the activation signal for controlling the linear actuator is monitored and the input signal compared to an input signal threshold. The electrical overload condition is detected when the feedback variation is less than the feedback variation threshold and the input signal is greater than the input signal threshold.
US08972031B2	Control method and apparatus A higher-level controller can correct measured metrology data with residual error values as reported by a lower-level controller. This results in a more accurate process disturbance estimate. A method of control obtains, based on measurement sample definition, a first process variable of a system under control, determines a residual error using the first process variable and a first set point, controls the system using the residual error, obtains, based on the same sample definition, a second process variable, and adjusts the second process variable using the residual error. The method may also include determining, using the adjusted second process variable, one or more first set points for controlling the system by the low-level controller that may vary in correspondence with the sample definition.
US08972027B2	Implantable medical device including electrode element, anchoring element and elastic element A device comprising: a lead extending between a proximal end and a distal end, the lead comprising, at its distal end portion, an electrode element configured for fixing in a first body tissue, the lead further comprising: an anchoring element disposed between the proximal and the distal end for anchoring the device to a second tissue; and an elastic element disposed between the anchoring element and the distal end and configured so as to permit the pulling of the distal end away from the anchoring element against the biasing force of the elastic element.
US08972023B2	Apparatus and methods for detecting position and migration of neurostimulation leads Apparatus and methods for detecting lead migration through the use of measured artifactual data about the tissue in the vicinity of the lead.
US08972017B2	Gait modulation system and method Methods related to an electrical stimulation orthosis are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes disposing a connector of a stimulation electrode assembly through an opening defined by a detachable layer. The connector of the stimulation electrode assembly is reversibly coupled to a connector disposed on an inner face of a frame. The detachable layer is coupled to the inner face of the frame. The method further includes disposing the frame about a limb segment of a body such that the detachable layer is in contact with a portion of the limb segment, and an electrical stimulation electrode of the stimulation electrode assembly is in contact with at least one stimulation point on a surface of the body associated with at least one of a nerve or a muscle.
US08972011B2	Individually adapted cardiac electro-mechanical synchronization therapy A method of determining pacing therapy for an individual patient including determining representative electromechanical physiologic characteristics for a plurality of normal patients having a range of anatomical dimensions and developing a plurality of normal templates. Each template indicates the representative electromechanical physiologic characteristics of a group of normal patients having similar anatomical dimensions. The method can include measuring the anatomical dimensions of a dysfunctional patient, matching the dysfunctional patient with a template for normal patients having similar anatomical dimensions as the dysfunctional patient, determining the physiologic characteristics for the dysfunctional patient, determining indicated correction factors corresponding to any differences between the dysfunctional patient's physiologic characteristics and those of the matched template, and adjusting therapy delivery by any indicated correction factors to stimulate the patient in a pattern more closely matched to the physiologic characteristics of the matched template.
US08972010B2	Method and device for detecting noise The present invention generally relates to implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, and, in particular, to a method and an implantable medical device capable of detecting the presence of noise caused by external noise sources. Voltages and/or impedances are measured over one or several electrode configurations. Based on the measured voltages and/or impedances, noise parameters are calculated, which are compared with reference values to detect the presence of noise. In another aspect of the invention, at least two different electrode configurations with different noise pick-up areas are used in the measurement. Relations between the noise parameters of the at least two vectors are calculated and compared with reference relations to detect the presence of noise.
US08972007B2	Variable shortening of AV delay for treatment of cardiac disease An implantable pacing device for delivering ventricular pacing may be configured to intermittently and variably reduce the AV delay interval used in an atrial triggered pacing mode in a manner that simulates exercise. The device may be programmed to intermittently switch to and from a variably shortened AV delay mode according to defined entry and exit conditions.
US08972005B2	Subthreshold lead impedance measurement for subcutaneous device A subthreshold lead impedance technique is described for an implantable medical device. The lead impedance technique may be applicable to a subcutaneous implantable cardioversion defibrillator device and utilizes an output circuit of the device coupled between a first diode and a second diode to define a current path through two electrodes coupled to the output circuit. The second diode is further coupled to a switch to provide a current pathway from the first diode to circuit ground. A control circuit is coupled to the output circuit, the first diode, the second diode, and the switch to bias a leg of the output circuit in a conducting state while biasing the other legs of the output circuit in a non-conducting state.
US08972003B2	Perivascular leak repair system The perivascular leak repair system, and method of using the same, of the present invention provides a sealant reservoir 102 with a repair catheter 104 operably attached; a flow control device 106 disposed between the sealant reservoir 102 and the repair catheter 104, and the flow control device 106 responsive to a flow control signal 108; a heart phase detector 114 generating a diastole phase signal 112; an injection switch 122 generating a injection signal 120; and a flow controller 110 responsive to the diastole phase signal 112 and the injection signal 120, and generating the flow control signal 108. A method of sealing a perivascular leak comprises identifying the perivascular leak 140; inserting a repair catheter to the perivascular leak 142; injecting sealant at the perivascular leak 144; and removing the repair catheter 146. The sealant can be injected when the heart is in diastole to sweep the sealant into the perivascular leak.
US08971990B2	Systems and methods for nonlinear elastography Nonlinear elastography systems and methods are provided. The elastography system includes a data acquisition module, such as an imaging device, and associated system control circuitry. The data acquisition module is configured to acquire various data, such as displacement and/or force data, from a material. A nonlinear transfer function is applied to the acquired data to generate information about the material's stiffness. In one implementation, a map representative of the material's stiffness is generated.
US08971989B2	Magnetic field device for mapping and navigation in laparoscopic surgery Devices, systems and methods for using those devices and systems are disclosed to facilitate mapping and navigation during a minimally invasive surgical procedure. These devices, systems and methods include implantable magnetic devices and sensing devices that facilitate locating the implantable magnetic devices such that a surgeon can accurately locate and place devices at particular points of interest during a medical procedure.
US08971985B2	Minute ventilation estimation based on depth maps What is disclosed is a system and method for estimating minute ventilation by analyzing distortions in reflections of structured illumination patterns captured in a video of a thoracic region of a subject of interest being monitored for respiratory function. Measurement readings can be acquired in a few seconds under a diverse set of lighting conditions and provide a non-contact approach to patient respiratory function that is particularly useful for infant care in an intensive care unit (ICU), sleep studies, and can aid in the early detection of sudden deterioration of physiological conditions due to detectable changes in chest volume. The systems and methods disclosed herein provide an effective tool for non-contact minute ventilation estimation and respiratory function analysis.
US08971984B2	Hyperspectral technology for assessing and treating diabetic foot and tissue disease This invention relates generally to an index map comprising both pressure and perfusion information from a diabetic patient foot for the purpose of treatment. The index map may also be a map of perfusion and/or metabolism of the tissue (reflecting oxygen delivery and oxygen extraction), obtained by thermal imaging, hyperspectral imaging, or duplex ultrasound, MRA, CT or laser Doppler imaging. This information aids treatment in prevention of diabetic foot ulceration and amputation and in treatment of tissue compromise to prevent tissue loss in other body regions.
US08971981B2	Device and method for facilitating infusion of therapeutic fluids and sensing of bodily analytes Disclosed is an assembly for use with a portable therapeutic device. The assembly includes a mounting housing securable to skin of a patient, and a cannula subcutaneously insertable through a passageway provided within the housing. The cannula is configured to be inserted subsequent to securing of the housing to the skin of the patient.
US08971975B2	Case for handheld devices with one or more integral tools An apparatus comprises a case and additional protective materials within the case for handheld devices. The additional protective materials are metals, plastics, and/or composites. The additional protective materials may be molded into a single case to form a second layer of protection on one side of the device's case. Part of the protective housing is an internal rigid tool that, when exposed, is able to be used for opening a bottle.
US08971965B2	Method for operating a color display of a mobile device A method for operating a color display of a mobile device is provided. According to the method, a usage condition of the mobile device is detected and based on the detected usage condition a color scheme of information displayed on the color display is automatically adapted.
US08971958B2	Web-enabled portable medical device A portable personal medical device, e.g., a wearable insulin pump, is provided with a web server and is controllable over a network by a browser equipped client, thereby enabling comprehensive and comfortable control, operation and/or configuration of the device.
US08971957B2	Provisioning interfaces for accessing virtual private branch exchange services through a mobile device Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the provisioning of a single and multi-line virtual private branch exchange (PBX) including automated call distribution via a mobile device are described. In some implementations, the provisioning of the single and multi-line virtual PBX can be achieved using one or more unique provisioning interfaces. The unique provisioning interfaces can enable the setup and configuration of a virtual PBX service account instantaneously from any geographical location at any time. Changes made to the virtual PBX service account can be immediately reflected back (e.g., in real-time) to the system providing the core operating environment.
US08971956B2	Method of providing neighbor information and method of generating neighbor location information Provided are a method of providing neighbor information and a method of generating neighbor location information. The method of providing neighbor information includes a base station broadcasting a neighbor advertisement message; and the base station transmitting a neighbor information message to a relay station connected to the base station.
US08971951B2	Method and device for resource configuration The embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and a device for resource configuration. The method includes: determining an extra resource block existing in a wireless resource, where the extra resource block is a resource that cannot be identified by a long term evolution system; configuring transmission power of a resource element in the extra resource block according to a power configuration rule; and sending a signal on the resource element in the extra resource block according to configured transmission power. With the preceding technical solution, an extra resource block can be used for transmitting a signal, so that a resource utilization rate may be improved.
US08971947B2	Control information transmission and receiving method for group communication in wireless communication system The present invention relates to a method for transmitting and receiving control information for group communications in a wireless communication system. According to one aspect of the present invention, a control information transmission method for group communication in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of, a base station: receiving a group communication request from one or more terminals; determining a plurality of terminals which will perform the group communication; allocating resources which are to be used for performing the group communication; and transmitting information on the plurality of terminals and resource allocation information on the resources which are to be used, to the one or more terminals among the plurality of terminals.
US08971946B2	Privacy control in push-to-talk In one embodiment, a computer program product for suppressing incoming audio in a Push-To-Talk (PTT) session includes a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code including computer readable program code configured for receiving a request sent from an originator communication device to initiate a PTT session at a receiver communication device, computer readable program code configured for establishing the PTT session between the originator communication device and the receiver communication device, computer readable program code configured for notifying a user at the receiver communication device that the PTT session has been established, computer readable program code configured for determining whether to suppress or audibilize incoming audio based on a privacy setting on the receiver communication device, and computer readable program code configured for suppressing or audibilizing the incoming audio according to the privacy setting.
US08971945B2	System and method using a rate split scheme based on cooperation between receivers Each of a first transmitter and a second transmitter uses a rate split scheme. Each of the first transmitter and the second transmitter may transmit at least four sub-messages, and different transmission powers may be allocated to the at least four sub-messages. Also, each of receivers may cooperate with each other, may share sub-messages that act as interferences, and may extract desired messages using the shared sub-messages.
US08971944B2	Method and devices of communicating physical cell identifier information to mobile stations The present invention provides a method and system for communicating physical cell identifier information to mobile stations. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a need to change a physical cell identifier associated with a cell in a telecommunication network used for serving the mobile station. The method also includes communicating physical cell identifier information to the mobile station based on the detected need to change the physical cell identifier. The method includes employing another physical cell identifier associated with the cell based on the communicated physical cell identifier information. The physical cell identifier information is communicated in one or more modification periods such that said another physical cell identifier is employed by the base station and the mobile station at a boundary of one of the modification periods. Moreover, the method includes continue serving the mobile station based on the employed said another physical cell identifier.
US08971942B2	Assisted location-based wireless spectrum allocation Apparatus having corresponding computer-readable media comprise: a first transceiver, wherein the first transceiver includes a receiver configured to receive a first message from a first device, wherein the first message includes a location of the first device, and a transmitter configured to transmit a second message, wherein the second message includes the location of the first device, and a request for a frequency allocation based on the location of the first device; wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a third message, wherein the third message includes the frequency allocation; and a second transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate on a frequency band indicated by the frequency allocation.
US08971933B2	Method and apparatus for determining DRX cycle used for paging Techniques for determining a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle used to receive paging are described. A user equipment (UE) may have (i) a first DRX cycle used by a first network (e.g., a core network) to page the UE and (ii) a second DRX cycle used by a second network (e.g., a RAN) to page the UE. In an aspect, the UE may use the longer DRX cycle and ignore the shorter DRX cycle, when allowed, to extend battery life. In one design, the UE may receive an indication of whether the second DRX cycle can be ignored or is to be considered by the UE. The UE may use the longer DRX cycle if the second DRX cycle can be ignored and may receive paging from the first network and/or the second network based on the longer DRX cycle. In another aspect, the UE may negotiate a DRX cycle with a network.
US08971932B2	Secure witness or criminal participant location or position and time recording information apparatus, systemts and methods An apparatus, system or method for use of encrypted or confidential location or position, time, and unique identifier information (LPTI Information) comprising mobile device encoded unique identifiers (UIs), to register the presence of one or more persons in a retail or service store or outlet, vehicle, financial, educational, governmental, transportation, shipping, cargo, residential, vacation, travel, power generation or distribution, water or food supply or storage, or data storage location or position, for use in identifying potential suspects, conspirators, participants or witnesses for criminal, regulated, tort, or prohibited activity for use by law enforcement or a court, and which information is kept encrypted until authorized access is granted to law enforcement or a court by issuance or a warrant or other appropriate legal authorization.
US08971930B2	Geofencing system and method A computer-implemented method performed by a computing device having a processor operatively coupled to a memory, the method comprising storing a plurality of geofences in the memory along with addresses of servers associated with each of the geofences, receiving current location data from a mobile device, the current location data representing a current location of the mobile device, comparing the current location data with each of the plurality of geofences to determine whether data is to be obtained from one or more of the servers associated with each of the geofences, if the data is to be obtained, obtaining the data from the one or more servers, and transmitting the data to the mobile device.
US08971928B2	Method and system for changing geographic information displayed on a mobile device Convenient control of navigation or mapping image content on a mobile device is provided. Map and/or navigation information is displayed. Movement of the mobile device or a user associated with the mobile device is detected. The content of the display is changed as a function of the detected movement.
US08971925B2	Methods for providing enhanced telecommunication services A method for processing a product identifying code. The product identifying code that identifies a product is received from a wireless device. A location of the wireless device is received. An item that comprises information pertaining to the product is obtained. The obtained item is transmitted to the wireless device. The information pertaining to the product includes a name of each establishment of a plurality of establishments from which the product is available and informational selected from the group consisting of a contact address for each establishment, driving instructions to each establishment, a price of the product at each establishment, a geocoded location of one establishment of the plurality of establishments relative to the location of the wireless device, descriptive information specific to the product, and combinations thereof.
US08971922B2	Apparatus and method for measuring position of terminal located in indoor using wireless network A method and apparatus for measuring the position of a terminal located in indoor using a wireless network is disclosed. The method for measuring a position of a terminal located in indoor using a wireless network includes receiving measurement result information obtained by performing measurement with respect to signals from three or more access points (APs), and calculating the position of the terminal using the measurement result information. The measurement result information includes signal strengths measured with respect to signals from a first band and a second band of each of the three APs.
US08971921B2	Method and computer system for obtaining weighted geometric dilution of precision closed form A method utilized in a wireless communication system having a mobile device and a plurality of base stations includes obtaining a geometric matrix according to a plurality of relative distances between the mobile device and the plurality of base stations, obtaining a weighted matrix according to the mobile device and the plurality of base stations, obtaining a weighted geometric dilution of precision according to the weighted matrix and the geometric matrix, so as to obtain a weighted geometric dilution of precision closed form, and choosing a plurality of selected base stations from the plurality of base stations according to the weighted geometric dilution of precision closed form to position the mobile device.
US08971913B2	Method and apparatus for wireless network hybrid positioning Methods and apparatuses for position determination and other operations. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mobile station uses wireless signals from a plurality of wireless networks (e.g., with different air interfaces and/or operated by different service providers) for position determination (e.g., for data communication, for obtaining time and/or frequency information, for range measurement, for sector or altitude estimation). In one embodiment of the present invention, mobile stations are used to harvest statistical data about wireless access points (e.g., the locations of mobile stations that have received signals from the wireless access points, such as from cellular base stations, wireless local area network access points, repeaters for positioning signals, or other wireless communication transmitters) and to derive location information (e.g., position and coverage area of the wireless access points) for the wireless networks from the collected statistical data.
US08971912B2	Paging process in a home cellular network Disclosed embodiments include a method of paging one of a plurality of mobile subscribers in a wireless communication network. The method includes receiving, at a base station, an idle mode request from the one mobile subscriber and sending an idle mode notification to a control device, after receiving the idle mode request from the one mobile subscriber. The method also includes receiving a paging request from the control device and sending a paging advertisement intended for the one mobile subscriber, after receiving the paging request from the control device.
US08971906B2	Hybrid interference alignment for mixed macro-FEMTO base station downlink A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus is a first BS. The apparatus determines a first channel between a second BS and a first UE served by a third BS, determines a second channel between the first base station and the first UE, and determines a first direction vector to be used by the second base station for sending a data transmission. The apparatus transmits a set of resource blocks to a second UE served by the first base station with a second direction vector determined based on the first channel, the second channel, and the first direction vector to be used by the second base station.
US08971903B2	Techniques for managing communications resources for a mobile device Techniques to manage communications resources for a mobile device are described. An apparatus may comprise a mobile computing device having a radio arranged to communicate information over a wireless link, a link classifier arranged to generate a class parameter for the wireless link based on signal quality measurements of the wireless link, and a data service manager arranged to receive a data service request from an application, determine whether the application may communicate information over the wireless link based on the class parameter for the wireless link, and generate a control directive for the application granting or denying the data service request. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08971898B2	Mobility management apparatus and methods A wireless mobility management system including a visitor location register configured to store a visiting user profile and communicate with a mobile switching center to route a wireless call supporting a user-session, a home location register configured to store a home user profile and update a user location associated with the home user profile, and a wireless media gateway (WMG) configured to create a user-session interconnection between a first wireless network and at least one of a second wireless network, a wireline packet network and a public-switched telephone network, including providing physical resources for the user-session. A WMG controller integrated with a wireless softswitch is configured to control the WMG to allocate resources and establish connections as required by the user session. A performance-based mobility manager is configured to receive user-session performance data from the WMG and make a handoff decision based on the performance data.
US08971891B2	Methods and arrangements in a mobile telecommunication system Methods and arrangements in a base station and a User Equipment are provided. The methods and arrangements relates to the scenario when the UE is handed over from a source base station to a target base station in a handover scenario, and wherein the target base station may not support functionalities which the source base station and the UE support. The method in the UE comprises receiving (501) a configuration message from the target base station via the source base station, configuring (502) the UE based on the received configuration message from the target base station by searching (503) for a second field in an information element of the received configuration message. The presence/non-presence or a value of the second field is indicative of how to manage a configured first functionality associated with an optional first field, wherein the configured first functionality may not be supported by the target base station.
US08971889B2	Method and apparatus for handover by calculating the distance between a mobile user equipment and an intermediate access point in a wireless communication system A method for supporting a handover on the basis of the distance from an intermediate access point to a user equipment includes receiving uplink message set information of the user equipment from a serving base station of the user equipment; receiving the uplink message transmitted by predetermined transmitting power from the user equipment, and detecting the user equipment which has sent the uplink message on the basis of the uplink message set information; determining the receiving power by which said uplink message is received; calculating the distance between the intermediate access point and the detected user equipment by using said predetermined transmitting power and said receiving power; and performing a subsequent handover based on the distance calculated in the previous step.
US08971886B2	Service creation using mobile device A method may be performed by a mobile device. The method may include receiving subscriber input for a temporary service account for a user associated with a portable device and creating the temporary service account. The method may also include receiving, from the portable device via a local wireless network, a registration request to use the temporary service account and assigning, to the portable device, a temporary mobile number selected from an available pool of mobile numbers. The method may also include sending, via the local wireless network, a registration confirmation to the portable device and providing, to the portable device, mobile services using both a broadband cellular network and the local wireless network.
US08971883B2	Registration timer adjustment based on wireless network quality The disclosure is directed to managing registration of a wireless communication device (WCD) operating in a wireless network. The WCD may support registration according to a signaling protocol, such as session initiation protocol (SIP). The WCD adjusts a registration timer based on network quality experienced by the WCD. When network quality is poor, for example, the WCD reduces the length of the registration timer. Reduced network quality may indicate that the WCD is at risk of losing network coverage. By reducing the length of the registration timer when network quality is degraded, stale registrations for out-of-coverage WCDs can be reduced. In particular, the shortened registration timer will expire more quickly, permitting the registration to be cleared more quickly. Consequently, the amount of call forwarding and other resources devoted to stale registrations can be reduced. If the WCD retains network coverage, it can maintain a registration by sending another registration request.
US08971880B2	Association level indication to neighboring base stations It is described a method of sending an association level indication to neighboring base stations by a serving base station to indicate to the neighbor base station to report a particular ranging parameter set corresponding to the association level indication for a user equipment requesting scanning of neighbor base stations. According to an embodiment, the ranging parameters of the ranging parameter set are provided to the user equipment in single message or are provided in two or more messages, e.g. in the case of network assisted association reporting.
US08971876B1	Method and system for automatically customizing a device based on the company for whom the device-user works and based on the job of the user at the company A method of customizing a device in accordance with the company for whom the device-user works and in accordance with the job held by the user at the company. A provisioning system receives a request to provision (e.g., activate) a device and responsively determines the company at which the device-user works and the job held by the user at the company. The provisioning system then establishes customization-data usable by the device to become customized in a manner corresponding with the company and job, and the provisioning system sends the customization-data to the device to cause the device to become customized accordingly. This process can be applied to automatically customize a device so as to adopt a base user-interface, functionality, and reference data that is all related to the company at which the device-user works and that is tailored in a manner appropriate to the user's job at the company.
US08971874B2	Methods and apparatus for testing electronic devices under specified radio-frequency voltage and current stress Test systems for characterizing devices under test (DUTs) are provided. A test system for testing a DUT in a shunt configuration may include a signal generator and a matching network that is coupled between the signal generator and the DUT and that is optimized to apply desired voltage/current stress to the DUT with reduced source power. The matching network may be configured to provide matching and desired stress levels at two or more frequency bands. In another suitable embodiment, a test system for testing a DUT in a series configuration may include a signal generator, an input matching network coupled between the DUT and a first terminal of the DUT, and an output matching network coupled between the DUT and a second terminal of the DUT. The input and output matching network may be optimized to apply desired voltage/current stress to the DUT with reduced source power.
US08971870B2	Mobile terminal device, and control method for mobile terminal device A mobile telephone includes a communication module, and a control module configured to perform background communication with respect to an application via the communication module. The control module restricts background communication, based on an activation history of the application in foreground. The control module includes a determination module configured to determine whether background communication is unnecessary based on the activation history of the application in foreground with respect to each of the applications, and a setting switching module configured to switch communication setting of the application, of which background communication is determined to be unnecessary, from a first setting of permitting the background communication to a second setting of restricting the background communication.
US08971867B2	Remote control method and remote control system A remote control method is provided. The method is adapted to a first terminal apparatus, and the first terminal apparatus corresponds to a first phone number. The remote control method includes the following steps. A second terminal apparatus is connected to a telecommunication server, wherein the telecommunication server corresponds to a telecommunication service provider who provides the first phone number a telecommunication service. A call diversion service is activated on the telecommunication server through the second terminal apparatus in order to divert a telecommunication signal which is to be forwarded to the first phone number to a second phone number.
US08971866B2	Automatically connecting to a best available calling device based on resource strength A method, computer program product, and computer system for automatically connecting a calling device to a best available calling device based on resource strength. A computer system receives from a first calling device a request for a call to a second calling device and evaluates resource strength of the second calling device. The computer system determines one or more third calling devices, in response to determining that the resource strength of the second calling device is low. The computer system compares resource strength of the one or more third calling devices with that of the second calling device and determines a best available one of the one or more third calling devices. The computer system connects the call by connecting the first calling device and the best available one of the one or more third calling devices.
US08971863B2	Location-based call center filtering A device may receive a request for a service call and location information associated with a user device, and may determine an address of a customer, associated with the user device, based on the location information. The device may determine customer information based on the address, and may filter a list of call centers, for the service call, based on the customer information and the address. The device may generate trouble ticket information for the service call, and may provide the customer information and the trouble ticket information to call centers provided in the filtered list of call centers.
US08971862B2	Location based routing and advertising for streamed media and media blocking A location based service configured to route local advertising for streamed media and media blocking based on a location of the recipient. The method include detecting a location of a mobile user and routing streaming media of a local affiliate to a mobile device of the mobile user based on the detected location of the mobile user.
US08971859B2	Method for blocking crank calls by using cloud computing and a system thereof The present disclosure provides a method for blocking crank calls by using cloud computing and a system thereof. In the method, a client(s) uploads a blacklist to a server; the server makes statistic according to blacklist data uploaded by the client(s) and determines a particular phone number be a crank phone number, generates an anti-crank policy and updates the generated anti-crank policy to the client(s); when receiving a call or a message from the crank phone number, the client executes the anti-crank policy.
US08971856B2	Personalizing an accessory with digital content A distribution server is configured to receive from a web portal information about an order request for an accessory and digital content. The distribution server stores the digital content at the distribution server along with authentication information used to authenticate a retrieval request for the digital content from a mobile device. The authentication information includes a claim receipt for the digital content and a Mobile Directory Number (MDN) associated with the mobile device. The mobile device sends the retrieval request to the distribution server. Responsive to the retrieval request, the distribution server determines whether the mobile device is authorized to receive the digital content. Upon determining the mobile device is authorized to receive the digital content, the distribution server forwards the digital content over a communication network to the mobile device.
US08971853B2	Method and system to record and visualize type, time and duration of moving and idle segments GPS signal data is converted into movement and idle indicators and is classified as a task-related or privacy event. The task data database lists personnel, location-situs, projected time-of-arrival, time-on-site and other task data. When GPS-location matches task situs, time-on-site data is generated. A movement-ON notes end-of-task. The method gathers pre-set privacy event data from the task person or the task person can, in real time, set ON a privacy block. In real time, the privacy block masks the idle ON and movement ON status until an end-of-privacy time. The method classifies, in real time, idle ON, movement ON and publishes this data on a daily calendar beyond any privacy block. The method also accepts a privacy block re-classification. In real time, status postings note traffic delays, vendor assistance, equipment needed, and co-worker needed indicator. An accounting recovery code can be assigned to the status indicators for billing and accounting purposes.
US08971846B2	Method and apparatus for translation and authentication for a virtual operator of a communication system A virtual operator and method for performing authentication and service translation. The virtual operator assigns first and second identifiers to subscribers. The virtual operator updates the second identifier when the service provider corresponding to the second identifier changes. When the virtual operator receives a request for authentication, the virtual operator forwards the authentication request to a serving network for authentication. When the virtual operator receives a service request, the virtual operator selects, using network optimization criteria, a network to provide the requested service. The virtual operator translates network protocols when the network forwarding authentication or service request uses a network protocol different from the network performing authentication or the requested service.
US08971843B2	Communication tracking and billing system A system for billing communications between a subscriber and a verified professional comprising a verified professional repository and a central tracking system. The central tracking system is configured to receive a communication request targeting the registered device ID, determine an applied billing rate using a value set by the verified professional, and transmit the applied billing rate to the subscriber. The central tracking system is further configured to track the connection, generate a communication data file comprising the registered device ID, the subscriber ID, the applied billing rate, the communication duration, and the billing signal. The central tracking system is further configured to obtain a billable duration by parsing the communication data file using the billing signal and the communication duration, calculate a communication charge using the applied billing rate and billable duration, and pay the verified professional a portion of the communication charge.
US08971841B2	Operating system supporting cost aware applications A mobile computing device that supports cost-aware application components for operation over a metered network. A current basis for computing usage charges over one or more networks may be made available to the cost-aware application components through an application programming interface supported by an operating system service. That service may receive a policy for charging for data usage over a network and may also obtain information defining data usage for the mobile computing device. Based on this information, the service may determine a current basis for charging for data usage. With this information, the application component can determine a manner for executing network operations that involve data transmission over the network, such as deferring the operation or selecting an alternative network.
US08971840B2	Method and apparatus for supporting emergency calls and location for FEMTO access points Techniques for routing an emergency call originated by a mobile station via a femto access point (FAP) in a wireless network and for locating the mobile station are described. In an aspect, the emergency call may be routed to an appropriate emergency center based on location information for the FAP. In one design, the location information for the FAP may include a macro cell identity (ID) and/or a macro Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ID determined based on the FAP location. The macro cell ID and/or the macro MSC ID may be assigned to the FAP and used to access a database, which may store routing information for emergency centers versus cell IDs and MSC IDs. In another design, the location information for the FAP may include a location estimate for the FAP. The location estimate may be used to access a geographic database, which may store routing information for emergency centers for different geographic areas.
US08971839B2	In-vehicle system (IVS) control of emergency data communications An in-vehicle system (IVS) captures data such as location data and in an emergency automatically places a call to an emergency call taker or PSAP via a wireless telecommunications network. After a voice call session is established, the IVS system transmits a predetermined control signal through the voice channel. The control signal directs the call taker system to prepare to receive data. Preferably, the control signal comprises at least one audio frequency tone. This may be done without human intervention. In this way, emergency information is transmitted accurately and with minimum delay. After transmission of essential information, the IVS system may switch on audio connections for live human voice conversation.
US08971834B2	Digital and analog IM3 product compensation circuits for an RF receiver Third-order intermodulation products (IM3) are attenuated in RF receivers by providing a typical main signal path and a parallel auxiliary signal path in which the IM3 products are accentuated, and the output from the main signal path is adaptively filtered to attenuate the IM3 products. In one embodiment, a multirate filter bank (MRFB) with asymmetric analysis and synthesis sections is used to detect and isolate the IM3 products. In another embodiment an analog nonlinear term generator is placed at the front of the auxiliary signal path. The analog nonlinear term generator takes advantage of the nonlinearities of a differential MOSFET circuit and a multiplier to extract the IM3 products in the RF input signal. The outputs of the main signal path and the auxiliary signal path are inputs to a complex least mean squares filter to attenuate the IM3 products in the resulting signal.
US08971828B2	Predistortion device, method for predistortion, and transmitter/receiver system that reuse an analog receiving circuit in a half duplexing system and a full duplexing system, and that reduce the requirement on the analog receiving circuit The embodiments of the present invention provide a predistortion device, method for predistortion and transmitter/receiver system. The predistortion device comprises a predistortion unit, and the predistortion device further comprises: a signal acquiring unit to process the output signals of a transmitting circuit to obtain distorted signals; a signal coupling unit to couple the distorted signals acquired by the signal acquiring unit to the receiving signals inputted to a receiving circuit; and a signal processing unit to decouple the output signals of the receiving circuit to acquire the distorted signals and the receiving signals. With the embodiments of the present invention, an analog receiving circuit may be reused in a half duplexing system and a full duplexing system, and the requirement on the analog receiving circuit is lowered, thereby reducing the cost.
US08971821B2	Robotic wireless test system A test system may include a wireless test chamber with metal walls lined with pyramidal absorbers. A trapdoor may be provided in a wall opening to accommodate a robotic arm. The robotic arm may have grippers that grip a device under test or a support structure that is supporting a device under test. The robotic arm may move the device under test to a docking station for automatic battery charging during testing. When it is desired to perform wireless tests on a device under test, the robotic arm may move the device under test through the trapdoor into an interior portion of the test chamber. A turntable and movable test antenna may be used to rotate the device under test while varying angular orientations between test antenna and device under test. Emitted radiation levels can be measured using a liquid filled phantom and test probe on a robotic arm.
US08971820B2	Power consumption reduction in a user terminal A data communication emulating unit (18) in a user terminal (10) or a proxy device monitors communication between an application unit (16) in the user terminal and a proxy unit of the proxy device, which communication employs requests (REQ) and responses (RES) based on a data communication protocol. The data communication emulating unit then determines a communication pattern of the monitored communication, evaluates if the communication is efficient or not based on the communication pattern and changes communication strategy if the communication pattern is found to be inefficient. Change in strategy is performed through disrupting communication between the application unit and the proxy unit using the data communication protocol and instead ensuring that communication between the proxy unit and application unit is performed based on a signalling protocol via a signalling communication unit (20).
US08971817B2	Communication apparatus and communication method, computer program, and communication system To appropriately effect a coordination with a plurality of communication parties that perform a millimeter wave communication.Transmission and reception beams of the respective terminal stations are directed to an access point, a valid communication link based on the second communication method is utilized as a link for a high speed data transmission between the access point and the respective terminal stations. Of course, the communication link based on the first communication method between the access point and the respective terminal stations is valid and is utilized as a link for the coordination. As the transmission and reception beams are not directed between the terminal stations, the communication link based on the second communication method is invalid, but the valid communication link based on the first communication method can be utilized as the link for the coordination.
US08971811B2	Interface between object devices initiated with a master device A master device images an object device and uses the image to identify the object device. The master device then automatically interfaces with the identified object device, for example, by pairing with the object device. The master device interfaces with a second object device and initiates an interface between the first object device and the second object device. The master device may receive broadcast data from the object device including information about the visual appearance of the object device and use the broadcast data in the identification of the object device. The master device may retrieve data related to the object device and display the related data, which may be display the data over the displayed image of the object device. The master device may provide an interface to control the object device or be used to pass data to the object device.
US08971807B2	Systems and methods for low power short range wireless device communication advertisement The present invention relates to a system and method for improving directed connectable advertising in a low energy Bluetooth device. The host on the Bluetooth device configures an advertisement interval length, an advertisement window length, and a number of attempts. The advertisement window length is equal to or shorter than the advertisement interval length, which may be less than 1.28 seconds. Next, advertising packets are transmitted for the length of the advertising window on three advertising channels. Packets are transmitted consecutively, with no more than a 3.75 millisecond delay between packets, until the end of the advertisements window. After transmitting, a link layer of the Bluetooth device decrements the number of attempts. Once all attempts have been exhausted, the advertisements end. Otherwise, the link layer waits for the end of the advertisement interval. The link layer generates a pseudorandom delay between 0 and 10 milliseconds, and waits for this time to pass before initiating another advertisement interval with transmission during the advertisement window. If a connection is made at any point, the advertisement may be ended.
US08971805B2	Portable terminal providing environment adapted to present situation and method for operating the same Provided is a portable terminal providing environment adapted to a current situation and a method for operating the same. The method includes the steps of: collecting current situation information of the portable terminal; searching preset situation information classified as a same situation as the current situation information; extracting function information of the portable terminal corresponding to the searched preset situation information; and constituting a Graphic User Interface (GUI) according to the extracted function information.
US08971804B2	Near field communications (NFC) device power harvesting and power supply selection A near field RF communicator has an antenna circuit to couple with the H field of an RF magnetic field and a power supply deriver to derive a rectified auxiliary power supply from the received magnetic field. Rectification may be performed using an actively switched rectifier having a passive mode of operation. A sub regulation system is provided to regulate the auxiliary power supply to inhibit the possibility of temporally varying power requirements of the near field RF communicator or its host causing an apparent load modulation of a signal that is transmitted or received by the communicator.
US08971801B2	Self-energized wireless sensor and method using magnetic field communications Manufacturing processes monitor forces or pressures within a machine. Metal within machines affect wireless communications within the machines for reporting monitored data. An embodiment of the present invention is a sensor that provides wireless communications unaffected by metals and with less electrical noise than slip rings. An embodiment can monitor manufacturing processes, such as by employing a piezoelectric transducer to measure forces or pressures in a machine and generate an electrical signal representing, for example, forces measured by the piezoelectric transducer. A threshold modulator circuit converts the electrical signal into a series of electrical pulses, which can be transmitted as a corresponding series of magnetic field pulses to a wireless receiver. The receiver reconstructs the original electrical signal, thereby enabling a receiver system to determine physical activities in the machine. The embodiment may be self-powered through use of power generated by the piezoelectric transducer.
US08971800B2	Methods and apparatus for improving NFC activation and data exchange reporting mechanisms Aspects relate to improving reporting NFC RF technology usage in activation and data exchange for NFC devices. For example, with a near field communication (NFC) device a NFCC may be configured to obtain a first radio frequency (RF) technology and mode value, a second RF technology and mode value, and one or more RF specific parameters associated with a NFC device during an activation phase of a communication link using a first NFC RF technology. The one or more RF specific parameters and the first NFC RF technology may be based on the first RF technology and mode value. Further, the NFCC may be configured to configure communications to be supported by a second NFC RF technology for use during a data exchange phase of the communication link. The second NFC RF technology may be based on the second RF technology and mode value.
US08971797B2	System and/or method for providing information updates to a location server The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for acquiring signal received from satellite vehicles (SVs) in a satellite navigation system. In one example, although claimed subject matter is not so limited, information processed in acquiring a signal from a first SV may be used in acquiring a signal from a second SV.
US08971794B2	Relay and hierarchical transmission scheme In some examples, a method of transmitting data in a radio communication system is described. The method can include dividing data intended for a communication receive node into a high priority code stream and a low priority code stream. The method can also include transmitting the high priority code stream to the communication receive node and a relay node. The method can also include transmitting the low priority code stream to the communication receive node. The relay node may be configured to receive, amplify and forward the high priority code stream to the communication receive node. The communication receive node may be configured to receive the high priority code stream substantially during first time intervals and may be further configured to receive both the low priority code stream and the amplified high priority code stream substantially during second time intervals interleaved with the first time intervals.
US08971791B2	Method for delivering music content to a smart phone A method of distributing media content using mobile communication devices including providing media access cards which promote selected media content to users of such devices whereby a user may access a web server associated with the media access cards and download application software enabling access to selected media content via a mobile device, the media access cards including a machine readable identification number code that identifies media content associated with the card whereby the application software facilitates reading and transmitting the code to a web server via the mobile device, receiving the identification number with the web server and using the identification number to locate a table value in a database wherein a plurality of media access cards identification numbers are associated with a media content table value, using the table value to identify media codes associated with the selected content server which transmits media to the mobile device.
US08971788B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a sheet conveying unit, a TOD (Top of Data) control module for instructing the image forming unit to start generation of a toner image, a timing roller driving module for instructing the sheet conveying unit to start driving of the timing roller, an image synchronization module designed depending on the sheet conveying unit and the image forming unit, and a sheet information module for generating an image synchronization identifier for designating a pattern of image synchronization control related to printing of the toner image on the sheet, depending on a type of the sheet designated. The image synchronization module is activated when the formation of the toner image on the sheet has become possible, and activate each of the TOD control module and the timing roller driving module, with a relative time lag based on the image synchronization identifier.
US08971785B2	Cleaning unit and image forming device having the same A cleaning unit includes a cleaning member, a storage case, and a transport member. The cleaning member collects waste toner on a surface of the photoconductive drum. The storage case successively stores the waste toner collected by the cleaning member through an inlet. The transport member is provided in the storage case, and rotates to transport the waste toner in the storage case in a rotary axis direction. The transport member rotates with a central portion in the rotary axis direction protruding toward the inlet further than both side portions.
US08971784B2	Water addition apparatus and image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a fixing portion that fixes a toner image to a sheet by applying heat to the sheet, a conveyance path through which back and forth conveyance of the sheet conveyed from the fixing portion is performed by normally and reversely rotating a conveying roller, and a water addition portion that adds water to the sheet at a water addition position in the conveyance path on upstream in a conveying direction of the conveying roller. In addition, a controller controls the water addition portion such that the water is added to the sheet conveyed from the fixing portion to the water addition position, and the water is added to the sheet to which the reverse conveyance has been performed after an upstream end in the conveying direction of the sheet passes through the water addition position.
US08971783B2	Fixing device, and image forming apparatus A fixing device includes an irradiation section that irradiates a recording medium with light, the recording medium having thereon an image formed by an image forming material to be fixed by absorbing light and being transported along a transporting path, and a preventing member that is provided with a first hole that allows the light to pass therethrough, and prevents the image forming material irradiated with the light from adhering to the irradiation section.
US08971782B2	Fixing device, image forming apparatus incorporating same, and method for heating fixing rotary body A fixing device includes an induction heater constructed of an exciting coil, a first pair of degaussing coils, and a second pair of degaussing coils. A controller turns off the exciting coil while the controller turns on one of the first pair of degaussing coils and the second pair of degaussing coils and at the same time turns off the other one of the first pair of degaussing coils and the second pair of degaussing coils, and then turns on the exciting coil for an extra time period corresponding to reserved power not supplied to the exciting coil while the exciting coil is turned off.
US08971779B2	Fixing device with support and image forming apparatus incorporating same A fixing device includes a support supporting a nip formation assembly that presses against an opposed rotary body via an endless belt to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the opposed rotary body. The support includes a base contacting the nip formation assembly. An upstream projection projects from the base in a pressurization direction of the opposed rotary body at a position on the base corresponding to or upstream from an upstream edge of the fixing nip in a recording medium conveyance direction. A downstream projection projects from the base in the pressurization direction of the opposed rotary body at a position on the base corresponding to or downstream from a downstream edge of the fixing nip in the recording medium conveyance direction. The downstream projection is spaced apart from the upstream projection in the recording medium conveyance direction.
US08971777B2	Fixing device, image forming apparatus, and fixing method A fixing device includes: a cylinder member that rotates in a circumferential direction thereof; a circulating member that circularly moves in a circumferential direction thereof and is pressed against the cylinder member; a heat source that heats a recording medium holding an unfixed toner image and nipped between the cylinder member and the circulating member; and a pressing member provided inside the circulating member, and including a nip forming portion that presses the circulating member against the cylinder member to form a nip region therebetween, and a thrusting portion that thrusts, upstream of the nip forming portion in a moving direction of the circulating member, and from inside the circulating member toward the cylinder member, the circulating member before being pressed against the cylinder member such that the thrust is greater in end portions of the circulating member than in a central portion of the circulating member.
US08971774B2	Fuser and image forming device including the same A fuser includes a first roller that includes a first elastic layer, a belt member provided on, and rotates around, the first roller, a second roller that includes a second elastic layer and that forms a nip part by pressing, through the belt member, the first roller, and a heating member that heats the belt member. A thickness of the second elastic layer of the second roller is less than a thickness of the first elastic layer of the first roller.
US08971772B2	Developer transport member and developing apparatus There is provided a developer transport member including a rotatable member, a main body configured to transport the developer by being rotated in accordance with rotation of the rotatable member, and a metal spring configured to bias the main body.
US08971770B2	Developer-agitating transporter, developing device, and image forming apparatus A developer-agitating transporter includes helical blades that helically extend around a rotation shaft, the helical blades being arranged at different positions in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft; and a gap portion that divides each helical blade into a first blade portion and a second blade portion, which oppose each other across the gap portion, so that the helical blade is discontinuous in a direction in which the helical blade extends. The gap portion causes the first blade portion and the second blade portion to be arranged at a certain angular interval in a circumferential direction of the rotation shaft, and at least one surface of adjacent ones of the helical blades that are adjacent in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft has a sloped area that is sloped at an angle that changes with respect to an axial direction of the rotation shaft.
US08971768B2	Developer container including an elastically deformable transporting member and image forming apparatus including the developer container A developer container includes a developer accommodating chamber and a transporting member configured to elastically deform, to rotate, and to transport the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating chamber. The developer accommodating chamber includes a dividing wall configured to deform the transporting member by making a sliding contact with the transporting member. The developer accommodating chamber further includes a communicating portion configured to allow the transporting member, which has been elastically deformed by the sliding portion, to restore. The developer accommodating chamber still further includes a contacting portion. The transporting member restored by the communicating portion being configured to contact with the contacting portion.
US08971765B2	Intermediate transfer member and method for manufacturing the same, intermediate transfer member unit, and image forming apparatus Disclosed is an intermediate transfer member including, a resin layer as an outermost layer, in which plural recessed portions having a curved inner wall are scattered on the surface thereof.
US08971760B2	Process cartridge and image forming apparatus A process cartridge is detachably mountable to a main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The cartridge includes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a developing roller, a drum unit containing the drum, a developing unit containing the roller and being movable so the roller contacts and is spaced from the drum, and a first force receiver receiving a force from a main-assembly first force applier by movement of a door from open to closed positions when mounting the cartridge and a second force receiver movable from a stand-by position by movement of the first force receiver by a force received from the first force applier. The second force receiver takes a projected position receiving a force from the second force applier to move the developing unit so the roller moves out of contact with the drum, the projected position being higher than the stand-by position.
US08971757B2	Image forming device A color laser printer is configured with a tray being provided above the housing cassette which houses a recording medium. The tray holds developing units and is configured to be pulled out from device main body while leaving housing cassette inside device main body. Furthermore, a sliding support element capable of supporting protrusions of the tray is provided, such that a portion of the tray downstream of the protrusions can be supported on the installation surface when the tray is pulled out from device main body.
US08971752B2	Belt device and image forming apparatus A belt device includes: a belt that passes through a plurality of image forming units, each of the image forming units including a transfer member and an image carrier as a pair, the transfer member moves in a direction to contact with the belt and in a direction so as to be separated from the belt; a cleaning unit cleans an outer periphery of the belt after the belt passes through all the image forming units; and a pressing member is disposed between the cleaning unit and the image forming unit located on the most upstream side and that presses the outer periphery of the belt, wherein when the transfer member of at least one of the image forming units moves to be separated from the belt, the transfer member of the rest of the image forming units and the pressing member support the belt.
US08971751B2	Piezoelectric transducer driver, power supply device, and image formation apparatus A piezoelectric transducer driver configured to drive a piezoelectric transducer for converting an inputted alternating-current voltage, includes: a drive circuit configured to generate the alternating-current voltage to be inputted into the piezoelectric transducer; a frequency controller configured to control a frequency of the alternating-current voltage as a drive frequency to be applied to the piezoelectric transducer; and a pulse generation circuit configured to generate a drive pulse having a switching frequency corresponding to the drive frequency, and to output the drive pulse to the drive circuit. The drive circuit includes a switching element configured to generate the alternating-current voltage by executing a switching operation corresponding to a pulse width of the drive pulse, and the pulse generation circuit changes the pulse width depending on the switching frequency.
US08971750B2	Image forming apparatus for discharging electric charge charged to a capacitor and discharge device for discharging electric charge charged to a capacitor An apparatus includes a CPU, wherein, when the apparatus is currently in a power OFF state, and if an operation different from that of a power source switch is performed, the CPU connects a load to a power source by the switch to discharge a capacitor.
US08971749B2	Optical sensor and image forming apparatus An optical sensor is disclosed. The optical sensor includes an irradiating system which irradiates a linearly polarized light; a first photodetecting system including a first photodetector which is arranged on an optical path of a light which is specularly reflected from a subject; a second photodetecting system including an optical element which is arranged on an optical path of a light which is diffuse reflected from the subject within an incident face in the subject and which separates a linearly polarized component in a second polarizing direction which is orthogonal to a first polarizing direction and a second photodetector which receives a light separated by the optical element, wherein an angle of taking in the light in the first photodetector and an angle of taking in the light in the second photodetector are mutually different.
US08971744B2	Image heating apparatus The image heating apparatus includes an unit for spacing each of a buck-up member and a pressure roller apart from a flexible belt member which is electrified to generate heat, or heated by a source of heat at start-up, i.e. in a previous stage to heating an image, or an unit for controlling a pressure to decrease a contact area in the direction of the axis of rotation compared with the contact area for a period to heat an image. This can control, as much as possible, heat conduction from the flexible belt which is electrified to generate heat, or heated by the source of heat to the back-up member and the pressure roller at the start-up, i.e. the previous stage to heating an image.
US08971739B2	Color misalignment correction pattern detection method in image forming apparatus A pattern detection sensor includes a light emitting element for specular reflection, a light emitting element for diffuse reflection light, and a light receiving element. When turning on the light emitting element for specular reflection to emit light, a light source switching unit keeps off the light emitting element for diffuse reflection light. When turning on the light emitting element for diffuse reflection light to emit light, the light source switching unit keeps off the light emitting element for specular reflection. An offset detection unit detects a difference between a detection timing by specular reflection light and another detection timing by diffuse reflection light as an offset value (mutual detection error).
US08971736B2	Collection device and image forming apparatus A collection device including: an accommodation part configured to accommodate therein collected adhering substance; and a detection part configured to detect an amount of the adhering substance in the accommodation part and including, a moving member configured to move from a first position to a second position, the accommodation part being capable of accommodating therein the adhering substance when the moving member is arranged at the first position and being full of the adhering substance when the moving member is in the second position, and a restraining member configured to restrain the moving member from moving from the first position to the second position when the moving member is arranged at the first position, and restrain the moving member from moving from the second position to the first position when the moving member is arranged at the second position.
US08971734B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a rotatable member which is provided on and rotatable about a rotation shaft in a detachably mountable developing unit containing a developer and has flexibility so that it is flexed depending on a resistance of the developer; an electroconductive member to be detected which is provided on the rotatable member; a detecting electrode provided in a neighborhood of an outer wall surface of a bottom of the developing unit; a converting portion for detecting an electrostatic capacity between the member to be detected and the detecting electrode and for converting the electrostatic capacity into an electric signal; a measuring portion for measuring a time duration in which the electric signal converted by the converting portion exceeds a predetermined threshold; and a discriminating portion for discriminating an amount of the developer on the basis of the time duration measured by the measuring portion.
US08971729B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus has a sheet feeding portion which feeds a topmost sheet of sheets stacked on a sheet stacking portion and an image forming portion which forms an image to the sheet fed by the sheet feeding portion. The image forming apparatus also has a moisture-proof member set to a covering position so as to contact with and cover a topmost sheet of sheets stacked on the sheet stacking portion, a moisture-proof member detection portion which determines whether the moisture-proof member is available at the covering position, and a notification portion which notifies the presence or absence of the moisture-proof member at the covering position based on a detection result from the moisture-proof member detection portion.
US08971728B2	Image forming apparatus and cartridge therefor An image forming apparatus and a cartridge are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a main casing, a CPU as a judgment unit, and a main electrode. The cartridge accommodating a toner is attachable to and detachable from the main casing, and has a cartridge electrode electrically connectable to the main electrode. The CPU is configured to judge assembly or non-assembly of the cartridge with respect to the main casing and to judge whether or not the assembled cartridge is a new cartridge. The cartridge electrode is movable by a predetermined moving amount to permit the main electrode to be movable. As a result of a movement of the main electrode in accordance with the movement of the cartridge electrode, the CPU determines that the assembled cartridge is a new cartridge.
US08971725B2	Optical communication module and control method for optical communication module An optical communication module includes a laser that emits laser light, and an electro-absorber that absorbs the laser light, which is emitted from the laser, according to a voltage modulated based on a modulating signal and a bias voltage. The optical communication module detects data that varies correlatively with the temperature of the electro-absorber, and sets the bias voltage, which is associated with the detected data, on the basis of relational data specifying at least the relationship between the bias voltage and the data.
US08971718B2	Down-sampling clock and data recovery circuit having selectable rate and phase output and method of operation thereof A clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit, a method of recovering a clock and data from a received raw data stream and a BI-PON optical network transceiver (ONT) receiver front-end incorporating the CDR circuit. In one embodiment, the CDR circuit includes: (1) a line rate CDR circuit having a voltage controlled oscillator, the line rate CDR circuit configured to recover a raw data stream at a receiving line rate, (2) a fixed-rate down-sampler coupled to the line rate CDR circuit and configured to down-sample the raw data stream based on a fixed-rate and (3) a variable-rate down-sampler coupled to the fixed-rate down-sampler and configured further to down-sample the raw data sample based on a variable-rate.
US08971717B1	Optical communication systems and methods with crosstalk cancellation An optical system has an optical emitter that transmits an optical signal through an optical fiber. An optical detector detects light from the fiber and provides an analog signal indicative of such light. A crosstalk cancellation element is configured to receive an electrical signal from the optical emitter and to adjust such signal in order to form a cancellation signal that models the optical and/or electrical crosstalk affecting the analog signal. The cancellation signal is subtracted from the analog signal thereby removing optical and/or electrical crosstalk from the analog signal.
US08971709B2	Optical transceiver apparatus and wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network system An optical transceiver apparatus includes a gain medium, a photoelectric converter, at least one AWG, and a partial reflection mirror. The at least one AWG includes two common ports and multiple branch ports. One of the two common ports functions as a signal sending port, and the other functions as a signal receiving port, where bandwidth of the signal sending port is less than that of the signal receiving port. The gain medium and the photoelectric converter are connected to one of the branch ports of the AWG. The AWG and the partial reflection mirror are configured to cooperatively perform wavelength self-injection locking on an optical signal provided by the gain medium, and output the optical signal through the signal sending port. The AWG is further configured to demultiplex an optical signal received by the signal receiving port to a branch port. A WDM-PON system is also provided.
US08971705B2	Transient and switching event stabilization of fiber optic transport systems A method and system for transient and switching stabilization of a fiber optic transport system. One or more data-bearing channels are coupled to an optical fiber. The data-bearing channels are distributed among a plurality of frequency sub-bands. A set of control channels is also coupled to the optical fiber. Each control channel includes a pair of signals at separate frequencies. There is at least one control channel in each of the plurality of frequency sub-bands. The pair of signals of a control channel are cross-polarized. Optical power in at least one of the plurality of sub-bands is measured. Responsive to the measured optical power, the optical power of a control channel is adjusted to maintain a substantially constant power of a sub-band that contains the adjusted control channel.
US08971701B2	Cueing system for universal optical receiver A universal optical receiver may include an optical channel monitor configured to acquire spectral data for an optical signal on at least one selected optical channel, a tunable local oscillator configured to be tuned to a center frequency of the optical signal on the at least one selected optical channel, a storage device configured to store data associated with the optical signal responsive to acquisition of the spectral data and tuning of the tunable local oscillator, and processing circuitry configured to execute an algorithm that employs a plurality of binary distinctions based on physical characteristics of the optical signal and employs at least one calculation of figure of merit associated with a series of parameter values of the optical signal to identify a format of the optical signal.
US08971697B2	Focus detection apparatus and focus detection method A focus detection apparatus comprises: a photoelectric converter including a pair of line sensors to output electrical signals; a selection unit constructed to select one of focus detection points; a control unit constructed to divide the pair of line sensors into a plurality of pairs of blocks in accordance with different divisional patterns which make the resultant plurality of pairs of blocks respectively corresponding to the focus detection points, and read out electrical signals from each pair of blocks when the levels of the electrical signals of the pair of blocks reach a level suitable for focus detection; frame memories, constructed to store the read out electrical signals, corresponding to the divisional patterns; and a focus detection unit constructed to detect a focus state of an imaging lens, on the basis of a phase difference between electrical signals of the pair of blocks corresponding to the selected focus detection point.
US08971696B2	Shake compensation control apparatus, optical device, image capturing apparatus, and control method of shake compensation A rotational shake compensation calculation unit in an image capturing apparatus calculates rotational shake produced by apparatus rotation about an axis orthogonal to an optical axis of an imaging optical system, thereby calculating a compensation amount for image shake. A translational shake compensation calculation unit calculates a compensation amount for image shake resulting from translational shake produced in a travel direction of the apparatus along a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the optical system. An estimating device estimates translational shake using a vibration model. A translational shake compensation amount calculation unit calculates a translation shake compensation amount based on the estimation amount and varies the translation shake compensation amount in response to the compensation range of the shake compensation unit of the focal distance of the optical system. The compensation amounts for translational shake and rotational shakes are combined, thereby controlling shake compensation unit driving.
US08971695B2	Portable heater A heater is provided with a heater core having a source of thermal energy in a heat exchange relationship with a heat exchanger. A fan moves air through the heater core from an air inlet to an air outlet. The heater core is thermally insulated by an air jacket from an exterior case.
US08971693B2	Apparatus and method for recording content Methods, computer readable media, and apparatuses for switching streams in response to detecting a start trigger are presented. A program's start trigger indicating that the program is upcoming may be detected on a first stream, and in response to detecting the start trigger on the first stream, a second stream containing the program may be switched to. The program may be a video program. Segment triggers may be detected and may be used to selectively record and/or delete segments of the program according to a priority scheme. Multiple start triggers may be detected at decreasing time intervals. The existence of a recording conflict may be determined based on a program's start trigger and a user may be alerted of the recording conflict.
US08971686B2	Method and apparatus for managing digital contents and method and apparatus for executing digital contents according to playback positions Provided are a method and an apparatus for managing digital contents and a method and an apparatus for executing digital contents according to playback positions. The method for managing digital contents includes inputting digital contents from a digital contents provider, inputting playback positions of the digital contents at which at least one application will perform an operation, and generating a list of playback positions in which the playback positions are recorded, based on attribute information on the application.

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