| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09131926B2 |
Direct connect flush system
A medical device may include a handle housing having a side wall defining an interior space and proximal and distal apertures extending through the side wall, an elongated outer sheath, an elongated inner member, a proximal flush port disposed within the interior space and in fluid communication with the elongated inner member, and a distal flush port disposed within the interior space and in fluid communication with the elongated outer sheath. A control knob may be rotated to move the distal flush port within the interior space. |
| US09131925B2 |
Device and method for rapid aspiration and collection of body tissue from within an enclosed body space
Device and method for rapid extraction of body tissue from an enclosed body cavity. Hollow entry cannula with optional core element provides entry into body tissue space such as bone marrow. Aspiration cannula is inserted through the hollow entry cannula into the body tissue and is manipulated to advance directionally through the body cavity. Optional stylet within the aspiration cannula aids in advancing the aspiration cannula through the body tissue and is removed to facilitate extraction of the body tissue through the aspiration cannula. Inlet openings near the distal tip of the aspiration cannula allow tissue aspiration, with negative pressure source at the proximal end of the aspiration cannula providing controlled negative pressure. The aspiration cannula may be withdrawn and its path adjusted for multiple entries through a same entry point, following different paths through the tissue space for subsequent aspiration of more tissue. |
| US09131924B2 |
Surgical device
A surgical device, in particular for percutaneous osteoplastic surgery, for example vertebroplastic operations or the like, and/or for biopsy operations, includes at least a guide for injection of a therapeutic fluid into a bony part, for example a cementing fluid, a needle being slidable internally of said guide, which needle having a first end provided with a gripping knob, and a second end opposite the first end, the guide having a first end which defines an obliquely-shaped dispensing opening of the fluid internally of the bony part, and a second end which defines a loading opening of the fluid at the outside of the bony part, the second end including a grip exhibiting two wings having different shapes, such that the position and orientation of the oblique profile of the opening can be recognized. |
| US09131920B2 |
Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic image diagnostic device
An ultrasonic probe includes a substrate having an opening section, a support film disposed on the substrate, a piezoelectric body disposed on the support film at the opening section, first and second resin sections, and a communicating section. The first resin section is disposed at a position overlapping the opening section in the plan view and spaced apart from the support film with the liquid being arranged therebetween. The communicating section is connected to the first resin section. The second resin section is connected to the communicating section to house the liquid flowing in through a communication hole of the communicating section. At least portions of the first and second resin sections are configured to deform such that a first liquid filled volume formed between the first resin section and the support film and a second liquid filled volume formed by the second resin section are changed. |
| US09131918B2 |
3-dimensional ultrasound image provision using volume slices in an ultrasound system
Embodiments for providing a plurality of 3-dimensional ultrasound images by using a plurality of volume slices in an ultrasound system are disclosed. The ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to transmit and receive ultrasound signals to and from a target object to acquire ultrasound data; a volume data forming unit configured to form volume data by using the ultrasound data; a user input unit for allowing a user to input a user instruction; and a processing unit configured to set a plurality of volume slice regions having different widths in the volume data in response to the user instruction and form a plurality of 3-dimensional ultrasound images by using volume slices defined by the volume slice regions. |
| US09131915B2 |
Method and apparatus for noise cancellation
Method and apparatus of denoising recurrent signals comprising: providing first and second noisy signals each comprising a deterministic signal and (different realizations of) white noise; selecting one of the noisy signals as an input signal and the other noisy signal as a desired signal; providing an estimate of the deterministic signal in the input signal; determining the error between the estimated deterministic signal and the desired signal; adjusting the estimate of the deterministic signal using the error and producing an adjusted estimate of the deterministic signal. |
| US09131910B2 |
Method for obtaining a 3D reconstruction of an object, and X-ray device
3D reconstructions can be calculated from grayscale X-ray images taken at different angular positions of an X-ray source and detector rotatable about a common axis. In the present case, X-ray radiation is applied to the object to be imaged such that one half of the X-ray detector receives radiation which differs in one characteristic from the radiation received by the second half of the detector via the object. A kind of dual-energy imaging can then be carried out in a single pass through the angular positions, enabling two 3D reconstructions to be generated simultaneously and then merged. |
| US09131909B1 |
Low emission full mouth xray apparatus
The apparatus the present invention provides the ability to take an x-ray image of an entire mouth in one exposure while significantly reducing the amount of escaped x-ray energy. This is accomplished by using a full mouth insert that has slots for two strips of film, one for the upper set of teeth and one for the lower set of teeth, or an embedded imaging sensor. |
| US09131907B2 |
Integrated patient pull up system
Systems and a computer-readable medium is provided. In one embodiment, an integrated pull-up system is provided which includes an electric hoist adapted for mounting in one of an upper portion of a medical imaging device, at a base of said medical imaging device, integrated in said medical imaging device, and on a patient handling system (“PHS”). One end of a cable/strap is attached to the hoist. The other end of the cable/strap includes a grab-bar attached thereto. When actuated, the cable/strap retracts and extends to move a patient, holding the grab-bar, towards/from a supine position towards/from a seated position on the PHS. |
| US09131906B2 |
Method for simulating reduction of acquisition dosage of an X-ray system, computer system and X-ray system
The present invention relates to X-ray generating technology in general. It is desirable to perform an X-ray image acquisition with a minimal required dosage for obtaining a desired image quality. Accordingly, a method for simulating reduction of acquisition dosage of an X-ray image, a computer system, an X-ray system, a computer-readable medium and a program element is provided. The method (30) for simulating reduction of acquisition dosage of an X-ray system comprises providing (32) first X-ray image information comprising first noise, the first X-ray image information having been acquired with a first dosage setting; providing (34) a second dosage setting; determining (36) a noise difference for obtaining simulated second X-ray image information acquired with the second dosage setting and applying (38) the noise difference to the first X-ray image information for obtaining the simulated second X-ray image information comprising second noise. The noise difference is at least partly dependent on at least one of a coloring of the first noise, a noise power spectra of the first noise, a coloring of the noise difference, a power spectra of the noise difference, an intensity distribution of the first X-ray image information and a local intensity distribution of the first X-ray image information. |
| US09131905B2 |
Radiographic imaging control apparatus and method
A radiographic imaging apparatus that is connectable to a plurality of radiation sensors includes an information acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a radiographing site and a radiographing posture of a subject based on an instruction from an operator, a sensor drive status management unit configured to manage drive statuses of the plurality of radiation sensors, and a sensor selection unit configured to select a radiation sensor to be used in performing radiographing from the plurality of radiation sensors based on the acquired information and drive statuses of the plurality of radiation sensors. |
| US09131901B2 |
Wearable monitoring and treatment device
A wearable therapeutic device to facilitate care of a subject is provided. The wearable therapeutic device can include a garment having a sensing electrode. The garment includes at least one of an inductive element and a capacitive element, and a controller identifies an inductance of the inductive element or a capacitance of the capacitive element, and determines a confidence level of information received from the sensing electrode based on the inductance or the capacitance. The wearable therapeutic device also includes an alarm module coupled with the controller and configured to provide a notification to a subject based on the confidence level. |
| US09131899B2 |
Efficient handling of misaligned loads and stores
A system and method for efficiently handling misaligned memory accesses within a processor. A processor comprises a load-store unit (LSU) with a banked data cache (d-cache) and a banked store queue. The processor generates a first address corresponding to a memory access instruction identifying a first cache line. The processor determines the memory access is misaligned which crosses over a cache line boundary. The processor generates a second address identifying a second cache line logically adjacent to the first cache line. If the instruction is a load instruction, the LSU simultaneously accesses the d-cache and store queue with the first and the second addresses. If there are two hits, the data from the two cache lines are simultaneously read out. If the access is a store instruction, the LSU separates associated write data into two subsets and simultaneously stores these subsets in separate cache lines in separate banks of the store queue. |
| US09131897B2 |
Catheter for measuring electric potential
A highly safe catheter that measures electric potential can be inserted into a cardiac chamber together with a balloon-tip ablation catheter and is able to prevent abnormal heat generation at electric potential-measuring electrodes even when high-frequency current is distributed. The catheter includes a shaft having electric potential-measuring electrodes, a metal portion with a length of 2 mm or more, and a lumen passing therethrough from a proximal end to a distal end in the longitudinal direction; and a metal wire inserted through the lumen and connected to the metal portion. |
| US09131896B2 |
In situ offset compensation for pressure sensors
A pressure sensor having a substrate and a first, deformable membrane, partially supported by the substrate, which generates a first sensor reading when deformed by pressure. A second membrane is contiguous to the first membrane. When the second membrane is energized, it deforms the first membrane to alter the first sensor reading. |
| US09131895B2 |
Disposable electrode for electro-stimulation
An electrode configured to provide electrical contact with a subject's skin and includes a conductive layer and a gel layer. The conductive layer spreads current and transmits electrical signals to and/or receives electrical signals from the subject's skin and has a first conductive surface through which electrical signals are transmitted to and/or received from the subject's skin. The first conductive surface is on a side of the conductive layer that faces toward the subject's skin if the electrode is installed on the subject. The gel layer is formed on the same side of the conductive layer as the first conductive surface. The gel layer has a first interface surface that directly contacts the subject's skin if the electrode is installed on the subject, and to conduct electrical signals between the subject's skin and the first conductive surface. The first interface surface has a surface area larger than that of the first conductive surface. |
| US09131893B2 |
Health diagnostic systems and methods
A health monitoring system, and methods of use and manufacture thereof are disclosed. The health monitoring system may include a computing system and a diagnostic test coupled to a diaper. The diagnostic test may include one or more sensors configured to produce a visual indication of one or more analytes contained in a sample produced by a subject. The diagnostic test may include a machine-readable code. The computing system may be configured to read the machine-readable code to allow an application running on the computing system to automatically perform at least one task related to a production of a data point based on the visual indication. The health monitoring system may aid in identifying a potential abnormal health condition of the subject by providing automatic longitudinal analysis of analytes contained in samples produced by the subject over a period of time. |
| US09131892B2 |
Wearable items providing physiological, environmental and situational parameter monitoring
A garment and/or garment system with health-monitoring (e.g., cardiovascular monitoring) capability, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. |
| US09131888B2 |
Metrics and algorithms for interpretation of muscular use
A muscle assessment method utilizing a computing system, surface electromyometry (sEMG) sensors, and other sensors to gather data for one or more subjects engaged in an activity through operably coupling the one or more sensors to the computing system, and directing a computing system to select one or more muscle assessment protocols related to a number of different metrics. For a user subject engaged in a physical activity, assessing muscle condition, the muscle activity, and statistically related averages provide information to the user and about muscle and whole body fitness. |
| US09131877B2 |
Laser apparatus and photoacoustic apparatus
A laser apparatus that allows selection of a wavelength of output light from a plurality of options. The laser apparatus includes: a resonator made up from an output mirror and reflection means having a plurality of reflective surfaces fixed in position; a laser medium disposed on an optical axis inside the resonator; branch means branching an optical path of a light beam formed on the optical axis when light oscillates in the laser medium into a plurality of optical paths having an end at one reflective surface of the reflection means, the branch means forming a first optical path coinciding with the optical axis when located out of the optical axis, and forming a branch path by moving the light of the optical axis parallel when located on the optical axis. |
| US09131876B2 |
Portable sound source playing apparatus for testing hearing ability and method of testing hearing ability using the apparatus
A method of testing a hearing ability of a user using a portable sound source playing apparatus includes; outputting a signal indicating at least one phoneme, obtaining a response of a user regarding a degree of audibility of the output signal, and testing the hearing ability of a user based on hearing characteristics of the user showing the degree of audibility of a frequency band comprising a frequency of the at least one phoneme based on the obtained response. |
| US09131874B2 |
Fluoroscopy-independent, endovascular aortic occlusion system
A system for deploying and selectively inflating a thoracic aortic balloon at a desired location within the thoracic aorta for resuscitative aortic occlusion, inferior to the left subclavian artery, without the aid of fluoroscopy is described. Using CT imaging data, a distance between readily identifiable and consistently located external landmarks of torso extent is measured. Next, using the same data, a second distance from the femoral artery to a desired aortic occlusion location inferior to the left subclavian artery is determined. A correlation between the external measure of torso extent and the desired intra-arterial (i.e. endovascular) distance within the torso is made. Using a nomogram, a calibrated endovascular resuscitative thoracic aortic occlusion system can be positioned to this desired location on any injured individual with end-stage shock and impending cardiovascular collapse or death without the aid of fluoroscopy for delivery or balloon inflation. |
| US09131871B2 |
Table having a central cellular honeycomb structure thermally fused in a sandwich configuration between two fibre-reinforced polypropylene face sheets
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine with an integrated medical table top on which a patient can lie is provided. The table top has a central polypropylene cellular honeycomb structure thermally fused in a sandwich configuration between two fiber-reinforced polypropylene face sheets. A strip of fiber-reinforced polypropylene is thermally fused along the entire length of the edge of the sandwich layers and along the end sections of the strip so that the resultant package of layers and end strip is sealingly enclosed to form the tabletop. Table top has a cover which may have a paint or acrylic finish, or may be foamed or “soft-touch” or suitably coated, in order to enhance the patient's comfort and to ensure that tabletop is hard-wearing and readily cleanable. |
| US09131870B2 |
Blood signal suppressed contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging
Methods for achieving suppression of blood pool signal to image contrast-enhanced organs and vascular walls using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technology. MRI data is then acquired with phase sensitive reconstruction so that blood pool signal is suppressed compared with the tissues of interest. |
| US09131859B2 |
Blood pressure measurement apparatus, recording medium that records blood pressure derivation program, and blood pressure derivation method
A blood pressure measurement apparatus includes a derivation control unit that performs derivation control to derive a blood pressure of a measured person. The derivation control unit includes an envelope extracting unit to extract an envelope of a volume pulse wave based on an arterial volume signal, a differential processing unit to differentiate the envelope with respect to a cuff pressure, a maximum value extracting unit to extract a maximum value of a differential value of the envelope, and a blood pressure decision unit that decides the cuff pressure used for the differential of the maximum value as a blood pressure. |
| US09131857B2 |
Apparatus and method for battery-free blood pressure monitor
A battery-free electronic blood pressure measuring apparatus comprising a cuff (40), an airbag (22) to push air into the cuff (40), a power generation unit which has a generator (42) and an operating handle (28) coupled with the wall of the airbag (22) to generate electrical power, and a display device (44) to receive electrical power from the power generation unit, detect a blood pressure signal from the cuff (40), generate and display a blood pressure measurement. A method for electronically measuring blood pressure with a battery-free sphygmomanometer comprises pressing an airbag and a generator-driving structure attached to the airbag wall, which leads to electrical power generation and cuff inflation by the airbag at the same time, and measuring the blood pressure with the generated electrical power. |
| US09131837B2 |
Method and apparatus for imaging the choroid
A method and apparatus for imaging the choroid is described. A plurality of choroidal images is captured. The plurality of images is aggregated to generate a single aggregated image with good contrast. Prior to any aggregation, the images may be aligned to remove any displacement caused by saccadic motion between one frame and another, and any images degraded by a blink of the patient can be identified and discarded. |
| US09131835B2 |
Surgical access device
Various devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted through a single surgical access device at variable angles of insertion, allowing for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation. Safety shields and release mechanisms are also provided for use with various surgical access devices. |
| US09131834B2 |
Endoscope
An endoscope includes: a distal end portion provided at a distal end of an insertion portion; a front-view observation window for observing an insertion direction of the distal end portion, which is provided facing toward the insertion direction; a lateral-view observation window for observing a circumferential direction of the distal end portion, which is formed along the outer circumferential lateral surface and has a lateral observation field of view; a light-emitting member having an emission end surface for emitting light in a distal end direction of the distal end portion; a groove portion formed on the outer circumferential lateral surface of the distal end portion so as to be longer than the emission end surface of the light-emitting member along the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential lateral surface of the distal end portion and opposed to the emission end surface, on a proximal end side with respect to the lateral-view observation window; a plurality of particles for scattering light arranged in the groove portion; and a transparent infill filled between the plurality of particles. |
| US09131831B2 |
Integrated locking device with passive sealing
Endoscope assemblies, biopsy caps, and methods for making and using the same. An example endoscope assembly may include an endoscope having a channel formed therein and a port that provides access to the channel. A cap may be coupled to the port. The cap may include a base having a securing member for securing the cap to the port, an outer shell, a locking member coupled to the outer shell, an inner seal member, and a central opening that extends to the channel. The inner seal member may include a plurality of flaps. |
| US09131830B2 |
Devices, systems, and methods for removing empyema from a pleural cavity
Pleural empyema removal devices are provided and enable the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a human or veterinary patient. The pleural empyema removal devices may be coupled with one or more additional devices, such as suction source, gas source, light source and/or camera source, and monitor. The devices and systems including the devices facilitate the removal of empyema from the pleural cavity of a patient while providing protections from damage to untargeted tissues. The devices, systems, and methods can be used in the treatment process to treat pleural empyema resulting from pleural effusions and infections stemming from various illnesses and disorders, such as pneumonia. |
| US09131827B2 |
Dishwasher
The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a tub (2) wherein the items to be washed are emplaced, an odor detector (3) for measuring the odor level of the interior air (H-in) containing the gasses emanating from the dishes in the tub (2) that generate bad odor and a housing (4) wherein the odor detector (3) is disposed and the odor detector (3) effectively measures the interior air (H-in) in the housing (4) thereby performing an adaptive washing program depending on the detected odor level. |
| US09131826B2 |
Method for disinfecting conduit systems of a water-conducting appliance and such a household appliance
A water-conducting household appliance and a method for disinfecting a conduit system of a water-conducting household appliance. The method feeds a gaseous disinfectant into a liquid circulating in the conduit system. The water-conducting household appliance includes a conduit system for circulating liquid, and a disinfector with a gas injector for injecting a gaseous disinfectant into a liquid circulating in the conduit system. |
| US09131824B2 |
Floor maintenance tool and method
A floor tool including a handle, a mop head, and an actuator. The handle includes first and second opposite ends through and between which a longitudinal axis of the handle extends. The handle lies in a plane and further includes a first portion that is located at the first end of the handle and a second portion that is offset from the longitudinal axis. The mop head is coupled at the second end of the handle. A first grip is coupled to the first portion of the handle, and a second grip is coupled to the second portion of the handle. The actuator is positioned adjacent the first end and is contiguous with the first grip, and a fluid reservoir is coupled to and carried by the handle between the second portion and the second end. |
| US09131820B2 |
Vacuum cleaner and method for controlling an electric motor
A vacuum cleaner and a method for controlling the motor power of a vacuum cleaner are disclosed. The vacuum cleaner comprises an electric motor and an electric power supply for providing electric power to the electric motor. Furthermore, a voltage measuring means for measuring a motor voltage over the electric motor and a current measuring means for measuring a motor current flowing through the electric motor are provided. The vacuum cleaner further comprises a control means for controlling, based on the measured voltage and the measured current, the electric power provided to the electric motor from the electric power supply towards a target motor power value. |
| US09131816B2 |
Central vacuum cleaner apparatus
A central vacuum cleaner having a housing, a suction chamber, a suction motor at an upper end of the suction chamber, a suction motor inlet, a dirt receptacle, a suction chamber inlet into the suction chamber, and a filter bag between the suction chamber inlet and the suction motor inlet cover. The suction motor has an impeller axis and a suction motor inlet located on and surrounding the impeller axis. The suction motor inlet cover has a bottom wall on the impeller axis below the suction motor inlet, a sidewall extending upwards from the bottom wall and surrounding the suction motor inlet, an inlet chamber formed by the bottom wall and sidewall, and an inlet cover opening fluidly connecting the suction chamber to the inlet chamber. The inlet cover opening is offset from the impeller axis and faces at an upwards angle towards the upper end of the suction chamber. |
| US09131815B2 |
Vacuum cleaner hose assembly connector
Connector for connecting a vacuum hose to a vacuum cleaner body includes a central tube removably connected to the body and an enclosure that at least partially encloses the central tube and the vacuum hose when positioned partly over the central tube. The connector retains the vacuum hose to allow for swiveling of the vacuum hose about the central tube and prevents rotation between the central tube and the enclosure. |
| US09131813B2 |
Laminar toilet lid with display cavity
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a laminate toilet lid with display cavity and a method of manufacturing thereof. The toilet lid includes a core structural layer having an aperture through a middle portion and having a shape and size associated with the toilet lid. The toilet lid also includes a first exterior layer disposed on a first surface of the core structural layer and configured to cover the aperture. The toilet lid further includes a second exterior layer disposed on a second surface of the core structural layer opposite the first decorative graphic layer, the second exterior layer configured to cover the aperture such that the first and second exterior layers enclose the aperture to form a cavity. |
| US09131810B2 |
Hair collection system
A hair collection system including a backboard for providing a location for detached hair collection, a basin for capturing detached hair, and an attachment means to couple the system to a wall. The system provides a new method and apparatus for collecting detached hair before it becomes entrapped in the drain. |
| US09131808B2 |
Rechargeable removable handle
Provided is a removable handle (1) for a food cooking pot comprising a side wall, said handle comprising a grip body (7), attachment means (2) that can be connected to the cooking pot and disconnected therefrom, and an electrical and/or electromechanical (5) device housed in the grip body (7). The handle comprises a rechargeable electrical energy source supplying the electrical and/or electromechanical device (5) with power, and electromagnetic connection means (8) that are connected to the rechargeable electrical energy source and electrically connected to a power supply source separate from the handle so that the rechargeable electrical energy source (6) can be recharged. |
| US09131804B2 |
Toaster with keep warm feature and method of toasting with the same
A toaster comprises a housing, at least one spring-loaded bread tray, one or more heating elements, a bread tray retaining mechanism, a bread tray partial retaining mechanism, and a lifter arm slot. The bread tray is movable between an up position and a down position and is biased toward the up position. The bread tray retaining mechanism selectively retains the bread tray in the down position while the toasting operation is in progress and releases the bread tray from the down position when the toasting operation is complete. The bread tray partial retaining mechanism selectively retains the bread tray in a position between the down position and the up position after the bread tray is released by the bread tray retaining mechanism. In one embodiment, the lifter arm slot comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being wider than the upper portion. |
| US09131802B2 |
Rotating grill for grilling food
This invention refers to a spinning food grill characterized because it is mainly constituted by a base upon which an electric engine is mounted, which moves a main shaft which is held in a vertical position by a post that is placed parallel to it. This main shaft is held by oarlocks located over crossbars that are perpendicular to a post. The oarlocks allow the main shaft to spin freely; additionally it is provided with a height regulator which allows the modification of the height of a circular grill located in the upper extreme of such main shaft. In such way, the distance of the circular grill is controlled, allowing it to come near or move away from the heat source, in this case ignited charcoal, to roast foods. Also, this grill is accompanied by a pair of frames that allow its use in open spaces such as gardens or patios. |
| US09131798B2 |
Brewing apparatus for a machine for preparing beverages
The brewing apparatus (1) comprises a guide and support structure (2), that bears a movable receiving assembly (7) capable of receiving a capsule or similar (10), containing a quantity or measure of a substance for the preparation of a beverage, and a substantially stationary cooperating assembly (6). The movable assembly (7) is able to assume a closed position in which it is coupled with the cooperating assembly (6) to create a brewing chamber, and a separated open position. Between such assemblies (6, 7) there is a gripping device (20) including a pair of movable jaws, capable of assuming a relative retaining position in which they are capable of receiving and retaining a capsule or similar (10) inserted between said assemblies (6, 7) while the latter are in the separated open position. The jaws (21) can be parted by respective pusher members (23) of the movable assembly (7) to release the capsule (10) retained, when the receiving assembly (7) is at least close to the closed position, to allow a capsule (10) to be positioned in the brewing chamber. |
| US09131795B2 |
Adjustable tension-mounted curved rod assembly
An adjustable rod assembly includes first and second tubes having first and second arcuate portions, third and fourth tubes of generally straight configurations, first and second end supports, and a tension rod mechanism secured within the third tube. The first tube has a first end, a second opposing end, and a planar surface extending from the second end toward the first end. The first tube is telescopingly received within the third tube and the second tube. The third tube is rotatable relative to the first tube and is rotatably secured within the fourth tube. The fourth tube is secured to the first end support and the second tube is secured to the second end support. The tension rod mechanism rotates with the third tube and has a threaded portion configured to extend from an interior of the third tube to an interior of the first tube. |
| US09131790B2 |
Proliferated thread count of a woven textile by simultaneous insertion within a single pick insertion event of a loom apparatus multiple adjacent parallel yarns drawn from a multi-pick yarn package
The proliferation of the thread count of a woven textile is accomplished through simultaneous insertion, within a single pick insertion event of a loom apparatus, of multiple adjacent parallel yarns drawn from a multi-pick yarn package. In one or more embodiments, multiple texturized polyester weft yarns of denier between 15 and 50 are wound on a single bobbin in a parallel adjacent fashion such that they may be fed into an air jet pick insertion apparatus of an air jet loom to weave a textile that has between 90 to 235 ends per inch cotton warp yarns and between 100 and 765 polyester weft yarns. |
| US09131789B1 |
Elongate jewelry holder for wall or tabletop having a plurality of substantially smaller capped pegs
The present invention consists of an elongate jewelry holder having a thick central column on which may be disposed a plurality of capped pegs for holding a wide variety of jewelry. On two adjacent elongated sides are studded diagonally alternating long and short cylindrical pegs for the storage of large pieces of jewelry. On one of these adjacent elongated sides, there may be provided in the center a rectangular peg studded on each of its sides with diagonally alternating short pegs for the storage of small pieces of jewelry. On either small end of this rectangular rack are mounted planar endcaps which allow the jewelry holder to stand upright on either end or it may be mounted against a wall. |
| US09131788B2 |
Portable folding display
A portable foldable display includes a pair of end sections and a plurality of intermediate sections. The intermediate sections are joined together in a manner which permits the intermediate sections to be rotated with respect to each other for folding and unfolding of the display. The display also includes a plurality of shelves which may extend from the front or back of any of the intermediate sections and outwardly from the end sections. The vertical spacing between the shelves is adjustable. The display is on wheels to permit easy transport. |
| US09131787B2 |
Merchandising unit and system
A shelf clamp for connecting a rack unit to a display shelf has a flat body with a clasp extending from the top end of the flat body, a support lip extending from the mid-section of the flat body, and a front fin extending diagonally upward from the front face of the flat body, wherein the front fin is comprised of flexible material such that the front fin can flex towards the flat body. The bottom end of the shelf clamp is fashioned to slide down between an edge of the shelf and a wall, causing the front fin to flex upward toward the flat body as it presses between the shelf and the wall, and then return to its diagonally upward position once it passes the shelf. Thereby, the shelf clamp engages the edge of the shelf and the support rib and the front fin. |
| US09131781B2 |
Distribution pad for a temperature control system
A system includes an air distribution pad and an air distributor. The air distribution pad is adapted to fit substantially on an upper bed surface of a mattress of an adjustable bed and comprises a head portion, a foot portion, a longitudinal middle portion between the head portion and the foot portion, and an upper surface extending along the head portion, the longitudinal middle portion and the foot portion. The air distributor is operably connected to the air distribution pad so as to create a flow path from the air distributor through the air distribution pad to the upper surface. The air distributor is connected to the air distribution pad within the longitudinal middle portion of the air distribution pad. |
| US09131778B2 |
Foldable tent-cot
A foldable tent-cot includes two elongated rods each having a pair of connecting rods pivotally connected to each other. The foldable tent-cot also includes a pair of outer X-shaped support racks pivotally connected to outer ends of opposing elongated rods and a central X-shaped support rack pivotally connected to central portions of opposing elongated rods. Each X-shaped support rack is defined by a pair of support legs that intersect adjacently at an intersection point and is further supported by support rods. The foldable tent-cot also includes vertical supports connected to the intersection points of each outer X-shaped support rack. A tent is coupled to the elongated rods and to the vertical supports. The integral tent-cot is foldable to a compact state wherein the connecting rods, support rods, X-shaped support racks and vertical supports are collectively folded substantially parallel and adjacent to each other along with the tent. |
| US09131775B1 |
Adjustable seating
Among other things, a seat includes a base; a back-supporting surface coupled to the base; and a seating surface movable relative to the base in a direction of motion toward and away from the back-supporting surface. The back-supporting surface has a lower portion nearer the seating surface that is movable, relative to an upper portion of the back-supporting surface that is farther from the seating surface, in the direction of motion as the seating surface moves in the direction of motion. |
| US09131770B2 |
Containers
Container with a bottom wall, two side walls, and a back wall connecting them, and at least one drawer which can be pulled from the opening of the container, opposite this back wall, wherein on the upper edges of the two side walls, at least one locking device is provided. Such known containers are not flexible enough for practical use. The goal of refining a generic container in such a way that there are more combination possibilities in handling is attained in that the upper side of the container, opposite the bottom wall, is open and another container or a lid, covering the open upper side, can be optionally locked in via the locking device. |
| US09131762B2 |
Backpack having removable frame
A backpack includes a bag having an interior packing space and a back wall that has a top and a bottom. The back wall includes an opening proximate the top of the back wall. A back contacting surface is attached to the top of the back wall and the bottom of the back wall. A frame is removably mounted to the back wall between the back wall and the back contacting surface. The frame includes a bend configured to space the back wall from the back contacting surface. The frame is insertable and removable to and from the back wall through the opening. |
| US09131758B2 |
Key locator with a container
Provided is a key locator comprising a) a bent rod-shaped first member having opposing first and second end portions and b) a second member that selectively retains keys. The first member incorporates a bent interior region between the end portions. The end portions are not urged against each other and allow the bent interior region to hang from or clasp to an edge. The first end portion substantially permanently and flexibly engages with the second member. In one embodiment, the second end portion is substantially rigidly affixed to the key locator such that container movement necessarily causes key locator movement. In another embodiment, the container is rotatably mounted to the second end portion and comprises a hinge that attaches a first face to the container. The first face moves between an open configuration that exposes an interior portion of the container and a closed configuration that seals the interior portion. |
| US09131756B2 |
Device covering, protecting, and positioning a portable electronic device
Technology associated with covering, protecting, and positioning portable electronic devices is described. In an example embodiment, a protective cover device includes a flap that is magnetically fastenable to a surface located on a backside of a portable electronic device. The protective cover device also includes a display protector attached to the flap and being positionable in a protective position to substantially cover a display of the portable electronic device. The display protector is articulatable to a position underneath a first side of the portable electronic device in which the flap and the display protector cooperatively prop up the portable electronic device in a landscape viewing position. |
| US09131754B2 |
Force absorbing device
A force absorbing device is provided for use with a walking aid having proximal and distal tubes arranged in a telescoping configuration for relative movement therebetween along a longitudinal axis. A proximal end member is affixed within a hollow bore of the proximal tube with no relative movement between the proximal tube and the proximal end member. A distal end member is longitudinally spaced from the proximal end member and affixed to a proximal end of the distal tube with no relative movement between the distal tube and the distal end member. A resilient damper is located longitudinally between, and affixed to both of, the proximal and distal end members. The resilient damper compresses under a compressive force to absorb at least a portion of the compressive force while permitting relative longitudinal movement between the proximal and distal tubes. |
| US09131749B2 |
Woven textile bag
Woven textile structures constructed using dual-loom technology are provided. Filaments are woven in such a way as to create a first set of different discrete layers of the same fabric in some regions of the textile and a second set of discrete layers of the same fabric at other regions of the same textile. The different layers are used to construct various textile structures such as a woven bag. |
| US09131748B2 |
Sole assembly with gas and viscous fluid-filled bladder assembly
A bladder assembly for an article of footwear includes a main body. The main body defines a first chamber and a second chamber, and the second chamber includes a first inner surface and a second inner surface. The bladder assembly also includes a viscous fluid contained in the first or second chamber and a gas contained in the other of the first or second chamber. Furthermore, the bladder assembly includes a fabric member that is fixed to both the first and second inner surfaces. The fabric member limits movement of the first and second inner surfaces away from each other. |
| US09131743B2 |
Helmet with columnar cushioning
Presently disclosed is a protective helmet, which may include a shell defining a shell exterior and a shell interior, and being configured to receive a wearer's head and extend to protectively cover the head circumferentially and vertically over the top of a wearer's skull; a first cushioning member disposed within the shell interior and configured for cushioning the skull; and a plurality of columnar cushioning members configured for supporting the shell on the skull and being configured for bending to allow rotational movement of the shell with respect to the skull, the columnar cushioning members having inner surfaces disposed further inwardly with respect to the shell than the first cushioning member surface to position the columnar member inner surfaces for resting against the skull and leaving a space between the first cushioning member inner surfaces and the skull. |
| US09131742B2 |
Chinstrap to helmet connector
This invention pertains to connections between helmets and chinstraps, and more particularly a connector which is securable to an end of a chinstrap, and which is readily connected to a helmet via a stud carried by the helmet, and in which removal of the connector from the stud requires that an actuator be moved out of a mechanical latching relation to the stud. A helmet assembly includes a helmet having a stud, a chinstrap having a strap, and a connector attached to the strap. The connector includes a housing and an actuator. The housing has an underside with an opening sized to receive the stud through the opening into the housing. The actuator is movable within the housing between a first position in which the actuator engages the stud to retain the connector to the helmet and a second position in which the actuator disengages the stud to release the connector from the helmet. The actuator has a gripping portion extending outside the housing for operation by the user to move the actuator between the first and second positions. |
| US09131736B2 |
Medical clothing item
A medical clothing item, includes a body covering section having first and second side edges delimiting an opening of the body covering section and at least one closure for closing the opening, wherein the closure includes a first closure element arranged on the first side edge, and a second closure element, arranged on the second side edge and/or in a region bordering the second side edge, wherein the first closure element has a fastening section for permanent fastening on the body covering section, a release section non-detachably connected with the body covering section, and a coupling section connected with the fastening section, wherein the coupling section is coverable when not interacting with the second closure element, wherein the coupling section has first mechanical coupling means for coupling to the second closure element, wherein the second closure element has second mechanical coupling means formed by a surface of the medical clothing item. |
| US09131735B2 |
High back body shaper and universal bra attachment
An undergarment is intended to be worn by a user in combination with a brassiere having a back band. The undergarment comprises a unitary body piece having an inside, an outside, a front, a back, opposing sides, a top portion and a bottom portion, each defined by their relative positions when worn by the user. The undergarment further comprises at least one fastener adjacent the top portion and operable to removably engage the brassiere adjacent the back band such that the back of the user is not visible between the back band and the top portion. |
| US09131734B2 |
Swaddle blanket
A swaddle blanket according to one embodiment includes a body having a top end and a bottom end. The blanket includes a pocket disposed at the bottom end and configured to enclose an infant's legs. The swaddle blanket also includes a first side configured to wrap over the infant in a first direction and a second side configured to wrap over the infant and the first side in a second direction. The first side is secured in place over the pocket and the second side is secured in place over the first side. The pocket includes a fastener and is positionable between an open position in which the fastener is open and a closed position in which the fastener is closed, the open position of the pocket permitting insertion of the infant's legs therein. |
| US09131725B2 |
Gene and variations associate with BM1 phenotype, molecular markers, and their use
This disclosure concerns specific naturally-occurring mutant maize cad2 genes, which altered genes contribute to the bm1 maize phenotype in particular maize lines. In some embodiments, compositions and methods are provided that utilize a nucleic acid molecule comprising a mutant cad2 gene, and/or markers linked to a mutant cad2gene. |
| US09131724B2 |
Methods for removal of microcystins and isolation of phycocyanin from cyanobacteria
This disclosure relates to methods of removing contaminating microcystins toxins from preparations of blue-green algae. It also relates to methods of purifying phycocyanin from blue-green algae extracts. |
| US09131720B2 |
High-potency sweetener composition with phytosterol and compositions sweetened therewith
The present invention relates generally to functional sweetener compositions comprising non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweeteners and methods for making and using them. In particular, the present invention relates to different functional sweetener compositions comprising at least one non-caloric or low-caloric natural and/or synthetic high-potency sweetener, at least one sweet taste improving composition, and at least one functional ingredient, such as phytosterols, phytostanols, esters thereof, or combinations thereof. The present invention also relates to functional sweetener compositions and methods that can improve the tastes of non-caloric or low-caloric high-potency sweeteners by imparting a more sugar-like taste or characteristic. In particular, the functional sweetener compositions and methods provide a more sugar-like temporal profile, including sweetness onset and sweetness linger, and/or a more sugar-like flavor profile. |
| US09131719B2 |
Use of certain neoflavonoids for intensifying and/or producing a sensory impression of sweetness
The present invention primarily relates to the use of one or a plurality of neoflavonoids of formula (I) and/or one or a plurality of physiologically acceptable salts of one or a plurality of neoflavonoids of formula (I) for producing a sensory impression of sweetness (i.e. an impression of sweetness) in an orally consumable preparation or for intensifying the sensory impression of sweetness of an orally consumable preparation comprising at least one further sweet-tasting and/or sweet-smelling substance. The present invention further relates to certain semifinished products and certain orally consumable preparations containing one or a plurality of neoflavonoids of formula (I) and/or one or a plurality of physiologically acceptable salts of one or a plurality of neoflavonoids of formula (I). Finally the invention also relates to a method of producing an orally consumable preparation and a method of producing and/or intensifying a sensory impression of sweetness in/of an orally consumable preparation. |
| US09131714B2 |
Oil-adsorbing composition, method for its production, and method for using the oil-adsorbing composition
Conventional dried materials have a low oil adsorption property and oil retention ability. Therefore, a dried material that has an excellent oil adsorbing property and oil retention ability has been desired. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an oil-adsorbing composition that has an excellent oil adsorption property and oil retention ability; a method for producing the oil-adsorbing composition; and a method for using the oil-adsorbing composition. |
| US09131713B2 |
Particles of collagen material and process for the preparation
In order to provide a product that is suitable as fat substitute in foods, which can be produced simply and inexpensively and is deemed safe from the nutritional physiology viewpoint and with which the typical texture of fat-containing foods can be simulated as favorably as possible, particles of collagen material are proposed which are substantially insoluble and swellable in water, wherein in swollen state the particles have an average diameter of less than approximately 150 μm. A process for the production of this product is additionally proposed. |
| US09131706B2 |
Handling system for transporting, removing or inserting rod-like elements
The invention relates to a handling system for transporting, removing or inserting rod-like elements from or into a storage frame, the rod-like elements, like smoking rods, serving for storing products, each having a sausage-shaped body and a loop for a pendulously storage of the products. The handling system comprises a robotic device with at least one robotic arm being movably in three dimensions, at least one gripping device for reversibly gripping the rod-like elements, wherein the gripping device is attached to the robotic arm of the robotic device. Moreover, a preventing unit for preventing uncontrolled movement of the products hanging up on the rod-like elements is provided. |
| US09131703B2 |
Powder of fermented milk or of yogurt with a high density of lactic ferments
The present application relates to a fermented milk or yoghurt powder which contains very high contents of S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus, and which exhibits exceptional storage capacities. In the powder according to the invention, no substantial loss of live S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus is observed after four months of storage at 20° C. The powder according to the invention has microbiological characteristics such that it itself corresponds to the name yoghurt or fermented milk. |
| US09131702B2 |
Food material cutter
The food material cutter of the present invention has a feeding port for feeding a doughnut, titled plates and guiding plates for guiding the fed doughnut, and rotary blades for slicing the guided doughnut in half in the thickness direction. The link mechanism causes the tilt angles of the tilted plates to be increased due to the own weight of the doughnut, and causes the guiding plates to move by an equal distance from the center of the clearance between the respective guiding plates while matching with the thickness of the doughnut. The doughnut-is guided by the titled plates and guiding plates, and falls down to the palette in a state where it is sliced in half in the thickness direction. |
| US09131701B2 |
Dough rounder
A compact, rounding machine, or rounder, for quickly rounding dough units discharged from a divider into substantially round dough balls used to make products like flour tortillas, buns, rolls, etc. The rounder includes a stationary shoe having a curved inner face that curves partially around an axis of rotation, and a stationary groove having a substantially semicircular profile and extending between an entry end and an exit end. A roller with an outer face and moving groove is positioned against the stationary shoe's inner face and stationary groove to define a rolling cavity, one half of the rolling cavity being formed by the stationary groove and another half of the rolling cavity is formed by the moving groove. A funnel assembly positioned adjacent to the roller, along with a beveled entry wall at the entry end of the stationary groove, guide dough units into the rolling cavity. |
| US09131700B2 |
Bio-stimulant for improved plant growth and development
A bio-stimulant composition for obtaining improved plant growth, either combined or uncombined with urea and/or other agricultural compounds, as well of methods of producing and using said composition. |
| US09131699B2 |
Method for inhibiting proliferation of plant pathogenic microbe using Collimonas bacterium
To provide a method for inhibiting the proliferation of a plant pathogenic bacterium. A method for inhibiting the proliferation of a plant pathogenic bacterium, including culturing a microorganism having an ability to inhibit the proliferation of a plant pathogenic bacterium and belonging to the genus Collimonas, and seeding the cultured microorganism to a plant soil. |
| US09131696B2 |
Herbicidal compositions comprising fluroxypyr and flumetsulam
Herbicidal compositions containing (a) fluoroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof and (b) flumetsulam or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof provide synergistic herbicidal control of undesirable vegetation, e.g., in wheat, barley, oats, rye, sugarcane, rice, sorghum, corn/maize, soybean, rice, sunflower, canola/oilseed rape, sugarcane, sorghum, cotton, pastures, grasslands, rangelands, fallowland, turf, tree and vine orchards, industrial vegetation management and rights-of-way; or crops comprising an aad-12 gene. Also provided herein are methods of using herbicidal compositions containing (a) fluoroxypyr or an agriculturally acceptable salt or ester thereof and (b) flumetsulam or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof. |
| US09131693B2 |
Fungicidal pyrazoles
Disclosed are compounds of Formula 1 and Formula 1A including all stereoisomers, N-oxides, and salts thereof, wherein Q1, Q2, R1, R2, R4, R5 and X are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are compositions containing the compounds of Formula 1 or Formula 1A and methods for controlling plant disease caused by a fungal pathogen comprising applying an effective amount of a compound or a composition of the invention. |
| US09131691B2 |
Use of amide compounds for preventing marine biofouling
Use of amide compounds represented by formula (I), for preventing or reducing settlement and/or fouling of marine fouling organisms on a surface of a submerged object is provided, wherein “-A-” has a formula —(CnH2(n-m))- which is either unsubstituted or substituted by one or more C1 to C4 alkyls, and wherein the formula —(CnH2(n-m))- represents a divalent alkyl, or a divalent alkenyl having one or more double bonds, n is 1 to 15, m is 0 to 4, and 2(n-m)=2, and R is selected from piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, isobutylamino, piperazinyl or morpholinyl. Amide compounds of formula (I), a category of antifouling compounds, can be either isolated from natural resources or synthesized, which are nontoxic and environmental-friendly. |
| US09131688B2 |
Strigolactam derivatives as plant growth regulating compounds
The present invention relates to novel strigolactam derivatives of formula (I), to processes and intermediates for preparing them, to plant growth regulator compositions comprising them and to methods of using them for controlling the growth of plants and/or promoting the germination of seeds. |
| US09131681B2 |
Particles comprising a releasable dopant therein
A process for making particles comprising a hydrophobic dopant for subsequent release therefrom is disclosed. The process comprises providing an emulsion comprising a hydrophilic phase and a hydrophobic phase dispersed in the hydrophilic phase, and reacting the precursor material to form the particles comprising the dopant therein. The hydrophobic phase comprises a precursor material and the dopant. |
| US09131679B2 |
Herbicidal composition
Ethoxylated phospholipid-enriched soybean oil as an effective adjuvant in herbicidal compositions and method for killing or controlling the growth of weeds which comprises applying on the fields a herbicidal composition containing glyphosate and the ethoxylated phospholipid-enriched soybean oil. |
| US09131675B2 |
Method and a kit of parts for decontaminating a mattress or other effects
The invention relates to a method for decontaminating a mattress (14) or other effect of bed bugs comprising the steps of: Placing the mattress or other effect in a hermetically sealable container (10) of a size and shape commensurate with that of the mattress or other effect; Inserting an appropriate quantity of an oxygen scavenger (16) into the container; Hermetically sealing the container so as to prevent ingress of oxygen; and Leaving it for a time sufficient for the oxygen levels to be depleted to less than 0.2% and the bed bugs and their eggs and larvae to be destroyed. It also relates to a kit of parts for implementing the method. |
| US09131674B2 |
Trailed agricultural implement pump with hydraulic flow rate control
A trailed agricultural implement is disclosed. The trailed agricultural implement includes a hydraulically-driven pump for moving a fluid at an actual fluid rate. An electro-hydraulic valve is configured to regulate an implement hydraulic pressure to the hydraulically-driven pump. The hydraulically-driven pump regulates the actual fluid rate. The electro-hydraulic valve is configured to receive a vehicle hydraulic pressure. The electro-hydraulic valve communicates with a vehicle load sense system. The load sense system senses the implement hydraulic pressure and communicates with a vehicle hydraulic pump. The vehicle hydraulic pump adjusts the vehicle hydraulic pressure to correspond to the implement hydraulic pressure. |
| US09131673B2 |
Sustained release preparation comprising a foamed capillary tube
Provided is a sustained release preparation capable of uniformly releasing therefrom a volatile chemical for a long period of time even if the amount of a liquid chemical remaining in a tubular container of the sustained release preparation becomes small. Also provided is a container for sustained release preparation, the container being tubular and comprising two layers of outer and inner layers, the inner layer having a thickness of 0.12 to 1.2 mm and having a foamed structure permitting the soaking-up of a liquid chemical to a height of at least 25 mm by capillarity. Also provided is a container unit for sustained release preparation, the unit comprising two or more of the container combined. |
| US09131672B1 |
Remote-controlled fishing boat having fishing lines with lures extended there from
The remote-controlled fishing boat having fishing lines with lures extended there from includes a remote controlled air-driven boat to drive at least one baited hook or lure around within a body of water. The remote-controlled fishing boat includes at least one clothespin that grabs onto a fishing line, and pulls the fishing line and lure behind said boat while a fishing rod and reel is located outside of a body of water and adjacent to an end user. Once a fish is hooked, the corresponding clothespin shall release the fishing line, and said end user shall reel in the hooked fish. The remote-controlled fishing boat includes two fans rotatable engaged atop of poles, and which rotate to steer and propel said boat. The remote control may include a bracket that supports the remote control on the fishing rod. |
| US09131669B2 |
Antibody production
A transgenic non-human mammal containing a heterologous lambda light chain gene locus, and/or a heterologous kappa light chain gene locus, and/or a heterologous heavy chain gene locus, each of which can re-arrange so that immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes are formed and expressed in B-cells following antigen challenge. |
| US09131668B2 |
Tumor model system useful to study multistage cancer
The present invention relates to a method of developing a Tumor Model System. The invention deals with a tumor model system with adhesion deprived cells. This observation provides a new method for primary detection of transformation of adhesion-deprived cells and tumorigenicity. The adhesion-deprived cells are capable of metastasizing at distant sites and the model system includes both the tumor formation and metastasis. |
| US09131667B2 |
Filter apparatus
A centrifugal filter apparatus including a canister housing having a frusto-conical internal surface, and outlet adjacent the minor diameter of the internal surface and an inlet spaced axially toward a major diameter, a central annular filter element and centrifugal radial rotating fins extending radially from adjacent the external surface of the filter element to adjacent the generally frusto-conical internal surface of the canister having a generally frusto-conical outer surface conforming to the frusto-conical internal surface of the canister. In one embodiment, the filter apparatus includes a plurality of reaction canisters, where the outlet of the first canister is the inlet of the second canister and the radial fins drive reaction products from the first canister to the second canister. |
| US09131666B2 |
Hatching egg inspection apparatus
A hatching egg inspection apparatus includes a loader unit, an inspection unit for determining the viability or the like as to whether a hatching egg is an unfertilized egg or a growth-stopping egg, a rejection unit for rejecting a hatching egg determined to be an unfertilized egg or the like, and an unloader unit for sending a hatching egg toward the next step. The inspection unit is provided with a light emitting unit for emitting prescribed light toward the hatching egg, a cap attachment unit through which the light having been emitted to the hatching egg and having transmitted through the hatching egg passes, and a light receiving unit for receiving the light that has passed through the cap attachment unit. The cap attachment unit includes a cylindrical cap coming into contact with the hatching egg, and a plate to which the cap is attached. |
| US09131664B2 |
Excrement detection system, excrement detection method, and non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing program that controls excrement detection system
An excrement detection system of this disclosure includes: an excretion information acquiring apparatus acquiring excretion information indicating whether a pet in a living space has performed excretion; a toilet observing apparatus observing inside of a pet toilet to acquire toilet information regarding inside of the pet toilet; an excretion information processing unit determining whether the pet has performed excretion based on the excretion information; a toilet information processing unit determining whether the pet is in the pet toilet based on the toilet information; an excretion position determining unit determining that the pet has performed excretion outside of the pet toilet when determined that the pet has performed excretion and that the pet is absent from the pet toilet; and a notifying unit notifying a pet's owner that the pet has performed excretion outside of the pet toilet when determined that the pet has performed excretion outside of the pet toilet. |
| US09131663B2 |
Lead equipped with means for blocking the extensible cord
An extensible cord lead comprising a casing (11) containing a winding wheel (13) equipped with housings (15) intercepted by a pushbutton (16) to allow the partial or total blocking of the cord, the pushbutton (16) being equipped with a forward position blocking device consisting of a cursor (20) which slides or rotates in a transverse direction with respect to the axis of the pushbutton (16) in which it is inserted, said cursor (20) being activated by a thumb-turn (21) located on the head of the pushbutton (16), said cursor (20) being able to move from a blocked position to free sliding of the pushbutton, entering and exiting transversally to the sliding axis of the pushbutton (16), in a housing (22) in the box-like casing (11) of the winding device. |
| US09131662B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling multiple lines
A handle for walking dogs on three leashes and for untangling crossed leashes while walking. The handle has three leash attachment locations, and the three locations correspond roughly to the vertices of a triangle. Regardless of the shape of the handle, or the positioning of the leash attachment locations on the handle, three lines produced to connect the three leash attachment locations will form the sides of a triangle. There are three graspable handle grips, each handle grip interposed between two of the three leash attachment locations. |
| US09131661B2 |
Apparatus and method for the sanitary collection of dog waste
An apparatus for the sanitary collection of dog waste using an extendable pole with a teardrop shaped loop supporting a plastic bag and a method of collecting dog waste by extending the pole and positioning the loop with the plastic bag under the butt of a dog while pooping to collect the dog's waste. |
| US09131658B2 |
Lettuce variety pascal RZ (79-110 RZ)
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-110 RZ, which exhibits resistance to downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) races B1:1 to B1:28 and Ca-I to Ca-VIII, resistance to currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri), as well as an extraordinary high number of substantially equally sized dark green leaves. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-110 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-110 RZ. |
| US09131655B1 |
Maize inbred PH1W11
A novel maize variety designated PH1W11 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1W11 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1W11 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1W11 or a locus conversion of PH1W11 with another maize variety. |
| US09131653B1 |
Hybrid corn variety 2453832
The invention provides seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated 2453832. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety 2453832, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety 2453832 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety 2453832. |
| US09131652B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH735504
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH735504. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH735504, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH735504 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH735504. |
| US09131649B2 |
Papaver somniferum strain with high concentration of thebaine
The present invention is directed to an improved poppy straw, concentrate of poppy straw and opium of Papaver somniferum for the production of thebaine containing little or no oripavine, codeine or morphine. The present invention also provides plants, stands and seeds of Papaver somniferum and methods for the production of thebaine. |
| US09131647B1 |
Field sawbuck for cantilever support of a felled tree
A field sawbuck having a tree gripper forming a top side fulcrum for holding an end of a felled tree and a tree engaging arm for pivoting the felled tree about the fulcrum to bring the felled tree to an elevated condition whereby the limbs can be removed and the tree can be conveniently cut into desired length without concern for pinching or binding the saw or having the saw blade accidentally contact a support soil for the felled tree as well a method for delivering a felled tree to a field sawbuck that can cantileverly support the felled tree during the process of removing limbs from the tree or during the process of field cutting of the felled tree into firewood lengths. |
| US09131646B2 |
Green wall planting support apparatus
A green wall planting support apparatus includes at least one plant support structure and a plurality of baskets. The plant support structure includes a vertical main plate that has a plurality of basket hanging portions. A water supply unit includes at least one main pipe connected to a water source, and a branch unit that is coupled to the main pipe and that has a plurality of watering conduits. Each basket has a basket body with a receiving space. The basket body has a basket hanger portion that is detachably connected to one of the basket hanging portions. The watering conduits convey water into the receiving spaces of the baskets, respectively. |
| US09131643B2 |
Cord wrap system and portable blower incorporating same
A cord retainer and cord wrap system for use with a portable (e.g., handheld) electric blower, and a blower incorporating the same. The system may allow for storage of the cord onboard the blower when the latter is not in use. Embodiments of the invention may utilize a portion of the blower housing to form one winding surface for the cord. A second winding surface may be provided by a cord retainer that may be secured in place along the extension tube of the blower, e.g., via interference fit. Other embodiments may include two or more nozzles that may be selectively inserted into the extension tube to permit selective tuning of blower performance. |
| US09131641B2 |
Baling device to form bales of crop material
The invention relates to a baling device to form bales of crop material, including a frame, an intake device, a bale forming device for forming a bale of the crop material, the bale forming device including at least one endless belt to delimit a baling chamber, and a number of guiding elements to guide the endless belt, wherein the outlet of the intake device is located at a fixed position with respect to the frame, and that at least three guiding elements are movably mounted with respect to the outlet of the intake device to position for subsequent bales different pairs of two guiding elements of the at least three movable guiding elements at the opposite sides of the outlet. |
| US09137935B2 |
Electromagnetic field assisted self-assembly with formation of electrical contacts
A method and apparatus for self-assembling a part on a substrate are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes placing a substrate having a first binding site capable of generating a first magnetic field and having a first shaped surface with a first droplet conformably disposed thereon into a first fluid; placing a part having a second binding site capable of generating a second magnetic field and having a second shaped surface with a second droplet conformably disposed on the second shaped surface into the first fluid; and attracting the part towards the first binding site such that an equilibrium is formed between an attractive force and a repulsive force such that the part is free to rotate about the first binding site to minimize the repulsive force when the first and second shaped surfaces rotate into an alignment causing the part to aligned with the first binding site. |
| US09137932B2 |
Electric power conversion apparatus
An electric power conversion apparatus includes a channel case in which a cooling water channel is formed; a double side cooling semiconductor module that has an upper and lower arms series circuit of an inverter circuit; a capacitor module; a direct current connector; and an alternate current connector. The semiconductor module includes first and second heat dissipation metals whose outer surfaces are heat dissipation surfaces, the upper and lower arms series circuit is disposed tightly between the first heat dissipation metal and the second heat dissipation metal, and the semiconductor module further includes a direct current positive terminal, a direct current negative terminal, and an alternate current terminal which protrude to outside. The channel case is provided with the cooling water channel which extends from a cooling water inlet to a cooling water outlet, and a first opening which opens into the cooling water channel. |
| US09137930B2 |
Protecting devices against hot air backflow in a computer system rack having a rear door heat exchanger
A rear door heat exchanger is used to cool exhaust air as it exits a rack containing a plurality of computing devices. An air flow rate is determined for each of the plurality of computing devices within the rack, wherein each of the plurality of computing devices includes a fan drawing air through the computing device. The position of a baffle or louver is controlled to allow exhaust air to bypass the rear door heat exchanger in response to determining that the total air flow rate through the plurality of computing devices exceeds a predetermined air flow capacity threshold of the rear door heat exchanger. |
| US09137926B2 |
Electronic device and method of manufacturing the same
An electronic device includes: a semiconductor device; a heat-conductive resin, disposed above the semiconductor device, including a heat conductor and a resin; a linear carbon piece, disposed above the heat-conductive resin, to be thermally in contact with the heat conductor; and a heat spreader, disposed above the linear carbon piece, including a depressed portion having the heat-conductive resin. |
| US09137925B2 |
Heat sink for contactor in power distribution assembly
An electrical contactor assembly is provided including an electrical contactor, an electrical bus bar, and a panel formed from an electrically insulating material. At least one post protrudes through the panel and is in contact with the electrical bus bar. The at least one post is constructed from an electrically and thermally conductive material. A first end of the at least one post is configured to electrically and thermally connect to the electrical contactor. A heat sink is removably coupled to a second end of the at least one post. The heat sink includes a body having a plurality of fins extending radially outward. A first portion of the plurality of fins extends around a circumference of the body. A second portion of the plurality of fins extends around only a portion of the circumference of the body. |
| US09137921B2 |
Assembled module and electronic apparatus having the same
An assembled module and an electronic apparatus having the same are disclosed. The assembled module is disposed in a case of the electronic apparatus. The assembled module includes a backplane and an actuating unit. The backplane is disposed on the case and used to be moved between a first position and a second position. The actuating unit is disposed on the backplane and used to be operated so as to drive the backplane moving relative to the first position and the second position. The actuating unit includes a first rack, a complex gear, and a second rack; wherein when the first rack is operated to move along a first direction, the complex gear is carried by the first rack to allow the second rack to move along a second direction, such that the assembled module is able to move between the first position and the second position. |
| US09137920B2 |
Electronic assembly
An electronic assembly has a plurality of functional units each including a board element populated with electronic modules, which board element has in each case a number of contact locations arranged in at least one row, and a contact board, which has for each board element at least one row of contact receptacles that are directly electrically connected to the contact locations of the associated board element. These rows point toward a side of the contact board in their longitudinal direction. A plurality of similar assemblies are produced compactly and cost-effectively by providing a communication unit separate from the contact board and serving for communication with modules of the board elements. The communication unit is connected to the contact board via a plurality of data lines which are contact-connected to the contact board on the side to which the rows point. |
| US09137916B2 |
Method and apparatus for potting an electronic device
Method and apparatus for potting an electronic device. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing an enclosure having a first inner volume with the electronic device disposed therein; placing a fill control element within the enclosure such that a second inner volume of the fill control element is fluidly coupled to the first inner volume; and filling a remaining portion of the first inner volume, the remaining portion not occupied by the electronic device or the fill control element, with a sealant such that air is trapped within at least a first portion of the second inner volume. |
| US09137915B2 |
Protective case for electronic devices
A protective case (1) for electronic devices (5) having a slidable and pivotally attached lid (2) on a raised rear portion (13) of the protective case that covers a storage compartment (2). An attachment accessory (4), such as a finger grip (27) is located on a rear surface (23) of the lid. The lid may be flipped over to reveal a smooth front surface (22) for when an individual wants to carry the protective case and electronic device in his or her pocket or to reveal the rear surface and attachment accessory for attaching the protective case to the individual's fingers or to a flat surface. |
| US09137914B2 |
Electronic apparatus, support device, and attachment structure
According to one embodiment, the electronic device of this embodiment includes a module, a first plate which has a first surface and a second surface, the first plate supporting the module, a cover which includes an attaching surface that is attached to the first plate, and an engaging part that includes a tip part, a second plate which is attached to the first plate from a side of the second surface and fill a space between the second surface and the tip part, the second plate being engaged with the engaging part and fixing the cover onto the first plate, and a fixing member which fixes the second plate onto the first plate. |
| US09137912B1 |
Casing of electronic device and method of manufacturing the same
A casing of an electronic device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The manufacturing method of casing of the electronic device includes following steps: providing a casing body, in which the surface of the casing body includes a first material region and a second material region, and the materials of the first material region and the second material region are different from each other; providing a decorative material on the surface of the casing body, in which the decorative material overlays whole the first material region and at least partial the second material region; and adhering a tape on the decorative material, followed by tearing off the tape to remove the decorative material located at the second material region but remain the decorative material located at the first material region. |
| US09137910B2 |
Electrical junction box
An electrical junction box includes: a sliding member slidable between a second position where a first connector is allowed to be inserted into a first connector fitting portion, and a first position where the first connector regularly fitted to the first connector fitting portion is held between the sliding member and the first connector fitting portion, and a second connector is allowed to be inserted into a second connector fitting portion; and a locking projection with which a locking arm of the sliding member is locked. The locking projection includes: a first inclined wall inclined in a direction away from the first connector fitting portion as extended toward the first connector fitting portion from the second connector fitting portion; a second inclined wall inclined in a direction approaching the first connector fitting portion; and a third wall perpendicular to an outer surface of the first connector fitting portion. |
| US09137907B2 |
Electronic device
An electronic device includes a main body, a display, and a support element. The support element has one end being connected pivotally to the display and the other end being connected pivotally to the main body. The support element includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, and a control device. The control device is used to control the connecting relationship among the display, the first connecting member and the second connecting member, so as the freedom degree of the position relationship between the display and the main body is adjustable. |
| US09137900B2 |
Electronic component incorporated substrate and method for manufacturing electronic component incorporated substrate
An electronic component incorporated substrate includes a first substrate and a second substrate electrically connected to each other by a spacer unit. An electronic component is mounted on the first substrate and arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate. A first encapsulating resin is formed between the first substrate and the second substrate to encapsulate the electronic component. A second encapsulating resin is formed on a first surface of the first encapsulating resin to fill a space between the first encapsulating resin and the second substrate. The spacer unit includes a stacked structure of a first solder ball, a metal post, and a second solder ball stacked in a stacking direction of the first substrate and the second substrate. |
| US09137897B2 |
Electronic device and method for manufacturing electronic device
An electronic device includes a glass substrate, an electronic element mounted on one surface of the glass substrate, a cover body covering the electronic element and bonded to the glass substrate and a through electrode penetrating from one surface to the other surface of the glass substrate. The through electrode is composed of an iron-nickel based alloy and; and a nickel film is formed on an end face of the through electrode exposing on the other surface of the glass substrate and on the other surface of the glass substrate located in the vicinity of the end face. |
| US09137896B2 |
Wiring substrate
A wiring substrate includes a first insulating layer, an adhesion insulating layer formed under the first insulating layer and an outer face of the adhesion insulating layer is made to a roughened face, a first wiring layer formed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer formed on the first insulating layer, and in which a first via hole reaching the first wiring layer is provided, a second wiring layer formed on the second insulating layer, and connected to the first wiring layer through the first via hole, a second via hole formed in the adhesion insulating layer and the first insulating layer, and reaching the first wiring layer, and a third wiring layer formed on the outer face of the adhesion insulating layer, and connected to the first wiring layer through the second via hole. |
| US09137892B2 |
Laminated structure, method of manufacturing laminated structure, and electronic apparatus
A laminated structure includes a first substrate, an adhesive, a graphene, and a second substrate. The adhesive is provided on a principal surface of the first substrate, and the adhesive has a storage elastic modulus of 7.2*104 Pa or more and 6.1*105 Pa or less at 23° C. The graphene is bonded to the adhesive, and the graphene has one or a plurality of layers. The second substrate is bonded to the graphene. |
| US09137885B2 |
DC power supply device, and control method for DC power supply device
Intermittent short-circuit control is performed in the ignition mode, thereby allowing short-circuit current to flow in the current source step-down type chopper. Energy of the short-circuit current is temporarily accumulated in the inductor provided in the current source step-down type chopper. The accumulated energy boosts the output voltage from the direct current power supply device during the period until the next short circuiting, via the current, the multiphase inverter, and the rectifier. The voltage boosting operation where accumulation of the current energy by short circuiting and boosting of the output voltage by conduction are repeated, controls an increase of the output voltage which is applied to the plasma generator. |
| US09137884B2 |
Apparatus and method for plasma processing
The present invention discloses an apparatus for plasma processing comprising of a chamber for plasma processing with an external wall, and at least one induction coil for providing a radio frequency induction field that is adjacent to the chamber. It further includes an end terminal of the induction coil that is connected to a radio frequency power supply, another end terminal of the induction coil that is open-ended, and a grounded terminal of the induction coil that is located at substantially central position of the induction coil. |
| US09137883B2 |
Robust, flexible and lightweight dielectric barrier discharge actuators using nanofoams/aerogels
Robust, flexible, lightweight, low profile enhanced performance dielectric barrier discharge actuators (plasma actuators) based on aerogels/nanofoams with controlled pore size and size distribution as well as pore shape. The plasma actuators offer high body force as well as high force to weight ratios (thrust density). The flexibility and mechanical robustness of the actuators allows them to be shaped to conform to the surface to which they are applied. Carbon nanotube (CNT) based electrodes serve to further decrease the weight and profile of the actuators while maintaining flexibility while insulating nano-inclusions in the matrix enable tailoring of the mechanical properties. Such actuators are required for flow control in aeronautics and moving machinery such as wind turbines, noise abatement in landing gear and rotary wing aircraft and other applications. |
| US09137882B2 |
Electrostatic capacity type touch screen panel for display device and method of manufacturing the same
A touch screen panel includes a substrate having an electrode forming part, a routing wire forming part and a pad forming part; a plurality of first electrode serials arranged in a first direction in the electrode forming part; a plurality of second electrode serials arranged in a second direction crossing over the first direction in the electrode forming part, and electrically insulated from the plurality of first electrode serials by an insulation; and at least one static electricity discharging pattern formed in the electrode forming part, and connected with any one of the first electrode serials and the second electrode serials. |
| US09137874B2 |
Illumination and grow light system and associated methods
An illumination and grow light system and associated methods are provided to produce an emission spectrum which may be optimized for plant response curve, as well as provide high quality light with respect to the human response curve. Embodiments of the present invention may include highly efficient tunable lamps and associated modulation controls that allow specific radiation wavelength bands to be manipulated, the emission direction and intensity to be varied, and the output power to be coordinated to create high fluxes of photosynthetic active radiation while maintaining a desirable color temperature and high color rendering index. |
| US09137873B2 |
Overcurrent handling for a lighting device
The present disclosure relates to a lighting device that employs at least one string of LEDs as a lighting source. The string of LEDs is coupled in series with a first switch, wherein the string of LEDs and the first switch are coupled between a power supply node and ground. During a normal operation mode, a system controller is configured to operate the first switch to deliver a drive current to the string of LEDs from the power supply node. The system controller is associated with circuitry that allows the system controller to monitor the drive current and determine when an overcurrent condition occurs. Upon detecting the overcurrent condition, the system controller will open the first switch to stop the drive current from flowing through the string of LEDs. |
| US09137870B2 |
Device and method for communication between an electronic module and a detection sensor in the presence of a light source
Method for communication between an electronic module and a sensor having a light source and being supplied by supply line, the electronic module measuring the modulations of the intensity of the current in the line. The sensor drives a gradual turning on/turning off of the light source by a first modulation of the intensity of the current such that: the light source is turned off, respectively turned on, when the intensity of the current is in a low, respectively high, state, and the light source illuminates, respectively turns off, when the duty ratio of the intensity of the current varies from the high state to the low state and vice versa. During detection, the sensor dispatches a second modulation through the light source, however if the light source is turning on (or off), this is interrupted and the intensity of current is forced to the high (or low) state. |
| US09137869B2 |
Illumination apparatus and lighting circuit
An illumination apparatus includes a light emitting unit having at least one first light emitting element and at least one second light emitting element connected in series with each other. Further, the illumination apparatus includes a keying circuit for electrically closing a first power supply path which passes through both the first and the second light emitting element from the power supply circuit or the capacitive element or a second power supply path which passes through the first light emitting element without passing through the second light emitting element from the capacitive element. The keying circuit is set in a state in which the first power supply path is electrically closed during a power supply, and is set in a state in which the second power supply path is electrically closed when a reduction in quantity of charges of the capacitive element is detected after the power supply is stopped. |
| US09137868B2 |
Light emitting element driving circuit
In accordance with an embodiment, a light emitting element driving circuit includes a comparator having an input connected to smoothing circuit and an output connected to a voltage-dividing circuit through a transistor. A drain-to-source resistance of the transistor is connected in parallel with a portion of the voltage dividing circuit. An output signal of the voltage dividing circuit is connected to another comparator that generates a drive transistor drive signal. The drive transistor is connected to one or more light emitting elements. In accordance with another embodiment, a reference voltage is generated in response to a rectified signal and compared with a sense voltage to generate a drive signal that is used to drive the drive transistor. Light is emitted from the one or more light emitting elements in response to the drive signal and the rectified voltage being greater than the forward voltage drops of the one or more light emitting elements. |
| US09137867B2 |
Lighting device
The disclosed lighting device gradually adjusts from an incandescent bulb color having a 30% dimming rate to a daylight color having a 100% dimming rate. The overall dimming rate is changed to a linear shape, and the ratio of the dimming rates of the incandescent bulb color and the daylight color is adjusted. When changing from the incandescent bulb color to the daylight color, the color is changed to an intermediate color that mixes the incandescent bulb color and the daylight color, and then ultimately is changed to the daylight color, and so it is possible to change the dimming rate without causing discomfort or annoyance in humans, and a comfortable and natural light environment is achieved. |
| US09137862B2 |
Slew rate controlled transistor driver
A gate driver circuit providing a slew-rate controlled gate control signal while minimizing the stretching of the gate control signal relative to the input control pulse. Control logic effects two threshold voltage levels. When the gate control signal is between the two threshold voltage levels, the slew rate of the gate control signal is controlled such that the gate of the transistor being driven is driven softly. When the gate control signal is less than the first threshold voltage level or greater than the second threshold voltage level, the gate of the transistor being driven is driven hard. In one embodiment, the first and second threshold voltage levels are set such that the on/off threshold of the transistor being driven is between the two threshold voltage levels. Thus the slew rate of the gate control signal is controlled such that the gate of the transistor being driven is driven softly when the transistor being driven is transitioning from off to on, or from on to off, thereby minimizing harmonics. At all other times, the gate control signal rises and falls rapidly so as to minimize the stretching of the gate control signal relative to the input control pulse. |
| US09137861B2 |
Circuit for the operation of at least one LED
A circuit for operating at least one LED (“driver circuit”) includes input terminals to be connected to an input or operating voltage in the form of a direct current (DC) voltage or a rectified alternating current (AC) voltage, and output terminals to be connected to a load circuit containing the at least one LED. The circuit includes a clocked switch and a control circuit for clocking the switch. The control circuit is in the form of an integrated circuit (IC) and is provided with input and output pins. The control circuit generates a clock signal for the switch depending on at least two actual value signals, such that there is a control loop with the manipulated variable “clocking of the switch.” |
| US09137856B2 |
Apparatus and methods for unfreezing vehicle door window from window seal
An apparatus and method for unfreezing a window from a window seal are disclosed. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the apparatus includes a vehicle door assembly including a vehicle door and a window. The apparatus further includes a window seal that receives an upper edge of the window and a heating element coupled to the upper edge or the window seal. The system further includes a power source that provides an electrical current to the heating element and a control module configured to receive a remote unlock signal from a remote device, obtain a temperature signal indicating a temperature in response to the remote unlock signal, compare the temperature indicated by the temperature signal to a temperature threshold, and cause the power source to provide the electrical current to the heating element when the temperature is less than the temperature threshold. |
| US09137853B2 |
Multi-mode base station and method for sending/receiving signal thereof
A multi-mode base station and a method for sending signals thereof are provided. In the base station, each base-band single-board is connected to a corresponding radio frequency (RF) unit through an exchange bus, and the base-band single-boards of different modes are intermixed by using the compatibility of the exchange bus. |
| US09137845B2 |
Method for transmitting a signal related to a change in transmission format
Provided is a method of transmitting a signal related to a change in a transmission format. In a wireless communication system which uses an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol or a single carrier-frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbol, the method includes: transmitting, from a base station to a receiver, a radio resource control (RRC) message indicating that a first transmission format is changed to a second transmission format; and if an acknowledgement (ACK) message for the RRC message is not received, repetitively transmitting the RRC message, from the base station to the receiver, together with data based on the first transmission format or data based on the second transmission format, wherein the data based on the first transmission format and the data based on the second transmission format transmitted together with the RRC message are alternately selected. |
| US09137843B2 |
Method and node for controlling bearer related resources as well as a corresponding system and computer program
The present invention relates to a method for controlling bearer related resources by a policy and charging system in a communication network and a node for controlling bearer related resources, as well as to a system comprising the node, and to a computer program configured to make effective use of bearer resources of a telecommunication network. The method for controlling bearer related resources by a policy and charging system in a communication network comprises the steps of obtaining, at a network node, bearer support information indicating whether a user equipment, UE, supports a dedicated bearer of a plurality of bearers, which is a bearer dedicated to a service session; setting a time period for the service session according to the obtained bearer support information; and instructing a modification of a reserved bearer resource assigned to the service session when the set time period expires. |
| US09137842B2 |
Methods of UE providing speed information to network
A method of user equipment (UE) providing speed information to network is provided. The method supports obtaining speed information of the UE, detecting a trigger event and providing the speed information to the network by one or more predefined means. The speed information is taken from the group consisting of a physical speed, a physical speed mapped on a pre-defined speed group, and a virtual speed. The virtual speed comprises a cell change count or a number cells that the UE has requested RRC connection during a certain period. The UE can send the speed information to an eNB via RRC connection establishment, RRC connection re-establishment, a new IE in RRC measure report or a new RRC message. |
| US09137841B2 |
Enhancement for scheduling request triggering based on traffic condition
A method for scheduling request triggering based on traffic condition is provided. The method supports detecting a traffic condition, determining a modified scheduling request (SR) trigger based on the traffic condition and transmitting a scheduling request to a base station based on the modified SR trigger. In one embodiment, the modified SR trigger is a data buffer or a data generation rate exceeding a threshold. In one embodiment, the threshold is related to a prioritized Bit Rate (PBR) or a bucket Size Duration (BSD) or both. In another embodiment, the threshold is configured by the base station based on a size of the smallest grant under the traffic condition. In one embodiment, the threshold is updated when DRX state changes. In another embodiment, during DRX sleep state, the SR period is longer or SR is stopped. |
| US09137839B2 |
Control domain change based on network registration condition
Aspects describe a separate domain selection function that is utilized as the first function in a communication path for a communication that is to be connected to a user device registered in a first network or a second network. If a result of the domain selection function indicates call control should be maintained by first network (e.g., user device is registered with first network or a network with which first network has a control relationship), call control of the communication remains with first network. If the result of the domain selection function indicates the user device is registered with second network, call control is suspended by the first network, which allows the communication to bypass the first network. |
| US09137837B1 |
Managing termination of point-to-point sessions between electronic devices
Proxy mobile IP provides mobility to a mobile device that is not equipped to perform client mobile IP by moving the mobile IP signaling responsibility from the mobile device into the network. A network element performs the mobile IP signaling on behalf of the mobile device. In one scenario, the mobile device establishes a PPP session with a foreign agent, with no mobile IP signaling on top of the PPP session. The foreign agent then performs mobile IP signaling with the mobile device's home agent to negotiate a proxy mobile IP session for the device. Once the session registration lifetime has been established by the foreign agent and the home agent, the foreign agent communicates the registration lifetime to the mobile device by way of a PPP vendor-specific packet. |
| US09137836B2 |
Inter-device communication authorization and data sniffing in wireless communication systems
Systems and methods for user equipment (UE) for inter-device communication authorization and data sniffing in wireless communication systems are provided. A UE may communicate directly with another UE over a direct inter-device communication link when they are located in proximity. The UE may receive data sniffing related parameters corresponding to the inter-device communication link from a network entity, e.g. a mobile management entity (MME). The UE may store data exchanged over the inter-device communication link in a buffer and upload the stored data to a secure server in a network periodically or upon receiving a request from the network. Long term evolution (LTE) downlink or uplink radio resources may be used for the data exchange over the inter-device communication link. |
| US09137830B2 |
Integrated circuit for random access method and apparatus
Integrated circuitry for use in a mobile radio station includes a receiver that receives control information and a data processor coupled to the receiver. The data processor provides a number of different sequences that are derived from a base sequence. The different derived sequences are respectively associated with different amounts of data or reception qualities, have different cyclic shifts, and are arranged in an increasing order of the cyclic shifts. The data processor randomly selects a sequence from a subset of the derived sequences. The subset of derived sequences depends on the control information. |
| US09137825B2 |
Scanning of channels based on channel availability information
A user device comprising a communication interface; one or more memories to store instructions; and one or more processors to execute the instructions to receive channel-availability information that indicates one or more channels supported by and available to the user device; store the channel-availability information; scan one or more channels indicated in the channel-availability information; and connect to a network using one of the one or more channels. |
| US09137820B2 |
Method for transmitting scheduling information in mobile communication system and femtocell base station apparatus using the same
A method for transmitting scheduling information in a mobile communication system and a femtocell base station apparatus using the same are provided. Scheduling information can be transmitted using a hierarchical scheduling scheme in which a femtocell base station is allocated resources from a macrocell base station and the femtocell base station then allocates resources to femto users within its own resource region. |
| US09137817B2 |
Device, system and method of scheduling communications by multiple medium-access-control (MAC) modules
Some demonstrative embodiments relate to scheduling communications by multiple medium-access-control (MAC) modules. For example, a wireless communication unit may be configured to receive binding information from a host, the binding information defining a plurality of bindings between a plurality of MACs and a plurality of different Physical layer (PHY) communication channels sharing a common PHY module, wherein a binding of the bindings binds between a PHY channel of the PHY channels and one or more MACs of the plurality of MACs, and wherein, based on the binding information, the wireless communication unit is to schedule communication of the plurality of MACs over the plurality of PHY channels. |
| US09137816B2 |
Coexistence timer mechanism for wireless communication systems
A common coexistence timer can be implemented on collocated or proximate wireless radio devices so that timing information associated with scheduled communications of each of the wireless radio devices is communicated with a common time reference. The coexistence timer provides the common time reference for the wireless radio devices. A transmitting wireless radio device can calculate a difference time associated with the timing information of a scheduled communication and can provide the difference time to a receiving wireless radio device. The receiving wireless radio device can convert the difference time into a time format corresponding to the receiving wireless radio device's local time reference. This can minimize interference between the collocated or proximate wireless radio devices, thus minimizing performance degradation, packet collision, and interference. Moreover, this also can eliminate timing errors due to the wireless radio devices using different timers operating at different frequencies or being synchronized to different crystals. |
| US09137813B2 |
Uplink power control using received reference signal
A user equipment (UE) includes circuitry configured to receive control information on a downlink control channel from a base station. The control information indicates an allocation of an uplink channel and the control information is sent in response to the base station determining that the UE is to send an adaptive modulation and coding report. The circuitry is further configured in response to the control information to transmit a communication in the allocated uplink channel in a time interval including at least one time slot. The communication includes an adaptive modulation and coding report, and a transmission power level of the communication is derived from the control information and a pathloss measured by the UE. |
| US09137812B2 |
Apparatus and methods for improving performance in multi-flow communication
A method that includes determining a multi-flow configuration for a multi-flow communication of a user equipment (UE), wherein the multi-flow configuration identifies whether a multi-frequency configuration is utilized and whether multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication is configured for at least one cell in the multi-flow communication, determining one or more cell groups based on the multi-flow configuration, and determining at least one of a channel quality indicator (CQI) repetition rule or a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) repetition rule for the multi-flow communication based on one or more of the multi-flow configuration or the one or more cell groups. |
| US09137805B2 |
Spectrum management in dynamic spectrum access wireless systems
A plurality of MAC/PHY stacks is adapted to support wireless devices. A superframe structure includes a preamble and a superframe initialization header. |
| US09137804B2 |
Systems and methods for different TDD configurations in carrier aggregation
Systems and Methods for supporting carrier aggregation with different TDD configurations are proposed. In a first novel aspect, corresponding apparatus structure is described. In a second novel aspect, aggregation constraint is discussed. In a third novel aspect, transceiving mechanisms over multiple component carriers in DL/UL overlapped subframes are proposed. For simultaneous DL/UL transceiving, band combination indication methods are proposed, and HARQ feedback mechanisms are proposed. For non-simultaneous DL/UL transceiving, transceiving configuration methods are proposed, and the same HARQ feedback mechanisms are proposed. In a fourth novel aspect, CQI/RLM/RRM measurement mechanisms are proposed. In a fifth novel aspect, UE capability signaling mechanisms are proposed. The objective is to support flexible aggregation, to enhance DL data throughout, and to improve UL transmit power efficiency. |
| US09137802B2 |
DL MU-MIMO operation in LTE-A
Techniques for scheduling UEs are described. In one design, a scheduler (e.g., for a cell) may receive channel direction information (CDI) and channel strength information (CSI) from a plurality of UEs. In one design, the CDI from each UE may include at least one eigenvector, and the CSI from each UE may include at least one singular value corresponding to the at least one eigenvector. The scheduler may schedule at least one UE among the plurality of UEs for data transmission based on the CDI and CSI from the plurality of UEs. The scheduler may select the at least one UE based on a metric related to signal-to-leakage ratio (SLR), or spectral efficiency, etc. In one design, the scheduler may evaluate the performance of different sets of UEs to determine whether to schedule one UE for single-user MIMO or multiple UEs for multi-user MIMO. |
| US09137800B2 |
Method for communicating with a user equipment using plurality of transmit antennas
The invention relates to a method for communicating with a user equipment using a plurality of transmit antennas being capable of generating transmission beams in a communication network. The method includes deciding whether to generate either a first transmission beam using a first beamforming approach or to generate a second transmission beam using a second beamforming approach in dependency on a network condition. Based upon a result of the deciding, the first transmission beam or the second transmission beam is transmitted towards the user equipment. |
| US09137799B2 |
Spatial multiplexing in a cellular network
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing spatial multiplexing in conjunction with the one or more multiple access protocols during the broadcast of information in a wireless network. A subscriber unit for use in a cellular system is disclosed. The subscriber unit includes: spatially separate receivers, a spatial processor, and a combiner. The spatially separate receivers receive the assigned channel composite signals resulting from the spatially separate transmission of the subscriber downlink datastream(s). The spatial processor is configurable in response to a control signal transmitted by the base station to separate the composite signals into estimated substreams based on information obtained during the transmission of known data patterns from at least one of the base stations. The spatial processor signals the base stations when a change of a spatial transmission configuration is required. The combiner combines the estimated substreams into a corresponding subscriber datastream. |
| US09137796B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring scheduling information
Provided are a method and apparatus for monitoring scheduling information in a wireless communication system. A terminal monitors a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) having first scheduling information, and monitors a second PDCCH having second scheduling information based on the first scheduling information. The second scheduling information includes resource allocation for a plurality of serving cells. |
| US09137794B2 |
Method, base station, UE, and system for sending and receiving PDCCH signaling
A method, a base station, a User Equipment (UE) and a system for sending and receiving Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) signaling are disclosed. A method includes determining locations of a first search space and a second search space of a User Equipment (UE). A method also includes sending PDCCH signaling with no Carrier Indication Field (CIF) to the UE in a physically overlapped region between the first search space and the second search space if the physically overlapped region exists and a length of the PDCCH signaling with no CIF in the first search space is equal to a length of PDCCH signaling with the CIF in the second search space. |
| US09137793B2 |
Method for efficiently performing initial access in a multi-carrier broadband wireless access system
A method for efficiently performing an initial access in an MS in a multi-carrier broadband wireless access system is disclosed. The method includes scanning a plurality of carriers supported by a BS, and selecting one of the scanned carriers as a first carrier and receiving an SFH of the first carrier. The SFH of the first carrier includes at least one of a field indicating load status of the first carrier and recommended network entry carrier information including information about a second carrier in good load status. |
| US09137791B2 |
Method for switching operating carrier at a user equipment in wireless communication system
According to one embodiment, a method of operating carriers at a user equipment in a wireless communication system includes: configuring, by the user equipment, a plurality of carriers including a first carrier and a second carrier; receiving control information on an activation of the second carrier among the plurality of carriers; activating the second carrier; and deactivating the activated second carrier after a certain amount of time. The certain amount of time is based on a valid time of the activation of the second carrier. The valid time is defined by a number of frames. |
| US09137789B2 |
Mobile terminal apparatus and method of transmitting an uplink control information signal
To suppress and minimize changes from the method of transmitting an uplink control information in the LTE system, while supporting increases in the system band and increases in the transmission layer when there is a PUSCH signal transmitted in the same subframe, provided is a configuration for generating a UCI signal for a base station apparatus (20) in a mobile communication system having a system band comprised of a plurality of component carriers, multiplexing the UCI signal into a PUSCH signal transmitted in the same subframe as the UCI signal in a user specific component carrier used in transmission of a PUCCH signal, and transmitting the PUSCH signal into which the UCI signal is multiplexed to the base station apparatus (20). |
| US09137786B2 |
Method and apparatus for transceiving channel availability query and response in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for transceiving channel availability query and response in a wireless communication system. According to the present invention, a scheme is provided to enable devices which operate in TVWS to request/response information on an available channel in a plurality of geographical locations in a more accurate and efficient manner. |
| US09137784B2 |
Resource distribution method for throughput maximization in cooperative cognitive SIMO network
A resource distribution method for throughput maximization in a cooperative cognitive SIMO network. The primary user sends data after receiving a cooperation confirmation message, and the cognitive network keeps silent, receives the information data of the primary user and simultaneously decodes the data. The cognitive users which successfully decode the data send the data of themselves to the cognitive base station and forward the data of the primary user; the cognitive users which cannot successfully decode the data only send the data of themselves and do not forward the data of the primary user. The cognitive base station eliminates the interference of the data of primary user and performs beamforming for the signals. According to the combined adjustment the maximum throughput performance can be realized in the cognitive network. |
| US09137779B2 |
Dedicated carrier configuration method and device and multimedia broadcast multicast service transmission method
The present invention discloses a MBMS dedicated carrier configuration method, including: at least one of MBMS dedicated carriers in a cell is chose and assigned MBMS control information of all MBMS dedicated carriers and MBMS system information; and frequency information and scrambling code group ID information of at least one MBMS dedicated carriers assigned bundling information is assigned to conventional service carriers in the cell. The present invention also discloses a device for realizing said method and a MBMS transmission method based on dedicated carriers assigned the bundling information. The present invention realizes MBMS bundling on the dedicated carriers, and UE can receive services by directly sensing the carriers bearing control signaling, and thus it can reduce meaningless switching sense by the UE and save power. |
| US09137775B2 |
Method for enhancing positioning measurement and communications apparatus utilizing the same
A communications apparatus is disclosed. A receiving module receives an observed time difference of arrival (OTDOA) request and a search list of cells provided by a network at a second time point. A comparing module compares the received search list to a stored search list of cells which is received at a first time point and stored in a database. A searching module searches at least one of the cells from the received search list by using different search ranges adjusted according to the comparison result, and stores the at least one of the cells in the database. A measuring module performs OTDOA measurements by detecting positioning reference signals (PRS) from the at least one of the cells. |
| US09137772B2 |
System and method for mass calibration of radio frequency fingerprint (RF-FP) location measurements
Systems and methods for location tracking in a communication network. Base stations transmit downlink signals to a plurality of subscriber terminals to define a mapping between geographical locations and respective sets of signal strengths of the downlink signals received from the base stations at the geographical locations. A subset of the subscriber terminals may be selected, and for each subscriber terminal in the subset, first measurements of a geographical location of the subscriber terminal irrespective of the downlink signals is made. Second measurements of the downlink signals received at the subscriber terminal at the geographical location is made and the mapping of the subscribers terminals is updated responsively to the first and second measurements. The geographical locations of the subscriber terminals is updated using the updated mapping. |
| US09137770B2 |
Emergency circuit-mode call support
Techniques to support emergency circuit-mode calls are described. The techniques may be used for various 3GPP and 3GPP2 networks, various location architectures, and various types of User Equipment (UE). A UE establishes a circuit-mode call with a wireless network for emergency services. The UE interacts with a location server indicated by the wireless network. The UE performs user plane location with the location server during the circuit-mode call to obtain a position estimate for the UE. The UE communicates with a PSAP, which may be selected based on the position estimate, for the emergency circuit-mode call. The UE may perform positioning with the location server to obtain an updated position estimate for the UE, e.g., whenever requested by the PSAP. |
| US09137766B2 |
Systems and methods for synchronization of wireless devices in a peer-to-peer network
Methods, devices, and computer program products for synchronization of wireless devices in a peer-to-peer network are described herein. In one aspect, a method for synchronizing a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The method includes receiving, at the wireless communication apparatus, one or more messages including one or more received time values. The method further includes updating a time value of a clock signal of the wireless communication apparatus to a value derived from the received time values in response to determining that a magnitude of a difference between the time value and the derived time value is greater than a threshold. |
| US09137765B2 |
Methods and arrangements in radio communication systems
Methods and arrangements for adjusting timing of transmissions in a radio communication system in which aggregation of component carriers is employed are disclosed. A base station sends a first TA command applicable to a first component carrier to a user equipment. A need to maintain different uplink transmission timing for the first user equipment component carrier and second uplink component carrier is detected by the base station. The base station then sends a second TA command based on the detected need to maintain different uplink transmission timing. The second TA command is applicable to uplink transmissions on the first component carrier and/or the second component carrier. The user equipment adjusts uplink transmissions on the first component carrier and/or the second uplink component carrier based on the second timing advance command. |
| US09137763B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enabling distributed frequency synchronization
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with enabling distributed frequency synchronization based on an average clock rate. In one example, a UE is equipped to receive a synchronization signal from each of one or more UEs, perform an averaging process to generate an average clock rate based at least on the received synchronization signals, and adjust an internal clock rate based on the average clock rate. In another example, a UE is equipped to adjust an internal clock rate of a UE based on timing information provided by a GPS, select a sequence to communicate a synchronization signal transmission from a subset of sequences reserved for GPS connected UEs, and transmit the synchronization signal based on the adjusted internal clock rate. |
| US09137761B2 |
Transmission power control method, communication device and program
There is provided a method for controlling a transmission power in a second communication service making secondary usage of a spectrum assigned to a first communication service, with use of any node of one or more secondary usage node that transmits a radio signal of the second communication service, comprising the steps of: acquiring an acceptable interference power allocated to the second communication service; calculating a total sum of interference power levels on the first communication service based on transmission powers respectively required for the one or more secondary usage node; and excluding any secondary usage node of the one or more secondary usage node from allocation of the transmission power when the calculated total sum of interference power levels is larger than the acceptable interference power. |
| US09137760B2 |
Other-cell interference-based uplink control
A method and corresponding equipment for use by a mobile station and/or a radio access network, for altering one or more characteristics of transmissions of the mobile station to a base transceiver station of the radio access network in respect to power and/or modulation and/or coding of the transmissions, based on monitoring broadcast transmissions from other base transceiver stations of the radio access network and determining an estimate of the likelihood of transmissions by the mobile station interfering with communication between the other base transceiver stations and the mobile stations in communication with those other base transceiver stations. |
| US09137755B2 |
Preamble based uplink power control for LTE
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate utilizing power control preambles with closed loop power control techniques in a wireless communication environment. An uplink grant can be transferred over a downlink (e.g., a first uplink grant after uplink inactivity), and a power control preamble can be sent over an uplink in response to the uplink grant. According to an example, transmission of the power control preamble can be explicitly scheduled and/or implicitly scheduled. The power control preamble can be transmitted at a power level determined by an access terminal utilizing an open loop power control mechanism. A base station can analyze the power control preamble and generate a power control command based thereupon to correct the power level employed by the access terminal. The access terminal can thereafter utilize the power control command to adjust the power level for uplink data transmission. |
| US09137751B2 |
Concurrent control method for a communication device embedded with Wi-Fi direct
A concurrent control method for a communication device embedded with Wi-Fi Direct includes dynamically adjusting a target beacon transmission time (TBTT) of a Wi-Fi Direct connection according to a time difference between the TBTT of the communication device and a nearest TBTT of a wireless local area network access point (WLAN AP) and whether a channel for the Wi-Fi Direct connection and a channel for the WLAN connection are different. |
| US09137748B2 |
Connection close packet transmission method and apparatus
A connection close-related packet transmission method and apparatus is provided for improving power saving efficiency of a power-constrained mobile terminal. The connection close-related packet transmission method includes establishing a radio connection with a server; determining whether a preconfigured connection close timeout elapses without connection activity after the connection establishment; buffering, when the connection close timeout elapses, a connection close-related packet; and transmitting, when another packet transmission is predicted, the connection-related packet to the server. The connection close-related packet transmission method and apparatus is advantageous in power saving efficiency of a power-constrained mobile terminal. |
| US09137743B2 |
Method and mobile device for automatically choosing communication network
A method for automatically choosing a communication network is applicable to a mobile device. When receiving a communication request for a contact from a user interface, a processing unit determines a status of a network card module according to the communication request. When the network card module is enabled, the network card module sends a network packet and receives a corresponding response packet to determine whether the network card module is connected to the Internet. When the network card module is connected to the Internet, the network card module sends an inquiry packet to a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) proxy server and receives a corresponding response packet to determine whether the contact is online. When the contact is online, the network card module carries out the communication request through the VoIP proxy server. Otherwise, the communication request is carried out by a cellular phone module. |
| US09137737B2 |
Systems and methods for monitoring of background application events
Systems, methods, and devices for implementing a communication access policy are described herein. In some aspects, a wireless device is configured to execute a plurality of applications and to communicate with a communication network. The wireless device comprises a receiver configured to receive a plurality of rules specifying how one or more of the plurality of applications should communicate with the communication network. The wireless device comprises a processor configured to delay communication by one or more of the plurality of applications in compliance with the rules. The processor is further configured to allow transmission of the communication by one or more of the plurality of applications after termination of the delay. In one aspect, the processor is configured to separately record communication statistics based on whether the device is in a background or foreground state. |
| US09137734B2 |
Mobile device configuration based on status and location
A computing device's settings, specifically audio or video settings are adjusted based on a status and/or location of an event participant carrying the device. An event coordination service or an application on the computing device may match the participant's status and location to event location information. Upon matching either status or location, the computing device's settings may be modified to prevent audio feedback by any audio equipment at the event location or similar video interference. |
| US09137733B2 |
Dynamic control of cell reselection parameters
Providing for dynamic cell resource management in wireless networking is described herein. By way of example, user terminal access parameters can be dynamically modified based on changing load conditions at one or more cells of a wireless network. For instance, resource capacity of a wireless network cell can be monitored over time to identify a potential resource overload condition. If such a condition occurs, a load management algorithm can be executed that progressively restricts or de-restricts user terminal access parameters based on changing load conditions. In particular aspects, the load management algorithm can analyze relative cell load of neighboring cells to implement coordinated load sharing. By dynamically modifying user access parameters, traffic can be directed toward or away from cells operating at low or high capacity, respectively. |
| US09137726B2 |
Method for selecting an adaptive CoMP scheme
Disclosed is a method for selecting an adaptive CoMP scheme for a user equipment. The user equipment selects a first CoMP set which can maximize a signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) from among CoMP sets while performing a first coordinate multi-point (CoMP) scheme. Then, the user equipment compares the current data transmission rate thereof and the required minimum data transmission rate thereof and the required minimum data transmission rate while performing the first CoMP scheme and selecting the first CoMP set. Subsequently, the user equipment which performs the first CoMP scheme selects a second CoMP scheme on the basis of the result of the comparison in accordance with a predetermined sequence of CoMP schemes. |
| US09137718B2 |
Cell reselection based on multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) metrics
A method for cell reselection by a wireless communication device is described. The method includes camping on a serving cell in idle mode. A neighbor cell is detected. A serving cell rank is computed for the serving cell. A neighbor cell rank is computed for the neighbor cell based on multimedia broadcast multicast service metrics. Cell reselection is determined based on the serving cell rank and the neighbor cell rank. |
| US09137717B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing mobility events in a dual-frequency dual-cell wireless communication network
A method operable at a user equipment configured for wireless communication over a dual-frequency, dual-cell network is disclosed includes a primary carrier and a secondary carrier. The method includes maintaining an active set corresponding to the primary carrier; maintaining a virtual active set corresponding to the secondary carrier; and transmitting a control signal including a virtual mobility event corresponding to a change in the virtual active set. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed. |
| US09137715B2 |
System and method for supporting bandwidth requests in a handover
A system and method for supporting bandwidth requests in a handover are provided. A method for mobile station operations includes transmitting a first message, receiving a second message responsive to the first message, and initiating a handover with the target controller and a serving controller. The first message includes an incremental bandwidth request, the second message includes an indicator indicating that a target controller has allocated resources at least equal to a total bandwidth required by the mobile station, and the total bandwidth required by the mobile station is provided by a serving controller or maintained by the target controller. |
| US09137713B2 |
Apparatus and methods of hand-in to a femto node
Methods and apparatuses are provided for causing active hand-in of a device from a macrocell base station to a femto node, which can be an inter-frequency hand-in. The femto node can broadcast a beacon over an operating frequency of the macrocell base station, and the macrocell base station, and/or one or more network components, can identify the femto node based on one or more parameters reported by the device from receiving the beacon. The beacon can be transmitted at varying powers to ensure active hand-in triggering, mitigate interference and/or can be powered on and off for such purposes. In addition, a macrocell base station can regulate compressed mode periods during which a device can measure the femto node based on receiving information regarding device proximity to the femto node, or a device can generate proximity indication messages base on measuring the beacon signals, etc. |
| US09137711B2 |
Method and apparatus for implementing a wait period for single radio continuity transfers
Various methods for implementing a wait period for single radio continuity transfers are provided. One example method includes obtaining a timer value, where the timer value is based on a communications delay to a far end device. The communications delay to the far end device may be determined during session establishment with the far end device. The example method also includes implementing a wait period for a duration of the timer value, and, in response to completion of the wait period, triggering a single radio continuity network transfer. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided. |
| US09137710B2 |
Switching system and method of ringing session with CRBT
A method for transferring an alerting phase session with customized alerting tone is disclosed. The method includes: when the transfer occurs in an alerting phase session with a customized alerting tone in the way of early session, a mobile switching center initiating a transfer of a normal media negotiation dialog and the MSC or customized alerting tones application server initiating a transfer of customized alerting tone session. A system for transferring an alerting phase session with customized alerting tone is also disclosed, and the system includes a mobile switching center and a customized alerting tones application server. In the present method and system, even the transfer from PS network to CS network occurs, the service experience of the calling user on the customized alerting tone session will not change, thus the normal call request is not affected and there is no need to modify the exiting IMS architecture. |
| US09137707B2 |
Method and a device for power reduction in an LTE system
A method for use in a wireless communications system in which there is at least a first mode which controls the traffic to and from user terminals in a cell within the system, so that there is downlink traffic in the system. The first node transmits downlink traffic in radio frames, each of which comprises sub-frames. The first node performs measurements on pre-defined system indicators in at least said first cell, and based on the results of said measurements, the first node is allowed to autonomously decide to vary the number of available down link sub-frames used for down link traffic in said down link radio frames and also to vary the content of the down link sub frames which are used, said decision being valid for a time which is specified by the first node. |
| US09137703B2 |
Technique for handling a data packet stream
A method of handling a data packet stream at different communication protocol layer levels of a communication protocol layer stack of an UMTS communication device is provided. The method comprises: Receiving a data packet stream at the communication device; Determining whether, in case of a loss of a data packet of the data packet stream, it is possible to retransmit the lost data packet to the communication device; and immediately transmitting data packets of the data packet stream succeeding the lost data packet from a MAC protocol layer level to a RLC protocol layer level if it is determined that the lost data packet cannot be retransmitted to the communication device, and otherwise storing data packets of the data packet stream succeeding the lost data packet for a third period of time at the MAC protocol layer level, which third period of time is longer than the second time period. |
| US09137702B2 |
Methods and devices for multipoint transmission
Methods and devices are provided whereby a cellular radio network, in particular a node in the network is configured to dynamically transmit data to UE from different cells while considering information that is not known to a central node, such as an RNC. This can in accordance with some embodiments be accomplished by decoupling the procedure of handling a set of cells form which simultaneous transmission of data to a UE can take place. |
| US09137701B2 |
Wireless end-user device with differentiated network access for background and foreground device applications
A wireless end-user device has wireless wide-area network (WWAN) and wireless local-area network (WLAN) modems. One or more processors determine when an application is running in a background state or as a foreground application. The processors control application access for Internet service activities through an application program interface (API). At a time when Internet service activities are communicated through the WWAN modem, the processors use a differential traffic control policy to selectively block and allow network access for an application based on the determination as to whether the application is running in a background state or as a foreground application. A different policy may apply to WLAN modem usage. |
| US09137700B2 |
Device, system, and method of media delivery optimization
A method for alleviation of congestion in a mobile communications network includes detecting congested cells in the mobile communications network, identifying subscribers with active data sessions in the congested cells; and optimizing band-width usage for at least one of the identified subscribers. A bandwidth optimization system includes a network sampling interface to receive at least subscriber, cell and data session identifiers from a network data packet sampler, where the sampler identifies the identifiers from internal data traffic within a mobile communications network, and a network awareness engine (NAE) to at least cross reference the identifiers with external data traffic output by the mobile communications network to at least detect congested cells and associated subscriber data sessions emanating from the mobile communications network. |
| US09137690B2 |
Multiple protocol session record mapper
A mapper for use in processing messages captured from a telecommunications network is disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more LTE messages are received from a LTE network, and one or more CDMA messages are received from a CDMA network. An LTE/CDMA mapper entry associated with the LTE and CDMA messages is identified. The LTE/CDMA mapper is associated with UE that is capable of operating on both the LTE and CDMA networks. The LTE and CDMA messages are processed using the LTE/CDMA mapper. The processing of the LTE and CDMA messages may comprise extracting parameters from the LTE or CDMA messages and storing the parameters to the LTE/CDMA mapper. The content in the LTE or CDMA messages may be deciphered using authentication parameters stored in the LTE/CDMA mapper. A generic client library may be used, for example, to access the LTE/CDMA mapper. |
| US09137683B1 |
Wireless network air-interface loading simulator
A first cell is selected as a center cell for testing. Downlink transmissions from a one or more surrounding cells are loaded with test load levels. The downlink transmissions, when loaded with test load levels, include a selected amount(s) of the data portions of their transmission frames carrying orthogonal channel noise (OCN). A performance indicator of the center cell is measured/determined while the surrounding cell(s) are transmitting test load levels and while the center cell is communicating user traffic between the center cell and a first plurality of wireless devices. The test load levels of the surrounding cells may also include user traffic in addition to the OCN. |
| US09137681B2 |
Device for round trip time measurements
An appliance facilitates localization of a station (STA) in a network, for example, a short-range wireless network. An automatic response to a request for a measurement related communication is provided. The appliance can include a radio frequency (RF) interface and a media access control (MAC) section. The MAC section can receive the request and generate the automatic response immediately after a uniform period that is uniform among any such appliance within the network. The appliance performs only the generation of the automatic response, though the response can include additional information such as (x, y) coordinates of the appliance. |
| US09137675B2 |
Operational constraints in LTE TDD systems using RF agile beam forming techniques
Methods and systems having improved capabilities are described for providing communications to a plurality of cellular mobile devices through generating m different sets of fixed position patterns of N RF beams across the ten contiguous one-millisecond LTE sub-frames of each LTE time-division duplexing (TDD) frame from an agile beam forming antenna system of a cellular LTE base transceiver station. The cellular LTE base transceiver station is in RF TDD communication with the plurality of cellular mobile devices within a cell coverage area of the cellular LTE base transceiver station. Each RF beam covers a sub-area of the cell coverage area where the m times N RF beam patterns cover the area of the cell coverage area. The value of m is 1≦m≦3 and each one of the m sets of N RF beam patterns is generated in one or more of the non-S one-millisecond sub-frames of an LTE frame. The m sets of N RF beams are generated across any ten contiguous one-millisecond sub-frames. The value of m is determined at least in-part from a selected LTE TDD uplink/downlink (U/D) configuration. |
| US09137674B2 |
Method, system, and device for transmitting startup phase indicator and selecting gateway node
Disclosed are a method, a system, and a device for transmitting a startup phase indicator and gateway node selection, relating to the technical field of wireless communications, for use in solving the problem in the prior art of the manner of selecting gateway nodes for a relay node (RN) by a mobility management entity (MME). In the present invention, during an attach process between the RN and the MME, the MME confirming whether or not a piece of information indicating the startup phase which the RN is currently performing is received, if yes, then on the basis of the information, confirming the startup phase which the RN is currently performing, if not, on the basis of a preconfigured rule of judging the startup phase of the RN, confirming the startup phase which the RN is currently performing; selecting the gateway nodes for the RN on the basis of the startup phase which the RN is currently performing. Employment of the present invention allows the MME to select the appropriate gateway node for the RN on the basis of the startup phase which the RN is currently performing. |
| US09137670B2 |
Method for detecting rogue devices operating in wireless and wired computer network environments
A management of wireless and wired computer network environments in which rogue and other devices that may affect the performance and/or security of the wireless computer network can be detected. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method and system of detecting all interfaces, Media Access Control (MAC) addresses and radio MAC addresses (BSSIDs) affiliated with a rogue device and compiling this information into a database. As a result, the present invention reduces the number of alerts that one rogue device can generate and increases the accuracy and speed of locating the rogue device within a network. |
| US09137668B2 |
Computing device with environment aware features
A method and mobile electronic device are provided which automatically adjust settings based on the environment of the mobile electronic device. The settings of the mobile electronic device which are adjusted may be security settings, filter settings, or status for instant messaging in dependence on the determined location of the mobile electronic device. |
| US09137663B2 |
Radio frequency firewall coordination
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying, responsive to a triggering event, one or more radio frequency (RF) firewall transceivers that neighbor a data wireless access point to which a given wireless client is communicating; configuring one or more of the identified neighboring RF firewall transceivers to detect RF frames transmitted by the wireless client; causing the data wireless access point to transmit one or more wireless messages operative to cause the wireless client to transmit RF frames; collecting RF signal data corresponding to the RF frames transduced by one or more of the identified neighboring RF firewall transceivers; transmitting the collected RF signal data to a location system; receiving from the location system an indication of the location of the wireless client; and applying one or more network access policies based on the indication of the location. |
| US09137660B2 |
Method and system for authentication processing, 3GPP AAA server and user equipment
The present invention relates to a method and a system for authentication processing, a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Authentication, and Authorization Accounting (AAA) server, and a User Equipment (UE). The method includes: receiving an authentication request message that carries authentication mode indication information; determining an authentication mode according to the authentication mode indication information; and performing authentication processing according to the authentication mode. The system for authentication processing includes the 3GPP AAA server and a network device which enables the UE to access the 3GPP AAA server through the network device. Through the method and the system for authentication processing, the 3GPP AAA server and the UE provided herein, the authentication request message sent by the UE carries the authentication mode indication information which has different parameter values so that the 3GPP AAA server can distinguish different authentication modes and perform the authentication processing according to the determined authentication mode. |
| US09137657B2 |
Method and system for remote controlling and viewing mobile phones
A method of improving a session in which a remote terminal is linked to a mobile device, the method comprising determining a performance profile for each of said remote terminal and said mobile device, said performance profiles including a set of parameters which determine performance of a session when said remote terminal is linked to a mobile device to receive and display an image of data currently displayed on said mobile device; estimating performance of a session between the remote terminal and the mobile device whilst there is no live connection; identifying a change to a parameter from said set of parameters; changing said identified parameter; re-evaluating said estimate based on the changed parameter; including said identified parameter change in said appropriate performance profile if performance is improved; reiterating, if necessary, said estimating, identifying, changing, re-evaluating and adopting steps until termination; and storing said changed performance profiles for said mobile device and said remote terminal. |
| US09137656B2 |
System and method for remote provisioning of embedded universal integrated circuit cards
Methods and devices are described for provisioning embedded universal integrated circuit cards (EUICCs). A certification server may store records for each EUICC containing provisioned profile data. A regulatory domain server may govern a regulatory domain containing a plurality of mobile network operators (MNOs) and may assist with provisioning wireless devices containing EUICCs. The EUICC may store a hierarchy of profiles, including a device profile, a regulatory domain profile, and/or an MNO profile. The EUICC may include a fully-qualified domain name for the certification server, the device installation server, and/or the regulatory domain server so as to trigger provisioning or re-provisioning over an IP connection. |
| US09137654B1 |
Dynamic construction of approved access node list in push to talk network
Systems and methods of operating a communication system are provided. A network node of the first network can receive a request from a wireless device associated with the first network to establish a data communication session over a second network through an access node of the second network. A status of the access node of the second network can be determined based on an access node identifier. A location of the wireless device can be determined at the network node of the first network. A network condition of the first network can be determined based on the location of the wireless device. The request to establish the data communication session over the second network can be granted when the network conditions of the first network are less than a threshold and the access node of the second network does not have an approved roaming status. |
| US09137643B2 |
Digital broadcasting system and data processing method in the digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. In an aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a data processing method including receiving a broadcast signal in which main service data and mobile service data are multiplexed, demodulating the received broadcast signal, outputting demodulation time information of a specific position of a broadcast signal frame, and acquiring reference time information contained in the mobile service data frame, setting the reference time information to a system time clock at a specific time based on the demodulation time information and decoding the mobile service data according to the system time clock. |
| US09137641B2 |
Wireless communication system, base station, and terminal
A wireless communication system including: a terminal, and a base station that forwards a traffic flow to the terminal, wherein the terminal includes a plurality of first wireless interfaces, and a first processor that selects a first wireless interface from among the plurality of first wireless interfaces, the first wireless interface from which to transmit a response packet in response to a multicast packet or broadcast packet, based on first information indicating the operational states of the plurality of first wireless interfaces, and the preferability of link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows the response packet. |
| US09137637B2 |
Printed tag real-time tracking
Disclosed are various embodiments for monitoring tracking devices capable of seamless indoor and outdoor tracking transitions. A tracking device may comprise, for example, printable circuitry and antennas combined with one or more receivers/transceivers on a substrate. The tracking device may be configured, for example, to localize the tracking device via GPS or an alternative localization strategy based on a determination of whether GPS communication is available. A modified RSSI fingerprinting methodology may be used to accurately determine a location of the tracking device using Wi-Fi access points. A device monitoring service may communicate with internal and/or external mapping API's to render a device monitoring user interface comprising a visual representation of the location of the tracking device. |
| US09137636B2 |
Method and system for identifying and defining geofences
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to an improved mapping and navigational system. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a system for defining and assigning geographical boundaries to points of interests on a graphical map, where the geographical boundaries preferably correlate to spatially defined boundaries of the respective points of interests. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the points of interest, along with the respective defined geographical boundaries, can be transferred from a personal computing device to a telecommunication device, such as a portable communication device, so as to be used for mapping purposes and to set off proximity alerts when the portable communication device, equipped with a GPS unit, enters or exits the geographical boundary of a particular point of interest. |
| US09137635B2 |
Wireless user based notification system
A group of wireless device users are notified of an event. A location data determination algorithm is provided to a wireless device, where the algorithm determines a frequency at which the device interacts with network elements to determine its location. The location data is stored in a notification server and used to identify a user at a specific location. When a governmental or commercial entity wishes to issue a notification, a message is provided to those users whose location is identified as being in an area defined by the entity. |
| US09137631B2 |
Location-based service provider method and system having a user controlled location privacy mechanism
Methods and systems that allow a user to receive location-based services for user selected businesses while maintaining the privacy of his/her location when not in the vicinity of a user selected business. A user designates selected businesses to the LBS provider. The user's mobile device sends its location, in encrypted form, to the LBS provider. The LBS provider performs a computation on the encrypted location and returns an encrypted result to the user's mobile device. The user's mobile device decrypts the result and determines whether the user is near any selected businesses based on the decrypted result. Only if the decrypted result indicates the user is near an approved location will the users mobile device return its location, in an unencrypted form, to the LBS provider. Thus, the LBS provider will only know the user's location if and only if the use is near a business selected by the user. |
| US09137630B2 |
Proxy servers in device identification systems
A system (20) is designed for identifying devices (1, 2, . . . ) which are arranged for detecting a sensory identifier and transmitting request messages comprising representations of the detected sensory identifier. The system comprises at least one correlation relation server (e.g. 5C) for correlating representations received from the devices (1, 2) so as to match two or more of those devices, preferably when the devices (1, 2) are in each other's proximity. The system further comprises at least one proxy server (e.g. 8X) for routing a request message from a device (1, 2) to at least one correlation server (e.g. 5C), the routing being dependent on said representations or other information contained in the request messages. |
| US09137629B2 |
Apparatus and methods for providing location-based services to a mobile computing device having a dual processor architecture
Various embodiments of systems and techniques for providing location-based services (LBS) to a mobile computing device having a dual processor architecture are described. In one or more embodiments, the mobile computing device may comprise or implement hardware and/or software configured to enable LBS and data communications sessions using a single active data stack at any particular point in time. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09137626B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting wireless personal area network communication system
A transmitting apparatus of a WPAN communication system generates a synchronization header, a physical layer header, and a physical layer service data unit, multiplexes the synchronization header and the physical layer header into a bit stream and then modulates the multiplexed bit stream by a first differential phase modulation scheme, modulates the physical layer service data unit by a second differential phase modulation scheme, and multiplexes and transmits a symbol modulated by the first differential phase modulation scheme and a symbol modulated by the second differential phase modulation scheme into a symbol stream. |
| US09137624B2 |
Method and device for performing ranging in a wireless communication system
A method and device for performing wireless communication ranging are provided. A machine-to-machine (M2M) device receives a paging message from a base station, transmits a bandwidth request (BR) preamble sequence to the base station, receives a first UL grant to allocate an uplink (UL) resource for the transmission of a BR header, transmits the BR header including a ranging request indication parameter to the base station through a UL resource allocated by the first UL grant, receives a second UL grant to allocated a UL resource for transmission of a ranging request message from the bases station, and transmits the ranging request message to the base station through a UL resource allocated by the second UL grant. |
| US09137623B2 |
Method and system for realizing concurrent access of multi-kinds of bearer protocols on machine-to-machine (M2M) platform
One embodiment of the present invention discloses a method and system for implementing concurrent access of multiple bearer protocols in a M2M platform. The method comprises: after receiving an uplink message of a terminal, an access module of a M2M platform determining a bearer type of the uplink message, obtaining corresponding key information of the bearer type, and packaging the key information and an original datagram of the uplink message into an internal message to send to a service module of the M2M platform; and after completing a service processing flow based on the internal message, the service module packaging datagram response contents and the key information into a downlink message to send to the access module, which sends the downlink message to a terminal corresponding to the downlink message based on the key information after receiving the downlink message. |
| US09137621B2 |
Wireless network service transaction protocol
A mobile device may retrieve service information about a network prior to associating with the network. Utilizing an advertisement protocol to transmit service query messages, a mobile device may receive service query responses from a network that identify the services available prior to establishing network capability. In other words, the messaging is prior to the exchange of any authentication parameters between the device and the network as well prior to the establishment of a recognized session between the device and the network. |
| US09137619B2 |
Audio signal correction and calibration for a room environment
Disclosed are an apparatus and method of processing an audio signal to optimize audio for a room environment. One example method of operation may include recording the audio signal generated within a particular room environment and processing the audio signal to create an original frequency response based on the audio signal. The method may also include creating at least two iterative filters based on at least two separate frequency ranges of the original frequency response, calculating an error difference between the frequency response modified by the at least two iterative filters and the original frequency response, and applying the error difference to the audio signal. |
| US09137616B1 |
Systems and methods for identifying a mute/sound sample-set attribute
Presently described are systems and methods for identifying a mute/sound attribute of an audio sample set having first-channel samples and second-channel samples. An embodiment takes the form of a method that includes: (i) receiving the audio sample set; (ii) for each first-channel sample, determining a first max amplitude and a first min amplitude; (iii) calculating a first span based on a first function of the first max amplitude and the first min amplitude; (iv) for each second-channel sample, determining a second max amplitude and a second min amplitude; (v) calculating a second span based on a function of the second max amplitude and the second min amplitude; and (vi) identifying the audio sample set as having a sound attribute if both the first span and the second span are greater than a min-volume threshold. |
| US09137612B2 |
Hearing aid comprising a feedback alarm
A hearing aid comprises a microphone configured to receive an acoustic input signal and convert the signal into an electric input signal, an audiological signal processing unit coupled to the microphone and configured to process the electric input signal to a processed signal, an amplifier coupled to the audiological signal processing unit and configured to amplify the processed signal to an amplified signal, and a receiver coupled to the amplifier and configured to transform the amplified signal into an acoustic output signal. The hearing aid further comprises a howl detector coupled to the signal processing unit and configured to detect the presence of a feedback howl originating from the hearing aid an analyzer coupled to the howl detector and configured to determine a value indicative of whether the feedback howl detected is potentially audible to a person neighboring the user of the hearing aid. |
| US09137607B2 |
Low profile loudspeaker suspension system
A surround suspension system for a low profile loudspeaker transducer having a former, diaphragm, and loudspeaker magnet assembly, wherein the former is connected to a voice coil and a upper end of the former that is opposite the voice coil is shown. The loudspeaker magnet assembly includes an annular outer magnet having a top surface and the surround suspension system may include a surround suspension member. The surround suspension member includes an outer edge that is attached to the top surface of the annular outer magnet, and inner edge that is attached to the upper end of the former. |
| US09137606B2 |
Electrostatic electroacoustic transducer and method of manufacturing the same
When a diaphragm formed in the shape of an oval is held by a holding member, an electrostatic electroacoustic transducer which allows stable tension without a diaphragm flexing is provided. In the electrostatic electroacoustic transducer, a diaphragm 11 and a diaphragm holding member 12 are formed in the shape of an oval, and is provided with a corrector member 21 which presses inwardly from outside both side ends on a major axis of the oval diaphragm holding member, and opens and deforms outwardly a pair of opposed long sides 12a and 12b on a minor axis side of the diaphragm holding member. |
| US09137605B2 |
Formed diaphragm frame for receiver
An acoustic apparatus includes a top assembly and a bottom assembly. The bottom assembly is coupled to the top assembly to form an overall assembly. A diaphragm assembly is disposed in the overall assembly so as to separate the overall assembly into a front volume and a back volume. The diaphragm assembly includes a frame and the frame has a first end, a second end, and a middle portion that is disposed between the first end and the second end. The first end and the second end are not in the same plane as the middle portion. The first end is coupled to the bottom assembly and the second end is coupled to the top assembly. |
| US09137601B2 |
Audio adjusting method and acoustic processing apparatus
An acoustic processing apparatus and an audio adjusting method for the acoustic processing apparatus are provided. The acoustic processing apparatus is electrically connected with a microphone and a speaker. The acoustic processing apparatus includes an input unit, a storing unit, a computing unit, an adjusting unit, and an output unit. The audio adjusting method includes steps of: receiving a feedback audio from the microphone, calculating a current residue audio according to the feedback audio, a stored residue audio and an offset parameter, performing a correlation calculation to find out a relationship between the feedback audio and the stored residue audio, selectively modifying the offset parameter according to a result of the correlation calculation, and outputting the current residue audio to the speaker. |
| US09137594B2 |
Microphone unit
A microphone unit is provided which includes a microphone for picking up sound of a unit which sound is to be picked up, a clamping unit having a first end configured to clamp to the unit and a second end for holding the microphone, a contactless vibration sensor configured to detect vibrations of the unit, and an audio gate unit coupled to the output of the microphone and to the output of the contactless vibration sensor as a trigger signal to allow the output of the microphone to be forwarded to an output terminal. |
| US09137592B2 |
Speaker suspension
An apparatus including a frame; and a speaker connected to the frame. The speaker includes at least one vibrating element and least one display element. The least one vibrating element is configured to at least partially move the at least one display element generate sound waves from the at least one display element. A connection of the speaker to the frame includes a first section at a first location of the at least one display element and a second section at a second location of the at least one display element. The first section includes a soft suspension of the at least one display element between the at least one display element and the frame. The second section includes a harder suspension of the at least one display element between the at least one display element and the frame than the first section. The at least one vibrating element is located away from the second location of the at least one display element and located proximate the at least one display element at the first location of the at least one display element so as to move the at least one display element substantially using the first section based on the soft suspension of the at least one display element. |
| US09137584B2 |
Methods and apparatus for connecting a cable network to other network and/or devices
Methods and apparatus for connecting, e.g., bridging, a cable network to other networks and/or devices is described. A bridge device facilitates the distribution of cable provider content to end users operating IP based devices. The bridge device performs one of more of the following: interface protocol conversions, user device controlled tuner selection, transcoding of data, transrating of a data stream, decryption in accordance with a conditional access protocol and re-encryption in accordance with an authorized service domain protocol. |
| US09137580B2 |
System and method to send information identifying recommended media content items
A method includes receiving information identifying at least one recommended media content item at a computing device. The information is received from a sender device. The at least one recommended media content item is selected from an electronic program guide and an address associated with the computing device is selected via a graphical user interface at the sender device. The method includes receiving a user selection of at least one item of media content from the at least one recommended media content item. The method includes automatically scheduling recording of the at least one item of media content at a media recorder device when the at least one item of media content is a scheduled program. The method also includes automatically placing the at least one item of media content in an on demand queue when the at least one item of media content includes on demand media content. |
| US09137578B2 |
Method and apparatus for sharing content
A method includes supplying a video stream to a primary display device, detecting an information request associated with the video stream, identifying a portion of the video stream corresponding to the time of detecting, supplying to a secondary display device choices corresponding to the information request, receiving selected choices and supplying to the secondary display device information corresponding to the selected choices. |
| US09137572B2 |
Digital cable TV receiver, diagnostic method for the digital cable TV receiver, and data structure of DVI status report
A communication system includes a plurality of Digital Visual Interface (DVI) ports. A content provider forwards a single DVI diagnostic request to a receiver, which includes a controller configured to receive the single DVI diagnostic request. The controller is further configured to collect DVI status information associated with each of the plurality of DVI ports in response to the single DVI diagnostic request. |
| US09137571B2 |
Sharing behavioral patterns between devices
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box having a controller to present media content at a presentation device as directed by a user, monitor the media content consumed by the user, detect a first behavioral pattern based on the media content consumed by the user, transmit the detected first behavioral pattern to a communication device of the user, receive from the communication device a second behavioral pattern, and identify media content correlating to the second behavioral pattern. The communication device can be adapted to adjust communication operations according to the detected first behavioral pattern. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09137569B2 |
Camera parameter-assisted video frame rate up conversion
This disclosure describes techniques for obtaining one or more video capture parameters associated with a video capture device and using the obtained video capture parameters to control a video decoding process. The obtained video capture parameters may be, for example, parameters associated with auto exposure control (AE), auto focus (AF), and auto white balance (AWB), zooming, motion in captured frames, and the like. The video encoding device may embed the video capture parameters in the encoded video bit stream such that a decoder may utilize the camera parameters during frame rate up-conversion. |
| US09137567B2 |
Script-based video rendering
Systems and methods are provided for cross-platform rendering of video content on a user-computing platform that is one type of a plurality of different user-computing platform types. A script is transmitted to the user-computing platform and is interpreted by an application program compiled to operate on any one of the plurality of user-computing platform types. The script is configured to cause the script to be interpreted by the application program operating on the user-computing platform to: render the video data by displaying frame images which make up the video data; playback the associated audio data; ascertain an audio playback time reference associated with the playback of the associated audio data; and directly synchronize the displaying of the frame images with the playback of the associated audio data based on the audio playback time reference. |
| US09137562B2 |
Method of viewing audiovisual documents on a receiver, and receiver for viewing such documents
The invention discloses a method of viewing audiovisual documents on a playback device, comprising a step for reading or receiving a document and a display step for viewing the images of this document on a screen. The method further comprises a step for reading or receiving an attribute associated with a time band of the document. A predetermined value of the attribute triggers on the device the enlargement of a part of the image on playback during said time band, because of which this image part occupies a larger area on screen. |
| US09137561B2 |
Independent temporally concurrent video stream coding
Implementations of independent temporally concurrent video stream coding may include generating a sequence of encoded frames by encoding a plurality of input frames, wherein encoding the plurality of input frames may include generating a first plurality of encoded frames based on the plurality of input frames, the first plurality of encoded frames including a first plurality of intra-coded frames and a first plurality of inter-coded frames, and independently generating a second plurality of encoded frames based on the plurality of input frames, wherein the second plurality of encoded frames includes a second plurality of intra-coded frames and a second plurality of inter-coded frames, such that the first plurality of encoded frames and the second plurality of encoded frames are temporally concurrent, and such that the intra-coded frames from the second plurality of intra-coded frames are temporally nonconcurrent with the intra-coded frames from the first plurality of intra-coded frame. |
| US09137560B2 |
Methods and systems for providing access to content during a presentation of a media content instance
Exemplary methods and systems for providing access to content during the presentation of a media content instance are disclosed herein. As described in more detail below, a content presentation system may detect a predefined motion of a mobile device during a presentation of a media content instance by a media content access device, identify the media content instance, and provide access to the identified media content instance by way of the mobile device in response to the predefined motion. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US09137554B2 |
Service gateway for interactive television
A service gateway provides a proxy between a client protocol and a plurality of standard communication protocols. The service gateway provides asymmetrical routing, data compression and encryption to optimize client processing power and communication link bandwidth. The service gateway enables content translation between clients and service providers. The service gateway keeps track of client available memory and sequence numbers in messages to generate error codes when applicable. A store and forward message capability is provided along with abstract session identifiers. The service gateway supports user datagram protocol. |
| US09137549B2 |
Compressing image data
A method of compressing a digital image comprises dividing 12 the image into cells of constant physical size regardless of resolution of the image to produce cell data for each cell which defines content of the cell and compressing 14 the cell data. |
| US09137548B2 |
Networked image/video processing system and network site therefor
A distributed image/video processing system is disclosed herein wherein one or more of digital image/video recorders (e.g., a digital cameras, video recorders, or smart phones, etc.) are in network communication with central network site for transmitting image or video data thereto. The recorders process their image/video data dependent upon an estimate of a measurement of network bandwidth that is available for transmitting image or video data to the central network site. |
| US09137541B2 |
Video data cache
System(s) and method(s) for a video data cache are presented herein. During decoding, the video decoder fetches portions of a reference frame. The video data cache is first checked for the portions of the reference frame. If the portion of the reference frame is found in the video data cache, the portion is fetched from the video data cache. The foregoing avoids a DRAM fetch and cycles associated with the DRAM fetch. |
| US09137536B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video in consideration of scanning order of coding units having hierarchical structure, and method and apparatus for decoding video in consideration of scanning order of coding units having hierarchical structure
A method and apparatus for decoding a video and a method and apparatus for encoding a video are provided. The method for decoding the video includes: receiving and parsing a bitstream of an encoded video; extracting, from the bitstream, encoded image data of a current picture of the encoded video assigned to a maximum coding unit, and information about a coded depth and an encoding mode according to the maximum coding unit; and decoding the encoded image data for the maximum coding unit based on the information about the coded depth and the encoding mode for the maximum coding unit, in consideration of a raster scanning order for the maximum coding unit and a zigzag scanning order for coding units of the maximum coding unit according to depths. |
| US09137535B2 |
Method for implementing a quantizer in a multimedia compression and encoding system
Method For Implementing A Quantizer In A Multimedia Compression And Encoding System is disclosed. In the Quantizer system of the present invention, several new quantization ideas are disclosed. In one embodiment, adjacent macroblocks are grouped together into macroblock groups. The macroblock groups are then assigned a common quantizer value. The common quantizer value may be selected based upon how the macroblocks are encoded, the type of macroblocks within the macroblock group (intra-blocks or inter-blocks), the history of the motion vectors associated with the macroblocks in the macroblock group, the residuals of the macroblocks in the macroblock group, and the energy of the macroblocks in the macroblock group. The quantizer value may be adjusted in a manner that is dependent on the current quantizer value. Specifically, if the quantizer value is at the low end of the quantizer scale, then only small adjustments are made. If the quantizer value is at the high end then larger adjustments may be made to the quantizer. Finally, in one embodiment, the quantizer is implemented along with an inverse quantizer for efficient operation. |
| US09137532B2 |
Method and an apparatus for inter prediction decoding with selective use of inverse quantization and inverse transform
Disclosed is a method for decoding a video using an inter prediction. The method identifies one or more conditions for enabling an inverse quantization and an inverse transform, and selectively performs, based on the identified conditions, at least one of: skipping both of the inverse quantization and the inverse transform for the obtained residual data; inversely quantizing the obtained residual data and skipping the inverse transform for the inversely quantized residual data; and inversely quantizing and then inversely transforming the obtained residual data. |
| US09137530B2 |
Video communication method and system for dynamically modifying video encoding
The present invention relates to a video communication method for dynamically modifying video encoding, which includes: obtaining a video window size change signal in a video receiver; generating an encoding modification signal according to the change signal; transmitting the encoding modification signal to a video sender; the video sender receiving the modification signal and modifying encoding parameters of a encoder in real time according to the modification signal. The present invention also relates to a video communication system for dynamically modifying video encoding. Once video window size changes, the video receiver immediately sends a signal to the video sender to inform the video sender to modify encoding parameters. The video sender modifies the encoding parameters according to the signal, and adaptively modifies bandwidth and CPU requirement of each channel according to the RTCP feedback. |
| US09137529B1 |
Models for predicting similarity between exemplars
An exemplar dictionary is built from exemplars of digital content for determining predictor blocks for encoding and decoding digital content. The exemplar dictionary organizes the exemplars as clusters of similar exemplars. Each cluster is mapped to a label. Machine learning techniques are used to generate a prediction model for predicting a label for an exemplar. The prediction model can be a hashing function that generates a hash key corresponding to the label for an exemplar. The prediction model learns from a training set based on the mapping from clusters to labels. A new mapping is obtained that improves a measure of association between clusters and labels. The new mapping is used to generate a new prediction model. This process is repeated in order to iteratively refine the machine learning modes generated. |
| US09137527B2 |
Communication signal strength display for TV internet adapter
A wireless signal strength indication is displayed on a TV, representing the signal strength of a wireless link between the Internet and an Internet adapter module providing Internet video to the TV. |
| US09137525B2 |
Multilayer video screen
A display device comprising at least two display layers at least in part overlapping in which at least one of said display layers has a dissimilar configuration to the other display layer(s) such that moiré interference is reduced. |
| US09137520B2 |
Stereoscopic image display device and method of displaying stereoscopic image
A stereoscopic image display device includes an image dividing module dividing an input image including a two dimensional (2D) image and a depth information image into a plurality of divisions, wherein each of the divisions includes a portion of the 2d image and a portion of the depth information image corresponding to the portion of the 2D image, an image rendering module rendering the divisions to output a plurality of rendered images, and a display panel assembly combining the plurality of rendered images. |
| US09137519B1 |
Generation of a stereo video from a mono video
A system and methodology provide for generation of a stereo video from a mono video. A mono video is partitioned into shots, where each shot including one or more frames of the mono video. The mono video frames are used as the left frames in the stereo video. Depth parameters are determined for each shot. A pixel depth map is created for each frame of each shot. The right frames for the stereo video are created by shifting pixels from the left frames laterally to occupy new locations in the right frames. A pixel's shift is based on the depth parameters and the pixel depth. In aggregate, pixel shifts will cause objects to appear in different locations in the right frame relative to where they appeared in the left frame. The effect upon the viewer is that the stereo video will provide an enhanced illusion of depth for the viewer. |
| US09137518B2 |
Method and system for converting 2D image data to stereoscopic image data
Methods and Systems are provided for converting a two-dimensional image sequence into a three-dimensional image. In one embodiment, a method for converting a two-dimensional image sequence into a three-dimensional image includes determining camera motion parameters between consecutive images in a monoscopic sequence of reference 2D images, wherein the consecutive images comprise a current reference image and an adjacent image, determining a horizontal disparity map for a target image using the camera motion parameters, determining a disparity probability value for each disparity vector of the disparity map, and determining a target image as a weighted average of pixel values in the current reference image using the disparity probability values, such that the target image and current reference image comprise a stereoscopic image pair. |
| US09137516B2 |
Sub-diffraction limit image resolution in three dimensions
The present invention generally relates to sub-diffraction limit image resolution and other imaging techniques, including imaging in three dimensions. In one aspect, the invention is directed to determining and/or imaging light from two or more entities separated by a distance less than the diffraction limit of the incident light. In some cases, the position of the entities can be determined in all three spatial dimensions (i.e., in the x, y, and z directions), and in certain cases, the position in all three dimensions can be determined to an accuracy of less than about 1000 nm. In some cases, the z positions may be determined using one of a variety of techniques that uses intensity information or focal information (e.g., a lack of focus) to determine the z position. Non-limiting examples of such techniques include astigmatism imaging, off-focus imaging, or multi-focal plane imaging. |
| US09137515B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing digital broadcasting service with 3-dimensional subtitle
A method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving a broadcasting stream for providing a digital broadcasting service including a subtitle service are provided. A method of transmitting a data stream includes: generating a subtitle stream including basic viewpoint subtitle data and additional viewpoint subtitle data to reproduce a three-dimensional (3D) subtitle on a video screen on which video data is reproduced; determining 3D subtitle reproduction information for forming the 3D subtitle on the video screen based on the basic viewpoint subtitle data; and outputting a data stream by multiplexing a video stream including the video data, the 3D subtitle reproduction information, and the subtitle stream. |
| US09137513B2 |
Method and system for mixing video and graphics
A method and system are provided in which a video processor may select a 2D video output format or a 3D video output format. The video processor may generate composited video data by combining video data from a video source, and one or both of video data from additional video sources and graphics data from graphics source(s). The video processor may select the order in which such combination is to occur. The video data from the various video sources may comprise one or both of 2D video data and 3D video data. The graphics data from the graphics sources may comprise one or both of 2D graphics data and 3D graphics data. The video processor may perform 2D-to-3D and/or 3D-to-2D format conversion when appropriate to generate the composited video data in accordance with the selected output video format. |
| US09137512B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating depth, and method and apparatus for converting 2D video to 3D video
A depth estimation and conversion apparatus and method is provided. Depth of an video may be estimated by extracting feature information from the input video, and estimating the depth of the input video based on the extracted feature information. |
| US09137510B2 |
Image processing method, image processor and stereoscopic image display device using the image processor
This embodiments herein relate to an image processing method and a stereoscopic image display device that provide high readability of a text area when implementing both 2D images and 3D images. The embodiments described herein convert the left(right)-eye image data corresponding to the left(right)-eye coordinates into a mean of the left(right)-eye image data corresponding to the left(right)-eye coordinates and the left(right)-eye image data adjacent to thereof on the other line. Therefore, the embodiments described herein may compensate for the left(right)-eye conversion data which are not arranged on a 3D format. As a result, the embodiments described herein may improve readability of the text area in the 3D mode. Also, the embodiments described herein may improve readability on the text area by applying a sharpness filter to the original 2D image corresponding to the 2D coordinates which is detected as the text area in the 2D mode. |
| US09137507B2 |
Method and apparatus for executing software applications
Consumer electronic devices, such as e.g. high-definition movie players for removable storage media such as optical discs, may provide possibilities for advanced interactivity for the user, implemented as software applications. A question arising generally with such software applications is what the life cycle of such an application is, and who may control it. The invention provides a method for executing software applications within a playback device for audio-video data, wherein data from a first removable storage medium are read for a software application to be executed within said playback device, and the data comprise an indication defining a termination condition for the application. Based on said termination code and depending on how the medium holding the application is ejected, the application is terminated or may survive. |
| US09137506B2 |
User interface (UI) providing method and photographing apparatus using the same
A User Interface (UI) providing method and a photographing apparatus using the UI providing method are provided. The UI providing method includes capturing an image, calculating a “hand shake” value of the captured image by comparing the captured image with a pre-capture image corresponding to the captured image, and displaying a UI corresponding to the calculated “hand shake” value of the captured image along with the captured image. A user can decide whether to delete or edit a captured image based on “hand shake” information relating to the captured image. |
| US09137503B2 |
Lens and color filter arrangement, super-resolution camera system and method
A camera system includes lens units such that each lens unit is assigned to a single-color color filter unit. The lens and color filter assembly may be combined with pixel units such that a plurality of monochromatic, low-resolution images can be obtained, and the monochromatic images refer to shifted versions of the same image object. By a super-resolution technique that includes shift-compensation a mosaicked image is obtained, which is then demosaiced. In the resultant image, only few artifacts appear. Simple color filter arrays allow a simplified fabrication process and provide less chromatic aberrations at less computational effort. |
| US09137500B1 |
Point of sale integration with video analytics for fraud detection
A method of operating a video system to detect fraudulent return transactions comprises receiving an indication of a return transaction from a point of sale system, wherein the indication of the return transaction indicates a time when the return transaction occurred. The method further comprises receiving video data of an area proximate to the point of sale system captured at the time when the return transaction occurred. The method further comprises processing the video data to determine whether a first person is located in a return area and whether a second person is located proximate to the point of sale system. The method further comprises determining whether the return transaction is legitimate or fraudulent based on whether the first person is located in the return area and whether the second person is located proximate to the point of sale system. |
| US09137497B2 |
Method and system for video stream personalization
A method and system for video stream personalization. A personalization policy may be accessed. The personalization policy may include an image identification and an image alteration to a video image identified by the image identification. At least one instance of the video image may be identified in a video stream. An output stream may be produced from the video stream in response to the personalization policy. The output stream may include the image alteration to the video image. |
| US09137494B2 |
Systems and methods to order a content item deliverable via a television service
Methods and systems of ordering a content item that is deliverable via a television service are disclosed. In one embodiment, ordering a content item that is deliverable via a television service can include sending an offer message to a mobile device, the offer message including an offer of a content item that is deliverable via a television service. In one embodiment, ordering the content item that is deliverable via the television service can include receiving an acceptance message that indicates an acceptance of the offer. |
| US09137492B2 |
Secure network coding for multi-resolution wireless transmission
Described herein is a method and system for hierarchical wireless video with network coding which limits encryption operations to a critical set of network coding coefficients in combination with multi-resolution video coding. Such a method and system achieves hierarchical fidelity levels, robustness against wireless packet loss and efficient security by exploiting the algebraic structure of network coding. |
| US09137490B2 |
System and method for video transmission scheduling
A systems and methods for video transmission scheduling are provided. A method of video transmission scheduling may include selecting a first video transmission event associated with first content to be blacked out based on a first geographic access restriction. The method may also include selecting a second video transmission event associated with second content to be blacked out based on a second geographic access restriction. The method may further include linking the first video transmission event to the second transmission event to control a blackout of the second content based at least partially on a trigger related to the first content. |
| US09137486B2 |
System and method for video conferencing
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes two modules. A first module receives a request from a first endpoint to subscribe to a voice activated multicast group and causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. A second module receives a request from a second endpoint to subscribe to a continuous presence multicast group and causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream. The continuous presence, last speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of a last speaker's video stream. |
| US09137484B2 |
Device, method and software for providing supplementary information
There is described a device for providing a media content item to a user, the device comprising: a media content item receiver operable to receive the media content item as a data stream, the data stream comprising identifying data which identifies the media content item; a memory operable to store user profile information associated with the user of the device; a supplementary information requester operable to transmit the identifying data which identifies the media content item, the user profile information, and a request for supplementary information related to the media content item to a server over a network; a supplementary information receiver operable to receive supplementary information related to the media content item from the server over the network, the supplementary information being determined by the server on the basis of the transmitted identifying data which identifies the media content item and the transmitted user profile information; and a supplementary information transmitter operable to transmit the received supplementary information to a separate personal user device specified by the stored user profile information. |
| US09137482B2 |
Methods and systems for resolution-based modification of recording instructions associated with a scheduled recording of a media content instance
An exemplary method includes maintaining recording instructions received from a user to automatically record a first resolution version of a media content instance scheduled to be transmitted during a first time period by way of a first content channel, determining that a second resolution version of the media content instance is scheduled to be transmitted during a second time period by way of a second content channel, presenting an option to the user to record the second resolution version of the media content instance instead of the first resolution version of the media content instance, and automatically modifying, in response to a selection of the option by the user, the recording instructions to record the second resolution version of the media content instance instead of the first resolution version of the media content instance. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US09137477B2 |
Fast channel change companion stream solution with bandwidth optimization
The present invention concerns a method for reducing the channel change time in a broadcast television system by encoding a termed companion service in addition to the main service. The companion service is sent along with the original service and helps the receiver to retrieve and display the new service more rapidly during the channel change process. With this solution the service is encoded and streamed in its original format, plus encoded and streamed in a low resolution format. |
| US09137476B2 |
User-defined home screen for ultra high definition (UHD) TV
A viewer of a UHD may configure one or more home screens that are associated with that viewer at viewer login by selecting one or more home screen templates, each of which includes multiple content panes arranged in a unique layout. The viewer may modify the layout. Each home screen may be associated with a respective content genus so that, for example, when a sports program is presented and the viewer selects a “home” key on a remote commander, a sports-related home screen is presented based on the viewer-selected sports home screen template, whereas when a feature movie is presented and the viewer selects the “home” key, a movie-related home screen is presented based on the viewer-selected movie home screen template. |
| US09137471B2 |
Solid-state image sensor
Each of pixels in a pixel array includes a photoelectric converter and a readout circuit which outputs a signal in accordance with charges generated in the photoelectric converter. The readout circuit includes a group of transistors which are disposed so as to form a current path fed by a current source. The readout circuit of a pixel in a first line in the array and the readout circuit of a pixel in a second line in the array are disposed between the photoelectric converter of the pixel in the first line and the photoelectric converter of the pixel in the second line. Directions of currents respectively flowing through the group of transistors in the readout circuit of the pixel in the first line and the plurality of transistors in the readout circuit of the pixel in the second line are the same. |
| US09137468B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
An output impedance of a drive unit configured to drive a drive line is set to be varied during a period in which a drive pulse for setting each transfer transistor to be in a conductive state is supplied and during a period in which a drive pulse for setting each transfer transistor to be in a non-conductive state is supplied. |
| US09137463B2 |
Adaptive high dynamic range camera
An embodiment of the invention provides a time of flight 3D camera comprising a photosensor having a plurality of pixels that generate and accumulate photoelectrons responsive to incident light, which photosensor is tiled into a plurality of super pixels, each partitioned into a plurality of pixel groups and a controller that provides a measure of an amount of light incident on a super pixel responsive to quantities of photoelectrons from pixel groups in the super pixel that do not saturate a readout pixel comprised in the photosensor. |
| US09137459B2 |
Image processing device, display device, image processing method, and computer-readable recording medium for generating composite image data
An image processing device includes: a determination unit that determines, based on a plurality of pieces of image data which is generated by continuously taking images of an area of field of view and input from an imaging unit provided outside the image processing device, whether the area of field of view of the imaging unit has been changed; an image composition unit that superimposes overlapping areas of imaging regions of a plurality of images corresponding to the plurality of pieces of image data along a direction in which the area of field of view of the imaging unit has been changed, to generate composite image data when the area of field of view of the imaging unit has been changed; and a display control unit that causes a display unit provided outside the imaging processing device to display a composite image corresponding to the generated composite image data. |
| US09137457B2 |
Electronic apparatus and method of controlling the same
A digital photographing apparatus includes a digital signal processing unit that obtains first image data from an input image and generates second image data using the first image data according to a condition that is previously set. A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus includes obtaining first image data from an input image and generating second image data using the first image data according to a condition that is previously set. |
| US09137456B2 |
Intelligent auto-exposure bracketing
Techniques to adaptively select bracket settings during auto-exposure bracket (AEB) operations are described. In general, AEB settings for a current image may be based on the evaluation of prior bracketed images. For example, the current exposure setting established by an auto-exposure mechanism (EV0) may be compared with a prior EV0 image. If the two are consistent, the prior image's lower and upper f-stop setting images (EV− and EV+) may be used to adaptively change the bracket settings for the current image's EV− and EV+ images. In another implementation, the most recently obtained EV− and EV+ images may be used to adaptively change the bracket settings for the current image—no prior capture being necessary. |
| US09137455B1 |
Image sensor apparatus and method for obtaining multiple exposures with zero interframe time
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for obtaining multiple exposures with zero interframe time. In use, a first an analog signal associated with an image is received from at least one pixel of an image sensor. Next, a first amplified analog signal associated with the image is generated by amplifying the analog signal utilizing a first gain. Further, a second amplified analog signal associated with the image is generated by amplifying the analog signal utilizing a second gain. Finally, the first amplified analog signal and the second amplified analog signal are transmitted. |
| US09137453B2 |
Control apparatus and imaging system
A control apparatus includes a control unit configured to control a cycle from a first irradiation start timing to a second irradiation start timing to be shorter than a cycle of each of first and second picture periods. The first irradiation start timing is a timing at which a light source device starts radiating pulsed illumination light in the first picture period in which an image pickup device performs reading. The second irradiation start timing is a timing at which the light source device starts radiating the illumination light in the second picture period succeeding the first picture period and having the same cycle as the first picture period. |
| US09137449B2 |
Luminance estimation model generation device, image sensor device, and computer program product
There are provided a retaining unit that retains a basic model indicating a plurality of relations for a plurality of subject conditions between a plurality of illuminances and a plurality of luminance of a plurality of captured images, which are obtained when a subject is imaged by changing an illuminance condition under the subject conditions; a reference image acquiring unit that acquires a captured image captured in a target space for illuminance estimation as a reference image; a reference illuminance acquiring unit that acquires illuminance of the target space at a time of imaging the reference image as reference illuminance; and an illuminance estimation model generating unit that generates an illuminance estimation model indicating a relation between illuminance and luminance in the target space from a data value indicated as a pair of the reference illuminance and luminance of the reference image based on the basic model. |
| US09137446B2 |
Imaging device, method of capturing image, and program product for capturing image
An imaging device, a method of capturing an image, and a program product used to capture a plurality of images, reduce the captured images, transfer second image data correspondent to each of the reduced images, display first images and identify a second image correspondent to the first image, which is instructed by a user. |
| US09137442B2 |
Image-displaying device for displaying index indicating delay in timing between image capture and display
An image-displaying device includes a display control section and an index display control section. The display control section is configured to display in a display section an image of a subject based on image data indicative of the image of the subject generated based on output data from an image-capturing section that captures the image of the subject. The index display control section is configured to display in an index display section an index corresponding to a delay between a timing corresponding to image-capture of the subject by the image-capturing section and a timing corresponding to display of the image of the subject by the display section. |
| US09137441B2 |
Spatial reconstruction of plenoptic images
The spatial resolution of captured plenoptic images is enhanced. In one aspect, the plenoptic imaging process is modeled by a pupil image function (PIF), and a PIF inversion process is applied to the captured plenoptic image to produce a better resolution estimate of the object. |
| US09137440B2 |
Apparatus for providing real-time image data
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for providing an image to provide real-time image data photographed by an image photographing apparatus. The apparatus includes a real-time image data receiving unit to receive the real-time image data; a real-time image data filtering unit to image-process the real-time image data; a real-time image data storing unit to store the real-time image data of a specific section from among the image-processed real-time image data; and a display unit to display the real-time image data. |
| US09137438B2 |
Biometric object sensor and method
A biometric image sensor system and method is disclosed which may comprise a first light source having a first wavelength λ1, a second light source having a second wavelength λ2, a photodetector configured and positioned to receive light of the first wavelength λ1 and light of the second wavelength λ2 reflecting from a biometric object being imaged and to produce a first output indicative of the amount of reflectance of the light of the first wavelength λ1 and a second output indicative of the amount of reflectance of the light of the second wavelength λ2, and a computing device configured to compare the difference between the first output and the second output with an authenticity threshold. |
| US09137436B2 |
Imaging apparatus and method with focus detection and adjustment
An imaging apparatus performs a focus detecting operation with an image sensor including a photoelectric conversion portion that has a pupil-dividing function. The imaging apparatus increases a line addition number according to a target exposure value corresponding to a pixel dynamic range that is variable depending on an exposure setting value. Thus, the imaging apparatus can reduce the amount of noise and can suppress the dispersion of focus detection result. Further, the imaging apparatus changes the line addition number according to a lens diaphragm aperture size, a defocus amount, or a pixel signal reading mode. Thus, the imaging apparatus can secure the resolution in the vertical direction and can prevent the detection accuracy from deteriorating even in a case where a photographic subject is obliquely positioned in a focus detection area. |
| US09137433B2 |
Super resolution binary imaging and tracking system
In one aspect, the invention provides an imaging system including an optical system adapted to receive light from a field of view and direct the received light to two image planes. A fixed image detector is optically coupled to one of the image planes to detect at least a portion of the received light and generate image data corresponding to at least a portion of the field of view. A movable (e.g., rotatable) image detector is optically coupled to the other image plane to sample the received light at different locations thereof to generate another set of image data at a higher resolution than the image data obtained by the fixed detector. The system can include a processor for receiving the two sets of image data to generate two images of the field of view. |
| US09137432B2 |
Backside illumination image sensor, operating method thereof, image processing system and method of processing image using the same
A backside illumination image sensor is provided. The backside illumination image sensor includes a plurality of different types of pixels, each pixel including a photodiode configured to accumulate photogenerated charges corresponding to light incident on a backside of a semiconductor substrate and a transfer transistor configured to transfer the photogenerated charges to a floating diffusion node; and a plurality of transfer lines disposed at a front side of the semiconductor substrate, the plurality of transfer lines connected to a gate of the transfer transistor of a respective one of the pixels, wherein transfer control signals respectively transmitted through the transfer lines produce different effective integration times in the pixels. |
| US09137428B2 |
Storyboards for capturing images
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of tools and techniques for using storyboards in controlling a camera for capturing images, photographs, or video. According to one exemplary technique, at least two storyboards are stored. In addition, at least one storyboard identifier from a camera application is received. Also, using the storyboard identifier, a storyboard of the stored at least two storyboards is retrieved. The retrieved storyboard includes a sequence of control frames for controlling a camera. Additionally, a sequence of image frames is captured at least by controlling a camera using the retrieved storyboard. |
| US09137426B2 |
Optical device and image pickup device and image pickup system using the same
An optical device where an image of an object is formed on an image pickup element and where an image restoration process is performed on the image obtained by the image pickup element, comprising a MTF that satisfies the following conditional expression (1): 0.001 |
| US09137422B2 |
Image processing in contone space and halftone space
Embodiments provide a method comprising receiving a halftone image, the halftone image comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel of the plurality of pixels including pixel data associated with a plurality of color planes; forming a pixel group, the pixel group including (i) a target pixel and (ii) one or more pixels that are neighboring to the target pixel; generating a pixel window for the pixel group; comparing the pixel window with a plurality of candidate patterns; determining that the pixel window matches with at least one of the plurality of candidate patterns; and based on determining that the pixel window matches with at least one of the plurality of candidate patterns, performing an image processing operation on the pixel group. |
| US09137420B1 |
Service-oriented multifunction devices
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for operating a multifunction device in communication with multiple devices. The multifunction device is configured to receive an operation request and an electronic document from a first device. The multifunction device is further configured to receive document manipulation data from a second device. The multifunction device is also configured to manipulate the electronic document using the document manipulation data based on the operation request. The multifunction device communicates the manipulated electronic document to a third device. The second device is isolated from the third device and the first device. |
| US09137418B2 |
Image processing device and computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions
An image processing device may acquire original image data, acquire a level selected from a plurality of levels representing compression degrees, and compress the original image data according to the original image data and the selected level to generate compressed image data. The device compresses first original image data using a first-type compression method, when the original image data is the first original image data and the selected level is a specific level of the plurality of levels. The device compresses second original image data using a second-type compression method different from the first-type compression method, when the original image data is the second original image data and the selected level is the specific level. |
| US09137417B2 |
Systems and methods for processing video data
A method includes storing raw or normalized video data in a computer accessible storage medium; analyzing portions of the video data with a first analytic engine to: determine whether the raw video data is within a first set of parameters; and generate with the first analytic engine a first set of processor settings; processing the raw or normalized video data with the first set of processor settings; and analyzing portions of the processed data with a second analytic engine to determine whether the processed data is within a second set of parameters; generating with the second analytic engine a second set of processor settings to reprocess the raw or normalized video data, sending the second set of processor settings to the first analytic engine; and reprocessing the raw or normalized video data with the first analytic engine using the second set of processor settings. |
| US09137416B2 |
Controlling device
A controlling device may determine an output resolution according to one type of file format selected from a plurality of types of file format. The output resolution may be a resolution of image data to be included in a target file of a generation target. The plurality of types of file format may include a first type of file format and a second type of file format. The controlling device may determine a first resolution as the output resolution in a first case where the selected file format is the first type of file format, and determine a second resolution different from the first resolution as the output resolution in a second case where the selected file format is the second type of file format. |
| US09137409B2 |
Electronic apparatus and image forming apparatus
One of two replaceable components is selectively detachably attached to an apparatus. A first component includes first information that includes first lifetime indicative of a lifetime of the first component and is used for managing usage of the first component. A second component includes second information for managing usage of the second component. A controller determines, based on one of the first and second lifetimes, whether the apparatus should operate. The controller drives the apparatus to operate based on the first lifetime if a read/write section successfully reads the first lifetime from one of the first and second components that has been attached to the apparatus. The controller drives the apparatus to operate based on the second lifetime if the read/write section fails to read the first lifetime from one of the first and second components that has been attached to the apparatus. |
| US09137408B2 |
Image forming apparatus
A total-current control unit is configured to add a fuser current of a fuser unit to a load current of the load to thereby obtain a total current to be supplied from a commercial power supply to the image forming apparatus, the total-current control unit being configured to control the total current to be at a predetermined limit value or less. An auxiliary power supply is configured to supply an auxiliary current to the load. The total-current control unit is further configured to provide first control to control the total current to be at the limit value or less and allow the auxiliary power supply to supply the auxiliary current to the load, thereby supplying, to the load, a current obtained by adding the auxiliary current to the load current, if an increase in the load current causes the total current to exceed the limit value. |
| US09137394B2 |
Systems and methods for obtaining a resource
One example discloses a network system for obtaining a network resource for printing. The network system can comprise a system comprising a memory for storing computer executable instructions and a processing unit for accessing the memory and executing the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions can comprise a server comprising a message analyzer. The message analyzer can receive a list of network resources based on a network search executed for query data included in a query print message received at the server. The message analyzer can also select a network resource from the list of network resources that is determined to be a best match for the message to provide a selected resource. The server can manipulate the selected resource into a format for printing to provide a manipulated resource. |
| US09137393B2 |
Image processing apparatus, method and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for executing workflow using priority information
The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that executes process according to a job flow in which cooperation process in a plurality of apparatuses is defined, and that, when a function has been added that is equivalent to process that has been defined in the job flow, can utilize the equivalent added function in the job flow without a user manually re-editing the job flow. The present invention also provides a method for controlling such an image processing apparatus. To accomplish this, the present image processing apparatus, in a job flow in which a plurality of processes are executed cooperatively by a plurality of apparatuses, executes the job flow in an optimized manner using priority information that indicates the priority of apparatuses that execute each process, and mount function information that indicates the function mounted by each apparatus. |
| US09137385B2 |
Determining a time to permit a communications session to be conducted
A process and apparatus to facilitate communication between callers and callees in a system comprising a plurality of nodes with which callers and callees are associated is disclosed. In response to initiation of a call by a calling subscriber, a caller identifier and a callee identifier are received. Call classification criteria associated with the caller identifier are used to classify the call as a public network call or a private network call. A routing message identifying an address, on the private network, associated with the callee is produced when the call is classified as a private network call and a routing message identifying a gateway to the public network is produced when the call is classified as a public network call. |
| US09137382B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for suppression of alerts
Audible alerts are suppressed for subsequent calls from a calling address. An initial audible alert is processed for an initial call from the calling address. Subsequent audible alerts from the same calling address are suppressed, such that subsequent calls from the calling address may fail to alert. Visual alerts may still be processed. |
| US09137379B2 |
Method and apparatus for content presentation in association with a telephone call
A method and apparatus are provided for presenting multimedia content to a caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party's telephone rings), in-call, and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to another party participating in the call or may be related to a third party (e.g., an advertiser that paid for the ability to have its content presented). Presented content may be actuable, to allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him or her, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his or her local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list. |
| US09137378B2 |
Method and apparatus for content presentation in association with a telephone call
A method and apparatus are provided for presenting multimedia content to a caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party's telephone rings), in-call, and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to another party participating in the call or may be related to a third party. Presented content may be actuable, and allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list. A party to a call may be offered one or more payment mechanisms for completing a purchase in an on-line or real-world transaction. |
| US09137377B2 |
Systems and methods for at least partially releasing an appliance from a private branch exchange
Systems and methods for partially releasing an appliance from a private branch exchange are shown and described. The method can include issuing a path replacement command to the private branch exchange, receiving a facility message from the private branch exchange destined for one end-point of a communications session, and transmitting the received facility message to another end-point of the communications session. |
| US09137374B2 |
Voice transcription
Methods, systems, computer readable media, and apparatuses for voice data transcription are provided. Packets that include voice data may be received and for each time that a threshold amount of voice data is received, a segment of voice data may be created and transcribed to text. A message that includes the transcribed text may then be transmitted to an intended recipient of the voice data, to allow the intended recipient to view the message prior to transcription of the remaining segments of the voice data. Additionally, subsequent to transmission of the message, another message may be transmitted that includes text transcribed from a different segment of the voice data. |
| US09137372B2 |
Real-time predictive routing
The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are designed to route customer communications to the best available agent. The methods include predicting a personality type of the customer, determining the occupancy level of agents to provide a list of available agents, providing a routing recommendation based on the predicted personality type of the customer and agent data such as proficiency in handling customers with the predicted personality type, and/or analyzing real-time customer-agent interactions. |
| US09137369B1 |
Mapping ISDN cause codes in a contact center for improved tracking of call attempts
A more accurate determination of the disposition of a call origination is made in a contact center by mapping ISDN cause codes to reflect whether a call attempt was made to a remote party. Certain cause codes reflect various conditions where a call may originate from a contact center, but for various reasons, was not offered to the remote party, or more specifically, to an interface associated with the telephone number of the remote party. Reflecting these calls as incomplete calls, as opposed to call attempts, allows the contact center to more accurately reflect the number of call attempts. Accurately tracking the number of call attempts is important to comply with various state and federal regulations regulating the number of call attempts during a given time period. Further, incomplete calls may be symptomatic of a facility failure requiring attention, for which an alert may be generated to an administrator. |
| US09137365B2 |
Systems and methods of serial media communication in contact handling systems
Methods and apparatus for improving a contact with a customer in a contact handling system are disclosed. The method can include receiving communication from the customer via the first media. The method can include transitioning serially from a first media to a second media. The method can include abandoning the first media during the transition. The method can include receiving communication from the customer via the second media at the contact handling system. |
| US09137362B2 |
Method and system for managing communication sessions set-up between users
A method for enabling a calling user to establish a communication session with a called user, the calling user being associated with at least one calling user device and the called user being associated with at least one called user device, wherein the communication session can be established through a plurality of possible communication services and provisioning of said plurality of possible communication services is enabled through a corresponding plurality of communication service actuators, includes: a) receiving from the at least one calling user device, a request to establish a communication session with the called user, b) determining if, among said plurality of possible communication services, there is at least one communication service currently available to establish a communication session with the called user at the at least one called user device, based on current context information on the called user, c) in the affirmative case of b), selecting one of the at least one currently available communication service based on predetermined policies, and d) sending to the communication service actuator that enables the provision of the communication service selected in c) suitable information for starting establishment of the communication session between the calling user and the called user through the selected communication service. |
| US09137360B2 |
Tracking and management of voice calls and form submissions related to accessing network based content
Systems and methods for call and lead tracking are disclosed. The systems and methods may generally include receiving a request sent to a database stored on a computer readable medium in response to online activity and any user information that may be collected or known, creating a record in the database in response to the request, generating a code associated with the record, assigning a call extension corresponding to the code such that the call extension is associated with the record, and associating the incoming call, web activity, as well as resulting financial transactions and follow-on activities with the website activities. The association may happen through remote communication with a system that receives the incoming call. |
| US09137359B2 |
Terminal and method for managing call function
Provided are a terminal and a method for managing a call function of a terminal, including a call termination and call retransmission function based on a state of a terminal using a voice recognition or a sensor. The method for managing a call function of a terminal includes sequentially acquiring at least one input voice during a phone call, extracting a finally acquired voice from the at least one voice when call termination is requested, and storing information about the finally acquired voice in a database under a call termination command. |
| US09137358B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for providing ring tones
Ring tones and other alerts are processed based on social networks. A person's contact information, as an example, may be associated with a social network. Each different social network may also have its own custom ringtone or other alert. Calls, texts, and other electronic messages may thus processed with the alert of the social network. |
| US09137348B2 |
Viewing apparatus
A mobile device and corresponding method and program. The mobile device comprises: a transceiver for accessing a packet-based network; a screen; communication processing apparatus coupled to the transceiver and screen, for conducting a packet-based video call with a remote device via a channel established over the packet-based network; and a sensor for sensing a spatial state of the mobile device. The communication processing apparatus is coupled to the sensor and configured so as to detect, during the video call, whether the mobile device is in a first spatial state or a second spatial state, and to suppress a video function of the call when in the second spatial state but not in the first spatial state. |
| US09137343B1 |
Unified method and apparatus to simplify telephone area code dialing
A computerized method and related system and software for simplifying telephonic calling, comprising: designating a default destination area code; the user specifying a destination telephone number; and as a default, causing the call to be signaled using the designated default destination area code in combination with the specified destination telephone number, without the user entering the designated default destination area code when specifying the destination telephone number. |
| US09137340B2 |
Incremental update
A system, apparatus, and method are provided for adding, deleting, and modifying rules in one update from the perspective of an active search process for packet classification. While a search processor searches for one or more rules that match keys generated from received packets, there is a need to add, delete, or modify rules. By adding, deleting, and modifying rules in one update from the perspective of an active search process for packet classification, performance and functionality of the active search process may be maintained, thereby preventing packet loss and preserving throughput. |
| US09137335B2 |
Operating M-PHY based communications over mass storage-based interfaces, and related connectors, systems and methods
M-PHY communications are provided over a mass storage-based interface. Related connectors, systems, and methods are also disclosed. In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure take the M-PHY standard compliant signals and direct them through a memory card compliant connector so as to allow two M-PHY standard compliant devices having memory card based connectors to communicate. |
| US09137333B1 |
Method and system for adding plug-in functionality to virtualized applications
A computing system invokes a proxy agent in a virtual environment hosted by the computing system to obtain configuration change data for a virtualized application from an agent residing in a physical environment hosted by the computing system. The proxy agent changes a configuration of the virtualized application based on the configuration change data to cause the virtualized application to load a plug-in in the virtual environment. The computing system launches the virtualized application and the virtualized application loads the plug-in in the virtual environment to utilize a function of the plug-in in the virtual environment. |
| US09137328B2 |
System and method for provisioning a remote resource for an electronic device
The disclosure recites a device, system and method for provisioning resources from a server in a network to a mobile electronic device. The method comprises: after the electronic device has been approved for an initial registration with the communications network, receiving a data transmission at the electronic device from the communication network, the data transmission containing access information relating to a resource in a library that is the communication network; extracting the access information from the data transmission at the electronic device; sending a request from the electronic device to the communication network for a second data transmission containing a copy of the resource to the electronic device; downloading the resource from the communication network; and integrating the resource into an application as an output generated by the application. |
| US09137325B2 |
Efficiently isolating malicious data requests
Embodiments are directed to efficiently routing data requests from a plurality of tenants and to using smart routing to limit service denials. In an embodiment, a gateway node receives data requests from a tenant subscriber requesting data for an indicated service. The gateway node determines which server node the received data requests are to be routed to. The determination evaluates various criteria associated with the data request. The gateway node queries the determined server node to determine the health of the server nodes and receives a reply from the determined server node indicating the server node's current operating status. The gateway node also, based on the determined server node's reply, routes the received data requests to the determined server node, according to the evaluated criteria. |
| US09137323B2 |
Connection invitation ordering
Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums which provide a relevance engine for determining a relevance of an individual (either a non-member or another member) to another individual (either a non-member or another member). This relevance engine may use signals in the form of data that the social networking service may learn about the individuals to determine how relevant the individuals are to each other. Example applications may include ordering of connection invitations in a social networking service. |
| US09137314B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for personalized feedback
Methods, systems, and computer program products provide personalized feedback in a cloud-based environment. A client device routes image data and audio data to a server for analysis. The server analyzes the image data to recognize people of interest. The server also analyzes the audio data to generate audible feedback. Because the server performs image recognition and audio processing, the client device is relieved of these intensive operations. |
| US09137311B2 |
Method for secure user plane (SUPL) version negotiation
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for negotiating a version of Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) between a network entity and a SUPL enabled terminal. In a particular implementation, a SUPL initiation message is transmitted from a network entity to a SUPL entity, where the SUPL initiation message identifies a plurality of SUPL versions capable of supporting a desired service. A response is received from the SUPL entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the SUPL entity to support at least one of the plurality of versions. |
| US09137310B2 |
Communication devices, methods and computer readable storage media
A communication device includes a memory that has a first storage area that stores an identifier of a first communication device, which is in a communication session with the communication device, and a second storage area that stores an identifier of a second communication device, which established a communication session with the communication device. The communication device performs the steps of: notifying the identifier stored in the first storage area to the first communication device, receiving an identifier stored in a first storage area of the first communication device from the first communication device, determining whether the identifier received from the first communication device is stored in the second storage area of the communication device, restricting re-establishment of the communication session with the first communication device when the identifier received from the first communication device is stored in the second storage area of the communication device. |
| US09137306B2 |
Method and apparatus for Wi-Fi connection using Wi-Fi protected setup in portable terminal
A method and an apparatus for Wi-Fi connection based on Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) in a portable terminal are provided. The method includes entering a group owner mode of Wi-Fi Direct when enabling of WPS is requested, after entering the group owner mode, entering a WPS session mode where the portable terminal is operable in a WPS registrar mode, determining whether an Access Point (AP) whose WPS session of the WPS registrar mode is enabled or a device whose group owner mode is enabled, exists nearby, and when an AP whose WPS registrar mode is enabled is discovered, disabling the WPS registrar mode and the group owner mode, enabling a WPS session where the portable terminal is to operate in a WPS enrollee mode, and accessing the discovered AP. |
| US09137303B2 |
Pre-fetching data segments stored in a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a processing module receiving a data segment retrieval request regarding a data segment, which is stored in a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory. The method continues with the processing module processing the data segment retrieval request, determining pre-fetch segment buffering information, and when the pre-fetch segment buffering information indicates pre-fetching one or more other data segments, generating one or more pre-fetch segment retrieval requests for the one or more other data segments, receiving, one or more sets of at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices, decoding, in accordance with a dispersed storage error coding function, the one or more sets of at least a decode threshold number of encoded data slices to reproduce the one or more other data segments, and updating a pre-fetch segment buffer with the one or more other data segments. |
| US09137301B1 |
Client based opportunistic routing
When a client requests content from a Content Delivery Network (or other system), a first portion of the content is requested from a source capable of providing high performance to that client. When the client has a sufficient amount of the content to perform its function, then additional portions of the content can be requested from a source that provides a lower performance to that client with a minimal or no performance penalty to the user of the client. |
| US09137300B1 |
Opportunistic pipe switching
When a client requests content from a Content Delivery Network based system (or other system), that content is typically provided from a source capable of providing high performance to that client. However, if the system determines that the client is using a slow connection, then the content is transmitted to the client from a source that provides a lower performance to that client, with a minimal or no performance penalty observable by the user of the client. |
| US09137298B2 |
Video tag sharing
A tag sharing method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor, an audio/video data file and tag data describing different subject matter of audio/video data of the audio/video data file. The computer processor associates portions of the tag data with audio/video subsets of the audio/video data and in response the computer processor generates a modified audio/video data file including independent audio/video tags. Each audio/video tag of the independent audio/video tags includes an audio/video subset of the audio/video subsets independently stored with an associated portion of the portions of the tag data. The computer processor receives rule data comprising rules associated with allowing users of a social networking system to view each audio/video subset. The computer processor stores the modified audio/video data file and the rule data. |
| US09137291B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for processing alerts and acknowledgments
According to embodiments described in the specification, a method, system and apparatus for processing alerts and acknowledgments is provided. The method, in a communication device having a processor, a memory, an input device and an output device, comprises: detecting a notification message at the processor; determining whether the communication device is a primary device; and, when the determination is affirmative: controlling the output device with the processor to generate an alert; receiving an acknowledgement at the processor from the input device; and transmitting an acknowledgment message to an other communication device for causing the other communication device to interrupt alert generation. |
| US09137287B2 |
High availability for voice enabled applications
The present invention provides methods and systems for providing high availability voice applications. More specifically, one or more applications may share an extension of a switch among each other. This allows each application to receive data from the switch without occupying additional extensions of the switch. A first application sharing the extension with a second application may be provided as a backup to the second application in case the second application fails. Thus, the second application does not represent a single point of failure for the overall system. |
| US09137285B2 |
Adaptive audio video (AV) stream processing
A system for adaptive audio video (AV) stream processing may include at least one processor and a switch device. The switch device may be configured to route AV traffic to the processor, and to receive AV traffic from the processor and provide the AV traffic to a client device via one or more channels. The processor may monitor a transcoder buffer depth and depths of buffers associated with channels over which the AV traffic is being transmitted. The processor may adaptively modify one or more attributes associated with the AV traffic based at least on the monitored buffer depths. For example, the processor may adaptively adjust a bit rate associated with transcoding the AV traffic based at least on the transcoder buffer depth. The processor may utilize the depths of the buffers associated with the channels to adaptively adjust the amount of AV traffic provided for transmission over the channels. |
| US09137278B2 |
Managing streaming bandwidth for multiple clients
A method, system and a computer program product. The method may include: selecting, for each requested media file, a selected version of the media file based on (a) bit rates of the different versions of the requested media file, and (b) a bit rate allocated for a transmission of the requested media file to the client; generating a modified manifest file for each requested media file by removing retrieval information associated with all non-selected versions of requested media files; wherein each modified manifest file comprises retrieval information required only for a retrieval of a selected version of a requested media file associated with the modified manifest file; and sending to clients the modified manifest files. |
| US09137276B2 |
Managing message distribution in a networked environment
A method for managing message distribution in a networked computing environment. The method includes determining, for a particular topic, at least a first subscriber messaging engine and a second subscriber messaging engine to receive a topic message. The method includes determining that the first subscriber messaging engine is to act as a cache for the second subscriber messaging engine. The method includes sending the topic message to the first subscriber messaging engine. The method then includes sending a reference message to the second subscriber messaging engine, the reference message being able to be used to retrieve the topic message from the first subscriber messaging engine. |
| US09137275B2 |
Recording and indicating preferences
Recording a first user's preference for a content contribution submitted by a second user is disclosed. In response to only a single action taken by the first user interacting with a web page, an indication is received that a preference event occurred. The preference event is associated with the content contribution. Information associated with the first user's profile is updated. At least a portion of the web page is continued to be displayed to the user after receiving the preference event. |
| US09137273B2 |
Method and apparatus for distributing virtual goods over the internet
A Virtual Collectible Distribution Network generates and distributes Virtual Collectible objects, each potentially possessing unique properties, over a computer network such as the Internet, to a group of users. The Distribution Network utilizes a client-server system. The client software can be standalone or embedded in another application, such as a web browser or game. In one scenario, the client software observes certain behaviors of the user, and communicates such behavior to the server, which process is transparent to the user. The server, based on the communications from the client, predefined algorithm, and other factors, may decide to award the user with a Virtual Collectible. |
| US09137270B2 |
Binding multiple addresses to a socket in a network system
A TCP/IP socket extension may bind a single socket to more than one IP address. The socket API extension may allow a user to bind a socket to a list of IP addresses instead of a single IP address. Additional socket APIs may allow applications to bind an existing socket to one or more additional IP addresses. Bind-specific support may enhance a user's capability to specify one or more IPv4 addresses and/or IPv6 addresses or other addresses to bind to a generic server information handling system (IHS). The method may convert a generic server IHS into a bind-specific server IHS that accepts new connections over both the IPv4 and IPv6 network transports and/or other network transports without requiring changes to the server IHS. A modified TCP/IP stack may provide support for multiple sockets. The method may map multiple address/port/protocol tuples to the same socket. |
| US09137266B1 |
Preserving privacy related to networked media consumption activities
A method and system for preserving privacy related to networked media consumption activity including: Source privacy zones are defined and associated with privacy standards. Privacy standards include frequency criteria governing the storage of datasets including information associated with networked media consumption activity collected from the source privacy zone. Transaction requests including a networking protocol address are received over a network from a client device at a target location by a networked privacy system. The source privacy zone associated with the client device is identified. Using the networking protocol address to access characteristics having characteristic value(s), a dataset can be created including associating the networked media consumption activity with the characteristic and characteristic value(s). The dataset is pre-processed to comply with the privacy standards. The networking protocol address is discarded. The pre-processed dataset can be stored in a filtered database on a physical storage device at a storage location coupled to the networked privacy system. |
| US09137263B2 |
Generating role-based access control policies based on discovered risk-averse roles
Generating role-based access control policies is provided. A user-permission relation is generated by extracting users and permissions assigned to each of the users from a stored access control policy. A user-attribute relation is generated by mapping the users to attributes describing the users. A permission-attribute relation is generated by mapping the permissions to attributes describing the permissions. The set of risk-averse roles, assignment of the set of risk-averse roles to the users, and assignment of the permissions to the set of risk-averse roles are determined based on applying a risk-optimization function to the generated user-permission relation, the generated user-attribute relation, and the generated permission-attribute relation. A role-based access control policy that minimizes a risk profile of the set of risk-averse roles, the assignment of the set of risk-averse roles to the users, and the assignment of the permissions to the set of risk-averse roles is generated. |
| US09137260B2 |
Detection of spoofing of remote client system information
Digital fingerprint generation logic executed by a client device includes quirk-exposing logic configured to expose behavioral differences between various system configurations of client devices. The digital fingerprint generation logic queries a remote client device for system configuration, and generates a digital fingerprint of the client device that includes a system configuration characteristic reported by the client device in response to the query. Results of execution of the quirk-exposing logic are compared to expected results that are specific to the reported system configuration. If the results of execution do not match the expected results, the digital fingerprint is determined to have been spoofed. |
| US09137256B2 |
Method and apparatus for packet source validation architechure system for enhanced internet security
A router in a global computer network for enhanced Internet security provides for an adaptation of major routers of the global computer network with a packet source validation function. The validation function checks the presence of a source validation code in the header of a packet and routs only those packets that have the source validation code. The validation function after checking the presence of the source validation code, verifies the source validation code with reference to a key server. |
| US09137253B2 |
Visually representing and managing access control of resources
An approach is provided for controlling access to a resource. Visual representations of the resource and an entity are included in a display. In the display, a movement of the entity visual representation to a position proximate to a boundary of the resource visual representation is detected. Based on an attribute assigned to the entity visual representation being determined to satisfy an access control requirement assigned to the resource visual representation, the entity is permitted to access the resource. In the display, based on the entity being permitted to access the resource, a movement of the entity visual representation across the boundary of the resource visual representation and a placement of the entity visual representation within the boundary of the resource visual representation are permitted. |
| US09137251B2 |
Inheritance based network management
The present invention teaches a methodology for provisioning and managing a network having many network devices. In certain embodiments, groups of member devices are created each having a group policy configuration inherited by member devices. A variety of rules regarding prioritization, versioning, system snapshot, redo and undo are also taught. This embodiment is useful when the network devices can be partitioned into groups of similar type devices for similar applications. Similar physical attributes can also be mapped into identical virtual attributes, enabling policy configurations to be applied to varying devices and physical attribute configurations can be resolved upon device installation. |
| US09137249B2 |
Local proxy system and method
A local proxy system includes a storage device having a local proxy and a physical port connection. The local proxy is part of a split proxy configuration having a local proxy and a remote proxy. The physical port connection is operative to receive commands from a host via an internet application protocol; and to transmit commands to the host via a modem control protocol, to thereby function as a gateway for conveying these commands to a remote proxy, via the host. Also provided is a method of optimizing communication over a network; and a local proxy system that includes a storage device having a local proxy. The storage device is in connection with a host via a physical port connection complying with a standard storage device interface. |
| US09137247B2 |
Technologies for secure storage and use of biometric authentication information
Generally, this disclosure describes technologies for securely storing and using biometric authentication information, such as biometric reference templates. In some embodiments, the technologies include a client device that stores one or more biometric reference templates in a memory thereof. The client device may transfer such templates to an authentication device. The transfer may be conditioned on verification that the authentication device includes a suitable protected environment for the templates and will execute an acceptable temporary storage policy. The technologies may also include an authentication device that is configured to temporarily store biometric reference templates received from a client device in a protected environment thereof. Upon completion of biometric authentication or the occurrence of a termination event, the authentication devices may delete the biometric reference templates from the protected environment. |
| US09137246B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatus for multivariate authentication
Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for user authentication using a plurality of authentication variables, such as biometrics and contextual data. Example contextual data includes the geographical location of the user, a gesture of the user, and the machine identification of the individual's user device. |
| US09137244B2 |
System and method for generating one-time password for information handling resource
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include generating a random number to be associated with an information handling resource. The method may also include generating a challenge string based at least on the random number. The method may additionally include encrypting the challenge string using a first shared secret. The method may further include receiving a one-time password generated by a vendor associated with the information handling resource, the one-time password generated by decrypting the challenge string using the first shared secret, parsing the random number from the decrypted challenge string, and digitally signing the decrypted challenge string with a digital signature using a second shared secret. The method may also include granting user access to the information handling resource in response to verifying, using the second shared secret, that the digital signature matches the random number. |
| US09137235B2 |
System and method for providing a certificate based on list membeship
Provided is a system and method for providing a certificate, and more specifically a certificate for network access upon a second system based on at least one criteria and an established identity with a first system. The method includes receiving criteria, such as at least one predefined attribute. Also received from a user known to a first system is a request for network access to a second system, the request having at least one identifier. The first system is then queried with the identifier for attributes associated with the user. The attributes associated with the user are evaluated to the predefined attribute(s). In response to at least one attribute associated with the user correlating to the predefined attribute(s), providing a certificate with at least one characteristic for network access on the second system to the user. An associated system for providing a Certificate is also provided. |
| US09137234B2 |
System and method for providing a certificate based on granted permissions
Provided is a system and method for providing a certificate, and more specifically a certificate for network access upon a second system based on at least one criteria and an established identity with a first system. The method includes receiving criteria, such as at least one predefined attribute. Also received from a user known to a first system is a request for network access to a second system, the request having at least one identifier. The first system is then queried with the identifier for attributes associated with the user. The attributes associated with the user are evaluated to the predefined attribute(s). In response to at least one attribute associated with the user correlating to the predefined attribute(s), providing a certificate with at least one characteristic for network access on the second system to the user. An associated system for providing a Certificate is also provided. |
| US09137229B2 |
Method and apparatus for a multi-party CAPTCHA
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprising: receiving at least one request for generating a challenge from at least one device; generating the challenge with at least two components; transmitting component of the challenge to the at least one device; causing presentation of at least part of the challenge to at least two users; causing communication between said at least two users; and receiving at least two responses to the challenge from the at least one device. Related apparatus and computer program product are also described. |
| US09137225B2 |
Seamless remote storage of uniformly encrypted data for diverse platforms and devices
A way of providing seamless remote data storage and access with a universal encryption key is provided. Data may be able to be uploaded from and/or downloaded to a variety of user devices and/or types of user devices. During transfer of data, a secure communication channel may be established between a user device and a destination storage. Data may be compressed and/or encrypted before being passed to the destination storage. Such compression and/or encryption may be performed at the user device or an intermediate processing module. Likewise, when downloading data, the data may be decompressed and/or decrypted before being made available to a destination user device. Such decompression and/or decryption may be performed at the destination device or the intermediate processing module. In any case, the universal encryption key may be utilized by all user devices to generate uniformly encrypted data. |
| US09137223B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting data, and recording medium storing program for executing method of the same in computer
Disclosed are a data transmission/reception apparatus and method. A secret key generation unit uses a user ID as a public key to generate a secret key corresponding to the user ID. An encryption/decryption unit sets a user ID intended to receive data as an input value to encrypt the data using a certain method and decrypt the encrypted data using a certain method on the basis of a secret key corresponding to a user ID of a receiver generated by the secret key generation unit. The transmission apparatus and method according to the present invention allow for secure communication between terminals without server intervention by encrypting data using an ID-based encryption technique for safe data communication and then communicating the encrypted data. |
| US09137220B2 |
Secure sharing and collaborative editing of documents in cloud based applications
Collaboratively editing a document in a system of sharee clients includes creating a document change, generating a document token for encrypting the document change, encrypting the document change with the document token, making the encrypted document change available to the other sharee clients, and generating a plurality of copies of the sharee document token. Each sharee document token is encrypted with a respective sharee's public key. Each encrypted sharee document token is distributed to respective sharee clients. Each sharee client is configured to: decrypt a sharee document token using a respective private key, decrypt the encrypted document change using the share document token, and consolidate the document change into a document. |
| US09137216B2 |
Session layer data security
A first application at a first device selects one of multiple encapsulation format types based on a cost or bandwidth associated with a network, or associated with a link of the network, connected between the first application at the first device and a second application at a second device. The first application receives, at the first application from Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layers above an OSI session layer, payload data associated with a session, and generates one or more session layer encapsulated blocks of the payload data using the selected one of the multiple encapsulated format types. The first application encrypts the payload data, and other data of the one or more session layer encapsulated blocks, and passes the encrypted session layer encapsulated block to OSI layers below the session layer for sending to the second application at the second device. |
| US09137215B2 |
Methods and systems for non-intrusive analysis of secure communications
Methods and Systems for non-intrusive real-time analysis of secure communications between a first application and a second application, wherein the first and second applications communicate through a communication channel. A plurality of secure communications between the first application and the second application is non-intrusively and securely captured. The plurality of communications is processed to process communications from a physical layer to a network layer. The plurality of communications is grouped into a plurality of streams and connection meta information is added to each stream, wherein each stream represents a single network connection. A plurality of transactions is created from the communications included in the plurality of streams, wherein a stream within the plurality of streams is encrypted, and the encrypted stream is decrypted. |
| US09137214B2 |
Encrypted content streaming
Encrypted content streaming is provided by a method comprising holding an encrypted content stream that is cryptographically encrypted from a content stream with a content key, and holding an encrypted content key that is cryptographically encrypted from the content key with one or more blackout encryption keys. Each blackout encryption key is paired to a blackout decryption key corresponding to a specific audience, and each blackout decryption key is obtainable by audiences other than the specific audience corresponding to the blackout decryption key. The method further comprises serving the encrypted content stream to the plurality of different audiences. The encrypted content stream is embedded with a leaf license comprising the encrypted content key, and the encrypted content key is cryptographically decryptable by audiences having the one or more blackout decryption keys paired to the one or more blackout encryption keys. |
| US09137213B2 |
On-demand feature server activation in the cloud
A feature activation system provides a mixed computing environment that includes a server and cloud computing. The hybrid model splits the execution of a communication feature between the cloud and the enterprise server installed at or with the enterprise. Service activation is linked to a portal that can communicate with either an intermediary system or directly with an entity executing computer programs in the cloud. When the customer desires to use a feature, the customer accesses the portal and activates the feature the enterprise desires. In the background, the portal instantiates a virtual machine, on any cloud platform, and then installs the feature with virtual machine on that cloud server. To execute feature, the enterprise server and the virtual machine exchange information between the server and the cloud and allow the feature to access the enterprise server or enterprise data. When the user has completed feature execution, the instance of the feature may be stopped and discarded and any data may be saved either at the enterprise or within the cloud. |
| US09137209B1 |
Providing local secure network access to remote services
Techniques are described for providing users with access to computer networks, such as to enable users to create computer networks that are provided by a remote configurable network service for use by the users. Such provided computer networks may be configured to be private computer networks accessible only by the users who create them, and may each be created and configured by a client of the configurable network service to be an extension to an existing computer network of the client, such as a private computer network extension to an existing private computer network of the client. In addition, access to remote resource services may be configured and provided from such computer networks in various manners, such as to include a local access mechanism as part of a provided computer network that is configured to forward communications sent to the access mechanism to a particular remote resource service. |
| US09137203B2 |
Centralized secure offload of cryptographic security services for distributed security enforcement points
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to network security and provide a method, system and computer program product for centralized secure offload of key exchange services for distributed security enforcement points. In one embodiment, a data processing system for centralized secure offload of key exchange services for distributed security enforcement points can be provided. The system can include a security enforcement point controlling communication flows between devices in different less trusted zones of protection, and a security server communicatively coupled to the security enforcement point and hosting key exchange services disposed in a more trusted zone of protection. The security enforcement point can include an interface to the key exchange services and program code enabled to offload at least one portion of a key exchange through the interface to the key exchange services disposed in the more trusted zone of protection. |
| US09137202B2 |
System and method for dynamically adapting network delivery modes of content
A content distribution network includes a first server in communication with an anycast server that provides content via a unicast signal, and with a multicast server that provides the content via a multicast signal. The first server is configured to receive a list of source addresses associated with the content, and to provide a metadata file including an anycast Internet protocol address of the anycast server from the list of source addresses as an Internet protocol address of the content in response to a first request for the content. When the number of client devices requesting the content exceeds a first threshold, the first server receives an updated list of sources including a multicast Internet protocol address of a multicast server, and provides the multicast Internet protocol address of the multicast server as the Internet protocol address of the content in the metadata file. |
| US09137193B2 |
Increasing the relevance of digest emails to group members
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates access to content associated with a group. During operation, the system provides, to a first user in the group, a digest email comprising a set of links to the content. Next, the system increases a relevance of the digest email to the first user by selecting a subject header for the digest email based on usage patterns associated with at least one of the first user and one or more other users related to the first user. |
| US09137191B2 |
Messaging for notification-based clients
The claimed subject matter provides a method for communicating with a client. The method includes receiving a notification token that identifies the client. The method further includes registering the client to receive a message when the client is not connected to the server. The method also includes sending the message to the client when the client does not have a connection to the server, based on the registering and the notification token. The message may be sent using a notification channel. |
| US09137188B2 |
Controlling a GUI display for a plug-in
Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for controlling a GUI display for a plug-in in an application supporting plug-ins. Embodiments include receiving, at run time, in the application from the plug-in a request to display a GUI object; responsive to the request, retrieving an XML representation of the GUI object; and displaying the GUI object in dependence upon the retrieved XML representation of the GUI object. Typical embodiments also include receiving from the plug-in a request to retrieve user input responsive to the GUI object; and returning to the plug-in responsive user input. |
| US09137187B1 |
Dynamic conference session state management in secure media-based conferencing
Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for managing session state for a plurality of media-based conference sessions. A server computing device receives a first request to update a data element in a primary in-memory data structure, the request comprising an update to the data element associated with a session state of one or more in-process media-based conference sessions. The server blocks subsequent requests to update the data element that are received after the first request and stores the blocked requests sequentially in a temporary queue based upon a timestamp associated with each blocked request. The server replicates the update to the data element to a secondary in-memory data structure. The server updates the data element in the primary in-memory data structure based upon the update to the data element in the first request, and processes the blocked requests based upon the timestamp upon completion of the replication. |
| US09137186B2 |
Apparatus, method, and program for exchanging message or making voice call via network
[Object] To provide a means that enables information exchange with more fun by reducing dull and uninteresting impression in the information exchanged via a network.[Solution] Each member of an instant messaging system 1 connects an aroma emitting adapter 13 to a terminal device 12 and loads an aroma cartridge 14 containing aroma liquid in the aroma emitting adapter 13, whereby the member can log on a messaging server device 11. The terminal device 12 of the member who logs onto displays names of the members with whom the message exchange or conversation can be made among the other members who are currently logged on. Upon the reception of the message or voice calling from another member, the terminal device 12 instructs the aroma emitting adapter 13 to emit the aroma and the aroma emitting adapter 13 thus emits aroma by releasing the aroma liquid contained in the aroma cartridge 14. As a result, the message or conversation can be accompanied by the aroma. |
| US09137183B2 |
System and method for automated chat testing
A system for flexible and scalable automated chat-based contact center testing, comprising a test case management platform, “chat cruncher”, contact center manager, chat classifier, and desktop automation engine, and method for using such a system for automated testing of a contact center's chat-based interactions environment and reporting of test results. |
| US09137181B2 |
Electronic communication reminder technology
Systems and methods concerning electronic communication reminder technology are disclosed. At a receiving device comprising one or more processors and a memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, a first electronic message addressed to a particular user is received from a sender. The first electronic message is made available to the particular user and, in accordance with a determination that the particular user has not responded to the first electronic message, the particular user is alerted, at a predefined time, to the first electronic message. This predefined time is determined based at least in part on response pattern data corresponding to one or more characteristics associated with the receiving device. |
| US09137176B2 |
Dual-role modular scaled-out fabric coupler chassis
A scaled-out fabric coupler (SFC) chassis includes a plurality of root fabric cards installed on the one side of the SFC chassis. Each root fabric card has a plurality of electrical connectors. A plurality of line cards is installed on the opposite side of the SFC chassis. Each line card is one of two types of line cards. One of the two types of line cards is a switch-based network line card having network ports for connecting to servers and switches. The other of the two types of line cards is a leaf fabric card having fabric ports for connecting to a fabric port of a network element. Each of the two types of the line cards has electrical connectors that mate with one electrical connector of each root fabric card installed in the chassis. |
| US09137175B2 |
High performance ethernet networking utilizing existing fibre channel fabric HBA technology
This is directed to providing Fiber Channel over Ethernet communication. For example a Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) enabled device (such as a computer) may include a Fiber Channel over Ethernet Adapter (FCoEA). The FCoEA may include an HBA module. The HBA module may be configured to communicate over the Fiber Channel protocol. The FCoE enabled device may process and encapsulate the HBA module's communication in order to send them over an Ethernet network instead. The FCoE enabled device may process communications directed to various Fiber Channel fabric services by utilizing existing Ethernet services, such as an iSNS server. Thus, the FCoE enabled device can emulate a Fiber Channel network for the HBA module using the Ethernet network and one or more Existing Ethernet services/servers. |
| US09137171B2 |
System and method for resource management for operator services and internet
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes providing a multi-radio connectivity service to a mobile subscriber, and managing the multi-radio connectivity service for the mobile subscriber. The managing can include: providing admission control; providing privileged subscriber access at a plurality of WiFi access points; providing signaling for quality of service (QoS) equivalence across a WiFi network and a mobile network; and distributing certain traffic based on a policy. |
| US09137170B2 |
Ontology based resource provisioning and management for services
Techniques are disclosed for integration, provisioning and management of entities and processes in a computing system such as, by way of example only, business entities and business processes. In particular, techniques are disclosed for ontology based resource provisioning and management for services. For example, such an ontology based approach can be utilized in conjunction with a business support system which may be employed in conjunction with a cloud computing environment. |
| US09137169B2 |
Efficient allocation of network resources
Using information for efficient allocation of network resources, such as for a communication session, is disclosed. The methods and systems can utilize one or more identifiers that can be configured to indicate the presence of one or more supported features, along with an indication of whether the supported feature is required for communication. |
| US09137165B2 |
Methods of load balancing using primary and stand-by addresses and related load balancers and servers
A first data packet of a data flow may be addressed to a primary address and include information for the data flow and a bucket ID may be computed based on the information. Responsive to the bucket ID mapping to first and second servers and the first data packet being addressed to the primary address, the first data packet may be transmitted to the first server. A second data packet may be received addressed to a stand-by address and including the information for the data flow, and a bucket ID may be computed based on the information with the bucket IDs for the first and second packets being the same. Responsive to the bucket ID for the second data packet mapping to first and second servers and the second data packet being addressed to the stand-by address, the second data packet may be transmitted to the second server. |
| US09137161B2 |
Method and system of bandwidth-aware service placement for service chaining
A method implemented in a network for placing services at network devices is disclosed. The network contains a plurality of network devices and offers a set of services to subscribers. Subsets of the set of services are included in ordered service chains for subscribers. The method starts with determining a list of bandwidth consumption entities of a service for each service within the set of services, where each bandwidth consumption entity is based on one or more chains of services. Then a weight of each service is calculated based on the list of bandwidth consumption entities of the service and a service with a highest weight within the group of one or more services that have not been placed is selected. The selected service is then placed at a network device based at least partially on calculating bandwidth impacts to the network by the service. |
| US09137154B2 |
Management of routing tables shared by logical switch partitions in a distributed network switch
Techniques are provided for managing a routing table in a distributed network switch. The distributed network switch is divided into logical switch partitions, or logical networks, that may share a routing table. The shared routing table is configured with counters and thresholds to control utilization of the routing table on a per-logical network basis. When counters exceed certain threshold, the routing table is modified to reduce routing entries within the routing table or pause insertion of new routing entries. |
| US09137153B2 |
Interworking between ethernet and MPLS
A network bridge configured to convey customer traffic between a customer equipment and any of an MPLS network and an Ethernet network is disclosed. The network bridge comprises a C-VLAN component, an S-VLAN component and an MPLS component. The C-VLAN component can receive an Ethernet frame that carries the customer traffic, and forward the Ethernet frame to the S-VLAN component or to the MPLS component in dependence of a C-VID value of the Ethernet frame. The MPLS component can, when the Ethernet frame is received from the C-VLAN component, add MPLS information to the Ethernet frame, and forward the Ethernet frame to the S-VLAN component. The S-VLAN component then forwards the Ethernet frame to any of the MPLS network and the Ethernet network. A related network core bridge, methods and computer-readable medium are also described. |
| US09137148B2 |
Information processing system and information processing apparatus
A control unit included in an information processing system determines, on the basis of information indicative of interface units and path information indicative of communication paths through a plurality of relay apparatus, whether or not the number of communication paths for access from the interface units to a node is greater than the number of the interface units. When the number of the communication paths is greater than the number of the interface units, the control unit controls the plurality of relay apparatus so as to block a part of the communication paths. |
| US09137147B2 |
Ring network protection method, network node and ring network
A ring network protection method is provided. A first node sends a protection switching request on a link protection tunnel of a link between the first node and a second node and on a node protection tunnel of the second node when a fault occurs in a ring network. A protection switching response is received on the link protection tunnel of the link between the first node and the second node, or the node protection tunnel of the second node. Services are switched to the protection tunnel where the protection switching request is received. |
| US09137145B2 |
Communication method of hub and transmitting, receiving terminal included in virtual group
Provided is a communication method of a hub that selects a transmission route from the hub to a receiving terminal of a receiving virtual group based on interface information about at least one interface which is available for use by the receiving terminal and is received from the receiving terminal and interface information about at least one interface which is available for use by a transmitting terminal of a transmitting virtual group and is received from the transmitting terminal. |
| US09137144B2 |
Method and apparatus for communication path selection
A manner of selecting communication traffic paths through a LAN, WAN, or similar communication network. Traffic received at a source bridge is forwarded to a destination bridge along a communication path selected from a plurality of possible, preferably EHEC paths. The paths may be discovered by a breadth first search and stored in a path selection table in association with a sequential index number. The paths are selected, for example by assigning a path to a VLAN by determining V mod N, comparing the result to indices on a path selection table that associates an unique index with each of the plurality of communication paths, and selecting the path associated with an index equal to the result, wherein N is the number of paths in the plurality of paths and V is a group identifier. The selected paths may be stored in the path selection table in association with the respective VLAN, and any received traffic for that VLAN is forwarded along the selected path. |
| US09137140B2 |
Auto tunneling in software defined network for seamless roaming
A software defined network controller detects when a host has moved between network elements in a network. The controller generates a list of network elements to which the host has roamed, the list being sorted by time when the host is attached to a network element so that a most recent network element to which the host is attached is the root network element and at a head of the list. The controller updates the root network element in the list first for traffic flow associated with the host. The controller sends commands to the network elements to program a tunnel from each previous point of attachment network element in the list to the most recent root network element in the list in reverse order of the roaming path so as to route traffic for the host via a tunnel. |
| US09137139B2 |
Sender-specific counter-based anti-replay for multicast traffic
A network device receives packets sent over a network from another network device. Each packet contains a source identifier that identifies a device that is the source of the packet, a destination identifier that identifies a device that is the intended destination of the packet, a sender identifier that identifies a network device that encrypted and sent the packet and a sequence number associated with the packet. The network device stores data indicating source identifier, destination identifier, sender identifier and sequence number for packets received over time. The network device rejects a newly received packet when it is determined that the sequence number of the newly received packet is less than the last sequence number stored for a matching packet flow (same source identifier, destination identifier and sender identifier) and falls outside of the counter-based window with respect to the last sequence number stored for the matching packet flow. |
| US09137137B2 |
Method and network device for loop detection
A method for loop detection and a network device applying such method are provided. The method includes: receiving, by a port, a loop detection frame; detecting, by a loop detection unit, whether the loop detection frame is transmitted via a port of the network device; analyzing, by a frame analyzer unit, the loop detection frame when the loop detection frame is transmitted via the port, and determining whether there is any loop in the network device; and shutting down the port of the network device or not perform any action, by a port switching unit when the frame analyzer unit determines that there is a loop in the network device, wherein the loop detection frame is a loop detection protocol data unit (LDPDU) frame. |
| US09137134B2 |
Recursive identification of individuals for casual collaborative conferencing
A method for real-time communication among two or more individuals separated in space. The method includes the steps of determining that a first individual is likely to be interested in communicating with a second individual via a first communications link; retrieving information via the first communications link about one or more additional individuals from electronic memory means associated with the second individual; and establishing communication with at least one of the additional individuals based on the retrieved information. |
| US09137133B2 |
Tracking maximum throughput and service level agreement compliance
A system and method for controlling maximum throughput for communications. A frame size of each packet communicated to a server is determined. A maximum throughput is determined by converting the determined frame size of each packed communicated to the server to an effective throughput rate. Frames per second are measured at the server. An amount of loss at the server is determined. A message indicating the maximum throughput, the amount of loss, and the frames per second is communicated in response to determining there is loss at the server. |
| US09137131B1 |
Network traffic monitoring system and method to redirect network traffic through a network intermediary
A network traffic monitoring system for redirecting network traffic between a client device and a cloud service includes a monitor proxy server configured as a network intermediary between the client device and a federated identity provider and between the client device and the cloud service. The monitor proxy server is configured to receive a redirect response generated by the federated identity provider upon user authentication. The monitor proxy server is configured to rewrite the redirect web address to the web address of the monitor proxy server. The monitor proxy server is further configured to rewrite a response web address in network communications between the cloud service and the client device to the web address of the monitor proxy server. As a result, network traffic between the cloud service and the client device is routed through the monitor proxy server after user authentication by the federated identity provider. |
| US09137128B2 |
Detecting and measuring network route reconvergence using in-band data probes
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for detecting and measuring network route reconvergence using in-band data probes. The probes are generated and inserted into the network. The probes are routed to an insertion point, corresponding to a beginning of a measurement line, via an in-band connection such as a virtual private network. The in-band connection is configured such that the time-to-live field of the probes is not affected by network path changes occurring in the in-band connection. The probes are routed through the measurement line to measure network route reconvergence. The measurement line is configured to affect the time-to-live field of the probes to reflect network path changes occurring along the measurement line. The probes are extracted from an extraction point corresponding to an end of the measurement line and routed back to the measurement device for analysis. |
| US09137126B2 |
Method and system for monitoring domain name registrations
Improved approaches to domain name monitoring. The monitoring of domain names, e.g., registrations therefor, is beneficial to holders of similar domain names, trademark owners, and competitors. Such monitoring can be automatically performed. |
| US09137121B1 |
Managing networks utilizing network simulation
Systems and methods are disclosed which facilitate the management of changes to a hosted network. In one aspect, a resource optimization manager obtains an identification of one or more changes to be implemented on a hosted network. The network validation manager component simulates the implementation of the identified changes and records state information associated with the monitored simulation. The network validation manager component generates a network change template that includes the information recorded from the simulation of the change to the hosted network. In another aspect, the network validation manager component can utilize network change templates to monitor the implementation of changes to the hosted network. The network change templates can then be utilized to determine whether to proceed with implementation of the change to the hosted network or whether to revert the hosted network to a condition prior to the implementation of the identified change. |
| US09137117B2 |
System and method for configuration of fixed port location in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes determining a location of a location detection device using a wireless link; determining an identity of a fixed port to which the location detection device is connected, where the location of the location detection device is proximate to the fixed port; and communicating a location of the fixed port to a location anchor. In more specific examples, the location of the fixed port is linked to a point of attachment in order to configure the fixed port. Additionally, the location of the fixed port can be presented to a server for application to a point of attachment via an application program interface (API). |
| US09137115B2 |
System and method for resource reconciliation in an enterprise management system
A method to reconcile multiple instances of a single computer resource identified by resource discovery operations includes: (1) accessing information describing one or more resources; (2) identifying, via the accessed information, at least one resource that has been detected or discovered by at least two of the discovery operations; and (3) merging attributes associated with the identified resource from each of the at least two discovery operations into a single, reconciled resource object. Illustrative “resources” include, but are not limited to, computer systems, components of computer systems, data storage systems, switches, routers, memory, software applications (e.g., accounting and database applications), operating systems and business services (e.g., order entry or change management and tracking services). |
| US09137111B2 |
Discovering, validating, and configuring hardware-inventory components
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for automatically validating and configuring an inventory of hardware to interact seamlessly with a cloud-computing fabric of a data center are provided. Initially, devices internal to the hardware inventory are located by sending and receiving messages via out-of-band communication channels and network communication channels, respectively. Locating the internal devices involves establishing communication from a user device to the hardware inventory and selecting at least one of the internal devices for conducting a discovery process thereon. The discovery process involves receiving a first network identifier via the out-of-band communication channel and receiving a second network identifier via the network communication channel. When the first and second network identifiers match, the interconnection of the selected device is validated. Otherwise, one or more remedial measures are initiated with respect to the selected device. Validation involves conducting a server boot within the MOS and executing validation and configuration tools. |
| US09137108B2 |
System for remotely monitoring device to obtain information sensed by a device component featuring client application that displays virtual component corresponding to sensed information and remote site for facilitating communication between client application and device
Systems and methods for providing registration at a remote site that may include, for example, a monitoring module that may communicate with a remote site. A registration protocol may be used by the monitoring module and the remote site in generating the messages communicated during the registration process. The monitoring module may gather and generate various identification information to be included in the registration protocol messages. The registration information provided by the monitoring module maybe stored at the remote site in a database server having a database. A confirmation message may be communicated from the remote site to the monitoring module that may either acknowledge successful registration or report that an error occurred during the registration process. |
| US09137106B2 |
Systems and methods for private cloud computing
A system and method are disclosed for private cloud computing and for the development and deployment of cloud applications in the private cloud. The private cloud computing system and method of the present invention include as components at least a cloud controller, a cloud stack, Service Registry, and a cloud application builder. |
| US09137105B2 |
Method and system for deploying at least one virtual network on the fly and on demand
The invention relates to a method for generating, on the fly and on demand, at least one virtual network (402, 404, 406), adapted for a specific use, on a physical network (200), referred to as an infrastructure network, including physical nodes (204, 206, 208, 210), each of said physical nodes (204, 206, 208, 210) runs at least one network operating system, said method including the following steps: determining, on at least one computer device (202), referred to as a virtual network server, data related to said virtual network (402) to be generated in accordance with said particular use; transmitting, on the basis of said data and to at least a portion of said physical nodes (204, 206, 208, 210), referred to as active nodes, of said infrastructure network (200), a request for creating a virtual node; and creating a virtual node on each of said active nodes by installing a virtual device in each of said active nodes, said virtual network consisting of all of said virtual nodes thus created. The invention also relates to a system implementing such a method. |
| US09137099B2 |
Method, device, and system for link aggregation failure protection
A method for link aggregation failure protection includes: receiving failure information including a failure location and an identity of more than one corresponding logical link, a failed physical link and more than one physical link form an LAG, each physical link in the LAG corresponds to logical links with a same identity, and the logical links with the same identity in the LAG correspond to an RSP device of a backbone layer and a receiving device of an access layer and forward data separately through more than two aggregation devices at an aggregation layer locating between the backbone layer and the access layer; according to the failure information, bundling a logical link corresponding to the failed physical link with a logical link corresponding to a physical link without failure in the LAG to form a logical LAG; and transmitting, through the logical LAG, data sent to the failed physical link. |
| US09137095B2 |
Methods and devices for maintaining a domain
The invention proposes methods and devices for managing domains. The domains comprise a plurality of member devices, and the method comprises the steps of: storing (S500, S501), by a first domain manager (M1), domain management information (P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5) in said plurality of member devices; and obtaining (S510, S511), by a second domain manager (M2), said domain management information from at least one of said plurality of member devices. In comparison with the prior art, where the domain management information is maintained in the domain authority, the embodiment decreases the work load of the domain authority and provides conveniences. |
| US09137093B1 |
Analyzing requests for data made by users that subscribe to a provider of network connectivity
Requests for data received from multiple subscribers are accessed. At least some of the requests for data originate from one or more addresses associated with a particular subscriber of the multiple subscribers. The accessed requests for data are organized into sets of requests based on the one or more addresses such that a set of requests corresponds to the particular subscriber, and a characteristic of the particular subscriber is determined based on aspects of the set of requests corresponding to the particular subscriber and a behavior model. |
| US09137092B2 |
Network management for wireless appliances in a mobile data network
A network management system utilizes an element manager at the RNC level to reduce the workload and efficiently manage multiple wireless appliances in a mobile data network. Management communications from the network management system flow through the element manager to all devices under the RNC level appliance hosting the element manager. The element manager provides for fault management, performance monitoring and configuration of the many breakout appliances and reports necessary information back to the network management system. |
| US09137091B2 |
Dynamic quality of service for control of media streams using feedback from the local environment
Systems and methods are provided that allow a media streaming device to dynamically control the quality of service associated with streaming media content being presented to a user. To dynamically control the quality of service associated with the streaming media content, the local environment in which the media streaming device, and one or more downstream devices which may be configured to receive the streaming media content, if present, operate, is monitored. Feedback regarding the status of the local environment can be gleaned based on the monitoring, and based on the feedback, the quality of service associated with the streaming media content can be adjusted accordingly, or the streaming media content may be paused, altogether terminated, maintained, or initiated/re-initiated. To further refine the feedback, user behavior may also be monitored, which can be suggestive of a user's attentiveness to the streaming media content. |
| US09137087B2 |
High speed media access control
Embodiments disclosed herein for MAC processing for efficient use of high throughput systems and that may be backward compatible with various types of legacy systems. In one aspect, a data transmission structure comprises a consolidated poll and one or more frames transmitted in accordance with the consolidated poll. In another aspect, a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) data transmission structure comprises a pilot, a consolidated poll, and zero or more access point to remote station frames in accordance with the consolidated poll. In one aspect, frames are transmitted sequentially with no or substantially reduced interframe spacing. In another aspect, a guard interframe spacing may be introduced between frames transmitted from different sources, or with substantially different power levels. In another aspect, a single preamble is transmitted in association with one or more frames. In another aspect, a block acknowledgement is transmitted subsequent to the transmission of one or more sequential frames. |
| US09137083B1 |
Synchronization and frequency correction for a receiver
A receiver and a method for providing block synchronization of symbols and integral frequency offset correction of subcarriers are provided. Samples of a received signal are transformed into the frequency domain. Subcarrier extraction is performed to extract selected subcarriers. The extracted subcarriers are differentially demodulated using subcarriers from the previous symbol and coherently combined with reference subcarrier values to obtain sample vectors. The sample vectors are obtained over a number of symbols preferably equal to the number symbols in a block. Cyclic correlation is performed on those sample vectors relative to a known synchronization (sync) pattern. A maximum magnitude search is performed over sample vectors obtained from the cyclic correlation to determine an integral frequency offset and a block boundary of the received signal. The integral frequency offset and the block boundary can be used to tune and synchronize the receiver for proper reception of the received signal. |
| US09137078B2 |
Daisy-chained ring of remote units for a distributed antenna system
The present disclosure is a novel utility of a software defined radio (SDR) based Distributed Antenna System (DAS) that is field reconfigurable and support multi-modulation schemes (modulation-independent), multi-carriers, multi-frequency bands and multi-channels. More specifically, the present invention relates to a DAS utilizing one or more Daisy-Chained Rings of Remote Units. The present invention enables a high degree of flexibility to manage, control, enhance, facilitate the usage and performance of a distributed wireless network such as Flexible Simulcast, automatic traffic load-balancing, network and radio resource optimization, network calibration, autonomous/assisted commissioning, carrier pooling, automatic frequency selection, frequency carrier placement, traffic monitoring, traffic tagging, pilot beacon, etc. As a result, a DAS in accordance with the present invention can increase the efficiency and traffic capacity of the operators' wireless network. |
| US09137077B2 |
Heterogeneous pilots
Large-dimension MIMO and multipoint broadcasting in new generation of wireless networks create high demand for various types of pilots in transmission signals for channel estimation, data demodulation, synchronization, etc. More pilots, as in existing networks, use more resources and thus diminish the network capacity. Methods and apparatus of heterogeneous pilots are disclosed. A heterogeneous pilot has its own signal characteristics that are different from the primary information-bearing signals in the network. Heterogeneous pilots can be spread-spectrum signals in an OFDM-based wireless network. Heterogeneous pilots use no network resources, and can be as many as desired, and can be designed to have versatile utilities. Also described are methods and apparatus of heterogeneous pilot cancellation that minimizes the interference of heterogeneous pilots on the primary information-bearing signals. Applications of the described methods and apparatus include OFDM-based wireless cellular networks, such as LTE-advanced and Wireless LAN. |
| US09137067B1 |
High efficiency outphasing transmitter for electronically scanned arrays
High efficiency transmitters for electronically scanned arrays (also known as electronically steered antennas or ESAs) are disclosed. The transmitters in accordance with the present disclosure utilize outphasing power amplification. In one embodiment, the outphasing transmitter includes a phase shifting device. The phase shifting device is configured for phase shifting an input signal and providing a pair of phase shifted signals for each emitting element of the EAS. The outphasing transmitter also includes an outphasing power amplifier associated with each emitting element. Each outphasing power amplifier is configured for separately amplifying the pair of shifted signals for each emitting element and combining the separately amplified signals for each emitting element for transmission. |
| US09137063B2 |
High-speed signaling systems with adaptable pre-emphasis and equalization
A signaling system includes a pre-emphasizing transmitter and an equalizing receiver coupled to one another via a high-speed signal path. The receiver measures the quality of data conveyed from the transmitter. A controller uses this information and other information to adaptively establish appropriate transmit pre-emphasis and receive equalization settings, e.g. to select the lowest power setting for which the signaling system provides some minimum communication bandwidth without exceeding a desired bit-error rate. |
| US09137062B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
A wireless communication apparatus receives a wireless signal whose phases represent data values and determines the data values represented in the phases of the wireless signal. The apparatus includes a counter that updates a count value at a frequency higher than a frequency of the wireless signal, and resets the count value to an initial value when the phase of the wireless signal changes or when the counter overflows, a capture timing setting unit that sets a phase capture value in response to a resetting of the count value, and a phase capturing unit that captures the phase of the wireless signal when the count value reaches the phase capture value. |
| US09137060B2 |
Method of cancelling inter-subcarrier interference in distributed antenna system and apparatus for performing the same
Disclosed are a method of cancelling inter-subcarrier interference in a distributed antenna system, and a device for performing the same. The method of cancelling the interference performed in a receiver includes: generating a first signal and a second signal by performing a fast Fourier transform (FFT) operation on a received signal received from a first transmission antenna and a second transmission antenna; acquiring first symbols by combining the first signal and the second signal; generating a first interference signal and a second interference signal based on the first symbols; generating a third signal by cancelling the first interference signal from the first signal, and generating a fourth signal by cancelling the second interference signal from the second signal; and acquiring second symbols by combining the third signal and the fourth signal. |
| US09137058B2 |
Data packet processing for estimation of a direction towards a transmitter
It is disclosed to insert an anti-whitened data block, which is obtainable from a specific data block by anti-whitening, into a data block that is to be whitened by a whitening to yield a whitened data block, wherein the anti-whitening compensates the whitening so that the whitened data block will comprise the specific data block in non-whitened form. It is further disclosed to output, in a first operating mode, an output data block generated by one of whitening and de-whitening an input data block in its entirety, and outputting, in a second operating mode, one of: an output data block generated by one of whitening and de-whitening all parts of an input data block under exclusion of a specific data block contained in the input data block. |
| US09137055B2 |
Techniques for improving channel estimation and tracking in a wireless communication system
A technique for performing channel tracking and/or channel estimation in a wireless communication device includes receiving a reference signal and one or more non-error propagation physical channel signals. In general, the one or more non-error propagation physical channel signals must be correctly decoded before a data channel can be decoded. Channel tracking and/or channel estimation are/is then performed based on the reference signal and at least one of the one or more non-error propagation physical channel signals. |
| US09137049B2 |
Dynamically overriding alert suppressions based on prior actions
A suppression override engine on a user device may be configured to detect communication alert suppressions. An incoming communication from a third party may be detected. Upon detecting the communication, the suppression override engine can override the communication alert suppression if it determines that the incoming communication is responsive to a prior communication from the user device. By overriding the alert suppression the user is then alerted to the incoming communication. |
| US09137047B2 |
Instant messaging system, component and method for additional service
An IM system for an additional service includes: an IM client and at least one IM component adapted to support at least one additional service, between which a common interface is configured. The IM client triggers the at least one IM component via the common interface when a local IM user logs on; and the at least one IM component obtains an identity of at least one IM user other than the local IM user via the common interface, and query, according to the identity, whether the at least one IM user subscribes to one of the at least one additional service supported by the at least one IM component. A component and method for an additional service are also provided. By utilizing the IM system, component and method, extensibility of the IM system can be improved, and costs for extending the IM system can be reduced. |
| US09137046B2 |
Time synchronized resource reservation over packet switched networks
A method and apparatus for scheduling reservations of resources in a packet-switched communication network including end-nodes and core network switches are described including a time information to each request, issued by an end-node and forwarded by at least one core network switch, and requesting a resource reservation for receiving a stream defined by specifications at a time which is represented by the time information, the reservation scheduling being handled at a data link layer of an Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model and storing the time information, included into each forwarded end-node request in correspondence with associated stream specifications, into at least one related database managed by a core network switch participating in the request forwarding. |
| US09137042B2 |
Cluster coupler in a time triggered network
The invention relates to a cluster coupler in a time triggered network for connecting clusters operating on the same protocol. Further, it relates to a triggered network having a plurality of clusters, which are coupled via the cluster coupler. It also relates to a method for communicating between different clusters. To provide a cluster coupling means, a network and a method for communicating between clusters which are able to couple a plurality of clusters operating on the same time triggered protocol to achieve a selectively forwarding of data without message buffering or frame delay a cluster cluster (10) in a network is proposed operating on a time triggered protocol using time slots, wherein the cluster coupler (10) is coupled to at least two clusters (A, B, X), a cluster includes at least one node (11), wherein the same protocol is used within the clusters, the cluster coupler (10) comprises: a protocol engine (12), a switch (20) and a switch control unit (21), wherein the switch control unit (21) includes an interconnection schedule indicating which input port of the switch (20) is connected to which output port of the switch (20) at a predetermined time slot. |
| US09137041B2 |
Method for network communication by a computer system using at least two communication protocols
A network adapter has a first and second virtual local area network (“VLAN”) device configured on each of first and second physical ports of the network adapter. The second VLAN devices are configured as a logically bonded, virtual device. |
| US09137032B2 |
Specifying desired list of recipients in electronic mails
Specifying desired list of recipients in electronic mails. According to an aspect, a digital processing system receives a criteria for determining the recipients of an email communication, and in response queries an enterprise data store to identify a set of recipients matching the received criteria. The digital processing system then forwards the email communication to the identified set of recipients. In one embodiment the digital processing system is an email server and in another embodiment is a end user system, used by a user to compose the email communication. |
| US09137031B2 |
Method and transmitter for producing a data stream, method and receiver for calling at least one data segment in a data stream
A method produces a data stream. The data stream is subdivided into at least one data segment. A key which is associated unambiguously with that data segment is created. A node is selected from a set of nodes in a network for that data segment on the basis of the key associated with that data segment, and the data segment is transmitted to the node selected for that data segment. Furthermore, a method calls at least one data segment in a data stream by a receiver node. A key which is associated unambiguously with that data segment is produced. A node is selected from a set of nodes in the network for the data segment on the basis of the key associated with that data segment. A request message is sent to the selected node to transmit the data segment associated with the key, and the data segment is received by the receiver. |
| US09137029B1 |
State and availability monitoring for customer support services for multimedia conferences
A system and method are described for providing support services via a virtual production environment. The system may include a help center interface, an agent interface, and a communications server running in association with a contact center manager application. The system may further include a reflector. The contact center manager application matches customers with suitable agents in the virtual production environment in the context of providing customer support in response to customer support requests. The method may include transmitting a customer support request to the contact center manager application, wherein a determination of whether a suitable agent is available is made by the contact center manager application; and connecting to a communications session corresponding to a session address provided by the contact center manager application for the customer device based on the determination. |
| US09137027B2 |
Bootstrapping in peer-to-peer networks with network address translators
A joining peer is bootstrapped into in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network in the presence of network address translators (NAT). A bootstrap peer is contact by the joining peer to establish a connection between the joining peer and an admitting peer in the peer-to-peer network. The joining peer receives an indication from the bootstrap peer that the connection between the joining peer and the admitting peer has been established with a message path through the bootstrap peer. The indication includes contact information for the admitting peer. The connection is them modified to remove all proxies therefrom. |
| US09137024B2 |
System and method for incorporating an originating site into a security protocol for a downloaded program object
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for verifying a digital object obtained from a remote host. A system configured to practice the method downloads a first object from a first remote source and presents the user with a first request to allow access to the first object. Upon user approval, a multitude of characteristics associated with the object are stored to facilitate future uses of the object. When a second object is downloaded from a second remote source, the system checks the database for a stored user approval. Access to the second object is allowed if the multitude of characteristics associated with the first and second objects match. If the system does not find a match, the user is presented with a second request to allow access to the object. |
| US09137020B1 |
Authentication method and system
A method for authenticating an object, comprising determining a physical dispersion pattern of a set of elements, determining a physical characteristic of the set of elements which is distinct from a physical characteristic producible by a transfer printing technology, determining a digital code associated with the object defining the physical dispersion pattern, and authenticating the object by verifying a correspondence of the digital code with the physical dispersion pattern, and verifying the physical characteristic. |
| US09137019B2 |
Secure wireless charging
A wireless charging apparatus and method utilizing a secure element is disclosed. Illustratively, a receiver containing a secure element securely communicates with a charging pad also equipped with a secure element. The communication can be used to establish the identity of the receiver and facilitate billing for the wireless charging. The charging pad may further communicate in a secure manner with a server to authenticate the identity and other information about the receiver before providing wireless charging. Direct communication between the receiver and server is also contemplated. |
| US09137016B2 |
Key pair updates based on digital signature states
Example embodiments relate to updating key pairs based on digital signature states. In example embodiments, first credentials that are generated using a first private key may be sent to a user computing device, where the first private key is associated with a first public key. At some stage, second credentials that are generated using the first private key and a second private key are sent to the user computing device, where the second credentials specify that the first private key is deprecated, and where the user computing device authenticates the second credentials using the first public key. In response to receiving confirmation that a firmware upgrade is installed a number of user computing devices such that an upgrade threshold is satisfied, the first private key may be deactivated. The firmware upgrade may be provided in response to receiving a firmware upgrade request from the user computing device. |
| US09137014B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling electronic document use
One exemplary embodiment involves receiving a request for a document key for accessing a document on a client device. The request comprises a user identity identifying a requester requesting access to the document. The request also comprises information about the document. The exemplary embodiment further involves determining, at the server, whether access to the document by the requester is permitted. And, the exemplary embodiment further involves, if access to the document is permitted computing, at the server, the document key using the user identity and using the information about the document. The document key is document specific and, prior to the computing of the document key, the document key is not stored for access by the server. The exemplary embodiment further involves responding to the request by providing the document key for use in accessing the document on the client device. |
| US09137012B2 |
Wireless authentication methods and apparatus
A first processing device, which may be, for example, a wireless authentication token or an RFID tag, transmits information in a wireless network in a manner that emulates standard communications of an access point of the wireless network, although the first processing device is not configured to operate as an actual access point of the wireless network. A second processing device, which may be, for example, a computer or other station of the wireless network, receives the transmitted information and is able to determine therefrom that the information originates from an emulated access point rather than an actual access point. The second processing device responds to this condition by utilizing the transmitted information in a manner distinct from its utilization of similar information received from the actual access point of the wireless network. |
| US09137010B2 |
Watermark with data integrity verification
In one embodiment, a system including a processor is operative to receive a content item including a watermark encoding a series of encrypted bits deriving from encrypting an information element multiple times, extract at least some encrypted bits from at least part of the watermark, decrypt a series of N bits using a first key yielding a first value, the series of N bits including Q bits of the encrypted bits and K, greater than, or equal to zero, guessed bits, re-encrypt the first value using a second key yielding a second value, and compare at least part of the second value to M bits of the encrypted bits to determine if at least part of the second value matches the M bits in order to provide a level of confidence that the first value is the information element which was encrypted and embedded as the watermark. |
| US09137006B1 |
Non-integer oversampled timing recovery for higher order quadrature modulation communication systems using quadrature and in-phase samples
Apparatus and method for performing entirely digital timing recovery for high bandwidth radio frequency communications. The received digital data source can be sampled from any (minimum 2×) non-integer oversampled transmitted data. This method re-samples the data through interpolation and phase adjustment. The output phase error adjusts the receiver's Analog-to-digital Convertor sampling clock to improve synchronization with the transmitter's Digital-to-analog Convertor clock phase, thus improving transmitted symbol recovery. |
| US09137004B2 |
Neighbor network channel reuse with MIMO capable stations
Channel reuse may be used so that multiple networks may communicate via a shared powerline communication (PLC) medium. In a PLC network that supports different transmission modes, channel reuse may be improved by determining signal performance metrics associated with the different transmission modes. A transmission mode may be selected to facilitate channel reuse of the PLC medium by the local network and neighbor network. A first device and a second device may belong to a local network that shares the PLC medium with a neighbor network. The transmission mode may be selected based on interference and signal measurements at one or more receivers of the second device. The transmission mode may be selected from a group comprising a 2-stream multi-input multi-output (MIMO) eigen-beamforming transmission mode, a 1-stream MIMO spot-beamforming transmission mode, and a 1-stream single-input-single-output (SISO) transmission mode. |
| US09137000B2 |
Base station apparatus and method for controlling channel quality indicator transmission
Wireless communication apparatus capable of increasing transmission efficiency by selecting data for scheduling according to data type, and capable of achieving low power consumption and high-speed signal processing is disclosed. With this apparatus, a control section allocates transmission data sequence 1 to subcarriers of superior quality by carrying out scheduling for the transmission data sequence 1 based on CQI sent from communication terminal apparatus and required transmission rate information for each communication terminal apparatus, and allocates transmission data sequence 2 to preassigned subcarriers. Channel allocation section allocates data for transmission data sequence 1 to subcarriers designated by control section. Channel allocation section allocates data for transmission data sequence 2 to subcarriers designated by control section. |
| US09136991B2 |
Power amplifying circuit and front end module including the same
There are provided a power amplifying circuit and a front end module including the same. The power amplifying circuit includes a signal amplifying unit amplifying and outputting a plurality of wireless signals having different frequency bands, and a diplexer circuit transferring at least one of the plurality of wireless signals output from the signal amplifying unit to an antenna, wherein the signal amplifying unit and the diplexer circuit include impedance matching circuits having different impedance matching ranges, respectively, and the impedance matching range of the diplexer circuit is continuous with that of the signal amplifying unit. |
| US09136990B2 |
Method and apparatus for multiple carrier utilization in wireless communications
Methods and apparatus for multiple carrier utilization in wireless communications are disclosed. These methods include multiple carrier activation/deactivation, multiple carrier discontinuous transmission (DTX) and discontinuous reception (DRX) activation/deactivation and operations, and multiple carrier acknowledgment/negative acknowledgement feedback. The methods include provisions for joint multiple carrier activation and deactivation and joint DTX and DRX activation and deactivation of multiple carriers. |
| US09136989B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing carrier leakage
In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises an in-phase-quadrature (IQ) signal amplifier having an IQ baseband input, an IQ mixer input connected to the IQ signal amplifier, a carrier leakage detector connected to outputs of the IQ mixer, and a carrier-null offset signal generator connected to the carrier leakage detector. The IQ mixer is configured to be driven by an IQ carrier signal. The carrier leakage detector is configured to output an in-phase leakage level measurement and a quadrature leakage level measurement in the absence of an IQ baseband signal at the IQ baseband input. The carrier-null offset signal generator is configured to (i) inject an in-phase carrier-null offset signal based on the in-phase leakage level measurement and (ii) inject a quadrature carrier-null offset signal based on the quadrature leakage level measurement. |
| US09136988B2 |
Method of transmitting data to mitigate interference
A method of transmitting data using hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) is provided. The method includes transmitting an initial data, receiving a retransmission request for the initial data, generating a retransmission data by shifting the phase of the initial data on signal constellation and transmitting the retransmission data. Inter-cell interference or intra-cell interference can be mitigated. |
| US09136987B2 |
Replay suspension in a memory system
Embodiments relate to replay suspension in a memory system. One aspect is a system that includes a replay buffer coupled to a memory controller interface, and a replay control coupled to the replay buffer and a memory controller. The replay control is configured to receive an error indication associated with sending data from the memory controller interface to a memory subsystem as part of an operation. A replay pending signal is provided to the memory controller based on the error indication. Based on waiting for a period of time sufficient for the memory controller to provide remaining data associated with the operation to the replay buffer, a replay signal is asserted. |
| US09136986B2 |
Controlling retransmissions in a telecommunications system
The present disclosure relates to a method and arrangement for controlling re-transmission in a user equipment supporting uplink spatial multiplexing. The user equipment can detect an uplink grant on a physical downlink control channel, the uplink grant being valid for at least one transport block. The UE can also detect that at least one transport block is disabled, such that no grant is associated with the at least one transport block. The UE can interpret the at least one disabled transport block as an acknowledgement, ACK, of a previous transmission corresponding to the disabled transport block irrespective of which indication is received on the reception status feedback channel for the previous transmission. |
| US09136985B2 |
Terminal device and retransmission control method
In a terminal, a control unit transmits a bundle response signal using a resource in a basic region of an uplink control channel in an uplink unit band of a unit band group when no error is detected in each of a plurality of pieces of downlink data of the unit band group, the uplink control channel in the uplink unit band being associated with a downlink control channel in a basic unit band that is a downlink unit band in which a broadcast channel signal including information relating to the uplink unit band is transmitted, and the control unit transmits the bundle response signal using a resource in an additional region of the uplink control channel when an error is detected in each of the plurality of pieces of downlink data. |
| US09136982B2 |
Transmitter and receiver using non-adjacent component interleaving
A transmitter for transmitting information has a mapper for generating a plurality of mapped symbols, each mapped symbol having a first component and a second component, one of the first and second components being an in-phase component and the other of the first and second components being a quadrature component from a codeword; and a component interleaver for generating a plurality of interleaving units to be transmitted in a time sequence, the plurality of interleaving units consisting of at least three different interleaving units, wherein an interleaving unit has a plurality of pairs of first and second components, wherein the component interleaver is configured for assigning all first components and all second components of a codeword to the plurality of interleaving units in accordance with an interleaving rule, so that an I component of an mapped symbol and the Q component of the same mapped symbol are never assigned to one and the same interleaving unit, but to two different interleaving units. |
| US09136979B2 |
Carrier wave reproduction device and carrier wave reproduction method
The present invention provides a carrier wave reproduction device in which bit-error characteristics are improved without decreasing transmission capacity. The carrier wave reproduction device is equipped with an interpolation filter that estimates a phase error for a received symbol on the basis of a pilot symbol included in the received symbol, a first phase rotation machine that rotates a phase of the received symbol in response to the phase error estimated by the interpolation filter and then outputs the rotated symbol as a first output symbol, a phase error compensating unit that compensates for the phase error remaining in the first output symbol and then outputs the result of the compensation as a second output symbol, a QAM symbol demapping unit that calculates both a first bit string corresponding to the first output symbol and a second bit string corresponding to the second output signal, and an error correction decoder which performs error correction on the bit error in the first bit string and outputs the result. The phase error compensating unit refers to the first bit string after error correction has been performed thereon and then compensates for the phase error remaining in the first output symbol. |
| US09136974B2 |
Precoding and SDMA support
Embodiments are described in connection with enhancing performance in a wireless communication system using codebook technology. According to an embodiment is a method for enhancing performance in a wireless communication environment. The method can include receiving a user preference for a transmission mode, associating the user preference with an entry or entries in a codebook, and assigning the user to a transmission mode corresponding to the entry or entries. The transmission mode can be one of a precoding, space division multiple access (SDMA), SDMA precoding, multiple input multiple output (MIMO), MIMO precoding, MIMO-SDMA and a diversity. Each entry can correspond to a transmission mode. |
| US09136968B2 |
Time and wavelength division multiplexing—passive optical network (TWDM-PON) system and communication link method thereof
A Time Wavelength Division Multiplexing-Passive Optical Network (TWDM-PON) system and a communication link method thereof are provided. The communication link method is a method whereby an Optical Network Unit (ONU) which has established communication link to one Optical Line Terminal (OLT) establishes communication link to a different OLT. The ONU receives a wavelength change instruction to change a wavelength thereof to an operating wavelength assigned to the different OLT, and change the wavelength in response to the wavelength change instruction to synchronize to a downstream signal of the operating signal. In addition, the ONU receives an upstream discovery grant signal from the different OLT, and transmits an acknowledgement message to notify the receipt of the upstream discovery grant signal, so that the ONU establishes communication link to the different OLT. |
| US09136966B2 |
Pilot signal in an FDMA communication system
Methods (500, 800) and corresponding systems (100, 200, 300, 400, 900) for generating a pilot symbol (330) include providing an M-point parallel transform sequence that is a discrete Fourier transform of a CAZAC sequence (312, 504-508). The M-point parallel transform sequence (312) is distributed (316, 510) to a set of M subcarriers among N subcarriers to form an N-point frequency-domain sequence (318) wherein the M subcarriers are evenly spaced apart. An N-point inverse fast Fourier transform (320, 512) is performed to convert the N-point frequency-domain sequence to an N-point time-domain sequence (322). The N-point time-domain sequence is converted (324, 514) to a serial sequence (326), and a cyclic prefix is added (328, 516) to the serial sequence to form a pilot symbol (330). |
| US09136965B2 |
Methods and apparatus for generating signatures
Methods and apparatus for characterizing media are described. An example method includes converting at least a portion of a block of audio into a frequency domain representation, dividing the frequency domain representation into bands, determining a characteristic difference of a first band of the bands, and determining a signature bit based on the characteristic difference, wherein determining the signature bit is performed differently based on whether an index of the first band has a first property. |
| US09136962B2 |
Frequency characteristics control device
A frequency characteristics control device of a mixer mixes a first audio signal and a second audio signal inputted to the mixer. In the frequency characteristics control device, a characteristics detection section detects a first frequency characteristic of the first audio signal and a second frequency characteristic of the second audio signal. Based on the first and second frequency characteristics, a removal band detection section detects a removal band in which a level of the first audio signal is higher than a level of the second audio signal. A filtering process section performs a filtering process on the second audio signal so as to attenuate a component of the second audio signal in the removal band. A output section mixes the first audio signal inputted to the mixer and the second audio signal on which the filtering process section has performed the filtering process. |
| US09136958B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing hybrid unicast broadcast services
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided in connection with facilitating hybrid unicast/broadcast service distribution. In one example, a communications device is equipped to provide a parity portion of titles in a channel of a service to a plurality of UEs at a first time, receive, from a UE at a second time, a request to access a title of the one or more titles, and provide an enablement item, to the requesting UE, which is a portion of the requested title that, when processed with the provided parity portion of the requested title, is sufficient to allow the requesting UE to decode and access to the requested title. In an aspect, the parity portion may be a parity portion of a fountain code encoded title, and the enablement item may be repair symbols of the fountain code encoded title. |
| US09136955B2 |
Method of resending digital signals
The invention relates to a method of resending at least one digital signal, comprising a step of reception by cable of the signal comprising signaling information, a step of resending of this signal at a resend frequency by an antenna, and also comprising a step of selecting the resend frequency as a function of the signaling information; a step of transposing the signal into the selected frequency of the resend signal and a step of monitoring and adjusting the frequency of the resend signal as a function of the selected frequency of the resend signal. |
| US09136946B2 |
Low-cost transceiver approach
A transceiver comprising a plurality of CMOS chips, a first chip comprising optical and optoelectronic devices and at least a second chip comprising electronic devices may be operable to communicate an optical source signal from a semiconductor laser into the first CMOS chip. The optical source signal may be used to generate first optical signals that may be transmitted from the first CMOS chip to optical fibers. Second optical signals may be received from the optical fibers and converted to electrical signals via photodetectors. The optical source signal may be communicated from the semiconductor laser into the CMOS chip via optical fibers in to a top surface and the first optical signals may be communicated out of a top surface of the CMOS chip. The first optical signals may be communicated from the first CMOS chip via optical couplers, which may comprise grating couplers. |
| US09136944B2 |
Measurement device, measurement method, transfer device, and optical network
A measurement device includes a first obtaining unit configured to obtain a first power ratio that indicates a ratio of optical signal power of a first wavelength in a first spectrum at a reception device to optical signal power of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength in the first spectrum; a second obtaining unit configured to obtain a second power ratio that indicates a ratio of optical signal power of the first wavelength in a second spectrum at a transmission device to optical signal power of the second wavelength in the second spectrum; a calculation unit configured to calculate an OSNR of the optical signal at the reception device using the first power ratio obtained by the first obtaining unit and the second power ratio obtained by the second obtaining unit; and an output unit configured to output the OSNR calculated by the calculation unit. |
| US09136942B2 |
Testing of elements used in communication links
A receiver for a communications link includes a receiver module and a host receiver. These two components can be tested independently. In one embodiment, the receiver module is characterized with respect to noise and distortion. The noise performance can be determined by comparing input and output signals of the receiver module, to determine the relative noise of the receiver module. The distortion performance can be determined by comparing the distortion of input and output signals of the receiver module, using a reference host receiver that includes an equalizer. The host receiver can be tested by using a reference receiver module. |
| US09136941B2 |
Optical layer monitoring apparatus and method thereof
An optical layer monitoring apparatus and method thereof are provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an optical layer monitoring apparatus including an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) function so as to monitor an optical path of a passive optical network (PON), and a method for improving accuracy of measured monitoring results using the optical layer monitoring apparatus are provided. Therefore, it is possible to enable a user to continuously detect distortion or attenuation along the optical path, and to quickly recover from the distortion or attenuation along the optical path when distortion or attenuation is detected. |
| US09136939B2 |
Graphical user interface pertaining to a bolus calculator residing on a handheld diabetes management device
A handheld diabetes manager is presented with an improved graphical user interface for a bolus calculator. The bolus calculator is configured to receive blood glucose measurements from a blood glucose measurement module and operates, in response to an input, to compute an insulin recommendation for a patient based in part on the blood glucose measurements. The graphical user interface for the bolus calculator includes a health adjustment screen that enables a user to input a value for health events associated with the insulin recommendation, where the input value represents a cumulative effect of the health events on insulin of the patient and the health adjustment screen presents a different icon for each of the health events associated with the insulin recommendation. |
| US09136938B1 |
Communication method and system that uses low latency/low data bandwidth and high latency/high data bandwidth pathways
A communication system uses multiple communications links, preferably links that use different communications media. The multiple communications links may include a high latency/high bandwidth link using a fiber-optic cable configured to carry large volumes of data but having a high latency. The communications links may also include a low latency/low bandwidth link implemented using skywave propagation of radio waves and configured to carry smaller volumes of data with a lower latency across a substantial portion of the earth's surface. The two communications links may be used together to coordinate various activities such as the buying and selling of financial instruments. |
| US09136935B2 |
Cellular wide-area radio communication system with relay-enhanced cells
In a cellular wide-area radio communications system, comprising a plurality of base stations, a plurality of relay stations, and a plurality of mobile stations, wherein each of the relay stations is associated with at least one of the base stations, each of the mobile stations is associated with at least one of the base stations or one of the relay stations, wireless data transmissions between mobile stations and base stations take place either as single-hop data transmissions between the mobile stations and their associated base stations, or as multi-hop data transmissions between the mobile stations and their associated relay stations and a data transmission between the relay stations and the base stations associated with the relay stations, wherein an average number of multi-hop data transmissions in the radio communications system equals at least an average number of single-hop data transmissions. |
| US09136934B2 |
Base station, relay, system and method for packet re-transmission in a multi-hop network
Systems and methods for packet re-transmission in multi-hop wireless networks are provided. In some embodiments, RLP packet re-transmission only starts from the hop where L1 ARQ fails. This can result in an increased efficiency of radio resource utilization, such as in implementations where the last hop is more unstable than the remaining hops. In some embodiments, a short RLP recovery delay enables a higher number of re-transmissions of lost RLP packets which, in turn, translates into a higher target physical layer FER (frame error rate) being allowed and/or an increased system capacity. Alternately or additionally, a short RLP recovery delay may reduce the possibility of TCP re-transmission and slow start. |
| US09136929B2 |
Transmission method, transmission device, reception method, and reception device
Provided is a precoding method for generating, from a plurality of baseband signals, a plurality of precoded signals to be transmitted over the same frequency bandwidth at the same time, including the steps of selecting a matrix F[i] from among N matrices, which define precoding performed on the plurality of baseband signals, while switching between the N matrices, i being an integer from 0 to N−1, and N being an integer at least two, generating a first precoded signal z1 and a second precoded signal z2, generating a first encoded block and a second encoded block using a predetermined error correction block encoding method, generating a baseband signal with M symbols from the first encoded block and a baseband signal with M symbols the second encoded block, and precoding a combination of the generated baseband signals to generate a precoded signal having M slots. |
| US09136926B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication system and wireless communication method
In a MIMO system using a cross-polarized antenna structure, even if no ideal XPD can be obtained, the interference between different polarized waves can be reduced to allow an effective precoding to be executed. When a MIMO communication is performed between a transmitter and a receiver each using a cross-polarized antenna structure, a channel estimating and precoding selection section of the receiver performs a channel estimation of MIMO channels from the transmitter to the receiver, decides a precoding matrix of a projection matrix for mutually orthogonalizing or substantially orthogonalizing the channel response matrixes for respective different polarized waves, and feeds the determined precoding matrix back to the transmitter. In the transmitter, a precoding processing section applies the precoding matrix to the spatial stream corresponding to one of the polarized waves to perform a precoding, thereby allowing the transmitter to transmit the polarized waves with the orthogonality therebetween maintained. |
| US09136921B2 |
Method for channel information feedback and a terminal
The disclosure provides a method for channel information feedback and a terminal, applied in an 8 antennae system, comprising: a terminal acquires the channel information which comprises PMI1 information and RI information; the terminal jointly encodes the PMI1 information and RI information into a 5 bit Report Type; the terminal feeds back the Report Type on a physical uplink control channel. The disclosure solves the poor transmission performance of the system caused by high overhead of channel information feedback in the related arts, thus improving the performance of the terminal to feed back information and improving the transmission performance of the system. |
| US09136919B2 |
System for extending wireless internet coverage
A system for extending coverage of a wireless Internet service by using a mobile communication network is provided. The system includes a wireless access point, a combiner, and a distributor. The combiner is connected to the wireless access point. The combiner includes a filter that isolates a signal band of a wireless Internet signal corresponding to the wireless access point and a signal band of a mobile communication signal corresponding to the mobile communication network. After isolation, the combiner outputs the wireless Internet signal or the mobile communication signal. The distributor is connected to the combiner and at least one antenna. The distributor receives the wireless Internet signal from the combiner and outputs the received wireless Internet signal via the antenna. |
| US09136917B2 |
System for controlling inter cell interference in cellular mobile system
Provided is a technology that eliminates or decreases inter-cell interference through an inter-cell cooperation in a cellular mobile communication system. A terminal generates channel state information (CSI) with respect to a plurality of base station, and transmits the CSI to a serving cell. The serving cell shares the CSI with a cooperation cell, and determines a cooperation transmission mode that decreases interference from the cooperation cell. |
| US09136916B2 |
Robust wireless communication system and components thereof for processing a message from two sources
A wireless communication system includes an access point and first and second stations. The first station transmits a first message that includes an address of a second station as a destination address and an address of the first station as a source address. The access point forwards the message including the address of the second station address as the destination address and the address of the first station as the source address. The second station receives the message from the first station during a first time interval and receives the first message from the access point during a second time interval. The second station processes the duplicate received message to produce inbound data. |
| US09136914B2 |
Impedance change detection in wireless power transmission
Exemplary embodiments are directed to wireless power transfer. Energy from a transmit antenna is coupled to internal signals on a transmitter. An impedance measurement circuit generates an impedance indication signal for indicating an impedance difference between the coupled internal signals by comparing them. A controller samples the impedance indication signal and determines digital signaling values responsive to changes in the impedance indication signal. The impedance measurement circuit measures one or more of magnitude difference of the internal signals, phase difference of the internal signals, and changes in power consumed by an amplifier coupled between the RF signal and the transmit antenna. A transmitter generates the electromagnetic field with a transmit antenna responsive to a Radio Frequency (RF) signal to create a coupling-mode region within a near field of the transmit antenna. |
| US09136913B2 |
Arrangement for managing wireless communication between devices
An arrangement for managing bi-directional wireless communication between a controller and a plurality of controllable-devices wherein each controllable-device is able to provide operable function specific instructions to the controller as to how it would like to be operated by the controller and wherein a proximity mechanism means provides bidirectional communications over a distance of a few centimeters between the controller and the or each controllable-device. |
| US09136906B2 |
Detection of double talk in telecommunications networks
In one embodiment, the presence of double talk (DT) is detected in a telecommunications network having a near-end user and a far-end user. The energies of both (1) a signal received from the far-end user by the near-end user and (2) a signal to be communicated from the near-end user to the far-end user are computed. An echo return loss (ERL) estimate is calculated based on the energy calculations, and a preliminary decision is made as to whether DT is present based on the ERL estimate and the energy calculations. If DT is detected, then a counter is set to a hangover value. If DT is not detected, then the counter is reduced. This process is repeated, and, for each iteration, a final decision as to whether DT is present is made based on the counter value. |
| US09136903B2 |
Method for resizing network connection in the optical transport network supporting protection switching
There is provided a method for resizing a network connection in an optical transport network that supports protection switching and receives a flexible Optical channel Data Unit (ODUflex(GFP)) signal. In addition, at nodes located on a protection path for protection switching, only a Link Connection Resize (LCR) protocol, except for a Bandwidth Resize (BWR) protocol, of Hitless Adjustment of ODUflex(GFP) (HAO) procedure is executed. On the other hand, both the LCR protocol and the BWR protocol are executed at nodes located on a working path for protection switching. |
| US09136902B2 |
Method and device for implementation of adaptive frequency hopping by power spectral density
A wireless communication device is disclosed. The wireless communication device includes a frequency hopping communication circuit, a power spectral density circuit and a control circuit. The frequency hopping communication circuit includes a channel map. The frequency hopping communication circuit selects one of channel in a channel map to connect to another frequency hopping communication circuit according to the channel map. The power spectral density circuit for generating a power spectral density signal by measuring spectrums on all channels connected to the frequency hopping communication circuit. The control circuit receives the power spectral density and output statistical distribution data to the frequency hopping communication circuit. The frequency hopping communication circuit updates the channel map according to the statistical distribution data. |
| US09136898B2 |
Electronic apparatus
A cover panel made of sapphire is provided on a surface of electronic apparatus. The electronic apparatus includes a casing that supports a first area positioned in an edge area of the cover panel; a first component that is disposed so as to face a second area positioned further inside than the first area in the cover panel; and a supporting structure that supports a third area positioned between the first and second areas and separated from the first and second areas in the panel. |
| US09136896B2 |
Back cover structure
A back cover structure disposed on the back of the portable electronic device includes a cover body, a plurality of replaceable adornments and a switching structure. The cover body has an outer surface, an inner surface opposite to the outer surface and facing the portable electronic device, and a through hole passing through the cover body and connected between the outer surface and the inner surface. The replaceable adornments are applied to the cover body, and any one of the replaceable adornments is adapted to and detachably disposed in the through hole of the cover body according to different requirements. The switching structure is disposed on the inner surface of the cover body to secure the replaceable adornment on the cover body or release the replaceable adornment from the cover body. |
| US09136892B2 |
Apparatus and method for utilizing a smart receiver switch for improving idle mode performance
An apparatus, a method, and a computer program are disclosed, which can enable a wireless user equipment (UE) to reduce or avoid system losses, such as decode failures and the unavailability of page messages, which might otherwise result in a poor user experience. By way of example and not limitation, a UE may be configured to switch from a low-sensitivity receiver to a high-sensitivity receiver, or to a receive diversity configuration, when operating under poor channel conditions. |
| US09136890B1 |
Signal detection with adjustable number of interferring signals
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with signal detection with an adjustable number of interfering signals. According to one embodiment an apparatus includes an interferer counter, a detection method selector, and a signal detector. The interferer counter is configured to identify a number of active interfering signals in a received signal. The detection method selector is configured to select a signal detection method based, at least in part, on the number of active interfering signals identified by the interferer counter. In this manner, when one interfering signal is identified, a detection method having a first order is selected; and when two interfering signals are identified, the detection method having a second order is selected. The signal detector is configured to process the received signal according to the signal detection method selected by the detection method selector to detect an intended signal in the received signal. |
| US09136888B2 |
Radio receiver and reception frequency setting method used therein, and frequency setting device and frequency setting method
A spectrum analyzer is configured to display, on a display, reception signal intensity of each of multiple frequencies. A smoothing unit is configured to smooth signal intensity data of each of the multiple frequencies to produce smoothed data. A peak frequency detection unit is configured to detect, as a peak frequency, a frequency at a position indicating a maximum value in the smoothed data closest to a contact position that a touch sensor detects. A reception frequency determination unit is configured to determine a reception frequency of a radio wave that a receiver for a voice call receives based on the peak frequency. |
| US09136886B2 |
Digitally compensated process transmitter with minimal dead time
A processor transmitter includes a sensor, a first signal path, a second signal path, and an output summing circuit. The sensor produces a process signal that is a function of a process parameter. The first signal path digitally compensates the process signal. The second signal path digitally filters the process signal and subjects the process signal to less delay than the first signal path. The output summing circuit sums the digitally compensated process signal from the first signal path and the digitally filtered process signal from the second signal path to produce a fast digital compensated process signal. |
| US09136883B1 |
Analog compensation circuit and method
Disclosed herein are an analog compensation circuit and a method for tuning an analog compensator in full-duplex transmission systems. An embodiment analog compensation circuit includes a secondary receiver configured to receive and convert a sampled self-interference signal to a baseband self-interference signal. A tuner is coupled to the secondary receiver and configured to receive a baseband transmit signal and the baseband self-interference signal, and to compute complex gains according to the baseband transmit signal and the baseband self-interference signal. An analog compensator is coupled to the tuner and has multiple branches. The analog compensator is configured to receive the complex gains and use them to adjust respective attenuators and phase shifters of the branches. The analog compensator is further configured to process a sample of a transmit signal using the branches, the transmit signal being up-converted from a new baseband transmit signal. |
| US09136881B2 |
Audio stream mixing with dialog level normalization
A method for mixing of audio signals that allows maintaining of a consistent perceived sound level for the mixed signal by holding the sound level of the dominant signal in the mix constant by adjusting the sound level of the non-dominant signal(s) in relation to the dominant signal. It further includes receiving of a mixing balance input, which denotes the adjustable balance between the main and associated signals. It further includes identification of the dominant signal from the mixing balance input and mixing metadata, from which an appropriate scale factor for the non-dominant signal may also be determined directly from the scaling information, without the need for any analysis or measurement of the audio signals to be mixed. It further includes scaling the non-dominant signal in relation to the dominant signal and combining the scaled non-dominant signal with the dominant signal into a mixed signal. |
| US09136876B1 |
Size limited multi-dimensional decoding
A system, computer readable medium and a method for multi-dimensional decoding. The method may include calculating, for each single code component of multiple code components and for each dimension of the multi-dimensional decoding, multiple first candidates and assigning a first reliability score for each first candidate; selecting, for each single code component and for each dimension, a second candidate out of the multiple first candidates in response to first reliability scores of the multiple first candidates; selecting, per dimension, multiple third candidates out of all second candidates associated with the dimension, in response to reliability information related to the second candidates associated with the dimension; selecting fourth candidates out of third candidates of all dimensions; wherein a number of the fourth candidates is smaller than a number of the third candidates of all dimensions; wherein the fourth candidates are indicative of locations of bits to be evaluated; and applying a multi-dimensional soft decoding process on the multiple code components. |
| US09136872B2 |
Memory, memory system, and error checking and correcting method for memory
A memory system includes an error checking and correction (ECC) engine configured to perform error checking and correction of data temporarily stored in a first memory array and data read out from the first memory array according to a first method, and perform error checking and correction of data stored in a second memory array after read out from the first memory array and data read out from the second memory array according to a second method, wherein the first method and the second method are selected in response to a control signal having at least a first logic level, and the second method checks and corrects data errors occurring at a higher rate compared the first method. |
| US09136868B1 |
Methods and apparatus for an improved analog to digital converter
An improved analog to digital converter comprises at least one delta sigma analog to digital converter stage and a succession of pipelined analog to digital converter stages. The pipelined analog to digital converter stages may have a sampling rate determined separately from that of the at least one delta-sigma analog to digital converter stage. The sampling rate of the at least one delta sigma analog to digital converter stage may be an oversampling rate. The sampling rate of the at least one delta-sigma analog to digital converter stages and the pipeline stages may be adjusted by adjusting their sampling frequency and the number of effective pipeline stages may be adjusted—for example, by adjusting a sampling frequency input at each stage. The effective number of pipeline stages may be adjusted, for example, based on the precision needed to process the current signal. |
| US09136861B1 |
System and method for enhancing dynamic range of a beamforming multi-channel digital receiver
A system and method for enhancing a dynamic range of a beamforming multi-channel digital receiver are described. The receiver comprises a plurality of receiving channels, each including an analog-to-digital converter configured for converting an analog input signal generated by antenna elements into a digital signal. A “spatial” dither signal is used to decorrelate the quantization noise of the analog-to-digital converters. A dither signal is generated and split into a predetermined number of coherent dithering signals. The method includes providing predetermined time delays to the coherent dithering signals, and adding the delayed coherent dithering signals to the input signals in each receiving channel, correspondingly, thereby creating a dither signal equivalent to a signal arriving from a certain specific direction out-of-field-of-view of the antenna array. Removing of the dither signal based on the direction of arrival, is implemented during beamforming signal processing, thus enhancing the dynamic range of electromagnetic signals arriving within a field-of-view of the antenna array. |
| US09136857B2 |
ADC with sample and hold
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide analog to digital conversion of multiple parallel analog inputs. An input interface is arranged to organize the parallel analog inputs and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is arranged to sequentially convert the multiple parallel analog inputs to digital results. |
| US09136853B2 |
Analog to digital converter with noise reducing feedback path
An analog to digital converter including a low pass filter element, a quantizer, and a digital to analog converter provide in a feedback path. The low pass filter element is configured to filter an analog input signal. The quantizer is configured to receive an analog output signal that is based on the filtered analog input signal and convert the analog output signal to a digital output signal. The digital to analog converter is configured to generate an analog feedback signal based on the digital output signal and selectively inject or absorb current associated with the feedback path to reduce noise associated with the digital to analog converter. The analog feedback signal is combined with the analog input signal at an input of the low pass filter element. |
| US09136847B2 |
Signal transmitting-receiving control circuit and secondary battery protection circuit
A signal transmitting-receiving circuit includes a first circuit including a first MOS transistor having a gate and a drain, a second MOS transistor having a gate and a drain connected to the gate and drain of the first MOS transistor, and a source connected to ground, and a transmitting terminal transmitting a signal connected to the drains of the first and second MOS transistors; and a second circuit including a receiving terminal receiving the signal transmitted from the transmitting terminal of the first circuit connected to the transmitting terminal, a third MOS transistor having a gate connected to the receiving terminal, a drain connected to a reference voltage generator circuit and a source connected to ground, a resistor connected between the third MOS transistor and the reference voltage generator circuit, and an output terminal connected between the resistor and the third MOS transistor. |
| US09136846B2 |
Level shift circuit and drive circuit of display device
In a level shift circuit, input signals are input into gates of a first and a second MOS transistors whose sources are coupled to a first supply voltage VSS. Gates of a third and a fourth MOS transistors whose sources are coupled to a second supply voltage are coupled to drains of the second and the first MOS transistors. A first voltage generation circuit is coupled between the drains of the first and the third MOS transistors, and a second voltage generation circuit is coupled between the drains of the second and the fourth MOS transistors. The gate of the fifth MOS transistor is coupled to a connection node NDB, and the source of the fifth MOS transistor is coupled to the second supply voltage. |
| US09136833B2 |
Power source connection circuit
There is provided a power source connection circuit, when a switch having a low dielectric strength is employed, capable of preventing excessive power consumption when the switch between an input terminal and an output terminal is turned off, and also discharging electric charges accumulated in a gate of the switch. A power source connection circuit includes a MOS switch connected to an output terminal; a step-up circuit for supplying electric charges to a gate of the MOS switch; an electric-charge discharging unit coupled between the gate and a ground terminal; and a comparator for comparing a voltage of the output terminal with a reference voltage, wherein the electric-charge discharging unit includes a rectifier unit coupled between the gate and the ground terminal, and a switch coupled in series with the rectifier unit between the gate and the ground terminal to receive an output signal of the comparator at a gate. |
| US09136826B2 |
Integrated circuit comprising frequency change detection circuitry
Embodiments of an integrated circuit (IC) comprising frequency change detection circuitry are described. Some embodiments include first circuitry to generate a second clock signal based on a first clock signal, wherein the first clock signal has a first clock frequency, and wherein the second clock signal has a second clock frequency that is an integral multiple of the first clock frequency. The embodiments further include second circuitry to obtain samples by oversampling the first clock signal using the second clock signal. Additionally, the embodiments include third circuitry to detect a change in the first clock frequency based on the samples. |
| US09136824B2 |
Frequency management using sample rate conversion
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first receiver path with a first digitizer to digitize an incoming signal obtained from a radio frequency signal including at least a first desired channel into samples, the first digitizer to operate at a first sampling frequency, a first sample rate converter coupled to an output of the first digitizer to receive the samples at the first sampling frequency and to output the samples at a fixed sampling frequency, and a first digital processor to receive and process the samples at the fixed sampling frequency. The apparatus may further include a controller to receive a frequency change indication and to dynamically control the first sample rate converter to accommodate a change in the first sampling frequency from a first rate to a second rate. |
| US09136820B2 |
Piezoelectric device
A piezoelectric device according to the present invention is provided with a pair of electrode films, a piezoelectric film sandwiched in between the pair of electrode films, and a stress control film which is in direct contact with a surface of at least one of the pair of electrode films, on the side where the electrode film is not in contact with the piezoelectric film, and which has a linear expansion coefficient larger than those of the relevant electrode film and the piezoelectric film. |
| US09136819B2 |
Bulk acoustic wave resonator having piezoelectric layer with multiple dopants
A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator structure includes a first electrode disposed over a substrate, a piezoelectric layer disposed over the first electrode and a second electrode disposed over the first piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric layer is formed of a piezoelectric material doped with multiple rare earth elements for improving piezoelectric properties of the piezoelectric layer. |
| US09136817B2 |
Filter module and duplexer module
A filter module includes: reception filters connected between an antenna terminal and a reception terminal; and a module substrate, wherein a first reception filter that is at least one reception filter of the reception filters is embedded in the module substrate, and a second reception filter that is at least another one reception filter is mounted on a surface of the module substrate so as to overlap the first reception filter. |
| US09136814B2 |
Method and system of equalization pre-preocessing for sound receivng system
An exemplary embodiment illustrates an equalization pre-processing method, adapted for characterizing a second sound receptor unit in a sound receiving system based on knowing the internal structure parameters of a first sound receptor unit. The method includes: measuring a first sensitivity response of the first sound receptor unit and a second sensitivity response of the second sound receptor unit; equalizing the second sensitivity response according to the first sensitivity response and obtaining the differences in the sensitivity response; conducting simulation to obtain the third sensitivity response associated with the first sound receptor unit in the given sound receiving system; compensating the third sensitivity response to generate the fourth sensitivity response associated with the second sound receptor unit in the sound receiving system according to the differences in the sensitivity response; analyzing the fourth sensitivity response to characterize the second sound receptor unit in the given sound receiving system. |
| US09136813B2 |
Wireless network receiver
A wireless network receiver includes a detection module that uses preamble data in a data frame for signal processing functions and the detection module is configured to adjust the number of preamble data bits that are used based on the power of a received signal. |
| US09136810B2 |
Audio gain control using specific-loudness-based auditory event detection
In one disclosed aspect, dynamic gain modifications are applied to an audio signal at least partly in response to auditory events and/or the degree of change in signal characteristics associated with said auditory event boundaries. In another aspect, an audio signal is divided into auditory events by comparing the difference in specific loudness between successive time blocks of the audio signal. |
| US09136807B2 |
Apparatus and methods for electronic amplification
Apparatus and methods for electronic amplification are provided. In one embodiment, an amplifier includes first and second input terminals, an amplification circuit, a feedback circuit, and a current mirror. The amplification circuit includes a non-inverting voltage input electrically connected to the first input terminal and to a bias voltage, an inverting voltage input electrically connected to the second input terminal, a voltage output, and a current output. The amplifier includes a first feedback path from the voltage output to the inverting voltage input through the feedback circuit and a second feedback path from the current output to the inverting voltage input through the current mirror, which can mirror a current from the current output to generate a mirrored current. A current source such as a transducer can provide an input current between the first and second input terminals, and the mirrored current can substantially match the input current. |
| US09136806B2 |
Amplifier circuit
An amplifier circuit includes a differential amplifier circuit configured to amplify a voltage between a signal input to a first input terminal and a signal input to a second input terminal, a plurality of output circuits each configured to output a signal corresponding to a signal output from the differential amplifier circuit, and a control circuit configured to set a selected one of the plurality of output circuits in an operating state to drive an output terminal of the selected output circuit, and set a remaining output circuit in a non-operating state and set an output terminal of the remaining output circuit in a high impedance state. |
| US09136804B2 |
Switch-mode amplifier
A device includes a Doherty amplifier. The Doherty amplifier has a carrier path and a peaking path. The Doherty amplifier includes a carrier amplifier configured to amplify a signal received from the carrier path and a peaking amplifier configured to amplify a signal received from the peaking path. The device includes a resistive switch having a first terminal connected to the peaking path and a second terminal connected to a voltage reference, and a controller configured to set the resistive switch to a first resistance value when a power input of the Doherty amplifier is below a threshold and to a second resistance value when the power input of the Doherty amplifier is above the threshold. |
| US09136803B2 |
Apparatus and methods for biasing a power amplifier
Apparatus and methods for biasing a power amplifier are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of biasing a power amplifier includes shaping an enable signal using a time-dependent signal generator to generate a control current, amplifying the control current using a current amplifier to generate a correction current, and generating a bias current for a power amplifier using a primary biasing circuit. The primary biasing circuit is configured to use the correction current to correct for a variation in gain of the power amplifier when the power amplifier is enabled. |
| US09136802B2 |
Integrated start-up bias boost for dynamic error vector magnitude enhancement
Devices and methods for correcting for start-up transients in integrated power amplifier are disclosed. A power amplifier is responsive to a bias control output and is arranged to provide an amplified power output. In some examples, the boost current is adjusted based on a supply voltage and an input power of the power amplifier. The power amplifier can operate in a low power and a high power mode and the adjustments can be made to the supply voltage and/or the input power vary depending on whether the power amplifier is operating in the high or low power mode. The adjustments for the high power mode operation are different than and correspond to the high power mode input power and voltage and the adjustments for the low power mode operation are different than and correspond to the low power mode input power and voltage. |
| US09136799B2 |
Amplifier using voltage variable power supply
An amplifier is capable of reducing the quantization error caused by conversion accuracy in an A/D converter circuit and, particularly, capable of improving the S/N ratio and distortion rate when an input audio signal is small. In an amplifier (1) using a voltage variable power supply (73) as a power supply to follow an input audio signal level (S1) to the amplifier (1) in order to increase or decrease the level of supply voltage supplied to a power amplifier stage (4), when the level of source power of the power amplifier stage (4) is changed, the voltage level of a reference voltage supplied to an A/D converter (62) of a negative feedback circuit is controlled. |
| US09136795B2 |
Variable switched DC-to-DC voltage converter
A voltage converter can be switched among two or more modes to produce an output voltage tracking a reference voltage that can be of an intermediate level between discrete levels corresponding to the modes. One or more voltages generated from a power supply voltage, such as a battery voltage, can be compared with the reference voltage to determine whether to adjust the mode. The reference voltage can be independent of the power supply voltage. |
| US09136793B2 |
Resonator element, resonator, electronic device, electronic apparatus, and method of manufacturing resonator element
A resonator element includes a substrate including a vibrating portion that performs thickness-shear vibration and an excitation electrode provided on top and bottom main surfaces of the vibrating portion. Assuming that the average plate thickness calculated from the plate thicknesses of a plurality of regions of the vibrating portion is H and the plate thickness difference, which is a difference between the maximum and minimum values of the plate thicknesses of the plurality of regions of the vibrating portion, is ΔH, 0%<ΔH/H≦0.085% is satisfied as a relationship between H and ΔH. |
| US09136790B2 |
Inverter control apparatus and control method thereof
An inverter control apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The inverter control apparatus and a control method thereof stably operate a three-phase motor using a capacitor having a small capacitance for a DC link. The inverter control apparatus includes a current sensor to sense an output current of the inverter, a voltage sensor to sense a DC-link voltage of the inverter, and a controller to generate an average of a periodically varying rotor based q-axis current boundary value based on the output current and the DC-link voltage to generate a current reference on the basis of the average of the rotor based q-axis current boundary value, and to drive a three-phase motor based on the current reference. Stabilized variable speed control of a motor by using a small-capacitance capacitor for a DC link of an inverter is performed and reliability of an inverter circuit improved. |
| US09136782B2 |
Motor control for stability and power supply protection
A method and apparatus for controlling a motor. The motor comprises windings. A switch bridge comprising a plurality of switches is configured to couple a power source to the windings. A motor controller is configured to control the plurality of switches. An undesired condition identifier is configured to identify an undesired condition when the motor is providing power to the power source, wherein the undesired condition is defined with respect to a characteristic of the power source. An undesired condition reducer is configured to reduce the undesired condition in response to identifying the undesired condition by the undesired condition identifier. |
| US09136780B2 |
Controller for driving a motor and electric power-assisted vehicle
A controller for driving a motor has: an input part that receives, from each of two brake sensors, a signal indicating a corresponding brake is in an ON state or a signal indicating that the brake is in an OFF state; a control coefficient computing part that increases a control coefficient relative to a regeneration target value along a first slope when a first signal indicating only one of the brakes is in an ON state is received from the input part, the control coefficient computing part increasing the control coefficient along a second slope when a second signal indicating both brakes are in an ON state is received from the input part, the second slope rising faster than the first slope; and a control part controlling driving of the motor in accordance with the regeneration target value and the control coefficient computed by the control coefficient computing part. |
| US09136779B2 |
Dynamically modified fan speed table for cooling a computer
A computer program product including computer usable program code embodied on a computer usable medium for controlling a temperature within a computer system using a fan. The computer program product includes computer usable program code for monitoring the temperature within the computer system; dynamically selecting a fan speed step in response to the temperature, wherein the fan speed step is selected from a fan speed table defining a finite number of fan speed steps each having an associated fan speed; operating a fan at the dynamically selected fan speed step; measuring a fan output variation is measured over a prescribed time interval; and automatically modifying the fan speed table to change the fan speeds associated with each fan speed step, wherein the fan speeds are changed as a function of the measured fan output variation while continuing to drive the fan. |
| US09136776B2 |
Current supply arrangement for the rectifying three-phase AC current into multi-pulse DC current
A current supply arrangement (A, B) for rectifying three-phase current into multi-pulse DC current with at least one three-phase AC current transformer with a transformer core or three single-phase AC current transformers, each having a transformer core, wherein the three-phase AC current transformer includes three first secondary-side coils (L21, L22, L23), each of which is arranged on a corresponding leg of the transformer core, wherein each secondary side coil is arranged on a leg of the transformer cores, with at least one first rectifier having first converter valves (D1, D2, D3). The first converter valves (D1, D2, D3) are connected with the first secondary-side coils (L21, L22, L23) to form the first rectifier, wherein the current supply arrangement (A, B) includes means (S1, S2, S3) for changing the transformer ratio of the three-phase AC current transformer or the transformer ratios of the three single-phase AC current transformers. |
| US09136775B2 |
Control method for multilevel power conversion circuit
In a process of changing an AC voltage from zero to +Ed (or negative to positive) or from zero to −Ed (or positive to negative), a control method in accordance with some aspects of the invention detects voltage across the capacitors and when the detected voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage value, switching operation pattern capable of charging the capacitor is given to the switching elements during a short period of time; when the detected voltage is higher than the predetermined voltage value, a switching operation pattern capable of discharging the capacitor is given to the switching elements during a short period of time. Thus, the width of voltage variation of the capacitors is limited within a specified variation range. |
| US09136773B2 |
Method of evaluating and ensuring stability of AC/DC power systems
Approximating loci of eigenvalues or characteristic gains of a return ratio matrix of a model of a multi-phase power converter circuit by the loci of the d-d and q-q elements of said synchronous frame of reference applied to said model, allows determination and assessment of stability of the circuit or forbidden operational parameters of the combination of an AC power source and a power converter at an interface thereof by application of a standard Nyquist stability criterion. |
| US09136772B2 |
Phase shift transformer in multi-level medium voltage inverter
A phase shift transformer in a multi-level medium voltage inverter is disclosed, wherein structure is modularized to provide layout freedom and to reduce volume and weight of an entire system, and a continuous operation of a motor is enabled, even if one module is faulted. |
| US09136768B2 |
Switching power supply device
A switching power supply device includes: a power factor correction circuit having a step-up chopper circuit including a chopper switching element and a power factor correction control unit controlling a switching operation of the chopper switching element; a DC/DC converter having a transformer, a switching circuit, a rectifier circuit, a smoothing circuit, and a DC/DC converter control unit; and a control ON/OFF circuit controlling the ON/OFF states of an output voltage of the DC/DC converter circuit. The switching circuit is provided at a primary winding side of the transformer. The rectifier circuit and the smoothing circuit are provided at a secondary winding side of the transformer. The control ON/OFF circuit controls the ON/OF states of the output voltage of the DC/DC converter circuit by controlling the power factor correction control unit and the DC-DC converter control unit based on an external signal. |
| US09136765B2 |
Techniques for controlling a power converter using multiple controllers
A power converter controller includes a primary controller that is galvanically isolated from a secondary controller. The primary controller controls a state of a power switch during a first mode of operation according to a switching pattern defined by the primary controller. During a second mode of operation, the primary controller controls the state of the power switch in response to control signals received via a communication link. The secondary controller operates in a powered down state during the first mode of operation. The secondary controller initiates a transition operation with the primary controller that transitions the primary controller and the secondary controller from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation. In the second mode of operation, the secondary controller transmit the control signals to the primary controller via the communication link. |
| US09136762B2 |
Current slope control method and apparatus for power driver circuit application
A low side driver includes a first transistor coupled in series with a second transistor at a low side voltage node for a load. A capacitance is configured to store a voltage and a voltage buffer circuit has an input coupled to receive the voltage stored by the capacitance and an output coupled to drive a control node of the second transistor with the stored voltage. A current source supplies current through a switch to the capacitance and the input of the voltage buffer circuit. The switch is configured to be actuated by an oscillating enable signal so as to cyclically source current from the current source to the capacitance and cause a stepped increase in the stored voltage which is applied by the buffer circuit to the control node of the second transistor. |
| US09136761B2 |
Semiconductor device and power supply device
The present invention realized miniaturization of a power supply device using a multiphase system. The power supply device includes, for example, a common control unit, a plurality of PWM-equipped drive units, and a plurality of inductors. The common control unit outputs clock signals respectively different in phase to the PWM-equipped drive units. The clock signals are controllable in voltage state individually respectively. For example, the clock signal can be brought to a high impedance state. In this case, the PWM-equipped drive unit detects this high impedance state and stops its own operation. It is thus possible to set the number of phases in multiphase arbitrarily without using another enable signal or the like. |
| US09136760B2 |
Digital switched mode voltage regulator
The present invention relates to a switched mode voltage regulator circuit comprising a regulation loop coupled between the output voltage of the regulator and a switch driver. The regulation loop comprising an error signal generator supplying a digital error signal representative of a voltage difference between the output voltage and a reference voltage. The regulation loop further comprises a linear digital filter and a non-linear digital filter both coupled for receipt of the digital error signal and a digital summer coupled for receipt of linearly and non-linearly filtered digital error signals to provide a combined digital error signal. A digital pulse modulator is configured to generate the pulse width or pulse density modulated driver control signal in accordance with the combined digital error signal. |