Document Document Title
US09173774B2 Fluid drainage device, delivery device, and associated methods of use and manufacture
The disclosure provides an intraocular implant for allowing fluid flow from the anterior chamber of an eye, the implant comprising a tube having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage, wherein the inlet end is adapted to extend into the anterior chamber of the eye, and wherein the outlet end is adapted to be implanted adjacent scleral tissue of the eye. The implant may be adapted to drain aqueous humor into a suprachoroidal space or a juxta-uveal space. The disclosure also provides associated delivery devices, methods of use, and methods of manufacture.
US09173769B2 Potentially reversible female sterilization device
A reversible leave in contraceptive device includes an obturator having a body with cylindrical configuration, made of a flexible material and including two stabilizing deformable stiffeners that can be folded back along the obtorator body when unactivated, spreading out radially in a fitted situation in the isthmic part of the Fallopian tube. The stiffeners are in opposite positions so as to fit on one side in the isthmic part of the tube (for the distal side) and, on the other (proximal end) on edges of a tubal ostium. A plurality of projecting forms, having a ridged configuration, run along the entire length of the obturator body in a continuous manner from a tapered bulge of the proximal end to a spherical distal end of the head, and block the tubal protect tubal haustrations. The forms cause deformation of the alveoli to block spermatozoa and close off other mucosal folds.
US09173768B2 Resilient device
An intravaginal device has a working portion (e.g., intravaginal urinary incontinence device suppository, tampon) and an anchoring portion comprising at least one member extending beyond at least one end of the working portion to maintain the working portion in place during use.
US09173766B2 Systems and methods to treat upper pharyngeal airway of obstructive sleep apnea patients
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) may be caused by a collapse of the pharyngeal wall as a result of increasing negative airway pressure. This invention is directed to systems and methods to resist collapse of the pharyngeal wall by minimally invasive upper pharyngeal airway surgery.
US09173765B2 Jaw thrust device and method
A pair of pads is held against the remus of a patient's jaw, to prevent the jaw from slipping back and causing an airway obstruction, while the patient's neck is hyperextended to also cause the patient's airway to stay open. A device including the adjustable jaw pads as well as a triangularly shaped portion over which the patient's neck rests is not required to be attached to the surface on which the patient is lying, and permits the patient to be rolled on either side while still maintaining the patency of the patient's airway.
US09173761B2 Removable medical support mechanism
A removable medical support mechanism can be used to protect a body member from injury. The mechanism includes a layer of flexible material providing a constrictive force upon the body member and a mesh layer comprising a plurality of interconnected mesh links. The mesh layer is configured to distribute a force of an impact upon the mechanism, thereby protecting the body member from receiving the force of the impact.
US09173756B2 Systems and methods for deploying a portion of a stent using at least one coiled member
The present embodiments provide systems and methods for deploying at least a portion of a stent. In one embodiment, the system comprises a cannula having an outer surface, and at least one coiled member having proximal and distal ends and a plurality of turns disposed therebetween. One of the proximal and distal ends of the coiled member is secured to the outer surface of the cannula, and the other of the proximal and distal ends of the coiled member is unsecured relative to the outer surface of the cannula. A portion of a stent is looped around the unsecured end of the coiled member and disposed within spacing between adjacent turns of the coiled member. Rotation of the cannula subsequently causes the portion of the stent to disengage from the coiled member.
US09173755B2 Vascular repair devices
A vascular repair device includes a tubular graft body and a structural framework having at least two stents. A first stent of the stents is connected to the tubular graft body along an entirety of the first stent and a second of the stents includes a periodically changing shape that defines proximal apices having a first radii of curvature and distal apices having a second radii of curvature that is less than the first radii of curvature. The second stent is connected to the tubular graft body at the distal apices.
US09173754B2 Stent
A stent including a plurality of loop stents connected by struts so that it bends uniformly as a whole.A stent A including a plurality of loop stents 2 connected by a plurality of struts 3, the loop stents 2 each formed of a stent main wire 1 folded into a zigzag shape and joined at its ends, wherein the bending strength of each strut 3 is larger than the bending strength of the stent main wire 1.
US09173753B1 System and method for forming an endoluminal device
The present disclosure describes a system and method for forming a stent or stent-graft for use in the vasculature of a human patient. The system comprises a mandrel and a collar configured to slide and rotate in relation to the mandrel. The mandrel includes at least one groove that corresponds to the desired shape of a stent or stent-graft. The stent or stent-graft is formed by sliding and rotating the collar along the surface of the mandrel, which forces a wire to conform to the shape of the groove.
US09173750B2 Insertion tool assembly
Insertion tool assemblies for positioning an implant at a target location in a patient. Insertion tool assemblies that comprise first and second jaw portions configured to engage an implant; a sleeve assembly coupled to the first and second jaw portions; and a handle coupled to the sleeve assembly.
US09173749B2 Spinal interbody spacer device and methods of using same
A method is provided for manipulating a spinal body spacer for use in spinal surgery on a patient. The method includes attaching a placement tool to the spinal body spacer and manipulating the placement tool so as to locate the spinal body spacer in a desired location. The placement tool can by removed by unscrewing the placement tool from a threaded receiving aperture of the spinal body spacer. The method also includes passing a tip of an extraction tool through the threaded receiving aperture of the spinal body spacer, the tip of the extraction tool having at least one tab. The tip of the extraction tool is rotated such that the at least one tab of the tip of the extraction tool passes through keyways of the spacer and extends into the interior space of the spinal body spacer.
US09173748B2 Toroid-shaped spinal disc
An intervertebral implant for insertion between adjacent vertebral bodies is provided. The intervertebral implant can include a first component. The first component can have a first articulating surface, which can be generally convex. The intervertebral implant can include a second component, which can be generally in the shape of a toroid. The second component can have a second articulating surface. The second articulating surface can be generally concave and articulable with the first articulating surface for retaining motion between the first and second vertebra. The second articulating surface can have a larger radius of curvature than the first articulating surface such that a portion of the first articulating surface extends into an aperture defined by the generally toroid shape.
US09173747B2 Expandable vertebral prosthesis
The present invention relates to an expandable prosthetic implant device for engagement between vertebrae generally comprising an inner member, outer member, gear member and a locking assembly positioned coaxial with respect to each other such that the inner and outer members are moveable relative to each other along an axis. The gear member is axially fixed to the outer member and freely rotatable with respect to the outer member and the gear member threadedly engages a threaded portion of the inner member to translate inner member along the axis. The implant is configured to engage the vertebrae in a predetermined alignment and the gear member includes gear teeth exposed to the exterior and configured to be accessible by a tool member at a plurality of angular positions around the perimeter of the implant device.
US09173742B2 Modular spacer device for the treatment of prosthesis infections
A spacer device (1) for the two-step treatment of prosthesis infections, made from biologically compatible and porous material designed to allow the possibility of adding pharmaceutical products, active and/or therapeutic ingredients, includes a first portion (2) designed to be fixed to a corresponding bone bed remaining from a previous implant, and a second portion (3) designed to be inserted in a corresponding articular area of the patient, the first portion (2) and the second portion (3) being attached by adjustable connecting means (4).
US09173741B2 Method for producing an implant having at least one break line
An implant, having a surface segment with at least one break line delineating an opening or recess of a closure segment which can be removed from the surface segment, is produced by first making a sub-assembly of the implant and then weakening the material in the region of the break line by material deformation.
US09173738B2 Transcatheter prosthetic heart valve delivery system and method with controlled expansion of prosthetic heart valve
A delivery system for use with a prosthetic heart valve having a stent frame to which a valve structure is attached includes a shaft assembly including a distal end, an intermediate portion, and a first coupling structure disposed near the distal end and configured to be coupled to a distal end of the prosthetic heart valve via a first tether. A sheath assembly defines a lumen sized to slidably receive the shaft assembly. The delivery system is configured to transition from a loaded state in which the sheath assembly encompasses the prosthetic heart valve to a deployed state in which the sheath assembly is withdrawn from the prosthetic heart valve. The first coupling structure is configured to be manipulated in a first direction to provide a controlled expansion or contraction of the distal end of the prosthetic heart valve.
US09173735B2 Porous ureteral stent
In some embodiments, a stent includes an elongate member and a distal retention member. The elongate member is configured to be disposed within a ureter of a patient and has a first portion, a second portion and a plurality of beads bonded together. The plurality of beads define a plurality of spaces between the plurality of beads. The plurality of spaces are configured to allow fluid to flow from the first portion of the elongate member to the second portion of the elongate member. The distal retention member is configured to help maintain a portion of the stent within a kidney of the patient.
US09173733B1 Tracheobronchial implantable medical device and methods of use
Devices and methods for treating a diseased tracheobronchial region in a mammal. The device can be a stent which can include a sustained-release material such as a polymer matrix with a treatment agent. The stent can be bioabsorbable and a treatment agent can be incorporated therewith. A treatment method can be delivery of a stent to a tracheobronchial region by a delivery device such as a catheter assembly.
US09173730B2 Surgical instrument for treating female urinary stress incontinence
A suburethral sling device and method for treating female urinary stress incontinence which is anatomically configured to implant into the lower abdomen of a female in a manner providing support to mid-urethral and bladder neck sphincteric continence sites with the sling defining in part, mesh and tissue remodeling portions. The sling is deployed via a sling transfer instrument having distal and proximal ends with the instrument comprising in part a progressively curved shaft portion positioned between the distal and proximal ends. An insertion handle of the transfer instrument is secured to the curved metal shaft section guiding the shaft tip through the tissues of the abdomen in an anterior/posterior direction as well as a cephalad/caudad direction.
US09173727B2 Shade guide, method for discriminating tooth colors, artificial tooth manufacturing method
In a shade guide, a plurality of shade tabs whose colors are mutually different are arranged regularly based on the colors. The arrangement of the plurality of shade tabs is an arrangement determined based on: S values and V values that are determined according to to which areas, from among areas partitioned by a plurality of straight lines in an L*-C* plane, the coordinates of the colors of the shade tabs belong, and H values that are determined according to to which areas, from among areas partitioned by a plurality of straight lines in an a*-b* plane, the coordinates belong. S groups, each of which is a shade tab group having a common S value, are arranged in the shade guide. V rows, each of which is a shade tab group having a common V value, are arranged in each S group. In each V row, the plurality of shade tabs have mutually different H values and are aligned in an order that is in accordance with the H values. Using this shade guide enables precisely and easily discriminating the color of an evaluation target tooth.
US09173725B2 Dental nozzle
A nozzle tip for a three-way syringe device, including a co-axial tube assembly having attachment feature adapted for releasable attachment of the nozzle tip to a syringe device, and wherein the tube assembly includes an outer tube and an inner tube, the inner tube having an end section including an inclined outlet face, and wherein the inner tube is tight-fit against the interior surface of the outer tube. The nozzle tip is included in a dental apparatus including a three-way syringe device.
US09173724B2 Occlusal adjustment system
Occlusal-surface shape data and occlusal-surface position data of dentures are acquired on a dentist side, and the occlusal-surface shape data and the occlusal-surface position data are then transmitted to a grinding data provider side. Maxillomandibular occlusal state data is reproduced from the occlusal-surface shape data and the occlusal-surface position data on the grinding data provider side. A maxillomandibular occlusal adjustment portion is determined by changing a maxillomandibular occlusal vertical dimension on the grinding data provider side. Cutting data including the maxillomandibular occlusal adjustment portion and the occlusal-surface position data is prepared on the grinding data provider side, and the cutting data is transmitted to the dentist side. An occlusal adjustment is carried out on the dentist side by cutting the dentures by a grinding machine based on the cutting data.
US09173710B2 Packaging system and method for packaging fibers
A packaging system and method for use with a fiber, and in particular, an optical fiber of the type typically used for surgical procedures, in order to protect the fiber during storage and shipping and also allow the fiber to be easily dispensed in a controlled manner by an end user.
US09173709B2 Penis extender
A system for extending a penis. The system includes a woven cylinder. The woven cylinder includes a set of fibers woven into a cylindrical shape. The woven cylinder is configured to lengthen when a force is applied to the woven cylinder and decrease in circumference when the woven cylinder lengthens. The woven cylinder is further configured to be placed on the penis of a user, applying a lateral force to the penis.
US09173693B2 Apparatus and method for sternal closure
The present disclosure provides a sternal closure fixation device. The fixation device includes a first sternum implant disposable within an interior cavity of a first half of a severed sternum such that the first implant contacts opposing anterior and posterior faces of the cavity. The fixation device additionally includes, a second sternum implant disposable within an interior cavity of a second half of a severed sternum such that the second implant contacts opposing anterior and posterior faces of the cavity. Furthermore, the fixation device includes a rigid fixation pin sized and structured to be disposed within an internal bore of the first implant and within an internal bore of the second implant, whereby when the first and second halves of the severed sternum are joined together, the first and second halves of the sternum are prevented from shear movement in any direction relative to each other.
US09173689B2 Retaining mechanism
A retaining mechanism for use in affixing a stratum to bone is disclosed. The retaining mechanism comprises a stratum, a retaining element and a spring element. The stratum comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a hole extending between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the second surface is configured to engage at least a portion of the bone. The retaining element comprises a first position that permits a fastener to be passed through the hole, and a second position that at least partially overlaps the hole. The spring element is configured to engage the stratum and configured to engage the retaining element such that the spring element helps maintain the retaining element in its second position so as to help prevent inadvertent backing out of the fastener after the fastener has been fully inserted into the hole.
US09173686B2 Interspinous implant
An interspinous implant. The interspinous implant includes a resilient S-shaped body having first and second saddle-shaped portions. First and second stirrup-shaped brackets extend in opposite directions from the first and second saddle-shaped portions for engaging first and second spinous processes.
US09173684B2 Receiving part for receiving a rod for coupling the rod to a bone anchoring element and bone anchoring device with such a receiving part
A receiving part for coupling a rod to a bone anchoring element includes a receiving part body including a head receiving portion having an open end and a first exterior surface portion, the head receiving portion being flexible to allow introduction and clamping of a head of a bone anchoring element, and a locking ring having a first interior surface portion configured to engage the first exterior surface portion of the head receiving portion in a first contact region to lock an angular position of the head, wherein the first interior surface portion is spaced apart from an end of the locking ring, and wherein one of the first exterior surface portion or the first interior surface portion includes a cylindrical surface, and the other one of the first exterior surface portion or the first interior surface portion includes another cylindrical surface or a ring-shaped bulge portion.
US09173680B2 Seal for a trocar sleeve and such trocar sleeve
A seal for a trocar sleeve comprises a sealing body which, in the direction of a longitudinal center axis of the sealing body, has a first axial end and a second axial end and, between said first and second ends, an elastic sealing element which, in a radially inner area relative to the longitudinal center axis, defines a passage for an instrument. Said sealing element has a substantially tubular hollow space whose radially inner wall area annularly surrounds the passage, and said hollow space contains a fluid and and has a radially inner wall area annularly surrounding the passage, and a radially outer wall area on a radially outer side of the hollow space, the radially outer wall area having a wall thickness larger than a wall thickness of the radially inner wall area.
US09173679B2 Intraosseous device for inserting a cannula into a bone
The invention relates to a device for the insertion of a cannula into a bone of a patient, which comprises: (a) an activator assembly for activating the device; (b) needle assembly which comprises a stylet and cannula; (c) barrel assembly for containing said stylet and cannula in a loaded state prior to the device activation; and (d) a setting assembly for adjusting the penetration depth of said cannula into the patient's bone.
US09173675B2 Dermatome with ultrasonic cutting blade
A dermatome assembly is operable to harvest a skin graft and includes an ultrasonic dermatome and a power supply. The ultrasonic dermatome includes a body and an ultrasonic blade assembly mounted in the body. The blade assembly includes a frequency generator and a cutting horn powered by the frequency generator. The cutting horn is spaced apart from the body so that the body is restricted from damping vibrational movement of the cutting horn. The dermatome assembly is operable to precisely control the thickness of the cut skin graft and also restrict the cutting horn from overheating.
US09173671B2 Tissue resection device and related methods of use
A device configured to facilitate resection of tissue. The device may include a proximal end configured to be secured to a distal portion of an introduction sheath and a distal end defining an opening that may communicate with a channel extending between the proximal and distal ends. The opening may be defined by at least one straight edge.
US09173666B2 Patient-specific-bone-cutting guidance instruments and methods
An orthopedic device for cutting or resurfacing an outer bone surface of a bone of a patient includes first and second guides. Each guide has a patient-specific surface preoperatively configured as a negative surface of a portion of the outer bone surface of the bone and a plurality of elongated slots. The elongated slots of the second guide are offset relative to the elongated slots of the first guide and configured for guiding a tool to resurface the outer bone surface.
US09173660B2 Methods and devices to reduce the likelihood of injury from concussive or blast forces
A method and device for reducing the damaging effects of radiant energy, blast, or concussive events includes applying pressure to at least one jugular vein to reduce the egress of blood from the cranial cavity during or before the incidence of the imparting event. Reducing blood outflow from the cranial cavity increases intracranial volume and/or pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid to reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury and injuries to the spinal column. Reducing blood outflow further increases the intracranial pressure and volume, and thereby increases the pressure and volume of the cochlear fluid, the vitreous humor and the cerebrospinal fluid to thereby reduce the risk of injury to the inner ear, internal structure of the eye and of the spinal column. In addition, increasing intracranial pressure and volume reduces the likelihood of brain injury and any associated loss of olfactory function.
US09173657B2 Devices and methods for endoluminal plication
Devices and methods are provided for forming and securing a tissue plication. More particularly, the devices and methods of the present invention can be used to create multiple tissue folds on an anterior and posterior wall of a stomach cavity to reduce the volume thereof. In one aspect, a method of gastric volume reduction is disclosed that includes advancing a tissue acquisition and fixation device endoscopically into a stomach, manipulating the device to form a first fold of tissue on an interior surface of an anterior wall of the stomach, and manipulating the device to form a second fold of tissue on an interior surface of a posterior wall of the stomach, where the second fold is not attached to the first fold.
US09173656B2 Methods and devices for folding and securing tissue
The present invention relates to devices, and methods for using the devices, to create and secure a tissue fold during an endoluminal medical procedure. The devices and methods may be used for folding and securing, for example, a fundus wall onto an esophagus wall or esophageal tissue in the region of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to reduce the diameter of the esophagus opening in that region. One aspect of the invention includes forming the tissue fold by closing a grasping arm that is pivotably connected to an overtube that has been positioned at the juncture of the fundus wall and esophagus wall. A further aspect of the invention includes tissue clips configured to be inserted and positioned through an endoluminal device.
US09173653B2 Tissue repair device
A tissue repair device includes a closed knotless loop of multifilament flexible material, and a fixation member having a structure that defines a cavity that receives at least a part of the closed loop. The tissue repair device may include a flexible member traversing the loop. The loop may include a portion in which ends of the multifilament flexible material are thermally fused together. The multifilament flexible material may be braided or twisted.
US09173652B2 All-suture anchor inserter
An inserter for simultaneously creating a bone tunnel and delivering an all-suture anchor. The inserter is capable of inserting into the bone tunnel a soft, non-rigid suture anchor by forming a bone tunnel (to serve as an anchor receiving area) and simultaneously, in one motion, delivering the soft suture anchor to the anchor receiving area. The soft suture anchor is made entirely of non-rigid materials including, but not limited to, filaments of soft, malleable materials such as those commonly used to make sutures. The inserter is able to not only carry or deliver the all-suture anchor into a bony substrate, but is able to do so without having to preform a hole in the bone.
US09173651B2 Soft tissue repair device and associated methods
A device for repairing tissue includes a first tubular anchor having a first central longitudinal axis and a first bore along the first central longitudinal axis, the first bore having a first curved surface and a first flat surface, and a first transverse bore perpendicular to the first central longitudinal axis and parallel to the first flat surface. The device includes a second tubular anchor having a second central longitudinal axis and a second longitudinal bore along the second central longitudinal axis, the second bore having a second curved surface and a second flat surface, and a second transverse bore perpendicular to the second central longitudinal axis and parallel to the second flat surface. A flexible strand couples the first and second tubular anchors and passes through the first and second transverse bores.
US09173650B2 Methods and devices for trauma welding
The present invention provides a method for stabilizing a fractured bone. The method includes positioning an elongate rod in the medullary canal of the fractured bone and forming a passageway through the cortex of the bone. The passageway extends from the exterior surface of the bone to the medullary canal of the bone. The method also includes creating a bonding region on the elongate rod. The bonding region is generally aligned with the passageway of the cortex. Furthermore, the method includes positioning a fastener in the passageway of the cortex and on the bonding region of the elongate rod and thermally bonding the fastener to the bonding region of the elongate rod while the fastener is positioned in the passageway of the cortex.
US09173649B2 Low profile distractor apparatuses
Embodiments of low profile distractor apparatuses are disclosed. The distractor apparatuses generally comprise a mounting body, a tensioning mechanism coupled to the mounting body and a distractor arm coupled to the tensioning mechanism and pivotally coupled to the mounting body for rotation relative to the mounting body. The tensioning axis of the tensioning mechanism is non-coaxial with an effector axis of the distractor arm and a distraction force applied with the distractor arm is translated to the effector axis. This enables the distractor apparatus to be positioned relative to a patient such that the tensioning mechanism is offset from the long axis of the limb of the patient thereby facilitating improved access to the distal portions of the limb.
US09173648B2 Illuminated and modular soft tissue retractor
A surgical retractor for illuminating a surgical field includes an ergonomic handle, a retractor blade coupled with the handle, a quick release mechanism, and an illuminator blade. The retractor blade is adapted to engage and retract tissue, and the quick release mechanism is adapted to couple the handle with the retractor blade. The illuminator blade acts as a waveguide to transmit light by total internal reflection. Light is extracted from the illuminator to illuminate the surgical field. The retractor blade is releasable from the handle without requiring uncoupling of the illuminator blade from the handle and also without requiring optical uncoupling of the illuminator blade from a light source. The retractor may also be adapted to evacuate smoke from the surgical field.
US09173647B2 Tissue fixation system
A tissue fixation system is provided for dynamic and rigid fixation of tissue. A fastener connected with an elongate fastening member, such as a cable, wire, suture, rod, or tube, is moved through a passage between opposite sides of tissue. The fastener is provided with a groove that accommodates at least a portion of the fastening member to reduce the profile during the movement through the passage. The fastener is then pivoted to change its orientation. A second fastener can then be connected with the fastening member. While tension is maintained in the fastening member, the fasteners are secured against relative movement. This may be done by deforming the fastening member, either the first or second fasteners, or a bushing placed against the second fastener.
US09173639B2 Diagnostic imaging apparatus, diagnostic ultrasonic apparatus, and medical image displaying apparatus
The diagnostic imaging apparatus according to the present embodiments includes a display unit, an input unit, and a display control unit. The display unit includes a display area in which a medical image and a menu in relation to the medical image are displayed. The input unit receives input to the display area. The display control unit displays different menus in the display area in accordance with the input received by the input unit.
US09173636B2 Ultrasound probe
An ultrasound probe including: an ultrasound transmission/reception portion; a cable; a housing; a hole portion of the housing; an insulation pipe having a proximal end side exposed outside the housing; an insulation tube covering an outer circumference of an exposed region of the insulation pipe and an outer circumference of the cable; an adhesive located between the outer circumference of the exposed region and a distal end side region of the insulation tube and configured to adhere the insulation pipe and the insulation tube to each other; and a sticky member disposed between the exposed region and the distal end side region together with the adhesive.
US09173631B2 Panoramic elasticity ultrasound imaging
Using compression, tissue elasticity data from two or more different fields of view are acquired. Since different amounts of compression may be used for the different fields of view, the dynamic range of the elasticity data is updated. A panoramic elasticity image is generated from the updated elasticity data of multiple fields of view. A panoramic elasticity image represents the combined fields of view for the elasticity data.
US09173630B2 Ultrasonic diagnostic equipment and control method therefor
Image data of the interior of a sample (S) are sequentially created on the basis of reception signals at the time when ultrasonic waves are transmitted into the sample (S) so as to scan the interior thereof, movements of respective control points set on the image data are tracked so as to evaluate temporal changes of velocities of motions of the sample (S), and differences of timings of the motions in the sample (S) are color-displayed on the basis of the temporal changes of the velocities.
US09173626B2 Method for performing dynamic registration, overlays, and 3D views with fluoroscopic images
A method (200, 300) and system (100) for performing real-time, dynamic overlays on fluoroscopic images to aid in navigation and localization during medical procedures.
US09173624B2 System and method for multi-energy X-ray imaging using a polychromatic source
A system and method for generating multi-energy computed tomography images of a subject using a polychromatic x-ray source with single spectrum includes acquiring a measure of a polychromatic spectrum of a polychromatic x-ray beam generated by the polychromatic x-ray source. The method also includes acquiring attenuation data generated by operating the polychromatic x-ray source, segmenting the attenuation data based on a plurality of component criteria to create plurality of segmented datasets, and generating template data from the segmented datasets. Using the template data and the measure of the polychromatic spectrum, polychromatic synthetic data is generated. Using the template data and each of the segmented datasets, component synthetic data is generated. Using the attenuation data, the polychromatic synthetic data, and the component synthetic data, a plurality of multi-energy images, including separable images weighted for each of the component criteria, is reconstructed.
US09173621B2 Method and apparatus for adaptive X-ray filtration
The present invention pertains to a system and method for adaptive X-ray filtration comprising a volume of X-ray attenuating material with a central less attenuating three-dimensional region. The volume of X-ray attenuating material can be positioned within 10 cm from an X-ray source and rotated around an internal axis of rotation. The volume of X-ray attenuating material can be symmetric around the internal axis while the central less attenuating region can be asymmetric around the internal axis. Rotating the volume by a predetermined angle around the internal axis can change the amount of attenuation of an X-ray beam through the filter. The volume can be rotated by the same predetermined angle as an imaging subject or X-ray source and detector are rotated during X-ray image acquisition.
US09173619B2 X-ray CT apparatus
There is provided an X-ray CT apparatus including: an X-ray source; a wedge which is disposed between the X-ray source and a subject and in which a shield blocking a part of an X ray is formed; a wedge driving unit for moving position of the wedge; and a system control unit controlling the wedge driving unit during a scan execution period to control the position of the wedge.
US09173613B2 Method of autonomously monitoring the movement activity of a fetus
The present invention relates to a system (1) and method for automatically monitoring the movement activity of a fetus. In order to provide a simple and reliable technique for monitoring the movement activity of a fetus, a method of automatically monitoring the movement activity of a fetus is suggested, the method comprising the steps of: detecting (200) the overall movements of a pregnant female, said overall movements comprising movements of the pregnant female and movements of the fetus; detecting at least one second physiological signal (26) of the pregnant female; and—determining (300) the movement activity of the fetus by analyzing the detected overall movements of the pregnant female, analyzing the at least one second physiological signal (26) of the pregnant female, and discriminating movements of the pregnant female from movements of the fetus depending on the analyzing results.
US09173612B2 Gesture recognition biofeedback
A gesture recognition biofeedback device is provided for improving fine motor function in persons with brain injury. The system detects a physical characteristic of the patient and provides feedback based on the detected characteristic. For instance, the system may detect surface muscle pressures of the forearm to provide real-time visual biofeedback to the patient based on a comparison of the detected muscle pressure and predefined values indicative of appropriate motor function.
US09173611B2 System and method for assessing effective delivery of ablation therapy
A system and method for assessing effective delivery of ablation therapy to a tissue in a body is provided. A three-dimensional anatomical map of the tissue is generated and displayed with the map defining a corresponding volume. An index is generated corresponding to a location within the volume with the index indicative of a state of ablation therapy at the location. The index may be derived from one or more factors such as the duration an ablation electrode is present at the location, the amount of energy provided, the degree of electrical coupling between an ablation electrode and the tissue at the location and temperature. A visual characteristic (e.g., color intensity) of a portion of the anatomical map corresponding to the location is then altered responsive to the index.
US09173609B2 Brain condition monitoring based on co-activation of neural networks
A brain condition can be tracked based on identification of co-activation of two antagonistic networks of a patient's brain. Various embodiments concerns methods and devices for sensing one or more signals indicative of brain activity, detecting one or more episodes of default mode network activation based on the one or more signals, detecting one or more episodes of salience network activation based on the one or more signals, and identifying one or more episodes of temporal co-activation of the default mode network and the salience network based on the detected one or more episodes of default mode network activation and the one or more episodes of salience network activation. The brain condition can be tracked and treated based on the identification of the one or more episodes of co-activation.
US09173605B2 Fabrication of implantable fully integrated electrochemical sensors
A fully integrated small size implantable sensing device is described, which can include a sensor and an electronic circuit to interface with the sensor and communicate with an external device. Various fabrication methods for the sensing device are described, including provision of wells, created using same fabrication technology as the electronic circuit, to contain electrodes of the sensor and corresponding functionalization chemicals. Such implantable sensing device can be used for a variety of electrochemical measuring applications within a living body as well as actuation by injecting a current into the living body.
US09173602B2 Fluid characteristic measurement
An apparatus comprises a detection indicator, a housing, and an exoskeleton in which the housing nests. The detection indicator is configured to furnish a visual indication upon contact with a fluid responsive to a characteristic of the fluid. The housing comprises an interior chamber configured to receive the fluid and to provide contact between the fluid and the detection indicator. The housing is configured to removably engage a conduit coupled to a source of a fluid sample, which may be a lumen inserted into a patient to receive fluid therefrom. In methods for use with the apparatus, a sample is collected, a characteristic is measured by the apparatus, and the apparatus is disconnected so as to avoid leakage of the sample and exposure of personnel.
US09173599B2 Lancet
There is provided a lancet comprising a lancet body, a lancet cap and a pricking component. In the lancet, the lancet body and the lancet cap are made of resin and the pricking component is made of metal. The pricking component is situated in both of the lancet body and the lancet cap, and the tip of the pricking component is covered with the lancet cap. The lancet body of the lancet is thin except for a rim portion of the body, and the rim portion of the lancet body has such a form that the rim portion extends symmetrically from the thinned portion of the lancet body.
US09173598B1 Device for piercing the skin to obtain a blood sample and method of use
A device for piercing the skin to obtain a blood sample includes a sleeve which has an open first end and a cavity. A piercer is disposed within the cavity, and has a tip which is positioned near the open first end of the sleeve. The user applies opposing finger pressure to the device so that the skin of one finger enters the cavity and is pierced by the piercer. During this operation the piercer does not move with respect to the sleeve.
US09173595B2 Non-invasive method and apparatus for optimizing the respiration of atelectatic lungs
Method for providing ventilatory settings with regard to the airway pressure levels of an artificial ventilator, the artificial ventilator is connected to a lung, including the steps of obtaining data samples of a gas concentration of the expired gas over a single breath; selecting a plurality of data samples from the obtained data samples; calculating a tracing value being sensitive to changes of alveolar dead space on the basis of the selected data samples; repeating steps a), b) and c) for obtaining a plurality of tracing values; and changing at least one airway pressure level of the artificial ventilator, wherein from an observation of a resulting course of the plurality of calculated tracing values an airway pressure level at which alveolar opening or lung overdistension or lung open condition or alveolar closing occurs is detected. Apparatus for providing ventilatory settings with regard to the airway pressure levels of an artificial ventilator is also disclosed.
US09173594B2 Body-worn monitor for measuring respiratory rate
The invention provides a system for measuring respiratory rate (RR) from a patient. The system includes an impedance pneumography (IP) sensor, connected to at least two electrodes, and a processing system that receives and processes signals from the electrodes to measure an IP signal. A motion sensor (e.g. an accelerometer) measures at least one motion signal (e.g. an ACC waveform) describing movement of a portion of the patient's body to which it is attached. The processing system receives the IP and motion signals, and processes them to determine, respectfully, frequency-domain IP and motion spectra. Both spectra are then collectively processed to remove motion components from the IP spectrum and determine RR. For example, during the processing, an algorithm determines motion frequency components from the frequency-domain motion spectrum, and then using a digital filter removes these, or parameters calculated therefrom, from the IP spectrum.
US09173585B2 Method and device for intracochlea impedance measurement
This method of determining an intracochlea tissue impedance comprises using at least two stimulating electrodes to apply an electrical stimulus to intracochlea tissue. A voltage caused by the stimulus is measured between two measuring electrodes distinct from the stimulating electrodes. From the voltage a stimulus-response characteristic of tissue between the two measuring electrodes is determined. This allows the tissue/electrode interface impedance and potential and the tissue impedance and potential to be uniquely determined. In turn, modiolus currents can be estimated in monopolar stimulation mode. Also provided is automated initiation of re-mapping of the device when tissue characteristics change.
US09173581B2 Apparatus and method for the automated measurement of sural nerve conduction velocity and amplitude
Apparatus for measuring sural nerve conduction velocity and amplitude, the apparatus including a housing; stimulation means for electrically stimulating a human sural nerve; a biosensor comprising a plurality of electrodes for detecting a sural nerve response evoked by the stimulation means; acquisition means electrically connected to the biosensor for electrically acquiring the sural nerve response detected by the biosensor; processing means electrically connected to the acquisition means for digitizing, processing and storing the acquired sural nerve response; calculation means electrically connected to the processing means for calculating the conduction velocity and amplitude of the processed sural nerve response; and display means for displaying the sural nerve conduction velocity and amplitude; wherein the stimulation means and the biosensor are designed to be placed on a patient's anatomy, in the vicinity of a sural nerve.
US09173577B2 Biometric monitoring device having a body weight sensor, and methods of operating same
A system comprising a biometric monitoring device including a housing including a platform to receive at least one foot of the user, a body weight sensor to generate body weight data, processing circuitry to calculate user weight data which corresponds to the user's weight, using the body weight data, and communication circuitry to: (a) receive user identification data which identifies the user or a portable activity monitoring device, and (b) transmit the user weight data to data storage associated with the user identification data. The system further includes the portable activity monitoring device including a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the user's body, a sensor to generate sensor data, and communication circuitry to receive physiologic data which is based on the user weight data, and processing circuitry to calculate activity data using the sensor data and physiologic data.
US09173568B2 Method and system for detecting neuropathy
The invention provides a system and method for detecting or monitoring neuropathy in an individual. The system of the invention includes a platform having a surface in which a plurality of stimulators is embedded. Each stimulator is configured to stimulate a region in a skin area when the skin area is applied to the platform. The stimulators may deliver thermal and/or vibrational energy to the skin region. In the method of the invention, a skin area is applied to platform and one of the stimulators is activated. A minimal stimulation is determined that is sensed by the individual in a skin region in contact with a stimulator. Neuropathy in the skin region in contact with the stimulator is detected if either the determined minimal stimulation is above a predetermined threshold, or if a stimulation is not sensed before a magnitude of the stimulation reaches a predetermined maximal magnitude. The process is then repeated with other stimulators.
US09173563B2 Portable optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems
Portable optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices including at least one mirror configured to scan at least two directions are provided. The portable OCT devices are configured to provide a portable interface to a sample that can be aligned to the sample without repositioning the sample. Related systems are also provided.
US09173552B2 Endoscope
An endoscope includes an insertion portion including a bending portion configured to bend in four directions, and a flexible tube portion provided so as to be continuous with the bending portion, wherein the bending portion includes a first bending region and a second bending region, and wherein the flexible tube portion comprises inside, four first guide pipes each including a distal end fixed to a distal end of the first bending region and a proximal end fixed to a bending portion operation device, and three second guide pipes each including a distal end fixed to a distal end of the second bending region and a proximal end fixed to a bending portion bent shape switching device.
US09173551B2 Enhanced control of flexible endoscopes through human-machine interface
An electromechanical drive system with drop-in capability allows manipulation of the majority of existing endoscopes. The invention does not require retrofitting of existing endoscopes and maintains the current clinical workflow. The drive system can be controlled through a human/machine interface, which could consist of a variety of different input devices, including a joystick, keyboard, or game controller.
US09173548B2 Medical robot system
A medical robot system has a plurality of first robot arms supporting respective manipulators thereon; a second robot arm supporting an endoscope thereon; and a controller for controlling the first robot arms and the second robot arm. The manipulators and endoscope are inserted into a body cavity through a common trocar supporting member, wherein each of said manipulators includes a rod-shaped member for insertion through the trocar supporting member into the body cavity, a distal-end working unit mounted on a distal end of the rod-shaped member and having at least one joint, and at least one intermediate joint disposed in the rod-shaped member for bending said rod-shaped member.
US09173545B2 Laryngoscopic device
A laryngoscopic device includes a laryngoscope video blade and a handle module arranged to support the video blade or auxiliary direct laryngoscopy blades interchangeably thereon. The video blade includes a camera and contacts for receiving electrical power from the handle module while outputting video to the handle module from the camera. The handle module can also provide electrical power to a light source on the video blade or include its own light source to be conveyed to a light guide of a blade coupled to the handle module. The laryngoscopic device also includes a display monitor which can be removably coupled to an output of the handle module to display video generated by the video blade camera. The handle module can be used alone with non-video blades or readily converted to a video laryngoscopic device by replacing the non-video blade with a video blade and connecting the display monitor.
US09173535B2 Cleaning device with aerodynamic oscillator
A cleaning device (1) for cleaning a carpet (70) having face yarns (74) that extend over a distance of several millimeters from a generally planar backing (72) to define a carpet surface (76), comprising: an oscillator unit (30), including: an oscillator (32); an oscillation space (34) defined by or accommodating at least part of the oscillator, and accessible through a jet opening (36) via which ambient fluid is alternatingly drawn into the oscillation space and expelled from the oscillation space during operation of the oscillator; a nozzle (10), including a carpet surface penetrator (14) that defines said jet opening; a support structure (12) configured to support the nozzle against the carpet, such that, in a supported condition of the nozzle against the carpet, the penetrator penetrates the carpet surface and the jet opening is disposed at least partially below the carpet surface.
US09173531B2 Dual-purpose vacuum cleaner
A dual-purpose vacuum cleaner includes a self-walking carriage including three or more wheels, an accommodation chamber providing at least one bearing face, a roller brush, a dust guide, a passageway connected to the accommodation chamber and a plurality of first contacts disposed in the accommodation chamber, a hand-held vacuum cleaner detachably accommodated in the accommodation chamber and including at least one abutment face, a handle, a dust suction entrance attached to the passageway and a plurality of second contacts respectively physically kept in contact with the first contacts, and a cover covered on the self-walking carriage to conceal the hand-held vacuum cleaner in the self-walking carriage.
US09173526B2 Potato chip lifter
A potato chip lifting apparatus has a elongated handle with a front side and a back side, the back side having a plurality of catching mechanisms extending from the back side of the elongated handle and away from the elongated handle, the catching mechanisms configured to engage a can in which potato chips are stored. The foot portion extends from a bottom portion of the elongated handle in a direction of the front side of the handle and generally orthogonal to the elongated handle and the front side thereof. Finally, the potato chip apparatus has a support extending upward from a top surface of the foot portion upward and parallel to the elongated handle to support potato chips resting on the potato chip lifting apparatus.
US09173524B2 Special pedestal for food processor
The present invention provides a pedestal for a food processor, which includes a container, a base arranged under the bottom of the container, a locking assembly configured for locking the container on the base. The locking assembly includes block holes arranged in the base, block grooves arranged in the bottom of the container, and a chuck rotatably arranged on the bottom of the base. The chuck has snap-gauges cooperating with the block grooves passing through the block holes respectively. When uninstalling, it only needs to rotate the chuck to complete the uninstalling operation, and thus the operation is very convenient. When replacing the food processor, it only needs to take down the container and other components of various food processors which cooperate with the container, and does not need to replace the base. Thus the present invention can rapidly replace different food processors.
US09173521B2 Food and beverage dispenser with cleaning system
A food and beverage dispenser for dispensing food and beverage products may have a clean in place (CIP) system that functions with minimal to no operator interface and disassembly. The dispenser may include one or more product barrels and an ingredient supply refrigerator. A nozzle cap containing a cleaning/sanitizing agent may be placed on a dispensing valve of the dispenser, and a CIP connector may be connected to a BIB connector after disconnecting the BIB connector from a BIB package. The CIP connector completes a CIP circuit that places the product barrel in fluid circulation with a water source and optionally another sanitizer source to help clean the dispenser in place. A heater may be included in the CIP circuit to heat the circulating fluid. A microcontroller or other computer processor may control the CIP process.
US09173515B2 Indicator for garment hangers
An indicator for a hanger includes a body having side walls and joining end walls, openings at opposing top and bottom ends, and a passage extending through the body and joining the openings. The indicator may be positioned around a hook of the hanger such that the hook extends from the opening at the top end of the body. The indicator may also include an attachment mechanism for securing the indictor to the hanger. Alternatively or in addition, the hanger may include a mechanism for securing the indictor to the hanger. Information may be displayed on one or more of the side walls and end walls of the indicator.
US09173512B1 Bowl plate
A simulated bowl plate with a bowl placed at the middle or center and a plate placed around the periphery. The plate is connected to the rim of the bowl. The plate has sections for different foods. The bowl plate is capable of being used as a bowl, as a plate or bowl and plate combined. Cold and hot food can be served together on the same dish. The bowl plate saves storage space as less space is occupied as compared to storing bowls and plates.
US09173510B1 Frame hanging wire post with locking connector
A hanging wire post with a locking connector for decorative hanging applications. This hanging wire post would be alternate to using eyelets or D-rings for attachment point of hanging wire to frame. This hanging post will install to frame with a single center-point screw. This post supports the hanging wire which is threaded through and around backside of post resulting in a frictional grip on wire that facilitates wire length adjustment. The hanging wire is then locked into position with the parallel line locking connector. The result is a very high strength end connection, and very quick and precise installation. No frustration of trying to tie precise knots in stranded wire or stranded wire rope. This device will work equally well with coated or uncoated stranded wire and wire rope.
US09173509B2 Apparatuses and methods for changing the appearance of an object mounted behind a mirror
An apparatus includes a mirror. The mirror has a transmissivity, a reflectivity, a front side, and a back side. The apparatus further includes a substantially transparent layer, the substantially transparent layer is located on the back side; and a dark layer, the dark layer contains an aperture and is applied to the substantially transparent layer wherein a combination of the mirror, the substantially transparent layer, and the dark layer have a combined reflectivity and a combined color when viewed from the front side which causes a media display device to vanish when the media display device is off and is mounted over the aperture on the back side of the mirror.
US09173506B2 Wall mounted storing constructions
The present invention concerns a wall mounted storing construction or system that could hold a number of storing means. The storing means used may be shelves, hangers for different clothes, such as trousers or coats, shoe holders, rods etc. or for different combinations of these storing means. The storing system comprises uprights (1) and brackets (3), wherein the brackets (3) are mounted in the uprights (1). The brackets (3) are to receive the storing means, such as shelves (15). Each bracket (3) has a general u-from with an upper part and two walls, having ears (10) to be received in openings (22) of the uprights (1). The walls of brackets (3) are pressed together in the area of the ears (10) to allow the ears (10) of the brackets (3) to be pushed into the uprights (1). The uprights (1) are fixed to the wall. The upper end of each upright (1) is mounted on a horizontal assembly rail (2), being fixed to the wall. Each upright (1) is attached to the assembly rail (2) in a way making it possible to slide the uprights (1) along the assembly rail.
US09173505B2 Product management display system with trackless pusher mechanism
A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed and one or more dividers for separating product into rows. The one or more dividers may be engaged to a front rail in two different conditions, locked and unlocked. In a locked condition, the relationship between the divider and the front rail resists alteration in any direction with respect to each other. In the unlocked condition, the dividers may be freely slid laterally along the front rail, while remaining perpendicular to the front rail. The one or more dividers may lock to the front rail through the use of corresponding teeth, resilient surfaces, a locking tab, a locking bar and/or a cam.
US09173504B2 Product management display system
A merchandise display system can include a front rail, at least one divider configured to engage the front rail, the at least one divider including a barrier. The at least one divider may also include a divider wall, and a roller carriage extending along the divider wall. The roller carriage can be provided with a plurality of rollers, and the roller carriage can be configured to advance the product. Additionally a cam can be coupled to the divider. Additionally, the roller carriage can be tilted such that the product is configured to move toward the barrier. The roller carriage can be formed of a first portion and a second portion, and the roller carriage can provided with a plurality of axles that are configured to receive the plurality of rollers such that the plurality of rollers are configured to rotate on the roller carriage. A method for forming a merchandise display system is also contemplated.
US09173503B2 Infant swing apparatus
An infant swing apparatus includes a base frame, a rigid support column rising from the base frame and having a front and a rear, and a swing arm arranged at the front of the support column and having a first end portion and a second end portion. The support column has an upper portion that leans toward the rear of the support column. The first end portion of the swing arm is connected with a seat support, and the second end portion is pivotally connected with the upper portion of the support column about a pivot axis that is located above the seat support.
US09173501B1 Hand positional travel pillow
A hand positional travel pillow that includes a medial protuberance disposed upon a first side of a pillow member, said medial protuberance disposed to accommodate a user's thumb and thenar when each of a respective first soft surface and a second soft surface are contacted to either of a user's hands, whereby a strap member, disposed to secure the pillow member to the user's respective hand, is reversible by transition over the medial protuberance and thereby positional tensioned across each of the first and alternately the second soft surfaces, as desired, for use with the pillow member engaged against each side of a user's head as comfort dictates.
US09173499B2 Adjustable armrest apparatus
An adjustable armrest having a base and an armrest that are coupled together through an articulating joint assembly. The joint assembly includes a body with a first articulating ball joint and a second articulating ball joint. The first articulating ball joint is coupled to the armrest with the second articulating ball joint being coupled to the base.
US09173491B2 Chair assembly with upholstery covering
A chair component assembly includes a back support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user, a lumbar support assembly adapted to support the lumbar area of a seated user, wherein the lumbar support is vertically adjustable, and a cover having an aesthetic outer surface and including a first pocket that receives the back support component therein, and a second pocket that receives the lumbar support assembly such that the lumbar support is vertically adjustable with the second pocket.
US09173489B2 Storage rack divider kit and apparatus
A divider kit for constructing and installing a divider system on a storage rack system of the type having a pair of parallel header elements at a top of a storage volume with a front-to-back depth and a side-to-side length to be divided by the assembled kit comprises components for constructing a plurality of main beams dimensioned to extend between and be supported upon the header elements in a spaced apart relationship and a pair of rails for mounting in a spaced relationship along the side-to-side length upon the main beams. The kit further comprises at least one u-shaped divider with two legs mountable upon the rails and depending therefrom to divide the storage volume into at least two sub-volumes. A variety of differently-sized divider systems may be assembled from the components.
US09173487B2 Apron-front sink
A sink is provided. The sink includes a basin having a first side wall, an opposite second side wall and a front wall. The sink also includes a rim supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of the first and second side walls in a substantially horizontal orientation. The sink further includes an apron extending vertically below the rim and laterally between a first end and an opposite second end to define a front portion of the sink. The first end of the apron extends outwardly past the rim associated with the first side wall and the second end of the apron extends outwardly past the rim associated with the second side wall.
US09173479B2 Device for cleaning the mouth or teeth
A device for cleaning the mouth or teeth has a rod-shaped support, on one axial end of which an interdental cleaner made of a flexible plastic is arranged. A brush-like cleaning part made of a flexible plastic, and having a plurality of protruding cleaning elements, is arranged at the opposite axial end of the rod-shaped support. In addition, the rod-shaped support has a grip portion made of a flexible plastic and arranged preferably in the central area of the axial length of the rod-shaped support. Provision is made that the grip portion is connected, via at least one connecting portion, to the interdental cleaner and/or to the brush-like cleaning part so as to form a one-piece structure.
US09173478B2 Oral care instrument
An oral care instrument, which can maintain a sufficient support strength of a long neck, leaves little residue of a medicant after using, has a low contamination risk from nozzle tip, allows smooth spouting of a medical solution from the beginning, prevents excessive supply of gelatinous or creamy oral-care composition in the case of flowing the composition in a supply channel inside the same, and contributes to the maintenance of the durability of a manufacturing mold. In the aforesaid oral care instrument, which comprises a handle (2), a head (3) and a neck (4), a channel (11) for supplying oral-care composition running within the neck (4) to a nozzle (10) of the head (3) via the handle (2), is formed; and the head (3) is connected in a detachable manner to the neck (4).
US09173477B2 Oral care system, kit and method
An oral care system comprising an oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, and dispenser containing a fluid detachably coupled to the tooth-brush. The invention is an oral care system comprising: a toothbrush having a cavity; a dispenser comprising a reservoir containing a fluid; a cap detachably coupled to the dispenser; wherein when the cap is coupled to the dispenser, the cap prohibits the dispenser from being inserted into the cavity; and wherein when the cap is detached from the dispenser, the dispenser can be inserted into the cavity and detachably coupled to the toothbrush.
US09173476B2 Chewing-based oral self-cleaning device
A chewing-based oral self-cleaning device includes a pair of tubes (2, 3) placed back to back either directly or separated by a base plate (13), optionally provided with an external handle (1) and a positioning flange (15). Each of the tubes includes a channel (14) into which the teeth are inserted and each channel is provided with side drag elements and descaling elements on the base thereof.
US09173475B2 Tool holder with guide plate for mounting tools having spring clips
Tool holder devices are provided, which are designed to hold tools having spring clip mechanisms. In one aspect, a tool holder device comprises a guiding portion and a mounting portion. The mounting portion is adapted to engage a spring clip of a tool for mounting the tool. The guiding portion is adapted to guide a spring clip towards the mounting portion as a person slides the tool from the guiding portion to the mounting portion while maintaining contact between the spring clip and the guiding portion.
US09173468B2 Hand held appliance
An appliance, such as a hairdryer, includes a body having a second annular wall extending about a first annular wall which at least partially defines a bore extending through the body. A fluid flow path extends through the bore from a first fluid inlet of the appliance to a first fluid outlet of the appliance. A primary fluid flow path extends at least partially through the body from a second fluid inlet of the appliance to a second fluid outlet, and comprises, within the body, a first section and a second section in which a heater is located. The first section is arranged to direct fluid over an internal surface of at least one of the annular walls. The first section is arranged upstream of, or in parallel with, the second section.
US09173467B2 Headband with 360-degree glitter pattern
A headband including an elastic glitter ribbon, a top portion of which forms the outside of the headband, where the elastic glitter ribbon has a 360-degree glitter pattern. The headband further includes a stretch velvet ribbon, a bottom portion of which forms the inside of the headband. The elastic glitter ribbon is attached to the stretch velvet ribbon using a stretch and stitch method. The ends of the elastic glitter ribbon and the stretch velvet ribbon are connected to form a 360-degree elastic headband, where the top of the elastic glitter ribbon includes material that sparkles, and where the bottom of the stretch velvet ribbon includes a velvet-like material that forms a gripping portion. The outside of the headband includes a 360-degree view of the sparkles with no break. The inside of the headband includes 360-degree gripping portion with no break.
US09173466B2 Multi-functional device for styling hair
The invention refers to a multi-functional device (101) for styling hair comprising a handgrip (102), a first and a second arm (104, 105), and means (124, 125) for heating the first and/or the second arm (104,105). The first arm (104) comprises a first fixed half-arm (114) integral with the handgrip (102) and extending substantially along the longitudinal axis (X) and a first mobile half-arm (116) elastically supported by the first fixed half-arm (114) and extending substantially along the longitudinal axis (X) between a first area of the arm (104) close to the handgrip (102) and a second area of the arm (104) remote from the handgrip (102). The device (101) further comprises locking/unlocking means (160) suitable for cooperating with the first mobile half-arm (116) to make the first mobile half-arm to selectively take up one from an unlocked condition, in which the elastic movement of the first mobile half-arm (116) with respect to the first fixed half-arm (114) is allowed, and a locked condition, in which the elastic movement of the first mobile half-arm (116) with respect to the first fixed half-arm (114) at least at the first area of the first atm (104) is prevented.
US09173457B2 Zipper assembly
A zipper assembly includes: a slider of a generally C-shaped cross section; a bottom stop fixed to an end of one side tape; and a locking unit fixed to a corresponding end of another side tape, the locking unit being separably coupled with the slider disposed above the locking unit to limit movement of the slider, wherein the locking unit selectively allows for and blocks the movement of the slider by coupling with or separation, in a vertical direction, from the bottom stop.
US09173454B2 Belt head with replaceable buckle portion
A belt head includes a seat, a buckle portion, an engaging portion and a button. The seat has a front side portion having two narrow side surfaces facing to each other and a rear side portion used to connect and fix an end of a strap. The buckle portion has a connecting base connected with the front side portion and a fastening base which has a passage enabling the other end of the strap to pass through and a fastener for fastening or releasing the strap. The engaging portion is disposed on the front side portion and is movable between a first and second positions to engage with and release from a blocking member of the connecting base. The button is located on one of the narrow side surfaces of the front side portion for controlling the engaging portion to move between the first and second positions.
US09173448B1 Wrestling shoe assembly that includes an auxiliary overshoe
A shoe assembly that enables a person to wear a wresting shoe or similar athletic shoe that has no cushioning material in its sole, and selectively attach an overshoe that has highly padded soles. In this way, an athlete can comfortably train on and off padded surfaces without having to change shoes. The athletic shoe has a first sole, a first toe section and a first heel section, wherein the first sole has surfaces with contoured shapes. An overshoe is provided that defines an interior sized to exactly receive a portion of the athletic shoe therein. The overshoe has surfaces that engage the contoured shapes of the wrestling shoe surfaces. This prevents the athletic shoe from moving within the overshoe. The sole of the overshoe is padded. In this manner, an athlete can add or remove padding from the shoe assembly by adding or removing the overshoe.
US09173443B2 Architecture for routing mutli-channel commands via a tree column
Apparatus and associated methods may relate to an artificial tree apparatus having a plurality of trunk segments that couple together to provide a plurality of information or command signals to load devices connected thereto. In an illustrative example, one or more branch segments having light emitting devices are connected to the trunk segments to independently receive the electrical power and command signals via a control system. In some implementations, each command signal generated by the control system may include data pertaining to light color and illumination pattern. In some embodiments, each branch segment and associated light emitting devices may be independently controlled via a multi-channel arrangement. In some implementations, each group of light emitting devices may be manually configured via one or more user-interfaces. In various implementations, each trunk segment may include an axial electrical connector which permits adjacent trunk segments from being connected in any radial orientation relative to each other.
US09173442B2 Clothing fastener accessory and extender system
A device, namely a detactable fastener accessory that can be used to cover a fastener, preferably a snap cover of an article of clothing, the accessory having or adapted to have a decorative cover piece connected thereto. In a further embodiment, the fastener accessory is part of an extender system that allows an article of clothing such as a vest or jacket to have a greater size by connecting an extension segment, such as a chain, piece of leather or other fabric, between fasteners on opposite sides of the article of clothing, which at least provides the advantages of allowing a user to achieve better ventilation or airflow while riding a motorcycle and also prevents the article of clothing from being blown out of a desired position. When used in the extender system, the fastener accessory allows for matching decorative pieces to be displayed on each side of the article of clothing.
US09173440B1 Decorative cover for straps
A decorative strap cover that is fastened to a strap on an article of clothing that may cover a portion of a bra, a dress, lingerie, shirt, tank top, halter top, pants, belt loops or belt and may provide a decorative compartment. The decorative strap cover may be worn as a single component or combined with others as desired.
US09173439B2 Convertible garment
The present invention is unique in its design and function, it can be worn by any adult and fashioned into several types of apparel ranging from a hat and scarf to a pair of gaucho pants. Because the garment does not have buttons or snaps, it can be easily utilized by persons with handicaps or disabilities. It can be worn as a head and shoulder shawl, a hat and neck scarf, a top wear, a light jacket, a shrug, and pants. The unique design is the one cut and two sewing seams creation of the bell sleeve type garment out of a light weight stretchable fabric. There are no hooks, Velcro, zippers or buttons. For creating a tapered sleeve type garment, an additional cut is made. Because of its simplicity, the garment of the present invention is cost efficient to manufacture.
US09173433B2 Tobacco shredder with double-mounted conveyor-worm shaft
The invention relates to a tobacco shredding device with a heatable pressure chamber (3), which has a tobacco material inlet (5) at the low-pressure end, an expansion gap outlet at the pressure end and a shaft-mounted conveyor screw (1) for conveying the tobacco material from the inlet to the outlet, and the conveyor screw shaft (19) is supported at the inlet end, and the shaft (19) extends on behind the outlet, where it is supported again by a counter bearing (17). It further relates to a method of shredding tobacco, whereby the tobacco material is introduced at the low-pressure end of a pressure chamber and is expanded and discharged at the pressure end of the chamber at a gap outlet, and the tobacco material is conveyed from the inlet to the outlet by means of a conveyor screw shaft-mounted at both end portions, and the conveyor screw is operated in a speed range of up to 600 min−1.
US09173432B2 System and method of processing produce
Systems and methods of processing produce are provided. A sizing unit can convey the produce in a first direction, and can release the produce into a produce receptacle of a receiving unit, which can convey the in a second direction. The produce receptacle can include a cavity to receive the produce subsequent to release from the sizing unit with a first portion of the produce at least partially disposed in the cavity and with a second portion of the produce at least partially protruding from the cavity. At least one conveyor unit can receive the produce from the produce receptacle, and can convey the produce in a third direction to separate a first portion of the produce from a second portion of the produce.
US09173430B1 Carbonating beverages and check valve useful therein
A mechanism for carbonating a liquid in a bottle that has a neck with outer threads includes a source of pressurized carbon dioxide, a dispenser to controllably release the carbon dioxide through an orifice in a pointed component. A bottle cap has a thickness and has a hole in it. A check valve installed in the hole includes an elastomeric plug having a high pressure side and a low pressure side joined by a stem. A passageway open at the low pressure side extends through the low pressure side, the stem and into the high pressure side, terminating within a shank in the high pressure side and defines a shank sidewall laterally of the passageway. At least one puncture is made through the shank sidewall to the passageway.
US09173427B2 Methods and compositions for the prevention and treatment of kidney disease
Compositions for preventing or treating kidney disease comprising one or more food ingredients containing relatively low amounts of protein, sodium, and potassium, typically protein in amounts of from about 5% to about 40%, sodium in amounts of from about 0.01% to about 1%, and potassium in amounts of from about 0.01% to about 1%, and methods comprising administering such compositions to patients susceptible to or suffering from kidney disease for the purpose of preventing or treating kidney disease.
US09173421B2 Thermostable phytase variants
The present invention relates to a method for producing phytase variants has at least 70% identity to a phytase derived from Buttiauxella and comprises at least one additional disulfide bond as compared to this phytase. These phytase variants have modified, preferably improved, properties, such as thermostability, temperature profile, pH profile, specific activity, performance in animal feed, reduced protease sensitiliby, and/or an modified glycosylation pattern. The invention also relates to the variants produced, DNA encoding these phytases, methods of their production, as well as the use thereof, e.g. in animal feed and animal feed additives.
US09173418B2 Method and device for producing confectionary products
A method for producing confectionary products having an outer shell made of a substance that is placed inside a mold into which a temperature-controlled male die is subsequently introduced. The substance is placed under pressure after the male die is introduced.
US09173414B2 Method and device for dehydrating co-extruded food products
A method for at least partially dehydrating the casing of co-extruded food products, wherein an aqueous salt solution is supplied to the exterior of the co-extruded food products. A device for at least partially dehydrating the casing of co-extruded food products.
US09173412B2 Venturi effect technology on a food product molding machine
An apparatus and method for creating a venturi effect in a food product molding machine. The venturi effect accelerates food product in order to cause the product to be stretched aligning the fibers of the product.
US09173410B2 Croissant shaping tool
An apparatus for manipulating a food item, the apparatus having a chassis, an actuator, a first jaw, and a second jaw. The actuator is connected to the chassis and rotatable about a pivot. The first jaw is connected to the chassis and mechanically linked to the actuator. The first jaw is further adapted to move along a first arc. The second jaw is also connected to the chassis and mechanically linked to the actuator. The second jaw is also further adapted to move along a second arc. Rotation of the actuator about the pivot in a first direction brings together the first jaw and the second jaw, the first and second jaws moving along the first and second arcs, respectively. Rotation of the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction brings apart the first jaw and the second jaw, the first and second jaws moving along the first and second arcs, respectively.
US09173408B2 Heating cooker
A water level sensor (91) is provided in an auxiliary tank (39) whose bottom portion communicates to a bottom portion of a pot (41) for generating steam and which is opened to the atmosphere. When water in the pot (41) keeps boiling and the stop time of a pump (35) reaches a predetermined time (e.g., 60 sec.), the pump (35) is driven for a predetermined time (e.g., 6 sec.) to supply water to the pot (41). This temporarily suppresses the boiling of water in the pot (41), lowering a steam pressure in a space formed by an external circulation passage (60), a heating chamber, and the pot (41). The water level in the auxiliary tank (39) then returns to a normal one, making it possible to correctly detect the water level in the pot (41).
US09173405B2 Herbicide formulation
The invention relates to a herbicide formulation comprising a water soluble salt of n-phosphomethylglycine and at least one adjuvant, the said adjuvant consisting in an alkoxylated imidazoline with the following structure I wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated C4 to C24 fatty acid. The use of the alkoxylated imidazoline provides as a result a herbicide formulation that is not irritant to the skin or the eyes. Furthermore, the adjustment of the degree of ethoxylation or propoxylation of the imidazoline permits the compatibility thereof with the various glyphosate salts, allowing the obtainment of concentrated solutions that maintain stability at temperatures higher than 60° C., without requiring other adjuvants.
US09173400B2 Anthranilamide arthropodicide treatment
This invention pertains to methods for protecting a propagule or a plant grown therefrom from invertebrate pests comprising contacting the propagule or the locus of the propagule with a biologically effective amount of a compound of Formula I, its N-oxide or an agriculturally suitable salt thereof wherein A and B and R1 through R8 are as defined in the disclosure. This invention also relates to propagules treated with a compound of Formula I and compositions comprising a Formula I compound for coating propagules.
US09173398B2 Biocide compositions
Described is a biocide composition, comprising: a herbicide; a fatty acid amide; a fatty acid; and optionally an emulsifier and/or a polyol. The composition exhibits an improved stability, especially at lower temperatures, and is both environmentally friendly and non-toxic.
US09173396B2 Heterocyclic compounds as pesticides
The present application relates to novel heterocyclic compounds, to processes for preparation thereof and to the use thereof for controlling animal pests, which also include arthropods and especially insects.
US09173393B2 Water insoluble chitosan powder and method of limiting brettanomyces yeast in fermented liquids
The invention relates to a chitosan as a micronized powder, to its use for controlling certain yeasts, such as Brettanomyces, and to a method for treating a liquid food.The invention in particular relates to a water-insoluble chitosan as a micronized powder, for which the grain size is comprised between 5 and 50 microns, and to its use in the treatment of liquid foods and/or for controlling Brettanomyces.
US09173391B2 Crystalline complexes of 4-hydroxy benzoic acid and selected pesticides
The present invention relates to crystalline complexes of 4-hydroxy benzoic acid and selected pesticides. It also relates to agriculturally useful compositions of the complexes.
US09173387B2 Locking twist grip drive handle outrigger positioner
A twist grip drive handle outrigger device having a locking mechanism for use on a fishing vessel having a first tubular member for holding of an outrigger pole, which is rotatably journaled to a second tubular member that is mounted to a fixed structure. The second tubular member houses a twist grip drive handle assembly that allows manual rotation of the outrigger pole. The driver assembly constructed and arranged to provide an unlocked condition by the twisting of the handle thereby allowing adjustment of the outrigger pole upon rotation of the first tubular member. The rotation of the first tubular member allows for movement of the outrigger pole from a stowage position to a trolling position and vice versa.
US09173382B1 Water changing and cleaning system and device for bowl, aquarium or pond kept pet fish
A water changing and cleaning system and device for bowl, aquarium or pond kept pet fish is disclosed. You can pour the fish directly from a bowl into this invention, (capacity is unlimited due to flow through design). Device comprises a container within a container, the inner container features a gill port, running horizontally and flush with the bottom of the container, water flows through the inner container and rises in the space between the two containers, until it overflows from the provided outlet on the outer container, carrying unwanted matter with it. Using a source of clean water to flush through the device, once a satisfactory level of cleanliness is observed the inner container is removed and the fish is returned to its cleaned Bowl. The fish was never out of water during the process. Device can be used to capture fish, so no nets required.
US09173380B2 Animal indicator apparatus
An animal indicator apparatus that tracks the locations of an animal and alerts nearby persons when the animal approaches a boundary includes a location determining component operable to determine a current geographic location of the apparatus; memory for storing cartographic data representative of at least one boundary; an indicator and a processor. The processor triggers the indicator when the current geographic location of the apparatus is near the location of the boundary.
US09173379B1 Harnesses for dogs and other animals
A body collar is configured to fit around a body of an animal and comprises a collar strip, a first ring and a buckle. The first ring is attached to the collar strip. First and second portions of the buckle are attached to respective first and second ends of the collar strip. The first portion of the buckle and the second portion of the buckle are configured to be removably attached to each other in a configuration of the body collar being fitted around the body of the animal. The first portion of the buckle to be inserted through a second ring of a neck collar and fit around the body of the animal through a third ring of the neck collar to be removably attached to the second portion of the buckle.
US09173372B2 Lettuce variety 79-348 RZ
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-348 RZ, which exhibits resistance against downy mildew races B1:1 to B1:28 and CA-I, CA-IIA, CA-IIB, CAIII, CA-IV, CA-V, CA-VI, CA-VII, CA-VIII (Bremia lactucae), resistance to Nasonovia ribisnigri, resistance to LMV, and an extraordinary high number of oakleaf-shaped leaves of substantially equal size with a semi-erect adult leaf attitude. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-348 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-348 RZ.
US09173362B1 Maize hybrid X13D112
A novel maize variety designated X13D112 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X13D112 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13D112 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13D112, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13D112. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13D112.
US09173359B1 Maize inbred PH1DG3
A novel maize variety designated PH1DG3 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1DG3 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1DG3 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1DG3 or a locus conversion of PH1DG3 with another maize variety.
US09173356B2 Watermelon with improved processing qualities
A watermelon plant that produces fruit having (i) ultra-firm flesh and/or liquid-retaining flesh and (ii) soluble solids of at least about 6 brix.
US09173351B1 Leaves and debris collecting device
A parallel-beams type collector comprises a flat porous platform which is enclosed by side walls. The flat porous platform is formed from a row of horizontally projected, parallel and elongated tines or thin rods. The debris is moved onto the porous platform as the collector is moved forward across the lawn with the elongated thin rods moving and penetrating through the grass. The collector is moved up along a curved path by a moving assembly. A flexible string is pulled via an array of rollers to move the collector up. The leaves and debris sitting in the collector can further be swept away by a sweeping assembly. Alternatively, a continuous endless chain is used to move the collector. A guide member is used to keep the collector in proper orientation during the collection of the debris.
US09173348B2 Bale processor for bales of all shapes
A bale processor (10) of a type that efficiently processes both round and square bales. A bale processor chamber (12) has at least one moveable wall (12b) adjustable between a mostly vertical position suitable to process round bales and at least one less vertical position suitable to process square bales. A floor conveyor (16) is provided at the bottom of the bale processor chamber (12) and is oriented at an angle of eight to sixteen degrees from horizontal to move a bale and bale parts toward a rotor (14) which tears the bale into smaller pieces and throws the smaller pieces out of the bale processor (10).
US09173346B2 Riding mower with blade motor control
The present invention provides a riding work vehicle that includes a vehicle body having a driver seat; a driving wheel unit supporting the vehicle body; a working electric motor that drives a work unit having a work device; an electric motor controller controlling an operation of the working electric motor in a steady mode or a power saving mode in which consumed power is smaller than the steady mode; and a work load evaluator that evaluates load of the working electric motor. In the riding work vehicle, the electric motor controller operates the working electric motor in the power saving mode in a case where the load of the working electric motor evaluated by the work load evaluator is low load lower than a threshold value.
US09173341B2 Positioning equipment
Equipment for the placement or positioning of one or more items in or on the ground is provided. In one form, an apparatus includes a toolbar, a container, a metering unit configured to selectively control release of one or more items from the container and an application member configured to deliver the one or more items released from the container to the ground. In one aspect of this form, the metering unit is configured to selectively control release of one or more spherical items having a diameter in the range of about 0.25 inches to about 1.0 inches, and more particularly, but not exclusively, in the range of about 0.5 inches to about 0.75 inches, from the container to the application member. In another more particular aspect, the spherical items are capsules that include a shell wall encapsulating a pesticide composition and including a gelatin material.
US09173337B2 GNSS optimized control system and method
A GNSS system in combination with a hydraulically-actuated, airborne dispenser for a dry material crop dusting system to optimize the distribution of dry materials over a particular tract of land. A GNSS subsystem is included using at least one GNSS antenna and one GNSS receiver located on the aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with an electronic/hydraulic crop dusting subsystem connected to a GNSS CPU. The GNSS ranging signals received by the antennas are processed by a receiver and processor system for determining the vehicle's position and dynamic attitude in three dimensions (3D). The system is adapted for operation in a differential GNSS (DGNSS) mode utilizing a base station at a fixed location.
US09179582B2 Electronic device with connectors and fasteners for alignment of the connectors
An exemplary electronic device with connectors and fasteners for alignment of the connectors includes a panel, a printed circuit board, and a shell. The printed circuit board includes a number of connectors arranged thereon. A number of holes are defined in the shell for expose the connectors. The printed circuit board defines a number of through holes therein. The panel defines a number of positioning holes therein. The shell forms a number of positioning posts thereon, and each positioning post defines an engaging hole therein. The present disclosure also includes a number of fasteners. Each fastener includes a first and a second positioning part. The first positioning part inserts through a corresponding through hole and a corresponding positioning hole to connect the printed circuit board and the panel. The second positioning part is engagingly received in the engaging hole of a corresponding positioning post of the shell.
US09179568B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes: a housing having a concave portion in the first surface of the housing; a lid made of a semiconductor material containing an impurity material; a first metal film formed in a metal film formation region on the first surface of the housing, wherein the metal film formation region is defined as a region surrounding the concave portion on the first surface of the housing; a second metal film formed on the first surface of the lid to overlap with the metal film formation region in a top view of the electronic device; a third metal film formed on the second surface of the lid to overlap with the metal film formation region in the top view; and an electronic component disposed in the concave portion. The lid is bonded onto the housing via the first and second metal films to cover the electronic component.
US09179567B2 Electronic device
An electronic device having a calculation function and suitable for being detachably connected to a portable electronic device having a calculation function is provided. The electronic device includes a body, a connecting base and a supporter. The body has a first surface. The connecting base is disposed at the body and has a containing cavity. The portable electronic device is suitable for being disposed in the containing cavity to be electronically connected to the electronic device. A back surface of the portable electronic device leans against the first surface. The supporter is connected to the body and supports the body, and an angle is formed therebetween.
US09179566B2 Display apparatus
A display device includes a display panel including a front substrate and a back substrate, a back cover disposed in the rear of the display panel, and a transparent cover including a portion disposed in the front of the front substrate of the display panel. The transparent cover contains a resin material having transmission capable of transmitting light. The transparent cover is separated from a front surface of the front substrate by a predetermined distance, and an air layer is formed between the transparent cover and the front surface of the front substrate.
US09179565B2 Portable electronic device holder
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device holder which is attached to the rear surface of a smartphone or tablet computer in such a way as to help the user to stably hold the same. The holder according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a base plate having an adhesive pad which is removably attached to a rear surface of the portable electronic device; a ring to be placed on a finger of a user to allow the user to hold the electronic device; and a connector which is provided with the ring and is fitted into a coupling hole of the base plate so that the holder is integrally coupled to a rear surface of the base plate. The present invention can prevent the user from dropping the electronic device through carelessness.
US09179559B1 Foldable display apparatus
Discussed is a foldable display apparatus. The foldable display apparatus can include a display panel unfolded or folded at two stages with respect to first and second bending parts which are defined in a display area displaying an image, a first housing assembly configured to include a first panel supporting part which supports a central portion of the display panel between the first and second bending parts, a first connection housing connected to a first side of the first housing assembly to overlap the first bending part, a second connection housing connected to a second side of the first housing assembly to overlap the second bending part, a second housing assembly configured to support a first side of the display panel and connected to the first connection housing, and a third housing assembly configured to support a second side of the display panel and connected to the second connection housing.
US09179555B2 Electrical device having a lubricated joint and a method for lubricating such a joint
An electrical device, particularly a control unit, having at least one joint having a first joining partner, especially a sleeve, and a second joining partner, especially a pin, the joint between the two joining partners having a junction; at least at the junction an at least partially solidified lubricant being present. Furthermore, in a method for lubricating a joint of an electrical device, the joint having a first joining partner, particularly a sleeve, and a second joining partner, particularly a pin; in a step one of the joining partners being wetted with a lubricant, in a following step the joining partner wetted with the lubricant being joined to the other joining partner and the lubricant subsequently solidifying.
US09179554B2 Appliance displays having modular light guides and methods of assembling the same
Example appliance displays having modular light guides and methods of assembling the same are disclosed. An example appliance display includes a printed circuit board having a side-fire light emitting diode attached to a surface of the printed circuit board, a frame having a plurality of heat stakes to operatively connect the printed circuit board to the frame, and a light guide inserted into an opening defined in the frame, wherein the light guide guides light emitted by the light emitting diode through the opening defined in the frame, and wherein the printed circuit board retains the light guide in the opening when the printed circuit board is heat staked to the frame.
US09179550B2 Method for manufacturing touch panel
A method for manufacturing a touch panel includes the following procedures. A first conductive layer and a shielding layer surrounding the first conductive layer are formed on a base plate. The first conductive layer is etched to form a plurality of first and second sensing pads alternatively arranged according to columns. The first sensing pads in a column along a first direction are electrically coupled to each other to form a first sensing electrode column. The second sensing pads in a column along a second direction are electrically coupled to each other to form a second sensing electrode column. A second conductive layer is formed on the shielding layer via an ink jet printing method, and is etched to form a plurality of first and second sensing lines to be respectively electrically coupled to the first and second sensing electrode columns.
US09179548B2 Controlled-impedance out-of-substrate package structures employing electrical devices, and related assemblies, components, and methods
Controlled-impedance out-of-substrate package structures employing electrical devices and related assemblies, components, and methods are disclosed. An out-of-substrate package structure may be used to electrically couple an electrical device to an electrical substrate, for example a printed circuit board. The out-of-substrate package structure may be electrically coupled to the electrical substrate. Ground paths of the out-of-substrate package structure may be arranged proximate to the electrical device and arranged symmetric with respect to at least one geometric plane intersecting the electrical device. In this regard, electric field lines generated by current flowing into the electrical device tend to terminate at the return or ground paths allowing for impedance to be more easily controlled. Accordingly, the out-of-substrate package structure may be impedance matched in a better way with respect to power provided from the electrical substrate enabling faster electrical device speeds.
US09179546B2 Blind via printed circuit board fabrication supporting press fit connectors
An information handling system circuit board interfaces storage device surface connectors and storage device controllers disposed on opposing sides by coupling a first circuit board portion having a controller press in connector to a second circuit board portion having plural surface connectors. The first and second circuit board portions couple to each other with an adhesive activated by curing. Resistant ink is printed over openings of the first circuit board portion where adhesive is applied in order to prevent the adhesive from flowing into the openings at or before the curing of the adhesive.
US09179545B2 Base material with a conductor pattern,and a method of forming a base material with a conductor pattern
Provided is a base material having a conductor pattern formed thereon, which is obtained by forming, at a high productivity on a base material, a conductor pattern having a lower surface resistivity and a higher conductivity than in the related art. A receiving layer 5 made of a cellulose acetate alkylate is formed on a surface of a base material 4. A conductor pattern 6 is formed by printing a conductive paste 3 in a predetermined pattern shape onto the surface of the receiving layer 5.
US09179544B1 Method and apparatus for mechanical load reduction on the electrical terminals of a capacitor
In an embodiment, an apparatus for reducing the mechanical load on the electrical terminals of a capacitor includes a plate having a planar body and one or more deflectable tabs connected to the planar body, one or more capacitors respectively mounted to the plate via the one or more deflectable tabs, and a busbar electrically connected to the one or more capacitors such that the one or more capacitors are arranged intermediate the plate and the busbar. The deflectable tabs are configured to support the capacitors, and to move towards and away from the planar body for accommodating size variances in the capacitors relative to a fixed spacing between the busbar and an enclosure.
US09179534B2 Extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus
An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus for supplying extreme ultraviolet light to a processing unit for performing processing by using the extreme ultraviolet light. The extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus includes: a chamber in which the extreme ultraviolet light to be supplied to the processing unit is generated; a collector mirror for collecting the extreme ultraviolet light generated in the chamber to output the extreme ultraviolet light to the processing unit; and an optical path connection module for defining a route of the extreme ultraviolet light between the chamber and the processing unit and isolating the route of the extreme ultraviolet light from outside.
US09179533B2 X-ray tube arc ride through
A method includes identifying projection data generated during an x-ray tube arc event, determining x-ray tube voltages for data points of the identified projection data, correcting the identified data points based on the determined x-ray tube voltages for the data points, and reconstructing projection data that includes projection data generated during non x-ray tube arc events and the corrected projection data, and a system includes a projection data processor (116) that corrects projection data corresponding to data acquired during an x-ray tube arc event.
US09179528B2 Networked light control system
LED light assemblies (20) are spaced over a geographical territory defined by a central dispatch of public service personnel operating in the geographical territory and are controlled by transmitting digital packets on a first radio frequency reserved for public safety personnel from a central transceiver (24) to repeaters (26) in the geographical territory and re-transmitting the digital packets on a different second frequency reserved for public safety personnel from the repeaters (26) to the light assemblies (20). In turn, the light assemblies (20) transmit digital radio signals on frequencies reserved for public safety personnel to the repeaters (26) for re-transmission to the central transceiver (24). A plurality of emergency signaling devices (36) transmit digital radio signals on the channels of frequencies reserved for public safety personnel to the light assemblies (20) to transmit a radio signal on the reserved frequencies to the central transceiver (24), a 9-1-1 alert or the like.
US09179526B2 Lighting system with illuminance control
The present invention relates to an illumination control system comprising a plurality of outdoor luminaries and a motorized service vehicle. Each luminaire comprises a controllable light source producing a light illuminance. The motorized service vehicle comprises a light sensor configured to detect the light illuminance generated by the controllable light source at the motorized service vehicle. The motorized service vehicle computes light illuminance data based on the detected light illuminance and transmits these to the outdoor luminaire through a wireless communication link or stores the light illuminance data on a data recording device of the motorized service vehicle. The outdoor luminaire receives may use the light illuminance data to set or adjust a light illuminance of the controllable light source.
US09179525B2 Terminal apparatus, backlight control method, and backlight control program
A terminal apparatus includes a display device; a first sensor configured to detect a proximity state of being in proximity to an object different from the terminal apparatus; a second sensor configured to detect vibrations; and a processor, wherein the processor determines whether or not a first detection value acquired from the first sensor indicates that the terminal apparatus is in the proximity state, turns off a backlight of the display device in accordance with the first detection value, and acquires, when it is determined that the first detection value does not indicate that the terminal apparatus is in the proximity state, a second detection value from the second sensor, determines whether or not the second detection value, which has been acquired, indicates that the terminal apparatus is vibrating, and turns off the backlight of the display device in accordance with the second detection value.
US09179521B2 Interference-free light-emitting means control
An operating device (1) for light-emitting device (5), where the operating device (1) has an interface circuit (2) and a drive circuit (3), where the interface circuit (2) generates an interface signal (21, 31, 41, 51) depending on a control signal (Vn, 10), and where the drive circuit (3) drives at least one light-emitting device (5) depending on the interface signal (21, 31, 41, 51). The control signal (Vn, 10) is an AC voltage control signal generated outside the operating device (1). The interface circuit (2) detects overshooting of an upper threshold value of only one of two half-waves of the control signal (Vn, 10), and the interface circuit (2) generates a first signal pulse (22, 55) in the interface signal (21, 31, 41, 51) for each detection of overshooting of an upper threshold value and identifies overshooting of a lower threshold value for the other half-wave.
US09179519B2 Phase-shift dimming for LED controller and the method thereof
A phase-shift dimming circuit for LED controller having a delay signal generator configured to receive a PWM input signal, and to provide a plurality of pairs of set signal and reset signal, the set signal and the reset signal respectively having pulses; and a plurality of latches configured to respectively receive the plurality of pairs of set signal and reset signal to generate a plurality of PMW output signals, each of the PWM output signals having pulses, and wherein the rising edge of the pulses of the PWM output signals is based on the corresponding set signal pulses, and the falling edge of the pulses of the PWM output signals is based on the corresponding reset signal pulses.
US09179513B2 LED lighting system
An LED lighting system is provided for connection to a variable power source providing input power, the LED lighting system having at least one power analyzing and processing circuitry connecting to the variable power source, and being configured to identify one or more characteristics of the input power, where the characteristics are selected from amplitude, frequency and pulse width of the input power, compare one or more of the characteristics of the input power to preset control criteria either in hardware or software or both to yield a comparison result, and then control the current control circuitry according to the comparison result.
US09179508B2 Solid-state lighting dimming
A solid-state lighting (SSL) system having dimming capability includes an SSL driver having a current control circuit configured to control current flow and, consequently, the brightness of light emitted by a light-emitting load. The magnitude of current flowing through the light-emitting load is set and controlled depending on a dim control signal, which is generated based on the value of a scaled alternating current (AC) power signal. The scaled AC power signal is generated by an AC scaling unit, which scales an input AC power signal provided by an AC power source. The extent to which the input AC power signal is scaled determines the value of the dim control signal and, consequently, the magnitude of current flow and resultant dimming of the light-emitting load. Pulse-width modulation of the light-emitting load current may be optionally combined with the current-control-based dimming to widen the overall dimming range.
US09179503B2 Method for manufacturing liquid ejection head
A method for manufacturing a liquid ejection head includes the following processes in the following order: forming a first metal layer containing a first metal material on an insulating layer of a base on which a plurality of thermal energy generating elements and the insulating layer are laminated in this order; forming a second metal layer containing a second metal material on the first metal layer, and then patterning the second metal layer to form a plurality of protective portions; patterning the first metal layer to form a connection portion for electrically connecting the plurality of protective portions; inspecting the conduction of the connection portion and the plurality of energy generating elements; and patterning the connection portion to thereby electrically isolate the plurality of protective portions and form a plurality of close contact portions which are electrically isolated from each other.
US09179502B2 Multiple delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) per device within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
Communications are coordinated between different respective wireless communication device groups in a multiple delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) per device signaling scheme. Different respective wireless communication devices (e.g., wireless stations (STAs)) may communicate with a manager/coordinator wireless communication device (e.g., access point (AP)) at different times and for different reasons. The manager/coordinator wireless communication device generates and transmits beacons to the wireless communication devices specifying times during which communications may be supported with the manager/coordinator wireless communication device. A restricted access window (RAW) information element (IE) within a beacon includes at least one restricted access window (RAW) to specify a wireless communication device authorized to communicate with the manager/coordinator wireless communication device. Different wireless communication device groups may communicate with the manager/coordinator wireless communication device at different periodicities, and any one wireless communication device may be included in more than one wireless communication device group.
US09179501B2 Multi-carrier integration apparatus for distributed antenna system
A band combiner unit includes a plurality of carrier modules (CMs) each configured to be connected to a base transceiver station (BTS) or bi-directional amplifier (BDA) for corresponding ones of the carriers, wherein each of the CMs is configured to transmit downlink signals from the corresponding BTS/BDA, adjust the downlink signals, and transmit the downlink signals to a first combiner, and to receive uplink signals from a second combiner, adjust the uplink signals, and transmit the uplink signals to the corresponding BTS/BDA, the first combiner configured to combine the downlink signals from the CMs, and transmit the combined downlink signals to a distributed antenna system (DAS), the second combiner configured to split a combined uplink signal from a DAS, and transmit the split uplink signals to corresponding ones of the CMs, and a band combiner unit controller for monitoring and controlling the CMs.
US09179500B2 Radio base station and method for transmitting common public radio interface data in radio base station
A method for transmitting Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI) data in a radio base station is provided, which is applicable to the radio base station having at least two CPRI links between a Radio Equipment Control (REC) and a Radio Equipment (RE). The method includes: dividing by the REC, in-phase/quadrature phase (I/Q) data that needs to be transmitted to the RE into multiple paths of I/Q data with different content, where the multiple paths of I/Q data with different content make up the I/Q data before being divided; transmitting, by the REC, all paths of divided I/Q data to the RE over the at least two CPRI links.
US09179497B1 Distribution of sensor data among a group of wireless communication devices
A wireless communication network exchanges wireless data with wireless communication devices and transfers device data indicating device locations and device status to a network server. A sensor system detects a trigger condition and responsively determines proximate wireless communication devices. The sensor system transfers indications of the trigger condition and the currently proximate wireless communication devices to the network server. The network server processes the device data, trigger condition, and proximate wireless communication devices to generate notice data indicating the trigger condition and to select at least one of the wireless communication devices for receipt of the notice data. The network server transfers the notice data to the selected wireless communication devices over the wireless communication network.
US09179496B2 Tone scaling parameters in Sub-1 GHz networks
Systems and methods of controlling characteristics of messages in sub-1 GHz networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11ah networks) are disclosed. One or more data structures indicating tone scaling parameters may be stored at or accessible to transmitters and receivers. The data structures may be organized based on a frame format, a wireless network bandwidth, and/or the number of spatial streams in use at the wireless network. Information stored in the data structures may be used in generation and processing of messages communicated via the sub-1 GHz network.
US09179493B1 Medical cart system
A medical cart includes an interface assembly including a display, a speaker, a camera and a microphone. The interface assembly is operatively connected to an enclosure at a connecting portion that is operable to reposition the interface assembly from a transporting configuration in which the interface assembly is disposed inside the enclosure to a deployed configuration in which the interface assembly is disposed outside of the enclosure. The medical cart also includes a set of wheels operably connected to at least one of the enclosure or a pivoting assembly operable to pivot from the transporting configuration in which only the set of wheels makes contact with a transporting surface to the deployed configuration in which a portion of the cart in addition to the set of wheels makes contact with the transporting surface for stabilizing the cart in the deployed configuration.
US09179492B2 Electronic device, method and system for half duplex data transmission
An electronic device and method for half duplex data transmission in a long range keyless entry and go system, and more specifically to an RFID transponder, a corresponding read/write (R/W) unit and methods for operating the RFID transponder and the R/W-unit. There is a first coil, a second coil and a third coil, being arranged as a three-dimensional antenna, a first capacitor, a second capacitor and a third capacitor couplable in parallel to the first coil, the second coil and the third coil, respectively, for selectively forming a first, a second and a third parallel-resonant circuit for receiving radio signals, a series-resonant circuit for transmitting radio signals and a control stage configured to either use one of the first, second or third parallel-resonant circuits for receiving radio signals or the series-resonant circuit for transmitting signals.
US09179487B2 System and method for enabling call originations using SMS and hotline capabilities
A method for handling call originations is provided. The method includes sending origination information from a mobile device to an application server in an enterprise network using Short Message Service (SMS) and determining whether a hotline feature is present in a subscriber profile associated with the mobile device. Data is then routed from the mobile device to a predetermined destination based on the hotline feature.
US09179486B2 Device and method for setting a group owner intent value based on a comparison of group owner intent values
A device and method for performing inter-device communication are disclosed. An inter-device communication method of a first device includes searching for a second device supporting inter-device communication, receiving network information from the searched second device, and determining that one of the first and second devices is a group owner based on the received network information of the second device and network information of the first device. The network information includes at least one selected from among type information indicating a server device or a client device, network support information, network necessity information, and network setting information.
US09179485B2 Methods and apparatus for associating user equipment electronic identifiers with users
Techniques for associating an electronic identifier of a user equipment (UE) with a user of the UE are described. In embodiments of an apparatus, system, method, and computer program of the present disclosure, a UE may transmit an electronic identifier associated with the UE via peer discovery, for receiving by a second UE. A perceivable cue associated with the electronic identifier may be indicated to a second user. The UE or the user of the UE may indicate the perceivable cue to the second user. Selection of the perceivable cue by the second user may cause the initiation of communications between the UE and the second UE.
US09179484B2 Method and device for allocating group identifier
Embodiments of the present invention discloses a method and a device for allocating a group identifier, which can allocate a non-conflict GID to a non-AP STA in an area covered by multiple BSS networks, so that the problem of GID conflict which is occurred when allocating the GID for the non-AP STA can be reduced. A method provided by the embodiment of the present invention includes: dividing all group identifiers (GIDs) into N parts according to number of the GIDs, and respectively allocating the N parts to N basic service set (BSS) networks, which communicate in a multi user-multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO) mode, where the N BSS networks have a common area, N is a natural number which is bigger than 1.
US09179482B2 Systems and methods for rapid setup of telephony communications
When an incoming communication is directed to a telephony device that is capable of conducting an IP-based communication via an IP telephony system and a cellular-based communication via a mobile telephony service provider, the communication is initially setup as a cellular-based communication via the mobile telephony service provider. At the same time, an IP-based communication channel is setup between the telephony device and an IP telephony system. Once the IP-based communication channel is available, the communication is transitioned from the cellular-based communication channel to the IP-based communication channel.
US09179479B2 Method and system for admission control in a broadband wireless network
A method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for providing admission control in a wireless network are provided. The method may include receiving a RACH-Preamble from a mobile device and determining whether a first set of requirements is satisfied for the received RACH-Preamble. The method may further include transmitting a first response to the mobile device when the first set of requirements is satisfied and receiving a RRC connection request from the mobile device after transmitting the first response. The method may further include determining an establishment cause of the RRC connection request and determining whether a second set of requirements corresponding to the establishment cause are satisfied. The method may further include rejecting the RRC connection request when the second set of requirements is not satisfied.
US09179478B2 Method and arrangement in a telecommunication system
There is provided a method of operating a communication system, the communication system comprising a user equipment and a receiver, the method in the system comprising generating a random access transmission in a user equipment and transmitting the random access transmission to the receiver in the communication system, the random access transmission including a preamble; receiving the random access transmission from the user equipment at the receiver; processing the random access transmission in the frequency domain to detect the preamble. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the preamble has a cyclic prefix, or is preceded by a plurality of zero-valued symbols.
US09179463B2 Method for physical control format indicator channel mapping
A method of mapping symbols of a physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH) is described. A start position of a resource element to map the symbols for the PCFICH is determined by flooring a value, obtained by multiplying the number of resource blocks by a variable proportional to a symbol index for the PCFICH and then dividing the multiplied result by 2, wherein the resource blocks are transmitted in downlink. The symbols are mapped in the start position. Therefore, a problem of wasting resource elements or not being able to implement mapping can be solved by applying a simple mapping rule while mapping symbols of the PCFICH.
US09179460B2 Method of processing control information in a mobile communication system
A method of processing control information in a mobile communication system is disclosed, by which an RRC connection setup can be quickly completed and by which control information can be processed without an unnecessary standby of a mobile terminal. The present invention includes the steps of receiving a plurality of protocol data units transmitted plural time from a transmitting side via one common logical channel by an RLC (radio link control) entity operating in a UM (unacknowledged mode) and having a receiving window and a timer, re-ordering a plurality of the received protocol data units using sequence numbers of a plurality of the received protocol data units, the receiving window and the timer, reassembling at least one service data unit by processing a plurality of the re-ordered protocol data units, and delivering the at least one service data unit.
US09179457B2 Carrier configuration in wireless networks
A wireless device receives a first RRC message configuring a plurality of cells, a primary cell group, and a secondary cell group. The wireless device receives a second RRC message to reconfigure cell group configurations. The second RRC message is configurable to cause the modification of the cell group configuration of a secondary cell without explicitly releasing the secondary cell if the second RRC message comprises mobility control information. The second RRC message is unconfigurable to cause modification of the cell group configuration of the secondary cell without explicitly releasing the secondary cell if the RRC message does not comprise mobility control information.
US09179454B2 Multicarrier signal transmission in wireless communications
A wireless device receives a control command for transmission of a random access preamble on a first cell. A first packet is scheduled for parallel uplink transmission with the random access preamble transmission. The wireless device transmits the random access preamble. The wireless device transmits the first packet in parallel with the random access preamble if the random access preamble and the first packet are scheduled for transmission in different cell groups and the wireless device has sufficient power to transmit the first packet in parallel with the preamble.
US09179452B2 Method for configuring and transmitting an HARQ ACK/NACK signal, and device using same
The present invention relates to a method for configuring and transmitting an HARQ ACK/NACK signal by bundling said signal about a component carrier wave of a downlink subframe linked with an uplink subframe transmitting an HARQ ACK/NACK signal on PUCCH format 3. More particularly, the method comprises the steps of: determining a mode for bundling an HARQ ACK/NACK signal; and configuring the bundled HARQ ACK/NACK signal according to the determined bundling mode, wherein in the step of determining the bundling mode, all the component carriers of the downlink subframe transmitting the HARQ ACK/NACK signal to an uplink subframe are bundled when the downlink channel is in a worse state than the predetermined reference state, and some of the component carriers of the downlink subframe transmitting the HARQ ACK/NACK signal to an uplink subframe are bundled when the downlink channel is not in a worse state.
US09179451B2 Apparatus and methods of frequency spectrum usage in a wireless communication system
Techniques of frequency spectrum usage in a wireless communication system include configuring two or more downlink carriers, each having a downlink carrier center frequency, to have a total occupied bandwidth that is constrained within an allocated downlink frequency spectrum. Further, the techniques include transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), two or more downlink carrier center frequency indicators that each identify a downlink carrier center frequency of each of the two or more downlink carriers. Also, the present techniques may include transmitting, to the UE, at least one uplink carrier center frequency indicator that at least relatively identifies at least one uplink carrier center frequency of at least one uplink carrier that is configured to have an independent, variable offset relative to one or more of the more than two downlink carriers. As such, these aspects allow new ways of squeezing carriers into the downlink while not impacting UE transmitter complexity.
US09179448B2 Method for reporting channel state information in wireless communication system and device therefor
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and a device for reporting channel state information, wherein the method comprises the steps of: receiving, from a first eNode B, a plurality of pieces of configuration information for a periodic report of CSIs that are set according to each eNode B; and transmitting, to said first eNode B, CSIs for the downlink of the corresponding eNode Bs through subframes that are periodically set according to each piece of the configuration information, wherein the subframes that are periodically set according to the configuration information for said first eNode B are used to transmit a CSI for the downlink of said first eNode B, and at least a portion of subframes that are periodically set according to configuration information for a second eNode B is used to transmit information which indicates the relationship between the downlink of said first eNode B and the downlink of said second eNode B.
US09179446B2 Over the air programming via cellular broadcast
In a communications system, one or more mobile devices may be programmed through the use of an assigned channel of a logical channel. For example, a broadcast control channel (BCCH) transmission may be received by one or more mobile devices, the transmission comprising a set of instructions to program the mobile devices. The BCCH transmission may be used to program certain mobile devices, such as a type or brand of device, or mobile devices having certain features, such as call waiting. The mobile device may be configured to accept a transmission, such as a packet in a GPRS network, on one channel while rejecting a transmission on other channels. Further, the mobile device may be reconfigured to accept additional channel transmissions or reject currently approved channel transmissions.
US09179443B2 Method and apparatus for providing services at terminal of mobile communication system
The present relates to a method for providing a terminal with a service in a mobile communication system which includes transmitting to mobility management entity an attach request message for initiating registration of the terminal having a virtual IP address with the mobile communication system; registering, at the mobility management entity, location of the terminal with a home subscriber server; and completing the registration by transmitting an attach accept message from the mobility management entity to the terminal. The present invention is capable of registering a terminal with a mobile communication system initially without bearer path and IP address allocation and, when a packet address to the terminal occurs, allocating the radio resource, bearer resource, and IP address through paging procedure, thereby proving the UE with the service.
US09179442B2 Wireless communication system, communication apparatus, communication method, and communication program
Provided are a wireless communication system, communication apparatus, communication method, and communication program able to more reliably decode transmit signals at a receiver without more complex processing, even when resource blocks are overloaded. A communication apparatus configured to decode data received on each of at least two streams comprises: a resource block allocation determiner configured to determine an allocation of resource blocks for each stream; and a control information determiner configured to determine control information regarding data transmission on at least one stream, on the basis of the overload ratio of resource blocks among at least one group of streams.
US09179441B2 Resource allocation method and apparatus
The present invention discloses a resource allocation method and apparatus, wherein the method comprises: determining a first resource block group size corresponding to a first resource allocation type in the common resource area; and dividing all resource blocks in the common resource area of the carrier into one or more resource block groups; determining a second resource block group size corresponding to the first resource allocation type in the dedicated resource area; and according to the second resource block group size, dividing resource blocks in the dedicated resource area of the carrier into one or more resource block groups.
US09179440B2 Method and apparatus for signaling in digital radio systems
A method is provided for transmitting at least one data stream by a transmitter in a wireless communication system. A preamble section including signaling information and a data section including at least one data stream are generated. A frame including the preamble section and the data section is generated. The generated frame is transmitted. The signaling information includes first information including information related to the at least one data stream and second information including information related to the first information.
US09179438B1 Determination of wireless device movement to and from an area of interest using a route update radius
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for determining device movement to and from an area of interest using a route update radius. In a particular embodiment, a method provides identifying an area of interest within a geographic area and determining a first access node of a wireless communication network having a first wireless signal coverage area that includes at least part of the area of interest. The method further provides setting a route update radius to a distance that reflects the size of the at least part of the area of interest and transferring the route update radius to the wireless communication device.
US09179437B2 Method and system for femtocell positioning using low earth orbit satellite signals
Methods and systems for femtocell positioning using low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite signals may comprise receiving LEO RF satellite signals utilizing a LEO satellite signal receiver path when medium Earth orbit (MEO) signals are attenuated below a threshold needed for positioning purposes by the MEO receiver path. A position of said wireless communication device (WCD) may be measured based on the received LEO RF satellite signals. The measured position of the WCD may be compared to a threshold radius defined by a stored initial position. Wireless communication services to the other WCDs may be enabled when the measured position is within the threshold radius. Reentry of the stored initial position may be requested when the measured position is outside of the threshold radius. The WCD may be disabled when the measured position of the WCD falls outside of the threshold radius more than a predetermined number of times.
US09179435B2 Filtering and clustering crowd-sourced data for determining beacon positions
Embodiments analyze crowd-sourced data to identify a moved or moving beacon. The crowd-sourced data involving a particular beacon is filtered based on a cluster start time associated with the beacon. A clustering analysis groups the filtered crowd-sourced data for the beacon into a plurality of clusters based on spatial distance. Timestamps associated with the crowd-sourced data in the clusters are compared to select one of the clusters. The crowd-sourced data associated with the selected cluster is used to determine position information for the moved beacon. The cluster start time for the beacon is adjusted based on the earliest timestamp associated with the positioned observations corresponding to the selected cluster. Adjusting the cluster start time removes from a subsequent analysis the positioned observations associated with one or more prior positions of the beacon.
US09179432B2 Distributed network register
For operating a telecommunications network for mobile telecommunication, a network register is used holding identifiers of mobile terminals for communication via the telecommunications network and network-related user data of the terminals. This the network register is formed from a peer-to-peer network having a multiplicity of decentralized register nodes that are networked with one another and are each associated with one geographic region. Hash tables held in the register nodes hold the identifiers of the terminals as hash values, and user data is stored associated with these hash values.
US09179430B2 PN selection for RF repeaters, bi-directional amplifiers or distributed antenna systems
Presented herein are methods and systems for providing network access at a slave node based on a signal transmitted by a master BTS. In one example, a pseudorandom code (PN code) selection is described, in which each slave node has a known associated time offset and data is transmitted with a PN code advanced by the known time offset and the propagation delay. Using an example slave base station transceiver architecture (or just slave node for short), the “traditional” BSC can be removed from at least one base station (e.g., “slave nodes”) and a master base station may be configured to control the signal being transmitted from each slave node. Each slave node then may transmit and receive RF signals. The master BTS head end may receive signal portions from the slave nodes and mobile devices, and combine them for relay back into the network.
US09179426B2 Modulation and coding scheme adjustment for uplink channel power control in advanced telecommunication networks
A method of adjusting the modulation and coding scheme for uplink channel power control in advanced telecommunication networks includes receiving an indication of a power adjustment mode for an uplink multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission. The power of the uplink MIMO transmission is adjusted according to the received power adjustment mode.
US09179418B2 Apparatus and method of improving the overall decision quality of the F-DPCH channel
Aspects of the methods and apparatus relate to improving the overall decision quality of the Fractional-Dedicated Physical Channel (F-DPCH) channel. One aspect of the methods and apparatus relates to detecting bad channel conditions of a serving base station and improving the serving base station F-DPCH decoding performance in such bad conditions based on the serving base station signal-to interference ratio (SIR) estimation. Another aspect of the methods and apparatus relate to improving the overall decision quality of the F-DPCH channel in soft handover (HO) scenarios by increasing the non-serving base station F-DPCH channel rejections thresholds based on certain SIR estimations. The F-DPCH channel rejections thresholds are based on either the SIR of the non-serving base station, or a difference between non-serving base station SIR and serving base station SIR.
US09179416B2 Wireless communication system, base station apparatus, mobile station apparatus, wireless communication method and integrated circuit
In a case that a mobile station apparatus transmits a physical random access channel to a base station apparatus in a plurality of cells, it is possible to efficiently control transmission power of a physical uplink channel. A mobile station apparatus which performs a random access procedure with a base station apparatus in a plurality of cells, receives downlink control information including a transmission power control command for a physical uplink control channel from the base station apparatus, calculates a parameter by accumulating a value indicated by the transmission power control command, sets transmission power of a physical uplink control channel by using the parameter, transmits the physical uplink control channel to the base station apparatus in a specific cell, and resets accumulated parameter, when a random access response for the specific cell is received from the base station apparatus.
US09179415B2 Uplink control channel transmission control method in a multi-carrier system and terminal using same
Provided is a transmission power control method for an uplink control channel of a terminal in a multi-carrier system where a plurality of downlink component carriers and at least one uplink component carrier are set in the terminal. The method includes: receiving a plurality of downlink grants from a base station; checking a Transmission Power Command (TPC) field included in each of the plurality of downlink grants; determining a transmission power of an uplink control channel (PUCCH) with a value of the checked TPC field; and transmitting the uplink control channel at the determined transmission power, with one configured uplink component carrier among the at least one uplink component carrier.
US09179414B2 Dynamic uplink power control method and device in a wireless communications system
A wireless communications system and, more particularly, to a dynamic uplink power control method and device in a wireless communications system are disclosed. A method for dynamically controlling an uplink transmission power at a base station is provided, the method includes the steps of receiving an uplink signal from a user equipment being served by the base station, deciding whether or not an uplink transmission to the base station from the user equipment causes an interference with another base station, and transmitting a transmission power control (TPC) command muting the uplink transmission to the user equipment.
US09179413B2 Access point power control
There is described a method of controlling a basestation in a cellular wireless communications network, the method comprising, within the basestation, autonomously and dynamically adapting a maximum value for a total transmit power of the basestation, such that interference between the basestation and other access points in the vicinity is minimized.
US09179412B2 Apparatus and method for receiving content in terminal
An apparatus and a method for receiving content in a terminal, by which the terminal can receive, with low power consumption, content from an adjacent service provider by using a wireless communication technology. A low-power short-range communication unit; and a controller for controlling the low-power short-range communication unit to broadcast an advertising packet including information of the terminal at regular intervals, and control the low-power short-range communication unit so as to connect to a particular service provider which has scanned the advertising packet. A control operation is then performed so as to receive content from the particular service provider.
US09179407B2 Selective notification of DRX parameter
Systems and methods are provided that may reduce unnecessary resource consumption and network traffic in a communications network, such as an LTE network. Initiating a tracking area update (TAU) procedure may be avoided in instances where a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle length chosen by a user equipment (UE) would be ignored in accordance with standards governing paging in the communications networks. To determine whether or not a TAU should be initiated, three parameters may be considered. A first parameter may be the DRX cycle length that is already configured in a mobility management entity (MME). A second parameter may be a DRX cycle length chosen by the UE that the UE wishes to indicate to the MME. A third parameter may be a DRX cycle length that is broadcast by an evolved Node B serving a cell in which the UE is operating.
US09179405B2 Transmission device, transmission method, receiving device and receiving method
Provided is control information related to polarizations of antennas for MISO communication. The control signal generator generates polarization information indicating whether antennas used for transmission by MISO have only a first polarization or have a second polarization as well as the first polarization. With this structure, the present invention allows for the use of combinations of SISO, MISO and MIMO, taking the polarization of antennas. Furthermore, the present invention enables the receiver to reduce the power consumption.
US09179404B2 Method and apparatus for UE-only discontinuous-TX smart blanking
Aspects of the methods and apparatus relate to performing user equipment (UE) only discontinuous transmission (DTX) smart blanking. One aspect of the methods and apparatus include maintaining a list of voice configurations that would trigger user equipment (UE) discontinuous transmission (DTX). Further, the aspect includes receiving a current voice configuration for the UE from a network, and determining whether the current voice configuration of the UE received from the network falls within the list of voice configurations that would trigger UE DTX. Further, the aspect includes enabling uplink UE DTX at the UE when the current voice configuration of a UE falls within the list of voice configurations.
US09179400B2 Communicatively coupling WLAN and femtocell networks utilizing a femtocell-to-WLAN network bridge and controller
Aspects of a method and system for communicatively coupling WLAN and femtocell networks utilizing a FC-to-WLAN network bridge and controller are provided. In this regard, data communicated via one or more femtocells and one or more WLAN access points may be managed via a FC-to-WLAN network bridge and controller communicatively coupled between a femtocell controller and an access point controller. The femtocell controller may be operable to manage and/or control operation of the one or more femtocells, and the access point controller may be operable to manage and/or control operation of the one or more WLAN access points. The FC-to-WLAN network bridge and controller, the femtocell controller, and the access point controller may intemperate to manage data communicated between a first end-user device communicatively coupled to one of the femtocells and a second end-user device communicatively coupled to one of the access points.
US09179399B2 Methods and apparatus for use in facilitating access to a communication service via a WLAN hotspot
A mobile communication device identifies and selects a wireless local area network (WLAN) available for communications in its coverage area. Automatically, without detecting any requests made by a user via a browser application. The mobile device initiates a request (e.g. an HTTP GET request) to a predetermined server site of a communication network which is outside of the WLAN. In response to initiating the request, the mobile device receives a response message via the WLAN and identifies, from the response message, whether the request to the predetermined server site has been redirected to a redirect server site. The WLAN may be a WLAN “hotspot,” where the redirect server site is a login server. The identifying may be performed by comparing content from the response message to predetermined content of the predetermined server site. In response to identifying that the request has been redirected, the mobile device causes an indication to be produced at its user interface. Access to a communication service (such as a “push”-data service) may be subsequently expediently obtained.
US09179381B2 Reducing network-initiated QoS interruption time when radio and core networks are out of synchronization due to different underlying technologies
A method enables a user equipment (UE) intervention to reduce a network-initiated Quality of Service (QoS) interruption time or a disruption of the network-initiated QoS, while avoiding application intervention. The method includes communicating with a source radio access network (RAN) in accordance with a network-initiated quality of service (QoS) profile. The method also includes transferring to a target RAN. The method further includes triggering, by a user equipment (UE), a QoS setup to reestablish the QoS profile.
US09179380B1 Method of performing handover in a wireless communication network
Systems and methods of performing a handover in a wireless communication network are provided. A controller node can receive a first request to establish a first logical communication link between a first access node and a gateway. The controller node can receive from a second access node a second request to establish a second logical communication link between the second access node and the gateway and to release the first logical communication link between the first access node and the gateway. A timer can be initiated after receiving the second request. The timer can be based on a mobility of the wireless device, a load of the wireless communication network, and an application requirement of an application running on the wireless device. The gateway can be instructed to establish the second logical communication link after initiating the timer and to release the first logical communication link after the timer expires.
US09179379B1 Method and apparatus for frequency management
Disclosed is a method and apparatus and system for managing frequency use in a system where multiple air interface protocols are in use. When a wireless communication device (WCD) is operating under a particular air interface protocol on a particular frequency channel, the WCD detects a threshold signal under another air interface protocol, and the WCD responsively transitions from operating under the particular air interface protocol on the particular frequency channel to operating under the particular air interface protocol on a different frequency channel. The method may thereby help to reduce likelihood of interference.
US09179378B2 Femtocell base station, and a method of selecting carrier frequency band of a femtocell base station
A method is provided of selecting carrier frequency band of a femtocell base station that provides a femtocell and resides within a macrocell provided by a macrocell base station. The method comprises: the femtocell base station operating at the carrier frequency band of the macrocell, detecting that a user terminal connected to the macrocell base station at an carrier frequency band of the macrocell is in or close to the femtocell, and the femtocell base station switching its carrier frequency band to one not allocated to the macrocell.
US09179375B2 Method for controlling connection configuration by femto base station and method for configuring connection by terminal
Disclosed is a method for controlling connections between a terminal and one or more neighbor base station (BSs) by a serving BS with respect to the terminal. The method for controlling a configuration of connections between a terminal and one or more neighbor BSs includes: receiving, by the serving BS and from a control station, information regarding radio access technologies (RATs) which are supported and have been activated or deactivated by the one or more neighbor BSs from a control station; transmitting an activation request message from the serving BS to the control station in order to activate the radio access technology in the deactivated state if there is a need for activating the deactivated RAT to connect the terminal to the one or more neighbor BSs; receiving, by the serving BS and from the control station, an activation response message including information regarding the neighbor BSs and information regarding the at least one specific radio access technology which is activated according to the activation request message; and transmitting a connection request message from the serving BS to the terminal to allow the terminal to be connected to the one or more BSs according to the one or more activated radio access technologies using the at least one specific RAT.
US09179374B2 Method, apparatus, and system for controlling and measuring cell handover
The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for controlling and measuring a cell handover, where the method for controlling a cell handover includes: acquiring terminal information; and after a random access request sent by a terminal is received, performing, according to the terminal information, beamforming for a random access response corresponding to the random access request, and sending the random access response to the terminal, where the random access response includes: configuration information of a resource required by the terminal during communication after the terminal hands over from a source cell covered by a source base station to a target cell covered by a target base station. A success rate of performing a cell handover by the terminal is improved in embodiments of the present invention.
US09179368B2 Method and policy enforcement functional entity for implementing quality of service request information
The present invention discloses a method and policy enforcement functional entity (PE-FE) for implementing quality of service (QoS) request information. The method comprises the following steps: a PE-FE sends a policy decision functional entity (PD-FE) a QoS request message including predetermined parameters which are used to represent the QoS request information of the transport layer. The technical solutions mentioned above enable the QoS request information of the transport layer to be accurately represented, and implement the resource request process in the pull mode.
US09179367B2 Maximizing service provider utility in a heterogeneous wireless ad-hoc network
An ad-hoc service provider is configured to support a wireless connection to the network. The ad-hoc service provider is further configured to provide access to the network for one or more mobile clients. The one or more mobile clients are configured to select the ad-hoc service provider based on at least one parameter related to the ad-hoc service provider's ability to support the wireless connection. The ad-hoc service provider is further configured to allocate bandwidth to the one or more mobile clients based on at least one parameter related to the effect on the ad-hoc service provider for providing such bandwidth.
US09179366B2 Scheduling methods and apparatus based on adjusted channel capacity
A scheduler having improved throughput is disclosed, for scheduling packets or other data blocks for transmission from a plurality of transmission elements in timeslots in a communication system. The scheduler determines for the transmission elements respective channel capacities, and adjusts one or more of the channel capacities based on amounts of data available to transmit in the corresponding transmission elements. The scheduler then selects one or more of the transmission elements for scheduling in a given one of the timeslots based on the one or more adjusted channel capacities. The scheduler in an illustrative embodiment may be implemented in a network processor integrated circuit or other processing device of the communication system.
US09179364B2 Method and apparatus for excluding guaranteed bit rate traffic bearers from LTE UL flow control
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus is a UE. The UE transmits data packets. The UE determines to implement a flow control to reduce a transmission rate of the data packets. The UE determines whether the data packets include known or potential real-time data packets. The UE refrains from implementing the flow control to reduce the transmission rate of the known/potential real-time data packets when the data packets include known/potential real-time data packets.
US09179360B1 Forward error correction and retransmissions for media service optimization over a wireless communication network
A wireless communication system optimizes media services over a wireless network. The wireless communication system is HARQ enabled. The wireless communication system receives the number of HARQ retransmissions, communication status data, configuration data, and flow identifications (IDs) for media flows that use FEC packets. The wireless communication system determines if the communication status data exceeds a system status threshold. If the communication status data exceeds the system status threshold, then the wireless communication system adjusts the number of HARQ retransmissions.
US09179359B2 Wireless end-user device with differentiated network access status for different device applications
A wireless end-user device has wireless wide-area network (WWAN) and wireless local-area network (WLAN) modems. One or more processors apply a WWAN-specific differential traffic control policy to Internet data service provided using the WWAN modem. Based on the applied policy, an application program interface (API) can indicate to particular applications that Internet data service available via the WWAN modem to other applications is not available to those particular applications.
US09179355B2 Cell utilization estimation by a wireless device
Estimating loading and potential available throughput a serving cell of a wireless user equipment (UE) device. Physical layer metrics of a channel on which the UE communicates with the serving cell may be measured. Cell utilization of the serving cell may be calculated based at least in part on the measured physical layer metrics. A maximum available throughput of the serving cell may be calculated based on the cell utilization.
US09179354B2 Efficient delivery of real-time synchronous services over a wireless network
In embodiments of the present disclosure improved capabilities are described for providing efficient delivery of real-time synchronous services over a large area broadband LTE wireless network, where optimization servers utilizing publish-subscribe broker services are provided within the wireless network to reduce the resources required for applications streaming data to a plurality of mobile cellular devices.
US09179353B2 Topology aware MANET for mobile networks
Systems and methods provide adaptability in a mobile ad hoc network (MANET), based on an existing protocol, such as adaptive hybrid domain routing (AHDR). The systems and methods are especially suited for fast changing topologies that may change after a reactive route discovery has been completed.
US09179352B2 Efficient delivery of real-time synchronous services over a wireless network
Systems and methods are described for providing efficient delivery of real-time services over a large area broadband LTE wireless network, where base station optimization servers are provided within the wireless network to reduce the resources required for applications streaming data to a plurality of mobile cellular devices, such as where a base station optimization server is connected to first and second mobile transceiver devices via redirected bearers such that the base station optimization server may route an application data packet stream from the base station optimization server to each of the first and the second mobile transceiver devices when both the first and the second mobile transceiver devices connect to request the application data, such that both the first and the second mobile transceiver devices receive concurrently at least a common portion of the application data packet stream and wherein use of the back haul network is minimized.
US09179346B1 Busy period determination based on weighted performance indicators
A computing device may obtain n values of a first performance indicator of a network and n values of a second performance indicator of the network. The ith value of the first performance indicator may be based on a measurement of the first performance indicator within an ith time period, and the ith value of the second performance indicator may be based on a measurement of the second performance indicator within the ith time period. A set of aggregate weighted rank values of the first and second performance indicators may be determined. A jth entry in the set of aggregate weighted rank values may be selected, and the jth value of the first performance indicator and the jth value of the second performance indicator may be used to provision the network.
US09179345B2 Enhanced dedicated-channel reporting for UMTS
A method for a mobile communication system, the mobile communication system defining a dedicated channel (DCH) active set and an enhanced-dedicated channel (E-DCH) active set, the method including performing a power measurement of a pilot signal from a cell that is not included in the E-DCH active set but included in the DCH active set, and performing a power measurement of a pilot signal from a cell that is included in the E-DCH active set.
US09179342B2 FCCH burst detection abort method for inter-radio access technology (IRAT) measurement
A system acquisition is initiated to perform inter radio access technology (IRAT) measurement. A waiting period of time is provided before aborting the system acquisition. The period of time is adjustable based on at least one metric. The metric can be a frequency of available measurement gaps, a total number of available measurement gaps, and/or a length of each measurement gap within a subframe. The metric could also be an absolute signal strength of a single neighbor cell and/or a relative signal strength between neighbor cells. The metric could also be a user equipment (UE) measured signal strength compared to a network indicated threshold value for triggering an IRAT measurement report. The metric could also be a percentage of a tone that falls within a measurement gap.
US09179341B2 Method and system for simplifying WiFi setup for best performance
Performance of WiFi devices, including WiFi access points are affected by a variety of parameters, including the location of setup of device and nearby sources of interference. Optimization of WiFi setup is enabled via quality metrics observed by the WiFi device and provided to the user. The system enables a user to change conditions that affect connection performance, such as the location of the WiFi access point, while the system automatically measures performance for each set of conditions. The system can then determine for the user which set of conditions provides the system with optimized WiFi connection performance. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09179340B2 Systems and methods for over-the-air testing of wireless systems
Embodiments include systems and methods for over-the-air testing of wireless systems. Embodiments comprise separated chambers configured to contain devices to be tested. The chambers are connected by separately bounded propagation path corridors.
US09179339B2 Method and system for testing the wireless signal propagation model of the cellular network
A method and system for testing the wireless signal propagation model of the cellular network is provided in the invention. The method comprising: selecting a testing site to install a receiving testing apparatus; moving a transmission apparatus along a testing route transmitting a testing signal upon moving; the receiving testing apparatus receiving the testing signal, and detecting the strength of the received testing signal; and obtaining field strength testing data along the testing route based on a synchronization established between the transmission apparatus and the receiving testing apparatus. By this invention, the testing efficiency of the wireless signal propagation model correction in the area covered by the cellular network can be improved.
US09179336B2 WiFi management interface for microwave radio and reset to factory defaults
WIFI management interfaces for microwave radio and reset to factory defaults are provided herein. Methods may include transmitting or receiving, on a dedicated management interface antenna of the wireless radio management signals, signals in a dedicated band for controlling operations of the wireless radio, and transmitting or receiving, on at least one additional antenna of the wireless radio management signals, signals that are not used for controlling operations of the wireless radio. The dedicated management interface antenna and the at least one additional antenna being physically separated from one another.
US09179328B2 Doppler shift compensation apparatus and method
The present disclosure relates to a Doppler shift compensation scheme applicable in a high mobility communication system. In some examples, a Doppler shift compensation apparatus may include an angle measuring unit configured to measure Angle Of Arrival (AOA) information of a User Equipment (UE); a velocity calculating unit configured to calculate a velocity information of the UE based on the measured AOA information; a frequency shift estimating unit configured to estimate Doppler shift of the UE based on the measured AOA information and the calculated velocity of the UE; a frequency shift compensation triggering unit configured to trigger Doppler frequency shift compensation based on the estimated Doppler shift of the UE; and a frequency shift compensating unit configured to perform the Doppler frequency shift compensation based on a trigger instruction from the frequency shift compensation triggering unit. Doppler shift compensation methods are also described in some other examples of the present disclosure.
US09179327B2 Computational systems and methods for locating a mobile device
Systems and methods are described relating to accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device; and presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query response from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device. Additionally, systems and methods are described relating to means for accepting a query from a radio-frequency identification object associated with at least one mobile device; and means for presenting an indication of location of the at least one mobile device at least partially based on the query response from the radio-frequency identification object associated with the at least one mobile device.
US09179323B2 Location determination for white space utilization
A technique for a wireless device to obtain white space information from a component configured for cellular communication, such as a cellular phone. The wireless device and cellular phone may communicate using a short-range connection, such as a peer-to-peer connection, ensuring that the white space information, which is location based, generated by the cellular phone is also accurate for the location of the wireless device. With such white space information, the wireless device can comply with regulatory requirements for white space use by accessing a regulatory database identifying, by location, available white space channels. When the cellular phone is configured for accessing a wide area network, the cellular telephone may provide the white space information as a set of channels available for white space communication. Channels of the set may be prioritized based on one or more parameters, including frequency, permitted transmit power or detected noise.
US09179322B2 System and method for allocating spectrum using dynamically adjusted separation distances for mitigating interference
Allocating spectrum to a secondary radio device includes determining a contour separation distance for the secondary radio device. The contour separation distance is a function of a minimum separation distance from protected areas of primary radio devices and an accuracy variance for the secondary radio device. The accuracy variance is specified as a distance and is a function of accuracy information for a reported location of the secondary radio device. If a distance between a contour of a protected area for a primary radio device and the reported location for the secondary radio device is less than the contour separation distance, a channel used by the primary radio device is not available for use by the secondary radio device for wireless communications. Otherwise the channel used by the primary radio device is available for use by the secondary radio device for wireless communications.
US09179320B2 Method for assigning and managing reference signals in a multi-cell environment, and network device and terminal for applying the method
A method of assigning and managing reference signals in a multi-cell environment, and a network device and a terminal for applying the method, are provided. Reference signal patterns may be assigned to multiple femtocells through a long term coordination of a central control unit that is used to control multiple cells.
US09179314B2 Secure and automatic connection to wireless network
Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for automatically establishing secure connections to wireless networks using a wireless local area network access point which calls for acceptance of terms and conditions of use. During an initial connection, the user is prompted to review and accept terms and conditions associated with use of that wireless network. Once accepted, future connections at that or other access points, which use those same terms and conditions, occur free from user intervention.
US09179307B2 Protection of a security element coupled to an NFC circuit
A method and a device for protecting a security module connected to a near-field communication router in a telecommunication device, wherein a transmission between the router and the security module is only allowed in the presence of a radio frequency communication flow detected by the router.
US09179304B2 Device location history anonymization based on stop detection
Embodiments described herein may help to protect users' privacy when storing and/or utilizing location data that is provided by the users' mobile devices. An example method may involve: (a) determining a location history associated with a first client device, wherein the location history comprises a plurality of time-stamped location reports associated with the first client device, (b) before the location history is exported: (i) identifying at least one stop in the location history, wherein the at least one stop corresponds to a plurality of location reports that indicate a substantial lack of movement by the first client device, and (ii) scrubbing the location history in order to obscure at least one location report that corresponds to the at least one stop, and (c) exporting the scrubbed location history to long-term data storage.
US09179300B2 Station-centric multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO)
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for using a Media Access Control (MAC) address of a station (STA) sending a direct link multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmission such that one or more STAs receiving the transmission may interpret a group identifier (ID) indicating a group to which the STAs belong. Using the group ID and the MAC address allows a STA to independently manage its group IDs, independent of an access point (AP) or other STAs in a Basic Service Set (BSS).
US09179299B2 Adjustable wireless circuitry with antenna-based proximity detector
An electronic device such as a portable electronic device has wireless communications circuitry. Antennas in the electronic device may be used in transmitting radio-frequency antenna signals. A coupler and antenna signal phase and magnitude measurement circuitry may be used to determine when external objects are in the vicinity of the antenna by making antenna impedance measurements. In-band and out-of-band phase and magnitude signal measurements may be made in determining whether external objects are present. Additional sensors such as motion sensors, light and heat sensors, acoustic and electrical sensors may produce data that can be combined with the proximity data gathered using the antenna-based proximity sensor. In response to detecting that an external object such as a user's body is within a given distance of the antenna, the electronic device may reduce transmit powers, switch antennas, steer a phased antenna array, switch communications protocols, or take other actions.
US09179294B2 Mobile communications
A mobile data communications system that includes a mobile device having a reconfigurable user identification module that stores a mobile identity and provides mobile data communication via a mobile network, subject to the mobile identity being registered with the mobile network, and an account control server that includes memory to store identification and payment details for a user of the mobile device and a mobile identity provider to provide a mobile identity to the mobile device and to an authorization server of a mobile network. In response to a request by a user of the mobile device to obtain data access by a particular mobile network, the account control server provides a mobile identity to the mobile device for storage by the user identification module, provides the same mobile identity to the authorization server of that mobile network, and provides user identification and payment details to that mobile network.
US09179293B2 Method for updating secure elements included in terminals of a telecommunication network and corresponding update server
The invention relates, in particular, to a method for updating secure elements included in terminals of a telecommunication network. The terminals connect, for recurring updates and according to a first order, to a server of the network such that said server can transmit data thereto. In the context of a process for updating the secure elements, the method comprises transmitting messages requesting connection to the secure elements such that the latter connect to the server. According to the invention, the method comprises the prioritized transmission of the messages requesting connection to the secure elements in an order that is the reverse of the first order, in order to update, on a prioritized basis, the last secure elements that were updated by the recurrent updates from the start of the update process.
US09179289B2 Method and system for remotely accessing
The invention provides a method and system for remotely accessing. A mobility management device receives a remote access requesting message sent by User Equipment (UE), determines whether the UE possesses right for accessing a home network under the control of a home base station according to contents in the remote access requesting message, when determining the UE possesses the right, selects a GateWay (GW) device. Technical scheme of the invention enables a subscriber to remotely access a home network, even if the subscriber is not in the home network.
US09179282B2 Method of reception of secondary notification after ETWS message is received by user equipment in connected mode
A method and system to receive the secondary notification messages when an ETWS primary notification message is received in connected mode of UE are provided. The method includes the way to receive the secondary notification information in UE. The secondary notification information comprises necessary associated information of the ETWS like government aid, help centers, health centers, and refugee camps and so on to help the user in many ways to combat the situation. The method discloses different ways of transition to idle mode to receive the secondary notification message according to configuration defined by the user within the UE.
US09179275B2 Method and apparatus for receiving or sending short message
A first message is sent by an MSC/VLR and it is determined that a user equipment is in an abnormal state according to the first message. A second message is sent to the user equipment. The second message is used to instruct the user equipment to initiate attachment to the MSC/VLR. An apparatus includes a receiving module, a first determining module and a sending module.
US09179265B2 Reducing location search space
Methods, program products, and systems for reducing a location search space are described. A mobile device, when arriving at a venue, can determine a location of the mobile device using signals from one or more signal sources associated with the venue. The mobile device can use a coarse location estimator to estimate a coarse location of the mobile device at the venue. The mobile device can request, from a server, detailed location data associated with the coarse location. The detailed location data can include location fingerprint data associated with a portion of the venue that includes the coarse location. The mobile device can determine an estimated location that has finer granularity than the coarse location using the location fingerprint data.
US09179264B1 Methods, systems, and media for determining location information from real-time bid requests
Methods, systems, and media for determining location information from real-time bid requests are provided. In some implementations, a method for determining device locations is provided, the method comprising: receiving a real-time data stream that includes location proxies corresponding to devices; generating a movement graph of interconnected nodes and edges, wherein each node represents one of the location proxies and wherein each edge represents movement information between the location proxies; calculating, for a node in the movement graph, location information by applying a predictive model having weights based on the movement information; and assigning, for the node in the movement graph, a census-based identifier to the calculated location information. The census-based identifier can be used, for example, to supplement or enrich bid requests within the real-time data stream.
US09179260B2 Medicament information system and method
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method, device, and storage medium including one or more of the following: receiving location information and expiration information; determining a current location of the mobile device; determining that the medicament device is within a predetermined distance from the mobile device; determining that the medicament device is currently associated with an expiration event; outputting an expiration alarm indicating the expiration event in response to determining that the medicament device is within a predetermined distance from the mobile device and that the medicament device is currently associated with an expiration event; receiving, from the user, a request to display a map of a geographic area; displaying, by the mobile device and via a non-operating system application, the map of the geographic area; and displaying an alert icon on the map, wherein the location of the icon on the map is based on the received location information.
US09179258B1 Location based recommendations
Location data that corresponds to one or more user devices each associated with a user may be obtained. Based on the location data, the particular location of a user may be determined. Similarities between various users may be identified when it is determined that those users have visited the same locations. Upon at least two users visiting a threshold amount of the same locations, one or more recommendations may be provided to the users, whereby the recommendations relate to places that those users have yet to visit. In addition, the users may have the opportunity to reveal information about themselves to other users, while maintaining their anonymity. As a result, the users may meet people and learn about new places that are likely to be of interest to those users.
US09179254B1 Motion detection with bluetooth low energy scan
An example method for providing motion detection via a Bluetooth low energy scan is disclosed. In particular, the method includes performing a scan via a Bluetooth unit of a computing device. Further, the method includes receiving one or more advertisement packets via the Bluetooth unit in response to the performed scan. The one or more advertisement packets may be associated with a respective Bluetooth device. Yet further, the method includes determining if a location of the Bluetooth unit has changed based on received one or more advertisement packets. The determining includes comparing the received one or more advertisement packets with a set of one or more reference advertisement packets. In addition, the method includes enabling an application processing unit in response to determining the Bluetooth unit has changed location. The application processing unit may be configured to determine the location of the Bluetooth unit.
US09179250B2 Recommendation agent using a routine model determined from mobile device data
A user's context history is analyzed to identify transitions between contexts therein. The identified transitions are used to build a routine model for the user. The routine model includes transition rules indicating a source context, a destination context, and, optionally, a probability that the user will transition from the source context to the destination context, based on the user's historical behavior. A customized recommendation agent for the user is built using the routine model. The customized recommendation agent selects recommendations from a corpus to present to the user, based on the routine model and the user's current or predicted future context.
US09179242B2 Systems and methods for registering machine type communications devices and scheduling machine type communications device transmissions
Methods of registering a Machine Type Communications (MTC) device for scheduling MTC device transmissions by a network element are provided. The method includes registering a MTC device. The registering includes assigning at least one resource block to the MTC device for transmitting at least one MTC device transmission. The registering includes establishing a triggering mechanism that detects when a trigger event occurs, such that when the trigger event occurs, the MTC device transmits the at least one MTC device transmission on the assigned at least one resource block. The registering includes configuring the network element to receive the at least one MTC device transmission based on the assigned resource block and the established triggering mechanism. The method includes allowing the MTC device to transmit the at least one MTC device transmission over the resource block that is assigned during the registration.
US09179240B2 Transmit co-channel spectrum sharing
An intelligent backhaul system is disclosed for deployment in the presence of existing radio systems. A backhaul system for co-channel deployment with existing licensed and unlicensed wireless networks, including conventional cellular backhaul radios, Common Carrier Fixed Point-to-Point Microwave Service, Private Operational Fixed Point-to-Point Microwave Service and other FCC 47 C.F.R. §101 licensed microwave networks is disclosed. Processing and network elements to manage and control the deployment and management of backhaul of radios that connect remote edge access networks to core networks in a geographic zone which co-exist with such existing systems or other sources of interference within a radio environment are also disclosed.
US09179239B2 Method and system for managing, delivering, displaying and interacting with contextual applications for mobile devices
It concerns a method for delivering temporarily a plurality of software applications each based on respective contextual data, to one or more wireless mobile end-user devices (13), by using a single application called contextual engine pre-installed in said mobile devices (13), said delivery being limited to the immediate vicinity of specific locations comprising the steps of (i) receiving on a local device (9) located in the vicinity of one of said specific locations a remote request from one of said mobile end-user devices (13) located near said local device (9) for retrieving one of said plurality of applications related to its respective contextual data, (ii) receiving on said local device said application from a remote server (5), (iii) delivering automatically from said local device (9) exclusively said software application to said mobile end-user device (13) via a wireless connection (12), and (iv) displaying said application on said mobile end user device (13).
US09179236B2 System and method for adaptive audio signal generation, coding and rendering
Embodiments are described for an adaptive audio system that processes audio data comprising a number of independent monophonic audio streams. One or more of the streams has associated with it metadata that specifies whether the stream is a channel-based or object-based stream. Channel-based streams have rendering information encoded by means of channel name; and the object-based streams have location information encoded through location expressions encoded in the associated metadata. A codec packages the independent audio streams into a single serial bitstream that contains all of the audio data. This configuration allows for the sound to be rendered according to an allocentric frame of reference, in which the rendering location of a sound is based on the characteristics of the playback environment (e.g., room size, shape, etc.) to correspond to the mixer's intent. The object position metadata contains the appropriate allocentric frame of reference information required to play the sound correctly using the available speaker positions in a room that is set up to play the adaptive audio content.
US09179234B2 Process for the production of a capacitor microphone and a capacitor microphone
There is provided a process for assembly of a capacitor microphone. The capacitor microphone has a frame and a counterpart electrode. The counterpart electrode is positioned in the frame and held. Adhesive is applied so that the counterpart electrode is glued directly to the frame.
US09179233B2 Apparatus and method for interfacing earphone
An apparatus and method for interfacing with an earphone are provided. The method includes checking if the earphone is uninstalled promptly after the connection of the earphone is sensed in an external port and if it is sensed that the earphone is uninstalled, continuing to apply a voltage to a MIC_BIAS terminal. The generation of a noise of the MIC_BIAS terminal caused by applying of a periodic voltage resulted from loose insertion of the earphone is prevented.
US09179231B2 Systems and methods for facilitating time-based fitting by a sound processor
An exemplary sound processor (104) included in an auditory prosthesis system includes 1) a clock facility (406) configured to detect an elapsing of a predetermined amount of time and 2) a fitting facility (408) communicatively coupled to the clock facility and configured to automatically perform, in response to the elapsing of the predetermined amount of time, one or more fitting operations with respect to the auditory prosthesis system. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.
US09179227B2 Antennas for standard fit hearing assistance devices
An embodiment of a hearing assistance device comprises a housing, a power source, a radio circuit, an antenna and a transmission line. The radio circuit is within the housing and electrically connected to the power source. The antenna has an aperture, and the radio circuit is at least substantially within the aperture. The transmission line electrically connects to the antenna to the radio circuit. Various antenna embodiments include a flex circuit antenna.
US09179224B2 Hearing device with adaptive feedback-path estimation
A hearing device comprises a feedback-path estimation unit, which adaptively estimates a feedback path from an output transducer to an input transducer, and sets an adaptation-step size of an adaptive feedback-path estimation algorithm in dependence on an estimate of a background-noise spectrum. The feedback-path estimation unit provides an estimation-control signal for generating an acoustic feedback-path estimation signal having an level spectrum, which has at least one first frequency band with non-zero level and at least one second frequency band with zero level or with a non-zero level smaller than the level in the first frequency band and smaller than a background-noise level in the respective second frequency band. Background noise is detected in the second frequency band while the feedback-path estimation signal is provided. The background-noise level in the at least one first frequency band is estimated for obtaining the estimate of the background-noise spectrum. A corresponding method is described. The method is e.g. useful for estimating a feedback path during fitting of a hearing device, e.g. a hearing aid, to a particular user's needs.
US09179222B2 Signal processing for hearing prostheses
A device includes a sound input element for receiving a sound signal and converting the sound signal into an electrical signal. The device also includes an actuator and a sound processor for processing the electrical signal to generate a stimulation signal. The sound processor is configured to apply frequency shifting on the stimulation signal to generate a frequency shifted stimulation signal and to apply the frequency shifted stimulation signal as an output from the device. The frequency shifting can be triggered by detecting that the stimulation signal is associated with frequencies above an output limit of the device for a recipient and/or the stimulation signal can be applied as vibration.
US09179220B2 Life safety device with folded resonant cavity for low frequency alarm tones
Low frequency alarm tones emitted by life safety devices are more like to notify sleeping children and the elderly. Disclosed herein is a life safety device equipped with a novel, compact, quarter-wave, folded resonant cavity which significantly increases the low frequency (400-700 Hz square wave) acoustic efficiency of an audio output transducer when the folded resonant cavity is acoustically coupled to the transducer forming an audio output apparatus. The folded resonant cavity is comprised of undulating, annular, acoustic passages to significantly reduce the length of the resonant cavity, thereby permitting the audio output apparatus to fit within the housing of conventional size life safety devices such as, but not limited to, residential and commercial smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. Battery powered embodiments of the audio output apparatus comprising a folded resonant cavity passed audibility tests for low frequency alarm tones in smoke alarms specified by UL217.
US09179209B2 Arm for supporting a sensor
A sensor support arm, adapted for use with a breathing mask such that the arm is extendable underneath a sealing surface of a breathing mask is disclosed. The arm is adaptable at one end for fixing on to equipment worn by a user, having a sensor disposed at an opposing end positionable in the interior of a breathing mask. The arm has lead connections necessary for the sensor extending along the arm. The arm has a greater width than thickness and comprises a flexible material such that it is flexible about both longitudinal and transverse axes. The arm is provided with a substantially planar side. A breathing mask having a freely self-supporting sensor arm is also disclosed.
US09179205B2 Waterproof gate having speaker mesh film
A waterproof gate having a speaker mesh film is provided and applied to a case, and the case is formed with a slot. The waterproof gate includes that a waterproof unit is plugged in the slot and has a partition plate having two opposite surfaces being respectively extended with a first annular piece and a second annular piece, and the partition plate is formed with an opening; a speaker mesh film unit covers the opening; a first fasten member is disposed and fastened in a first recess defined by the first annular piece and the partition plate; and a second fasten member is disposed and fastened in a second recess defined by the second annular piece and the partition plate. The speaker mesh film unit and the partition plate are clamped between the first fasten member and the second fasten member. Accordingly, an excellent waterproof effect is provided.
US09179204B2 Optical network system
A normal system OSU, a redundancy system OSU, an optical switch, a concentration switch, and a controller which detects a command input by operation control and performs control according to the command are provided, and in such a state that the controller detects a redundancy system switching command indicating that the normal system OSU is switched to the redundancy system OSU, the controller induces the concentration switch to change a storage destination of a down signal, instructs the normal system OSU which is the switching source OSU to stop transmission of a transmission permission message, instructs the optical switch to switch a path after receiving remaining data processing completion notifications from the concentration switch and the normal system OSU which is the switching source OSU, writes accumulated information about the normal system OSU, which is the switching source OSU, in the redundancy system OSU, and notifies the concentration switch of completion of switching, whereby a down signal is transmitted from the concentration switch.
US09179202B1 Multiple-frequency signal classification through use of a second-order statistic
A multi-frequency (also known as multiple-frequency) signal, such as a dual-tone signal, can be a repeating signal that indicates a character designated on a keypad. The signal can be processed such that the character is identifiable. This processing can include using first and second-order statistics of the signal to determine an estimated average frequency of the signal. A table can be accessed that lists individual characters of the keypad and specific average frequency values can be associated with the individual characters. The specific average frequency value that is closest to the estimated average frequency can be identified and the character associated with this closest specific average frequency value can be appointed as the character indicated by the signal. Thus, the multi-frequency signal can be classified as communicating the appointed character.
US09179200B2 Method and system for determining content treatment
Metadata determines treatment of content by automated systems, including “user generated content” web sites. The metadata may be conveyed with the content or may be determined by other techniques, including systems based on digital watermarking or content fingerprinting. In some arrangements, treatment depends on the temporal length of a content excerpt that matches a pre-existing work. In others, treatment depends on popularity—either of the content, or a pre-existing work from which it was derived. A great variety of other factors and contexts can also be considered. Automated tools to preliminarily identify possible “fair use” can be realized; further determination may be made by human evaluators (including crowd-source approaches).
US09179196B2 Interleaved video streams
A first predictive frame is exchanged between an encoder and a decoder. A second predictive frame is exchanged between the encoder and the decoder, where the first predictive frame is encoded using at least some portion of a first reference frame and the second predictive frame is encoded using at least some portion of a second reference frame different from the first reference frame.
US09179195B2 Searching electronic program guide data
Searching electronic program guide (EPG) data is described. The EPG data may be compartmentalized into channel metadata that describes characteristics of one or more channels and content metadata that describes characteristics of one or more content items. In a implementation, a method includes searching channel metadata and content metadata. A result of the searching is formed for output in conjunction with an electronic program guide (EPG).
US09179194B2 Program guide interface systems and methods
An exemplary method includes a computing device presenting a program guide interface by way of a touch screen, detecting a pinch gesture provided in relation to the program guide interface, and presenting, in response to the pinch gesture, a plurality of graphical objects representative of a plurality of media programming channel groups. Each graphical object in the plurality of graphical objects is configured to function as a user-selectable jump point to specific programming guide information associated with a respective media programming channel group in the plurality of media programming channel groups.
US09179192B1 Associating video content with geographic maps
A system and method for associating videos with geographic locations is disclosed. The system comprises a communication module, a location module, a tagging module and a database association module. The communication module receives a video uploaded by a content provider and a set of video data describing the video. The location module determines that the video describes a geographic location included in a geographic map based at least in part on the video data. The tagging module determines one or more travelling tags for the video based at least in part on the video data. The database association module associates the video and the one or more travelling tags with the geographic location so that the video with the one or more travelling tags is included in the geographic map.
US09179191B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus includes a sight line detecting unit configured to detect a sight line of a viewer who is viewing content data and output sight line information which is a result of the detection, a viewing condition estimating unit configured to estimate a viewing condition of the viewer based on the output sight line information and visual attention information relating to the content data, and a content suggesting unit configured to make various suggestions with respect to the content data for the viewer based on the estimated viewing condition.
US09179190B2 Apparatus, method, and system for digital content and access protection
There is described a method for providing a video signal to a user, comprising: sampling said video signal at a user specific sampling rate, thereby obtaining temporally organized sample amplitudes; removing a time interrelation between said temporally organized sample amplitudes, thereby obtaining sample amplitudes having no time interrelation; transmitting said sample amplitudes having no time interrelation to said user; and reconstructing said video signal by inserting a user-specific sampling interval between successive ones of said sample amplitudes, said user-specific sampling interval corresponding to said user-specific sampling rate.
US09179185B2 Methods and apparatus to determine a number of people in an area
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine the number of people in an area. An example method includes collecting media identification information corresponding to media presented at a location, responding to a received request to register a mobile device with a base station by storing device identification information for the mobile device at the base station, timestamping the device identification information, determining a number of mobile devices located in an area based on the stored device identification information, and identifying a number of persons exposed to the media based on the media identification information and the device identification information.
US09179181B2 Hospitality media system that avoids network congestion and server load while providing media experience within guest room, and computer server and method thereof
A method of servicing requests for information at a server includes receiving a request for information from a client device, and determining a number of attempts of the request made by the client device. Both the client device and the server may count the number of attempts for each request. When the number of attempts is greater than a threshold, the method includes servicing the request and sending the information to the client device. When the number of attempts is not greater than the threshold, the method includes sending a service unavailable message to the client device. A retry-after delay may be calculated by the server according to a predicted time for the server to exit an overloaded state and included in the service unavailable message. The predicted time may take into account both requests currently being serviced and requests that have been scheduled to be serviced in the future.
US09179179B2 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 private indicator field indicating a private indicator, demodulating the digital television signal and identifying at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances.
US09179178B2 Digital television signal, digital television receiver, and method of processing digital television signal
A digital television (DTV) receiver includes a receiver to receive 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 last section number field indicating a last section number, a demodulator to demodulate the digital television signal and an identifier to identify at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances.
US09179173B1 Systems and methods for processing a traffic log having an optional-promotion log entry
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for processing a traffic log having an optional-promotion log entry. An example method involves (i) accessing a stored television-broadcasting traffic log, wherein the traffic log includes multiple ordered log entries including at least a first log-entry and a second log-entry; (ii) making a first determination that the first log-entry corresponds to a show-segment video-component (VC) of a live news program; (iii) making a second determination that the second log-entry corresponds to an initial show-segment VC of a show, wherein the show is scheduled to follow the live news program; (iv) identifying, among log entries scheduled between the first log-entry and the second log-entry, a set of optional-promotion log entries, each such optional-promotional log entry having a duration; (v) determining a cumulative duration of the optional-promotion log entries in the identified set; and (vi) providing the determined cumulative-duration to an output device for presentation.
US09179172B2 Method and access device for implementing IP broadband video service
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an access device for implementing an IP broadband video service, the method is executed by an access device, includes: receiving a request for demanding a program from the user terminal; checking a right of a user corresponding to the user terminal; if the user has right to demand the program and is the first member joining the program group, sending the request to the multicast router and then sending the user terminal a multicast stream of the program received from the multicast router; if the user has right to demand the program and is not the first member joining the group, sending the multicast stream to the user terminal; the method further comprises: generating a record comprising program information and time information that indicates program join and leave activities and sending the record to a video service support system.
US09179166B2 Multi-protocol deblock engine core system and method
The present invention facilitates efficient and effective detection of pixel alteration. The number and configuration of pixels in a block partition can be flexibly changed. The filter inputs in the multi-protocol filter can be flexibly changed to meet the deblocking requirement in the target video compression standard. In one embodiment, the deblock engine includes an input interface, a neighbor buffer, a current data buffer; and a multi-protocol filter. The input interface receives reconstructed data. The neighbor buffer temporarily stores neighbor information. The current data buffer receives the reconstructed data and the neighbor information. The multi-protocol filter filters information selected from the reconstructed data and neighbor information.
US09179165B2 Video encoding control method, video encoding apparatus and video encoding program
In a video encoding control method of the present invention, each picture is encoded in units of encoding-order picture groups such as GOPs, and when CPB underflow has occurred, an encoding parameter such as a quantization parameter and filter strength of a pre-filter is changed in such a manner that a generated bit rate is reduced, and an encoding-order picture group that is being encoded is re-encoded from its first picture using the changed encoding parameter.
US09179160B2 Systems and methods for error resilience and random access in video communication systems
Systems and methods for error resilient transmission and for random access in video communication systems are provided. The video communication systems are based on single-layer, scalable video, or simulcast video coding with temporal scalability, which may be used in video communication systems. A set of video frames or pictures in a video signal transmission is designated for reliable or guaranteed delivery to receivers using secure or high reliability links, or by retransmission techniques. The reliably-delivered video frames are used as reference pictures for resynchronization of receivers with the transmitted video signal after error incidence and for random access.
US09179158B2 Decode processing apparatus, decode processing method, data distribution program, and decode processing program
Disclosed herein is a decode processing apparatus including, a plurality of decode processing section configured to decode moving picture data in units of a predetermined processing block, a distribution section configured such that when supplied with encoded moving picture data, the distribution section splits each of screens formed by the moving picture data into vertical bands in units of the processing block as the smallest unit in keeping with the number of the plurality of decode processing section, the distribution section further distributing the moving picture data belonging to each of the split vertical bands to a different one of the decode processing section, and a formation section configured to form the picture data of one screen when supplied with the decoded moving picture data from the plurality of decode processing section.
US09179156B2 Memory controller for video analytics and encoding
Video analytics may be used to assist video encoding by selectively encoding only portions of a frame and using, instead, previously encoded portions. Previously encoded portions may be used when succeeding frames have a level of motion less than a threshold. In such case, all or part of succeeding frames may not be encoded, increasing bandwidth and speed in some embodiments.
US09179151B2 Spatial proximity context entropy coding
Encoding and decoding using spatial proximity context entropy coding may include identifying a plurality of transform coefficients for a current block of a current frame of a video stream. The plurality of transform coefficients may be ordered based on a scan order. A current transform coefficient may be identified from the plurality of transform coefficients. A plurality of context coefficients may be identified from the plurality of transform coefficients. Each context coefficient may be spatially proximate to the current transform coefficient and may be available for entropy coding the current transform coefficient. An entropy coding probability for the current transform coefficient may be identified based on the scan order and the plurality of context coefficients. The current transform coefficient may be entropy coded based on the entropy coding probability. The entropy coded current transform coefficient may be included in an output bitstream, which may be stored or transmitted.
US09179149B2 Video encoding control method, video encoding apparatus, and video encoding program
A video encoding control method encodes an input video signal by controlling a generated bit rate so a hypothetical buffer in a decoder does not overflow or underflow includes: sequentially encoding each picture in an encoding-order picture group in accordance with a predetermined encoding parameter, the encoding-order picture group including a predetermined number of pictures and being a collection of successive pictures in the order of encoding; calculating a quantization statistic of each picture based on quantization parameter information used to encode each picture each time each picture is encoded, and checking whether the quantization statistic exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and if the quantization statistic exceeds the predetermined threshold value, changing the encoding parameter so the generated bit rate resulting from encoding is reduced and performing re-encoding from a first picture of an encoding-order picture group that is being encoded using the changed encoding parameter.
US09179147B2 Soft decision and iterative video coding for MPEG and H.264
A method of encoding video data using soft decision quantization makes use of iterative encoding to provide the ability to optimize encoding across different functional elements in a hybrid video encoder. Iterative encoding is used to allow quantization step size, motion prediction and quantization levels to be optimized despite their interrelated nature.
US09179146B2 Encoding and decoding device and method using intra prediction
The present disclosure relates to encoding and decoding apparatus and method using intra prediction. The encoding apparatus includes a reference pixel characteristics extractor for receiving reference pixel(s) included in neighboring blocks of a target block to encode to determine a reference pixel characteristic and determining whether adaptive filtering is applied to the reference pixel(s), based on reference pixel characteristic; a first intra predictor responsive to when the adaptive filtering is determined by the reference pixel characteristics extractor to be applied for comparing between results of performing intra prediction using high-frequency filtered reference pixel and intra prediction using high-frequency-unfiltered reference pixel to output the cost-efficient result along with filtering information indicating whether to perform filtering; and a second intra predictor for outputting the result of performing the intra prediction using the high-frequency-unfiltered reference pixel when the reference pixel characteristics extractor determines that the adaptive filtering is not to be applied.
US09179145B2 Cross layer spatial intra prediction
Techniques for video decoding include cross-layer prediction from a base layer to an SNR or spatial enhancement layer of spatial intra prediction mode information. In one example embodiment, the Most Probable Mode (MPM) for intra prediction of an enhancement layer block is predicted from the spatially corresponding base layer block.
US09179138B2 Image display method and apparatus
An image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: an IR emitter controller for recognizing a pair of 3D glasses connected to the image display apparatus; a video multiplexer for receiving a plurality of displayed video data using a plurality of pairs of 3D glasses, setting a frame rate for the plurality of video data to assign a frame period thereto, and multiplexing the plurality video data according to the frame period assigned at the set frame rate, when the plurality of pairs of 3D glasses is connected to the image data apparatus; and a display unit for frame-sequentially displaying the multiplexed video data.
US09179136B2 Method and system for synchronizing 3D shutter glasses to a television refresh rate
A 3D shutter glasses device, coupled via a wireless link to a 3D video display device, maintains a slave clock synchronized with a master clock in the display device. The clocks may comprise Bluetooth clocks. The shutter glasses receive 3D frame display information and time information referenced to the master clock that corresponds to when frames are displayed. The shutter glasses control opening and closing of left and right shutters utilizing slave clock time and the received information. The received display information comprises left, right and/or blank frame pattern information, a frame pattern time interval, a frame refresh rate and a time offset for delaying opening and/or closing of shutters. The time information indicates master clock time when frames are displayed. The shutter glasses and the display maintain synchronization when display and/or time information updates are skipped. The shutter glasses may transmit information to the display device.
US09179134B2 Multi-layer plenoptic displays that combine multiple emissive and light modulating planes
A multi-planar plenoptic display assembly with multiple spatially-varying light emitting and modulating planes. The display assembly includes at least one light emitting device and may include a modulating device used in conjunction according to display methods taught herein to display light field data. A display assembly controller may be used to render a light field with depth into a multi-planar plenoptic display assembly by assigning decomposed portions of the light field to the display assembly for display or presentation by differing ones of the emitting elements and by operating a modulating device to provide a parallax barrier. In one embodiment, a projector is used with bi-state screens. In another embodiment, two automultiscopic displays (either parallax barrier or lenticular lenses) are overlaid with a beam splitter. In a further embodiment, an oscillating mirror is used to temporally and optically move one automultiscopic layer (either parallax barrier or lenses) through space.
US09179131B2 Microscopic device and method for three-dimensional localization of point-like objects in a specimen
A microscopic device for three-dimensional localization of point-like objects, encompassing a detection optical system that images point-like objects, each in the form of a three-dimensional focus light distribution, into an image space; a color separation apparatus that divides the light into at least two separate light bundles of different wavelength regions; at least two image space detector units , one receiving one light bundle and the other receiving the other light bundle, each detector unit comprising a light-spot-sensing detection surface ; an evaluation unit that ascertains a lateral X-Y position and an axial Z position relative to the sharpness plane in a direction perpendicular to the sharpness plane; at least one Z-position correction value for at least one of the wavelength regions being stored in the evaluation unit, which value indicates a detection optical system longitudinal chromatic aberration in that wavelength region; and the evaluation unit correcting the Z position.
US09179130B2 Image-capturing device and method having image identification mechanism
An image-capturing device having an image identification mechanism is provided. The image-capturing device comprises a first and a second flashlight modules, a processing module and an image-capturing module. The first and the second flashlight modules generate a first and a second color lights respectively according to a first and a second currents. The processing module controls the first and the second flashlight modules to flash light at an object sequentially within a time interval. The image-capturing module generates a first frame according to the object and the first color light and generates a second frame according to the object and the second color light. The processing module subtracts the pixels in the first and the second frames to retrieve a foreground area. A color difference between the first and the second frames for each the pixels in the foreground area is larger than a threshold value.
US09179124B2 Method and apparatus for generating stereoscopic image data stream by using camera parameter, and method and apparatus for restoring stereoscopic image by using camera parameter
Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a stereoscopic image. A stereoscopic image restoring method includes parsing a received data stream into image data of a stereoscopic image and information regarding the stereoscopic image; extracting a camera parameter depending on individual characteristics of each of one or more cameras which have captured the stereoscopic image; and decoding and restoring the image data of the stereoscopic image.
US09179121B2 Imaging processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
An image processing apparatus includes: a subject detector that detects a predetermined subject in at least one of a first input image and a second input image between which parallax is present; and a combiner that combines a subject frame corresponding to the detected subject with each of the first and second input images stereoscopically displayed on a display section in such a way that the subject frames combined with the first and second input images also provide a depth sensation.
US09179120B2 Method for displaying stereoscopic images and image display apparatus thereof
The present disclosure relates to a method for displaying stereoscopic images and image display apparatus thereof, the displaying method includes producing a depth map using left eye images and right eye images; adjusting depth values of the produced depth map according to any one of a plurality of depth level adjustment modes; and displaying the stereoscopic images using the adjusted depth values, wherein the depth level adjustment modes include a forward 3D depth adjustment mode increasing the depth levels representing perspective of objects included in the stereoscopic images, a backward 3D depth adjustment mode reducing the depth levels and a bi-directional 3D depth adjustment mode simultaneously increasing and reducing the depth levels.
US09179118B2 Techniques for synchronization of audio and video
Techniques are described for determining whether a stream is in a stable state and permitting adjustment of the PTS value when the stream is in a stable state. The stream can be in a stable state when PTS values received over a period of time do not change unexpectedly. For example, when the stream is in a stable state, the PTS value for audio or video can be adjusted based on system buffer levels, i.e., over flow or under flow. The amount of adjustment of the PTS value can be based on whether the buffer level appears to be moving into greater overflow or underflow. In some cases, when the stream is not in a stable state, the audio is permitted to be played back at a sample rate and video is permitted to be played back at a frame rate instead of being controlled by PTS.
US09179113B2 Image processing device, and image processing method, and program
To provide a device and a method for executing remosaic processing for performing conversion into an image of a different pixel array.Remosaic processing for inputting, as an input image, a mosaic image in which pixel blocks configured of a plurality of same-color pixels are arrayed, and converting the pixel array of the input image into a different pixel array is executed. In this remosaic processing, from among constituent pixels of the input image, pixel value gradients in eight directions in a conversion-target pixel location that is targeted for color conversion processing are detected, an interpolated pixel value calculation mode for the conversion-target pixel is decided on the basis of the pixel value gradients in the eight directions, and an interpolated pixel value for the conversion-target pixel location is calculated in accordance with the decided processing mode. For example, an image having a quadripartite Bayer-type RGB array in which colors of a Bayer-type RGB array are implemented as an array of 2×2 pixel units is converted into a Bayer array.
US09179107B1 Doorbell chime systems and methods
Doorbell systems can include a doorbell, a chime, and a remote computing device. In some embodiments, the remote computing device can select a sound. A data file comprising information that represents the sound can be sent to the doorbell that is communicatively coupled to the remote computing device. The doorbell can send the data file to the chime that is communicatively coupled to the doorbell and remotely located with respect to the doorbell.
US09179104B2 Method and apparatus for managing a camera network
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving location information associated with a mobile communication device, determining a first location of the mobile communication device based on the location information, selecting a first camera from a group of cameras based on the determined first location, receiving at least one first image from the selected first camera that captures at least a portion of the first location, performing image recognition on at least one second image to identify a user associated with the mobile communication device, selecting another camera from the group of cameras based on a determined position of the identified user, and receiving at least another image from the selected other camera. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09179099B2 Method and system for implementing video conference and broadband mobile hotspot device
A method and system for implementing a video conference and a broadband mobile hotspot device are disclosed in the present document. The method includes: each broadband mobile hotspot device participating in the conference sending a local panorama video image and voice signals to a multipoint conference server; the multipoint conference server sending the received panorama video images and voice signals to other broadband mobile hotspot devices participating in the conference except a sender; and after receiving panorama video images and voice signals of the other broadband mobile hotspot devices participating in the conference, each broadband mobile hotspot device participating in the conference mosaicking the local panorama video image and the received panorama video images as a conference panorama video image, and synchronizing the conference panorama video image with the received voice signals to send to a terminal device participating in the conference under the broadband mobile hotspot device.
US09179096B2 Systems and methods for real-time efficient navigation of video streams
Described are systems and methods that allow a video conference participant to efficiently review semantically meaningful events within the video streams shared by their peers. Because participants are engaged in real-time communication, it is important to provide tools that let them quickly jump back to past events that were shown previously, not requiring them to manipulate a standard video timeline. Our techniques thus find meaningful events in the video stream such as scrolling pages, moving windows, typing text, etc. Using these techniques, a participant can then easily go back to e.g. the last PDF page shown by a peer, while still listening to the live audio.
US09179095B2 Scalable multi-videoconferencing system
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for a scalable videoconference system. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving a video stream from a party on a videoconference over a communication network. The method further provides transferring the video stream to a processing device of a plurality of processing devices located on one of a plurality of processing boards operatively coupled to each of one or more server processors. The method further provides processing the video stream to generate a processed video stream and transferring the processed video stream for distribution to other parties on the videoconference.
US09179090B2 Moving image recording device, control method therefor, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium
A moving image recording device comprising, an item superimposition unit configured to superimpose a superimposition item over a moving image in accordance with an input from a user, a storage control unit configured to cause a storage unit to store the moving image together with the superimposition item; and a control unit configured to control the storage unit to store information of an image over which the superimposition item has been superimposed in association with the moving image so that the image over which the superimposition item has been superimposed is used as a representative image of the moving image based on a change in a superimposed state of the superimposition item superimposed over the moving image by the item superimposition unit.
US09179084B2 Solid-state imaging device
According to one embodiment, a pixel array unit has pixels for accumulating photoelectric-converted charges arranged in a matrix in a row direction and a column direction; a column ADC circuit calculates, based on results of comparison between pixel signals read from the pixels and a reference voltage, AD-converted values of the pixel signals in each of columns; vertical signal wires transmit the pixel signals read from the pixels in each of the columns to the column ADC circuit; and a load circuit is dispersed in the row direction and forms source follower circuits with the pixels to read pixel signals from the pixels in each of the columns to the vertical signal wires.
US09179083B2 Photoelectric conversion element, image reading device, image forming apparatus, image reading method, and image forming method
A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of light-receiving elements that generates a charge for each pixel according to an amount of received light; and a plurality of pixel circuits that operates so as to derive the charge generated by the plurality of light-receiving elements from the plurality of light-receiving elements for each pixel. The plurality of light-receiving elements is arranged in a light-receiving area that receives light from outside, and the plurality of pixel circuits is provided in a non-light-receiving area that does not receive the light from outside.
US09179078B2 Combining multiple video streams
Methods, computer-readable media, and systems are provided for combining multiple video streams. One method for combining the multiple video streams includes extracting a sequence of media frames (224-1/224-2) from presenter (222-1) video and from shared digital rich media (222-2) video (340). The media frame (224-1/224-2) content is analyzed (226) to determine a set of space and time varying alpha values (228/342). A compositing operation (230) is performed to produce the combined video frames (232) based on the content analysis (226/344).
US09179075B2 Photographic stage
A photographic stage is provided that includes at least one camera, a scanner, and a computer configured to capture a plurality of images from the at least one camera. The computer is also configured to detect a tagged item based on data from the scanner and to identify the tagged item in at least one of the images. A method of using the photographic stage and an apparatus is also provided.
US09179073B2 Solid-state image sensor and driving method using gain to set ADC and grayscale outputs
A solid-state imaging device is provided that includes a pixel array section having pixels which detect a physical quantities that are arranged in two dimensions of a matrix; an Analog-Digital (AD) converting section that performs AD conversion for a plurality of channels of analog pixel signals which are read-out from the pixel array section; and a control section that sets quantized units AD-converted by the AD conversion section according to a gain setting of the unit pixel signal, where the control section determines a grayscale number of digital outputs AD-converted for at least one channel of the unit pixel signals according to the gain setting of the pixel signal.
US09179069B2 Photographing device, portable information processing terminal, monitor display method for photographing device, and program
A photographing device includes a display unit, a movement detection unit and a display control unit. The display unit displays a preview image of being a target to photograph. The movement detection unit detects the preview image being moving from status at which the preview has been photographed as a reference photographed image. The display control unit displays a reference line on the preview image. The reference line has been set in the reference photographed image. The display control unit changes a display position and a direction of the reference line in the display unit based on a detected result by the movement detection unit.
US09179068B2 Imaging apparatus, optical apparatus, imaging system, and control method
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to image an image within a first range on an imaging surface, a first correction unit configured to optically compensate for image shake on the image surface resulting from shake of a device, a second correction unit configured to electronically correct image shake on the image surface resulting from shake of the imaging apparatus, and output an image from a second range that is narrower than the first range, and a control unit configured to determine the moveable range of the first correction unit. The control unit performs control to increase the moveable range of the first correction unit when the second correction unit is used in comparison to when the second correction unit is not used.
US09179067B2 Camera drive device with a moveable unit that is freely rotatable relative to a fixed unit
A camera driving apparatus includes a camera section including an imaging plane; a movable unit having the camera section built therein, having an attracting magnet therein, and having a convex partial spherical surface along an outer surface thereof; a fixed unit having a magnetic member therein and having a recess loosely fitted with the movable unit, wherein a magnetic attracting force of the attracting magnet with respect to the magnetic member puts the convex partial spherical surface of the movable unit into point or line contact with the recess and thus the movable unit is freely rotatable around a sphere center of the first convex partial spherical surface; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a first detector for detecting a tilt angle of the camera section in the panning and tilting directions with respect to the fixed unit; and a second detector for detecting a rotation angle of the camera section in the rolling direction. The second detector is provided in the vicinity of the sphere center of the first convex partial spherical surface.
US09179065B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program product
An image processing apparatus includes: an imaging device; a main memory that stores motion picture data acquired by the imaging device; a motion picture compressing unit that compresses the motion picture data stored in the main memory; a still image frame acquiring unit that acquires a still image frame at arbitrary timing from the motion picture data acquired by the imaging device; a line memory that stores still image data that is a part of the still image frame acquired by the still image frame acquiring unit; and a still image compressing unit that performs a compression process of the still image data stored in the line memory. The still image compressing unit compresses the still image data in real time. The main memory stores the motion picture data and stores compressed data that is compressed in real time by the still image compressing unit.
US09179060B2 Method and apparatus for camera shake effect image stabilization
A method and apparatus for camera shake effect image stabilization determines a most favorable image sharpness metric out of image sharpness metrics from a plurality of images that were captured at a same lens position. A final image is selected based on the most favorable image sharpness metric.
US09179057B2 Imaging apparatus and imaging method that acquire environment information and information of a scene being recorded
Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus including imaging means configured to photograph an image of a scene that is in a direction in which a user sees, outside world information acquisition means configured to acquire outside world information, and control means configured to control an operation of the imaging means based on the outside world information acquired by the outside world information acquisition means.
US09179055B2 Camera related features of a mobile phone or computing device
This application relates primarily to various apparatus and method for securing and protecting a camera module within a device housing. The securing and protecting elements are configured to take up minimal space within the device housing so that available space for the camera module is maximized. In some embodiments the securing elements can also include grounding features.
US09179054B2 Mountable, afocal adaptor for a camera
In some implementations a mountable afocal adaptor for a camera includes an attachment plate affixed to the front of a camera housing of a camera and an afocal optical module. The afocal optical module is configured to convert a received optical image to a converted optical image for use by the camera. The afocal adaptor also includes a rotation mechanism with a rotation ring and a wave spring clamp, the rotation ring affixed to the attachment plate and the wave spring clamp affixed to the afocal optical module. The rotation ring and wave spring clamp are mounted relative to each other to rotate around a rotational axis aligned with an axis of an optical path formed between the afocal optical module and the attachment plate and aligned with a view axis of the camera. The rotation mechanism also permits rotation of the camera housing around the rotational axis relative to the afocal optical module.
US09179053B2 Solid-state imaging apparatus and method of producing a solid-state imaging apparatus
A solid-state imaging apparatus in which heat dissipation and electromagnetic shielding can be efficiently performed is provided.The solid-state imaging apparatus includes: an MCM board 41 on which a sensor 42, and a SiP 44 that processes an output signal from the sensor 42 are mounted; a power supply board 61 on which a power supply IC 62 is mounted; and a shielding section 50 which is placed between the MCM board 41 and the power supply board 61 to cover the power supply IC 62, and which has an electrically conductive property and a thermally conductive property.
US09179050B2 Electronic device with slidable display section
The electronic device includes: a display section including a monitor unit having a display panel; a slide unit having a space in which the display section can be accommodated, the slide unit slidably supporting the display section; and a slide piece adjacent to the slide unit in a slide direction of the display section, the slide piece slidably supporting the display section. The display section slides between a retracted position at which the display section is accommodated in the space of the slide unit and an extended position to which the display section is pulled out from the slide unit.
US09179048B2 Camera module
Disclosed herein is a camera module. The camera module includes a bobbin unit, a suspension unit and a drive unit. The bobbin unit includes a stationary part which is fixed in a base, and a movable part which is provided so as to be movable relative to the stationary part, with a lens installed in the movable part. The opposite ends of the suspension unit are respectively connected to the stationary part and the movable part. The suspension unit includes a link unit which rotates when the movable part moves relative to the stationary part. The drive unit moves the movable part relative to the stationary part.
US09179043B2 Obtaining user preferences using categories of images
Methods and systems present, to a user, different versions of sample images. Each of the sample images is classified into at least one image-element category of multiple image-element categories. Such methods and systems request the user to select preferred versions of the sample images from the different versions of the sample images, and receive in response a user selection of preferred images. The methods and systems determine user-specific preferences for each of the image-element categories based on the user selection of the preferred images. The methods and systems receive an image-processing request relating to user images from the user, and classify the user images into the image-element categories. When processing the image-processing request, the methods and systems alter renditions of the user images according to the user-specific preferences for each image-element category.
US09179042B2 Systems and methods to optimize conversions for wide gamut opponent color spaces
Novel methods and systems for color space conversions are disclosed, relating to the optimization of a transformation matrix to convert between wide gamut opponent color spaces. The optimization may be based on whether the color values are in or out of gamut.
US09179040B2 Data processing apparatus, control method, and program
A data processing apparatus determines whether or not administrator authority of a user is set, and whether access is made locally or from the network. When the access is made locally, even if the user has the administrator authority, folders of all users are not displayed. The folders of all users are displayed only when the user having the administrator authority accesses from the network.
US09179036B2 Image processing apparatus corresponding to a plurality of documents on a document plate, method for controlling the same, and program
Image data corresponding to a plurality of documents placed on a document plate is individually output. In this case, if an inclined document is included in the documents, the document is output after being subjected to inclination correction. However, if a document which does not accept the inclination correction is included, documents other than the document are output.
US09179034B2 Information processing system and information processing method for distributing job data among plurality of first information processing devices
An information processing system includes first information processing devices, and a second information processing device. Each of the first information processing devices includes a request transmitter for transmitting a connection request to the second information processing device; a first storage unit for storing job information to be executed by an apparatus; a retrieval unit for transmitting a request for job information to the second information processing device and receiving the job information; and a first reply unit for transmitting the job information to the apparatus. The second information processing device includes a collection unit for collecting the job information from each of the first storage units of the first information processing devices other than a source of a retrieval request; and a second reply unit for transmitting the job information to the source of the retrieval request.
US09179033B2 Digital watermarking in data representing color channels
The present disclosure relates to digital watermarking. One claim recites a method to detect two or more different digital watermarks in media. The method includes: receiving captured imagery of the media, the captured imagery comprising a plurality of image frames; for a first image frame applying a first watermark detector to search for a first digital watermark hidden within the first image frame, in which an electronic processor is programmed as the first watermark detector; and for a second image frame applying a second, different watermark detector to search for a second, different watermark hidden within the second image frame, in which an electronic processor is programmed as the second watermark detector. Other claims and combinations are provided too.
US09179026B2 Device for cancelling checks
The invention relates to a device for cancelling notes of value, comprising a transport unit for transport of the notes of value, and a printing unit having a print head for imprinting a printing area of a note of value located on a print side. Further, the device comprises a sorting gate for diverting notes of value between three transport paths, and a control unit for controlling the sorting gate. The device further comprises a sensor unit for determination of the orientation of a note of value, and an intermediate storage for intermediate storage of notes of value, wherein a second transport path connects the sorting gate with the intermediate storage, and a third transport path connects the sorting gate with the printing unit.
US09179025B2 Image reading device and auto document feeder
An image reading device includes a reading portion, a document type specifying device, and a feed controller. At the reading portion, one side of a document is read. The document type specifying device is configured to specify whether the document is a first type document or a second type document of which length in a feed direction is longer than the first type document. The feed controller is configured or programmed to perform a U-turn control and a switchback control. In the U-turn control, after reading a first side of the first type document at the reading portion, the first type document is fed in a U-turn manner without switching back, and a second side of the first type document is read at the reading portion. In the switchback control, after reading a first side of the second type document at the reading portion, the second type document is caused to switch back, and then a second side of the second type document is read at the reading portion.
US09179023B2 Printing apparatus, printing control method, and storage medium for reservation printing
A printing apparatus determines whether to execute reservation printing with respect to a print job according to a print job type or a protocol used to transfer the print job. Accordingly, even when the printing apparatus receives a print job that is not designated for the reservation printing, the printing apparatus can perform reservation printing or printing without reserving the print job depending on the print job.
US09179020B2 Handheld imaging device with integrated chip incorporating on shared wafer image processor and central processor
A handheld imaging device includes an image sensor for sensing an image; an integrated chip provided on a wafer substrate, the integrated chip integrating on the wafer substrate a dedicated image processor for processing the sensed image, and an image sensor interface for receiving signals from the image sensor; a plurality of processing units provided in the dedicated image processor, the plurality of processing units connected in parallel by a crossbar switch to form a multi-core processing unit for the processor; and a CPU provided in the integrated chip for performing general operating system duties. A transfer of data from the image sensor interface to the dedicated image processor is conducted entirely within the integrated chip and on the shared wafer substrate.
US09179019B2 Digital microform imaging apparatus
A microform imaging apparatus comprising a chassis including a microform media support structure configured to support a microform media within a plane substantially orthogonal to a first optical axis, a fold mirror supported along the first optical axis to reflect light along a second optical axis that is angled with respect to the first optical axis, a lens supported along one of the first and second optical axis, an area sensor supported along the second optical axis, a first adjuster for moving the area sensor along at least a portion of the second optical axis and a second adjuster for moving the lens along at least a portion of the one of the first and second optical axis.
US09179018B2 Scanner-driven push operation realized by image forming apparatus having no auxiliary storage device
An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus coupled to the network. The image forming apparatus stores, in a memory device, an information processing apparatus identifier that is assigned to a button of the image forming apparatus and transmits, to the information processing apparatus, press-down information of the button that includes the information processing apparatus identifier. The image forming apparatus additionally reads, if, in the information processing apparatus, it is determined the information processing apparatus identifier in the press-down information matches an information processing apparatus identifier stored within the information processing apparatus, a document image set in a scanner, in response to a scan execution request that is received from the information processing apparatus via the network. The image forming apparatus further transmits image data of the document image to the information processing apparatus via the network, and resets the press-down information.
US09179014B2 Information processing apparatus, and method for controlling the same
An information processing apparatus includes an interface unit, a detection unit, an unmount unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The interface unit connects a reader/writer device, which is capable of receiving a memory storage medium. The detection unit detects a connection and a disconnection between the interface unit and the reader/writer device. The unmount unit sets the memory storage medium to an unmounted state. The a display unit display information about a detection result by the detection unit. The control unit controls, in response to the detection unit detecting that the reader/writer device is temporary disconnected from the interface unit, the display unit not to display information about the temporary disconnection of the reader/writer device from the interface unit.
US09179009B1 Usage monitoring control for mobile networks
In general, techniques are described for facilitating usage monitoring control in mobile networks. A mobile gateway comprising one or more processors and a memory may be configured to perform the techniques. The one or more processors may be configured to transmit a usage monitoring report indicative of usage of a service provided via a session for which usage monitoring was previously activated. The memory may be configured to store a monitoring key that was configured as a result of activating the usage monitoring for the service. The one or more processors may also be configured to, in response to the indication to deactivate the usage monitoring, remove the monitoring key that was configured as a part of activating the usage monitoring for the session.
US09179006B2 Access point with controller for billing and generating income for access point owner
A modified end user network access point includes a switching module and a controller to track usage of the end user network access point by wirelessly connected end user devices. The tracked usage information is transmitted from the end user network access point to a remotely coupled data center. The data center collects usage information from a plurality of different end user network access points. The collected usage information is in turn transmitted from the data center to a network carrier. The network carrier uses the received usage information to bill users for accessing the end user network access points and using any services provided by the end user network access points. An owner of each end user network access point is compensated by the network carrier each instance that an end user device utilizes the end user network access point to access the network carrier's communications network.
US09179005B2 Producing routing messages for voice over IP communications
A process and apparatus to facilitate communication between callers and callees in a system comprising a plurality of nodes with which callers and callees are associated is disclosed. In response to initiation of a call by a calling subscriber, a caller identifier and a callee identifier are received. Call classification criteria associated with the caller identifier are used to classify the call as a public network call or a private network call. A routing message identifying an address, on the private network, associated with the callee is produced when the call is classified as a private network call and a routing message identifying a gateway to the public network is produced when the call is classified as a public network call.
US09179004B2 Method and apparatus for charging
A method and an apparatus for charging, related to the technical field of communications, are invented in an attempt to enhance charging accuracy of a charging system. A method for charging comprises: acquiring an IMEI number of a target charging terminal; determining a type of the target charging terminal by utilizing the IMEI number of the target charging terminal, according to a corresponding relationship between relevant information of a terminal identifier and a terminal type; and charging the target charging terminal according to the type of the target charging terminal.
US09179003B2 System architecture for linking packet-switched and circuit-switched clients
A method and computer program product which allows both phone-based and IP-based clients to participate in a single audio conference. The method enables at least two multi-point control units (MCUs) (i.e., conferencing servers) to connect via a standard data linkage (i.e., full-duplex dial-up or IP link). The method and computer program product enables the phone-based MCU to handle the phone clients and the IP-based MCU to handle the IP-based clients, while connecting the two to allow each participating client to hear all other participating clients.
US09179001B2 System and method for automatically transcribing voicemail
Disclosed herein are systems, computer-implemented methods, and tangible computer-readable media for automatically transcribing voicemail. The method includes receiving a plurality of voicemail messages from callers, identifying for each voicemail message in the plurality of voicemail messages a first frequency with which the respective caller leaves voicemails, identifying for each voicemail message in the plurality of voicemail messages a second frequency with which a user requests transcription of each voicemail, assigning a priority ranking to each voicemail message in the plurality of voicemail messages based on the respective first frequency and the respective second frequency, and transcribing untranscribed voicemail messages with a highest priority ranking. The method can include establishing a priority ranking threshold and repeatedly transcribing a next highest ranking untranscribed voicemail message until no further untranscribed voicemail messages remain above the priority ranking threshold.
US09179000B2 Method and apparatus for fail-safe control of recordings
A method for fault-tolerant recording of calls of a PBX, comprising concurrently receiving metadata of calls of a PBX by a plurality of computerized apparatuses, generating unique identifiers for each of the calls such the unique identifiers that are common between the plurality of the computerized apparatuses, activating a first computerized apparatus to control recordings of contents of the calls and assigning the recording with the unique identifiers respective to the calls, operating the computerized apparatuses to receive feedbacks of activities of the recordings, where the feedbacks comprise the assigned unique identifiers and in case of a failure of the first computerized apparatus, activating a second computerized apparatus to maintain the recordings that were controlled by the first computerized apparatus.
US09178994B2 Methods for providing self-support services using information from a viral source
According to one aspect, a request is received at a services application programming interface (API) of a support center from a user for support services of a product provided by a client of the support center. In response to the request, one or more articles associated with the product are identified that have been published in an online publication forum, where the articles have been extracted from a knowledgebase (KB) based on a support history of the product maintained by the support center. A list of support options is presented to the user, including a first one-touch button to contact an agent of the support center and a link to the one or more articles of the publication forum to allow the user to attempt finding a solution to the product without having to contact the agent of the support center.
US09178993B2 Line connection apparatus and method
A line connection apparatus is disclosed. A hold/release recognition part records first person identification information by corresponding to second person identification information in a connection database stored in a storage part when a hold is recognized. The first person identification information identifies a first person who holds a line. The second person identification information identifies a second person for whom the line is held. The connection database maintains a state of holding a line and releasing a hold of the line. The connection control part refers to the connection control database and has a first person terminal of the first person in a hold state based on the first person identification information, which is corresponded to the second person identification information indicated by a re-connection request, in response to the re-connection request conducted by a same second person after the line is disconnected in the hold state.
US09178988B2 Unified call logs
A user device may identify a received a signal indicating an incoming call; determine that another user device has answered the call; generate call log information that indicates that the other user device has answered the call; and store or output the generated call log information. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of user devices may receive a ring signal indicating an incoming call; a particular user device, in the set of user devices, may answer the call; and another user device, in the set of user devices, may store a unified call log. The unified call log may indicate that the particular user device answered the call, and may further indicate that the other user device did not miss the call.
US09178980B2 Information processing program, information processing device and information processing method
A card (which is displayed on a screen by the card application and is thus operated, and has a single function) is output to a display of an information processing device through a shell (an OS for controlling card application and a seal application), and a seal (a display associated with an action such as an output) can be placed on a part of the card. The seal placed on the card is written to a seal DB and the seal placed on the card is displayed in accordance with information of the seal DB when the card is to be output. The seal corresponds to a seal application depending on each type. When an object of the card having the seal placed thereon is coincident with a predetermined condition, the corresponding seal application is activated by the shell so that a predetermined action such as a notice or an output of a ring tone is executed.
US09178976B2 Apparatus and method for using a smartphone
An apparatus and method is provided for using a smartphone is provided. The apparatus can include a tablet having a slot for receiving a cartridge configured to receive and interface with the smartphone. The tablet can further have a touch screen configured to operate the smartphone when loaded into the cartridge and inserted into the cartridge slot. The tablet can further have an external or auxiliary antenna disposed in the housing configured to interface with the smartphone.
US09178975B2 System and method for reducing power consumption of a wireless terminal and increasing capacity of a wireless communication system
A system and a method for reducing the power consumption of a wireless terminal and increasing capacity of a wireless communication system, without sacrificing the functions of the terminal. A base station includes a memory for storing the characteristics of the wireless terminal, the types of voice traffic that are supported by the terminal, and a program for executing an algorithm for exchanging control messages with the terminal via a wireless network. The algorithm is modified based on the particular characteristics of the wireless terminal, and sets the frequency of message exchange to not to exceed a predetermined frequency. In addition, the algorithm limits a time that information is displayed on the wireless terminal to a predetermined duration of time.
US09178962B2 System and method for authenticating multiple devices with a same credential
A first device implements an application platform that is shared with a second device. The application platform can be implemented so that the first device and the second device operate to have a same identity to at least the network service. The first device provides a user interface in order to receive input for accessing or using the network service. Additionally, the first device communicates input received in response to providing the user interface to the network service. The first device can receive a token from the network service in response to communicating the input. Additionally, the first device can communicate a set of data items to the second device. The set of data items includes the token and one or more identifiers that enable the second device to access and use the network service while appearing as the first device to the network service.
US09178961B2 Method and apparatus for providing a mobile video blog service
A method and apparatus for providing a mobile video blog (vlog) service in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method captures video content sourced from a mobile device used by a mobile user through a mobile vlog posting service portal, and provides a vlog viewing function accessible to a viewer through a vlog viewing service portal, wherein the vlog viewing function affords viewing of the video content and is provided in accordance with a user profile of the viewer, wherein the user profile comprises a viewing preference of the viewer.
US09178955B1 Managing network based content
A process is provided for providing network content to a client computing device by one or more content providers in conjunction with a network computing provider. The client computing device requests a network resource from the network computing provider. The network computing provider provides the network resource request to a first content provider. The first content provider provides a request for one or more embedded resources associated with the network resource to at least one second content provider on the behalf of the network computing provider. The network computing provider obtains the requested network resource and one or more associated embedded resource from the first content provider and the at least one second content provider. The network computing provider may provide the obtained content to the client computing device for processing.
US09178951B2 Hot within my communities
Embodiments of the invention are directed to identifying network resources or other topics that are of interest to members of multiple online communities to which a user belongs. Online communities include blogs, websites, games, e-commerce systems, messaging systems, wikis, etc. For each online community, click activity or other client behaviors are tracked and analyzed to determine statistical metrics about community activity, such as which articles, links, services, or other network resources are popular in the online community. At least some of the tracking or analysis can be performed by clients that access the online communities, by a server of each online community, and/or by a central tracking system. The results for each community may be further analyzed relative to each other. The results are provided for all communities with which a given user is associated. For example, a list of the most popular links in the user's selected online communities.
US09178950B2 Method, system and apparatus for establishing and monitoring sessions with clients over a communication network
Systems and methods provide real-time communication between website operators and website visitors including monitoring, gathering, managing and sharing of information. The features include: simultaneous chatting with system's website visitor while responding/submitting tickets/emails and searching through company knowledge base; operator communicating message to another operator directly in active chat session, while message remains hidden to visitors/customers; displaying advertising messages to visitors/customers within chat window during active chat sessions; growing knowledge base by adding information into knowledge base during chat session; providing real-time access to system's website visitor information by seeing the content of visitor's shopping cart or by passing information from system's server into visitor's information located in operator's panel; creating and branding multiple chat windows and selectively linking all or some to the account; tagging and grouping each chat sessions; parent-child ticketing for project management; lead scoring; and mobile live chatting.
US09178947B2 Method, system and apparatus for configuring a device for interaction with a server
A method to a method, system and apparatus for configuring a device for interaction with a server is provided. An intermediation infrastructure mediates registration traffic between any of a plurality of application servers hosting a server-side application and any of a plurality of computing devices executing a client-side application that corresponds to the server-side application. The intermediation infrastructure receives account registration information, including an account identifier and a server identifier, from an application server that is hosting an account. Any one of the computing devices can access the intermediation infrastructure using the account identifier and thereby determine the server identifier and thereafter direct communications with the application server can be effected.
US09178943B2 Disjoint multi-pathing for a data center network
A method for determining disjoint multi-paths in a data center fabric network system, according to one embodiment, includes creating a topology of a data center fabric network system, wherein the system comprises a plurality of switches; determining paths between the plurality of switches; calculating one or more disjoint multi-paths from a source device to a destination device in the system; and writing the one or more disjoint multi-paths into a forwarding table of at least one of: the source device and a nearest shared switch to the source device.
US09178939B2 Auto incorporation of new components into a hierarchical network
A first computing device receives one or more messages, wherein the one or more messages includes information regarding one or more components, wherein each component is part of one or more systems and wherein each system includes one or more sub systems. The first computing device determines that a first system has changed based on the first computing device comparing the one or more messages to a hierarchical model, wherein the change to the first system includes a change associated with a first component of the first system. The first computing device determines a position of the first component within the first system and within one or more sub-systems of the first system based on the one or more messages. The first computing device updates the hierarchical model to include the first component in a hierarchical location that corresponds to the determined position of the first component.
US09178937B2 Selected alert delivery in a distributed processing system
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for selected alert delivery in a distributed processing system are provided. Embodiments include receiving a plurality of events from one or more event producing components of the distributed processing system; creating, by an incident analyzer, in dependence upon the events a truth space representing events that make one or more conditional event processing rules true, the truth space including a set of truth points, each truth point including a set of events and a set of event locations; creating, by the incident analyzer, in dependence upon the truth space one or more alerts; and sending, by the incident analyzer, the alerts to at least one component of the distributed processing system.
US09178933B1 Content recommendation based on context
The disclosure includes a system and method for providing recommended content to a user. The system includes a processor and a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the system to: receive data describing one or more engagement actions performed by a user; generate an engagement profile associated with the user; receive data describing one or more images associated with the user, the one or more images including temporal data describing one or more timestamps and location data describing one or more locations; generate a location profile based on the one or more locations and the one or more timestamps; receive data describing one or more content items; determine one or more interest scores for the one or more content items; determine one or more recommended items based on the one or more interest scores; and provide the one or more recommended items to the user.
US09178929B2 Client-side class-of-service-based bandwidth management in over-the-top video delivery
A client device downloads content from a content delivery network as segments encoded at respective bitrates selected from distinct encoding bitrates. Downloading is paced per a class of service having an associated abort timeout increasing with higher classes of service. Pacing includes downloading a segment encoded at a first bitrate and monitoring for the earlier of completing the downloading or aborting the downloading based on the abort timeout. Upon the downloading being aborted, a first backoff duration is calculated as a remainder of a playback interval and the first backoff duration is waited before downloading of the same segment is re-initiated at a second bitrate less than the first bitrate. Upon the downloading completing successfully, a second backoff duration is calculated and the second backoff duration is waited before downloading is initiated of a next segment encoded at either the first bitrate or at a greater third bitrate.
US09178921B2 Accessory device for mixing audio streams from two portable audio units, and broadcasting device comprising said accessory device
An accessory device for a first portable audio unit, for sharing audio data between the first audio unit and a second portable audio unit, the accessory device including communication means linked to the audio input and arranged in such a way as to send the inherent audio stream originating from the portable audio unit to an accessory device linked to the second portable audio unit and to receive a third-party audio stream from said accessory device of the second portable audio unit, and mixing means arranged in such a way as to receive as input the inherent audio stream and the third-party audio stream, and to send as output, to the audio output, a mixed audio stream corresponding to a combination of the inherent audio stream and of the third-party audio stream.
US09178917B2 Custodian routing with network address translation in content-centric networks
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating establishment of connections between a local endpoint and a remote endpoint. During operation, the system sends, from the local endpoint, a single connection-request message to a proxy server, which forks the single connection-request message to a number of remote endpoints. The system receives one or more response messages from the remote endpoints. A respective response message carries address information associated with the remote endpoint. Upon receiving the response message, the system sends an acknowledgment corresponding to the received response message to the corresponding remote endpoint via the proxy server, and establishes a connection between the local endpoint and at least one remote endpoint.
US09178915B1 Cookie preservation when switching devices
Cookies differentiate users and maintain data related to a user during navigation. Cookies are used for activities such as authenticating, session tracking, and maintaining specific information about users. An embodiment facilitates a method of preserving cookies associated with a first mobile device operated by a user who begins using a second mobile device. The method includes receiving a plurality of cookies associated with the first mobile device and storing the cookies in a data store associated with a gateway server. A cookie request is received from the second mobile device and the cookies are provided to the second mobile device.
US09178914B2 Method and apparatus for distributed compositional control of end-to-end media in IP networks
A method and an apparatus for performing a distributed control of end-to-end media on packet networks such as Voice over Internet Protocol and Service over Internet Protocol networks are disclosed. The method first receives a request from a first media endpoint device for opening at least one media channel to a second media endpoint device wherein said request contains a descriptor of said first media endpoint device. The method then updates one or more slot states and link states in response to said request and records the current state of each slot for supporting said media channel. The method also records the most recently received descriptor of said media endpoint device as a most recent descriptor for said slot supporting said media channel. The method executes one or more link objects in response to said request for controlling said at least one media channel.
US09178913B2 System, apparatus and method for generation of content for distributed heterogenous computers
A system, apparatus and method for generation of content for distributed heterogeneous computers is provided. A server can connect to a network, which in turn is connected to a plurality of client computing devices, a plurality of fixed display computers and a plurality of administration computers. The server is configured to receive content form the administration computers, and to adjust the received content for one or more of the respective fixed display computing and to also adjust the received content for one or more of the client computing devices.
US09178911B2 Evaluation systems and methods for coordinating software agents
A device, method, computer program product, and network subsystem are described for associating a first mobile agent with a first security policy and a second mobile agent with a second security policy or for providing a first agent with code for responding to situational information about the first agent and about a second agent and for evaluating a received message at least in response to an indication of the first security policy and to an indication of the second security policy or for deploying the first agent.
US09178905B1 Enabling custom countermeasures from a security device
A security device may receive information identifying a set of conditions for providing countermeasure code to a client device. The security device may receive information identifying an action to be performed when the countermeasure code is executed by the client device, and may determine the countermeasure code to be provided to the client device when the set of conditions is satisfied. The security device may receive a request from the client device, and may determine a response to the request. The response may include response code for serving content of a web page to the client device. The security device may determine that the set of conditions has been satisfied, and may insert the countermeasure code into the response code. The security device may provide the response code and the countermeasure code to the client device, and the countermeasure code may cause the client device to perform the action.
US09178904B1 Systems and methods for detecting malicious browser-based scripts
A computer-implemented method for detecting malicious browser-based scripts may include (1) identifying an attempt by a web browser to access sensitive information stored on a server, (2) identifying a web browser script installed in the web browser, (3) calculating a signature hash for the web browser script, (4) querying, using the signature hash, a browser script signature database that associates web browser script signature hashes with script security indicators, (5) receiving, in response to querying the browser script signature database, a script security indicator associated with the signature hash, and (6) applying, based on the script security indicator associated with the web browser script, a script security policy associated with the web browser script. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09178903B1 Simulating a bot-net spanning a plurality of geographic regions
Computer systems and methods in various embodiments are configured to test the security of a server computer by simulating a wide range of attacks from one or more bot-nets. In an embodiment, a computer system including a memory; a processor in a home geographic region coupled to the memory; a plurality of network cards in the home geographic region, coupled to the processor and the memory; wherein each network card in the plurality of network cards is configured to send one or more requests to a remote server computer through a geographic region, of a plurality of geographic regions, that is different than the home geographic region; wherein, for each network card of the plurality of network cards, the processor is configured to store a geo-mapping, which indicates the certain geographic region the network card is configured to send the one or more requests to the remote server computer through.
US09178897B2 Methods and systems for use in identifying cyber-security threats in an aviation platform
Methods and apparatus for use in identifying cyber-security threats for an aircraft are provided. The method includes storing parts information relating to each hardware and software component used on the aircraft in an aircraft parts database, receiving, by a computing device, a cyber-security threat, and determining, by the computing device, a threat is relevant to the aircraft by comparing the received threats to the stored parts information.
US09178894B2 Secure routing based on the physical locations of routers
A system, method, and apparatus for secure routing based on the physical location of routers are disclosed herein. The disclosed method for secure data transmission of at least one data packet through a plurality of network nodes involves defining a source network node, a destination network node, and at least one security constraint, which is based on the physical location of at least one of the network nodes. The method further involves comparing available network nodes with the security constraint(s) to determine which of the available network nodes meet the security constraint(s) and, thus, are qualified network nodes. Additionally, the method involves determining a route comprising at least one of the qualified network nodes to route the data packet(s) through from the source network node to the destination network node. Further, the method involves transmitting the data packet(s) through the route of the qualified network node(s).
US09178891B2 Remote control of dialysis machines
This disclosure relates to remote control of dialysis machines. In certain aspects, a method includes receiving a request for a network connection from a dialysis machine and establishing the network connection with the dialysis machine. The method also includes receiving, from a client device, a request to access the dialysis machine, authorizing the client device to access the dialysis machine, receiving, from the dialysis machine, information pertaining to an operation of the dialysis machine, and providing, to the client device, the received information.
US09178890B1 Passwordless strong authentication using trusted devices
A code for accessing a resource having a customer account associated therewith is presented via a secondary device, and authentication data indicative of the code that was presented is received from a primary device. The primary device is identified as a trusted device associated with the customer account responsive to receiving the authentication data therefrom, and the secondary device is authenticated for access to the resource responsive to identification of the primary device as the trusted device associated with the customer account.
US09178888B2 Method for domain control validation
A system and method for domain control validation is presented. At a certificate authority a request is received. The request includes a certificate signing request and a first Internet protocol address. The certificate signing request identifies a domain and a certificate. A second Internet protocol address for the domain is retrieved from a domain name system. When the first Internet protocol address is the same as the second Internet protocol address, the certificate is signed, and the signed certificate is transmitted to a requester of the request. When the first Internet protocol address is not the same as the second Internet protocol address, the certificate signing request is rejected.
US09178887B2 Strategies for controlling use of a resource that is shared between trusted and untrusted environments
A strategy is described for controlling access to a resource which is shared between a trusted environment and an untrusted environment. The resource can represent a clipboard module. The trusted environment can include trusted client functionality, while the untrusted environment can include potentially untrusted network-accessible entities (e.g., websites) which seek to access the clipboard module. The strategy provides a security presentation which notifies a user when a network-accessible entity is attempting to access the clipboard module, identifying the entity which is making the attempt, together with the nature of the information being read or added to the clipboard module. The security presentation invites the user to approve or deny the particular attempt (or all such attempts from the network-accessible entity), and/or clear the clipboard module. The security presentation does not block the user's interaction with other parts of a user interface presentation.
US09178886B2 Flattening permission trees in a virtualization environment
A virtualization manager receives a permission request indicating a user and an entity in a virtual machine system. The virtualization manager flattens a permissions database to generate a flattened database view. Using the flattened database view, the virtualization manager determines whether the user has permission to access the entity in the virtual machine system and returns an indication of whether the user has permission to access the entity in the virtual machine system.
US09178885B1 Using events to identify a user and enforce policies
Enforcing a policy is described. A mapping between an IP address of a device and a user identity is identified, at least in part by correlating event information. A policy is applied to the device based at least in part on the user identity. One example of an event is an access to a mail server, such as an access to a Microsoft Exchange server.
US09178882B1 Concurrent, diverse party multi-processor wireless quality metric collection circuits and method of operation
A system includes a bidirectional signal bus controlled by an M×S master/slave bridge circuit. An application processor having at least one core is communicatively coupled by the bidirectional signal bus to a radio processor having at least one virtual machine. The core hosts a master agent. The virtual machine hosts a slave agent. Each master agent is coupled to a collector server by an authenticated connection circuit to receive and store profiles and build and transmit packages. Each master agent is coupled to at least one slave agent and can transmit a profile to the slave agent and request and receive packages which are generated by the slave agent by executing the profile. Each slave agent receives and executes profiles to collect data from radio circuits and upon command builds and transmits data packages to a master agent.
US09178879B2 Device-based authentication for secure online access
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing device-based authentication for secure online access are provided. An authentication request is received from an online service. The authentication request may be associated with a login request received by the online service from a user. The authentication request may further indicate a list of device identifiers for computing devices connected to a provider network and previously designated by the user as authorized to access the online service. Communication logs collected from the provider network are analyzed to determine whether the login request originated from one of the authorized computing devices based on the list of device identifiers. If it is determined that the login request originated from one of the authorized computing devices, an indication is returned to the online service that the login request was received from an authorized computing device.
US09178877B1 Providing a service based on time and location based passwords
A first device may receive a first password from a second device. The first password may be generated based on first time information and first location information identifying a geographic location of the second device. The first device may, determine a second password based on second time information and second location information identifying the geographic location of the second device. The first device may determine that the second device is located at the geographic location at a particular time when characters in the first password match characters in the second password, and may provide a service based on determining that the second device is located at the geographic location at the particular time.
US09178866B2 Techniques for user authentication
Techniques for user authentication are disclosed. In some situations, the techniques include receiving, from a client device, an authentication request to access a network resource, the request including a user identifier, obtaining a security credential associated with the user identifier contained in the received request, generating an authorization code based on the obtained security credential, providing to the client device instructions to obtain first information corresponding to the generated authorization code, receiving, from the client device, the first information provided in response to the provided instructions, and, when the first information received from the client device corresponds to at least a portion of the generated authorization code, authorizing the client device to access the network resource.
US09178865B2 Serialized authentication and authorization services
Requests for User Services on networked computers running on different platforms with different Authentication, Authorization and Auditing (AAA) Security Systems are processed through an AAA Services Manager Server and Web Services Servers. The AAA Services Manager Server communicates requests for User Services to Web Services Servers using corresponding URL Web addresses. Web Services correspond to their respective Authentication Security Systems and Authorization Security Systems through which User Services may be obtained. The Web Services Servers act to access, for User validation, the respective Authentication Security Systems and Authorization Security Systems according to their individual languages and computing platform requirements.
US09178864B1 User-portable device and method of use in a user-centric identity management system
A user-portable computing device configured as a smart card enables a user to carry identification information and to generate security tokens for use in authenticating the user to a service provider. The device includes memory for storing user identities as information cards that are exported to a host computer, presented to a user in visual form, and then selected for use in the authentication process. A security token service installed on the device issues a security token in response to a token request sent from the host computer that references the selected user identity. The security token service uses user attribute information stored on the user device to compose the claim assertions needed to issue the security token. The token is returned to the host computer and used to facilitate the authentication process.
US09178862B1 System and method for convenient and secure electronic postmarking using an electronic postmarking terminal
A method that includes using a user input device to allow a user to log-in to an e-mail account or user account, using the user input device to allow the user to enter an electronic message or select an electronic message, generating a first checksum based on the electronic message, transmitting the first checksum to a server, encrypting the electronic message, using a communications module to receive a unique postal identifier from a server and associate the unique postal identifier with the encrypted electronic message, and using a communications module to transmit the encrypted electronic message to a recipient client via a computer network.
US09178859B1 Network equipment authentication
Presented herein are authentication systems and methodologies for equipment deployed in an operational electronic network. Information about a piece of network-connected equipment is received, wherein the information includes a plurality of attribute values characterizing the equipment, wherein the information is obtained via a query to the equipment that produces, as output, the plurality of attribute values. The attribute values are compared to stored values, and when one or more of the attribute values are determined to be outside a range of the stored values, the equipment is designated as non-authentic. Non-authentic equipment may include counterfeit and grey marketed equipment.
US09178857B2 System and method for secure configuration of network attached devices
A system and method for supplying, to a provider of the device, requirements for information to be stored on a device, obtaining device data for provisioning the device on a network, storing device configuration information on storage associated with the network, receiving a service request from a user of the device, detecting attachment of the device to the network, authenticating the device utilizing a device identifier and shared credentials to enable the device to be configured without storing a network address for configuration in the device, providing network information to the device, and providing configuration information to the device.
US09178856B2 System, method, apparatus and computer programs for securely using public services for private or enterprise purposes
A method, system, apparatus and computer programs are disclosed to process content for an enterprise. The method includes reviewing, using at least one enterprise policy, content that is to be sent through a data communications network to a public service to determine if the content comprises secure data and, in response to identifying secure data, modifying the content to be sent to the public service such that a presence of secure data will be visually imperceptible when the content is rendered at the public service. The step of modifying can include steganographically embedding the secure data or a link to the secure data in a container such as image data.
US09178855B1 Systems and methods for multi-function and multi-purpose cryptography
Systems and methods for multi-function and multi-purpose cryptography are described, including obtaining, by a cipher engine executing on a computing system, a message and an identifier of a server, the message is to be encrypted by the cipher engine, which is configured to perform at least one of decryption and encryption using a plurality of cryptographic schemes associated with a plurality of servers; determining a cryptographic scheme of the plurality of cryptographic schemes based on the identifier of the server, the cryptographic scheme is associated with the server and defines an encryption scheme; encrypting, by the cipher engine, the message using the encryption scheme to produce a ciphertext; and sending the ciphertext to the server.
US09178854B2 Differentiation of multiple media endpoints behind an address translation device
In one embodiment, two way communication between an IP phone behind a firewall and an IP phone behind a translation device is established. A network security device receives a remote packet from the translation device. The header of the remote packet includes the address of the translation device, and a payload of the remote packet includes an embedded remote address and the media port of the IP phone behind the translation device. A memory stores the media port matched with the address of the translation device. When the network security device receives a local packet from the IP phone behind the firewall destined for the IP phone behind the translation device, a controller rewrites the destination port of the local packet with the media port.
US09178851B2 High availability security device
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for processing a first plurality of packets using one or more processors and maintaining one or more flow records associated with the first plurality of packets, and processing a second plurality of packets without maintaining flow records associated with the second plurality of packets and allowing the second plurality of packets to pass to one or more destinations.
US09178849B2 Method and apparatus for distributing motion signals in a multi-seat environment
A system for providing motion signals indicative of a motion to be performed by the motion platforms synchronously with video images comprising an input interface for extracting a motion signal from the input signal. A server provides a network address to each motion platform. A motion platform interface has control ports connected to arrays of motion platforms. Each motion platform being connected one to another by a wired connection according to a control protocol. The motion platform interface individually actuates each of the motion platforms by providing a client motion signal to each motion platform comprising the motion signal with a respective network address. Each motion platform is managed according to a respective feedback signal comprising the provided network address of each motion platform.
US09178846B1 Deterministic network address and port translation
A source network address and port translation (NAPT) mechanism is described that reduces or eliminates the need to log any NAT translations. As described herein, a mapping between a subscriber's private address to a public address and port range is determined algorithmically. Given a particular mapping rule, as specified by the service provider, a subscriber is repeatedly and deterministically mapped to the same public network address and a specific port range for that network address. Once the public address and port range for a subscriber are computed, the particular ports for each session for that subscriber are allocated dynamically within the computed NAT port range on per session basis.
US09178845B2 Method, client device, server system for parsing a data usage value
The method is performed as a client device and includes receiving a first message that includes a first data usage value. The first message is formatted according to a respective format. After receiving the first message, the method further includes acquiring a data usage template corresponding to the respective format. The method further includes receiving a second message that includes a second data usage value. The second message is formatted according to the respective format. The method further includes parsing the second message according to the data usage template so as to obtain a second data usage value.
US09178843B2 Method for sending electronic mail receipt and mobile terminal
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for sending an electronic mail receipt and a mobile terminal. In the method, a first mobile terminal obtains an electronic mail sent by a second mobile terminal. A header of the electronic mail contains indication information about whether it is required to send a receipt for the electronic mail. When the first mobile terminal determines according to the indication information that it is required to send a receipt, the first mobile terminal obtains a phone number of the second mobile terminal from the electronic mail and sends a short message with preset content to the phone number of the second mobile terminal.
US09178842B2 Systems and methods for monitoring messaging applications for compliance with a policy
The present inventions relate systems and methods for monitoring and managing electronic messages in one or more computer networks. More particularly, the systems and methods of the present invention provide a substantially global or unified approach to messaging management within one or more computer networks that allows network administrators or other authorized users to define and identify electronic messages of interest within the network and store selected messages such that they can be retrieved and examined in connection with an audit or other inquiry.
US09178841B2 Geographically limited communications system and method
A geographically limited communications system comprises a server for receiving one or more posts or messages from one or more location-enabled portable devices. The server may store these posts and retrieve them based on location information stored along with the posts. This allows only posts left at a particular location to be viewed by users at that location. In addition, posts may only be left at a user's current location in one or more embodiments. The server may notify a user when another user leaves a post near or at one of the user's previous posts.
US09178840B2 Systems and methods for preserving the order of data
A device includes an input processing unit and an output processing unit. The input processing unit dispatches first data to one of a group of processing engines, records an identity of the one processing engine in a location in a first memory, reserves one or more corresponding locations in a second memory, causes the first data to be processed by the one processing engine, and stores the processed first data in one of the locations in the second memory. The output processing unit receives second data, assigns an entry address corresponding to a location in an output memory to the second data, transfers the second data and the entry address to one of a group of second processing engines, causes the second data to be processed by the second processing engine, and stores the processed second data to the location in the output memory.
US09178829B2 System for communication in a tactical network
A system is described for communication in a tactical network. A gateway is communicatively couplable to one or more tactical nodes and to one or more other gateways. The gateway is programmed to transmit information to and/or receive information from other gateways. Information exchanged includes gateway attributes, link attributes, service availability, and/or data availability. The gateway optionally provides quality of service, distributed persistence, load balancing, and/or transformation services. Services are provided in a modular, service-oriented architecture (SOA) to accommodate the addition of services and/or applications.
US09178826B2 Method and apparatus for scheduling communication traffic in ATCA-based equipment
A method for scheduling communication traffic in an Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture based equipment and a corresponding apparatus are provided. In the method, communication traffic information of traffic processing means in the equipment is collected; based on the collected communication traffic information, a traffic distribution rule for the traffic processing means in next time period is generated; and based on the generated traffic distribution rule, incoming communication traffic of the equipment is scheduled. The method of the invention considers the quality of service and contracted capacity of the whole equipment and the dynamic processing capability and running environment of the traffic processing means, and can balance the loads of the respective traffic processing means in the equipment with asymmetric multi-application configuration well by adaptively adjusting the distribution of the communication traffic, to guarantee the quality of service of the whole equipment.
US09178825B2 Data processing method and apparatus
The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies and discloses a data processing method and apparatus to obtain a DPD non-linear distortion compensation coefficient under a QPSK mode. The embodiments of the present invention receive a first data flow, and perform interpolation into the first data flow to obtain a second data flow; receive a third data flow, and calculate a data flow signal quality difference between the third data flow and the second data flow; and obtain a DPD non-linear distortion compensation coefficient according to the data flow signal quality difference and the third data flow or the second data flow. The embodiments of the present invention are applicable to the scenarios of obtaining a DPD non-linear distortion compensation coefficient in QPSK mode.
US09178820B1 Delayed auto new address learning
A network device includes a plurality of ports and at least one packet processor separate from a central processing unit (CPU). The packet processor is configured to forward a received packet based on a look-up of a destination address of the received packet in a table of learned entries that associate first addresses checked by the CPU to the ports of the network device, to add a new provisional entry that associates a source address with an ingress port of the received packet based on a look-up of the source address in both the learned entries and provisional entries that associate second addresses to be checked by the CPU to the ports of the network device, and to upgrade the new provisional entry to a learned entry with a delay time (e.g., a pre-determined time period) to allow the CPU to check the source address.
US09178818B2 Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus that couples to a core network in a network system including a first access network coupled to the core network via a first relay, and a second access network coupled to the core network via a second relay, the communication apparatus including: a processor to store, when a first packet is transmitted to a first destination address included in a first address range and not included in a second address range, cache information regarding the second address range to a memory, the first address range being assigned to the first access network and the second address range being assigned to the second access network and being included in the first address range, and a transmitter to transmit, when a second packet for a second address included in the second address range is generated, the second packer to the second apparatus based on the cache information.
US09178817B2 Methods, systems and apparatus for converged network adapters
Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for creating virtual links between Fiber Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) nodes. FIP Discovery Advertisement frames are received from multiple FCoE device interconnection apparatus (FIA). The FIP Discovery Advertisement frames comprises source Ethernet MAC addresses, a destination Ethernet MAC address of All-ENode-MACs, Fabric FIP descriptor, and a Priority FIP descriptor. A list is stored of one or more of the source Ethernet MAC address, FIP Priority descriptor, and FIP Fabric descriptor for each unique FIP Discovery Advertisement frame received as indicated by the Fabric descriptor. The Name Server is queried for each source Ethernet MAC address in said storage. For all FCoE devices that match in more that one Name Server, connect to those FCoE devices using the highest priority Ethernet MAC address from matching list items.
US09178808B2 Distributing functions in a distributed and embedded environment
The different switch modules making up a distributed virtual switch may route configuration commands for hardware resources to different modules within the distributed switch using a distribution and routing layer. At least one of the switch modules maintains a routing table that defines which switch modules are responsible for which hardware resources. The switch module uses the routing tables to forward the commands on the distribution and routing layer to the responsible switch module which then ensures that the relevant hardware resources are configured.
US09178806B2 High-speed content routing
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at a first input line card of the network device, a message, the message including a destination address; transmitting the message, by the first input line card, to the second input line card based on the determination that the second input line card is configured with routing information related to the destination address; determining, by the second input line card and based on the routing information related to the destination address, that the message should be forwarded via a first output line card of the network device to another network device; transmitting the message, by the second input line card, to the first output line card based on the determination that the message should be forwarded; and transmitting the message, by the first output line card, to another network device.
US09178805B2 Systems and methods for policy based routing for multiple next hops
The present application is directed towards policy based routing for intelligent traffic management via multiple next hops. In some embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein may provide management of inbound and outbound traffic across multiple network links, and may further provide reliability in case of link failure, and provide balancing of traffic, responsive to the latency and bandwidth requirements of various applications. Accordingly, these systems and methods may provide intelligent policy-based routing and network and port address translation, sensitive to application traffic types, protocols, source IP addresses and ports, destination IP addresses and ports, or any combination thereof, and can balance traffic loads among multiple available paths based on multiple traffic characteristics. The routing may performed on a packet-by-packet basis, a transaction-by-transaction basis, or a session-by-session basis, and the systems and methods may include capabilities for application-aware health monitoring of available network paths.
US09178804B2 Methods and apparatuses for path selection in a packet network
Embodiments including methods, systems, and apparatuses for distributing, processing, and reacting to path information distributed via a service-agnostic packet fabric for the purpose of enabling path selection are disclosed. By configuring two ingress line cards to send path quality words to each other via the switch fabric, compare the path quality words, and determine whether to transmit traffic to an egress line card via the switch fabric based on the comparison of the path quality words, the embodiments enable a central switch fabric to be unaware of the paths that it carries, and enable both ingress and egress bandwidth of the switch fabric to be sized according to the facilities for which it is terminating. The switch fabric does not need to support working and protection paths simultaneously in some embodiments, allowing it to be scaled appropriately to termination facilities.
US09178803B2 Network node and mobile terminal
A technique is disclosed, according to which a mobile node, having a plurality of interfaces and performing communication according to flow information when an operator is performing communication based on the flow information as defined by a policy, can select an interface suitable for the flow and can perform communication. According to this technique, a mobile node (MN 10) having a plurality of interfaces has a list to indicate domain limited flows to be transmitted only within a specific network (a trusted network), and a list to indicate the trusted networks. When a certain interface performs handover, and in case there is a domain limited flow that uses the interface, it is decided whether the network of handover destination is a trusted network or not, and in case the network of the handover destination is not a trusted network, it is decided whether it is possible or not to transmit and receive the domain limited flow via another interface that is connected to the trusted network.
US09178801B1 Automated service discovery in computer networks
In general, techniques are described for automatically discovering services in computer networks. A service node comprising a control unit and an interface may implement the techniques. The control unit determines services provided by the service node and generates a routing protocol message that includes service discovery information related to the services. The interface transmits the routing protocol message to enable network devices of the network to discover the services provided by the service node based on the service discovery information. The interface then receives traffic via a path established based on the service discovery information included in the routing protocol message and configured so that the service node applies at least one of the services to the traffic received via the path. The control unit then applies the one or more services to the traffic received via the path.
US09178799B2 Method and system of shortest path bridging (SPB) enhanced resilience with loop mitigation
A method forward Ethernet frames at a node in a network supporting an implementation of shortest path bridging (SPB) protocol is disclosed. The method starts with a shortest path computation for the node (referred to as the computing node). The shortest path computation selects at least a shortest path to each destination node in the network, where a neighboring node on the shortest path to reach each node is recorded. Then it computes a downstream loop-free alternate (LFA) node for a destination node, where the LFA node is downstream of the computing node but not on the selected shortest path to the destination node from the computing node. Then when connectivity to the neighboring node on the computed shortest path is detected to be abnormal, the node forwards an Ethernet frame with a destination media access control (MAC) address corresponding to the destination node through the LFA node.
US09178797B2 Selective BGP graceful restart in redundant router deployments
In general, techniques are described for selectively invoking graceful restart procedures when a route reflector member of a redundant route cluster fails. In one example, a method is provided that includes determining, by a provider edge router that supports graceful restart procedures, that a first router forms a redundant group with at least a second router. The method also includes detecting a failure of the first router and determining that at least the second router in the redundant group is operating approximately while the first router is failed. The method further includes overriding graceful restart procedures with respect to the failed first router when at least the second router is operating. The method also includes forwarding one or more data packets according to route information provided via the second router.
US09178796B2 Multi-layer stateful path computation element architecture
In one embodiment, a stateful computing entity in a computer network determines underlying network information (physical and/or optical) for the computer network, and also determines topologies (Internet Protocol (IP) and/or Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)) for the computer network and associated resource information. Further, the stateful computing entity determines label switched path (LSP) state information for the computer network. The stateful computing entity may then build network state knowledge by aggregating the underlying network information, the topologies and associated resource information, and the LSP state information, and establishes communication within a dynamic network of other stateful computing entities sharing network state knowledge for parallel computation performance. Accordingly, the stateful computing entity may perform network computation based on the network state knowledge.
US09178791B2 System and method for data acquisition in an internet protocol network
A communication network system for monitoring data traffic is disclosed, in which at least one switch serving as an intermediary to a plurality of data input streams and a plurality of data output streams; a capture server in communication with the switch; and a data acquisition control engine operable to receive data acquisition instructions from a user and cause the received instructions to be implemented at the switch.
US09178788B2 System, method and computer program product for monitoring data activity utilizing a shared data store
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for monitoring data activity utilizing a shared data store. These mechanisms and methods for monitoring data activity utilizing a shared data store can enable enhanced data monitoring, more efficient data storage, improved system resource utilization, etc.
US09178786B2 Packet loss detection method and system, sending device, and receiving device
A packet loss detection method includes: a receiving end receives a service packet whose color belongs to a first color spectrum; counts the number of the service packets whose color belongs to the first color spectrum; after receiving a detection packet, continues counting the number of the service packets whose color belongs to the first color spectrum, where the detection packet carries the number of service packets whose color belongs to the first color spectrum and that are sent by a sending end; when a preset condition is satisfied, the receiving end stops counting the number of the service packets whose color belongs to the first color spectrum, where the number of the service packets counted by the receiving end and the number of the service packets sent by the sending end carried in the detection packet are used for calculating the number of lost packets.
US09178783B1 Measuring network performance using inter-packet gap metric
Techniques for measuring network performance using the inter-packet gap metric are described. According to one approach, a computer-implemented method comprises a plurality of inter-packet gap buckets, along with their associated counts and inter-packet gap value ranges, being created and stored at a network node. Two or more network packets are received at a network node as a part of at least one unidirectional flow. For each successively received packet, the network node then determines the inter-packet gap value. Next, the network node compares the inter-packet gap value with the different discrete inter-packet gap value ranges that are associated with the stored inter-packet gap buckets. If the inter-packet gap value is included in an inter-packet gap value range associated with a particular inter-packet gap bucket then the that bucket is updated. The network node then exports the inter-packet gap metric data to a computer system.
US09178779B2 System for detecting whether client state matches predetermined state
A server connectable to a client able to manage successively transitioned-to states. The server has a set storage unit for storing a set including a predetermined state; a server-side communication unit for communicating with the client using a privacy-preserving set-intersection protocol for detecting whether an element in a mutual set is a common element between mutual sets while preserving privacy; and a determining unit for determining whether the state of the client is included in the set stored by the set storage unit on the basis of ciphertext received in accordance with the privacy-preserving set-intersection protocol. Also provided is an information processing method which is able to manage successively transitioned-to-states.
US09178778B2 System and method for end-to-end RTCP
Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for implementing real-time transport control protocol (RTCP) to obtain end-to-end session information. The system receives an RTCP extension that is associated with an RTCP packet in a communication session. The RTCP extension may include an instruction for transmitting RTCP data based on a triggering event. The RTCP extension can be configured to propagate along the communication session. Next, in response to the triggering event, the system can transmit the RTCP data to an address defined by the instruction as a destination address for receiving information associated with the triggering event.
US09178777B2 User-preference-based DSL system
Methods, apparatus and computer program products allow a user of DSL or the like to implement user preferences to the extent feasible in light of operational limits and conditions. In some embodiments, an operational profile is imposed on the user. User preference data is evaluated to determine the extent to which one or more user preferences can be implemented in light of the operational profile. One or more controllers can assist in collecting user preference data, evaluating the user preference data, operational data and other data and information, and implementing user preferences as feasible. Evaluation of the user preference data and operational profile and/or data can include considering the compatibility of the user's preferences and the operational profile and/or data. Controllers assisting users can include a local controller at the user's location, one or more upstream-end local controllers, one or more remote location controllers, and/or one or more other downstream-end device controllers at locations other than the user's location. Data and information can be shared among the various controllers, either using the DSL system itself or using a proprietary or other alternative data system.
US09178774B2 Channel hopping scheme for update of data for multiple services across multiple channels
Data transmitted over different channels may be updated by receiving one or more input data streams containing data for one or more digital data services, wherein the data is in the form of a plurality of packets, wherein each packet includes information identifying a channel and a number of related downstream packets; determining from the plurality of packets a time that an update packet containing data for one of the digital data services will be transmitted as part of the signal; and generating a schedule packet containing the time that the update packet will be transmitted as part of a signal.
US09178770B2 Auto incorporation of new components into a hierarchical network
A first computing device receives one or more messages, wherein the one or more messages includes information regarding one or more components, wherein each component is part of one or more systems and wherein each system includes one or more sub systems. The first computing device determines that a first system has changed based on the first computing device comparing the one or more messages to a hierarchical model, wherein the change to the first system includes a change associated with a first component of the first system. The first computing device determines a position of the first component within the first system and within one or more sub-systems of the first system based on the one or more messages. The first computing device updates the hierarchical model to include the first component in a hierarchical location that corresponds to the determined position of the first component.
US09178768B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for combining voice over internet protocol (VoIP) call data with geographical information
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for combining VoIP call data with geographical information are disclosed. According to one method, VoIP subscriber device call quality information and VoIP subscriber device status information are determined for a plurality of VoIP subscriber devices. Geographic information is obtained regarding a geographic area in which the VoIP subscriber devices are deployed. The VoIP subscriber device status and the call quality information are combined with the geographic information and, based on the combined VoIP subscriber device status and the geographic information, a map that illustrates the geographic locations of the VoIP subscriber devices and an indication of the current status and the call quality of each VoIP subscriber device is graphically displayed on a display device associated with a computer.
US09178764B2 Device and method for serial data transmission at a high data rate
A device for connecting to a two-wire communications bus, a bus station that, while utilizing the device, is able to send messages, represented on the bus lines as dominant and recessive bus levels, to additional connected bus stations and receive same from them. The device includes (a) an arrangement setting a dominant bus level in the form of a first voltage difference between the two bus lines by driving a first electric current, and the device is suitable for the recessive bus level to set in as the second voltage difference between the two bus lines, at least partially by the flowing of a discharge current via terminating resistors connected to the bus lines; and (b) an arrangement to speed up the setting of at least one of the bus levels by driving at least one additional electric current, at least in response to the presence of a switching condition.
US09178761B2 Provisioning VPN phones
Methods, systems and computer readable media for provisioning VPN phones are disclosed.
US09178760B2 Method and apparatus for configuring network nodes
In order to configure network nodes as part of the planning and setting-up of an in particular real-time-based and isochronous data transmission between the network nodes, a method and apparatus are proposed, wherein a node is connected via the network to the apparatus which is programmed in such a way that, in response to at least one item of configuration-related information specified by an operator, it generates a set of configuration data which are necessary for configuring at least the one node and transmits at least a subset of this generated set of configuration data to the node via the network.
US09178759B2 Configuring and customizing a specific-purpose client having a windows-based embedded image using extensible markup language (XML) configuration
Examples of methods and apparatus are provided for configuring and customizing a specific-purpose local client having a windows-based embedded image using extensible markup language (XML) configuration and obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the specific-purpose local client. The apparatus may include a retrieval module of the specific-purpose local client configured to automatically locate a remote repository server containing an XML configuration file and automatically obtain the XML configuration file from the remote repository server each time the specific-purpose local client boots up. The apparatus may include an apply settings module of the specific-purpose local client configured to automatically apply a configuration change to the windows-based embedded image based on the XML configuration file each time the specific-purpose local client boots up. The configuration change persists across a reboot of the specific-purpose local client while obviating reinstallation of an entire windows-based embedded image onto the specific-purpose local client.
US09178755B2 Time-based link fault localization
Methods and apparatus for a network element or server end station to determine an estimated physical location of a fault in a communications link utilized by two network elements. In an embodiment, the first and second network elements generate link failure indications including time values representing when the respective network element detected the fault. In other embodiments, the link failure indications include time values transmitted over the communications link between the first and second network elements. A time distance between these time values is calculated, which is used to calculate the estimated physical location of the fault. In some embodiments, the link failure indications include sequence numbers transmitted or about to be transmitted over the communications link between the network elements. Sequence distances are calculated between the sequence numbers, and are used to calculate the estimated physical location of the fault.
US09178752B2 Analyte monitoring system having an alert
Described herein are analyte monitoring systems including a receiver or data processing component that is configured to automatically issue a first alert notification when a first predetermined number of consecutive data packets are not received from the sensor/sensor electronics, and automatically issue a second alert notification when a second predetermined number of consecutive data packets are not received by the sensor/sensor electronics. The receiver may also be configured to enable a user to disenable alert or alarm notifications that are triggered based on detected events.
US09178751B2 Resilient routing based on a multi-channel model for emergency management
There is provided a system and method for resilient routing based on a multi-channel model for emergency management. The system includes a packet delivery anomaly detector for determining an existence of an anomaly in a mandated routing infrastructure for a packet that renders the packet incapable of reaching a destination node designated for the packet through the mandated routing infrastructure. The system further includes a dynamic alternate route identifier for dynamically identifying alternate routes for the packet responsive to a determination of the existence of the anomaly. The alternate routes are outside the mandated routing infrastructure, are provided using one or more mobile devices external to and not part of the mandated routing infrastructure, and are dynamically identified responsive to at least geographic location information. The system also includes a wireless transmitter for wirelessly routing the packet using at least one of the alternate routes.
US09178747B2 MPI communication of GPU buffers
A technique for enhancing the efficiency and speed of data transmission within and across multiple, separate computer systems includes the use of an MPI library/engine. The MPI library/engine is configured to facilitate the transfer of data directly from one location to another location within the same computer system and/or on separate computer systems via a network connection. Data stored in one GPU buffer may be transferred directly to another GPU buffer without having to move the data into and out of system memory or other intermediate send and receive buffers.
US09178743B2 System and method of managing video content streams
A method includes buffering a plurality of video streams within a buffer of a video server and generating a unicast video output and a multicast video output at the buffer.
US09178741B2 Method and system for processing a data unit
A given data unit of a first protocol layer for transmission in a data unit based communication system is passed to a second protocol layer. A numeric value of a numerically quantifiable parameter associated with said given data unit of said first protocol layer is determined and the given data unit is embedded into one or more data units of the second protocol layer and transmission control for the one or more data units of the second protocol layer is performed in accordance with said numeric value of said numerically quantifiable parameter.
US09178740B1 Peak-to-average power ratio reduction for QAM modulation with HD radio signals
A peak-to-average power reduction method includes: (a) quadrature amplitude modulating a signal including a set of subcarriers with a set of data to produce an OFDM modulated symbol vector; (b) limiting the magnitude of the modulated symbol vector to produce a first limited OFDM modulated symbol; (c) demodulating the first limited OFDM modulated symbol to recover distorted QAM constellations; (d) constraining points in the distorted QAM constellations recovered from the first limited OFDM modulated symbol to produce constrained QAM constellations; (e) modulating an OFDM symbol vector with the constrained QAM constellations to produce a modified modulated OFDM symbol; and (f) output the modified modulated OFDM symbol. A transmitter that implements the method is also provided.
US09178739B2 Method of wireless communication with a multi-antenna receiver
A method of transmitting data between a transmitter furnished with M>=1 transmission antenna(s) and a receiver furnished with N>=2 reception antennas, in which said data are coded using an OFDM/OQAM modulation having L>=1 subcarriers. The method combines a specific coding/decoding with a precoding by Time Reversal, which can be used in high speed radio communications.
US09178737B2 Method for generating an OFDM data signal
An OFDM signal generator includes a time domain data signal generator configured to generate a time domain data signal, a partial signal generator configured to generate a plurality of partial signals based on a tail section of the time domain data signal, and a circuit element configured to form a difference between or a sum of the time domain data signal and the plurality of partial signals.
US09178736B2 Method for multiplexing uplink control information on a physical uplink shared channel
A method of selecting resource element for UCI transmission and countering a ping-pong effect includes adjusting transmission parameters without adjusting a channel quality indicator/pre-coding matrix index. The transmission parameters include a modulation coding set of a transport block and a transport block size. Another method of selecting resource element for UCI transmission and countering the ping-pong effect includes selecting a transport block having a highest modulation coding set index or the transport block having a lowest modulation coding set index. Alternatively, the evolved Node B may select the transport block having a largest size or the transport block having the smallest size.
US09178734B2 Communications transmitter having high-efficiency combination modulator
A communications transmitter includes a combination modulator and a baseband processor configured to generate amplitude, angle, in-phase and quadrature signals. The combination modulator is configured to modulate in the quadrature domain or the polar domain, depending on an output power level of the transmitter and/or the type of modulation scheme being used. When configured to modulate in the quadrature domain, the baseband processor is configured to generate time-varying in-phase and quadrature modulating signals and time-invariant amplitude and angle signals for the combination modulator. When configured to modulate in the polar domain, the baseband processor is configured to generate time-varying amplitude and angle modulating signals and time-invariant in-phase and quadrature signals for the combination modulator. In another embodiment of the invention, the communications transmitter is configurable to operate in three different operational modes: linear, envelope tracking and switch modes. Which operational mode the communications transmitter is configured to transmit depends on the type of modulation scheme being used and/or the transmitter output power level.
US09178731B2 Transmission apparatus for a wireless device using delta-sigma modulation
A transmission apparatus for a wireless device, comprising: an antenna for receiving an original signal and for backscattering a modulated signal containing information from the wireless device; a variable impedance coupled to the antenna, the variable impedance having an impedance value; a delta-sigma modulator coupled to the variable impedance for modulating the impedance value, and thereby a backscattering coefficient for the antenna, in accordance with the information to generate the modulated signal; and, a decoder coupled to the delta-sigma modulator for generating the impedance value from the information.
US09178730B2 Clock distribution module, synchronous digital system and method therefor
A clock distribution module for a digital synchronous system is described. The clock distribution module comprising a first node arranged to comprise a clock signal comprising a propagation delay relative to a reference clock signal, at least one further node arranged to comprise a clock signal comprising a propagation delay relative to the reference clock signal corresponding to that of the first node, and a clock configuration module. The clock configuration module is arranged to receive at least one indication of clock skew between the first node and at least one further node of the clock distribution module, and to selectively couple the first node to the at least one further node based at least partly on the at least one indication of clock skew there between.
US09178728B2 Transmitter with high frequency amplification
A transmitter may include a first path configured to receive a signal, to attenuate the low frequency components of the signal, and to output the low frequency component attenuated signal. The transmitter may further include a second path configured to receive the signal, to amplify the signal, and to output the amplified signal. The transmitter may also include a node coupled to the first path and the second path and configured such that the low frequency component attenuated signal and the amplified signal combine at the node.
US09178726B1 Partial response equalizer and related method
A multi-phase partial response receiver supports various incoming data rates by sampling PrDFE output values at a selected one of at least two clock phases. The receiver includes a calibration circuit that performs a timing analysis of critical data paths in the circuit, and this analysis is then used to select the particular clock phase used to latch the output values. These techniques permit the multiplexer outputs from for each phase of the partial response receiver to directly drive selection of a multiplexer for the ensuing phase, i.e., by avoiding regions of instability or uncertainty in the respective multiplexer outputs.
US09178724B2 Gateway apparatus, relay method, program, femto system
In order to avoid deterioration in sound quality caused by band shortage between an HNB-GW and an HNB, in a femto system 100, an HNB-GW 140 is connected to an HNB 120 via a network 130, and relays at least one of transmission and reception of voice data between an MGW 170 and the HNB 120. A narrow band determination unit 150 in the HNB-GW 140 determines whether the band of the network 130 is a narrow band which is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold. When it is determined that the band is a narrow band by the narrow band determination unit 150, a conversion unit 160 converts the voice data to decrease a bit rate of the voice data transferred to the HNB 120 from the MGW 170.
US09178722B1 Roaming method and apparatus for VOIP handset
A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone includes a radio circuit to communicate with a current access point (AP) and other APs of a wireless communication network and a memory to store a scan table. The scan table includes information about candidate APs of the wireless communication network. The information is obtained from probe response transmissions received by the radio circuit from the respective candidate APs after transmission of probe requests from the VoIP telephone. The VoIP telephone further includes a controller which is operable to initiate a roaming process when communication between the VoIP telephone and the current AP degrades. The controller includes several applications, including an application to select a best candidate AP from the scan table, to terminate a voice call with the current AP and to resume the voice call through the radio circuit with the best candidate AP without disrupting the voice call.
US09178715B2 Providing services to virtual overlay network traffic
In one embodiment, a method for applying security policy in an overlay network includes receiving a request, including a packet, for a communication path through an overlay network, determining whether a security policy is to be applied to the packet based on at least one of: contents of the packet, first information, and second information, selecting a communication path between a source physical switch and a destination physical switch, wherein the selected communication path directly connects the source physical switch to the destination physical switch when it is determined to not apply the security policy to the packet, and the selected communication path connects the source physical switch to the destination physical switch via a security appliance when it is determined to apply the security policy to the packet, and sending the selected communication path to the source physical switch.
US09178707B2 Policy based signature authentication system and method
In various example embodiments, a system and method for providing policy-based authentication is provided. In example embodiments, a request to access and sign a document is received from a device of an intended signer. A policy assigned to the intended signer is determined. Based on the policy, a determination is made whether an authentication mechanism is applicable to the intended signer. In response to the determining that the authentication mechanism is applicable to the intended signer, the intended user is required to perform the authentication mechanism. The intended user is provided access to view and sign the document based on the intended user satisfying the authentication mechanism.
US09178705B2 Method and system for stateless validation
A method of validating parameters of a request from a Web client to a Web application. The validation rules are sent to a Web client, together with a response to a Web client. The parameters in a response are updated by the Web client. The updated parameters are sent in a subsequent request to the Web client, along with the validation rules. The updated parameters are validated using the validation rules in the request, thus achieving stateless validation. The validation rules are preferably digitally signed.
US09178704B2 Input consistency verification for server assisted secure function evaluation
Server-assisted secure function evaluation (SFE) is performed with input consistency verification for two parties that want to evaluate a function. The server computes a garbled circuit corresponding to the function. A predefined bit of the 0-secret of wire i in the garbled circuit is set to a random bit bi and a predefined bit of the 1-secret of wire i in the garbled circuit is set to bi. The server communicates with each party using an Oblivious Transfer (OT) to provide encrypted versions of the respective inputs of each party. Each party receives the encrypted wire secret of the other party and the garbled circuit for computation of a respective output and stores the predefined bit of a wire of interest of the other party. A given party can verify input consistency by the other party over at least two executions by comparing the values stored by the given party for the at least two executions with corresponding values obtained from the server.
US09178698B1 Dynamic key management
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs, for managing keys for virtual machines (VM). One method includes receiving a first public key associated with a first user from a first client machine (CM), receiving a second public key associated with a second user from a second CM, and updating metadata associated with a project that includes a first VM and a second VM to include the first and the second public keys. The first public key and a corresponding first private key were generated on the first CM in response to a determination that the first CM lacked a private key for communication with the first VM by the first user. The second public key and a corresponding second private key were generated on the second CM in response to a determination that the second CM lacked a private key for communication with the second VM by the second user.
US09178695B2 Method for identifying a device used by a hacked terminal, and related device
The invention relates to a method for preventing the fraudulent use of an electronic device and thus for effectively combating the fraudulent dissemination of protected content. The invention further relates to such a device as well as to a method enabling permanent revocation thereof if the device is considered to be unlawfully used or optional reinstatement of the device.
US09178694B2 Securing backing storage data passed through a network
Techniques described herein generally relate to methods, data processing devices and computer readable media to ensure that data stored in a remote backing storage device are in encrypted form before that data is transferred to another device or over a network. In some examples, the methods, data processing devices and computer readable media may be arranged to encrypt the data passed to the network when the data stored in the backing storage device is in unencrypted form. Also disclosed are methods, data processing devices and computer readable media that identify when the data stored in the backing storage device is in unencrypted form, including methods that may detect that the data may appear to be in encrypted form as a result of the data being compressed.
US09178693B2 Distributed media-protection systems and methods to operate the same
Example distributed media-protection systems and methods to operate the same are disclosed. A disclosed example method comprises receiving a media stream at a first set top box (STB) via a content delivery system, splitting, at the first STB, the received media stream into at least two portions, allocating, using a processor at the first STB, a first of the at least two portions to the first STB and a second of the at least two portions to a second STB based on a pseudorandom seed, and storing the first of the at least two portions on the first STB and the second of the at least two portions on the second STB.
US09178692B1 Serial link training method and apparatus with deterministic latency
A method is disclosed for handling packet data. The method includes assembling request packets for transmission along a plurality of serial lanes. For each lane, at least a portion of the request packets are framed into a request link frame having a plurality of words. The request link frame is defined by a preset word length. Request training words are inserted into the request link frame at intervals corresponding to the preset word length. Response packets are queued, where the response packets include response training words having an associated latency based on the programmed interval of the request training words.
US09178690B2 N factorial dual data rate clock and data recovery
System, methods and apparatus are described that facilitate transmission of data over a multi-wire data communications link, particularly between two devices within an electronic apparatus. Each symbol in a sequence of symbols received from a plurality of signal wires is received in an odd transmission interval or an even transmission interval. A first clock signal is generated from transitions in signaling state of the wires occurring between each odd transmission interval and a consecutive even transmission interval. A second clock signal is generated from transitions in signaling state of the plurality of wires occurring between each even transmission interval and a consecutive odd transmission interval. The first and second clock signals are used to capture symbols received in even and odd transmission intervals, respectively.
US09178689B2 Multimode base station and implementation method thereof
The present invention relates to a method includes: implementing, by the board in the BBU1, frequency synchronization between a system clock of the board in the BBU1 and a system clock of the board in the BBU0 by using a synchronous Ethernet clock that is output by the board in the BBU0; and implementing, by the board in the BBU1, time synchronization between the system clock of the board in the BBU1 and the system clock of the board in the BBU0 by using an IEEE1588 clock that is output by the board in the BBU0. The present invention can enable the multimode base station to support more standards.
US09178687B2 Radio communication device and semiconductor integrated circuit device used for the same
A semiconductor integrated circuit for a radio communication terminal sequentially uses a plurality of frequency channels by instructions from a hopping frequency decision unit to receive packet data by a reception unit. When the integrated circuit cannot detect the head of the packet data in reception operations, the integrated circuit cannot receive packet data should be received originally then assumes that the received packet data is a packet error. And the integrated circuit calculates packet error rates for each frequency channel on the basis of the number of times of reception operations performed for each frequency channel and of the number of times of packet errors to estimate channel qualities by using the packet error rates.
US09178686B2 Snr improvement circuit, synchronization information detection circuit, communication device, snr improvement method, and synchronization information detection method
A technique capable of improving a packet catch rate when applied to a communication device, for example. An SNR improvement circuit for improving an SNR of an input signal includes a delay unit for delaying the input signal to generate one or more delay signals, and an adder for adding the one or more delay signals and the input signal before being delayed. The input signal contains a periodic signal in which the same signal is repeated a predetermined number of times with a predetermined period. The delay unit generates the one or more delay signals with delay time which is α times (α is a natural number, and is set at different values with respect to two or more delay signals) longer than the predetermined period.
US09178684B2 Self-testing integrated circuits
In an example, a self-testing integrated circuit (IC) includes N channels i and a controller, where i is an integer from 1 to N. Each channel i may include a clock and data recovery circuit (CDR), a pseudorandom bit stream (PRBS) generator circuit, and a PRBS checker and eye quality monitor (EQM) circuit. The controller may be configured to selectively couple the channels i in a daisy chain during self-testing.
US09178679B2 Method and apparatus for feedback transmission in wireless communication system
A method and an apparatus for feedback transmission in a wireless communication system are provided. A terminal selects at least one subband among plural subbands constituting a set of subbands and transmits information about feedback measured for the at least one subband. The feedback information contains an index of the at least one subband, and the at least one subband is selected in consideration of resource mapping of the plural subbands.
US09178677B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting uplink control information in a wireless communication system
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for transmitting uplink control information (UCI) with user equipment in a wireless communication system. The user equipment performs channel coding on information bits of UCI to generate encoded information bits; modulates the generated encoded information bits to generate complex modulation symbols; spreads the complex modulation symbols blockwise into a plurality of single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) symbols on the basis of an orthogonal sequence; and transmits the spread complex modulation symbols to a base station.
US09178676B2 Device and method for monitoring control channel in multicarrier system
Provided are a method and a device for monitoring the control channel in a multicarrier system. The terminal determines a plurality of terminal-specific search spaces corresponding respectively to a plurality of scheduled component carriers in a control region within a subframe. The terminal monitors a downlink control channel for the scheduled component carriers corresponding respectively to the plurality of terminal-specific search spaces.
US09178674B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting reference signals
Provided is a method for transmitting a reference signal in a time division duplex (TDD)-based wireless communication system. A base station transmits a synchronization signal in a subframe including N resource blocks in a frequency domain, and K (K>1) orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in a time domain. The base station transmits a reference signal generated on the basis of a terminal identifier in the subframe. The subframe includes a downlink pilot time slot (DwPTS), a guard period (GP), and an uplink pilot time slot (UpPTS). The DwPTS includes six OFDM symbols. The UpPTS includes two OFDM symbols. The reference signal is transmitted in the first OFDM symbol or the sixth OFDM symbol in the subframe.
US09178671B2 User equipment, method for determining resource, method for reporting resource, and system for distributing resource
A User Equipment (UE), a method for determining a resource, a method for reporting a resource, and a system for distributing a resource are provided. The method for determining a resource includes: if transmission data on the carrier reaches maximum transmission data supported in a scope allowed by Service Grant (SG), and a transmission power of the UE is capable of improving a data transmission rate of the carrier, and the carrier and the other one carrier of the dual carriers are incapable of completing transmitting total buffer status data in the same delay period, determining that a resource distributed to a UE on one carrier of dual carriers of the UE is insufficient; otherwise, determining that the resource distributed for the UE on the carrier is sufficient. Therefore, a solution for reporting the resource of the dual carriers is provided, so as to improve a network performance.
US09178667B2 Method and apparatus for improving a semi-persistent scheduling resource release process in a wireless communication system
A method of improving a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) resource release process for a medium access control (MAC) layer of a user equipment in a wireless communication system includes deactivating allocated SPS resources when receiving an SPS resource release command and transmitting a MAC control element including an SPS resource release confirmation for confirming SPS resource deactivation.
US09178666B2 Method for operating multi-type beacons
Provided is a method for operating multi-type beacons by a first terminal connected with at least one second terminal through short-range communication. The method includes checking at least one variable related to the second terminal, allocating one selected from a plurality of beacons having different characteristics to the second terminal, taking into account the checked variable, and transmitting the beacon allocated to the second terminal.
US09178665B2 Communication apparatus, communication system, absent packet detecting method and absent packet detecting program
Any packet loss is detected very quickly by means of only a series of sequence number in a multi-path environment where a transmitter and a receiver are connected to each other by way of a plurality of networks when no inversion of sequence arises in any of the networks. A communication apparatus includes a plurality of sequence buffers arranged at each network to accumulate packets until a sequence acknowledgement and an absence detecting section adapted to determine the occurrence of an absence of a packet when one or more packets are accumulated in all the sequence buffers. With this arrangement, the absence detecting section of the receiver monitors the packets staying in the sequence guaranteeing buffer arranged in each of the network, paying attention to the characteristic that packets are stored in the sequence buffers of all the networks when a packet loss takes place.
US09178659B2 Techniques for encoding PLCP headers
A method (400) and apparatus for encoding a block-based communication system header. A physical (PHY) layer header and a medium access control (MAC) header of the block-based communication system header are encoded to generate parity bits, wherein the PHY layer header includes at least cyclic prefix (CP) mode bits (S410). Parity bits are appended to the PHY layer header and the MAC layer header to generate a bit vector (S420). The bit vector is divided into at least two data blocks, wherein a first data block includes at least the CP mode bits (S430). A predefined number of tail bits are appended to each data block (S440). The two data blocks are mapped into at least two symbols, wherein the first data block is mapped to a first symbol, such that the first symbol is a first header symbol being transmitted (S450).
US09178654B2 Transmission apparatus and associated method of encoding transmission data
A transmission apparatus includes an encoder that codes a data sequence with a parity check matrix, wherein the data sequence includes a final information bit sequence and virtual information bits, and outputs the final information bit sequence and a parity sequence, as LDPC codes, and a transmitter that transmits the LDPC codes as a transmission data. A column length of the parity check matrix is longer than a total length of the final information bit sequence and the parity sequence, by a length of the virtual information bits that are set to “0” and are not transmitted. The total length of the final information bit sequence and the parity sequence has a sequence length corresponding to a length from a first column to a predetermined column of the parity check matrix. The encoder generates the LDPC codes by using the first column to the predetermined column among one or more column(s) of the parity check matrix.
US09178651B2 Stream parsing in a communication system
In a method for parsing data in a data unit into a number of spatial streams, a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) is selected from a plurality of MCSs. Information bits are encoded using one or more encoders to generate coded bits, wherein the number of encoders used depends on the selected MCS. The coded bits into a number of spatial streams according to a first set of parsing rules if the coded bits satisfy a parsing constraint. The coded bits are parsed into the number of spatial streams according to a second set of parsing rules if the coded bits do not satisfy the parsing constraint.
US09178650B2 Data processing method, precoding method, and communication device
An encoder outputs a first bit sequence having N bits. A mapper generates a first complex signal s1 and a second complex signal s2 with use of bit sequence having X+Y bits included in an input second bit sequence, where X indicates the number of bits used to generate the first complex signal s1, and Y indicates the number of bits used to generate the second complex signal s2. A bit length adjuster is provided after the encoder, and performs bit length adjustment on the first bit sequence such that the second bit sequence has a bit length that is a multiple of X+Y, and outputs the first bit sequence after the bit length adjustment as the second bit sequence. As a result, a problem between a codeword length of a block code and the number of bits necessary to perform mapping by a set of modulation schemes is solved.
US09178649B2 Method and apparatus for controlling link margin
A method and apparatus for controlling a link margin are provided. The method includes: receiving, from a second device, a link margin frame including information about the link margin related to a communication link between a first device and the second device; and performing at least one operation selected from among a change in transmission power, a change in a modulation and coding scheme (MCS), beam forming, and a change of the communication link to another frequency band, based on the received link margin frame.
US09178648B2 Method to improve voice over IP capacity for user equipment employing variable rate vocoders
In one embodiment, a message is sent from the wireless network to a user equipment having a variable rate vocoder. The message defines transport block sizes for the user equipment to select from in making uplink transmissions if the user equipment is permitted to vary a packet size for uplink transmission. A scheduling grant is sent to the user equipment, and the scheduling grant includes an indicator indicating that the user equipment is permitted to vary the packet size for uplink transmissions by selecting a transport block size from among the defined transport block sizes.
US09178647B2 Interface with variable data rate
A device includes a transmitter coupled to a node, where the node is to couple to a wired link. The transmitter has a plurality of modes of operation including a calibration mode in which a range of communication data rates over the wired link is determined in accordance with a voltage margin corresponding to the wired link at a predetermined error rate. The range of communication data rates includes a maximum data rate, which can be a non-integer multiple of an initial data rate.
US09178645B2 Wavelength path reallocation method and upper layer path reallocation method
A wavelength path reallocation method in a path reallocation apparatus for reallocating a wavelength path set in a communication network, including: a wavelength path designing step in which a wavelength path designing unit designs a reallocation destination wavelength path by performing calculation such that the number of use frequency regions in the communication network becomes smaller than a corresponding value before reallocation; and a wavelength path setting step in which a wavelength path setting unit changes a reallocation target wavelength path to the reallocation destination wavelength path by using free wavelength.
US09178644B2 Spectral encoding of an optical label or destination
An apparatus comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine a plurality of available wavelengths that are available to transmit data over an optical network comprising a plurality of downstream nodes, select a plurality of encoding wavelengths from the available wavelengths, wherein the encoding wavelengths are a subset of the available wavelengths, apply a plurality of relative power levels to the encoding wavelengths, and encode the data using the encoding wavelengths and the relative power levels, wherein the encoding wavelengths and the relative power levels dictate the switching behavior of the downstream nodes when the data is received by the downstream nodes.
US09178643B2 Processing data in an optical network
A method and devices for processing data in an optical network are provided, wherein a centralized component is connected to several decentralized components; wherein first data is conveyed from the centralized component to at least two decentralized components, wherein at least two decentralized components share an optical resource; and wherein second data is conveyed from the decentralized component to the decentralized component via at least one separate optical resource. Furthermore, a communication system is suggested comprising said device.
US09178639B2 Technique for transmitting and receiving downlink reference signals
A technique for receiving and transmitting downlink reference signals is disclosed. When transmitting downlink data demodulation reference signals (DMRS) (or reference signals for downlink data demodulation) by using two or more layers, the DMRS of each layer may be multiplexed by using a code division multiplexing method and then transmitted. The DMRS for each of the two or more layers may be used for one user equipment or for two or more user equipments. And, downlink control signals for transmitting and receiving such DMRS may be configured to have the same format regardless of a single-user mode (or SU-MIMO mode) or a multi-user mode (or MU-MIMO mode), thereby being used.
US09178633B2 Delivery quality of experience (QoE) in a computer network
An apparatus generally having an interface and a circuit is disclosed. The interface may be connectable to a network to monitor a media program streaming across the network to a media client. The circuit may be configured to (i) generate first information by modeling a buffer of the media client, the first information being representative of a plurality of events related to the buffer during a playback of the media program and (ii) generate a signal representative of a quality of experience of the media program in response to the first information.
US09178630B2 Receiving circuit and communication circuit
A receiving circuit includes: an interpolation circuit that generates, by using an interpolation coefficient, output data including a data point and a boundary point from pieces of input data that are input in chronological order; a detection circuit that outputs a detection signal when the detection circuit detects a phase of the output data by using the boundary point of the output data; a low pass filter that filters the detection signal and generates the interpolation coefficient; and a modulation circuit that modulates, by using a modulation signal having a frequency different from a cutoff frequency of the low pass filter, the interpolation coefficient generated by the low pass filter, and outputs the modulated interpolation coefficient to the interpolation circuit.
US09178625B1 Timing recovery for optical coherent receivers in the presence of polarization mode dispersion
A timing recovery system generates a sampling clock to synchronize sampling of a receiver to a symbol rate of an incoming signal. The input signal is received over an optical communication channel. The receiver generates a timing matrix representing coefficients of a timing tone detected in the input signal. The timing tone representing frequency and phase of a symbol clock of the input signal and has a non-zero timing tone energy. The receiver computes a rotation control signal based on the timing matrix that represents an amount of accumulated phase shift in the input signal relative to the sampling clock. A numerically controlled oscillator is controlled to adjust at least one of the phase and frequency of the sampling clock based on the rotation control signal.
US09178621B2 Method to identify wavelength of incoming light by avalanche photodiode, method to control optical transceiver, and optical transceiver performing the same
A method to identify the wavelength of incoming light is disclosed. The method includes steps to measure a first photocurrent by setting the avalanche photodiode (APD) in a photodiode (PD) mode and a second photocurrent by setting the APD in the APD mode, and to compare a ratio of the two photocurrents with prepared references.
US09178619B2 Passive optical network (PON)-based system and method for providing handover among optical network terminals (ONTs)
A Passive Optical Network (PON)-based system and method for providing handover between Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) are provided. The PON-based system may include an Optical Line Terminal (OLT), and an ONT to relay communication between the OLT and a mobile terminal. When the mobile terminal is connected to the ONT, the ONT may transmit a WiFi location update alarm message to the OLT, and the OLT may update a Look-Up Table (LUT) in response to the WiFi location update alarm message.
US09178615B2 Multiphase sampling of modulated light with phase synchronization field
A light transmitter transmits multiple light packets, each formatted to include a predetermined phase synchronization field (PSF) and a same message comprising a series of bits. The PSF and each bit are each represented as light that is intensity modulated over a bit period at a corresponding frequency. The light packets are transmitted at different start-times to cause a receiver to sample each packet with a different phase of a fixed, asynchronous sample timeline. The PSF and message are demodulated from each of the sampled light packets. If the demodulated PSF matches the predetermined PSF, then the corresponding demodulated message is declared valid.
US09178611B2 Fiber optic network interrogation tool for combined swept-heterodyne optical spectrum analysis and optical frequency-domain reflectometry
A multi-function optical tool may be used for example for built-in fault detection and transceiver source characterization in local optical communication networks. A single device provides swept-heterodyne optical spectrum analysis (SHOSA) and optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR) in an efficient, low-cost package by utilizing a common interrogation laser source, common optical components, and common, low-bandwidth acquisition hardware. The technology provides significant cost, space, and labor savings for network maintainers and technicians.
US09178604B2 Last mile data delivery systems and methods
A data delivery system leverages existing satellite infrastructure to deliver massive data sets (e.g., genomic data) to last-mile, remote or rural, locations. The system repurposes existing high-capacity satellite links normally used to broadcast entertainment content by creating customized channels specifically adapted to delivering large data sets to be stored upon computer systems.
US09178602B2 Repeater
A repeater and method of controlling thereof are provided. The repeater includes: a first interface unit which is configured to be connected to a gateway apparatus via a Wi-Fi communication protocol; and a second interface unit which is configured to be connected to a client device via the Wi-Fi communication protocol, wherein at least one of the first and second interface units comprises a filter which filters different frequency bands.
US09178592B1 Systems and methods using multiple inter-chip (IC) links for antenna diversity and/or debug
Systems and methods are disclosed that implement multiple inter-chip (IC) links to communicate digital signals and data between multiple tuner circuit chips of a radio frequency (RF) antenna diversity system. The multiple IC communication links may be employed, for example, to simultaneously communicate different signals and/or data between individual tuner circuit chips of a multi-signal type antenna diversity system in an asynchronous manner, and may be employed to achieve simultaneous antenna diversity for multiple RF signal types using a scalable IC communication link architecture that includes multiple IC communication links to interconnect a varying number of RF tuner circuit chips.
US09178591B2 Codebook subsampling for PUCCH feedback
A method in a mobile communication terminal includes holding a definition of a sub-sampled codebook identifying precoding matrices to be used for providing precoding feedback by the terminal. The precoding matrices in the sub-sampled codebook are selected from a master codebook that is made-up of a long-term sub-codebook and a short-term sub-codebook. The definition defines a first subset of the long-term sub-codebook and a second subset of the short-term sub-codebook. A Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) signal is received in the terminal via multiple receive antennas. Based on the received MIMO signal, a precoding matrix is selected from the sub-sampled codebook for precoding subsequent MIMO signals transmitted to the terminal. The precoding feedback indicating the selected precoding matrix is calculated.
US09178590B2 Channel information feedback method and wireless communication device using the same
A channel information feedback method for multi-antenna system, and a wireless communication device using the same method are provided. The proposed method could reduce feedback overhead for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless channel information, and is based on compressive sensing technique. Prior to sending back channel information, a receiver estimates the channel and multiplies the vectorized channel with a random matrix to generate compressed feedback content. Upon receiving the compressed feedback content at a transmitter, the channel information could be restored with signal recovery algorithms of compressive sensing technique. In the other embodiment, the proposed method further adaptively adjusts compression ratio of the compressed feedback content in accordance to the prevailing channel quality. Further, for slow-varying MIMO channels, there is proposed another channel information feedback method which switches between a fixed sparcifying-basis and a signal-dependent sparcifying-basis.
US09178589B2 Dual layer beam forming in cellular networks
Single user and multiuser MIMO transmission in a cellular network may be performed by selecting by a base station (eNB) to transmit either one or two transmission layers. When one transmission layer is selected, a first transmission layer is precoded with a first precoder. A first demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequence or a second DMRS sequence is selected by the eNB and precoded using the first precoder. The first transmission layer is transmitted with the selected precoded DMRS from the eNB to a user equipment (UE), and an indicator is transmitted to the UE to indicate which DMRS sequence is selected and transmitted.
US09178587B2 Communication system, transmitter, receiver and communication method
The disclosed is a transmission device including a plurality of transmission antennas for transmitting signals in the same channel at the same time point to a plurality of reception devices, characterized by including: a dedicated reference signal generator configured to generate dedicated reference signals for the respective reception devices; a data signal generator configured to generate data signals for the respective reception devices; a spatial multiplexer configured to spatially multiplex at least some of the dedicated reference signals and at least some of the data signals; and a transmitter configured to transmit the spatially multiplexed signals.
US09178584B2 System and methods for reducing uplink resources to provide channel performance feedback for adjustment of downlink MIMO channel data rates
Systems and methods for improving the performance of a MIMO wireless communication system by reducing the amount of uplink resources that are needed to provide channel performance feedback for the adjustment of data rates on the downlink MIMO channels. In one embodiment, a method comprises encoding each of a set of data streams according to corresponding data rates, permuting the data streams on a set of MIMO channels according to a full permutation of combinations, transmitting the permuted data streams, receiving the permuted data streams, decoding and determining an SNR for each of the data streams, computing a condensed SNR metric for the set of data streams, providing the condensed metric as feedback, determining a set of individual SNR metrics for the data streams based on the condensed SNR metric, and adjusting the data rates at which the data streams are encoded based on the individual SNR metrics.
US09178583B2 Channel state information feedback design in advanced wireless communication systems
Methods and apparatuses for providing feedback by a UE. A method includes receiving a first set of CSI-RS and a second set of CSI-RS, calculating a CQI using a received power of the first set of CSI-RS and a channel matrix estimated based on the second set of CSI-RS, and sending feedback based on the calculated CQI. A method includes measuring signals received on a plurality of CSI-RS ports; calculating CQI values for each of applications of precoding matrixes to each of the selected combinations of CSI-RS ports; selecting a SPN, a SPI, a PMI, and a RI that yields a highest CQI from among the calculated CQI values; and sending feedback indicating the SPI, the highest CQI value, the PMI, and at least one of the SPN or the RI.
US09178580B2 Method and apparatus for antenna mapping selection in MIMO-OFDM wireless networks
A method and apparatus for selecting an antenna mapping in multiple-in/multiple-out (MIMO) enabled wireless communication networks. A candidate set of currently available antenna mappings is determined based upon measured long term channel conditions. An antenna mapping is selected from the candidate set, and the mapping is calibrated with a selected antenna mapping of a receiving wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). When the selected mappings are calibrated, packet data transmission begins. In an alternative embodiment, a calibration training frame (CTF) is used to calibrate multiple antenna mappings simultaneously or sequentially. Also disclosed are physical layer and medium access control layer frame formats for implementing antenna mapping selection according to the invention.
US09178577B2 Radio communication system with plural paths from a primary station with plural antennas to a secondary station
A radio communication system comprises a communication channel for the transmission of data packets (302) from a primary station having a plurality of antennas to a secondary station having at least one antenna. The channel comprises a plurality of paths, and the primary station transmits a plurality of packets substantially simultaneously. Each of the plurality of packets is transmitted via a different subset of the plurality of paths, for example by arranging for each packet to be transmitted via a different antenna or antenna beam. The secondary station receives the plurality of data packets, determines whether each packet is received correctly and signals this determination (typically as an acknowledgement (304) or a negative acknowledgement (306)) to the primary station for each of the plurality of packets. The signaling may be by any convenient means, for example transmitting each acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement via a different subset of available uplink paths.
US09178575B2 System and method for implementing power distribution
In accordance with particular embodiments, a method for adjusting power distribution includes establishing a connection between a base station and a plurality of remote transceivers. The method also includes establishing a plurality of wireless connections with a plurality of endpoints via one or more of the plurality of remote transceivers. The method further includes determining a plurality of signal quality indications. Each signal quality indication is associated with a different one of a plurality of unique endpoint-remote transceiver pairs. The method additionally includes determining a power distribution for the plurality of remote transceivers based on the plurality of signal quality indications and an optimization equation. The optimization equation is configured to optimize a data throughput associated with the plurality of wireless connections by determining a power gain for each of the wireless connections.
US09178568B2 Apparatus and method for communication using wireless power
An apparatus and method for communication using a wireless power are provided. The apparatus includes an amplifier configured to amplify an input signal based on a power supplied to the amplifier. The apparatus further includes a control unit configured to detect a change in an impedance of a target device, and to change the power based on the change in the impedance. The apparatus further includes a demodulation unit configured to receive a message from the target device, and to demodulate the message based on the changed power.
US09178561B2 Method and apparatus for correlating signals received from a navigation satellite system
A plurality of samples of a signal are stored in a buffer, the signal corresponding to a navigation system. A plurality of starting locations in the buffer are determined, the plurality of starting locations corresponding to a plurality of correlations to be calculated. A plurality of correlations are calculated using i) a plurality of local replica signals, and ii) data read from the buffer using the plurality of starting locations, the local replica signals corresponding to pseudo random number (PRN) codes utilized by transmitting devices in the navigation system. The plurality of correlations are utilized to one or more of i) detect PRN codes in the signal, ii) detect one or more phase shifts associated with PRN codes, or iii) detect one or more frequency shifts associated with PRN codes.
US09178559B2 Method and system of calibration of a second order intermodulation intercept point of a radio transceiver
The method of calibration of a second order intermodulation intercept point (IIP2) of a radio transceiver comprises the steps of: generating a second order intermodulation (IM2) reference signal (STXIM2-REF) from a transmission baseband signal (STXBB-REF); estimating a second order intermodulation power from the second order intermodulation reference signal (STXIM2-REF) and a radio transceiver output signal (Output); tuning a second order intermodulation intercept point tuner to find a lowest second order intermodulation power; extracting an optimum second order intermodulation intercept point corresponding to the lowest second order intermodulation power.
US09178556B2 Neck cord incorporating earth plane extensions
A mobile device having a printed circuit board, a wireless transceiver, an antenna having an earth plane and coupled to the wireless transceiver, a conductive earth plane extension conductively coupled to the earth plane and a neck cord adapted to support the mobile device from a neck of a user of the device, wherein the conductive earth plane extension is incorporated into the neck cord. Also, an antenna assembly having an antenna having an earth plane, the antenna being adapted to be coupled to a wireless transceiver, a conductive earth plane extension coupled to the earth plane and a neck cord adapted to support a mobile device housing the antenna from a neck of a user of the device, wherein the conductive earth plane extension is incorporated into the neck cord.
US09178554B2 Phase correction apparatus and method
A method for differential buffer phase correction comprises generating a pair of differential signals from a local oscillator, applying one of the signals to a first inverter and the other signal to a second inverter of a buffer through a differential pair of lines, applying a first positive feedback signal to the first inverter through a first feedback capacitor, wherein the first positive feedback signal is generated from an output of the second inverter and applying a second positive feedback signal to the second inverter through a second feedback capacitor, wherein the second positive feedback signal is generated from an output of the first inverter.
US09178547B1 Mitigating intermodulation distortion in a receiver
Systems and methods for mitigating intermodulation distortion in a receiver include receiving, at processing electronics, a radio frequency signal. An envelope of the received signal is detected to form a rectified envelope signal. A portion of the envelope signal attributable to intermodulation distortion may be isolated from the envelope signal. The isolated distortion may be used to reduce the gain of the received radio frequency signal.
US09178546B1 Phase-noise cancellation apparatus and method
A noise cancellation method comprises receiving, by an adaptive phase-noise cancellation apparatus, an incoming symbol from a receiver, performing a hard decision process on the incoming symbol to generate a corresponding clean symbol of the incoming symbol, generating a conjugate instance of the corresponding clean symbol, multiplying the orthogonal instance of the incoming symbol by the conjugate instance of the corresponding clean symbol to generate an intermediate component and calculating a phase deviation of the incoming symbol based upon a real part of the intermediate component and an imaginary part of the intermediate component.
US09178544B1 Parameter offset estimation through use of a secondary signal collected from multiple sensors
Various embodiments associated with estimating a parameter offset for editions of a signal of interest through use of a secondary signal are described. A plurality of distributed asynchronous sensors can capture editions of a signal of interest as well as editions of a secondary signal. The secondary signal can be much stronger than the signal of interest. Since individual sensors capture the signal of interest editions and the secondary editions, offset calculated for one can be used for the other. With the secondary signal being stronger than the signal of interest, the offset of the editions of the signal of interest can be estimated. Once the offset is estimated for the secondary editions, the offset can be used for the signal of interest editions. After the offset is used to align the signal of interest editions, the signal of interest editions can be combined and further processing can occur.
US09178542B1 Methods and apparatus for accurate transmitter simulation for link optimization
One embodiment relates to an apparatus for generating a data output signal. The apparatus includes a pre-emphasis filter and an edge-shape filter. The edge-shape filter includes a non-linearity correction stage that applies a non-linearity correction and a linear filter that applies linear filtering. Another embodiment relates to a method of generating tap coefficients for a pre-emphasis filter. A summation of products of tap coefficients and time-shifted base single-bit response waveforms is used to form a first waveform, and a measured single-bit response waveform is used to provide a second waveform. The tap coefficients are adjusted to fit the first waveform to the second waveform. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed.
US09178538B2 Multi-standard wireless transmitter
The invention concerns a circuit for multi-standard wireless RF transmission comprising: input circuitry (302 to 314) for generating a transmission signal (IT(t), QT(t)) based on an input data signal (I, Q); a power amplifier (316) adapted to amplify said transmission signal to provide an output signal (S(t)) for transmission via at least one antenna; and feedback circuitry (320 to 340) comprising at least one variable low-pass filter (334, 336) for generating a feedback signal (IFB, QFB) based on said output signal, wherein said input circuitry further comprises pre-distortion circuitry (302) adapted to modify said input data signal (I, Q) based on said feedback signal.
US09178536B2 DTV transmitting system and method of processing broadcast data
A DTV transmitting system includes an encoder, a randomizer, a block processor, a group formatter, a deinterleaver, and a packet formatter. The encoder codes enhanced data for error correction, permutes the coded data, and further codes the permuted data for error detection. The randomizer randomizes the coded enhanced data, and the block processor codes the randomized data at an effective coding rate of 1/H. The group formatter forms a group of enhanced data having data regions, and inserts the coded enhanced data into at least one of the data regions. The deinterleaver deinterleaves the group of enhanced data, and the packet formatter formats the deinterleaved data into corresponding data bytes.
US09178533B2 Method of setting number of iteration counts of iterative decoding, and apparatus and methods of iterative decoding
A method of setting a number of iteration counts of iterative decoding, and an apparatus and method of iterative decoding. The iterative decoder including a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation unit that estimates an SNR of a received signal, an iterative decoding count setting unit that sets a minimum number of iteration counts for the received signal based on the estimated SNR, and a decoding unit that iteratively decodes the received signal using tentative decoding and error check, and selectively performs the error check based on the minimum number of iteration counts.
US09178520B2 Broadband optical phase detection and phase noise removal with an optical resonator
A phase noise detection apparatus comprises a laser beam, an optical resonator coupled thereto at a coupling point and a photodetector receiving light from the laser beam. The laser beam and the resonator coupled thereto convert phase noise of light transported by the laser beam prior to the coupling point into intensity noise of light transported by the laser beam thereafter. Intensity noise is converted into an electrical signal by the photodetector. The electrical signal is sent through a first signal path and a second signal path such that the first signal path transports a signal substantially proportional to the intensity noise, which is integrated in an integrator in the second path. Relative gain of the two signal paths can be adjusted and the overall gain of the signal path is preferably such that the optical phase modulator at least partially cancels said phase noise in the optical domain.
US09178518B2 Sub-threshold FPGA and related circuits and methods thereof
A sub-VT FPGA uses a low swing, dual-VDD interconnect scheme to reduce FPGA area per LUT, delay at a constant energy, and energy at a constant delay relative to a conventional design at low voltage. These improvements are made possible by a custom asynchronous sense amp, a separated voltage for memory cells, and an improved passgate interconnect to optimize routing delay with low energy overhead. This sub-threshold FPGA design enables energy efficient and cost effective configurable logic for a wide variety of ULP applications.
US09178517B2 Wide range core supply compatible level shifter circuit
A level shifter circuit is implemented with dual gate fully depleted silicon-on-insulator (FDSOI) technology. By enhancing the performance of the NMOS and devices within the level shifting circuit, the Vt of the dual gate FDSOI NMOS transistors is lowered without a need for additional control circuitry. Lowering the Vt can be accomplished through dynamic secondary gate control, by coupling together primary and secondary gates of the NMOS devices, while secondary gates of the PMOS devices can be coupled to a high voltage supply level. Such high performance NMOS devices can then operate at higher frequencies and run on a much wider range of core power supplies. Meanwhile, conventional DC conditions are maintained during steady state operation. Because no components are added to the level shifter circuit, the higher performance is achieved without an increase in size and current consumption.