Document Document Title
US09101448B2 Method and apparatus for patterned plasma-mediated laser trephination of the lens capsule and three dimensional phaco-segmentation
System and method for making incisions in eye tissue at different depths. The system and method focuses light, possibly in a pattern, at various focal points which are at various depths within the eye tissue. A segmented lens can be used to create multiple focal points simultaneously. Optimal incisions can be achieved by sequentially or simultaneously focusing lights at different depths, creating an expanded column of plasma, and creating a beam with an elongated waist.
US09101447B2 Endpoint-managed photocoagulation
Systems and processes are described relating to laser-based ophthalmic intervention technologies and, more specifically, to techniques for delivering reproducible amounts of laser energy to create visible and sub-visible lesions on an eye. The subject technology may provide a user with the ability to adjust the amount of energy to be delivered to the eye tissue by selecting a single numerical value. In response, the system may adjust the power and/or duration of the laser treatment beam pulse according to an operating curve determined by the system.
US09101444B2 Method, surgical kit and device for treating glaucoma
A surgical kit includes at least one instrument and at least one implant device. The instrument has a needle body used to form a surgical passage through ocular tissue. The device includes a flexible tube that defines a duct for diverting aqueous humor with an outer surface having a maximal cross-sectional dimension that is less than the maximal cross-sectional dimension of the needle body. The device incorporates sealing means including at least one element that define a maximal cross-sectional dimension that is greater that the maximal cross-sectional dimension of the needle body and that are operably disposed within the surgical passage and form a seal between the surrounding ocular tissue and the element(s) as well as fixate the device in the surgical passage. The kit (and devices thereof) can be used as part of a surgical method to divert aqueous humor to a space formed in ocular tissue.
US09101438B2 Method of simultaneously cleaning and whitening teeth
Compositions and methods for whitening the teeth of a patient or subject are described for performing a dental prophylaxis or cleaning procedure during which at least one tooth whitening composition is applied to the surface of a stained tooth, said compositions and methods resulting in a tooth color change that is noticeable to the patient or subject immediately following the procedure. The novel procedure allows for a high degree of tooth whitening to be safely achieved in a short period of time while under the control of a dentist, dental hygienist, or other dental professional, and which at least partially coincides with the performance of a dental prophylaxis or cleaning procedure in order to save significant clinical operatory chair time compared to cleaning and whitening procedures that are performed in non-overlapping time frames or appointments.
US09101433B2 Method and apparatus for colour imaging a three-dimensional structure
A device for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure, such as a teeth segment, includes a scanner for providing depth data for points along a two-dimensional array substantially orthogonal to the depth direction, and an image acquisition means for providing color data for each of the points of the array, while the spatial disposition of the device with respect to the structure is maintained substantially unchanged. A processor combines the color data and depth data for each point in the array, thereby providing a three-dimensional color virtual model of the surface of the structure. A corresponding method for determining the surface topology and associate color of a structure is also provided.
US09101426B2 Cable plug
Disclosed herein are cable plugs for securing surgical cable to a bone plate. The cable plugs each have a cable retaining member and a fastening member. The cable retaining members each have a receiving portion adapted to receive a portion of the surgical cable therein. The cable retaining members are first coupled to the fastening members prior to securing the cable plug to the bone plate. The cable retaining member may rotate with respect to the fastening member about 270° along a longitudinal axis of the cable plug when the cable retaining member is coupled to the fastening member. When securing the surgical cable to the bone plate, the cable retaining member is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the cable plug until an axis of the receiving portion is parallel to an axis of the surgical cable. The surgical cable is then placed within the receiving portion, tightened, and crimped to secure the bone plate to the bone.
US09101425B2 Device and method for securing a ligature to an osseous structure
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a device for securing a ligature to an osseous structure, the device comprising a first part, a second part, a flexible elongate member for engaging the osseous structure, a closure element, and a deformable element between the first and second parts for holding open a gap G between them. The flexible elongate member is threaded through an orifice in the first part and the gap G. The closure element is configured for clamping the first and second parts against each other, overcoming the resilience of the deformable element, so as to frictionally lock the flexible elongate member threaded through the gap G. Embodiments disclosed herein also provide a method for using the device.
US09101424B1 Thin bendable bone plate for bone deficit repair and method of preparation
A flexible, bendable organic decalcified or partially decalcified bone, cortical or cancellous, adapted for use in augmentation or repair of animal skeletal structures comprising a continuous plate or sheet of natural bone, as well as dermis is described. The thickness, flexibility and tensile strength of the construct is such as to allow it to be shaped and contoured without damage to it. The composition is ultimately remodeled by the body, thus obviating the need for additional surgical intervention. The clinical indications for the use of the invented construct are many, but are particularly prominent in dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery and implantology. It is particularly useful in the maxillary sinus augmentation. A unique new method, different from previously described methods for the preparation of the disclosed constructs, is described.
US09101422B2 Spinal plate system for stabilizing a portion of a spine
A spinal plate system that maintains intervertebral spacing and spinal stability is provided. One embodiment includes a spacer for establishing an initial condition of an adjustable spinal device. The spacer includes a first coupling portion configured to couple selectively with a first segment of the adjustable spinal device, a second coupling portion configured to couple selectively with a second segment of the adjustable spinal device, and a spacer body extending between the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion. The spacer prevents movement of the first segment of the spinal device relative to the second segment when the first coupling portion is coupled selectively with the first segment and the second coupling portion is coupled selectively with the second segment.
US09101420B2 Device for fixation of bone fragments at bone fractures
A device for fixation of bone fragments at bone fractures including at least two fixation means (5, 6), a securing plate (4) and at least one securing means (23) for the fixation means. Each fixation means (5, 6) has a first fixing portion (19) for fixing the fixation means in an inner bone fragment (3), a second fixing portion (21) which serves in conjunction with the securing means (23) for locking the fixation means in a hole (9) which runs through the securing plate (4) disposed on the outside of an outer bone fragment (2) and allowing movement of the outer bone fragment relative to it, so that the fixation means are prevented from changing their angular position relative to the securing plate and relative to one another, and a middle portion (22) which is situated between the fixing portions (19, 21) and runs through the outer bone fragment (2), along which middle portion the outer bone fragment can slide inwards towards the inner bone fragment (3) in which the fixation means is fixed, and the securing means (23) has an external thread for screwing it firmly into a hole (9) in the securing plate (4).
US09101419B2 Apparatus and methods for separating internal bone fixation device from introducer
Apparatus and methods for separating an internal bone fixation device from an introducer are disclosed herein. A device for separating an internal bone fixation device from an introducer includes a functional portion having an outer shaft surrounding and controlling operation of a cutting mechanism; and a control portion having an actuating mechanism for initiating activation of the outer shaft.
US09101418B2 Medical device and vascularization method
A medical device includes a tubular body having a first lumen so designed as to receive a fluid from an opening at one end of the first lumen and discharge the fluid from an opening at the other end of the first lumen, and an expandable body attached to the tubular body. The first lumen communicates with the space inside the expandable body and the expandable body expands by the internal pressure of the fluid which is injected from the opening at one end and enters the space inside the expandable body through the first lumen.
US09101414B2 Surgical instrument with integrated compression and distraction mechanisms
Embodiments disclosed herein provide compression/distraction methods and tools useful for fitting a spinal stabilization system in a patient through minimally invasive surgery. The spinal stabilization system may comprise screws anchored in vertebrae. The vertebrae may need to be compressed or distracted. One embodiment of an instrument disclosed herein may comprise a shaft for engaging one of the screws through an extender sleeve. A driver may engage another screw through an opening of the instrument. Through this engagement, a surgeon may use the rack and pinion of the instrument to compress or distract one or more levels of the vertebrae in a parallel motion, which can be advantageous clinically in certain situations.
US09101412B2 Vertebral adjustment systems for spine alignment
A vertebral adjustment system configured to move individual vertebral bodies relative to the other vertebral bodies to thereby realign the spine. The system may include a frame, and a plurality of alignment devices coupled to the frame and to the individual vertebral bodies. By manipulated the alignment devices the vertebral bodies to which they are attached may be moved.
US09101411B2 Method and apparatus for spinal fixation
Fusion of cervical spinal vertebrae with one or more fixation devices can be accomplished with the described tools and methods. For example, a guidewire introducer can include a tubular introducer cannula and a handle. The handle can be angularly offset from the introducer cannula such that positioning of the introducer on the cervical spine does not interfere with a patient's head. A sheath assembly can include inner and outer sheath bodies and a handle. The handle is angularly offset from the sheath bodies such that the sheath assembly can be applied to the cervical spine without interference to the patient's head. The sheath body can be curved or straight. Various tools such as drills, tapping devices, compression tools, and pin release tools can be applied to the cervical spine through the sheath body to apply the fixation device. The tools can include elongate flexible shafts.
US09101403B2 Bone anchoring element and stabilization device for bones, in particular for the spinal column
A bone anchoring element includes an anchoring section for anchoring in the bone and a receiving part connected to the anchoring section. The receiving part includes an opening suitable for accommodation of a stabilization rod having a rod axis, the opening being limited along the rod axis by two side walls. The side walls include guides orientated along the rod axis for guiding at least one connection rod therethrough.
US09101401B2 Bone repair device and method
An assembly for treating a spinal disorder includes a sleeve having a socket end, a tool-receiving end and a wall extending between the socket end and tool-receiving end. The socket end has a socket opening for receiving a bone fixation screw cap and a pair of opposing notches for accommodating an elongated fixation member. A sleeve wall forms a bore extending axially between the tool-receiving end and the socket end of the sleeve. A method for repairing a spinal disorder includes the step of inserting a polyaxial screw into a vertebral bone, where the polyaxial screw has a screw cap. An elongated fixation member is inserted into the screw cap, followed by a fastener which is inserted into the screw cap in proximity to the fixation member. An adjustment device is connected to the screw cap to adjust the position of the polyaxial screw and vertebral bone.
US09101396B2 Pressure sensing for a multi-arm catheter
A method for operating a medical probe includes pressing a distal end of the medical probe, which includes one or more arms that extend diagonally outward from a central shaft and have respective position transducers coupled thereto, against an intra-body surface, so as to cause the arms to exert pressure on the surface and bend with respect to the central shaft in response to the pressure. Positions of the respective position transducers coupled to the arms are measured, and the pressure exerted by the arms is estimated responsively to the measured positions.
US09101389B2 Apparatus for guiding the placement of a subcutaneous device
An apparatus for guiding the placement of a subcutaneous device that includes a strap having an indentation configured for a fold of skin and fat layer to be positioned within the indentation as the subcutaneous device is advanced to a desired implantation site.
US09101386B2 Devices and methods for treating tissue
Described herein are devices, systems and methods for treating target tissue in a patient's spine. In general, the methods include the steps of advancing a wire into the patient from a first location, through a neural foramen, and out of the patient from a second location; connecting a tissue modification device to the wire; positioning the tissue modification device through the neural foramen using the wire; modifying target tissue in the spine by moving the tissue modification device against the target tissue; and delivering an agent to modified target tissue, wherein the agent is configured to inhibit blood flow from the modified target tissue. In some embodiments, the step of modifying target tissue comprises removing target tissue located ventral to the superior articular process while avoiding non-target tissue located lateral to the superior articular process.
US09101385B2 Electrode connections for rotary driven surgical tools
A surgical tool can comprise an end effector, a shaft assembly, a rotatable drive shaft, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact. The end effector comprises first and second jaw members that are pivotable relative to one another from an open position to a closed position and an electrode positioned on the first jaw member. The shaft assembly extends proximally from the end effector, is at least partially hollow, and defines an inner wall. The rotatable drive shaft extends proximally within the shaft assembly. The first electrical contact is coupled to the inner wall of the shaft assembly and positioned around at least a portion of the drive shaft. The second electrical contact is coupled to and rotatable with the drive shaft. The second electrical contact is positioned to be electrically connected to the first electrical contact as the drive shaft rotates.
US09101384B2 Devices, systems and methods for diagnosing and treating sinusitis and other disorders of the ears, Nose and/or throat
Various diagnostic procedures and devices are used to perform imaging studies, mucus flow studies, air/gas flow studies, anatomic dimension studies, endoscopic studies and transillumination studies. Devices and methods for visually confirming the positioning of a distal end portion of an illuminating device placed within a patient include inserting a distal end portion of an illuminating device internally into a patient, emitting light from the distal end portion of the illuminating device, observing transillumination resulting from the light emitted from the distal end portion of the illuminating device that occurs on an external surface of the patient, and correlating the location of the observed transillumination on the external surface of the patient with an internal location of the patient that underlies the location of observed transillumination, to confirm positioning of the distal end portion of the illuminating device.
US09101381B2 Double universal joint
Surgical tools having a two degree-of-freedom wrist, wrist articulation by linked tension members, mechanisms for transmitting torque through an angle, and minimally invasive surgical tools incorporating these features are disclosed. An elongate intermediate wrist member is pivotally coupled with a distal end of an instrument shaft so as to rotate about a first axis transverse to the shaft, and an end effector body is pivotally coupled with the intermediate member so as to rotate about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis. Linked tension members interact with attachment features to articulate the wrist. A torque-transmitting mechanism includes a coupling member, coupling pins, a drive shaft, and a driven shaft. The drive shaft is coupled with the driven shaft so as to control the relative orientations of the drive shaft, the coupling member, and the driven shaft.
US09101380B2 Robotic surgery system including position sensors using fiber Bragg gratings
A surgical instrument is provided, including: at least one articulatable arm having a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one joint region disposed between the distal and proximal ends; an optical fiber bend sensor provided in the at least one joint region of the at least one articulatable arm; a detection system coupled to the optical fiber bend sensor, said detection system comprising a light source and a light detector for detecting light reflected by or transmitted through the optical fiber bend sensor to determine a position of at least one joint region of the at least one articulatable arm based on the detected light reflected by or transmitted through the optical fiber bend sensor; and a control system comprising a servo controller for effectuating movement of the arm.
US09101378B2 Method and apparatus for determining acetabular component positioning
An instrument for establishing orientation of a pelvic prosthesis comprises a tripod having an angularly adjustable guide rod on it. The tips of the legs define a plane, and the guide rod is set by the surgeon to a defined orientation with respect to this plane on the basis of preoperative studies. In use, two of the legs of the instrument are positioned by the surgeon at defined anatomical locations on the pelvis (e.g., a point in the region of the posterior/inferior acetabulum and a point on the anterior superior iliac spine). The third leg then lands on the pelvis at a point determined by the position of the first two points, as well as by the separations between the third leg and the other two legs. The position of the guide rod then defines with respect to the actual pelvis the direction for insertion of a prosthesis.
US09101376B2 Ultrasonic imaging microwave therapeutic apparatus
An ultrasonic imaging microwave therapeutic apparatus includes a microwave radiation probe, a microwave generating unit, a laser generating unit, a color Doppler ultrasound imaging unit, and a microcomputer control unit. The microcomputer control unit outputs the microwave power control signal to control and adjust the power of the microwave generating unit. The microcomputer control unit outputs the laser control signal to control the switch-on/off of the laser generating unit. The advantages of using the therapeutic apparatus to treat the lower extremity varicose vein disease are as follows. The closure of the varicose vessel is accurate, firm, and thorough. The effect is definite. The traumas for patients are small. The pain of patients is light. The intraoperative bleeding is less. The recovery of patients is rapid. It is difficult to form deep vein thrombosis, can accurately treat the diseased blood vessel and simultaneously instantly verify the effect of the surgery.
US09101374B1 Method for guiding an ablation catheter based on real time intracardiac electrical signals and apparatus for performing the method
An apparatus and method for controlling the orientation, geometry, shape or length of an inserted catheter is provided to optimize it's position during procedures for treating cardiac arrhythmia by ablation based on functions derived from one or more parameters including the temporal relationship between intracardiac signals, patient anatomy, cardiac tissue electrical properties, imaging data, and other criteria that may include previously stored data collected from one or more patients who have had successful therapy delivered.
US09101369B2 Surgical instrument for detachably connecting a handpiece to a surgical tool
Surgical instrument with a handpiece having a drive and with a surgical tool, which has a tube and a working part with a shaft and with a tool head, the tube of the surgical tool can be detachably connected to the handpiece by a first coupling part and the shaft of the working part can be detachably connected to a drive shaft in the form of a pin of the drive by a second coupling part simultaneously.
US09101368B2 Methods of forming medical reamers
A cutting tool is provided with a cutting surface on a first side of the cutting tool and an attachment member on a second side of the cutting tool. The cutting surface can have cutting edges with characteristics that vary along the cutting tool. Novel methods of manufacturing such cutting tools are also provided.
US09101366B2 Flip retrograde cutting instrument
A flip retrograde cutting instrument and method of retrograde drilling using such an instrument. A method of forming a socket includes providing a flip retrograde cutter, inserting the cutter into a joint with a blade of the cutter in a straight position, pivoting the blade to a non-straight flip position, locking the blade in the flip position, and retrograde drilling a socket using the blade in the flip position.
US09101365B2 Catheter with multiple electrode assemblies for use near tubular regions of the heart
A catheter with ablation and potential sensing capabilities is adapted for outer circumferential contact with an opening of a tubular region and inner circumferential contact within the tubular region. The catheter has a proximal electrode assembly and a distal electrode assembly for ablation of an ostium and potential sensing inside the pulmonary vein so that it is possible to obtain ECG signals inside a pulmonary vein when ablating around the ostium. The distal electrode assembly has an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of spines surrounding the member and converging at their proximal and distal ends, where each spine has at least one electrode and a curvature so that the spine bows radially outwardly from the member. The proximal electrode assembly has a proximal electrode assembly has an elongated member configured with a generally radial portion and a generally circular portion generally transverse to the catheter axis, where the generally circular portion comprising a plurality of electrodes. The control handle advantageously allows a user to manipulate a tensile member for changing the curvature of the spine.
US09101362B1 Fasteners that bring into apposition sides of wound
A surgical fastener that has an urging part and a piercing part. The urging part is formed to urge the piercing part to move between open and closed positions. The piercing part includes a pair of piercing prongs that terminate at tips, which taper into a sharpened condition to pierce through skin tissue under manual force. The piercing prongs each having a different radius of curvature so that the tips overlap each other as the piercing part reaches the closed position and that spread apart from each other as the piercing part reaches the open position. At least one of the urging part and the piercing part including a mechanism that tends to urge the tips of the piercing prongs closer to each other as the piercing part moves to the closed position from the open position.
US09101361B2 Stretch resistant therapeutic device
A vasoocclusive coil is reinforced with a stretch resistant member to improve safety during retraction of the coil. The stretch resistant member is fixedly attached at one end to the vasoocclusive coil, and the other end of the stretch resistant member is detachably mounted to an elongated pusher member to allow for placement and release of the vasoocclusive coil within the patient's vasculature.
US09101358B2 Articulatable surgical instrument comprising a firing drive
A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector rotatably coupled to the shaft by an articulation joint. The surgical instrument can further include a staple cartridge positioned within the end effector and a firing drive operably coupled with a trigger wherein the operation of the trigger can advance and/or retract a firing member of the firing drive relative to the end effector. The surgical instrument can further comprise an articulation drive which is selectively engageable with the firing drive. When the articulation drive is engaged with the firing drive, the operation of the firing drive can operate the articulation drive and articulate the end effector. When the articulation drive is not engaged with the firing drive, the firing drive can be operated independently of the articulation drive.
US09101355B2 Method and apparatus for re-attaching the labrum to the acetabulum, including the provision and use of a novel suture anchor system
Apparatus for securing an object to bone, the apparatus including an anchor assembly including an anchor and an actuation element extending from the anchor, wherein applying a force to the actuation element when the anchor is disposed in a hole formed in a bone secures the anchor to the bone; and an inserter for deploying the anchor assembly in a hole formed in a bone, the inserter including a shaft for releasably engaging the anchor; and a force delivery mechanism mounted to the shaft and connected to the actuation element, the force delivery mechanism being constructed so as to receive an input force from an external source and to selectively apply an output force to the actuation element, with the force delivery mechanism being constructed so that the magnitude of the output force is limited regardless of the magnitude of the input force.
US09101354B2 Wound retractor with gel cap
An incrementally adjustable wound retractor, which provides access to a body cavity, includes an inner ring having a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, an outer ring having an annular axis and a diameter greater than the desired diameter of the wound incision, and a flexible sleeve disposed in a generally cylindrical form between the inner and outer rings. The outer ring includes first and second circular tubes spaced apart axially with each including a lumen having a rigid, noncompliant split hoop positioned therein. The outer ring may be rolled over itself and around the annular axis to retract the sleeve with sufficient force to stretch the incision to the desired diameter. A gel cap seal may be coupled to the outer ring outside of the biological body to seal the opening produced by the wound retractor between the body cavity and outside the body cavity.
US09101351B2 Biopsy device
A biopsy device having a cannula and a translating and rotating cutter with respect to the cannula is disclosed. The biopsy device may have a programmable memory for use in operating the cutter. The biopsy device may also include a reservoir, and may be functional to provide a flow of pressurized liquid through the cutter.
US09101350B2 Half cannula full core biopsy needle
There is disclosed, among other things, embodiments of a biopsy needle for taking a full core sample through soft tissue. In the illustrated embodiments, an inner tubular member having a semi-cylindrical distal end is within and slidable with respect to an outer tubular member. A semi-cylindrical channel is in the distal end, as well as a planar end surface. The channel has a set of one or more protrusions or texture, and a complementary set of protrusions or texture are placed on the inside of the outer member so that the sets of protrusions or texture face each other when the distal ends of the members are adjacent each other. Methods for using these embodiments are also described.
US09101348B2 Surgical patient side cart with drive system and method of moving a patient side cart
A patient side cart for a teleoperated surgical system can include at least one manipulator arm portion for holding a surgical instrument, a steering interface, and a drive system. The steering interface may be configured to detect a force applied by a user to the steering interface indicating a desired movement for the teleoperated surgical system. The drive system can include at least one driven wheel, a control module, and a model section. The control module may receive as input a signal from the steering interface corresponding to the force applied by the user to the steering interface. The control module may be configured to output a desired movement signal corresponding to the signal received from the steering interface. The model section can include a model of movement behavior of the patient side cart, the model section outputting a movement command output to drive the driven wheel.
US09101347B2 Coaxial incisional full-core biopsy needle
Among other things, there are disclosed embodiments of full-core biopsy needles having an outer needle component and a middle cannula through a lumen in the outer component, through which a mandrel may be placed. The outer component includes an internal boss that reduces its internal diameter, and the cannula includes fingers that extend distally. When the needle is inserted for biopsy, tissue enters the outer component and cannula. Moving the cannula forward causes the fingers to engage a surface of the internal boss, resulting in the fingers curving into the tissue. The fingers pinch the tissue while reducing or eliminating compression of the sample to provide an easier removal of the tissue from adjacent tissue, as well as providing a block or backstop keeping the tissue within the needle. Gaps are provided between the fingers to further reduce damage to the tissue sample.
US09101346B2 Pain management using cryogenic remodeling
Medical devices, systems, and methods for pain management and other applications may apply cooling with at least one probe inserted through an exposed skin surface of skin. The cooling may remodel one or more target tissues so as to effect a desired change in composition of the target tissue and/or a change in its behavior, often to interfere with transmission of pain signals along sensory nerves. Alternative embodiments may interfere with the function of motor nerves, the function of contractile muscles, and/or some other tissue included in the contractile function chain so as to inhibit muscle contraction and thereby alleviate associated pain. In some embodiments, other sources of pain such as components of the spine (optionally including herniated disks) may be treated.
US09101338B2 Soft body tissue remodeling methods and apparatus
An implant structure for use in pulling two soft body tissue areas closer together in a patient (e.g., two points along or adjacent to the patient's mitral valve annulus) includes at least two tissue anchor structures that are respectively implantable into the two tissue areas. A tether structure links the two tissue anchors and can be shortened and held in that condition by a cinch structure. Bracing structures are used between the anchors and the tether to help keep the longitudinal axes of the anchors transverse to the tether axis even when the tether is under tension. The tether may be sheathed in a cushioning sleeve to help protect adjacent tissue from erosion by the tether.
US09101337B2 Surgical coupling system and surgical drive system
The invention relates to a surgical coupling system which comprises first and second surgical coupling devices each having at least two electrical coupling contacts that are moveable mechanically into engagement with one another. The coupling devices are completely separated from each other in a separated position and are mechanically in engagement with one another in a mechanical coupling position. The system further comprises an electrical switching device which, in the coupling position, is moveable from an OFF position, in which at least one first electrical coupling contact of the first coupling device and at least one first electrical coupling contact of the second coupling device are out of engagement, into an ON position in which the at least one first electrical coupling contact of the first coupling device and the at least one first electrical coupling contact of the second coupling device are in electrically conductive contact or engagement.
US09101332B2 Medical implantable lead with fixation detection
A lead comprises a mechanical switch at a proximal end of a rotatable shaft. The mechanical switch has a first position to electrically connect a first electric conductor to a second electric conductor for electrically activating a pin and has a second position to electrically connect the first electric conductor to the rotatable shaft for electrically activating a helix. Proper fixation of the helix to an organ is determined by inserting a stylet into the mechanical switch to render the pin electrically active and the helix electrically inactive. Upon determination of proper fixation of the helix to the organ, the stylet is removed from the mechanical switch to render the helix electrically active and the pin electrically inactive.
US09101329B2 Method for determining the position of an intraoral measuring device
A method for determining the position of an intraoral measuring device which is to be moved relative to an organ of mastication of a patient and with which positions in the organ of mastication or areas of the organ of mastication are measured. To be able to carry out measurements without a fixed reference, it is proposed that, independently of a reference that is independent of the patient, the position of the measuring device is measured by means of a position-determining sensor that is in a fixed relationship to the measuring device.
US09101326B2 Method and system of image reconstruction and method and system of image construction
A method of image reconstruction is provided. When an object is not placed in a measurement space, first intensity images of an electromagnetic wave passing through the measurement space and corresponding to photon energy levels are measured. When the object is placed in the measurement space, second intensity images of the electromagnetic wave passing through the object and corresponding to photon energy levels are measured. In a database, data including an attenuation coefficient of each substance respectively having components irradiated by the electromagnetic wave corresponding to each photon energy level and a thickness of each substance in a transmission direction of the electromagnetic wave corresponding to each photon energy level are provided. Attenuation images of the object respectively corresponding to the components are calculated according to the data and the first and second intensity images. An image reconstruction system and a method and system of image construction are also provided.
US09101324B2 Vital sign measurement robot and control method thereof
A vital sign measurement robot which automatically measures vital signs, and a control method thereof. The vital sign measurement robot includes an input unit to receive vital sign measurement instructions, an image recognition unit to detect a distance between the robot and a person, vital signs of whom are to be measured, and a measurement portion of the body of the person, when the vital sign measurement instructions are received, a control unit to move electrodes provided on hands so as to locate the electrodes at the measurement portion of the body of the person, when the distance between the robot and the person and the measurement portion of the body of the person are detected, and a vital sign measurement unit to measure a vital sign, when the electrodes are located at the measurement portion of the body of the person.
US09101321B1 Unique device identification through high data density structural encoding
An implant device identifiable after implantation comprises a main portion of the implant device and a coded portion of the implant device. The coded portion comprises a radiopaque element and indicia on the radiopaque element or indicia as a plurality of radiopaque elements disposed within the coded portion. The indicia are discernible by x-ray, fluoroscopy, computed tomography, electromagnetic radiation, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging.
US09101320B2 Skin diagnostic and image processing methods
Skin diagnostic techniques employed in conjunction with image processing techniques. For example, a method includes performing one or more diagnostic operations on at least one portion of a user skin image to generate user skin image data, wherein the diagnostic operations are associated with an identified skin-related application. The user skin image data is processed in accordance with the identified skin-related application. The processing includes identifying one or more sets of skin image data in a database that correspond to the user skin image data based on parameters specified by the skin-related application, and determining at least one image processing filter based on the sets of identified skin image data. The image processing filter is applied to the user skin image to generate a simulated user skin image.
US09101314B2 System and method for monitoring bladder and abdominal pressures, and bladder function recovery system
Here provided are systems and methods for monitoring bladder and/or abdominal pressures, and a bladder function recovery device. In the systems and methods, the bladder pressure can be detected in real time with a bladder pressure detection unit that is communicated with a urinary catheter. In addition, the abdominal pressure can also be obtained in real time according to the corresponding relationship between the bladder pressure and the abdominal pressure. Furthermore, the bladder function recovery device can be used for bladder function recovery for patients in need.
US09101310B2 Glucose sensor signal stability analysis
Disclosed are methods, apparatuses, etc. for glucose sensor signal stability analysis. In certain example embodiments, a series of samples of at least one sensor signal that is responsive to a blood glucose level of a patient may be obtained. Based at least partly on the series of samples, at least one metric may be determined to assess an underlying trend of a change in responsiveness of the at least one sensor signal to the blood glucose level of the patient over time. A reliability of the at least one sensor signal to respond to the blood glucose level of the patient may be assessed based at least partly on the at least one metric assessing an underlying trend. Other example embodiments are disclosed herein.
US09101307B2 Medical system and method for operating a medical system
A medical system and method to operating the medical system is presented. A patient storage element is assigned to a patient comprising identification information identifying the patient. A medical device has a contaminating patient application. A medical device storage element on the medical device comprises use information. A clearing device receives the identification information from the patient storage element and the use information from the medical device storage element and analyzes the use information. If in analyzing the use information it is found that application of the medical device to the patient is allowed, a clearance signal is outputted. If in analyzing the use information it is found that application of the medical device to the patient is not allowed, the identification information is analyzed. If in analyzing the identification information it is found that application of the medical device to the patient is allowed, a clearance signal is outputted.
US09101305B2 Glucose sensor product and related manufacturing and packaging methods
A glucose sensor product is manufactured by a process that maintains the sterility of the glucose sensor while allowing gaseous manufacturing by-products to be vented from the inside of the glucose sensor package. The method begins by placing a glucose sensor assembly into a plastic package tray having a sealing surface surrounding an opening. The method continues by covering the opening with a microbial barrier material such that the microbial barrier material overlies the sealing surface, forming a seal between the sealing surface and the microbial barrier material, resulting in a sealed package tray containing the glucose sensor assembly, and sterilizing the glucose sensor assembly inside the sealed package tray. The microbial barrier material maintains sterility of the glucose sensor assembly while allowing volatile by-products outgassed from the glucose sensor assembly and the plastic package tray to pass therethrough.
US09101302B2 Analyte test device
An analyte test device is constructed as an integrated, single-use, disposable cartridge which can be releasably installed into a compatible analyte test monitor. In use, the device can be used in conjunction with the monitor to lance the skin of a patient to create a blood sample, express the blood sample from the wound site using vacuum forces and calculate the concentration of a particular analyte in the expressed blood sample. In one embodiment, the device includes a base which includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The base is also shaped to define an aperture which extends transversely through its top and bottom surfaces. An electrochemical test sensor is affixed to the base in such a manner so that a vacuum path is at least partially defined between the base and the test sensor, the vacuum path being in fluid communication with the aperture. A cover is affixed to the top surface of the base over the aperture, the cover comprising a flexible dome-shaped member and a lancet coupled to the member, the lancet being orientated such that its longitudinal axis extends at an approximate right angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the test sensor. The bottom surface of the base is shaped to include a skin receiving surface which at least partially defines the aperture in the base, the skin receiving surface having a steep inward contour to distend the skin of the patient when pressed thereagainst.
US09101298B2 Apparatus and method for use of RFID catheter intelligence
A method and system is provided for using backscattered data and known parameters to characterize vascular tissue. Specifically, methods and devices for identifying information about the imaging element used to gather the backscattered data are provided in order to permit an operation console having a plurality of Virtual Histology classification trees to select the appropriate VH classification tree for analyzing data gathered using that imaging element. In order to select the appropriate VH database for analyzing data from a specific imaging catheter, it is advantageous to know information regarding the function and performance of the catheter, such as the operating frequency of the catheter and whether it is a rotational or phased-array catheter. The present invention provides a device and method for storing this information on the imaging catheter and communicating the information to the operation console. In addition, information related to additional functions of the catheter may also be stored on the catheter and used to further optimize catheter performance and/or select the appropriate Virtual Histology classification tree for analyzing data from the catheter imaging element.
US09101297B2 Time-based unobtrusive active eye interrogation
Methods and systems for determining a physiological parameter of a subject through interrogation of an eye of the subject with an optical signal are described. Interrogation is performed unobtrusively. The physiological parameter is determined from a signal sensed from the eye of a subject according to a schedule, under the control of a scheduling controller.
US09101296B2 Integrated video and electro-oculography system
A goggle based light-weight VOG/EOG system includes at least one digital camera connected to and powered by a laptop computer through a firewire connection. The EOG system is incorporated directly into a goggle base. The digital camera may digitally center the pupil in both the X and Y directions. A calibration mechanism may be incorporated onto the goggle base. The VOG system may track and record 3-D movement of the eye, track pupil dilation, head position and goggle slippage. An animated eye display provides data in a more meaningful fashion. The VOG system is a modular design whereby the same goggle frame or base is used to build a variety of digital camera VOG systems.
US09101295B2 Assessment of topographic semi-meridian parameters for corneal astigmatism analysis and vector planning treatment
Techniques are disclosed in which a topographic parameter is determined in each hemidivision of the eye by considering the topography of reflected images from a multiplicity of illuminated concentric rings of the cornea. A simulated spherocylinder is produced to fit into each ring and conform to the topography thereof from which a topographic parameter for each ring can be obtained. All of the topographic parameters of each ring are combined and a mean summated value is obtained representing magnitude and meridian of each hemidivision. From these parameters, a single topographic value for the entire eye (CorT) can be found as well as a value representing topographic disparity (TD) between the two hemidivisions. The topography values for the hemidivisions are used in a vector planning system to obtain treatment parameters in a single step operation.
US09101293B2 Automated analysis of the optic nerve head: measurements, methods and representations
The present invention relates to structural analysis of the optic nerve head (ONH). In one approach, a 3D volume of intensity data which includes the optic nerve head is acquired using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system. The vitreoretinal interface (VRI) and the optic disc margin are identified from the 3D data. The minimum area of a surface from the optic disc margin to the VRI is determined. This minimum area can be displayed as an image or in the alternative, a value corresponding to this minimum area can be displayed. The minimum area measurement provides relevant clinical information to determine the health of the eye.
US09101291B2 Ultrasonic bone analysis with harmonic and amplitude of the frequencies from cartilage to determine the relative ratio of integral amplitude values
This disclosure provides an ultrasonic bone analyzing device, which includes a transmission module for transmitting an ultrasonic signal into the inside of a living body from an outer skin of the living body, a reception module for receiving an echo signal that is a reflection wave of the transmitted ultrasonic signal from the inside of the living body, and an analyzing module for generating analysis data indicative of a state of a cartilage using an amplitude value of an echo signal from the inside of the cartilage obtained from between a cartilage surface and a subchondral bone among the received echo signals.
US09101289B2 Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus has a storage unit for storing the elastic volume data generated on the basis of the ultrasonic image data obtained by transmitting/receiving ultrasonic waves to/from an object to be examined, an input unit for setting a region of interest in the space which is occupied by the elastic volume data, an extraction unit for extracting from the elastic volume data a voxel group having the voxel values within a set elasticity range which is set based on the elasticity value of the voxels in the region of interest, a 3-dimensional elastic image creation unit for generating a 3-dimensional elastic image basis on the elastic volume data of the voxel group which is extracted by the extraction unit or the elastic volume data excluding the extracted voxel group; and an image display unit for displaying the 3-dimensional elastic image generated by the 3-dimensional elastic image creation unit.
US09101288B2 Image processing device, imaging device, computer-readable storage medium, and image processing method
A reflected light image and a fluorescent light image of an observed region are acquired with an imaging system. A gradation level of the reflected light image is set on the basis of a feature value of the acquired reflected light image. The focus of the imaging system is controlled in accordance with the set gradation level. The fluorescent light image is corrected using a focus-controlled reflected light image of the observed region. Accordingly, the image of an object in the observed region from which the fluorescent light is generated is sharpened.
US09101283B2 Method and magnetic resonance system for determining a coding for a flow measurement and for implementing a flow measurement with the coding
In a method and magnetic resonance system to determine a flow coding for a flow measurement with the magnetic resonance system, in order to determine the optimal flow coding, a flow pre-measurement with multiple different flow codings is conducted within a slice within a body to be examined, each of these codings allowing flow velocities to be detected with a sensitivity dependent on the respective coding. A velocity distribution of the non-slice-location-specific flow velocity values is generated from all of the results of this flow pre-measurement by a common Fourier transformation. The optimal flow coding for the flow measurement is then determined based on this velocity distribution.
US09101278B2 RR interval based beat rejection for a cardiac monitor
Disclosed is a system for the detection of cardiac events (a guardian system) that includes an implanted device called a cardiosaver, a physician's programmer and an external alarm system. The system is designed to provide early detection of cardiac events such as acute myocardial infarction or exercise induced myocardial ischemia caused by an increased heart rate or exertion. The system can also alert the patient with a less urgent alarm if a heart arrhythmia is detected. Using one or more detection algorithms, the cardiosaver can detect a change in the patient's electrogram that is indicative of a cardiac event within five minutes after it occurs and then automatically warn the patient that the event is occurring. To provide this warning, the guardian system includes an internal alarm sub-system (internal alarm means) within the cardiosaver and/or an external alarm system (external alarm means). If the guardian system is put into a pacemaker, the algorithm can utilize a different analysis of the electrogram depending on whether or not the pacemaker is actually pacing the heart.
US09101276B2 Analysis of brain patterns using temporal measures
A set of brain data representing a time series of neurophysiologic activity acquired by spatially distributed sensors arranged to detect neural signaling of a brain (such as by the use of magnetoencephalography) is obtained. The set of brain data is processed to obtain a dynamic brain model based on a set of statistically-independent temporal measures, such as partial cross correlations, among groupings of different time series within the set of brain data. The dynamic brain model represents interactions between neural populations of the brain occurring close in time, such as with zero lag, for example. The dynamic brain model can be analyzed to obtain the neurophysiologic assessment of the brain. Data processing techniques may be used to assess structural or neurochemical brain pathologies.
US09101274B2 Sensor, sensor pad and sensor array for detecting infrasonic acoustic signals
A sensor, sensor pad and sensor array for detecting infrasonic signals in a living organism is provided. The sensor, sensor pad and/or array can be utilized for detecting, determining and/or diagnosing level of stenosis, occlusion, or aneurysm in arteries, or other similar diagnosis. The sensor can include unique circuitry in the form of a piezoelectric plate or element sandwiched between two conductive O-rings.
US09101271B2 Device and process for determining the body core temperature
A device for determining the body core temperature of a living being includes a first temperature sensor (15) for detecting the skin temperature T1, an insulator (11) for receiving the first temperature sensor (15), a second temperature sensor (17) in the insulator (11) for detecting a temperature T2 and a third temperature sensor (19), which is arranged opposite the first temperature sensor (15) at the insulator (11), for detecting a temperature T3 near the environment. Assuming a constant ratio of lateral heat fluxes α at the insulator (11) between the temperature sensors (15, 17, 29), the body core temperature Tcore is determined by the relationship described by the formula T core = T 1 · [ 1 + k s k g ⁢ ( 1 + 1 α ) ] - T 2 · ( k s k g + k s + k t α ⁢ ⁢ k g ) + T 3 · k t α ⁢ ⁢ k g in which kg=heat transfer coefficient of the tissue and ks, kt=heat transfer coefficients of the insulator (11).
US09101269B2 Self-holding medical device control handle with cam actuated clutch mechanism
A medical device control handle has a first actuation assembly and a second actuation assembly, wherein each assembly has a shaft that is axially aligned but not rotationally coupled with the other shaft. The first actuation assembly includes a first actuation member and a clutch mechanism having a friction disk for generating frictional torque in rendering the first actuation member self-holding. The first actuation member has a cam portion adapted to impart translational motion and rotational motion for disengaging the clutch mechanism upon pivotation of the first actuation member, thus allowing rotation of the first shaft to manipulate a feature of the medical device, for example, deflection. The second actuation assembly includes a second actuation member and a translating member that is responsive to rotation of the second shaft so as to manipulate another feature of the medical device. The second actuation member is also self holding.
US09101268B2 Multi-camera endoscope
A tip section of a multi-camera endoscope includes a front-pointing camera on a planar surface of a distal end of the tip section and two side-pointing cameras positioned in depressions on a cylindrical surface in proximity to the planar surface such that the side field of view provided by the two side-pointing cameras partially overlaps with the front field of view provided by the front-pointing camera. The tip section further includes a working channel configured for insertion of a surgical tool and a pathway fluid injector for inflating and/or cleaning a body cavity into which the endoscope is inserted.
US09101264B2 Wireless electrode arrangement and method for patient monitoring via electrocardiography
A system including a plurality of wireless sensors for monitoring one or more parameters of a subject is provided. The wireless sensors can be attachable to or implantable in the subject and form a network. The sensors can include a sensing component configured to detect a signal corresponding to at least one condition of the subject. The sensors further can include a communication component configured to wirelessly transmit the detected signal to at least another of the plurality of wireless sensors, and wirelessly receive a signal transmitted from at least one of the remaining sensors in the network.
US09101261B2 Method, medium, and apparatus generating health state based avatars
A method, medium, and apparatus extracting avatar parameters using an avatar transformation algorithm from health state information measured from a user and generating an avatar using the extracted parameters. In the apparatus, a state analysis unit receives at least one among a bio-signal and questionary information of a user and outputs health state information, a parameter extraction unit extracts parameters defining an avatar image, and an avatar generation unit generates the avatar image using the parameters. By providing the method, medium, and apparatus, it is possible to provide a user with a convenience in recognizing his health state by generating an avatar image describing the user's future health state as well as the user's current health state. Further, it is possible to induce a user to manage his health constantly by maintaining a user's with the avatar image change.
US09101259B2 Door lock for a dishwashing machine
A door lock for a dishwashing machine includes a lock housing, a pair of closing arms being held in and projecting from the lock housing and having free arm portions projecting from the lock housing that are deflectable relative to one another from a relative normal position in a first deflection direction counter to the action of a resetting spring arrangement, and a closing mouth, into which the free arm portions engage during closing of the door, having deflection surfaces encountered by the free arm portions during engagement into the closing mouth and which bring about a relative deflection of the free arm portions counter to the resetting action of the resetting spring arrangement, where the free arm portions during further engagement is move past the deflection surfaces and in so doing experience an at least partial resetting in the direction of their relative normal position.
US09101254B2 Dishwasher, particularly household dishwasher
A dishwasher includes a tub and a bottom assembly disposed below the tub and including at least one fluid collection apparatus having a main reservoir with a fluid overflow safety unit and at least one additional intermediate reservoir for collecting leakage and/or overflow fluid from the tub and/or at least one fluid-conducting component. The additional intermediate reservoir is disposed and configured such that solid particles contained in the leakage and/or overflow fluid can largely be deposited and/or retained in the at least one additional intermediate reservoir. The additional intermediate reservoir is connected to the main reservoir by at least one run-off to conduct fluid out of the additional intermediate reservoir into the main reservoir when a predetermined fill level top limit in the additional intermediate reservoir is exceeded, with the run-off having a gradient from the intermediate reservoir to the main reservoir.
US09101253B2 Apparatus and methods for removing material from a surface
One exemplary aspect comprises a device for removing material from a surface, comprising: (a) a head component comprising a first handle portion and a first scraper portion; and (b) a shaft component comprising a rod portion and a second handle portion. In various exemplary embodiments: (1) the first handle portion is suitable for receiving a portion of a user's hand; (2) the head component further comprises a second scraper portion; (3) the second scraper portion comprises a blade with a serrated edge; (4) the second scraper portion comprises a squeegee blade; (5) the second scraper portion comprises a metal blade; (6) the head component further comprises a third scraper portion; (7) the first handle portion comprises a rubber grip component; and (8) the rod portion comprises a telescoping rod.
US09101246B2 Automatic coffee maker with sensor for detecting the quantity of coffee in the machine
The machine comprises: a brewing unit (3); a water reservoir (7); a boiler (11) for the production of hot water to supply to the brewing unit; a coffee container (13); an electronic control unit (27); a user interface (33). At least one capacitive sensor (31) is associated to the coffee container to detect the quantity of residual coffee in the container (13). The sensor is connected to the electronic control unit, which is programmed to supply to a user by means of the interface at least a piece of information regarding the quantity of coffee in said container.
US09101241B2 Device for extemporaneously preparing a hot beverage from a soluble powder
The device for extemporaneously preparing a hot beverage anywhere and anytime from a soluble powder comprises a container which is divided into an upper hollow space and a lower hollow space by a baffle. The lower hollow space contains a quantity of drinkable liquid and the upper hollow space a quantity of soluble powder able to produce said beverage. An elongated hollow element is provided, which is open at its two ends and which connects the lower and the upper hollow spaces, sealing membranes are provided for sealing the connection between the upper and the lower hollow spaces through the elongated element. The sealing membranes can be made ineffective by intervention of the user or once a predetermined pressure inside the liquid has been reached.
US09101240B2 Garlic press
A garlic press includes a grip member and a crush member pivotally connected with the grip member. The grip member includes a housing body and an upper handle extended backward from the housing body. The housing body is adapted for accommodating garlic. The crush member includes a crush body which can be movably inserted into the housing body for crushing the garlic into mash. The garlic press may further include a cleaning device which is coupled on a bottom portion of the housing body for cleaning out the garlic mash remaining on the housing body. Further, the pivotal point of the garlic press is disposed close to a middle portion of the garlic press structure to make the garlic press to be convenient for using.
US09101239B2 Motorized carriage for a curtain and concealment facility comprising such a carriage
A motorized carriage for opening/closing a screen moves along a rail by means of a friction wheel that is rotated by a motor and is in contact with at least one running surface of the rail. The contact force between the friction wheel and the running surface can be regulated by a presser means that enables the contact force to be varied according to a resistive force that depends on the load pulled or pushed by the carriage as it moves.
US09101237B2 Multi-use tower plates
Provided is a tower made from base plates that can function as an ornamental table centerpiece, to which additional plates can be added to give the appearance of a flower.
US09101236B1 Article positioning device
A system is disclosed for maintaining an article, such as a picture frame suspended by a saw-tooth bracket, in a desired position on a vertical surface, such as a wall having a nail. The system comprises a first bracket having a projecting nub, and a second bracket having a cooperative corresponding divot. With the first bracket fixed to a rear surface of the article and the second bracket fixed to the wall, such that when the article is in the desired position the nub of the first bracket is engaged with the divot of the second bracket, if jarred, the article pivots back and forth about the nail until the nub becomes re-engaged with its cooperative divot, thereby bringing the article back into the desired position. Each bracket may be temporarily mutually affixed at interlocking ribs to facilitate initial adhesion with the article and the vertical surface.
US09101230B2 Salad pusher
A pusher tray assembly comprises a hanging tray and a sliding tray having a wire track, the sliding tray moveably connected to the hanging tray by fins of a pusher, the pusher slidingly engaged to the wire track for movement between a first position and a second position.
US09101225B2 Convertible high chair
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a convertible children's high chair. According to various embodiments, the convertible high chair generally comprises a first child seat supported above a floor by a high chair frame, and a second child seat configured for being removably coupled to first child seat. The second child seat is configured such that, when detached from the high chair's first child seat, it can be used apart from the high chair as a booster seat (e.g., secured to the seating surface of a standard chair or another support surface). In certain embodiments, the second child seat includes a base surface configured to stably support the second child seat on a separate support surface (e.g., without the need to be attached to or mounted on a separate base or support member).
US09101224B2 Medical air mattress
A medical air mattress has a mattress body, a lower bedspread, an upper bedspread and a guardrail unit. The mattress body is formed by multiple air cells parallel arranged in an air cell row. The upper bedspread covers the mattress body and has two guardrail sleeves formed on the upper bedspread. The guardrail unit has multiple guardrail air cells mounted respectively in the guardrail sleeves. Since the guardrail sleeves are formed on the upper bedspread, the guardrail sleeves from each opposite side of the upper bedspread will draw each other to maintain the guardrail sleeves in position when pressed. Therefore, the guardrail sleeves do not fall down when pressed to remain providing optimal protection purpose.
US09101221B2 Furniture member with center support leg rest
A furniture member leg rest assembly includes a leg rest mechanism connected to a furniture member base frame. A leg rest mount board is connected to the leg rest mechanism and is extensible by actuation of the leg rest mechanism away from a stowed position by movement in a direction coincident with a lateral centerline of the furniture member to a fully extended and a center position of the leg rest mount board. A pin rotatably connects the leg rest mechanism to the base frame such that the leg rest mount board when positioned in the fully extended and the center position is further manually rotatable with respect to a leg rest axis of rotation defined by the pin in at least one of a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction of rotation creating a furniture member occupant egress space.
US09101218B2 Seating support system
A table and seating arrangement includes a table and seats positioned along at least one edge of the table. The seats define a cavity, at least a portion of the cavity having a non-circular cross-section. A frame supports the seat and the table and includes a seat support. The seat support has a non-uniform cross-section including a lower section having a substantially circular cross-section and an upper section having a non-circular cross section inserting into the cavity of the seat. A caster or glide element mounts to a bottom end of the lower section of the seat support.
US09101214B2 Incrementally extendable telescopic mounting
Incrementally extendable telescopic mounting, the extension of which is determined by a guide lug, integral with a female element and moving inside a multi-segment cam-type guide system, laid out at the periphery of a male element, and by the relative positions of a single cylindrical arc shaped stop having a trapezoid cross-section and being laid out on one of the telescopic elements, the trapezoid perimeter bearing surface of said stop resting successively on a circumferential series of staged cylindrical arc shaped hollow stops laid out on the other telescopic element and preferably having the same angular length, the same radial depth and the same trapezoid perimeter and area as those of the single stop, said single and multiple staged cylindrical arc shaped hollow stops having preferably, within their respective telescopic elements, the same outer and inner diameters and, as their common center, the device axis.
US09101211B2 Leveling system
A leveling system for panels or drawers within a cabinet comprising a rail; a front section having an intermediate opening, at least one opening and at least a first adjustment mechanism; wherein said rail supports said front section, and wherein said front section, supports at the same time, an inner wall by means of fastening means housed in said front section opening; a second adjustment mechanism disposed over said inner body housed in said front section intermediate opening; an adjusting means; and wherein said first adjustment means and said second adjustment means are linked by means of the adjusting means.
US09101209B2 Folding table with locking member
A table may include a table top and a leg assembly. The leg assembly may be moved between use and storage positions, and the movement of the leg assembly may move a cross member between a first position in which the cross member resists folding of the table top and a second position in which the cross member facilitates folding and unfolding of the table top. The table top may include first and second sections with portions that overlap and/or interlock when the table top is unfolded. When the table top is in the unfolded position, movement of the leg assembly towards the use position may move the cross member towards the overlapping and/or interlocking portions, which may move the overlapping and/or interlocking portions towards each other. When moved towards each other, the overlapping and/or interlocking portions may be securely connected.
US09101206B1 Folding table umbrella wagon
A portable folding table wagon includes a wagon with a wagon body that has a folding wagon frame and wheels connected to a lower portion of the folding wagon frame. The folding wagon frame folds to a deployed position and expands to a stowed position. The folding wagon frame forms a wagon cavity for carrying articles when the folding wagon frame is in deployed position. A table top has a table top surface configured to fit on the folding wagon frame. The portable folding table wagon may also have an umbrella with a pole. A table opening is formed on the table top surface. The table opening is configured to receive the pole. A pole retainer is formed on the folding wagon frame. The pole retainer is configured to receive the pole.
US09101201B2 Arrangement of power tool and carrying system
In an arrangement of a power tool and a carrying system, the carrying system has a support strap and a releasable fastening device for attaching the power tool to the support strap. The carrying system has an actuating device that actuates the releasable fastening device from a fastening position into a release position. The fastening device has a pivotable hook that in the fastening position is hooked to an eye and secures the power tool on the carrying system. When the carrying system is arranged on a user and the power tool is secured on the carrying system and the fastening device is actuated from the fastening position into the release position, the hook is pivoted such that the eye slides out of the hook because of the weight of the power tool.
US09101199B1 Max pet carrier systems
A supply backpack with detachable pet carrier system to increase the convenience of simultaneously transporting pets and provisions. Max Pet Carrier Systems is a versatile supply backpack with detachable pet carrier system having a wearable pack with shoulder straps and an attachable pet carrier with a removable tote strap. By enclosing a pet within a carrier and attaching the carrier to a pack, a user is able to quickly and efficiently pack and transport the pet and any necessary supplies. Such a convenient transport system is especially useful in emergency evacuation situations.
US09101198B2 Quick release assembly for law enforcement equipment
A quick release assembly is provided with a plate member including two bent end loops; an inner plate including a longitudinal channel, a lateral receptacle communicating with the longitudinal channel, and a through hole; a shuttle in the longitudinal channel, an upper tunnel on an edge, a lower tunnel, a lug in the through hole, a slot through the lug, an upper narrow hole in the slot, and a lower circular hole in the slot; a first spring actuated detent in the lateral receptacle and having one end urging against either the upper tunnel or the lower tunnel; an outer plate including a longitudinal recess, and a hole member through the longitudinal recess; a lock mechanism partially disposed in the longitudinal recess and including a lever and a concave part; and a second spring actuated detent in the through hole, the slot, the hole member, and the concave part.
US09101197B2 Convertible camera kit bag
A convertible camera kit bag has a plurality of receptacles or cells, connected by hinges. A front panel or flap has a tension strip thereon such that, when the front panel is closed and secured, the cells are aligned in a straight row and form a substantially rigid structure. However, when the front panel is open, the cells are free to pivot about the hinge and conform to the shape of a wearer's body.
US09101196B2 Cosmetic unit with swiveling closure
The cosmetics unit comprises a storage container for accommodating a cosmetic substance, an applicator-handle part with an applicator that can be dipped into the cosmetic substance and a handle connected with the applicator, as well as a securing mechanism for detachably securing the applicator-handle part in a closed position in which the applicator is inserted into the storage container. The securing mechanism comprises a swiveling element that can be swiveled about a swiveling axis, which retains, in a final swiveling position, the applicator-handle part in the closed position. The swiveling element is mounted directly on the storage container or on a separate bearing mount attached to the storage container.
US09101195B2 Article and method for preventing sleep lines
A method and article of manufacture for reducing facial wrinkles, namely sleep lines, formed during sleep. The article is formed having an inner and outer surface wherein each surface has higher or lower friction coefficients relative to one another. The higher friction coefficient inner surface holds the article in place against the skin and the lower friction coefficient outer surface facilitates movement of the face relative to the bedding during sleep.
US09101193B1 Illuminating cosmetic applicator
A cosmetic applicator is provided with a casing including a transparent glass and a mirror; a light and mount assembly disposed in the casing and including a seat, a light, a conductive member, a conductive biasing member, a battery, a moveable member, a stop member, and a case wherein the seat has a battery compartment for anchoring the conductive member, the conductive biasing member, the battery, and the moveable member; and a cosmetic element carrier releasably secured to the casing. A light of the light and mount assembly can automatically emit light after pulling the cosmetic element carrier out of the applicator.
US09101187B2 Portable organizer for use with luggage
A travel case assembly has a travel case having a plurality of walls defining an enclosed storage space, and an organizer positioned inside the storage space. The organizer includes an enclosing netted fabric wall and netted fabric shelves that define at least one storage compartment, and a collapsible support system supporting and defining the netted fabric wall and netted fabric shelves so that (i) the compartments can be expanded when the shelves are separated from each other, and (ii) the shelves can be stacked into a compressed position.
US09101182B2 Metal double-sided tooth and slide fastener
Provided are a metal double-sided tooth that prevents a flow protruding portion from protruding from the boundary between a coupling concave portion and a body, and a slide fastener using the metal double-sided tooth. The inner side of a coupling concave portion is formed in a substantially bowl shape and a concave portion is formed throughout the boundary between the coupling concave portion and a body and a front side and a rear side of the body. Further, when the metal double-sided tooth is attached to a fastener tape, it is possible to prevent a flow protruding portion generated by caulking a pair of legs from protruding outward from the coupling concave portion or the front side and the rear side of the body until sliding friction is generated in a slider.
US09101180B2 Article of footwear with suspended stud assembly
An article of footwear with a suspended stud assembly attached to a sole is disclosed. The suspended stud assembly includes a base portion attached to the sole of a shoe. A set of suspension arms connect a plurality of studs to the base portion. This arrangement allows the studs to move independently of the sole and of each other to provide greater traction capabilities to the article of footwear.
US09101179B2 Smooth shoe uppers and methods for producing them
Shoe uppers having smooth seams and methods for producing them are disclosed. In one embodiment the upper uses thermoplastic seam tape which forms bonds between contiguous upper sections after being subjected to heat and/or pressure. In another embodiment, different parts of the shoe can be joined using hidden seams. Close seams can also be covered with a transfer material adapted to give the interior and/or exterior of the upper a smooth surface. In yet another embodiment, a method is disclosed which allows three-dimensional upper sections to be bonded on a last using thermoplastic seam tape.
US09101174B2 Hat with automated shut-off feature for electrical devices
Headgear is provided having one or more electrical devices, such as light sources mounted thereto. The headgear includes a power source for providing power to the electrical devices and a motion sensing device, such that any operating electrical devices are shut off if the hat does not move within a predetermined time period to conserve the life of the power source. In one form, the motion sensing device is operable to reset a shut-off timer when movement of the headgear is detected by the motion sensor so that the light sources, for example, are not turned off when the headgear is worn with the light sources turned on. In this manner, the shut-off timer is constantly being reset when the headgear is worn to keep the shut-off timer from timing out and turning the light sources off.
US09101159B2 Fermentation product containing equol-producing microorganism having maintained equol-producing ability, and method for producing same
An object of the present invention is to provide a fermented product containing equol-producing microorganisms in the state of living cells by which equol production ability is maintained.When producing a fermented material by using an equol-producing microorganism, with soybean powder or soybean milk as raw materials, (1) preparing a mother starter by fermentation under anaerobic conditions by using an equol-producing microorganism in the presence of a daidzein species at pH 5.0 or higher, (2) preparing a bulk starter by fermentation under anaerobic conditions by using said mother starter in the presence of a daidzein species at pH 5.0 or higher, and (3) preparing a fermented material by fermentation by using said bulk starter in a medium containing soybean powder or soybean milk, enables production of a fermented material containing microorganisms in the state of living cells in which the equol production ability is maintained.
US09101156B2 Thickener composition, thickened nutritive products, methods for preparing thickened nutritive products, and methods for providing nutrition
Disclosed are thickener compositions composed of xanthan gum and a chelating agent, such as ascorbic acid. The chelating agent is present in an amount with respect to said xanthan such that, when said thickener composition is used to thicken a food product, at least one mineral selected from the group consisting of iron, zinc, and calcium present in said food product is relatively more bioavailable than the mineral would be in the absence of said chelating agent. The thickener composition finds particular applicability for use with baby formulas and breast milk intended for dysphagic infants. Also disclosed are baby formulas and thickened breast milk formulations, methods for preparing same, and methods for providing nutrition.
US09101147B2 Method and device for cleaning fish
Method and device for cleaning fish in successive work steps with the one and the same cleaning device (10) combining a scaling member (20), a blade (40) for opening the fish's belly and an entrail removal member (30). The scaling of the fish is performed with the embossed scaling member (20) of the cleaning device, after which the blade (40) of the cleaning device is exposed and the fish's belly is opened. After that, the blade of the cleaning device is turned so that it is not exposed and the fish's entrails are removed with the spoon-like entrail removal member (30) of the cleaning device.
US09101145B2 Device for forming dough pieces
A device for forming dough in a U or annular shape includes a gripper carrier, at least one retaining jaw attached to the gripper carrier and first and second pivot carriers. The pivot carriers are each pivotably supported about a respective pivot axis in the gripper carrier and perform an opposite pivot motion. The second pivot carrier is pivotally supported by a shaft that extends into and engages the gripper carrier, such that a pivotal motion of the second pivot carrier engages the shaft with the gripper carrier to simultaneously pivot and lift the second pivot carrier in a direction of the respective pivot axis so to lift one end of the dough piece in relation to another end of the dough piece. Shaping jaws are attached to the first and second pivot carriers and can be brought into contact with the respective dough piece on an opposite second side.
US09101144B2 Plant growth promoting rhizobacterium
The present invention is directed to the Pseudomonas fluorescens strain GM30 deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-13340, compositions containing the GM30 strain, and methods of using the GM30 strain to enhance plant growth and/or enhance plant resistance to pathogens.
US09101143B2 Formulations containing microencapsulated essential oils
The present invention provides for a novel “green” agricultural formulation comprising at least one encapsulated volatile essential oil and a non-volatile vehicle in which said at least one encapsulated volatile essential oil is carried.
US09101140B2 Cyclohexanone compounds and herbicides comprising the same
The present invention provides a compound having an excellent efficacy for controlling weeds. A cyclohexanone compound of the formula (I): wherein m is an integer of 1, 2 or 3; n is an integer of any one of 1 to 5; X represents CH2, O, S, S(O) or S(O)2; R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R2 and R3 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; R4 represents a C6-10 aryl group or a five- to six-membered heteroaryl group; G represents a hydrogen atom and the like; Z represents a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, a phenyl group, a C1-6 alkyl group and the like; is useful as an active ingredient for herbicides.
US09101135B2 Agricultural/horticultural insecticide and method for using the same
An object of the present invention is to provide insecticides having high effectiveness. The present invention provides compounds represented by formula (1): wherein A1, A2, A3, and A4 independently represent a carbon atom, a nitrogen atom, or an oxidized nitrogen atom; R1 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group which may be substituted, a phenyl group which may be substituted, or a heterocyclic group which may be substituted; R2 and R3 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group which may be substituted, or a C1-C4 alkylcarbonyl group which may be substituted; G1, G2, and G3 independently represent an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; Xs may be the same or different and each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group which may be substituted, or an amino group which may be substituted; n represents an integer of 0 to 4; Q represents a phenyl group which may be substituted, a naphthyl group which may be substituted, a tetrahydronaphthyl group which may be substituted, or a heterocyclic group which may be substituted, insecticides containing the compounds as active ingredients, and a method for producing the compounds. The compounds represented by formula (1) exhibit an excellent preventive effect as insecticides and also exhibit an excellent preventive effect when being combined with another insecticide, an acaricide, a nematocide, a fungicide, a herbicide, a plant growth regulator, or a biological pesticide.
US09101134B2 Color change surgical prep solution
This invention discloses a surgical prep solution formulation, either film forming or non-film forming, that changes color upon a change in pH to indicate that the solvent has sufficiently evaporated. The major components of this surgical prep solution include: antimicrobial agents, solvents, pH adjusters, color changing pH indicators, and optionally: film forming polymers, dyes and viscosity regulators. The pH of the solution may rise or fall depending on the pH of the original solution as compared with the normal pH range of the acid mantle of the human skin or the normal pH range of a sterilizing solution. As the pH changes, the pH indicator may cause the surgical prep solution to change color. Concurrently, as the fluids evaporate, the pH indicators interact with atmospheric CO2, causing the solution to change color based on the pH of the solution. The solution may also be used as coating for medical devices.
US09101132B2 Dispenser comprising a polyester membrane for control of mites in bee hives
The present invention is related to a dispenser, which is filled with a gel comprising a C1 to C10 carboxylic acid and a thickener, comprising a polyester membrane. The invention further relates to said gel. It also relates to s method for preparing said dispenser, comprising a) mixing C1 to C10 carboxylic acid and the thickener, and b) filling the mixture of step a) into the dispenser. The invention further relates to a method for the control of mites in bee hives comprising putting said dispenser inside or near a bee hive. It also relates to a use of the dispenser or the gel for the control of mites or of nosema in agricultural, industrial or domestic environment.
US09101130B2 Deer tail decoy
A deer tail decoy has a first triangular-shaped flap folded over a second flap. The inner faces of the first and second flaps comprise a material of a lighter color that contrasts with the outer faces of the first and second flaps. A tell-tale flap is integral with or joined to at least the inner face of the first flap. The decoy is removably mounted to an upright, such as a tree trunk. A pull cord is linked or removably joined at or near the pointed tip at the bottom of the first flap. Tugging motion on the pull cord causes the first flap to pivot upward to expose the inner faces of the first and second flaps and the tell-tale flap. In this open configuration, the deer tail decoy resembles the upward tail of a doe, and the tell-tale flap has loose edges that flutter and may be seen at angles offset from straight on view.
US09101129B2 Decoy conversion accessories
A new concept and invention for converting the conventional flying wing decoy into a different species/gender/genome. The system would use a decoy currently on the market and convert the product from the species that it represents to a different species/gender/or genome that the hunter is in pursuit of on that particular hunt. For example, a flying dove decoy can be converted to a duck of several different types, and a flying duck decoy can be converted to a squirrel or other ground dwelling animal. This allows the sportsman to use one single motorized system to create different decoy animals and species.
US09101128B2 Electrical decoy apparatus
An electric decoy apparatus has a base, a motor unit mounted to the base, a support arm extending from the motor unit and a decoy cover on the support arm. The support arm follows a cam that is rotated by a motor in the motor unit. The support arm moves from a first position, to a second position and back to the first position and then to an intermediate third position before returning to the first position. The motor also rotates an eccentric weight which causes the motor unit to move relative to the base.
US09101123B2 Live bait delivery system
A bait delivery system having a container for holding water and a lid releasably attached to the container. The lid includes a door opening and a door is pivotally connected to the lid. A rod extends through a rod opening in the lid and a loop assembly is connected to a lower end of the rod. A bait net is connected to the lid and has a lower portion connected to the loop assembly. The loop assembly has a first position adjacent the container bottom and a second position near the lid. The loop assembly is moved from the first position to the second position by raising the rod. In the first position the door is closed and in the second position the door is open. In a preferred embodiment, the door automatically opens as the loop assembly moves from the first to second position and automatically closes as the loop assembly moves from the second to first position.
US09101122B2 Concealed hook fish lure
A concealed hook fish lure is disclosed. In one embodiment, a lure body contains an interior body cavity wherein is placed a hook that is pivotally mounted on a connecting rod. In a first position, the hook is concealed within the lure body and held in place by a first magnet up to the moment of the strike. At the moment of the strike, the fish presses a shaft portion of the concealed hook, which causes the hook to pivot on the connecting rod, thereby moving the hook to a second position where the hook extends outside the body cavity. The pivot movement of the hook from concealed position to deployed position is urged by a second magnet, which second magnet holds the hook in the deployed position, thereby facilitating the setting of the hook in the fish's mouth. The lure is useful in waters containing weeds and other debris, and provides improvements with respect to a simple mechanism for concealing and deploying the hook. The hook may also be readily retracted to and cocked in its concealed position following a strike.
US09101110B2 Soybean variety A1035791
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1035791. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1035791. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1035791 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1035791 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09101106B2 Soybean variety 01046941
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046941. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046941. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046941 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046941 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09101104B2 Soybean variety A1036103
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036103. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036103. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036103 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036103 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09101103B2 Soybean cultivar GO1010024
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety GO1010024 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety GO1010024 and its progeny, and methods of making GO1010024.
US09101100B1 Methods and materials for high throughput testing of transgene combinations
High throughput methods are described for identifying combinations of transgenes that can be used to improve a phenotypic feature in an organism. Large populations of organisms (e.g., plants) containing different combinations of transgenes as well as different promoter-coding sequence combinations can be assessed using the methods.
US09101099B2 Hydroponic growing system
An indoor plant growing system and a method of using the same. The system includes a base defining an interior compartment, a mast extending upwardly from the base, a first arm extending outwardly from the mast, a cable hanging downwardly from the first arm, one or more pots engaged on the cable, and a water delivery system connecting a water supply and the uppermost pot. The water supply preferably is a reservoir disposed inside the base's compartment. A pump pushes water from the reservoir, through pipes and thereby delivers the same to the uppermost pot. Water drains from the uppermost pot through a hose to a pot disposed there below and so on down the group of pots. In each pot the plant is retained in a plant basket which is suspended within a shell in such a way the plant's roots are retained within water accumulated within the pot.
US09101097B2 Harvesting machine
An irrigation system is disclosed that includes a ground-based platform. In an implementation, an irrigation system includes a span of overhead irrigation equipment. The irrigation system also includes a ground-based platform for coupling with the span of overhead irrigation equipment. The ground-based platform includes a drive for moving the ground-based platform. The irrigation system also includes a linkage for coupling the span of overhead irrigation equipment with the ground-based platform. The linkage is communicatively coupled with the drive of the ground-based platform for communicating information regarding a change in at least one of a position, a direction, or a speed of the span of overhead irrigation equipment with respect to the ground-based platform. The drive of the ground-based platform is configured to use the information received from the linkage to coordinate movement of the ground-based platform with movement of the span of overhead irrigation equipment.
US09101094B2 Electrically powered garden tool
An electrically powered garden tool includes an electric motor mounted upright within an outer shell housing, a pair of relatively reciprocating shear blades assembled to be driven by operation of the motor through a crank mechanism provided within a lower portion of the outer shell housing, and a cooling fan assembled to be driven by operation of the motor for introducing outside air into an upper portion of the outer shell housing to exhaust the introduced air from a lower portion of the outer shell housing. In the garden tool, a downward exhaust opening is formed within a lower end peripheral wall of the outer shell housing enclosing the crank mechanism such that the air spouted by rotation of the cooling fan blows out downward from the downward exhaust opening to restrain the occurrence of blowing noise of the air.
US09101093B2 Water/carbonate stripping for CO2 capture adsorber regeneration and CO2 delivery to photoautotrophs
The invention provides systems and methods for the delivery of carbon to photoautotrophs. The invention utilizes low energy regeneration of adsorbent for CO2 capture and provides for effective CO2 loading into liquids useful for photoautotroph growth and/or production of photosynthetic products, such as biofuels, via photoautotrophic culture media. The inventive system comprises a fluid/membrane/fluid contactor that provides selective transfer of molecular CO2 via a dense (non-porous) membrane from a carbonate-based CO2 snipping solution to a culture medium where the CO2 is consumed by a photoautotroph for the production of biofuels, biofuel precursors or other commercial products.
US09101091B2 Guide system for the plunger of a rectangular baler
A rectangular baler having a bale chamber, a compacting plunger and a guide system having at least one guide assembly including a guide element, and a threaded shaft and nut for positioning the guide element, wherein, for receiving said threaded shaft, an elongated slot is provided extending in a slot direction making an angle between 1 and 85 degrees with respect to the discharge direction, the threaded shaft being arranged in an upright position perpendicular to the slot direction.
US09101089B2 Agricultural round baler
In a method for operating a round baler, the harvested crop flow is controlled at any time of the bale forming process by time control with the control and governing device of the round baler, based on a stored theoretical minimum time for pressing a harvested crop bale defined by predetermined parameters and based on actually determined harvested crop parameters, such that the harvested crop bale defined by the predetermined parameters is produced at maximum baler utilization in a nominal press time determined for the harvested crop bale.
US09101087B2 Ground groomer for a roping simulator
A ground groomer configured for roping simulators is disclosed. Example embodiments include: a generally horizontal main support member; an attachment pin coupled generally orthogonally to the main support member, the attachment pin being configured for attachment to a ski of a roping simulator; and a plurality of tines arranged to protrude through a lower surface of the main support member to scarify soil behind the skis of the roping simulator.
US09107336B2 Method of fabricating electronic cards including at least one printed pattern
The invention relates to a method for fabricating electronic cards by A) forming a plurality of card bodies in the form of a thick sheet with a plurality of electronic units or modules embedded in the sheet; B) printing a plurality of first patterns on a first face of the thick sheet in a printing station where ink is applied on the first face; C) applying a first at least partially transparent coating on each printed first pattern, that adheres to the card body. The method can also include printing a plurality of second patterns on the inner surface of a film forming the first coating. Preferably, the printing of the first patterns is carried out in an offset type station for printing high definition patterns, essentially of the security type. The second patterns define personal data. The printed thick sheet defines an intermediate product according to the invention.
US09107333B1 Molded leadframe for PCB-to-PCB connection
A method for making a leadframe includes removing a group of parallel, strip-shaped electrical conductors from a metal sheet, embedding end portions of the conductors in molding compound defining a leadframe body, and separating the conductors from each other, such that portions of the conductors remain encapsulated in the molding compound while other portions remain exterior to the molding compound and define leads of the resulting leadframe.
US09107330B2 Apparatus for improved power distribution in an electrical component board
Embedding a power modification component such as a capacitance inside of an adaptor board located to extend over and beyond the vias of the main circuit board so that a portion of the interposer board containing the embedded capacitance is located beyond where the vias or blinds are located. This permits that via to conduct through the opening. In this way, the capacitance and the resistance will have a closer contact point to the electrical component. A resistance can also be embedded in an opening in the adaptor board and be vertically aligned within the opening to make contact with a pad on top of the adaptor board and a pad at the bottom of the adaptor board so that electricity conducts through the embedded component.
US09107329B2 Method for manufacturing printed circuit board
Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing a printed circuit board. The method for manufacturing a printed circuit board includes: preparing a base substrate having first connection pads and second connection pads; forming a solder resist layer on the base substrate, the solder resist layer having a first opening for exposing the first connection pads; forming a first surface treatment layer on the first connection pads; forming a protective film on the solder resist layer; forming a second opening for exposing the second connection pads in the protective film and the solder resist layer; and forming a second surface treatment layer on the second connection pads.
US09107328B2 PCB for LCD device and LCD device
The invention relates to the field of LCDs, and more particularly to a PCB for an LCD device and an LCD device. The PCB includes a front face and a back face; the front face of the PCB is a face for densely arranging components, and the back face is a face without densely arranged components; the back face of the PCB is provided with a jumper wire for dissipating heat, and the jumper wire is connected with a terminal of the component. The heat of the component is transmitted to the jumper wire by the terminal, and the jumper wire is used for auxiliarily strengthening heat dissipation. Thus, the heat is rapidly transmitted, and the heat dissipating effect is significantly improved.
US09107321B2 Positioning apparatus and electronic device using the same
A positioning apparatus for installing a server unit on a rack includes a frame fixed to the server unit, an operation member slidably installed to the frame, a pivot member sandwiched between the frame and the operation member, and a resilient member connected between the frame and the operation member. A rear end of the pivot member is rotatably connected to the frame, and a latching piece protrudes out from a front end of the pivot member. The pivot member defines a guiding slot. The frame defines a through slot aligning with the latching piece. The operation member includes a sliding pole protruding from the operation member and extending through the guiding slot. The resilient member biases the operation member to move, the sliding pole slides in the guiding slot to rotate the pivot member, and the latching piece extends through the through slot to latch onto the rack.
US09107318B2 Easy-to-assemble structure of power converter
An easy-to-assemble structure of a power converter includes a control circuit board, semiconductor modules with power terminals and control terminals extending therefrom, and a capacitor to smooth voltage to be applied to the semiconductor modules. The capacitor includes capacitor devices coupled to the power terminals and voltage measuring terminals joined to electrodes of the capacitor devices. The control terminals and the voltage measuring terminals extend in a direction normal to the surface of the control circuit board. This permits the connections of the voltage measuring terminals and the control terminals with the control circuit board to be achieved simultaneously by bringing them close to the control circuit board from the normal direction.
US09107315B2 Via structure in multi-layer substrate
Disclosed is a via structure in a multi-layer substrate, comprising a first metal layer, a dielectric layer and a second metal layer. The first metal layer has an upper surface. The dielectric layer covers the first metal layer in which a via is opened to expose the upper surface. The second metal layer is formed in the via and contacts an upper surface and an inclined wall of the via. A contacting surface of the second metal layer has a top line lower than the upper edge of the inclined wall. Alternatively, the second metal layer can be formed on the dielectric layer as being a metal line simultaneously as formed in the via as being a pad. The metal line and the pad are connected electronically. The aforesaid metal second layer can be formed in the via and on the dielectric layer by a metal lift-off process.
US09107310B2 Electronics module
An electronics module includes a module housing having a base structure and a plurality of side walls. A module cover contacts the side walls and is connected to the module housing via at least one fastener. The module housing includes at least one fastener boss for receiving the at least one fastener. Each of the fastener bosses includes a fastener hole protruding partially into the fastener boss and a vent hole connecting the fastener hole to an opening on a surface of the fastener boss exterior to the module housing, and a sealant disposed in the fastener boss, thereby preventing external air from entering the electronics module through a fastener connection.
US09107308B2 Graphitic substrates with ceramic dielectric layers
Different kinds of printing pastes or inks are utilized in various combinations to develop multiple ceramic dielectric layers on graphitic substrates in order to create effective dielectric ceramic layers that combine good adhesion to both graphitic substrates and printed copper traces, and strong insulating capability. The pastes or inks may comprise a high thermal conductivity powder.
US09107305B2 Multilayer substrate
A multilayer substrate is configured by stacking conductive layers and insulation layers. The multilayer substrate includes a core that is one of the conductive layers and is thicker than any of other conductive layers, and a first signal line that is included in the conductive layers and is adjacent to the core so that a first insulation layer that is one of the insulation layers is interposed between the core and the first signal line, the first signal line being used for transmission of an RF signal. The core has a recess portion so as to face the first signal line.
US09107304B2 Fabrication of three-dimensional printed circuit board structures
A method of fabricating components for a three-dimensional circuit structure includes providing a printed circuit board (PCB) having a top surface, an opposing bottom surface, and an end section. A first angled channel is formed in the top surface at the end section, with the first angled channel extending to an edge of the end section and dividing the end section into a first end portion and a second end portion. The PCB material is removed from the top surface at the first end portion to form a first support member having an upper surface at a preselected distance below the top surface. A second angled channel is formed in the bottom surface at the end section of the first PCB, with the second angled channel extending to the edge of the end section and being adjacent to the first support member. The PCB material is removed from the bottom surface at the second end portion to form a second support member having an upper surface that is contiguous with the top surface of the PCB. A ramp portion extends between the first support member and the second support member.
US09107303B2 Warp compensated electronic assemblies
An electronic panel assembly (EPA) includes one or more electronic devices with primary faces having electrical contacts, opposed rear faces and edges therebetween. The devices are mounted primary faces down in openings in a warp control sheet (WCS). Cured plastic encapsulation is formed at least between lateral edges of the devices and WCS openings. Undesirable panel warping during encapsulation is mitigated by choosing the WCS coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) to be less than the encapsulation CTE. Thin film insulators and conductors couple electrical contacts on various devices to each other and to external terminals, thereby forming an integrated multi-device EPA.
US09107301B2 Foldable electronic device
A foldable electronic device includes a first body, a second body and a hinge body. The hinge body is pivoted to the first body around a first pivoting axis and pivoted to the second body around a second pivoting axis so that the first body is able to rotate relatively to the second body. When the first body rotates to a first position relatively to the second body, a first front surface of the first body is closed to a second front surface of the second body on a closing plane, and a pivoting plane where the first pivoting axis and the second pivoting axis are located on and the closing plane are oblique to each other.
US09107300B2 Resonant via structures in multilayer substrates and filters based on these via structures
A resonant via structure is provided with a multilayer substrate, a signal via conductor and ground vias. The multilayer substrate includes conductor layers and a dielectric. The dielectric isolates each of the conductor layers. The signal via conductor is disposed through the multilayer substrate. The ground vias are disposed through the multilayer substrate and around the signal via conductor. The dielectric comprises two sections disposed between the signal via and ground vias, in the plane of conductor layers. The first section is disposed between the first layer and other layer of the conductor layers. The second section is disposed between the other layer and the last layer of the conductor layers.
US09107298B2 Viscoelastic material for shock protection in an electronic device
This invention is directed to reducing the effect of shocks on electronic device components. The electronic device component may be surrounded by a boundary element operative to deform in response to impacts. By deforming, the boundary element may be operative to absorb energy received by the shock or impact without passing the energy on to the electronic device component. To maximize the effectiveness of the boundary element over a range of different impacts (e.g., strong, instantaneous impacts and weak impacts over time), a viscoelastic material may be used. The characteristic properties of the viscoelastic material may be selected based on expected impacts to the electronic device component.
US09107297B2 Circuit board and optical modulator
A printed circuit board (PCB) has a connection ground pattern and a wiring ground pattern. The connection ground pattern is a pattern for soldered connection formed on a first wiring layer. The wiring ground pattern is formed to be spaced from the connection ground pattern on the first wiring layer. The connection ground pattern and the wiring ground pattern are electrically coupled via a second wiring layer. When the wiring ground pattern is covered with an insulating layer, such as a solder resist, even if the position of an end of the insulating layer varies among wiring ground patterns, an influence on an exposed area of the connection ground pattern is eliminated.
US09107294B2 System including a module
In an embodiment a first module can include a first side and a first edge. An optical transmitter connector can be a first distance from the first side at a first position along the first edge. An optical receiver connector can be a second distance from the first side wherein the first and the second distances are different and wherein the optical receiver connector is at a second position along the first edges. In an embodiment a chassis includes a first slot and a second slot with a first waveguide and a second waveguide.
US09107291B2 Formation of a composite pattern including a periodic pattern self-aligned to a prepattern
A chemical pattern layer including an orientation control material and a prepattern material is formed over a substrate. The chemical pattern layer includes alignment-conferring features and additional masking features. A self-assembling material is applied and self-aligned over the chemical pattern layer. The polymeric block components align to the alignment-conferring features, while the alignment is not altered by the additional masking features. A first polymeric block component is removed selective to a second polymeric block component by an etch to form second polymeric block component portions having a pattern. A composite pattern of the pattern of an etch-resistant material within the chemical pattern layer and the pattern of the second polymeric block component portions can be transferred into underlying material layers employing at least another etch.
US09107290B1 Package structure and stacked package module with the same
A package structure includes two insulation layers, three conductive layers, and two electronic components. The first and second conductive layers are disposed on a top surface and a bottom surface of the first insulation layer, respectively. The second insulation layer is disposed over the first conductive layer. The third conductive layer is disposed on a top surface of the second insulation layer. The first and second electronic components are embedded within the first and second insulation layers, respectively. The first conducting terminals of the first electronic component are electrically connected with the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer through at least one first conductive via and at least one second conductive via. The second conducting terminals of the second electronic component are electrically connected with the first conductive layer and/or electrically connected with the third conductive layer through at least one third conductive via.
US09107286B2 Electrical storage device and construction machine provided with same
An electric storage device includes a plurality of capacitor cells (electric-power storage cells) and a casing that houses the capacitor cells. The casing includes an inspection window through which a condition display unit provided inside the casing is visually checkable. The inspection window includes a through hole that penetrates the casing, a resin plate that closes the through hole from an inside of the casing, and a seal member that is interposed between the resin plate and an inner surface of the casing around the through hole.
US09107283B2 Method for magnetic control of plasma arc
A device for controlling a plasma arc is provided that includes a plurality of magnetic poles disposed around a distal end portion of a plasma arc torch. A plurality of electrical coils are wound around a proximal end portion of each of the plurality of magnetic poles, and a plurality of lead wires are connected to the plurality of electrical coils. A control system for controlling a current supplied to the plasma arc torch through the lead wires is also provided that changes at least one of a strength of a magnetic field produced by the magnetic poles, a polarity of the magnetic poles, and a movement of a magnetic force between the plurality of magnetic poles, such that a size and location of the plasma arc is controlled.
US09107282B2 Asymmetric consumables for a plasma arc torch
A consumable set is provided that is usable in a plasma arc torch to direct a plasma arc to a processing surface of a workpiece. The consumable set includes a nozzle having: 1) a nozzle body defining a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, and 2) a nozzle exit orifice, disposed in the nozzle body, for constricting the plasma arc. The nozzle exit orifice defines an exit orifice axis oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the longitudinal axis. The consumable set can also include an alignment surface generally parallel to the exit orifice axis. The alignment surface is dimensioned to align the exit orifice such that the plasma arc impinges orthogonally on the processing surface.
US09107280B2 Anode rotational drive device and X-ray imaging apparatus
In order to provide an X-ray imaging apparatus including a two-phase anode rotation mechanism driving circuit having a small and light configuration, one end of the main stator coil is connected to a three-phase full-bridge inverter circuit and the midpoint between two semiconductor switches of the first arm, one end of the auxiliary stator coil is connected to the midpoint between two semiconductor switches of the second arm, and the other ends of the main stator coil and the auxiliary stator coil are connected to the midpoint between two semiconductor switches of the third arm. The semiconductor switches are switched using an inverting circuit and a delay circuit so that a first AC voltage is supplied to the one end of the main stator coil and a second AC voltage, which is shifted in phase by 90° from the first AC voltage, is supplied to the one end of the auxiliary stator coil.
US09107276B2 Method of driving an arc-discharge lamp
The invention describes a method of driving an arc-discharge lamp (1), which method comprises the steps of detecting a mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1) occurring as a result of a physical displacement of the discharge arc (2), determining a characteristic (43, 51, 63) of the mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1), and adjusting the lamp power on the basis of the determined characteristic (43, 51, 63) to suppress the mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1). The invention further describes a driver (3) for an arc-discharge lamp (1), which driver comprises a detecting means (40, 50, 60) for detecting a mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1) occurring as a result of a physical displacement of the discharge arc (2), a determination unit (42, 50, 62) for determining a characteristic (43, 51, 63) of the mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1); and an adjustment unit (8) for adjusting a lamp power (Pc) on the basis of the determined characteristic (43, 51, 63) to suppress the mechanically induced fluctuation in luminous flux of the lamp (1). The invention also describes a lighting assembly (9) comprising a high-intensity gas-discharge lamp (1) and such a driver (3) for driving the lamp (1) according to the inventive method.
US09107273B2 End-of-life bulb circuitry
An LED light bulb which turns itself permanently off when it reaches the end of its useful life, and more particularly, to a scheme which slightly varies the end-of-life condition from unit to unit.
US09107266B2 Lighting apparatus having high operation reliability and lighting system using the same
A lighting apparatus having high operation reliability includes a first lighting unit with a first turn-on voltage and a second lighting unit with a second turn-on voltage greater than the first turn-on voltage. The lighting apparatus is put in use for generating output light according to a driving current flowing through the first lighting unit or the second lighting unit. The first lighting unit is capable of generating output light having a first brightness according to the driving current. The second lighting unit, electrically connected in parallel with the first lighting unit, is capable of generating output light having a second brightness according to the driving current. The second brightness is preferably identical to the first brightness.
US09107264B2 Electronic control gears for LED light engine and application thereof
Disclosed are electronic control gears for LED light engines able to improve power factor by way of gearing up or down the LED current and the AC input current in response to and in synchronization with the AC input voltage. Moreover, the disclosed electronic control gears could further reduce flicker phenomenon and total harmonic distortion when used in collocation with disclosed valley fillers, filling the LED current valleys only during the dead time, and in conjunction with disclosed dummy loads, ramping up or down the AC input current only during the dead time.
US09107262B2 Illumination apparatus including semiconductor light emitting diodes
An illumination apparatus capable of controlling current amounts of LEDs and enabling various electrical connections is provided. An applied driving voltage is divided, and a divided voltage is compared with a reference voltage to generate sampling signals. A logic operation is performed on the sampling signals to generate a switch control signal and a current control signal. The switch control signal controls electrical connection of LEDs to which the driving voltage is applied. Also, the current control signal may select LEDs that are to perform light emitting operations. A target voltage is set by processing the sampling signals and used to determine driving currents of the LEDs that are to perform the light emitting operations.
US09107261B2 Circuit and method for controlling light-emitting components
In order to further develop a circuit arrangement or circuit, in particular driver circuit, and a method for controlling at least one light-emitting component, in particular at least one electro-optical transducer, for example at least one light-emitting diode (LED) or electroluminescent diode or at least one laser, such as at least one semiconductor laser, by switching at least one switching element at least between a first switching position and a second switching position, at least one further circuit component is switched to active or switched on in the second switching position, so that current drain and output resistance are as low as possible, so that the highest possible frequency or switching speed as well as the highest possible output voltage for the light-emitting component can be achieved, it is proposed that the light-emitting component is controlled by varying its operating voltage.
US09107260B2 Current ripple canceling LED driver
A current ripple canceling light-emitting diode (LED) driver is disclosed. The input current source contains a current ripple. The LED load is connected to the drain of a power switch. The source of the power switch is connected to a current sensing resistor. The gate of the power switch is connected to the output of an operational amplifier. The operational amplifier compares the voltage signal across the current sensing resistor with a dynamic reference voltage. The dynamic reference voltage is adjusted according to the gate or drain voltage of the power switch. The LED load current is controlled to be a nearly no ripple DC current.
US09107259B2 Electrical system using high frequency AC and having inductively connected loads, and related power supplies and luminaires
Electrical systems are provided which include a power distribution system for distributing high frequency AC power having a twisted pair conductor and power tapping element, for instance to an LED or OLED load. The electrical systems include an LED or OLED luminaire having a heat sink and a light diffusing optical element and power supplies for powering LEDs or OLEDs such as those used in the luminaire.
US09107257B2 Adaptive frequency control to change a light output level
Systems and methods to change a light output level using adaptive frequency control are provided. A switched mode power converter is configured to switch output current to a light emitting diode (LED) module, which includes an LED lighting element, at a switching frequency. Control circuitry is configured to receive a dimming control input that corresponding to a desired light output level of the LED module. The control circuitry is also configured to provide a pulse width modulation (PWM) output configured to pulse width modulate the output current, the PWM output having a pulse width, a PWM frequency, and a PWM period corresponding to the PWM frequency. The control circuitry is also configured to adjust at least one of the PWM period and the switching period in response to a change in the dimming control input, such that a light output level of the LED module is appropriately changed.
US09107253B2 Lighting apparatus having a predetermined light distribution area
A lighting apparatus is provided. The lighting apparatus may include a mounting block provided on a heat sink and having a plurality of light emitting modules installed thereon, and a bulb surrounding the mounting block. One or more reflectors may reflect light emitted by the light emitting modules so as to distribute light within a predetermined light distribution area.
US09107250B2 Method of operating an LED lighting system
An LED-based lighting system is operated with a time-based process. The LEDs are first turned on by energizing the system at full power. After a predetermined time period, which is selected so that the junction temperature of the LEDs does not reach a critical temperature, the current supply is ramped down to a steady-state supply. The steady-state current is maintained as long as the light is turned on. When the light is turned on the next time and the LEDs have not cooled down all the way, as determined by the time that has expired since the LEDs were last lit, the full-power time period is shortened accordingly.
US09107249B2 Adjusting brightness of an optical touch panel
A method, device, and computer program product are provided for adjusting brightness of an optical touch panel. The optical touch panel comprises a microprocessor, a display module including a back light source, and an optical position detection device including optical transmitting devices and optical receiving devices. The method comprises detecting, via the optical receiving devices, a current ambient light level on the display module. The method further comprises generating, via the optical receiving devices, a current ambient light level signal indicative of the detected current ambient light level and transmitting the current ambient light level signal to the microprocessor. Furthermore, the method comprises adjusting, via the microprocessor, brightness of the back light source based on the current ambient light level signal.
US09107248B2 Sensor network-enabled light socket adaptor
A light power socket adaptor is positioned between an energy-saving light bulb and a light socket that provides electrical power to the light bulb. Light power socket adaptors are network-enabled, and a sensor network is ZigBee, which is IEEE compliant and quickly forms a mesh network. Each node on the network operates independently. Each node also functions as a router so that it forwards data packets to other nodes if the data received is targeted for its own consumption. Each adaptor further includes a motion sensor as well as a photo (day/night) sensor.
US09107244B2 Glass panel having ultrasonically integrated conducting wires
A glazing and a process for manufacturing such a glazing, the glazing integrating a conducting wire, wherein a surface of the glazing includes a substrate made of a polymer material wherein the conducting wire is partly sunken and at the very most flush with the surface of the polymer material, or a substrate made of mineral glass or made of a polymer material onto which the conducting wire is adhesively bonded. The glazing can be applied in a transport vehicle, building trades, street furniture, interior fittings, electrical goods or electronics.
US09107243B2 Elevated microwave heating construct
A construct for heating, browning, and/or crisping a food item in a microwave oven includes a platform having a first surface substantially defined by a microwave energy interactive element and a pair of side members joined to the platform along respective lines of disruption. The side members extend upwardly and downwardly from the plane of the platform.
US09107235B2 Apparatus and method for scheduling transmission resources to users served by a base station using a prediction of rate regions
An apparatus for scheduling transmission resources to users served by a base station equipped with a plurality of antennas includes a predictor for predicting rate regions for one or more future time slots based on rate regions for one or more past time slots to obtain one or more predicted rate regions, and a processor for calculating the transmission resources for the users for a current time slot using scheduled transmission resources for the one or more past time slots, a rate region for the current time slot and the one or more predicted rate regions.
US09107226B2 Method and system for handling congestion in a communications system
An apparatus for managing contention in a communications system, the apparatus comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor. The programming may include instructions to receive a ranging code from a device in a ranging channel, the ranging code corresponding to a current ranging attempt. The programming may further include instructions to broadcast a message acknowledging reception of the ranging code. The programming may further include instructions to receive a ranging request message from the device, the ranging request message comprising a ranging retries parameter that specifies a number of ranging retries that the device performed during the current ranging attempt.
US09107225B2 Method and apparatus for reporting statistic information associated with random access in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for reporting statistic information associated with random access procedure and back-off process are provided. The method proposes a number of back-off interval reporting modes. The reporting modes include the first mode in which a sequence indicating every back-off interval applied during the back-off process is reported, the second mode in which a total sum of the every back-off interval applied during the back-off process is reported, the third mode in which an average of the every back-off interval applied during the back-off process is reported, and the fourth mode in which a variance of the every back-off interval applied during the back-off process is reported. The reporting information is transmitted via RRC signaling.
US09107223B2 Methods, systems and devices for decoupled interference randomization for uplink reference signals
Interference between reference signals from user equipments in a wireless network, the method may be reduced by using a received time shift value from a node in the wireless network. An interference randomization technique may be applied to a reference signal and a sequence may be generated based on the reference signal to which the interference randomization technique has been applied. A processed reference signal may be derived by applying a time shift based on the time shift value to the sequence. The processed reference signal may be transmitted to the node. Related systems, methods, nodes and wireless devices are also described.
US09107219B2 Method and system to configure network access points
A method includes detecting a first value for a first parameter associated with a first access point of a plurality of access points and based at least on the first value for the first parameter associated with the first access point, configuring a second value for a second parameter associated with a second access point of the plurality of access points.
US09107215B2 Systems, devices, and methods for improving data capacity in a communications system by managing short addresses
Systems, devices, and methods of managing short addresses in a wireless communication system include receiving reservation requests on a random access channel from subscriber units at a radio frequency (RF) site such that the reservation requests includes a minimum number of requested time slots for data transmission between a subscriber unit and the RF site, and a subscriber long address. Further, for each of the reservation requests, the RF site selects a subscriber short address for the respective subscriber unit as well as transmitting the selected subscriber short address to the respective subscriber unit on a RF site channel. In addition, the RF site determines a short address transmission schedule for the subscriber units as well as transmitting a schedule message to the subscriber units on a schedule channel such that the schedule provides slot assignments for data transmissions by subscriber units according to their assigned short addresses.
US09107213B2 Reference signal for time and/or frequency tracking in a wireless network
A method and an apparatus in a base station are capable of including a tracking reference signal (TRS) in a downlink subframe. The method includes generating a TRS subframe by including the TRS in the downlink subframe at a frequency density of at least one resource element per six resource elements in the TRS subframe. Additionally, the method includes transmitting the TRS subframe at a periodicity among other subframes not including the TRS.
US09107209B2 Method and apparatus for triggering and transmitting uplink sounding reference signal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose methods and apparatuses for dynamically triggering an uplink sounding reference signal for a carrier aggregation system, methods and apparatus for transmitting an uplink sounding reference signal for a carrier aggregation system. One embodiment discloses a method for dynamically configuring an uplink sounding reference signal for a carrier aggregation system, wherein an uplink schedule in the system comprises an SRS request field. The method comprises: pre-assigning mapping relationships between different values of the SRS request in the uplink schedule and joint coding of a carrier aggregation parameter and at least one user-specific RSR parameters, the carrier aggregation parameter indicating one or more carrier components; determining the carrier aggregation parameter and the at least one user-specific SRS parameter; assigning values to the SRS request field in the uplink schedule based on the pre-assigned mapping relationships, the determined carrier aggregation parameter and the at least one user-specific SRS parameter; transmitting the uplink schedule.
US09107208B2 Method for transmitting an SRS-triggering-based SRS in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method and terminal apparatus which involve transmitting a sounding reference signal (SRS)-triggering-based SRS in a wireless communication system. The terminal apparatus of the present invention comprises a receiver which receives, from a base station, an SRS-triggering indicator for triggering an SRS transmission; and a transmitter which transmits the SRS via a preconfigured uplink subframe in accordance with the SRS-triggering indicator.
US09107195B2 Method of validating 1X packet availability in a vehicle telematics unit
A method of communicating with a telematics-equipped vehicle includes receiving a circuit-switched telephone call at a central facility from a telematics-equipped vehicle via a wireless carrier system that is in local communication with the telematics-equipped vehicle; determining during the circuit-switched telephone call that a separate packet-data communication session between the telematics-equipped vehicle and the central facility is desired; identifying the wireless carrier system that is in local communication with the telematics-equipped vehicle; querying the identified wireless carrier system from the central facility to determine whether the telematics-equipped vehicle is authorized to establish a packet-data communication session using the identified wireless carrier system; if so, obtaining an Internet protocol (IP) address from the identified wireless carrier system; and commencing the exchange of data between the telematics-equipped vehicle and the central facility using the obtained IP address.
US09107192B2 Communication apparatus and associated methods
A first apparatus having a first identity associated therewith the first apparatus, the first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to perform at least the following: enable transmission of a proxy initiation command to a second apparatus, wherein the proxy initiation command is configured to enable the second apparatus to initiate a first-identity-second-apparatus connection, the first-identity-second-apparatus connection enabling the second apparatus to transmit data denoted as being from the first identity and/or receive data denoted as being to the first identity via the data network.
US09107190B2 Discontinuous reception for multi-component carrier system
A method includes operating a user equipment to initiate monitoring of a control channel associated with a particular component carrier for determining if the user equipment is scheduled by the control channel associated with the particular component carrier. In response to determining that the user equipment is not scheduled, autonomously terminating the monitoring of the control channel associated with the particular component carrier. A further method includes establishing a set of rules defining how and when a user equipment autonomously deactivates use of component carriers transmitted by a network access node. The network access node assumes, in response to the network access node not scheduling the user equipment in a control channel of a particular component carrier for some period, that the user equipment has autonomously deactivated monitoring of the control channel of the particular component carrier. Various apparatus and computer programs are also disclosed that operate in accordance with the methods.
US09107189B2 Method and apparatus for allocating resources in a wireless communication system
A method of transmitting signals by a base station in a wireless communication system. The method includes transmitting, to a relay node, resource allocation information indicating a Virtual Resource Block (VRB) set through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling; and transmitting a downlink subframe including at least one control channel element (CCE) related to the relay node. The at least one CCE is allocated from a specific Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol other than a first OFDM symbol of the downlink subframe. The VRB set is configured for a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel (R-PDCCH).
US09107187B2 Enhanced self-organizing network switching matrix
Automated control of simulcast ratios based on network traffic data provides efficient network capacity management. In one aspect, a remote switching matrix can be utilized at a venue to couple remote transceiver units (RTUs) with different antenna ports, for example, of one or more multi-beam antennas deployed at the venue. A simulcast ratio that can be utilized to support traffic demand at the venue can be determined and implemented by creating dynamic connections between the RTUs and the antenna ports. In one aspect, the simulcast ratio can be modified based on changes in network traffic at the venue that are monitored via self-organizing network devices. In addition, one or more antenna beams of the multi-beam antennas are remotely steered or rotated based on a location of the traffic.
US09107185B2 Method for transmitting a response request frame and a response frame in a multi-user based wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for efficient transmission of a request frame such as an RTS/CTS frame and a response frame in response to the request frame in a multi-user based wireless communication system. The method of the present invention comprises: a process where wireless terminals transmit a response frame at their own response frame transmission time through a request frame that contains information about a plurality of wireless terminals and information about the response frame transmission time of the respective wireless terminals; a process where the respective wireless terminals transmit a response frame according to a token scheme such that the response frame is transmitted to a final access point; and a process where only a representative wireless terminal selected depending on a given wireless environment receives the response frame.
US09107180B2 User device radio activity optimization in dead zones
A user device may determine whether the user device is located within a dead zone; periodically search, using a first process, for a cellular tower of a cellular network when the user device is not located within the dead zone; and periodically search, using a second process, for a cellular tower of the cellular network when the user device is located within the dead zone. The second process may consume less power of the user device than the first process.
US09107176B2 Method and apparatus for controlling uplink power in a wireless access system
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for reporting power headroom in a user equipment of a multi-carrier system, includes receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) signal comprising uplink resource allocation information from a base station; transmitting at least one of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) signal and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal to the base station in a predetermined subframe based on the uplink resource allocation information in accordance with a transmission mode; calculating one or more power headroom values for the predetermined subframe in accordance with the transmission mode; and transmitting a report message comprising the one or more power headroom values to the base station, wherein the user equipment reports its first and second type power headroom values when operating in transmission mode A, or reports its first type power headroom value when operating in transmission mode B.
US09107169B2 User equipment apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals simultaneously using at least two wireless communication schemes and method thereof
A user equipment (UE) of a wireless communication system is disclosed. A second receiving module, of a second wireless communication chip, is configured for receiving a transmission power value of a first signal configured to be transmitted from a first wireless communication chip of the UE. A second transmission power value determining module, of the second wireless communication chip, is configured for determining a transmission power value of a second signal configured to be transmitted from the second wireless communication chip, the determination based on the received transmission power value of the first signal and a predefined specific absorption rate (SAR) condition, wherein the first wireless communication chip is configured for transmitting the first signal using a first wireless communication scheme, wherein the second wireless communication chip is configured for transmitting the second signal using a second wireless communication scheme simultaneously with the transmission of the first signal by the first wireless communication chip.
US09107166B2 Method, device and computer program product for managing radio states in a mobile communication device using device mobility information
This disclosure is directed to a method, computer program product and mobile communication device configured for managing radio states in a mobile communication device using device mobility information. A mobility state is determined from the number of cell changes over a predefined period of time. If the mobility state transitions to medium or high, such as when the user is in a vehicle, a Bluetooth radio is enabled. If a connection to a Bluetooth-enabled device is available, a connection is established. When the connection is disconnected, a configurable timer is started. If the timer expires without re-establishing the connection or the mobility state transitioning to medium or high, the Bluetooth radio is disabled to reduce power consumption. According to an embodiment, a Wi-Fi radio may then enabled to establish a Wi-Fi connection. Various configurations of computer program products and mobile communication devices are also described.
US09107162B2 Determination of enhanced physical downlink control channel candidates in a wireless communication network
In embodiments, an evolved Node B (eNB) of a wireless communication network may configure an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) physical resource block (PRB) set for a user equipment (UE). The EPDCCH-PRB set may include a plurality of PRB-pairs. The EPDCCH-PRB set may further include a plurality of enhanced resource element groups (EREGs) organized into localized enhanced control channel elements (ECCEs) having EREGs of the same PRB-pair and distributed ECCEs having EREGs of different PRB-pairs. In some embodiments, the eNB may determine a set of distributed EPDCCH candidates for the UE from the EPDCCH-PRB set, wherein the individual distributed EPDCCH candidates include one or more of the distributed ECCEs, and wherein the set of distributed EPDCCH candidates includes at least one EREG from each of the plurality of localized ECCEs. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09107157B2 Implementing an assisted cross-protocol adaptation layer/cross-layer clock synchronization scheme
A system and method are provided to streamline at least a clock synchronization process for subsequent WiGig PALs once clocks in a first WiGig PAL transmitter and a corresponding first WiGig PAL receiver are synchronized. The unique layering structure of the WiGig 60 GHz standard affords an opportunity to streamline the clock synchronization process based on relationships between individual WiGig PALs, and that the WiGig PALs are directly on top of the WiGig MAC and PHY layers. A process for assisted cross-PAL/cross-layer clock synchronization affords significant reductions in an amount of time required to synchronize the clocks of multiple WiGig PALs based on leveraging an already synchronized clock pair in a first WiGig PAL transmitter/receiver pair to facilitate the clock synchronization of one or more subsequent WiGig PAL transmitter/receiver pairs.
US09107153B1 Parallel processing of both code synchronization and frequency synchronization for wireless communication
Systems and techniques relating to wireless communications are described. A described technique includes receiving a signal via a wireless channel, performing code synchronization by at least using a peak counter to count peak correlations based on the signal and a known preamble, performing frequency synchronization based on the signal, and using, based on a successful completion of the code synchronization, at least a result of the frequency synchronization to demodulate data from the signal. The technique includes starting the frequency synchronization during the code synchronization when an output value of the peak counter satisfies a predetermined criterion.
US09107150B2 Link scheduling algorithm for OFDMA wireless networks with relay nodes
A method scheduling link activations within a wireless communications network including at least one network cell including a base station providing radio coverage over the network cell and at least one relay node putting the base station into communication with a user equipment within the network cell over an access link. The relay node communicates with the base station over a backhaul link. The method includes estimating, for the relay node, an access link capacity according to status information indicative of a status of the user equipment associated with the relay node, estimating a backhaul link capacity of the relay node according to the status information, and scheduling, for the relay node, either a backhaul link activation or an access link activation such that one of the backhaul link and access link is activated, in a predetermined time interval, based on a comparison between the access capacity and backhaul capacity.
US09107142B2 Network selection methods and apparatus with use of a master service management module and a prioritized list of multiple aggregator service profiles
A communication device is configured to store one or more aggregator service application modules for use in accessing one or more different aggregator services. Each aggregator service offers access through a plurality of offered wireless networks identified by a plurality of offered wireless network identifiers. The communication device maintains a prioritized list of profiles which include one or more aggregator service profiles associated with the one or more aggregator services. A scanning operation is performed for identifying one or more available wireless networks in a geographic area of the device, for producing a scan list of one or more available wireless network identifiers corresponding to the one or more available wireless networks. One of the aggregator service profiles is selected from the prioritized list, causing one of the aggregator service application modules corresponding to the selected profile to be invoked. The invoked module causes one of the available wireless network identifiers from the scan list that matches one of the offered wireless network identifiers to be selected, if such matching identifier exists. A connection is established with one of the available wireless networks corresponding to the selected available wireless network identifier, for accessing a selected aggregator service corresponding to the selected aggregator service profile.
US09107141B2 Selection method for rapidly obtaining hotspot information
The present invention is to provide a selection method for rapidly obtaining hotspot information, which is applicable to a wireless communication system including at least one mobile terminal device capable of performing a site survey and transmitting a probe request, a plurality of wireless hotspot devices each capable of receiving the probe request, reading a terminal identifier in the probe request and sending the terminal identifier out, and a server of a telecommunication company capable of receiving the terminal identifier. After receiving the terminal identifier, the server compares the terminal identifier against user data in a user database and then sends a text message to the mobile terminal device when determining that the terminal identifier is already registered in the user database, wherein the text message includes SSID and password of a wireless hotspot device to which the mobile terminal device can currently choose to connect for interconnecting the Internet.
US09107139B2 Intelligent P-GW relocation for SIPTO service continuity
Intelligent packet data network gateway (P-GW) relocation for selected internet protocol traffic offload (SIPTO) service continuity is described. A user equipment (UE) application monitoring module, can monitor the network session state for a UE. A transition window can be determined based on both the network session state and a session continuity impact metric. A new packet data network gateway (P-GW) can be associated to the UE during the transition window in response to a determination that a current P-GW of the UE is less optimal, in at least one performance metric, than the new P-GW.
US09107136B2 Femtocell access control
Methods and apparatus for controlling access of a mobile device to a femtocell base station in a communications network are described. The method determines whether to allow access of the mobile device to the femtocell base station based on the femtocell-mobile device path loss for transmissions between the mobile device and the femtocell base station. Access may be allowed if the femtocell-mobile device pathloss is lower than a threshold amount. Additionally or alternatively access may be allowed only if the femtocell-mobile device pathloss is lower than the macrocell-mobile device pathloss for transmissions between the mobile device and a macrocell base station. The method is particularly applicable for hybrid access mode femtocells and additional conditions may be applied regarding the number of mobile device that are not part of the subscriber group that can access the femtocell. The method may be implemented by the femtocell, the macrocell or by any other suitable network device.
US09107135B1 Universal communications system for initiating directed telecommunications campaign
The invention disclosed is a new system and method for directing the initiation of a notification campaign directed to a telecommunications system, wherein a variety of different campaigns are initiated through a universal interface offering access to a variety of telecommunications systems. With the advent of automated telephonic message delivery, certain public safety agencies, such as police departments and fire departments, seek to deliver mass messages to citizenry at risk during emergency situations.
US09107130B2 Method and apparatus for traffic offloading procedure management in a public safety communication system
A system provides for traffic offloading in a Public Safety communication system. The system includes multiple user equipment (UEs), each a member of a same communications group, and a services network element configured to receive information comprising an identifier of the communications group, an identifier of each UE of the multiple UEs, and an identifier of a cell of a primary network where each UE resides; store, in association with each UE identifier, the communications group identifier and the primary network cell identifier; determine that a primary network cell is congested; responsive to determining that the cell is congested, determine a subset of the multiple UEs that are members of the communications group, reside in the congested cell, and are capable of being served by one or more secondary networks; and instruct the subset of UEs to offload their communications group traffic to the one or more secondary networks.
US09107128B2 Methods and mechanisms to enable priority calls in a cell through pre-emption of other calls
A method is provided for managing a priority call in a serving cell. The method comprises, when a priority call is in progress in the serving cell, an access device in the serving cell determining an amount of resources available in the serving cell. The method further comprises when the amount of resources available in the serving cell is below a threshold, the access device causing at least one non-priority call in the serving cell to be handed over to a target cell.
US09107124B2 Delivery of multicast and broadcast services concurrently with unicast data
Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, user equipment receives unicast services from a first carrier of a primary serving cell and determines if Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast services (MBMS) services are available on a second carrier based at least in part on information in a broadcast carrier channel that indicates the second carrier or an identification (ID) of the second carrier. If MBMS services are available on the second carrier, the user equipment at least temporarily switches to the second carrier to receive the MBMS services. The user equipment may provide feedback to the network or the primary serving cell when it starts and stops receiving MBMS services, and then may switch back to the primary serving cell when MBMS services have ended or the user equipment no longer desires to receive MBMS services.
US09107121B2 Terminal and the scan method thereof
A terminal and a scan method thereof are disclosed in the present invention. The method includes that: a terminal receiving, after accessing a network, a downlink channel descriptor message, and acquiring a scan triggering period table carried in the downlink channel descriptor message; and the terminal performing periodic scan according to the scan triggering period table. According to the technical solution of the present invention, the efficiency for the terminal scanning in different scenes can be effectively improved, and therefore the performance of the system is improved.
US09107116B2 Method and apparatus for in-device coexistence (IDC) indication
This disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for In-Device Coexistence (IDC) indication. Among other things, the present disclosure presents a method performed by a user equipment (UE). The UE is configured to send 201 an IDC indication message with a same content as in a previously sent IDC indication message if, or when, the UE has performed a handover to another cell (target cell).
US09107115B2 Handover control system, target control apparatus, source control apparatus, handover control method, and computer readable medium
A second control apparatus (1B) is configured to be able to investigate handover possibilities of a plurality of cells including cells (41 B, 42A, and 42C) in response to receipt of a handover request message transmitted from a first control apparatus (1A). The second control apparatus (1B) is configured to transmit an acknowledge response message indicating handover acknowledgment to the first control apparatus (1A) when at least one of the plurality of cells can accept a handover of a mobile station (3). As a result, extra signaling related to a handover procedure can be reduced.
US09107114B2 Method for supporting quality of service mechanisms during a handover process or in preparation of a handover process
A method for supporting quality of service (QoS) mechanisms during a handover process or in preparation of a handover process, wherein a user equipment (UE) attaches to an access network (AN) via points of attachment (PoA), wherein the handover process supports changing connection of the UE from one of the points of attachment—current PoA—to another one of the points of attachment—target PoA—while maintaining all ongoing connections of the UE, wherein signalling messages are exchanged between the current PoA and a second PoA during or in preparation of the handover process, the second PoA including the target PoA or a candidate for the target PoA, and wherein the AN supports inner QoS mechanisms on a communication path within the AN, the communication path being used for communication between one of the PoA and a core network (CN) or between one of the PoA and a network entity within the AN, is characterized in that a triggering message is sent to the second PoA by the current PoA, the triggering message being received by an UE proxy located on the second PoA, wherein the UE proxy, in reaction to the triggering message, controls the inner QoS mechanisms to ensure QoS on the communication path.
US09107113B2 Method and apparatus for handoff between source and target access systems
Systems and methods for switching among heterogeneous networks and inter-working between a source access system and a target access system. An inter-system handoff control component can facilitate setting an IP tunneling by the mobile unit, wherein IP addresses for inter-working security gateway and Radio Access Network of the target access system can be identified. The inter-system handoff control component can then implement tunneling between the source system and the target system, wherein signaling/packeting associated with the target system can be transferred over the source system.
US09107109B2 Method and apparatus for determining a data rate in a high rate packet data wireless communications system
In a wireless communication system a method for combination transmission of packet data and low delay data. In one embodiment a parallel signaling channel provides a message to receivers indicating a target recipient of packet data. The message also identifies the transmission channels used for packet data transmissions. Each receiver may then selectively decode only packets where the message identifies the receiver as a target recipient. The data packets stored in a buffer are ignored if the target recipient is another mobile unit. In one embodiment, the message is sent concurrently with the data packet on a parallel channel. In one embodiment, the message is punctured into the high rate packet data transmission.
US09107105B2 Method and apparatus for channel predicting
The present invention discloses a channel predicting method and apparatus in a communication network comprising a time-varying wireless channel. The channel predicting method comprising: determining a prediction strategy; selecting a certain number of channel samples from candidate channel samples each corresponding to one symbol in time domain in accordance with the prediction strategy; determining prediction weights in accordance with the prediction strategy and statistical properties of the time-varying wireless channel; and weighting the selected channel samples with the determined prediction weights to obtain a predicting channel sample as a prediction result.
US09107101B2 Method of collecting information in mobile communication system
There are disclosed a method of and a system for collecting information related to operation of a radio communication system inexpensively and easily. A mobile radio terminal monitors a communication status of user communication, and detects as a trigger when the communication status has satisfied a predetermined condition. When a trigger is detected, the mobile radio terminal acquires a reception status of a radio signal and the position of the mobile radio terminal. The mobile radio terminal sends measured information including the reception status and the position to an information collecting server. The information collecting server receives the measured information from the mobile radio terminal and records therein the measured information which has been received.
US09107098B2 Near-field MIMO wireless test systems, structures, and processes
Systems, processes, and structures allow enhanced near-field testing of the uplink and/or downlink performance of MIMO wireless devices (DUT), such as for any of product development, product verification, and/or production testing. Signal channels may preferably be emulated to test the performance of a device under test (DUT) over a range of simulated distances, within a near-field test environment. An enhanced process provides automated testing of a DUT over a wireless network, e.g. such as but not limited to a WLAN. The enhanced MIMO channel emulator may preferably be operated over a high dynamic range.
US09107091B2 Method and apparatus reporting channel quality indicator of communication system
The present invention provides a method and apparatus reporting a channel quality indicator (CQI) of a communication system, including: detecting a first measurement reflecting a first communication quality of the communication system, providing first reference(s) respectively corresponding to indicator level(s), providing CQI according to the indicator level(s) and a relation between the first measurement and the first reference(s), and updating one (or more) first reference according to a second measurement reflecting a second communication quality of the communication system. For example, the first measurement can represent signal to interference ratio or mutual information, and the second measurement can represent data error rate or throughput. First reference(s) can be further adjusted according to a third measurement, e.g., a power scheduling of base station, such that CQI can be updated if base station schedules additional transmission power.
US09107087B2 Method and device for determining channel quality indication information
The disclosure provides a method and device for determining Channel quality indication information, which is configured to perform channel measurement based on a reference signal, so as to obtain a CQI information. The method considers the influence of multiple factors on CQI calculation, including selection of a measurement reference signal as well as the influence of multiple complex conditions on CQI calculation, thereby solving the problem that an existing system is unable to obtain accurate Channel quality indication information when using a transmission mode 9, and enhancing the flexibility and performance of the system.
US09107085B1 Identifying suspects and witness to shooting based on examination of calls made after shooting
An illustrative telecommunications analysis server analyzes telecommunications-event records and telecommunications-activity records associated with mobile stations operating in one or more wireless networks to infer whether a spike in initiated telecommunications activities occurred in a period of time and from a geographic area that closely correlate with the time and location of an audio incident. The server corroborates that the audio incident likely occurred based on the inferred spike in initiated telecommunications activities from one or more mobile stations. The illustrative server identifies the mobile stations that were likely within earshot of the incident and actively initiating telecommunications immediately thereafter.
US09107081B1 Method of maintaining an ad hoc communications network between a base and a mobile platform
A method of maintaining an ad hoc communications network between a base and a mobile platform as the mobile platform moves over a surface comprising the following steps: providing a radio relay device; physically coupling a deployer to the mobile platform, wherein the deployer is configured to releasably stow the radio relay device; sending video data from the mobile platform to the base; monitoring the strength of a network signal received over time at the mobile platform and issuing a weak-link warning when the highest signal strength received at the mobile platform drops below a threshold value; calculating video throughput data metrics based on video data received at the base over time, and issuing an imminent link-failure alert when the metrics reach a predefined condition; and deploying the relay device from the deployer to the surface after the weak-link warning and the imminent link-failure alert are issued.
US09107080B2 Method and system for auto coexistence priority selection for a SCO link
Methods and systems for auto coexistence priority selection for a SCO link are disclosed. Aspects of one method may include a first Bluetooth device communicating with a collocated WLAN device via a coexistence method. The first Bluetooth device, prior to executing a non-SCO task, which may comprise tasks that do not involve SCO packet transfer, may communicate low priority via the coexistence method if a Bluetooth SCO link is present between the first Bluetooth device and a second Bluetooth device, and if a current task being handled by the first Bluetooth device is a high priority task. If a SCO link is not present between the first and second Bluetooth devices, and if the current non-SCO task is a high priority task, the first Bluetooth device may communicate high priority via the coexistence method prior to executing the non-SCO task.
US09107079B2 Ultra-low power wireless communication apparatus and method
An ultra-low power wireless communication apparatus and an ultra-low power wireless communication method are provided. The ultra-low power wireless communication apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to sense state information of frequency channels in a frequency band. The ultra-low power wireless communication apparatus further includes a channel determining unit configured to divide the frequency band into frequency bands based on an allowable output power, assign a priority to one of the frequency bands that includes an output power that is less than or equal to the allowable output power, and determine a communication channel based on the state information of the frequency channels.
US09107076B1 Data fraud detection via device type identification
Systems, methods and computer-readable media for detecting potential data fraud in a telecommunications environment are provided. The methods include referencing a characteristic associated with a device, where the characteristic provides an indication of a device type for a device. From the referenced characteristic, a device type is predicted. A comparison is made between the predicted device type and an expected device type that is identified based on the credentials being used by the device. Thereafter, a determination that the device is potentially performing data fraud can be made based on whether predicted device type matches the expected device type.
US09107075B1 Proximity unlock and lockout
A computer-implemented method for providing secure access to a mobile device is disclosed according to one aspect of the subject technology. The method comprises detecting a presence of a computer at the mobile device, disabling a lockout mode of the mobile device upon detecting the presence of the computer, detecting when the mobile device has moved away from the computer, and enabling the lockout mode of the mobile device upon detecting that the mobile device has moved away from the computer.
US09107061B2 System and method for multimedia emergency access in a wireless network
A method for distributing multimedia emergency contact information using an access point of a wireless local area network (WLAN) is disclosed. The access point is configured to retrieve service contact information from a lookup table. The method includes receiving a first generic advertisement service (GAS) query from a WLAN device. The first GAS query includes a uniform resource name (URN) identifying at least one of the services. The method includes retrieving contact information for the at least one of the services identified in the first GAS query. The contact information includes a uniform resource identifier (URI). The URI is configured to include session initiation protocol (SIP) URIs, and telephone URIs. The method includes transmitting a GAS query response to the WLAN device. The GAS query response includes the contact information for the at least one of the services identified in the first GAS query.
US09107058B2 Method and apparatus for emergency phone in a vehicle key
An approach is provided for placing an emergency call using a key. The key platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of sensor information to determine at least one emergency condition. Then, the key platform causes, at least in part, an initiation of at least one emergency call via at least one key in response to the at least emergency condition, wherein the at least one key is configured with one or more emergency phone functionalities.
US09107049B2 Advanced real-time IP communication in a mobile terminal
A method of making Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, legacy circuit calls, sending/receiving Short Message Service (SMS) over Long Term Evolution (LTE) modem or a legacy modem on a mobile terminal with both kinds of modems, and providing all legacy modem functions is disclosed. In addition, methods for dynamic selection of radio in a mobile terminal capable of Rich Communications Services (RCS) capabilities, and a method for redirecting RCS traffic to an alternate network interface is also disclosed. Methods for Session Initiation Protocol module (SIP) stack functions to be distributed across different processors on a mobile terminal, and directed to different network interfaces is disclosed. Methods of adding video calling and RCS functions without encountering the dual registration problem are also disclosed.
US09107048B2 Methods and systems for mobile IP route optimization
The present application relates to network mobility (e.g., mobility in an IPv6 network). More specifically, the present application discloses systems and methods for enabling mobile nodes to switch to a routing optimization mode using a minimum of mobility messages.
US09107047B1 Method and system for base station repeat paging
Disclosed are a method, apparatus, and system for managing repeat-paging processes within a radio access network. When a base station receives a paging directive, the base station begins broadcasting a first series of page messages destined to a mobile station. Responsive to the first base station receiving no response from the mobile station to the first series of page messages and responsive to the mobile station determining a load state and/or an application type, the first base station decides to send a repeat-paging directive from the first base station to a second base station without routing the repeat-paging directive through the control node or rather to route the repeat-paging directive through the control node and then to the second base station. The repeat-paging directive directs the second base station to begin broadcasting a second series of page messages destined to the mobile station.
US09107044B2 Techniques for processing perceived routability constraints that may or may not affect movement of a mobile device within an indoor environment
Techniques are provided which may be implemented using various methods, apparatuses and/or articles of manufacture to provide or otherwise support mobile device positioning. The mobile device positioning may be based, at least in part, on one or more perceived routability constraints that may or may not affect actual movement of a mobile device within an indoor environment.
US09107039B2 Apparatus and method for switching mode in a location based service system using visible light communication
A method and a lighting device for providing a Location Based Service (LBS) service providing a Location Based Service (LBS) based on Visible Light Communication (VLC) is provided. The method includes receiving, by at least one light source, data from a coordinator, the data including identification information of the at least one light source that corresponds to location information of the at least one light source, which is used by a terminal to identify a location of the at least one light source; and transmitting, by the at least one light source, the data to the terminal in a VLC signal.
US09107035B2 Updating an operating parameter
A method includes communicating with a first wireless network of a first type, and obtaining a location-based operating parameter from the first wireless network. The method further includes checking the validity of the location-based operating parameter obtained from the first wireless network. If the location-based operating parameter obtained from the first wireless network is not valid, then the method further includes searching for a second wireless network of a second type, and updating the location-based operating parameter from the second wireless network.
US09107033B2 System and method for managing sensor node in RFID/USN infrastructure and gateway system used therefor
A sensor node management system in a Radio Frequency Identification/Ubiquitous Sensing Network (RFID/USN) infrastructure is provided, in which a sensor node has a local ID in a sensor network, a gateway receives, from the sensor node, node information including the local ID and an ID of a home gateway to which the sensor node initially belongs and registers the node information about the sensor node to a location information server, and the location information server registers and manages node information about sensor nodes within an area of the gateway. The location information server generates a global ID using the local ID and the ID of the home gateway, the global ID being recognized as an address of the sensor node by an Internet Protocol (IP) network.
US09107026B1 Range management with Bluetooth low energy
An example method for adjusting the range of transmission of advertising packets is disclosed. In particular, method includes receiving, from an application executing on a mobile computing device, a request. The request may include a request to transmit an advertisement packet via a short-range wireless device of the computing device. Additionally, the request may include a power level for the transmission of the advertisement packet via the short-range wireless device. The request may be received via an application programming interface (API) exposed to the application. Additionally, the method may include causing the transmission, via the short-range wireless device, of the advertisement packet. The short-range wireless device may be configured to transmit the advertisement packet at a transmission power level less than or equal to the requested power level. Further, the requested power level may be less than or equal to a nominal power level for the short-range wireless device.
US09107025B2 Node and method for communications handling
Example embodiments disclosed herein may be directed towards a system, and corresponding method, for sending machine-to-machine (M2M) application specific parameters. These parameters may allow a network operator to guide M2M application behaviour in accordance with potentially limited recourses in the network. These parameters may also be used to provide IPv6 address information to a gateway node and/or M2M server and/or Service Capability Server (SCS).
US09107018B2 System and method for sound reproduction
A sound reproduction system for reproducing an audio signal as originating from a first direction relative to a nominal position (211) and orientation of a listener is provided. The system comprises a first sound transducer arrangement (105) arranged to generate sound reaching the nominal position (211) from a first position corresponding to the first direction; and a second sound transducer arrangement (107) arranged to generate sound reaching the nominal position (211) from a second position corresponding to a different direction than the first direction. The arrangements may specifically be loudspeakers positioned at the given positions. A drive circuit (103) generates a first drive signal for the first sound transducer arrangement (105) and a second drive signal for the second sound transducer arrangement (107) from the audio signal. The first position and the second position are located on a sound cone of confusion for the nominal position (211) and the nominal direction. A more flexible loudspeaker positioning may be achieved.
US09107016B2 Interactive hearing aid fitting system and methods
Methods and systems of interactive fitting of a hearing aid by a non-expert person without resorting to a clinical setup are disclosed. The system includes an audio generator for delivering test audio signals at predetermined levels to a non-acoustic input of a programmable hearing aid in-situ. The consumer is instructed to listen to the output of the hearing device in-situ and interactively adjust fitting parameters of the programmable hearing aid according to the perceptual assessment of the hearing aid output in-situ. The output is representative of the test audio signal presented to the non-acoustic input. In one embodiment, the fitting system includes a personal computer, a handheld device communicatively coupled to the personal computer, and a fitting software application. In one embodiment, the fitting system includes an earphone for conducting a hearing evaluation.
US09107014B2 Multifunctional earphone
A multifunctional earphone is disclosed. The multifunctional earphone includes a main body having an electroacoustic element incorporated therein for serving as an earphone, an ear-insertion body having a sound tube portion bonded with the main body, a wing portion extending around from the sound tube portion, and an acceleration sensor serving as a microphone embedded in the wing portion and formed a configuration such that the outer periphery of the wing portion contacts an external auditory meatus of a user's ear. The acceleration sensor includes a substrate directly or indirectly contacting with a vibration source, a spring connecting with the substrate, a weight and a piezoelectric element deformed by an external force from the weight, by which the piezoelectric element produces an electric energy based on piezoelectricity effect.
US09107012B2 Vehicular threat detection based on audio signals
Techniques for ability enhancement are described. Some embodiments provide an ability enhancement facilitator system (“AEFS”) configured to enhance a user's ability to operate or function in a transportation-related context as a pedestrian or a vehicle operator. In one embodiment, the AEFS is configured perform vehicular threat detection based at least in part on analyzing audio signals. An example AEFS receives data that represents an audio signal emitted by a vehicle. The AEFS analyzes the audio signal to determine vehicular threat information, such as that the vehicle may collide with the user. The AEFS then informs the user of the determined vehicular threat information, such as by transmitting a warning to a wearable device configured to present the warning to the user.
US09107010B2 Ambient noise root mean square (RMS) detector
An RMS detector uses the concept of the k-NN (classifying using nearest neighbors)—algorithm in order to obtain RMS values. A rms detector using first-order regressor with a variable smoothing factor is modified to penalize samples from center of data in order to obtain RMS values. Samples which vary greatly from the background noise levels, such as speech, scratch, wind and other noise spikes, are dampened in the RMS calculation. When background noise changes, the system will track the changes in background noise and include the changes in the calculation of the corrected RMS value. A minimum tracker runs more often (e.g. two or three times) than the rate as in prior art detectors and methods, tracks the minimum rms value, which is to compute a normalized distance value, which in turn is used to normalize the smoothing factor. From this data, a corrected or revised RMS value is determined as the function of the previous RMS value multiplied by one minus the smoothing factor plus the smooth factor times the minimum rms value to output the corrected RMS for the present invention. The rms value is used to generate a reset signal for the minimum tracker and is used to avoid deadlock in the tracker, for example, when the background signal increases/decreases over time.
US09107007B2 Microphone unit
There is provided a microphone unit having a plurality of miniature microphones for respectively recording audio signals and a carrier unit. The miniature microphones can be arranged on a side of the carrier unit.
US09106997B2 Behind the ear earphone
A behind-the-ear mountable earphone includes a generally C-shaped ear support. The support has a first section extending between a first end and the top of the “C”, adapted to fit behind the user's ear, and a second section extending from the top of the “C” to a second end. The second section is in a plane different from the first section, so that when the first section is behind the user's ear, the second section extends over the front of the user's ear. An earphone is telescopingly mounted on the second end of the C-shaped support. The earphone comprising a generally circular face adapted to be received in the concha of the user's ear, the generally circular face disposed at an angle with respect to the first section of the generally C-shaped support.
US09106992B2 Loudspeaker and electronic equipment including the loudspeaker
Provided is a loudspeaker having a thin long structure, and the loudspeaker includes: a frame; a diaphragm having a hollow structure and in which a shape of a plane that is perpendicular to a vibration direction is an oblong shape having a long side and a short side; an edge vibratably supporting the diaphragm and being fixed to the frame; at least one cylinder-shaped voice coil bobbin connected to the diaphragm in a penetrating manner; a voice coil disposed inside the hollow structure of the diaphragm and attached to the voice coil bobbin; and a magnetic circuit disposed inside the voice coil bobbin and configured to drive the voice coil.
US09106984B2 PON system, subscriber-side terminal apparatus, station-side terminal apparatus, and power saving method
In a PON system, an ONU includes a receive buffer that stores therein a signal in a downstream direction transmitted from an OLT and a PON control unit that controls transition to a power-saving state and transition to a normal state for the reception buffer. The OLT includes a transmission buffer that stores transmission data to be transmitted to the ONU and the PON control unit that transmits the downstream power-saving-state transition request that requests the ONU to transition to the downstream power-saving state when it is determined that transmission data addressed to the ONU is not present in the transmission buffer. The PON control unit sets the reception buffer to a power-saving state for a predetermined downstream sleep time requested based on the downstream power-saving-state transition request.
US09106983B2 Reconfigurable branching unit for submarine optical communication networks
Methods and systems for optical communication in a submarine network are provided. An input signal is received from a terminal at a reconfigurable branching unit (BU), and the input signal is split into at least two parts, with one part being associated with one or more trunk terminals and another part being associated with one or more branch terminals. Each of one or more spectrum channels are selected and individually switched to one of a plurality of paths using at least one wavelength selective switch (WSS), with the at least one WSS being configured to transmit the one or more spectrum channels to their respective target output port and to combine signals switched to a specific port into a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) signal. Individual spectrum channels are filtered out using at least one wavelength blocker (WB).
US09106981B2 Aggregation enclosure for elevated, outdoor locations
Certain types of aggregation enclosures include cable input ports and downwardly angled cable output ports. A cover is pivotally coupled to the body so that the cover moves between an open position and a closed position. A modular component panel may be disposed within the enclosure. The component panel includes one or more distribution components (e.g., fiber distribution components or power distribution components) configured to connect at least a portion of an incoming cable to at least a portion of an outgoing cable.
US09106977B2 Object archival systems and methods
Personal object based archival systems and methods are provided for processing and compressing video. By analyzing features unique to a user, such as face, family, and pet attributes associated with the user, an invariant model can be determined to create object model adapters personal to each user. These personalized video object models can be created using geometric and appearance modeling techniques, and they can be stored in an object model library. The object models can be reused for processing other video streams. The object models can be shared in a peer-to-peer network among many users, or the object models can be stored in an object model library on a server. When the compressed (encoded) video is reconstructed, the video object models can be accessed and used to produce quality video with nearly lossless compression.
US09106975B1 Distribution of advertising-free content and replacement advertising to distinct devices
A method at a first device coupled to a display includes: when no second device is linked with the first device, receiving a first content stream, the first content stream including a content item and one or more first advertisements, and outputting the content item and the first advertisements to the display. The method also includes: when a second device is linked with the first device, receiving a second content stream, the second content stream including the content item and not including the first advertisements, and outputting the content item to the display without the first advertisements.
US09106974B2 System and method for storing advertising data
A computerized method is disclosed for presenting advertising data extracted from a video data stream, the method including storing a plurality of advertising data items extracted from the video data stream at an end user device; and displaying a plurality of sorted advertising indicator data items at the end user device, wherein each of the advertising indicator data items indicates one of the plurality of stored advertising data items. A system is disclosed for performing the method. A data structure is disclosed providing a functional and structural interrelationship between a processor in the system and data in the data structure.
US09106973B2 System and method for enabling client-side initiated identification of media content
There is provided a system and method enabling client-side initiated identification of media content rendered on a client-side media player. In one embodiment, the system comprises the client-side media player including a controller and a memory, a media content database accessible by the client-side media player over a network, and a media content identifier application to be run on the client-side media player. The media content identifier application, when executed by the client-side media player controller, performs a method comprising sampling the media content, sending a first data corresponding to the sample to the media content database over the network, and receiving a second data over the network identifying the media content, thereby enabling client-side initiated identification of the media content rendered on the client-side media player.
US09106971B2 IP-based television messaging services
Architecture for the delivery of IP-based messages from wired and/or wireless devices to a television system. The means for delivery can be via an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) technology. The message is processed through a messaging system that obtains a mapping of a message address to an IPTV address, and routes the message to an IPTV network for delivery the desired television system for presentation. Messaging can be via SMS (short message service) for textual content, MMS (multimedia messaging service) for multimedia content, or other messaging technologies, such as instant messaging, an e-mail, for example. Optionally, the message from the user device can include a request for confirmation of delivery of the message to the television. The confirmation can then be routed back over an IP data network to the user device and presented to the user.
US09106970B1 Operating cable modems in a low power mode
An apparatus may include a receiver configured to receive chunks of data on a downstream channel from a cable modem termination system. The receiver may be further configured to enter a low power state in which the chunks of data cannot be received. Wake up circuitry may be configured to monitor data in the downstream channel for a wake up signal when the receiver is in the low power state.
US09106967B2 Interactive media program guide user interface systems and methods
An exemplary method includes an interactive media program guide system 1) displaying a user-scrollable view of a section of a paginated column of an interactive media program guide that includes a two-dimensional matrix grid of cells representing a plurality of media program listings, 2) detecting a user selection of a cell included in the matrix grid of cells and the user-scrollable view, the cell representing a media program listing included in the plurality of media program listings, and, 3) in response to the user selection of the cell, expanding the cell in-place within the paginated column of the interactive media program guide and populating the expanded cell with display content associated with a media program represented by the media program listing. Corresponding systems and methods are also described.
US09106951B2 Shared television sessions
Shared television sessions are described. In embodiment(s), television content can be received via a tuner of a tuner device. A shared television session can be established between rendering devices that share the tuner of the tuner device to receive the television content. A tuner configuration input can be received when initiated at a rendering device, and the tuner configuration input can be communicated to the tuner device to change the television content. The tuner device can receive different television content via the tuner according to the tuner configuration input. Tuner update data associated with the tuner configuration input can then be communicated to update the rendering devices that further share the tuner of the tuner device to receive the different television content.
US09106950B2 System and method for distribution of a television signal
A system and method for distribution of media signals. Wireless communications are established between a set-top box and a wireless adapter in communication with a television. The wireless adapter is powered by the television. A signal is received from the set-top box at the wireless adapter. The signal is formatted for wireless communication. The signal is converted to a format displayable by the television. The formatted signal is communicated from the wireless adapter to the television.
US09106947B2 Electronic program guide with digital storage
An interactive television program guide system with digital storage is provided. The program guide gives users the ability to store information associated with recorded programs in a directory in the digital storage device thereby providing easy access to program information. The program guide may also provide a global media library for indicating the programs stored on removable storage media used with the program guide. The guide may also allow the user to manage and maintain a user media library to do the same. Non-time-sensitive data associated with recorded programs may be stored in a way that allows the user to interact with the data on playback as if the program were being originally aired. The program guide also allows the user to define “super-programs” for playback of a sequence of stored programs or program segments.
US09106942B2 Method and system for managing display of personalized advertisements in a user interface (UI) of an on-screen interactive program (IPG)
A method and system for managing display of personalized advertisements in a user interface (UI) of an on-screen interactive program guide (IPG). The method comprises determining whether a user group of a current primary user matches with at least one of targeted user groups, selectively adding advertisement asset images corresponding to the matched user group into an advertisement bouquet, calculating a number of impressions of each of the advertisement asset images to display to the current primary user on a given day, calculating an advertisement sequence for each of the advertisement asset images to display to the current primary user on the given day, optimizing performance for delivery and display of the advertisement asset images and displaying the advertisement asset images during at least one of organizing, navigating, gifting, downloading and buffering at least one of AV and multimedia contents.
US09106938B2 Monetizing third-party recommended video content
A method for monetizing third-party recommended content is provided. The method includes receiving a programming feed from a recommender, receiving information regarding one or more items of advertising content from one or more advertising publishers, scheduling recording of video content identified in the programming feed for a user that follows the programming feed, sending the information regarding the one or more items of advertising content to a client device of the user, and receiving information regarding user playback actions that occurred during presentation of the video content identified in the programming feed and the advertising content.
US09106935B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a content file including multiple streams
A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting and playing complex content including a plurality of content. A method of playing the complex content includes receiving, from a server, the complex content and classification information corresponding to the complex content, classifying the plurality of content according to the classification information, and playing the complex content based on the classified plurality of content.
US09106931B2 Method and device for providing compensation offsets for a set of reconstructed samples of an image
Compensation offsets are provided for a set of reconstructed samples of an image. Each sample has a sample value. A method of providing the compensation offsets comprises selecting, based on a rate distortion criterion, a classification from among a plurality of predetermined classifications. Each predetermined classification has a classification range smaller than a full range of the sample values and is made up of a plurality of classes, each defining a range of sample values within the classification range, into which class a sample is put if its sample value is within the range of the class concerned. A compensation offset is associated with each class of the selected classification for application to the sample value of each sample of the class.
US09106925B2 WEAV video compression system
Compression of a video by segmentation, transformation, transform encoding, difference encoding, and muxing. The segmentation looks at energies of the frames, in order to find three different things: black frames which have energy less than the specified amount, consecutive frames which have energy difference is less than the specified amount, and changes in scene which have energy difference is more than a specified amount. If there is little or no energy or energy difference, then the frame is replaced by an indication rather than information about the frame itself; either an indication of a black frames or an indication of no change between two adjacent frames. If there is much energy, then this is taken as the beginning of a new scene, and used as an area to change group of frames.
US09106923B2 Apparatus and method for compressing three dimensional video
A three-dimensional (3D) compressing method and apparatus is disclosed. The 3D video compressing apparatus determines whether a motion of consecutive frames exists when a depth of a multi-view video is estimated, performs a depth estimation when the motion exists, and compresses the 3D video by using a color video motion vector as a depth video motion vector.
US09106922B2 Motion estimation engine for video encoding
The motion estimation engine has a multi-threaded structure and comprises a preprocessor for rough motion estimation of motion vectors and in-loop motion estimator for creating a coding tree unit, as well as a shared memory for interaction of the pre-processor with the in-loop motion estimator. The coding tree unit is formed by merging neighboring partitions of coding units using a list of best MV candidates.
US09106921B2 Configurable transcoder and methods for use therewith
A transcoder includes a demultiplexer that demultiplexes a video signal into a video stream, an audio stream and a subtitle stream. A stream probe generates stream format identification data based on the video signal. A transcoder configuration module generates hardware/software configuration data based on the stream format identification data. The hardware/software configuration data configures a plurality of hardware transcoders and the processing device to operate to generate a transcoded video stream, a transcoded audio stream and processed subtitle stream via selected hardware and software blocks. A remultiplexer generates the processed video signal by remultiplexing the transcoded video stream, the transcoded audio stream and the processed subtitle stream, based on the hardware/software configuration data.
US09106920B2 Scalable video coding method, encoder and computer program
A scalable video coding method for coding a video sequence (10) results in a bit stream (20} partitionable into two layer representations (201, 2O2) of the video sequence (10). The second layer representation (2O2) has an enhanced resolution compared to the first layer representation (2O1.). The method includes generating (si) predictive coding parameters for the second layer using previously reconstructed pixels (14) in the second layer. The method further includes performing (s2) prediction for the first layer, using the predictive coding parameters and the previously reconstructed pixels (14) in the second layer, to generate a first layer prediction signal. The method further includes generating (s3) a first layer residual, based on the difference between the original image and the first layer prediction signal. The predictive coding parameters and the first layer residual are coded (s4) as the first layer representation (2O1). An encoder (30) and computer program are also provided.
US09106915B2 Video coding and decoding devices and methods and systems thereof
Disclosed are Video coding and decoding devices, methods and system thereof, in which the video coding device comprises a video coder for performing video coding on a frame including a plurality of macroblocks by a predefined coding technique so as to output a normal coded stream and for outputting a prediction error value for each of the macroblocks obtained through inter-frame movement prediction, a grading means for grading the macroblocks based on the prediction error values and allocating redundant bit to macroblocks at respective grades, a redundant coder for generating redundant information indicated by corresponding redundant bit for each of the graded macroblock, and a merger means for merging said normal coded stream and said redundant information to generate a final coded stream. With the configuration of the present invention, bit rate will not be increased significantly with content transmission quality being guaranteed.
US09106912B2 Image coding and decoding method and apparatus considering human visual characteristics
An image coding method and apparatus considering human visual characteristics are provided. The image coding method comprises (a) modeling image quality distribution of an input image in units of scenes such that the quality of an image input in units of scenes is gradually lowered from a region of interest to a background region, (b) determining a quantization parameter of each region constituting one scene according to the result of modeling of image quality distribution, (c) quantizing image data in accordance with the quantization parameter, and (d) coding entropy of the quantized image data.
US09106901B2 Imagery axle turning method for stereo vision and apparatus thereof
An imagery axle turning method for stereo vision and an apparatus thereof. The method turns an imagery axle of a stereo vision apparatus to capture images, and constructs a 3D image from the captured 2D images. The imagery axle turning method is realized by rotating the imagery axles of the first lens unit and second lens unit to an angle θ, so as to have different aspect ratios for the first image and second image. Thereby, the 3D image formed from the stereo vision reconstruction steps can achieve a user's expectation of capturing images with an appropriate aspect ratio. This invention also provides specific stereo vision apparatus corresponding to various applications by the imagery axle turning method.
US09106897B2 Picture encoding and decoding method, picture encoding and decoding device and network system
A picture encoding and decoding method, a picture encoding and decoding device and a network system are provided, in which, the picture encoding method includes: determining a prediction block used by a picture block according to a division manner of the picture block; determining a corresponding division level in the picture block or the prediction block of transform blocks corresponding to the picture block or the prediction block, in which, the transform blocks corresponding to the picture block or the prediction block include one or more transform blocks; determining a size of the transform blocks corresponding to the picture block or the prediction block according to the division manner of the picture block and the division level; determining identification information for identifying the division level corresponding to the transform blocks corresponding to the picture block or the prediction block; and writing the identification information into a code stream.
US09106896B2 Method and apparatus for non-real time stereoscopic video service
A non-real time stereoscopic video service method and apparatus are provided. The non-real time stereoscopic video service method performed by a reception apparatus, including: extracting a program association table (PAT) from a received transport stream (TS) and analyzing the same; extracting a program map table (PMT) corresponding to a program selected by a user from the PAT and analyzing the same; extracting a stereoscopic video service descriptor from the PMT and analyzing the same; generating frame and/or time information of an image to be reproduced according to the analysis of the stereoscopic video service descriptor; and reproducing an image by synchronizing a reference image and a supplementary image based on the generated frame and/or time information.
US09106895B2 Multidimensional layer sending-and-receiving device and method for stereoscopic three-dimensional video data
Provided is a multi-dimensional layered modulation transmitting and receiving apparatus and method for stereoscopic three-dimensional (3D) video data. The transmitting apparatus may convert multi-dimensional data to a plurality of stream data by mapping the multi-dimensional data to a complex number plane, and may transmit the plurality of stream data by mapping the plurality of stream data to dimensions divided based on a time and a space, respectively. The receiving apparatus may determine a signal strength of received signal, a performance, a power mode, may determine a service image corresponding to the signal strength, the performance, the power mode, may determine a dimension corresponding to the service image, and may receive stream data of the determined dimension.
US09106892B2 Image compression based on parameter-assisted inpainting
Systems and methods provide image compression based on parameter-assisted inpainting. In one implementation of an encoder, an image is partitioned into blocks and the blocks classified as smooth or unsmooth, based on the degree of visual edge content and chromatic variation in each block. Image content of the unsmooth blocks is compressed, while image content of the smooth blocks is summarized by parameters, but not compressed. The parameters, once obtained, may also be compressed. At a decoder, the compressed image content of the unsmooth blocks and the compressed parameters of the smooth blocks are each decompressed. Each smooth block is then reconstructed by inpainting, guided by the parameters in order to impart visual detail from the original image that cannot be implied from the image content of neighboring blocks that have been decoded.
US09106891B2 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.
US09106890B2 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.
US09106881B2 Scheduling the recording of a program via an advertisement in the broadcast stream
A tagging system provides a mechanism for inserting tags into an audio or video television broadcast stream. The tags contain command and control information that the receiver translates and acts upon. The receiver receives the broadcast stream and detects and processes the tags within the broadcast stream which is stored on a storage device that resides on the receiver. Program material from the broadcast stream is played back to the viewer. The receiver performs the appropriate actions in response to the tags. A one-touch recording option is provided. An icon is displayed to the viewer telling the viewer that an advertised program is available for recording at a future time. The viewer presses a single button on an input device causing the receiver to schedule the program for recording.
US09106875B2 System and method for creating a run-time color-conversion look-up table
A method for creating a run-time color-conversion look-up table is provided. A conceptual representation of a slice of a color conversion object is presented. The color conversion object is defined by a color coordinate system having a neutral axis and a plurality of color axes. The slice is defined by a plurality of grid points on the color coordinate system that are in a common plane orthogonal to the neutral axis. In addition, the slice is bound along a plurality of faces of the color conversion object for which at least one of the plurality of color axes is at a minimum or maximum value. The method further includes applying design rules for certain grid points and determining outputs for other grid points. The outputs for the slice are stored in a portion of the look-up table. A tool for creating a 3D look-up table is also described.
US09106870B2 Printing apparatus and image processing apparatus that restricts user input under certain conditions
An image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to receive an user's input, a display configured to display a status of the image processing apparatus, and a controller configured to limit an operation of the input unit. The controller is configured, if the image processing apparatus is not in progress of any image processing when a certain condition is satisfied, to display information of the limitation of the operation of the input unit at the display. The controller is configured, if the image processing apparatus is in process of an image processing when the certain condition is satisfied, to display a status of the image process at the display, and then to display the information of the limitation at the display after the image process is completed.
US09106865B2 Multi-bit error diffusion
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for error diffusion, e.g., for use in a halftone process. The described techniques are faster than known techniques in that they utilize fewer computations on average. Consequently, the described techniques can be more readily implemented in software, for example, though the described techniques are not limited to software.
US09106860B2 AD conversion circuit and solid-state image pickup device
An AD conversion circuit may include: a reference signal generation unit; a comparison unit; a clock generation unit; a latch unit; a counting unit; and an encoding unit including a detection circuit and an encoding circuit, the detection circuit performing a first detection operation of detecting logic states of n lower phase signals in a signal group that a plurality of lower phase signals latched in the latch unit are arranged in the same order as those of the signal group when the plurality of lower phase signals output from the clock generation unit are arranged to be the signal group the detection circuit outputting a state detection signal when the logic state of the n lower phase signals is detected to be a predetermined logic state in the first detection operation, the encoding circuit performing encoding based on the state detection signal output from the detection circuit.
US09106854B2 Pixel sensor cell with hold node for leakage cancellation and methods of manufacture and design structure
A reference pixel sensor cell (e.g., global shutter) with hold node for leakage cancellation, methods of manufacture and design structure is provided. A pixel array includes one or more reference pixel sensor cells dispersed locally throughout active light sensing regions. The one or more reference pixel sensor cells provides a reference signal used to correct for photon generated leakage signals which vary by locality within the active light sensing regions.
US09106853B2 Solid-state imaging device
According to one embodiment, a streaking correction unit corrects a pixel signal read from an effective pixel portion to reduce streaking in the effective pixel portion on the basis of an evaluation result of a pixel signal read from a vertical light shielded pixel portion and a pixel signal read from a horizontal light shielded pixel portion.
US09106851B2 Single-exposure high dynamic range CMOS image sensor pixel with internal charge amplifier
A single-exposure high dynamic range (HDR) image sensor utilizes a charge amplifier having two different charge-to-voltage conversion capacitors that read a single photodiode charge during a two-phase readout operation. The first capacitor has a lower capacitance and therefore higher conversion gain (sensitivity), and the second capacitor has a higher capacitance and therefore lower conversion gain (sensitivity). The two-phase readout operation samples the photodiode charge twice, once using the high sensitivity capacitor and once using the low sensitivity capacitor. The high sensitivity readout phase provides detailed low light condition data but is saturated under brighter light conditions, and the low sensitivity readout phase provides weak data under low light conditions but provides high quality image data under brighter light conditions. The final HDR image is created by combining both high and low sensitivity images into a single image while giving each of them the correct weighted value.
US09106847B2 System and method for producing color shifting or gloss effect and recording medium with color shifting or gloss effect
A gloss effect image pattern is created on a recording medium having a first color by electronically creating a first electronic pattern ink, the first electronic pattern ink including a second color and including holes, the holes representing areas in the first electronic pattern ink wherein the second color is absent; electronically creating an electronic image region having a pattern; electronically painting, using the first electronic pattern ink, a background of electronic image region and the pattern of the electronic image region; electronically painting a predetermined portion of the holes within the electronic image region with a third color, the third color matching the first color of the recording medium; and rendering, using marking materials, the electronic image region on the recording medium.
US09106846B2 Communication systems, communication apparatus, and image processor
A communication system including a communication apparatus that communicates with a destination apparatus, and an image processor that connects to the communication apparatus. The image processor includes a supplying unit that supplies image data to the communication apparatus, and a notifying unit that transmits first additional information to the communication apparatus. The communication apparatus includes a memory that stores second additional information, a information generator that generates third additional information based on the second additional information stored in the memory and the first additional information received from the image processor, and a transmitter that adds the third additional information generated by the information generator to the image data supplied from the image processor and transmits the image data including the third additional information to the destination apparatus.
US09106845B2 Remote dynamic indication of supervisory control and monitoring
A system and method for assigning unique and immutable attributes to user profiles and associated image(s) to facilitate the dynamic indication of supervisory control and monitoring through iconic representation, steganographic processing and/or encryption processing.
US09106843B2 Video projector system
Some embodiments provide for a modular video projector system having a light engine module and an optical engine module. The light engine module can provide narrow-band laser light to the optical engine module which modulates the laser light according to video signals received from a video processing engine. Some embodiments provide for an optical engine module having a sub-pixel generator configured to display video or images at a resolution of at least four times greater than a resolution of modulating elements within the optical engine module. Systems and methods for reducing speckle are presented in conjunction with the modular video projector system.
US09106842B2 Vehicle image display apparatus and method
A vehicle image display apparatus and method acquires captured images of an area around a vehicle captured by cameras at a plurality of positions on an outer portion of the vehicle, generates a single image based on the captured images and displays a composite image including the single image superposes with a first image showing boundary regions of the captured images in the single image and a second image showing end regions of the vehicle. When the composite image is displayed for the first time after an input operation is given to an ignition key of the vehicle, the first and second images are highlighted for a time period after the composite image starts to be displayed. After the time period elapses, the first image is non-highlighted and the second image is highlighted.
US09106840B2 Devices having automatically adjustable polarizers and related operating methods
Devices having adjustable polarizers and related operating methods are provided. An exemplary electronic device includes one or more sensing arrangements, a polarization arrangement including a polarizer, and a control module coupled to the one or more sensing arrangements and the polarization arrangement. The control module determines an angle for the polarizer based at least in part on output from the one or more sensing arrangements and operates the polarization arrangement to achieve the angle. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the angle corresponds to an orientation of the polarizer in a plane substantially orthogonal to a line-of-sight that is configured to result in the polarizer absorbing incident light rays emanating from the sun that are aligned with the line-of-sight.
US09106838B2 Automatic photographing method and system thereof
An automatic photographing method, adapted to automatically photograph an image based on aesthetics, includes the following steps. First, view finding is performed on a pre-capture region so as to generate an image view. It is determined whether the image view satisfies an image composite template. When the image view satisfies the image composite template, the view image is set as a pre-capture image. When the image view does not satisfy the image composite template, a moving distance between the pre-capture region and a focus region mapping to the image composite template is calculated, and it is determined whether to set the image of the pre-capture region as the pre-capture image according to the moving distance. The pre-capture image is evaluated according to personal information of the user so as to decide whether or not to capture the pre-capture image.
US09106837B2 Image capturing device and image capturing method
An image capturing device includes: an image capturing unit that captures a subject image through a lens and converts the subject image into an electric signal; an image displaying unit that displays an image; a designation accepting unit that is provided on a display surface of the image displaying unit and that accepts designation of a plurality of positions on the image displayed on the image displaying unit; a range-finding unit that performs range finding of a distance to a subject by using a plurality of two-dimensional image sensors; an area setting unit that sets a range-finding area obtained from a range finding result for a region that includes the plurality of positions designated through the designation accepting unit; a position determining unit that determines in-focus positions based on distances of the range-finding areas; and a continuous shooting unit that performs image capturing at the in-focus positions.
US09106835B2 Imaging device, azimuth information processing method and program
Even when a posture of an imaging device changes, the imaging device can display a compass image in a natural mode when seen from a user's viewpoint and record a correct image capturing azimuth. Provided is an imaging device including: an image capturing unit which captures an image of a subject and outputs the captured image; an azimuth calculating unit which calculates an azimuth of the image capturing unit in an image capturing direction, based on geomagnetism information detected by a geomagnetic sensor and acceleration information detected by an acceleration sensor; an azimuth converting unit which calculates a rotation angle of the imaging device in a roll direction, based on the acceleration information, and converts the azimuth in the image capturing direction into a display azimuth based on the rotation angle in the roll direction; a display unit which displays a compass image representing the display azimuth and the captured image; and a recording unit which associates azimuth information representing the azimuth in the image capturing direction, with the captured image to record in a recording medium.
US09106833B2 Blur correction apparatus
A blur correction apparatus is provided that includes a blur correction mechanism, a locking member, a shift drive processor and an unlocking driver. The blur correction mechanism compensates for camera shake by driving a movable portion provided with one of a correction lens and an imaging device. The locking member restricts movement of the movable portion within a locked range of motion. The shift drive processor moves the movable portion a predetermined distance toward a center of the locked range of motion when locking by the locking member is released and the predetermined distance is shorter than the distance from the movable portion to the center. The unlocking driver moves the locking member to an unlocked position after moving the movable portion the predetermined distance away from the locking member.
US09106830B2 Image capture apparatus and method for tracking a subject
Disclosed is an image capture apparatus that has a subject tracking functionality of sequentially detecting a predetermined subject in images that are continuously shot, and a method for controlling the same. During tracking of the subject, degrees of reliability of tracking are determined. When the detected face is set as a template image, the template image is not changed until it is determined a predetermined plurality of times in succession that the degrees of reliability of tracking are low. It is thus possible to achieve a subject tracking functionality that is hardly affected by false detections.
US09106826B2 Image capturing apparatus and focusing control method
An image capturing apparatus, includes: an image capturing element configured to capture an image of a subject; and a focusing control unit configured to perform a focusing control by a phase difference AF method using detection signals of first signal detection units and second signal detection units; a matching degree generation unit configured to generate a first matching degree which corresponds to a matching degree of two images captured by a first pair using the detection signals of the respective signal detection units of the first pair, and a second matching degree which corresponds to a matching degree of two images captured by a second pair using the detection signals of the respective signal detection units of the second pair; and a credibility determination unit configured to determine credibility of the focusing control by the phase difference AF method based on the first matching degree and the second matching degree.
US09106824B2 Imaging apparatus and driving method selecting one of a phase difference AF mode and a contrast AF mode
An imaging apparatus with a solid-state imaging device having phase difference detection pixels arranged on a light receiving surface acquires the size of a main subject image by identifying the main subject image picked on the light receiving surface of the solid-state imaging device, sets an AF region subjected to autofocus processing in accordance with an image size, and selects a phase difference AF mode (step S32) or a contrast AF mode (step S31) depending on whether the image size is larger than a required size (step S23) as a mode used for the autofocus processing.
US09106821B1 Cues for capturing images
Approaches are described which enable a user of a computing device (e.g., mobile phone, tablet computer) to capture a first image using the front-facing camera and then use that first image to guide the capturing of a second image (e.g., a higher quality image) using the rear-facing camera of the device. When the user turns the device around, the first image is used as a model template to guide the user in moving and/or rotating the device to align the rear-facing camera for capturing the second image.
US09106819B1 Camera module with compact X-Y form factor
A camera module includes a lens assembly, an image sensor, and a hybrid lens holder. The image sensor is aligned with the lens assembly to capture images of light incident through the lens assembly on a light sensitive surface of the image sensor. The hybrid lens holder holds the lens assembly a fixed offset from the image sensor. The hybrid lens holder includes a barrel section in which the lens assembly is held as a vertical stack rising above the image sensor and a flange section that rests on the image sensor to maintain the fixed offset from the image sensor. The discrete lens elements are held in place by direct contact with an inner side of the barrel section. The barrel section and the flange section are a single, contiguous housing structure.
US09106816B1 Handheld apparatus for demonstrating a screen display
An apparatus is described for demonstrating a screen display of a device. The apparatus includes a base member to which a camera mount and a device mount are coupled at opposite ends thereof. A handle is coupled to a side opposite that of the camera and device mounts and centrally along the length of the base member. The handle includes a passage within which a camera cable is retained. The device mount includes a mounting bracket at a distal end that magnetically couples to a clip attached to a device to be demonstrated. The clip is coupleable to the mounting bracket in a plurality of rotational orientations. The apparatus rigidly maintains the orientation of the device and camera while a user caries and moves the apparatus during demonstration of the device. An image/video of the device's screen display is optically captured and presented to an audience.
US09106809B2 Firearms pulverizer system and method
A firearms pulverizer system is disclosed which comprises a pulverizer unit having an inlet chute, a cutting chamber, and an outlet, a first image capturing device positioned above the inlet chute for capturing an image of an identification number associated with a firearm, and a second image capturing device positioned above the cutting chamber for recording destruction of the firearm inserted into the cutting chamber.
US09106803B2 Broadcast media information capture and communication via a wireless network
An accessory device, such as a mobile telematics unit, captures tags for user desired media content items from a content broadcast, such as a digital radio broadcast or television broadcast. Each tag provides one or more parameters for identification of a song or other audio selection. The accessory device sends each tag over a mobile communications network air interface, with an identifier of an account of a mobile communications network subscriber. A server receives such tag transmissions and compiles a list of one or more tags directly from the accessory device, for the subscriber on the identified mobile service account. In some situations, the server generates a playlist from the stored list of tags and communicates at least a portion of the playlist to a personal media device, upon access by the personal media device to the subscriber's account.
US09106797B2 Content reproducing device and content reproducing method
When a secure counter malfunction detection unit 212 deters a malfunction in a secure counter 211, a content playability judgment unit 206 performs a content playability judgment based on information managed by a malfunctioning-state playback processing management unit 214. The malfunctioning-state playback processing management unit 214 stores a malfunctioning-state playback condition composed of information such as a playback count and a playback time. The content playability judgment unit 206 judges that content is playable when the malfunctioning-state playback condition is met, and a content playback unit 210 splays the content.
US09106796B2 Configuration apparatus and method of configuring one or more devices having hidden configuration settings
A configuration apparatus includes a user interface allowing a user to initiate configuration of at least a target configurable device selected from a plurality of configurable devices. A command module is coupled to the user interface for dynamically generating a sequence of commands required to configure the target configurable device. The sequence of commands includes commands for entering a hidden service-configuration menu of the target configurable device. A communication module is coupled to the command module for transmitting the sequence of commands to the target configurable device.
US09106795B2 Computational efficiently obtaining a control word in a receiver using transformations
The invention provides a receiver, a smartcard and a conditional access system for securely obtaining a control word using an entitlement transform tree, wherein intermediate results are cached to improve computational efficiency.
US09106789B1 Videoconference and video visitation security
Systems and methods for providing video visitation security to a controlled-environment facility are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include detecting an image of a face in a video stream transmitted between a resident (e.g., an inmate) of a controlled-environment facility (e.g., a jail or prison) and a non-resident of the controlled environment facility during a video visitation session. For example, the first image may occupy a given area on a display upon rendering of the video stream. As such, the method may include defacing (e.g., blurring, clouding, darkening, distorting, masking, shading, etc.) other areas on the display outside of the given area. Moreover, in various implementations, a method may also include detecting additional faces, determining and/or validating any number of visitors (e.g., via facial recognition), identifying certain attempts to circumvent security procedures, as well as taking pre-established corrective measures.
US09106783B2 Abnormal reflected light resistant image reading
An image reading apparatus includes a light emitting diode (LED), a carriage, light receiving elements, a clamp circuit, an A/D convertor, and an image correction unit. The image correction unit is configured to: detect a document area where the reflected light is abnormal by comparing first image data with second image data; and replace the first image data corresponding to the abnormal document area with third image data. The first image data is generated by movement of the carriage in a sub-scanning direction of a first direction. The second image data is generated by movement of the carriage in the sub-scanning direction of a second direction at a reduced luminescence level of the capturing light illuminated on the document compared with a luminescence level in the movement of the carriage in the first direction. The third image data is the second image data where at least brightness is adjusted.
US09106782B2 Image reader and image forming apparatus
An image reader is provided, in its housing, with a first scanning unit made up of an LED array of a plurality of LED elements that are arranged in a row in the horizontal scanning direction and that emit light to a document. An air intake port and an air exhaust port are disposed on the housing of the image reader. An imaginary line of an air flow path coupling the air intake port and the air exhaust port to one another is configured to pass adjacent a center of the LED array of the first scanning unit in the horizontal scanning direction with the first scanning unit stopped at a reading position of the document transferred by a document transfer device.
US09106779B2 Communication apparatus and communication system
A communication apparatus includes: a communicating device configured to communicate with a mobile terminal according to a short distance wireless communication standard; at least one input receiver each configured to receive an input; and a controller configured to execute a processing related to the input received by the at least one input receiver. The controller is configured to execute: an approach detection processing in which the controller detects an approach of the mobile terminal to the communicating device; and a disabling processing in which the controller disables at least a portion of the at least one input receiver in response to detection of the approach of the mobile terminal in the approach detection processing.
US09106775B2 Multi-core processor for portable device with dual image sensors
A multi-core processor is used in a portable device that has first and second image sensors spaced from each other for capturing images of a scene from slightly different perspectives. The multi-core processor has a first image sensor interface for receiving data from the image sensor, a second image sensor interface for receiving data from the second image sensor, multiple processing units and, the four processing units and the first and second sensor interfaces being integrated onto a single chip. The processing units are configured to simultaneously process the data from the first and second image interfaces to generate stereoscopic image data.
US09106774B2 Communication apparatus, image forming apparatus, and control method for communication apparatus
A communication apparatus includes a communication unit. When receiving a request to start communication from a second communication apparatus during communication with a first communication apparatus, the communication unit transmits to the second communication apparatus a communication disabled notification with a retransmission time period indicating a time until the request to start communication again. In addition, when receiving a request to start communication from a third communication apparatus after completing the communication with the first communication apparatus and before receiving the request to start communication sent again from the second communication apparatus based on the retransmission time period, the communication unit does not start data reception from the third communication apparatus so as to give priority to data communication with the second communication apparatus.
US09106773B2 Multifunction apparatus and reading device
A multifunction apparatus includes a transporting unit that transports the document, a reading unit that irradiates the document passing through a reading position with light and reads reflected light so as to generate image information representing an edge of the document and an image of the document, an inclination amount calculating unit that calculates an inclination amount of the document on the basis of the image information; a first inclination correcting unit that corrects an inclination of the image represented by the image information, on the basis of the inclination amount of the document, so as to generate new image information representing the image whose inclination is corrected, and a controller that prevents, in a transmission mode for transmitting image information, the first inclination correcting unit from performing an image inclination correction operation, and transmits a facsimile signal on the basis of the image information generated by the reading unit.
US09106771B2 Image inspection device, image inspection system, and image inspection method
An image inspection device includes: a read-image acquiring unit that acquires a read image of a formed and output image; an inspection-image generating unit that generates an inspection image used for inspection of the read image on the basis of information of an image to be formed and output acquired from an image processing apparatus that corrects density of the image according to a state of an image forming apparatus, and generates the information; and an inspection-result acquiring unit that acquires a result of determination of a defect in the read image based on a difference between the inspection image and the read image. The inspection-image generating unit acquires density correction information in which densities before and after density of the image is corrected are associated, and generates the inspection image corresponding to density before corrected, on the basis of the acquired density correction information.
US09106770B2 Column drivers with embedded high-speed video interface timing controller
A system and method are disclosed for embedding a timing controller on column drivers which, among other advantages, reduces power consumption and size constraints. A standalone timing controller is eliminated by splitting a video input signal and delivering the signal to each of the column drivers. Timing controller functionality is embedded in each of the column drivers to allow the column drivers to process the received video signal. An auxiliary input used for communication between column drivers and an external system is received by a master column driver. The master column driver communicates with slave column drivers to enable point to point communication between each column driver and the external system.
US09106768B2 Method for enabling a wireless device for geographically preferential services
Disclosed is system comprising: a server platform operative to communicate with a wireless communication network; and data storage coupled to the server platform to store a plurality of business rules, wherein the server platform is operative to: generate a first provision instruction to provision a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) with a first rule set associated with a first set of business rules for wireless usage incurred by a mobile terminal operating in the wireless communication network; generate a first billing instruction based on the first set of business rules and a first data type determined by a packet gateway that inspects packet data communicated to or from the mobile terminal.
US09106766B2 Phone call management
An approach is provided to manage phone calls. The approach is implemented by an information handling system, such as a smart phone. A requestor sends a contact request to another device over a network. If the request is accepted, the requestor receives a token with the token including usage parameters controlling the requestor's ability to contact the recipient by telephone. When the requestor requests to make a call to the recipient, the call is only placed upon successful determination made by comparing the usage parameters included in the token to a set of current call data. If a successful determination is made, the call is placed to the recipient without revealing the recipient's telephone number. However, if the request is denied, the system prevents the requestor for placing a call to the recipient.
US09106765B2 Mobile device and method for controlling the same
A mobile device providing a dual mode of a first mode and a second mode, the mobile device comprising a display unit configured to display at least one application executable in the first mode and the second mode respectively a sensor unit configured to sense an input for the mobile device; and a processor configured to display the at least one application executable in the first mode when the mobile device enters into the first mode, detect an event for the at least one application being executed in the second mode when the mobile device is in the first mode, indicate information for the event, wherein the information only notifies an occurrence of the event, and restrict access to detailed information of the event when the mobile device is in the first mode, and display an interface to switch the first mode to the second mode.
US09106760B2 Recording system and method
An electronic device such as a smart phone, in combination with an application program residing at least partially therein and run at least partially thereby effectively enables selective retroactive recording to capture already-passed audible events when an audible trigger is recognized. When used in conjunction with an internet-based social media network or an interested contact list, audible events that meet certain pre-determined criteria may be automatically shared.
US09106759B2 Processing files from a mobile device
The presently described subject matter allows the user to interactively browse a collection of electronic files, such as a digital photo collection, remotely using a mobile telephone. Files from the collection of electronic files can be directed from the mobile telephone to be sent to a remote display device, where the file can be displayed. Also, a user can record voice and text annotations from the mobile phone to preserve with an electronic file, and which is transported along with the file when it is displayed on a remote display device.
US09106758B2 Apparatus and method for searching location related contents in portable terminal
A method and apparatus search for a place involving contents stored to a portable terminal. Operations of the portable terminal include receiving contents comprising a device address for short range communication; storing the device address; and searching for a short range communication device which uses the device address.
US09106757B2 Terminal, server, and method for actively providing information based on communication contents
A terminal for actively providing information based on communication contents of a communication session. The terminal comprises a display unit that divides at least one of a schedule, Apps, REC, information regarding a matter of interest, and a contact into categories and displays, according to the categories, at least one of information regarding a communicator's matter of interest, schedule-related information, address book information corresponding to name information within a subscriber address book, first information relating to Apps within the subscriber terminal, and one or more App driving icons corresponding to the first information that are extracted from communication contents for at least one of a subscriber and a communication opponent in the communication session.
US09106756B2 Apparatus and method for detecting proximity by proximity sensor in portable terminal
An apparatus and method is configured to detect the proximity of an object using a proximity sensor in a portable terminal. A method for detecting the proximity of an object in a portable terminal mounted with a proximity sensor includes setting a reference light-receiving quantity according to a hairstyle of a user of the portable terminal, emitting light, detecting a light-receiving quantity corresponding to the emitted light, and determining the proximity/non-proximity of an object by comparing the light-receiving quantity with the reference light-receiving quantity.
US09106754B2 Method, system, and program product for contacting conference call participants
The present invention provides a method, system, and program product for managing conference calls. Specifically, prospective conference call participants (e.g., moderators and/or invitees) will initially provide user profiles. A participant's profile will include, among other things, a set of contact numbers at which the participant can be reached. Thereafter, a moderator and a set of invitees of a conference call to be held are identified. This is typically done based on synchronization with a calendar application used to send and accept an invitation to the conference call. When the moderator later initiates the conference call, the present invention will access the profile of each invitee that accepted the invitation, and then call the invitees at the respective contact numbers set forth therein. When contact is made with an invitee, the call will be merged into the conference call with the moderator.
US09106753B2 Method, system, and program product for contacting conference call participants
The present invention provides a method, system, and program product for managing conference calls. Specifically, prospective conference call participants (e.g., moderators and/or invitees) will initially provide user profiles. A participant's profile will include, among other things, a set of contact numbers at which the participant can be reached. Thereafter, a moderator and a set of invitees of a conference call to be held are identified. This is typically done based on synchronization with a calendar application used to send and accept an invitation to the conference call. When the moderator later initiates the conference call, the present invention will access the profile of each invitee that accepted the invitation, and then call the invitees at the respective contact numbers set forth therein. When contact is made with an invitee, the call will be merged into the conference call with the moderator.
US09106752B2 Method, system, and program product for contacting conference call participants
The present invention provides a method, system, and program product for managing conference calls. Specifically, prospective conference call participants (e.g., moderators and/or invitees) will initially provide user profiles. A participant's profile will include, among other things, a set of contact numbers at which the participant can be reached. Thereafter, a moderator and a set of invitees of a conference call to be held are identified. This is typically done based on synchronization with a calendar application used to send and accept an invitation to the conference call. When the moderator later initiates the conference call, the present invention will access the profile of each invitee that accepted the invitation, and then call the invitees at the respective contact numbers set forth therein. When contact is made with an invitee, the call will be merged into the conference call with the moderator.
US09106750B2 Facilitating a contact center agent to select a contact in a contact center queue
The system and method enable an agent to be able to select a contact (e.g., a voice call or email from a customer) from a contact queue in a contact center. As contacts come into a contact center, the contacts are placed in the contact queue. An agent in the contact center is presented with the contacts along with a profile that is associated with each of the contacts. The profile may contain information about the contacts such as an attitude of the contact, a conversation style of the contact, a sentiment of the contact, and the like. The agent selects one of the contacts in the contact queue. The selected contact is then sent to the agent for handling.
US09106749B2 Virtual call center manager
An approach is provided for providing a virtual call center by receiving a request for service from a user (e.g., subscriber) and staffing the virtual call center with virtual agents selected based on the service requirements of the user and the rich presence information of the virtual agents. The rich presence information includes a skill set of the virtual agent, presence status of the virtual agent, location of the virtual agent, calendar information of the virtual agent, communication capability of the virtual agent, mobility of the virtual agent, or a combination thereof.
US09106738B2 Registration, verification and notification system
A registrant provides at least one registrant electronic contact, such as a telephone number, during a registration process. The registrant's information may be compared to a database of such information. The registrant is verified by establishing a connection with the registrant via the registrant contact. The verification code is communicated to the registrant, which is input into an on-line form. Notification events are established, and the registrant is notified of the occurrence of a previously established notification event by establishing a connection with the registrant via the registrant contact.
US09106735B2 Detection of wiring defects
A method for detecting a defect in wiring in a DSL system. The method includes collecting data including instantaneous values, a history of values, and/or parameters relating to a central office or customer premises equipment, analyzing a line for a wiring defect based on the collected data, and reporting whether or not a wiring defect was detected responsive to the analyzing step.
US09106733B2 Simultaneous voice-long term evolution dual antenna system
A mobile device may include a first antenna and a second antenna. A first radio frequency (RF) transceiver may be coupled to the first antenna, and a second RF transceiver may be coupled to the second antenna. A baseband chipset may be coupled to the first RF transceiver and the second RF transceiver. One or more switches may be connected within a first transmit path, a second transmit path, a first receive path, and a second receive path, wherein one or more of the first transmit path, the second transmit path, the first receive path, and the second receive path associated with the coupling of one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, the first RF transceiver, the second RF transceiver, and the baseband chipset.
US09106732B2 System and method for controlling the use of a wireless device
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide for enabling a user to select telephone numbers to which a wireless device may place calls and from which the wireless device may receive calls. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes software for use on a general purpose computer allowing the user to input into the memory of a wireless device desired telephone numbers that may not be changed by the operator of the wireless device. The computer software also programs the wireless device to only place calls to, or receives calls from, the telephone numbers entered into the memory of the wireless device by the owner.
US09106723B2 Fast-start streaming and buffering of streaming content for personal media player
Systems and methods allow playback of a placeshifted media stream received via a network. The placeshifted media stream is received and stored in a buffer prior to playback. Responsive to receiving the user command to change the content of the media stream, the buffer is flushed prior to receiving the changed content in the placeshifted media stream.
US09106711B2 Minimizing mapping and signaling for data path aggregation
A method and system for transporting packets between an access node and a core node via a proxy node. The access node has an access node address, the core node has a core node address, and the proxy node has a proxy node address. A first packet for transmission to the core node is received from the access node. The first packet includes a first source address field including the access node address and a first destination address field including the core node address. An uplink static mapping entry with a longest address prefix matching the access node address in the first source address field is selected. The uplink static mapping entry is associated with the proxy node address. The access node address in the first source address field is replaced with the proxy node address associated with the uplink static mapping entry.
US09106710B1 Interest-based system
Various embodiments described herein relate to automatically associating and disassociating interests to a user. In some embodiments, an event associated with an entity indicated as interesting to a user is recognized. A linked entity that is related to the event is identified. The linked entity is automatically associated with the user. Content related to the entity indicated as interesting and content related to the linked entity are provided at about the occurrence of the event. The linked entity is automatically disassociated with the user upon the occurrence of the event.
US09106709B2 Server side mobile audience intelligence creation
The present invention is directed toward a method and system for tracking webpage requests from web browsers without invading the privacy of the corresponding users. A server receives the webpage requests, and extracts from each of them a user-neutral identifier and URL. The server creates records of these webpage requests, and these records are used to create and update profiles for the corresponding user-neutral identifiers. Since the user-neutral identifiers are not tied to user-specific information, the profiles are made anonymous and user privacy can be protected. However, since each user-neutral identifier is tied to a particular web browser, useful information regarding individual browsing behavior can be obtained. Furthermore, the requested URL's can be categorized before being used to update the profiles, thus eliminating concerns that a user's browsing activity might be tracked from website to website.
US09106704B2 Systems and methods to provide connections via callback acceptance
Systems and methods to selectively block calls from reaching destinations based on an input received from a callback connection. One embodiment includes a web server to receive a selection of an advertisement from an customer and to obtain a communication reference from the customer in response to the selection; a session border controller to interface with a packet switched network; and one or more telecommunication servers coupled to the session border controller and the web server, the one or more telecommunication servers to establish a connection for real time communications using the communication reference, to initiate a connection for real time communications with an advertiser of the advertisement after receiving an indication of acceptance of the connection established using the communication reference; where the advertiser is charged an advertisement fee in response to establishing a connection for real time communications between the advertiser and the customer.
US09106701B2 Request routing management based on network components
Systems and methods for managing requesting routing functionality associated with resource requests for one or more resources associated with a content provider are provided. A content delivery network (“CDN”) service provider, on behalf of a content provider, can process domain name service (“DNS”) requests for resources by computing devices and resolve the DNS requests by the identification of a network address of a computing device that will provide the requested resources. Based on the processing of DNS queries initiated by a client computing device, the CDN service provider can measure CDN service provider latencies associated with the generation of DNS requests by network components associated with the client computing devices. Examples of the network components can include DNS resolvers associated with the client computing device.
US09106693B2 Attack detection and prevention using global device fingerprinting
This disclosure describes a global attacker database that utilizes device fingerprinting to uniquely identify devices. For example, a device includes one or more processors and network interface cards to receive network traffic directed to one or more computing devices protected by the device, send, to the remote device, a request for data points of the remote device, wherein the data points include characteristics associated with the remote device, and receive at least a portion of the requested data points. The device also includes a fingerprint module to compare the received portion of the data points to sets of data points associated with known attacker devices, and determine, based on the comparison, whether a first set of data points of a first known attacker device satisfies a similarity threshold. The device also includes an security module to selectively manage, based on the determination, additional network traffic directed to the computing devices.
US09106690B1 Securing an endpoint by proxying document object models and windows
Approaches for ensuring a document does not inadvertently link or contain to any malicious content. A request from a document embedded within a parent web page itself, or comprised within a window launched by the parent web page, is received. The request is executed in a memory address space separate from a memory address space in which the parent web page resides. The execution of the request is performed using a parent proxy that represents the parent web page. Any malicious actions resulting from the performance of the request affect the parent proxy rather than the parent web page. The parent proxy provides at least a portion of the results of executing the request to a child proxy, which in turn determines what, if any, content within the results should be sent to the web browser rendering the parent web page.
US09106688B2 System, method and computer program product for sending information extracted from a potentially unwanted data sample to generate a signature
A system, method and computer program product are provided for sending information extracted from a potentially unwanted data sample to generate a signature. In use, information is extracted from a portion of a sample of potentially unwanted data. Further, the information is sent to generate a signature.
US09106687B1 Mechanism for profiling user and group accesses to content repository
A mechanism for profiling user and group accesses to a content repository is described. The mechanism for profiling accesses may generate baseline profiles and determine if new access behavior deviates from the generated baseline profile. The deviations may be defined in terms of folder and/or user-group distances within a file-system/storage and/or organization hierarchy, respectively. The mechanism also includes an analytics engine for anomaly detection and a recommendation component for recommending access-permissions to files/folders.
US09106685B2 Dynamic extensions to legacy application tasks
Methods, systems, and techniques for adding extensions to legacy tasks as part of modernizing such tasks are provided. A user can add dynamically add task extensions to an individual legacy task by configuring them, even while a task is running. Role extensions can be added to a home desktop of a role through configuration parameters. Task extensions can be made accessible to users through UI controls added as part of the modernization procedure when a legacy task data stream is received from a host computing system. Example embodiments provide a Role-Based Modernization System (“RBMS”), which uses these enhanced modernization techniques to provide role-based modernization of menu-based legacy applications.
US09106674B2 Increasing the number of domain identifiers for use by a switch in an established fibre channel switched fabric
The number of domain identifiers is incrementally increased for use by a switch in an established fiber channel switched fabric. In other words, the number of domains assigned to a switch by the Principal Switch of the fiber channel switched fabric is increased without triggering the reconfiguration of the established fiber channel switched fabric. In one implementation, incrementally adding one or more additional domain identifiers includes requesting said one or more additional domain identifiers from a Principal Switch of the fiber channel switched fabric using a different World Wide Name (WWN) than used to acquire the original one or more domain identifiers used by the switch.
US09106669B2 Access permissions entitlement review
A system for operating an enterprise computer network including multiple network objects, said system comprising monitoring and collection functionality for obtaining continuously updated information regarding at least one of access permissions and actual usage of said network objects, and entitlement review by owner functionality operative to present to at least one owner of at least one network object a visually sensible indication of authorization status including a specific indication of users which were not yet authorized by said at least one owner of said at least one network object.
US09106667B2 Method of processing SIP messages
An SIP message processing method is disclosed. It may be performed by a node of a telecommunications network having a home gateway connected to an IMS network core via an access connection, at least a first SIP terminal and a second SIP terminal locally connected to said home gateway. It may include obtaining a bandwidth of the access connection, receiving a first SIP message concerning the first SIP session, determining the bandwidth in use by the first SIP session as a function of the first SIP message, receiving a second SIP message concerning the second SIP session, determining a bandwidth authorized for the second SIP session as a function of the second SIP message, of the bandwidth of the access connection, and of the bandwidth in use by the first SIP session, and sending a third SIP message to the first terminal, the second terminal, or the IMS network core.
US09106666B2 Method and system for facilitating controlled access to network services
An approach for enabling controlled access to a limited set of remote services associated with a device is described. A controlled access platform determines one or more network access descriptors to associate with a calling application of a device configured to access a remote service via a communication network. The controlled access platform initiates a limiting of the calling application to one or more allowed network interaction types with a remote service or a network access component associated with the device based on a profile for defining one or more allowed network interaction types between the calling application and the remote service.
US09106665B2 Automatic device authentication and account identification without user input when application is started on mobile station
Disclosed procedures automatically identify a carrier-authorized mobile station and verify an account related identifier associated with the device, in response to start-up of an application in the device. Application start-up causes the device to send a request to an application server, with the device's current IP address, MTN and a device identifier such as MEID or ESN. The server queries an AAA system of the network to retrieve the MTN that has been assigned the IP address. If the retrieved MTN matches the MTN passed to the server in the request, the server queries a network database such as DMD for the device identifier associated with the MTN. A match of the device identifier retrieved from the network database with that passed to the server via the request indicates authenticity of the requesting device and its MTN.
US09106658B2 System and method for using resources of a computer system in conjunction with a thin media client
A computer system including a processor and a memory for retrieving digital media content, storing the digital media content in the memory, and providing the digital media content to a thin media client is provided.
US09106657B2 Web conference overstay protection
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for managing participants of a web conference that follows a first web conference. A computer determines that a second web conference will use a web conference channel continuously following the completion of a first web conference using the web conference channel. The computer determines that a participant of the first web conference that is connected to the web conference channel at the start of the second web conference is not authorized to attend the second web conference and the computer disconnects from the web conference channel the participant that is not authorized to attend the second web conference.
US09106655B2 Real-time transport protocol (RTP) source translator
A translation device includes a receiver, a processor and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive packets from a first party designated for a second party, the received packets including parameters associated with the first party. The processor is configured to translate the parameters of the received packets to form translated packets such that the parameters of the translated packets are associated with the device. The transmitter is configured to transmit the translated packets to the second party.
US09106651B2 Sending human input device commands over internet protocol
A source device in a wireless display (WD) system stores a plurality of preconfigured formats. Each of the preconfigured formats is associated with a different type of human input device (HID). The source device receives one or more Internet Protocol (IP) packets from a sink device in the WD system. The one or more IP packets include a HID command (HIDC) input report. The source device identifies, based on data in the one or more IP packets, one of the preconfigured formats and parses the HIDC input report based on the identified preconfigured format in order to determine a user input. The source device then generates media data in response to the user input and sends the media data to the sink device.
US09106649B2 Method and system for efficient remote application provision
A method of remotely providing an application includes identifying a visible portion of a first application window on a display of a client. A data stream corresponding only to the visible portion of the first application window is received. The received data stream is provided to the client such that the visible portion of the first application window is able to be presented on the display.
US09106645B1 Automatic reset for time-based credentials on a mobile device
Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide methods and devices capable of synchronizing time between a credential device and an authentication service. In an embodiment, a change in a time value on a device may be detected. A time value may be retrieved from an authentication service, and a new time value generated based upon at least the time value retrieved from the authentication service. The new time value may be used to set a time value at the device, and/or to generate a time-based credential.
US09106644B2 Authentication
A method in a first entity for authenticating itself to a second entity by proving to the second entity that it is in possession of a full secret without sending the full secret to the second entity, the method comprising: receiving in the first entity an input from a user, the full secret having been divided into at least a first factor and a second factor and the input relating to the second factor of the full secret; reconstructing in the first entity the full secret from at least the first factor and the input; and carrying out a calculation in the first entity using the reconstructed full secret and sending the results of the calculation to the second entity, wherein the results provide an input to a pairing calculation in the second entity. The second entity carries out the pairing calculation to determine whether the client is in possession of the secret. The first entity may be a client and the second entity may be a server. A trusted authority may have issued the client with the secret and may also have issued the server with another secret to allow it to carry out the calculation to determine whether the client is in possession of its secret.
US09106641B1 Direct mode adapter based shortcut for FCoE data transfer
This invention permits all FCoE (Fiber Channel over Ethernet) frames to be transferred from one FCoE network adapter to another without having to traverse through a Fiber Channel Forwarder (FCF) device. After the FCF is determined not to be present, a logical End-To-End connection is established between Peer FCoE Adapters. This invention permits an FCoE message originating at an FCoE network adapter to be sent to an FCoE receiving adapter across “Ethernet” links and switches, or via a single “Ethernet” link (Point-To-Point) but without having to pass through FCF devices.
US09106631B2 Smart meter trust center switch
An apparatus includes a smart meter trust center switch. The switch includes a computer processor that is configured to execute a subset of functions of a smart meter in a home area network (HAN). The computer processor is also configured to be coupled to and communicate with the smart meter and an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) and advanced meter reading (AMR) network.
US09106628B2 Efficient key management system and method
A system for providing cost effective, secure key exchange from at least one first device to at least one second device through at least one proxy server is provided. The system includes a first key exchange message from the at least one first device to the at least one second device via the at least one proxy server. A second key exchange message from the at least one second device to the at least one first device via a media stream of the Internet is required to complete the computation of the session key. A method of securing a communication system is also set forth. The method includes the steps of providing a routing device for identifying a subscriber, and providing a master key exchange session, the master key exchange session including a key k to find a subscriber and a nonce r to answer a query to the subscriber, wherein the master key exchange session includes both the key k and the nonce r.
US09106626B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for copying content between servers
Arrangements for forwarding content from a message storage server to a content sharing server of a Converged IP Messaging (CPM) system are described. An HTTP PUT request is issued by a user/client to the content sharing server, with the request identifying the location of the content on the message storage server. In response to the HTTP PUT request, the content sharing server issues a request, such as an IMAP download request, to the message storage server (either directly or via an intermediary). In response, the message storage server provides the content, without that content being sent to the user device.
US09106623B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting bulk emergency data while preserving user privacy
Systems and methods are described for performing bulk transmissions of information (e.g., emergency information, etc.) while preserving user privacy. An example mobile device described herein includes an information aggregation module configured to compile first information associated with the device, the first information including location-related information, an encryption module communicatively coupled to the information aggregation module and configured to encrypt the first information using at least one session key, and a transmitter communicatively coupled to the encryption module and configured to transmit encrypted first information to at least one receiver prior to a triggering event and to transmit the at least one session key to the at least one receiver after the triggering event.
US09106622B2 Network-based service for secure electronic mail delivery on an internet protocol network
A network is disclosed that includes a message originator computer and a message recipient computer, for secure electronic mail delivery. In accordance with the invention, the network includes a message delivery server that can distinguish between real and phantom messages. In operation, the message originator computer waits a random time and then transmits a first encrypted phantom message to the message delivery server. This message is to spoof an eavesdropper into believing that there is a steady stream of messages being sent from the originator computer. However, the message delivery server recognizes the message as a phantom message and discards it. When the message originator computer receives a user request to transmit a real message to the recipient computer, it waits a random time and then encrypts and transmits the real message to the message delivery server. The message delivery server recognizes the message as a real message and forwards the real message to the recipient computer. Meanwhile, the message originator computer can continue transmitting encrypted phantom messages to the message delivery server. In this manner, an eavesdropper will be tricked into believing that there is a steady stream of messages being sent from the originator computer.
US09106620B2 Trusted communication session and content delivery
Methods and systems for configuring a network are disclosed. An example method can comprise receiving a first token and an encryption key from a first device. A second token can be received from a second device. A determination can be made as to whether the first token matches the second token. Configuration information can be provided to the second device if the second token matches the first token. The configuration information can comprise information for connecting to a proxy configured on the first device. A request for content can be received from the proxy on behalf of the second device. The request for content can comprise the encryption key.
US09106618B2 Control plane encryption in IP/MPLS networks
A method for providing control plane encryption in layer 3 networks is disclosed. The method for providing control plane encryption in layer 3 networks includes for a network having a subset of network elements forming a secured domain; the steps of at a network element which is in the secured domain, encrypting all unencrypted Layer 3 packets as they egress an encryption enable egress interface; unencrypting all encrypted Layer 3 packets as they egress an egress interface is not enabled for encryption; and leaving encrypted all encrypted Layer 3 packets as they egress an encryption enable egress interface. A system and machine readable storage media are also disclosed.
US09106612B1 Decomposition and recomposition for cross-platform display
Data including information regarding a display of the host device may be received. Such information may be used to identify multiple portions of the host device display. Each portion is mapped to an associated description. For example, a task bar may include multiple buttons that are each associated with certain tasks. The map allows for identification of which buttons are associated with which tasks. Each description is matched to a component on the client device. Instructions may be generated for the client device, such that the client device display may include a corresponding display that is reconfigured in an optimal way for the client device based on the matched descriptions.
US09106606B1 Method, intermediate device and computer program code for maintaining persistency
A method for maintaining server persistency, including: (a) receiving, by an intermediate entity, a first session request from client to receive a service from a server out of a plurality of servers that are connected to the intermediate entity; (b) selecting a server out of the plurality of servers and directing to the selected server information indicative of the first session request; (c) receiving a response of the selected server to the information indicative of the first session request; (d) analyzing the response of the selected server, to provide an analysis result indicative whether the response includes code to be executed by the client and includes at least one instruction that facilitates sending, by the client, another request, to receive a service from a server out of the plurality of servers; (e) modifying, based on the analysis result, the code by adding information that will cause the client to send a selected server identifier in association to the sending of the other request; and (f) sending a modified response to the client, wherein the modified response includes the modified code.
US09106604B2 Method and arrangement for service sharing
A method and arrangement in a first web server (202) of a first local network (200) for snaring local services with other local networks (204). The first web server (202) detects (2:1) local services configured in one or more devices (D1, D2, D3 . . . ) present in the first local network, and creates (2:2) an aggregated service record (I) that includes a selection of detected local services to become available remotely for devices in the other local networks. The first web server (202) then distributes (2:3) the aggregated service record to web servers (WS) of the other local networks for exposure to devices in the other local networks. Thereby, users in the other networks (204) can discover what services are available in the first local network (200) without requiring a connection to the first local network.
US09106602B1 Differentiated display of messages on social networks
A system and method for providing for display of a message within a social networking website are provided. A message is received and a content type is determined by one of: an identification of the content type by a selection of a sender of the message of either an original content type including original content generated by the sender or generated by a personal contact of the sender or a non-original content type including reproduced content not generated by the sender or not generated by any personal contact of the sender; or an automatic identification of content of the message, the content type identifying the message as original or non-original. The content type is associated with the message and differentiated display of the message is provided based on whether the associated content type identifies the message as original or non-original.
US09106601B2 Selective delivery of content via electronic mail
A method that includes identifying a first electronic mail (email) addressed to at least two groups of recipients, the first email comprising content. The method further can include communicating the first email comprising the content to a first group of recipients. The method also can include generating a second email different than the first email and not comprising the content, the second email comprising information that indicates a contact that the second group of recipients are to contact regarding subject matter associated with the first email, and communicating the second email to a second group of recipients.
US09106600B2 Platform-independent method and system for electronically engaging customers
Techniques for electronically engaging customers across all different platforms are disclosed. Based on unique device identifiers captured together with interactions by users with one or more applications provided by a business, a message prepared in a first format is automatically converted to a corresponding message in a second format according to what the devices the user have been interacting with can support. Depending on implementation, the message may be a response by the business to an inquiry from a user or a promotion by the business to be distributed to a group of selected users maintained by the business. The interactions include activities a user has had with one or more of the applications provided by the business and provide the statistical or actual data for the business to determine the group of users to receive the message.
US09106597B2 Updating an E-mail recipient list
Arrangements describe herein relate to updating an e-mail recipient list. A first version of an e-mail can be received, the first version comprising a message header identifying at least a first e-mail recipient. The first version of the e-mail can be sent to the first e-mail recipient indicated in the message header. A second version of the e-mail can be received, the second version of the e-mail indicating at least a second e-mail recipient. The second version can be sent to the at least second e-mail recipient indicated in the message header of the second version. An update request for the first version can be received, the update request configured to be processed to update the message header of the first version to add the at least second e-mail recipient to the message header. The update request can be sent to the at least first e-mail recipient.
US09106594B2 Packet buffering system and method
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally packet processing and, more particularly, to a system and method for buffering packets which reduces power consumption during the power saving mode of a system without dropping packets. The system and method may include a buffer controller that controls: a buffer, so that the buffer inputs and hold packets until a memory is operated by a stable supply of power; and the memory, so that the memory inputs and holds packets after it is operated by a stable supply of power after returning to a normal operating mode from a power saving mode.
US09106591B2 Adaptive resource management using survival minimum resources for low priority consumers
Allocation of resources across multiple consumers allows efficient utilization of shared resources. Observed usages of resources by consumers over time intervals are used to determine a total throughput of resources by the consumers. The total throughput of resources is used to determine allocation of resources for a subsequent time interval. The consumers are associated with priorities used to determine their allocations. Minimum and maximum resource guarantees may be associated with consumers. The resource allocation aims to allocate resources based on the priorities of the consumers while aiming to avoid starvation by any consumer. The resource allocation allows efficient usage of network resources in a database storage system storing multiple virtual databases.
US09106590B2 Method for controlling the admission of a flow to a network and a network
A method for controlling the admission of a flow to a network, particularly a WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) network, wherein an estimation of maximum capacity required within a link of the network and/or within the network will be performed for examining, whether the flow requesting to enter the network with at least one QoS (Quality of Service) reservation of resources can be admitted, by finding first sets of intersections between all pairs of QoS reservations, i.e. the QoS reservations already accepted within the link and/or within the network and the at least one QoS reservation requested by the flow. The method is characterized by structuring the found sets of intersections by building a matrix of intersections of QoS reservations and—based on the matrix—deriving the rest of the sets of intersections between the intersections found, based on information obtained regarding the QoS reservations involved in each intersection.
US09106587B2 Distributed network control system with one master controller per managed switching element
A network control system for managing several switching elements. The network control system includes first and second controllers for generating data for managing first and second sets of switching elements. The first controller is further for serving as a master controller of the first set of switching elements. The second controller is further for serving as a master controller of the second set of switching elements. The master controller for a particular set of switching elements is the only controller that is allowed to propagate data to the particular set of switching elements data for managing the particular set of switching elements.
US09106584B2 Cloud infrastructure services
An aspect of the disclosed technology is a general-purpose platform that may be used to provide resilient cloud services. Tasks may be written as procedures in general-purpose programming languages that directly manipulate resources via control interfaces. In one implementation, resource states, such as router configurations and virtual machine states, associated with a cloud customer that provides communications services, may be abstracted into tables in a relational or semi-structured database. State changes that have been written to the database tables are automatically propagated by the database to appropriate customer physical devices, such as network elements, thereby implementing various customer network operations.
US09106581B1 Packet forwarding path programming using a high-level description language
In general, this disclosure describes a high-level forwarding path description language (FPDL) for describing internal forwarding paths within a network device. The FPDL enables developers to create a template that describes a section of an internal forwarding path within the forwarding plane of a network device. The FPDL provides syntactical elements for specifying the allocation of forwarding path structures as well as enabling the run-time construction of internal forwarding paths to interconnect the forwarding path structures in a manner specific to packet, packet flow, and/or interface properties, for example. In conjunction with late binding techniques, whereby the control plane of the network device provides arguments to template parameters that drive allocation by the packet forwarding engines of forwarding path structures specified by the FPDL, the techniques provide control plane processes a unified interface with which to manage the operation of the packet forwarding engines.
US09106580B2 Method of supporting power control in a communication network
A method of supporting power control in a communication network, the network including a plurality of network elements (1) that perform packet forwarding, wherein each network element (1) includes one or more ports—element ports (2)—, is characterized in the steps of assigning a flow table (4) to each of the network elements (1), wherein the flow table (4) includes flow entries (5) that specify via which element ports (2) to forward packets the network element (1) receives, deriving target sets from the flow tables (4), wherein a target set characterizes either a network element (1) as a whole—element target set—or an individual element port (2)—port target set—in terms of its utilization, and based on changes in the respective target sets, deciding on the enforcement of power states on the network elements (1) and/or the element ports (2).
US09106578B2 Core network architecture
A network includes at least two core local area network (LAN) fabrics, each including a first core switch cluster deployed at a first sub-core and a second core switch cluster deployed at a second sub-core different from the first sub-core. The network also includes a multi-port link aggregation group to link the first core switch cluster and the second core switch cluster.
US09106577B2 Systems and methods for dropping data using a drop profile
A system selectively drops data from queues. The system includes a drop table that stores drop probabilities. The system selects one of the queues to examine and generates an index into the drop table to identify one of the drop probabilities for the examined queue. The system then determines whether to drop data from the examined queue based on the identified drop probability.
US09106576B2 Policy-aware based method for deployment of enterprise virtual tenant networks
A method for policy-aware mapping of an enterprise virtual tenant network includes receiving inputs from a hosting network and tenants, translating resource demand and policies of the tenants into a network topology and bandwidth demand on each link in the network; pre-arranging a physical resource of a physical topology for clustering servers on the network to form an allocation unit before a VTN allocation; allocating resources of the hosting network to satisfy demand of the tenants in response to a VTN demand request; and conducting a policy aware VTN mapping for enumerating all feasibly resource mappings, bounded by a predetermined counter for outputting optimal mapping with policy-compliant routing paths in the hosting network.
US09106573B2 In-band signaling for point-multipoint packet protection switching
A method and system provide in-band protection switch signaling in a communication system arranged as a point-to-multipoint tree. The point-to-multipoint tree includes a root node communicatively coupled to a plurality of leaf nodes through both a working link and a protection link. Data is transferred through a current link of the point-to-multipoint tree. The current link is either the working link or the protection link. A fault is detected in the current link in the point-to-multipoint tree. Each leaf node in the point-to-multipoint tree is notified of the fault using the current link. Upon receiving the notification, the root node and each leaf node switch to the other link of the working link and the protection link.
US09106571B2 Power distribution system communication system and method
A power distribution system may incorporate a network communication capability. The network communication capability may be configured or may be configurable as a multi-tiered, mesh network. The network may have two tiers of fixed node meshes (tier 2 and tier 3) and one tier of mobile nodes mesh (tier 1). Each tier and each node of each tier has distinct characteristics relative to application, type of routing, transmit power control, physical configuration and message priorities. The configuration and the characteristics of the network change based upon varying application and communication needs of the network.
US09106567B2 System and method for setting a path to an access point across a wireless mesh network
A node within a wireless mesh network performs a path analysis on an advertised path to an access point that has a cost value less than the cost value of the current primary path to the access point. Depending on the cost value difference between the respective cost values of the advertised path and the current primary path, the node may perform a different type of path analysis. Based on the result of that path analysis, the node may change paths to the access point and use the advertised path as the primary path. Further, the node maintains a secondary path so that, in the event that the primary path fails, the node can default to using the secondary path.
US09106565B2 Loop avoidance for event-driven virtual link aggregation
Embodiments of the invention relate to virtual link aggregation. One embodiment includes forming one or more virtual links using physical links connecting a first networking element, a second networking element and a third networking element. A first trigger status indication is used for blocking network traffic for avoiding traffic loops occurring over the one or more virtual links.
US09106561B2 Configuration of a virtual service network
Configuration of a virtual service network by a configuring node includes: determining that the virtual service is to be configured; determining a configuration associated with the virtual service and including packet forwarding policies associated with the virtual service, each packet forwarding policy including a virtual service network address and a destination; and sending the packet forwarding policies in the configuration to a network node. The network node: stores the packet forwarding policies; receives a data packet for the virtual service and including a virtual service network address; determines a match between the virtual service network address in the data packet with the virtual service network address in a given packet forwarding policy of the stored packet forwarding policies; obtains a given destination in the given packet forwarding policy; and sends the data packet to a service load balancer associated with the given destination by the network node.
US09106560B2 Solving network traffic congestion using device grouping
A method, system, and computer program product for solving a network traffic congestion problem are provided in the illustrative embodiments. Using an application executing using a processor and a memory in a data processing system, a congested network route section is selected from a set of congested network route sections. A set of congesting devices is selected, where the set of congesting devices causes congestion in the selected congested network route sections by using the selected congested network route section. A vacancy data structure corresponding to the selected congested network route section is populated. A subset of the set of the congesting devices is selected. The subset of the set of the congesting devices is rerouted to a candidate network route section identified in the vacancy data structure.
US09106559B2 Systems and methods for automatically selecting a communication channel
In one embodiment, automatically selecting a local communication channel for downloading a block of data via a network includes downloading portions of the block of data using first and second communication channels, determining a bottleneck exists on one of the local communication channels or on a component upstream from the channels, in response to determining the bottleneck exists on one of the local communication channels, selecting the communication channel that has the lowest energy cost and a download speed that meets a minimum threshold, and in response to determining the bottleneck exists upstream from the local communication channels, selecting the local communication channel having the lowest energy cost.
US09106549B2 Ethernet communication circuit with auto MDI/MDIX function
An Ethernet communication circuit includes: a current source; a first transistor coupled between a first node and a third node, and having a control terminal coupled with a first signal pin; a second transistor coupled between the first node and a fourth node, and having a control terminal coupled with a second signal pin; a third transistor coupled between a second node and the fourth node, and having a control terminal coupled with a third signal pin; a fourth transistor coupled between the second node and the third node, and having a control terminal coupled with a fourth signal pin; a first switch coupled between the third node and the current source; a second switch coupled between the fourth node and the current source; and a transconductance circuit for generating an output voltage according to the current passing through the first node and the current passing through the second node.
US09106547B2 Apparatus for constructing ring network
A first communication apparatus to be coupled to a second communication apparatus and a third communication apparatus via a ring network, including: a first port to coupled to the ring network; and a second port to coupled to the ring network; wherein the first port and the second port is set to receive a control frame from the second communication apparatus and the third communication apparatus, and either the first port or the second port is set to be disabled to relay a user frame.
US09106542B2 System and method for network traffic aggregation and analysis of mobile devices using socket wrappers
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for per-application network traffic monitoring by extending socket functionality to include socket wrappers able to identify network traffic volume, applications responsible for the traffic, the network being loaded, and distinguish between internal device traffic and external network traffic. Network traffic shaping can then be carried out by managing an offending application's traffic. A disclosed method includes loading a call intercept library prior to loading any core libraries of an operating system, calling a socket wrapper, calling a socket by way of functions of at least one of the core libraries, and receiving at least one data packet, from a responding application external to the communications device, at the socket. The method may also include trapping a call, to read the at least one data packet; and releasing the call to the socket so the data packet is read by the destination application.
US09106540B2 Providing logical networking functionality for managed computer networks
Techniques are described for providing logical networking functionality for managed computer networks, such as for virtual computer networks provided on behalf of users or other entities. In some situations, a user may configure or otherwise specify a network topology for a virtual computer network, such as a logical network topology that separates multiple computing nodes of the virtual computer network into multiple logical sub-networks and/or that specifies one or more logical networking devices for the virtual computer network. After a network topology is specified for a virtual computer network, logical networking functionality corresponding to the network topology may be provided in various manners, such as without physically implementing the network topology for the virtual computer network. In some situations, the computing nodes may include virtual machine nodes hosted on one or more physical computing machines or systems, such as by or on behalf of one or more users.
US09106539B2 User-controlled network configuration for handling multiple classes of service
A process and system for user-controlled configuration of an Internet-protocol (IP) network wherein the user may supply input for generating a network classification profile (NCP), which includes a number of classes of service (COSs) for prioritizing network traffic. Network packets belonging to a COS may be classified according to a packet parameter. The NCP may be used to prioritize packets sent to the network from a network ingress router. A queuing profile for scheduling packets received from the network based on the NCP may also be generated and used by a network egress router. The packet parameter may be based on information in the packet header.
US09106538B1 Method and system for enabling data usage accounting through a relay
A method and system for enabling data usage accounting is described herein. The method can be practiced on a computing device that has secure applications and unsecure applications installed thereon. Initially, a request for a data session that includes a final endpoint can be received through a secure application. The request for the data session can be intercepted and modified to cause the request to be re-directed back to the secure application. A connection with a relay server can be initiated instead of the final endpoint such that data usage accounting for the data session is to be conducted at a remote location.
US09106534B2 Communication device
A communication device includes a receiving unit, a first determining unit, and a sending unit. The receiving unit is configured to receive, from a terminal device, a plurality of input values corresponding to a plurality of setting items. The first determining unit, when the plurality of setting items includes a plurality of related items that are related to each other, is configured to determine whether input values, among the plurality of input values, corresponding to the plurality of related items are compatible. The sending unit is configured to send error data indicating an error screen toward the terminal device when the input values corresponding to the plurality of related items are incompatible, the error screen showing that at least one input value among the plurality of input values has an error.
US09106533B2 Source and diversity rate equal to a first transmission rate
Packets of real-time information are sent with a source rate greater than zero kilobits per second, and a time or path or combined time/path diversity rate initially being zero kilobits per second. This results in a quality of service QoS, optionally measured at the sender or the receiver. When the QoS is on an unacceptable side of a threshold of acceptability, the sender sends diversity packets at an increased rate. Increasing the diversity rate while either reducing or maintaining the overall transmission rate is new. CELP-based multiple-description data partitioning sends the base or important information plus a subset of fixed excitation in one packet and sends the base or important information plus the complementary subset of fixed excitation in another packet. Reconstruction produces acceptable quality when only one of the two packets is received and better quality when both packets are received. Reconstruction provides for single and multiple lost packets.
US09106532B2 Method for updating device descriptions for field devices in process automation technology
A method for updating device descriptions for field devices in process automation technology by loading the required descriptions from an external server (S), by means of an application program, into a controller (for example, PC1; PC2).
US09106530B1 Constrained route distribution for multiple virtual private network services
In general, techniques are described for ensuring the distribution of Virtual Private Network (VPN) routes in a service provider network configured with multiple VPN services. In some examples, a network device receives configuration data that defines a VPN service associated with a route target. The network device, responsive to receiving the configuration data, sends a request for routes that match a type of the VPN service to a routing protocol speaker. The network device receives routes that match the type of the VPN service and are associated with the route target, installs the routes that match the type of the VPN service and are associated with the route target to the routing information base. The network device forwards traffic for the VPN service in accordance with the installed routes.
US09106528B2 Link aggregation protection
A method includes detecting, by a first network device, a configuration problem at a second network device, where the first and second network devices are associated with a link aggregation group (LAG) coupling the first and second network devices. The method also includes de-activating, by the first network device, one or more links in the LAG in response to detecting the configuration problem. The method further comprises maintaining at least one of the links in the LAG as an active link and allowing traffic to be forwarded on the active link in the LAG.
US09106524B2 Protection for provider backbone bridge traffic engineering
Network protection between endpoints includes both end-to-end and local section protection. A primary path between the endpoints includes a plurality of links, and is protected on an end-to-end basis by a protection path associated with different links. At least one sections of the primary path is also protected on a local basis, where a “section” is a link, ring, trunk or other portion of a network. One or more sections of the protection path may also be protected on a local basis. In response to detection of a fault condition, section protection is utilized to overcome the fault if possible, and otherwise end-to-end protection is utilized. Invoking section protection does not imply a switchover from the primary end-to-end path to the protection end-to-end path. Rather, the primary end-to-end path is rerouted in the affected section.
US09106523B2 Communication device and method of controlling the same
Provided is a communication device including a plurality of physical ports, the communication device holding information for associating each of at least one logical port and at least two physical ports, the communication device being configured to: identify, when any one of the plurality of physical ports receives data including user data, one of the at least one logical port as an output destination of the data based on destination information included in the received data; select, based on the data, one of the at least two physical ports associated with the identified logical port as an destination of the data; generate coupling check data relating to one of the plurality of physical ports; transmit the coupling check data from the one of the plurality of physical ports; and transmit data including the user data from the physical port selected by a first processing unit as the output destination.
US09106520B2 Method for time aware inline remote mirroring
A method of monitoring packet traffic is provided. The method includes: at a first access point, capturing portions of traffic packets passing therethrough separated by time intervals; encapsulating the portions of traffic packets thereby forming encapsulated packets and adding timestamps to the encapsulated packets so as to preserve the portions of traffic packets and information related to the time intervals; transmitting the encapsulated packets over a network; decapsulating the encapsulated packets so as to obtain replay packets and the capture timestamps, wherein the replay packets include the portions of the traffic packets; and, transmitting the replay packets separated by the time intervals, wherein the timestamps are used to reproduce the time intervals so as to imitate the traffic packets passing through the first access point.
US09106517B1 Information technology network
A computer network system relating to collecting (at a user-node) network and computer information (temporally adjacent to a user-perceived computing performance anomaly) from connectivity resource nodes at a time determined by user action. The system provides a local configurable resource for iteratively collecting computing performance information relating to the quality of service experienced by a computer user interfacing with a computer network.
US09106513B2 Unified communication aware networks
Unified Communication and Collaboration (UC&C) systems are enabled to dynamically enlighten a set of network elements (NEs) and/or network infrastructure with application awareness so that an accurate set of rules or actions can be applied for a given session without needing to lookup the payload of every packet or applying a somewhat ineffective expensive heuristic mechanisms. Taking advantage of typically longer communication session durations and separate control and media planes, a UC&C control point programs a set of NEs for a given UC&C media flow within a scalable and timely manner. Quality of Service (QoS), security, monitoring, and similar functionality may also be programmed into the NEs through the UC&C control point.
US09106512B2 Techniques for efficiently updating routing information upon shortest path tree computation
Techniques for efficiently updating routing information in a network device such as a router. According to an embodiment of the present invention, information is stored identifying one or more nodes and leaves owned or advertised by the nodes. When a change occurs in a network environment, information is stored identifying one or more nodes and leaves that have changes associated with them. The routing information in the network device is then updated for only those nodes and leaves that have changes associated with them.
US09106509B2 System and method for data transfer in a peer-to-peer hybrid communication network
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables an endpoint to transfer data directly to another endpoint.
US09106505B2 Digital filter
A digital filter for removing a PWM noise from a sampling data includes: an averaging filter. The sampling data is obtained by sampling a control amount of a control object, which is driven at a driving frequency in a PWM control manner, at a sampling frequency. The PWM noise includes fundamental and harmonic wave components. The averaging filter calculates an average of the sampling data, which is sampled most recent predetermined sampling times providing an averaging number. The sampling frequency and the averaging number are determined to satisfy a relationship that an absolute value of a difference between the sampling frequency multiplied by a predetermined first integer and the harmonic wave frequency is equal to the sampling frequency divided by the averaging number and multiplied by a predetermined second integer in a frequency range between zero and a Nyquist frequency when the fundamental and harmonic wave components are removed.
US09106502B2 Apparatus, system and method of in-phase/quadrature (I/Q) imbalance compensation
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of In-phase/Quadrature (I/Q) imbalance compensation. For example, an apparatus may include an I/Q imbalance calibrator to determine, based on first and second phasors, a plurality of calibration parameters for calibrating I/Q imbalance of both a Radio Frequency (RF) Receive (Rx) path of a transceiver and a RF Transmit (Tx) path of the transceiver, the first phasor including a phasor of an image component of a first signal transmitted via the Tx path, shifted by a first phase shift and received via the Rx path, and the second phasor including a phasor of an image component of a second signal transmitted via the Tx path, shifted by a second phase shift, different from the first phase shift, and received via the Rx path.
US09106501B2 Quadrature power amplifier having increased efficiency
A method and system for achieving increased efficiency in a quadrature modulated power amplifier (11) are disclosed. In some embodiments, a supply path (36, 40) and a gain path (38, 42) are provided in each of an I-channel and a Q-channel. The supply path (36, 40) produces a variable voltage and the gain path (38, 42) produces a gain control signal. The variable voltage and gain control signal are used by a variable gain power amplifier (44, 46) to modulate a local oscillator signal to produce a modulated radio signal.
US09106500B2 Systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification, including embodiments for error correction
Methods and systems for vector combining power amplification are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a plurality of signals are individually amplified, then summed to form a desired time-varying complex envelope signal. Phase and/or frequency characteristics of one or more of the signals are controlled to provide the desired phase, frequency, and/or amplitude characteristics of the desired time-varying complex envelope signal. In another embodiment, a time-varying complex envelope signal is decomposed into a plurality of constant envelope constituent signals. The constituent signals are amplified equally or substantially equally, and then summed to construct an amplified version of the original time-varying envelope signal. Embodiments also perform frequency up-conversion.
US09106496B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving signal
Modulation is performed on a first input signal and a second input signal to be transmitted based on symbol mapping. Phase values of the first and second modulated input signals are selectively adjusted. Angle modulation is performed on the first input signal and the second input signal having selectively adjusted phase values. The angle-modulated first and second input signals are transmitted.
US09106494B2 Data processing apparatus and method
A data processing apparatus maps input symbols to be communicated onto a predetermined number of sub-carrier signals of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) symbol. The data processor includes an interleaver memory which reads-in the predetermined number of data symbols for mapping onto the OFDM sub-carrier signals. The interleaver memory reads-out the data symbols on to the OFDM sub-carriers to effect the mapping, the read-out being in a different order than the read-in, the order being determined from a set of addresses, with the effect that the data symbols are interleaved on to the sub-carrier signals. The set of addresses are generated from an address generator which comprises a linear feedback shift register and a permutation circuit.
US09106493B2 Broadcast signal transmitter, broadcast signal receiver, and method for transceiving broadcast signals in broadcast signal transceivers
A broadcast signal receiver according to the present invention comprises: a demodulator for performing OFDM demodulation on a received broadcast signal including a frame for the delivery of a broadcast service: a frame demapper for outputting the frame, the frame including a preamble that contains first signaling information, and a plurality of link-layer-pipes (LLPs) that contain PLP data, second signaling information and third signaling information, with the PLP data including a base layer and an enhancement layer of the broadcast service; and a decoder for decoding the first signaling information, for decoding the second and third signaling information, and for selectively decoding the PLP data by using the third signaling information.
US09106489B2 Method and apparatus for updating a network address of an audio/video node to a communication device
A method for updating a network address of an audio/video node of a communication network to a communication device is provided. In the method, a communication identifier associated with the communication device is received at the audio/video node. Also received at the audio/video node, by way of the communication network, is a network address of the audio/video node. In response to receiving the network address, a message is transferred from the audio/video node to the communication device using the communication identifier, wherein the message comprises the network address. A request for audio/video data is transferred from the communication device over the communication network to the audio/video node using the network address. In response to receiving the request, the audio/video data is transferred from the audio/video node over the communication network to the communication device.
US09106485B1 System and method for FSK demodulation
A system and method for frequency-selective demodulation is presented. An input signal is received that is modulated by frequency shift keying (FSK) and encodes data at a first and second frequency. The input signal is supplied to a plurality of estimators that include a first estimator configured to detect a first signal at the first frequency, a second estimator configured to detect a second signal at the second frequency, a third estimator configured to detect a third signal at a third frequency, and a fourth estimator configured to detect a fourth signal at a fourth frequency. An output is generated indicating receipt of the data encoded at the first frequency or the second frequency based upon outputs of the first estimator, the second estimator, the third estimator, and the fourth estimator.
US09106483B2 Systems and methods for serving applications in an application server environment
In a distributed application execution system having a plurality of application servers, each application server has volatile and nonvolatile storage as well as computational resources for executing applications as follows. A plurality of applications is stored in non-volatile storage. At least one such application is a primed application which is derived as follows. An unprimed application is executed and an initialization signal is optionally communicated to the unprimed application. A status signal is obtained from the unprimed application. Upon receipt of the status signal, the unprimed application is checkpointed to produce the primed application, and the primed application is stored. A request to execute the primed application is received from a client system. In response to the request, the primed application is loaded from non-volatile storage into volatile storage, and the primed application is executed. The primed application returns a result to the request to the client system.
US09106481B2 Device-to-device tapping service layer
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe device, methods, computer-readable media and system configurations for providing a device-to-device (“D2D”) tapping service (“DTS”) layer. In various embodiments, a DTS layer of a communication stack of a computing device may receive, from an application executing within an application layer of the communication stack, a request for a resource. In various embodiments, the DTS layer may determine whether the resource is available locally on the computing device. In various embodiments, the DTS layer may issue a domain name system (“DNS”) request through a network layer of the communication stack to facilitate transparent access by the application to the resource on a remote computing device, where it is determined that the resource is unavailable locally on the computing device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09106473B2 Systems and methods to connect buyers and sellers
Methods and apparatuses to provide services to people who wish to make connections for real time communication, such as live telephone conversation, chat, video conferencing, etc. In one embodiment, a method includes: providing a seller with a code to be embedded in a document, the document to be distributed by the seller, the code to generate a display of a call button when the document is displayed; in response to a selection of the call button, initiating a process to make a telephonic connection between the seller and a buyer; and charging the buyer on behalf of the seller for a service delivered by the seller over the telephonic connection to the buyer.
US09106469B1 Interfaces to manage last-mile connectivity for direct network peerings
Methods and apparatus for interfaces to manage last-mile connectivity and dynamic reconfiguration for direct network peerings. A system may include a data center, endpoint routers and a connectivity coordinator. The coordinator implements an interface defining connectivity operations. The coordinator receives a request for dedicated connectivity to data center resources, formatted according to the interface. The coordinator determines a connectivity provider to provide last-mile connectivity to the requester, and transmits a notification identifying the selected connectivity provider.
US09106467B2 Backchannel communications for initialization of high-speed networks
One embodiment provides a network controller. The network controller includes a modulation module. The modulation module includes a high rate (HR) bit sequence generator configured to generate a first high rate bit sequence, encoder circuitry configured to encode a first low rate bit stream, the first low rate bit stream comprising backchannel information, and modulation circuitry configured to modulate the encoded first low rate bit stream onto the first high rate bit sequence. The network controller further includes transmit circuitry configured to transmit the modulated first HR bit sequence to a link partner during a link initialization period.
US09106465B2 Multiwire linear equalizer for vector signaling code receiver
Continuous-time linear equalization of received signals on multiple wire channels while maintaining accurate common mode signal values. Multiwire group signaling using vector signaling codes simultaneously transmits encoded values on multiple wires, requiring multiple receive signals to be sampled simultaneously to retrieve the full transmitted code word. By misaligning transitions on multiple wires, skew introduces a transient common mode signal component that is preserved by using frequency-selective common mode feedback at the receiver to obtain accurate sampling results.
US09106464B2 Trace canceller with equalizer adjusted for trace length driving variable-gain amplifier with automatic gain control loop
Distortions of both amplitude and phase along a transmission line are compensated for by a trace canceller inserted between a transmitter and a receiver. The trace canceller has an equalizer that compensates for a trace length between the transmitter and the trace canceller. A variable gain amplifier between the equalizer and an output buffer has its gain controlled by an automatic gain control circuit that compares low-frequency swings of the input and output of the trace canceller. The gain of the variable gain amplifier is reduced to prevent the output buffer from saturating and clipping peak voltages on its output. Thus both the variable gain amplifier and the output buffer remain in the linear region. Training pulses from the transmitter are passed through the trace canceller without clipping of peak voltages, allowing the transmitter and receiver to adjust transmission parameters to best match the transmission line.
US09106462B1 Reduced power SERDES receiver using selective adaptation of equalizer parameters in response to supply voltage and operating temperature variations and technique for measuring same
Described embodiments include a process and apparatus that takes into account the operating voltage and temperature (VT) variations of a SERDES receiver implemented in an integrated circuit (IC) or system-on-chip (SoC). An analog equalizer (AEQ) adaptation loop and a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) adaptation loop are disabled after the loops have converged or stabilized the parameters of the AEQ and DFE. While the AFE and DFE adaptation loops are disabled, certain monitor coefficients related to signals corrected by the AFE and DFE are adapted and metrics derived therefrom are generated. The metrics are compared to threshold values to check if they have sufficiently changed over time to warrant re-enabling of the AFE and DFE adaptation loops.
US09106461B2 Quarter-rate speculative decision feedback equalizer
According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of relaxing a timing constraint associated with reducing inter-symbol interference (ISI) of input data includes adding an ISI cancellation value to input data received at a first clock rate to generate first speculative data. The method further includes subtracting the ISI cancellation value from the input data to generate second speculative data. The method also includes sampling the first speculative data and the second speculative data at a second clock rate that is one-fourth of the first clock rate such that a timing constraint associated with performing the ISI reduction is relaxed.
US09106457B2 Modified maximum likelihood channel estimation
The present technology relates to a channel estimator configured to operate based on a discrete wave channel model and measured channel responses between a transmitter having at least one transmit antenna and a receiver having at least one receive antenna. The channel estimator comprises a windowed likelihood determiner and a maximization processor. The windowed likelihood determiner is configured to determine a windowed likelihood function based on the measured channel responses, a selected window function, and modeled channel responses defined based on a number of discrete waves according to the discrete wave channel model. The maximization processor is configured to perform maximization of the windowed likelihood function, using initial input in the form of at least one of predetermined wave propagation delay(s) and predetermined wave propagation direction(s) for at least one of the discrete waves, to extract the wave parameters of the discrete waves.
US09106454B2 Apparatus and method for selective single-carrier equalization
Embodiments of an apparatus and method for selective single-carrier (SC) equalization are provided. Multipath propagation in a communication channel often changes, and the severity of multipath propagation is often below worst case conditions supported by a SC communication device. When multipath propagation is less severe and below worst conditions, the use of frequency-domain equalization (FDE) in a SC receiver to mitigate ISI can be overkill and can result in excess power being consumed. The excess power consumption can be attributed to the general inability of the structure used to perform FDE to scale in terms of performance with channel conditions. Embodiments of the apparatus and method for performing selective equalization in a SC receiver allow either FDE or time-domain equalization (TDE) to be performed based on the current multipath propagation conditions of a communication channel. In general, TDE is used in place of FDE to conserve power when channel conditions permit.
US09106452B2 Cloud VoIP system with bypass for IP media
The cloud computing VoIP system includes a software as a service (SaaS) site and one or more additional sites. The SaaS site includes a gateway and a call manager and is coupled for communication across an IP network and the PSTN. The call manager includes a media monitoring module, a bypass module, a PSTN control module and a GUI module. The SaaS site handles and controls voice and video calls over the IP network and the PSTN for endpoints at the one or more additional sites. In another embodiment, the cloud computing VoIP system is also coupled to a cellular network and the endpoints include an associated cellular phone. The cloud computing VoIP system also includes a method for falling back to a secondary network, namely the cellular network, when there is insufficient quality on a primary network.
US09106451B2 Generating production server load activity for a test server
A method of replicating on a test server a production load of a production server. The method can include creating the production load on the production server by processing client requests received from clients. The method further can include, while the client requests are processed, via a processor, in real time, replicating the production load to generate a replicated production load that represents the client requests and defines state information representing unique states formed between the production server and the respective clients. The method also can include, in real time, communicating the replicated production load in order to replicate the production load on the test server.
US09106450B2 System and method for communication management
A method and computer program product for managing communications with a user include defining one or more communication profiles for a user, in which defining the one or more communication profiles includes defining one or more communication channels for the user, and defining a preferred communication schedule for each of the one or more communication channels. The preferred communication schedule is associated with a respective one of the one or more communication channels. Communications with the user by a contacting user are managed based upon, at least in part, the one or more communication profiles for the user.
US09106449B2 Method, apparatus and system for obtaining logon information
A method and system for obtaining logon information are provided, and the method includes: receiving a request for logon information from a value-added service client; sending the request for the logon information to an Instant Messaging (IM) client corresponding to the value-added service client; receiving the logon information from the IM client; and sending the logon information to the value-added service client.
US09106448B2 System and method of sharing contents using messenger
The present invention provides to a system and method of sharing contents using a messenger program. The system includes a device server which registers Consumer electronic (CE) devices of the same user and CE devices of different users, and generates a messenger account; a messenger server which registers the generated messenger account; and a buddy setting module which sets a buddy relationship among the CE devices of the same user and a buddy relationship among the CE devices of different users, such that contents are shared by the CE devices having the buddy relationship.
US09106444B2 Method for transmitting of a multi-channel data stream on a multi-transport tunnel, corresponding computer-readable storage means and tunnel end-points
A method is proposed for transmitting a multi-channel data stream comprising frames comprising a plurality of channels, the transmitting being done through a multi-transport tunnel from a first tunnel end-point to a second tunnel end-point, the multi-transport tunnel implementing a first carrier supporting a transport protocol with acknowledgement and a second carrier supporting a transport protocol without acknowledgement.The invention aims more specifically at averting or limiting the phenomena of interruptions in the rendering of a multi-channel stream in transit on a tunnel, and more particularly at providing a transport technique enabling regular and uninterrupted delivery of the multi-channel stream while at the same time reducing the memory resources needed at reception.
US09106443B2 Forwarding table optimization with flow data
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving from a server, flow data for a plurality of flows at a network device, the flow data comprising for each flow, a destination address and a time indicating when a last packet was processed for the flow at the server, updating a flow table at the network device, identifying one of the flows in the flow table as an inactive flow, and removing a route for the inactive flow from a forwarding information base at the network device. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.
US09106442B2 Interface monitoring for link aggregation
The present invention provides network interface monitoring and management that may be employed with link aggregation technologies. Multiple network interfaces may be aggregated into a single bond and data may be transferred to and from a backbone network via this aggregated bond. A link aggregation monitor employs a heartbeat generator, sniffer and data store to keep track of health and availability of network interfaces. The heartbeat generator sends heartbeats to the network interfaces, which pass the heartbeats around in a token ring configuration. If a network interface fails or otherwise goes offline, detection of this condition causes the monitor and heartbeat generator to prepare new or modified heartbeats so that data may be efficiently and accurately routed around the token ring and health of all remaining alive interfaces can be monitored properly. If a network interface re-enters or is added to the aggregate bond, new/modified heartbeats are then employed.
US09106441B2 Method and apparatus for operating and identifying channels of a redundant communication network
A method for operating a redundant communication network with network participants includes the steps of determining by network participants to which network channels they are connected and using a telegram for said determining by the network participants to which network channels they are connected.
US09106440B2 Interconnect topology with reduced implementation requirements
A topology for routing message traffic between interconnecting nodes of a network is provided that includes a plurality of rings having a plurality of interconnecting nodes. A number of trees include at least one leaf at a same relative position of the rings. The trees and the rings form a unique combination that provides superior network performance for moderate numbers of the interconnecting nodes, wherein each interconnecting node has only a limited ability to handle a plurality of links.
US09106439B2 System for TDM data transport over Ethernet interfaces
A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting the communication of a frame of octet-sized timeslots, wherein the timeslots are configured to carry a plurality of data types. Also disclosed is a method comprising communicating a high priority data and a low priority data in a frame comprising a plurality of octet-sized timeslots, wherein each timeslot is assigned to the high priority data or the low priority data, wherein the high priority data is provided in the timeslots assigned to the high priority data, and wherein the low priority data is provided in the timeslots assigned to the low priority data. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising recognizing the reception of a plurality of data streams each having a priority, and promoting the multiplexing of the data streams based on the priority of each data stream.
US09106432B2 Data stream classification
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with data stream classification are described. One example method includes identifying packets associated with the data stream. The example method may also include updating a set of characterization data associated with the data stream based on information associated with a packet. The example method may also include assigning a data stream classifier to the data stream by comparing characterization data to identification data upon determining that the set of characterization data indicates that the data stream is able to be classified. The example method may also include providing a signal associated with the data stream classifier.
US09106431B2 Method and apparatus for improved multicast streaming in wireless networks
The invention includes a method and apparatus for providing media content. The method includes duplicating each packet of an original packet stream for which an associated importance level satisfies an importance condition, inserting each duplicate packet within the original packet stream to form thereby a modified packet stream, and transmitting the modified packet stream toward a wireless terminal adapted for processing the modified packet stream for presenting the media content conveyed by the original packet stream. The duplicate packets may be inserted within respective windows associated with the duplicate packets, wherein each window is determined according to an original packet position associated with the original packet from which the duplicate packet is formed.
US09106426B2 Username based authentication and key generation
An apparatus and a method for an authentication protocol. A client generates a server unique identifier of a server prior to communicating with the server. An encrypted password generator module of the client calculates an encrypted password based on the server unique identifier, a username, and an unencrypted password. A communication request generator module of the client generates and sends a communication request to the server. The communication request includes a username, a client random string, a client timestamp, and a client MAC value. The client MAC value is computed over the username, the client random string, and the client timestamp, using the encrypted password as an encryption key.
US09106425B2 Method and system for restricting execution of virtual applications to a managed process environment
Methods and systems for restricting the launch of virtual application files. In one embodiment, a launching application is signed with a digital signature. When the launching application launches a runtime engine and instructs it to execute an application file, the runtime engine determines whether an entity identifier associated with the launching application identifies an authorized entity. If the entity identifier identifies an authorized entity and the digital signature is valid, the runtime engine executes the application file. In another embodiment, a ticket is transmitted to the launching application along with an instruction to launch the application file. The ticket includes a digital signature and an expiration date. The launching application communicates the ticket to the runtime engine, which will execute the application file only if the digital signature is valid and a current date is not later than the expiration date.
US09106420B2 HARQ-ACK handling for unintended downlink sub-frames
Disclosed in some examples is a method for providing a HARQ response in an LTE network for a PUCCH format 1b. The method includes receiving one or more downlink assignments of a bundling window over a wireless downlink control channel; setting a reception status for each sub-frame of a downlink data channel in the bundling window based on whether the sub-frame on the downlink data channel was associated with a particular one of the received downlink assignments and based upon whether the sub-frame was successfully received; setting a reception status of sub-frames of the downlink data channel in the bundling window that did not have a corresponding downlink assignment to a predetermined value; and transmitting a response, the response based upon the reception statuses set by the response module.
US09106414B2 Method and apparatus for wirelessly transmitting high volume content to an electronic device
Digital content, particularly high volume digital content, such as newspapers or e-books are transmitted to an electronic device such as a handheld book reader over available bandwidth in a commercial FM radio station, private radio station, television station, or other one-way transmission system. A particular content item may be periodically rebroadcast along with other content on a rotating basis. GPS receivers and location-oriented databases may be used to allow the electronic device to find local broadcast outlets for the digital content when relocated to a new area. When no one-way transmission system is available or when packets of the high volume content are missing, a two-way communication system such as cellular (e.g. 3G or 4G systems), WiFi, WiMax, Bluetooth, etc. may be used to download all or part of the high volume content. Encryption schemes may be used to selectively authorize use of both electronic devices and content.
US09106413B2 Method and apparatus for resilient end-to-end message protection for large-scale cyber-physical system communications
To address the security requirements for cyber-physical systems, embodiments of the present invention include a resilient end-to-end message protection framework, termed Resilient End-to End Message Protection or REMP, exploiting the notion of the long-term key that is given on per node basis. This long term key is assigned during the node authentication phase and is subsequently used to derive encryption keys from a random number per-message sent. Compared with conventional schemes, REMP improves privacy, message authentication, and key exposure, and without compromising scalability and end-to-end security. The tradeoff is a slight increase in computation time for message decryption and message authentication.
US09106412B2 Data protection using programmatically generated key pairs from a master key and a descriptor
Systems and methods are disclosed for allowing an authority to monitor a computer user's information in a most palatable manner for the computer user. The authority is provided access to information with encrypted user identification information and the user is notified if decryption is facilitated. The systems and methods also include a novel key production system whereby large numbers of deterministic key pairs may be created for use in the monitoring system.
US09106408B2 Signature processing system, key generation device, signature device, verification device, signature processing method, and signature processing program
The object is to provide an attribute-based signature scheme which is flexible in the design and which supports a non-monotone predicate. An access structure is constituted by applying the inner-product of the attribute vectors to a non-monotone span program. This access structure is flexible in the design of the span program and in the design of the attribute vectors, providing high flexibility in the design of access control. By incorporating the concept of secret distribution in the access structure, the attribute-based signature scheme which supports the non-monotone predicate is realized.
US09106407B2 Key generation using multiple sets of secret shares
A cryptographic method, including generating, using a meta-secret, a first plurality of cryptographic keys, each cryptographic key associated with a respective key identifier, creating, using the meta-secret, a second plurality of sets of secret-shares, which are capable, by combining all the secrets-shares in any one of the sets together with the respective key identifier, of generating the associated cryptographic key, and performing cryptographic operations using the cryptographic keys. Related methods and apparatus are also included.
US09106400B2 Hybrid timing recovery for burst mode receiver in passive optical networks
An apparatus for coarse phase alignment of an analog signal comprising: a tapped delay line, a coarse phase alignment logic circuit coupled to the tapped delay line, and a selector coupled to the tapped delay and the coarse phase alignment logic circuit. An apparatus for timing and data recovery for burst mode receivers comprising: a receiver, a coarse phase alignment circuit coupled to the receiver, at least one analog to digital converter (ADC) coupled to the coarse phase alignment circuit such that the coarse phase alignment circuit is positioned between the receiver and the ADC, and a fine phase alignment circuit coupled to the ADC such that the ADC is positioned between the coarse phase alignment circuit and the fine phase alignment circuit, wherein the fine phase alignment circuit produces a recovered data output.
US09106396B2 Transmission device, transmission method, receiving device and receiving method
Provided is a frame configuration usable for both SISO transmission and MISO and/or MIMO transmission. A frame configurator of a transmission device configures a frame by gathering data for SISO and configures a frame by gathering data for MISO and/or MIMO data, thereby to improve the reception performance (detection performance) of a reception device.
US09106394B1 Signal event detection system
A soft impact location system and method which detects and processes wide-band acoustic signatures for testing long-range munitions. The system incorporates a real-time digital signal-processing algorithm that detects the impact signature, processes it, and calculates the time-of-arrival (TOA). The system comprises a polyphase filter bank, boxcar filter, a detection analyzer for detecting an impact, and time-tagging software for calculating the time of impact. The system splits the received hydrophone signal into evenly spaced energy bands, processes each band individually, and then recombines the data to provide a precise time of detection.
US09106392B2 Transmission antenna diversity using individual antenna route signal shaping
Transmission antenna diversity can be set up on a data transmission connection between a transmitting unit, wherein there are several transmission antenna routes, and a receiving unit. A broadcast signal is transmitted through all transmission antenna routes of the transmitting unit, with the aid of these signals a choice is made in the receiving unit of the optimum transmission antenna route and a message of the choice is transmitted to the transmitting unit, which transmits user data through the transmission antenna route connected for use. The broadcast signal of each transmission antenna route can be shaped by an individual signal shaping method which is different from the others and a transmission antenna route is connected for use based on the received antenna choice message, individually for each receiving unit.
US09106391B2 Elastic auto-parallelization for stream processing applications based on a measured throughput and congestion
A method for adjusting a data parallel region of a stream processing application includes measuring congestion of each parallel channel of the data parallel region, measuring a total throughput of all the parallel channels, and adjusting the number of parallel channels based on the current measured congestion and throughput.
US09106388B2 Parallel CRC computation with data enables
Methods and devices generate cyclic redundancy check (CRC) values for a sequence of parallel words of data. The data words may have only some of the bits enabled. The input words are preconditioned, and then a common block generates a CRC remainder value. A specific preconditioning is selected based on the number of enabled bits. Additional post-processing may be performed to the CRC remainder.
US09106386B2 Reference signal configuration for coordinated multipoint
Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) involves multiple transmission points or cells coordinating their individual transmissions so that a target user equipment (LTE) experiences enhanced signal reception and/or reduced interference. In order to optimally implement downlink CoMP, a serving cell needs to obtain channel state information (CSI) for the downlink channels from the multiple transmission points to the UE. This disclosure deals with radio resource control (RRC) signaling for configuring the UE to obtain and report CSI for those downlink channels.
US09106382B1 Quality adjustment for volte emergency calls
A wireless access node to facilitate communication quality adjustments during voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) communication sessions comprises a wireless communication transceiver and a processing system. The wireless communication transceiver is configured to exchange VoLTE packets with a wireless communication device during a VoLTE emergency call with a public safety answering point (PSAP), and receive a scheduling request transmitted from the PSAP, wherein the scheduling request includes an identifier associated with the wireless communication device and specifies hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) settings for the VoLTE emergency call. The processing system is configured to, responsive to the scheduling request, issue a scheduling grant to the wireless communication device based on the HARQ settings specified in the scheduling request.
US09106379B2 Method for transmitting control signal using efficient multiplexing
A method of transmitting a control signal using efficient multiplexing is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of multiplexing a plurality of 1-bit control signals within a prescribed time-frequency domain by code division multiple access (CDMA) and transmitting the multiplexed control signals, wherein a plurality of the 1-hit control signals include a plurality of the 1-bit control signals for a specific transmitting side. Accordingly, reliability on 1-bit control signal transmission can be enhanced.
US09106375B2 Method and system for arranging resource allocation messages to reduce blind decoding complexity in OFDMA-based systems
A base station and subscriber station are capable of communicating with each other in a wireless communication network. The base station allocates resources to the subscriber station through resource allocation messages included in a resource allocation region of a downlink communication. The resource allocation region is partitioned into a plurality of sub-regions. Conventions regarding the arrangement of the resource allocation messages are disclosed which enable the subscriber station to decode the resource allocation messages contained in a sub-region and cease decoding operations upon reaching the end of the sub-region. Accordingly, the subscriber station does not decode resource allocation messages contained in subsequent sub-regions.
US09106372B2 Wireless communication system and network comprising a first communications apparatus and a second communications apparatus which communicates with the first communications apparatus
A method of requesting a plurality of different characteristic indicators from a second communications apparatus in a wireless communications network including a first communications apparatus and a plurality of such second communications apparatuses which communicate with the first communications apparatus, the method includes the first communications apparatus transmitting a single standing instruction to the second communications apparatus defining at least two interleaving patterns, each interleaving pattern specifying one or more of the characteristic indicators and defining a pattern according to which the second communications apparatus is to interleave the specified characteristic indicators in a single feedback channel allocated to the second communications apparatus, the single standing instruction further defining a selection signal to be transmitted from the first communications apparatus to the second communications apparatus according to which the second communications apparatus is to select one of the interleaving patterns.
US09106371B1 Link adaptation for OFDM systems
In a method implemented in a communication device, an interference metric associated with a communication link is determined. Determining the interference metric includes obtaining a plurality of measurements indicative of quality of the communication link, and calculating the interference metric using (i) a mean of the plurality of measurements and (ii) a standard deviation of the plurality of measurements. A modulation and coding scheme is selected based on at least the interference metric, and at least one packet is caused to be modulated and coded according to the selected modulation and coding scheme prior to transmission over the communication link.
US09106369B2 Method and apparatus for controlling the data rate of a data transmission between an emitter and a receiver
A method of controlling the data rate of a data transmission between an emitter and a receiver, wherein data rate adaptation control commands may be sent using a return path from the receiver to the emitter, which comprises monitoring at least one receiving condition at the receiver; determining at least one threshold on said receiving conditions to trigger data rate adaptation control commands; estimating the transmission time of the data rate adaptation control commands from the receiver to the emitter and adjusting the threshold on these receiving conditions to trigger data rate adaptation control commands based on said estimation of the transmission time from the receiver to the emitter.Accordingly, by continuously adjusting at least one said triggering threshold according to the variation of the transmission time of said data rate adaption commands, a more efficient data rate adaptation method is obtained minimizing the adaptation needs.
US09106368B2 Radio communication system, base station apparatus, mobile station apparatus, radio communication method, and program
A mobile station apparatus 2 is assigned multiple component carriers in an uplink and a downlink by a base station apparatus and communicates with the base station apparatus by using the component carriers. The mobile station apparatus 2 includes a downlink control channel detector 67 and a carrier component identifying unit 53a. The downlink control channel detector 67 detects a downlink control channel from multiple search spaces where to detect the downlink control channel. From the search space where the downlink control channel detected by the downlink control channel detector 67 is arranged, the carrier component identifying unit 53a identifies the component carriers controlled with downlink control information transmitted in the downlink control channel and addressed to the mobile station apparatus. This makes it possible to identify the component carrier controlled with the downlink control information (DCI) transmitted in the downlink control channel (PDCCH) without increasing the coding ratio of the downlink control channel (PDCCH).
US09106356B2 Radio communication device and radio communication method
When an Ack/Nack signal is transmitted from a user terminal to a base station in an upstream control channel by using an Ack/Nack resource, the signal is code-multiplexed by using a code sequence containing an orthogonal sequence and a cyclic-shifted sequence and transmitted from a plurality of user terminals to the base station. If an aggregation size indicating the number of control signals of the downstream control channel is greater than one, it is determined that no resource located at the right of the axis of the cyclic-shifted amount of the cyclic-shifted sequence in the same orthogonal code of the orthogonal sequence is used, and the Ack/Nack signal to which CDD is applied from a plurality of antennas is transmitted by using a resource ACK #0 allocated to the own device and an unused resource ACK #1, which have the same orthogonal code, but have different cyclic-shifted amounts.
US09106352B2 Frequency distribution using precision time protocol
A data network node is configured for operation as a time-transfer boundary clock, and has at least one time-transfer slave network interface and several time-transfer master interfaces, all configured for operation according to a time-transfer protocol. The data network node also includes a clock source interface configured for connection to a synchronous clock source supplied from a remote node, as well as a real-time clock (RTC) circuit. The RTC circuit supplies time-of-day data for time-transfer messages sent via the second network port and selectively operates in a first mode, wherein the RTC frequency is driven by a clock signal from the clock source interface, a second mode, wherein the RTC frequency is driven by a clock signal derived from time-transfer messages received by the time-transfer slave interface, and a third mode, wherein the RTC frequency is driven by a local clock signal from local clock source.
US09106351B2 Method and apparatus for coding of HARQ-ACK transmission in TDD systems with downlink carrier aggregation
Methods and apparatus are provided for a User Equipment (UE) configured with multiple cells in a DownLink (DL) of a Time Division Duplex (TDD) communication system to determine the coding method for acknowledgement information bits as a function of their number, to apply bundling to the acknowledgement information bits when their number exceeds a first predetermined value, and to partition the acknowledgement information bits, possibly together with other control information bits, into two separate codewords when their total number exceeds a second predetermined value.
US09106350B2 Method for automatically locating radio stations
Method and device for automatically locating radio stations, of the type which comprises at least a first database of radio and/or television stations (1, 21, 31), which includes the geographical location points or position of the station (13, 221), dial (14, 222) and/or on-demand broadcasting URL address (321), as well as a second database of user profiles (2, 22, 32) which also comprises at least one user profile configured according to the listening preferences of said user by means of a series of fields (11, 211, 311).
US09106347B2 Digital data insertion apparatus and methods for use with compressed audio/video data
Methods and apparatus for inserting data a compressed data bitstream are disclosed. The methods and apparatus time shift first data in a first portion of the compressed data bitstream to increase a size of a second portion of the compressed data bitstream and insert second data in the second portion of the compressed data bitstream to form a modified compressed data bitstream.
US09106346B2 Method of decoding optical data signals
Proposed is a method of deriving differentially decoded data values from a received differentially encoded phase modulated optical signal. The method uses an estimation algorithm in order to find derive a sequence of differentially decoded data values. The algorithm stipulates transition probabilities between hypothetical first states, representing differentially encoded data symbols assuming that no phase slip has occurred, and transition probabilities towards hypothetical second states, which represent differentially encoded data symbols assuming that a phase slip has occurred. The transition probabilities between the first and second states are weighted on the basis of a predetermined phase slip probability value.
US09106344B2 Method and apparatus for providing beam steering of terahertz electromagnetic waves
A method and apparatus for establishing a terahertz link using a multi-element lens array that comprises a plurality of active beam steering device are disclosed. For example, the method receives detected terahertz signals from one or more detectors, where an active beam steering device is deployed with each of the one or more detectors, and determines, for each of the detected signals, if the detected signal is out of focus from a focus point. The method applies a corrective signal to each active beam steering device that corresponds to a detected terahertz signal that is out of focus from the focus point, wherein the corrective signal causes the detected signal to be redirected, and measures a signal-to-noise ratio of the detected signals. The method then establishes the terahertz link via at least one of the detected terahertz signals with a highest signal-to-noise ratio.
US09106342B2 Device and method for modulating transmission of terahertz waves
A device for modulating terahertz waves includes a metal layer (703) including a continuous metal portion (705) and island metal portions (707). The metal portions (705, 707) are separated by apertures (709). The device further includes a semiconductor layer (715) affixed to a bottom surface of the metal layer (703). The semiconductor layer (715) includes carrier regions (717) located below the apertures (709). The transmission of terahertz waves through the apertures (709) is modulated by changing a voltage applied across the aperture via voltage source (715). By injecting free carriers into carrier regions (717) due to a change of the voltage an extraordinary terahertz transmission effect of the metal layer (703) can be switched off. A small increase in the free-carrier absorption is significantly enhanced by the Fabry-Perot resonance, resulting in a substantial decrease in transmission. The disclosed ring aperture terahertz modulator allows for electrical control of the carrier density only in the area underneath the aperture. This design minimizes the power consumption and maximizes the operation speed.
US09106337B2 Terminal apparatus for auto pairing, remote control apparatus and method thereof
A terminal apparatus for auto pairing and a remote control apparatus and method thereof are provided. The terminal apparatus includes an IR receiving unit configured to receive an IR signal including first identification information of an external apparatus from the external apparatus, a radio frequency (RF) communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the external apparatus which transmit the IR signal including the first identification information, a storage unit configured to store a pairing list including identification information of at least one external apparatus, and a control unit configured to control the RF communication unit to perform pairing for wireless communication with the external apparatus according to whether or not identification information of at least one external apparatus in the pairing list corresponds to the received first identification information.
US09106336B1 Photo-sensor array to adjust alignment of optical receiver
In the context of a balloon network, embodiments described herein may help to maintain an optical communications link between two balloons. For example, an illustrative balloon may include auxiliary photodetectors that are arranged around the photodetector in the balloon's optical receiver system. The balloon may detect intensity differences between the auxiliary photodetectors on opposite sides of an optical receiver, and adjust the positioning in an effort to reduce the intensity difference, and by so doing, better align the optical receiver with the optical transmitter of the transmitting balloon.
US09106333B2 Method and apparatus for testing optical fiber and passive optical network system
A method for testing an optical fiber includes: receiving a test optical signal from an optical fiber network, and converting the test optical signal into a test current signal; receiving, by a transimpedance amplifier, the test current signal by using a first working mode and outputting a first test voltage signal; acquiring a swing of the first test voltage signal, and determining whether the swing of the first test voltage signal meets a preset condition; and receiving, by the transimpedance amplifier, the test current signal by using a second working mode and outputting a second test voltage signal when the swing of the first test voltage signal meets the preset condition, where an upper limit and a lower limit of a receiver dynamic range when the transimpedance amplifier works in the first working mode are different from those when the transimpedance amplifier works in the second working mode.
US09106332B2 Data synchronization method and system, and optical network unit
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a data synchronization method and system, and an optical network unit. An ONU receives synchronization data that is transmitted by a first OLT through a GEM port corresponding to a predetermined GEM port ID or a logical link corresponding to a predetermined LLID, and stores the synchronization data. When a fault occurs on the first OLT or on a backbone optical fiber connected to the first OLT, the ONU transmits the synchronization data to a second OLT so that the second OLT recovers services according to the synchronization data.
US09106326B2 Method for determining the imperfections of a transmit pathway and of a receive pathway of an apparatus, and associated radio apparatus
A method is provided for determining the imperfections of a transmit pathway and of a receive pathway of an apparatus, and associated radio apparatus, the transmit pathway comprising a first device for frequency transposition of an analogue sequence to an analogue signal, using a first transposition frequency, the receive pathway comprising a second device for frequency transposition of an analogue signal to an analogue sequence, using a second transposition frequency different from the first transposition frequency.
US09106325B2 Method for wideband spectrally equalized frequency comb generation
The present invention relates to method for spectrally equalized frequency comb generation. In order to carry this method, the following steps are followed: seed laser or lasers are modulated to acquire frequency chirp necessary to enable temporal compression and an increase in peak optical intensity necessary for an efficient nonlinear optical mixing process to occur; the compressed waveform is reshaped by nonlinear-transfer optical element and subsequently used to generate frequency comb in nonlinear waveguide. Ultimately, at the conclusion of these steps, a frequency comb is generated with substantially flat optical spectrum, while retaining variability with respect to the frequency pitch, high coherency and substantially wide spectral band of coverage.
US09106323B1 Method and apparatus for determining whether a channel is busy
A network device includes a receiver that receives a first signal on a channel. A demodulator outputs demodulated data based on the first signal. A gain device, based on a change in a gain of the first signal, generates a second signal. A validating device determines whether the first signal is a valid direct sequence spread spectrum signal and based on whether the first signal is a valid direct sequence spread spectrum signal, generates a third signal. An assessment device: determines whether the demodulated data includes a predetermined header, where the predetermined header includes a predetermined sequence; determines whether the channel is busy based on the second signal, the third signal, and whether the demodulated data includes the predetermined header with the predetermined sequence; and generates a channel signal indicating whether the channel is busy. A transmitter, based on the channel signal, transmits a fourth signal on the channel.
US09106320B1 Node synchronization in a frequency hopping wireless network
Method for synchronizing a node in a frequency hopping network includes monitoring a hop frequency channel to detect a hop announcement transmitted on a group of control channels in use by a network coordinator node. The hop announcement specifies a second hop frequency channel which will be utilized subsequent to a first hop frequency in a hopping sequence. Responsive to receiving the hop announcement a node monitors the second hop frequency to receive a dwell start message. The dwell start message is transmitted from the coordinator node to signal the beginning of a dwell period during which the second hop frequency will be used by the network for communicating data.
US09106316B2 Systems and methods of RF power transmission, modulation, and amplification
Embodiments of the present invention reduce or eliminate the need for fixed frequency high Q band filtering for both full duplex (FDD) and half duplex (TDD) systems. Transceiver architectures according to embodiments of the present invention can be designed to have a single input/output for both FDD and TDD based standards. Further, according to embodiments, because the duplexer and/or SAW power losses are lowered or removed altogether, the system power output requirements can be met more easily and with higher efficiency.
US09106315B2 Remote unit for communicating with base stations and terminal devices
A remote unit of a distributed antenna system is disclosed that can communicate analog RF signals with both base stations and terminal devices in a coverage zone serviced by the remote unit. In some aspects, the remote unit can include a signal processing module and a transceiver. The transceiver can communicate RF signals between a master unit of the distributed antenna system and a terminal device. The transceiver can also receive analog downlink RF signals from a base station. The signal processing module can convert the analog downlink RF signals to digital downlink signals and provide the digital downlink signals to the master unit.
US09106313B2 Impedance conversion circuit and communication terminal apparatus
In an impedance conversion circuit, since, in a low band, an absolute value of impedance of a primary side coil is smaller than an absolute value of impedance of a capacitor, a high-frequency signal in a low band propagates through a transformer. Thus, impedance matching of a high-frequency signal in a low band is performed by the transformer. Since, in a high band, the absolute value of the impedance of the capacitor is smaller than the absolute value of the impedance of the primary side coil, a high-frequency signal in a high band propagates through the capacitor. Thus, impedance matching of a high-frequency signal in a high band is performed in the capacitor. Accordingly, impedance matching between a high frequency circuit and an antenna element is performed in a wide frequency band.
US09106311B2 Switch and apparatus having at least one subscriber identification module
A switch operably couplable with a general controller, a plurality of subscriber identification modules, a subscriber identification module controller, and one or more radio modems, each of the one or more radio modems being configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one base station of a radio system. The switch receives control data from the general controller. The switch is capable of regulating, on the basis of the control data, one or more first couplings and one or more second couplings simultaneously, the one or more first couplings being formed between one or more subscriber identification modules and the subscriber identification module controller and the one or more second couplings being formed between one or more subscriber identification modules and the radio modems.
US09106310B2 Apparatus for securing memory modules and/or subscriber identity module in an electronic device
An apparatus for securing a memory module or SIM within an electronic device includes an external control (such as a volume control, camera button, or power button) that hides the memory module and/or SIM. When attached to the electronic device, the external control is disposed at the entrance of a cavity in which the memory module and/or SIM is located. The external control may be attached to a tray that holds one or more SIM cards and/or SD cards.
US09106305B2 Multiple access spread spectrum switching methodology
A low-cost, low-power, low-complexity, small, high-reliability, robust, seamless satellite communication network is described. The network performs encoding of a user signal at the customer premises to enable routing of the user signal to an appropriate destination beam at the satellite requiring low power user signal processing. Routing information is embedded at the periphery of the network CPE's rather than at the satellite. Embedding the routing information in this way greatly reduces on-board switching complexity and increases signal to interference ratio for the user.
US09106304B2 Correction of quadrature errors
Correction of quadrature errors associated with digital communications systems. A correction network may correct a difference between a transmission characteristic of an in-phase signal path and a transmission characteristic of a quadrature signal path. The quadrature signal path may be for the transmission of in-phase and quadrature parts of a signal and the signal comprising frequency components within a baseband. The correction network may include an in-phase input port, a quadrature input port, an in-phase output port and a quadrature output port. Each input port may be connected to each output port by a digital filter network, which may include a set of filter tap coefficients and configuration means for configuring values of the coefficients. Frequency dependent quadrature impairments, e.g., due to the analogue components of a quadrature up-converter or down-converter, may be corrected by suitable control of the coefficients.
US09106303B2 Relay and method for performing network coding
Provided is a method and relay that performs network coding. The relay may determine transmission and/or receiving beamforming vectors for terminals so as to align effective channels of a plurality of transmit-and-receive pairs into different dimensions.
US09106299B2 Audio signal processing circuit
An audio-signal-processing circuit includes: a noise-detecting unit to detect presence or absence of noise in an audio signal generated based on an output from a tuner configured to receive a broadcast signal; a low-pass filter, having predetermined phase characteristics, to pass the audio signal having a band of frequencies lower than a predetermined frequency; a high-pass filter, having the predetermined phase characteristics, to pass the audio signal having a band of frequencies higher than the predetermined frequency; first- and second-output units to multiply the signals outputted from the low-pass and high-pass filters by first and second coefficients and output the multiplied signals, respectively; an adding unit to add the signals respectively outputted from the first and the second output units; and a coefficient control unit to, when the noise-detecting unit has detected the presence of noise, decrease the second coefficient below the first coefficient.
US09106297B2 Receiving apparatus, transmitting apparatus and wireless communication system using them
When spatial multiplexing is performed to any of a plurality of receiving antennas included in each terminal, it becomes possible to obtain excellent receiving characteristics by combining signals received by all antennas appropriately. A receiving antenna unit 28 receives channel state information from each terminal, a channel matrix H is obtained. A transmit weight/interference coefficient calculation unit 24 calculates a transmit weight and an interference coefficient based on channel matrix. The transmit weight is input to transmit weight multiplication units 17 and 23. The interference generation unit 15 generates an interference signal based on the interference coefficient. An interference subtraction unit 13 subtracts the interference signal from a desired signal. A modulo unit 14 adds a signal so that amplitude of an information signal output from the interference subtraction unit 13 falls within a constant range. A signal multiplexing unit 18 performs spatial multiplexing to the signal performed nonlinear arithmetic.
US09106296B2 Beam space time coding and transmit diversity
Methods and apparatus for increasing diversity gain at a receiver by applying beamforming to transmit diversity space-time coded signals. Transmit diversity can be provided at a signal source by space-time coding the signal. A transmit signal is space-time coded over a plurality of space-time antenna groups, with each space-time antenna group associated with a specific space-time code. The signal at each space-time antenna group is beamformed over the plurality of antenna in the space-time antenna group. Each of the plurality of antenna in a space-time antenna group is weighted with a distinct weight, relative to the other antenna in the space-time group. Each weight can have a distinct amplitude, phase, or combination of amplitude and phase. The weights can be static or dynamic. The dynamic weights can vary amplitude, phase, or a combination of amplitude and phase of each weight over time.
US09106295B1 Reuse of a matrix equalizer for the purpose of transmit beamforming in a wireless MIMO communication system
An equalizer is applied to a signal to be transmitted via at least one multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) channel or received via at least one MIMO channel using a matrix equalizer computational device. Channel state information (CSI) is received, and the CSI is provided as an input to the matrix equalizer computational device when the matrix equalizer computational device is not needed for matrix equalization. One or more transmit beamsteering codewords are selected from a transmit beamsteering codebook based on output generated by the matrix equalizer computational device in response to the CSI input to the matrix equalizer computational device.
US09106292B2 Coarse phase estimation for highly-spectrally-efficient communications
Methods and systems are provided for coarse phase estimation for highly-spectrally efficient communications. An example method may include, equalizing, in a receiver, a received inter-symbol correlated (ISC) signal to generate an equalized ISC signal. A phase adjustment signal may be generated based on an ISC feedback signal. The ISC feedback signal may be generated using a sequence estimation process and a non-linearity model. A phase of the equalized ISC signal may be adjusted using the generated phase adjustment signal, to generate a phase adjusted partial response signal. The phase adjustment signal may be generated based on a phase difference between the equalized ISC signal and the partial response feedback signal.
US09106286B2 Network communication using diversity
An apparatus for generating at least one signal based on at least one aspect of at least two received signals is provided. The apparatus comprises: a diverse antennae array of M antennae, where M is greater than or equal to two; at least one multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver in communication with each antenna in the diverse antennae array of M antennae; encoding circuitry capable of causing first data to be encoded; decoding circuitry capable of causing second data to be decoded; and processing capable of causing diversity combining, where the processing circuitry is in communication with the multiple-input and multiple-output capable transceiver, the encoding circuitry, and the decoding circuitry. In operation, the processing circuitry is capable of causing the apparatus to: receive at least two first signals, combine at least two of the at least first two signals, generate at least two second signals based on at least one aspect of the at least two first signals, and simultaneously transmit the at least two second signals. Additionally, the apparatus is configured such that at least one of the at least two second signals is capable of being received by a multiple-input capable node.
US09106284B1 Antenna system driven in beamforming and MIMO transmission modes
Systems, equipment, and methods for driving antenna systems with pairs of overlaid orthogonal antenna elements are provided herein. In one example, a method of operating a remote radio unit that drives an antenna system is provided. The method includes receiving user communications and control data transferred by a baseband unit. If the control data indicates a beamforming mode, then the method includes generating a first plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals directed to at least one of the pairs of overlaid orthogonal antenna elements for target wireless communication devices. If the control data indicates a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) mode, then the method includes generating a second plurality of RF signals for the plurality of antenna elements, wherein the second plurality of RF signals are directed to non-adjacent ones of the pairs of the overlaid orthogonal antenna elements for the target wireless communication devices.
US09106283B2 Multi antenna communication device with improved tuning ability
A wireless communication device (WCD) having improved tuning abilities is provided. The device comprises an absorption element (AE) connected to an additional antenna (MIMOA). RF power coupled from a main antenna (MA) into the additional antenna (MIMOA) is absorbed instead of being re-emitted into the main antenna (MA) and disturbing measurement of the reflected power level.
US09106280B2 Pilot design for massive MIMO communication
Embodiments recognize that in MIMO and M-MIMO systems, physical antennas tend to be closely spaced to each other (e.g., a grid). As a result, a spatial correlation typically exists between physical antennas as well as between transmissions from logical antenna ports. Embodiments exploit this characteristic to reduce the amount of pilot signaling needed to enable downlink channel estimation. Specifically, embodiments limit pilot signaling to only a subset of supported logical antenna ports and rely on spatial correlation information to interpolate channels from logic antenna ports for which no pilot signaling is used.
US09106272B2 Mobile communications device providing secure element data wiping features and related methods
A mobile communications device may include a near field communications (NFC) device, an input device configured to generate a memory wipe command, a memory, and a memory controller coupled with the NFC device, the input device, and the memory. The memory controller may be configured to receive secure data from a provisioning server and store the secure data into the memory, receive wiping instruction data from the provisioning server and store the wiping instruction data into the memory for wiping the secure data from the memory, and wipe the secure data from the memory without an over-the-air (OTA) connection to the provisioning server based upon the memory wipe command and the wiping instruction data stored in the memory.
US09106270B2 Transmitting data across a patient isolation barrier using an electric-field capacitive coupler module
An electric-field capacitive coupler module includes a first processing unit, a first communication interface coupled to the first processing unit, a second communication interface, and an electric-field capacitive coupler that defines an isolation barrier. The electric-field capacitive coupler apparatus is coupled between the first communication interface and the second communication interface.
US09106261B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting signaling information in digital broadcasting system
A method and an apparatus for puncturing bits in parity bit groups in a digital broadcasting system are provided. In a method for transmitting signaling information in a digital broadcasting system, a received information bit stream is encoded and a parity bit is added. The parity bit is punctured such that parity bits of different patterns are formed between adjacent frames.
US09106256B2 Data processing device and data processing method for encoding/decoding information bits
A data processing device and a data processing method capable of improving the resistance to error of data. An LDPC encoder performs encoding using an LDPC code having a code length of 4320 bits and a coded rate of one of four types including ½, 7/12, ⅔, ¾. A parity check matrix H of the LDPC code is configured by arranging elements of 1's of an information matrix, which are determined based on a parity check matrix initial value table of the parity check matrix H representing positions of elements of 1's of the information matrix corresponding to an information length according to the code length and the coded rate for every 72 columns, in a column direction at a period of 72 columns. The parity check matrix initial value table, for example, is used for digital broadcasting for mobile terminals.
US09106254B2 Generating a code alphabet of symbols to generate codewords for words used with a program
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for generating a code alphabet for use by a deployed program to determine codewords for words. A first code alphabet has a first number of symbols that provide variable length codings of the words. A second code alphabet is generated having a second number of symbols formed by merging the symbols in the first code alphabet, wherein the second code alphabet comprises the code alphabet used by the deployed program.
US09106244B2 Localized dynamic element matching and dynamic noise scaling in digital-to-analog converters (DACs)
Methods and systems are provided for using localized dynamic element matching (DEM) and/or dynamic noise scaling (DNS) in digital-to-analog converters (DACs). Adaptive (localized) DEM may be applied in a DAC, by selecting one or more of a plurality DAC elements in the DAC, forcing the selected one or more of the plurality of DAC elements not to switch during digital-to-analog conversions, and scrambling remaining one or more of plurality of DAC elements when generating an output of the DAC. The adaptive DEM may be applied when the DAC input is backed off from full-scale. DNS may be applied in a DAC, by adaptively selecting one or more of a plurality DAC elements in the DAC and switching off the selected one or more of the plurality DAC elements such that the selected one or more of the plurality DAC elements do not contribute to generating an output of the DAC.
US09106241B2 Prediction of signals
In lossy data compression of a signal using ADPCM, an adaptive decorrelation or “prediction” filter is used to reduce the amplitude of the signal, the spectral dynamic range of the signal also being reduced. This latter reduction is effected in a nonuniform manner, if known techniques are used, with regions of high spectral density being compressed more than regions of low spectral density. The present invention recognises that using a uniform compression ratio results in a better tradeoff between compression and robustness to transmission channel errors. A method is described for obtaining a uniform compression ratio by adjusting coefficients of the decorrelation filter in dependence on coefficients of an adaptive training filter that is fed from the output of the decorrelation filter. A reverse method is also provided along with encoder, decoder and codec implementing the techniques.
US09106240B1 Multiplying digital-to-analog converter and pipeline analog-to-digital converter using the same
A multiplying digital-to-analog converter (MDAC) with high slew rate and a pipeline Analog-to-digital converter using the same. The first set of capacitors for a first input terminal of the operational amplifier (op-amp) includes active capacitors coupling the first input terminal of the op-amp to a first enhanced reference voltage or a common mode terminal in accordance with first digital bits in an amplifying phase of the MDAC, and includes a feedback capacitor coupling the first input terminal of the op-amp to a first output terminal of the op-amp in the amplifying phase. The first set of capacitors contains M capacitor cells. The feedback capacitor between the first set of capacitors contains at most M/(2n) capacitor cells, where n is a number of effective bits provided by a first analog-to-digital converter generating the first digital bits for the active capacitors.
US09106236B2 Spread-spectrum phase locked loop circuit and method
A phase locked loop (PLL) circuit and a method thereof are provided. In an embodiment, the PLL circuit includes: a switched capacitor circuit, in which the switched capacitor circuit generates a modulation waveform, and the modulation waveform is injected into the PLL circuit in a current form, so that a PLL output frequency is modulated. Compared with the spread spectrum phase locked loop (SS-PLL) in the prior art, the SS-PLL in embodiments of the present invention is simple in structure, low in power consumption, low in silicon overhead, and flexible both in spreading factor and modulation frequency.
US09106235B2 Mesochronous synchronizer with delay-line phase detector
A method and a system are provided for synchronizing a signal. A keep out window is defined relative to a second clock signal and an edge detection signal is generated that indicates if an edge of a first clock signal is within the keep out window. The edge detection signal may be filtered. An input signal is received in a domain corresponding to the first clock signal and a delayed input signal is generated. Based on the edge detection signal or the filtered edge detection signal, either the input signal or the delayed input signal is selected, to produce an output signal in a domain corresponding to the second clock signal.
US09106234B2 Programmable frequency divider for local oscillator generation
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided. The apparatus generates LO signals. The apparatus includes a LO generator module and an injection signal generator module coupled together. The LO generator module has a plurality of LO outputs and a plurality of injection signal inputs. The LO module is configured to generate the LO signals on the LO outputs based on injection signals received on the injection signal inputs. The injection signal generator module has a plurality of LO inputs and a plurality of injection signal outputs. The LO inputs are coupled to the LO outputs. The injection signal outputs are coupled to the injection signal inputs. The injection signal generator module is configured to generate injection signals on the injection signal outputs based on the LO signals received on the LO inputs and based on a received VCO signal.
US09106232B2 SONOS FPGA architecture having fast data erase and disable feature
A method for fast data erasing an FPGA including a programmable logic core controlled by a plurality of SONOS configuration memory cells, each SONOS configuration memory cell including a p-channel SONOS memory transistor in series with an n-channel SONOS memory transistor, which includes detecting tampering with the FPGA, disconnecting power from the programmable logic core, and simultaneously programming the n-channel device and erasing the p-channel device in all cells.
US09106228B2 Adaptive MOS transistor gate driver and method therefor
In an embodiment, a gate driver circuit and/or method therefor may include configuring the gate driver circuit form a drive current to supply to a gate of an MOS transistor wherein the value of the drive current is a minimum value that can be supplied to the gate without increasing a charge stored on a gate-to-source capacitance of the MOS transistor; configuring the gate driver circuit to change the value of the drive current responsively to changes of a Vgs of the MOS transistor.
US09106226B2 Power switching apparatus and method for improving current sense accuracy
The power switching apparatus includes an output arranged to provide a sense current depending on a load current, a power switching device, a sense device, and a difference amplification device. The difference amplification device includes a first and a second amplifier input, at least one amplifier output connected to a current sense feedback loop arranged to reduce a difference of potentials between the first and the second amplifier input. A terminal of the power switching device and a terminal of the sense device are connected to an input and another terminal of the power switching device and a second terminal of the sense device are coupled to a first cross-coupling switching module.
US09106225B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
A semiconductor integrated circuit comprises a state holding circuit that inputs an output of one inverter to another inverter with each other; an input circuit that causes a state of the state holding circuit to transition based on a data signal; a first first-conductive transistor that is inserted between an input of the one inverter and an output of the another inverter and is controlled by the data signal; and a first second-conductive transistor that is connected in parallel with the first first-conductive transistor and is controlled by the data signal.
US09106219B2 Impedance calibration circuit and method
An embodiment includes an impedance calibration circuit having a calibrator configured to compare voltage levels at an external node and an internal node of the impedance calibration circuit and to generate an output based on the comparison. The calibrator further includes respective filters coupled between the external node and a first input of the comparator, and between the internal node and a second input of the comparator. The filters are configured for symmetric noise injection into the comparator from a chip ground line to which a programmable resistor at the internal node is coupled.
US09106217B2 Width scalable connector for high bandwidth IO interfaces
Disclosed is a scalable input/output interface that has multiple bays and includes a housing surrounding a plurality of pairs of substrates. A first substrate of the pair of substrates may have a first contact surface and a second substrate of the pair of substrates may have a second contact surface that opposes the first contact surface, wherein each substrate has a connection edge. At least one integrated buffer can be coupled to either the first side or the second side of each substrate. A plurality of rows of contacts can be coupled to the opposing surfaces of each substrate of the pair of substrates, wherein each row of contacts can be stacked substantially parallel to the connection edge. Each connection edge can also be coupled to a separate integrated buffer.
US09106216B1 Programmable pulse generation
An electronic device includes a configurable pulse generator configured to generate a programmable master pulse train. One or more functional circuits of the electronic device includes a programming interface to receive one or more a programmable slave pulse parameters for the one or more functional circuits. The programmable slave pulse parameters are dependent upon the programmable master pulse train. A slave pulse generator generates a slave pulse for one of the functional circuits based on the one or more programmable slave pulse parameters corresponding to the functional circuits relative to the programmable master pulse train.
US09106211B2 System and method for an oversampled data converter
In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes an oscillator having an oscillation frequency dependent on an input signal, a digital accumulator having a first input coupled to an output of the oscillator, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled to an output of the digital accumulator, an analog loop filter coupled to an output of the digital-to-analog converter, and a comparison circuit having an input coupled to an output of the analog loop filter and an output coupled to a second input of the digital accumulator.