| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09167734B2 |
Circuit board and connector shielding apparatus
A shielding apparatus connectable between a circuit board and a connector having pins connectable to the circuit board is provided. The shielding apparatus includes a wall element defining opposite sides and connection locations respectively connectable with the connector and the circuit board and is configured as an electro-magnetic interference skirt to block radiation emanating from and receivable by the pins. |
| US09167731B2 |
High voltage shielding device and a system comprising the same
A high voltage shielding device including a main body having an enclosing outer solid insulating wall, an outer electrode arranged on the solid insulating wall providing a first level of insulation to the outer electrode, and a first inner electrode which is uninsulated or has a coating providing a second level of insulation, which second level of insulation is lower than the first level of insulation. The first inner electrode is oriented relative the outer electrode in such a way that the first inner electrode mainly shields a component of an electric field which is perpendicular to a component of an electric field mainly shielded by the outer electrode. |
| US09167730B2 |
Electronics compartment
An electronics compartment with a component space which is sealed off from a surrounding environment by walls, including an internal panel arranged in the component space along a wall of the electronics compartment for delimiting an internal channel between the wall and the internal panel. Air flowing in the internal channel can improve transfer of heat through the wall, and consequently, cools electric components in the component space. |
| US09167721B2 |
Direct facility coolant cooling of a rack-mounted heat exchanger
A cooling apparatus and method are provided. The cooling apparatus includes a coolant-cooled heat exchanger for facilitating dissipation of heat generated within an electronics rack, and a coolant control apparatus. The coolant control apparatus includes at least one coolant recirculation conduit coupled in fluid communication between a facility coolant supply and return, wherein the facility coolant supply and return facilitate providing facility coolant to the heat exchanger. The control apparatus further includes a coolant pump(s) associated with the recirculation conduit(s) and a controller which monitors a temperature of facility coolant supplied to the heat exchanger, and redirects facility coolant, via the coolant recirculation conduit(s) and coolant pump(s), from the facility coolant return to the facility coolant supply to, at least in part, ensure that facility coolant supplied to the heat exchanger remains above a dew point temperature. |
| US09167713B2 |
Box-frame housing and a method of manufacture
A box-frame housing for the installation of electronic modules has frame elements and side walls and provides a subdivision into sub-regions, which are limited by dividing walls. The frame elements and the side walls and dividing walls provide at least one recess and/or at least one edge projection. A projection engages in a recess and both are connected to one another by welding. |
| US09167711B2 |
Mobile apparatus
A mobile apparatus includes a first body, a second body, a rotary adaptor including an accommodation portion to accommodate the second body, rotatably installed on the first body, and to move the second body to a position where the second body is stacked on the first body and a position where the second body is unfolded, first magnets disposed on the accommodation portion, and second magnets disposed on the second body so as to face the first magnets and having different polarity from the first magnets. |
| US09167703B2 |
Method for assembling a chip on a substrate
In this method, a vertical stack is formed on an axis coinciding substantially with the gravity direction and comprising, from top to bottom: the element; the mass in a solid state; and the substrate. The mass is then heated so as to cause it to pass into a liquid state enabling it to spread on the substrate. More particularly, after the stack has been formed, the element is left free to move vertically, and during heating, variation in the vertical position of the element is measured. |
| US09167701B2 |
Method of mounting electronic component
An electronic component mounting method includes a removing step, a first mounting step, a first attaching step and a second mounting step. In the removing step, a first feeder holding first electronic components is removed from an attaching portion of a component feeding device when there is a reason for removing the first feeder from the attaching portion. In the first mounting step, electronic components other than the first electronic component, out of electronic components to be mounted on a board, are mounted on the board when the first feeder is removed from the attaching portion. In the first attaching step, the first feeder is attached to another attaching portion, to which no feeder is attached, after the removing step. In the second mounting step, the first electronic component is mounted on the board from the first feeder attached to the other attaching portion after the first attaching step. |
| US09167700B2 |
Micro-channel connection method
A method of making a connection-pad structure includes providing a substrate and coating a curable layer over the substrate. A group of intersecting micro-channels is embossed in the curable layer. Each micro-channel extends from a surface of the curable layer into the curable layer toward the substrate. The curable layer is cured to form a cured layer having embossed intersecting micro-channels in the cured layer; the group of intersecting micro-channels forms a connection pad. A curable electrical conductor is located in the intersecting micro-channels. The curable electrical conductor is cured to form an electrically continuous cured electrical conductor formed in the group of intersecting micro-channels and an electrical connector is electrically connected to the cured electrical conductor. |
| US09167699B2 |
Semiconductor device
Aspects of the invention are directed to a power module including a metal base, an insulating substrate which is attached to the metal base, a semiconductor chip and a control terminal which are attached to a circuit pattern of the insulating substrate, and a resin case which is attached to the metal base. The control terminal can include a penetration portion which penetrates a cover of the resin case, an L-shaped processed portion which is connected to the penetration portion, and a connection portion which is connected to the L-shaped processed portion. A protrusion portion can be installed in a portion of the control terminal, which penetrates the cover. The protrusion portion can be in contact with a protrusion receiving portion which is configured with a front surface of the cover. The L-shaped processed portion can be in contact with a convex portion in a rear surface of the cover. |
| US09167697B2 |
Display panel and bonding apparatus for manufacturing the same
A display panel that includes: a display substrate; a driving chip bonded onto the display substrate; an anisotropic conductive film provided between the display substrate and the driving chip; and a protection film attached to a bottom of the display substrate, and the protection film is provided with a bending prevention means. |
| US09167695B2 |
Electronic device module
An electronic device module includes a first substrate having a first wiring layer and a first alignment mark, the first alignment mark being transparent in a visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, and a second substrate facing a part of the first substrate and having a second wiring layer and a second alignment mark facing the first alignment mark. |
| US09167694B2 |
Ultra-thin interposer assemblies with through vias
A 3D interconnect structure comprising an ultra-thin interposer having a plurality of ultra-high density of through-via interconnections defined therein. The 3D interposer electrically connects first and second electronic devices in vertical dimension and has the same or similar through-via density as the first or second electronic devices it connects. The various embodiments of the interconnect structure allows 3D ICs to be stacked with or without TSVs and increases bandwidth between the two electronic devices as compared to other interconnect structures of the prior art. Further, the interconnect structure of the present invention is scalable, testable, thermal manageable, and can be manufactured at relatively low costs. Such a 3D structure can be used for a wide variety of applications that require a variety of heterogeneous ICs, such as logic, memory, graphics, power, wireless and sensors that cannot be integrated into single ICs. |
| US09167693B2 |
Method of producing a wired circuit board
A method of producing a wired circuit board includes a first step of preparing a metal supporting layer, a second step of forming, on one side of the metal supporting layer in a thickness direction thereof, an insulating layer having a first opening, and a plurality of terminal formation portions, a third step of forming, on one side of the insulating layer in the thickness direction, a conductive layer having a plurality of terminal portions each corresponding to the plurality of terminal formation portions, a fourth step of partially removing the metal supporting layer to form a second opening and at least one reinforcing metal supporting portion placed between the plurality of terminal formation portions, and a fifth step of removing the plurality of terminal formation portions exposed from the second opening to expose both side surfaces of the plurality of terminal portions in the thickness direction. |
| US09167689B2 |
Wiring substrate and method for manufacturing wiring substrate
A wiring substrate includes an insulation substrate including a first surface, a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, and first and second through-holes penetrating the insulation substrate from the first surface to the second surface; a wiring layer formed on the first surface of the insulation substrate; a first via formed in the first through-hole and connected to the wiring layer; a bus line positioned away from the wiring layer and the first via, and formed on the first surface of the insulation substrate; and a second via formed in the second through-hole and connected to the bus line. |
| US09167686B2 |
3D stacked package structure and method of manufacturing the same
A 3D stacked package structure includes a first unit, a molding unit, a conductive unit and a second unit. The first unit includes a first substrate and at least one first electronic component, and the first substrate has at least one runner and at least one first conductive pad. The molding unit includes a top portion, a frame, and at least one connection connected between the top portion and the frame. The conductive unit includes at least one conductor passing through the frame and electrically connected to the first conductive pad. Therefore, the first unit can be stacked on the second unit through the frame of the molding unit, and the first unit can be electrically connected to the second unit through the conductor of the conductive unit. |
| US09167683B2 |
Printed circuit boards including strip-line circuitry and methods of manufacturing same
A printed circuit board includes a first layer stack and a second layer stack coupled to the first layer stack. The first layer stack includes a first electrically-insulating layer, a first electrically-conductive layer, and a cut-out area defining a void that extends therethrough. The first electrically-insulating layer includes a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first electrically-conductive layer is disposed on the first surface of the first electrically-insulating layer. The second layer stack includes a second electrically-insulating layer. The second electrically-insulating layer includes a first surface and an opposite second surface. One or more electrically-conductive traces are disposed on the first surface of the second electrically-insulating layer. The printed circuit board further includes a device at least partially disposed within the cut-out area. The device is electrically-coupled to one or more of the one or more electrically-conductive traces disposed on the first surface of the second electrically-insulating layer. |
| US09167680B2 |
Plasma processing apparatus, plasma generating apparatus, antenna structure and plasma generating method
A plasma processing apparatus includes: a mounting table, disposed in a processing chamber, configured to mount thereon the substrate; an inductively coupled antenna disposed outside the processing chamber to be opposite to the mounting table, the inductively coupled antenna being connected to a high frequency power supply; and a window member forming a wall of the processing chamber which faces the inductively coupled antenna. The window member includes a plurality of conductive windows made of a conductive material, and dielectric portions disposed between the conductive windows. The inductively coupled antenna is extended in a predetermined direction on the window member and electrically connected to one of the conductive windows, and electrical connection by conductors is sequentially performed from the one of the conductive windows to the other conductive windows in the same direction as an extension direction of the inductively coupled antenna. |
| US09167679B2 |
Beam position control for an extreme ultraviolet light source
A system for an extreme ultraviolet light source includes one or more optical elements positioned to receive a reflected amplified light beam and to direct the reflected amplified light beam into first, second, and third channels, the reflected amplified light beam including a reflection of at least a portion of an irradiating amplified light beam that interacts with a target material; a first sensor that senses light from the first channel; a second sensor that senses light from the second channel and the third channel, the second sensor having a lower acquisition rate than the first sensor; and an electronic processor coupled to a computer-readable storage medium, the medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to: receive data from the first sensor and the second sensor, and determine, based on the received data, a location of the irradiating amplified light beam relative to the target material in more than one dimension. |
| US09167678B2 |
System and method for generating extreme ultraviolet light
A system includes a chamber, a laser beam apparatus configured to generate a laser beam to be introduced into the chamber, a laser controller for the laser beam apparatus to control at least a beam intensity and an output timing of the laser beam, and a target supply unit configured to supply a target material into the chamber, the target material being irradiated with the laser beam for generating extreme ultraviolet light. |
| US09167677B2 |
Method of aging X-ray generator having carbon nanotube electron emitter
Provided are methods of aging an x-ray generator having carbon nanotube electron emitters. The method of aging an x-ray generator that includes a cathode, a gate electrode, and an anode, includes applying a desired, or alternatively predetermined anode voltage to the anode, and applying a direct current pulse voltage to the gate electrodes to emit electrons from electron emitters. The method further includes maintaining an anode current formed by electrons generated from the electron emitters constant. |
| US09167675B2 |
High frequency programmable pulse generator lighting apparatus, systems and methods
A high frequency pulse generator, a distributed parameter coupling line, a sequential pulse variable voltage ignition system using a standard HMI lamp or a specialized ultra high frequency HMI lamp to provide a high Color Rendering Index, to reduce or eliminate audit lamp and igniter resonance and provide for a wide range of color correction from 7000° Kelvin to 3000° Kelvin from a standard HMI lamp. |
| US09167670B2 |
Method for controlling lamps and computer program product thereof
A method for controlling a plurality of lamps is applied to an electrical apparatus, such that the user can control the plurality of lamps by the electrical apparatus. The method includes the following steps: receiving a plurality of different identification codes, with the identification codes representing each of the lamps respectively; setting at least two different identification codes of the plurality of identification codes to be in the same control group according to a group setting command; and setting the control parameter of each of the plurality of lamps represented by each of the plurality of different identification codes of the same control group to be the same. |
| US09167666B1 |
Light control unit with detachable electrically communicative faceplate
Lighting systems are provided which include a remote set of light fixtures communicably coupled to a base and a faceplate detachably mounted to the base such that electrical contacts of the faceplate are coupled to respective electrical contacts of the base. The faceplate includes one or more user input interfaces and/or one or more environmental sensors. In some cases, the base and faceplate are each programmed to facilitate communication between the base and the faceplate to independently control each of the light fixtures based on input to the user input interface(s) and/or the environmental sensor(s). In addition or alternatively, either the base or the faceplate is programmed to auto-configure hardware and/or software of the faceplate and the base, respectively. In some cases, the base may be programmed to individually auto-configure differing hardware and/or software of a plurality of different faceplates when they are respectively coupled to the base. |
| US09167664B2 |
Systems and methods for low-power lamp compatibility with a trailing-edge dimmer and an electronic transformer
In accordance with these and other embodiments of the present disclosure, a system and method for providing compatibility between a load and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer driven by a trailing-edge dimmer may include predicting based on an electronic transformer secondary signal an estimated occurrence of a high-resistance state of the trailing-edge dimmer, wherein the high-resistance state occurs when the trailing-edge dimmer begins phase-cutting an alternating current voltage signal and operating the load in a high-current mode for a period of time immediately prior to the estimated occurrence of the high-resistance state. |
| US09167662B2 |
Mixed load current compensation for LED lighting
In at least one embodiment, a system and method provide current compensation in a lighting system by controlling a lamp current to prevent a current through a triac-based dimmer from undershooting a holding current value. In at least one embodiment, at least one of the lamps includes a controller that controls circuitry in the lamp to draw more lamp current for a period of time than needed to illuminate a brightness of the lamp at a level corresponding to particular phase-cut angle of the supply voltage. By drawing more current than needed, the controller increases the dimmer current during the period of time to prevent the dimmer current from falling below the holding current value. In at least one embodiment, the period of time corresponds to a compensating pulse of the lamp current at a time when the dimmer current would otherwise fall below the holding current value. |
| US09167650B2 |
Light source drive circuit
A light source drive circuit is disclosed which uses a low withstanding voltage transistor is discussed. The light source drive circuit can enhance price competitiveness. Also, the light source drive circuit can allow a current flowing through an LED portion to be eliminated when a PWM signal is not applied. Therefore, the light source drive circuit can enhance a contrast ratio. |
| US09167648B2 |
Lighting device and luminaire
A lighting device that lights up an LED and includes a DC power source, a buck converter and a control circuit. The buck converter includes a switching element, an inductor and a diode. The control circuit includes a current detection circuit that detects an electric current flowing through the switching element, a voltage detection circuit that detects a voltage across the inductor, a delay circuit that generates a delay time according to the voltage detected by the voltage detection circuit, and a drive circuit that generates and outputs a control signal to the switching element, the control signal turning OFF the switching element after a lapse of the delay time generated by the delay circuit from when the electric current detected by the current detection circuit reaches a predetermined current command value. |
| US09167645B1 |
Driver circuit for improving LED flickers
A driver circuit adopting a primary side regulating architecture and an isolation transformer for improving LED flickers includes a transformer, a primary side regulating module, a feedback portion, a driving module and a dimming portion. The transformer includes an input coil, an auxiliary coil, a driving coil, and a dimming coil. The primary side regulating module is electrically coupled to the input coil; the feedback portion is electrically coupled to the auxiliary coil and the primary side regulating module; the driving module is electrically coupled to the driving coil; the dimming portion is electrically coupled to the dimming coil and the driving module. When a dimming signal inputted to the dimming portion has a voltage of 1V-10V, and the driver circuit is applied to a panel light, the LED flicker is improved effectively. |
| US09167644B2 |
Multi-string led current control system and method
Embodiments described herein provide a LED lighting system and method. A transformer has a primary winding and a secondary winding. A plurality of LED strings are coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer. At least one switch is coupled to at least one of the plurality of LED strings. A controller is coupled to the at least one switch and configured to control the operation of the at least one switch such that current flows through the plurality of LED strings in an alternating manner. |
| US09167640B2 |
Parallel-type LED lighting device
The present disclosure provides an AC-direct-type LED-lighting device including compensation circuit for AC input compensation, including a compensation inductor and first compensation capacitor parallelly connected to one terminal of AC input and a second compensation capacitor connected in series; rectifying unit for rectifying output from second compensation capacitor terminals to obtain direct current; and LED array driven by the rectifying unit output, wherein capacities of the first and second compensation capacitors and the compensation inductor and LED array output voltage are determined to cause 0.9 or larger cosine value of a phase, with respect to the AC input voltage, of resulting current obtained by dividing AC input voltage by sum of (i) parallel value of an equivalent impedance Re of the rectifying unit and LED array and an impedance of the second compensation capacitor and (ii) parallel value of impedances of the compensation inductor and first compensation capacitor. |
| US09167634B2 |
Sensor system for bottom electrodes of an electric arc furnace
A sensor system for monitoring and controlling the performance of the bottom electrode and the deflection of an electric arc in an electric steel making furnace includes an organized matrix of anode pins interspersed with refractory material and extending toward an electrically conductive plate secured to distal ends of the anode pins. A sensing device includes two temperature sensors at spaced apart locations along each of a distributed select group of anode pins for providing corresponding electrical signals and a current sensor responsive to electrical current flowing through the anode pins of the distributed select group of anode pins for providing a corresponding electrical signal. A controller responsive to the electrical signals derived at the anode pins of the select group operates the power supply and a display for monitoring the electrical performance of the elongated anode pins for heating by the electric arc in the furnace. |
| US09167633B2 |
Food preparation
Devices and methods for RF heating of food, using techniques which allow uniformity and/or controlled non-uniformity. |
| US09167632B2 |
Scan induction heating
An apparatus and process are provided for scan induction heating of a workpiece. The workpiece is moved through an inductor to inductively heat treat features of the workpiece with electric power of varying frequency and duty cycle to control the magnitude of electric power as the frequency changes. Alternatively the inductor is moved along the workpiece to inductively heat treat features of the workpiece with electric power of varying frequency and duty cycle to control the magnitude of electric power as the frequency changes, or a combination of simultaneous inductor and workpiece movement may be used. |
| US09167630B2 |
Tankless water heater
A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a tank housing (12) and one or more electrically powered heating elements (18). A water inlet line (20) and a water outlet line (24) may be molded as a unitary structure with the tank housing. The water outlet line includes a lower port (68) and an upper port (70) for mixing water in the outlet line. The housing may be mounted such that its axis is either vertical or horizontal. |
| US09167629B2 |
Electric heater
The invention relates to an electric heater comprising a fluid-conducting housing, in which at least one, preferably helical, heating unit, preferably a wire resistance heating element, is accommodated. The heating unit can have a tubular outer body, in which a heating element electrically contacted with a control circuit accommodated in an electronics housing is embedded. According to the invention, end sections of the heating unit extend in a sealed manner through the fluid-conducting housing to, and preferably into, an electronics housing. The invention further discloses a method for actuating an electric heater and to a heater that can be operated according to such a method, wherein said heater is designed with at least one resistance heating element, which acts as a temperature sensor, so that the temperature thereof can be used for actuating the heater. |
| US09167626B1 |
Fiber stripping methods and apparatus
An apparatus for removing at least one coating from a lengthwise section of an optical fiber includes a heater configured for heating a heating region to a temperature above a thermal decomposition temperature of the at least one coating; a securing mechanism configured for securing the optical fiber so that the lengthwise section of the optical fiber is positioned in the heating region; and a controller operatively associated with the heater, wherein the controller is configured for deactivating the heater not later than immediately after removal of the at least one coating from the lengthwise section of the optical fiber in the heating region, and the heater may be deactivated before the removal of the at least one coating from the lengthwise section of the optical fiber. |
| US09167625B2 |
Radiation shielding for a substrate holder
A reaction chamber including a substrate supporting member positioned within the reaction chamber, the reaction chamber having a first region and a second region, a shield positioned within the second chamber and movable with the substrate supporting member, and wherein the shield is adjacent at least a bottom surface of the substrate supporting member. |
| US09167617B2 |
Method for communicating in a mobile network implementing discontinuous reception
The present invention relates to a method for operating a network comprising a primary station communicating with a plurality of secondary stations, the method comprising the primary station communicating with a secondary station in a discontinuous mode; the secondary station transmitting to the primary station a control message based on the current status of the secondary station; the primary station changing a parameter of the discontinuous mode based on the control message. |
| US09167616B2 |
System, apparatus and method for establishing a call from a mobile device
A system, method and mobile device for initiating a voice call from the mobile device is provided. An expiration time is determined based on a time reference synchronized with a mobile call server. The mobile device transmits to the mobile call server a session initiation protocol (SIP) call initiation request including a destination number and the expiration time. A second call initiation request to a secondary contact number is initiated to establish the voice call to the destination number, when a response to the SIP call initiation request is not received from the mobile call server prior to the expiration time enabling reliable establishment of the voice call when the first attempt is unsuccessful. The mobile device does not have to wait on the mobile call server to determine a call failure and ensure that subsequent call initiation by the mobile device does not result in a call establishment collision with the mobile call server. |
| US09167613B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting connectivity of peer-to-peer (P2P) communication in mobile communication system
A method and an apparatus for supporting connectivity of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) communication in a mobile communication system are provided. An operating method of a Mobile Station (MS) for providing the connectivity of the P2P communications in the mobile communication system includes connecting P2P communications by searching for a correspondent MS in a first Base Station (BS), determining whether a direct P2P communication is feasible with the correspondent MS in the P2P communications and, when the direct P2P communication is not feasible, setting a P2P relay using the first BS. |
| US09167611B2 |
System and method of peer-to-peer, paired, and synchronized nodes
The present disclosure provides for a method of pairing wireless devices as well as wireless devices employing the pairing methodology. The wireless devices each possess individual identifiers. The individual identifiers comprise a 64 bit number. Each device also possesses a number of selection indicator identifiers. The selection indicator identifier is a preferably a color comprising a 24 bit number. The individual identifier and selection indicator identifier are combined using a hash function to create a 32 bit hash group identification. A simultaneous holding of buttons on the wireless devices creates the pairing between the devices and stores the 32 bit hash group identification in the device's memory. When two unpaired devices sharing a group identification number are brought within a predetermined proximity to one another, the devices automatically pair. |
| US09167608B2 |
Access point and method for connecting wireless communication
An access point and a method for connecting wireless communication thereof are provided. The method includes, if a connecting device is connected to the access point, registering information of the connecting device, if the connecting device transmits a first signal in response to a beacon message of the access point after having been disconnected from the access point and connected to a host device, determining whether the connecting device is already registered using the first signal, and, if it is determined that the connecting device is already registered, connecting to the host device via the wireless communication connection. |
| US09167605B2 |
Method and system for allowing incoming emergency communications on a disabled device
A system and method to allow a disabled device to receive an incoming communication after the termination of an emergency communication session with a service provider. A disabled device is a device having a portion of its service plan that allows the device to send or receive communications either temporarily or permanently disabled. In some embodiments, the system allows the disabled device to receive all incoming communications during a defined period of time after the emergency communication session. In some embodiments, the system allows the disabled device to receive all incoming communications from numbers or URIs contained in a repository of allowed numbers. In some embodiments, the system allows the disabled device to receive all incoming communications if the service provider initiating the communication enters an authenticated routing key or passcode. |
| US09167599B2 |
Channel structure for non-contention based windows and contention based random access requests
Methods of communicating location information from a subscriber to a repeater are described. The subscriber switches from a working channel to a data revert channel, transmits a request for a periodic or one-time window to transmit an update, and determines from grant information in the response announcement the allocated window and frame before switching back to the working channel. Before the allocated time, the subscriber switches to the data revert channel, confirms whether it remains scheduled to transmit the update from a repeater announcement, and if so transmits the location update in either the current or reserved window. The announcements from the repeater contain the identity of the next window and frame and the subscriber reserved to use the window in addition to grant information. The subscribers may or may not be time-aligned and the data and data revert channels may or may not be synchronized. |
| US09167593B2 |
Cell monitor system for 4G cellular networks
An apparatus that includes a base-band input port and a processor and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The base-band input port receives digital base-band communications including a plurality of communication channels utilized in communications between an RF module and a plurality of user equipment (UE) in a cell serviced by that RF module. The processor demodulates specific channels in the digital base-band communications and extracts therefrom information specifying a unique identity for each of the UEs and a temporary identification used for communicating with that UE. The processor also extracts scheduling information identifying when one of the UEs is scheduled to upload information to the RF module and the communication channels over which the information is to be uploaded. The processor does not demodulate others of the communication channels. |
| US09167591B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining optimized wireless link selection for a mobile device along a predicted path
An information handling system includes a storage device for storing a spatial-temporal radio frequency profile for indicating signal quality for wireless links available at the location. The information handling system further includes an application processor that selects a predicted future path for a mobile information handling system during a future time interval. The application processor determines predicts radio quality of wireless links over the predicted future path selected for the system based on measured radio quality of service parameters for locations. |
| US09167588B1 |
Enhanced mobile standby performance during simultaneous dual-technology communication by avoiding interference scenarios
The various embodiments include methods and apparatuses for avoiding interference scenarios during concurrent communication of dual-technology wireless communication devices. Interference scenarios may be avoided by predicatively determining the potential for interference between the channels of multiple communications on the dual-technology wireless communication devices. For a pending communication, a predicative calculation may be made to determine whether the channel of the pending communication and the channel of an active communication may interfere with each other. If so, the communication with a lower priority may switch to the highest powered channel that does not interfere with the higher priority communication. Once the interference condition expires, and the lower priority communication persists, its channel may switch to a higher power channel that will not cause interference with any active or pending communications. Switching the channel for a communication may be prompted by electromagnetic interference from components of the dual-technology wireless communication devices. |
| US09167586B1 |
Interference mitigation at cell edge region of enhanced node B of LTE wireless network
An enhanced Node B (eNB) and method for interference mitigation at a cell edge region in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless network are provided. The eNB in one example embodiment includes a transceiver system for communicating with a User Equipment (UE) registered with the eNB and a processing system coupled to the transceiver system and configured to receive a signal strength and an interference information from the UE via the transceiver system, with the processing system configured to determine if the UE is located at a cell edge region of the eNB, determine if the UE is experiencing interference, and allocate by Resource Elements (REs) in the communications being transferred from the eNB to the UE if the UE is located at the cell edge region and if the UE is experiencing an unacceptable level of interference. |
| US09167581B2 |
Base station
A scheduling executing section calculates a predicted value of a transmission gain at a time when controlling transmission directivity in a plurality of antennas based on a known signal to be received in a frequency band of a use downlink radio resource and performing downlink communication with a communication terminal, and determines a communication terminal to which the use downlink radio resource is allocated based on the predicted value. |
| US09167579B2 |
Method and transmitter/receiver for data transmission with flexible exploitation of time and frequency diversity
A method and corresponding devices for processing and transmitting information are described. A sequence of binary signals is mapped to symbols that forms a two-dimensional matrix of symbols in one of the frequency-time or time-time or time-frequency or frequency-frequency domain and which may be filtered in that domain. Selecting the diagonal elements of said matrix forms a transmit vector. |
| US09167578B2 |
Radio resource allocation for cellular wireless networks
Various embodiments relate to cellular wireless networks, including networks made up of different types of base stations. Femtocell base stations typically operate at low transmit power and provide a limited area of wireless coverage. At times, femtocells are deployed within a coverage area of a macrocell and occupy some of the same frequency spectrum and timeslots as the macrocell. At times, transmissions from the femtocell may appear as interference to a user equipment terminal, further preventing it from accessing the macrocell. In some embodiments, a cellular wireless network allocates radio resource(s) to femtocells so that the transmissions from femtocells do not occupy the same radio resource blocks as those used by the macrocell for signalling; thereby preventing interference associated with signalling to cause a connection to be lost, or prevent a connection being set up. |
| US09167574B2 |
Blind decoding for an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH)
Technology for blind decoding downlink control information (DCI) from an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) is disclosed. In an example, a user equipment (UE) can include a processor configured to: Recursively attempt to decode the DCI from enhanced control channel elements (ECCE) of the EPDCCH from physical resource block (PRB) region candidates in a PRB set using a selected set of enhanced resource element group (EREG) index maps for the ECCE until the DCI is successfully decoded; and decode the DCI with an EREG index map associated with a same aggregation level used to encode the DCI. Each EREG index map can be configured for a different aggregation level (AL). |
| US09167573B2 |
Method and apparatus of transmitting reference signal for uplink transmission
A method and apparatus of transmitting a reference signal in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes generating a precoded reference signal or a non-precoded reference signal in accordance with a rank, and transmitting the generated reference signal. Uplink transmission using multiple transmit antennas is supported through reference signal design and related control signaling. |
| US09167568B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving control information in a wireless communication system
A method in a wireless communication system is provided. The method includes generating a message including an indicator indicating whether a connection to perform Automatic Repeat reQuest reset is a downlink connection or an uplink connection and transmitting the message. |
| US09167562B2 |
Method of channel resource allocation and devices in wireless networks
A method of allocating channel resources from a first device to a second device in a wireless network comprises receiving channel resource allocation information from a coordinator of the wireless network to allocate the channel resources; transmitting data to the second device through the allocated channel resources; receiving channel resource request information from the second device to request the first device to allocate a part of the allocated channel resources; and deciding whether to allocate the part of the channel resources allocated from the coordinator, to the second device in accordance with the channel resource request information. |
| US09167561B2 |
Sequence initialization for demodulation reference signal
A new sequence initialization for demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequence design used in the LTE-A system is provided. In some implementations, the modulo-2 addition of nSCID and nNDI, both of which are provided in a downlink control information (DCI) message, is used to dynamically select one of a plurality of parameter candidates and the dynamically selected parameter is then used for determining the initialization state of a DMRS sequence. In some other implementations, the modulo-2 addition of nSCID and nNDI is used for determining the least significant bit of the initialization state of the DMRS sequence. |
| US09167560B2 |
Multi-band channel aggregation
Multiple channels are aggregated. In an example embodiment, first data is transmitted on a first channel to a wireless device, and second data is simultaneously transmitted on a second channel to the wireless device. The first data and the second data are transmitted in a coordinated manner by aggregating the first channel and the second channel. Various example channel characteristics and combinations thereof are described. Different data allocation options for aggregated channels are described. Other alternative implementations are also presented herein. |
| US09167558B2 |
Methods and systems for sharing position data between subscribers involving multiple wireless providers
A system for exchanging messages, position data, and status information among subscribers of different cellular providers. Cell phones and other wireless devices with GPS receivers are associated with different cellular carriers. These wireless devices support a Buddy Watch application that communicates with a remote Buddy Watch Server outside of the carriers' networks. The Buddy Watch servers allows subscribers to associate themselves with a group of “buddies,” a subset of the subscribers serviced by the Buddy Watch server but not necessarily by the same cellular carrier. The server than allows each subscriber to monitor the status of his or her buddies, and to communicate messages and position data. |
| US09167557B2 |
Semi non-DRx mode for wireless communication
Devices, methods, and systems for implementing semi non-DRx mode for a wireless communication device are described herein. According to some embodiments, if it is determined that semi non-DRx mode is supported by a network, a wireless communication device can enter semi non-DRx mode. The paging block on a multiframe corresponding to the wireless communication device's paging index is monitored. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described above. |
| US09167555B2 |
Paging an idle state electronic device
Disclosed is a method of paging an electronic device when the electronic device is in an idle state, the method comprising: determining a time; determining a primary tracking area that is associated with a time period in a profile of the electronic device, wherein the time period comprises the determined time; and transmitting a paging message to the electronic device in one or more target tracking area, the one or more target tracking area comprising the primary tracking area. |
| US09167553B2 |
GeoNexus proximity detector network
A GeoNexus proximity network provides quick determination of proximity of a large group of associated mobile devices (e.g., ‘friends’, all devices associated with those who ‘like’ a given posting, etc.) To respond to a given proximity request, a list of identities is obtained for the group of associated mobile devices for which proximity is to be determined. A bucket index is determined of a place to which proximity is to be determined for each of the plurality of associated mobile devices. A target geonexus node associated with the determined bucket index is queried, which in turn queries geonexus nodes adjacent thereto, to quickly determine which of the group of mobile devices are proximate, without the need to individually query for location of each mobile device in the group. |
| US09167550B2 |
Systems and methods for applying a security policy to a device based on location
A security policy may be applied to a mobile communications device based on a location of the mobile communications device. For example, a first location of the mobile communications device may be obtained and a first security policy may be applied to the mobile communications device based on the first location. Furthermore, a change in the location of the mobile communications device may be detected. For example, the location of the mobile communications device may change from the first location to a second location. In response to the mobile communications device now being located at the second location, a second security policy may be applied to the mobile communications device. Thus, different security policies may be applied to a mobile communications device as the current location of the mobile communications device changes. |
| US09167547B2 |
Uplink timing maintenance upon time alignment timer expiry
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for uplink timing maintenance in wireless communications are provided. Certain aspects of the disclosure involve applying a timing advance command to adjust uplink transmission timing/resume uplink synchronization; and determining a metric. The metric can be used in determining whether to apply a timing advance command (TAC) to resume uplink resynchronization. |
| US09167544B2 |
Device to device synchronization method applicable to user equipment and user equipment using the same
The present disclosure provides a device to device (D2D) synchronization method that is applicable to a user equipment and a user equipment (UE) using the same method. In one of the exemplary embodiments, the D2D synchronization method includes receiving detected signals from a receiver, obtaining from the detected signals a first signal having a first timing information and a second signal having a second timing information, determining whether to forward the first timing information or the second timing information based on an upper bound power restriction of the first signal and the second signal and a power difference between the first signal and the second signal, and determining whether to transmit a third timing information that is inherent of the UE based on whether the first signal and the second signal are below power thresholds. |
| US09167542B2 |
Determining clock models
Examples disclosed herein relate to methods and apparatuses for observing signals transmitted by one or more transmitters in an asynchronous communication network and applying a time reference to generate a clock model. In one embodiment, parameters representing the clock model may then be forwarded to other mobile devices to assist in positioning operations. |
| US09167541B2 |
Method and arrangement for transmit power control of multiple downlink carriers
The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for controlling downlink power in a multi-carrier communication network system. The communication network system comprises communication network nodes (15) communicating with a plurality of user equipments (18) on uplink (17) and downlink (16) carriers over a radio interface. Downlink transmit power control commands are sent on at least one uplink control channel to support power control for a multiple of downlink carriers. Each transmit power control command is assigned a pre-determined code word known by said user equipment (18) and said communication network node (15) and/or different pre-determined slot formats, known by said user equipment (18) and said communication network node (15), are used to integrate different number of transmit power control command based on the number of used downlink and uplink carriers. |
| US09167540B2 |
User terminal power shortage indication
The present invention relates to methods, a user equipment and a communication network node for efficiently utilizing radio resources in a communication system comprising said communication network node (15) serving cells (19) between which one or more user equipment (18) is moving. When a user equipment (18) detects a power shortage situation it is arranged to transmit a report, such as a scheduling information signalling, triggered by the power shortage situation, whereby the communication network node is allowed to take a pre-determined action regarding the available radio resources. |
| US09167533B2 |
Base station apparatus, user equipment, and method used in mobile communication system
A base station apparatus for a mobile communication system is disclosed that includes a unit to receive an uplink reference signal transmitted from user equipment, a unit to provide transmission power control data indicating whether a transmission power value of the uplink reference signal to be transmitted later is to be changed, a unit to derive a first offset power value so that the uplink control signal is transmitted at a power value determined by adding the first offset power value to the transmission power value of the uplink reference signal, a unit to derive a second offset power value so that the uplink control signal is transmitted at a power value determined by adding the second offset power value to the transmission power value of the uplink reference signal, and a unit to report the data and values to the user equipment. |
| US09167529B2 |
Control of activation of location-related sensors of a mobile device
Methods, systems and apparatuses for selecting which of a plurality of sensors to use for location detection of a mobile device are disclosed. One method includes activating lowest-power location-related sensors of the mobile device at power up of a mobile device, and activating medium-power location-related sensors of the mobile device upon detection of motion of the mobile device and/or a change in a wireless connection to the mobile device. |
| US09167521B2 |
Wireless communication method with low power consumption
A wireless communication device includes a Wi-Fi module for operating in WLAN system and a Bluetooth module for operating in Bluetooth system. After entering a power-saving mode, the wireless communication device is configured to turn off the Wi-Fi module and periodically scan an operational frequency band of a network using the Bluetooth module. When detecting a radio frequency signal having the same bandwidth as the network in the operational frequency band, the wireless communication device is configured to enter a normal mode. |
| US09167517B2 |
Group-based machine to machine communication
Methods and apparatus are provided for performing group-based machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. Machine-type communication (MTC) wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs) may operate in M2M groups. MTC WTRUs belonging to the same M2M group may receive a broadcast message with a time window on a channel dedicated for receiving data directed to an M2M group. The MTC WTRUs may wake up during the time window and may receive data directed to an M2M group on a dedicated channel. The broadcast message may be broadcasted via a broadcast server upon a request from an MTC server. The time window is allocated upon a request from an MTC server on behalf of the M2M group. |
| US09167516B2 |
System and method for wireless sensor networks
Wireless sensor networks includes nodes configured to operate according to an 802.11-compliant communication protocol in an ad hoc mode in a multi hop network. The nodes include a power management unit configured to control operating states of a sensor control unit, a computing and storage unit and a communication unit of the node so that sensor measurements and inter-node communications occur at designated, coordinated times. |
| US09167515B2 |
Operation method in heterogeneous networks and gateway and wireless communication device using the same
An operation method in heterogeneous networks, and a gateway and a wireless communication device using the same are disclosed. The operation method in heterogeneous networks includes followings. When a gateway, connecting a first communication network and a second communication network, operates in a beacon mode, the gateway determines whether the first communication network is in an allowed period or a forbidden period, and generates a determination result. Then, the gateway adaptively adjusts a ratio of a superframe duration to a beacon interval of a periodic beacon of the second communication network according to the determination result. In addition, the gateway is connected to a M2M communication server via the first communication network, and the gateway is connected to at least one M2M communication device via the second communication network. |
| US09167512B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in controlling connections to wireless networks
In one illustrative example, a wireless device receives a communication policy from a private network. The communication policy includes allowable service provider identifiers (e.g. domain names, realms) corresponding to allowable service providers. The wireless device stores these identifiers in its memory. When roaming, the wireless device encounters a wireless network (“hotspot”) and receives via the wireless network one or more reachable service provider identifiers corresponding to one or more reachable service providers. In a work mode of operation, the wireless device allows a connection to the wireless network based on a match between one of the allowable and reachable service provider identifiers, but otherwise disallows the connection. The communication policy may additionally or alternatively include device types for P2P networks, and/or allowable private network identifiers (e.g. ESSIDs), and/or allowable hotspot aggregator service identifiers or names, for use in the work mode. |
| US09167508B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, and wireless communication system for providing improved wireless communication
Provided is a wireless communication apparatus including a communication unit capable of wireless communication with another wireless communication apparatus, a determination unit for determining whether the communication unit is in proximity to the other wireless communication apparatus, and a control unit for performing, in a case the communication unit is determined to be in proximity to the other wireless communication apparatus, a connection procedure between the communication unit and the other wireless communication apparatus. |
| US09167507B2 |
Cell reselection method and mobile terminal using the same
A cell reselection method and mobile communication terminal using the method are disclosed. The method includes calculating first path loss parameters of a serving cell and neighboring cells; determining whether the serving cell is suitable for a communication service using the first path loss parameter thereof; performing, if the serving cell is determined to be unsuitable, a cell reselection operation; calculating, if no suitable cell is found through the cell reselection operation, a second path loss parameter of the serving cell using information on the distance from a base station of the serving cell to the mobile communication terminal; redetermining whether the serving cell is suitable using the second path loss parameter thereof; and setting an operation mode of the mobile communication terminal on the basis of the redetermination result. As a result, errors in determination of the suitability of the serving cell may be reduced. |
| US09167506B2 |
System and method for enabling discovery of local service availability in local cellular coverage
LIPA PDN Connectivity indicates a PDP Context (in the case of a GERAN or UTRAN femto cell connected to a GPRS core network) or a PDN Connection (in the case of an E-UTRAN femto cell connected to a GPRS core network) that gives access to services located in the local IP network of the femto cell subsystem. SIPTO PDN Connectivity indicates a PDP Context or PDN Connection that allows offload of selected types of IP traffic (e.g. internet traffic) towards a defined IP network close to the UE's point of attachment to the access network. Remote PDN Connectivity indicates a regular PDP Context or PDN Connection established neither according to LIPA PDN Connectivity nor SIPTO PDN Connectivity. Systems, devices and methods are described herein that enable the identification of the type of connectivity available to a UE and enable session continuity for local cellular coverage. |
| US09167503B2 |
Method and a device for gaining and maintaining control of the traffic from a radio base station in a cellular telephony system
A method for letting a temporary radio base station (RBS, 140) gain and maintain control of the traffic of a targeted RBS (120) in a system (100), where RBS's transmit an identity signal and a list of candidate frequencies for use by user terminals when switching RBS. The temporary RBS (140) is positioned in or adjacent to the targeted RBS (120), and transmits on a frequency in the candidate list of the targeted RBS (120). The transmissions are at such a power level that the traffic of the targeted RBS (120) is transferred to the temporary RBS (140). The temporary RBS transmits the identity signal the RBS whose frequency the temporary RBS transmits on, and transmits a list of candidate frequencies such that user terminals whose traffic has been transferred to the temporary RBS cannot find signals with sufficient strength on any of the candidate frequencies. |
| US09167502B2 |
Method and system for automatic seamless mobility
A telecommunication system and method for automatically and seamlessly switching voice calls on a wireless mobile device between different wireless network services during the same conversation without user interaction and without being noticeable to the parties on the call. For example, a voice call at a mobile device using the services of a wireless wide area network (e.g., GSM/GPRS cellular network) may be switched over to a wireless local area network (e.g., 802.11 wireless network), and vice versa, while the call is in progress and without any input from the parties on the call. The system and method also provide a mechanism for maintaining a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call while the mobile device moves between wireless access points (AP) and has automatic reconnection in case there is a dropped call. |
| US09167500B2 |
Method, device, and system for selecting relay type
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, a device, and a system for selecting a relay type. A relay node selects a Un interface frequency band with an optimal signal according to frequency bands supported on a Un interface. The relay node determines a relay type according to the selected Un interface frequency band and a configured Uu interface frequency band and sends indication information to a DeNB. The indication information includes the selected Un interface frequency band and the relay type. |
| US09167499B2 |
Ubiquitous access to FEMTO-connected network
A system and method of enabling a mobile device to communicate with a local IP network host and an external IP network host using a femto cellular access point on a femto cellular access network. A local gateway is coupled to the femto cellular access network for receiving data packets transmitted on the femto cellular access network and for routing the data packets to one of a local IP network and an external IP network, based on a destination address associated with the data packets. The femto cellular access network includes an LTE network, an EVDO network connected to an EPC, or a WiMax 802.16e/m network connected to the EPC. |
| US09167494B2 |
Method and device for enabling high-speed communication services in multi-technology wireless network
A method and mobile device (UE) for enabling services in multi-RAT networks which support at least HSPA and LTE, comprising: identifying an initial radio technology on which a UE requesting service is camped, within a current cell; determining an indication of coverage of another radio technology available on the current cell which provides higher speed access than the initial one; deciding carrying the service, either through the initial radio technology or the other one of higher speed access, according to the previous indication. The indication of coverage can be based on any of the following criteria or a combination of them is met: 1) Terminal is camped on a HSDPA capable or LTE capable cell, 2) HSDPA signal strength is higher than a threshold, 3) LTE signal strength is higher than a threshold, 4) Measurements on the Peak Rate of the UE in a past time and in a location. |
| US09167488B2 |
Method and arrangement in a radio communications system for supporting DTX
A method in a first base station for supporting DTX is provided. The first base station serves a first cell being in an active mode. The first base station communicates with a user equipment within the first cell. The first base station is comprised in a radio communications system further comprising the user equipment and a second base station serving a second cell being in a non observable mode. The first base station sends to the second base station, a request to switch the second cell state from a non observable mode to an observable mode. It further sends to the user equipment or to the second base station, a request to perform signalling between the user equipment and the second base station for quality measurements. The first base station then obtains information that handover is feasible, based on quality measurement of the performed signalling. The first base station sends to the second base station, a request to prepare handover of the user equipment from the first cell to the second cell, and further to the user equipment, a command to perform handover to the second cell. |
| US09167486B2 |
Inter-VPLMN handover via a handover proxy node
The invention relates to a method for performing a handover of a mobile node (MN) from a source to a target network, wherein a handover proxy node (HPN) is used to relay the handover of the MN to one of previously measured cells. The MN discovers an appropriate HPN and triggers the handover to the HPN by reporting the measurements together with the HPN ID as destination of the handover. When receiving the Handover Initiation message for handing over the MN to the HPN, the HPN will not proceed with the handover but adapts said handover to indicate a handover of the MN from the HPN to the target base station. Upon receiving the Handover Initiation message in the target network, system resources are configured for data forwarding between the source and target network, and for the data path used by the MN when attaching to the target base station. |
| US09167480B2 |
Methods and systems for managing device bandwidth usage
Systems and methods for controlling a wireless device by a user based on bandwidth used when the device is connected to a network are disclosed. The bandwidth used by a process when the wireless device is connected to a network is determined. Information associating the value of the bandwidth used by the process when connected to the network, with at least one characteristic of the network is provided. A bandwidth management profile that identifies what process is allowed to be executed on each network is generated. The bandwidth management profile is used to determine whether the process should be executed on the network. |
| US09167477B2 |
Transmission device, transmission method and computer program
Flow control can be performed for every piece of end-to-end traffic. A transmission device includes a reception buffer which temporarily accumulates received transmission unit data, a signal generation section configured to generate a control signal for instructing to stop transmission of transmission unit data by designating another transmission device serving as an end point of a transmission side for traffic of the transmission unit data to be received by its own device as a transmission destination when an amount of accumulation in the reception buffer has exceeded a predetermined upper-limit threshold value, and a transmission section configured to transmit the control signal. |
| US09167473B2 |
Communication processing method, apparatus and gateway device
The communication processing method is used in a network gateway device, wherein the network gateway device is coupled to a wireless terminal through a first wireless network and to a base station through a second wireless network different from the first wireless network. The method maintains a first TCP link between the network gateway device and the wireless terminal through the first wireless network; maintains a second TCP link between the network gateway device and a service providing server through the second wireless network; and performs a TCP transmission optimization on the first TCP link or the second TCP link to be optimized by a corresponding optimization method so as to improve a transmission performance between the wireless terminal and the service providing server. The optimization may be performed more specifically and a transmission performance between the wireless terminal and the service providing server may be improved. |
| US09167472B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enhanced UL RLC flow control for MRAB calls
Systems, devices, and methods for wireless enhanced uplink (UL) radio link control (RLC) flow control for multi-radio access bearer (MRAB) calls. In one aspect, a device configured to manage a wireless connection in a voice and data communication is provided. The device includes a receiver configured to receive radio link control (RLC) control information. The device further includes a controller configured to detect one or more radio frequency (RF) conditions. The controller is further configured to dynamically adjust, independent of the received RLC control information, RLC flow control in response to the RF conditions. |
| US09167469B2 |
Coordinated multipoint (CoMP) radio resource management (RRM) measurement
A method performed by a user equipment (UE) is described. A measurement configuration is received from an evolved NodeB (eNB). The measurement configuration comprises a measurement object in a carrier frequency and the measurement object comprises a set of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) configurations. A measurement is performed based on a cell-specific reference signal (CRS). A measurement is performed based on a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) based on the measurement configuration. A measurement report is generated in a radio resource control (RRC) layer. The measurement report is sent to the eNB. |
| US09167458B2 |
Using downlink TFCI to generate a larger idle interval
A method of wireless communication is presented. The method includes receiving a transport format combination indicator (TFCI) indicating a number of blocks and a block size for data to be sent on downlink time slots of a current frame and/or a subsequent frame. The method also includes determining when data is not expected to be received on an allocated downlink time slot and performing neighbor cell measurement during the allocated downlink time slot. |
| US09167453B2 |
Cell and evolved node B station outage restoration tool
During scheduled or unscheduled wireless communication outage, restoration of crucial or critical cell site devices and/or base station device are prioritized. The system filters current key performance indicator values and historical key performance indicator values for a reference cell device to produce a filtered key performance indicator metric for the reference cell device, filters statistical data to produce filtered statistical data representing a filtered statistic for the reference cell device, determines a weighting factor for the reference cell device, and displays of a ranking score determined as a function of the weighting factor, the filtered statistic data, and the filtered key performance indicator metric. The ranking score provides an ordering that can be used to restore critical cell site devices and/or base station devices. |
| US09167451B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring interference in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for measuring inter-cell measurement in a wireless communication system are discussed. The method includes: receiving information regarding a predetermined resource region to which a sounding signal allocated for user equipments (UEs) connected to base stations (BSs) contained in the same coordinated cluster is transmitted, the sounding signal being used to detect a UE causing inter-cell interference; determining whether transmission of the sounding signal is granted for a serving UE in the predetermined resource region; and if transmission of the sounding signal is granted, transmitting a transmission grant message of the sounding signal to the serving UE, wherein whether the sounding signal transmission is granted is determined based on a random number, or is determined based on information of an available resource region of each BS if information regarding the available resource region of each BS is received with the information regarding the predetermined resource region. |
| US09167445B2 |
Systems and methods for measuring available bandwidth in mobile telecommunications networks
A network device receives probe packets communicated by a user equipment device. The network device communicates response packets back to the user equipment device, including timestamps, and/or other information. The user equipment device may be configured to test the performance of different portions of a wireless network (i.e., determine an available bandwidth measurement throughput (ABMT) of the wireless network) by accessing different network devices (or information associated with different network devices). |
| US09167444B2 |
Method for managing heterogeneous cellular networks
A method is provided for managing heterogeneous cellular networks. The method comprises obtaining measurement reports from wireless entities relating to the intensity at which signals are received by each wireless entity; based on these measurement reports, and/or on geographical information of HetNet elements, identifying a macro cell located at the vicinity of the small cells; selecting one of the small cells to be a gateway cell, and other small cells to be inner cells. The gateway cell is a small cell that receives, or mobile terminals connected thereto receive, signals transmitted by the macro cell at an intensity being at least similar to intensity at which these signals are received at the inner cells; identifying physical layer identifiers (PLIs) used at the macro cell; and determining PLIs for the gateway cell which are not currently used by the macro cell, and PLIs available for use by the inner cells. |
| US09167443B2 |
System and method for managing content exchanges in a wireless network using a listener module
A system and method for managing content exchanges in a wireless network using a listener module. A listener module receives a message broadcast by a string broadcast station. The string broadcast station message includes a network information string. The listener module also receives a message broadcast by a wireless station. The wireless station message includes the MAC address of the wireless station. The listener module associates the network information string with the MAC address of the wireless station and stores the pair a list server device. The wireless station may then request a list from the list server device of network information strings associated with the MAC address of the wireless station. |
| US09167439B2 |
Non-intrusive in-band link cost estimation in multihop networks
In a wireless multi-hop network, packet routing paths are determined for a first node device based on passive measurement of data messages over a wireless link formed between the first node device and a neighboring second node device. The first node device transmits a first data message to the second node device via the wireless link. At least one of the first node device and the second node device monitors at least one transmission performance parameter corresponding to only a selected subset of frames of the first data message. The selected subset of frames has structural similarity to selected subsets of frames of other data messages communicated and monitored by other node devices of the network. A link cost associated with the wireless link is determined based on at least one transmission performance parameter value produced as a result of the monitoring, which can be used to update the packet routing paths. |
| US09167438B2 |
Mobility detection for edge applications in wireless communication networks
Various embodiments detecting wireless communication device mobility in a wireless communication network. In one embodiment, one or more Internet Protocol (IP) data packets associated with a wireless communication device are analyzed. The wireless communication device is coupled with the edge entity. A determination is made, based on the analyzing, that the wireless communication device is a newly coupled device at the edge entity. A central entity disposed within the wireless communication network is notified that the wireless communication device is currently coupled to the edge entity. |
| US09167436B2 |
Configuring subscriber systems in wireless mesh networks
A wireless network may be managed by identifying one or more wireless subscriber systems included in a lobe pool of a wireless network, identifying at least one candidate subscriber system outside of the lobe pool with which to enable communications, and reconfiguring the antenna such that the lobe pool includes the identified candidate subscriber system. |
| US09167432B2 |
Coordinated security systems and methods for an electronic device
Systems and methods for implementing security features of a mobile electronic device. The mobile electronic device comprises a first security module configured to implement a first security operation and a second security module configured to implement a second security operation. The method includes: detecting a first security event; implementing a first security operation by the first security module; triggering a second security event; and implementing a second security operation by the second security module. The first security operation includes triggering the second security event. |
| US09167425B1 |
Systems and methods for rapidly provisioning functionality to one or more mobile communication devices
Systems and methods for rapidly provisioning functionality to one or more mobile communication devices are disclosed. The method may comprise receiving, by a telecommunications company (“Telco”) computer-based system and prior to a request for provisioning functionality, a globally unique identifier (“GUID”) encryption key, wherein the GUID comprises a unique identifier that is associated with a transaction account customer, and/or receiving, by the Telco computer-based system, a proto-script, wherein the proto-script comprises a perso-script prepended by a script to rotate a plurality of base encryption keys, wherein the base encryption keys are based on a value generated by an application service provider system. |
| US09167422B2 |
Method for ensuring media stream security in IP multimedia sub-system
A method for ensuring media stream security in an IP Multimedia Subsystem network is disclosed. The method includes: assigning an end-to-end media stream security key for a calling User Equipment (UE) or a called UE, by a network device with which the calling UE or the called UE is registered, respectively, and transmitting the media stream security key to a network device with which the opposite end is registered; encrypting the end-to-end media stream security key using a session key shared with the calling UE or the called UE respectively, and transmitting the encrypted end-to-end media stream security key to the calling UE or the called UE, respectively, via a session message; encrypting or decrypting a media stream, by the calling UE or the called UE, respectively, using the end-to-end media stream security key. |
| US09167418B1 |
Method and apparatus for controlling input to a mobile computing device located inside a vehicle
A wireless transmission system and method is provided for use in a vehicle having an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system configured to provide vehicle speed data and engine operation status data. A transmission apparatus is interfaceable with the on-board diagnostic system. The transmission apparatus is configured to transmit a wireless signal as specified by Bluetooth criteria. A mobile computing device has an input device, a GPS module, and a wireless transceiver configured to receive the wireless signal in accordance with Bluetooth criteria and determine a signal level thereof. The GPS module is configured to provide GPS data as determined by received GPS signals. The mobile computing device operates in accordance with a method for determining is the mobile computing device is with a driver's seating area and disables the input device if the vehicle speed is at or above a threshold value. |
| US09167411B2 |
Evaluating accuracy of mobility data maintained by a communication network
A computer-implemented method for systematically evaluating accuracy of data in a home location register, independent of call processing and in the absence of interference with resources required for call processing at the home location register. The method includes operational steps of: identifying, from among a plurality of subscribers, a subscriber serviced by a visited location register and identifying the visited location register servicing the identified subscriber. The method also includes forwarding a message to the identified visited location register to determine if there is a corresponding record for the identified subscriber, and determining, based on a reply to the forwarded message or lack thereof, the accuracy of home location register's record for the identified subscriber. |
| US09167410B1 |
Policy-based roaming control for wireless communication devices
Systems, methods, and software for controlling roaming of wireless communication devices onto wireless communication networks are provided herein. In one example, method of operating a wireless communication network is provided. The method includes, during a communication session initiation process between the wireless communication device and the roaming wireless communication network, receiving a request for policy information for the wireless communication device. Responsive to the request for the policy information, the method includes identifying a network address of a roaming gateway serving the wireless communication device and a paging tracking area identifier for the wireless communication device in the roaming wireless communication network. The method includes processing the network address and the paging tracking area identifier to determine a roaming authorization status for the communication session, and transferring the roaming authorization status for delivery to the roaming wireless communication system. |
| US09167407B2 |
Systems and methods for communicating beyond communication range of a wearable computing device
Computationally implemented methods and systems include determining presence of one or more external linking devices within communication range of a wearable computing device designed to be worn by a person, the determining being based, at least in part, on one or more signals transmitted by the one or more external linking devices and received by the wearable computing device, and the one or more external linking devices designed to communicate beyond the communication range of the wearable computing device, and directing the wearable computing device to communicate beyond the communication range via at least one of the one or more external linking devices that were determined to be within the communication range of the wearable computing device. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text. |
| US09167403B2 |
Wireless emergency services protocols translator between ANSI-41 and VoIP emergency services protocols
A protocol converter or translator between ANSI-41 ORREQs and VoIP V2 messaging. The protocol converter may alternatively (or also) provide conversion between GMS MAP and VoIP V2 messaging. Interaction of VSPs with a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) or a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) is permitted, as is interaction of wireless carriers with a Voice Positioning Center (VPC). In this way existing GMLCs or MPCs may be used to service VoIP 9-1-1 calls. Moreover, operators of Voice Positioning Centers (VPCs) who implement wireless offerings can re-use their existing VPCs to service wireless 9-1-1 calls. |
| US09167402B2 |
Method and apparatus to deliver public warning messages
A method and apparatus for a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) to receive an emergency situation notification. The method and apparatus include the WTRU receiving a paging message with an emergency situation notification, and the WTRU receiving scheduling information in a system information block. |
| US09167401B2 |
Wireless messaging and content provision systems and methods
A messaging system and methods used by content providers to deliver items of content stored in an internet-accessible storage system to a cell phone by causing communication of notifications or paging calls to the cell phone that specify the item of content from among other items of content stored in the storage system and include a system address for the cell phone to initially contact to request the item of content; and methods that identify the system storing the content, that receive identifiers from a separate identification service; that update the content without causing communication of another notification; and that provide for performing action on information at different times, and for selective paging. |
| US09167400B2 |
Method of using base station signal to quickly set call forwarding and mobile communication terminal
The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of communications, and discloses a method of using a base station signal to quickly set call forwarding and a mobile communication terminal. The method comprises the following steps of: A. carrying out setting of call forwarding, and saving a base station information of a wireless network where the call forwarding is set; and B. reading a call forwarding target phone number that is set, sending a call forwarding request to the wireless network, and after a confirmation is obtained from the wireless network, activating a check timer to complete the setting of call forwarding. |
| US09167399B2 |
Handoff of communication sessions between cellular and desktop telephones
A method for effecting handoff of a communication session between a cellular telephone and a desktop telephone includes anchoring a communication session involving a remote device and a cellular telephone in an enterprise network such that signaling for the communication session passes through an element of the enterprise network; receiving an indication to handoff the communication session from the cellular telephone to a desktop telephone coupled to the enterprise network; placing the remote device in a holding state in response to the indication; and coupling the desktop telephone to the remote device to resume the communication session. |
| US09167398B2 |
Method and system for combining text and voice messages in a communications dialogue
This publication discloses a method and system for delivering messages in a telecommunications network (1, 2, 6, 11, 12). In the method a voice-message call attempt is received (43), or a connection is formed to a potential user of a service, on the basis of a voice-message call attempt. According to the invention, as a response to the voice-message connection formed or to the call attempt, to the second part (41) of the connection is sent a text-form message, which initiates a long, logically continuous, temporally discontinuous session N, in such a way that the sender address (e.g., the A number) is converted to correspond to the session number N and the session stage J at the time, and in the message there is at least one selection query. |
| US09167393B2 |
Cable chip system
The present invention relates to communications systems incorporating peripheral devices such as a push-to-talk (PTT) or similar and interface cables to connect these to a headset and/or a communication device such as a man worn two-way radio, vehicle intercom system, mobile phone, etc. In particular, the invention relates to such interface cable having an integrated functionality. The basic idea of the invention is to use an interface between a first and a second device in a voice communication system, which interface is specific to the second device and holds digital information allowing the first device to identify or adapt to the second device. This allows the first device to automatically adapt its settings and/or functionality to, and thus to function with, several different second devices without any need for updating, re-configuration, or user intervention. Thus the first device can be hot swapped or hot plugged with different second devices simply by using a cable specific to each particular second device. |
| US09167392B2 |
User experience enhancements for limiting calls in a group communication
User experience enhancements for conducting group communication sessions may include displaying visual feedback on a display to indicate a state of a group communication session. Embodiments may include establishing a group communication channel with devices in a first operating mode in response to inputs on a user interface, detecting actuation of a lock mechanism, such as a target-based sliding lock mechanism on a touchscreen user interface display, and while the lock mechanism is actuated, maintaining the group communication channel in a second operating mode. The second operating mode may be a lockout mode and/or a blocking mode with respect to at least one other device in the group communication. |
| US09167391B2 |
Method and base station for transmitting closed subscriber group information
An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for transmitting Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) information, which comprises: after receiving a message for requesting the CSG information, a target network element with a CSG attribute returning its own CSG information at least containing CSG Identitfier (ID) information of a CSG to which the target network element belongs to a source network element which initiates the message. The method and eNBs for transmitting CSG information in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention may allow the eNBs to obtain the CSG information of each other, so as to ensure that a direct interface can be set up between HeNBs with the same CSG attribute under the same HeNB GW. |
| US09167387B2 |
Electronic device, information distribution system, computer readable medium, and position dependent information providing method
An electronic device that includes a schedule information detecting unit which detects a schedule according to which a user moves to a second geographical area outside a first geographical area, an information acquisition unit which acquires position dependent information in the second geographical area from a first server apparatus before moving to the second geographical area, a position dependent information storing unit, a positioning unit, an output information control unit which retrieves the position dependent information corresponding to the position of the electronic device from the position dependent information storing unit, an information quantity storing unit which stores information quantity data which indicates quantity of the information retrieved from the position dependent information storing unit, and an information quantity transmitting unit which transmits the information quantity data stored in the information quantity storing unit to a second server apparatus, when the electronic device is located outside the second geographical area. |
| US09167381B2 |
Geo-fence based alerts
Geo-fence based alerts are provided in a wireless communications network. A first subscriber device (SD) in the wireless communications network determines its current location. The first SD detects a geo-fence trigger by determining, as a function of the determined current location and a stored geo-fence database, that it has either (i) crossed a geo-fence boundary into a first active geo-fence in the stored geo-fence database or (ii) is within the first active geo-fence and has not yet begun playing back an alert associated with the first active geo-fence. Responsively, the first SD identifies an alert associated with the first active geo-fence and begins playback of the alert associated with the first active geo-fence. |
| US09167379B1 |
Automatic location-based emergency response system
Systems and methods to automatically provide emergency information to emergency responders operate responsive to an incoming emergency call being placed to an emergency call center. Based on geographical information associated with an emergency call, a determined set of emergency responders is alerted and/or notified as soon as possible, e.g. before the call is answered and/or before the call is completed. |
| US09167378B2 |
Method to access multimedia contents associated to a geographical area
A method is for accessing multimedia contents associated with a geographical area including a plurality of items, the multimedia content being stored on a multimedia content provider having information of one or more of the items. The method provides an IC Card application for enabling a mobile device to detect a geographical area of interest, connect to the multimedia content provider and select at least one multimedia content of the detected geographical area of interest, download the selected multimedia content into a memory of the IC Card, provide an identification code of an item located into the detected geographical area of interest, and access a portion of the multimedia content which stores information of the identified item. |
| US09167376B2 |
Systems and methods for selecting for usage one or more functional devices detected within a communication range of a wearable computing device
Computationally implemented methods and systems include detecting presence of a plurality of functional devices within the communication range of a wearable computing device; and selecting, from the plurality of functional devices, one or more functional devices for providing to the wearable computing device one or more functionalities. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text. |
| US09167372B2 |
Managing a network element
A method for managing a network element involves receiving via a first interface field data from a communication network. The field data is compared with available network status data such, that a difference between network status data and field data can be determined. A configuration data is generated such that the configuration data are adapted to align the network status data and the field data. Then, a corresponding network element for receiving the configuration data is determined and the configuration data is distributed via a first interface to a corresponding network element. |
| US09167370B1 |
Delaying registration on roaming networks
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media, for facilitating delaying registration in association with roaming networks are provided. In embodiments, a mobile device associated with a border coverage is recognized. Such a recognition may occur based on the mobile device alternating between being connected to a home network and a roaming network. Based on the mobile device being associated with the border coverage, registration with the roaming network to obtain a mobile internet protocol address is delayed. |
| US09167369B2 |
Speaker array apparatus
A speaker array device includes a first speaker array and a second speaker array. The first speaker array has plural first speaker units arranged in a first surface and output a first sound. The second speaker array has plural second speaker units arranged in a second surface that is different from the first surface and output a second sound. When the second speaker array and the first speaker array are installed in a room having a ceiling, the second speaker array is installed in such a manner that a normal direction to the second surface is match with a direction in which the second sound emitted from the second speaker array reaches, only indirectly, through reflection or diffraction, a sound receiving point or that the normal direction to the second surface is match with a direction in which the second sound reaches the sound receiving point with a predetermined sound volume. |
| US09167366B2 |
Threshold-derived fitting method for frequency translation in hearing assistance devices
Disclosed herein, among other things, are apparatus and methods for a threshold-derived fitting rationale using frequency translation for hearing assistance devices. In various method embodiments, a first audiogram is received for a first hearing assistance device for a wearer, and a second audiogram is received for a second hearing assistance device for the wearer. The first audiogram and the second audiogram are compared to audiometric thresholds to determine if frequency translation should be enabled. |
| US09167360B2 |
Antennas for custom fit hearing assistance devices
An embodiment of a hearing assistance device comprises an enclosure that includes a faceplate and a shell attached to the faceplate, a power source, a flex antenna, a transmission line connected to the flex antenna, and radio circuit connected to the transmission line and electrically connected to the power source. The flex antenna has a shape of at least a substantially complete loop around the power source, and maintains separation from the power source. |
| US09167352B2 |
Microphone
A microphone has a base substrate having a main surface, an acoustic sensor mounted on the main surface, and a circuit element that processes a signal output from the acoustic sensor. The acoustic sensor has a sensor substrate having a first surface opposed to the base substrate, a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface, and a cavity formed while piercing the sensor substrate from the first surface to the second surface, and a movable electrode that covers the cavity from the second surface side. A through-hole is formed in the base substrate while piercing the base substrate in a thickness direction to communicate with the cavity. The through-hole overlaps the sensor substrate when viewed in the thickness direction of the base substrate. |
| US09167351B1 |
Heated quartz crystal resonator with strain isolation and method of fabricating same
A heated resonator includes a base substrate, a piezoelectric piece having a thickness and a top side and a bottom side, a first electrode on the top side, a second electrode opposite the first electrode on the bottom side, an anchor connected between the piezoelectric piece and the base substrate, and a heater on the piezoelectric material. A thermal resistor region in the piezoelectric piece is between the heater and the anchor. |
| US09167347B1 |
Multi media wireless headphones
A wireless headphone having a headband with ear pieces that insert into the ear or encompass the ear with a headphone control module attached to said headband incorporating rechargeable power supply, transceiver, microprocessor, firmware, memory, storage, D/A, speakers, microphone and display with the display incorporated into said control module having actuators and firmware for engaging and disengaging processor resident function for uploading and downloading audio files to said wireless headphones. |
| US09167342B2 |
Echo suppression
Method, user device and computer program product for suppressing echo. An audio signal is output from a speaker. A microphone receives an audio signal, wherein the received audio signal includes an echo resulting from said outputted audio signal. A Finite Impulse Response filter estimate ĥ(t) is dynamically adapted in the time domain based on the outputted audio signal and the received audio signal to model an echo path h(t) of the echo in the received audio signal. At least one power response is determined from the filter estimate ĥ(t) and used to estimate the echo power of the echo in the received audio signal. The estimated echo power is used to apply echo suppression to the received audio signal, thereby suppressing the echo in the received audio signal. |
| US09167341B2 |
Multiple-way loudspeaker
The invention relates to a loudspeaker (1) for filling a room with sound, having a tweeter (2) with a high-frequency diaphragm (12), which generates a high-frequency sound cone (22) with a high-frequency main radiation direction (13) during operation, and having at least one further tweeter (3) with a further diaphragm (8) and a further main radiation direction (7), wherein the high-frequency main radiation direction (13) is arranged transversely with respect to the further main radiation direction (7) in such a manner that the high-frequency diaphragm (12) is arranged opposite a reflection wall (14) spaced apart from the latter by a clearance (9), and the high-frequency main radiation direction (13) is directed towards the reflection wall (14) during operation, and the clearance (9) has openings (16, 17, 18) for the exit of high-frequency sound waves towards the room to be filled with sound. |
| US09167340B2 |
Apparatus and methods for limiting sound volume
Exemplary embodiments or implementations are disclosed of methods, apparatus, and systems for a volume limiter circuit. A rectifier sub-circuit is configured to rectify at least a portion of an audio signal received from an audio source. A junction field effect transistor (JFET) has a channel connected in series between the audio source and a speaker. A feedback sub-circuit is configured to provide a gate signal at a gate of the JFET and to modulate a control signal in accordance with the audio signal crossing the JFET channel. The feedback sub-circuit is connected with the rectifier sub-circuit so as to extend a range of variable resistance of the JFET channel. The limiter circuit provides functionality that changes in response to varying audio voltages. |
| US09167334B2 |
Adjustable mechanism for securing in-ear audio device
Adjustable single-ear headsets or earpieces have an earplug portion to be inserted in the user's ear canal, a body portion to rest in the user's outer ear, and an adjustable securing loop to encircle the user's pinna, the loop adjusted by a rotary mechanism to change the size or shape of the loop and hold the earpiece securely in the user's ear. |
| US09167333B2 |
Headset dictation mode
Methods and apparatuses for headsets are disclosed. In one example, a headset includes a processor, a communications interface, a user interface, and a speaker. The headset includes a microphone array including two or more microphones arranged to detect sound and output two or more microphone output signals. The headset further includes a memory storing an application executable by the processor configured to operate the headset in a first mode utilizing a first set of signal processing parameters to process the two or more microphone output signals and operate the headset in a second mode utilizing a second set of signal processing parameters to process the two or more microphone output signals. |
| US09167328B2 |
Valve apparatus, hearing device with the valve apparatus, and method
When volume-changeable elements are used in earpiece apparatus, a valve apparatus for expanding and contracting purposes is provided. A valve apparatus is provided with a discharge opening for the outlet of air from the volume-changeable element. The discharge opening can be closed directly by the volume-changeable element itself. |
| US09167326B2 |
In-wall multiple-bay loudspeaker system
A modular sound component system can be configured to be located at least partially behind a wall surface, wherein the wall surface is supported by multiple vertical studs. The modular system can include a rail system that is in contact with the wall surface and at least one sound reproduction module coupled to the rail system. The sound reproduction module can include a body that can be disposed on a stud-side of the wall surface, and the module can include an attachment feature that is slidably coupleable to the rail system. In an example, the sound reproduction module can include a loudspeaker assembly, an amplifier assembly, or other device. Multiple modules can be slidably coupled to the rail system, such as on different sides of a wall stud. A wired communication link can couple the multiple modules, such as across a wall surface-side of the wall stud. |
| US09167324B2 |
Speaker module for portable terminal
Provided is a speaker module for a portable terminal which e includes a speaker housing having an opened front surface thus defining a resonance space, a radiation pattern disposed on a back surface of the speaker housing, and connection terminals which extend from the radiation pattern to be disposed in the resonance space, such that the radiation pattern is disposed on the speaker housing and the connection terminal for providing electric connection of the radiation pattern is disposed in an inner side of the speaker housing. |
| US09167323B2 |
Method and system for quickly updating ranging results of optical network unit by optical line terminal
The disclosure provides a method for quickly updating ranging results of optical network units by an optical line terminal. The method comprises the following steps: an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) distributes an acquired ranging difference to all the Optical Network Units (ONUs); and the current ONU implements quick updating of the ranging result of the current ONU itself according to the acquired ranging difference. The disclosure also provides a system for quickly updating ranging results of ONUs by an OLT, wherein a distributing unit in the OLT is used for distributing an acquired ranging difference to all the ONUs; an updating unit in the ONU is used for implementing quick updating of ranging result of the current ONU itself according to the acquired ranging difference. the method and system of the disclosure can save the quantity of messages, enable quick switching in protection status, thus implementing protection switching efficiently. |
| US09167322B1 |
Optoelectronic packet switch/routers
A packet switch/router including a first stage switch fabric receiving an electrical signal, a mid-stage buffer receiving and storing the electrical signal from the first stage switch fabric, and a second stage switch fabric receiving the electrical signal from the mid-stage buffer. Each switch fabric includes N layers of N×N arrayed waveguide gratings (AWGs), and each AWG has ingress ports and egress ports. A wavelength tunable device, such as a tunable laser, communicates with a source ingress port of an AWG and converts the received electrical signal to an optical signal having a wavelength selected for routing a packet from the source ingress port to a target egress port of the arrayed waveguide grating. A photoreceiver, such as a burst-mode photoreceiver, receives the propagated optical signal from the target egress port and converts the optical signal to the electrical signal. |
| US09167321B2 |
Optical router and terminal devices therewith based on dynamic wavelength assignment
Disclosed herein is an optical router based on dynamic wavelength assignment, for receiving data signals and an aggregate control signal from servers, and comprising a modulation module and a wavelength selection module, which comprises a multi-wavelength light source for generating an input carrier having wavelengths, and a carrier processing unit for separating the input carrier into carriers and for guiding the carriers to the modulating units based on the aggregate control signal. The modulation module comprises an optical coupler and modulating units in one-to-one correspondence with the servers. Each modulating unit is adapted for receiving the data signal from the corresponding server and for modulating the received carrier into an optical signal based on the data signal. The optical coupler is adapted for aggregating the optical signals into an aggregate optical signal. |
| US09167320B2 |
Transmission method and node device
A transmission method for transmitting a lower-speed signal transmission frame using a node device in a network by accommodating the lower-speed signal transmission frame into time slots of a higher-speed signal transmission frame includes supplying, when a number of the time slots accommodating the lower-speed signal transmission frame is to be increased, the time slots to input numbers of a cross-connection part of the node device in accordance with an order of time slot numbers of the time slots; and re-establishing cross-connections where the input numbers are cross-connected to corresponding output numbers of the cross-connection part so that the cross-connections are prevented from crossing each other, wherein the input numbers input the time slots and the output numbers output the time slots. |
| US09167311B2 |
Variant playlist optimization
A method includes identifying an initial variant playlist for a content item. The initial variant playlist lists a first plurality of bit rate streams. Client devices that receive the content item based on the initial variant playlist are identified. The method includes determining bit rate stream consumption metrics of the client devices for the content item based on the initial variant playlist, and determining an optimized variant playlist based on the initial variant playlist and the consumption metrics of the client devices for the plurality of bit rate streams. The optimized variant playlist lists a second plurality of bit rate streams and substantially optimizes video quality based on streaming resource constraints associated with the at least one client device. The method also includes providing the content item to the client devices based on the optimized variant playlist. |
| US09167303B2 |
Method and apparatus for manipulating MPEG video
A computer implemented method of manipulating and displaying an MPEG stream is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a computer implemented method comprises defining a spatial location across a series of pictures of an MPEG stream; and for each picture of the series of pictures in the MPEG stream, partially decoding the picture to determine an area of the picture falling within the spatial location. |
| US09167302B2 |
Playlist bookmarking
Playlist bookmarking may be provided. First, a content program from a playlist may be displayed on a first user device. The content program may then be paused and a time stamp may be placed in the playlist at a point where the content program was paused. Next, the time stamped playlist may be transmitted to a server. At a second user device, the time stamped playlist may be received from the server and the content program may be displayed from the playlist from the point in the content program corresponding to the time stamp. |
| US09167299B2 |
Method of managing the standby mode of a broadcast receiving device by external signaling
A method for managing a broadcast receiving apparatus standby mode according to external signaling is provided. The method includes: generating a power management descriptor that a broadcast receiving apparatus refers to in order to perform a standby mode; and transmitting the generated power management descriptor to the broadcast receiving apparatus. Accordingly, since the broadcast receiving apparatus manages the standby mode more effectively, standby power consumed in the standby mode is further reduced and thus power saving effect can be achieved. |
| US09167291B2 |
Digital television signal, digital television receiver, and method of processing digital television signal
A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal in a DTV receiver, the method includes receiving a digital television signal including a plurality of extended text table (ETT) instances that appear in transport stream packets with common PID values, the ETT instances having common table ID values, each ETT instance comprising a section header and a message body, the section header containing a table identification (ID) extension field that serves to establish uniqueness of each ETT instance, the message body containing an extended text message (ETM) which provides detailed descriptions of a virtual channel or an event associated with each ETT instance, wherein the section header further contains a current next indicator field and a section length field indicating a section length, demodulating the digital television signal and identifying at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances. |
| US09167289B2 |
Perspective display systems and methods
Exemplary perspective display systems and methods are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes a perspective display system acquiring visual data representative of a camera view of a user space associated with a display screen, determining, based on the visual data, a position of a user within the user space, identifying, based on the position of the user, a viewable region of an image, and displaying, on the display screen, the viewable region of the image, the displayed viewable region of the image representing a perspective view of the image based on the position of the user. In certain examples, the method further includes the perspective display system detecting a movement of the user to another position within the user space and updating the display on the display screen in real time in accordance with the movement to display another viewable region of the image on the display screen. |
| US09167284B2 |
Digital broadcasting transmission/reception system utilizing mull packet and TRS code to improve receiving performance and signal processing method thereof
A digital broadcasting transmission and/or reception system having an improved reception performance and a signal-processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter comprises a TRS encoder for to TRS-encode a MPEG-2 transmission stream having null data for inserting a Known data and a TRS parity at predetermined positions, randomizer to input and randomize data stream from the TRS encoder, a null packet exchanger to replace the null data for inserting the Known data to the known data, and an encoder for encoding a data streams to which the Known data is inserted. Accordingly, the present invention detects the known data from a signal received from a reception side and uses the detected known data for synchronization and equalization and further uses the TRS parity for correcting error of the received signal, so that the digital broadcasting reception performance can be improved at poor multipath channels. |
| US09167283B2 |
Method and system for preventing data loss in switching data transmission mode
A wireless communication channel operation method and a system of the portable terminal for preventing data loss when switching between different wireless video transmission modes are provided. The method includes transmitting multimedia data to a recipient terminal on a communication channel of a second transmission mode in a wireless video transmission mode, the wireless video transmission mode supporting a first and second transmission modes, receiving buffer state information from the recipient terminal, pausing, when a request for switching to the first transmission mode is detected, transmission of the multimedia data to the recipient terminal, determining the buffer state information, waiting, when the buffer state information indicates presence of multimedia data in a reception buffer of the reception terminal, for completion of playing of the multimedia data in the reception buffer, and switching to the first transmission mode after the multimedia data in the reception buffer is played completely. |
| US09167280B2 |
Method and apparatus for encrypting/decrypting multimedia content to allow random access
A method is disclosed for encrypting a multimedia file including parsing the multimedia file to identify a media data portion; encrypting the media data portion; and, combining the encrypted media data portion with a non-encrypted non-media data portion. A method is also disclosed for playing a multimedia file including parsing the multimedia file to identify an unencrypted metadata portion; using the unencrypted metadata portion to locate a position of interest in the media file, the position of interest having an associated encrypted media data portion; and, decrypting the associated encrypted media data portion. An apparatus for performing the methods is also disclosed herein. |
| US09167277B2 |
Dispersed storage network data manipulation
A method begins by a processing module receiving data for dispersed storage, wherein the data has an associated user identification (ID), and obtaining a codec flag based on the associated user ID. The codec flag may indicate one or more codec types and a codec execution order. The codec types may include two or more of: a null data manipulation, one or more versions of a data integrity function, one or more versions of a compression function, and/or one or more versions of an encryption function. The method continues with the processing module manipulating the data to produce manipulated data utilizing the one or more codec types in the codec execution order, encoding the manipulated data using an error coding dispersal storage function to produce a plurality of encoded data slices, and sending the slices and codec flag to a plurality of DS storage units for storage. |
| US09167276B2 |
Method and system for providing and handling product and service discounts, and location based services (LBS) in an automatic content recognition based system
An automatic content recognition (ACR) enabled display communication device may present a linear advertisement campaign. A second screen communication device (SSCD) that is paired with an ACR-enabled display communication device, may detect when content associated with a linear advertisement campaign is available for display on the SSCD. A location of the SSCD may be determined when the SSCD detects that the content associated with the linear advertisement campaign is available for display. The SSCD may customize content for presentation in order to offer one or more products and/or services to a viewer of the SSCD based on the determined location. The SSCD determines assets that are required and/or utilized for the customization of the content so that it may be presented on the SSCD. The SSCD may acquire the determined assets from one or more servers and control presentation of the content based on information corresponding to the acquired assets. |
| US09167273B2 |
Video encoding apparatus and a video decoding apparatus
According to one embodiment, a video encoding apparatus is a video encoding apparatus for subjecting a video image to motion compensated prediction coding, includes an acquisition module to acquire available blocks of blocks having motion vectors from encoded blocks adjacent to a to-be-encoded block and number of the available blocks, an acquisition/selection module to select one selection block from the encoded available blocks, a selection information encoder to encode selection information specifying the selection block using a code table corresponding to the number of available blocks, and an image encoder to subject the to-be-encoded block to motion compensated prediction coding using a motion vector of the selection block. |
| US09167272B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for exchanging video data in parallel
Techniques and mechanisms for exchanging sets of video data each via multiple channels. In an embodiment, a first data set is distributed across the multiple channels according to a first mapping of the multiple channels each to a different respective one of multiple data types, where each of the multiple data types corresponds to a different respective dimension of a color space. In another embodiment, a second data set is distributed across the multiple channels according to a second mapping of the multiple channels each to a different respective one of the multiple data types, where the second mapping is different from the first mapping. |
| US09167270B2 |
Methods and apparatus for efficient adaptive filtering for video encoders and decoders
Methods and apparatus are provided for efficient adaptive filtering for video encoders and decoders. An apparatus includes a video encoder for encoding picture data for at least a portion of a picture using adaptive filtering. The video encoder includes an adaptive filter for performing the adaptive filtering. A final filter coefficient set used for the adaptive filtering is determined by iteratively estimating a plurality of filter coefficient sets and selecting a last estimated one of the plurality of filter coefficient sets as the final filter coefficient set when a last iteration corresponding to the last estimated one of the plurality of filter coefficient sets results in a quality improvement above a threshold value for the portion. |
| US09167268B1 |
Second-order orthogonal spatial intra prediction
A method and apparatus for performing second-order orthogonal spatial intra prediction encoding and decoding is disclosed. Second-order orthogonal spatial intra prediction for a frame of a video stream may include identifying a current pixel in a first block in the frame; identifying a first decoded pixel in a second block in the frame at a first oblique angle to the current pixel; identifying a second decoded pixel in a third block in the frame at a second oblique angle to the current pixel; identifying a third decoded pixel in a fourth block in the frame, wherein the third decoded pixel is at the second oblique angle to the first decoded pixel or at the first oblique angle to the second decoded pixel; and determining a predictor pixel using a difference between the third decoded pixel and a sum of the first decoded pixel and the second decoded pixel. |
| US09167267B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
A deblocking filter performs filtering of decoded image data obtained by decoding image data encoded for each block, so as to remove block distortion. If at least one of block sizes on adjacent sides of two adjacent blocks is extended larger than a predetermined block size, a filter setting unit sets the tap length to an extended length to increase the strength of distortion removal, or sets a filtering object pixel range to an extended range. When a macroblock having an extended size is used, the degree of smoothing is increased, and pixels including those distant from the block boundary are subjected to filtering. Consequently, even when various block sizes are employed or when blocks of extended sizes are used, images of high image quality can be achieved. |
| US09167265B2 |
Recording medium having recorded thereon coded information using plus and/or minus rounding of images
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon an image decoding program which, when executed by a computer, implements operations including: extracting motion vector information, and rounding method information from input information to be decoded; synthesizing a prediction image by performing motion compensation using the motion vector information and a reference image which is a previously decoded image; and synthesizing a decoded image by adding the prediction image to an error image; wherein a rounding method used for pixel value interpolation in performing the motion compensation for synthesizing the prediction image is one of a positive rounding method and a negative rounding method which is different from a one of a positive rounding method and a negative rounding method used for pixel value interpolation in performing the motion compensation for synthesizing a last prediction image. |
| US09167264B2 |
Image decoding method, image coding method, image decoding apparatus, image coding apparatus and integrated circuit for generating a code stream with a hierarchical code structure
An image decoding method decodes a coded stream which includes processing units and a header of the processing units, and which is generated by coding a moving picture using inter prediction. The processing units includes at least one processing unit divided in a hierarchy, the hierarchy including a highest hierarchical layer in which a coding unit exists as a largest processing unit and a lower hierarchical layer in which a prediction unit exists. The method includes identifying, by parsing hierarchy depth information stored in the header and indicating a hierarchical layer higher than a lowest hierarchical layer in which a smallest prediction unit exits, a hierarchical layer which is indicated by the hierarchy depth information or a hierarchical layer higher than the indicated hierarchical layer. The hierarchical layer includes a prediction unit in which a reference index is stored. The prediction unit is decoded using the reference index. |
| US09167259B1 |
Method and system for scalable representation, storage, transmission and reconstruction of media streams
Methods and systems for defining a compression and reconstruction scheme of a media stream, for generating and transmitting a base media layer and enhancement data layers and for reconstructing compressed representations of the media stream from the base media layer and the enhancement data layers. |
| US09167256B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding
A system for encoding video data calculates a need parameter for an encoder and then adds a predetermined need bias value to the need parameter. The bias value is added without first determining video source complexity. The system then determines whether the input video comprises static video. Thereafter, the need parameter bias value is scaled in response to a determination that the input video includes the static video. |
| US09167254B2 |
Video encoding method and apparatus, and video decoding apparatus
To allow a finer quantization control according to the property of an image within a macroblock, quantization parameter values are allowed to be changed in units of sub-blocks equal to or smaller than the macroblock in a similar manner as in motion compensation and orthogonal transform processes. A finer-tuned quantization control is performed, for example, by selecting fine and coarse quantization parameters respectively for corresponding sub-blocks if a plurality of images having different properties coexist within the macroblock. |
| US09167253B2 |
Derivation of the position in scan order of the last significant transform coefficient in video coding
A video decoder converts a block-based LSC indicator into a scan-based LSC indicator. The block-based LSC indicator indicates coordinates of a last significant coefficient of a block of transform coefficients according to a scanning order. The scan-based LSC indicator indicates an ordinal position of the LSC according to the scanning order. The video decoder may decode, based on the scan-based LSC indicator, a significance map for the block. |
| US09167251B2 |
Method and apparatus of deriving intra prediction mode using most probable mode group
Provided is a method that constructs an MPM group including three intra prediction modes, determines the intra prediction mode of the MPM group specified by the prediction mode index as the intra prediction mode of the current prediction unit if the mode group indicator indicates the MPM group, and derives the intra prediction mode of the current prediction unit using the prediction mode index and the three prediction modes of the MPM group if the mode group indicator does not indicate the MPM group. Accordingly, additional bits resulted from increase of a number of intra prediction mode are effectively reduced. Also, an image compression ratio can be improved by generating a prediction block similar to an original block. |
| US09167246B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding an enhanced video stream
A method of decoding an enhanced video stream composed of base layer video access units and enhancement layer video access units, each access unit comprising a plurality of syntax structures, includes passing the syntax structures of the base layer access units to a base layer buffer, passing syntax structures of the enhancement layer access units to an enhancement layer buffer, outputting the syntax structures passed to the base layer buffer in a predetermined sequence, outputting the syntax structures passed to the enhancement layer buffer in a predetermined sequence, and recombining the sequences of syntax structures output by the base layer buffer and the enhancement layer buffer respectively to form a complete enhanced access unit, composed of base layer syntax structures and enhancement layer syntax structures in a predetermined sequence. |
| US09167241B2 |
Video quality testing by encoding aggregated clips
A method includes receiving a first video clip and a second video clip. The first video clip and the second video clip are variable-bit-rate (VBR)-encoded to form a VBR-encoded aggregated video content item. The VBR-encoding of the first video clip is based on an encoding complexity of the second video clip. |
| US09167239B2 |
System and moving modulated target with unmodulated position references for characterization of imaging sensors
Embodiments of a system for characterization of an imaging sensor using a moving modulated target with unmodulated position references is generally described herein. A target pattern comprises through-holes in a slide and resolved patches on the slide. The slide and patch have different emission intensities in the sensor' detection band. A modulation is applied to only the emission intensities of the through-holes. The target pattern is moved across the field-of view (FOV) of the imaging sensor to present the target pattern across different frames at different positions. Frames of images of the moving target pattern as seen in the FOV of the imaging sensor are captured to generate modulated image data outputs. The unmodulated position references provided by the resolved patches are measured and used to align the modulated image data outputs, which are processed to generate data products representative of a response of the imaging sensor. |
| US09167238B2 |
3D display apparatus for use in synchronization with 3D glasses and 3D display method thereof
A 3-dimensional (3D) display apparatus and a 3D display method thereof are provided. The 3D display apparatus includes: a display unit which outputs a plurality of image frames; a synchronization signal processor which generates a synchronization signal corresponding to the image frames; a controller which acquires period information of first and second sequences of the synchronization signal and determines whether the synchronization signal has been stabilized, according to change information of the period information; and a communicator which determines time information of the stabilized synchronization signal according to the determination result and transmits shutter control data, which is generated based on the time information, to 3D glasses. |
| US09167232B2 |
System for converting 2D video into 3D video
A 2D video to 3D video conversion system includes a video content analysis unit, a depth estimation unit, a post-processing unit, and a stereoscopic video generation unit. The video content analysis unit can analyze a 2D video datum and extract useful information including motion and color from the 2D video datum for depth estimation. The depth estimation unit is adapted for receiving the useful information, calculating motion cue and contrast cue for initial depth estimation, and generating an initial depth map. The post-processing unit is adapted for correcting the initial depth map in spatial domain and temporal domain to increase accuracy in spatial domain and depth continuity between adjacent time instances and for processing the caption in the video to generate a final depth map. The stereoscopic video generation unit is adapted for synthesizing 3D video datum from the final depth map and 2D video datum. |
| US09167231B2 |
System and method for calibrating a stereoscopic camera based on manual alignment of test images
A first temporary taken image taken by a first imaging section of a stereo imaging section, and a second temporary taken image taken by a second imaging section of the stereo imaging section are displayed on a display section. A user aligns the display position of the first temporary taken image with the display position of the second temporary taken image, by moving the first temporary taken image displayed on the display section. Based on the result of the movement, the display positions of two images composing a stereo image taken with the stereo camera are corrected, and the stereo image is displayed on the display section in a stereoscopically visible manner. |
| US09167230B2 |
Image sensor for simultaneously obtaining color image and depth image, method of operating the image sensor, and image processing system including the image sensor
An image sensor includes a light source that emits modulated light such as visible light, white light, or white light-emitting diode (LED) light to a target object, a plurality of pixels, and an image processing unit. The pixels include at least one pixel for outputting pixel signals according to light reflected by the target object. The image processing unit simultaneously generates a color image and a depth image from the pixel signals of the at least one pixel. |
| US09167229B2 |
Small three-dimensional imaging device
The present invention relates to a small three-dimensional imaging device, including a tilt part that is plastically deformed by an external force so as to compensate for tilting between camera modules, and therefore reduces defects in order to improve productivity. The small three-dimensional imaging device of the present invention includes a main member and a camera module. The camera modules includes a first camera module and a second camera module, which are mounted on the top portion of the main member and are space apart from each other to capture a subject image in three dimensions. The main member include a tilt part for tilting the first camera module or the second camera module relative to the other by means of plastic deformation resulting from an external force. |
| US09167227B2 |
Stereoscopic video recording method, stereoscopic video recording medium, stereoscopic video reproducing method, stereoscopic video recording apparatus, and stereoscopic video reproducing apparatus
The present invention is for more optimally performing recording and reproduction of stereoscopic video. In the present invention, parallax information is utilized to store, in a recording medium, stereoscopic video including left-eye images and right-eye images. Particularly, for video content that contains stereoscopic images, information is obtained regarding the amount of variation in parallactic angle having a given or larger value, a variation time that the variation in parallactic angle takes, and the number of times that the variation in parallactic angle occurs. An evaluation value is calculated that corresponds to the degree of eye fatigue on the basis of the amount of variation, the variation time, and the number of times of the variation. According to the present invention, the video content is encoded in such a manner that the evaluation value is within a given range, and then recorded in the recording medium. |
| US09167221B2 |
Methods and systems for video retargeting using motion saliency
Methods and systems for video retargeting and view selection using motion saliency are described. Salient features in multiple videos may be extracted. Each video may be retargeted by modifying the video to preserve the salient features. A crop path may be estimated and applied to a video to retarget each video and generate a modified video preserving the salient features. An action score may be assigned to portions or frames of each modified video to represent motion content in the modified video. Selecting a view from one of the given modified videos may be formulated as an optimization subject to constraints. An objective function for the optimization may include maximizing the action score. This optimization may also be subject to constraints to take into consideration optimal transitioning from a view from a given video to another view from another given video, for example. |
| US09167219B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatic film restoration
A method and an apparatus for automatic restoration of an image or a sequence of images, e.g. motion picture films, are disclosed, which facilitate removal of artifacts within the image or the sequence of images. The restoration is split into a detection process, a quality control process, and a removal process. In the detection process artifacts in the image or the sequence of images are detected and information about the detected artifacts is stored in a metadata database. In the subsequent quality control process the information about the detected artifacts is reviewed by an operator. In the removal process one or more of the detected artifacts are removed from the image or the sequence of images based on the information about the detected artifacts stored in the metadata database. |
| US09167216B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image capture apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus which enables to suppress coloring in an image after image recovery processing, and a control method for the image processing apparatus are disclosed. After the chromatic difference of magnification of an optical imaging system is corrected, a first value relating to coloring is obtained before application of an image recovery filter. Then, an image recovery filter which, preferably, does not correct a chromatic difference of magnification and is based on a function indicating the aberrations of the optical imaging system is applied. A second value associated with coloring is obtained from the image after application of the image recovery filter. According to the difference between the first and second values obtained before and after application of the image recovery filter respectively, pixel value correction for correcting coloring is performed. |
| US09167214B2 |
Image processing system using unified images
An image processing system has a plurality of cameras and a display that are mounted on a machine. The plurality of cameras are configured to generate image data for an environment of the machine. The image processing system also has a processor connected to the plurality of cameras and the display. The processor is configured to access the image data from the plurality of cameras, access parameters associated with the plurality of cameras, generate a unified image by combining the image data from the plurality of cameras based at least in part on the parameters, access state data associated with the machine, select a portion of the unified image based at least in part on the state data, and render the portion of the unified image on the display. |
| US09167211B2 |
Method for transmitting an IPTV streaming service by P2P transmission, and method for receiving an IPTV streaming service by P2P transmission
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for transmitting an IPTV streaming service by P2P transmission comprises the steps of collecting TS packets of n skipped units to generate an encapsulation unit for an IPTV streaming service (where n is a natural number); adding an extension header containing type information to the generated encapsulation unit (wherein, said type information is information for identifying the sequence of the encapsulation unit, which is required for decoding the IPTV streaming service); adding an IP header to the encapsulation unit to which the extension header containing the type information is added, in order to generate an IP packet; and transmitting the generated IP packet to at least one super peers. |
| US09167210B2 |
System and method for managing program assets
A method of operating a communications system storing assets for later transmission, is disclosed. The assets have respective expiration dates beyond which a right to transmit expires. The method comprises checking an expiration date of an asset and deleting the asset from storage based, at least in part, on the expiration date, a predetermined period of time added to or subtracted from the expiration date and/or whether the asset has been selected for later viewing. The predetermined period of time may provide a grace period for completing viewing of a selected asset by a user, either after or before the expiration date, depending on the rights to the asset granted by the source of the asset. The period of time may depend on a playtime of the asset and may be added to the expiration date only if the asset has been selected for viewing. Systems are also disclosed. |
| US09167205B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing media services with telepresence
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, obtaining first images that are captured by a first camera system at a first location associated with a live presentation by the first user, transmitting first video content representative of the first images over a network for presentation by a group of other processors that are each at one of a group of other locations associated with corresponding other users, receiving second video content representative of second images that are associated with each of the other users, and presenting the second video content in a telepresence configuration that simulates each of the other users being present in an audience at the first location. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09167198B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a converting unit for converting a level range of an input image signal into a predetermined level range, and an outputting unit for outputting the converted image signal and first identification information which indicates the predetermined level range, the first identification information being correlated with the converted image signal. |
| US09167190B2 |
Program guide navigation tools for media content access systems and methods
An exemplary system includes a media content processing subsystem configured to provide a program guide graphical user interface (“GUI”) to a display for presentation to a user, the program guide GUI including a portion of a program guide. The media content processing subsystem is further configured to provide at least one navigation tool to the display for presentation in the program guide GUI, the navigation tool including a plurality of selectable options for navigating the program guide. The media content processing subsystem is further configured to detect a user selection of one of the selectable options and initiate a navigation to a location in the program guide based on the selected option. In certain embodiments, the navigation tool includes at least one of a time-based navigation tool and a channel navigation tool. |
| US09167186B2 |
Systems and methods for managing data in an intelligent television
An intelligent television can store and retrieve data about various functions of the television or associated with user behavior. The stored data streamlines the processes of providing electronic programming guide information, providing search results, providing statistics about content, providing channel information, etc. The unique set of data services in the intelligent television receive, store, manage, and retrieve the data for various of the applications or components. |
| US09167184B2 |
Solid-state image taking device and electronic apparatus
A solid-state image taking device including a pixel section and a scan driving section wherein on each pixel column included in the pixel area determined in advance to serve as a pixel column having the unit pixels laid out in the scan direction, the opto-electric conversion section and the electric-charge holding section are laid out alternately and repeatedly, and on each of the pixel columns in the pixel area determined in advance, two the electric-charge holding sections of two adjacent ones of the unit pixels are laid out disproportionately toward one side of the scan direction with respect to the optical-path limiting section or the opto-electric conversion section. |
| US09167179B2 |
On-board non-uniformity correction calibration methods for microbolometer focal plane arrays
On-board non-uniformity correction calibration methods for a microbolometer focal plane array in a thermal camera are disclosed. The methods include performing first calculations in the processor unit of the thermal camera to generate and apply a set of coarse correction bias voltages to the detector elements. The method also includes performing calculations in the external computer based on image data collected by the thermal camera with the coarse correction bias voltages applied to the detector elements to generate a set of fine correction bias voltages. The method also includes downloading the fine correction bias voltages to the thermal camera and applying the fine correction voltages to the detector elements to establish a fine calibration of the microbolometer focal plane array. |
| US09167175B2 |
Flicker detection method and flicker detection apparatus
The present invention discloses a flicker detection method and a flicker detection apparatus. The method includes: calculating the mean values of selected rows of image frames to constitute a mean value vector; calculating a differential vector between the mean value vectors of a current frame and a previous frame; calculating a DC-free difference vector; building a first square wave and a second square wave, and a third square wave and a fourth square wave; calculating a first frequency reference value; calculating a second frequency reference value; and if the difference between the first and second frequency reference values is above a threshold, then it is determined that flicker is present in the current frame; otherwise, it is determined that no flicker is present. |
| US09167172B2 |
Image capture apparatus and method of controlling the same
An image capture apparatus comprises an image sensor, an acquisition unit which acquires information concerning distances to objects in a plurality of areas in an image capturing area, and a control unit which controls a charge accumulation period for each of a plurality of segmented areas of the image sensor, wherein the plurality of areas for which information concerning distances to the objects are acquired by the acquisition unit respectively correspond to the plurality of segmented areas, and the control unit controls the charge accumulation periods for the respective segmented areas at the time of light emission by a light-emitting device based on the information concerning the distances to the objects in the corresponding areas. |
| US09167170B2 |
Imaging device and control method
There is provided an imaging device including an imaging element that acquires a captured image of a subject, a light emission unit that emits light to the subject, and a control unit that is capable of controlling a timing of exposure performed by the imaging element and a timing of light emission performed by the light emission unit. In a mode in which imaging is performed with a plurality of times of consecutive light emission by the light emission unit, the control unit controls at least one of a timing of the exposure and a timing of the light emission so that light amounts effective for exposure in each imaging are substantially the same. |
| US09167169B1 |
Image sensor apparatus and method for simultaneously capturing multiple images
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for simultaneously capturing multiple images. In use, a first sample is stored based on a photodiode of an image sensor. Further, simultaneous, at least in part, with the storage of the first sample, a second sample is stored based on the photodiode of the image sensor. Next, a first value is output based on the first sample, and a second value is output based on the second sample, for generating at least one image. Finally, at least one of the first value and the second value is amplified utilizing two or more gains. |
| US09167166B2 |
Image display device, imaging apparatus mounted with image display device as finder device, and image display method
An image display device includes a beam splitter that splits an incident light entering from a subject side, an imaging device that converts a first optical image generated by an one-side incident light split by the beam splitter into an electrical signal and outputs the converted electrical signal as a capture image, a synthesis image generating unit that generates an electronic information image, a display panel that displays the electronic information image, and an optical prism that emits an optical image of the electronic information image projected from the display panel to be superimposed on a second optical image generated by the other-side split incident light. |
| US09167165B2 |
Visual communications system employing video imagery
A system and method for platform independent LOS visual information transmission is disclosed. A transmitter consists of a series of sequential images that are stacked together to form frames in a video transmission. Each image is modulated spatially, by color, and by intensity. The data is transmitted over an LOS visual channel. The receiver first captures each individual image from the received video, and then demodulates each image in the three areas it was modulated spatially, by color, and by intensity. LOS visual information transmission allows for secure data transfer and reduces interference from other applications. |
| US09167161B1 |
Camera module package with a folded substrate and laterally positioned components
Systems and methods of manufacturing compact camera modules for use in electronic device are provided. The camera module includes a lens housing and a flexible substrate. An image sensor die is coupled to a first portion of the flexible substrate, and a second portion of the substrate is folded so as to position optical image stabilization components adjacent to a lateral side of the lens housing. The optical image stabilization components may be enclosed within a molded enclosure. |
| US09167140B2 |
Imaging device for an in-vehicle camera
An imaging device includes a welded part on a lens barrel side that is hardened after a contact portion of a lens barrel or a contact part on the lens barrel side is softened, where the contact portion of the lens barrel and the contact part on the lens barrel side are fixed, and a welded part on a light-receiving circuit side that is hardened after a contact portion of the light-receiving circuit or a contact part on a light-receiving circuit side is softened, where the contact portion of the light-receiving circuit and the contact part on the light-receiving circuit side are fixed. |
| US09167137B2 |
Security camera having a cable assembly with an integrated processing module
A security camera includes a camera head and a cable assembly with an integrated processing module. The camera head contains a lens and an image sensor, while the processing module contains image processing circuitry for processing images obtained using the image sensor and power circuitry used to power the image processing circuitry and the camera head. A cable connects the camera head and the processing module. The processing module is sized to fit through an aperture in a mounting surface that can be covered by the camera head when the camera head is mounted to the mounting surface, which facilitates ease of installation. |
| US09167134B2 |
Imaging control device, immersion position information generation device, imaging control method, immersion position information generation method
A technology is disclosed that provides an imaging control device and the like capable of actualizing immersive zoom enlargement. The technology includes: an imaging unit 701 that includes at least two optical systems disposed at an interval of a predetermined baseline-length; a calculating unit 704 that, based on a predetermined reference zoom magnification, a desired zoom magnification in relation to the predetermined reference zoom magnification, and a distance from the imaging unit to a subject, calculates an immersion distance from a virtual position in which the imaging unit should be disposed to actualize the desired zoom magnification to an actual position of the imaging unit and calculates, based on the immersion distance, an interval between the at least two optical systems when the at least two optical systems are disposed on an extension line of a line connecting together the at least two optical systems to actualize a desired zoom magnification that is similar to that when the imaging unit is disposed in the virtual position and the desired zoom magnification is actualized; and a control unit 705 that changes the predetermined baseline-length to the calculated interval and disposes the at least two optical systems. The imaging unit images the subject in the above-described disposal state. |
| US09167132B2 |
System and method of estimating motion of image using block sampling
A system and method of estimating a motion of an image using block sampling are provided. The motion estimation system includes: a block sampling unit to divide a frame of an input image into a plurality of blocks and sample the plurality of blocks based on a lattice structure; a first motion vector determination unit to determine a motion vector of a first current block using motion vectors of neighboring blocks of the first current block with respect to the sampled blocks; and a second motion vector determination unit to determine a motion vector of a second current block based on features of motion vectors of sampled neighboring blocks of the second current block wherein the second current block is not sampled. |
| US09167127B2 |
Printing control device, program, and printing method
A printing control device, a program, and a printing method is provided for creating printed matter for which a user can easily identify a web page on which an image included in the printed matter is published. A printing control device accessible to a server for managing a web site through a network includes a specification receiving unit receiving specification of an image published on the web site, an image acquisition unit acquiring the specified image through the server, an access information acquisition unit acquiring access information for accessing a web page on which the image is published on the web site, a code information creation unit creating code information expressing the access information using text or an image, and a printing execution unit making a printer print a synthetic image in which the acquired image and the created code information are included. |
| US09167124B2 |
Portable document scanner having user interface and integrated communication means
A portable document scanner (PDS) is provided that need not be in communication with a local computer. The PDS includes an image scanner for scanning an input document to generate a scan image, a processor, a wireless communications port that enables wireless communications with remote computing services, and a memory that stores instructions for execution by the processor to locally process the scan image. Such processing includes, for example, extracting identity, position, and/or orientation of one or more optical semaphores from the scan image, where the extracted semaphores include (1) optical characters including letters, numerals, and/or punctuation, (2) informational indicia including bar codes, data graphs, pictures, and/or icons, and (3) document formatting indicators including lines, bars, arrows, and/or grids. The extracted semaphore data is communicated to a remote computing service via the wireless communications port. The processing operations may be managed by the user through an integrated display interface. |
| US09167122B2 |
Image reading device and image forming device
An image reading device, includes an illumination optical system which has a light source unit configured to emit light being illuminating light to an illuminated object; an optical member configured to have a plurality of reflecting plates and collect the light emitted from the light source unit; and a plurality of reflecting members, the light emitted from the light source unit being collected by the optical member, and the collected light being reflected by the plurality of reflecting members to illuminate a reading target area on the illuminated object, and at least one reflecting surface of the optical member or the plurality of reflecting members having a relief structure. |
| US09167120B2 |
Document policies for a document processing unit
According to some embodiments, a document processing unit may receive information associated with a document to be processed. The document processing unit might comprise, for example, a printer, scanner, copier, facsimile machine, or multi-function device. The document processing unit may then automatically analyze the received information in view of at least one pre-determined document policy. The document processing unit may then automatically determine, based on the analysis, whether to apply a policy action, associated with the pre-determined document policy, to the processing of the document. For example, the document processing unit might prevent a document from printing. |
| US09167119B2 |
Image scanner and image scanning method
An image scanner includes a transparent plate, a scanning device, a driving device, a positioning member, a light absorbing portion and a white reference portion. The transparent plate has an original placing surface. The scanning device irradiates an original with light by means of a light source and scans reflected light from the original. The driving device reciprocates the scanning device along the transparent plate. The positioning member positions the original placed on the original placing surface of the transparent plate. The light absorbing portion, which is disposed on the original placing surface side of the positioning member and at substantially a central portion of the positioning member in moving directions of the scanning device, absorbs ambient light entering to the original placing surface side of the positioning member through the transparent plate. The white reference portion is provided to the original placing surface side of the positioning member. |
| US09167118B2 |
Device management apparatus and device management method
A device management apparatus determines whether or not each device connected to the device management apparatus has a device management page for managing the device and a remote operation function for remotely operating the device, and stores the result of the determination. The device management apparatus searches for the devices and creates a device list page. If any of the found devices has a device management page, reference information for referencing the device management page of the device is embedded into the device list page. Further, if any of the found devices has a remote operation function, trigger information for triggering the remote operation function is embedded into the device list page. |
| US09167116B2 |
Image forming apparatus for controlling an image forming job input in an offline state and controlling method thereof
An image forming apparatus and a controlling method thereof are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a communication interface unit which is connected to a server where on-line output quota information set for each user is stored, a storage unit which stores off-line output quota information received from the server, a controller which, when a job command is input in an on-line state where communication with the server is available, determines whether to perform a job based on on-line output quota information stored in the server, and when the job command is input in an off-line state where communication with the server is cut off, determines whether to perform a job based on the off-line output quota information stored in the storage unit, and an image forming unit which, when job performance is determined by the controller, performs an image forming job corresponding to the job command. |
| US09167112B2 |
Image forming system, image forming apparatus, information converter, server, and computer-readable recording medium
An image forming system comprises a calling part for calling up customized information which is operation setting information customized for a specific user, a converter for dividing an operation to be executed in a specific function mode which is installed in a first image forming apparatus and not installed in a second image forming apparatus into a plurality of jobs and changing execution information of the specific function mode to converted execution information described by using combination of pieces of execution information on the plurality of jobs when the specific function mode is included in the customized information, and a controller for executing an operation to implement the same function as that of the specific function mode in the second image forming apparatus by using the converted execution information. |
| US09167110B2 |
Input device capable of converting character style of input character, image forming apparatus having the input device, and electronic apparatus having the input device
An input device includes: a receiving section configured to receive a plurality of characters input by a user's operation, a confirming section allowing the display control section to confirm the plurality of characters received by the receiving section; a display section configured to display the plurality of characters allowed to be confirmed by the confirming section; a touch sensor configured to detect a touch point on the display section; and a display control section configured to identify, based on the touch point detected by the touch sensor through a user's double tap, at least one conversion target character among the plurality of confirmed characters, convert a character style of the conversion target character, allow the display section to display the conversion target character converted in character style, confirm the input of the conversion target character converted in character style. |
| US09167109B2 |
Digital camera having image processor and printer
A digital camera is provided having an image sensor for imaging a scene, a processor for processing the imaged scene in accordance with a programmable scene transformation requirement, and a printer having a consumables cartridge and a printhead for printing the processed scene directly from the processor onto print media of the cartridge. |
| US09167106B1 |
Solar-powered cell phone
The solar-powered cell phone is a cell phone wherein a back surface includes at least one solar cell thereon. The solar cell being in wired communication with a charge controller that is in turn in wired communication with an energy storage member and a light sensor. The energy storage member is in wired communication with an inverter that in turn supplies electricity to a cell phone CPU, cell phone display, and a SIM card. The solar cell(s) generate electricity when exposed to light, and the electricity generated is either stored on the energy storage member or is actively used via the cell phone. |
| US09167101B2 |
Methods and systems of processing mobile calls
A method of optimizing call dialing may include receiving a first call including one or more of a session identification number, a contact identification number, a contact name and a direct inward dialing number, determining a caller provider and a callee provider based on the first call, determining cost information associated with one or more numbers corresponding to a callee and routing a second call between the caller and the callee based on one or more of the caller provider, the callee provider and the cost information. |
| US09167098B1 |
Dynamic conference session re-routing in secure media-based conferencing
Methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for re-routing a media-based conference session. A server computing device determines a condition associated with a first conference session between a plurality of end point devices, each connected to the server via an external media stream and each connected from the server to a first multipoint control unit via a first internal media stream. The condition indicates that a new multipoint control unit is required. The server identifies a second multipoint control unit available to host a second conference session between the plurality of end point devices. The server disconnects the first internal streams from the first multipoint control unit while the external streams remain connected. The server connects each of the plurality of devices from the server to the second multipoint control unit via a second internal stream, and establishes the second conference session on the second multipoint control unit. |
| US09167097B2 |
Responding to a call with a prompt and routing the call to a phone selected in response to the prompt
A method and apparatus provide multiple telephone lines using a single directory number. A method and apparatus associate multiple directory numbers with multiple telephone lines. A broadband residential gateway (BRG) is a user interface to a broadband communication system providing packetized telephone service and other media services. The BRG can provide greeting and message features. A greeting may instruct a caller to select a name or extension which is associated with a party the caller is attempting to reach. Also, a message, played after the greeting, may further instruct the caller. |
| US09167094B2 |
System and method for assisting agents of a contact center
An agent assisting system for providing assistance to agents of contact center during calls is provided. The agent assisting system includes a monitoring module configured to monitor parameters of a call coming to the contact center. The agent assisting system further includes a sentiment detector module configured to detect sentiments of a user during the call. The agent assisting system further includes a pattern matching module configured to determine a script for an agent handling the call, based on the parameters of the call and the sentiments of the user during the call, wherein the script providing instructions to the agent to improve handling of the call. The agent assisting system further includes a script publishing module configured to publish the script to the agent handling the call. |
| US09167092B1 |
Method and apparatus of analyzing customer call data to monitor customer call behavior
A method and apparatus of processing a customer call is disclosed. The customer call may be initiated for an interactive voice response (IVR) type call system. One example method may include processing an interactive voice response (IVR) customer call. The method may include receiving customer call input to IVR call menu prompts, evaluating customer call interactions with the IVR call menu prompts, and calculating at least one usability score of the customer's interactions with the IVR call menu prompts. The method may also include displaying the results of the at least one usability scores on a user interface. |
| US09167088B2 |
Method and apparatus for selective silencing of telephone ringing
A system and method for a selective ring silencer that prevents people from having to listen to the telephone ring on and on with nuisance calls. The ringer silencer can be: (1) discretely constructed from a telephone, (2) part of a telecommunication device, or (3) part of a central telephone network construction. A receiver demodulates an incoming call. Control logic reads at least a portion of the called identification (CID) data and determines an action based on the reading. A switch in communication with the control logic is actuated to a first state that allows the communication data to be output from the ring silencer, and a second state that blocks the communication data from being output from the ring silencer to a user's communication device. The control logic blocks toll-free area codes originated calls from ringing a user's telephone, optionally forwarding the call to a voice mail module. |
| US09167083B2 |
Identifying recycled telephone numbers
An automated method begins by receiving a list of numbers that have been de-activated by a carrier. Periodically, and for each number, a request is made to identify a current carrier for the number. If the current carrier matches the carrier that provided the de-activation information, the mobile number is considered to be in a first state, i.e., shut off and returned to a pool of numbers that are available to this same carrier. Upon a determination that the number is in the first state, the provider issues a request to any opt-in database to delete any express consent or other similar data associated with the number. If, however, the number does not match the carrier of deactivation, the number is considered to be in a second state, i.e., likely to have been ported by the same user to a new carrier. This state is logged in an audit trail. |
| US09167081B1 |
Systems and methods for scoring phone numbers
Certain implementations of the disclosed technology include systems and methods for determining a reachability score of a phone number. A method includes receiving personally identifiable information associated with the subject; querying one or more public or private databases with the personally identifiable information; receiving, in response to the querying, phone number information related to the personally identifiable information; extracting, from the phone number information, one or more phone numbers associated with the subject; determining, with one or more computer processors, based at least in part on the one or more phone numbers, a phone type corresponding to the respective one or more phone numbers; determining, with the one or more computer processors, a reachability score for at least one of the one or more phone numbers, wherein the reachability score is based, at least in part, on the phone type; and outputting an indication of the reachability score. |
| US09167079B1 |
Subscriber cable pair identification
A capability for subscriber cable pair identification is presented. The capability for subscriber cable pair identification may be configured to support subscriber cable identification for Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) cable pairs, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) cable pairs, or both POTS and ISDN cable pairs. The subscriber cable pair identification may be performed using a subscriber cable pair identification assembly including a computing device, a probe interface device, and a probe, where the computing device is configured to run a control program configured to control subscriber cable pair identification, the probe interface device is configured as an interface between the computing device and the probe, and the probe is configured to be connected to a unit supporting subscriber cable pairs. |
| US09167077B2 |
Surge protection circuit and communication apparatus
A surge protection circuit includes a first terminal that is coupled to a transmission path, a second terminal that is coupled to a PHY circuit to transfer a signal on a physical layer, a clamping unit that is coupled so as to branch from a first line between the first terminal and the second terminal, the clamping unit clamping a voltage applied to the first terminal to a specific clamping voltage, and a first semiconductor switch that is arranged between the second terminal and a branching point at which the clamping unit branches from the first line, the first semiconductor switch having a rectification direction away from the second terminal toward the first terminal, the first semiconductor switch having a higher reverse breakdown voltage than a clamping voltage of the clamping unit. |
| US09167073B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing a contacts database and telephone services
Embodiments described herein provide a method and technique for operating a computing device. An interface is displayed for enabling the computing device to control a voicemail system. The interface includes one or more display objects, wherein each display object is selectable by a user to enter a command input assigned to that display object. A selection is detected of any one of the one or more display objects, and the command input assigned to the display object is identified. A signal tone is generated corresponding to the command input. The signal input may be transmitted across a network to the voicemail system to communicate a command to the voicemail system. |
| US09167071B2 |
Wireless device multimedia feed switching
Methods for enabling group switching of paired wireless devices are disclosed. The method includes receiving signals indicative of setting of each of a plurality of wireless devices in pairing mode. Then, detecting a physical contact between two or more of the plurality of wireless devices. The physical contact setting a pairing of the wireless devices to a group for communication with the base computing system, and enabling the group to participate in interaction with a first multimedia feed. The method further includes detecting switch signal from one of the wireless devices of the group. The switch signal discontinuing the first multimedia feed and enabling interaction with a second multimedia feed, such that each of the wireless devices of the group switch together as a group from the first multimedia feed to the second multimedia feed. |
| US09167069B2 |
Alternate notification selection
Embodiments of the invention relate to management of notifications responsive to the arrival and departure of mobile devices in a defined area. A prioritized list is shared among mobile devices in a defined area. Upon detection, mobile devices add their respective selected notifications to the prioritized list. A mobile device entering the defined area receives the prioritized list and in response to detecting a shared selected notification on the prioritized list, one of the mobile devices in the area changes its selected notification to an alternative notification. A second mobile device entering the defined area would likewise receive the prioritized list and change its selected notification to a second alternative notification responsive to a shared selected notification on the list. At such time as a device leaves the area, the list is again updated and all notifications exclusive to the device are removed from the list. |
| US09167067B2 |
Motor vehicle noise management
A device and method that is configured to control the operation of a motor vehicle cabin active sound management (ASM) system that uses an ASM controller to control operation of one or more sound transducers that transmit audio signals in the cabin so as to alter vehicle powertrain-related sounds in the cabin, wherein the motor vehicle further comprises a mobile telephone system that is configured to receive incoming mobile telephone calls and transmit outgoing mobile telephone calls. The device can include a controller that is configured to receive from the mobile telephone system an indication that a mobile telephone call is incoming or an outgoing call is being initiated. After receiving the indication, the subject controller commands the ASM controller to cause operation of one or more sound transducers such that the level of vehicle powertrain-related sounds in the cabin is reduced. |
| US09167066B2 |
Mobile communication terminal having a light guide plate for indicating receipt of a signal
Disclosed is a mobile communication terminal having a light guide plate for indicating the receipt of a signal. This mobile communication terminal comprises an upper frame. A light guide plate is mounted in the upper frame. The light guide plate has an opening corresponding to a region of an image display window. In addition, at least one LED is arranged adjacent to the light guide plate so as to introduce light into the light guide plate. Since the light guide plate is used for indicating the receipt of a signal, it is possible to provide a mobile communication terminal allowing a user to easily recognize a state where a signal has been received. |
| US09167065B2 |
Waterproof structure for electronic device
A waterproof structure of the present invention is for an electronic device including a housing including a first case member that has a first abutting face, and a second case member that has a second abutting face that faces the first abutting face. A water repellent treatment is applied to the first and second abutting faces, and two or more boundaries that change from a region having a relatively small liquid droplet contact angle to a region having a relatively large liquid droplet contact angle are provided along a liquid infiltration direction at an abutting ends portion of the first and second case members. |
| US09167063B2 |
Acoustic isolation mechanism
A rigid removable case for a portable electronic device may have an acoustic isolation mechanism between the rigid removable case and an acoustic component on the electronic device. The acoustic isolation mechanism may be a compressible component that may provide an air seal between an interior surface of the removable case and an exterior surface of the electronic device. The acoustic isolation mechanism may be constructed of several different materials and several different manufacturing processes. |
| US09167058B2 |
Timestamp correction in a multi-lane communication link with skew
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for correcting a timestamp in a multi-lane communication link with a skew are disclosed. For example, the method receives a data packet, a time stamp for the data packet and a fill level for a lane of the multi-lane communication link carrying the data packet, calculates a corrected timestamp for the data packet and replaces the time stamp for the data packet with the corrected timestamp. |
| US09167054B2 |
Remote browsing session management
A remote browsing process is directed to the generation and management of a remote browse session at a network computing and storage provider. A client computing device loads a local browser process and obtains network content from content providers. The local browser process additionally requests a browse session instance corresponding to the network content at a network computing and storage provider. The network computing and storage provider instantiates a browser process in response to the request. The remote browser process retrieves the network content, and generates a processing result corresponding to a first representation of the network content. The processing result may be provided to the client computing device for display. The local browser process may display either the first representation of the network content corresponding to the processing result or a second representation of the network content processed locally at the client computing device. |
| US09167052B2 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods for providing policy in network-based applications
The disclosed subject matter provides apparatus, systems, and methods for preventing a user from disabling a software extension to a network-based application, thereby allowing a computing device to enforce the software extension even if the user wants to disable the software extension. The disclosed apparatus, systems, and methods can prevent a user from disabling a software extension by blocking an access to a communications network via the network-based application when the software extension is disabled. |
| US09167051B2 |
Transforming condition-independent output into condition-dependent output
A method and apparatus for providing a network based operating system for mobile clients is disclosed. Services may be developed that can be used to support different client devices with different capabilities. The services provide output with multiple variations based on different devices, and an intermediary selects the variation best suited for the requesting device. An online software development system is provided to allow services to create, edit, test, and deploy applications at an intermediary using only a browser at the client end. Services may also be provided that can be accessed and referred to by other services, thereby facilitating the combining of different services. Services may also store and access data at an intermediary using variables and a mapping of the stored data to the variables. Data stored at the intermediary may be used to allow an end user to return to a previously accessed service. |
| US09167044B2 |
Communication system for receiving authentication data from an external service
A communication system includes a communication device and a relay apparatus that are connected to a network with an external service. The communication device includes a communication unit connected to a browser-installed device and a controller configured to transmit data location information to the browser installed device and output location of the communication device. The relay apparatus includes a communication unit and a controller configured to receive a request, transmit predetermined data based on the request, get the communication-device location information, instruct the browser-installed device to output the communication-device location information, receive authentication data, get the communication-device location information or the correspondence information output by the browser-installed device, and instruct the browser-installed device to transmit the authentication data to the communication device. |
| US09167041B2 |
Maintaining session initiation protocol application session affinity in SIP container cluster environments
A system for maintaining SIP application session affinity, the system including a destination inspector configured to inspect a SIP request to determine whether the SIP request indicates as its destination a logical name of a SIP container, a request router configured to route the SIP request to the SIP container that is identified by the logical name if the SIP request indicates as its destination the logical name of the SIP container, and a destination assignor configured to assign the SIP request to a SIP container in accordance with a predefined assignment protocol if the SIP request does not indicate as its destination the logical name of a SIP container. |
| US09167038B2 |
Social networking with depth and security factors
Method, systems, and computer-readable mediums for securing uploaded content are presented. User content can be uploaded from a user device to a computer system, where the user content is dissected into a number of content portions. After dissection, the computer system can transmit each of the content portions to a corresponding storage server. The storage servers may be independent from each other, independent from the user device, and independent from the computer system itself. Any portion of the user content can then be removed from the computer system, such that the computer system does not own or store the user content, and such that that no single entity in the system can compromise the user content. In some cases, the storage servers can be operated by non-profit entities that are not privately owned. |
| US09167031B2 |
Distributed processing system and distributed processing method
A distributed processing system 100 includes: a plurality of application servers 1031 to 103n that execute a plurality of applications 1321 to 132n and detect a communication state between a client 105 and the applications 1321 to 132n; a load distribution control server 101 that decides a communication path between the client 105 and the applications 1321 to 132n on a basis of the communication state detected by the application servers 1031 to 103n to perform load distribution; and an intermediate communication apparatus 102 that transfers flow data between the client 105 and the application servers 1031 to 103n. |
| US09167030B2 |
Application execution system, computer, application execution device, and control method and program for an application execution system
An application execution system enables stable system operation without being affected by server performance or line quality, and without quitting the application. The application execution system 1 has an application server 2 and an application execution device 4 connected by a first network 6, and has the application execution device 4 and a client terminal 5 connected by a second network 7. The application execution device 4 detects the status of the acquired application 11a, runs the application 11a if the application is normal and has the application server 2 run the application if an error or problem is detected. Based on the execution request from the application execution device 4, the application server 2 runs a substitute application 11b. |
| US09167027B2 |
Fast file server methods and systems
The invention provides, in one aspect, an improved system for data access comprising a file server that is coupled to a client device or application executing thereon via one or more networks. The server comprises static storage that is organized in one or more directories, each containing, zero, one or more files. The server also comprises a file system operable, in cooperation with a file system on the client device, to provide authorized applications executing on the client device access to those directories and/or files. Fast file server (FFS) software or other functionality executing on or in connection with the server responds to requests received from the client by transferring requested data to the client device over multiple network pathways. That data can comprise, for example, directory trees, files (or portions thereof), and so forth. |
| US09167016B2 |
Scalable IP-services enabled multicast forwarding with efficient resource utilization
Methods, apparatus and data structures are provided for managing multicast IP flows. According to one embodiment, active multicast IP sessions are identified by a network device. A data structure is maintained by the network device and contains therein information regarding the multicast sessions, including a first value for each of the multicast sessions, at least one chain of one or more blocks of second values and one or more transmit control blocks (TCBs). Each first value is indicative of a chain of one or more blocks of second values. Each second value corresponds to an outbound interface (OIF) participating in the multicast session and identifies a number of times packets associated with the multicast session are to be replicated. The TCBs have stored therein control information to process or route packets. Each second value is indicative of a TCB that identifies an OIF of the network device through which packets are to be transmitted. |
| US09167014B2 |
Presenting question and answer data in a social networking system
A social networking system includes a question and answer system that displays to a viewing user questions and answers provides by other users of the social networking system. The question and answer system may display answers to a particular question in a way that visually indicates both the global answer set and a subset of the global answer set, such as the viewing user's friends. The social networking system may also display to a viewing user news stories about another user asking or answering a question, where the format of the displayed new stories is based on an affinity that the viewing user has for the user who provided the question or answer mentioned in the news story. The displayed questions and/or answers may be associated with an object in the social networking system, where the user interface provides additional information about those objects. |
| US09167010B2 |
Central conferencing routing server
Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for collaboration conferencing with multiple participants over a communications network, and more specifically for a conferencing routing service for managing and routing collaboration participants. |
| US09167008B2 |
Traffic routing across and between networks
A method of routing signalling plane traffic through or out of an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS, network. The method comprises maintaining within user profile data stored in a subscriber database of the IMS network, routing information defining signalling plane routing profiles for a user associated with the user profile data. Said routing information is transferred from the subscriber database to a Call Session Control Function, CSCF, of the IMS network at or following registration of said user to the IMS network. The method then comprises handling a Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, request for said user at the CSCF including adding said routing information into the request and forwarding the SIP request to a next hop node, and, at said next hop node or at a further downstream node, making a routing decision for the SIP request or for related signalling on the basis of the routing information contained within the SIP request. |
| US09167005B2 |
Method and system for supporting visitor access via a broadband gateway
A method and system are provided in which a broadband gateway may enable a guest or visitor to access content available to the broadband gateway. The content may be received by the broadband gateway through one or more of a plurality of network access service providers that may provide separate physical layer access to the broadband gateway. After a visitor's device is connected to the broadband gateway, the broadband gateway may classify the device. Based on the classification, the device may be authorized to access a portion of the content received. Once the authorization process is complete, the appropriate content may be made available and transferred to the device. The authorization process may include the authentication of a device identifier and/or a user identifier. The authorized access may be time-limited, but may be renewed or enabled when a request is received within a determined period of time. |
| US09167004B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting and mitigating a high-rate distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack
Methods and systems for detecting and mitigating high-rate Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks are herein described. The present invention contemplates a variety of improved techniques for using a flow-based statistical collection mechanism to monitor and detect deviations in server usage data. The method further includes combining multiple anomaly algorithms in a unique way to improve the accuracy of identifying a high-rate DDoS attack. The DDoS solution includes a two-phase approach of detection and mitigation, both of which operate on a local- and a global-basis. Moreover, the anomaly algorithms can be modified or extrapolated to obtain the traffic deviation parameters and therefore, the attack probabilities. |
| US09167002B2 |
Global platform health management
The use of one or more device health values to indicate the health status of a computing device may enable operating system developers to directly manage the security configuration of the computing device. The generation of a device health value involves initializing hardware components of a computing device and loading the operating system according to configuration settings during boot up of the computing device. The device health value is then generated based on a state of the hardware component and/or a state of a software stack that includes the operating system at boot up. The device health value may be compared to a reference health value to determine whether the computing device is in a secured state. |
| US09167001B1 |
Scalable network security with fast response protocol
This disclosure provides a network security architecture that permits installation of different software security products as virtual machines (VMs). By relying on a standardized data format and communication structure, a general architecture can be created and used to dynamically build and reconfigure interaction between both similar and dissimilar security products. Use of an integration scheme having defined message types and specified query response framework provides for real-time response and easy adaptation for cross-vendor communication. Examples are provided where an intrusion detection system (IDS) can be used to detect network threats based on distributed threat analytics, passing detected threats to other security products (e.g., products with different capabilities from different vendors) to trigger automatic, dynamically configured communication and reaction. A network security provider using this infrastructure can provide hosted or managed boundary security to a diverse set of clients, each on a customized basis. |
| US09167000B2 |
Dynamic threat event management system and method
According to various illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a method for a content-driven threat management system includes creating a threat detection primary object with threat mitigation data using at least one researcher of at least one of software and malicious code, encoding the threat detection primary object with threat mitigation data within an object capable of being transmitted to a personal computer system using a transmission vector update function, and transmitting the threat detection primary object with threat mitigation data to a threat agent using the transmission vector update function. The method also includes updating at least one threat function using the threat agent to update at least one threat functional description of the at least one threat function to include the threat detection primary object with threat mitigation data, and using the threat detection primary object with threat mitigation data to be capable of recognizing at least one threat event based upon the threat detection primary object with threat mitigation data. |
| US09166997B1 |
Systems and methods for reducing false positives when using event-correlation graphs to detect attacks on computing systems
A computer-implemented method for reducing false positives when using event-correlation graphs to detect attacks on computing systems may include (1) detecting a suspicious event involving a first actor within a computing system, (2) constructing an event-correlation graph that includes a first node that represents the first actor, a second node that represents a second actor, and an edge that represents an additional suspicious event involving the first actor and the second actor, (3) comparing the event-correlation graph with at least one additional event-correlation graph that represents events on at least one additional computing system, (4) determining that a similarity of the event-correlation graph and the additional event-correlation graph exceeds a predetermined threshold, and (5) classifying the suspicious event as benign based on determining that the similarity of the event-correlation graph and the additional event-correlation graph exceeds the predetermined threshold. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09166996B2 |
Automatic correction of security downgraders
Systems for automatic correction of security downgraders include a security analysis module configured to perform a security analysis that disregards existing user-provided downgraders to detect flows that are vulnerable; and an enhancer module configured to locate candidate downgraders on the flows, to determine whether each of the candidate downgraders protects against all vulnerabilities associated with each downgrader's respective flow, and to transform candidate downgraders that do not protect against all of the associated vulnerabilities such that the transformed downgraders do protect against all of the associated vulnerabilities. |
| US09166992B1 |
Methods and apparatus for providing network traffic monitoring services
Methods and apparatus for providing network traffic monitoring such as intrusion detection to clients of a provider network. An interface and methods are provided via which a client can select traffic monitoring as a functionality to be added to their configuration on the provider network, for example as part of a load balancer layer. Via the interface, the client can configure new or existing components and specify that traffic monitoring be added on or at the components. Traffic monitoring technology is automatically and transparently added to the client's configuration on or at the components. By adding traffic monitoring functionality to an existing layer, the client does not have to separately manage traffic monitoring on the client's configuration. Traffic monitoring technology may be added at a network substrate level rather than at an overlay network level to insure that all traffic is available to the traffic monitoring technology. |
| US09166991B2 |
Identifying business transactions from traffic in an enterprise content management system
Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying business transactions from traffic in an enterprise content management system. The system intercepts HTTP messages that originate from or are destined for a server in an enterprise content management (ECM) system. The system also receives notifications related to lifecycle events in the ECM system. The system then correlates information in the HTTP messages and the notifications to identify a corresponding business transaction performed by the ECM system. |
| US09166989B2 |
Storing log data efficiently while supporting querying
A logging system includes an event receiver and a storage manager. The receiver receives log data, processes it, and outputs a column-based data “chunk.” The manager receives and stores chunks. The receiver includes buffers that store events and a metadata structure that stores metadata about the contents of the buffers. Each buffer is associated with a particular event field and includes values from that field from one or more events. The metadata includes, for each “field of interest,” a minimum value and a maximum value that reflect the range of values of that field over all of the events in the buffers. A chunk is generated for each buffer and includes the metadata structure and a compressed version of the buffer contents. The metadata structure acts as a search index when querying event data. The logging system can be used in conjunction with a security information/event management (SIEM) system. |
| US09166988B1 |
System and method for controlling virtual network including security function
Disclosed therein are system and method for controlling a virtual network with a security function which can manage security states of virtual machines in a cloud datacenter, analyze security states of malicious virtual machines, and isolate and treat the malicious virtual machines in order to cope with intrusion of a virtual network under a cloud computing environment. The virtual network controlling system and method reduce the number of packets to which the IPS carries out a signature matching inspection through a DPI test by diffusing blocking against the previously detected intruder by the network level, so as to enhance performance of the virtualized network IPS. |
| US09166984B2 |
System, method and computer program product for controlling network communications based on policy compliance
A policy management system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, information is received over a network relating to at least one subset of computers that are at least potentially out of compliance with a policy. Further, such information is sent to a plurality of the computers, utilizing the network. To this end, network communication involving the at least one subset of computers is capable of being controlled utilizing the information. |
| US09166982B1 |
System and method for providing access to educational content in private browsing mode
A system and method are provided for providing access to educational content in a private browsing mode. A private browsing session is initiated that provides to an incognito user access to an educational account associated with a user of the educational content, wherein the educational account includes a set of stored user actions associated with the educational content. The incognito user is associated with the user. The incognito user is permitted to re-execute the set of user actions within the private browsing session without the re-executed actions being stored in the user account. |
| US09166980B2 |
Content management system, management server, memory media device and content management method
A terminal device includes a transmission/reception unit that transmits, to a server device, information necessary for judgment as to whether to permit use of content. The server device includes a judgment unit that judges whether to permit the terminal device to use the content, based on terminal device management information set by a content provider, and the information necessary for the judgment and received from the terminal device. A notification data storage unit stores notifications to be presented to a user of the terminal device; and a transmission/reception unit transmits either information necessary for use of the content or one of the notifications according to a result of the judgment by the judgment unit. |
| US09166979B2 |
Protecting online meeting access using secure personal universal resource locators
Access to online collaborative resources such as an online meeting, web conference, online chat room, an online video conference, an online audio conference, a collaboratively edited document, a collaborative browsing session, an online social networking group, or a web site is secured by providing a first user-specific URL to a first user for addressing collaborative resource; responsive to the first user accessing the first user-specific URL, granting by a computing system access to the collaborative event to the first user; and responsive to a second user accessing the first user-specific URL, preventing by a computing system access to the collaborative event to the second user. Optionally, time criteria for accessing the first user-specific URL may be used to invalidating the first user-specific URL, wherein access to the collaborative resource is disabled. |
| US09166975B2 |
System and method for secure remote access to a service on a server computer
System and method for providing access to remote computing services in an application server are described, where the authentication and authorization processes are separated, excluding service access privileges from the authenticating process and transferring the privileges to the authorization process. A client device and a user are authenticated, and upon successful authentication, the authorization process is performed, including establishing an authorization connection between the client device and the server computer; at the server computer, detecting and verifying the authorization connection; and upon successful verification, allowing access of the client device to the service on the server computer. In one embodiment, upon detecting the authorization connection, a blocking process is created to block access to the service; and, upon successful verification of the authorization connection, the blocking process on the server computer is terminated, prior to the allowing the access of the client device to the service on the server computer. |
| US09166973B2 |
System and method for controlling access to an electronic device
Methods and systems are provided for controlling access to an electronic device. The electronic device, for example, may include, but is not limited to, a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory is configured to store a password for accessing the electronic device, and a communication interface communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive a request to access the electronic device from the communication interface, and transmit an encrypted version of the password for accessing the electronic device via the communication interface. |
| US09166972B2 |
Shared information distributing device, holding device, certificate authority device, and system
A distributing device for generating private information correctly even if shared information is destroyed or tampered with. A shared information distributing device for use in a system for managing private information by a secret sharing method, including: segmenting unit that segments private information into a first through an nth pieces of shared information; first distribution unit that distributes the n pieces of shared information to n holding devices on a one-to-one basis; and second distribution unit that distributes the n pieces of shared information to the n holding devices so that each holding device holds an ith piece of shared information distributed by the first distribution unit, as well as a pieces of shared information being different from the ith piece of shared information in ordinal position among n pieces of shared information, “i” being an integer in a range from 1 to n. |
| US09166964B2 |
Secure challenge system for verifying access rights to media content
Described is a technique for securely verifying access rights to a media file stored on a user device. By verifying the access rights to the media file, a server may provide access to a licensed version of the media from a media library in a remote location such as server for a cloud-based service. When a media file is confirmed to be available in a media library, a cryptographic a hash function that incorporates a random value or “salt” is used to verify that a user is in possession of an entire media file. Accordingly, the techniques described herein improve the security for verifying that a user is in possession of a media file by preventing the use of pre-calculated hashes. |
| US09166962B2 |
Mobile communications device providing heuristic security authentication features and related methods
A mobile communications device may include a plurality of first input devices capable of passively collecting input data, a second input device(s) capable of collecting response data based upon a challenge, and a processor capable of determining a level of assurance (LOA) that possession of the mobile communications device has not changed based upon a statistical behavioral model and the passively received input data, and comparing the LOA with a security threshold. When the LOA is above the security threshold, the processor may be capable of performing a given mobile device operation without requiring response data from the second input device(s). When the LOA falls below the security threshold, the processor may be capable of generating the challenge, performing the given mobile device operation responsive to valid response data, and adding recent input data to the statistical behavioral model responsive to receipt of the valid response data. |
| US09166960B2 |
Mobile radio access information validation
A validation method for validating IP information header in data packets from user equipment connected to a mobile telecommunications network (1) and accessing an IP network (5) through a proxy. In the method trusted location information of the user equipment (2) from a trusted source of the telecommunications network is requested (109). Then, the trusted location information is inserted into the IP information header of a message (112) to be sent to a location based function (17). |
| US09166959B2 |
Secure communication using physical proximity
Systems and methods may provide for implementing a secure communication using physical proximity. In one example, the method may include transmitting an encrypted first communication including a sensitive information file, decrypting the encrypted first communication to generate a decrypted first communication including the sensitive information file, displaying the decrypted first communication, capturing a version of the decrypted first communication displayed on the intermediary device, and extracting the sensitive information file at a user device. |
| US09166958B2 |
ID-based control unit-key fob pairing
A key fob-control unit pairing device that includes a transceiver to transmit and receive signals, a memory to store a key fob identification (KFID) and a control unit identification (CUID), and a processor coupled to said transceiver and memory. The processor is to authenticate the key fob using identification (ID) authenticated key agreement protocol based on the KFID, and to transmit an encrypted CUID to the key fob. |
| US09166957B2 |
Digital file authentication using biometrics
This invention provides a means of authenticating digital files without the need for a central trusted authority. A message digest of one or more digital files is calculated, preferably using a cryptographic hash function and all or part of the digest value is implanted into one or more biometric information files produced by the originator of the digital files or a trusted third party. The recipient of the digital files and biometric information files is able to determine all or part of the digest value from the biometric information files, check that this corresponds to the calculated message digest of one or more digital files as well as check the identity of the originator or trusted third party. In further embodiments the biometric information files contain all or part of a digital signature generated by the originator of the digital files or a trusted third party. The invention may be used in many applications including the distribution of public encryption keys. |
| US09166955B2 |
Proxy SSL handoff via mid-stream renegotiation
A traffic management device (TMD), system, and processor-readable storage medium directed towards re-establishing an encrypted connection of an encrypted session, the encrypted connection having initially been established between a client device and a first server device, causing the encrypted connection to terminate at a second server device. As described, a traffic management device (TMD) is interposed between the client device and the first server device. In some embodiments, the TMD may request that the client device renegotiate the encrypted connection. The TMD may redirect the response to the renegotiation request towards a second server device, such that the renegotiated encrypted connection is established between the client device and the second server device. In this way, a single existing end-to-end encrypted connection can be used to serve content from more than one server device. |
| US09166953B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing identity based encryption in distributed computations
An approach is provided for providing identity based encryption in distributed computations. An identity based encryption platform causes, at least in part, a segmentation of a computation closure into at least a first part and one or more second parts. The identity based encryption platform also causes, at least in part, an encryption of the one or more second parts using the first part as a public key of an identity-based encryption. |
| US09166952B2 |
Security device bank and a system including the and SD security device bank
In some embodiments, a system includes a trusted network, an untrusted network, on-board equipment on-board a moving object, one or more first security devices on-board the moving object and communicatively connecting the on-board equipment and the untrusted network, and a security device bank communicatively connecting the trusted network and the untrusted network. The security device bank includes a common bus or the local network and one or more second security devices connected to the common bus or the local network. |
| US09166950B2 |
System and method for responding to aggressive behavior associated with wireless devices
An embodiment of the invention describes a wireless device comprising a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) further comprising a memory for storing program code for performing a plurality of operations, and a processor for processing the program code to execute the plurality of operations, the operations including receiving over-the-air instructions via a wireless network from a control center to create a rules set in the SIM, wherein the rules set defines an acceptable behavior of the wireless device, monitoring requests from a wireless modem of the wireless device for access files stored in the SIM, detecting an aggressive behavior of the wireless device based on the rules set, and blocking the wireless modem from generating traffic in the wireless network. |
| US09166948B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for keeping session table alive in net address translation apparatus
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for keeping a session table alive in a Network Address Translation (NAT) apparatus, includes creating a hello session table by an Access Border Gateway Function (A_BGF) apparatus, creating a hello message by the A_BGF apparatus according to the hello session table, sending the hello message by the A_BGF apparatus to the NAT apparatus, receiving the hello message by the NAT apparatus, and updating a session table corresponding to the hello message by the NAT apparatus. Embodiments of the disclosure also provide a system and apparatus for keeping a session table alive in an NAT apparatus. Application of the embodiments of the disclosure keeps the session table alive in the NAT apparatus of an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) ensures an unblocked registration path and prevents the user conversation being interrupted due to an aged session table of the NAT apparatus. |
| US09166940B2 |
E-mail forwarding tunnel capturing or tagging
An email forward tagging system including means for selecting on a sender's email client a receiver's email address; means for displaying to the sender's email client a tagging function; means for selecting on the sender's email client the tagging function; means for sending, via a common email system protocol, an email from a email-sending server to a first email-receiving server; means for receiving, via the common email system protocol, the email at the first receiver's email server from the email-sending server; means for sending the received email in the form of one of a forward email and a reply email to a second email-receiving server connected to the network; and means for automatically forwarding the one of the forward email and the reply email to the sender's email address when the sender's email address is omitted from the one of said forward email and said reply email. |
| US09166934B2 |
System and method for operating mesh devices in multi-tree overlapping mesh networks
Methods, systems, and devices described herein can allow a mesh device to participate in multiple mesh networks. The method comprises associating with a first access point over a first mesh network, wherein the first access point manages the first mesh network; responsive to receiving a neighbor information broadcast from a neighboring mesh device, updating a neighborhood table stored in an accessible memory, wherein the neighbor information includes a neighboring mesh device information and a neighboring mesh device network identifier; responsive to a request to transmit a message to a destination, determining a next device, wherein the next device is on a calculated path towards the destination, the path including mesh devices from a plurality of mesh networks; and transmitting the message to the next device. |
| US09166931B2 |
Method and device for improving robustness of context update message in robust header compression
A method and system for improving robustness of context update messages in robust header compression are disclosed in the present document, wherein, the method includes: when sending the context update message, a compressor performing check processing on important fields in the context update message, generating a check code, and sending the check code and the context update message out together; and after receiving the context update message and the check code of the important fields in the context update message, a decompressor firstly performing checking on the important fields in the context update message, if the checking is passed, continuing to execute decompression processing, and if the checking is failed, discarding the context update message. With the present document, the probability of mistaking other compression packets for IR/IR-DYN messages due to bit errors of packet format fields can be reduced, and the correctness of packet format identification can be improved. |
| US09166930B2 |
Waved time multiplexing
Technologies generally described herein relate to waved time multiplexing. In some examples, a command flit can be transmitted from a sender node of a network-on-chip (“NOC”) to a destination node of the NOC via an intermediate node along a circuit-switched path. The command flit can include an interval period and a release duration. When the command flit has been transmitted, one or more data flits can be transmitted from the sender node to the destination node via the intermediate node along the circuit-switched path. The sender node, the destination node, and the intermediate node can be configured to reserve router resources of the sender node, the destination node, and the intermediate node respectively for circuit-switched traffic during a use duration of the interval period and to release the router resources for packet-switched traffic during the release duration in a waved time multiplex arrangement. |
| US09166926B2 |
Method and arrangement for suppressing duplicate network resources
A duplicate suppression protocol is introduced in order to suppress duplicate entries from appearing in a list of available network resources. With the duplicate suppression protocol of the present invention, a computer that wishes to query for network resources also asks for duplicate suppression information from the responding network resources. The duplicate suppression information for a particular network resource specifies identifiers associated with that network resource for various protocols. Thus, if a particular network resource responds to more than one network resource request from a single requesting entity, that requesting entity will be able to locate duplicate network resource information. Thus, a single unified list of network resources available for various different protocols may be presented with all duplicate network resources removed. |
| US09166925B2 |
Virtual quantized congestion notification
Congestion management for data traffic in a virtual domain identifies a congestion source and sends a message to the source to adjust data traffic rates. The source may be a virtual machine hosted by a physical server with one or more virtual servers incorporated. A congestion manager may identify the source and send the message to the source without affecting other data sources hosted by the physical server or the virtual servers. In some embodiments, information about the congestion source may be encapsulated in a packet payload readable only by the congestion source so only the congestion source receives the instruction to adjust the transmission rate. |
| US09166920B2 |
Using routing information and inter-layer relationships to determine utilization in a transport network
Embodiments provide systems, methods, and computer program products for mapping higher-layer circuits, links, flows, and services to lower layer circuit and connection elements to determine utilization of the lower layer circuit elements based on the high-layer traffic. Higher layer configuration data and lower layer configuration data are imported to populate a model. An inter-layer relationship is either directly or indirectly mapped from the higher layers to the lower layer. Once the inter-layer relationship is established, the higher-layer circuits, links, flows, and services are inspected using the lower layer circuit and connection elements. Circuit and packet-based utilization is determined for the lower layer elements based on the higher-layer traffic flows. |
| US09166919B2 |
Reducing headroom
The various embodiments of the invention provide mechanisms to reduce headroom size while minimizing dropped packets. In general, this is done by using a shared headroom space between all ports, and providing a randomized delay in transmitting a flow-control message. |
| US09166917B2 |
Link layer preemption
Disclosed are various embodiments for frame preemption and fragmentation at the media access control (MAC) sublayer of the link layer or the MAC merge sublayer of the link layer. Traffic classes may be organized into preemptive traffic classes and non-preemptive traffic classes. Preemptable frames may be fragmented when a preemptive frame is to be transmitted. The fragmentation may be indicated through modification of the value of cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field in a predetermined way, through addition of a fragmentation trailer, and/or through other approaches. |
| US09166913B1 |
Systems and methods for balancing max-min fairness and throughput objectives in traffic engineering
Systems and methods are provided for allocating resources of a network among a plurality of traffic demands to optimize fairness and throughput. Fairness constraints and traffic commodity importance can be specified to control allocation. |
| US09166911B2 |
Teaching a network device using unsolicited teaching messages
Illustrated is a system and method to generate a teaching message with a host device address that impersonates a device source address, the impersonation to instruct an additional network device as to the host device address. It further include a transmitter to transmit the teaching message to the additional network device. It also includes traversing a forwarding table to identify an additional network device that has yet to receive a teaching message since an expiration of a predefined threshold value, the teaching message to relate to a source device. It also includes a transmitter to transmit a teaching message to the additional network device. |
| US09166908B2 |
Assisted intelligent routing for minimalistic connected object networks
In one embodiment, a distributed intelligence agent (DIA) collects local state information from a plurality of minimalistic connected objects (MCOs) in a computer network, the local state information for each MCO comprising a corresponding neighbor list and a selected next-hop for the respective MCO, where one or more of the MCOs are configured to select their next-hop without any self-optimization. The DIA may then analyze a current routing topology, which is the combined result of the selected next-hops, in comparison to a computed optimal routing topology, and (optionally) in light of required service level agreement (SLA), to determine whether to optimize the current routing topology. In response to determining that the current routing topology should be optimized, the DIA may transmit a unicast routing instruction to one or more individual MCOs to instruct those individual MCOs how to optimize the current routing topology, accordingly. |
| US09166905B2 |
End-to-end multipathing through network having switching devices compatible with different protocols
A first cluster includes first switching devices that are compatible with a software-defined networking (SDN) protocol. A second cluster includes second switching devices within or partially overlapping the first cluster. Each second switching device is compatible with a protocol for an open systems interconnection (OSI) model layer. The first switching devices include one or more border switching devices located at a boundary between the first cluster and the second cluster. Each border switching device is also compatible with the protocol for the OSI model layer. The first switching devices effect first multipathing through the network except through the second cluster, and the second switching devices effect second multipathing just through the second cluster of the network. As such, the first switching devices and the second switching devices together effect end-to-end multipathing through both the first cluster and the second cluster of the network. |
| US09166904B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring BGP state information during asynchronous startup
A method of transferring application layer network information comprises the computer-implemented steps of electronically transferring, from a first electronic digital data processor to a second electronic digital data processor, one or more transport layer connections associated with one or more application layer sessions; creating and sending, to the second processor, one or more application layer messages that appear to initiate a new application session with a peer; creating and sending, to the second processor, one or more application update messages that transfer application data from the first processor to the second processor; repeating the creating and sending steps for all application layer sessions that are active at the first processor. One embodiment provides stateful switchover of BGP sessions when one BGP host in a redundant system restarts asynchronously with respect to another host, without problems associated with bulk transfer of BGP route information. |
| US09166892B1 |
Systems and methods for event stream management
A system for managing event streams is provided that includes a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, and a processor. The volatile memory is configured to store, for each of a plurality of event streams associated with the client device, metadata indicative of events not yet delivered to a client device and the content associated with only a most recent event of the event stream. The non-volatile memory is configured to store the content associated with each of undelivered events. The processor is configured to, upon receiving a request from the client device, retrieve from the volatile memory, without accessing the non-volatile memory, data indicative of a current state of an event stream associated with the client device. The processor is further configured to deliver the retrieved data indicative of the current state of the event stream. |
| US09166891B2 |
Policy-enabled dynamic deep packet inspection for telecommunications networks
Provided herein is a method including the steps of: establishing at least one policy in a centralized policy management framework (PMF), wherein the policy includes at least one policy condition; monitoring data traffic; determining if the data traffic at least substantially meets one of the policy conditions; sending a trigger to the PMF, if at least one of the policy conditions is at least substantially met; generating an enforcement decision at the PMF, wherein the enforcement decision includes at least one enforcement action; sending the enforcement decision to an enforcement function; and enforcing the enforcement decision. A system for realizing this method is also provided. |
| US09166888B1 |
Configuration data
Measures for use in generating path configuration data for an optical network. A least cost path calculation process is performed on a network graph representation of the optical network to generate path configuration data for the optical network. Performing the least cost path calculation process comprises performing a network graph expansion process on the network graph representation of the optical network to obtain an expanded network graph representation of the optical network. Performing the network graph expansion process comprises determining data identifying the possible expansion paths to each optical node, the cost of each path and the available wavelengths for each path, grouping together wavelength and path data for paths of equal cost, and at one or more nodes, identifying a subset of one or more wavelengths and performing a wavelength pruning operation. |
| US09166883B2 |
Network device detection, identification, and management
A method for identifying devices on a network using a two-step process of first scanning a range network addresses for devices and then acquiring device information from each of the accessible devices. The method involves scanning the network for devices by sending a request to each of a plurality of network addresses, receiving a response from one or more of the devices, obtaining a hardware address for at least some of the responding devices, and identifying the device based on the hardware address. A user interface is provided to display the results of the scan along with the more specific identifying information for some or all of the responding devices. |
| US09166881B1 |
Methods and apparatus for adaptive bandwidth-based communication management
An apparatus, includes a user interface module configured to send a signal to display an interface of a self-service application used by a user to communicate with a host device via a network. The apparatus also includes a bandwidth analysis module operatively coupled to the user interface module. The bandwidth analysis module is configured to calculate a bandwidth associated with communication with the host device via the network. The bandwidth analysis module is also configured to receive, from the host device, a bandwidth criterion associated with at least one network communication mode used for communication with the host device. The user interface module is configured to reduce or eliminate an availability of the at least one network communication mode to the self-service application when the bandwidth fails to meet the bandwidth criterion. |
| US09166877B2 |
Distinguishing between connectivity verification availability and forwarding protocol functionality in a computer network
In one embodiment, a local network device transmits a connectivity verification protocol control message over a link to a remote network device to attempt to establish a connectivity verification protocol session with the remote network device. In response to non-receipt of a returned connectivity verification protocol control message from the remote network device, the local network device determines that there is an inability to establish a connectivity verification protocol session with the remote network device. The local network device then sends a connectivity verification protocol echo message over the link to the remote network device without establishment of a connectivity verification protocol session. The echo message is sent using a forwarding protocol. In response to receipt of a reply to the connectivity verification protocol echo message from the remote network device, the local network device determines that the forwarding protocol is functioning and uses the link to forward data traffic to the remote network device. |
| US09166873B2 |
Method and apparatus for a client connection manager
A method and apparatus for a connection manager have been disclosed. By providing for persistent connections with clients, the connection manager allows for servers to communicate with clients, which would otherwise be inaccessible. |
| US09166870B2 |
Remote monitoring system
A method for monitoring and reporting information regarding status of a power supply/management device operated by a user comprises detecting the status of the device using a monitoring device having an application interface configured to communicate over a communication network, generating a status update indication using a self-describing computer language and sending the status update indication over the communication network to a remote computer, and associating the user with the status update information for the remote device using the remote computer. |
| US09166867B2 |
Seamless roaming
A method for providing network communication to a wireless device through a plurality of wireless protocol links. A first protocol link from the plurality of wireless protocol links is selected based on some predetermined criteria. A first network connection is established through the first protocol link. A second protocol link from the plurality of wireless protocol links is selected based on the change in status or condition of the first protocol link with respect to the predetermined criteria. A second network connection is established through the second protocol link, and the first network connection through the first protocol link is terminated. |
| US09166865B2 |
Mobility operation resource allocation
According to one aspect of the present disclosure a system and technique for mobility operation resource allocation is disclosed. The system includes a first machine having a running application, and a management console operable to manage migrating the running application from the first machine to a second machine. The management console is operable to: display an interface indicating a plurality of selectable mobility settings, each mobility setting corresponding to a desired resource allocation to utilize for the migration; receive via the interface, a selection of a mobility setting to apply for migrating the running application; and initiate migration of the running application from the first machine to the second machine utilizing resources as set by the selected mobility setting. |
| US09166864B1 |
Adaptive streaming for legacy media frameworks
This disclosure relates to adaptive streaming for legacy media frameworks. A streaming component includes a reception component that receives a first set of header data associated with an audio stream, and a second set of header data associated with a video stream. A parsing component synthesizes a third set of header data using the first set of header data and the second set of header data based on a set of header criteria for a legacy media framework, and provides the third set of header data to the legacy media framework. A download component acquires respective sets of data from the audio stream and the video stream, and an adaption component provides sets of data to the legacy media framework based on a set of streaming criteria for the legacy media framework. |
| US09166855B2 |
MIMO communication method, MIMO transmitting device, and MIMO receiving device
A first digital signal sequence including I and Q digital signal sequences is obtained, the first digital signal sequence being obtained by multiplying each bit of an I-sequence and a Q-sequence in a digital signal sequence system by a first code among codes constituting n-th order (n is an integer) orthogonal codes. A second digital signal sequence is obtained by multiplying I and Q digital signal sequences by a first coefficient greater than 1, the I and Q digital signal sequences being obtained by multiplying each of the bits in the I-sequence and the Q-sequence in the digital signal sequence system by a first code among codes constituting 2n-th order orthogonal codes. The first digital signal sequence and the second digital signal sequence are added on a bit-by-bit basis to create one digital signal sequence, and the one digital signal sequence is transmitted from a single antenna. |
| US09166853B2 |
Rate adaptation for data communication
In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a first device via a channel of a communication medium, multiple data transmissions, wherein a code rate of multiple code rates is associated with each data transmission of the multiple data transmissions. The method includes determining, based on signal characteristics of the multiple data transmissions, the data transmission from among the multiple data transmissions having a preferred physical data rate. The method also includes setting a code rate for the channel for communication from a second device to the first device via the communication medium, to the code rate of the data transmission having the preferred physical data rate. |
| US09166851B2 |
Identification method of an OFDM signal
An OFDM signal identification method in a received signal, wherein the received signal is sampled and cut off into blocks of P samples, each block being subjected to an inverse Fourier transform to obtain a plurality of symbols at a plurality of frequencies. For each frequency of the plurality, the kurtosis of the set of symbols thus obtained at this frequency is calculated, and then it is determined whether the kurtosis has a periodicity in frequency domain from kurtosis values calculated for the frequencies of the plurality, and the presence of an OFDM signal in the received signal is identified if the kurtosis has such a periodicity. |
| US09166842B2 |
RF repeater circuit
RF repeater circuits may be used to regenerate an RF signal. A method and apparatus is described for regenerating a received RF signal the RF signal comprising a plurality of channels, each channel comprising a plurality of channel symbols, the method comprising producing a digitized RF signal from the received RF signal, extracting spectral information of each of the channels from the digitized RF signal, recovering one or more channel symbols from each of the plurality of channels, remodulating the channel symbols, and converting the remodulated channel symbols to an analog signal resulting in a regenerated RF signal. |
| US09166841B2 |
Receiving apparatus and receiving method
A receiving apparatus includes a channel estimating unit that performs channel estimation by using a reception signal and obtains a channel estimation value, a demodulation processing unit that performs demodulation processing by using the channel estimation value and the reception signal, a weight calculating unit that calculates weight for decoding for each of channels by using the channel estimation value, and a decoding unit that performs decoding processing by using the weight and a result of the demodulation processing. |
| US09166839B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing effects of local oscillator leakage
According to some embodiments, a receiving device: receives a radio frequency (RF) signal from a transmitting device over a wireless channel; performs a channel estimation of the wireless channel based on the RF signal; obtains a direct current (DC) bin measurement based on the channel estimation; determines a direct current (DC) offset correction based on the DC bin measurement; and sending the DC offset correction to the transmitting device via a local transmitter. The transmitting device: receives the DC offset correction information from the receiving device over a first wireless channel; receives data to be transmitted to the receiving device, where the DC offset correction information describing the DC offset correction; applies the DC offset correction to a transient signal that is based on the data; converts the transient signal to an RF signal; and transmits the RF signal to the receiving device over a second wireless channel. |
| US09166838B1 |
Reference voltage generation and calibration for single-ended signaling
A signal on a transmitter tracks noise on a ground node in a manner decoupled from a positive node of a power supply. The signal is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver. A reference voltage is generated on the receiver to track noise on a ground node in the receiver. Consequently, the received signal and the reference voltage have substantially the same noise characteristics, which become common mode noise that can be cancelled out when these two signals are compared against each other. In a further embodiment, the reference voltage is compared against a predetermined calibration pattern. An error signal is generated based on a difference between the sampler output and the predetermined calibration pattern. The error signal is then used to adjust the reference voltage so that the DC level of the reference voltage is positioned substantially in the middle of the received signal. |
| US09166837B2 |
Base station assisted frequency domain equalization
A method for wireless communication is described. The method includes receiving a burst that includes controlled sequence symbols transmitted in a guard period. The controlled sequence symbols include the last predetermined number symbols of a training sequence. The burst is demodulated based on the controlled sequence symbols. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described. |
| US09166835B2 |
Systems and methods for peak detection in automatic gain control circuits in high-speed wireline communications
Methods and systems for peak detection as part of automatic gain control in high-speed communications are provided. A peak detection system uses a portion of an input signal to generate a reference signal for comparison with the input signal. The comparison produces a differential error signal that is in turn used to produce one or more full swing pulses based on the comparison. A pulse counter counts the pulses, and if the count in a single clock cycle is above a determined threshold, a binary error signal is set to indicate a need for correction. |
| US09166834B2 |
Method and system for corrupt symbol handling for providing high reliability sequences
For corrupt symbol handling for providing high reliability sequences, an inter-symbol correlated (ISC) signal is received. During sequence estimation when demodulating the received ISC signal, partial response samples in the ISC may be processed utilizing an erasure mechanism. The partial response samples are spread (e.g. interleaved) over time during modulation by a modulator. A determination is made as to whether to utilize self erasure or external erasure to process the spread partial response samples. The determination may be based on whether or not events of low SNR for corresponding ones of the partial response samples are identified. The external erasure may be utilized for processing the corresponding ones of the partial response samples when the events of low SNR are identified and the self erasure is utilized when the events of low SNR are not identifiable. Erasure results maybe fed back to the modulator. |
| US09166833B2 |
Feed forward equalization for highly-spectrally-efficient communications
A receiver may be operable to receive a signal. A sequence estimation module of the receiver may generate estimated symbols corresponding to the received signal. The generating of the estimated symbols may use tap information associated with one or both of a pulse shaper via which the signal was transmitted and an input filter of the receiver. The sequence estimation module may generate a reconstructed signal based on the estimated symbols and the tap information. A feed forward equalizer (FFE) of the receiver may adapt a plurality of tap coefficients of the FFE based on the reconstructed signal. The signal may be equalized via the FFE. The adaptation of the tap coefficients of the FFE may be based on a least-mean-square (LMS) process for minimizing a mean square of the error signal. An output signal of the FFE may comprise a power gain compensation. |
| US09166831B2 |
Asymmetric complexity PHYs to reduce power dissipation in point-to-point communication links
An asymmetric PHY pair for communicating over a point-to-point link is disclosed. The PHY pair is asymmetric in that the signal processing power used by one of the PHYs to communicate a unit of data over the link is made to be less than that of the other PHY. This asymmetry is accomplished not merely by reducing the signal processing power of one of the PHYs at the expense of the rate at which symbols can be communicated over the link, but by transferring the signal processing power from one of the PHYs to the other PHY so that the symbol rate can be substantially maintained as compared to the symbol rate of a symmetric PHY pair. The asymmetric PHY pair can be advantageously implemented in many different types of communication systems (i.e., in communication systems where one end is more congested and/or crowded than the other end). |
| US09166830B2 |
Systems and methods utilizing adaptive envelope tracking
A communication system utilizing adaptive envelope tracking includes a transmit path, a feedback receiver, a parameter component and an envelope tracking component. The transmit path is configured to generate a transmit signal. The feedback receiver is configured to generate a feedback signal from the transmit signal. The parameter component is configured to generate linearity parameters from the feedback signal and the baseband signal. The envelope tracking component is configured to generate a supply control signal having time delay adjustments. |
| US09166824B2 |
Telecommunications system and method
A telecommunications system provides a facility for mobile communications to a mobile node. A core network and a radio network are arranged to communicate the internet packets in accordance with a current configuration of routing and communications resources of at least one of the core network and the radio network. The mobile node is operable to generate a packet data connection activation request. The request is adapted to include a service level identifier representing a priority to be afforded to communicating internet packets to or from the mobile node with respect to the internet packets received from other mobile nodes. The core network is operable to adapt the current configuration of routing and communications resources of at least one of the core network and the radio network following a change of location of the mobile node with a relative priority determined in accordance with the service level identifier. |
| US09166822B2 |
Transmission of instant messages according to availability
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to presence awareness for instant messaging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for adaptive instant messaging awareness. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for adaptive instant messaging awareness can be provided. The method can include receiving an instant message for transmission to a user of an instant messaging system and determining that the user is not currently available to receive an instant message. The method can further include delaying transmission of the instant message to the user until a later determination that the user is available to receive an instant message. |
| US09166818B2 |
Provisioning single or multistage networks using ethernet service instances (ESIs)
Techniques for provisioning single or multistage networks using Ethernet Service Instances (ESIs). In one embodiment, an ESI is a logical entity or object that stores information that may be used to provision a network. An ESI may represent a logical entity that identifies a grouping of elements of a network or network device and associated attributes. Hierarchical relationships may be created between ESIs. The hierarchical relationships are used to perform packet-level processing including performing network packet encapsulations. |
| US09166816B2 |
Network system and audio signal processor
In the case of forming an audio network system in which a plurality of processors each having two sets of transmission I/Fs and reception I/Fs are connected and a TL frame generated by a master node and including a plurality of storage regions for audio signals circulates among the processors in each constant period to transport audio signals the among processors, the system is configured such that when a transmitted TL frame does not return to the reception I/F on the forward side but returns to the reception I/F on the backward side in a single mode of transmitting the TL frame to the forward side and circulating the TL frame through one transmission route, the system shifts to a twin mode of transmitting and circulating TL frames through two transmission routes. |
| US09166815B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication controlling method in ring network
A ring connection apparatus according to one embodiment is provided with: a frame receiver that receives frames to be transmitted to one of the plurality of ring networks from each of the plurality of networks; and a frame transmitter that transmits each of frames, a passing frame to be transmitted from a device to another device inside said one ring network and a crossing frame to be transmitted to a device in said one ring network from a device in another ring network different from said one ring network, to said one ring network within the range of a band, which is separately determined in advance. |
| US09166811B2 |
Apparatus and methods for controlling a habitat environment
A system is provided for controlling an aquatic habitat. The system for includes a server, a bridge, and a habitat component. The server includes a database containing information associated with a habitat component. The server also includes a communication interface for transmitting operating data for the habitat component. The bridge has a first communication unit configured to communicate with the server communication interface and transmit the operating data received from the server to the habitat component. The habitat component has a second communication unit for receiving operating data from the bridge. |
| US09166810B2 |
Information communication device of obtaining information by demodulating a bright line pattern included in an image
An information communication method includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a subject by the image sensor, a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject; capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, to obtain the image including the bright line; and obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained image. |
| US09166808B2 |
Method for switchover between MBMS transmission modes, apparatus, and user equipment
The present document provides a switchover method and apparatus for multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS) transmission modes; the method includes the following steps: a network side notifying a user equipment (UE) that one or more MBMSs will be transmitted by means of a point to multipoint (PTM) mode, then transmitting relevant information of the one or more MBMSs to the UE. The present document ensures the continuity of the MBMSs which are being received by the UE during the switching process from a PTP mode to the PTM mode, and is easy to implement and operate. |
| US09166807B2 |
Transmission of layer two (L2) multicast traffic over multi-protocol label switching networks
Principles of the invention relate to techniques for transmission of Layer 2 (L2) traffic over a point to multi-point (P2MP) label switched path (LSP) within a multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. A source or ingress network device may implement the techniques to connect multiple L2 interfaces to a P2MP LSP within an MPLS network via a P2MP Pseudo-Wire (PW) mechanism that emulates delivery of L2 data units over a packet switched network, such as the MPLS network. The ingress network device first establishes the P2MP LSP and then connects two or more L2 interfaces to the P2MP LSP via the P2MP PW mechanism. Egress network devices may also implement the techniques to terminate the P2MP LSP and de-multiplex traffic arriving via multiple P2MP PWs carried over the same P2MP LSP. |
| US09166806B2 |
Shared communication space invitations
A computer-implemented method of providing invitations to a shared communication space, performed by a server system, includes providing the shared communication space, which includes content associated with a set of characteristics, and identifying a user, in accordance with a set of characteristics associated with the user and the set of characteristics associated with the content in the shared communication space. The method further includes sending to the identified user a invitation to participate in the shared communication space, and upon acceptance of the invitation by the user, enabling access by the user to the shared communication space by the user and enabling the user to exchange information with other participants in the shared communication space via the shared communication space. |
| US09166802B2 |
Cost influenced downloading
The present invention provides a mobile communications device and a method of operating such a device to reduce data download costs incurred in downloading data from a bearer to which the mobile communications device is connected. The mobile communications device is capable of storing for a bearer to which the mobile communications device is configured to connect with, cost information relating to the cost of downloading data from that bearer. Also, the mobile communications device is capable of adapting the quantity of data downloaded to the mobile communications device from the bearer to which the mobile communications device is presently connected in dependence on the cost information for that bearer. |
| US09166799B2 |
IMS security for femtocells
A mobile station can be authenticated by, for example, sending a challenge to a mobile station, and receiving a first authentication response from the mobile station through a wireless link, the first authentication response being generated based on the challenge and an authentication key stored at the mobile station. A second authentication response is generated based on the first authentication response. The second authentication response is provided to an IMS network for authenticating the mobile station to enable the mobile station to access the IMS network. In some examples, an authentication response of the mobile station is carried in an SIP message sent from the femtocell to a server that can authenticate the mobile station or forward the authentication response to another server that can authenticate the mobile station. Authentication of the mobile station can be performed as an integrated part of or separate from a registration process. |
| US09166798B2 |
System and method for secure provisioning of an information handling system
Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with provisioning of information handling systems, including without limitation those associated with bare metal provisioning of information handling systems, are disclosed. A system may include a processor, and a memory and an access controller each communicatively coupled to the processor. The access controller may store an enterprise public key associated with an enterprise private key and a platform private key associated with the system. The access controller may be configured to: (i) authenticate communications received from a provisioning server communicatively coupled to the access controller based at least on an enterprise public certificate associated with the provisioning server and (ii) establish an asymmetrically cryptographic communications channel between the access controller and the provisioning server based at least on a platform public key associated with the platform private key, the platform private key, the enterprise public key, and the enterprise private key. |
| US09166796B2 |
Secure biometric cloud storage system
A secure and scalable data storage system that includes a server and a plurality of clients. The server maintains an access permission file that includes a file-group name, a plurality of client access blocks, a first and second public key, and a signature that is based on a first private key. The signature ensures that only clients who have a certain level of access can modify the contents of the access blocks. Each client access block includes at least one of a first access key, a second access key and a third access key. The access keys are encapsulated within biometric information of the client. The server grants one of a first level of access based on a successful verification of a signed request with the first public key and a second level of access based on a successful verification of the signed request with the second public key. |
| US09166795B2 |
Device and method for forming a signature
A device is described for forming a signature from an input signal (input). According to the present invention, a plurality of transformation elements is provided, each having a finite-state machine, to which, on the input end, in each case the input signal (input) and/or a signal (input′), that is a function of the input signal, is able to be fed, all the finite-state machines are similar and are configured in such a way, particularly able to be initialized, that each finite-state machine always respectively has a different state than do all the other finite-state machines, and the signature is formable as a function of state data of at least one finite-state machine. |
| US09166787B2 |
Securing encrypted virtual hard disks
Securing encrypted virtual hard disks may include a variety of processes. In one example, a virtual hard disk is created for a user and encrypted with a volume key, and the volume key placed in an administrator header. The administrator header may be encrypted with a protection key, the protection key created from a user identifier corresponding to the user, a volume identifier corresponding to the virtual hard disk, and two cryptographic secrets. The protection key may then destroyed after encrypting the administrator header and therefore, might never leave the encryption engine. The two cryptographic secrets may be stored in separate storage locations, one accessible to the user and the other accessible to administrators. Accordingly, the protection key might never transmitted or can be intercepted, and no single entity may be compromised to gain access to all of the information needed to recreate the protection key. |
| US09166784B2 |
Method of generating key
According to a method of generating a key of the present invention, a first device and a second device are first brought into contact with one vibrator. In this state, the vibrator generates vibration. A first acceleration sensor provided in the first device and a second acceleration sensor provided in the second device detect the vibration. Subsequently, the first device notifies the second device of a first feature value based upon the detection result of the first acceleration sensor. The second device notifies the first device of a second feature value based upon the detection result of the second acceleration sensor. Then the first device compares the notified second feature value with the first feature value and generates a key based upon the comparison result. The second device compares the notified first feature value with the second feature value and generates a key based upon the comparison result. |
| US09166783B2 |
Protection method, decryption method, player, storage medium, and encryption apparatus of digital content
A digital content protection method includes distributing, together with an encrypted content, an encrypted protected program key, a protected content key, and a protected code including an individual instruction code, at least some elements of which are designed according to a unique operation code specification for each content player or for each content player group. |
| US09166782B2 |
Dynamic distributed key system and method for identity management, authentication servers, data security and preventing man-in-the-middle attacks
A distributed key encryption system and method is provided in which a key storage server provides a session key to the source and destination computers by encrypting the session key with unique distributed private keys that are associated with the respective source and destination computers by unique private key identifiers The destination computer then decrypts the encrypted session key using it's distributed private key and then decrypts the communication using the decrypted session key. |
| US09166777B2 |
Method and system for user authentication for computing devices utilizing PKI and other user credentials
A system and method for user authentication utilizing PKI credentials and user credentials on an electronic device comprising a mobile communication device, smart phone, a computer or other computing device. |
| US09166774B2 |
Decoupling bang-bang CDR and DFE
An apparatus including a bang-bang clock data recovery module and a decision feedback equalizer. A phase detector of the bang-bang clock and data recovery module may be configured to eliminate coupling between the bang-bang clock and data recovery module and the decision feedback equalizer based upon an error signal of the decision feedback equalizer and a predetermined coefficient. |
| US09166773B2 |
System timing margin improvement of high speed I/O interconnect links by using fine training of phase interpolator
Methods and apparatus for improving system timing margin of high speed I/O (input/output) interconnect links by using fine training of a phase interpolator are described. In some embodiments, I/O links use forward clock architecture to send data from transmit driver to receiver logic. Moreover, at the receiver side, Phase Interpolator (PI) logic may be used to place the sampling clock at the center of the valid data window or eye. In an embodiment, a Digital Eye Width Monitor (DEWM) logic may be used to measure data eye width in real time. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US09166772B2 |
Data reception apparatus oversampling received bits and data communication system oversampling received bits
A data reception apparatus obtains an integrated number of bits by integrating the numbers of bits of a bit string, obtains an integrated number of samples by integrating the number of samples obtained by oversampling each bit, obtains an approximated line that indicates correspondence between the integrated number of bits and the integrated number of samples, determines, based on the approximated line, a bit length of a bit string corresponding to a segment in which identical values continue in oversampling data after the integrated number of samples. Even when a receive-side clock source has a degree of clock frequency error against a transmit-side clock source, how many samples one bit of the bit string corresponds to is obtained with an accuracy higher than a period of oversampling (inverse of the number of samples). |
| US09166771B2 |
Reception circuit
A reception circuit includes: an equalizer; a comparator to compare an output signal of the equalizer with first, second, and third thresholds at a first-timing to output first, second, and third comparison-results, respectively; a selector to select any one of the first and second comparison-results based on a determination-result at a timing before the first-timing, and update the determination-result; a detector to detect a phase information based on the first or second comparison-result not selected; a shifter to adjust a sampling clock phase based on the phase information detected; and a controller to set a third threshold based on the first and second thresholds by either adjusting the first and second thresholds based on the output signal amplitude or adding/subtracting a first value to/from the output signal, detect an equalization-result based on the third comparison-result by the set third threshold, and adjust an equalization coefficient based on the detected equalization-result. |
| US09166766B2 |
System and method for full duplex cancellation
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for enabling improved cancellation of self-interference in full-duplex communications, or the transmitting and receiving of communications in a single frequency band without requiring time, frequency, or code divisions. The system estimates the signal strength and phase of a self-interference signal, generates a cancellation signal based on this estimate, then uses the cancellation signal to suppress the self-interference before sampling received analog signal. After applying the cancellation signal, the system samples and digitizes the remaining analog signal. The digitized signal is then subjected to additional digital cancellation, allowing for extraction of the desired signal. |
| US09166765B2 |
High-frequency circuit module
Provided is a high-frequency circuit module that has high mounting density. In a high-frequency circuit module, an RFIC that performs transmission and reception processes for high-frequency signals, a power amplifier IC that amplifies a transmission signal from the RFIC, and a duplexer that separates a transmission signal outputted from the power amplifier IC to an antenna and a reception signal that is inputted from the antenna to the RFIC are formed on the top surface thereof. The duplexer is disposed between the RFIC and the power amplifier IC. |
| US09166757B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting SRS in LTE TDD system
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting and receiving an uplink Sounding Reference Signal (SRS). The method includes receiving index information for a sounding reference signal (SRS); determining an SRS offset and an SRS period, based on the index information; and transmitting the SRS, based on the SRS offset and the SRS period. If the index information includes an integer from 0 to 9, the SRS is transmitted twice in a period of 5 ms. If the index information includes an integer from 10 to 644, the SRS period is selected among 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, 160 ms, and 320 ms. |
| US09166755B2 |
Method and device for transmitting a downlink reference signal in a wireless communications system supporting multiple antennas
A method for a base station to transmit a channel-state-information reference signal for up to 8 antenna ports includes mapping, in accordance with a predetermined pattern, the channel-state-information reference signal for up to 8 antenna ports onto a data region of a downlink subframe having an extended cyclic prefix (CP) structure, and transmitting the downlink subframe onto which the channel-state-information reference signal for up to 8 antenna ports has been mapped; and, in the predetermined pattern, the channel-state-information reference signal for up to 8 antenna ports in mapped onto 2 OFDM symbols on the data region of the downlink subframe, with a definition for mapping onto at least one of 4 subcarrier wave positions in each of the 2 OFDM symbols, and the 4 subcarrier wave positions defined in the predetermined pattern can be disposed at 3 subcarrier wave intervals. |
| US09166753B2 |
Method for providing control information associated with fractional frequency reuse
The present invention relates to a method for providing control information in a mobile communication system. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for providing control information through a network in mobile communication. The method comprises: a step for configuring the information associated with plural frequency resource groups and the power levels thereof in the control information of preset data format, wherein the plural frequency resource groups are for application of FFR (Fractional Frequency Reuse), and a step for transmitting the control information to at least one terminal. |
| US09166751B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving control information in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting control information to first and second terminals by a Base Station (BS) in a wireless communication system transmitting control information according to a plurality of muting patterns. The method includes determining a resource for transmitting a Channel Status Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) and a resource for applying muting; determining a resource for transmitting a control signal to a first terminal according to the plurality of muting patterns; and transmitting control information including the determined resource information to at least one of the first terminal and a second terminal. The resource for transmitting the control signal to the first terminal is applied as a resource to which muting is applied for the second terminal. |
| US09166749B2 |
Serial data transmission system and method
A serial data transmission system includes a sending terminal for sending data, a receiving terminal for receiving the data sent by the sending terminal, a first connecting capacitor connected between the sending terminal and the receiving terminal, and a second connected capacitor connected between the sending terminal and the receiving terminal. The sending terminal includes a sending terminal driving unit, and an amplitude detecting unit connected to the sending terminal driving unit. The sending terminal driving unit outputs a pair of differential signals according to signals of the received data. The amplitude detecting unit detects changes in amplitudes of the differential signals outputted by the sending terminal driving unit, and outputs an indicating signal for indicating whether the sending terminal is properly connected to the receiving terminal. A serial data transmission method is further provided. |
| US09166748B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving the hybrid-ARQ ACK/NACK signal in mobile communication system
An apparatus and method are provided for transmitting a symbol group in a mobile communication system. The method includes generating the symbol group to which an orthogonal sequence is applied; mapping the generated symbol group to an orthogonal frequency division multiple (OFDM) symbol and a multiple antenna array based on a symbol group index and a physical hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) indicator channel (PHICH) group index; and transmitting the mapped symbol group. The generated symbol group is mapped to the OFDM symbol and the multiple antenna array in an alternating pattern in accordance with the symbol group index. |
| US09166743B2 |
Method for handling transmission errors on a telecommunications transmission line
When data retransmission is used to handle errors caused by impulse noise, buffer memory requirements may be reduced and/or data rate increased by detecting impulse noise at the transmitting equipment and initiating retransmission in response to such detection rather than waiting for a retransmission indication from the receiving end. The decision to retransmit may be made dependent on the strength or other properties of the detected noise burst. The decision criterion may be made adaptive by correlating noise burst properties with received retransmission indications or the absence thereof. |
| US09166742B2 |
Transmission device, transmission method, receiving device and receiving method
A frame configuration used for both SISO transmission and MISO and/or MIMO transmission. According to the frame configuration, a frame has a preamble, a control symbol, and transmission data symbols. A transmission device includes the designation of a transmission scheme of the transmission data symbols in the control symbol and includes the designation of a transmission scheme of the control symbol in the preamble. This frame configuration improves the reception performance (detection performance) of a reception device. |
| US09166741B2 |
OFDM transmitter with variable code block interleaver and method for OFDM communications with variable code block sizes
A multi-antenna transmitter is configured for orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) communications. The multi-antenna transmitter includes circuitry to receive an input bit sequence for code block segmentation including adding filler bits based on a selected code block size, a encoder to encode the bit sequence and an interleaver configurable to perform interleaving operations on blocks of bits of various code block sizes of the bit sequence. A controller is to select the code block size for the interleaver and OFDM transmitter circuitry to transmit OFDM symbols on subcarriers utilizing more than one antenna. The OFDM symbols are generated at least in part from the interleaved blocks. |
| US09166733B2 |
Adaptive (RLC) segmentation
A method and nodes for providing adaptive segmentation in a higher protocol layer interacting with a lower protocol layer. An adaptable segmentation limit, defining a threshold of a largest Protocol Data Unit (PDU) that is to be submitted to a lower protocol layer, is deployed at a higher protocol layer interacting with the lower protocol layer. A PDU to be submitted to the lower protocol layer may match any transport block size that is available in the lower protocol layer. For each Service Data Unit (SDU) arriving at the higher protocol layer, it is determined if the respective SDU can fit into the segmentation limit or not. Each SDU that do not fit into the segmentation limit is segmented into PDUs which are smaller than or equal to the segmentation limit, while no segmentation is performed on SDUs that fit into the segmentation limit. |
| US09166731B2 |
Transformer with integrated notch filter
Techniques for providing low-cost and effective jammer rejection for a radio receiver. In an aspect, a notch filter is provided between a transformer and a differential mixer in the receiver. The notch frequency of the notch filter may be selected to correspond to an expected jammer frequency to effectively attenuate the jammer signal prior to down-conversion mixing by the mixer. The notch filter may be implemented using various techniques, e.g., an L-C combination having adjustable capacitance, and/or elliptic or Chebyshev filters. |
| US09166729B2 |
Enhanced demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) design
A method in a mobile communication terminal includes receiving a Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) signal, which includes at least a precoded transmission that is addressed to the terminal and which includes one or more Demodulation Reference Signals (DM-RS). Control information, which indicates one or more scrambling sequences and one or more orthogonalization sequences used in producing the DM-RS, is received in the mobile communication terminal. The control information is provided in a format that does not permit signaling of every possible scrambling sequence and orthogonalization sequence selection. The control information is interpreted in the mobile communication terminal so as to identify the scrambling sequences and orthogonalization sequences used in producing the DM-RS, and the DM-RS are demodulated using the identified scrambling sequences and orthogonalization sequences. |
| US09166727B2 |
Optical communication system, optical network management apparatus and optical network management method
An optical communication system includes a plurality of wavelength selective switches arranged on an optical network; and an optical network management apparatus configured to manage and control the optical network. In response to a path establishing request, the optical network management apparatus determines power consumption of each path that satisfies the path establishing request in the optical network based upon a wavelength being used at a connection port of each of the wavelength selective switches, selects a route based upon the determined power consumption of each of the path, and sets the selected route in the optical network. |
| US09166726B2 |
Diverging device with OADM function and wavelength division multiplexing optical network system and method therefor
The present invention does not require control and path switching by terminal station equipment and prevents the deterioration of signal quality when a cable failure occurs. A wavelength diverging device connected with three or more stations monitors an uplink signal received from each station, and when detecting the absence of an uplink signal received from any station, outputs dummy light instead of the absent signal, performs multiplexing/de-multiplexing for the dummy light and an uplink signal received from a station excluding said any station, and outputs the multiplexed/de-multiplexed signal. All of said processes are performed within the wavelength diverging device. |
| US09166721B2 |
Reconfigurable optical transmitter
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to reconfigurable optical transmitters. In some implementations, an apparatus, systems, or methods can include multiple ports to receive independent optical data signals or independent electrical signals that are converted into independent optical data signals, at least one optical pump laser, and one or more nonlinear optics elements configured and arranged to generate a phase conjugate for each of the independent optical data signals at least by combining the respective independent optical data signal with an output of the optical pump, and generate an output optical signal from the independent optical data signals at least by combining each of the independent optical data signals with its corresponding generated phase conjugate. |
| US09166717B2 |
Uplink synchronization maintenance principles in wireless networks
A cell within cellular network includes user equipments (UEs) that transmit data to a base station (eNB). Over a period of time, not all of the UEs will have data to transmit. The UEs are tracked as a scheduled portion and an unscheduled portion, wherein a UE is included in the scheduled portion in response to receiving a scheduling request from the UE. Synchronization is maintained between the eNB and each UE in the scheduled portion by sending a timing adjustment (TA) command if needed. Synchronization is maintained between the eNB and each UE in the unscheduled portion by allocating a periodic reference signal (sync-RS) to each UE in the unscheduled portion and by sending a respective timing adjustment (TA) command if needed to each respective UE in the unscheduled portion in response to a respective sync-RS received from each UE in the unscheduled portion. |
| US09166713B2 |
System for providing access to operation information
A method for providing access to operation information relating to a digital signal, including providing a digital signal encoded, in accordance with a layered encoding scheme, in a plurality of layers, and extracting operation information from a first layer of encoding within the digital signal, and placing the extracted information in a data section in a second layer of encoding within the digital signal. Related methods and apparatus are also described. |
| US09166712B2 |
Method and apparatus for multiplexing audio program channels from one or more received broadcast streams to provide a playlist style listening experience to users
Methods and apparatuses provide personalized radio by outputting selected songs from multiple channels from one or more source streams. Users can specify favorite channels for building their personal playlists, or multiple default playlist channels can be provided by genre or other criteria. User like/dislike inputs via the radio receiver generate filter data used to search all channels for matches or block songs from playback. Filter data can also be based on virtual DJ recommendations. Channel searching for matches involves monitoring real-time song and artist labels or other metadata for all channels carried in a separate data channel. Personalization can also be provided by using filter data to select content from a mixed channel comprising content from a selected group of channels. Connectivity options and web interfaces are provided to facilitate transfer and sharing of customization parameters for personalized radio configuration. |
| US09166710B2 |
Power display for communication signal and signal analyzer
In order to easily understand the relationship between communication signals of a plurality of channels, a signal analyzer provides a display showing a stacked bar graph 100 that stacks powers of the plurality of channels in every time slot with the horizontal axis representing time. A marker 110 is displayed on the graph 100 and parameter information in the time slot corresponding to the display position of the marker 110 is also displayed in a table 112. If the display position of the marker 110 may change and the parameter information for the time slot is not displayed in the table 112, the display range of the parameters in the table 112 is changed in synchronism with the displayed marker position. Additionally, power related information of each channel in the time slot corresponding to the display position of the marker 110 may also be displayed in a display column 118. |
| US09166709B2 |
Ambient signal identification
A method and apparatus for identifying ambient signal data in a test signal data set. A cumulative amplitude distribution of data elements is identified in the test signal data set in order by amplitude values. The data elements comprise frequency values and corresponding amplitude values. A subset of data elements from the test signal data set is identified. The subset of data elements comprises the data elements with the amplitude values greater than a first threshold value. The data elements in the subset of data elements are identified wherein a difference between the amplitude values of adjacent data elements in the cumulative amplitude distribution of data elements is greater than a second threshold value. |
| US09166708B2 |
Apparatus and method for detecting microwave radiation
An apparatus for detecting microwave signals is suggested. The apparatus comprises an antenna for sending and receiving electromagnetic waves a circuit for detecting microwave signals and the signalization stage for generating an indication signal. In addition to that a method for detecting the presence of microwave signals is proposed. |
| US09166707B2 |
Transmitter, signal generation device, calibration method, and signal generation method
It is intended to provide a transmitter capable of correcting signal distortion with high accuracy. Provided are a test signal generator; a frequency characteristics corrector for correcting an amplitude characteristic and a phase characteristic of a test signal; a modulator; an envelope detector; a frequency characteristics calculator for calculating frequency characteristics of an envelope signal; and a coefficients calculator for calculating, on the basis of the frequency characteristics, correction coefficients to be used for correcting the amplitude characteristic and the phase characteristic of the test signal. The test signal generator generates a test signal in which signal loci in each of at least two pairs of quadrants of first to fourth quadrants of the IQ plane are not symmetrical with each other. |
| US09166706B2 |
System and method for testing a radio frequency integrated circuit
In an embodiment, a method of testing a radio frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) includes generating high frequency test signals using the on-chip test circuit, measuring signal levels using on-chip power detectors, and controlling and monitoring the on-chip test circuit using low frequency signals. The RFIC circuit is configured to operate at high frequencies, and an on-chip test circuit that includes frequency generation circuitry configured to operate during test modes. |
| US09166690B2 |
Power distribution module(s) for distributed antenna systems, and related power units, components, systems, and methods
A power distribution module can be installed in and connected to a power unit for providing power to a power-consuming DAS component(s), such as a remote unit(s) (RU(s)) as a non-limiting example. The RU may include an antenna, and may sometimes be referred to as a remote antenna unit or RAU. Power from the power distribution module is distributed to any power-consuming DAS components connected to the power distribution modules including but not limited to remote units. The power distribution modules distribute power to the power-consuming DAS components to provide power for power-consuming components in the power-consuming DAS components. In a first configuration, the power distribution module uses two power links to provide power to a single RU. In a second configuration, the power distribution module uses two power links to provide power to two RUs. |
| US09166688B2 |
Network device of optical network terminal and method of adjusting power of optical signals
A network device of an optical network terminal (ONT) includes an optical communication interface, an input interface, a memory and a processor. Wherein the optical communication interface transmits optical signals with adjusted transmission power; the input interface is used to input a distance; the memory stores a plurality of distances, and a plurality of databases respectively correspond to the distances; the processor electrically connects to the optical communication interface, input interface and the memory, and is used to access the database in the memory corresponding to the inputted distance, and then adjust the transmission power of the optical communication interface according to the content in the database. In addition, a method of adjusting the power of optical signals is further provided in this invention. |
| US09166687B2 |
Method and apparatus for using credits to determine cable length
Various systems and methods for using credits to determine cable length are described herein. A number of available credits is determined at a transmitter, the credits being received at the transmitter from a receiver, and each of the credits being used for the transmitter to transmit a packet to the receiver. An average number of credits for a period is determined. The cable length between the transmitter and the receiver is determined based on the average number of credits for the period. |
| US09166684B2 |
Integrated commercial communications network using radio frequency and free space optical data communication
A stabilized ultra-high bandwidth capacity transceiver system that combines an E-band (71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz) millimeter wave RF transceiver with an eye-safe adaptive optics Free Space Optical (FSO) transceiver as a combined apparatus for simultaneous point-to-point commercial communications. The apparatus has a high degree of assured carrier availability under stressing environmental conditions. The apparatus establishes and maintains pointing and stabilization of mmW RF and FSO optical beams between adjacent line of sight apparatuses. The apparatus can rapidly acquire and reacquire the FSO optical carrier link in the event the optical carrier link is impaired due to adverse weather. |
| US09166682B2 |
Carrier phase estimator for non-linear impairment monitoring and mitigation in coherent optical systems
The present document relates to a method and apparatus in optical transmission systems for the estimation of the carrier phase and the degree of non-linear distortions incurred in an optical transmission channel. A plurality of signal samples are provided at succeeding time instances such that the plurality of signal samples: is associated with a modulation scheme and a carrier phase; has been transmitted over the optical transmission channel; comprises a plurality of signal phases, respectively; comprises a plurality of data phases and a plurality of residual phases, respectively; and the plurality of residual phases is associated with the carrier phase. The method comprises further canceling the plurality of data phases from the plurality of signal phases by taking into account the modulation scheme; thereby yielding the plurality of residual phases; and determining a set of autocorrelation values of the plurality of residual phases for a set of lag values, respectively. |
| US09166680B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring IQ imbalance for optical receiver
Provided is an apparatus and method for measuring IQ imbalance, and in particular, is an apparatus and method for measuring IQ imbalance for an optical receiver. The apparatus for measuring IQ imbalance for an optical receiver includes a light generating unit generating optical and reference signals to provide the optical and reference signals to an optical receiver, a graph creating unit creating a Lissajous figure by using an in-phase (I) signal and a quadrature-phase (Q) signal output from the optical receiver in response to the optical and reference signals, and a calculating unit calculating IQ imbalance for the optical receiver with reference to the Lissajous figure. |
| US09166677B2 |
Method and apparatus for associating a relay in wireless communications
Methods and apparatuses are provided that facilitate associating with relays in a wireless network. A device can select whether to utilize relay assistance where present based at least in part on measuring one or more determined or projected parameters related to the relay. Where utilizing a relay results in user-plane data channel conditions above a threshold level and control channel conditions below a threshold level, a serving base station can determine whether to employ another base station to serve the device, jointly serve a relay with an additional base station, and/or the like. |
| US09166675B2 |
Frame timing synchronization in a geostationary satellite system
Aspects of the invention provide a system and method to allow inroute frame timing synchronization without the aid of hub signal loopback or satellite ephemeris data. Furthermore, it allows tracking and compensating of the satellite motion to allow multiple remotes to use TDMA on the inroute frequencies, while minimizing the aperture. Two main techniques proposed are CLT and polling based approaches, which are used in combination for an optimum solution. In CLT based approach, hub transmits remote specific timing correction feedback messages on the outroute on as needed basis. In polling based approach, the remotes derive their timing based on a per-beam average delay estimate broadcast by the hub and a measured local delay specific to each outroute stream from a remote. An aspect of the invention uses triangulation method to determine satellite position. Furthermore, an aspect of the invention uses hub burst arrival method instead of polling approach. |
| US09166673B2 |
Dynamic power allocations for direct broadcasting satellite (DBS) channels via wavefront multiplexing
A direct broadcasting satellite (DBS) system features a capability of coherently combining amplified signals powers from various broadcasting transponders without modifying the satellite segment. Organized DBS transponders would function as an equivalent DBS transponder with a higher EIRP. Power allocations are via a mechanism in an uplink transmitter in a ground segment and power combining mechanisms are in user receivers in a user segment. Specifically, the transmitter generates mixtures of input signals by using Wavefront-Multiplexing and transmits wavefront-multiplexed (WFM) signals which are sent concurrently through multiple parallel channels of transponders in the satellite segment. A receiver in the user segment separates the mixtures of received amplified WFM signals and coherently combines amplified components by various transponders by adaptive equalizing and Wavefront De-Multiplexing processors. The WFM signal mixtures allow an operator, or automated system, at the transmitter to dynamically allocate the equivalent transponder powers according to continuously changing demands. |
| US09166672B2 |
Wireless communication system, relay system, repeater devices and synchronization method
A wireless communication system comprises a relay system including a plurality of relay devices and a plurality of wireless terminal devices. Each relay device transmits control information to the wireless terminal device which is registered in the own relay device, and each wireless terminal device selects, based on the control information received from the relay device which registers the own wireless terminal device, a channel which is currently able to relay a communication among channels respectively allocated to the relay devices to establish a communication between the wireless terminal devices. Each relay device acquires information configuring the control information via a communication line and causes a downlink signal wirelessly transmitted by the own relay device to synchronize with a communication signal, and each wireless terminal device maintains, when shifting a channel for communication to another channel, a synchronized state established in a channel prior to shifting. |
| US09166671B2 |
Communication system, relay device, and communication method
A communication system, a relay device, and a communication method are provided in a configuration where multiple communication devices are divided into multiple groups, a relay device is provided for each group, and the relay device relays data exchanges between groups. The data that is exchanged between a second relay device and an external wireless communication device is stored such that it is distributed among multiple databases of first relay units. Data received from the external communication device is stored in an individual region in the database of the first relay device and a data storage destination table in the second relay device is encrypted. If the first relay device stores data received from an ECU in the database, the second relay device is notified, and the second relay device updates the data storage destination table according to the notification. |
| US09166669B1 |
Sparse ordered iterative group decision feedback interference cancellation
Data can be received characterizing a first signal received on a plurality of antennas and comprising multiple transmission signals transmitted simultaneously on at least a same resource element in an orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDM) communications system. A final estimate of the multiple transmission signals can be determined from at least the received data by iteratively estimating multiple transmission signals from the first signal and feeding back selected estimated multiple transmission signals, which satisfy a criterion, to cancel components of the first signal. Data characterizing the estimated multiple transmission signals can be provided. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described. |
| US09166660B2 |
Uplink multi-user multiple input multiple output beamforming
As part of a beamforming training procedure, a first communication device transmits a beamforming training packet. The first device then receives a plurality of respective beamforming feedback packets from a plurality of second communication devices. The first device then uses the plurality of beamforming feedback packets to select a group of multiple communication devices from among the plurality of second communication devices, wherein the group is selected for simultaneous transmissions to the first communication device. The first device then transmits a synchronization signal to the group to prompt second communication devices in the group to simultaneously transmit to the first communication device at a particular time. The first device then receives simultaneous transmissions from the group responsive to the synchronization signal. |
| US09166659B2 |
Method and device for selecting precoding matrices based on representations of speed of related devices
Communication may be provided from a first communication device over a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless channel to a second communication device. More particularly, feedback may be received at the first communication device from the second communication device, with the feedback including a precoding matrix selection from the second communication device. A representation of a speed of the second communication device relative to the first communication device may be generated. Responsive to the representation of the speed of the second communication device indicating a speed that is greater than a selection threshold, a generalized precoding matrix may be selected that is different than a precoding matrix indicated by the precoding matrix selection from the second communication device. Related devices are also discussed. |
| US09166650B2 |
Capacitive-coupled crosstalk cancellation
This disclosure presents a method of canceling inductance-dominated crosstalk using a capacitive coupling circuit; it also presents a method of calibrating, selecting and programming a capacitance value used for coupling, so as to add a derivative of each aggressor signal to each victim signal, and thereby negate crosstalk that would otherwise be seen by a given receiver. In the context of a multiple-line bus, cross-coupling circuits may be used between each pair of “nearest neighbors,” with values calibrated and used for each particular transmitter-receiver pair. Embodiments are also presented which address crosstalk induced between lines that are not nearest neighbors, such as, for example, for use in a differential signaling system. |
| US09166646B1 |
Transceiver circuit and method for operating a transceiver circuit
Embodiments of transceiver circuits and methods for operating a transceiver circuit are described. In one embodiment, a transceiver circuit includes a feedback loop connected to a bus and a control circuit connected to the bus. The feedback loop includes a tunable low-pass filter. The control circuit is configured to detect a radio frequency (RF) disturbance on the bus and control the bandwidth of the tunable low-pass filter in response to detection of the RF disturbance on the bus. Other embodiments are also described. |
| US09166642B2 |
Signal receiving device and signal receiving method
A signal receiving device and signal receiving method to pass a desired frequency component of an intermediate frequency signal by using an IF filter without increasing a chip area. The signal receiving device comprises: a mixer to mix a received frequency signal with a local oscillation frequency signal to generate an intermediate frequency signal; an IF filter to pass a predetermined frequency component of the intermediate frequency signal; a controlling part which adjusts, according to a frequency band of the intermediate frequency signal, the frequency band of the IF filter, and adjust, according to a center frequency set in the IF filter that fluctuates with the adjustment, a center frequency of the intermediate frequency signal to be inputted in the IF filter; and a demodulating part to demodulate a frequency component of the intermediate frequency signal outputted after passing through the IF filter. |
| US09166637B2 |
Impulse noise mitigation under out-of-band interference conditions
An impulse noise mitigation circuit (INMC) may set a cut-off frequency of each of two high pass filters to bound a frequency bandwidth of a desired signal, wherein a first of the two filters allows frequencies higher than the frequency bandwidth of the desired signal, and a second of the two filters allows frequencies lower than the frequency bandwidth of the desired signal. The INMC may compute and store a mean magnitude separately for a first signal response of the first filter and a second signal response of the second filter. The INMC may select the first filter for impulse noise mitigation when the mean magnitude of the second filter is greater than the mean magnitude of the first filter. The INMC may select the second filter for impulse noise mitigation when the mean magnitude of the first filter is greater than the second filter. |
| US09166636B2 |
Rejection of RF interferers and noise in a wireless communications transceiver
The invention provides a radio receiver or transceiver having one or more low noise amplifiers corresponding to one or more antenna inputs wherein one or more outputs of the one or more low noise amplifiers is/are combined at a single output current summing node, a tunable, shunt notch filter is coupled or connected to the summed output node that allows for the attenuation of a Tx blocker or interferer, an external blocker or interferer or an internal on-chip interferer. |
| US09166633B2 |
Systems and methods for interfacing a white space device with a host device
Information is communicated from a host device to a receiving device via white space. A white space device is interfaced with the host device. The white space device has at least one port configured to communicatively interface with a host device to receive multimedia content from the host device. The white space device also optionally has a television band engine configured to encode a transport stream containing at least a portion of the multimedia content received from the host device. A transmitter is configured to transmit the transport stream via white space. |
| US09166630B1 |
Adaptive radio communications systems and methods
An illustrative adaptive radio communications system comprises a cluster of waveform and application processor entities coupled and a plurality of transceivers. The transceivers convert radio frequency (RF) signals into digital in-phase and quadrature (I/Q) data, which is sent to the waveform processor entities via a network fabric. The waveform processor entities perform low-level waveform processing and the application processor entities perform high-level, distributed signal processing. The system and related methods are capable of processing multiple programmable waveforms of varying complexity. |
| US09166627B2 |
Combination error and erasure decoding for product codes
In one embodiment, a system for combination error and erasure decoding for product codes includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to receive captured data, generate erasure flags for the captured data and provide the erasure flags to a C2 decoder, set a stop parameter to be equal to a length of C1 codewords in a codeword interleave used to encode the captured data, and selectively perform, in an iterative process, error or erasure C1 decoding followed by error or erasure C2 decoding until decoding is successful or unsuccessful. In more embodiments, a method and/or a computer program product may be used for combination error and erasure decoding for product codes. |
| US09166623B1 |
Reed-solomon decoder
A system and method of decoding a Reed-Solomon code using a Reed-Solomon decoder comprising an erasure location selector, multiple syndrome formers and multiple Berlekamp-Massey decoders that share a single error correction unit, and means for selecting a Berlekamp-Massey decoder output as the input to the error correction unit. The method improves the bit error rate performance of the Reed-Solomon decoder compared to known hard-decision and soft-decision Reed-Solomon decoders. The Reed-Solomon decoder also provides hardware area and power savings over more complex Reed-Solomon decoders. |
| US09166620B2 |
Method and apparatus for a memory based packet compression encoding
Methods and apparatus for wireless communication in a mobile device that includes receiving a transmission data packet and detecting a string of bytes in the transmission data packet that matches a preset string of bytes saved in a memory component. Aspects of the methods and apparatus include replacing the string of bytes of the transmission data packet that has been determined to match the preset string of bytes saved in the memory component with a location pointer, wherein after replacing the string of bytes in the data packet with the location pointer, the data packet comprises the location pointer and a set of literal bytes. Aspects of the methods and apparatus also include generating a compressed transmission data packet by entropy coding the transmission data packet comprising the set of literal-bytes and the location pointer. |
| US09166613B2 |
A/D conversion circuit and solid-state imaging device
An A/D conversion circuit and a solid-state imaging device are able to reduce current consumption, and two input terminals of a NAND element included in a latch circuit receive a corresponding one of a plurality of clock signals and an enable signal. The enable signal is not input to the NAND element before an end timing of A/D conversion, and is input to the NAND element at the end timing of the A/D conversion and at a timing at which latching is performed. The latch circuit latches no clock signal when the enable signal is not input. |
| US09166610B2 |
Converter arrangement and method for converting an analogue input signal into a digital output signal
The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for the identification of parameters in a nonlinear model of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC 17) and the use of this information to reduce the nonlinear distortions of the ADC. A parameter estimator determines an AD parameter vector PAD which describes the nonlinearities of the ADC (17). According to the invention the ADC is excited by a perturbed input signal y′A generated by adder 77 which combines the analog input signal yA with perturbation signal s1 provided by generator. The nonlinear system identification uses intermodulation distortion generated in the digital ADC output signal y′D which are not found in the analog input signal yA. A nonlinear AD compensation element compensates based on parameter vector PAD the nonlinear distortion generated by the ADC and generates the linearized output signal yD. Digital control information PP,1 are used to generate the perturbation signal s1 in generator and to remove the perturbation signal the compensation element. The linearized ADC (is the basis for linearizing digital-analog-converters (DAC), amplifiers and other hardware components. |
| US09166604B2 |
Timing monitor for PLL
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide error detection for a phase-locked-loop (PLL) device. A timing monitor is arranged to count pulses output by one or more portions of the PLL device, a quantity or pattern of the pulses indicating an error of the PLL device. |
| US09166602B2 |
Transceiver
A transceiver 1 includes a frequency synthesizer 2 configured to generate an output signal 3 for use as a carrier signal for transmission and/or a signal with a channel frequency for reception, wherein the frequency synthesizer is a sub-sampling based frequency locked loop frequency synthesizer. The combination of a FLL and sub-sampling allows to obtain a sub-sample based locked loop with a closed loop response similar to a PLL but with improved settling time and improved suppression of high frequency components of the quantization noise due to the sampling process. The transceiver allows to obtain a frequency synthesizer with improved characteristics with respect to at least one of power consumption, locking characteristic, design optimization characteristics compared to non-sub-sampling PLL based frequency synthesizers. |
| US09166599B1 |
Methods and apparatus for building bus interconnection networks using programmable interconnection resources
Integrated circuits may include logic regions configurable to perform custom functions. Interconnects may be used to rout signals throughout the integrated circuit. The logic region may be coupled to input selection circuitry for selecting and providing input signals from the interconnects to the logic regions and to output selection and routing circuitry for selecting and transmitting output signals over interconnects to other logic regions. Bypass circuitry may provide direct access to registers inside the logic regions and to the output selection and routing circuitry by bypassing the input selection circuitry and other processing circuitry inside the logic regions. Bus interconnections having logic regions performing register pipelining, wire stitching, and acting as data source/sink stations to get on and off the bus interconnections may be generated by configuring the bypass circuitry and the output selection and routing circuitry appropriately. |
| US09166598B1 |
Routing and programming for resistive switch arrays
Various structures and methods are disclosed related to routing and programming circuitry on integrated circuits (“IC”) that have arrays of programmable resistive switches. In some embodiments, routing structures utilize densely populated resistive switch arrays to provide for efficient selection circuits that route into and out of logic regions. In other embodiments, programming circuitry is provided to help maintain relatively consistent programming current throughout an array of resistive switches to be programmed. In other embodiments, methods are provided for programming resistive switches without violating given power constraints. These and other embodiments are described further herein. |
| US09166596B2 |
Memory interface circuitry with improved timing margins
Integrated circuits may include memory interface circuitry that communicates with memory. The memory interface circuitry may include latch circuitry that receives a data strobe enable signal from the memory controller and latches the data strobe enable signal using a data strobe signal received from the memory. The integrated circuit may include logic circuitry that gates the data strobe signal using the latched data strobe enable signal. The logic circuitry may pass the data strobe signal in response to activation of the latched data strobe enable signal. The integrated circuit may include counter circuitry that monitors the gated data strobe signal. The counter circuitry may monitor the gated data strobe signal by counting pulses in the gated data strobe signal to produce a counter value. When the counter value reaches a target value, the logic circuitry may block the data strobe signal from passing to the memory controller. |
| US09166594B2 |
Flexible, space-efficient I/O circuitry for integrated circuits
Flexible, space-efficient I/O architectures for integrated circuits simplify circuit design and shorten design times. In one aspect, cells for power supply pads are eliminated, in part by locating ESD protection circuitry for these pads underneath the pads themselves, leaving only signal I/O buffers. Pads coupled to the signal I/O buffers may be defined as either signal I/O pads or power supply pads in accordance with customization circuitry. Customization circuitry also provides for flexible bank architectures, where signal I/O buffers within a bank share power supply requirements that may be different from power supply requirements of signal I/O buffers of another bank. The number of banks and the number of signal I/O buffers belonging to each bank is flexibly defined. Customization circuitry also provides for flexible pad options, whereby the IC pads may be configured for different packaging technology, for example, for wire bonding for flip-chip bonding, or for other types of bonding. |
| US09166593B2 |
Flexible, space-efficient I/O circuitry for integrated circuits
Flexible, space-efficient I/O architectures for integrated circuits simplify circuit design and shorten design times. In one aspect, cells for power supply pads are eliminated, in part by locating ESD protection circuitry for these pads underneath the pads themselves, leaving only signal I/O buffers. Pads coupled to the signal I/O buffers may be defined as either signal I/O pads or power supply pads in accordance with customization circuitry. Customization circuitry also provides for flexible bank architectures, where signal I/O buffers within a bank share power supply requirements that may be different from power supply requirements of signal I/O buffers of another bank. The number of banks and the number of signal I/O buffers belonging to each bank is flexibly defined. Customization circuitry also provides for flexible pad options, whereby the IC pads may be configured for different packaging technology, for example, for wire bonding for flip-chip bonding, or for other types of bonding. |
| US09166589B2 |
Multiple data rate interface architecture
Method and circuitry for implementing high speed multiple-data-rate interface architectures for programmable logic devices. The invention partitions I/O pins and their corresponding registers into independent multiple-data rate I/O modules each having at least one pin dedicated to the strobe signal DQS and others to DQ data signals. The modular architecture facilitates pin migration from one generation of PLDs to the next larger generation. |
| US09166586B2 |
Fuel dispenser input device tamper detection arrangement
A system for detecting unauthorized removal or tampering. The system comprises a printed circuit board having tamper-response electronics and a flexible circuit assembly defining a connector portion, a switch portion, and a cable extending between the connector portion and the switch portion. The flexible circuit assembly is coupled with the printed circuit board at the connector portion. The flexible circuit assembly comprises a plurality of layers each comprising a flexible dielectric substrate and a switch disposed in the switch portion. The switch is in electrical communication with the tamper-response electronics of the printed circuit board via a conductive path. The flexible circuit assembly also comprises a tamper-responsive conductor circuit enclosing the conductive path. The tamper-responsive conductor circuit is in electrical communication with the tamper-response electronics of the printed circuit board. |
| US09166585B2 |
Low power inverter circuit
A low power inverter circuit includes first and second transistors that receive an input signal at their gate terminals. The first and second transistors are connected by way of their source terminals to third and fourth transistors, respectively. The third and fourth transistors are connected in parallel with fifth and sixth transistors, respectively. The third and fourth transistors are continuously switched on, and the fifth and sixth transistors are controlled in such a way to reduce short circuit current flowing through the first and second transistors when the input signal transitions from one state to another. |
| US09166584B1 |
Current-encoded signaling
An apparatus is disclosed for communication of data signals in a current-encoded format. The apparatus includes a first logic block and a second logic block. The first logic block includes a first voltage-mode logic (VML) circuit configured to provide a first voltage-encoded binary signal and an encoder circuit configured to convert the voltage-encoded binary signal to a current-encoded binary signal. The second logic block includes a decoder circuit configured to receive the current-encoded binary signal from the first logic block and convert the current-encoded binary signal to a second voltage-encoded binary signal. The logic states encoded by the second voltage-encoded binary signal are equal to the logic states encoded by the first voltage-encoded binary signal. The second logic block also includes a second VML circuit coupled to the decoder circuit and configured to receive and process the second voltage-encoded binary signal. |
| US09166581B2 |
Electrode device, circuit arrangement and method for the approach and touch detection
An electrode device for a capacitive sensor device and a circuit arrangement for a capacitive sensor device for the operation of an electrode device are provided, wherein the electrode device has a first electrode structure with at least one transmitting electrode and at least one receiving electrode, and a second electrode structure with at least one field sensing electrode, wherein the electrode device or the capacitive sensor device can be operated in a first operation mode and in a second operation mode. In addition a method is provided for approach and/or touch detection with a sensor device. |
| US09166579B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for shifting data signals to match command signal delay
Methods and apparatuses for shifting data signals are disclosed herein. An apparatus may comprise a clock generation circuit, a delay path, and a driver. The clock generation circuit may be configured to receive an input clock signal and generate a plurality of clock signals based, at least in part, on the clock signal. A delay path may be coupled to the clock generation circuit and configured to receive the input clock signal and the plurality of clock signals. The delay path may be further configured to receive a data signal and delay the data signal based, at least in part, on the input clock signal and each of the plurality of clock signals. A driver may be coupled to the delay path and configured to receive the delayed data signal, and may further be configured to provide the delayed data signal to a bus. |
| US09166574B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing timing adjustment of input signal
An apparatus for providing time adjustment of an input signal includes a coarse timing digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a replica delay element and an interpolator. The coarse timing DAC has multiple delay settings for providing a coarse timing adjustment of the input signal, and outputs a first delayed signal by delaying the input signal by a first delay time corresponding to a selected setting of the multiple delay settings. The replica delay element receives the first delayed signal from the coarse timing DAC and outputs a second delayed signal by delaying the first delayed signal by a predetermined second delay time. The interpolator blends either the input signal and the first delayed signal or the first delayed signal and the second delayed signal for providing a fine timing adjustment of the input signal, and outputs a timing adjusted output signal including the coarse timing adjustment and the fine timing adjustment. |
| US09166572B2 |
Semiconductor device, semiconductor system including the semiconductor device, and method for driving the semiconductor system
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of pads, a plurality of data input/output units connected with the plurality of pads and enabled in response to a plurality of enable signals, and a group programming unit suitable for grouping the plurality of pads into a number of pad groups in response to a mode register set (MRS) code and group information, and generating a number of groups of enable signals corresponding to the number of pad groups, wherein a number of groups of the data input/output units are sequentially enabled in response to respective groups of the enable signals. |
| US09166571B2 |
Low power high speed quadrature generator
An apparatus comprising a latch comprising a differential inverter configured to receive a differential input signal and generate a differential output signal, a pair of cross-coupled inverters coupled to the differential inverter, and a first clock switch configured to couple the differential inverter to a voltage source, a second clock switch configured to couple the differential inverter to a ground, wherein the first clock switch and the second clock switch are configured to receive a differential clock signal, and wherein the first clock switch and the second clock switch are both open or both closed depending on the differential clock signal, a second latch, wherein the first latch and the second latch are configured as a frequency divider, and a logic circuit coupled to each latch, wherein the logic circuits are configured to generate both an in-phase reference output signal and a quadrature output signal. |
| US09166569B2 |
Relaxation oscillator
A relaxation oscillator is provided in the present invention. The relaxation oscillator includes a R-S latch, a first delay circuit and a second delay circuit. The input terminal of the first delay circuit is coupled to the Q output terminal of the R-S latch, and the output terminal of the first delay circuit is coupled to the reset terminal of the R-S latch. The input terminal of the second delay circuit is coupled to the inversion Q output terminal of the R-S latch, and the output terminal of the second delay circuit is coupled to the set terminal of the R-S latch. When the input terminal of the first delay circuit inputs a first logic voltage, after a delay time, the output terminal of the first delay circuit outputs a second logic pulse. When the input terminal of the second delay circuit inputs the first logic voltage, after the delay time, the output terminal of the second delay circuit outputs the second logic pulse. |
| US09166568B2 |
Low power high resolution sensor interface
A sensor interface circuit is provided for resolving sensor signals from a plurality of sensors into a digital sensor signal. The sensor interface circuit includes a relaxation oscillator that receives and pre-processes the sensor signals to generate an analog sensor signal. The relaxation oscillator includes one or more dynamic circuits. The sensor interface circuit also includes a monitoring module for receiving the analog sensor signal and generating the digital sensor signal in response thereto. There is also provided a sensor system front-end and a relaxation oscillator. |
| US09166564B2 |
Wideband analog bandpass filter
A wideband bandpass filter includes an RF input terminal, an RF output terminal, a plurality of electrically tunable coupling capacitors coupled in series between the RF input and output terminals, and a plurality of resonating circuits each including an electrically tunable resonator capacitor coupled to one of the coupling capacitors. At least one resistance is coupled in series between at least one of the coupling capacitors for providing enhanced out of band rejection of the filter. |
| US09166562B2 |
Impedance transformation network for improved driver circuit performance
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for reducing harmonic emissions. One aspect of the disclosure provides a transmitter apparatus. The transmitter apparatus includes a driver circuit characterized by an efficiency and a power output level. The driver circuit further includes a filter circuit electrically connected to the driver circuit and configured to modify the impedance of the transmit circuit to maintain the efficiency of the driver circuit at a level that is within 20% of a maximum efficiency of the driver circuit when the impedance is within the complex impedance range. The filter circuit is further configured to maintain a substantially constant power output level irrespective of the reactive variations within the complex impedance range. The filter circuit is further configured to maintain a substantially linear relationship between the power output level and the resistive variations within the impedance range. |
| US09166555B2 |
Phase shifter using bulk acoustic wave resonator
A phase shifter using a Bulk Acoustic Wave Resonators (BAWR) is provided. The phase shifter using a BAWR may use a property of a phase shift with respect to a frequency of the BAWR, and also use at least one capacitor, at least one inductor, and the like. |
| US09166554B2 |
Flexural resonator element, resonator, oscillator, and electronic device
A crystal resonator element include a pair of resonating arms extending from a base, the resonating arms includes a groove, a slope portion is formed in a connection portion of the resonating arms to the base so that a distance between the groove and the outer edge of each of the resonating arms increases as it approaches the base from the resonating arms, and a non-electrode region which extends over a range of areas from a connection portion connected to a first side surface formed along the longitudinal direction of the groove and a connection portion connected to a second side surface facing the first side surface with a bottom portion disposed there between and in which excitation electrodes are not formed is provided in the groove in at least a part of the bottom portion positioned in the slope portion. |
| US09166552B2 |
Filter and duplexer
A filter includes one or a plurality of parallel resonators coupled in parallel and one or a plurality of a film bulk acoustic resonators coupled in series, the film bulk acoustic resonator having a substrate, a lower electrode, a piezoelectric membrane, and an upper electrode, wherein: at least one of the lower electrode and the upper electrode has a thick membrane region having a thickness larger than that of a center portion of a resonance region at an edge of the resonance region, the resonance region being a region where the lower electrode and the upper electrode face with each other through the piezoelectric membrane; and a width of the thick membrane region is smaller than a wavelength of an acoustic wave propagating in a direction crossing a thickness direction of the piezoelectric membrane. |
| US09166550B2 |
System and method for using a reference plane to control transmission line characteristic impedance
A system for using a reference plane to control transmission line characteristic impedance includes a signal trace located in a multi-layer structure and at least one constant thickness reference plane proximate to the signal trace, the constant thickness reference plane located with respect to the signal trace so as to provide a desired characteristic impedance between the signal trace and the constant thickness reference plane. |
| US09166547B2 |
Electronic device and method for adjusting volume levels of audio signal outputted by the electronic device
An electronic device includes an audio sensor, an audio output unit, a pulse width modulation (PWM) unit connected to the audio output unit, and a control chip. When the audio output unit outputs the audio signal, the audio sensor detects a volume level of the environment sound. The control chip determines a volume level of the audio signal according to the volume level of the environment sound and preset associations between volume levels of the audio signal outputted by the audio output unit and volume levels of the environment, and determines a duty cycle of the PWM unit according to the determined volume level and the maximum volume level. The control chip then outputs the duty cycle to the PWM unit, to adjust a current volume level of the audio signal outputted by the audio output unit to the determined volume level. |
| US09166545B2 |
Circuit for providing a flat gain response over a selected frequency range and method of use
An integrated circuit is disclosed. The integrated circuit includes an amplifier and a capacitor array coupled to the amplifier. The capacitor array is configured to be coupled in parallel to an inductor that is external to the integrated circuit, and the capacitor array and the external inductor comprise a tank circuit. The integrated circuit includes a resistor array coupled in parallel with the capacitor array. The resistor array is utilized to provide an overall frequency response of the capacitor array and resistor array that is opposite of a frequency response of the external inductor over a predetermined frequency range. |
| US09166542B2 |
High frequency module and portable terminal using same
When the frequency bandwidth of a high frequency signal to be amplified is changed, the linearity of a high frequency module deteriorates. A high frequency module has an amplifier circuit including an amplification transistor and a variable impedance circuit, and an output matching network. Based on an amplifying operation, the amplified high frequency signal will contain unwanted signals of secondary distortion components. In a frequency band that generates such unwanted signals of secondary distortion components, the output impedance of the amplifier circuit is changed so that the impedance will not match between the amplifier circuit and the output matching network. The output impedance of the amplifier circuit is changed by controlling the variable impedance circuit. |
| US09166541B2 |
Signal processing circuit, resolver digital converter, and multipath nested mirror amplifier
A signal processing circuit includes a chopper amplifier that has a differential amplifier circuit that amplifies differential input signals Vsp(t) and Vsm(t), and an adder circuit that generates an addition signal Vfil(t) by addition of the chopper output signal Vsub(t) that the chopper amplifier generates. Differential signals inputted into the differential amplifier circuit are interchanged for every first phase period and second phase period, and the adder circuit generates the addition signal by addition of the chopper output signal in the first phase period and in the second phase period. |
| US09166539B2 |
RF signal generation circuit and wireless transmitter
A wireless transmitter includes an RF signal generation circuit, a driver amplifier, and a class-D amplifier. The RF signal generation circuit detects an amplitude signal and a phase signal based on a digital baseband signal subjected to orthogonal modulation, thus generating a pulse phase signal which is High in response to the phase ranging from 0° to 180° but is Low in response to the phase ranging from 180° to 360°. The amplitude signal is subjected to sigma-delta modulation in synchronism with the pulse phase signal and further mixed with the pulse phase signal, thus producing an RF pulse signal. The RF pulse signal is input to the class-D amplifier via the driver amplifier, thus outputting a pulse voltage signal based on a reference voltage. Thus, it is possible to achieve a small-size wireless transmitter with good noise/distortion characteristics and high power efficiency. |
| US09166537B2 |
Amplifier arrangement
An amplifier arrangement for amplifying a radio signal comprising at least a first amplifier module and a second amplifier module is presented wherein a splitter stage for dividing an amplifier stage input signal into several signal portions. The signal portions are amplified in the at least two parallel amplifier modules. A combiner stage combines the separate amplifier output signals into a single amplifier arrangement output signal. |
| US09166534B2 |
Tunable loadline
A tunable loadline is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes an amplifier configured to output an amplified signal having a selected power level and a first impedance network coupled to receive the amplified signal at an input terminal and generate a first output signal having a first power level at a first output terminal. The first impedance network being configured to load the amplified signal to convert the selected power level to the first power level. The apparatus also includes a second impedance network configured to selectively receive the first output signal and generate a second output signal having a second power level at a second output terminal. The second impedance network being configured to combine with the first impedance network to load the amplified signal to convert the selected power level to the second power level. |
| US09166527B2 |
Amplification circuit having optimization of power
A Power amplifier circuit comprising an input, an output comprising: means for sensing the input voltage; and a set of n cascode circuits, each comprising a first transistor having a gate, a source and a drain terminal and further comprising a second transistor having gate, source and drain terminal; the source and gate of the first transistor of said cascode circuits being respectively connected to a first reference voltage and to receive the input signal, the drain of said first transistor being connected to the source of said second transistor, the drain of which being coupled to said output. By activating or deactivating one or more of the n cascode circuits, the total size of the amplification components can be adapted to the value of the output power to generate. |
| US09166525B2 |
Solar tracker
The solar tracker comprises a base (1) and a solar panel (2) having first and second opposite ends (2a, 2b). The first end (2a) can be connected to the base (1) by a first shaft (E1) and the second end (2b) can be connected to the base (1) by a second shaft (E2), such that said solar panel (2) can pivot with respect to the base (1) alternately around the first shaft (E1) and around the second shaft (E2) under the drive of a lifting mechanism. An automatic connection/disconnection device connects the second end (2b) of the solar panel (2) to the base (1) while at the same time disconnecting the first end (2a) of the solar panel (2) from the base (1), and vice versa, every time the solar panel (2) reaches a position parallel to the base (1) for inverting the inclination of the solar panel (2) with respect to the base (1). |
| US09166524B2 |
Connecting components for photovoltaic arrays
The invention includes an apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic (PV) module on a structure where the apparatus includes a base portion, a stud portion, and a coupling portion. The coupling portion includes a male portion that acts as a spring under load and a clip portion that penetrates the PV module frame to create a grounding bond. The apparatus includes a lower jaw, shaped to pry open a groove, and a key portion that can compress to allow for tolerances. The invention further includes a clip with one or more tabs and one or more teeth. The invention further includes a replacement roof tile which includes a support structure with a horizontal flange, a vertical component, a horizontal component, a flashing with an upper surface and a lower surface, and a tile-shaped metal surface having a curvilinear shape that reflects the shapes of adjacent tiles. |
| US09166522B1 |
Solar panel mounting assembly
A solar panel mounting assembly for securing a solar panel to a structure with the assembly comprising a mounting block having mounting block partitions forming a cross-shaped pattern that abut the solar panel, a threaded male member extending out of the mounting block, and a mounting plate and fastener cap for securing the solar panel to the mounting block. |
| US09166520B2 |
Range switching device
A range switching device may switch a shift range despite resetting and restarting of a controller. When the controller is reset and restarted during a switching operation of the shift range and the shift range before or after being switched is a P range, the controller controls a motor to rotate the motor until a range switching mechanism abuts against a first limit position of a movable range of the range switching mechanism and learns a rotation position of the motor as a reference position of the motor. When the shift ranges before and after being switched are the ranges other that the P range, the controller controls the motor to rotate until the range switching mechanism abuts against a second limit position of the movable range and learns the rotation position of the motor as the reference position. |
| US09166516B2 |
Motor drive apparatus and vehicle including the same, and method for controlling motor drive apparatus
An ECU sets target value of a system voltage based on an electric power loss of a motor generator and an inverter and controls a voltage boost converter. The ECU calculates the target value of the system voltage using a function expression generated, for each operating point of the motor generator, by approximating a loss characteristic which represents change of the electric power loss with respect to change of the system voltage, by a quadratic expression or a linear expression of the system voltage. |
| US09166515B2 |
Electrically powered vehicle and method for controlling the same
A converter is disposed between a first battery and a power line for transmitting power inputted to and outputted from a motor for traveling. A second battery, on the other hand, is connected to the power line with a relay being interposed therebetween. A control unit controls the relay to be turned on or off in accordance with an operating state of the motor. |
| US09166506B2 |
Controlling a multiphase brushless DC motor for staging and driving a remote-control vehicle
Control of rotational speed of a motor is provided using an apparatus and method that provides a staging and a driving mode. A processor controls speed of the motor in three different modes to provide different control that is appropriate for different situations. Control-input indications are received by a processor indicating that a stepping mode is selected. In stepping mode, a sequence of commutation states are chosen in succession at a given stepping frequency for a given control selection. In an active-holding mode, the same phase in the commutation sequence is pulsed at low power to hold a motor location. In a closed-loop motor-control mode, the commutation state is sensed and state transition time is controlled relative to neutral timing. These modes may be used to advantage to simulate a drag race. An operator controls a remote-control vehicle in a stepping mode to drive toward a first beam at a drag start line. When the first beam at the start line is broken, but a second beam is not broken, the ESC begins to perform motor control to actively hold the vehicle in position until the race starts. After the race starts, the ESC receives a control-input indication to drive the motor in a closed-loop motor-control mode. |
| US09166505B1 |
Protection circuits for motors
System and methods are provided for protecting a direct current (DC) motor. A protection system includes: a motor drive component configured to drive a DC motor, a feedback component configured to generate a feedback signal related to motion of the DC motor, and a watchdog circuit configured to output a fault signal to the motor drive component to stop the DC motor in response to the feedback signal indicating abnormal motion of the DC motor. The watchdog circuit includes a hardware watchdog timer configured to be activated in response to one or more control signals and monitor the feedback signal. |
| US09166502B2 |
Method for manufacturing an electromechanical transducer
The present invention provides a technology for decreasing a dispersion of the performance among electromechanical transducers each having through wiring. A method for manufacturing an electromechanical transducer includes: obtaining a structure in which an insulative portion having a through hole therein is bonded onto an electroconductive substrate; filling the through hole with an electroconductive material to form a through wiring which is electrically connected with the electroconductive substrate; and using the electroconductive substrate as a first electrode, forming a plurality of vibrating membrane portions including a second electrode, which opposes to the first electrode through a plurality of gaps, on an opposite side of the first electrode to the side having the insulative portion, to thereby forming a plurality of cells. |
| US09166500B2 |
Power decoupling controller and method for power conversion system
A power conversion system is disclosed including a DC bus for receiving DC power, a power converter for converting the DC power to AC power, and a controller. The controller includes an active power regulator for generating a phase angle command signal, a reactive power regulator for generating a voltage magnitude command, and an active power (P) and reactive power (Q) decoupling unit for decoupling interaction between the active and reactive power regulators. The PQ decoupling unit includes an active power compensation element and a reactive power compensation element. The active power compensation element is used for generating a phase angle compensation signal based on a reactive power error signal, to compensate the phase angle command signal. The reactive power compensation element is used for generating a voltage magnitude compensation signal based on an active power error signal, to compensate the voltage magnitude command signal. |
| US09166498B2 |
Power converter with non-symmetrical totem pole rectifier and current-shaping branch circuits
A hybrid diode-less power converter topology of the present invention converts power from an AC power source to a variable load with high efficiency. The power converter includes a non-symmetrical arrangement of rectifying switches for rectifying an input AC voltage and shaping switches for shaping an input AC current. The shaping switches are operated in Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM) based on an input AC current. Operation of each of the rectifying switches and shaping switches are further controlled wherein a commutation time for the shaping switches is associated with a first voltage rise and fall time (e.g., less than 10 ns), and a commutation time for the rectifying switches is associated with a second voltage rise and fall time (e.g., at least 100 ns), wherein the first voltage rise and fall time is less than the second voltage rise and fall time by a factor of nine or more. |
| US09166490B2 |
Driving controller and full-bridge converting circuit
The present invention provides a full-bridge driving controller and a full-bridge converting circuit, which have the function of soft switch, to provide a DC output voltage. The present invention employs a resonant unit to oscillate the current flowing through the converting circuit at a resonant frequency. The full-bridge driving controller switches four full-bridge transistor switches at an operating frequency higher than the resonant frequency, so as to achieve the function of soft switch. |
| US09166489B2 |
Layouts of multiple transformers and multiple rectifiers of interleaving converter
The present invention relates to multi-phase parallel-interleaved converter circuits with each phase having two or more transformers and two or more rectifiers electrically coupled to the two or more transformers, and layouts of the transformers and the rectifiers of the multi-phase parallel-interleaved converter circuits. In the layouts, the multiple transformers and the multiple rectifiers of the multi-phase converters are interleavingly arranged to be symmetrical to common output polarized capacitor(s) so as to ensure the rectifier outputs of each phase relative to the common output polarized capacitors is symmetrical, thereby reducing the output ripples of the current of the output capacitors. |
| US09166486B2 |
Power converter using multiple controllers
A power converter controller includes a primary controller and a secondary controller. The primary controller is coupled to receive one or more request signals from the secondary controller and transition a power switch from an OFF state to an ON state in response to each of the received request signals. The primary controller is coupled to detect a turn-off condition when the power switch is in the ON state and transition the power switch from the ON state to the OFF state in response to detection of the turn-off condition. The secondary controller is galvanically isolated from the primary controller. The secondary controller is coupled to transmit the request signals to the primary controller and control the amount of time between the transmission of each of the request signals. |
| US09166484B2 |
Resonant converter
Consistent with an example embodiment, a resonant converter comprises a signalling transformer that is used to transfer information between the secondary winding and primary winding of the converter whilst maintaining mains isolation between the two sides. In the embodiment, according to the disclosure, the use of a signalling transformer (in addition to a switching, or resonant, transformer) eliminates the need for an opto-coupler to transfer information and so allows for the construction of a simpler, more reliable and/or cheaper resonant converter. Other embodiments described herein may be suitable for use in dimmable LED driver applications, for example. |
| US09166480B2 |
Insulation-type power factor correction circuit
This is an insulation-type power factor correction circuit including a resonance unit configured to accumulate energy of a surge occurring when the first switching element is turned off and to transmit a resonance current generated by resonating the first capacitor and the primary winding of the second transformer from the primary winding of the second transformer to the secondary winding, a rectifier unit configured to rectify a resonance current output from the resonance unit, a smoothing unit configured to regenerate power output from the rectifier unit to an output of the insulation-type power factor correction circuit, and a control unit configured to control a first switching element for each cycle. |
| US09166477B2 |
Control circuit for power converter and related control method
A control circuit of a power converter includes: a zero current detection circuit for detecting a current flowing between an inductor and a voltage output terminal of the power converter to generate a zero current detection signal; an adjusting circuit for generating an adjustment signal according to the zero current detection signal; a clock signal generating circuit for adjusting a frequency of a clock signal according to the adjustment signal; a periodical signal generating circuit for generating a periodical signal according to the clock signal; an error detection circuit for generating an error signal; and a control signal generating circuit for generating a control signal to control operations of a power switch. If the and amount of pulses generated by the zero current detection circuit satisfy a predetermined condition, the adjusting circuit switches the power converter's operation mode from DCM to CCM. |
| US09166471B1 |
3D frequency dithering for DC-to-DC converters used in multi-mode cellular transmitters
A circuit and method is disclosed that dithers a switching frequency of a DC-to-DC converter which gets modulated onto an RF carrier such that switching noise is spread over a given bandwidth that is wider than a communications measurements bandwidth. The circuit includes a switching circuitry adapted to transfer energy from a source to a load using a switching signal having a series of switching cycles and a switching frequency. Also included is a control circuitry adapted to generate a pseudo-random value near a beginning of each of the series of switching cycles to determine a maximum switching frequency value based upon the pseudo-random value. The method includes adjusting the switching frequency of the switching signal incrementally from a fixed minimum switching frequency value to the maximum frequency value and vice versa as a function of time during each of the series of switching cycles of the switching circuit. |
| US09166470B2 |
Method and circuit for power factor correction
A method and circuit for correcting a power factor in an alternating current/direct current power transformer. The circuit has an inductor fed by a rectified AC voltage, and a switch by which the inductor can be charged and discharged by closing and opening the switch, and further has a diode by which the discharge current of the inductor is fed to the output of the circuit. During the discharge phase, a voltage corresponding to the output voltage is measured, and the measured values are stored. It is further determined when the discharge current reaches or crosses the zero line at the end of a discharge phase. Switch-on and switch-off signals for actuating the switch are generated by analyzing the information determined. The switch should not be switched on again until a particular minimum switch-off time has been reached. |
| US09166468B2 |
Voltage regulator circuit with soft-start function
A voltage regulator circuit includes a soft start module, a pulse width modulation (PWM) module, and a voltage regulator module. The soft start module is used to receive a current feedback voltage corresponding to an input current, and compare the current feedback voltage with a comparison voltage, so as to output a switching signal. The PWM module is used to receive a clock signal and the switching signal, and determine a first PWM signal and a second PWM signal outputted by the PWM module is a high voltage level or a low voltage level according to the clock signal and the switching signal. The voltage regulator module is used to receive and adjust an output voltage corresponding to the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal. |
| US09166464B2 |
Magnetic gear device and holding member
A magnetic gear device including: an internal rotor and an external rotor in which a plurality of magnetic pole pairs are each placed in a circumferential direction substantially at equal intervals; and a holding member that is placed between the internal rotor and the external rotor and holds a plurality of magnetic materials in the circumferential direction substantially at equal intervals, wherein the number of magnetic materials is a difference between or a total of the numbers of magnetic pole pairs, the holding member includes a plurality of circular rings that hold the magnetic materials, and connecting rods that are placed in the circumferential direction substantially at equal intervals and connect the plurality of circular rings, the plurality of circular rings face each other via the magnetic materials, and each number of magnetic pole pairs is set to have the number of connecting rods as a divisor. |
| US09166463B2 |
Linearly deployed actuators
A method for making an actuator includes forming a substantially planar actuator device of an electrically conductive material, the device incorporating an outer frame, a fixed frame attached to the outer frame, a moveable frame disposed parallel to the fixed frame, a motion control flexure coupling the moveable frame to the outer frame for coplanar, rectilinear movement relative to the outer frame and the fixed frame, and an actuator incorporating a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moveable frame, moving the moveable frame to a deployed position that is coplanar with, parallel to and spaced at a selected distance apart from the fixed frame and fixing the moveable frame at the deployed position for substantially rectilinear, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame. |
| US09166461B2 |
Automotive alternator having a heat dissipating plate
To provide a high-quality, high-output, and low-cost automotive alternator by suppressing heat generation through the reduction of current loss in a heat dissipating plate of a rectifier without expanding a space for placing the heat dissipating plate and reducing the cooling performance of the heat dissipating plate. An automotive alternator includes a rectifier, wherein the rectifier is configured such that a heat dissipating plate of positive pole to which the rectifier element of positive pole is mounted is disposed opposite to a heat dissipating plate of negative pole to which a plurality of rectifier elements of negative pole are mounted; wherein the heat dissipating plate of positive pole is made up of a first heat dissipating plate and a second heat dissipating plate, which are made of two different materials. |
| US09166457B2 |
Rotating apparatus having rotating electrical machine and reduction device with common rotating shaft
The disclosure discloses a rotating electrical machine that is integrally formed with a reduction device having an input shaft to which a roller gear cam is provided and an output shaft to which cam followers configured to sequentially engage with the roller gear cam is provided on an outer periphery, extending along a direction orthogonal to the input shaft, and is configured to employ one of a field system or an armature as a rotator and the other of the field system or the armature as a stator, including a rotating shaft that is fixed to the rotator and integrally formed as a single shaft with the input shaft of the reduction device. |
| US09166453B2 |
Split core stator with terminal accommodating resin box
A stator of a rotary electrical machine, includes a core unit configured by a plurality of core assemblies each including a laminated steel plate, an insulator, and a coil; a bus ring facing the core unit; and an accommodating box arranged at the insulator, accommodating an end portion of the coil, and including radially inward and outward engaged portions, the insulator including radially inward and outward extending portions, the radially inward extending portion including a radially inward engagement portion about which the accommodating box rotates in a radial direction of the core unit from an initial attachment position to an attached position and which engages with the radially inward engaged portion, the radially outward extending portion including a radially outward engagement portion which engages with the radially outward engaged portion in accordance with the rotation of the accommodating box to move the accommodating box in the radial direction. |
| US09166444B2 |
Control circuit and motor device
A control circuit has an input terminal for receiving an input voltage, an energy accumulator for storing electric energy from the input terminal and supplying power to an electrical load, and an over-voltage protection unit for lowering the voltage at the input terminal when the voltage at an output terminal of the energy accumulator exceeds a predetermined threshold value. A motor device combines the control circuit with an electric motor as the load. |
| US09166441B2 |
Microprocessor controlled class E driver
A charger including a class E power driver, a frequency-shift keying (“FSK”) module, and a processor. The processor can receive data relating to the operation of the class E power driver and can control the class E power driver based on the received data relating to the operation of the class E power driver. The processor can additionally control the FSK module to modulate the natural frequency of the class E power transformer to thereby allow the simultaneous recharging of an implantable device and the transmission of data to the implantable device. The processor can additionally compensate for propagation delays by adjusting switching times. |
| US09166439B2 |
Systems and methods for forward link communication in wireless power systems
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for forward link communication in wireless power systems. One aspect of the disclosure provides a wireless charging device for providing wireless power to a receiving device. The wireless charging device includes a primary transmit antenna configured to generate a wireless power field. The device further includes a parasitic antenna configured to selectively adjust a coupling between the primary transmit antenna and the receiving device. The device further includes a controller configured to control the selective adjustment of the parasitic antenna so as to communicate with the receiving device. |
| US09166437B2 |
Battery pack
An apparatus includes a first cell subpack having a plurality of cells arranged in series and a second cell subpack connected in series to the first cell subpack. The second cell subpack includes a plurality of cells arranged in series and at least one cell arranged in parallel with one of the plurality of cells, arranged in series, of the second cell subpack, where the first cell subpack and the second cell subpack use a first voltage rail to provide at least a first voltage level and a second voltage rail to provide a second voltage level, where the first voltage level is different from the second voltage level. |
| US09166435B2 |
Universal industrial battery optimization device
Improvements in a battery de-sulfating device are disclosed. The improvements including a plurality of capacitive discharge channels selectively activatable by a control board to provide a pulse wave modulated de-sulfating current to a lead-acid battery. The de-sulfating current can be a variable, or harmonic, repeating pattern of about 0.1-1.5 ms ON pulse followed by an about 2-9 ms OFF period which may be applied to the battery at an operator-adjustable peak amperage of about 0-350 amps. The de-sulfation process before, during or after the normal battery charging cycle, or any combination thereof. The temperature of the battery and the specific gravity of the fluid within the battery is measure during the de-sulfating process. The extent of sulfation of the battery may be ascertained by measuring the impedance of the battery. |
| US09166432B2 |
Charge circuit
A charge circuit includes a current limiting circuit configured to limit a current input from an input terminal; a first transistor connected between an output terminal of the current limiting circuit and a secondary battery; a charge control circuit configured to turn the first transistor on and off to start and stop supply of a charge current to the secondary battery; a second transistor configured to output a current proportional to the charge current flowing through the first transistor; and a charge timer configured to generate clock pulses according to the current output from the second transistor. The charge control circuit is configured to turn off the first transistor to stop the supply of the charge current to the secondary battery when the number of the clock pulses reaches a predetermined number. |
| US09166426B2 |
External power supply apparatus of electric vehicle
An external power supply apparatus of an electric vehicle, includes: a battery; an inverter configured to convert DC power of the battery to AC power and configured to output the AC power; a first outlet socket disposed in the electric vehicle and through which an output of the inverter is supplied; a relay connected downstream from the first outlet socket as viewed from the inverter; a charging port connected downstream from the relay as viewed from the inverter and exposed to the outside of the electric vehicle; an adapter including a second outlet socket and being to be connected to the charging port; and, when it is detected that the adapter is connected to the charging port, a controlling unit setting the relay to an ON state to allow the output of the inverter to be supplied through the charging port. |
| US09166422B2 |
Battery based portable power supply
A portable power supply includes a housing, and power circuitry providing an output AC waveform having a first positive voltage step level, a second higher positive voltage step level, a third lower positive voltage step level, a fourth negative voltage step level, a fifth higher negative voltage step level, and a sixth lower negative voltage step level. |
| US09166416B2 |
Method for balancing cells in batteries
Adjacent battery cells connected in devices are balanced by closing a first circuit to charge an energy storage device from a first battery cell and thereafter simultaneously opening the first isolated switch and closing a second isolated switch to cause the energy storage device to charge a second battery cell. A circuit includes an isolated switch that operates simultaneously to balance battery cells connected in series, and a battery system balances battery modules connected in series, the battery module including battery cells connected in series. The battery cells and modules can be balanced by hierarchical balancing of modules of the battery pack and component cells of the modules. |
| US09166415B2 |
AC link bidirectional DC-DC converter, hybrid power supply system using the same and hybrid vehicle
In an AC link type boosting device, DC terminals of two voltage inverters are connected each other in series in additive polarity and plural AC terminals of each of the voltage inverters are connected to a transformer. The two voltage type inverters are AC linked to each other via the transformer. An external voltage applied between the DC terminals of the AC link type booster is divided by the voltage-type inverters. |
| US09166414B2 |
Battery pack and method of controlling the same
A battery pack including a plurality of battery cell groups including a first battery cell group and a second battery cell group, a first switch that is connected to the first battery cell group, a second switch that is connected to the second battery cell group, and a controller configured to selectively control charging and discharging operations of the first battery cell group and the second battery cell group using the first switch and the second switch. |
| US09166410B1 |
Line balancing for a three-phase alternating current system
System for providing AC line balancing includes a three-phase power source, a monitoring component and a control component. Three AC lines from the three-phase power source are coupled to a first set of loads and a set of transfer switches. Additionally, the set of transfer switches are configured to be coupled to a second set of loads. The monitoring component is configured to detect current provided by the three AC lines to identify the AC lines providing the highest and the lowest levels of currents to the first and second sets of loads. The control component is configured to configure at least one transfer switch in the set of transfer switches to decouple the AC line providing the highest level of current to a load of the second set of loads and couple the AC line providing the lowest level of current to that load. |
| US09166408B2 |
Demand response management system and method with VAR support
A method for providing VAR support in a power distribution network having a demand response management system can include querying the demand response management system for an inductive device on the power distribution network and power cycling the inductive device to effect reactive power in the power distribution network. |
| US09166406B2 |
Power source switching circuit and power source switching system with power source switching circuit
A power source switching circuit, includes a first and second contact, a first, second, and third relay. The first contact includes a first normally open main contact and a first normally closed auxiliary contact. The second contact includes a second normally open main contact and a second normally closed auxiliary contact. The first, second, third normally open contacts of the first, second, third relays, connected in series, are connected between three phrase lines of the main power source and the second normally closed auxiliary contact. The second normally closed auxiliary contact is connected to a zero line of the main power source. The first, second, third normally closed contacts, connected in parallel, are connected between three phrase lines of the auxiliary power source and the first normally closed auxiliary contact. The first normally closed auxiliary contact is connected to a zero line of the auxiliary power source. |
| US09166401B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection device
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device including a modified lateral silicon-controlled rectifier (MLSCR) and a voltage control circuit is provided. The MLSCR has a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal connected to a first P+-type doped region, where the first terminal and the second terminal are electrically connected to a first line and a second line, respectively. The voltage control circuit is electrically connected to the first line, the second line and the control terminal. When an electrostatic pulse is appeared on the first line, the voltage control circuit provides a current path from the first line to the control terminal. When an input signal is supplied to the first line, the voltage control circuit receives a power voltage, and stops providing the current path according to the power voltage. |
| US09166398B2 |
Controller providing protection function and frequency-reduction function using a single pin and system using same
A controller providing protection function and frequency-reduction function for a power conversion application, including: a voltage sense pin; a current source; a switch having a first end coupled to the current source, a second end coupled to the voltage sense pin, and a control end coupled with a control signal; and a sampling unit having a first node coupled to the voltage sense pin, a second node for providing the control signal, a third node for receiving a PWM signal, a fourth node for providing a first sampled voltage for a protection function, and a fifth node for providing a second sampled voltage for a frequency-reduction function. |
| US09166397B2 |
Electronic control device including interrupt wire
An electronic control device includes a substrate, a plurality of component-mounted wires, a plurality of electronic components, a common wire, an interrupt wire and a protective layer. The component-mounted wires and the common wire are disposed on the substrate. The electronic components are mounted on the respective component-mounted wires and are coupled with the common wire. The interrupt wire is coupled between one component-mounted wire and the common wire, and is configured to melt in accordance with heat generated by an overcurrent to interrupt a coupling between the component-mounted wire and the common wire. The protective layer covers a surface of the substrate including the interrupt wire and defines an opening portion so that at least a portion of the interrupt wire is exposed. |
| US09166396B2 |
Power conditioning, distribution and management
A power conditioning, distribution and management system includes a switch circuit that enables coupling of an AC power supply to a load though an overcurrent device. A control circuit switches the switch circuit from a non-conductive state to a conductive state when a supply voltage signal is between first overvoltage and undervoltage thresholds. The control circuit records an overvoltage event and maintains the switch circuit in the conductive state when the supply voltage signal exceeds a second, higher overvoltage threshold and switches the switch circuit to a nonconductive state when the supply voltage signal exceeds a third, highest overvoltage threshold. The control circuit records an undervoltage event and maintains the switch circuit in the conductive state when the supply voltage signal falls below a second, lower under-voltage threshold and switches the switch circuit to the non-conductive state when the supply voltage signal falls below a third, lowest undervoltage threshold. |
| US09166394B2 |
Device and method for limiting leakage currents
A device including a mechanism detecting a position of a neutral of a power supply source for an electrical energy apparatus, such as a battery charger of an electric or hybrid motor vehicle, and a mechanism connecting a capacitor for limiting leakage currents between the neutral and an electrically conducting structure in which the apparatus is placed. The device can be used to limit leakage current during recharging of an electric or hybrid traction motor vehicle. |
| US09166386B2 |
Subsea cable repair
There is provided subsea repair apparatus for performing repair of a subsea cable located beneath the sea, said apparatus comprising: an environment capsule capable of providing a substantially water-free environment within the capsule; and repair equipment located within the environment capsule arranged to repair said subsea cable without the need for a person to be located within the environment capsule. |
| US09166384B2 |
Switchgear
A housing of a switchgear includes: a framework formed by joining vertical frames to depth directional frames and width directional frames, the vertical frames being arranged in a standing condition at four corners of a cuboid shape; at least a left and right pair of intermediate vertical frames each provided at an intermediate portion in the depth direction; and steel partition plates fixed over the whole in the vertical direction of the intermediate vertical frames, the partition plates being provided for separating the front and the back of the intermediate vertical frames. Then, the depth directional frame on the floor side is formed with a fixing hole near a lower portion of the intermediate vertical frame, the fixing hole being provided for fixing the housing to a foundation surface. |
| US09166380B2 |
Spark plug electrode material and spark plug
A spark plug electrode material containing nickel, silicon, and copper, the electrode material, in the case of proper use, forming a nickel oxide layer made of nickel oxide grains on at least a part of its surface, the grain boundary phase of the nickel oxide grains including silicon and/or silicon oxide. |
| US09166376B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug includes a tubular insulator and a tubular metal shell secured to an outer peripheral surface of the insulator by crimping. The tubular metal shell includes: an inner peripheral surface where powder for sealing is filled between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface; a tool engagement portion overhanging in a polygonal shape; and a crimped lid disposed at an end portion of the metal shell coupled to the tool engagement portion, the end portion being bent toward the outer peripheral surface of the insulator by crimping. A relationship between a length L and a thickness t satisfies 2.50≦L/t≦3.10, the length L being a length along a shape of the crimped lid from the tool engagement portion to the insulator in a planar surface that passes through the axis, the thickness t being a thickness at an intermediate portion of the crimped lid. |
| US09166374B1 |
Laser devices using a semipolar plane
An optical device includes a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate comprising a surface region configured in a (20-2-1) orientation, a (30-3-1) orientation, or a (30-31) orientation, within +/−10 degrees toward c-plane and/or a-plane from the orientation. Optical devices having quantum well regions overly the surface region are also disclosed. |
| US09166373B1 |
Laser devices having a gallium and nitrogen containing semipolar surface orientation
Laser devices formed on a semipolar surface region of a gallium and nitrogen containing material are disclosed. The laser devices have a laser stripe configured to emit a laser beam having a cross-polarized emission state. |
| US09166370B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser, vertical cavity surface emitting laser apparatus, optical transmission apparatus, and information processing apparatus
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes a first semiconductor multilayer reflector, a resonator, and a second semiconductor multilayer reflector. The first semiconductor multilayer reflector is formed on a substrate and is configured by stacking a high refractive index layer having a relatively high refractive index and a low refractive index layer having a relatively low refractive index. The resonator includes an active layer formed on the first semiconductor multilayer reflector. The second semiconductor multilayer reflector is configured by stacking the high refractive index layer and the low refractive index layer. The resonator includes a pair of spacer layers disposed vertically on the active layer and a resonator extension area formed at one side of the pair of spacer layers. The resonator extension area contains a material in which an energy level with a crystal defect is higher than a general energy level without the crystal defect. |
| US09166368B2 |
High power semiconductor laser with phase-matching optical element
A semiconductor laser that includes a single mode semiconductor laser coupled to a flared power amplifier is provided, the device including an internal or an external optical element that reinforces the curved wave front of the flared section of the device through phase-matching. By reinforcing the curved wave front via phase-matching, the device is less susceptible to thermal and gain-index coupled perturbations, even at high output powers, resulting in higher beam quality. Exemplary phase-matching optical elements include a grating integrated into the flared amplifier section; an intra-cavity, externally positioned binary optical element; and an intra-cavity, externally positioned cylindrically curved optical element. |
| US09166364B2 |
Semiconductor laser mounting with intact diffusion barrier layer
A first contact surface of a semiconductor laser chip can be formed to a target surface roughness selected to have a maximum peak to valley height that is substantially smaller than a barrier layer thickness. A barrier layer that includes a non-metallic, electrically-conducting compound and that has the barrier layer thickness can be applied to the first contact surface, and the semiconductor laser chip can be soldered to a carrier mounting along the first contact surface using a solder composition by heating the soldering composition to less than a threshold temperature at which dissolution of the barrier layer into the soldering composition occurs. Related systems, methods, articles of manufacture, and the like are also described. |
| US09166362B2 |
Cascaded raman lasing system
In a Raman system, a primary laser source emits laser light at an initial wavelength, and a seed source emits a multi-wavelength seed laser light. The seed wavelengths correspond to a respective Stokes orders of the primary laser light. The primary laser light and the seed laser light are combined and fed into a Raman gain medium. Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) causes the primary laser light to be converted into laser light at a selected target wavelength. The seeding of the primary light mediates the conversion process, so as to reduce spontaneous Raman scattering. |
| US09166359B2 |
Method and laser oscillator for the generation of a laser beam
Method and laser oscillator for the generation of a laser beam—According to the invention with a view to adjusting, inside said laser oscillator (1), the phase of each of the N elementary laser beams (FLE.1, FLE.2, FLE.N) generated on the basis of said laser oscillator (1) in such a way that said elementary laser beams are in phase, the deviation between the phase of an individual elementary laser beam (FLE.1) and the phases of the N−1 other elementary laser beams (FLE.2, FLE.N) is converted into a level of luminous intensity by means of at least one optical filtering element to which at least a part of each elementary laser beam is directed. |
| US09166356B2 |
Unstable imaging resonator
In one aspect a power amplifier comprises a first plurality of laser disks disposed in a first vertical plane and a second plurality of laser disks disposed in a second vertical plane, opposite the first vertical plane, wherein the plurality of laser disks are disposed in a central horizontal plane, and a first plurality of reflecting mirrors disposed in the first vertical plane and a second plurality of reflecting mirrors disposed in the second vertical plane, wherein a first set of reflecting are disposed in a lower horizontal plane and a second set of reflecting mirrors are disposed in an upper horizontal plane, wherein respective laser disks and reflecting mirrors adjacent along an optical axis are positioned to provide a 1:1 imaging system therebetween. Other aspects may be described. |
| US09166355B2 |
Directly driven source of multi-gigahertz, sub-picosecond optical pulses
A robust, compact optical pulse train source is described, with the capability of generating sub-picosecond micro-pulse sequences, which can be periodic as well as non-periodic, and at repetition rates tunable over decades of baseline frequencies, from MHz to multi-GHz regimes. The micro-pulses can be precisely controlled and formatted to be in the range of many ps in duration to as short as several fs in duration. The system output can be comprised of a continuous wave train of optical micro-pulses or can be programmed to provide gated bursts of macro-pulses, with each macro-pulse consisting of a specific number of micro-pulses or a single pulse picked from the higher frequency train at a repetition rate lower than the baseline frequency. These pulses could then be amplified in energy anywhere from the nJ to MJ range. |
| US09166354B2 |
Method for constructing multi-contact universally jointed power and/or signal connector devices
An adjustable at least three-way electrical connector device for signal, power, voice and/or data communication, comprising at least three adjustable electrical connections utilizing a ball and socket type physical connection device, preferably including a weatherproofing gasket, and further including being constructed utilizing deformable printed circuit boards, deformed and embedded in thermosetting plastic material with elastomeric properties, and including methods of construction. |
| US09166353B1 |
Large ferrule crimp die
The present invention is directed to a crimp die used to deform a ferrule onto a cable. The crimp die operates within multiple tool platforms. The crimp die includes a male die, a female die, and removable tab adapters. The male and female dies each have a mounting portion and an inner crimping surface to deform the ferrule onto the cable. When required by the tool platform, the tab adapters are removably affixed to the male and female dies to secure the dies to the tool. |
| US09166351B1 |
Power adapting device
A power adapting device has a connecting seat, at least two conductive strips, and an adapter. The connecting seat has a mounting portion with two slots. The at least two conductive strips are mounted in the connecting seat. Each of the at least two conductive strips has a positioning sheet, a conductive sheet obliquely protruding upward from the positioning sheet, an arced sheet protruding down from the positioning sheet, and an engaging sheet protruding down from the arced sheet. The engaging sheet has a semispherical contact. The adapter is electrically connected to the conductive sheets of the at least two conductive strips. With different power adapting devices of different standards using in cooperation with a charger, the charger can comply with different electrical socket standards via the power adapting devices. |
| US09166350B2 |
Hybrid electrical connector
A connector is disclosed with an insulating body. A plurality of contacts are positioned in the insulating body. The plurality of contacts include a group of first contacts with a first length, and a group of second contacts with a second length less than the first length. Each second contact is positioned in a gap between two adjacent first contacts. |
| US09166346B2 |
Retractable interconnect device configured to switch between electrical paths
A retractable interconnect device is configurable to operate in an extended mode or a retracted mode. The retractable interconnect device includes a first (e.g., short) electrical path and a second (e.g., long) electrical path. The retractable interconnect device also includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the first electrical path in the retracted mode and that is electrically coupled to the second electrical path in the extended mode. |
| US09166345B2 |
Techniques for detecting removal of a connector
A system that detects electrical disconnection of one connector from another connector includes a detection circuitry and a protection circuitry. The detection circuitry detects that a plug connector has been electrically disconnected from a corresponding receptacle connector. In response to the detection, the detection circuitry sends a signal to the protection circuitry. In response to the signal, the protection circuitry lowers or terminates power being supplied to a host device via one of the contacts of the plug connector. This helps to prevent shocks/shorts that may be caused by accidental disconnection of the plug connector. |
| US09166340B2 |
Connector
A connector for disconnecting electrical lines from a module or connecting them to the module includes a first housing part formed as a flap and a second housing part second housing part formed as a base part with an inner and outer sides, and a coding element receptacle for accepting a coding element, which interacts with a mating coding element disposed in the module, wherein the coding element receptacle is integrated into the base part and, looking towards the inner side, bears a first label field, and the base part is formed on the outer side in the area of the coding element receptacle with an opening and a second label field assigned to the opening, and in addition to numbers/letters, the label fields have marking lines disposed such that, when the coding element is plugged in, the markings match markings disposed on the coding element. |
| US09166339B2 |
Connector housing having drainage pathways
The invention achieves prevention of sink mark and drainage within a hood part. A housing (10) made of synthetic resin has a hood part (17) extending forward from a terminal holding part (11), and a guide wall part (19) having a guide recessed part (15) formed in a back end part of an inner surface. The housing (10) is formed with a longitudinal mold drawing pathway (20) which includes a mold drawing recessed part (21) having a form which recesses a region in front of a region corresponding to the guide recessed part (15) of the outer surface of the guide wall part (19), and a mold drawing port (22) having a form that communicates with the mold drawing recessed part (21) and passes through a back surface wall (18). |
| US09166337B2 |
Externally latching I/O housing
Embodiments of the invention generally include apparatus for providing a positive locked connection for I/O devices to computing devices. In one embodiment, an external latching apparatus for an Input/Output (I/O) connection is provided. The external latching apparatus includes a main body and at least one latch. The main body includes a first surface configured to abut to an I/O card bracket and a second surface, parallel and spaced apart from the first surface. The at least one latch extends from the main body beyond the first surface. A plurality of parallel slots are formed in the second surface. Each slot is open on a bottom side of the body and is configured to receive a cable of an I/O cable assembly. |
| US09166333B2 |
Connector
It is an object of the present invention to prevent damages to a contact. A contact 130 having penetrated the substrate 110 is inserted into the female housing 30, and is electrically connected to a female contact 40. When the slider 1 is pressed down ward during this state, the first movable body 70 and the second movable body 80 are pressed down by the slider 1. This causes a lower stage 73 of the first movable body 70 and a lower stage 83 of the second movable body 80 to move below an upper wall 94 of the housing 90, and outer surfaces of the lower stages 73 and 83 no longer contact the upper wall 94. Then, expansion of a spring 120 moves the first movable body 70 and the second movable body 80 away from the contact 130. |
| US09166331B2 |
Connector terminal with a resin mold covering its barrel portion connected to a cable conductor
A connector terminal (10) includes a terminal main body that includes a barrel portion (21) to which a core wire (12) exposed from an outer cover (13) of an electric cable (11) is electrically connected, and a tab terminal portion (31) that is electrically connected to a mating terminal, and a resin mold (15) that covers the barrel portion (21) and an end portion of the electric cable (11). The connector terminal (10) is inserted in a cavity (52) formed in a housing (51) and then accommodated in the housing (51) so that a rear end portion of the resin mold (15) is arranged in the inside of the cavity (52). |
| US09166328B2 |
Connector, in particular an electrical connector
A connector is provided having an outer housing, an inner housing and a seal. The seal includes a first sealing device that positioned between the outer housing and the inner housing such that a mating connector receiving gap is provided between an inner side of the outer housing and the first sealing device. |
| US09166327B2 |
Circuit board connector system
An inline connector is coupled to a first substrate and operable to receive at least one prong. A second receptacle is coupled to a second substrate and operable to receive the prong. A plug having an elongated prong that, when inserted through the first receptacle and into the second receptacle operates to provide electrical connections between the substrates. The substrates may be circuit boards and the receptacle may be mounted along the edges of the circuit board to allow for easier installation. Some embodiments may provide for identical receptacle providing for lower costs and easier installation. |
| US09166326B1 |
Electrical connector with contact guard
An electrical connector has a plastic body and a blade contact in a terminal cavity in the body. A guard extends across the mouth of the cavity over an adjacent edge of the blade. A physical interlock connection holds the guard on the blade edge to shield the blade and prevent an object inserted into the mouth from contacting the blade. |
| US09166324B2 |
Coaxial cable connector structure
A coaxial cable connector structure including a sleeve and an annular nut on the front end of the sleeve is presented, wherein an inner tube is disposed inside the sleeve for connecting the coaxial cable, and a spring is disposed between the inner tube and the inner threads on the annular nut, the spring having a first end positioned proximate the bottom of the annular nut and a second end positioned forward of the front end of the inner tube for the end surface of the connection base towards the annular nut to contact the spring and electrically connect the inner tube when the annular nut is at least partially screwed onto the connection base, so that the coaxial cable connector structure can transmit signals when it is not completely screwed onto the connection base, and provide the effect of vibration suppression from the compressed spring having its two ends abutted against the bottom of the annular nut and the end surface of the connection base by the elastic restoring force when the connection base is completely screwed onto the connection base. |
| US09166316B2 |
Data storage connecting device
A data storage connecting device includes a circuit board, a first connector, a second connector and a third connector. The circuit board has a first connecting end and a second connecting end. The first connector and a second connector are both disposed on the first connecting end and respectively at two sides of a long axis of the circuit board, a location of the second connector connecting with a data storage device being opposite to that of the first connector connecting with another data storage device. The third connector is disposed on the second connecting end for transmitting data from two data storage devices connected to the first connector and the second connector, respectively, via the circuit to a server device, or vice versa. |
| US09166314B2 |
Electrcial connector and assemble method of the same
An electrical connector includes an insulating housing including a base, a mating tongue and a positioning portion, terminals and a first positioning board. The positioning portion defines first positioning grooves along a bottom face thereof. Each conductive terminal comprises retained portion interfered with the base, mating portions vertical leg portion and connecting portion connecting with the retained portion and the leg portion. The connecting portion comprises a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The first positioning board is sandwiched between the horizontal portions. The first positioning board defines second positioning grooves, the horizontal portions of first terminals are limited in the first positioning grooves while the horizontal portions of second terminals are limited in the second positioning grooves. |
| US09166313B2 |
Power supply contact for installation of printed circuit board
A power supply contact is mountable on a base of a device having a geometry for receiving a power supply and for surface installation of a printed circuit board. The power supply contact includes a base plate mountable on the base of the device, a rail extends upwardly from the base plate, a power supply terminal and an adaptor connecting the rail to the power supply terminal. The rail is in electrical contact with the printed circuit board and the power supply terminal is in electrical contact with the power supply when the printed circuit board and the power supply are installed in the device. |
| US09166308B2 |
Modular electrical system providing four wire circuit configurations
A modular electrical system (230) comprises a number of separate components forming a four-wire system (110). The component set (230) includes receptacle junction blocks (130), two-way connectors (232), four-way connectors (236), two-way jumper cable assemblies (234), and three-way jumper cable assemblies (238). The components of the component set (230) include various configurations of male blade terminals (150) and female terminals (200) located on the individual components so that a number of differing system configurations can be achieved. |
| US09166306B2 |
Method of terminating a coaxial cable
Passive intermodulation (PIM) and impedance management in coaxial cable terminations. In one example embodiment, a method for terminating a coaxial cable is provided. The coaxial cable includes an inner conductor, an insulating layer, an outer conductor, and a jacket. First, a diameter of the outer conductor that surrounds a cored-out section of the insulating layer is increased so as to create an increased-diameter cylindrical section of the outer conductor. Next, an internal connector structure is inserted into the cored-out section so as to be surrounded by the increased-diameter cylindrical section. Finally, an external connector structure is clamped around the increased-diameter cylindrical section so as to radially compress the increased-diameter cylindrical section between the external connector structure and the internal connector structure, and via a single action, a contact force between the inner conductor and a conductive pin is increased. |
| US09166304B2 |
Screwless quick system for connecting a lead connector to a generator of an implantable medical device
A screwless quick connection system for connecting a lead connector to a generator of an active implantable medical device is shown and described. The connector head includes a housing receiving a plug of a lead connector. A mechanism for locking the plug into the housing is provided by a U-folded leaf spring. Each branch of the U is provided with a respective hole sized so that the plug passes through the holes on both branches when it is inserted into the housing. The blade is deformable between a free state, in the absence of plug, and a deformed state, with the plug inserted therein. In the free state, both holes are misaligned, while in the deformed state they are aligned. In this way, an edge of both holes exerts by reaction a radial stress force against the smooth outer surface of the plug inserted therein. |
| US09166303B2 |
Full tension swaged connector for reinforced cable
An improved cable connector includes a connector insert having an axial bore dimensioned to receive the core of a reinforced cable. A connector body has a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a substantially cylindrical cavity. A distal portion of the cavity is dimensioned to receive the connector insert. A second portion of the cavity proximally displaced from the distal portion is dimensioned to receive the conductor strands of the cable. The connector body may be configured with one or more additional portions of the cavity having progressively increasing diameters, the number of such portions depending on the size of the cable. Alternatively, the inner surface of the cavity may have a slight taper. Using a single die, the connector body is compressed with a swaging tool at several axially spaced-apart locations to grip the conductor strands and also to grip the connector insert. |
| US09166301B2 |
Travelling wave antenna feed structures
Techniques for implementing series-fed antenna arrays with a variable dielectric waveguide. In one implementation, coupling elements with optional controlled phase shifters are placed adjacent each radiating element of the array. To avoid frequency sensitivity of the resulting array, one or more waveguides have a variable propagation constant. The variable waveguide may use certain materials exhibiting this phenomenon, or may have configurable gaps between layers. Plated-through holes and pins can control the gaps; and/or a 2-D circular or a rectangular travelling wave array of scattering elements can be used as well. |
| US09166294B2 |
Quad-band PCB antenna
A surface mount antenna includes a ground plane, a feed line, and a radiating element. The ground plane extends in a first direction on a first side of a substrate. The feed line extends in a second direction on a second side of the substrate. The radiating element includes a plurality of segments disposed on the first side of the substrate and is configured to resonate in a plurality of frequency modes. |
| US09166292B2 |
Antenna structure and wireless communication device using the same
An antenna structure includes a feed section, a ground section, a common section, a first radiator, a second radiator, and a third radiator. The common section is electrically connected to the feed section, and the third radiator is electrically connected to the ground section. The first radiator, the second radiator, and the third radiator are all connected to the common section. The second radiator is spaced from the third radiator to allow current to be coupled from the second radiator to the third radiator. |
| US09166288B2 |
Beam steering antenna structure
Disclosed is a beam steering antenna structure, including two parallel metallic boards, an antenna perpendicularly disposed between the two metallic boards, a plurality of substrates perpendicularly disposed between the two metallic boards and radially disposed around the antenna, and a bias voltage circuit. Each of the substrates has a plurality of metal units cyclically aligned thereon, and each of the metal units includes two metallic regions oppositely disposed and in no contact with each other and a transistor disposed between the two metallic regions for coupling the two metallic regions. The transistors are electrically connected to the bias voltage circuit to thereby control the steering direction of beam radiation by switching the transistors. |
| US09166282B2 |
Wearable device assembly having antenna
A wrist-worn device monitors movements of a user. A sensor assembly of the wrist-worn device is configured to detect movement of the user and generate sensor data based on the movement detected. A controller connected to the sensor assembly obtains movement data based on the sensor data. An antenna connected to the controller is configured to operate at a desired frequency when a wrist of the user is received by the device such that the movement data is wirelessly transmittable from the wrist-worn device to an electronic device. The antenna may exhibit a different design and configuration depending on the size of the wrist-worn device. |
| US09166280B2 |
Antenna device for smartphones and wireless terminals
A portable accessory for preventing death grip of a hand-held apparatus and improving radio wave transmission and reception of the hand-held apparatus. The portable accessory includes an inductive signal amplifying circuit including: a radio transmission/radio unit that transmits or receives radio waves; a capacitive coupled unit that is capacitively coupled with an antenna mounted in the hand-held apparatus; and an impedance matching unit that connects the radio wave transmission/reception unit and the capacitive coupled unit and transmits radio waves. |
| US09166278B2 |
Communication apparatus
The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the cost of a product while ensuring reliability of the product as a wireless transmission/reception apparatus. Provided is communication apparatus (ODU) (1) installed outside, which includes a case that houses a transmission unit for transmitting a signal and a reception unit for receiving the signal, and a waveguide connected to an external antenna and configured to receive/transmit a signal. In the apparatus, the waveguide is formed integrally with the case, and taper (16) is formed in a part of the tube hole of the waveguide. |
| US09166272B2 |
Artificial microstructure and metamaterial using the same
The present invention provides an artificial microstructure including a first metal wire, a second metal wire parallel to the first metal wire, at least one first metal wire branch and at least one second metal wire branch. The at least one first metal wire branch and the at least one second metal wire branch are distributed in an interlacement arrangement. One end of the at least one first metal wire branch is connected to the first metal wire; the other end is a free end facing towards the second metal wire. One end of the at least one second metal wire branch is connected to the second metal wire, and the other end of the at least one second metal wire is a free end facing towards the first metal wire. The present invention also discloses a metamaterial with the artificial microstructures. |
| US09166269B2 |
Retractable dielectric waveguide
A rotatable coupler for dielectric wave guides is described. A first dielectric wave guide (DWG) has an interface surface at a one end of the DWG. A second DWG has a matching interface surface at an end of the second DWG. A rotatable coupling mechanism is coupled to the two DWG ends and is configured to hold the interface surface of the first DWG in axial alignment with the interface surface of the second DWG while allowing the interface surface of the first DWG to rotate axially with respect to the interface surface of the second DWG. |
| US09166266B1 |
Compact stripline and air-cavity based radio frequency filter
A method is proposed for designing compact stripline and air-cavity based (SACB) RF filters, duplexers, and multiplexers. The target frequency band is 600 MHz˜3 GHz. The proposed devices feature both compact size (with 50% size reduction compared to traditional resonator air cavity design) and high power handling capability as well as low insertion-loss. In the SACB filter, striplines and cavities are used to emulate LC resonator (quasi-LC resonator). The combination of striplines and cavities forms a structure that exhibit the performance of an electric resonator circuit of inductor and capacitor (LC). The outside signal will be connected to the striplines, and the ground will be connected to the metal shield which forms the cavity. By controlling the dimensions of the stripline width and length as well as the size of the cavity, the desired filter response is achieved. |