| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08984017B2 |
Method for generating and using a portable patient file
A method for generating and using a portable patient file may include entering data relating to a patient into a computer and storing the patient data in a medical record for the patient in a database using metadata in an adaptive data environment. The computer is configured to instantiate a file configured for import or export of the patient data, and the file is capable of transferring the patient data from the database to another database with preservation of semantic meanings associated with the patient data. |
| US08984016B2 |
Method of process management in a collaborative service-oriented framework
A method for process management in a collaborative service-oriented workshop for processing objects associated with data representing real data or processes, each object including a structure for storing links to other objects. After determining at least one function and at least one piece of information enabling the execution of the at least one function, an object including at least one reference to the at least one function and the at least one piece of information is created. |
| US08984006B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying hierarchical relationships
Embodiments include a computer-implemented method that includes identifying a candidate parent entity having one or more characteristics indicative of the entity having a parent hierarchical relationship to another entity of an entity set, identifying a candidate child entity set including entities of the entity set that each have one or more characteristics indicative of the entity having a child hierarchical relationship to the candidate parent entity, comparing characteristics of the candidate parent entity to characteristics of an entity of the candidate child entity set to determine whether a hierarchical relationship exists between the candidate parent entity and the entity of the candidate child entity set, determining that a hierarchical relationship exists between the candidate parent entity and the entity of the candidate child entity set, and updating a hierarchical index to reflect the hierarchical relationship between the candidate parent entity and the entity of the candidate child entity set. |
| US08984001B2 |
System and method for digital assistance agents in product lifecycle management
A method, data processing system, and machine-readable storage medium are provided for digital assistance agents in product lifecycle management. The method includes obtaining context information relating to a first user of a product lifecycle management (PLM) system from an interaction between the first user and a second user of the PLM system. The method also includes receiving input information from the first user and one or more other users of the PLM system. The method further includes receiving action information from or sending action information to the PLM system, where the action information is related to the input information and the context information. The method also includes sending output information to at least some of the first user and the one or more other users of the PLM system, where the output information relating to a result of receiving action information from or sending action information to the PLM system. |
| US08984000B2 |
System, process and software arrangement for providing multidimensional recommendations/suggestions
A process, system and computer software are provided to facilitate at least one recommendation to one or more users and/or one or more applications using multidimensional data. In particular, a multidimensional space is defined, wherein each dimension is capable of providing variable information. At least one dimension corresponds to user profiles. The multidimensional space is filled with multidimensional data corresponding to dimensions of the multidimensional space. Then, information from the multidimensional space is retrieved. Further, the recommendation is generated based on the retrieved information. In addition, it is possible to generate a recommendation-specific query. This can be performed by generating the recommendation-specific query to access a multidimensional cube and retrieve data stored therein. Then, the recommendation can be issued based on the data retrieved from the multidimensional cube. |
| US08983997B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a setting unit that sets a search character string, a searching unit that searches information including the set search character string, and a determining unit that extracts a co-occurrence character string candidate group other than partial character strings appearing as only a part of other partial character strings, among all partial character strings appearing in a plurality of pieces of the information obtained as a search result, and determines a co-occurrence character string from the co-occurrence character string candidate group, on the basis of the extracted co-occurrence character string candidate group and kinds of characters used in characters before and after the co-occurrence character string candidate group. |
| US08983994B2 |
Generation of a data model for searching machine data
Embodiments include generating data models that may give semantic meaning for unstructured or structured data that may include data generated and/or received by search engines, including a time series engine. A method includes generating a data model for data stored in a repository. Generating the data model includes generating an initial query string, executing the initial query string on the data, generating an initial result set based on the initial query string being executed on the data, determining one or more candidate fields from one or results of the initial result set, generating a candidate data model based on the one or more candidate fields, iteratively modifying the candidate data model until the candidate data model models the data, and using the candidate data model as the data model. The method further includes generating a new query string using the data model, executing the new query string on the data, and generating a new result set based on the new query string being executed on the data. |
| US08983992B2 |
Facilitating field programmable gate array accelerations of database functions
Methods and arrangements for facilitating accelerations of database functions. A field programmable gate array is incorporated. At least one query control block is incorporated in the field programmable gate array, and database management system operations are accelerated via the field programmable gate array. The accelerating includes employing the at least one query control block to execute a query without reconfiguring the field programmable gate array. |
| US08983991B2 |
Generating logical expressions for search queries
In one embodiment, a method comprises, by a computer system, receiving a search term, determining a search constraint for a search query, and generating a search query. The search query includes the search term and the search constraint. The search query requires that at least a first number of search results that are returned in response to the search query match both the search term and the search constraint. The search query permits at least a second number of the search results to match only the search term. The computer system provides the search query for a search against a store of data. |
| US08983986B2 |
Ranking search results based on the frequency of access on the search results by users of a social-networking system
Particular embodiments access a search query submitted by a first user of a social-networking system; identify one or more web pages in response to the search query; for each of the one or more web pages, determine a value indicating a number of user clicks associated with the web page by one or more second users of the social-networking system who are connected to the first user within the social-networking system; and send a set of hyperlinks for the one or more web pages, wherein hyperlinks for web pages where the value is greater than zero are visually emphasized over other hyperlinks. |
| US08983985B2 |
Masking sensitive data of table columns retrieved from a database
Access to a data element stored within a database object is controlled. A request is received from a user to perform an operation in relation to the database object, the operation including retrieval of information from the data element of the database object. Prior to retrieving information from the data element, a determination is made whether at least a portion of the information from the data element is subject to masking in accordance with an access policy. In response to determining that information from the data element is subject to masking, the request is modified to require that information from the data element be retrieved in a masked condition. |
| US08983983B2 |
State operating system
Methods and systems for distributed data storage provide automatically expandable and configurable state servers and a state operating system for storing data closer to its natural format. |
| US08983978B2 |
Location-intention context for content delivery
Invitational content targeted to a particular behavior can be served to the user when the user is likely to reproduce a desired behavior. The user is classified into one or more spatial-temporal segments based on an analysis of the user's characteristics and the user's past behavior. When a request is made for an item of invitational content, a spatial-temporal segment is selected based on a substantial likelihood that the current context will lead to a repeat of the representative past behavior. An item of invitational content associated with the selected segment is then served to the user. |
| US08983976B2 |
Dynamically expiring crowd-sourced content
Example apparatus and methods concern dynamically expiring crowd-sourced content (CSC) in a crowd-sourced database. An example apparatus may include logic for acquiring the CSC, where the CSC is data produced by a mobile device concerning a point of interest. The example apparatus also includes logic for producing an evaluation of the CSC and logic for determining an expiration criteria based on the CSC, the evaluation, and the user. The CSC may be data about a point of interest. The evaluation may be based on the completeness, timeliness, or contents of the CSC. The expiration criteria may be established based on the evaluation of the CSC and a user profile. The expiration criteria or user profile may be manipulated based on confirmation or repudiation of the CSC by a different user or by curation of the CSC. |
| US08983973B2 |
Systems and methods for ranking points of interest
Systems and methods are provided for ranking points of interest (POIs). According to one implementation, a computer-implemented method may be provided that includes receiving geographic information from a user device, and selecting a plurality of points of interest within the geographic region. The method may also include generating an initial ranking of the selected points of interest based on voting information received from the user device, viral input from a user's social network, and/or additional input based on searches for maps and travel directions for traversing a route. In addition, the method may include calculating a modified ranking of the selected points of interest. |
| US08983972B2 |
Collection and reporting of customer survey data
The embodiments may provide a system for managing survey data including a survey metadata handler configured to receive survey metadata for a survey type, and a survey result handler configured to receive one or more completed or partially completed surveys providing one or more answers to questions corresponding to the survey type, a calculating unit configured to calculate one or more weighted answers based on the question weights and the one or more answers, and a satisfaction score for each completed or partially completed survey based on the one or more weighted answers, a category determining unit configured to determine a satisfaction category for the survey type based on the satisfaction scores and satisfaction category information mapping satisfaction categories to satisfaction scores for the survey type, and a database configured to store the survey metadata, the survey results, and the satisfaction category information, as a layered data model. |
| US08983970B1 |
Ranking content using content and content authors
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for identifying original content. In one aspect a method is described that includes identifying a first document in a collection of documents. The first document contains a content piece and the content piece does not occur in any earlier document in the collection. The first document is associated with a first author and the first author associated with a first rank. The first rank of the first author is determined using a score of the content piece. The score is a figure of merit of the content piece. |
| US08983962B2 |
Question and answer data editing device, question and answer data editing method and question answer data editing program
The question and answer data editing device for editing dialog content to generate question and answer data, includes a detecting unit that detects a part of the dialog content similar to existing question and answer data stored, and a extracting unit that extracts a context in which the dialog content is made from dialog content in the proximity of the similar part detected and registers the context extracted as new question and answer data or as index information of the question and answer data. |
| US08983961B2 |
High availability for cloud servers
A high availability system in a cloud computing environment includes a snapshot manager disposed in a mirror environment having at least one computer server and a plurality of virtual machines disposed in a production environment. Each of the plurality of virtual machines includes a snapshot agent configured to perform a method. The method includes periodically taking snapshots of the virtual machine associated with the snapshot agent, determining a delta image based on a change between a current snapshot and a previous snapshot, removing previous snapshots in the virtual machine and transmitting the delta image to the snapshot manager. The snapshot manager is configured to store a recovery image for each of the plurality of virtual machines and to merge the received delta image with the recovery image to update the recovery image. |
| US08983955B2 |
Maltweb multi-axis viewing interface and higher level scoping
A method, apparatus and computer program product for navigating in a multi-dimensional space containing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are disclosed. A selected predefined portion is displayed in a first display region. A point on a primary axis of the multi-dimensional space corresponding to the displayed pre-defined portion is also displayed. Also, a method, apparatus and computer program product for publishing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are also disclosed. Predefined portions are stored in terminal nodes. Higher level nodes are provided for organizing the terminal nodes into an hierarchical structure embodied in said electronic publication. Each higher level node contains the identity of a parent node, a position indicator for the higher level node and an associated identifier. |
| US08983954B2 |
Finding data in connected corpuses using examples
In one embodiment, datasets are stored in a catalog. The datasets are enriched by establishing relationships among the domains in different datasets. A user searches for relevant datasets by providing examples of the domains of interest. The system identifies datasets corresponding to the user-provided examples. The system them identifies connected subsets of the datasets that are directly linked or indirectly linked through other domains. The user provides known relationship examples to filter the connected subsets and to identify the connected subsets that are most relevant to the user's query. The selected connected subsets may be further analyzed by business intelligence/analytics to create pivot tables or to process the data. |
| US08983951B2 |
Techniques for relating data in healthcare databases
Systems and computer program products for relating facts stored in healthcare databases are provided. At least two fact tables stored in a healthcare database including data meeting a criteria of interest are located. An identification key is assigned to the at least two fact tables including the located data meeting the criteria of interest. The identification key provides access to a dimension table including a list of subjects associated with the at least two fact tables including the located data meeting the criteria of interest so as to allow future identification of the subjects meeting the criteria of interest. |
| US08983948B1 |
Providing electronic content based on a composition of a social network
Techniques for providing electronic content may include: identifying members of a social network that have a characteristic in common; determining a first proportion of the social network that the members compose; determining that a first member of the social network has the characteristic; identifying first content from the members that have the characteristic in common; and outputting second content from the social network to the first member. At least some of the first content may be included in the second content, and the at least some of the first content may represent a second proportion of the second content, where the second proportion is based on the first proportion. |
| US08983944B2 |
Method of providing information of main knowledge stream and apparatus for providing information of main knowledge stream
A method for providing information about a main knowledge stream is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the method includes obtaining reference links representing reference relationships among reference documents in each of a plurality of documents stored in a database, determining one or more basic paths connecting the reference links, calculating probability values of the reference links by overlapping the determined basic paths, determining a first document among the documents and an input reference link associated with the first document, and performing a Markov chain model using a probability value of the input reference link, and calculating information about the main knowledge stream associated with the first document using the result obtained by performing the Markov chain model. |
| US08983942B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing time machine service based on social network service
Disclosed are a method for providing a time machine service based on an SNS (social network service), including: extracting keywords based on SNS information input by SNS users and collecting rich contents relating to the SNS information based on the keywords; dividing points of past, present, and future, based on a predetermined present time period and classifying the rich contents into any one of past information, present information, and future information, based on the division result; and providing the classified rich contents to the SNS users. |
| US08983941B1 |
Visual content retrieval
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for generating image search results. One of the methods includes receiving first image search results responsive to a text query, each first image search result associated with a respective first score indicating a relevance of an image represented by the first image search result to the text query. Second image search results responsive to a query image are received, each second image search result associated with a respective second score indicating a measure of similarity between an image represented by the second image search result and the query image. A set of final image search results is selected including combining first scores and second scores of the selected first image search results. The final image search results are ordered by similarity to the query image. |
| US08983934B2 |
SQL tuning base
A computer readable medium storing a database query language statement tuning base in a tuning base memory location is disclosed. The tuning base includes tuning information for one or more query language statements. The tuning information for each statement includes one or more tuning actions for the statement, and a signature to allow an optimizer to identify the one or more tuning actions for the statement. |
| US08983933B2 |
Costs of operations across computing systems
Disclosed herein are techniques for measuring or assessing the costs of executing operations across a plurality of computing systems. The cost of transferring data across at least one arrangement of computing systems is determined. The cost of executing at least one arrangement of the operations is also determined. |
| US08983929B2 |
Methods and systems for managing data
Methods and systems for managing an index database. In one exemplary method, an index database is stored on a machine readable volume with an operating system and the files which have been indexed, and then the volume is, after the storing, made available for distribution to licensees or customers. In this manner, the volume will include a previously created index database, allowing a user to begin use of the index database without having to perform an indexing operation. |
| US08983928B2 |
Real time content searching in social network
Indexing and retrieving real time content in a social networking system is disclosed. A user-term index includes user-term partitions, each user-term partition comprising temporal databases. As a post is received from a user, a user identifier, a post identifier, and a post is extracted. An object store communicatively coupled to a temporal database for recently received content is queried to determine whether terms in the post has already been stored. A term identifier is stored in the user-term index with the user and post identifiers. A forward index stores the post by post identifier. Responsive to a search query, the user-term index is searched by the user's connections and the terms. A real time search engine compiles the results of the user-term index query and retrieves the stored posts from the forward index. The search results may then be ranked and cached before presentation to the searching user. |
| US08983926B2 |
Method and system for tagging original data generated by things in the internet of things
A method and system for tagging original data generated by things in the Internet of Things (IoT). The method includes: performing relativity detection on acquired Web messages to obtain Web messages related to various events; acquiring address information contained in the related Web messages; determining adjacent things for various events based on the acquired address information; and tagging original data generated by the adjacent things determined using at least partial content of the related Web messages as metadata. The system includes modules for carrying out the above method. |
| US08983924B2 |
Sharing public search queries and interactions
When a user enters an information retrieval query, a topic feed generator automatically generates a topic feed for publication or distribution to a set of followers or recipients who have elected to receive the topic feed from the user or based on the subject matter content of the query. A feed distributor component automatically distributes the topic feed, which includes the query, to the identified recipients. A search component executes the search and returns results, corresponding to the query, to the user. |
| US08983923B2 |
System and method for the retrieval and display of supplemental content
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for identifying and displaying supplemental content associated with one or more advertisements responsive to a user query. The method of the present invention comprises identifying one or more advertisements responsive to a user query. One or more terms are extracted from the one or more advertisements identified as responsive to the user query. Supplemental content associated with the one or more advertisements is retrieved through use of the one or more extracted terms, and a display is generated comprising the one or more advertisements identified as responsive to the user query and the supplemental content associated with the one or more advertisements. |
| US08983913B2 |
System and method for business-driven archiving
A computer system maintains a repository of software products. The software products include a plurality of business processes, and each business process includes a business object. The system maintains a plurality of archiving objects, and further maintains a mapping of each business process to at least one business object, a mapping of each business object to at least one related database table, and a mapping of each database table to at least one related archiving object. The system receives a selection of a business process for which data is to be archived, and uses the mapping of the each business process to the at least one business object, the mapping of the each business object to the at least one database table, and the mapping of the each database table to the at least one archiving object to determine the database tables to transmit to the archiving objects. |
| US08983911B2 |
Storage media abstraction for uniform data storage
A storage abstraction system is described herein that exposes storage from an operating system as a uniform storage device and abstracts from applications the selection of a particular storage location and different properties of storage devices. The application provides the data to store and some information about the application's goals for storing the data, and lets the operating system route the data to the right place based on the data's characteristics. The operating system may choose to store data anywhere from L2 cache to a cloud-based storage service and anything in between, based on information about the data's persistence requirements, expected usage, access frequency, security needs, and so forth. The system lets applications and users focus on expressing their goals and needs for the data, and lets the operating system manage the hardware. |
| US08983909B2 |
Information management assistant
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with information management are described. One example method includes controlling a computerized process to discover an information management client and one or more information management entities associated with the information management client. The example method may also include determining a data movement plan and executing the data movement plan. |
| US08983902B2 |
Transparent caching of configuration data
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing transparent caching of configuration data in distributed landscapes. One process includes operations for receiving a read request of original configuration data stored at a second system. A first timestamp associated with local configuration data stored locally at a first system is identified. A second timestamp associated with the original configuration data is identified, and the second timestamp is determined to be later in time than the first timestamp. A copy of the original configuration data from the second system is retrieved for storage locally in place of the local configuration data at the first system based on the determination that the second timestamp is later in time than the first timestamp. The first timestamp is updated with a current timestamp associated with a time the copy of the original configuration data was retrieved from the second system. |
| US08983901B1 |
System and method for rectangular region covering
Systems and methods are provided for determining mutation regions for a spreadsheet. Mutation regions are iteratively assigned to a first region of cells in the spreadsheet. To assign a mutation region, a column is selected from the first region. A first row in the first region of cells is associated with the selected column that is not assigned to a mutation region and that is not included in a second region of the spreadsheet is determined. A largest region contained within the first region that does not overlap with the second region for which the cell in the selected column and the first row is in a designated position is determined. The largest region is assigned as a mutation region for the spreadsheet. |
| US08983897B2 |
System and method of ontological subject mapping for knowledge processing applications
The present invention discloses methods, systems, and tools for knowledge processing by building maps of ontological subjects for compositions or the contents accompanying a request for service by a user. In one embodiment of the invention the method assigns and calculates an ontological subject power spectrum to each composition or ontological subject. The resulting power spectrum and the adjacency matrix of the map are used to evaluate the merits of the compositions in the context of reference universes. It is also used as a research guiding tool for knowledge discovery. The invention serves knowledge seekers, knowledge creators, inventors, discoverer, as well as general public by assisting and guiding users to assess their work, identify their unknowns, optimize their research trajectory, and provide higher quality contents. The method and system, thereby, is instrumental in increasing the speed and efficiency of knowledge acquisition, discovery, retrieval, as well as faster learning and problem solving. |
| US08983894B2 |
Generating a file with integral dynamic reports from queries to an external database
Records in databases or unstructured files are enriched with metadata and are indexed for retrieval by a search engine. In response to a search request, a graphical user interface (GUI) control based on the metadata associated with the search hits is constructed and displayed with the search results in a standard view. Selection of a metadata value via the GUI control filters the previously matched records down to those matching the value selected via the GUI control. The metadata in the search results is arranged in a tabular view which is embedded in the display of search results and rendered invisible until selected by the user. Reports can be constructed from an identifier each returned record set for presenting, analyzing and modifying the data, and for generating further reports. |
| US08983888B2 |
Efficient modeling system for user recommendation using matrix factorization
A technique for efficiently factoring a matrix in a recommendation system. Usage data for a large set of users relative to a set of items is provided in a usage matrix R. To reduce computational requirements, the usage matrix is sampled to provide a reduced matrix R′. R′ is factored into a user matrix U′ and an item matrix V. User vectors in U′ and V are initialized and then iteratively updated to arrive at an optimal solution. The reduced matrix can be factored using the computational resources of a single computing device, for instance. Subsequently, the full user matrix U is obtained by fixing V and analytically minimizing an error in UV=R+error. The computations of this analytic solution can be divided among a set of computing devices, such as by using a map and reduce technique. Each computing device solves the equation for different respective subset of users. |
| US08983886B2 |
Self-evolvable logic fabric
Methods and systems for achieving self-organized growth of a logic pathway. A number of hardware modules that represents a core can be configured and communicated via a packet routing architecture. Each core includes a plurality of sub-modules that interact dynamically to a growth algorithm. A flow network can be created between a sensor input and a prediction of a desired sensor input and a link can be formed between a regularity within a core and another core via a link-flow-selection process. A digital data packet can be transmitted between the cores for communicating activation of the regularity and to exchange energy. Such physically-self organized circuit fabric system interacts dynamically to a growth algorithm that takes the input to produce a desired output and continuously self-repair and/or heal if damaged. |
| US08983885B1 |
Prospective media content generation using neural network modeling
A system for prospectively identifying media characteristics for inclusion in media content is disclosed. A neural network database including media characteristic information and feature information may associate relationships among the media characteristic information and feature information. Personal characteristic information associated with target media consumers may be used to select a subset of the neural network database. A first set of nodes, representing selected feature information, may be activated. The node interactions may be calculated to detect the activation of a second set of nodes, the second set of nodes representing media characteristic information. Generally, a node is activated when an activation value of the node exceeds a threshold value. Media characteristic information may be identified for inclusion in media content based on the second set of nodes. |
| US08983881B2 |
Benchmarking progressive systems for solving combinatorial problems
A system is provided for benchmarking a progressive combinatorial solver. The system may initialize a parametric model collector, and perform a plurality of parametric trials associated with respective numbers of sub-part iterations of the progressive combinatorial solver. For each of the plurality of parametric trials, the system may initialize a statistical data collector. The system may perform a plurality of randomized executions of the progressive combinatorial solver, and add data including metric values for respective solutions of the executions to the statistical data collector. The system may then determine statistical parameter(s) of data in the statistical data collector, and add data including an indication of the respective number of sub-part iterations, a cost of finding the metric values for the respective solutions, and the statistical parameters of the trial to the parametric data collector. And the system may determine a best-fit model from data in the parametric data collector. |
| US08983877B2 |
Role mining with user attribution using generative models
Applications of machine learning techniques such as Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and author-topic models (ATM) to the problems of mining of user roles to specify access control policies from entitlement as well as logs which contain record of the usage of these entitlements are provided. In one aspect, a method for performing role mining given a plurality of users and a plurality of permissions is provided. The method includes the following steps. At least one generative machine learning technique, e.g., LDA, is used to obtain a probability distribution θ for user-to-role assignments and a probability distribution β for role-to-permission assignments. The probability distribution θ for user-to-role assignments and the probability distribution β for role-to-permission assignments are used to produce a final set of roles, including user-to-role assignments and role-to-permission assignments. |
| US08983873B2 |
System for secure payment over a wireless communication network
A method of conducting secure electronic credit payments to a payment acquirer using a credit payment unit, comprising of a smart card, a portable card reader device and a mobile phone, and a payment server. The method is based on using a unique reader key in the card reader device to encrypt all the sensitive smart card information communicated to the payment server, and thus being able to use an unsecure mobile phone to communicate with the payment server. The payment server then completes the transaction with the payment acquirer over a secure line. |
| US08983870B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing software applications using partitioned data storage devices
Methods, devices, and computer storage media for installation, upgrading, reinstallation, and roll back of software application packages are disclosed. A first software application package is stored in an installation partition of a data storage device of a computing device. The first software application package includes a first software application. The first software application can be installed on an active partition of the data storage device. A first authentication key, associated with the first software application, is determined and stored on the active partition, and then copied to the installation partition. In response to determining that the first software application is to be reinstalled on the active partition: (a) the first software application is reinstalled from the first software application package stored on the installation partition to the active partition, and (b) the associated authentication key stored on the installation partition is copied to the active partition. |
| US08983868B1 |
Using location information in electronic commerce
When a request to purchase an item using an account of a user is received, a geographic location of a user device when the request was made is determined, the user device used to make the request. If the location from where the request was made is an unexpected location of the user, a determination is made as to the likelihood of the user being at the determined location. The likelihood of the user being at determined location is determined based on social networking information of the user. The purchase request is processed based on the determined likelihood of the user being at the determined location. The feature of checking the location of where a purchase request is made from can be enabled or disabled by the user. |
| US08983867B2 |
Multi-dimensional credibility scoring
A credibility scoring system produces a multi-dimensional entity credibility score that is derived from multiple dimensional component scores. The credibility scoring system derives each dimensional component score from a different set of credibility data pertaining to different dimensional aspect of overall credibility. The different dimensional aspects factoring into the overall credibility determination include a stability dimension, transparency dimension, trustworthiness dimension, and sentiment dimension. |
| US08983866B2 |
Automated encoding of delta operators
In one example, a method includes: receiving a first input value associated with a first data field; responsive to determining the first data field is associated with a delta operation, selecting a second input value associated with a corresponding second data field of a previously transmitted message; comparing the first input and second input values to determine if the first and second input values are equivalent; when the first and second input values are not equivalent, generating a message, wherein the first data field includes only data of the first input value not included in data of the second input value, and providing an operator symbol indicating the delta operation to specify that the first data field of the message includes only data of the first input value that is not included in data of the second input value associated with the second data field of the previously transmitted message. |
| US08983864B2 |
Linking online and retail-location shopping carts
A system for linking a shopper's online electronic shopping cart with the shopper's in-store electronic shopping cart is provided. The system includes an online website of a merchant for the purchase of goods by one or more shoppers. Each shopper is provided with an online electronic shopping cart accessible through the website and an in-store electronic shopping cart accessible at a local retail location. The online and in-store electronic shopping carts are linked by placing one or more items contained in the online shopping cart in the in-store shopping cart and vice versa. Related apparatus, methods, techniques and articles are also described. |
| US08983858B2 |
Lifestyle application for consumers
A user device receives consumer information from a consumer, where the consumer information includes preference information, demographic information, identity information, relationship information, and location information associated with the consumer. The user device provides the consumer information to a lifestyle application platform, and receives, from the lifestyle application platform, a consumer profile for the consumer based on the consumer information. The user device receives, from the lifestyle application platform, notifications, reports, and offers, associated with an enterprise and relevant to the consumer, based on the consumer profile, and provides the notifications, reports, and offers for display to the consumer. |
| US08983856B1 |
Scheduling assessments for determining risk adjustment payment information
A computer-implemented method includes, in one aspect, identifying, in a data repository, (i) information indicative of a health care provider who is assigned to a pre-defined calling zone, and (ii) radius information; accessing scheduling information that comprises a plurality of time slots, wherein each time slot corresponds to a time for the health care provider to perform the health risk assessment; selecting, by one or more computer systems, a particular slot from the scheduling information; for the selected slot, applying a geo-dialing algorithm to candidate information that is indicative of one or more members of one or more health plans who are candidates for scheduling in the selected time slot; identifying, based on application of the geo-dialing algorithm, a candidate with a geographic location that is a decreased distance from a geographic location of the health care provider; and causing a call to be placed to the identified candidate. |
| US08983851B2 |
Noise filer, noise filling parameter calculator encoded audio signal representation, methods and computer program
A noise filler for providing a noise-filled spectral representation of an audio signal on the basis of an input spectral representation of the audio signal has a spectral region identifier configured to identify spectral regions of the input spectral representation spaced from non-zero spectral regions of the input spectral representation by at least one intermediate spectral region, to obtain identified spectral regions, and a noise inserter configured to selectively introduce noise into the identified spectral regions to obtain the noise-filled spectral representation of the audio signal. A noise filling parameter calculator for providing a noise filling parameter on the basis of a quantized spectral representation of an audio signal has a spectral region identifier, as mentioned above, and a noise value calculator configured to selectively consider quantization errors of the identified spectral regions for a calculation of the noise filling parameter. Accordingly, an encoded audio signal representation representing the audio signal can be obtained. |
| US08983850B2 |
Translation system and method for multiple instant message networks
A method and system provides a graphical user interface for instant messaging on any of a plurality of instant messaging networks. The interface provides a roster of contacts in each instant messaging network. Instant messages entered through the interface are machine translated into a preferred language for each intended recipient contact. The translated message is sent over the respective instant messaging networks of the intended recipient contacts. Response messages are translated into the source language of the user of the graphical user interface. |
| US08983849B2 |
Multiple device intelligent language model synchronization
Systems and methods for intelligent language models that can be used across multiple devices are provided. Some embodiments provide for a client-server system for integrating change events from each device running a local language processing system into a master language model. The change events can be integrated, not only into the master model, but also into each of the other local language models. As a result, some embodiments enable restoration to new devices as well as synchronization of usage across multiple devices. In addition, real-time messaging can be used on selected messages to ensure that high priority change events are updated quickly across all active devices. Using a subscription model driven by a server infrastructure, utilization logic on the client side can also drive selective language model updates. |
| US08983847B2 |
Voice recognition apparatus, method, and computer program product
In an embodiment, a voice recognition apparatus includes: a program information storage unit; a dictionary storage unit; a calculating unit; an updating unit; a receiving unit; a recognizing unit; and an operation control unit. The program information storage unit stores metadata of a broadcast program with a user's viewing state. The dictionary storage unit stores a recognition dictionary including a recognition word and a priority of the recognition word. The calculating unit calculates a first score of a degree of the user's preference on a feature word based on the metadata and the viewing state. The updating unit updates the priority of the recognition word including the feature word according to the first score. The recognizing unit recognizes a voice using the recognition dictionary. The operation control unit controls an operation on the broadcast program based on a recognition result. |
| US08983844B1 |
Transmission of noise parameters for improving automatic speech recognition
Methods and systems for transmission of noise parameters for improving automatic speech recognition are disclosed. A system includes one or more microphones, wherein each microphone is configured to produce an audio signal. The system also includes a noise reduction module configured to generate a noise-reduced audio signal and a noise parameter. Furthermore, the system includes a transmitter configured to transmit, to a computing device, the noise-reduced audio signal and a noise parameter. The computing device may use the noise parameter in obtaining a model to use for performing automatic speech recognition. |
| US08983841B2 |
Method for enhancing the playback of information in interactive voice response systems
A network communication node includes an audio outputter that outputs an audible representation of data to be provided to a requester. The network communication node also includes a processor that determines a categorization of the data to be provided to the requester and that varies a pause between segments of the audible representation of the data in accordance with the categorization of the data to be provided to the requester. |
| US08983839B2 |
System and method for dynamically generating a recognition grammar in an integrated voice navigation services environment
The system and method described herein may dynamically generate a recognition grammar associated with a conversational voice user interface in an integrated voice navigation services environment. In particular, in response to receiving a natural language utterance that relates to a navigation context at the voice user interface, a conversational language processor may generate a dynamic recognition grammar that organizes grammar information based on one or more topological domains. For example, the one or more topological domains may be determined based on a current location associated with a navigation device, whereby a speech recognition engine may use the grammar information organized in the dynamic recognition grammar according to the one or more topological domains to generate one or more interpretations associated with the natural language utterance. |
| US08983833B2 |
Method and apparatus for masking wind noise
Wind and other noise is suppressed in a signal by adaptively changing characteristics of a filter. The filter characteristics are changed in response to the noise content of the signal over time using a history of noise content. Filter characteristics are changed according to a plurality of reference filters, the characteristics of which are chosen to optimally attenuate or amplify signals in a range of frequencies. |
| US08983827B2 |
Linguistical analytic consolidation for mobile content
A method for linguistical analytic consolidation is described. The method includes displaying a user interface on a mobile device. The method also includes receiving source text content to display in the user interface. The method also includes scanning the source text content for a specific element. The method also includes flagging the specific element of the source text content to be modified according to a set of linguistic rules. Modifying the specific element according to the set of linguistic rules results in a consolidated form of the source text content. |
| US08983826B2 |
Method and system for extracting shadow entities from emails
One embodiment provides a system for extracting shadow entities from emails. During operation, the system receives a number of document corpora. The system then calculates word-collocation statistics associated with different n-gram sizes for the document corpora. Next, the system receives an email and identifies shadow entities in the email based on the calculated word-collocation statistics for the document corpora. |
| US08983825B2 |
Collaborative language translation system
A collaborative language translation system, computer readable storage medium, and method is disclosed that allocates as between automated and manual language translation services, wherein a manual language translator creates a unique database including manual translator languages capability, accuracy skill level, scope of translation project desired, and translation turnaround time. Also a client creates a unique information set that includes original language, desired language, scope of translated material, client desired translation formats, client desired translation timing, and client desired translation accuracy. Also included in the system is an automated language translation database and instructions for allocating a flow of the unique information set as between the unique database and the automated language translation database based upon the client unique information set and instructions to perform the selected language translation for the client. |
| US08983824B2 |
Methods and apparatus for advancing time in a distributed business process simulation
Methods and apparatus for advancing time in a distributed business process simulation are disclosed. The methods and apparatus simulate an interdependent business process, such as a financial transaction system, in a secure distributed manner. Each business entity that is part of the interdependent business process models itself on a local client device at any chosen level of detail. A simulation server connects the separate client based simulations into one large simulation. Details of each local simulation may be hidden from other simulation participants. However, interruptions in business flow caused by simulated disruptions introduced at the simulation server and/or a client device are propagated to all of the effected simulation participants via the simulation server. In addition, simulation time may be warped from one breakpoint to another breakpoint thereby facilitating an efficient ratio of simulation time to real time. |
| US08983823B1 |
Verification harness for automatically generating a text-based representation of a graphical model
A system and method automatically generates an object-oriented, textual program from a graphical model, and verifies the performance of the textual program as compared to the graphical model. The graphical model may have a plurality of interconnected blocks, and each block may have a plurality of parameters. One or more of the blocks are mapped to a system object, and the block's parameters are mapped to properties of the system object. An object-oriented, executable textual string is generated automatically for the block. The generated string includes at least one command to: instantiate a system object having functionality that matches the block; set one or more properties of the system object based on the block's parameters; and run the instantiated object. |
| US08983822B2 |
Operating a storage server on a virtual machine
A system and method of testing, during development, the operation of a clustered storage server system and its associated storage operating system. The system includes at least one host computer having a host operating system, and at least one virtual computer having a simulated storage operating system, at least one simulated disk, a simulated NVRAM, and a simulated flashcard within a guest operating system hosted by the host operating system. The simulated storage operating system represents an actual storage operating system. Facilities of the simulated storage operating system including the simulated disk, the simulated NVRAM, and the simulated flashcard are mapped onto corresponding facilities of the host operating system via virtualization components of the virtual computer so that the simulated storage operating system operates substantially the same as the actual storage operating system on low cost host hardware platforms. |
| US08983820B2 |
Method and a system for simulation in a substation
A method and a system are disclosed for simulation in a substation. The method can include acquiring substation data from substation condition data and base substation record; adapting the acquired substation data to suit a target substation; and administering the adapted substation data on a communication channel of the target substation. The substation system can include a base substation which is an existing, a pre existing, or a target substation, or a substation defined by a user or any combination thereof; a substation automation system; test equipment configured to test the system and perform simulation in a target substation; and a human machine interface for interfacing the substation system with a user. |
| US08983819B2 |
System, method and computer program product to simulate rupture disk and syntactic foam trapped annular pressure mitigation in downhole environments
Systems and related methods to simulate the use of rupture disks and syntactic foam in the mitigation of trapped annular pressure and wellhead movement during downhole operations. |
| US08983818B2 |
Method for characterizing the fracture network of a fractured reservoir and method for developing it
The invention is a method for constructing a representation of a fluid reservoir traversed by a fracture network and by at least one well. The reservoir is discretized into a set of grid cells and the fractures are characterized by statistical parameters from observations of the reservoir. An equivalent permeability tensor and an average fracture opening is constructed from an image representative of the fracture network delimiting porous blocks and fractures is then deduced from the statistical parameters. A first elliptical boundary zone centered on the well and at least a second elliptical boundary zone centered on the well which form an elliptical ring with the elliptical boundary of the first zone are defined around the well. The image representative of the fracture network is simplified in a different manner for each of the zones which is used to construct the representation of the fluid reservoir. |
| US08983817B2 |
Dynamic load balancing for adaptive meshes
A method for dynamic load balancing of a mesh, wherein the mesh is partitioned to find a solution using a plurality of processors, and wherein the partitions have become unbalanced. The present method allows large portions of the mesh to continue to progress towards a solution by only repartitioning a small percentage of the overall mesh. This is done by stripping cells along the partition interfaces using a marching method to form a free-cell region, repartitioning the free-cell region, and joining the repartitioned portions of the free-cell region with the remaining cells in a manner that will increase the efficiency of the solver. |
| US08983815B2 |
Configuration engine for a process simulator
A computer modeling apparatus includes an input module enabling user specification of a subject facility design based on limited data. The subject facility design includes design alternatives, and a processor routine coupled to the input module and responsive to the user specification by forming an input data set to a rigorous simulation modeler to model the subject facility design. The rigorous simulation modeler requires input beyond the limited data. The processor routine enables execution of the simulation modeler. The computer modeling apparatus further includes an interface member that enables the production of a rigorous simulation model of the subject facility design from the simulation modeler. The subject facility is one of an oil processing facility, a gas processing facility, an oil and gas separation facility, or a chemical processing facility. |
| US08983814B1 |
Laser device with a convergent reflector topology
A laser device, having an optical cavity containing a gain medium, a total reflectance reflector positioned within the optical cavity, and a partial reflectance reflector positioned within the optical cavity in a juxtaposed relationship to the total reflectance reflector. The topology of the reflectors are defined by a convergent reflector topology function that converges light emitted within the optical cavity to a laser beam that exits the optical cavity through the partial reflectance reflector by a series of reflections between the total reflectance reflector and the partial reflectance reflector. The laser beam emitted from the optical cavity has a predefined pattern for a given convergent reflector topology. |
| US08983811B2 |
Simulating customer behavior for demand response
Methods are disclosed that teach two simulators used with demand response management systems. The first simulator generates load patterns from historical customer consumption data and generates customer loads from the generated load patterns. The second simulator generates customer response to changing electricity prices using an econometric characterization of the customer response. |
| US08983800B2 |
Selection of preset filter parameters based on signal quality
Methods and devices for reducing noise effects in a system for measuring a physiological parameter, including receiving an input signal, obtaining an assessment of the signal quality of the input signal, selecting coefficients for a digital filter using the assessment of signal quality; and filtering the input signal using the digital filter, without comparing the filter's output signal with the input signal. |
| US08983794B1 |
Methods and systems for non-destructive composite evaluation and repair verification
A non-destructive inspection system for a structure is described. The inspection system includes a local positioning system (LPS) configured for determining position and orientation of objects relative to a structure coordinate system, a six degree-of-freedom digitizer operable for at least one of temporary attachment to the structure and placement proximate the structure, a non-destructive sensor array, and a processing device. |
| US08983786B2 |
Method for determining a drive position of an electric drive
A method for referencing a drive position of an electric drive of a gripper half of a production gripper in a closed position of two gripper halves includes closing the open gripper halves, determining multiple actual positions of an electric drive and tracking error values of the electric drive in a time interval during the closing of the gripper halves until beyond a point in time in which the closed position is reached, determining a straight line based on the ascertained tracking error values depending on a related time-tracking-error function, determining the instant of the zero crossing of the straight line of the time-tracking-error function, and determining the actual position of the electric drive that corresponds to the instant of the zero crossing of the straight line of the time-tracking-error-function. A production gripper and a respective control device for operating the production gripper are set up to carry out such a method. |
| US08983785B2 |
System and method for simultaneous display of waveforms generated from input signals received at a data acquisition device
A method and system for displaying waveforms generated from input signals received at a common input channel (CIC) of a data acquisition (DAQ) device. An input signal received at the CIC can be displayed as a present-time waveform, and while the input signal is displayed as a present-time waveform, the input signal can be tagged for displaying the input signal as a historical waveform for the CIC. After receiving another input signal at the CIC, a display can be refreshed to display, simultaneously, the historical waveform for the CIC and the other input signal as another present-time waveform for the CIC. The DAQ device can tag the displayed input signal in response to a user pushing a selector device on the DAQ device. The display can display other present-time waveforms with the historical waveform to allow a user to compare input signals received at the CIC. |
| US08983781B2 |
Detecting road weather conditions
Aspects of the disclosure relate generally to detecting road weather conditions. Vehicle sensors including a laser, precipitation sensors, and/or camera may be used to detect information such as the brightness of the road, variations in the brightness of the road, brightness of the world, current precipitation, as well as the detected height of the road. Information received from other sources such as networked based weather information (forecasts, radar, precipitation reports, etc.) may also be considered. The combination of the received and detected information may be used to estimate the probability of precipitation such as water, snow or ice in the roadway. This information may then be used to maneuver an autonomous vehicle (for steering, accelerating, or braking) or identify dangerous situations. |
| US08983779B2 |
RTM seismic imaging using incremental resolution methods
A system and method implementing a hierarchical approach to RTM (Reverse Time Migration) seismic imaging at different granularity in space and time. An RTM seismic imaging algorithm utilizes RTM technique to convert a parallel problem into one solved using massive domain partitioning. In the method, a coarse-grain grid for the 3D volume of the geological subsurface structure under investigation is initially processed, permitting the RTM imaging process to be performed faster and produces lower level seismic image for inspection. Criteria are then applied to the first level of seismic image to determine whether to reject the image or whether a finer resolution seismic imaging is needed. In the case of finer resolution is needed, RTM resolution for the target volume is adjusted accordingly and RTM imaging process is applied with the new resolution. The process is repeated until either the image is accepted or rejected. |
| US08983772B2 |
Method for displaying navigation route, navigation apparatus and recording medium
A method for displaying a navigation route, a navigation apparatus, and a recording medium are provided. In the method, a current location of a mobile device is detected. Next, a start point and an end point are received and a navigation route is planned accordingly. Then, an electronic map database is accessed and a navigation map is rendered on a screen of the mobile device according to the electronic map database, wherein only the map information associated with the navigation route in the electronic map database is displayed on the navigation map and the displayed map information comprises the road names of a current road and a next road associated with the current location of the mobile device in the navigation route. |
| US08983767B2 |
Computer-implemented method and system for generating swath coverage patterns for polygonal and pseudo-polygonal shaped fields
A computer-implemented method and system for generating a swath coverage pattern for a given working area to be traversed by a vehicle or equipment attached thereto. |
| US08983763B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining a relative position of a sensing location with respect to a landmark
An apparatus may include a landmark selector configured to receive selection of a landmark. A sensory device may determine at least one position indicator relating to alignment with the landmark from a sensing location, such as orientation, attitude, and/or altitude. The apparatus may further include a position determiner configured to determine a relative position of the sensing location with respect to the landmark based at least in part on the position indicator. Accordingly, the apparatus may determine the relative position of the sensing location with respect to the landmark. In some embodiments the apparatus may be further configured to determine the absolute position of the sensing location. Thereby position information may be used, for example, to create collaborative content captured at an event occurring near the landmark. |
| US08983755B2 |
Control system and control method of gas engine
A control system for controlling a power output of a gas engine of the present invention includes a target value setting section for setting as a target value a restricted power output which is less than a predetermined power output when a source gas pressure of a gas fuel is less than a predetermined value required to inject the gas fuel against an intake-air pressure according to the predetermined power output, a power output setting section for setting a set value of a power output based on the target value set by the target value setting section, and a power output control section for controlling the power output so that the power output reaches the set value set by the power output setting section. |
| US08983754B2 |
Apparatus for controlling air-fuel ratio of internal-combustion engine
An apparatus for controlling an air-fuel ratio of an internal-combustion engine includes an air-fuel ratio detector, a fluctuation signal generating device, an air-fuel ratio fluctuation device, a 0.5th-order frequency component strength calculator, a fluctuation frequency component strength calculator, a reference component strength calculator, and an imbalance fault determining device. The reference component strength calculator is configured to calculate strength of a reference component in accordance with strength of a first frequency component and strength of a second frequency component. The imbalance fault determining device is configured to make a determination of an imbalance fault in which air-fuel ratios of a plurality of cylinders vary beyond a tolerance limit on a basis of a relative relationship between strength of the 0.5th-order frequency component and the strength of the reference component. |
| US08983751B2 |
Control system and method for stopping vehicle
Provided are a control system and method for stopping a vehicle, which reduce jerk when a vehicle controlled by an SCC system is stopped by the SCC system without a driver's manipulation. A desired target stop distance between a controlled vehicle and a front vehicle is set. Proposed is a formula for calculating a target acceleration in which a jerk is not caused when the target stop distance is maintained and then the controlled vehicle stops. By controlling the stop of the controlled vehicle according to the acceleration that has been calculated with the formula, the controlled vehicle is stopped without the occurrence of a jerk. |
| US08983749B1 |
Road friction estimation system and method
A road friction coefficient estimation system and method uses tire load estimation sensors attached to a vehicle's tires. Tire load and slip angle for each tire are estimated from sensor data. From vehicle CAN bus sensors, vehicle acceleration and yaw rate operational parameters are obtained and a dynamic observer model calculates lateral and longitudinal force estimates on each of the tires. An individual wheel force estimation is calculated on each tire from the lateral and longitudinal force estimates for each tire. From the dynamic slip angle estimation on each tire and the individual wheel force estimation on each of the tires, a model-based friction estimation is made. |
| US08983740B2 |
Driven loadable construct system and method for using the same
An apparatus, system, and method for a driven loadable construct, the apparatus, system and method utilizing a construct, at least one rotatable wheel mounted for enabling the construct to roll along a surface, at least one motor and power source coupled to the construct to be used to impart rotational energy to the at least one rotatable wheel, and a controller to control the signals for operation of the at least one rotatable wheel which moves the construct. |
| US08983739B2 |
Real time pull-slip curve modeling in large track-type tractors
A method of estimating soil conditions of a work surface during operation of a track-type tractor measures current operating conditions and current operating state to develop adjustments to a nominal pull-slip curve. The adjusted pull-slip curve is used to calculate optimum performance in terms of an input variable such as track speed. Two factors are developed to reflect soil conditions, coefficient of traction and a shear modulus adjustment that affect different portions of the nominal pull slip curve. |
| US08983734B2 |
Vehicle lamp control apparatus and vehicle lamp system
Techniques are disclosed for enhancing the accuracy of auto-leveling control to adjust the optical axis of a vehicle lamp using an acceleration sensor. A controller stores reference values of first and second angles, updates the reference value of the second angle by treating a change of a sum angle during a vehicle stop as a change of the second angle, and updates the reference value of the first angle by treating a change of the sum angle when the vehicle is stopped as a change of the first angle. The controller derives a difference between a value of the sum angle and a sum of the reference values of the first and second angles, and corrects at least one of the reference values so as to reduce the difference. |
| US08983732B2 |
Steering wheel with hand pressure sensing
The invention relates to a vehicle safety system includes a steering wheel, a plurality of pressure sensitive sensors located in the steering wheel, and a control unit. The pressure sensitive sensors can be located in different regions of the steering wheel. The pressure sensitive sensors can determine if a driver's hand is pressing upon a respective region of the steering wheel associated with one or more of the plurality of pressure sensitive sensors. The control unit can be configured or programmed to determine if at least one of the driver's hands is pressing upon a region of the steering wheel for a predetermined amount of time. |
| US08983731B2 |
Method for controlling a power steering device for a motor vehicle equipped with a stop and start system
A power-steering device and method for controlling a device for a motor vehicle including a stop and start system, the device including an electric pump unit including at least one electric motor and one processor. The method includes a stage in which the electric pump unit is switched to a standby mode by reducing rotation speed of the electric motor, this stage implemented by the processor following receipt of a control signal sent by the stop and start system to the processor, the signal representing an automatic switching of a heat engine into a stop mode. The method enables the power-steering device to be kept in operation during an automatic stopping phase of the heat engine, without resulting in unwanted noise or excessive electricity draw. |
| US08983723B2 |
Vehicle braking/driving force control system and vehicle braking/driving force control method
Braking/driving force control that includes: detecting a driver's operating state for causing the vehicle to run; detecting a vehicle body motional state while the vehicle is running; computing a target longitudinal driving force for causing the vehicle to run and motional state amounts for controlling a vehicle body behavior on the basis of the detected operating state and motional state; and computing driving or braking forces allocated to the wheels so as to achieve the computed target longitudinal driving force and target motional state amounts and that the braking/driving force generating mechanism causes the wheels to generate independently. |
| US08983721B2 |
Method of controlling the operation of a rear wiper system of a motor vehicle
A method and system for detecting the presence of a carrier mounted on the rear of a motor vehicle or of an object carried by the carrier that may cause damage or a malfunction of a rear wiper system of the motor vehicle. If a potentially obstructing situation is determined to be present, the rear wiper system is deactivated to prevent it malfunctioning or being damaged by the obstruction. A user of the vehicle may be provided with a message that an obstruction has been detected and the user may control whether the wiper system is deactivated. The obstruction may be sensed by monitoring the amount of current drawn by a wiper motor, by an ultrasonic sensor, or by a rear-view camera. |
| US08983720B2 |
Engine running notice and automatic shut-off
A motor vehicle has an engine kill device that can automatically stop the engine. The vehicle has components for determining the engine may have been errantly left running, in which case the vehicle sends a notice to the user. The vehicle is capable of receiving a response from the user with instructions to leave the engine running. If no response is received, the vehicle can activate the engine kill device and stop the engine, or the vehicle can leave the engine running if a response is received from the user indicating the engine should remain running. |
| US08983719B2 |
Vehicular device and portable communication terminal
A vehicular device includes a communication unit that performs communication with a portable communication terminal; a display unit that display an execution screen of a terminal application; an operation input unit provided in a corresponding manner with the display unit and receives an input regarding an operation for a manual setting of information used by the terminal application; and a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information regarding a vehicle, which is used by the terminal application. A control unit of the vehicular device sets, to the terminal application, the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit without using the input from the operation input unit for an execution of the terminal application, and controls a transmission of the vehicle information to the external server through the portable communication terminal by using the communication unit. |
| US08983718B2 |
Universal bus in the car
Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system to recognize the drivers and/or passengers within the automobile. Based on the recognition, the vehicle may change a configuration of the automobile to match predetermined preferences for the driver and/or passenger. The configurations may also include the recognition of a unique set of gestures for the person. Further, the configuration can also include the tracking of health data related to the person. |
| US08983716B2 |
Tire slip angle estimation system and method
A slip angle estimation includes a tire having one or more first and second strain sensor(s) affixed to opposite respective first and second tire sidewalls. The sensors measure a tire strain in their respective sidewalls and generate a sidewall strain signal indicative of strain present within the tire sidewalls. A slip angle estimation is made by estimating the difference in the signal slope of the sensors in the opposite sidewalls. A load estimation is further made for the tire from the inner and outer sidewall strain signals and the load estimation is used in the slip angle estimation. |
| US08983709B2 |
Autonomous travel system
Provided is an autonomous travel system having an operation management unit including a map database with a combination of topological region maps, on which the range of travel of a vehicle is expressed as points and lines, and metric region maps, on which the travel range is expressed on planar maps; a vehicle position management unit for managing the position of the vehicle; and a vehicle travel planning unit for planning vehicle travel, which, if the vehicle is present near the boundary of a map, blocks the map boundary so that other vehicles will not advance into another map. The operation management unit is provided with a blockage setting unit for dividing a boundary section of a map into a plurality of regions and releasing the blockage of the boundary of a divided region in which no vehicles are present in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel. |
| US08983707B2 |
Machine control system having autonomous dump queuing
A control system for use at a dump location having a plurality of dump sites is disclosed. The control system may have a control module associated with a mobile machine and a worksite controller. The worksite controller may be configured to receive a signal from the control module indicative of the mobile machine crossing a boundary at a dump location, and assign a travel route for the mobile machine based on the signal. The travel route may include a travel segment on a common entrance row, a first single-use path from the common entrance row to a particular one of the plurality of dump sites, a second single-use path from the particular one of the plurality of dump sites to a common exit row, and a travel segment on the common exit row. The worksite controller may be further configured to communicate the travel route to the control module as the mobile machine moves toward the dump location. |
| US08983705B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting weather conditions including fog using vehicle onboard sensors
Methods and systems for detecting weather conditions including fog using vehicle onboard sensors are provided. An example method includes receiving laser data collected from scans of an environment of a vehicle, and associating, by a computing device, laser data points of with one or more objects in the environment. The method also includes comparing laser data points that are unassociated with the one or more objects in the environment with stored laser data points representative of a pattern due to fog, and based on the comparison, identifying by the computing device an indication that a weather condition of the environment of the vehicle includes fog. |
| US08983700B2 |
Drive control device of hybrid vehicle
Objects are to set up control of a plurality of motor generators in a case where a battery is charged or discharged, to secure both a target driving force and target charging/discharging, and to have the breath of control of using electric power of the battery under a more specific condition. A target driving power setting means sets driving power corresponding to a state in which power assistance depending on the electric power of the battery is received as a maximal value of a target driving power in advance, a target engine power calculating means sets a maximal value of target engine power corresponding to a maximal output that can be output by an internal combustion engine in advance, compares the target engine power and the maximal value of the target engine power with each other, and updates the target engine power with a smaller value thereof, a target electric power calculating means calculating target electric power is arranged, and a motor torque instruction value calculating means calculates torque instruction values of the plurality of motor generators by using a torque balance equation including target engine torque and an electric power balance equation including the target electric power. |
| US08983698B2 |
In-vehicle apparatus for detecting collision of vehicle
An in-vehicle apparatus for a vehicle driven by a first driving power source in a first driving mode and driven by a second diving power source in a second driving mode, includes: a collision detection device; a stopping device stopping the first and second driving modes when the collision detection device detects collision; a severity determination device determining a severity of collision indicative of a collision intensity; and a controller. Under a condition that the stopping device stops both of the first driving mode and the second driving mode, the controller executes one of recovery of both of the first driving mode and the second driving mode, recovery of one of the first driving mode and the second driving mode, and system shut-down according to the severity of collision. |
| US08983694B2 |
Control apparatus and method for hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle is arranged to prevent shock and to minimize adverse influence on lag and fuel consumption when one of a start/stop control of an engine and a shift control of an automatic transmission is requested while the other control is occurring. The control apparatus includes an engine, a motor/generator, a first clutch, an automatic transmission, an integrated controller, an AT controller and an engine/transmission coordinate controlling section. When a second control request is generated during the first control, the engine/transmission coordinate controlling section starts the second control at a request timing when a condition does not exist such that a shock does not exceed an acceptable level and starts the second control at a later timing when the condition exists such that the shock would exceed the acceptable level if the second control is started at the request timing. |
| US08983691B2 |
Electric lawn tractor roll away prevention system
An electric lawn tractor roll away prevention system includes a brushless DC electric motor powering a traction drive wheel on the electric lawn tractor. The motor is connected to phase wires and provides a back EMF voltage on the phase wires if the electric lawn tractor rolls and turns the traction drive wheel without electric power from the motor. A three phase inverter rectifies the back EMF voltage, turns on the traction controller if the rectified voltage reaches a pre-specified threshold, and applies a voltage to the phase wires to reduce the speed of the electric lawn tractor by regenerative braking. |
| US08983686B2 |
System aboard an aircraft
The invention relates to a device aboard an aircraft comprising output means configured to restore information relating to the aircraft status from aircraft systems, the device including a module providing interface between said output means and said aircraft systems, said module being configured to synthesize information from aircraft systems depending on predetermined behavior rules and to transmit said information thus synthesized to said output means. |
| US08983685B2 |
System and method for moving-base RTK measurements
In a system and method for navigating a moving object according to signals from satellite, a moving object receives satellite navigation signals from a number of satellites. The moving object also receives moving base data from a moving base. The received moving base data includes satellite measurement data of the moving base. At the moving object a relative position vector of the moving object relative to the moving base is determined, based on the received moving base data and the received satellite navigation signals. The moving object sends a signal reporting information corresponding to the relative position vector. |
| US08983681B2 |
Method of communicating with a vehicle having a telematics unit
A system and method for communicating between a vehicle having a vehicle telematics unit and a central facility includes establishing a virtual private network (VPN) connection between a vehicle and a central facility; constructing a data message for communication between the vehicle and the central facility using the VPN; transmitting the data message via the VPN using an unreliable transmission protocol; and determining if the transmitted data message arrived at its destination. |
| US08983678B2 |
System and method for determining vehicle speed
A system for a vehicle includes a speed determination module, a buffer module, and a speed prediction module. The speed determination module determines changes in measured vehicle speed. The buffer module stores the determined changes in measured vehicle speed. The speed prediction module predicts a speed of the vehicle when the measured vehicle speed is less than a predetermined threshold, wherein the predicted vehicle speed is based on an average of the stored changes in measured vehicle speed. |
| US08983677B2 |
Acoustic fingerprinting of mechanical devices
A method and device are presented for identifying machines, such as vehicles, based on acoustic machine signatures. An acoustic sensor generates machine-acoustic data about the machine. A machine-signature identifier receives the machine-acoustic data, determines a machine signature from the machine-acoustic data, and identifies the machine based on the machine signature. A machine-signature database, configured to store multiple machine signatures and/or machine-signature templates, may receive and process queries about machine signatures for machine identification. The machine-signature identifier may generate and send an instruction based on the identified machine. The instruction may instruct application of electronic countermeasures or may permit a vehicle to enter a secured area. An acoustic modulator may generate the machine-acoustic data to act as a machine signature. The acoustic modulator may generate the machine signature using an ultrasonic carrier. |
| US08983676B2 |
System for cooling a heat-generating device
A method for cooling a heat-generating device, comprising setting a reference surface temperature of the heat-generating device, measuring a temperature of a surface of the heat-generating device, measuring a temperature gradient based on temperature measurements of two or more different locations on the heat-generating device, implementing a closed-loop control based on the reference surface temperature, the measured surface temperature, and the measured temperature gradient of the heat-generating device to compute a rate of application of a cooling material to the surface of the heat-generating device, and providing a command to apply the cooling material to the surface of the heat-generating device at the calculated rate to cool the heat-generating device. |
| US08983674B2 |
Computer room cooling control
A method for cooling a data center having a plurality of racks and an adjustable cooling system includes the following steps. A minimum and maximum temperature is set for each of the racks. A temperature of each of the racks is determined based on i) a rate R(t) at which the chilled air at a temperature Tc is introduced to each of the racks and ii) a rate R at which warm air from each of the racks at a temperature T is returned to the cooling system. The cooling system is adjusted to add cooling or to reduce cooling to the data center. The determining and adjusting steps are repeated at a predetermined time interval to achieve and maintain the temperature of each of the racks to be greater than or equal to the minimum temperature and less than or equal to the maximum temperature. |
| US08983670B2 |
Energy consumption disaggregation system
A system for disaggregating a gross energy measurement into individual component energy consumption. A collection of components may be situated in a facility. A sensor may obtain electrical signals from one or more power input lines which convey power to the facility for the components. The signals may indicate the total energy consumption by the collection of components. Approaches and/or mechanisms may be used to disaggregate the indication of total energy consumption into indications of individual energy consumption by the components without the need for separately determining the individual energy consumption with additional measurements or instrumentation. Also, approaches and/or mechanisms may be used for integrating a known load activity with whole facility energy consumption for enhancing the component disaggregation. Indications of individual energy consumption permit a reasonable evaluation of components from efficiency, conservation and/or other perspectives. |
| US08983667B2 |
Fluid flow management through a wastewater level manipulation system and associated methods
A system is provided to control fluid flow in a wastewater treatment system through wastewater level manipulation. The wastewater treatment system may include a wastewater treatment plant connected to a plurality of pump stations by a main. Each of the plurality of pump stations may include a wet well with a pump therein. The system may include a central server in communication with a sensor to sense a level of wastewater within the wet well. The pump may be automatically moved to an on position when the level of the wastewater in the wet well is at or above a first level and may be automatically moved to an off position when the level of the wastewater in the respective wet well is at or below a pump cutoff level. The central server may systematically manipulate the first level to selectively set the level of wastewater within the wet well. |
| US08983665B2 |
Data and commands communication system and method between variable capacity compressor and electronic thermostat for a cooling system
The present invention refers to a data and commands communication system between compressor and electronic thermostat, particularly applied to cooling systems having variable capacity compressor (VCC), with the purpose of providing an exchange of data between said equipment which is technically more efficient and less costly compared to the solutions available today. Accordingly, there is described a data communication system between variable capacity compressor and electronic thermostat for a cooling system, the compressor comprising at least a frequency inverter unit (100) electrically associated to an electrical motor of the compressor, the electronic thermostat (200) being electrically associated to the frequency inverter unit (100), the electronic thermostat (200) and the frequency inverter unit (100) being powered by an alternating voltage source (15), the data communication system comprising a data communication single highway (50) between the electronic thermostat (200) and the inverter unit (100), arranged to establish an exchange of data between the thermostat (200) and the inverter unit (100), the exchange of data between the thermostat (200) and the inverter unit (100) being provided by the modulation of an electrical magnitude (Snetwork) of the alternating voltage source (15), the modulation of the electrical magnitude (Snetwork) of the alternating voltage source (15) being capable of configuring a modulated information signal (Sx), the exchange of data between the thermostat (200) and the inverter unit (100) being provided by a demodulation of the modulated information signal (Sx). |
| US08983664B2 |
Receptacle with dual-function actuator
A receptacle adapted for removable placement on a retention tray is disclosed. The receptacle includes a lid having a closed position and a lid hook. The receptacle includes a latching apparatus with a lid latch configured to engage the lid hook when the lid is in the closed position. The latching apparatus also has a tray latch configured to engage a tray hook that is coupled to the retention tray when the receptacle is placed on the retention tray. The latching apparatus has an actuator configured to selectably release either the lid hook or the tray hook, thus eliminating a need for a second set of actuators in the retention tray to releasably secure the receptacles to the tray. |
| US08983660B1 |
Substrate transporter
Aspects of the present disclosure describe a robot which has a controller, actuators, encoders, and mechanical components. The robot may produce motion about an X, Z, RU, RL, and Theta axes. Movements of the robot are controlled by the controller. The repeatability of the robot is improved by designing the robot such that a control cycle frequency of the controller is 50 times or more greater than a vibrational frequency of one or more of the mechanical components. In order to reduce the release of particulates, a baffled enclosure may be used. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. |
| US08983657B2 |
System and method of managing vehicles deployed in a worksite
A system and a method of managing one or more vehicles deployed in a worksite are provided. The system includes a battery management module which may receive, via a data network, battery health information and/or location co-ordinates from at least one vehicle. The battery management module is configured to issue a battery changing command, via the data network, to a battery-changing device based at least on the battery health information and the location co-ordinates of the vehicles. The battery-changing device may be configured to change at least one battery on the at least one vehicle with charged batteries based on the issued command. The battery-changing device is configured to return each of the changed battery to a central station to recharge the changed battery. |
| US08983656B1 |
Electromechanical drop sensor for a vending machine
An electro-mechanical vend-sensing system includes at least one biased member mounted on a side of the vend space having a first potential voltage. A contact strip with a second potential voltage is positioned beneath the biased member. A controller circuit senses when the biased member contacts the contact strip, which indicates that a article has been appropriately vended to the customer. |
| US08983654B2 |
Medicine packing apparatus
Systems and methods for delivering and packing medicines are described. The systems and methods allows for understanding relations between the medicines and a production-history information piece even if the medicines are having different production-history information pieces while being of the same type. A medicine dispensing apparatus includes a medicine delivery means, a medicine preparation means, a packing means, and a control means capable of controlling operations from delivery of the medicine to packing of the medicine according to prescription data and further specifying a production-history information piece of the medicine delivered from the medicine delivery means. The medicine dispensing apparatus further includes a printing means for printing the production-history information pieces on a packaging sheet. When the medicine to be packed as one dose includes different production-history information pieces, while being of the same type, the medicines are packed separately into different packs based on their respective production-history information pieces. |
| US08983653B2 |
Electromechanical latch and ejector
An electromechanical latch and ejector to selectively unlatch and eject an object. |
| US08983652B2 |
Transporting apparatus
A transporting apparatus includes a motor, a transporting mechanism which receives a power from the motor and transports the sheet, and a control section which controls the motor in accordance with a predetermined control sequence to make the transporting mechanism transport the sheet up to a target position, and detects an occurrence of an electric-current saturation phenomenon in the motor. When the control section detects the occurrence of the electric-current saturation phenomenon, the control section performs correction of the predetermined control sequence including correction in which a target transporting velocity of the sheet is lowered from a predetermined value determined in the predetermined control sequence, and controls the motor in accordance with the corrected control sequence to make the transporting mechanism transport the sheet so that the sheet is stopped at the target position. |
| US08983644B2 |
Manufacturing execution system with virtual-metrology capabilities and manufacturing system including the same
A manufacturing execution system (MES) with virtual-metrology capabilities and a manufacturing system including the MES are provided. The MES is built on a middleware architecture (such as an object request broker architecture), and includes an equipment manager, a virtual metrology system (VMS), a statistical process control (SPC) system, an alarm manager and a scheduler. The manufacturing system includes a first process tool, a second process tool, a metrology tool, the aforementioned MES, a first R2R (Run-to-Run) controller and a second R2R controller. |
| US08983641B2 |
Electronic device for activating and controlling user-controllable functions thereof according to an earphone connected thereto, and associated method
An exemplary electronic device is connected with an earphone. The earphone includes a first storage unit storing information as to functions of the earphone. The electronic device includes a second storage unit storing a function information table recording information as to user-controllable functions of the electronic device, function units corresponding to the user-controllable functions, an identifying module, and a control module. The identifying module retrieves the information as to functions stored in the first storage unit, and determines whether one or more of the controllable functions of the electronic device are controllable by the earphone. The control module activates all of the function units corresponding to the controllable functions of the electronic device which are controllable by the earphone, and controls one or more of the activated function units according to one or more control signals transmitted from the earphone to the electronic device. A related method is also provided. |
| US08983640B2 |
Controlling audio players using environmental audio analysis
A method, system, and computer program product containing instructions for analyzing audio input to a receiver coupled to an audio player to identify an audio event as one of a plurality of pre-determined audio event types. In response to identifying the audio event, the audio player is caused to adjust an audio output. Adjusting the audio output may include causing the audio player to pause playing audio output or to lower the volume of the audio output. The audio input to the receiver may be recorded. In response to identifying the audio event, the audio player may be caused to replay a recorded portion of the audio input. The recorded portion of the audio input may include a portion recorded prior to identifying the audio event. |
| US08983639B2 |
Techniques for facilitating interoperation between a host device and a digital RF tuner accessory
An accessory having an RF tuner for digital radio, such as HD radio, can be in communication with a media player such as a portable media device (“PMD”). The user can be given the ability to command the accessory to provide raw digital data, the ability to scan only for stations having digital audio content (or for all available stations), the ability to provide station lists of stations having digital audio content (or all available stations), and the ability to request and store metadata beyond that for stations actually being listened to provide enhanced search capabilities. Enhanced metadata and searching can provide the listener the ability to refine station choices without having to listen at length to any particular station, and further can facilitate tagging broadcast tracks for subsequent access and/or purchase. |
| US08983634B2 |
Vehicular entertainment stage
Provided herein is a vehicular stage with individual seats and seat control system and method for controlling a movement of a seat, the seat control system including: a motor configured to move the seat in at least one direction; a control computer, which is disposed remotely with respect to the seat, and which is configured to output control commands for controlling the movement of the seat; and a microcontroller, which is connected to the motor and the control computer and configured to receive the control commands from the control computer and to control the motor to move the seat in the at least one direction based on the control commands received from the control computer. |
| US08983632B2 |
Function block execution framework
A system having a function block execution framework. Function blocks may be for use in a control system design. These blocks may be selected from a library of a function block engine. Selected function blocks may be executed for operational purposes. They may be continuously executed by a processor to maintain operational status. However, since a function block engine and a resulting system of function blocks may be operated with battery power, executions of function blocks may be reduced by scheduling the executions of function blocks to times only when they are needed. That means that the processor would not necessarily have to operate continuously to maintain continual execution of the function blocks and thus could significantly reduce consumption of battery power. |
| US08983630B2 |
Real time event viewing across distributed control system servers
An automated event viewing method for a process control network that includes a plurality of distributed control system (DCS) servers that receive process event data from one or more industrial processes, wherein each DCS server is connected to one or more operator consoles for monitoring the one or more industrial processes. The method includes receiving process event data of the industrial processes in real time from the plurality of DCS servers and transmitting in real time the process event data of the industrial processes to one or more operator consoles that are not connected to the DCS server from which the process event data originated. |
| US08983628B2 |
Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation to treat disorders
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are primarily or at least partially driven by an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain, such as asthma, COPD, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and the like. The invention involves the use of an energy source comprising magnetic and/or electrical energy that is transmitted non-invasively to, or in close proximity to, a selected nerve to temporarily stimulate, block and/or modulate the signals in the selected nerve such that neural pathways are activated to release inhibitory neurotransmitters in the patient's brain. |
| US08983624B2 |
Delivery devices, systems and methods for stimulating nerve tissue on multiple spinal levels
Devices, systems and methods are provided for simultaneously stimulating the spinal anatomy at various locations, such as spinal levels, along the spinal cord. By stimulating multiple levels of the spinal column with the use of a single device, a single access path is created to an implantable pulse generator (IPG) rather than individual access paths for each lead at each spinal level to an IPG. By reducing the number of pathways, the procedure complexity, time and recovery are reduced. In addition, some embodiments provide additional specificity within each targeted level, such as selective stimulation of specific tissue, such as the dorsal root ganglion. |
| US08983623B2 |
Inductive element for providing MRI compatibility in an implantable medical device lead
A system includes a medical device lead including a connector at a proximal end of the lead, a conductor electrically connected to the connector at a proximal end of the conductor, and at least one electrode coupled to a distal end of the conductor. The system further includes a device securable to the proximal end of the lead including an inductive element. The device includes a port configured to receive the connector and position the inductive element around at least a portion of the connector. |
| US08983621B2 |
Functional electrical stimulation system
A functional electrical stimulation system having a boost module to raise an output voltage of a primary power to a first preset voltage, an energy storage module, connected to the boost module, configured to store electrical energy of the first preset voltage, a central control unit configured to generate data packets of electrical stimulation parameters, and an electrical stimulation output channel, connected to the energy storage module, configured to receive the data packets of electrical stimulation parameters, analyze the electrical stimulation parameters from the data packets, convert electrical energy stored in the energy storage module to an electrical stimulation pulse corresponding to the electrical stimulation parameters and apply the electrical stimulation pulse to a part of a user. The functional electrical stimulation system can enhance flexibility and autonomy of an electrical stimulation pulse so that the user can select a personalized electrical stimulation pulse type according to his/her actual conditions. |
| US08983615B2 |
System for communication with implantable medical devices using a bridge device
A communications bridge device communicates between a consumer electronics device, such as a smart telephone, and an implantable medical device. The bridge forwards instructions and data between the consumer electronics device and the implantable medical device. The bridge contains a first transceiver that operates according to a communication protocol operating in the consumer electronics device (such as Bluetooth®), and second transceiver that operates according to a communications technique operating in the implantable medical device (e.g., Frequency Shift Keying). A software application is installed on the consumer electronics device, which provides a user interface for controlling and reading the implantable medical device. The software application is downloadable using standard cellular means. The bridge is preferably small, and easily and discreetly carried by the implantable medical device patient. The bridge is preferably also simple to operate, and may have only a simple user interface, or no user interface at all. |
| US08983609B2 |
Apparatus and method for treating pulmonary conditions
An apparatus for positioning at a target site and for treating a pulmonary condition in a subject includes a fluid exchange catheter for insertion into a tracheo-bronchial tree and an inflatable balloon coupled to the fluid exchange catheter. At least a portion of the inflatable balloon is for engaging a luminal wall of the tracheo-bronchial tree at the target site. The apparatus further includes an energy delivery mechanism operably coupled to the inflatable balloon. The energy delivery mechanism includes at least one energy delivery member for delivering electrical energy to the target site. |
| US08983607B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting a function mode of a medical device
Methods and apparatus for protecting a function mode of a medical device are described. A method may include the steps of: when an operator selects to use a function mode that needs protection in the medical device, presenting the operator information on a specified operation for entering the selected function mode; receiving an operation of the operator; determining whether the received operation of the operator is identical to the specified operation; and starting the selected function mode, if the determining result is confirmative. |
| US08983602B2 |
Method and apparatus to perform electrode combination selection
Approaches for selecting an electrode combination of multi-electrode pacing devices are described. Electrode combination parameters that support cardiac function consistent with a prescribed therapy are evaluated for each of a plurality of electrode combinations. Electrode combination parameters that do not support cardiac function are evaluated for each of the plurality of electrode combinations. An order is determined for the electrode combinations based on the parameter evaluations. An electrode combination is selected based on the order, and therapy is delivered using the selected electrode combination. |
| US08983601B2 |
Extravascular neuromodulation to treat heart failure
Treatment of heart failure in a patient by electrically modulating both the sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic cardiac nerve fibers that innervate the patient's heart at an extravascular site in the pericardial space of the heart. The extravascular site is any suitable single location inside the chest cavity that carries both sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiac nerves such as the cardiac plexus or the pericardial transverse sinus or any two separate extravascular sites with one site carrying predominantly sympathetic cardiac nerves and the other site carrying predominantly parasympathetic cardiac nerves for electrically modulating the balance of autonomic cardiac nerve control. Physiologic inputs from a neuromodulation system's own sensors or from separate implanted or external cardiovascular hemodynamic sensor systems can be used for closed loop control over the balance of sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiac autonomic effects on the patient's cardiac function in real time response to chronic and transient physiologic needs. |
| US08983600B2 |
Method and apparatus for safety control during cardiac pacing mode transition
A cardiac pacing system introduces a transitional period when pacing mode changes, such as when pacing starts and stops, or when one or more pacing parameter values change substantially. For each pacing parameter that changes substantially when the pacing mode changes, its value is adjusted incrementally over the transitional period to protect the heart from potentially harmful conditions associated with an abrupt change in the value of that pacing parameter. |
| US08983599B2 |
Energy delivery apparatus and method
There is provided an energy delivery device comprising a storage device, a discharge circuit and a disarm circuit. The discharge circuit comprises a switch electrically connected to the storage device, and is selectively operable to deliver energy from the storage device to a load, e.g., a patient needing defibrillation, preferably in a multiphasic waveform. The disarm circuit comprises the switch. Preferably, the discharge circuit comprises an H-bridge circuit. There are also provided delivery devices: which comprise a shoot-through elimination circuit; which include housing elements which, when assembled, cause electrical connection between respective components; which include a housing having a small volume and an energy storage device having a large capacitance; which comprise a shunt circuit which, when activated, prevents switching of a switch. There are also provided methods of assembly and disassembly of an energy delivery unit and methods of delivering energy to a load. |
| US08983595B2 |
Renal neuromodulation for treatment of patients with chronic heart failure
A method and apparatus for treatment of heart failure, hypertension and renal failure by stimulating the renal nerve. The goal of therapy is to reduce sympathetic activity of the renal nerve. Therapy is accomplished by at least partially blocking the nerve with drug infusion or electrostimulation. Apparatus can be permanently implanted or catheter based. |
| US08983592B2 |
Monitoring fluid in a subject using an electrode configuration providing negative sensitivity regions
An amount of fluid in a thoracic or other region of a subject may be monitored by internally injecting an electrical energy stimulus (e.g., constant voltage source) through the region, detecting voltage resulting from the electrical energy stimulus, and calculating a fluid volume indicative signal. The injected energy stimulus creates a first lead field. The responsive voltage is detected using an electrode configuration that defines a second lead field, which is arranged in a negative sensitivity configuration with respect to the first lead field at the region being monitored. |
| US08983588B2 |
Signal analysis
A method of analysis of medical signals is presented which provides useful clinical information concerning the state of the myocardium during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The analysis during CPR can be used to (i) identify the underlying rhythm, (ii) provide a measure of the efficacy of CPR, and (iii) to predict the outcome from a defibrillation shock. |
| US08983582B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for positioning within an internal channel
Methods and apparatuses for positioning medical devices onto (or close to) a desired portion of the interior wall of an internal channel, such as for scan imaging, for photodynamic therapy and/or for optical temperature measurement. In one embodiment, a catheter assembly has a distal portion that can be changed from a configuration suitable for traversing the internal channel to another configuration suitable for scan at least a spiral section of the interior wall of an internal channel, such as an artery. In one example, the distal portion spirals into gentle contact with (or close to) a spiral section of the artery wall for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scanning. The spiral radius may be changed through the use of a guidewire, a tendon, a spiral balloon, a tube, or other ways. |
| US08983574B2 |
Catheter device with local magnetic resonance imaging coil and methods for use thereof
A catheter device for deploying a local magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil is provided. The catheter device includes an outer catheter shaft having a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end and an inner catheter shaft having a lumen extending from a proximal end to a distal end. The outer and inner catheter shafts are movably engaged such that one can move relative to the other. A plurality of non-metallic filaments are coupled on one end to the outer catheter shaft and coupled on another end to the inner catheter shaft. The plurality of non-metallic filaments are intertwined to form a braid, to which a local MRI coil is coupled. The local MRI coil is configured to have a circular shape when the braid is in a deployed position. Additionally, motion tracking coils can be coupled to the braid to provide motion tracking information for motion compensation. |
| US08983570B2 |
Therapeutic angiogenesis for treatment of the spine
The invention relates to methods for the diagnosis, amelioration, and treatment of back pain, particularly lumbar back pain, in particular, back pain caused by muscular abnormalities, vertebral body osteoporosis, and disc degeneration. Patients with back pain are categorized into specific subsets that are deemed to have potential to respond to therapy. In particular, the invention includes a therapy involving stimulation of neovascularization so as to increase perfusion of various spine compartments. |
| US08983567B1 |
Systems and methods for vessel avoidance during spine surgery
Systems and methods are disclosed for accessing and forming an operative corridor to targeted spinal sites using optical imaging to detect and avoid vascular tissue. The optical imaging may include tissue oximetry to measure the oxygen saturation of tissue proximate to surgical access instruments utilized during surgery. Sensors may be situated near the distal end of the surgical access instruments and monitoring for vessel proximity may be performed during advancement of the instrument. |
| US08983566B2 |
System and method for facilitating sensor and monitor communication
Embodiments disclosed herein may include an adapter which is capable of converting signals from an oximeter sensor such that the signals are readable by an oximeter monitor. In an embodiment, the adapter is capable of converting signals relating to calibration information from the oximeter sensor. The calibration information may relate to wavelengths of light emitting diodes within the oximeter sensor. In a specific embodiment, the adapter will convert wavelength calibration information in a first form relating to data values stored in a digital memory chip to a second form relating to a resistance value of an expected resistor within the oximeter sensor. |
| US08983561B2 |
In-vehicle apparatus
A frequency switching terminal is provided to input a signal for switching frequencies of a reception circuit. A smart ECU is connected to the frequency switching terminal via a connection cable. When the signal for switching the frequencies is inputted into an external input terminal of the reception circuit from the smart ECU via the frequency switching terminal, the reception circuit receives a first electric wave transmitted from a portable terminal for smart entry. In contrast, when the signal for switching the frequencies is not inputted into the external input terminal of the reception circuit from the smart ECU via the frequency switching terminal, the reception circuit receives a second electric wave transmitted from a tire sensor. |
| US08983560B2 |
Smart case for mobile communication devices
A smart case configured to encapsulate a mobile communication device. The smart case includes a radio embedded in the case for selectively enabling the encapsulated mobile communication device to communicate over a wireless network using either the radio embedded in the case or the Wi-Fi and/or cellular radio in the communication device itself. In alternative embodiments, either a hard switch, a soft switch, or both, is provided for switching between either the radios(s) embedded in the smart case or the internal radio(s) in the mobile communication device. |
| US08983556B2 |
Determining a communication device to be used from one or more communication devices having a power save mode
A communication system is configured that includes a mobile terminal, one or more relay devices, and a base station for communicating with the mobile terminal via any of the one or more relay devices, where the mobile terminal includes a reception unit for receiving a reference signal transmitted from the one or more relay devices, a determination unit for determining a relay device to be used for communication with the base station based on the reference signal received by the reception unit from the one or more relay devices, and a transmission unit for transmitting to the base station information indicating the relay device determined by the determination unit. |
| US08983553B2 |
In coming call warning device and method using same
An incoming call warning device includes a storage unit, a communication unit, a detector, and an incoming call warning module. The storage unit stores a plurality of reference parameters. The communication unit determines whether a call is made to the incoming call warning device. The detector detects a plurality of detected parameters when a call is made to the incoming call warning device. The incoming call warning module receives and compares the reference parameters and the detected parameters, determines whether a user of the incoming call warning device is driving according to a comparison result, and warns the user not to answer an incoming call while driving. |
| US08983552B2 |
Battery powered electronic device comprising a movable part and adapted to be set into shipping mode
A battery powered electronic device (1) comprising a housing (2) and a movable part (3) extending from the housing (2). The movable part (3) is movably attached to the housing (2), such that it can be moved between a compact position and an extended position. The electronic device comprises a switch, which is adapted to sense, whether the movable part (3) is in the compact position or not, and the switch is utilized to switch the electronic device (1) On, when the movable part (3) is in the extended position, and Off, when the movable part (3) is in the compact position. The electronics of the device (1) is adapted to be set to off or into a low-power shipping mode, all though the movable part (3) is in the extended position. |
| US08983551B2 |
Wearable notification device for processing alert signals generated from a user's wireless device
Methods and apparatus for wearable notification are disclosed. In one example embodiment, a method includes communicating a trigger data to a wearable device when processing an incoming signal, automatically generating a response on the wearable devise based on the trigger data, and remotely programming at least one parameter associated with the wearable notification devise. The method may be in a form of a machine-readable medium embodying a set of instructions that, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the method. The wearable device may be physically coupled to a biological external tissue of the human body. The processing of the incoming signal may be performed on a mircroprocessor in a housing detachably attached to a telephone, and may be based on a parameter value of a kitchen appliance having a timer, or a state change of a doorbell. |
| US08983550B2 |
Address book management method and user interface
An exemplary mobile communication device comprises a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a display coupled to the processor, a transceiver coupled to the processor, an antenna coupled to the transceiver, a user interface coupled to the processor for receiving inputs from a user, and software executed by the processor for performing a method for managing a plurality of contact entries of an address book stored on the memory. The method comprises displaying a list of contact entries on the display, displaying a toggle value corresponding to each contact entry displayed on the display, receiving an input for selecting or deselecting a particular toggle value for a particular contact entry, receiving a command input for the execution of a function on the address book, and executing the function associated with the command input for each contact entry that has a selected toggle value. |
| US08983542B2 |
Control systems having a SIM for controlling a computing device
A system and associated method are provided. The system includes a subscriber identification module (SIM) including a memory configured to store one or more executable instructions and a processor configured to execute the one or more executable instructions for controlling a device, a device configured for being controlled by the SIM, and a SIM interface configured to communicate the instructions from the SIM to control the device. The SIM interface includes a processor configured to communicate the commands from the SIM to control the device. |
| US08983541B2 |
Card application toolkit support for IP multimedia subsystem
To consolidate session initiation protocol (SIP) messages a user equipment (UE) is made aware of all Internet Protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) applications installed in its memory and on a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) and supported communication services. By obtaining this information before the initial IMS Registration, the UE can save resources by registering all local applications and communication services in single IMS registration. |
| US08983537B2 |
Object locator system and method
A locating system and method for locating objects, such as keys, is disclosed. The locating system may include a transmitter for transmitting an encrypted code in the 900 MHz band. The transmitter may be powered by a battery. By transmitting in the 900 MHz band, the battery power consumed by the transmission may be relatively low and the encrypted code may travel a relatively long distance, such as 100 feet or more. The locating system may include a battery-powered locator device that is configured to detect, receive, and/or decode the encrypted code and determine whether the encrypted code is associated with the locator device or an attached object. After which, the locator device may provide an indication of its position. For instance, an audible sound of 85 dB or greater may be generated. The transmitter may be a self-contained device, or affixed onto or incorporated into a communications device. |
| US08983536B2 |
Resource management in a multi-operating environment
A method for providing user access to telephony operations in a multi operating environment having memory resources nearly depleted that include determining whether a predetermined first memory threshold of a computing environment has been reached and displaying a user interface corresponding to memory usage; and determining whether a predetermined second memory threshold, greater than the first, of the computing environment has been reached. Restricting computing functionality and allowing user access for telephony operations, corresponding to a mobile device, when the second memory threshold is reached is included as well. Also included is maintaining the computing restriction until the memory usage returns below the second memory threshold. |
| US08983527B2 |
Radio communication system, radio base station, and method for reconfiguring communication parameter
A disclosed high-power base station (100) is provided with: an inter-base-station communication unit (140) that transmits, to neighboring base stations, measurement instruction information that instructs the neighboring base stations to measure the reception quality of radio signals sent by the local station; a measurement result collection unit (121) that collects, from the neighboring base stations, measurement result information that indicates reception quality measurement results; and a parameter reconfiguration unit (123) that reconfigures communication parameters for the local station on the basis of the measurement result information collected by the measurement result collection unit (121). |
| US08983522B2 |
Power control in a wireless network
Power control is a wireless network is disclosed. On a single downlink physical channel an uplink resource allocation and a multilevel transmit power command is provided. An uplink transmission power level for an uplink signal provided on an uplink channel is based on the multilevel transmit power command. |
| US08983519B2 |
Radio communication system, a radio terminal, and a communication control method for handling inconsistent power control requests
A control unit for a wireless terminal includes a power amplification request/modulation method reception unit which receives uplink communication channel power amplification requests transmitted from a wireless base station connected to the wireless terminal, a power reduction request reception unit which receives uplink communication channel power reduction requests transmitted from a wireless base station not connected to the wireless terminal, and a modulation class setting unit which, when a power amplification request is received by the power amplification request/modulation method request reception unit and a power reduction request is received by the power reduction request reception unit, sets the modulation class to a modulation class which has less transmission power than prior to the setting and that has a modulation method for which the communication quality of the aforementioned uplink communication channel is at or above a required level. |
| US08983518B2 |
System and method for managing items in a list shared by a group of mobile devices
A method and system are provided for operating a mobile device, the method comprising: reading a barcode being displayed by another mobile device, to identify a group, by capturing at least one image of the barcode; and joining the group identified by the barcode. Another method and system are provided, the method comprising: storing a barcode on the mobile device, the barcode identifying a group; and displaying the barcode on a display of the mobile device such that the entire barcode is visible on the display to enable another mobile device to scan the barcode to join the group. Another method and system are provided, the method comprising: reading a barcode being displayed by another mobile device, to identify an individual associated with the other mobile device, by capturing at least one image of the barcode; and inviting the individual identified by the barcode to join a group. |
| US08983516B2 |
Monitoring a control channel for carrier aggregation
Technology for allocating a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to reduce a number of PDCCH candidates in a search space for carrier aggregation on a user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The UE is configured with a carrier information field (CIF) having a communications processor to determine physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) assignments of a cellular communication system. The communication processor can monitor in a cell a set of PDCCH candidates defined in a search space Sk(L) at an aggregation level Lε{1,2,4,8} for a subframe (k) which includes a set of control channel elements (CCEs) and to decode a PDCCH of the set of PDCCH candidates according to downlink control information (DCI). |
| US08983511B2 |
Method for transceiving a signal, and base station and user equipment for same
The present invention relates to a method for mitigating inter-cell interference in a multi-cell DAS. In one embodiment of the present invention, user equipment estimates an interfering antenna of an adjacent cell on the basis of RS pattern information of the adjacent cell, provided by a base station of a serving cell, or the base station provides the user equipment with information which specifies an interfering cell of the adjacent cell. |
| US08983510B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for providing confirmed over-the-air terminal configuration
An apparatus for providing confirmed OTA terminal configuration includes a processing element configured to communicate configuration data to a mobile terminal. The processing element is also configured to initiate a confirmation sequence to confirm proper receipt of the configuration data at the mobile terminal, and to receive information indicating whether the configuration data was properly received at the mobile terminal. |
| US08983506B2 |
System, method, and computer-readable medium for schedule-based telecommunication policies
A system, method and computer-readable medium for enforcing user telecommunication privileges on a per-schedule basis are provided. Enterprise members may have a schedule associated therewith that defines scheduled locations of the users. Telecommunication service privileges may be coordinated with the users' schedules such that communication services are disabled at particular times based on the users' schedules. In other implementations, particular users may have telecommunication services disabled by an administrator in the event of a catastrophe or emergency. By this mechanism, users that are not proximate to a particular catastrophe or emergency area according to the users' schedule may have services disabled while other users that are located more proximate to the emergency may have their telecommunication services enabled. In this manner, the demand on a cellular network may be alleviated thereby increasing the likelihood that users directly impacted by the emergency may receive and place calls or access data services. |
| US08983505B1 |
Providing a message notification in a wireless communication system
In systems and methods of providing a message notification in a wireless communication system, at least one paging message is sent to a wireless device, and it is determined whether a response is received from the wireless device to any paging message. A timer is initiated comprising a timer value based on a number of the paging messages sent to the wireless device, and whether a response is received from the wireless device to any of the paging messages. When the timer expires, a message notification is sent to the wireless device indicating that the message is available for the wireless device. |
| US08983501B2 |
Proximity-based task notification
This document describes proximity-based task notification. By notifying a user of an entity at which the user can perform a task when that entity is near to the user, the techniques enable the user to decide, at a time and location likely convenient to the user, whether or not to perform the task now at the entity or wait until a later occasion. If the user wishes to forgo performing the task, the techniques can notify the user again when the entity or some other entity is likely to be convenient to the user. |
| US08983497B2 |
Method for managing a geo-targeted campaign
An embodiment is directed to a method for managing a geo-targeted campaign. A user defines a campaign by specifying devices eligible to receive the material associated with the campaign, landmarks defining points of interest and areas associated with the campaign, and triggers that enable the material to be delivered to devices based on a set of conditions. In an embodiment, a console provides controls for defining devices, landmarks, and events. The console includes a wizard for creating events and a visualization layer that allows a user to visualize devices and landmarks on a map. |
| US08983490B2 |
Locating a mobile device
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for identifying a location of a mobile device (e.g., with user consent). A set of one or more indications of received signal strength (RSS) may be received, comprising a first RSS from a first access point (AP). The set of RSS indications may be used to identify a grid area, comprising a first grid space. An expected distance between the first grid space and the first AP may be identified using the first RSS. The expected distance can be combined with a first known distance between the first grid space and the first AP to determine a first grid score for the first grid space. A second grid score may be determined for a second grid space (e.g., and a third, fourth, etc.), and the grid space comprising a desired grid score (e.g., highest) may be selected as the mobile device location. |
| US08983485B2 |
Base station apparatus, mobile terminal apparatus and scheduling method
To provide a base station apparatus, mobile terminal apparatus and scheduling method for enabling fairness of user throughput to be improved, a scheduling method is characterized by having the steps of notifying a mobile terminal apparatus of allocation information of radio resources to each cluster pattern with a plurality of cluster patterns comprised of clusters formed of a plurality of adjacent sectors predefined and with different radio resources allocated for each of the cluster patterns, receiving channel information•channel quality information corresponding to each of the cluster patterns for each of the radio resources from the mobile terminal apparatus, and controlling allocation of the radio resources to the mobile terminal apparatus, based on the channel information•channel quality information, where at least one of the cluster patterns is a coordinated cluster pattern to perform coordinated transmission between adjacent sectors in a cluster. |
| US08983475B2 |
System and method for partner network sharing architecture
A system and method for a partner network sharing architecture is provided. In an embodiment a piece of user equipment that is part of a partner network is handed off or otherwise attached to a wholesale network. The identification of the partner network that the piece of user equipment originated from is determined by an ordering of a list of PLMN IDs that is transmitted to the wholesale network. |
| US08983473B2 |
Radio base station and handover control method in a multi-system environment
An LTE base station (100) conducts radio communication with a radio terminal which can execute a handover between a plurality of radio communication systems having different attainable communication rates. The LTE base station (100) is provided with a service detection unit (121A), which detects the classification of a communication service being used by a radio terminal, and a transmission unit (111), which sends the radio terminal a command for handover to the radio base station of a radio communication system, which handles the communication rate required for the communication service detected by the service detection unit (121A). |
| US08983469B2 |
Method and system for managing neighbor cell information
A method and system for managing neighbor cell information are disclosed in the present invention. A user equipment is reselected into a current Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) cell from a former resident cell belonging to other system, and finds out that the former resident cell is not in a neighbor cell list of the current UTRA cell and the user equipment itself supports a neighbor cell relation maintenance function, and/or after receiving an indication notified by a network side that the user equipment can report neighbor cell relation, the user equipment reports an air interface signaling message carrying cell information of the former resident cell to a Radio Network Controller (RNC); the RNC receives and decodes the air interface signaling message, acquires the cell information of the former resident cell, and updates inter-system neighbor cell information according to the cell information of the former resident cell. |
| US08983466B2 |
Providing access dependent services via a broadband access gateway
A system supporting controlled access to multimedia information and media-related services, the system including a gateway communicatively coupled to a broadband network and at least one wireless interface, the gateway capable of selectively communicating multimedia information among the at least one wireless interface and the broadband network, and of communicating with a plurality of access devices via the at least one wireless interface. The gateway is also capable of selecting one of a plurality of access privilege tiers based upon identification information received from one of the plurality of access devices. The identification information includes a plurality of identity data pieces. Each of the plurality of identify data pieces differs from another of the plurality of identity data pieces. Access to each of the plurality of access privilege tiers requires a different degree of authentication that is represented by a different combination of the plurality of identity data pieces. |
| US08983463B2 |
Mobile communication system, location registration method, relay node and control method thereof, and storage medium of control program
A communication processing system includes a user equipment, a base station and a relay node for relaying the user equipment and the base station. The relay node includes a timer unit which measures a prescribed time after detecting movement between tracking areas and a user equipment registration unit which registers the user equipment, which is a transmission source of a location registration request signal to a location information management unit, which manages location information, received by the relay node during the prescribed period, as a subordinate of the relay node. |
| US08983461B1 |
Methods and systems for managing boomer sectors
Range indicators for sectors in a wireless network may be determined by measuring, in a plurality of test locations, signal strengths of pilot signals transmitted by the sectors. Each sector's determined range indicator may be stored as a predefined range indicator for the sector in association with a list of predefined neighbors for the sector. When a candidate sector is added to a mobile station's active set, a neighbor list may be constructed for the mobile station, by taking into account the predefined range indicator for the candidate sector. If the predefined range indicator indicates that the candidate sector has a standard range, then the candidate sector's predefined neighbors may be added to the neighbor list. If the predefined range indicator indicates that the candidate sector has a non-standard range (e.g., indicating a “boomer”), then the candidate sector's predefined neighbors may be omitted from the neighbor list. |
| US08983453B1 |
Self-organization network architectures for heterogeneous networks
Self-Organized Network (SON) architectures for heterogeneous networks are disclosed. In some embodiments, various SON architectures for heterogeneous networks are provided that can evolve with such networks while the core functional modules of the SON solution can remain the same. In some embodiments, techniques for implementing SON architectures for heterogeneous networks includes providing a base station that includes performing a pre-operation self-configuration; and performing an operation self-optimization. |
| US08983452B2 |
Methods and arrangements for maintaining timing characteristics
A coordinating node, such as a positioning node and a radio base station, and a related method of maintaining timing characteristics of radio base stations connected to the coordinating node are disclosed. The method includes receiving timing information from a plurality of radio base stations, determining a respective timing characteristic of each of the plurality of radio base stations based on the received timing information, and maintaining the determined respective timing characteristics for support of network operations and services such as positioning. |
| US08983450B2 |
Method and device for forwarding MBMS contents
In a radio communication system, a first network-based radio station transmits information destined for a plurality of subscriber stations. A second network-based radio station transmits messages destined for individual subscriber stations and the second network-based radio station receives by radio the information transmitted by the first network-based radio station and transmits the same. |
| US08983436B2 |
Method of handling a mobility management back-off timer and related communication device
A method of handling a mobility management back-off timer for a mobile device in a wireless communication system comprises performing a mobility management procedure in response to a paging signaling transmitted by a network of the wireless communication system; and stopping the mobility management back-off timer after performing an authentication procedure in the mobility management procedure successfully. |
| US08983435B2 |
System and method for providing an alert based on user location
A computer-implemented method of providing an alert based on user location. An indication of a second user is received from a first user. It is determined whether the first user and the second user are co-members of a telecommunication carrier service plan. Location information of the first user and location information of the second user is received. A distance between the first user and the second user is determined based on the location information of the first user and the location information of the second user. The first user is alerted responsive to the distance between the first user and the second user exceeding a predetermined threshold. A system for providing an alert based on user location or user motion state is also provided. |
| US08983434B2 |
Managing opt-in and opt-out for private data access
Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are for managing opt-in and opt-out for private data access. According to one aspect disclosed herein, a mobile device can receive a request to obtain private data associated with a user of the mobile device and, in response to the request, determine whether an application program associated with the request is permitted to access the private data based upon a rule. The mobile device, in response to determining that the application program is permitted to access the private data based upon the rule, can instruct the application program to proceed to obtain the private data. The mobile device, in response to determining that the application program is not permitted to access the private data based upon the rule, can instruct the application program to avoid obtaining the private data. |
| US08983427B2 |
Online charging system (OCS) controlled media policy
A method of communication comprising the steps of: requesting at least one service having a plurality of parts; determining if said at least one service can be provided taking into account credit information relating to a user; and if not providing only one or some of said plurality of parts of said at least one service. |
| US08983418B2 |
Multi-stage gain control in receivers and other circuits
Techniques and devices are disclosed to provide multi-stage gain control in circuits or devices having two or more stages of signal amplification. A circuit with multi-stage gain control can include amplification stages coupled to receive an input signal and to produce an amplified output signal. Each amplification stage includes an amplifier that is adjustable in gain and a signal detector that is coupled to measure an output signal of the amplifier and to produce a detector signal indicative of a signal strength of the output signal of the amplifier. A gain control circuit is coupled to receive detector signals from the signal detectors in the amplification stages, respectively, and to control gains of the amplifiers of the amplification stages based on respective received detector signals, respectively. |
| US08983417B2 |
Low-cost receiver using integrated inductors
A receiver includes a first amplifier, a first variable capacitor, and an inductance leg. The first amplifier has an input for receiving a radio frequency signal, and an output. The first variable capacitor has a first terminal coupled to the output of the first amplifier, a second terminal coupled to a power supply voltage terminal, and a control terminal for receiving a tuning signal. The inductance leg has a first terminal coupled to the output of the first amplifier, and a second terminal coupled to the power supply voltage terminal. The inductance leg includes a first inductor and has an effective resistance in series with the first inductor, wherein the effective resistance has a value related to an upper frequency threshold to be tuned by the receiver. |
| US08983413B2 |
Communication device including multiple LO receivers
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to multiband receivers that include at least one divider unit having a divisor that is other-than-two. For example, in some embodiments the divisor is an odd integer (e.g., three). Such divisors allow oscillators for respective receiver subunits in a multi-band receiver to have frequencies that are sufficiently different from one another so as to limit cross-talk interference there between, even when the receiver subunits are concurrently receiving data on adjacent channels. To facilitate this other-than-two divisor, a phase error compensation block is often used to compensate for the effects of using the other-than-two divisor. |
| US08983405B2 |
Systems and methods of transmitter protection for wireless communications
Various embodiments provide for systems and methods for wireless communications that implement transmitter protection schemes using spatial combining. The protection scheme implemented by some embodiments provides for a number of benefits, including without limitation: hitless protection; constant power monitoring for each wireless channel being utilized; extra gain to wireless signals transmitted; beam steering, beam hopping, and beam alignment capabilities; and varying levels of transmission path protection (e.g., 1+1 protection, or 1+N protection). Additionally, the features of some embodiments may be applied to a variety of wireless communications systems including, for example, microwave wireless systems, cellular phone systems and WiFi systems. |
| US08983402B2 |
Transceiver with wake up detection
A transceiver with wake up detection includes a primary control unit, a transmission unit and a receiving unit, the transmission unit comprises a first logic set, a second logic set, a third logic set, a first loop, and a second loop. The first loop outputs a first differential signal, and the second loop outputs a second differential signal. The receiving unit comprises a wake up detection circuit having a first comparator, a second comparator and a fourth logic set. When the first comparator and the second comparator receive a first predetermined level of the first differential signal and a second predetermined level of the second differential signal, the fourth logic set outputs an idle state signal and a data signal to the primary control unit to make an operation mode of the transceiver switched from a low power mode to a normal mode. |
| US08983399B2 |
Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the same, in-millimeter-wave dielectric transmission device, method of manufacturing the same, and in-millimeter-wave dielectric transmission system
Provided is an in-millimeter-wave dielectric transmission device. The in-millimeter-wave dielectric transmission device includes a semiconductor chip provided on one interposer substrate and capable of in-millimeter-wave dielectric transmission, an antenna structure connected to the semiconductor chip, two semiconductor packages including a molded resin configured to cover the semiconductor chip and the antenna structure, and a dielectric transmission path provided between the two semiconductor packages to transmit a millimeter wave signal. The semiconductor packages are mounted such that the antenna structures thereof are arranged with the dielectric transmission path interposed therebetween. |
| US08983398B2 |
Loop-through circuit
An integrated circuit includes a digital interface for connection to a host controller; an antenna connection for connection to an antenna; a radio frequency transceiver for communicating data in accordance with one or more radio communication protocols, the radio frequency transceiver being configured to communicate radio frequency signals over the antenna connection in response to data exchanged over the digital interface; and radio loop-through circuitry for exchanging radio frequency signals with another integrated circuit, the radio loop-through circuitry being configured to provide radio frequency signals received at the antenna connection to an output connection of the integrated circuit. |
| US08983393B2 |
Method and apparatus for mitigating interference in a wireless communication system
A process, device and computer-readable storage medium that incorporate teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying a wireless device that is unable to distinguish between a non-reduced power subframe and a reduced-power, subframe of a communications protocol including a frame having a pre-defined arrangement of non-reduced power subframes and reduced-power subframes. First and second instructions are sent to the wireless device to respectively perform a first channel quality assessment of a non-reduced power subframe and a second channel quality assessment of a reduced-power subframe. The first and second instructions respectively identify the non-reduced power subframes and the reduced-power subframes within which the first and second channel quality assessments are to be performed. After receiving the first and second channel quality assessments, it is determined whether the channel quality assessment performed by the wireless device includes instantaneous measurements. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US08983385B2 |
Entertainment system including selectable IR receive and transmit codes and day/night picture modes
An entertainment system for a vehicle, including a media player and a control panel having an option that allows a user to select either a first communication mode or a second communication mode, wherein the first communication mode sets the entertainment system to respond to a transmitted first set of codes and the second communication mode sets the entertainment system to respond to a transmitted second set of codes. |
| US08983384B2 |
Apparatus and method for extending Bluetooth device range
An apparatus for extending Bluetooth device range includes a Bluetooth range extender device implementing at least two Bluetooth communication profiles such that the Bluetooth range extender device implements a first role to a first standard Bluetooth communication device and implements a second role to a second standard Bluetooth communication device. |
| US08983383B1 |
Providing hands-free service to multiple devices
Techniques for providing audio services to multiple devices are described. For instance, connections between a hands-free unit and multiple wireless devices are established. The connections are themselves used to establish active communication channels, such as active audio communication channels, between the hands-free unit and the wireless devices, such as during a phone call. Upon establishment of an active communication channel with one of the wireless devices, the connections to the other wireless devices are disconnected—and/or additional connections refused—for the duration of the active communication channel. Furthermore, a routing module in various embodiments permits multiple hands-free units to route active communication channels to each other depending on user location. |
| US08983379B2 |
Data transmitting and receiving apparatus and method, and solid state drive including the same
A data transmitting and receiving apparatus includes a coil configured to transmit and receive data through inductive coupling, where a voltage drop across the coil constitutes a sensing signal. The apparatus further includes an input unit configured to generate transmission data and a replica signal in accordance with an input data signal, the transmission data being supplied to the coil. The apparatus still further includes a replica unit configured to generate a compensation signal in accordance with the replica signal, and an output unit configured to extract reception data from the sensing signal using the compensation signal. |
| US08983376B2 |
Reducing spectrum interference between wireless networks
A method and apparatus for reducing spectrum interference between wireless networks. This is realized by arranging at least one sub-coordinating apparatus, namely, a monitoring apparatus, in respective wireless network, and by arranging a coordinating apparatus, namely, an allocation apparatus in the whole network. Wherein, the sub-coordinating apparatus monitors the spectrum utilization situation of the wireless network where it is located, reports it to the coordinating apparatus, and requests the coordinating apparatus for spectrum resource when new spectrum resource is needed. The coordinating apparatus maintains the spectrum utilization information of each wireless network, and allocates appropriate spectrum resource to the sub-coordinating apparatus which requests spectrum resource based on the maintained information. Therefore, the interference of inter-wireless networks is reduced or even avoided through such overall management that the coordinating apparatus allocates corresponding spectrum resources to a plurality of wireless networks capable of sharing spectrum resources. |
| US08983375B2 |
Personality adapter for modular radio communications systems
An adapter for a communications module includes first terminals for connection with a host interface of a given platform, and second terminals for connection with the communications module. The host interface provides signals associated with the platform and power at corresponding first terminals. The communication module provides associated signals and connections for supplying voltages to the module circuits, at corresponding second terminals. A power converter connected to the first terminals is arranged to output fixed voltages one or more of which is required for the communications module. A power management stage connected to the output of the power converter is arranged to apply the voltages to the second terminals so that the voltages are properly supplied to the module circuits. A buffer stage connected to the first and the second terminals is arranged to buffer or condition shared signals among the host interface and the communications module. |
| US08983373B2 |
Communications system providing enhanced mobile device holder detection based upon NFC communication and related methods
A communications system may include a first mobile device holder and a first trigger device associated therewith, a second mobile device holder different than the first mobile device holder and a second trigger device associated with the second mobile device holder, and a first NFC device associated with the first mobile device holder. The system may further include a mobile device configured to be removably coupled with the first holder or the second holder, a second NFC device carried by the housing, and a detector carried by the housing and configured to detect the first trigger device or the second trigger device. The mobile device may also include a controller carried by the housing and configured to determine positioning adjacent the first or second holder based upon the second NFC device and the detector, and operate in a respective first or second operating mode accordingly. |
| US08983367B1 |
Carrier
The vehicle, such as airplane, which comprises the internal wireless communicating device and the external antenna device, wherein the passenger(s) in the vehicle may access network (e.g., the Internet) via the internal wireless communicating device and the external antenna device. |
| US08983366B2 |
Methods and systems for media system use
Various embodiments relate to scheduling one or more media system for use. The media systems may or may not be in a vehicle. Input may be received at a computing device for scheduling use of multiple media systems. A schedule of media system use may be generated based on the input at the computing device. Use instructions based on the media system use schedule may be transmitted so that use of the multiple media systems is enabled in accordance with the media system use schedule. |
| US08983361B2 |
Image forming apparatus with sheet transport control timing changed according to length of transported sheet
An image forming apparatus has an image bearing member bearing a toner image, a transfer part transferring the toner image from the image bearing member onto a sheet, a separation/feeding part separating and feeding sheets stacked on a sheet stacking member, and a transport part transporting the sheet fed by the separation/feeding part to the transfer part, in which a transporting operation of the transport part is changed according to a length of the sheet to be transported in a transport direction of the sheet. A control is configured to control so that a timing to decelerate to the transfer speed by the transport part with respect to a start of image formation is changed according to a length of the transported sheet in a transport direction of the sheet. |
| US08983356B2 |
Image forming apparatus
There is described an image forming apparatus that includes an imaging member having a charge retentive-surface for developing an electrostatic latent image thereon. The imaging member includes a substrate and photoconductive member disposed on the substrate. The image forming apparatus includes a charging unit for applying an electrostatic charge on the imaging member to a predetermined electric potential wherein the charging unit is spaced from the photoconductive member a distance of from about 3 μm to about 300 μm. The image forming apparatus includes a delivery member in contact with the surface of the photoconductive member. The delivery member includes an elastomeric matrix impregnated with a liquid lubricant wherein the delivery member applies a layer of liquid lubricant to the surface of the photoconductor wherein in the layer has a thickness of from about 1 nm to about 15 nm during steady state operation. |
| US08983355B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries a first toner image, a transfer unit that transfers the first toner image on the image carrier onto a recording medium directly or through an intermediate transfer body, a fixing unit that fixes the first toner image that has been transferred onto the recording medium, and a glossiness-controlling unit that forms a second toner image made of clear toner on the recording medium in accordance with an amount of toner that forms the first toner image to be transferred onto the recording medium, thereby controlling a glossiness on a surface of the recording medium that has been subjected to the fixing performed by the fixing unit. |
| US08983354B2 |
Laser fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes an irradiation section that has plural light emitting elements arranged in a first direction and emits light, a condensing section that condenses the light emitted from the irradiation section in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and a supporter that includes a contact location which supports a recording medium by a surface thereof at a position of a focal length of the condensing section, and a noncontact location which is located outside the contact location in the first direction and has a surface which does not come into contact with the recording medium, wherein a distance between the surface of the noncontact location and the condensing section is different from a distance between the surface of the contact location and the condensing section. |
| US08983352B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus provided with the same
A fixing device that fixes an unfixed image on a sheet by heat and pressure, including an endless belt, a magnetic flux generator provided outside the running path of the belt and generating magnetic flux to cause an induction heating layer in the belt to heat, a heat-control plate provided inside the running path and including a magnetic shunt alloy layer that loses magnetism upon exceeding a predetermined temperature, and a support member supporting the heat-control plate. The heat-control plate includes a first region facing the magnetic flux generator with the belt therebetween and second regions extending continuously in a circumferential direction of the belt from opposite edges of the first region. Inside the running path, the support member is in contact with the heat-control plate at the second regions and not at the first region so as to support the heat-control plate at the second regions. |
| US08983349B2 |
Fixing device
A fixing device for thermally fixing a developing agent image to a sheet includes a tubular member, a nip plate, a heater, a reflection plate, and a backup member. The tubular member has an inner peripheral surface defining an internal space and an axis defining an axial direction. The nip plate is disposed in the internal space, and the inner peripheral surface is in sliding contact with the nip plate. A heater is disposed in the internal space and confronts the nip plate in a confronting direction. The reflection plate is configured to reflect radiant heat from the heater toward the nip plate. A backup member is configured to provide a nip region in cooperation with the nip plate for nipping the fusing member between the backup member and the nip plate. |
| US08983345B2 |
Developer supplying member, developing device, and image forming apparatus
A developer supplying member is provided for supplying developer to a developer supporting member. The developer supplying member includes a foamed member having a discrete foam cell structure and being formed of a silicone rubber as a main component thereof. The foamed member constitutes a surface of the developer supplying member. The foamed member includes a foam cell wall dividing foam cells thereof and being exposed on the surface of the developer supplying member. The foam cell wall has a ten-point average surface roughness between 45.2 μm and 65.3 μm. |
| US08983344B2 |
Toner container
A toner container installed in an image forming apparatus includes a toner container main body having a predetermined length and in which toner is accommodated, a discharge port through which the toner is discharged from the toner container main body, a shutter which opens and closes the discharge port, a handle provided on the toner container main body, and a pressed portion provided on the toner container main body and which is pressed by the image forming apparatus to project the handle out from the image forming apparatus. |
| US08983343B2 |
Image forming apparatus and toner case
An image forming apparatus includes a toner case and an installed part. The toner case includes a discharge port discharging a toner. To the installed part, the toner case is detachably installed. On the circumference of the toner case, a locking piece is provided. The installed part includes a locking member covering at least a part of the circumference of the toner case. The locking member has an insertion depression, an engaging piece and a biasing member. The insertion depression is arranged along an installing direction of the toner case and is capable of insertion of the locking piece. The engaging piece moves between a protrusive position protruded to the insertion depression at predetermined length and a withdrawn position withdrawn further than the protrusive position from the insertion depression in intersecting directions with the installing direction. The biasing member biases the engaging piece to the protrusive position side. |
| US08983342B2 |
Developer storage container, image forming unit and image forming apparatus
A developer storage container includes a storage portion for storing a developer therein, an opening for ejecting the developer stored in the storage portion, and an opening-and-closing member for opening and closing the opening. A concave portion is formed on the opening-and-closing member so that the concave portion faces the opening. |
| US08983340B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a main body; at least one developer including an image carrier unit having an image carrier and a charged body charging the image carrier, a developing unit installed to swing at a predetermined angle with respect to the image carrier unit and having a developing roller, and a pressing member pressing the developing unit so that the developing roller comes in contact with the image carrier, and separably installed in the main body; a nip separation unit installed in the main body on one side of the developer to swing the developing unit so that the developing unit is in a position that is separated from the image carrier; and a control unit controlling the developer and the nip separation unit according to a print command. |
| US08983338B2 |
Image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus provided with a detachable fixing unit having fixing paired-rollers, a heating unit heats at least one of the fixing paired-rollers, and a temperature detecting unit detects a temperature of the detachable fixing unit. The image forming apparatus is further provided with an adjustment mechanism for preventing the detachable fixing unit from being taken out from the apparatus body, when the temperature detecting unit determines that the temperature of the detachable fixing unit exceeds a predetermined value, and allowing the detachable fixing unit to be taken out from the apparatus body, when the temperature detecting unit determines that the temperature of the detachable fixing unit is the predetermined value or less, whereby protecting users from getting their hands burned when taking out the detachable fixing unit from the apparatus body. |
| US08983334B2 |
Image forming apparatus having a path regulating member
In an image forming apparatus including a door 10 openable with respect to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a drum cartridge 8 detachably mountable to the image forming apparatus main assembly, and detachably mountable developing cartridges 4k-4y provided above the drum cartridge 8, wherein the door 10 includes a positioning urging portion 26 contacting the developing cartridges in a state in which the door 10 is closed, the door 10 includes drum cartridge mounting and demounting guides 28R and 28L for regulating the drum cartridge 8 so as to pass along a non-interference path with the positioning urging portion 26 in contact to the drum cartridge 8 when the drum cartridge 8 is demounted from the image forming apparatus. |
| US08983325B2 |
Image heating apparatus
An image heating apparatus includes a first rotating member configured to heat a toner image on a sheet at a nip portion, a second rotating member configured to form the nip portion cooperatively with the first rotating member, a heat conduction member configured to conduct a heat of the second rotating member in a width direction of the second rotating member in an operating position in which the heat conduction member is in contact with the second rotating member, and a fan configured to blow an air toward a predetermined region of the heat conduction member which is in the operating position. |
| US08983323B2 |
Color image forming apparatus with a line velocity difference set between image carriers
Provided is a color image forming apparatus that includes: image carriers that form toner image of black and other colors; an intermediate transfer body that makes contact with the image carriers; and transfer units that transfer the toner images on the image carriers to the intermediate transfer body. A line velocity difference is set between the image carriers and the intermediate transfer body. An accelerated cohesion degree of toner is equal to or larger than 54%. A linear velocity difference X1 between the image carrier for black and the intermediate transfer body satisfies a relation of 0 |
| US08983319B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier that carries an electrostatic latent image; a developer supplying unit that supplies developer by being driven at a predetermined speed; a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image, while a transporting member transports the developer, a transport speed of the transporting member being switched to a plurality of speeds; a determining unit that determines whether or not an operation where a supply capacity of the developer supplying unit is greater than a transport capacity of the developing unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value and is continued; and a controller that performs control so that, when the determining unit determines that the operation exceeds the predetermined threshold value and is continued, an operation that was being executed immediately prior to the determination is stopped to forcefully drive the transporting member of the developing unit for a predetermined driving time. |
| US08983317B2 |
Method for detecting surface potential of image bearing member and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus configured to, in a state where a voltage is applied to a charging unit, determine a surface potential of an image bearing member using a first voltage applied when a current value obtained by, after applying a predetermined voltage to a transfer unit, detecting the current value while changing the applied voltage to a positive direction reaches a discharge current value, and a second voltage applied to the transfer unit when a current value obtained by, after applying the predetermined voltage to the transfer unit, detecting the current value while changing the applied voltage to a negative direction reaches the discharge current value. |
| US08983316B2 |
Fixing device and control device
A fixing device includes a fixing device including rollers which form a nip therebetween to fix a toner image on a sheet; a reciprocating mechanism, including a motor, for reciprocating the fixing device within a predetermined range by moving the fixing device in a longitudinal direction thereof for each passages of a predetermined number of sheets through the nip; and a controller for controlling the motor so that a drive time of the motor per the predetermined number of the sheets is longer in a first range including a point at which a moving direction of the fixing device reverses than in a second range in which the moving direction of the fixing device does not reverse. |
| US08983312B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a toner container; a developing unit; a detection unit detecting toner in the developing unit; a measurement unit measuring as to whether there is a full amount of toner or no toner in the developing unit by using a detection history of the detection unit with regard to the toner; a supplying unit supplying the toner from the toner container to the developing unit; a toner-amount calculation unit calculating, using image data to be printed, an amount of toner consumption needed during printing; an accumulation unit calculating an accumulated amount of toner consumption by accumulating the amount of toner consumption every time printing is conducted; and a fault determination unit determining, using the accumulated amount of toner consumption, whether a measurement result by the measurement unit is normal or not as to whether there is a full amount of toner or no toner. |
| US08983305B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling phase delay offset point of modulator
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for controlling a phase delay offset point of a modulator. The method comprises: acquiring backlight detection current signals output from a modulator in different working states, and determining harmonic amplitude values of the backlight detection current signals corresponding to the different working states; determining a detection value of a phase delay offset point corresponding to the modulator according to the determined harmonic amplitude values; comparing the detection value with a set target value of the phase delay offset point, and controlling a position of the phase delay offset point corresponding to the modulator according to the comparison result. The accuracy of controlling the position of the phase delay offset point of the modulator and the performance of the Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (DQPSK) modulation system are improved through the technical solution. |
| US08983301B2 |
Localization services in optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods
Optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods to provide localization services for client devices are disclosed. The localization services allow the providing and/or determination of the location of client devices in communication with a component or components of the optical fiber-based distributed communications system. The location of client devices can be provided and/or determined based on knowledge of the location of the component or components in the optical fiber-based distributed communications system in communication with the client device. This information can be used to determine or provide a more precise area of location or area of location for client devices. The optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods disclosed herein may be well-suited for indoor environments where other methods of providing and/or determining location of client devices may be obstructed or not possible due to the indoor environment. |
| US08983298B2 |
Optical channel monitor
An optical channel monitor includes: a first optical device to include first, second and third optical ports, light input through the first optical port being led to the second optical port, light input through the second optical port being led at least to the third optical port; a second optical device to include fourth, fifth and sixth optical ports, light input through the fourth optical port being led to the fifth optical port, light input through the fifth optical port being led at least to the sixth optical port; an optical filter to include seventh and eighth optical ports optically connected to the second and fifth optical ports, respectively, a specified wavelength being transmitted between the seventh and eighth optical ports; a first photo detector to detect light output from the sixth optical port; and a second photo detector to detect light output from the third optical port. |
| US08983297B2 |
Multi-stage optical interleaving
Methods and devices are provided to facilitate production of optical signals that exhibit reduced crosstalk noise and intersymbol interference. In some configurations, a multi-stage optical interleaver, including a first and a second optical interleaver, is used to process a first and a second set of input optical channels. The composite optical output of the multi-stage interleaver includes the first set of optical channels and the second set of optical channels, where each of the first and second set of input optical channels is processed once by the first optical interleaver and once by the second optical interleaver. As such, the first and second sets of input optical channels are each filtered twice using only two optical interleavers. |
| US08983293B2 |
Electro-optical switching fabric systems and methods
An optical switch fabric, including: a first set of horizontal optical waveguides receiving a plurality of wavelengths; a plurality of wavelength-selective drop optical switches associated with the first set of horizontal optical waveguides, wherein the plurality of wavelength-selective drop optical switches are each configured to drop a selected wavelength from a horizontal optical waveguide of the first set of horizontal optical waveguides to an associated vertical optical waveguide of a plurality of vertical optical waveguides; and a plurality of controllable optical switches associated with the plurality of vertical optical waveguides, wherein the plurality of controllable optical switches are each configured to direct a selected wavelength from a vertical optical waveguide of the plurality of vertical optical waveguides to a horizontal optical waveguide of a second set of horizontal optical waveguides, and wherein the second set of horizontal optical waveguides output a plurality of wavelengths. |
| US08983292B2 |
Electrical signal packet routing
A packet switch 40 comprises wavelength tunable optical transmitters 12, an optical switch fabric 42, optical detectors 30 and a controller 32. The transmitters 12 are arranged to receive at least one electrical signal packet to be switched and convert it into a corresponding optical signal packet at an input wavelength. The optical switch fabric 42 comprises an ingress stage 44 comprising wavelength selective routers 46 and an egress stage 50 comprising wavelength selective routers 54 and tunable wavelength converters 26 arranged to receive an optical signal at the input wavelength and to output an optical signal at an output wavelength. The controller 32 is arranged to set the input wavelength of a transmitter 12 and the output wavelength of a wavelength converter to configure a path across the switch fabric 42 connecting the transmitter 12 to a detector 30. A communications network router 90 comprises an input module 92, a packet switch 40, an output module 96 and a scheduler 94. |
| US08983291B1 |
Optical PAM modulation with dual drive mach zehnder modulators and low complexity electrical signaling
The present invention is directed to data communication system and methods. More specifically, various embodiments of the present invention provide a communication interface that is configured to transfer data at high bandwidth using PAM format(s) over optical communication networks. In various embodiments, amplitude and phase of the optical wave are modulated. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US08983288B2 |
Method and system for measuring latency
A system and method for measuring latency of an optical transport network includes generating a time stamp, transmitting the time stamp in an optical transport network, and processing the time stamp to measure latency of the optical transport network. |
| US08983282B2 |
Electric heater for hookah
Electric heat for generating smoke from tobacco or the like in a hookah type smoking pipe. Electric heat is obtained from an electrically powered heating element which may be placed proximate the tobacco. The heating element may be contained within a housing which in turn may be placed above the smoking chamber of the hookah. The housing may have adjustably damped holes disposed to pass air over the heating element. Electrical circuitry serving the heating element may comprise a step down transformer and a voltage adjusting switch. The heating element may be integral with the hookah, may take the form of a separate component which is mountable over the smoking chamber of the hookah, or may comprise a free standing assembly which may be placed to stand adjacent to the hookah. |
| US08983280B2 |
Coated film drying furnace
A coated film drying furnace for drying a coated film inside a furnace body by conveying the coated film therein, the coated film having an absorption spectrum for electromagnetic waves of 3.5 μm or less and having hydrogen bonds, such as an electrode coated film for lithium ion battery. Infrared heaters provided inside a furnace body have outer circumferences of filaments concentrically covered by tubes that function as a low pass filter, and have a structure in which a fluid flow passage is formed between the plurality of tubes. Due to this, a temperature rise in the furnace is controlled so as to prevent explosion of an organic solvent vapor, and the coated film is efficiently heated and dried by intensively radiating near infrared rays of 3.5 μm or less that have superior ability to cut off the intermolecular hydrogen bonds onto a work. |
| US08983277B2 |
Angle-adjustable aroma diffuser
An angle-adjustable aroma diffuser is provided, including a hollow housing, a heat-transfer container, a heating component and an angle-adjustable electric plug. The hollow housing has a first opening and a second opening. The heat-transfer container is mounted in the hollow housing. The heating component is combined with a bottom side of the heat-transfer container. The angle-adjustable electric plug is combined with the second opening of the hollow housing. The angle-adjustable electric plug is electrically connected to the heating component. Therefore, an aroma capsule can be disposed in the heat-transfer container through the open end, the hollow housing and the heat-transfer container of the angle-adjustable aroma diffuser can rotate upward and modulate an angle, and the aroma capsule generates fragrance upward through the open end of the heat-transfer container. |
| US08983269B2 |
Recording medium, reproducing apparatus, and reproducing method
In a recording medium on which is recorded a multiplexed stream including a plurality of first packets (V_main) constituting a first I-picture in a first video stream and a plurality of second packets (V_sub) constituting a second I-picture in a second video stream, information for identifying the first I-picture and information for identifying the second I-picture are recorded on the medium. A recording medium can thereby be obtained that enables the rapid detection, from a small amount of information, of a particular picture included in a stream such as a TS in which multiple content streams are multiplexed. |
| US08983264B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for coordinating playing of media streams
Methods and systems are described for coordinating playing of media streams. In one aspect, an access by a media player to a presentation device to play a media stream is detected. Additionally, presentation focus information is accessed for determining whether the media player has presentation focus for playing the media stream. Further, it is determine, based on the presentation focus information, that the media player has presentation focus for playing the media stream. Still further, in response to determining the media player has presentation focus, it is indicated that the media player is allowed to play the media stream via the presentation device. |
| US08983263B2 |
Time shifting by concurrently recording and playing a data stream
A video stream may include portions that are stored while other portions are being displayed. In one embodiment, a portion of the video stream may be stored in digital storage media at one instance while in the next instance another portion of the stream is being read out of the storage media. |
| US08983262B2 |
Information recording apparatus and controlling method thereof
The invention relates to an information recording apparatus capable of relay recording, during which a sequence of data is continuously recorded across a plurality of recording media, as well as to a controlling method thereof. If the relay recording mode is set, it is determined whether any medium having a wireless communication function is present among the recordable recording media. If a recording medium having a wireless communication function is present, data transfer utilizing the wireless communication function is inactivated. This enables relay recording that accounts for cases in which memory cards provided with a wireless communication function are included among the recording media. |
| US08983261B2 |
Plasmonic waveguides, circuits, and systems
Waveguide structure for propagating a surface plasmon polariton, including an inter-metal plasmonic waveguide (1). The waveguide structure has two metal strip like structures (2, 3) positioned parallel to each other and an isolating material structure (4) positioned between the two metal strip like structures (2, 3). The two metal strip like structures (2, 3) are positioned at a fixed distance (d) from each other. The inter-metal plasmonic waveguide (1) is provided in a single layer of a CMOS processed substrate (5). Several waveguide structures (1) may be combined with a crystal like structure (6) to build logic gates, such as a switch having a gate, source and drain terminal (1G, 1S, 1D). Using three dimensional designs spanning several layers in a CMOS processed substrate (5) very complex yet compact logic circuits may be designed. |
| US08983260B2 |
Non-zero dispersion shifted optical fiber having a large effective area
A non-zero dispersion shifted optical fiber (NZDSF) includes a central core, an inner cladding, and an outer cladding. The central core has an outer radius r1 and a maximum refractive index difference Dn1 with respect to the outer cladding. The inner cladding includes a first intermediate cladding and a buried trench. The first intermediate cladding has an outer radius r2 and a refractive index difference Dn2 with respect to the outer cladding. The buried trench has an outer radius r3, a width w3, and a negative refractive index difference Dn3 with respect to the outer cladding. In some embodiments, the inner cladding includes a second intermediate cladding having an outer radius r4 and a refractive index difference Dn4 with respect to the outer cladding. For a radius of curvature of 30 millimeters at a wavelength of 1625 nanometers, the optical fiber typically exhibits bending losses of about 0.5 dB/100 turns or less. At a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, the optical fiber's effective area is typically about 95 μm2 or greater. |
| US08983257B2 |
Therapeutic light delivery apparatus, method, and system
An optical delivery apparatus is disclosed including: an optical fiber extending between a distal end having a distal end face and a proximal end having a proximal end face, an optical element positioned to receive the light emitted from the distal end face and direct the light to an illumination region; and a non-metallic housing containing the optical fiber and the optical element and maintaining the relative position of the optical fiber and the optical element. |
| US08983254B2 |
Optical fiber assemblies
Fiber optic assemblies include subunit cables wrapped in binders. The assemblies have small cross sections and low bend radii while maintaining acceptable attenuation losses. Stranding of the subunit cables allows ease of access to the individual cables during installation. |
| US08983247B2 |
Electromagnetic wave isolator and integrated optics device
An electromagnetic wave isolator (10) comprising a body (29) having e.g. an elliptical disk or ring shape such as to define two circular directions (D1, D2) of propagation. The body is further augmented by one or more feature (21, 22) lowering the symmetry of the isolator such that wave propagation is supported substantially more in one (D1) of the directions than in the opposite direction (D2). An integrated optics device includes two electromagnetic wave isolators. |
| US08983246B2 |
Rotary optical link joint
A rotary optical link joint having a small change in transmission loss during rotational use is provided. In order to realize this, the rotary optical link joint according to the present invention is an optical link joint that relatively rotatably holds, centering around an axis line (19, 29), a first optical fiber (11) and a second optical fiber (21), wherein a part or all of the first optical fiber (11) and the second optical fiber (21) are configured by a multi-core optical fiber having a plurality of cores, and wherein the plurality of cores is arranged in a circular or annular area that is sectioned by a concentric circle centered around the axis line (19, 29) of the multi-core optical fiber. |
| US08983245B2 |
Optical board, method of manufacturing the optical board and optical module structure
An optical board includes a plate-shaped resin base material including a slit-shaped optical fiber housing portion formed thereon, a metal layer formed on a surface of the based material, and a reflective layer for reflecting light propagating in an optical fiber housed in the optical fiber housing portion. The base material further includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to the surface of the base material at a terminal end of the optical fiber housing portion. The reflective layer is formed over an end face of the metal layer and the inclined surface, the end face forming a flat surface continuously with the inclined surface. |
| US08983243B2 |
Wind turbine blade with optical sensor system
Wind turbine blade comprising a sensor system with an optical path comprising a first optical sensor fiber, a second optical sensor fiber and a patch optical fiber, the first optical sensor fiber including a first core with a first core diameter wherein the first optical sensor fiber extends from a first end to a second end and comprising at least one sensor, the second optical sensor fiber including a second core with a second core diameter, wherein the second optical sensor fiber extends from a first end to a second end and comprising at least one sensor, the patch optical fiber including a patch core with a patch core diameter, wherein the patch optical fiber extends from a first end to a second end and connects the first optical sensor fiber and the second optical sensor fiber, wherein the first core diameter is the same as the patch core diameter. |
| US08983242B2 |
Plasmonic device for modulation and amplification of plasmonic signals
According to one embodiment of the invention, a plasmonic device has a beam splitter adapted to split a surface-plasmon (SP) input beam into first and second SP beams and direct them along first and second propagation paths, respectively. One of the propagation paths has a plasmonic-beam interaction region adapted to controllably change the phase of the corresponding split beam within that interaction region in response to an SP control signal applied thereto. The plasmonic device further has an SP beam mixer adapted to receive the first and second beams from their respective propagation paths and to mix them to produce an SP output signal. In various configurations, the plasmonic device can operate as a plasmonic-signal amplifier, a plasmonic-beam router, a 1×2 plasmonic-beam switch, and/or a plasmonic modulator. |
| US08983240B2 |
Electro-optical phase modulator with an optically isotropic material which becomes optically anisotropic under an electric field
The invention relates to an electro-optical phase modulator with a plurality of elements arranged between two substrates, which\are produced from an optically isotropic material which becomes optically anisotropic when an electrical field is applied, wherein for each of the elements respectively one electrode is arranged on both substrates and the electrodes can be individually controlled at least on one of the substrates. |
| US08983233B2 |
Time-of-flight depth imaging
Techniques are provided for determining depth to objects. A depth image may be determined based on two light intensity images. This technique may compensate for differences in reflectivity of objects in the field of view. However, there may be some misalignment between pixels in the two light intensity images. An iterative process may be used to relax a requirement for an exact match between the light intensity images. The iterative process may involve modifying one of the light intensity images based on a smoothed version of a depth image that is generated from the two light intensity images. Then, new values may be determined for the depth image based on the modified image and the other light intensity image. Thus, pixel misalignment between the two light intensity images may be compensated. |
| US08983226B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting specific object pattern from image
A face area is detected from an image captured by an image pickup device, pixel values of the image are adjusted based on information concerning the detected face area, a person area is detected from the adjusted image, and the detected face area is integrated with the detected person area. With this configuration, it is possible to accurately detect an object even in a case, for example, where the brightness is varied. |
| US08983225B2 |
Method of reducing a blocking artifact when coding moving picture
A method of coding a moving picture is provided that reduces blocking artifacts. The method can include defining a plurality of defining pixels S0, S1, and S2, which are centered around a block boundary. If a default mode is selected then frequency information of the surroundings of the block boundary is obtained. A magnitude of a discontinuous component in a frequency domain belonging to the block boundary is adjusted based on a magnitude of a corresponding discontinuous component selected from a pixel contained entirely within a block adjacent the block boundary. The frequency domain adjustment is then applied to a spatial domain. Or, a DC offset mode can be selected to reduce blocking artifacts in smooth regions where there is little motion. |
| US08983221B2 |
Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus which estimates a point spread function (PSF) of at least one input image, and the image processing apparatus includes: an S/N ratio estimation unit which estimates an S/N ratio of the input image at each spatial frequency; a restricted range calculation unit which calculates a restricted range that is a range of the spatial frequency in which the frequency component of the input images are restricted and that more likely includes a spatial frequency in which the S/N ratio is lower; a frequency restriction unit which generates a restricted image by restricting a frequency component of the input image within the restricted range; and a PSF estimation unit which estimates the PSF of the input image, using the restricted image. |
| US08983216B2 |
Invariant pulse latency coding systems and methods
Systems and methods for processing image signals are described. One method comprises obtaining a generator signal based on an image signal and determining relative latencies associated with two or more pulses in a pulsed signal using a function of the generator signal that can comprise a logarithmic function. The function of the generator signal can be the absolute value of its argument. Information can be encoded in the pattern of relative latencies. Latencies can be determined using a scaling parameter that is calculated from a history of the image signal. The pulsed signal is typically received from a plurality of channels and the scaling parameter corresponds to at least one of the channels. The scaling parameter may be adaptively calculated such that the latency of the next pulse falls within one or more of a desired interval and an optimal interval. |
| US08983213B1 |
Image coding and decoding methods and apparatus
Methods and apparatus for coding and/or decoding bitplanes of individual codeblocks are described. Aspects relate to speeding up bitplane decoding when one or more decoders are used as part of the decoding process and one or more consistent value bitplanes were coded at the start of a codeblock. A number F, e.g., of consistent value, e.g., zero value, bitplanes are identified as corresponding to the beginning of an encoded codeblock being processed. Based on the determination a predetermined output, e.g., zero values corresponding to F bitplanes, is output. Thus, the output corresponding to the F consistent value bitplanes can be produced without having to perform a full arithmetic decoding process to generate the decoded data corresponding to the F consistent value bitplanes. Remaining bitplanes of a codeblock including data are subjected to decoding using one or more decoder modules which maybe part of a JPEG 2000 compliant decoder. |
| US08983212B2 |
Method for image data compression of image block
A method for image data compression of a to-be-encoded image block includes: determining one of a plurality of preset encoding modes as an encoding mode based upon attributes of pixels of the to-be-encoded image block; and compressing image data of the to-be-encoded image block according to the encoding mode thus determined so as to obtain encoded data. |
| US08983210B2 |
Social network system and method for identifying cluster image matches
A social network application may identify images having common links between a first user's image collection and a second user's image collection. The common links may be identified through metadata or similar portions of the images. Using the first user's image collection, elements of interest may be identified and compared to a second user's image collection to find matches. When matches are found, the results may be selected from groups of results to show a diverse set of matches. The user may be presented with options to select and add matched images to the user's collection, as well as to browse more images that match one or more of the groups. |
| US08983208B2 |
Pattern matching based on global quantitative characterization of patterns
Various systems, methods, and programs embodied in computer-readable mediums are provided for detecting a match in patterns. In one embodiment, a method is provided that comprises performing a fractal analysis on a first pattern in a computer system to generate a first global quantitative characterization of the first pattern. The method further comprises comparing the first global quantitative characterization with a second global quantitative characterization associated with a second pattern in the computer system to determine whether the first pattern matches the second pattern. The second global quantitative characterization is generated from the second pattern. |
| US08983205B2 |
Method for auto-depicting trends in object contours
Disclosed herein is a method for auto-depicting trends in object contours (referred to as ADTOC). At the heart of ADTOC is a sifting process to determine a significant angular value via evaluating a plurality of angular values in a predefined range. ADTOC is characterized in that a probe-ahead concept is applied to obtain a reference angular value along the current route, and then the probed angular value is used to modify the significant angular value in order to timely correct the subsequent trace direction, thus achieving more accurate trace result. Contours with discontinuous segments caused by noise, obstacles, illumination, shading variations, etc. can also be auto-depicted without requiring a predefined auxiliary route. |
| US08983204B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for controlling same
A production unit of an image processing apparatus produces a contour signal of an image including a specific subject. A detection unit detects, on the basis of the contour signal, a representative contour direction for each of a plurality of division regions of the image, where the detection unit detects a specific direction as the representative contour direction when the direction of the entire contour portion included in the division regions is biased in the specific direction by at least a specific degree. A determination unit determines a type of the subject on the basis of at least one of a direction-based frequency distribution of the detected representative contour directions, a number of representative contour directions detected, etc. A correction unit configured to correct the image data according to a correction method corresponding to the type of the subject. |
| US08983203B2 |
Face-tracking method with high accuracy
A face-tracking method with high accuracy is provided. The face-tracking method includes generating an initial face shape according to the detected face region of an input image and a learned data base, wherein the initial face shape comprises an initial inner shape and an initial outer shape; generating a refined inner shape by refining the initial inner shape according to the input image and the learned data base; and generating a refined outer shape by searching an edge of the refined outer shape from the initial outer shape toward the limit of outer shape. |
| US08983202B2 |
Smile detection systems and methods
Systems and methods of smile detection are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises generating a search map (400) for a subset of an image (300). The method also comprises identifying a plurality of candidates (400a-f) representing mouth corners. The method also comprises generating parabolas (410) between each pair of candidates representing mouth corners. The method also comprises analyzing contour of at least one of the parabolas to determine whether the mouth curves substantially upward to form a smile or curves substantially downward to form a frown. |
| US08983197B2 |
Object tag metadata and image search
Techniques are disclosed for ordering images. The technique includes receiving a request, the request including keywords and parameters specifying desired image characteristics. Further, the technique includes identifying a set of images responsive to the request based on a match of the keywords to tags associated with objects depicted in the set of images. Finally, the technique includes determining an ordering of the identified set of images by comparing the received parameters with metadata fields associated with respective tags of the objects and returning an indication of the set of images and the determined ordering of the images. |
| US08983195B2 |
Smoothing method and apparatus for time data sequences
According to one exemplary embodiment, a smoothing method for time data sequences is performed, which includes: smoothing original data points of a time data sequence, then from smoothed data points, determining reference points for a global trajectory and a local trajectory; according to the reference points, calculating a direction of the global trajectory and a direction of the local trajectory; and adaptively calculating new data point(s) by integrating the two directions. The trajectory of new data points maintains the properties of smoothness and real-time perception. |
| US08983194B2 |
Information processing system, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An information processing system includes a business-card described information acquiring unit and an association unit. The business-card described information acquiring unit acquires business-card described information that is to be extracted from an image in which a document identification image with which a document is identifiable and an image of a business card are arranged and that is at least part of information described on the business card. The association unit associates the document identified by the document identification image with the business-card described information. |
| US08983187B2 |
Systems and methods for performing edge enhancement in digital images
A system for editing a digital image comprises a low pass filter for receiving a source image and for filtering high spatial frequency components of the source image to generate a smoothed image. An arithmetic operator unit subtracts color values of the smoothed image from color values of the source image to produce a first image value on pixel-by-pixel basis. A gradient reversal analyzer compares gradient values of the smoothed image to gradient values of the source image and generates a control signal. A boost controller generates a new value for each pixel of a boost parameter map according to the control signal. The boost controller applies the boost parameter map to modify the first image value to generate a second image value. The arithmetic operator unit is further configured to generate an edge enhanced image according to color values of the source image and the second image value. |
| US08983186B2 |
Method and system for auto-enhancing photographs with shadow lift adjustments
Some embodiments of the image editing and organizing application described herein provide an automatic enhancement process that includes a shadow lift adjustment. The process takes an input image and enhances the contrast of darker parts of the image. The process uses a structure histogram to determine an amount of shadow lift adjustment to apply to the image. The process tempers this adjustment based on an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) value of the image. |
| US08983183B2 |
Spatially varying log-chromaticity normals for use in an image process
In a first exemplary embodiment, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. The method includes the steps of providing an image file depicting an image defined by image locations, in a computer memory, generating a bi-illuminant chromaticity plane in a log color space for representing the image locations of the image in a log-chromaticity representation for the image, providing a set of estimates for an orientation of the bi-illuminant chromaticity plane and calculating a single orientation for each one of the image locations as a function of the set of estimates for an orientation. |
| US08983182B1 |
System and method for estimating continuous tone values from rendered binary input
A method and system for estimating continuous tone values associated with input pixels in a color image are provided. The method includes receiving binarized halftone image data representing a color image, wherein the color image has a plurality of input pixels; and estimating the continuous tone values associated with each of the input pixels by: establishing a window comprising a pixel of interest and neighboring pixels in the binarized halftone image data, wherein the window comprises a plurality of sub-window's and wherein each sub-window has a plurality of predetermined number of rows and columns of pixels; and processing the binarized halftone image data in both a process direction and a cross-process direction using the window such that the processing is performed for one of the pixels in each of the rows within the sub-window and the processing is skipped for the remaining pixels in that row of that sub-window. |
| US08983178B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing segment-based disparity decomposition
A method and system for generating a disparity map. The method comprises the steps of generating a first disparity map based upon a first image and a second image acquired at a first time, acquiring at least a third image and a fourth image at a second time, and determining one or more portions comprising a difference between one of the first and second images and a corresponding one of the third and fourth images. A disparity map update is generated for the one or more determined portions, and a disparity map is generated based upon the third image and the fourth image by combining the disparity map update and the first disparity map. |
| US08983177B2 |
Method for increasing resolutions of depth images
A resolution of a low resolution depth image is increased by applying joint geodesic upsampling to a high resolution image to obtain a geodesic distance map. Depths in the low resolution depth image are interpolated using the geodesic distance map to obtain a high resolution depth image. The high resolution image can be a gray scale or color image, or a binary boundary map. The low resolution depth image can be acquired by any type of depth sensor. |
| US08983173B2 |
Portable composable machine vision system for identifying projectiles
A machine vision system for automatically identifying and inspecting objects is disclosed, including composable vision-based recognition modules and a decision algorithm to perform the final determination on object type and quality. This vision system has been used to develop a Projectile Identification System and an Automated Tactical Ammunition Classification System. The technology can be used to create numerous other inspection and automated identification systems. |
| US08983170B2 |
Systems and methods for developing and verifying image processing standards for mobile deposit
Systems and methods are provided for assessing whether mobile deposit processing engines meet specified standards for mobile deposit of financial documents. A mobile deposit processing engine (MDE) is evaluated to determine if it can perform technical capabilities for improving the quality of and extracting content from an image of a financial document. A verification process then begins, where the MDE performs the image quality enhancements and text extraction steps on sets of images from a test deck. The results of the processing of the test deck are then evaluated by comparing confidence levels with thresholds to determine if each set of images should be accepted or rejected. Further analysis determines whether any of the sets of images were falsely accepted or rejected in error. An overall error rate is then compared with minimum accuracy criteria, and if the criteria are met, the MDE meets the standard for mobile deposit. |
| US08983169B2 |
Mobile communication device and method for identifying a counterfeit bill
An apparatus for identifying a counterfeit bill is provided. The apparatus includes a camera module configured to receive a captured IR image of a bill; a binary image generator configured to generate a binary image of the bill, based on the IR image; a distance value calculator configured to compare a predetermined area of the binary image with a predetermined area of a pre-stored real bill database corresponding to the predetermined area of the binary image; and a corrected image generator configured to generate a corrected image based on a result of the comparison. |
| US08983166B2 |
Method for automatically seeding previously-classified images among images of objects of interest from a specimen
A computer-assisted method of classifying cytological samples, includes using a processor to analyze images of cytological samples and identify cytological objects of interest within the sample images, wherein the processor (i) displays images of identified cytological objects of interest from the sample images to a reviewer, (ii) accesses a database of images of previously classified cytological objects, and (iii) displays to the reviewer, interspersed with the displayed images of the identified objects of interest from the sample images, one or more images obtained from the database of images of previously-classified objects. |
| US08983165B2 |
System and method for measuring X-ray beam profile using an area detector
The claimed subject matter describes a novel technique to measure the beam profile using an area detector. In one embodiment, a set of one-dimensional beam profile measurements is performed by taking two images under the same source conditions but at two different positions of the detector, with each position of the detector shifted by a certain distance in the direction corresponding to the direction of the one-dimensional profile measurement. In further embodiments, a set of two-dimensional beam profile measurements is achieved by determining a second set of one-dimensional profiles from the same sampling points in a second direction and building a two-dimensional map of the beam profile by correlating the first one-dimensional profile measurement with the second one-dimensional profile measurement. |
| US08983164B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes a calculation unit configured to calculate information indicating similarity among a plurality of tomographic images, and a generation unit configured to generate a tomographic image from the plurality of tomographic images based on the calculated information indicating similarity. |
| US08983158B2 |
System for performing coronary digital subtraction angiography (DSA)
An image data subtraction system receives an electrical signal representing a heart cycle electrical waveform during multiple heart cycles and acquires data representing a first image set comprising multiple temporally sequential individual mask images of vessels of a portion of patient anatomy during the multiple heart cycles in the absence of a contrast agent. The system acquires data representing a second image set comprising a multiple temporally sequential individual contrast enhanced images of vessels of the portion of patient anatomy during the multiple heart cycles in the presence of a contrast agent. An image data processor automatically uses the electrical signal to identify temporally corresponding pairs of images comprising a mask image and a contrast enhanced image acquired substantially at a same point within a heart cycle. The image data processor, for the corresponding pairs, automatically subtracts data representing a mask image of a corresponding pair from a contrast enhanced image of the corresponding pair, to provide subtracted images. |
| US08983151B2 |
Apparatus for recognizing face based on environment adaptation
An apparatus for recognizing a face of a person adaptively controls brightness of illumination around the person through image analysis. The apparatus obtains an optimal image through the adaptive brightness control of the illumination regardless of various environments for face recognition. |
| US08983145B2 |
Method for authenticating identity of handset user
A method for authenticating the identity of a handset user is provided. The method includes: obtaining, a login account and a password from the user; judging whether the login account and the password are correct; if the login account or the password is incorrect, refusing the user to access an operating system of the handset; if the login account and the password are correct, sending the login account and the password to a cloud server, wherein the login account and the password correspond to a face sample image library of the user stored on the cloud server; acquiring an input face image of the user; sending the input face image to the cloud server; authenticating, by the cloud server, the identity of the user according to the login account, the password and the input face image. |
| US08983136B2 |
Traffic sign detecting method and traffic sign detecting device
Disclosed are a method and a device for detecting traffic signs in an input image camera. The method comprises a color space converting step of converting the input image into a HSV color space image; a filtering step of filtering, based on a predetermined pass range of a standard color of each of the traffic signs, the HSV color space image to obtain a filtered image, and then generating one or more connected domains based on one or more regions in the filtered image; a removing step of removing, based on a standard rule of the corresponding traffic sign, at least one of the generated connected domains, not being the corresponding traffic sign, and letting others of the generated connected domains be candidate traffic sign domains; and a recognition step of recognizing, based on a feature of each of the candidate traffic sign domains, the corresponding traffic sign. |
| US08983135B2 |
System and method for controlling vehicle equipment responsive to a multi-stage village detection
A system for controlling equipment of a vehicle is provided. The system is configured to image a scene external and forward of the controlled vehicle and to generate image data corresponding to acquired images including a controller for receiving and analyzing the image data and for generating a control signal in response to analysis of the image data and in response to a selected mode of operation. The controller analyzes the data in order to detect at least one characteristic in the image data and selects a mode of operation from at least one of the following modes of operation: the controller selects a dark village mode if at least one characteristic reaches a first threshold, a bright village mode if at least one characteristic reaches a second threshold, and a non-village mode if the controller is not operating in either the dark village mode or the bright village mode. |
| US08983130B2 |
Positioning information forming device, detection device, and positioning information forming method
Provided is a positioning information forming device which improves object detection accuracy. This device comprises a synthesis unit (103) which synthesizes camera distance map information and radar distance map information and generates “synthesized map information”. This synthesized map information is used for object detection processing by a detection device (200). In this way it is possible to improve object detection accuracy by being able to detect objects based on information in which the camera distance map information and radar distance map information have been synthesized. In other words, by synthesizing the camera distance map information and radar distance map information, it is possible to remove unnecessary noise due to reflection from the ground and walls, etc. and therefore set object detection thresholds to low values. It is therefore possible to detect even objects the detection of which was judged to be impossible in the past. |
| US08983124B2 |
Moving body positioning device
A moving body positioning device includes a sensor group that outputs a motion velocity vector of a moving body, a motion velocity vector estimation processing device that measures a motion velocity vector and outputs an output sequence of the motion velocity vector together with a measured time, a monitoring camera, an image analysis processing device that analyzes the image of the monitoring camera to measure a position of feet of the moving body measures a motion velocity vector at the position of the feet, and outputs an output sequence of the motion velocity vector with a measured time, and a motion velocity vector collation processing device that collates the output sequence of the motion velocity vector estimation processing device with the output sequence of the image analysis processing device and outputs its collation result as a TRUE or a FALSE signal. |
| US08983119B2 |
Method for voice command activation, multi-media capture, transmission, speech conversion, metatags creation, storage and search retrieval
This invention relates to a network interface device a first capture device interfacing with a first external information source to capturing first external information. A processor processes the captured first external information and storing it in a first media, the processor initiating the storage of the first captured information at an initial time and completes storage of the first captured information at a completion time, thus providing a stored defined set of first captured information. A transmitter transmits the defined set of stored captured information to a remote location on a network after the completion time. A remote processing system is disposed at the remote node on the network and includes a database and a receiver for receiving the transmitted defined set of first captured information from the transmitter associated with the network interface device as a received defined set of first captured information. A data converter is operable to convert the received defined set of first captured information to a second format as a set of converted first captured information, the second format different than the first media format, the second format being a searchable format. The database then stores the set of converted captured information. |
| US08983116B1 |
Advanced watermarking system and method
A method, computer program product, and computing device for obtaining an uncompressed digital media data file. One or more default watermarks is inserted into the uncompressed digital media data file to form a watermarked uncompressed digital media data file. The watermarked uncompressed digital media data file is compressed to form a first watermarked compressed digital media data file. The first watermarked compressed media data file is stored on a storage device. The first watermarked compressed media data file is retrieved from the storage device. The first watermarked compressed digital media data file is modified to associate the first watermarked compressed digital media data file with a transaction identifier to form a second watermarked compressed digital media data file. |
| US08983115B2 |
Detecting alteration of an image based on pattern information of color filter array
A CFA pattern is extracted from captured image data for each first unit region. A first altered region is detected from disturbance of the periodicity of the CFA pattern, and the first altered region is an image region in which copying has been performed from image data different from the captured image data to the captured image data. The feature amount of the captured image data is extracted for each second unit region different in size from the first unit region. The feature amounts are compared for each second unit region to detect a second altered region, and the second altered region is an image region in which copying has been performed from the captured image data to the captured image data. Information concerning the first and second altered regions are output as alteration detection results in the captured image data. |
| US08983109B2 |
Wireless ear-hook headset, flexible tube structure thereof, and method for manufacturing the flexible tube structure
A wireless ear-hook headset includes a flexible tube, a receiver and a transceiver. The flexible tube has a cable, a first fixing binder fixed on one end of the cable, a second fixing binder fixed on the other end of the cable, and an outer layer. The cable has at least one shapeable metallic wire, a plurality of signal wires and an insulating cover layer. The outer layer has two ends which are fixedly connected with the first and second fixing binders respectively and fully covering the cable. The receiver is connected to the first fixing binder of the flexible tube. The transceiver is connected to the second fixing binder of the flexible tube. The present invention also discloses the flexible tube structure and a method for manufacturing the flexible tube. |
| US08983107B2 |
Silicon based capacitive microphone
A silicon based capacitive microphone includes a printed circuit board, a shell mounted on the printed circuit board and forming a receiving space together with the printed board, a chamber support located on top of the printed circuit board and received in the receiving space, a transducer unit and a controlling chip respectively mounted on the chamber support, wherein the chamber support forms a first chamber together with the printed board, the chamber support includes an opening, the transducer unit is provided with a second chamber and covers the opening, the second chamber communicates with the first chamber via the opening. |
| US08983105B2 |
Microphone
A microphone is disclosed in which a housing is formed by a cap (13) sealed to a substrate (11). A MEMS die (10) is mounted on the substrate (11), the MEMS die (10) incorporating a membrane (12). The membrane (12) has a first surface facing the substrate and in fluid communication with an acoustic inlet port (14) in the cap (13) via an acoustic path (17) and a second surface facing the inner surface of the cap, which second surface along with part of the inner surface of the cap (13) defines at least part of a sealed chamber (19) within which a volume of air is trapped. |
| US08983103B2 |
Earpiece with hollow elongated member having a nonlinear portion
An earpiece may be used to detect sounds from an ear canal of a user. The earpiece may include a microphone assembly and an acoustic pathway that is at least partially defined by a hollow elongated member having a nonlinear portion following a spiraled path. The acoustic pathway fluidly couples the microphone assembly with an ear canal of the user when the earpiece is positioned with respect to the ear of the user. Sounds produced by the user travel from the ear canal through the acoustic pathway for detection by the microphone assembly. Also, the hollow elongated member behaves as an acoustic waveguide to amplify a desired frequency and/or attenuate other, less desirable, frequencies of the sounds produced by the user. |
| US08983101B2 |
Earphone assembly
An earphone assembly for an in-ear listening device and method for filtering a portion of an audible sound output are disclosed. An earphone comprises a housing configured to receive a nozzle, a plurality of drivers each having an acoustical output disposed within the housing, and an elongated passageway disposed within the housing configured to filter at least an audible portion of a sound wave output from at least one of the plurality of drivers. The method comprises providing an elongated passageway to provide an increased path length and connecting an output of the at least one driver to the elongated passageway to configure the sound output to be received within the elongated passageway to acoustically filter a portion of the sound output from the at least one driver. |
| US08983099B2 |
Electrostatic loudspeaker
An electrostatic loudspeaker includes: a first electrode having acoustic transmission property; a second electrode having acoustic transmission property, and disposed so as to be opposed to the first electrode; a vibrating member having conductibility, and disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; a first elastic member having elasticity, insulation property, and acoustic transmission property, and disposed between the vibrating member and the first electrode; a second elastic member having elasticity, insulation property, and acoustic transmission property, and disposed between the vibrating member and the second electrode; and a first separation member having insulation property and acoustic transmission property, and disposed on an opposite side of a face of the first electrode, which is opposed to the first elastic member. |
| US08983098B2 |
Substantially planate parametric emitter and associated methods
A parametric speaker comprises a generally planate radiating element, suitable for radiating ultrasonic vibrations into a fluid medium, and an emitter, having an ultrasonic output and/or resonant frequency, the emitter being intimately coupled to the radiating element. The radiating element is physically configured to have a mechanical resonance that substantially matches the output and/or resonant frequency of the emitter. |
| US08983096B2 |
Bone-conduction pickup transducer for microphonic applications
A personal audio device has a bone conduction pickup transducer, having a housing of which a rigid outer wall has an opening formed therein. A volume of yielding material fills the opening in the rigid outer wall. An electronic vibration sensing element is embedded in the volume of yielding material. The housing is shaped, and the opening is located, so that the volume of yielding material comes into contact with an ear or cheek of a user who is using the personal audio device. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. |
| US08983089B1 |
Sound source localization using multiple microphone arrays
An augmented reality environment allows interaction between virtual and real objects. Multiple microphone arrays of different physical sizes are used to acquire signals for spatial tracking of one or more sound sources within the environment. A first array with a larger size may be used to track an object beyond a threshold distance, while a second array having a size smaller than the first may be used to track the object up to the threshold distance. By selecting different sized arrays, accuracy of the spatial location is improved. |
| US08983085B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing noise pumping due to noise suppression and echo control interaction
An input signal is processed through noise suppression (NS) and echo control (EC) via a multipath model that reduces noise pumping effects while maintaining EC performance. A copy of a “noisy” input signal is sent to an EC component before the noisy signal is sent to a NS component, which processes the signal first, when there is a consistent noise level for estimation. The copy of the pre-processing noisy signal is sent to the EC component along with a “clean” or “noise-suppressed” signal output from the NS component. The EC component analyzes the noisy signal as if the EC was the first component in the signal chain to determine what actions to take. The EC component then applies these actions to the clean signal received from the NS component. |
| US08983084B2 |
Modular wireless auditory test instrument with intelligent transducers
A method and apparatus for performing various auditory tests utilizing a hand-held, portable, wireless testing device is provided. Within the device is a diagnostic subsystem used to implement and analyze selected tests. Attached to the device, either directly or via a flexible cable, are one or more probes. A processor, storage means, input means and display means are included, thus allowing the device to process and store instructions as well as process, store and display data. A wireless networking subsystem is included, enabling the device to communicate with other, similarly enabled, systems and devices within the device's communication range. Due to the inclusion of the wireless networking subsystem, the device can be configured to allow the user to transmit and/or print data, connect to a network, obtain device configuration updates, and send and receive patient and office updates. |
| US08983083B2 |
Electronic device and headset with speaker seal evaluation capabilities
Electronic devices and accessories for electronic devices such as headsets are provided. The electronic devices may produce audio output. The headsets may include earbuds with speakers that play the audio output for a user while the earbuds are located in the user's ears. Circuitry in an electronic device and a headset may be used in evaluating how well the earbuds are sealed to the user's ears. In response to seal quality measurements, informative messages can be generated for the user, overall earbud volume may be increased, balance adjustments may be made to correct for mismatched balance between left and right earbuds, equalization settings may be adjusted, and noise cancellation circuitry settings can be changed. Electrical impedance measurements and acoustic measurements can be used in evaluating seal quality. |
| US08983082B2 |
Detecting musical structures
Among other things, techniques and systems are disclosed for detecting musical structures, such as downbeats. In one aspect, a method performed by a data processing device includes receiving an input audio signal. The method includes detecting a meter in the received audio signal. Detecting the meter includes generating an envelope of the received audio signal; generating an autocorrelation phase matrix having a two-dimensional array based on the generated envelope to identify a dominant periodicity in the received audio signal; and filtering both dimensions of the generated autocorrelation phase matrix to enhance peaks in the two-dimensional array. The meter represents a time signature of the input audio signal having multiple beats. Additionally, the method includes identifying a downbeat as a first beat in the detected meter. |
| US08983080B2 |
Method and system for temperature protection of a speaker
For protecting a speaker, an input signal is received and filtered into component signals. A sum of the component signals is approximately equal to the input signal. The component signals include at least first and second component signals. A perceived loudness to a human from the speaker is more sensitive to the first component signal than to the second component signal. A temperature of the speaker is estimated. In response to the estimated temperature, the second component signal is scaled. An output signal is output to the speaker in response to the first component signal and the scaled second component signal. |
| US08983079B2 |
Stereo microphone
A stereo microphone has four condenser microphone units having respective directional axes in the same horizontal plane. The four units each have unidirectivity and a quadrangular shape viewed from the direction of the directional axis. The units are disposed by rotating the directional axes of adjacent units by 90°. A pair of two units diagonally positioned and having the directional axes directed at 180° to each other collaborate with each other to form a pair of bidirectional microphone units. |
| US08983077B2 |
Media storage, media reader and method for reading contents of the media storage in the media reader
A media storage device may store content adapted to be inserted in a media reader for reading the content. The content may be encrypted, and the media storage may include a smart object physically attached to the media storage and arranged to be read by a smart object reader of the media reader. The smart object may include security information for decrypting the content in the smart object reader. |
| US08983074B2 |
Input content data managing system and method of managing input content data
An input content data managing system, includes a first electronic storing apparatus that stores encoded content data generated by encoding content data with a cryptographic key; a electronic second storing apparatus that stores the cryptographic key with corresponding digest-value data of the encoded content data capable of identifying sameness of the encoded content data; a matching unit that determines a matched cryptographic key stored in the second storing apparatus for the encoded content data stored in the first storing apparatus, the matching using, as a matching key, at a predetermined time, digest-value data of the encoded content data obtained from the encoded content data stored in the first storing apparatus to match with the digest-value data of the encoded content data stored in the second storing apparatus, in order to obtain the content data by decoding the encoded content data using the matched cryptographic key. |
| US08983069B2 |
System and method for counter mode encrypted communication with reduced bandwidth
In a counter mode encryption scheme, a sending device sends a first message including first cipher text and a first counter used to generate the first cipher text to a receiving device for decryption. The sending device subsequently generates a second counter for generating second cipher text. The sending device sends a second message including the second cipher text and intermediate state data corresponding to a change between the first counter second counter to the receiving device for decryption. The intermediate state data are represented by a smaller number of bits than the first counter. The method enables improved counter mode encrypted communication in networks that lose one or more intermediate messages between the first message and the second message. |
| US08983068B2 |
Masked nonlinear feedback shift register
An NLFSR of length k, configured to output a sequence of masked values x′i=xi+mi according to a masked recurrence x′n+k=f(x′n, . . . , x′n+k−1), the NLFSR including a nonlinear feedback function configured to compute f(x′n, . . . , x′n+k−1) so as to obtain a feedback value, a correction function configured to compute (mn, . . . , nn+k−1)+mn+k+h(mn, mn+k−1, xn, . . . , xn+k−1) to obtain a correction value c, and a corrector configured to correct the feedback value {circumflex over (x)}′n+k using the correction value c to obtain a corrected feedback value which forms x′n+k. |
| US08983066B2 |
Private pairwise key management for groups
In an example embodiment, a key generation system (KGS) is used to generate private pairwise keys between peers belonging to a group. Each member of the group is provisioned with a set of parameters which allows each member to generate a key with any other member of the group; however, no group member can derive a key for pairings involving other group members. The private pairwise keys may be used to derive session keys between peers belonging to the group. Optionally, an epoch value may be employed to derive the private pairwise keys. |
| US08983065B2 |
Method and apparatus for security in a data processing system
Method and apparatus for secure transmissions. Each user is provided a registration key. A long-time updated broadcast key is encrypted using the registration key and provided periodically to a user. A short-time updated key is encrypted using the broadcast key. The short-time key is available with each broadcast message, wherein sufficient information to calculate the short-time key is provided in an Internet protocol header preceding the broadcast content. Broadcasts are then encrypted using the short-time key, wherein the user decrypts the broadcast message using the short-time key. |
| US08983064B2 |
Strengthened public key protocol
A method of determining the integrity of a message exchanged between a pair of correspondents. The message is secured by embodying the message in a function of a public key derived from a private key selected by one of the correspondents. The method comprises first obtaining the public key. The public key is then subjected to at least one mathematical test to determine whether the public key satisfies predefined mathematical characteristics. Messages utilizing the public key are accepted if the public key satisfies the predefined mathematical characteristics. |
| US08983062B2 |
Encryption processing device, encryption processing method, and programme
A cryptographic processing unit divides and inputs constituent bits of data to be subjected to data processing to lines, and repeatedly performs a data converting operation using round functions on the data of the respective lines. The cryptographic processing unit inputs n/d-bit data obtained by dividing n-bit data as input data by a division number d to each line, and repeatedly performs a round calculation including a data converting operation using round functions. The n/d-bit data in each line having output data of the round calculations is divided into d/2 sets of data, and the divided data are combined to restructure d sets of n/d-bit data that are different from the output data of the round calculations of the previous stage. The restructured data is set as input data for round calculations of the next stage. The cryptographic processing realizes improved diffusion properties and a high level of security. |
| US08983061B2 |
Method and apparatus for cryptographically processing data
A method and apparatus cryptographically process data including a plurality of data segments. The cryptographic process includes (a) receiving a plurality of data segments, (b) selecting, for each data segment, a set of encryption information based on data contained in a predetermined portion of the data segment to be encrypted, and (c) encrypting each data segment using the set of encryption information selected for the data segment. At least one of an encryption algorithm, an encryption key, and an encryption parameter may be changed for each data segment based on the data contained in the predetermined portion. The predetermined portion may include a first predetermined portion for selecting a first set of encryption information, and a second predetermined portion for selecting a second set of encryption information, the encryption information including an encryption algorithm, an encryption key, and optionally an encryption parameter. |
| US08983060B2 |
Dynamic target margin adaptation for DSL transmission lines
A method and arrangement is proposed for adaptively generating a target noise margin for use on a DSL transmission line. The method includes determining a first quantity representing a current noise power on the line using line parameter data relating to the transmission performance of the line, determining a second quantity representing a worst-case noise power on said line using previously obtained values of the line parameter data, calculating the difference between the first and second quantities to generate a difference value, setting a target noise margin as at least equal to said difference value, and providing the target noise margin for use on the line upon initialisation of the line. In a preferred embodiment, the line parameter data is the bit loading on the line and the first and second quantities are values of the average signal-to-noise ratio on the line derived from the bit loading data. |
| US08983057B1 |
Step size control for acoustic echo cancellation
A step size controller may be used to control the rate of adaptation in an acoustic echo canceller. Step size control based on the values of adaptive coefficients (rather than, e.g., a fixed initial adaptation period) provides improved reliability and resistance to disruption. Accordingly, features are disclosed for controlling step size based on the values of adaptive coefficients. |
| US08983056B2 |
Communication system and call connecting method thereof
A communication system determining a virtual number of a receiver's terminal included in a call connecting request signal when a caller's terminal makes a call connection request to the receiver's terminal and providing a ring back tone or a sound message corresponding to the virtual number, and a method thereof are disclosed. |
| US08983055B1 |
Quality review of contacts between customers and customer service agents
A user of a personal computing device may identify an item of interest provided by a network-based service for which additional information is desired. Customer service agents (CSAs) of the network-based service may be contacted by the user to respond to queries. To assess the quality of a contact, a contact review service may record the contact between the CSA and the user and edit the contact to reduce its length for ease of review. The edited contact may be submitted to one or more reviewers to obtain reviews characterizing the contact quality. Reviewers may include CSAs not participating in the contact or other human reviewers. The reviewers may return their reviews to the contact review service, which generates a composite review from the returned reviews. The composite review may be employed for CSA evaluation and/or training purposes, amongst others. |
| US08983054B2 |
Method and system for automatically routing a telephonic communication
A method for automatically routing a telephonic communication to at least one of a plurality of communication destination addresses is provided. The method is implemented by a computer readable medium having a plurality of code segments. The method comprises the step of receiving customer identifier and communicating with a customer history database configured to store historic data. The method also includes determining whether the received customer identifier corresponds to a stored customer identifier in the customer history database. Historic data corresponding to the stored customer number is identified based on the comparison of the received customer identifier and the stored customer identifier. The telephonic communication is associated with a predetermined communication destination based on the identified historic data. The associated communication data is transmitted to a switching signal. |
| US08983053B2 |
Customer service controller
Information about a caller is provided to an agent, such as a customer service operator in a customer service call center. In one embodiment, the agent may receive detailed account and/or personal information about the caller before being connected to the actual or live call. For example, the agent receives information from a customer database regarding a customer profile and information from an order database regarding order or transaction information. The customer database and the order database are external to the call center. The agent may modify the customer profile and/or the order or transaction information. The customer database and order database are update accordingly and the information may be transferred along with the call to another agent. |
| US08983052B2 |
Method and apparatus for communication having critically assured services
A critical assured service that includes a network management system and an A/B switch. The A/B switch having at least four ports with a first port being connected to the network management system over a dedicated line. The A/B switch sending and receiving messages and/or signals from the network management system over the first dedicated line. The A/B switch automatically switching telephone service from a first point of presence to a second point of presence after the A/B is signaled that the first point of service is inoperable. |
| US08983050B2 |
Handling of forwarded calls
This invention presents a service of barring the forwarded calls. According to the invention, a subscriber may define in his subscriber information that all calls forwarded to him are to be rejected. In response to receiving a request for establishing a call to a subscriber, his subscriber information is checked to find out if he has defined that calls forwarded to him are to be rejected. If the subscriber information shows that the subscriber wishes to reject the forwarded incoming calls, the call establishment signaling is studied to find out if the call has been forwarded. If the call is determined to have been forwarded, the call is rejected. In a preferred embodiment the subscriber may define a set of allowed numbers from which even the forwarded calls are to be accepted. |
| US08983049B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling a user device in a telecommunication network
A method of controlling a user device in a telecommunications network having a first part and a second, different part is provided. The method includes, at the user device, receiving a first communication session setup request to set up a given communication session, the first communication session setup request being directed to a first communication interface, receiving a communication notification in relation to the same given communication session, the communication notification being directed to a second communication interface, establishing the given communication session via the first communication interface via the first part of the telecommunications network, and after having established the given communication session via the first communication interface, activating an alert function to alert a user of the user device to the availability of the second communication interface at least on the basis of having received the communication availability notification. |
| US08983046B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing end-to-end call completion status
The present invention enables a method for following the state of a call and generating defects as function of call completion success as opposed to discrete events that happen at individual network elements during the call. In one embodiment, the invention uses Call Detail Records (CDR) to analyze the end-to-end completion status to measure per call basis defects instead of using defect codes generated by network elements on a per equipment basis. CDR is data associated with a telephone call, including the calling and the called numbers, the date and timestamp, the duration, the call setup delay, and the final handling code of the telephone call. |
| US08983045B1 |
Managing vendor credits during load balancing
A computer-implemented method of using vendor credits to achieve load balancing in a communications network is described. Network traffic operating under a first carrier of the communications network is monitored. Initial load balancing triggers are set, by which network traffic of the first carrier is offloaded to a second carrier. It is determined whether the initial load balancing triggers have been met. It is also determined whether a vendor credit of the first carrier is available when the initial load balancing triggers have been met. One or more devices of the first carrier are offloaded to the second carrier when a vendor credit of the first carrier is available. |
| US08983041B2 |
Conserving call logic during handoff
Conserving call logic during handoff may be provided. First, a call may be received at a first server. Next, the first server may determine that it cannot handle the call. Then the call may be transferred by the first server to a second server with enough information so that the second server can take up the call where the first server left off. Transferring the call to the second server with enough information so that the second server can take the call up where the first server left off may comprise placing the information in a REFERRED-BY header and sending the REFERRED-BY header to the second server. |
| US08983040B2 |
Method and device for consulting a voice message
A method for consulting a voice message received and a method for providing a compounded voice message. The compounded voice message is composed of at least one first and one second voice component and is associated with a group of items of information relating to the voice components. The method for consultation includes reading at least one voice component of the voice message, detecting at least one user interaction concomitant upon the reading of the at least one voice component, sending at least one signal relating to the interaction detected, and receiving a command of an action to be performed relating to a voice component read from the voice message and to at least one item of information of the group of items of information associated with the voice message. Also provided is a device implementing the method for consulting a compounded voice message. |
| US08983038B1 |
Method and apparatus of processing caller responses
Disclosed is a method, apparatus, system and non-transitory computer program product configured to process user call responses and assign caller specific preferences to the user based on the caller's feedback. One example method of processing spoken words from a user of a calling platform may include operations, such as calling a user via a call processing device, and sending a call prompt message to the user after the user has answered the call, the call prompt message soliciting a user response. The user may respond and the response is received as a spoken call greeting from the user in response to the call prompt message. Other operations may include recording the spoken call greeting, and determining whether the spoken call greeting is indicative of a language preference. The system may process the user's word or utterances and assign language preferences to the user based on the user provided information. |
| US08983035B2 |
Radiographic image detector and controlling method therefor
A flat panel detector has pixels for obtaining image signals and detective pixels for detecting the amount of incident x-rays. A signal processing circuit is of a pipeline-type, wherein first and second buffer memories are connected to the output of an A/D converter. In a dose detecting operation, the signal processing circuit repeats primary cycles alternately with secondary cycles of a shorter length than the primary cycles. In the primary cycle, a dose detection signal based on electric charges from the detective pixels is input in the first buffer memory and, simultaneously, a dummy signal is output from the second buffer memory. In secondary cycle, the dose detection signal is output from the first buffer memory and, simultaneously, a second dummy signal is input in the second buffer memory. On the basis of the dose detection signals, a start-of-radiation detector detects the start of x-ray radiation. |
| US08983031B2 |
Irradiation planning and irradiation for a quasi-cyclically moving target volume
A method for irradiation planning for a quasi-cyclically moving target volume includes defining a first movement phase within a movement period of the target volume and carrying out a first irradiation planning using a first position of the target volume during the first movement phase. The method also includes defining a second movement phase within the movement period of the target volume, and carrying out a second irradiation planning for the second movement phase using a second position of the target volume during the second movement phase. An apportionment of a total dose to be applied is provided to a first partial dose that is allocated to the first movement phase and to a second partial dose that is allocated to the second movement phase. |
| US08983029B2 |
Radiographic apparatus and method for the same
An apparatus, system, and method corrects line deficiency in radiographic systems. A Fourier transform element provides a one-dimensional Fourier transform on a line orthogonal to a line of a moire patterns appearing in an X-ray image during a use. A peak frequency detection element detects the peak frequency indicating the spatial frequency of the moire pattern on the basis of the results of one-dimensional Fourier transform. The detected peak frequency is transformed to a number of pixels in 1 cycle of the moire pattern by a pixel cycle conversion element. The line deficiency correction element obtains pixels of the same phase as the line deficiency pixel in the moire pattern from the number of pixels, and then corrects the line deficiency pixel by using the pixel value thereof. Since the number of pixels in 1-cycle is acquired from the moire pattern in the X-ray image, the line deficiency can be corrected. |
| US08983028B2 |
Density profile measurement by detecting backscattered radiation with position-sensitive detector
A method for measuring a density profile of a fluid in a process vessel is disclosed. The method includes emitting gamma rays into the fluid and acquiring a backscattered gamma ray counts distribution using at least one position sensitive gamma ray detector disposed proximate the vessel. The method further includes determining the density profile of the fluid contained in the process vessel based on the backscattered gamma ray counts distribution. |
| US08983026B2 |
X-ray CT system
An X-ray tube and an X-ray detector are arranged opposing one another. X-rays are irradiated from the X-ray tube by revolving around the subject. An X-ray image is obtained based on the X-rays that penetrate the subject and are detected by the X-ray detector. The high voltage generator has an inverter that supplies a voltage to the X-ray tube by switching to a predetermined operating frequency during revolution of the X-ray tube. Regarding the frequency adjustable part, the operating frequency of the inverter is adjustable such that it is a multiple of the collection rate, which is the number of X-ray images obtained per one revolution of the X-ray tube. The timing generator may adjust the voltage supplied to the X-ray tube at a timing synchronized with the operating frequency of the inverter. |
| US08983023B2 |
Digital self-gated binary counter
An n-bit counter is formed from cascading counter sub-modules. The counter includes combinatorial control logic coupled to a lower order counter sub-module. The control logic is arranged to clock gate at least one higher order counter sub-module dependent on a logical combination of outputs of the lower order counter sub-module and where the control logic uses pipelining to store at least one previous control logic output for use in determining a later control logic output. |
| US08983021B2 |
Reset circuit for gate driver on array, array substrate, and display
A reset circuit for Gate Driver on Array, an array substrate and a display is used for increasing reliability and long-term stability of a GOA circuit and thus improving performance of the GOA circuit. The GOA reset circuit includes a first electronic switch circuit (301) connected to an input terminal of a GOA unit of the Gate Driver on Array (INPUT); and a second electronic switch circuit connected to an output terminal of the GOA unit (OUTPUT), wherein the first electronic switch circuit (301) is connected to a low level signal terminal and is switched on to connect the low level signal terminal to a reset terminal of the GOA unit (RESET) when the input terminal of the GOA unit (INPUT) is at a high level; and the second electronic switch circuit (302) is connected to a high level signal terminal and is switched on to connect the high level signal terminal to the reset terminal of the GOA unit (RESET) when the output terminal of the GOA unit (OUTPUT) is at a high level. |
| US08983020B2 |
Shift register circuit and driving method thereof
A shift register circuit includes a first shift register string and a second shift register string. The first shift register string is configured to receive a first start signal and output a first-stage control signal. The second shift register string, electrically connected to the first shift register string, is configured to receive the first-stage control signal and a second start signal and output the first pulse of a first-stage scan signal according to the first-stage control signal and the second start signal and consequently output the second pulse of the first-stage scan signal according to the second start signal; wherein the first and second pulses are configured to have different pulse widths. A driving method of a shift register circuit is also provided. |
| US08983015B2 |
Synchronization distribution in microwave backhaul networks
In some embodiments, a system comprises a clock, a root node, a radio channel network, and first and second child nodes. The clock may be configured to generate a clock signal. The root node may be configured to generate a first frame including a first payload and a first overhead and generate a second frame including a second payload and a second overhead. The first and second overheads may comprise a synchronization value based on the clock signal. The radio channel network may be in communication with the root node for transmitting the first and second frames. Each first and second child nodes may be configured to perform clock recovery including frequency synchronization using the synchronization value and a respective phase-lock loop. |
| US08983012B2 |
Receive timing manager
A novel receive timing manager is presented. The preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an edge detection logic to detect the data transition points, a plurality of data flip-flops for storing data at different sample points, and a multiplexer to select the ideal sample point based on the transition points found. A sample window is made with multiple samples. The sample window size can be designed smaller or greater than the system clock period based on the data transfer speed and accuracy requirement. |
| US08983008B2 |
Methods and apparatus for tail termination of turbo decoding
Methods and apparatus for trellis termination of a turbo decoder are disclosed which simplifies the hardware implementation. As a given example, backward state metrics, which is required to be calculated with forward state metric as part of a constitute decoding, are initialized with pre-calculated values based on input bits. |
| US08983004B2 |
Blind carrier tracking loop
A receiver is an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee)-receiver and comprises a phase lock loop (PLL) for performing carrier tracking of a carrier in a received signal. The PLL includes a detector (160) comprising two pseudo-Hilbert filters (205, 215). The detector uses energy from both band edges of the received ATSC signal for driving the PLL. |
| US08983003B2 |
Method and system for adaptively identifying signal bandwidth
The present invention discloses a method and system for adaptively identifying signal bandwidth. The method includes: performing digitizing intermediate frequency processing to the received signal and outputting in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) signals; identifying signal bandwidth of the I/Q signals according to at least two signal identification templates and outputting the synchronized signal flows after a successful identification. A system for adaptively identifying signal bandwidth is also disclosed. The present invention can be compatible with at least two bandwidth modes, and the software can automatically perform identification and switch of the modulation bandwidth, when manual invention is not necessary and the operation is simple. |
| US08983002B2 |
Systems and methods for establishing transmission format parameters between communication devices
Systems and methods for establishing transmission format parameters between communication devices are provided. In some aspects, a method includes identifying, by a first base station, a first communication session with a first user equipment. A master set of transmission format parameters is shared between the first base station and the first user equipment. The method also includes assigning a first subset of the master set of transmission format parameters to the first communication session. The first subset is specifically assigned to the first communication session and specifies which of the master set of transmission format parameters is allocated for use in the first communication session. The method also includes transmitting an indicator of the first subset to the first user equipment. |
| US08983000B2 |
Receiver circuit and method for operating a receiver circuit
A receiver circuit includes a unit configured to determine filter coefficients based on a sampling time error of a received signal and a phase error of the received signal, as well as a filter configured to filter a signal, which is based on the received signal, based on the filter coefficients. |
| US08982999B2 |
Jitter tolerant receiver
An embodiment of the invention includes a receiver with reduced error terms and incoming jitter tracking that improves jitter tolerance. An embodiment provides these benefits based on a voltage integrator that recovers data and clock information from incoming signals without use of a PLL, PI, CDR, and the like. An embodiment provides these benefits based on a time integrator that recovers, using digital logic, data and clock information from incoming signals without use of a PLL, PI, CDR, and the like. Other embodiments are described herein. |
| US08982995B1 |
Communication device and method of multipath compensation for digital predistortion linearization
A method of multipath compensation for digital pre-distortion (DPD) linearization suppresses linear distortion caused by reflected signals and distortion in transmitting and receiving paths. Reflection suppression suppresses effects of the linear distortion on the transmitting and receiving paths. |
| US08982992B2 |
Block-based crest factor reduction (CFR)
Block-based crest factor reduction (CFR) techniques are provided. An exemplary block-based crest factor reduction method comprises obtaining a block of data samples comprised of a plurality of samples; applying the block of data to a crest factor reduction block; and providing a processed block of data from the crest factor reduction block. The block-based crest factor reduction method can optionally be iteratively performed a plurality of times for the block of data. The block of data samples can comprise an expanded block having at least one cursor block. For example, at least two pre-cursor blocks and one post-cursor block can be employed. The peaks can be cancelled, for example, only in the block of data samples and in a first of the pre-cursor blocks. |
| US08982991B2 |
Digital pre-distortion method and apparatus thereof for changing memory degree depending on input level
An apparatus and a method for operating a memory compensation Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) are provided. In the method for operating a memory compensation DPD system, an input signal is received. An input average power of the input signal is determined. When the input average power of the input signal belongs to a non-linear section of the input average power, DPD is performed on a previous signal corresponding to a memory degree set depending on at least one non-linear section of the input average power. |
| US08982988B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving signal of OFDM system
A method and apparatus for transmitting an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal including converting a distribution of a signal in which inverse Fourier transform is performed in an OFDM system and a method of receiving an OFDM signal including expanding a received signal are provided, and by changing a magnitude distribution of a signal that is output from an OFDM modulator to a bimodal Gaussian distribution, an influence of noise in a receiving terminal can be reduced, and by limiting a signal that is output from an OFDM modulator to an appropriate magnitude, a phase in the receiving terminal can be prevented being wrongly demodulated. |
| US08982984B2 |
Dynamic filter adjustment for highly-spectrally-efficient communications
A method and system for dynamic configuring of one or both of a transmitter pulse-shaping filter and a receiver pulse-shaping filter to generate a total partial response that incorporates a predetermined amount of inter-symbol interference (ISI). The predetermined amount of ISI is determined based on an estimation process during extraction of data from an output of the receiver pulse-shaping filter, such that performance of total partial-response-based communication matches or surpasses performance of communication incorporating filtering based on no or near-zero ISI. The reconfiguring may comprise obtaining data relating to changes affecting one or more of: the pulse-shaping filtering, and a channel and/or an interface used in the communication of data based on the total partial response, and adjusting the filter configuration, such as by determining a new optimized filtering configuration or changes to existing configurations (e.g., by applying a filtering optimization process). |
| US08982982B2 |
Joint carrier recovery for MIMO systems
The invention relates to a method for carrier recovery of an equalized communications signal in a multiple-input multiple-output communications system. The method is comprised of the steps generating a phase rotation estimate from the equalized communications signal and a demodulated signal estimate of the equalized communications signal, and adjusting at least one of the phase and frequency of the equalized communications signal based on the phase rotation estimate. The step of generating the phase rotation estimate further comprising using a model based filter with the equalized communications signal as input signal to the model based filter and the demodulated signal estimate as a measurement to the model based filter. |
| US08982975B2 |
Method for signal estimation and compensation and apparatus using the same
A method for signal estimation and compensation and an apparatus using the same, adapted for estimating and compensating an imbalance effect between an in-phase path and a quadrature path of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) communication system are provided. The method includes the following steps: receiving a signal, and using a plurality of symbols in a plurality of time frame to generate a plurality of balance coefficient groups, wherein every balance coefficient group includes a plurality of balance coefficient candidates; deriving a balance coefficient according to the balance coefficient set; and compensating the signal according to the balance coefficient. |
| US08982970B2 |
Tone count selection
In a device or system, a total tone count is determined or selected for modulating a data payload. Two or more code words are interleaved into the data payload, and the data payload is transmitted on a channel of the device or system. |
| US08982964B2 |
Image decoding device, image coding device, methods thereof, programs thereof, integrated circuits thereof, and transcoding device
An image decoding device which increases decoding efficiency and can be easily implemented includes: a division unit dividing coded image data into first and second coded image data; a frame storage unit; first and second decoding units decoding, in parallel, the first and second coded image data; and an information storage unit. The first decoding unit decodes the first coded image data using second decoding result information stored in the information storage unit and stores, as first decoding result information, a part of information generated by the decoding into the information storage unit. The second decoding unit decodes the second coded image data using the first decoding result information stored in the information storage unit and stores, as the second decoding result information, a part of information generated by the decoding into the information storage unit. |
| US08982956B2 |
Picture coding device, picture coding method, picture coding program, picture decoding device, picture decoding method, and picture decoding program
In a first inter-image prediction mode in which information on a motion vector is used, a first mode detection unit constructs a first candidate list from a plurality of reference block candidates based on a first predetermined order, assigns indices for designating reference block candidates added in the first candidate list, and outputs the indices of the plurality of reference candidate blocks. In a second inter-image prediction mode in which is used a motion vector difference between a motion vector predictor based on information on a motion vector, and a motion vector of a coding target block, a second mode detection unit constructs a second candidate list from a plurality of reference block candidates based on a second predetermined order, assigns indices for designating reference block candidates added in the second candidate list, and outputs the indices of the plurality of reference block candidates and motion vector differences. |
| US08982954B2 |
Method of determining motion vectors for bi-predictive image block
In one embodiment, the method includes determining a motion vector of a current image block equal to a motion vector of an image block based on a reference picture index indicating a reference picture for the image block. For example, the motion vector of the current image block may be equal to the motion vector of the image block if the reference picture index indicates a long-term reference picture for the image block. |
| US08982953B2 |
Moving picture coding method, moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding method, moving picture decoding apparatus and moving picture coding and decoding apparatus
By the moving picture coding method and the moving picture decoding method, it is possible to improve coding efficiency. The moving picture coding apparatus includes a merge block candidate calculation unit that (i) specifies merge block candidates at merge mode, by using colpic information such as motion vectors and reference picture index values of neighbor blocks of a current block to be coded and a motion vector and the like of a collocated block of the current block which are stored in a colPic memory, and (ii) generates a combined merge block by using the merge block candidates. |
| US08982952B2 |
Method and system for using motion vector confidence to determine a fine motion estimation patch priority list for a scalable coder
Methods and systems for using motion vector confidence to determine a FME patch priority list for a scalable coder are disclosed, and may include a fine motion estimator receiving a plurality of coarse motion vectors and corresponding confidences. A patch list may be generated based on the corresponding confidences of the coarse motion vectors. The patch list may then be used to determine a search area. Each video block in a present picture may be matched to the video blocks in the search area to find the best match. A fine motion vector may be determined for each video block in the present picture with respect to a video block in the search area. |
| US08982950B1 |
System and method for restoration of dynamic range of images and video
A processing device receives, from an upstream device, a D-dimensional vector data set of media content, wherein D is greater than or equal to one. The processing device applies a low-frequency-pass method to the received D-dimensional media content to generate a low-frequency D-dimensional vector data set of media content. The processing device obtains a structure tensor field comprising a set of D-dimensional structure tensors corresponding to each vector of the received D-dimensional media content. The processing device performs an eigensystem analysis for each structure tensor in the field of structure tensors to generate a plurality of D eigenvalue fields comprising D eigenvalues for each vector of the received D-dimensional media content. The processing device interpolates between each vector of the received D-dimensional media content and a corresponding vector from the low-frequency D-dimensional media content in view of one or more of the D eigenvalues for each vector of the plurality of D eigenvalue fields to produce a restored-dynamic range D-dimensional vector data set of media content. |
| US08982948B2 |
Video system with quantization matrix coding mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a video system includes: generating a quantization matrix for a video input data, the quantization matrix having a corner seed and a right-bottom sub-quad coefficient estimated based on the corner seed; generating a video bitstream based on the quantization matrix; and generating a reconstructed video data with the video bitstream for displaying on a video device. |
| US08982947B2 |
Rate control and video denoising for noisy video data
A method and a computer-readable medium containing computer program for simultaneously performing rate control and video denoising for video corrupted by noise are presented. Video data includes original video data and noise data. A variance of the noise data for each macroblock within a frame is estimated. Based on the estimated noise variance, a low bound quantization parameter is generated. The video data are reconstructed such that the distortion between the original video data and reconstructed video data is minimized over each macroblock within a frame. The minimization of the distortion between the original video and reconstructed video data is implemented using a quantization parameter that is equal to or larger than the low bound quantization parameter. |
| US08982943B2 |
Data processing device and data processing method
A data processor according to the present invention plays back video and audio from a data stream including video data and audio data, each of which is provided with time information representing its presentation time. The processor includes: a stream acquiring section for acquiring a first data stream and a second data stream continuously; an inserting section for inserting boundary-setting dummy data between the data streams; an analyzing section, which detects the dummy data and associates identification information with the video and audio data of each data stream; a control section for controlling the respective output timings of video data and audio data by reference to the time information of the video data and the time information of the audio data that are associated with the same piece of identification information; and an output section. |
| US08982942B2 |
Adaptive codec selection
Disclosed herein are tools and techniques for storing and using video processing tool configuration information that can identify combinations of video processing tools to be used for processing video. In one exemplary embodiment, video processing tools of a computing system are identified. The performance of a combination of the video processing tools is measured. The performance measurement is compared with another performance measurement of another combination of the video processing tools. Based on the comparison, video processing tool configuration information is set. In another exemplary embodiment, video processing tool configuration information indicating a combination of video processing tools is accessed, and video data is processed using the combination of video processing tools based on the video processing tool configuration information. |
| US08982940B2 |
Adaptive equalization method and adaptive equalizer
The present disclosure relates to the field of network communication, and specifically discloses an adaptive equalization method, including: obtaining a first filtered signal according to a first filter coefficient; deciding the first filtered signal based on an original constellation map to obtain a first decision signal, and deciding the first filtered signal based on a level (n−1) constellation map to obtain a level (n−1) pseudo decision signal; if average energy of the level (n−1) error signal is less than a level (n−1) threshold, switching the level (n−1) constellation map to a level n constellation map; obtaining a second filter coefficient according to the update magnitude; obtaining a second filtered signal according to the second filter coefficient; and deciding the second filtered signal based on the original constellation map to obtain a second decision signal. Embodiments of the present disclosure also disclose an adaptive equalizer. |
| US08982937B1 |
Digital system and method of estimating non-energy parameters of signal carrier
Navigation satellite receivers have a large number of channels, where phase discriminators and loop filter of a PLL operate in phase with data bits and control of numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) carried out simultaneously on all channels. Since symbol boundaries for different satellites do not match, there is a variable time delay between the generation of control signals and NCO control time. This delay may be measured by counting a number of samples in the delay interval. A proposed system measures non-energy parameters of the BPSK-signal carrier received in additive mixture with noise when a digital loop filter of PLL controls NCO with a constant or changing in time delay. A control unit controls bandwidth and a LF order by changing transfer coefficients based on analyzing estimated signal parameters and phase tracking error at a PD output. |
| US08982936B2 |
Method and apparatus for simultaneous RF testing of multiple devices in specific frequency bands
A system employing vector signal generator (VSG) and vector signal analyzer (VSA) modules or cards that are configured to test multiple devices under test simultaneously. Each VSG is configured to generate multiple RF test signals and send them to multiple devices under test simultaneously. Similarly, each VSA is configured with multiple signal receiving modules connected to a single controller or memory. Each signal receiving module receives an RF signal from a device under test, converts it to a baseband digital signal, and transmits this digital signal to the VSA's memory. A single RF testing system can employ multiple such VSGs and VSAs, each capable of evaluating multiple devices under test. Each VSG/VSA can further be tuned for operation in discrete or defined frequency bands, which are narrower than those for conventional RF testers, and which can correspond to various wireless standards. |
| US08982932B2 |
Active auxiliary channel buffering
A system and a method for communicating configuration data between a source device and a sink are described. An active buffer receives data from an auxiliary communication channel which communicates data between the source device and the sink device. The active buffer modifies data received from the auxiliary communication channel. For example, the active buffer amplifies the received data or electrically reshapes the received data. The modified data is then transmitted from the active buffer to a destination device. In one embodiment, the auxiliary communication channel is bi-directional and upon receiving data from a first device, the active buffer is modified to permit uni-directional transmission of data from the first device to a second device. |
| US08982927B2 |
Transmitting method, receiving method, transmitter and receiver
D-dimensional vectors that each have D real-valued symbols as elements are converted into D-dimensional rotated vectors that each have D real symbols as elements. The conversion is performed by multiplying each of the D-dimensional vectors by a D×D orthogonal matrix. A complex symbol sequence including NC=NS/2 complex symbols is generated from NS real symbols. The complex symbol sequence is generated such that the distance between any two of the D real symbols of each of the D-dimensional rotated vectors is NC/D complex symbols or NC/D−1 complex symbols, or such that the distance between any two of the D real symbols of each of the D-dimensional rotated vectors, except for part of the D-dimensional rotated vectors, is NC/D complex symbols or NC/D−1 complex symbols. |
| US08982925B2 |
Frequency hopping
A communications node operable to communicate with another communications node over a communications channel having a plurality of frequency resources, the communications node includes data defining a division of the communications channel into a plurality of contiguous sub-bands each having N frequency resources, wherein each frequency resource in a sub-band has a corresponding frequency resource in each of the other sub-bands, data defining an initial allocation of the frequency resources, a resource determination module operable to apply a frequency shift to the initially allocated frequency resources in accordance with a frequency hopping sequence to determine frequency resources to use for communicating information with the other communications node, wherein the frequency shift applied moves the initially allocated frequency resources to corresponding frequency resources in another sub-band, a transceiver for communicating information with the other communications node using the determined frequency resource. |
| US08982924B2 |
Architectures and methods for code combiners
Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for combining a plurality of codes. The plurality of codes may be binary codes having possible logical values of −1 and +1 and may comprise an even number of codes. An output of the combining v0,k may be given by: v0=sgn(vi), where vi is the sum of the first plurality of codes at the first time. Embodiments for allocating different power levels among various codes are presented. |
| US08982923B2 |
Capping method for laser diode protection
An apparatus includes a slider with a cavity in a trailing end of the slider. A laser is positioned in the cavity and has an output facet positioned adjacent to a first wall of the cavity. A cap is connected to the trailing end of the slider and covers the laser. |
| US08982922B2 |
Very high power laser chamber optical improvements
An aspect of the disclosed subject matter includes a method of reducing the laser absorption of a beam reverser prism consisting of at least one of the following: increasing a first distance between a first incident point and a chamfered corner, wherein the first incident point is on a first reflective surface of the prism and the chamfered corner is formed between the first reflective surface and a second reflective surface of the prism, wherein the chamfered corner has a chamfered surface; increasing a second distance between a second incident point and the chamfered corner, wherein the second incident point is on the second reflective surface of the prism; and increasing a reflectivity of the chamfered surface of the chamfered corner of the prism. A method of determining a prime cut for an optical component is also disclosed. A laser including at least one prime cut optical component is also disclosed. |
| US08982918B2 |
System, device and method for stabilizing the optical output power of an optical system
A light source system for delivery of light including a light source having an output arranged to emit light in an output path, the output path including an unguided section and an at least partially transmissive optical component wherein the optical component provides at least one residual reflection when the system is in use and a detector system is arranged to detect said residual reflection. The detector is in one embodiment arranged to produce at least one feedback response arranged to stabilize the optical output of the light source system. Hereby a feedback may be implemented with little or no reduction of performance. |
| US08982916B2 |
Method for producing an externally injected gain switch laser ultrashort pulse
A method for producing an externally injected gain switch laser ultrashort pulse, comprising the following steps of ultrashort light pulse signals having multi-longitudinal mode characteristic produced by the gain switch laser are inputted into an optical amplifier and then amplified; a spectral component signal selector selects a narrow spectral component signal outputted by the optical amplifier, the narrow spectral component signal is within an amplified spontaneous emission noise frequency band and its central wavelength is equal to the longitudinal mode of the gain switch laser; a route of the narrow spectral component signal is used as an external seed light and reinjected into the gain switch laser via a spectral component signal feedback loop. Therefore, the oscillation of a selected single longitudinal mode within the cavity of the gain switch laser is enhanced, thereby forming an externally light injected locking. |
| US08982914B2 |
Methods for transmitting and receiving data using a plurality of radio channels, transmission and destination devices, corresponding signal and computer program
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting data packets in a communication network using a plurality of radio channels. The network is organized into a plurality of communication layers including a data link layer MAC and a physical layer PHY. The method includes aggregating data packets to be transmitted to a single recipient, in the MAC layer, outputting at least two aggregated packets, with which a single header of the PHY layer is associated. At least two of the radio channels are concatenated to form a concatenated channel. The aggregated packets are simultaneously transmitted respectively over at least two separate concatenated sub-channels, one concatenated sub-channel including at least one of the radio channels of the concatenated channel. |
| US08982912B2 |
Inter-packet gap network clock synchronization
A network component comprising a processor configured to receive a data stream from an upstream node, wherein the data stream comprises a plurality of Ethernet packets and a synchronization request comprising a timestamp, synchronize a clock with the timestamp, and transmit a response to the upstream node, wherein the data stream has the same bandwidth as a second data stream that does not have the synchronization request and the timestamp. |
| US08982911B2 |
Generating downlink frame and searching for cell
The present invention relates to a method for generating a downlink frame including generating a first short sequence and a second short sequence indicating cell group information, generating a first scrambling sequence determined by the first synchronization signal, generating a second scrambling sequence determined by the first short sequence, scrambling the first short sequence with the first scrambling sequence, scrambling the second short sequence with at least the second scrambling sequence, and mapping a second synchronization signal including the scrambled first short sequence and the scrambled second short sequence in the frequency domain. |
| US08982910B1 |
Fixed generic mapping of client data to optical transport frame
A fixed Generic Mapping Procedure (GMP) apparatus and method are provided to map client data to an optical transport frame. Client data to be mapped into a payload field of an optical transport frame is received and store in a memory. Timing information is generated based on bit and fractional bit granularity of client data mapped into the payload field of successive optical transport frames for use in recovering the client data from received optical transport frames. |
| US08982905B2 |
Fabric interconnect for distributed fabric architecture
A system includes scaled-out fabric coupler (SFC) boxes and distributed line card (DLC) boxes. Each SFC box has fabric ports and a cell-based switch fabric for switching cells. Each DLC box is in communication with every SFC box. Each DLC box has network ports receiving packets and network processors. Each processor has a fabric interface that provides SerDes channels. The processors divide each packet received over the network ports into cells and distribute the cells of each packet across the SerDes channels. Each DLC box further comprises DLC fabric ports through which the DLC is in communication with the SFCs. Each DLC fabric port includes a pluggable interface with a given number of lanes over which to transmit and receive cells. Each lane is mapped to one of the SerDes channels such that an equal number of SerDes channels of each fabric interface is mapped to each DLC fabric port. |
| US08982904B2 |
Network combining wired and non-wired segments
A local area network (60) within a residence or other building, including both wired (5) and non-wired segments (53). The wired segments are based on new or existing wires (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by means of outlets (61a, 61d), such as a telephone system, electrical power distribution system, or cable television wiring system. The non-wired segments are based on communication using propagated waves such as radio, sound, or light (e.g. infrared). The wired and non-wired segments interface in the outlet, using a module (50) that serves as mediator between the segments. The module can be integrated into the outlet, partially housed in the outlet, or attached externally to the outlet. Such a network allows for integrated communication of data units (24b) connected by wires and data units (24a, 24d) connected without wires. |
| US08982903B2 |
Network combining wired and non-wired segments
A local area network (60) within a residence or other building, including both wired (5) and non-wired segments (53). The wired segments are based on new or existing wires (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) in the building, wherein access to the wires is provided by outlets (61a, 61d), such as a telephone system, electrical power distribution system, or cable television wiring system. The non-wired segments are based on communication using propagated waves such as radio, sound, or light (e.g. infrared). The wired and non-wired segments interface in the outlet, using a module (50) that serves as mediator between the segments. The module can be integrated into the outlet, partially housed in the outlet, or attached externally to the outlet. Such a network allows for integrated communication of data units (24b) connected by wires and data units (24a, 24d) connected without wires. |
| US08982901B2 |
Counter based fairness scheduling for QoS queues to prevent starvation
Systems and methods are disclosed to communicate data between wireless access point with one or more low priority queues; one or more high priority queues; a quality of service (QoS) queue coupled to the low and high priority queues; a fairness counter; and a buffer coupled to the fairness counter and the QoS queue to map buffer mapping to the QoS queue when the fairness counter expires, the method including performing an association request for fairness scheduling; and injecting a low priority packet in a transmit opportunity of the high priority queue. |
| US08982899B2 |
Apparatus and control interface therefor
An apparatus comprises a number of sub-systems and a control interface operably coupled to sub-systems for routing data therebetween. A strobe generation function is operably coupled to the control interface and configured to generate a plurality of different strobe signals to differentiate between different intended receiving devices. Thus, different strobe signals may be multiplexed onto a single control interface link, based on a pulse width or voltage magnitude characteristics of the respective strobe signals. A strobe decoder function is operably coupled to the control interface and configured to decode a plurality of different strobe signals to differentiate between triggering sub-systems on receiving devices. |
| US08982893B2 |
System and method of quality of service enablement for over the top applications in a telecommunications system
A system, method, and node providing a predefined Quality of Service (QoS) level to an Over The Top (OTT) service provider in a telecommunications network. A User Equipment (UE) initiates an IP-based application session (e.g., Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) session) with the OTT service provider by sending an application-dependent message toward an OTT application server. The method begins with a proxy node in the telecommunications network intercepting the application-dependent message. The proxy node then modifies the application-dependent message by adding a subscriber identification to the header of the application-dependent message. The proxy node forwards the modified application-dependent message to the OTT application server. The OTT application server then sends a request having the subscriber identification to the telecommunications network with a QoS requirement for the HTTP session. Next, a network policy node determines an appropriate QoS level for the subscriber. A network gateway then enforces the determined QoS level for the HTTP session with the OTT service provider. |
| US08982885B2 |
Using FM/AM radio and cellular technology to support interactive group communication for large number of users
The disclosure is directed to conducting group communications. An embodiment receives information defining a group communication from a first network, detects an availability of at least one local uni-directional radio broadcast network outside the first network, transmits an acknowledgment indicating an intention to connect to the at least one local uni-directional radio broadcast network, and monitors the group communication on the at least one local uni-directional radio broadcast network. |
| US08982881B2 |
Upstream label allocation on ethernets for MP2MP LSPS
An apparatus or method for upstream label allocation on LANs for multipoint (MP) label switched paths (LSPs). In one embodiment of the method, a first router receives a first incoming labeled data packet, wherein the first incoming labeled data packet comprises a first data packet and one or more first labels. The first router creates a first outgoing labeled data packet, wherein creating the first outgoing labeled data packet includes the step of swapping the one or more first labels of the first incoming labeled data packet with a context label and a forwarding label, wherein the first outgoing labeled data packet comprises the first data packet, the context label, and the forwarding label. Ultimately, the first router transmits the first outgoing labeled data packet to second and third routers via a LAN. |
| US08982880B2 |
Communication path switching for mobile devices
Methods, systems, and devices for switching internet protocol (IP) flows from a first communication path to a second communication path are disclosed herein. A user equipment (UE) may include an exchange component, a session component, and a communication component. The exchange component exchanges second communication path availability information between the UE and another UE by sending and receiving session initiation protocol (SIP) messages that include second communication path availability information over the first communication path. The session component changes the communication session by re-routing traffic flows to the second communication path based on the exchanged second path availability information. The communication component sends to and receives from the other UE data corresponding to an IP flow over the second communication path. |
| US08982878B1 |
Centralized circuit switch provisioning system
A method of reconfiguring a provisioning system. The method comprises sending a reload command to a controller component that identifies one of a plurality of circuit switches which the provisioning system is configured to provision; sending by the controller component the reload command to a plurality of commander components associated with the circuit switch identified in the reload command; the commander components associated with the circuit switch identified in the reload command sending a stop command to each of an at least one connection thread launched by the commander component; terminating by the commander components the at least one connection thread; reading a modified configuration file by each of the commander components associated with the circuit switch identified in the reload command; and launching at least one connection thread by each commander component associated with the circuit switch identified in the reload command based on the modified configuration file. |
| US08982877B2 |
Provision of telephony caller ID service via common instant communications clients
An approach is provided for supporting telephony services over a data network. A communication network establishes a voice session from a calling station to a called station associated with a user. A service platform, in communication with the communication network, obtains Caller ID information corresponding to the voice session, and determines an instant communication client of the user. The Caller ID information is transmitted over the data network to the instant communication client for display of the Caller ID information. |
| US08982876B2 |
Method and system for customer selected direct dialed voice-over-internet protocol (VOIP)
A Voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP) communications network system that enables direct-dialed (single-stage) access to the Internet Protocol network from the circuit-switched network. Specifically, the VOIP network system includes a VOIP service implemented on a communications system which, after a customer number has been registered for the service, automatically recognizes calls from the registered customer's telephone number and determines if the call can be routed as a VOIP call over the IP network. In embodiments of the present invention, the customer can register for the VOIP service by selecting both a provider and a calling plan or by only selecting a provider. The system can be implemented to handle intra-state, inter-state and international voice-band calls (for example, regular telephone calls, facsimile transmissions and modem initiated calls) using standard circuit-switched telephone lines, cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line and wireless. |
| US08982875B2 |
Method and system for routing and security for telephone calls over a packet-switched network
A server, upon receiving a request to complete a call over a packet-switched network, looks up an address on the packet-switched network on a local table. If the local table does not contain a matching address, the server asks a routing server to identify a receiving server address. The routing server identifies a suitable address and sends a message to the originating server containing the address. The receiving server then receives, via the packet-switched network, a message requesting a telephone connection to a second telephone device. Before completing the connection to the second telephone device, information in the message representing the address of the device on the packet-switched network that originated the message is identified and the address information is compared to selected predetermined addresses for permitted origins of the message. |
| US08982872B2 |
Transmitting method and device for scheduling information
A transmitting method and device for scheduling information, wherein the method includes: scheduling information of the MBMS controlling signaling is borne in a designated system information block to be transmitted, wherein the designated system information block is a system information block 2, a system information block 3, or a new added system information block. |
| US08982871B2 |
System and method for providing location information to a public safety answering point during an emergency 911 call from a softphone
A system and method for providing location information to a public safety answering point from a softphone may include receiving, at a network access point, an emergency 911 call from the softphone. The emergency 911 call may be communicated to a public safety answering point. In response to a call connection message being received, an address location of the network access point to which the softphone is in communication in placing the emergency 911 call to the public safety answering point may be communicated in a type II caller ID data packet. The softphone may generate the type II caller ID data packet with the address location in a data field, such as a data field typically used for name information of a caller. |
| US08982867B2 |
System and method for wireless communications
A system and method for wireless communications is provided. A method for operating in a communications network includes receiving a codebook, the codebook includes a plurality of codewords, and determining if the codebook satisfies a constant modulus property. The method also includes in response to determining that the codebook does not satisfy the constant modulus property, converting the codebook into a codebook satisfying the constant modulus property, and storing the codebook satisfying the constant modulus property. The method further includes storing the codebook in response to determining that the codebook does satisfy the constant modulus property, and causing to transmit a transmission to a communications device, wherein the transmission is encoded using a codeword in the stored codebook. |
| US08982859B2 |
Wireless device and method of short MAC frame indication
Embodiments of a wireless communication device and method for short frame indication in an IEEE 802.11ah network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a reserved bit in a service field is used to indicate whether a frame is using a short MAC header or a regular MAC header. |
| US08982858B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, information processing apparatus, and wireless communication control method
An input unit inputs input data. A priority determination unit determines priority of the data input by the input unit. A speed control unit sets the communication speed of the wireless communication of the data to be output from an output unit according to the priority of the data determined by the priority determination unit, and also, when input of the data is not detected, sets the communication speed of the wireless communication of the data to be output from the output unit to be lower than the communication speed when the input of the data is detected. The output unit outputs output data by the wireless communication at the set communication speed. |
| US08982855B2 |
Systems and methods for improved mobility and quality of service in a wireless network
For a mobile node visiting a packet-switched wireless access network, said access network using a tunnelling-type micro-mobility protocol and a Quality of Service (QoS) routing protocol to route packet data to and from said mobile node, and comprising an access router to which said mobile node may attach, a mobility agent and a gateway, a method of configuring said access network to route packet data toward said mobile node which method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving in said access network a handover indication of said mobile node or a login request therefrom; (b) in response to said handover indication or login request computing a QoS route for said mobile node, which QoS route is useable to route packets between said mobility agent and said mobile node; (c) performing step (b) at a location in said access network remote from said mobility agent; and (d) transmitting said QoS route and said handover indication or login request from said remote location toward said mobility agent; whereby upon receipt of data transmitted in step (d) said mobility agent may handle both mobility configuration and QoS route configuration for said mobile node as part of said network layer handover. |
| US08982845B2 |
Measurement control method, system and device for multi-carrier system
A measurement control method, system and device for a multi-carrier system are disclosed. The method includes that: UE selects the channel quality of a serving carrier or serving carrier group as a reference value, uniformly starts measurement on carriers except serving carriers or serving carrier groups when the reference value is smaller than a measurement starting threshold, s-Measure, configured by an eNB for the serving carriers or serving carrier groups, and uniformly closes the measurement on the carriers except the serving carriers or serving carrier groups when the reference value is larger than or equal to the s-Measure. Through referring to the channel quality of one serving carrier or one serving carrier group, measurement on the carriers except the serving carriers or serving carrier groups is uniformly started and closed, so as to solve the problem that the UE controls measurement according to multi-carrier signal quality in multiple serving cells. |
| US08982843B2 |
Wireless communication system and method for performing handover in such a system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for performing handover in a wireless communication system, and the handover method of the present invention includes checking, when a Path Switch Request message associated with a terminal is received from a base station, whether a list of terminal security information values which has been saved exists; generating, when the list exists, a Path Switch Request acknowledge message including an unused terminal security information value selected form the list; and transmitting the Path Switch Request acknowledge message to the base station. Through this procedure, it is possible to reduce the terminal handover signal load generated by the base station. |
| US08982839B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving a mobile station cell change operation in the general packet radio system (GPRS)
A mobile station executed method, wherein upon changing from a current cell to a new cell in a wireless packet data network the mobile station enters the new cell; generates a cell change packet data unit (PDU) message for informing the network of the location of the mobile station in the new cell; buffers the cell change PDU message into a PDU transmit queue before any buffered PDUs that were present before the mobile station entered the new cell; and transmits the buffered cell change PDU before any of the buffered PDUs that were present before the mobile station entered the new cell. |
| US08982837B2 |
Handling cell reselections and state transitions for high-speed downlink packet access
A wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) is configured to operate in an high speed data packet access (HSDPA) mode in a cell and/or state and to clear HSDPA resources when moving out of the cell and/or state. The WTRU is configured to clear HSDPA resources when conditions to perform high speed downlink shared channel reception are not met. |
| US08982836B2 |
System and method for minimizing loss of IP context during IRAT handover
A method for maintaining IP context during an inter RAT handover of a UE between an eHRPD network and an LTE network may include delaying a transfer of an Internet Protocol context for at least one active packet data network until an IP address for an attach (PDN) Packet Data Network has been assigned and in the case where the Internet Protocol address for the Attach Packet Data Network is not assigned, initiating a detach operation from the LTE network without the user equipment losing the Internet Protocol context of the at least one active Packet Data Network. |
| US08982834B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting a reference signal in a multi-antenna system
Provided are a method and apparatus for transmitting a reference signal in a multi-antenna system. A terminal generates a plurality of reference signal sequences in which cyclic shift values that are different from each other are allocated to the respective plurality of layers, and generates an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDMA) symbol to which the plurality of reference signal sequences are mapped. The SC-FDMA symbol is transmitted to a base station via a plurality of antennas. Each of the reference signal sequences is multiplied by either +1 or −1 in accordance with an orthogonal covering code (OCC) index corresponding to the cyclic shift field in a DCI format transmitted via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for each layer. |
| US08982831B2 |
Transmission of data in a broadband radio communication system
Data packets are transmitted from a terminal of a broadband radio communication system. For each transmission cycle in a transmission period data is received at a data interface of the terminal and buffered, and transmission of radio signals comprising the received data is enabled on expiry of a repetition interval from the start of a previous transmission. The repetition intervals are controlled to reduce a proportion of the transmission period for which transmission may occur at an allowed pulse repetition interval of a radar with which the terminal may interfere. The presence of radar pulses is checked during a wait period for each cycle while the terminal is not transmitting. If radar pulses are present, the transmission of radio signals which may interfere with the radar pulses is inhibited. |
| US08982830B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting multiple frequency bands in mobile communication system
A method and an apparatus for supporting multiple frequency bands efficiently in a mobile communication system are provided. The method includes generating first system information including a frequency band indicator indicating a frequency band supported by the base station and an additional frequency band indicator indicating at least one frequency band supported by the base station, and broadcasting the first system information. |
| US08982827B2 |
Method of transmitting and receiving wireless resource information
A method of transmitting and receiving radio resource information is disclosed, by which a mobile terminal is able to quickly access a mobile communication system. The present invention includes transmitting a paging message to locate a specific mobile terminal by including information for a radio resource allocated to the mobile terminal in the paging message receiving a response signal for the paging message transmitted according to the information for the radio resource, and performing a connection to the mobile terminal according to the response signal. |
| US08982821B2 |
Method and a device for reporting the number of correctly decoded transport blocks in a wireless system
A method and a device for reporting the number of correctly decoded transport blocks in a wireless system. The maximum number of correctly decoded transport blocks within a reporting period is determined. Then the actual number of correctly decoded transport blocks is determined and cultivated into an indication thereof on the basis of the maximum number. The indication is sent to a network element capable of decoding it for analysis. |
| US08982820B1 |
Methods for multi-band wireless communication and bandwidth management
Embodiments of methods for multi-band wireless communication and bandwidth management are described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US08982817B2 |
Radio communication system, base station apparatus and user terminal
The present invention maintains communication even during a transition period in which ON/OFF of the CIF is switched by higher layer signaling or during a transition period in which the number of component carrier aggregations is increased/decreased. In a radio communication system in which an LTE-A system, in which an LTE-A system to add or remove the frequency band to assign for communication between a base station apparatus (20) and a mobile terminal apparatus (10) on a per component carrier basis, and an LTE system to perform communication between the base station apparatus (20) and the mobile terminal apparatus (10) using one fixed fundamental frequency block, are arranged in an overlapping manner, in the LTE-A system, one of the fundamental frequency blocks assigned to the mobile terminal apparatus (10) is determined as an anchor block, and the anchor block supports the same operation as in the LTE system. |
| US08982814B2 |
Network node, user equipment and methods therein
A method in a network node for transmitting an enhanced Control CHannel, eCCH, to a user equipment in a telecommunications system. The eCCH comprises control information to the user equipment in at least one Control Channel Element, CCE. The at least one CCE maps to a number of resource elements comprised in at least one enhanced resource element group. The at least one enhanced resource element group is comprised in at least one resource block in a time-frequency Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM, grid. The network node decides to use a CCE aggregation level that is smaller than the smallest CCE aggregation level of a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, for a first eCCH. The network node then modulates the first eCCH by using a higher order modulation than Quadrature Phase Shift Keying, QPSK, modulation, when the smaller CCE aggregation level is used for the first eCCH. Then, the network node maps the modulated first eCCH to the at least one enhanced resource element group of resource elements in the at least one resource block, and transmits the mapped first eCCH to the user equipment. A network node, a method in user equipment and a user equipment are also provided. |
| US08982812B2 |
Group ID allocation for direct link service (DLS)
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for managing group identifiers (IDs) in multiuser multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) schemes to ensure that the group ID maps to the same assigned spatial stream position for a particular station (STA), for either Direct Link Service (DLS) or downlink (DL) MU-MIMO transmissions. One example method generally includes transmitting, from a first apparatus to a second apparatus, a message requesting assignment of a group ID identifying a group of apparatuses for receiving MU transmissions; and receiving, from the second apparatus, an indication of the assigned group ID, such that spatial stream assignments for the group of apparatuses are the same between the first and second apparatuses, the spatial stream assignments corresponding to the assigned group ID. |
| US08982811B2 |
Traffic bearer mapping method and communication device
Embodiments of the present invention provide a traffic bearer mapping method and a communication device. The traffic bearer mapping method includes: obtaining attribute information of a traffic data flow of a user; selecting a relay transmission tunnel according to the attribute information of the traffic data flow of the user; and mapping the received traffic data flow to the relay transmission tunnel for transmission, where the relay transmission tunnel includes a relay link radio bearer Un RB or a bearer including the Un RB. According to the embodiments of the present invention, transmission of a traffic data flow in an LTE-A network after a relay node is introduced into is implemented, thereby ensuring quality of service of multi-service. |
| US08982807B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving HARQ burst
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) burst in a communication system are provided. A transmitter obtains at least one Protocol Data Unit (PDU) according to a decoding order of a receiver which supports a HARQ mode. The receiver controls an order of at least one HARQ burst using burst information including a HARQ Channel IDentifier (ACID). |
| US08982806B2 |
Methods and nodes in a radio communication system with efficient control channel use
The present invention generally relates to radio communication systems, relay nodes, controller nodes, user equipment (user terminals), software and methods for said systems and nodes. In one embodiment, a method for operating a control node for a wireless communication system is provided. The method comprises the steps: creating a data frame comprising an early part and a later part, wherein the early part comprises first control data for controlling a receiving node; checking whether second control data are to be put into the later part; scheduling payload data for the receiving node into the later part if second control data are not to be put into the later part; and transmitting the date frame to the receiving node. |
| US08982801B2 |
Apparatus and method for uplink power control for a wireless transmitter/receiver unit utilizing multiple carriers
A method and apparatus for determining uplink power in a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU). The WTRU operates in a carrier aggregated system. The WTRU is configured to receive a plurality of uplink power parameters indexed to one of a plurality of uplink carriers and receive a transmit power control command indexed to the one of the plurality of uplink carriers. The WTRU is configured to determine a pathloss of the one of the plurality of uplink carriers and determine a transmit power for the one of the plurality of uplink carriers based on the plurality of power parameters, the transmit power control command, and the pathloss. |
| US08982797B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus with resource allocation to users performing array combining using array combining weights
A wireless communication apparatus including an MMSE combining processing unit that performs MMSE combining based on frequency domain received signals obtained by performing a discrete Fourier transform on received signals, the apparatus including an amount-of-phase-rotation estimating unit that estimates an amount of phase rotation occurring in the frequency domain received signals due to a shift in discrete Fourier transform timing of the received signals, and a reverse rotation unit that applies a reverse rotation of an amount of rotation corresponding to the amount of phase rotation estimated by the amount-of-phase-rotation estimating unit, to the frequency domain received signals, wherein the MMSE combining processing unit computes an MMSE weight based on the frequency domain received signals to which the reverse rotation has been applied by the reverse rotation unit, and performs MMSE combining. |
| US08982793B2 |
Method for controlling channel access in wireless local area network and apparatus for the same
A method for controlling channel access performed by an access point (AP) in a wireless system is provided. The method includes: receiving at least one frame from at least one station (STA), respectively, for a specific time period, each frame including information on a contention window (CW) used when the frame is transmitted; processing information one at least one CW for each STA; determining whether to control the channel access based on the processed information on the CW; selecting an abnormal STA candidate group if it is determined that the channel access control is performed; and controlling the channel access to each STA included in the abnormal candidate STA group. |
| US08982791B2 |
Method of and Node B and user equipment for power control in case of segmentation
A method (200, 400) of and a Node B (102) and a User Equipment (UE) (106) for power control of a data channel (100, 112) between the Node B (102) and the UE (106) in a cellular communication system in case of segmentation of a Radio Link Control (RLC), Protocol Data Umt (PRC) into m Media Access Control (MAC) segments are provided The method (200, 400) comprises the steps of determining (202, 402) a transmit power boost for transmission of the MAC segments and applying (204, 404) the determined transmit power boost for transmission of the MAC segments A method (500) of and a Node B (102) for power control of an uplink data channel (112) in case of segmentation are also provided The method (500) comprises determining (504) a Signal-to-Interference Ratio (SIR) target boost and applying (506) the determined SIR target boost for power control. |
| US08982788B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting positioning reference signal in wireless communication system
Provided are a method and an apparatus for transmitting a positioning reference signal (PRS) in a wireless communication system. A terminal obtains positioning subframe configuration information to determine at least one positioning subframe among a plurality of downlink subframes in a wireless frame, obtains downlink subframe configuration information to determine the type of each downlink subframe in the wireless frame, receives PRSs in at least one positioning subframe from a plurality of cells, and reports measured time differences between the PRSs received from the plurality of the cells. The type of each downlink subframe of the wireless frame is classified into a 1st type subframe and a 2nd type subframe, and the type of at least one positioning subframe is either the 1st type subframe or the 2nd type subframe. In addition, the PRSs are mapped into at least one positioning subframe on the basis of a single PRS pattern. |
| US08982785B2 |
Access point assisted direct client discovery
A wireless access point device configured to serve wireless client devices in a wireless network monitors transmissions sent by direct clients capable of forming ad hoc networks with one or more other direct clients. Profile data is stored for each detected direct client. The profile data indicates device type and services of the direct client, as well as potentially other information. The wireless access point receives from a direct client a request for information concerning one or more other direct clients, and sends a response to the direct client containing information for other direct clients based on the stored profile data. |
| US08982784B2 |
Sensor and sensor network for an aircraft
The invention relates to a sensor network in an aircraft, which comprises several sensor nodes that communicate with a central data collection and evaluation unit via a radio transmission path. Data transmission can take place in various ways. For example, different frequency ranges are provided, from which the respective frequency range enabling the best data transmission quality is selected. |
| US08982778B2 |
Packet routing in a wireless communications environment
The claimed subject matter relates to performing routing in a wireless communications system. In more detail, each device associated with a wireless packet-switched network may not be aware of an identity and/or address of a particular point of attachment with respect to a wireless terminal. A data packet that should be provided to a particular point of attachment can be initially directed to a wireless terminal or a one-hop multicast address, for instance. Thereafter, the data packet can be encapsulated in a frame format and identity of the particular point of attachment can be provided in such frame. The frame can thereafter be routed to the point of attachment. |
| US08982777B1 |
Method of adding and removing sites for a cluster based on a baseline delay comparison
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for adding and removing unanchored small cell sites for a cluster that delivers precision time protocol frequency and phase synchronization over a network without on-path support are provided. In embodiments, the method includes continuously measuring, in an asymmetric network without on-path support, an anchor path delay. A maximum standard allowable (MSA) delay variation is determined for the cluster. A respective round trip (RT) delay is continuously measured from the host site to each unanchored small cell site in the cluster. The anchor path delay is compared to each respective RT delay to determine a respective unanchored delay variation. In embodiments, unanchored small cell sites are be added to or removed from the cluster based on a comparison of a respective unanchored delay variation to the MSA delay variation. |
| US08982774B2 |
Method for ranging to a station in power saving mode
A network based positioning (NBP) system is disclosed that allows any of its access points (APs) to initiate ranging operations with a station device (STA), regardless of whether the STA is in power save mode and regardless of whether a particular AP is currently associated with the STA. For example, to initiate ranging operations with the STA from a non-associated AP, the non-associated AP obtains the TSF timer of the associated AP, and then uses the obtained TSF timer to derive the associated AP's beacon transmission schedule and thereby determine when the STA's corresponding wake-up periods occur. Thereafter, the non-associated AP can initiate ranging operations with the STA during the STA wake-up periods, thereby ensuring that probes sent from the non-associated AP will arrive at the STA while the STA is awake from power save mode. |
| US08982767B2 |
Method for transceiving data with both a mobile station and a relay station in a broadband wireless communication system
A method for transceiving data with both a mobile station and a relay station in a mobile communication system are disclosed. In a present invention, the base station transmits an ACK signal regardless of whether a result of the decoding is successful or unsuccessful to the terminal for using a uplink packet data transmitted from the relay station. And, the relay station operates two operation modes. Procedures of downlink/uplink packet data transmission according to the operation mode are disclosed. |
| US08982766B2 |
Signal transmission method performed by relay station in wireless communication system and apparatus thereof
Disclosed is a signal transmission method performed by a relay station in a wireless communication system. The method comprises the steps of: arranging guard time within at least one symbol period in a subframe which is configured with multiple symbol periods in a time domain; and transmitting a control signal or data to a base station by using symbol periods except for the symbol periods which include the guard time in the subframe. The guard time is equal to or shorter than one symbol period. The structure in which the control signal or the data is arranged in each symbol period of the subframe is determined on the basis of the number of symbol periods except for the symbol periods which include the guard time. |
| US08982764B2 |
Method of decoding physical broadcast channel in long term evolution system
The present invention relates, in general, to a method of decoding a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system and, more particularly, to a method of detecting a Master Information Block (MIB) contained in a PBCH. |
| US08982763B2 |
Method and device for maneuvering talk groups to a new channel
A process for communicating with a plurality of push-to-talk (PTT) devices in a wireless network of PTT devices includes, at a first one of the PTT devices, responsive to detecting a change in selected channel, via a channel selector input, from the first channel to a second channel while a PTT input is activated: transmitting, to other PTT devices in a first talkgroup on the first channel, a notification that further transmissions by the PTT device will be made in the second channel, switching the transmitter from the first channel to the second channel, and transmitting further communications to the one or more other PTT devices in a second talkgroup on the second channel. |
| US08982762B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in communicating in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network
Techniques for use in a wireless device which is configured to operate as a group owner (GO) in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network are described. The group owner sends a first multicast message to one or more first P2P devices in the P2P network. The first multicast message includes first notice of absence (NoA) data. The group owner also sends a second multicast message to one or more second P2P devices in the P2P network. The second multicast message includes second NoA data. Partitioning in the P2P network in this fashion may be set based on the different types of communications established with the P2P devices (e.g. different traffic classes or Quality of Service (QoS) types). |
| US08982760B2 |
Sink device and wireless transmission system
When reproducing AV data transmitted from a source device by multicast wireless transmission, a sink device can check the wireless connection status of other sink device which reproduces AV data from the same source device. The sink device (2a) includes: an AV reception portion which receives AV data through multicast wireless transmission from the source device (1); a reproduction portion which extracts and reproduces AV data transmitted to the sink device (2a) from the received AV data; and a device information receiving portion that wirelessly receives a portion or whole of the sink device information managed in the source device (1). The sink device information correlates identification information for identifying a plurality of sink devices (2a, 2b, . . . ) containing the sink device (2a) with state information indicative of wireless connection status of the sink devices (2a, 2b, . . . ). |
| US08982758B2 |
Techniques for efficient acknowledgement for UL MU MIMO and uplink OFDMA in wireless networks
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of supporting acknowledgement transmissions for Uplink (UL) Multi-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU MIMO) in wireless networks, comprising, enabling an AP operable in the wireless network to send back acknowledgements to different wireless stations (STAs) in communication with said AP either sequentially or simultaneously by defining a new block ack (BAs) type for multiple STAs. |
| US08982755B1 |
Methods and systems for selecting a TTI bundle size
A radio access network (RAN) determines whether transmission time interval (TTI) bundling is warranted for a wireless communication device (WCD) based on at least a power headroom report from the WCD. In response to determining that TTI bundling is warranted, the RAN selects a TTI bundle size, N, for the WCD and instructs the WCD to use the selected TTI bundle size. The TTI bundle size, N, could be selected from among a set of predefined values, such as N=2, N=3, and N=4. The selection could be based on various factors, such as a utilization of an uplink shared channel, a re-transmission rate of the WCD, and/or a remaining battery life of the WCD. |
| US08982753B2 |
Method and system for low latency state transitions for energy efficiency
Aspects of a method and system for physical layer control of low latency state transitions for energy efficiency. In this regard, a determination may be made to reconfigure a network device from an energy saving mode of operation to a higher performance mode of operation. A first portion of the network device may be reconfigured prior to sending an indication of the reconfiguration to a link partner, and a remaining portion of the network device may be reconfigured after sending the indication. The link partner may begin reconfiguration from an energy saving mode of operation to higher performance mode of operation upon receiving the indication. The energy saving mode may comprise a low power idle (LPI) or a subset PHY mode. The reconfiguration may comprise allocating memory to, and/or de-allocating memory from, buffering received and/or to-be-transmitted data. |
| US08982746B2 |
Clock-less half-duplex repeater
A method and system for communicating data between two devices are described herein. The method detects an electrical signal of a first protocol from a first device in a repeater, wherein the first protocol comprises single-ended signaling. The method also determines the speed of the electrical signal. Additionally, the method converts the electrical signal of the first protocol into an electrical signal of a second protocol based on the speed of the electrical signal. The second protocol comprises differential signaling. Furthermore, the method sends the electrical signal of the second protocol to a second device. In addition, the method stops the electrical signal of the second protocol to the second device when the electrical signal of the second protocol indicates an end of data flow. |
| US08982743B2 |
DAI designs for FDD carrier aggregation
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for indicating downlink assignments to a user equipment (UE). According to certain aspects, the techniques generally involve generating a downlink assignment index (DAI) indicating a number of assigned downlink transmissions for a user equipment (UE) configured to communicate using multiple component carriers and transmitting a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) containing the DAI to the user equipment (UE) in a frequency division duplexing (FDD) subframe in which uplink and downlink transmissions may take place at the same time on different carrier frequencies. |
| US08982739B2 |
Mobile terminal and method of controlling the same
A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal are provided. The mobile terminal includes: a display; a wireless Internet module; and a controller for acquiring information about a plurality of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) accounts that can communicate through the wireless Internet module and for distinguishing information about a first user group corresponding to the acquired plurality of VoIP accounts from information about a second user group not corresponding to the acquired plurality of VoIP accounts and for displaying the information in the display. Therefore, by displaying to distinguish information about a user group corresponding to a plurality of VoIP accounts from other information, a function can be easily selected through a plurality of VoIP accounts. |
| US08982738B2 |
System, apparatus for content delivery for internet traffic and methods thereof
In one embodiment, a method of serving media includes receiving a request to serve media content to an user equipment, and receiving caching information regarding the media content. The caching information includes information regarding whether the media content requested by the user equipment is cacheable. A first media server is assigned from a hierarchical set of media servers to serve the user equipment if the media content to be served is cacheable. The hierarchical set of media servers includes a plurality of first type of media servers deployed in a plurality of layer2 (L2) access networks. The user equipment is coupled to the content delivery network through a layer2 access network of the plurality of L2 access networks. |
| US08982737B2 |
Method, device and system for implementing conference access
A method for conference access includes: receiving, by a switchboard device, a first call request sent by a user terminal, where a calling identifier included by the first call request is an identifier of the user terminal, and the included called identifier is a switchboard number corresponding to the switchboard device; obtaining, according to the identifier of the user terminal, recorded information about a conference corresponding to a call missed by the user terminal, where the information about the conference includes an access number of a conference system to which the conference belongs and a conference identifier of the conference; and enabling the user terminal to access the conference. When a user misses answering a conference-related call, by dialing a switchboard number, the user may directly accesses a conference, thereby improving the efficiency of accessing the conference. |
| US08982736B2 |
Method for implementing radiophone based conference call and dynamic grouping
The present invention provides a method for implementing a radiophone based conference call and dynamic grouping, which generally includes selecting a dynamic grouping function and members of an intended group through a man-machine interface of a radiophone, generating a control packet in a coding format and an extensible interface, the coding format and the extensible interface being inherent to a preset protocol stack module, and then transmitting the control frame in a control frame to a corresponding receiving end, and the receiving end upon reception of the control frame decodes the control frame and initiates a frequency modification module to modify frequency modification information by adding the group ID of the intended group. The radiophone in the present invention can perform a scheduling function, and time can be saved in an emergency for rapid and convenient dealing with an incident. |
| US08982728B2 |
Computer-implemented system and method for visualizing message-related relationships within a social network
A computer-implemented system and method for visualizing message-related relationships within a social network is provided. Entities associated with a group of messages are identified. A social network is built based on a relationship of the entities and messages by connecting those entities that share at least one of the messages from the group. A representation of the social network is generated by representing each message with a node. The nodes are organized based on at least one characteristic of the messages. |
| US08982722B1 |
Determining wireless communication gain
Combinations of a number of physical resource blocks and modulation and coding schemes which meet a data rate threshold are selected. For each combination of the number of physical resource blocks and modulation and coding schemes, a signal gain is calculated. The combination of the number of physical resource blocks and modulation and coding schemes corresponding to the largest signal gain is selected, and information is transmitted from an access node to a wireless device over a communication link using the selected combination of the number of physical resource blocks and modulation and coding schemes. |
| US08982721B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting channel state information (CSI) based on physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)
A method and apparatus for reporting channel state information (CSI) based on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) are used to realize correct reporting of the CSI based on double code books. The method includes the following steps: a reporting mode configuration signaling for the CSI sent from a network side is received, and said reporting mode configuration signaling for the CSI at least carries a designated reporting mode identifier; a first CSI aiming at the whole bandwidth of a system is established according to a reporting type corresponding to said reporting mode identifier; the whole bandwidth of the system is divided into at least two frequency band subclasses, and a second CSI aiming at a designated frequency band subclass is established according to the reporting type corresponding to said reporting mode identifier; and when a reporting indication signaling sent from the network side is received, said first CSI and said second CSI are transmitted to the network side. Therefore, when a user equipment (UE) reports the CSI, a long-term/wideband CSI and a short-term/frequency selective CSI could be considered comprehensively, then a two-level feedback mechanism based on the PUSCH double code books is realized. |
| US08982717B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting transmission power of terminal having heterogeneous modem chips
An apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for detecting transmission power of a first communication scheme in a mobile communication terminal having a first modem for the first communication scheme and a second modem for a second communication scheme which is different from the first communication scheme, includes: a feedback circuit configured to detect a high frequency signal outputted from a power amplifier of the first communication scheme and convert the detected high frequency signal into an analog signal; a reception unit configured to receive the analog signal outputted from the feedback circuit and band information transmitted from the first modem for the first communication scheme; and an output unit configured to output a particular value after comparing a signal outputted from the reception unit and a predetermined signal. |
| US08982716B2 |
Providing positioning assistance data
For supporting the use of positioning assistance data, the positioning assistance data is broadcast in a plurality of different logical sub-channels. The positioning assistance data is distributed to the plurality of different logical sub-channels depending on its content. |
| US08982715B2 |
Inter-networking devices for use with physical layer information
One exemplary embodiment is directed to an inter-networking device that performs at least one inter-networking function using physical layer information about the network of which the device is a part. Another exemplary embodiment is directed to capturing physical layer information about physical communication media that is attached to an inter-networking device. Another exemplary embodiment is directed to a technique for generating a spanning tree and/or forwarding database information for a plurality of switches in a network at a central location. The spanning tree and/or forwarding database information is generated at the central location using information including physical layer information about devices and physical communication media in the network. Another exemplary embodiment is directed to an ETHERNET physical layer device having integrated support for capturing physical layer information about the physical communication media connected to the ETHERNET physical layer device. |
| US08982714B2 |
Methods for exchanging data in a communications system and apparatuses utilizing the same
A communication system is provided. A first communications device transmits at least one first message including predetermined bit sequences. A second communications device determines one or more antenna weighting vectors (AWVs) and one or more bitloading vectors (BLVs) by using the first message in accordance with a predetermined rule and transmits a second message including information pertinent to the AWVs and the BLVs to the first communications device. The first communications device further communicates with the second communications device about an AWV selected from the AWVs and the first and second communications devices apply the selected AWV to the corresponding antennas before exchanging data. The data includes a header carrying information pertinent to a BLV selected from the BLVs used to encode the data and a payload is transmitted to the second communications device. The second communications device decodes the data in accordance with the selected BLV. |
| US08982707B2 |
Interoperability of data plane based overlays and control plane based overlays in a network environment
Technologies are provided in example embodiments for intercepting a packet being multicast from a first tunnel endpoint in a network, determining first address mapping information of the first tunnel endpoint and a first host, wherein the first host created the packet, generating a control protocol message with the first address mapping information, and communicating the control protocol message through a control plane in the network. In more specific example embodiments, the communicating the control protocol message includes sending the control protocol message to a network repository, where the first address mapping information is registered in the network repository. In other more specific example embodiments, the communicating the control protocol message includes pushing the control protocol message to one or more other tunnel endpoints. Further embodiments include decapsulating the packet to determine an endpoint identifier of the first host and a location of the first tunnel endpoint. |
| US08982706B2 |
Communication technique for a repeater using a transmission indicator
To prevent the self-interference of an inband relay node, a base station transmits a transmission indication on the downlink of a Un interface. Only when the base station receives an ACKnowledgment (ACK) signal in response to the transmission indication from the relay node, the base station transmits a Un interface downlink signal to the relay node in a specific time area. The time area allocated by the transmission indication may be a time area added to a statically allocated time area. |
| US08982705B2 |
Transmission control apparatus and transmission control method
A transmission control apparatus includes: a communication unit communicating with each of communication apparatuses, which are included in a communication system in which communication is executed via one relay apparatus, via the relay apparatus; a determination unit determining, as a transmission apparatus transmitting content data indicating a content to be transmitted, the apparatus with higher transmission quality between the apparatus and the relay apparatus in the communication system based on quality information of each communication apparatus, which is received by the communication unit and includes information regarding the transmission quality between the relay apparatus and the communication apparatus; and a transmission control unit allowing the transmission apparatus determined by the determination unit to concurrently transmit the content data indicating the content to the respective apparatuses of the communication system excluding the transmission apparatus. |
| US08982704B2 |
Elastic traffic marking for multi-priority packet streams in a communications network
Routers in a communications network mark packets of a multi-priority stream to establish a drop precedence of the packets during network congestion. For each packet received, a router employs one of two types of packet-marking mechanisms to associate low drop precedence with a high-priority, out-of-profile packet. One type, called “token bucket with loan bucket,” uses a token bucket to determine whether a packet is in conformance, i.e., in-profile, with a traffic profile and at least one loan bucket to determine whether a high priority, out-of-profile packet may borrow bandwidth. Another mechanism type, called “token bucket with color-exchange queue,” uses a color-exchange queue to delay packet forwarding for a fixed period. During this delay, a high-drop-precedence marking of an out-of-profile, high-priority packet may be exchanged with a low-drop-precedence marking of an in-profile, low-priority packet. The packet-marking mechanisms are useful in improving the quality of video viewing. |
| US08982703B2 |
Routing support for lossless data traffic
A method for communication in a packet data network including at least first and second subnets interconnected by routers. The method includes defining at least first and second classes of link-layer traffic within the subnets, such that the link-layer traffic in the first class is transmitted among nodes in the network without loss of packets, while at least some of the packets in the second class are dropped in case of network congestion. The routers are configured by transmitting control traffic over the network in the packets of the second class. Data traffic is transmitted between the nodes in the first and second subnets via the configured routers in the packets of the first class. |
| US08982697B2 |
Method and apparatus for sending and receiving ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead
A method and an apparatus for sending an Ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead, and a method and an apparatus for receiving an Ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead are disclosed herein. A method for sending an Ethernet physical-layer OAM overhead includes: adjusting the order of sending a payload block and part of Inter-Packet Gaps (IPGs) in a data stream to be transmitted; and when receiving a request for sending an OAM overhead, substituting the OAM overhead for the part of IPGs, and sending the OAM overhead before sending the payload block. Through the present invention, the order of sending IPGs and payload blocks in an MAC data stream can be adjusted, and the OAM overhead can be sent in time. |
| US08982696B2 |
Method for providing service quality in a WiMAX communication network, and method for selecting an access transport resource control function by means of a guideline decision-making function in a communication network
A method provides service quality in a WiMAX communication network, and a method selects an access transport resource control function by a guideline decision-making function in a communication network. According to a method for providing service quality on an air interface of an access network in a WiMAX communication network by an application function, the application function aims to provide a user of the WiMAX communication network with a service quality-related application. The desired service quality is signaled by an authentication, authorization and accounting infrastructure of the WiMAX communication network. |
| US08982694B2 |
Localized congestion exposure
A method for localized congestion exposure within a local loop in a cellular network that is performed by a localized congestion exposure receiver node of the local loop. The method includes receiving downlink packets destined for a downstream user device. The downlink packets have headers that indicate a level of congestion experienced by the downlink packets. The headers also indicate a level of expected downstream congestion declared by an upstream node. The method also includes forwarding the downlink packets to the downstream user device through a wireless connection. The method further includes sending packets upstream that have feedback indicative of the level of congestion experienced by the downlink packets and any congestion experienced within the localized congestion exposure receiver node. |
| US08982689B2 |
Split tiebreakers for 802.1AQ
A node in a communication network selects between equal cost shortest paths (ECSPs) using split tiebreakers. The node advertises multiple system identifiers (IDs) for that node, and each system ID is associated with a different set of traffic IDs that distinguish different virtual networks in the network. The node receives sets of system IDs for each of the other nodes in the network. After constructing a plurality of different ECSPs between two nodes, the node selects one of the ECSPs for each traffic ID used between the two nodes. For a traffic ID, the node constructs path IDs for each of the ECSPs using one system ID of each node in the path that is associated with that traffic ID. Because of the configuration of the system IDs and the traffic IDs in the network, traffic affected by a failure will be distributed across a plurality of surviving ECSPs. |
| US08982688B2 |
Congestion abatement in a network interconnect
A method and system for detecting congestion in a network of nodes, abating the network congestion, and identifying the cause of the network congestion is provided. A congestion detection system may comprise a detection system, an abatement system, and a causation system. The detection system monitors the performance of network components such as the network interface controllers and tiles of routers to determine whether the network is congested such that a delay in delivering packets becomes unacceptable. Upon detecting that the network is congested, an abatement system abates the congestion by limiting the rate at which packets are injected into the network from the nodes. Upon detecting that the network is congested, a causation system may identify the job that is executing on a node that is the cause of the network congestion. |
| US08982684B2 |
Radio communication device and radio communication method
A radio base station 100 judges a receiving state of a radio signal in conformity with the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing scheme, and changes a symbol string configuration of a symbol string defined by a size in a frequency axis direction and in a time axis direction, on the basis of the judged receiving state. |
| US08982683B2 |
Transmission method and related device
A method for transmitting a signal carrying information elements over a plurality of frequency subcarriers simultaneously. The method comprises: identifying a set of at least one frequency subcarrier of the plurality particularly subjected to attenuation; and transmitting the signal simultaneously over said plurality of frequency subcarriers by assigning respective information elements to the frequency subcarriers of the plurality not belonging to said set and assigning to each frequency subcarrier of said set a respective coefficient set so that an envelope of the transmitted signal is less than an envelope of the signal that would be transmitted by assigning respective information elements to all the frequency subcarriers of the plurality. |
| US08982681B1 |
Method and device for increased pull-in range of a timing recovery circuit for storage devices
A method and device for determining frequency error to extend the pull-in range of a timing recovery circuit for a storage device such as an optical disc drive. A code associated with a storage format of the storage device is detected, and the distance between occurrences of the code is determined. The calculated distance is compared with the expected distance to determine the difference. Based on the difference, the frequency error is determined. |
| US08982676B2 |
Golfing accessory time piece
A golfing time-keeping apparatus is arranged to indicate time of day using a clock face and a movement which has at least a minute hand arranged to complete a revolution of the clock face every hour. The time piece includes a structure for indicating a plurality of subdivisions of a time period longer than 1 hour and shorter than 5 hours, the structure comprising an indicator having a plurality of markings arranged for general visual alignment with the minute hand. The markings include a sequence of indicia circumferentially spaced apart and continuing for more than one but no more than five revolutions wherein some of the later indicia in the sequence are interleaved with some of the earlier indicia. |
| US08982675B2 |
Power supply unit and electronic timepiece
A power supply unit has a first power supply circuit that supplies a voltage to a load driving unit and a second power supply circuit that supplies a voltage to circuits other than the load driving unit. A first switching unit connects any one of a power supply that supplies a power supply voltage and a voltage step-down circuit that supplies a step-down voltage of the power supply voltage to the first power supply circuit. A second switching unit connects any one of the power supply and the voltage step-down circuit to the second power supply circuit. A control unit controls the connection by the first switching unit and the connection by the second switching unit to switch the voltage supplied to the first power supply circuit and the voltage supplied to the second power supply circuit in accordance with properties of the load driving unit. |
| US08982672B2 |
Animal medicine reminder tag
An animal medicine reminder tag that is non-toxic, water resistant, and shock resistant, wherein the tag is automatically activated when attached to the companion animal and cannot be reset or turned off by the companion animal's caregiver. The tag is designed to be minimally harmful if accidentally swallowed by the companion animal. |
| US08982669B2 |
Method for detecting objects
In a method for detecting objects, at least one sensor emits a transmitting pulse as a wave, particularly as an acoustic or an electromagnetic wave, which wave is reflected at least partially by objects in the propagation space, and the reflected wave being detected by at least one receiver as a received signal. The received signal of the reflected wave is divided up into segments, and from the individual segments, data are gathered that are drawn upon for the determination of an object hypothesis. |
| US08982668B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of forming same for correlation detection
In an embodiment a semiconductor device correlates a received signal with a known pattern. A correlation output is used as a basis for forming a confidence reference level. The confidence reference level and the correlation output are compared to identify a peak in the received signal indicating that a present signal state of the received signal contains the known pattern. |
| US08982665B2 |
Dithered slip sweep vibroseis acquisition system and technique
A technique includes generating vibroseis sweeps for a vibroseis survey to produce seismic data acquired in response to seismic signals produced by the sweeps. The generation of the vibroseis sweeps including temporally arranging the sweeps into time-overlapping groups. The technique includes regulating a timing of the groups relative to each other based on a slip time. The technique also includes regulating a timing of the sweeps of each group such that consecutive sweep firings of each group are spaced apart by a time substantially less than the slip time. |
| US08982663B2 |
Subsurface imaging systems and methods with multi-source survey component segregation and redetermination
A disclosed subsurface imaging method begins by obtaining initial signals from a geophysical survey that has been acquired with multiple geophysical energy sources actuated in a plurality of firing sequences, each sequence having a known time delay between the firing times of each source. The initial signals are grouped into gathers of signals acquired from multiple firing sequences. For each gather, initial estimates of the first and second source wave fields are determined. Quieted signals for the first source are then generated to represent the initial signals minus a current estimate of the second source wave field. A coherent energy separation operation is applied to the quieted signals to obtain a refined estimate for the first source wave field. |
| US08982661B2 |
Flexible identification technique
A shared-signaling multi-device memory system is capable of changing between addressing modes without the multi-device memory being required to undergo a power cycle. First and second registers of a memory device are set to both contain first address-identification information in response a first address-assignment command that is received a power cycle. The first register is set to contain second address-identification information in response a second address-assignment command that is received subsequently to the first address assignment command. Depending on the value of the second address-identification information, the memory device is configured in an individual-device-addressing mode or a parallel addressing mode without a power cycle. The first register can be reset to the first address-identification information contained in the second register in response to an address-restore command without a power cycle. A corresponding method is also disclosed. |
| US08982660B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method for word line decoding and routing
The invention discloses a semiconductor memory device and a method for word line decoding and routing. The present invention relates generally to semiconductor memory field, Problems solved by the invention is that, to improve the quality of word line signals results in routing congestion. Embodiments of the invention provide the program as follows: a semiconductor memory device and a method for word line decoding and routing, dividing memory array of the semiconductor memory device into a plurality of smaller memory arrays, on a first metal layer routing first decoded row address, on a second metal layer below the first metal layer routing second decoded row address, and the output word line after decoding drives the plurality of smaller memory arrays. Embodiments of the invention are suitable for various semiconductor memory designs, including: on-chip cache, translation look-aside buffer, content addressable memory, ROM, EEPROM, and SRAM and so on. |
| US08982650B2 |
Memory interface circuit and timing adjusting method
A memory interface circuit, which controls capture timing of data provided from a memory according to a strobe signal provided from the memory, includes a control unit that controls an activation timing of an internal strobe gate signal, which masks the strobe signal when being deactivated, by delaying the internal strobe gate signal by a first period shorter than one cycle time of a clock signal to generate an internal strobe gate adjustment signal, and by adjusting an activation timing of the adjustment signal. A detection unit outputs a detection signal, when the strobe signal changes from a first potential to a second potential higher than the first potential, or when the first potential of the strobe signal continues for a second period or longer. The control unit adjusts the activation timing of the adjustment signal in accordance with the detection signal. |
| US08982644B1 |
Method and apparatus for memory control
Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) that includes a processing unit and a signal-terminal matching circuitry. The processing unit is configured to communicate with an external memory device through conductive couplings that electrically couple terminals of an IC external interface respectively with terminals of the external memory device. The external memory device is disposed on a circuit substrate separate from the IC. The signal-terminal matching circuitry is configured to match memory control signals to the terminals of the IC external interface based on the external memory device. |
| US08982641B2 |
Memory erasing method and driving circuit thereof
A memory erasing method and a driving circuit thereof are introduced, when cells are selected to be erased, the method includes setting gates of cells which are not selected to be erased and are located at a selected block, drains of all the cells in a selected bank, and the gate of the unselected cells to be floating; supplying a positive voltage to all the sources in a selected bank and their shared P well and N well; and supplying a negative voltage to the gates of the cells located in a selected block and selected to be erased. Accordingly, a positive coupling voltage from P wells is received whenever gates are floating, so as to inhibit erasure of unselected blocks and thereby streamline decoding, thus making it easy to attain further expansion of blocks or banks with a small layout area and partition of sectors in the blocks. |
| US08982639B2 |
Nonvolatile memory device and method of driving the same
A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of memory blocks, and a pass transistor array transmitting a plurality of drive signals to a selected memory block among the plurality of memory blocks in response to a block select signal. The pass transistor array includes high voltage transistors including one common drain and two sources formed in one active region and one of the plurality of drive signals transmitted to the common drain is transmitted to different memory blocks through the two sources. |
| US08982636B2 |
Accessing method and a memory using thereof
A memory comprises a memory cell, a sense amplifier, and a control unit. The memory cell stores a first bit and a second bit. The sense amplifier senses a first cell current and a second cell current corresponding to the first and the second bits respectively with a voltage applying on the memory cell. The control unit determines a digital state of the first bit by comparing a first reference current with the first cell current or by comparing a reference data with a first delta current between the first cell current and the second cell current. |
| US08982635B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and writing method thereof
A writing method of a semiconductor memory device includes applying a plurality of program voltages sequentially generated to a selected word line, and applying any one of a plurality of source selection line voltages to a source selection line when each of the plurality of program voltages is applied. |
| US08982634B2 |
Flash memory
The present invention provides a flash memory including a memory cell, a current limiter and a program voltage generator. The memory cell is programmed in response to a program current and a program voltage. The current limiter reflects amount of the program current by a data-line signal, e.g., a data-line voltage. The program voltage generator generates and controls the program voltage in response to the data-line voltage, such that the program current can track to a constant reference current. |
| US08982629B2 |
Method and apparatus for program and erase of select gate transistors
Techniques are provided for programming and erasing of select gate transistors in connection with the programming or erasing of a set of memory cells. In response to a program command to program memory cells, the select gate transistors are read to determine whether their Vth is below an acceptable range, in which case the select gate transistors are programmed before the memory cells. Or, a decision can be made to program the select gate transistors based on a count of program-erase cycles, whether a specified time period has elapsed and/or a temperature history of the non-volatile storage device. When an erase command is made to erase memory cells, the select gate transistors are read to determine whether their Vth is above an acceptable range. If their Vth is above the acceptable range, the select gate transistors can be erased concurrently with the erasing of the memory cells. |
| US08982627B2 |
Fast programming memory device
In an embodiment of a memory device including a matrix of memory cells wherein the memory cells are arranged in a plurality of memory cells strings each one including at least two serially-connected memory cells, groups of at least two memory cells strings being connected to a respective bit line, and wherein said memory cells are adapted to be programmed into at least a first programming state and a second programming state, a method of storing data comprising exploiting a single memory cell for each of the memory cells string for writing the data, wherein said exploiting includes bringing the single memory cell to the second programming state, the remaining memory cells of the string being left in the first programming state. |
| US08982626B2 |
Program and read operations for 3D non-volatile memory based on memory hole diameter
Techniques are provided for programming and reading memory cells in a 3D stacked non-volatile memory device by compensating for variations in a memory hole diameter. The memory hole diameter is smaller at the bottom of the stack, resulting in more severe read disturb. To compensate, programming of memory cells at the lower word line layers is modified. In one approach, threshold voltage (Vth) distributions of one or more data states are narrowed during programming so that a lower read pass voltage can be used in a subsequent sensing operation. A sufficient spacing is maintained between the read pass voltage and the upper tail of the highest data state. The Vth distributions can be downshifted as well. In another approach, the read pass voltage is not lowered, but the lowest programmed state is upshifted to provide spacing from the upper tail of the erased state. |
| US08982622B2 |
3D memory array with read bit line shielding
A memory device includes a block of memory cells having a plurality of levels. Each level includes strips of memory cells extending in a first direction between first and second ends of the block. A first bit line structure, at each level at the first end, is coupled to a first string of memory cells extending from the first end. A second bit line structure, at each level at the second end, is coupled to a second string of memory cells extending from said second end. Bit line pairs extend in the first direction with each including odd and even bit lines. Odd and even bit line connectors connect the odd and even bit lines to the second and first bit line structures, respectively. Each bit line for a series of bit line pairs are separated by a bit line of an adjacent pair of bit lines. |
| US08982616B1 |
Spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) with perpendicular laminated free layer
A perpendicular spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) element includes a fixed layer having a magnetization that is substantially fixed in one direction and a barrier layer formed on top of the fixed layer and a free layer. The free layer has a number of alternating laminates, each laminate being made of a magnetic layer and an insulating layer. The magnetic layer is switchable and formed on top of the barrier layer. The free layer is capable of switching its magnetization to a parallel or an anti-parallel state relative to the magnetization of the fixed layer during a write operation when bidirectional electric current is applied across the STTMRAM element. Magnetic layers of the laminates are ferromagnetically coupled to switch together as a single domain during the write operation and the magnetization of the fixed and free layers and the magnetic layers of the laminates have perpendicular anisotropy. |
| US08982615B2 |
Decoding architecture and method for phase change non-volatile memory devices
A decoding system for a phase change non-volatile memory device having a memory array may include a column decoder that selects at least one column of the memory array during programming operations. The decoding system includes a selection circuit that includes selection switches on a number of hierarchical decoding levels for defining a conductive path between at least one column and a driving stage. A biasing circuit may supply biasing signals to the selection switches for defining the first conductive path and bringing the selected column to a programming voltage value. The programming selection circuit may have protection elements between columns and the selection switches. The selection switches and the protection elements may include metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors having an upper threshold voltage level lower than the programming voltage. |
| US08982614B2 |
Magnetoresistive effect element and manufacturing method thereof
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a tunnel barrier provided on the first ferromagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer provided on the tunnel barrier. The tunnel barrier includes a nonmagnetic mixture containing MgO and a metal oxide with a composition which forms, in a solid phase, a single phase with MgO. |
| US08982613B2 |
Scalable orthogonal spin transfer magnetic random access memory devices with reduced write error rates
A magnetic device includes a pinned polarizing magnetic layer having a magnetic vector parallel to a plane of the pinned polarizing magnetic layer. The magnetic device also includes a free layer, separated from the polarizing magnetic layer by a first non-magnetic layer, having a magnetization vector with a changeable magnetization direction. The changeable magnetization vector is configured to change to a first state upon application of a first current of a first polarity and to change to a second state upon application of a second current of a second, opposite polarity. The magnetic device also has a reference layer having a magnetic vector perpendicular to the plane of the reference layer and separated from the free layer by a second non-magnetic layer. |
| US08982610B2 |
Low power static random access memory
A bit line driver for a static random access memory (SRAM) cell including: a first voltage supply for supplying a first voltage; a second voltage supply for supplying a second voltage that is less than the first voltage; a write circuit to drive a bit line and an inverse bit line when writing to the SRAM cell; and a pre-charge circuit to pre-charge the bit line and the inverse bit line before reading the content of the SRAM cell. The bit line driver supplies a voltage less than the first voltage by a threshold voltage of one transistor to the bit line or the inverse bit line when the bit line driver drives the bit line or the inverse bit line to a high state. |
| US08982603B2 |
Cross point variable resistance nonvolatile memory device and method of reading thereby
A cross point variable resistance nonvolatile memory device including: a cross point memory cell array having memory cells each of which is placed at a different one of cross points of bit lines and word lines; a word line decoder circuit that selects at least one of the memory cells from the memory cell array; a read circuit that reads data from the selected memory cell; an unselected word line current source that supplies a first constant current; and a control circuit that controls the reading of the data from the selected memory cell, wherein the control circuit controls the word line decoder circuit, the read circuit, and the unselected word line current source so that when the read circuit reads data, the first constant current is supplied to an unselected word line. |
| US08982598B2 |
Stacked memory device with redundant resources to correct defects
A memory device includes a stack of circuit layers, each circuit layer having formed thereon a memory circuit configured to store data and a redundant resources circuit configured to provide redundant circuitry to correct defective circuitry on at least one memory circuit formed on at least one layer in the stack. The redundant resources circuit includes a partial bank of redundant memory cells, wherein an aggregation of the partial bank of redundant memory cells in each of the circuit layers of the stack includes at least one full bank of redundant memory cells and wherein the redundant resources circuit is configured to replace at least one defective bank of memory cells formed on any of the circuit layers in the stack with at least a portion of the partial bank of redundant memory cells formed on any of the circuit layers in the stack. |
| US08982597B2 |
Memory system with sectional data lines
The system includes multiple sets of local data lines in one or more routing metal layers below the three-dimensional memory array and multiple sets of global data lines in one or more top metal layers above the three-dimensional memory array. Each set of one or more blocks include one set of the local data lines. Each bay includes one set of global data lines that connect to the group of sense amplifiers associated with the blocks of the respective bay. Each block includes a subset of first selection circuits for selectively coupling a subset of array lines of the first type to respective local data lines. Each block includes a subset of second selection circuits for selectively coupling a subset of the respective local data lines to global data lines associated with a respective bay. |
| US08982596B1 |
Content addressable memory having column segment redundancy
A CAM device includes a CAM array that can implement column redundancy in which a defective column segment in a selected block can be functionally replaced by a selected column segment of the same block, and/or by a spare column segment of the same block. |
| US08982595B2 |
T-connected autotransformer-based 40-pulse AC-DC converter for power quality improvement
Design of a T-connected autotransformer based 20-pulse ac-dc converter is presented in this invention. The 20-pulse topology is obtained via two paralleled ten-pulse ac-dc converters each of them consisting of a five-phase (five-leg) diode bridge rectifier. For independent operation of paralleled diode-bridge rectifiers, a zero sequence blocking transformer (ZSBT) is designed and implemented. Connection of a tapped inter-phase transformer (IPT) at the output of ZSBT results in doubling the number of output voltage pulses to 40. Experimental results are obtained using the designed and constructed laboratory prototype of the proposed converter to validate the design procedure and the simulation results under varying loads. The VA rating of the magnetic in the proposed topology are calculated to confirm the savings in space, volume, weight, and cost of the proposed configuration. |
| US08982593B2 |
Cascaded H-Bridge (CHB) inverter level shift PWM with rotation
Cascade H-Bridge inverters and carrier-based level shift pulse width modulation techniques are presented for generating inverter stage switching control signals, in which carrier waveform levels are selectively shifted to control THD and to mitigate power distribution imbalances within multilevel inverter elements using either complementary carrier or complementary reference modulation techniques. |
| US08982591B2 |
System and method for exchangeable capacitor modules for high power inverters and converters
A method of and system for monitoring condition of a large capacitor connected across an output of a rectifier circuit in an operating electrical power transmission circuit in order to anticipate capacitor failure and facilitate appropriate corrective action is disclosed. The method includes measuring a ripple voltage on the capacitor and ripple current through the capacitor, determining from a representative signal whether the signal exceeds a predetermined threshold; and sending an output to a controller on a system operator if the signal exceeds the predetermined threshold. The ripple current and ripple voltage measurements may be provided as inputs to a digital to analog converter which produces and sends the representative signal to a microprocessor to generate the output to the controller. |
| US08982588B2 |
Method and an apparatus for controlling the output voltage of a boost converter composed of plural bridge devices
A method and apparatus for controlling the output voltage of a boost converter including a number n of bridge devices connected in series, each bridge device including plural switches and a capacitor. The method and apparatus provide control of the switches according to a selected periodical matrix pattern including a number N of time intervals, N being a positive integer greater than 2, and in that in each time interval, the voltage between the input and the output of each ith bridge device with i from one to n, is equal to one of a null value, a number ki times a positive value, and minus the number ki times the positive value, the positive value being the result of the division of the output voltage of the boost converter including the n bridge devices by the number of time intervals N of the periodical matrix pattern. |
| US08982585B2 |
Systems and methods for primary-side regulation in off-line switching-mode flyback power conversion system
Switching-mode power conversion system and method thereof. The system includes a primary winding configured to receive an input voltage, and a secondary winding coupled to the primary winding and configured to, with one or more first components, generate, at an output terminal, an output voltage and an output current. Additionally, the system includes an auxiliary winding coupled to the secondary winding and configured to, with one or more second components, generate, at a first terminal, a detected voltage. Moreover, the system includes an error amplifier configured to receive the detected voltage and a first reference voltage and generate an amplified voltage based on at least information associated with a difference between the detected voltage and the first reference voltage. Also, the system includes a compensation component configured to receive the amplified voltage and generate a second reference voltage based on at least information associated with the amplified voltage. |
| US08982582B2 |
Electronic device with antenna cable bracket
An electronic device contains circuitry such as radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures that are coupled using transmission line paths such as coaxial cable paths. A coaxial cable is mounted within an electronic device housing cable mounting structures. The coaxial cable has a meandering portion that forms a service loop. The cable mounting structures includes grooves that receive the meandering portion of the cable. The grooves may be formed within a molded plastic body. Patterned metal may be formed on the surface of the molded plastic body using laser-based processing techniques. The cable in the meandering portion may have a segment in which an outer cable conductor is exposed. The patterned metal on the molded plastic body may short the exposed outer conductor to the electronic device housing or other ground structure. |
| US08982578B2 |
Connector system and assembly having integrated protection circuitry
A system configured to protect a load within a vehicle includes a plug subassembly and a sensor connector subassembly. The sensor connector subassembly is selectively connectable to the plug subassembly. A circuit board is secured within the sensor connector subassembly. The circuit board includes at least one positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device electrically connected between an activation switch and a load. The circuit board includes at least one circuit to protect against over-voltage or over-current to the load, detect a fault condition of the load, and determine whether the plug subassembly is connected to the sensor connector subassembly. |
| US08982572B2 |
Control device for executing open mode of motion module of electric apparatus
The invention relates to a control device for executing an open mode of a motion module of an electric apparatus. The electric apparatus includes a motion module and a machine body module. The control device disposed on a path of the relative movement includes a combination of a carrier and an elastomer, in which the carrier has a blocking portion. The elastomer normally keeps the carrier at a first position, and the elastomer allows the carrier to motion toward a second position when the carrier is pressed. The control device allows the motion module to rotate (in an open mode) when the motion module crosses the blocking portion of the carrier. Accordingly, the invention promotes visual artistic effects by eliminating the essential exposure of the rotary shaft in the rotation-open mode of conventional skills. |
| US08982568B2 |
Battery cover latching structure and electronic device employing same
A battery cover latching structure is used to latch a battery cover to a housing of an electronic device. The battery cover includes a latching portion. The housing defines a receiving portion and a latching slot communicating to the receiving portion. The battery cover latching structure includes an urging member and a spring member elastically connected between the urging member and the housing. The urging member is rotatably connected to the housing. The urging member includes an urging portion extending into the latching slot. To close the battery cover, the latching portion is positioned on the receiving portion of the housing, and then the battery cover is pushed to allow the latching portion slide into the latching slot to engage with the urging portion to latch the batter cover to the housing. |
| US08982567B2 |
Device including circuit board with different form factor terminal sets and assemblies including the same
Example embodiments are directed to circuit boards, connectors, cases, circuit board assemblies, case assemblies, devices and methods of manufacturing the same, which are common to at least two different form factors. According to example embodiments, a solid state device (SSD) may include a circuit board, a connector, and a case. The circuit board may include a unibody board common to at least a first and a second form factor, first circuit board connection terminals of the first form factor on a front side of the board, and second circuit board connection terminals of the second form factor on a back side of the board. The connector may include connector connection terminals, where only one of the first circuit board connection terminals and the second circuit board connection terminals are connected to the connector connection terminals. |
| US08982563B2 |
Chip package to support high-frequency processors
A chip package includes a processor, an interposer chip and a voltage regulator module (VRM). The interposer chip is electrically coupled to the processor by first electrical connectors proximate to a surface of the interposer chip. Moreover, the interposer chip includes second electrical connectors proximate to another surface of the interposer chip, which are electrically coupled to the first electrical connectors by through-substrate vias (TSVs) in the interposer chip. Note that the second electrical connectors can electrically couple the interposer chip to a circuit board. Furthermore, the VRM is electrically coupled to the processor by the interposer chip, and is proximate to the processor in the chip package, thereby reducing voltage droop. For example, the VRM may be electrically coupled to the surface of the interposer chip, and may be adjacent to the processor. Alternatively, the VRM may be electrically coupled to the other surface of the interposer chip. |
| US08982559B2 |
Heat sink, cooling module and coolable electronic board
A heatsink is provided with a base body opposed to a heat generating body and absorbing heat from the heat generating body. Thermal resistance of that opposed portion of the base body which is opposed to the heat generating body is higher than thermal resistance of a surrounding portion surrounding the opposed portion. |
| US08982553B2 |
Mobile terminal and method for fabricating case thereof
In a mobile terminal having a case defining an appearance of the terminal, and a fabrication method for the case, the mobile terminal includes a plurality of pieces formed of zirconia or ceramic and each having a preset shape, and a frame recessed into one surface of the case to receive the plurality of pieces, the frame covering edges of the plurality of pieces, wherein the plurality of pieces are aligned in a repetitive manner to define one surface of the case. |
| US08982552B2 |
System for providing physically separated compute and I/O resources in the datacenter to enable space and power savings
An embodiment of a system and method disaggregate I/O resources from a server's compute resources, such as CPU and memory, by moving the server's local I/O devices to a remote location apart from the server's compute resources. An embodiment uses optical technology to accomplish the fast communication speeds needed between the compute resources and the remotely located I/O resources. Specifically, an embodiment uses fiber-optic cables and electrical-to-optical conversion to facilitate communication between the compute resources and the I/O resources. The compute resources and the remotely located I/O resources can be designed differently to allow conductive liquid cooling for the compute resources and air cooling for the I/O resources. |
| US08982544B2 |
Housing and electronic device
A housing includes a base housing and a reinforcing frame fixed with the base housing. The base housing includes a base plate, a peripheral sidewall extending outward from a peripheral edge of the base plate, and an inclined supporting peripheral wall extending inward from a distal end of the peripheral side wall toward a central portion of the base plate. The reinforcing frame is securely mounted on the inclined supporting peripheral wall of the base housing. The reinforcing frame includes a mounting portion having an inclined bottom surface resisting against and fixing with the corresponding inclined supporting peripheral wall of the base housing. An electronic device using the housing is also provided. |
| US08982543B2 |
Slider for keyboard
A slider for keyboard is disclosed, which comprises a keyboard, a slider, and a supporting frame. The slider is slidably disposed on the lateral side of the keyboard. The supporting frame is pivotally connected to the slider. The keyboard includes a top shell and a bottom shell, the top shell formed with a first sliding rail and the bottom shell formed with a second sliding rail. The slider is slightly bent defining a first block and a second block, a first track is formed on the first block, and a second track is formed on the second block. The first sliding rail is slidably received by the first track, and the second sliding rail is slidably received by the second track. |
| US08982532B2 |
Filtered feedthrough assembly and associated method
A system and method for sealing a capacitor bottom in a filtered feedthrough. The feedthrough comprises a ferrule, a capacitor, at least one terminal pin and a support structure. The support structure includes at least one projection that extends into an aperture of the capacitor. The projection includes an opening through which the at least one terminal pin extends such that, in an assembled state, the terminal pin extends through the opening of the projection and the aperture of the capacitor. |
| US08982531B2 |
Additional force augmented electroadhesion
An electrostatic device or system includes electrode(s) adapted to produce an electrostatic attraction force and a base surface adapted to facilitate the application of the electrostatic attraction force and also a physical attraction force separate therefrom. The electrostatic and physical attraction forces can maintain a position of the electrostatic device relative to a foreign object via electroadhesion and/or via an additional manner that is separate from the electroadhesion. The physical attraction force can be a vacuum, van der Waals, and/or adhesive force, can be applied at less than all locations across the base surface, and may involve a one-time permanent attachment. The base surface can include a deformable surface portion that moves closer to the foreign object when the electrostatic or physical attraction force is applied. The physical attraction force can be sufficient to adhere the device to the object when the electrostatic attraction force is removed. |
| US08982530B2 |
Methods and apparatus toward preventing ESC bonding adhesive erosion
Embodiments of the present invention provide chamber components having a protective element for shielding bonding material from processing environments in a processing environment. The protective element may include protective seals, protective structures, erosion resistive fillers, or combinations thereof. Embodiments of the present invention reduce erosion of bonding material used in a processing chamber, thus, improving processing quality and reducing maintenance costs. |