| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09179994B2 |
Implantable film/mesh composite
The present disclosure relates to implantable medical devices which include at least one mesh and at least one film attached to the mesh along different portions of the mesh creating at least one aperture between the mesh and the film. |
| US09179992B2 |
Implants, tools, and methods for treatment of pelvic conditions
Described are various embodiments of surgical procedures, systems, implants, devices, tools, and methods, useful for treating pelvic conditions in a male or female, the pelvic conditions including incontinence (various forms such as fecal incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, urge incontinence, mixed incontinence, etc.), vaginal prolapse (including various forms such as enterocele, cystocele, rectocele, apical or vault prolapse, uterine descent, etc.), and other conditions caused by muscle and ligament weakness, the devices and tools including devices and tools for anchoring an implant to supportive tissue and adjusting the implant. |
| US09179987B2 |
Method and device for reducing angulation error during dental procedures
A method for reducing angulation error during the placement of dental implants or other dental procedures. Two or more sensors are used to monitor realtime orientation of a dental handpiece. One or more signal emitters are used in order to notify the user that a first orientation of the dental handpiece has been identified and recorded. One or more signal emitters are used to notify the user that the dental handpiece has been repositioned into a second orientation having a predetermined spatial relationship to the first orientation. |
| US09179983B2 |
Method of determining a contour of an anatomical structure and selecting an orthopaedic implant to replicate the anatomical structure
A computer assisted surgery (CAS) system and method for preparing an anatomical structure to receive an orthopaedic implant. The method generally involves the steps of determining a contour of the anatomical structure by using the CAS system to acquire a plurality of points on the anatomical structure and provide a best fit approximation of the anatomical structure based on the plurality of points, selecting an implant to replicate the anatomical structure, and preparing the anatomical structure to receive the implant. |
| US09179978B1 |
Organizer for surgical tools and items used during surgery
An organizer for holding surgical instruments includes a tray that has instrument wells extending from the top surface of the tray. The shape of each instrument well corresponds to particular surgical instrument's shapes. Each instrument well's depth corresponds to the height of a particular stack of surgical instruments. Pivoting locking bars extend over each instrument well to a locked position. In that position, instruments cannot be added to or removed from the instrument well. When the bar extends over the instrument well, the bar rests against the top instrument in the instrument well if the instrument well is full. If one or more instruments are missing from their instrument well, the locking bar's intersection with the structure of the tray adjacent the instrument well is such that an end of the locking bar projects about the tray's surface. Thus, one can notice quickly whether all instrument wells are full. |
| US09179974B2 |
Helical push wire electrode
Helical push wire electrodes are provided. The electrodes may create a continuous helical lesion. One or more electrodes may wind around a support section and create a set of helixes having fixed ends and hitches. Pushing or pulling an end of the electrode transforms the electrodes between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration such that the set of helixes expand or contract axially. Different portions of the electrodes may be surrounded by sleeves. The sleeves may regulate how the wires transform and provide insulation. Various insulation configurations of the electrodes may provide creations of discrete lesions, efficient energy delivery and reduced power consumption. |
| US09179972B2 |
System and method for controlling delivery of ablation energy to tissue
A system for controlling delivery of ablation energy by an ablation catheter to tissue in a body is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit configured to determine, responsive to a measurement signal from the ablation catheter, a value for a characteristic associated with the delivery of ablation energy to the tissue. In one embodiment, the characteristic is the degree of contact between the ablation catheter and the tissue. The unit is further configured to generate a control signal, responsive to the determined value of the characteristic, to control an amount of energy delivered from an ablation delivery element on the ablation catheter to the tissue. The amount of energy varies in response to the determined value of the characteristic when the determined value of the characteristic meets a predetermined condition relative to a threshold value for the characteristic. |
| US09179966B2 |
Instrument and methods for electrical current treatment of tissues and methods for monitoring the same
Disclosed herein are methods of delivering current to a target tissue using a medical instrument, wherein the medical instrument is configured to track and deliver a predetermined current time amount. Also disclosed herein are methods and a system of monitoring for usage of a hemorrhoid treatment instrument and invoicing for such usage. |
| US09179964B2 |
Methods and devices to treat nasal airways
A method is described for modifying at least one property of a tissue of or near a nasal valve of a nose, without using a surgical incision or an implant, to decrease airflow resistance or perceived airflow resistance in a nasal airway. The method may involve contacting a treatment element of a treatment device with the at least one tissue inside the nasal airway, with sufficient force to at least temporarily deform the at least one tissue, applying energy to, or removing energy from, the at least one tissue, using the treatment element, and removing the treatment element from the nostril. |
| US09179963B2 |
Bladder tissue modification for overactive bladder disorders
Regions of tissue having reduced electrical propagation are created in a bladder to affect its electrical or mechanical properties. To create these tissue regions, a tubular device is advanced through the urethra leading to the interior of the bladder, a distal expandable structure of the device is expanded to contact the inner wall of the bladder, and electrodes or other active energy delivery elements of the device are activated to deliver ablation energy. The electrodes or other active energy delivery elements are disposed over the expandable structure which is shaped to conform to the interior of the bladder. The inner wall of the organ is ablated in a predetermined pattern. The same or other electrodes disposed over the expandable structure can used to electrically map the bladder. This map of electrical activity can be used to create the predetermined pattern. |
| US09179962B2 |
Transvascular methods of treating extravascular tissue
An intravascular catheter for peri-vascular or peri-urethral tissue ablation includes multiple needles advanced through supported guide tubes which expand with open ends around a central axis to engage the interior surface of the wall of the renal artery or other vessel of a human body allowing the injection an ablative fluid for ablating tissue, such as nerve fibers in the outer layer or deep to the outer layer of the vessel, or in prostatic tissue. The system also controls the depth of penetration of the ablative fluid into and beyond the tissue of the vessel wall. The preferred embodiment of the catheter includes structures which provide radial and lateral support to the guide tubes so that the guide tubes open uniformly and maintain their position against the interior surface of the vessel wall as the sharpened injection needles are advanced to penetrate into the vessel wall. |
| US09179961B2 |
Methods and apparatus for deploying sheet-like materials
Implant delivery systems for delivering sheet-like implants include a delivery shaft, an implant expander, a sheath, and a sheet-like implant. In some embodiments, the delivery shaft has a proximal end and a distal end. The implant expander is mounted to the distal end of the delivery shaft. The implant expander includes a central portion and a plurality of leg portions radiating from the central portion. The implant expander is evertable between an unstressed configuration in which a distal surface of the implant expander defines a concave surface, and a first compact configuration in which the distal surface of the implant expander defines a convex surface. The implant expander has a first lateral extent when the implant expander is free to assume the unstressed configuration. The sheath defines a lumen having a lumen diameter. At least a portion of the delivery shaft is slidably disposed in the lumen. The lumen diameter is smaller than the first lateral extent of the implant expander so that the sheath holds the implant expander in the first compact configuration when slidably disposed therein. The sheet-like implant overlays at least a portion of the distal surface of the implant expander with portions of the sheet-like implant extending between the leg portions of the implant expander and the sheath. Methods of treating a rotator cuff of a shoulder are also disclosed. |
| US09179957B2 |
Systems, assemblies and methods for spinal derotation
Systems, assemblies, components and methods for correcting alignment of one or more vertebrae of a spine are provided. A first elongate derotator member includes a first elongate element having a first proximal end portion and a first distal end portion. The first distal end portion is releasably engageable with a first implant implanted in one of the vertebrae. A second elongate derotator member comprising a second elongate element is releasably engageable with a second implant implanted in the same vertebra. A transverse member is engageable with the first and second elongate elements. A first channel extends axially through the first elongate element and a second channel extends axially through the second elongate element such that a proximal end portion of the first implant can be accessed from a proximal end portion of the first elongate element by inserting a tool through the first channel and a proximal end portion of the second implant can be accessed from a proximal end portion of the second elongate element by inserting the tool or another tool through the second channel. |
| US09179956B2 |
Orthopedic fixation pin with bioresorbable layer
An orthopedic pin is used in a fixation device for treating fractures. The device has a body with holes to accept the pins. The pins have a layer of bioresorbable material thereon. Engagement between the pins and the body is initially through the bioresorbable material, which engagement rigidly fixes the relative angular orientation between the pins and the body when the device is applied to a bone. As the bioresorbable material is resorbed, the angular relation between the pins and the body is no longer rigidly fixed, thereby effecting a transformation from rigid osteosynthesis to flexible osteosynthesis to allow micromotion between the bone fragments which promotes healing. |
| US09179952B2 |
Implant for stabilizing bones or vertebrae
An implant for stabilizing bones or vertebrae is provided, the implant comprising an implant body (1, 100, 100′) which can be fixed by at least one screw (2) to the bone or a vertebra, wherein the implant body comprises at least one hole (9a, 9b, 9c, 9a″, 9b′, 900a, 900b′) which has a threaded portion (91) with an internal thread for cooperating with the screw thread, characterized in that a guiding member (11,11′,11″,111) is provided in the hole which guides the screw when the screw is screwed through the threaded portion (91). |
| US09179950B2 |
Adjustable suture-button construct for ankle syndesmosis repair
An adjustable, knotless button/loop construct for fixation of ankle syndesmosis tibio-fibular diastasis and an associated method of ankle repair using the same. The knotless construct comprises a pair of buttons attached to a flexible, continuous, self-cinching, adjustable loop integrated with two splices that are interconnected. The knotless construct is passed through fibular and tibia tunnels and the buttons are secured on the cortical surfaces of tibia and fibula. One of the buttons (for example, an oblong button) is secured on the medial side of the tibia by passing the button and the flexible, adjustable loop though the fibular and tibia tunnels and then flipping and seating the button outside the tibia. The length of the flexible adjustable loop is adjusted so that the second button (for example, a round button) is appropriately secured on the lateral fibula. |
| US09179947B2 |
Locking distractor with two-start distraction screw
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a distractor system including one or more of the following: a distraction screw comprising a double threaded distal portion and a nonthreaded locking feature near a proximal end of the distraction screw; a crossbar; a first arm coupled to the crossbar; a second arm coupled to the crossbar and having an interior bore sized to receive at least a portion of the distraction screw; and a lock having a nonthreaded aperture sized to receive at least a portion of the distraction screw therethrough, wherein the lock is configurable in a first position and a second position, when configured in the first position the lock engages the locking feature to substantially inhibit axial movement of the distraction screw within the interior bore, and when configured in the second position the lock substantially permits axial movement of the distraction screw within the interior bore. |
| US09179946B2 |
Low-profile anterior vertebral plate assemblies and methods of use
Low-profile anterior vertebral plate assemblies and methods of use are disclosed herein. The plate assemblies herein are useful for coupling adjacent vertebral bodies together. Preferred vertebral plates assemblies herein are low-profile, meaning that the assemblies herein are positioned partially within and partially outside of the intervertebral space. Additional teachings are directed to hinged low-profile anterior vertebral plate assemblies that allow slight flexion towards the vertebral bodies in a sufficient amount to prevent kyphosis, and encourage a desired amount of lordosis. |
| US09179945B2 |
Minimally invasive spinal fixator implant surgical device
The minimally invasive spinal fixator surgical device contains a support member; a guiding member adjustably joined to the support member; at least two sliding members correspondingly and adjustably joined to the guiding member; a first extension member adjustably joined to a sliding member; a second extension member adjustably joined to another sliding member; a first pulling member joined to the first extension member; a second pulling member joined to the second extension member; a tubular member joined to a side of the first pulling member; and a probe member plugged into the tubular member for conducting implant location determination and then removed. With the assistance of the present invention, the wound and damage to the muscle tissue of the patient are minimal and there is little bleeding. The operation team is also exposed to the X-ray for a minimum amount of time. The patient would also enjoy fast recovery. |
| US09179942B2 |
Holding device having a longilineal element adapted for maintaining a predetermined intervertebral spacing
The subject matter of the present invention relates to a maintaining device suitable for maintaining a predetermined intervertebral spacing, comprising a) a slender component, which is preferably substantially flat, of predetermined main width having a first end and a second end capable of being placed around the spinous processes, b) a rigid support comprising two side parts mounted between front and rear parts, and c) a blocking component mounted so as to slide on the side parts. |
| US09179936B2 |
Constraining structure with non-linear axial struts
A constraining structure for use with a balloon catheter can include multiple longitudinal struts and multiple, sinusoidal shaped radial rings. The constraining structure can expand to form a pattern of channels including substantially square windows. The constraining structure can modify, restrict, and control a shape and/or size of the balloon when inflated. Inflating the balloon catheter within the constraining structure can provide nonuniform pressure on a vessel wall adjacent the balloon. |
| US09179935B2 |
Mechanical biomarkers for oocyte and embryo viability
Provided are methods for the determination of the viability of a mammalian embryo or a potential embryo generated from a mammalian oocyte, comprising applying a mechanical stimulus to the embryo or oocyte, detecting a temporal response of the embryo or oocyte to the mechanical stimulus, and deriving measurements for one or more parameters from the temporal response, the measurements being indicative of viability. Also provided are methods for selecting an embryo for transfer and methods for enhancing the viability of an embryo or oocyte. |
| US09179934B2 |
Single port device including selectively closeable openings
A surgical port includes a port body having a lumen extending therethrough and a plate having an opening. The port body may be made from foam. The port is configured such that rotation of the plate with respect to the port body aligns the opening and lumen defining a passage therethrough for the insertion of surgical instruments. |
| US09179933B2 |
Gear driven triangulation
A surgical access port and method for achieving triangulation is disclosed, the surgical access port comprising a housing and an articulation structure. The housing is comprised of a cylindrical member having proximal and distal ends, and defining a longitudinal axis. The articulation structure is comprised of at least two lumens, each of the at least two tubular members disposed in a respective lumen, at least two rotating members disposed along each of the at least two tubular members, an actuating member, and a rigid member connecting each rotating member to each tubular member. The tubular members are configured to receive instruments for use in minimally invasive procedures. |
| US09179930B2 |
Compact endoscopic surgical blade assembly and method of use thereof
An endoscopic surgical device comprising a slotted clear cannula, a blade and a housing, wherein the cannula is attached to the housing, and wherein the blade is enclosed in the housing and is slidable into the cannula is disclosed. The blade is enclosed within the housing and cannula, and has a horizontally-oriented pushing component and a vertically-oriented cutting component that protrudes through the slot of the cannula. A method for a performing an operative procedure on a target tissue in a subject using the endoscopic surgical device is also described. |
| US09179923B2 |
Ribbed surgical bur
The bur includes a shaft to which a bur head is attached. The bur head includes a plurality of flutes. Each flute at least has a rake surface, a cam surface and a cutting edge. The rake surface extends radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the head. The rake surfaces define the flute cutting edge (38). The associated cam surface curves away from the rake surface. One or more ribs extend radially outwardly from the cam surface. |
| US09179921B1 |
Inflatable balloon stent
A medical device consists of a dual lumen catheter with three intra-connecting balloons comprising a balloon stent. The adjustable tissue approximation using negative pressure exerted between device and mucosa of stomach/esophagus/colon with improved injury site isolation via adjustable balloon stent and added potential of negative pressure application to injury site for active healing process and distal feeding potential. |
| US09179918B2 |
Vascular remodeling device
A generally spherical vascular remodeling device is permanently positionable at a junction of afferent and efferent vessels of a bifurcation having an aneurysm. After positioning the device at the junction to substantially conform the device to the shape of the junction, the device acts as a scaffolding to inhibit herniation of objects out of the aneurysm and the device permits perfusion to the efferent vessels. Positioning the device may include deployment and mechanical or electrolytic release from a catheter. Embolic material may be inserted in the aneurysm before or after positioning the device. The device may have a first end, a second end substantially opposite to the first end, and a plurality of filaments extending between and coupled at the first end and the second end. Such devices may be football shaped, pumpkin shaped, or twisted. The device may include a plurality of loops forming a generally spherical shape. |
| US09179916B2 |
Devices, systems and methods for creation of a peripherally located fistula
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the formation of an arteriovenous fistula in the limb of the patient. Embodiments include a device for the creation, modification and maintenance of a fistula that includes an integral fistula creation assembly near its distal end that passes through the skin of the patient, through a first vessel such as an artery, and into a second vessel such as a vein. The fistula creation assembly preferably includes an anastomotic implant that is placed within the fistula to maintain long-term blood flow therethrough. The devices, systems and methods can be used to treat patients with one or more numerous ailments including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, hypotension, respiratory failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, lung fibrosis and adult respiratory distress syndrome. |
| US09179915B2 |
Endovascular stapler
An endovascular stapler for securing an endograft to a vessel is disclosed. The stapler includes a staple housing adapted for storing at least one staple therein, the staple housing having an exit area for discharge of the at least one staple therethrough, an actuating assembly adapted for discharging the at least one staple through the exit area, and a displacement mechanism in operative association with the staple housing near the exit area. The displacement member is operative for pushing the exit area against the endograft when discharging the at least one staple therethrough. The discharged staple forms a plurality of opposed loops connected by a central element upon discharge. Also disclosed are staples and displacement mechanisms adapted for use with surgical instruments such as the present endovascular staplers. The staples may be formed from memory metal or other metal. The displacement mechanisms disclosed include balloons and rigid offsetting devices. |
| US09179912B2 |
Robotically-controlled motorized surgical cutting and fastening instrument
A surgical cutting and fastening instrument. The instrument comprises an end effector that has a shaft coupled thereto that is coupled to a robotic system. A tool mounting portion includes an electric, DC motor connected to a drive train in the shaft for powering the drive train. A power pack that comprises at least one charge-accumulating device connected to the DC motor for powering the DC motor is provided. |
| US09179907B2 |
Knotless graft fixation assembly
An illustrative example suture securing assembly includes an inserter having a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end. A first member includes an eyelet oriented to thread suture across the longitudinal axis. The first member is situated near the distal end of the inserter. The first member is configured to be placed in bone. A second member is situated near the distal end of the inserter. The second member is moveable relative to the first member in a distal direction toward the eyelet into a suture securing position where the second member traps suture. |
| US09179906B2 |
System and method for percutaneous palate remodeling
Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the palatal tissue. An implant is positioned within at least a portion of the soft palate and may be secured to other surrounding, less mobile structures such as the hard palate or the mucosa overlying the hard palate. The implant may be manipulated to displace at least a portion of the soft palate in an anterior or lateral direction, or to alter the tissue tension or compliance of the soft palate. |
| US09179902B2 |
Vascular wound closure device and method
A method and apparatus for closing a vascular wound includes an apparatus that can be threaded over a guidewire into place at or adjacent the wound. The apparatus includes a chamber that encloses a hemostatic material therein. When the apparatus is positioned adjacent the wound as desired, the hemostatic material is deployed from the chamber. A blocking member distal of the hemostatic material functions as a barrier to prevent the hemostatic material from entering the wound. Blood contacts the hemostatic material, and blood clotting preferably is facilitated by a hemostatic agent within the material. Thus, the vascular puncture wound is sealed by blood clot formation. |
| US09179901B2 |
Vascular access ports and related methods
Ports for accessing vessels within a patient include passageways that can guide needles or other access devices directly into the vessels. The ports can be implanted subcutaneously within a patient. Some ports may be used in the creation and use of vascular access buttonholes. |
| US09179899B2 |
Implantable device
In an implantable device (1) for use in the human and/or animal body for closure or partial closure of defect openings (2), cavities, organ passages etc or for providing a defined communicating opening between walls, organs, cavities etc comprising a carrier structure (17) which in a primary form has a large ratio of length to transverse extent along an axis (x) and in a secondary form has a smaller ratio of length to transverse extent along the axis (x), wherein the carrier structure (17) has a proximal and a distal portion (10, 11) and is formed in the manner of a weft and/or mesh and/or layered cloth and/or gauze, at least the one portion (11) in the secondary form has a first part (14) facing outwardly away from the other portion (10) or towards same and a second part (13) which deploys first from the primary form into the secondary form and which is folded back in a direction towards the other portion (10) or inwardly on to the first part (14). |
| US09179893B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, image processing system, and program
An image processing apparatus includes a display control unit configured to display cross-sectional images based on planes passing through positions designated for a plurality of items of three-dimensional image data; and a change unit configured to cooperatively rotate the planes around the designated positions and to change the cross-sectional images to be displayed. |
| US09179892B2 |
System and method for ultrasound imaging
A system and method for ultrasound imaging includes acquiring volumetric data of a volume of interest with an ultrasound imaging system. The system and method includes acquiring planar data with the ultrasound imaging system during the process of acquiring the volumetric data, the planar data including data of a plane through the volume of interest. The system and method includes displaying a reference image based on the planar data during the process of acquiring the volumetric data. The system and method also includes displaying an image based on the volumetric data. |
| US09179887B2 |
Systems and methods for predicting gastrointestinal impairment
Predicting gastrointestinal impairment may involve obtaining intestinal sounds of a patient to generate audio data, identifying predefined spectral events in the audio data that are predictive of subsequent gastrointestinal impairment, the spectral events being defined by predefined parameters, and predicting the likelihood of subsequent gastrointestinal impairment relative to the identified spectral events. |
| US09179885B2 |
Integrated work-flow for accurate input function estimation
When estimating an arterial input function or a patient under study, cross-calibration factors are generated by comparing nuclear scan data of a radioactive material (e.g., F18) and measuring a sample of the radioactive material in a gamma counter. The derived cross-calibration factors are applied to venous samples collected from the patient during a nuclear scan after infusion with a radioactive tracer, to convert gamma values counted by the gamma counter into concentration values. The concentration values are used to optimize an initial estimated input function, thereby generating an arterialized input function. |
| US09179883B2 |
X-ray image acquisition system for differential phase contrast imaging of an examination object by way of phase stepping, and angiographic examination method
In an embodiment of an X-ray image acquisition system, an X-ray image detector includes a detector layer having a matrix composed of x total pixels structured in such a way that in a direction standing perpendicularly with respect to the grating lines of the diffraction or phase grating, the total pixels are subdivided into y subpixels which can be driven and/or read out in groups in a readout process such that, in a first phase step, n subpixels are effectively combined into groups, with m subpixels of a total pixel between the groups not being captured, and such that, in subsequent K−1 phase steps, n subpixels are in each case combined again into groups until all necessary combinations of subpixels have been captured, with the combined subpixels being shifted in the analysis direction by an increment of p subpixels in each case. |
| US09179880B2 |
Radiation therapy patient couch top compatible with diagnostic imaging
A radiation therapy patient couch top which provides optimal fields of treatment in a high-energy radiation therapy environment. In addition, the patient couch top provides superior imaging qualities when used in a diagnostic imaging x-ray environment. All metal is eliminated from the treatment/imaging area. This ensures that no metal will be in the way of the radiation treatment beam and that no artifacting will occur when used with diagnostic imaging techniques such as Computed Tomography. By employing moveable fiber reinforced support beams, the main patient support structure can be positioned so that a minimum of electron generation will occur through Compton scattering. By allowing for a removable insert, the top patient surface can be optimized for treatment, diagnostic imaging or the addition of other useful features. The novel design of these inserts allows the tip end of the beams to be free from any cross members, further improving the imaging and treatment qualities of the resulting patient couch top. Further, a CT simulator insert is provided which provides the same dosimetric properties for the patient couchtop and devices during patient treatment planning. |
| US09179876B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying portions of a physiological signal usable for determining physiological information
A patient monitoring system may determine portions of a PPG signal that correspond to artifacts, to a baseline shift that exceeds a threshold, or to a pulse-to-pulse variability that exceeds a threshold. The patient monitoring system may identify a contiguous portion of the PPG signal that does not include the determined portions. The contiguous portion of the PPG signal may be used to determine physiological information. |
| US09179874B2 |
Optical-based physiological sensor assembly with disposable barrier layer
A physiological sensor assembly includes a physiological sensor having at least one light source and at least one optical receiver. A substantially transparent barrier layer is disposed between the physiological sensor and the patient's skin such that the barrier layer is removably adhered to the physiological sensor and removably adhered to the patient's skin. |
| US09179872B2 |
Lancets for bodily fluid sampling supplied on a tape
A supply of lancets for a multi-use lancing device are carried by a tape and sequentially brought from a storage position to an activating position by advancing the tape around a bend. In the lancets' activating position they extend from the tape such that their sharp tips are available for lancing tissue. The carrying tape can be arranged in reel-to-reel format in a housing having a lancing opening. The lancets can be integral with the tape and activated to move the lancet through the lancing opening by moving the tape along its tape path or by translating a dedicated service loop of the tape. The lancets can also be independent from the tape and activated through the lancing opening by a separate lancing actuator. A test media can be included on the carrying tape and the housing can contain a sensor to yield an integrated lancing and testing device. |
| US09179870B2 |
Method of making a sensor with layered electrodes
A thin film sensor, such as a glucose sensor, is provided for transcutaneous placement at a selected site within the body of a patient. The sensor includes several sensor layers that include conductive layers and includes a proximal segment defining conductive contacts adapted for electrical connection to a suitable monitor, and a distal segment with sensor electrodes for transcutaneous placement. The sensor electrode layers are disposed generally above each other, for example with the reference electrode above the working electrode and the working electrode above the counter electrode. The electrode layers are separated by dielectric layer. |
| US09179869B2 |
Techniques to improve polyurethane membranes for implantable glucose sensors
The invention provides an implantable membrane for regulating the transport of analytes therethrough that includes a matrix including a first polymer; and a second polymer dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the second polymer forms a network of microdomains which when hydrated are not observable using photomicroscopy at 400× magnification or less. In one aspect, the homogeneous membrane of the present invention has hydrophilic domains dispersed substantially throughout a hydrophobic matrix to provide an optimum balance between oxygen and glucose transport to an electrochemical glucose sensor. |
| US09179868B2 |
Fingerstall oximeter
Disclosed is a fingerstall oximeter including a soft gum coat and a case, a display screen for displaying measurement results is provided on the upper part of the case and an open corresponding to the display screen is provided on the soft gum coat. The soft gum coat is slipped over the outside of the case, the case is used to accommodate and protect a circuit board, and a chamber for accommodating finger is formed and rounded by the upper part of the case and the bottom of the soft gum coat, for accommodating a finger to be measured. A first measurement module is provided on the bottom of the soft gum coat and a second measurement module is provided within the case at a position corresponding to the first measurement module. |
| US09179867B2 |
Lancet device with depth adjustment and lancet removal system and method
Lancet device includes a housing, a removable front cap mounted to the housing, a lancet holding member, and a trigger. A system is utilized for placing the lancet device in a trigger-set or armed position. A depth adjustment system includes a member that is at least partially rotatably mounted and that has an axis of rotation arranged substantially perpendicular to a center axis of the lancet holding member. An ejection system is utilized for at least one of preventing axial movement of the lancet holding member and removing or ejecting a lancet from the lancet holding member. |
| US09179865B2 |
Luminescent tension-indicating orthopedic strain gauges for non-invasive measurements through tissue
Strain gauges that can provide information with regard to the state of implantable devices are described. The strain gauges can exhibit luminescence that is detectable through living tissue, and the detectable luminescent emission can vary according to the strain applied to the gauge. A change in residual strain of the device can signify a loss of mechanical integrity and/or loosening of the implant, and this can be non-invasively detected either by simple visual detection of the luminescent emission or through examination of the emission with a detector such as a spectrometer or a camera. |
| US09179864B2 |
Wearable health monitoring device and methods for fall detection
A wearable health monitoring device includes at least one sensor for obtaining a signal indicative of movement of a user in at least one axis and logic configured to determine, based upon the signal, whether the user has fallen. |
| US09179860B2 |
Determining a location of a member
An volume of a patient can be mapped with a system operable to identify a plurality of locations and save a plurality of locations of a mapping instrument. The mapping instrument can include one or more electrodes that can sense a voltage that can be correlated to a three dimensional location of the electrode at the time of the sensing or measurement. Therefore, a map of a volume can be determined based upon the sensing of the plurality of points without the use of other imaging devices. An implantable medical device can then be navigated relative to the mapping data. |
| US09179856B2 |
Sensing device for body tissue properties
A device is described for measuring a parameter of living tissue, in particular a glucose level, which parameter affects a response of said tissue to an electric field. The device comprises a substrate (2), which carries a ground electrode (10) as well as a plurality of signal electrodes (12a, 12b, 13a-13c, 14). The gaps (15) between the ground electrode and the signal electrodes are filled with a solid filler material (16) in order to provide an even surface. Optical reflection detectors (23a, 23b, 23c) can also be located in these gaps in order to avoid field distortions and obtain a compact design. The backside of substrate (2) carries electronic high-frequency components for improving signal quality. |
| US09179854B2 |
Three-dimensional localization, display, recording, and analysis of electrical activity in the cerebral cortex
The present invention describes a method and apparatus to localize the electrical signals measured from a subject's scalp surface, preferably in near-real time, and to generate dynamic three-dimensional information of the electrical activity occurring within the cerebral cortex of the brain. In the preferred embodiment, it can produce images that can be immediately inspected and analyzed by an operator in near-real time, resulting in a powerful new cortical imaging modality, which we denote as Dynamic Electrocortical Imaging (DECI). The present invention involves the use of a computer, an electroencephalographic (EEG) amplifier, EEG electrodes, and custom software. It can measure healthy and diseased cortical events and states in both conscious and unconscious subjects. This is useful, as it allows for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of cortical disorders, while also furthering the understanding of the human brain and lending use to additional non-medical applications such as in entertainment, education, lie-detection and industry. The invention in one embodiment is implemented using software in conjunction with readily available EEG hardware. Furthermore, this same method can be applied to pre-existing data and when doing so, EEG hardware is not required. Having a practical near-real time 3D imaging system brings a far more accessible technology to doctors, researchers, individuals, and private clinics to better diagnose, monitor, treat and understand many of the conditions and abnormalities of the brain. |
| US09179852B2 |
Heart monitoring systems, apparatus and methods adapted to detect myocardial ischemia
Embodiments include heart monitoring systems, apparatus, and methods adapted to detect myocardial ischemia. An apparatus includes at least one first-tier sensor/analyzer adapted to sense a first input related to cardiac function, and to produce a first-tier trigger signal when the first input indicates myocardial ischemia. In an embodiment, a first-tier sensor/analyzer includes an ECG sensor/analyzer. In another embodiment, a first-tier sensor/analyzer includes a patient activator. An apparatus further includes at least one second-tier sensor/analyzer adapted to sense a second input related to cardiac function, and to produce a second-tier trigger signal when the second input indicates myocardial ischemia. In an embodiment, a second-tier sensor-analyzer includes a heart sound sensor/analyzer. A triggering element is adapted to produce a response-invoking signal in response to the first-tier trigger signal and the second-tier trigger signal. The response-invoking signal may invoke a patient alert, a message to an external system, and/or a cardiac stimulus. |
| US09179850B2 |
Systems, methods and devices for a skull/brain interface
A form of neuromodulation is conveyed from an external source to an interior of the skull to modulate neural activity. One or more apertures are formed through or partially through the skull to provide an interface for neuromodulation delivery. Parameters of one or more states of the brain may be sensed through an interface formed with one or more apertures extending all or part of the way through the skull. A device provides an interface between the exterior of the skull and the brain that includes a channel of a length sufficient to traverse the entire thickness of the skull or at least a part of the thickness of the skull. The channels may be configured for ion conduction of electrical signals, enabling DC or near DC stimulation of target neurons. |
| US09179844B2 |
Handheld skin measuring or monitoring device
A handheld skin monitoring or measuring device includes a camera having a camera optical axis; and a structured light arrangement configured to project three or more laser fan beams such that the laser fan beams cross at a crossing point in front of the camera. |
| US09179839B2 |
Method for determining at least one diagnosis or risk assessment parameter related to AMD
A method for Determining at Least One Parameter for Diagnosis or Risk Assessment of a Disease, including AMD. The distribution of the macular pigment MP of an eye and at least one area A whose bordering line corresponds to a constant optical density MPD and/or concentration MPC of MP is determined by an analysis unit. The bordering line is subjected to a quantitative shape description. At least one parameter DP, suitable for diagnosing a disease and/or the risk of a disease is derived from the quantitative shape description of the bordering line of the areas A. The method is provided for diagnosis or risk assessment but may also be used in the context of treatment of macular pigment deficiency phenomena to select the required supplements. This method, based on the determination of the fractal dimension, is also suitable for diagnosing other diseases such as edemas, actinomycoses, atrophies or lesions. |
| US09179838B2 |
Eye/gaze tracker and method of tracking the position of an eye and/or a gaze point of a subject
An eye/gaze tracker with first and second light sources each configured to illuminate an eye of a subject and controlled to selectively emit light towards the eye in such a manner that within an operation sequence the eye is illuminated by the first light source during at least one first interval and by the second light source during at least one second interval. An image sensor has a plurality of photodiodes each of which is associated with first and second charge storages configured to store electric charges based on an amount of light reaching the photodiode. At least one switch of the image sensor is controlled such that the electric charges are stored in the first charge storage as a result of the illumination during the at least one first interval and in the second charge storage as a result of the illumination during the at least one second interval. |
| US09179834B2 |
Attenuation-based optic neuropathy detection with three-dimensional optical coherence tomography
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scan data of a subject is acquired over a region of interest which can include an optic disc or a macula of a retina. Layer boundaries of retinal layers are identified in the OCT scan data to facilitate measurements. In one aspect, a measurement related to ratio value between a total backscattered signal intensity of one or more target layers of the retina and a total backscattered signal intensity of one or more reference layers is computed on a location-by-location basis within a region of interest of the OCT scan data. Measurements can be collected, aggregated, analyzed, and displayed in connection with other information taken or derived from the OCT scan data. |
| US09179833B2 |
Systems and methods for improved ease and accuracy of gaze tracking
Methods for improving gaze tracking are presented. These methods eliminate the need for a separate initial calibration step to determine whether the subject is properly centrally fixated during testing. In one embodiment, whether the subject is centrally fixated is determined by identifying inlier and outlier gaze descriptors; the inliers are assumed to be associated with central fixation. This reduces the total time required for testing. These methods also improve the accuracy of gaze tracking during testing without the need for individual subject calibration. Instead, a database of reference eyes is used. The subject's eye can be compared to the reference eyes, and the mapping function for one or more reference matches can be used to estimate the subject's gaze direction. In another embodiment, previous calibration data from the same subject can be used to determine whether the subject is properly centrally fixated and/or the direction of the subject's gaze. |
| US09179831B2 |
Visualization instrument
A visualization instrument comprising a display support component removably coupled to a component insertable into a target space. The insertable component includes a camera providing images of the target space. The images are presented in a display device supported by the display support component. The insertable component may be discarded after a permitted number of uses. |
| US09179830B2 |
Scanning endoscope apparatus
An endoscope apparatus includes: an insertion portion to be inserted into a living body, an optical fiber that is inserted through the insertion portion and emits light from a light source, a fixing member that holds the optical fiber in the insertion portion in a state where the optical fiber is protruded in a distal end direction of the insertion portion, an actuator that causes the distal end of the optical fiber to swing, and a distal end optical system having an optical characteristic in which a focal point position of the light is behind a distal end of the insertion portion when the optical fiber protruded from the fixing member is shortened by a predetermined length. |
| US09179827B2 |
Systems and methods for determining the position and orientation of medical devices inserted into a patient
A medical device system includes an elongated body with a distal end that is configured and arranged for insertion into a patient. A housing is disposed in the distal end of the body. A rotatable magnet is disposed in the housing. At least one magnetic field winding is configured and arranged to generate a magnetic field at the location of the magnet. The magnetic field causes rotation of the magnet at a target frequency. An array of magnetic field sensors is disposed external to the patient. The magnetic field sensors are configured and arranged to sense the location and orientation of the magnet in relation to the array of magnetic field sensors. |
| US09179825B2 |
Positioning system for manipulating a channel within a medical device
Embodiments of the invention include a medical device for accessing a patient's body portion and used for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Embodiments of the invention may include a particular endoscopic positioning mechanism for placing an endoscope and an additional treatment device within desired body portions in order to assist in diagnosis and treatment of anatomical diseases and disorders. In particular, a medical device according to an embodiment of the invention includes a positioning mechanism configured for movement through at least two degrees of freedom. |
| US09179818B2 |
Spray arm assembly for a dishwasher appliance
A dishwasher appliance is provided with a spray arm assembly. The spray arm assembly defines an orifice for directing liquid out of the spray arm assembly. The orifice can selectively receive a nozzle with a particular outlet geometry. By selectively receiving the nozzle, a spray pattern of liquid exiting the orifice can be changed by replacing or modifying the nozzle without remanufacturing or replacing the spray arm assembly. |
| US09179817B2 |
Household appliance, in particular dishwasher, with an acoustic sealing frame for noise reduction
A household appliance includes appliance walls which delimit a space. A covering plate is arranged on an outer face of at least one of the appliance walls so as to leave free a gap. The gap is sealed in an edge region of the covering plate by an acoustic sealing frame. |
| US09179814B2 |
Cleaning article comprising lines of frangibility with marked indicia
A melamine-based foam block for cleaning has lines of frangibility that separate the melamine-based block into pads that are delineated. A melamine-based foam block for cleaning has lines of frangibility that separate the melamine-based foam block into pads that are different sizes and that are delineated. |
| US09179810B2 |
Insert wall anchor for a grab bar
A grab bar is attached to a wall with at least one anchor assembly. The anchor assembly can be removed and repeatedly used as needed. The anchor assembly includes a vertical support beam, a flange arm assembly having a base portion and an arm portion, and a spring. The spring is attached to the vertical support beam and cooperates with the arm portion to hold the flange arm assembly in place during installation. The base portion of the flange arm assembly has a flange that fits against a wall surface of the wall structure, and the arm portion is received within a slot formed within the vertical support beam. The flange prevents the flange arm assembly from falling behind the wall structure. |
| US09179804B2 |
Sink towel
A sink towel for being disposed about a bathroom, restroom or washroom sink bowl for absorbing water that may be inadvertently or accidently splashed with water upon a surrounding counter top. The towel is comprised of natural or synthetic, water absorbent material which may include paper, cloth or fabric, and is preferably formed of cotton or terry cloth. One or more pockets are included for storing personal items such as tooth brushes, toothpaste, razors, and/or small containers of medicine, shampoo, perfume, or similar items. The towel includes weights or weighted material for holding the towel in place over the sink bowl and also permit the towel to be folded for travel and for hanging on a hook for storage and/or drying between uses. |
| US09179798B2 |
Method and apparatus for brewing coffee and the like
A method and apparatus for brewing coffee or the like uses a cartridge having filters on two opposed sides that is filled with ground coffee and then pressed through a container of heated liquid. The pressing forces the liquid into one filter, through the ground coffee, and out the other filter to produce the brewed beverage. |
| US09179795B1 |
Cooking pan system having foldable handle
A cooking system comprises: a pan; a support having a neck and a ball attached through the neck to the pan, the ball having a protrusion and an elongate opening to receive a pin rod having inflated ends; a cover unit rotatably covering the ball and having a first and second cover, the first cover having an arc opening to receive and rotatably guide the protrusion in the arc opening; an elastic media provided between the first and second covers to elastically contain the rod in the elongate opening of the ball; and a handle extending from a selected one of the first and second covers, the rod ends being manually pulled out of the ball against elastic pushing of the elastic media. |
| US09179789B1 |
Collapsible and wall mountable personal transportation vehicle storage system
A collapsible wall mountable personal transportation vehicle storage system for conveniently storing a plurality of personal transportation vehicles of different types features a personal transportation vehicle. The system features a rigid planar base mounted to a vertical surface via hardware through recessed mounting apertures. The system features a u-shaped upper bracket and a u-shaped lower bracket pivotally mounted to a base front surface. The bracket features a first leg extension and a second leg extension perpendicularly located on opposing ends of a leg crossbeam. The system features a linear peg stand located on both the first leg extension and the second leg extension. The peg stand is designed to interface with the base front surface to support the bracket. The bracket is designed to pivot upwardly to a position flush with the base front surface and downwardly to a position perpendicular with the base front surface. |
| US09179788B2 |
Product management display system
An adjustable tray for a merchandise display system may include a retainer for limiting the movement of products loaded in the adjustable tray, a pusher mechanism configured to bias product toward the retainer, a first divider extending from a first panel and second divider extending from a second panel. The spacing between the first divider and the second divider can be configured to be adjusted. The first panel and the second panel can be configured to move to provide additional surface area for the adjustable tray to accommodate different sized products. |
| US09179787B2 |
Method and device for carrying young humans
A wrap for carrying a young human comprising two rectangular pieces of fabric and a fastening device comprising a plurality of apertures, wherein the first end of the first piece of fabric is secured to the portion of the fastening device disposed between the inner aperture and the first middle aperture, and wherein the third end or the second piece of fabric is secured to the portion of the fastening device disposed between the inner aperture and the third middle aperture. |
| US09179784B2 |
Apparatus, method and program for designing seating arrangement
A seating arrangement designing apparatus includes: a seating arrangement condition table that stores an attribute score indicating intensity of an attribute different for each position regarding a seating arrangement condition, in a data structure of contour lines; a staff condition table that stores tolerance in terms of the attribute of each of staff members; a point calculation unit that calculates a tolerance point indicating a degree of suitability of a certain seat arranged for any of the staff members, based on the attribute score and the tolerance, in a case of planning the seat to be arranged for the staff member; and a seating arrangement determination unit that determines seating arrangement, such that a total sum of the tolerance points for all the staff members satisfies a predetermined condition. |
| US09179778B2 |
Folding chair
A folding chair comprises a supporting leg with two same or symmetrical sides, a seat cushion and a backrest, wherein the supporting leg comprises a front supporting rod and a back supporting rod which are crossed mutually. The front supporting rod extends outwardly to the upside of the seat cushion to form backrest sections. The seat cushion is mounted on a seat cushion rod. The front part of the seat cushion rod is movably hinged on the upper end of the back supporting rod. The back part of the seat cushion is movably hinged on the middle part of the front supporting rod. The front supporting rod or the back supporting rod is hinged with a sliding sleeve. The back supporting rod or the front supporting rod is penetrated through the sliding sleeve to form a movably crossed structure and a stressed support. |
| US09179777B2 |
Method of assembling a chair component
A method of assembling a chair component includes providing a support component adapted to support a portion of a seated user and including at least one aperture, providing a cover including a plurality of sides that cooperate to form an interior space, and including at least one coupler, positioning the support component within the interior space of the cover such that the at least one coupler is positioned within the at least one aperture, providing a securing member, and attaching the securing member to the support component such that the at least one coupler is held within the at least one aperture by the securing member. |
| US09179769B1 |
Seat desktop conversion device
A desk includes a seat mounting member configured to attached to a vertical surface such as the back portion of a seat in an auditorium, a horizontal support member defining an at least partly planar upper surface for use as a desktop, and a horizontal support mounting unit that has a first position connecting the horizontal support member to the seat mounting member in which the upper surface of the horizontal support member is substantially in an in-use position, and a second position connecting the horizontal support member to the seat mounting member in which the upper surface of the horizontal support member is substantially in a stowed position. The horizontal support can be moved between its first, use and second, stowed positions by manipulating the horizontal support mounting unit. |
| US09179766B2 |
Folding table
A folding table has a plank, a substantially vertical support member, and a first leg that can have a first leg first section and a first leg second section. The first leg first section slides relative to the first leg second section when the table is folded between a deployed position and a stowed position. The first leg has an adjustable length. The first leg has a first leg upper joint allowing the first leg to fold between a first leg deployed position and a vertical stowed position. A second leg has a second leg first section and a second leg second section. The second leg first section is jointed to the second leg second section. The second leg has a second leg upper joint connected to the plank or the plank frame. |
| US09179762B2 |
Phone retractor carrying case
An apparatus is provided for detachably tethering a phone to a user's person, such as a belt or strap worn by the user. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a case configured to receive the phone, a holster configured to detachably receive the case, a retractable tether having a distal end and a proximal end opposite the distal end, the proximal end connected to the holster, and the distal end detachably connected to the case, wherein a portion of the tether is housed in the holster, the tether configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, and a spring coupled to the tether, the spring configured to bias the tether into the retracted position. |
| US09179761B2 |
Device for shouldering skis and ski poles
A device for the shoulder support of skis and poles has a box shaped body. A spool is rotatably mounted inside the box shaped body. A tape is at least partially wrapped around the spool. A preloaded spring acts on the spool and against the action of which the tape can be extracted and by the action of which the tape is recalled to be wound onto the spool. A first strap is externally connected to the box shaped body and is adapted to define a first ring to be tightened around at least one ski pole and to be fixed by way of a fixing system in a predefined position. A second strap is connected to the first strap and is adapted to define a ring of variable size to be tightened around at least one ski pole. |
| US09179759B1 |
Convertible hammock for a vehicle or ground stand
The present invention is directed to a hammock system and particularly to a convertible hammock for use on a ground stand, on the bed of truck or similar vehicle and attached to a standard vehicle trailer hitch. The hammock includes a support structure at the head and the foot of the hammock which comprises a vertically directed post. The base stand includes a receptacle for receiving the post. In addition, the post can be equally adapted for slidable reception into utility slots which are already positioned within the side walls of the bed of most pickup trucks or similar vehicles. In addition, the present invention can be directed for use with a trailer hitch component on a typical vehicle. |
| US09179756B2 |
Liquid carrying case for travel
The present disclosure relates to a travel kit which includes a carrying case including a bottom portion and a top portion. The top portion connects to the bottom portion via a fastening means. The kit includes a plurality of containers for the carrying and storage of liquid and similar substances. The containers include a lid with a locking mechanism. The case includes a plurality of securing means attached to the interior wall of the top portion of the carrying case which corresponds to the shape of the plurality of containers and receives the plurality of containers. The case includes a plurality of raised edges attached to the interior bottom wall of the bottom portion of the carrying case. The plurality of raised edges correspond to the shape of the plurality of containers and receives the plurality of containers. The kit includes an instrument for transferring liquid or similar substances into the plurality of containers which is secured to the interior of the carrying case. |
| US09179753B2 |
French manicure application devices, kits and method
An apparatus, kit and method for applying a French manicure to a user's own nails or those of a customer using a simple finger guide which permits the positioning of a finger relative to a reservoir of acrylic nail polish powder. In one form, the apparatus is comprised of a finger guide which can be removably associated with an acrylic nail polish powder-containing vessel. Alternative embodiments include those with a finger guide being integrally formed with the vessel/jar. A method for applying a French manicure using the apparatus of the invention is also contemplated. The kit includes a supply of one or more acrylic nail polish powders, a finger guide, and the necessary materials to cause the acrylic nail polish powder to be converted to a solid nail polish coating. |
| US09179750B2 |
Combination beverage and sandwich container
Combination beverage and food containers. Various embodiments are configured to store a consumable beverage or otherwise consumable liquid as well as at least one second item which may comprise an edible foodstuff, such as for example, sandwich wedges, bagels, donuts, etc. |
| US09179749B2 |
Combination beverage container and storage vessel
Combination beverage containers and storage vessels. Various embodiments are configured to store a consumable beverage or otherwise consumable liquid as well as at least one second item which may comprise an edible foodstuff, toy, novelty, etc. all in one convenient container. In some embodiments, the second items may be stored directly in the vessel separated from the liquid or the second items may be stored in a second container that may be removably seated in a portion of the vessel or in a lid that, once installed on the body, is not removable by the end user. The vessels may or may not be hand-held. |
| US09179748B2 |
Apparatus for holding items
An apparatus for holding items, and more specifically an elastic band and clip apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus for holding items includes a band and a clip. The clip includes: a recessed portion provided in a facing surface of the clip which is structured to accommodate a medallion; fixing structures to fix the band to the clip; and a locking mechanism which is structured to lock portions of the clip together. |
| US09179747B2 |
Clutch case with integral lumens for containing liquid with entrained decorative material
A clutch case comprises a pair of clamshell members hinged together at a bottom edge thereof such that the members, when closed, form an interior chamber for containing objects and, when open, provide access to the interior chamber. Each of the clamshell members has a lumen extending along at least a portion of its perimeter. The lumen is capable of containing a liquid having decorative material entrained therein. In use, tilting the case imparts motion to the entrained decorative material to create a unique visual appearance. |
| US09179745B2 |
Awesumbrella
An improved self-anchoring umbrella, the umbrella comprising a canopy and pole, a retractable auger disposed within the pole of the umbrella. The retractable auger is operated using an electric motor and portable power source, and a switch allowing a user to provide power to the electric motor which rotates a drive head with spiral teeth engaged within spiral grooves in the pole. The umbrella may further include a table portion, and extendable stabilizing legs disposed in the lower portion of the pole. When the auger portion is screwed into sand or other surface and the stabilizing legs are engaged with the surface, the invention provides a stable umbrella for outdoor recreation and other purposes. |
| US09179744B2 |
Fastener and article provided with fastener
Provided is a fastener that can be recycled as paper. The fastener includes a tape member and an engaging element attached to the tape member, and the total weight of the cellulose fibers included in the tape member and the engaging element is 51 to 100 wt % of the total weight of the tape member and the engaging element. |
| US09179740B2 |
Protective member for an article of footwear
A protective system for articles of footwear includes a protective member that may be used to protect a sole structure from components of a graphic transfer assembly. The protective member can include adjustment members for adjusting the effective depth of different portions of the protective member. The protective member can also include adjustable covering portions for protecting portions of an upper. |
| US09179739B2 |
Footwear incorporating looped tensile strand elements
A tensile strand element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensile strand element includes one or more tensile strands secured at their endpoints between the sole and upper of an article of footwear, creating one or more looped portions. The unsecured looped portions may extend into the fastening region of the footwear and engage with a fastening system to tighten the footwear upper snugly against a wearer's foot to provide added support. |
| US09179738B2 |
Golf shoes
Disclosed golf shoes can include an upper and an outsole, and an oblique internal toe box region defined between a forward portion of the upper and a forward portion of the outsole. The toe box region can have a shape that corresponds to an anatomical shape of a forward portion of a person's foot. The forward portion of the outsole can have five discrete toe traction zones each being configured to be positioned below a respective one of a person's toes. The toe box region can be sufficiently wide to allow a wearer's toes to have a full anatomical range of motion in medial and lateral directions. The toe box region can be sufficiently wide such that the ratio of a maximum width of the toe box region divided by a maximum heel-to-toe length of an internal open region of the golf shoe is greater than about 0.35. |
| US09179732B2 |
Article of footwear with medial contact portion
An article of footwear with a medial contact portion disposed on the medial side of the article is described. The medial contact portion includes a plurality of raised elements that extend outwards from the surface of the upper on the medial side. The raised elements are configured to contact a ball during passing or trapping to absorb and dampen forces associated with the impact of the ball with the article to provide cushioning. The sizing and spacing arrangement of the raised elements on the medial contact portion provide sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the surface of the upper to contact a ball. In one embodiment, the upper is made from a synthetic leather material that has substantially the same coefficient of friction under dry conditions and wet conditions. |
| US09179731B2 |
Sole with adjustable sizing
A system and method of manufacturing a customized sole with adjustable sizing is disclosed. The sole includes a fixed region and an adjustable region. The adjustable region is deformable when the sole is heated to a melting point associated with the adjustable region. The shape and size of the sole may be adjusted by deforming the adjustable region. |
| US09179729B2 |
Tightening systems
A tightening system can be used with a helmet or other wearable article. The tightening system can have a forehead strap that is space apart from a yoke, which can be configured to engage a back side of a wearer's head. A lace can extend between the forehead strap and the yoke and a tightening mechanism can be configured to adjust tension on the lace. One or more intermediate tenders can engage the lace in the gap between the forehead strap and the yoke so that the lace path between the forehead strap and the yoke is non-linear. The yoke can have a height adjustment mechanism. The tightening mechanism can be configured to provide a clicking sound during rotation in both the tightening direction and the loosening direction. The tightening mechanism can include a rotation limiter to prevent over-tightening and/or over-loosening of the tightening mechanism. |
| US09179728B2 |
Protective helmet, in particular for forestry workers
A protective helmet has a helmet shell and with an interior fitting subassembly having at least one supporting cage, a head band and a neck band. Three supporting arms can serve to fasten the subassembly to the helmet shell with a spacing. A clearance can thus be provided between the interior fitting subassembly and the helmet shell for receiving ear protection capsules and supporting brackets of an ear protection and of other helmet accessories. When not in use, the ear protection can be pivoted under the helmet shell. The protective helmet therefore does not provide any engagement possibilities for obstacles such as branches and the like. The supporting arms can partially transmit a force acting on the helmet from above back into the helmet shell in order to elastically deform the latter. The helmet therefore has an improved shock absorption capability. |
| US09179727B2 |
Energy dissipation system for a helmet
A helmet includes an inner and outer shell that are connected posterior of the head via a two degree freedom of movement rotating hinge. The connector allows for angular rotation about the inferior/superior and left/right axes. One potential mechanism for the connector is four springs, located left, right, inferior and superior of the connector, connected to both the inner and outer layers. The goal of the springs is two-fold to provide resistance in the event that the outer layer rotates with respect to the inner layer about either axis in response to an impact or applied force, and to rapidly return the outer layer to its equilibrium position post-impact or after the removal of the applied force. |
| US09179722B2 |
Method for extending eyelashes
A method of extending eyelashes is described herein. Specifically, an adhesive-based method of extending eyelashes is disclosed. The method can comprise wearing a ring on a first hand and manipulating forceps with a second hand. The ring can comprise a bowl, while the bowl comprises eyelash adhesive. In addition, the method can comprise attaching tape, which can comprise adhesive, to a surface. Adhesive can attach a plurality of extension lashes to tape. Extension lashes from tape can be removed with forceps. Ring can be used to dip lashes into a portion of extension lash and attach eyelash extension to natural lash on user. |
| US09179721B2 |
Press and go wig and lace wig snap cap and kit
The invention concerns a wig or lace wig cap, to be worn by the user underneath a wig or lace wig. The cap is comprised of a plurality of panels using stretchable and breathable material, an elasticized banding and a plurality of sew on snap fasteners affixed to, said banding to form the Press and Go Wig and Lace Wig Snap Cap. Cooperating snaps are then affixed to a wig or lace wig around the entire circumference of the outer inside wig weft, concealing the application process, thereby producing a comfortable, airy and secure fit to the user. An additional banding is included, affixed with a plurality of snap fasteners designed to fit cooperating snaps of a wig or lace wig. Also included is a tension strap affixed with two cooperating snap fasteners designed to be used as an adjustment strap to the cap banding or separate banding. |
| US09179719B1 |
Garment with bladder
An exercise garment for use in outdoor sports wherein protection from the sun is desired along with a means of hydration. The garment provides protection from the sun through its barrier properties and can provide additional protection through the use of sun reflective and sun screening materials incorporated therein. The garment includes a bladder for the containment therein of water or other potable fluid and the bladder includes a conduit that reaches from the reservoir of fluid to the mouth of the wearer. |
| US09179716B2 |
Adjustable front-opening hospital gown
A front-opening hospital gown includes first and second front panels. The first front panel overlaps the second front panel when the gown is worn by a patient. The second front panel has fasteners in multiple columns and rows. The first front panel has mating fasteners, for instance a single column of multiple rows. The number of rows on the front panels may be equal. An additional rear panel(s) defines an elongated slot on the back of the gown for access to the patient's back. The gown may include an anti-microbial coating, colored fabric that indicates the size of the gown, an RFID tag, color-coded intravenous access flaps, and a telemetry pocket. The intravenous access flaps may have color-coded fasteners or backing twill material. The gown may include a collar indicating the front of the gown. The collar may have a contrasting color relative to a color of the panels. |
| US09179713B2 |
Flocked shapewear garments
Disclosed herein are flocked shapewear garments. The flocked shapewear garments comprise a fabric, an elastomeric coating, and flocking fibers embedded in the elastomeric coating. |
| US09179709B2 |
Mixed fiber sliver for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements
Smoking articles including filter elements formed from two or more fibrous inputs with different physical properties are provided. The two or more fibrous inputs are provided in the form of staple fibers, which are at least partially entangled with each other to form a mixed fiber sliver. The mixed fiber sliver includes a first plurality of cellulose acetate staple fibers blended with a second plurality of staple fibers comprising a polymeric material different from the first plurality of staple fibers, such as staple fibers of a degradable polymeric material. The entangled fibers of the mixed fiber sliver may be sufficiently separated from one another such that blooming operations typically required in filter element production may not be necessary prior to incorporating the mixed fiber sliver into a filter element. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure. |
| US09179707B2 |
Smoking articles and methods of manufacturing smoking articles
A smoking article comprising a first part moveable relative to a second part, and defining an interface between the first and second parts located around the first part are provided, among other aspects. A cover is configured to cover the interface and obstruct ingress of air into the smoking article directly at the interface. |
| US09179705B2 |
Tabletop automatic cigarette-making machine
A cigarette-making machine of the tobacco-injecting type including a housing with an aperture and a compacting chamber in communication with the aperture for receiving loose tobacco, a compacting member mounted for reciprocal up and down motion from an initial position adjacent the top of the compacting chamber toward the bottom of the compacting chamber, an injection spoon mounted for reciprocal lateral movement from a rest position within the compacting chamber across the compacting chamber to transport rod-like compacted tobacco shapes past the ejection side of the compacting chamber, through the nipple and into a hollow cigarette tube, an electrically powered motor, and a dual purpose control disk adapted to be rotated about its axis by the motor to initially move the compacting member up and down in the compacting chamber and then to move the injection spoon across the compacting chamber as the control disk is rotated by the motor. |
| US09179702B2 |
Liquid nutritional compositions containing unsaturated fatty acids
Disclosed are liquid nutritional compositions comprising: carbohydrate; lipid having from about 0.1% to about 20% of an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, or combinations thereof by weight of the composition; a protein matrix having from about 15% to about 50% of a whey protein fraction by weight of the total protein in the composition; and a limonene-containing material, cranberry oil, or combinations thereof. The compositions are preferably aseptically packaged, and provide enhanced oxidative stability, flavor, and aroma, especially when formulated with relative high polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations. |
| US09179699B2 |
Crispy french fries
Crispy French fry-style food products are prepared by modification of the water content and the texture of the products' surface layers prior to deep frying. The surface modifications include surface firming, enzyme treatments, starch infusion and/or ultrasound treatment. |
| US09179695B2 |
Xylitol containing comestible product
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a comestible product comprising xylitol said method comprising: (a) subjecting a composition comprising xylitol in an amount ranging from about 60% to about 100% by weight to extrusion treatment inside an extrusion apparatus under conditions sufficient to form and maintain the xylitol in a slurry and (b) then shaping the extruded slurry and cooling the product to form a solid. The present invention additionally is directed to a product produced therefrom. |
| US09179692B2 |
Production of protein isolates
Embodiments of the process for isolating proteins from a defatted meal comprise extracting the defatted meal with an acidic solvent at a pH of between 2 and 6 to obtain a mixture of treated meal and a first solution of proteins. The process further comprises extracting the treated meal with an alkaline solvent at a pH of between 9 and 12.5 to obtain a mixture of meal residue and a second solution of proteins. The meal residue is separated from the second solution of proteins, and the proteins are separated from the second solution of proteins to obtain one or more protein products. |
| US09179691B2 |
Delivering aerosolizable food products
Aerosolized food products can be of sufficient size to deposit in the mouth without easily entering into the respiratory tract and of small enough size so as to allow for suspension in air. An apparatus incorporating an aerosol generating device and food products can allow for the aerosolization of the food products and the delivery thereof in a matter suitable for inhalation or deposition and subsequent ingestion. The food delivery apparatus represents a novel manner of delivering food to the mouths of humans and animals. Indeed, the apparatus of the invention is designed to produce, transport, and direct aerosolized food particles of sufficient size to deposit in the mouth without substantial exposure or entry into the respiratory tract and of small enough size so as to allow for suspension in air. |
| US09179689B2 |
Cotton variety 10R047B2R2
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 10R047B2R2. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 10R047B2R2. Also provided by the invention are methods of using cotton variety 10R047B2R2 and products derived therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 10R047B2R2 with itself or another cotton variety and plants and seeds produced by such methods. |
| US09179688B2 |
Cotton variety 10R015B2R2
The invention relates to the novel cotton variety designated 10R015B2R2. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants, plant parts and derivatives of the cotton variety 10R015B2R2. Also provided by the invention are methods of using cotton variety 10R015B2R2 and products derived therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing cotton plants by crossing the cotton variety 10R015B2R2 with itself or another cotton variety and plants and seeds produced by such methods. |
| US09179686B2 |
Paw cutter system and method
A paw cutting system for removing a poultry paw from a shackle conveyed along a shackle conveyor line and then cutting the leg of the paw to remove the knuckle is provided. The paw cutter has a guide bar substantially aligned with the shackle conveyor line that urges the paw to a central cavity of the shackle. The paw is discharged from the central cavity into a lateral notch formed in two opposed discs positioned adjacent to an end of the guide bar. The two opposed discs are rotatable and move the paw from the guide bar to a blade. As the paw is moved to the blade, the two discs stretch the paw so that the blade can cleanly cut the paw. The cut paw product can be placed onto a belt or other device in an ordered manner. |
| US09179679B2 |
Synergistic herbicidal composition containing penoxsulam and flazasulfuron
An herbicidal composition containing (a) penoxsulam and (b) flazasulfuron provides synergistic control of selected weeds. |
| US09179676B2 |
Substituted picolinic acids and pyrimidine-4-carboxylic acids, method for the production thereof and use thereof as herbicides and plant growth regulators
The invention relates to a carboxylic acid derivatives of benzoheterocyclyl pyridines and benzoheterocyclyl pyrimidines of general formula (I) and to the use thereof as herbicides. |
| US09179661B2 |
Horseshoe with splaying, and stabilizer feature
A horseshoe with a stabilizer-feature and splaying has a U shaped metallic unitary body with left-right wings and an integral compliant leaf-spring disposed proximate to or in the horseshoe toe area. The leaf-spring may be crescent-shaped or chord-shaped and resiliently deforms upwards, exerting sideways-pressure causing splaying of the left-right wings. The leaf-spring may have a groove on either side to assist preparation before horseshoe installation. The crescent-shaped leaf-spring forms a cavity with the hoof underside in use, which cavity is optionally filled with a resilient material, e.g., silicone, obviating accumulation of dirt/debris. Stabilizers comprising a plurality of rows of beads formed integrally with the horseshoe bottom form a negative camber on the horseshoe-underside. The stabilizer rows may be staggered and assist in the stability of the horse during racing, especially at track-curves. The horseshoe may be cast/forged, blanked, or welded and can be mass-produced. Preferably, the horseshoe comprises hardened spring steel. |
| US09179659B1 |
Fish bite indicator
A fish bite indicator that provides an indication of the fishing line being pulled from the reel during night-time or low light conditions is described. The fish bite indicator has a light source attachment feature that is configured on the spinning portion of the reel, such as the reel top. When a fish bites the lines and pulls the fishing line from the reel, the reel spins and the spinning light is clearly visible to a nearby angler. The fish bite indicator is detachably attachable to a reel in some embodiments. In other embodiments, the fish bite indicator has a body forming an enclosure around the light source with one or more openings in the body. The light projected from the openings creates a repetitive flash when the reel spins. A glow-stick type or LED light may be used with the fish bite indicator described. |
| US09179651B2 |
Spectrophotometric analysis of embryonic chick feather color
In one embodiment, a process and method of screening an avian embryo feather color (pre-hatching) and determining the sex of the avian embryo, based at least in part, on the feather color or the color of feather precursors is provided. In an alternate embodiment, a process and method of screening chick embryo sex is provided, comprising the steps of: (i) obtaining a chicken egg; (ii) exposing the chicken egg to, or contacting the chicken egg with, electromagnetic radiation emitted from an electromagnetic radiation source; (iii) determining the amount of absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg by using an imaging system; (iv) comparing the absorption, diffusion, refraction, reflection or a combination of any of the forgoing, of the electromagnetic radiation by the chicken egg to a database; and (v) determining the sex of the chick embryo in the chicken egg, at least in part, as a result of the comparing step. |
| US09179649B2 |
Wild bird feed dispenser with squirrel-resistant mechanism
Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for preventing non-birds, such as squirrels, from accessing feed in a bird feeder. In one implementation, a mechanical link couples a first perch and a second perch to the roof assembly. The mechanical link may be configured to move both the first perch relative to the first feed port and the second perch relative to the second feed port upon movement of the first perch relative to the housing and/or upon movement of at least a portion of the roof assembly relative to the housing. As such, the bird feeder provides access to the feed in the bird feeder to wild birds, while preventing non-birds, such as squirrels, from accessing the feed. |
| US09179645B2 |
Dispenser
A dispenser that delivers a small but consistent and sustained amount of liquid over an extended period of time, particularly useful but not limited to dispensing pesticides when worn by cattle. The dispenser has a shell having an opening. A reservoir is disposed in the shell and holds a pesticide or other liquid. A wick is in fluid communication with the reservoir. An end of the wick is positioned adjacent the opening and has a greater capillary attraction or wicking ability than the reservoir, whereby during use of the dispenser the wick draws fluid from the reservoir and deposits it on the animal upon contact. |
| US09179644B2 |
Combined dish rack
A combined dish rack for feeding pets includes a main body and legs. The main body has two dish setting openings for positioning dishes. The main body and legs are detachably attached to each other. The main body on a bottom thereof has a plurality of protruding members. The legs have slots configured to receive the protruding members if the legs are attached to the main body. The legs are configured to be placed in a housing defined by a top wall and a side wall of the main body. |
| US09179640B2 |
Individual room duct and ventilation system for livestock production building
A livestock production building includes an automatically controllable ventilation system which provides ventilation to livestock containment rooms. Incoming air may be heated, cooled and/or filtered, and is mixed and tempered before being delivered to livestock rooms. Substantially all exhaust air is filtered to mitigate environmental impact. |
| US09179628B2 |
Soybean variety A1036005
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036005. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036005. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036005 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036005 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09179627B2 |
Soybean variety A1035408
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1035408. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1035408. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1035408 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1035408 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09179623B2 |
Soybean variety 01045719
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01045719. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01045719. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01045719 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01045719 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09179618B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH186896
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH186896. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH186896, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH186896 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH186896. |
| US09179617B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH237197
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH237197. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH237197, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH237197 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH237197. |
| US09179610B2 |
Controllable emitter
A controllable emitter of an irrigation apparatus including a drip line and a control station configured to control a pressure of pressurized fluid in the drip line is provided. The controllable emitter is disposable along the drip line and includes a container coupled to the drip line, the container being formed to define an interior and including an inlet through which the pressurized fluid is receivable in the interior from the drip line and an outlet through which the pressurized fluid is exhaustible from the interior, a piston, including a magnetic element, disposed at least partially in the container to occupy a position in accordance with the pressure of the pressurized fluid and a sensor configured to sense a position of the magnetic element and to communicate a sensed position to the control station. |
| US09179607B2 |
Fence post mountable for displaying flowers, plants, and the like
An apparatus for releasable mounting to a fence post is provided. The apparatus includes a leg portion, a basket portion, and a mounting portion. The leg portion defines a first end and a second end. The basket portion is coupled to the leg portion at the first end of the leg portion and extends from the leg portion in a first direction. The mounting portion is coupled to the leg portion at the second end of the leg portion and extends from the leg portion in a second direction opposite the first direction. The mounting portion is configured for mounting about a fence post. |
| US09179603B2 |
Combine cleaning system without a shaking sieve
A method comprising rotating a rotor to expel, radially, a mixture of grain and material other than grain (MOG) from the rotor and past a rotor cage encircling the rotor; causing an air flow in a substantially arcuate channel defined by the rotor cage, a first cover assembly covering a substantial portion of the rotor cage, and a passive sieve, to entrain a first portion of the MOG; capturing a first portion of the grain with the first cover assembly and plural vanes located along the length and on the interior surface of the first cover assembly, the captured grain sliding by gravity along the vanes to the passive sieve, the captured grain comprising threshed and unthreshed portions; enabling the passage of the captured grain through the passive sieve and into a second channel within which a grain conveying assembly is disposed; conveying with the grain conveying assembly the passed, unthreshed portion rearwardly; and conveying with the grain conveying assembly the passed, threshed portion forwardly. |
| US09179601B2 |
Corn head assembly with catch plate
A corn head assembly for a combine harvester capable of preventing or inhibiting grain from sliding off a row unit without inhibiting crop flow is disclosed. The corn head assembly is attached to a combine harvester for harvesting crop material. The corn head assembly includes a frame, a conveyor and a plurality of row units. Each row unit includes a catch plate for facingly engaging a flow of crop material and includes a facing surface having a nonplanar geometry. The nonplanar geometry is at least one of corrugations, scales, waves, chevron-shaped corrugations, weld beads, rods, and terraces. |
| US09179595B2 |
Assembly and method for the precision drilling of seed grains
An assembly and a method for the precision drilling of seed grains use a drilling machine with at least one row unit which is assigned a drive set up for instigating delivery of a seed grain into a furrow, and a control system which is connected to a position-determining system, to a memory device for storing delivery positions of seed grains, to the drive of the row unit and to a seed material sensor for detecting the actual delivery position of the seed grains in the furrow. The control system controls the drive based on signals from the position-determining system, the memory device and the seed material sensor so that the seed grains are delivered successively at the delivery positions. |
| US09179593B2 |
Row unit of an agricultural implement with multiple locations for mounting a gauge wheel
One row unit for an agricultural implement includes a frame assembly having a front gauge wheel mounting location and a rear gauge wheel mounting location, wherein the front gauge wheel mounting location is forward of the rear gauge wheel mounting location, relative to a direction of travel of the row unit. A first gauge wheel assembly is configured to be mounted to a selected one of the front gauge wheel mounting location and the rear gauge wheel mounting location. |
| US09179592B2 |
Pull-type crop harvesting machine transport system where the machine remains balanced on transport wheels and the hitch as the transport system is deployed
A pull-type crop engaging machine such as a rotary mower comprises a frame mounted on transversely spaced field ground wheels for movement with a hitch arm extending to a tractor and a transport assembly attached behind the frame for moving downwardly to a transport position so that in the transport position the hitch arm extends from one end of the frame generally in the transverse direction for towing the machine in the transverse direction. The transport includes a transport ground wheel which acts to raise the frame to pass underneath the crop engaging system to support the machine on the wheel, on a second wheel behind the frame and on the hitch. The movement of the hitch and the wheel is connected and started at a position of the hitch so that the machine remains balanced. A shield behind the frame includes a portion which moves with the transport wheel. |
| US09179587B2 |
Apparatus and method for soil tillage and levelling
A tillage apparatus includes a wheeled frame configured with a plurality of concave blades arranged in a plurality of longitudinally extending columns and transversely extending rows. The rows are longitudinally spaced apart by a progressively increasing distance. The blades of each column are transversely tilted alternately to the left and right. The blades of each column are transversely offset from one another to create a swath of tilled ground along the width of the column. In operation, soil is thrown left and right between successive blades of a column to till the soil across the width of the column and leave a substantially level soil surface. |
| US09185836B2 |
Display device and method of manufacturing the same
A first rear member is arranged on a rear surface of a display member. A second rear member has a shape surrounding a side surface of the first rear member. The second rear member is attached from a rear surface side of the first rear member to house the first rear member. An interconnect member connected to the display member extends between the side surface of the first rear member and the second rear member. An end portion of the interconnect member is inserted in an insertion part having an opening formed in the side surface of the first rear member. A condition where the interconnect member is inserted in the first rear member is maintained before and after attachment of the second rear member. |
| US09185835B2 |
Techniques for marking product housings
Techniques or processes for providing markings on products are disclosed. The markings provided on products can be textual and/or graphic. The techniques or processes can provide high resolution markings on surfaces that are flat or curved. In one embodiment, the products have housings and the markings are to be provided on the housings. For example, the housing for a particular product can include an outer housing surface and the markings can be provided on the outer housing surface. |
| US09185834B2 |
Isolated ethernet physical layer (PHY)
A network device comprises an Ethernet physical layer (PHY) comprising an isolation, protection, and electromagnetic interference suppression barrier operative for isolated power and data transfer. |
| US09185833B2 |
Electronic device housing
Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus allowing for an adjustable face plate. The apparatus comprises a face plate, an adjustment device affixed to the face plate, wherein the adjustment device includes a plurality of ridges formed thereon to define a plurality of gaps, and wherein the adjustment device is capable of rotating about an axis, and a clamp affixed to an electronic device chassis, having a first arm contacting the adjustment device in a first gap of the plurality of gaps and allowing for rotation of the adjustment device about the axis from the first gap to a second gap of the plurality of gaps. |
| US09185831B2 |
Electronic control apparatus for vehicle using radiation board and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed are an electronic control apparatus for a vehicle and provides an electronic control apparatus for a vehicle using a radiation board in which a radiation plate having a slide fixing structure (for example, “U” shaped) is attached onto a portion opposite to a portion which requires the radiation in a printed circuit board (PCB) and if additional radiation performance is required, a slidable radiation board which is detachable is attached/detached to directly emit heat to the atmosphere through the radiation plate and the radiation board to the atmosphere, thereby improving a radiation effect and to implement a standard platform of the radiation structure and implement an optimal radiation structure through a slidable radiation board and a manufacturing method thereof. |
| US09185828B2 |
Rack mounted electronics having connectors with heat cooling fingers
A system and method for cooling a plurality of connectors interfacing electrical and optical signals to circuit boards in an electronics cabinet, such as backplane connectors routing signals to circuit boards housed in card cage assemblies. Heat pipes coupled to the connectors efficiently remove heat from the connectors and sink the connector heat to a cold junction of a liquid cooling system, which cooling system may also extract heat from air flow cooling the circuit boards such that the system is room neutral, meaning that the ambient temperature remains constant during operation of the system. The heat connector cooling system is effective where connectors are outside of an air flow cooling envelope that may cool the circuit boards. |
| US09185827B2 |
Energy conversion device, notably for a system for electrically driving an underwater compression and pumping station
The energy conversion device (10) includes a power module (14), elements (16) for cooling the power module (14), and a sealed enclosure (12) for housing the power module (14) and at least one portion of the cooling elements (16). The cooling elements (16) include a cooling circuit 18, in which a heat transfer fluid circulates, a first heat exchange (20) with the power module (14), through which passes the heat transfer fluid of the cooling circuit (18) and at least one pump (24) for driving the heat transfer fluid circulating in the circuit (18). The enclosure (12) includes an area (26) for receiving heat transfer fluid, filled with heat transfer fluid, and the cooling circuit (18) includes an inlet orifice (28) in the circuit (18) made upstream from the driving pump (24) and opening into the heat transfer fluid of the receiving area (26). |
| US09185823B2 |
Hybrid memory blade
The present invention is directed to server systems and methods thereof. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provides a memory controller within a server system, where the memory controller is disengageably connected to one or more processors, a plurality of volatile memory modules, and plurality of solid-state memory modules. This memory controller may be connected to other similarly configured memory controllers. The volatile and solid-state memory modules can be removed and/or replaced. There are other embodiments as well. |
| US09185822B2 |
Thermal dissipation techniques for multi-sensory electromechanical products packaged in sealed enclosures
In general, the disclosure is directed to sealed enclosures and devices that include enclosures for protecting enclosed heat sensitive components from the heat generated by enclosed heat producing components. Heat producing components within the enclosure may be placed to achieve uniform distribution of heat produced by the heat producing components, to optimize the dissipation of heat from the heat producing components to the enclosure, and to minimize the heat experienced by the heat sensitive components. The exterior of the enclosure may be designed to increase thermal dissipation and to protect against thermal radiation. |
| US09185820B2 |
Monolithically integrated RF system and method of making same
Radio frequency system (250) which includes a first and second sub-assembly (100, 200), each formed of a plurality of layers of conductive material (504, 508, 516) disposed on a substrate (102) and arranged in a stack. The stacked layers form signal processing components (108, 110) and at least one peripheral wall (104, 204) surrounding a walled area (118, 218) of each substrate. The second sub-assembly is positioned on the first sub-assembly with a first walled area of a first substrate aligned with a second walled area of a second substrate. |
| US09185817B2 |
Display panel
The present invention provides a display panel including: a first input terminal group in which input terminals are disposed at intervals along first long side of a rectangular driver IC facing a panel end portion; a second input terminal group in which input terminals are disposed at intervals along the second long side of the driver IC facing a display section; a first wiring group connected to the first input terminal group, that extends under the first short side of the driver IC and extends out from between the driver IC and the panel body; and a second wiring group connected to the second input terminal group, that passes under the second long side of the driver IC and extends out from between the driver IC and the panel body. |
| US09185813B2 |
Case for portable electronic device
A case for an electronic device protects the electronic device. The case has a lower case portion and an upper case portion, which assemble together to protect the electronic device. A back of the case can include a back opening to expose a camera lens and flash of the electronic device or first and second back openings. The first back opening exposes the camera lens. The second back opening exposes the flash. |
| US09185810B2 |
Molded polymer comprising silicone and at least one metal trace and a process of manufacturing the same
The invention is a method of making a flexible electrode array, comprising a silicone containing body, a metal trace layer and an electrode pad on the surface, including the steps of irradiating a surface area of a molded silicone containing layer yielding traces with the light beam from a pulsed ultraviolet laser source; immersing said irradiated molded silicone layer for inducing the deposit of metal ions to form metal traces; applying a silicone containing layer on the silicone containing layer and the metal traces; irradiating the surface for drilling holes in the molded silicone containing layer; and immersing the irradiated molded silicone layer for inducing the deposit of metal ions to form metal electrode pads. |
| US09185806B2 |
Method for manufacturing printed wiring board and printed wiring board
A printed wiring board includes an interlayer resin insulation layer, a pad structure formed on the interlayer resin insulation layer and positioned to mount a semiconductor device, and a solder-resist layer formed on the interlayer resin insulation layer and having an opening portion exposing a portion of the pad structure from the solder-resist layer. The opening portion of the solder-resist layer has a bottom surface such that the bottom surface of the opening portion is exposing an upper surface and a portion of a side surface of the pad structure. |
| US09185804B2 |
Printed circuit board
A printed circuit board includes a first semiconductor package on a first surface layer of a printed wiring board and a second semiconductor package on a second surface layer where a bus signal is transmitted from the first to the second semiconductor package. A first bus wiring path from a signal terminal on an inner circumference side of the first semiconductor package via a via hole and the second surface layer to a signal terminal on an outer circumference side of the second semiconductor package and a second bus wiring path from a signal terminal on an outer circumference side of the first semiconductor package via the second surface layer and a via hole to a signal terminal on an inner circumference side of the second semiconductor package are provided, thus securing a return current path for a signal current and realizing a high density wiring while suppressing radiation noise. |
| US09185799B2 |
Printed wiring board
A printed wiring board includes a core substrate including an insulative substrate, a first conductive layer formed on first surface of the insulative substrate, and a second conductive layer formed on second surface of the insulative substrate, a first buildup laminated on first surface of the core and including an interlayer insulation layer, a conductive layer formed on the insulation layer, and a via conductor penetrating through the insulation layer and connected to the conductive layer, and a second buildup laminated on second surface of the core and including an interlayer insulation layer, a conductive layer formed on the interlayer insulation layer, and a via conductor penetrating through the insulation layer and connected to the conductive layer. The insulation layer of the first buildup has thermal expansion coefficient set higher than thermal expansion coefficient of the insulation layer of the second buildup. |
| US09185797B2 |
Foil element
A foil element and a method for producing such a foil element. The foil element includes a dielectric carrier layer, which spans an xy plane of a Cartesian coordinate system having an x-axis, a y-axis and a z-axis, and at least one electrically conductive layer which is arranged on the carrier layer and in which a conductor track is shaped in a frame-shaped region of the foil element. The frame-shaped region is formed by the area of a larger, outer rectangle having sides each running parallel to the x-axis or y-axis, from which area the area of a smaller, inner rectangle with the same orientation as the outer rectangle is cut out. A mechanical property of the carrier layer is different along the x-axis and the y-axis. More than 50% of the length of at least one conductor track section runs obliquely with respect to the x-axis and the y-axis. |
| US09185796B2 |
Organic light emitting diode display and manufacuring method thereof
An OLED display including a substrate having a pixel area where an organic light emitting diode is formed, and a peripheral area surrounding the pixel area. Monitoring patterns are disposed in the peripheral area and are separated from each other. |
| US09185795B2 |
High-frequency signal transmission line
Unwanted radiation is reduced in a high-frequency signal transmission line that includes a ground conductor provided with an opening that overlaps a signal line. A dielectric element assembly has a relative dielectric constant ∈1 and has a first principal surface and a second principal surface. A signal line is provided in the dielectric element assembly. A ground conductor is provided in the dielectric element assembly and on the first principal surface side with respect to the signal line, faces the signal line, and is provided with an opening that overlaps the signal line. A high dielectric constant layer has a relative dielectric constant ∈2 higher than the relative dielectric constant ∈1 and is provided on the first principal surface so as to overlap the opening. |
| US09185793B2 |
Multilayer electronic structure with through thickness coaxial structures
A multilayer electronic structure comprising a plurality of dielectric layers extending in an X-Y plane and comprising at least one coaxial pair of stacked posts extending through at least one dielectric layer in a Z direction that is substantially perpendicular to the X-Y plane, wherein the coaxial pair of stacked via posts comprises a central post surrounded by a torroidal via post separated from the central post by a separating tube of dielectric material. |
| US09185792B2 |
Package substrate and electronic assembly
A package substrate including a circuit board and a heat-dissipating element is provided. The circuit board has a through opening adapted for accommodating an electronic element. The heat-dissipating element is disposed at the circuit board and covers one side of the through opening. The heat-dissipating element includes a heat-dissipating plate, an adhesive layer and an antioxidation layer. The heat-dissipating plate has a first surface facing the through opening and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The adhesive layer is disposed on the first surface and the heat-dissipating plate adheres to the circuit board through the adhesive layer. The antioxidation layer is disposed on the second surface. An electronic assembly including the package substrate is also provided. |
| US09185786B2 |
Laser-driven light source
An apparatus for producing light includes a chamber and an ignition source that ionizes a gas within the chamber. The apparatus also includes at least one laser that provides energy to the ionized gas within the chamber to produce a high brightness light. The laser can provide a substantially continuous amount of energy to the ionized gas to generate a substantially continuous high brightness light. |
| US09185783B2 |
Wireless pairing system and associated methods
A wireless pairing system and method are presented, the system having a network and a luminaire, which may include an electrical base, an enclosure, and a heat sink, as well as a light source, a network interface, a camera, and a controller in communication with the electrical base. The light source, the network interface, and the camera may be in communication with the controller, the controller having a central processing unit (CPU), and an input/output (I/O) interface. The controller, the camera, the light source and the network interface may be carried by the enclosure. The camera may capture an image having a configuration code associated with the network and the CPU may analyze the image to determine the existence of the configuration code. The CPU may then configure the network interface to connect the luminaire to the network so that the luminaire may be operated or monitored through the network. |
| US09185782B2 |
Light controller with locked split handle
The present invention relates to a light controller for controlling a lightning system, where the lightning system comprises a number of light emitting devices such as controllable light fixtures, controllable light emitting visual devices and/or controllable display devices adapted to emit video content. The light controller comprises a first slide controller, a second slide controller, and a locking mechanism adapted to fix the first slide controller and the second slide controller in relation to each other, such that movement of at least one of the slide controllers forces the other slide controller to perform a corresponding movement. |
| US09185780B2 |
Lighting controller, lighting system and lighting control method
In a lighting system, sound levels are detected in the vicinity of at least one lighting unit to determine when there is a sound level above a threshold. The illumination provided by the lighting unit is adapted in such a way as to encourage a reduction of noise generation. |
| US09185778B2 |
Dynamic lighting arrangement for product presentation
A lighting arrangement for presentation of a first object is disclosed. The arrangement comprises an accent lighting assembly and a decoration lighting assembly. The accent lighting assembly is arranged to provide illumination of the first object, has at least one accent light characteristic, and comprises at least one accent light generating device. The decoration lighting assembly is arranged to provide background lighting of the first object, has at least one decoration light characteristic, and comprises at least one decoration light generating device. The arrangement also comprises at least one sensor, arranged to detect a distance between the sensor and a second object and to generate a signal value representing the distance, and a controller arranged to receive the signal value from the at least one sensor and to adapt the accent light characteristic and the decoration light characteristic based on the signal value. Corresponding use, method and computer program product are also disclosed. |
| US09185775B2 |
Lighting device and lighting fixture
The lighting device of the present invention includes: a power source configured to supply power to a plurality of light sources; and a cooling control circuit configured to control a plurality of cooling devices for respectively cooling the plurality of light sources. The cooling control circuit includes a power supply circuit, a plurality of output circuits, a plurality of temperature measurement circuits, and an output control circuit. The power supply circuit outputs a constant voltage by use of power from the power source. The output circuits receive the constant voltage from the power supply circuit and supply drive voltages to the plurality of cooling devices respectively. The temperature measurement circuits measure temperatures of the plurality of light sources respectively. The output control circuit regulates the drive voltages respectively supplied from the plurality of output circuits based on the temperatures respectively measured by the plurality of temperature measurement circuits. |
| US09185774B2 |
System and method for detecting a property of a strobe cover
A method and system for determining at least one property of a strobe cover are disclosed. The determined property of the strobe cover may then be analyzed to determine whether it is the proper property for the strobe device. The property of the strobe cover may include the color of the strobe cover (such as clear, blue, amber, etc.), the shape of the strobe cover (such as a strobe cover with a lens or a strobe cover without a lens), the material of the strobe cover, etc. The method and system may include determining the property of the strobe cover and checking whether the determined property is the expected property of the strobe cover (such as the expected color of the strobe cover). The strobe cover may include one or more property indicators. The one or more property indicators may interface with a circuit, such as mechanically interface with the circuit, in order for the circuit to determine the property of the strobe cover. |
| US09185768B2 |
Short circuit protection
A measured voltage drop across a power-line transistor is used as a sensing element to measure the current and detect an over-current condition for an LED backlight system. An over-current or short condition is detected when the measured voltage drop exceeds a threshold. Accurate detection of the over-current condition is achieved by calibrating the RDS-ON (i.e., internal resistance between drain and source, when transistor is on) of the power-line transistor. In one embodiment, the calibration of RDS-ON is performed by ramping down the threshold from an initial value and using the tripped threshold to determine the actual value for RDS-ON. In another embodiment, the calibration of RDS-ON is performed by using two thresholds, a first threshold to calibrate RDS-ON and a second threshold to detect the over-current condition. |
| US09185764B2 |
Driver arrangement and method for driving at least one light-emitting diode
A driver arrangement comprises a current regulator (12), to which at least one light-emitting diode (15, 42) can be connected, and a driver circuit (13) that is coupled to the current regulator (12) and features a measurement input (20) for receiving a measurement signal (SM) that is dependent on the operation of the at least one light-emitting diode (15, 42). The driver circuit (13) is designed for adjusting the current level of the current regulator current (IS) of the current regulator (12) in dependence on the measurement signal (SM) such that a light quantity (SL) emitted by the at least one light emitting diode (15, 42) has a constant brightness value. |
| US09185761B2 |
White LED device having LED chips directly driven by alternating current
An Alternate Current (AC) white Light-Emitting Diode (LED) device is provided, which belongs to the technical field of white LED manufacturing. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to low-costly overcome a series of deficiencies such as the stroboflash of an AC driven LED, and the heat dissipation difficulty caused by an integrated packaging of multiple LEDs. A white LED unit includes an LED chip and a light emitting material that can emit light when being excited by the LED chip. The luminous lifetime of the light emitting material is 1-100 ms. The LED chip only comprises one PN junction. The light emitted by the LED chip is mixed with the light emitted by the light emitting material to form white light. The white LED unit is driven by AC with a frequency not more than 100 Hz. The white LED device of prevent invention uses the single PN junction chip, rather than the prior integrated packaged AC multi-LED chip. |
| US09185760B1 |
Alternating current (AC) line voltage determination
In various embodiments, there is provided a method comprising receiving a waveform; rectifying the waveform to generate a rectified waveform; comparing the rectified waveform with a first voltage to generate a first compare signal, wherein a first edge of the first compare signal occurs at a first time when an instantaneous value of the rectified waveform becomes higher than the first voltage; comparing the rectified waveform with a second voltage to generate a second compare signal, wherein a first edge of the second compare signal occurs at a second time when the instantaneous value of the rectified waveform becomes higher than the second voltage; and based at least in part on the first time and the second time, estimating a voltage of the waveform. |
| US09185756B2 |
Load driving device and system, limiting point control method and device
A load driving device and system, and a limiting point control method and device. The load driving device comprising: a voltage/current regulative main circuit placed under the control of an output current controller, for use in conducting a voltage conversion on an input voltage, and in supplying electric power to a subsequent load unit; a sampling unit connected to an output terminal of the main circuit, for use in sampling an output feature parameter of the main circuit; the output current controller, for use in controlling a limiting point of the main circuit, and on the basis of the adjustment direction of the limiting point and on changes of the output feature parameters of the main circuit before and after an adjustment, determining a steady working point for the main circuit, and controlling the main circuit to work at the steady working point. The load driving device and system enable an increase in driver reliability and a reduction in circuit complexity. |
| US09185751B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a high-side potential variable-voltage source which outputs a high-side output potential and a low-side potential variable-voltage source which outputs a low-side output potential; an organic EL display unit in which pixels are arranged; a high-side potential difference detecting circuit which detects a high-side potential applied to a first pixel and a low-side potential difference detecting circuit which detects a low-side potential applied to a second pixel; a high-side potential voltage margin setting unit and a low-side potential voltage setting unit which regulate the output potential of the high-side potential variable-voltage source and the low-side potential variable-voltage source to set a potential difference between the high-side potential of the first pixel and a reference potential to a predetermined potential difference and set a potential difference between the low-side potential of the second pixel and a reference potential to a predetermined potential difference; and a signal processing circuit. |
| US09185731B2 |
Self-configuration of an E-node-B
A method of configuration of an e-Node B device, on order to integrate the e-Node B device in a telecommunication network, comprising the following steps, performed by the e-Node B device: —entering a user equipment mode, —establishing a communication link with the telecommunication network, —receiving configuration data, —self-configuring using the received data, and —entering an operational state, wherein the establishment of the communication link comprises transmitting a data element indicating that the establishment of the communication originates from an e-Node B behaving as a user equipment. |
| US09185730B2 |
Methods and apparatus for enabling fallback to a second data service based on the presence of fallback conditions associated with establishment of a data context with a first data service
Aspects disclosed herein relate to enabling fallback to a second data service based on whether one or more fallback conditions are present before or during establishing a data context with a first data service. In one example, a UE may be configured to determine whether one or more fallback conditions are present before or during establishing a data session with a first data service. The UE may be further configured to prohibit further attempts to establish a data context to access the first data service based on the determination of the presence of at least one of the one or more fallback conditions. Some aspects disclosed herein relate to enabling fallback to a HRPD data service based on whether one or more fallback conditions are present before or during establishing a data context with an eHRPD data service. |
| US09185729B2 |
Wireless communication method and apparatus
A method and apparatus are provided for enabling a user to effectively use a wireless network using a contention free channel access service. The wireless communication method includes receiving a contention free channel access request frame from at least one device in a wireless network in a superframe, and broadcasting a traffic information message including contention free channel access information in the superframe after the contention free channel access request frame is received. |
| US09185724B2 |
Aperiodic channel state information reporting method, radio base station apparatus and user terminal
The present invention is designed such that, when a user terminal performs radio communication using a plurality of serving cells of different component carriers, it is possible to flexibly report aperiodic channel state information of a serving cell required on the network side among the plurality of serving cells. A radio base station apparatus transmits an uplink scheduling grant, which includes an identification field that identifies an uplink serving cell where an uplink shared channel is allocated among a plurality of uplink serving cells and a request field that requests reporting of aperiodic channel state information from a user terminal, to the user terminal, via a downlink control channel, and the user terminal reports aperiodic channel state information of a downlink serving cell that is designated by a combination of the identification field and the request field, to the radio base station apparatus, via the uplink shared channel. |
| US09185723B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving downlink control information in a mobile communication system supporting uplink packet data service
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving downlink control information in a mobile communication system supporting an uplink packet data service are provided. To transmit packet data in an HARQ mobile communication system, a second transceiver receives an RG as rate control information from a first transceiver. The second transceiver sets the allowed maximum data rate of an HARQ process to which the RG is applied to the allowed maximum data rate of an HARQ process previous to the HARQ process, if the RG indicates hold. The second transceiver transmits packet data within the set allowed maximum data rate to the first transceiver. |
| US09185720B2 |
Method and apparatus to facilitate support for multi-radio coexistence
A method of wireless communication includes determining a frame offset between communications of a first communication resource (e.g., an LTE radio) and communications of a second communication resource (e.g., a Bluetooth or WLAN radio). The method also includes determining potential time slot configurations for the communications of the second communication resource. A time slot configuration is selected from the determined potential time slot configurations, to reduce degradation of the first communication resource due to conflicting time slots between the first communication resource and the second communication resource, based on the determined frame offset. The selection may be based on the determined frame offset. |
| US09185719B2 |
Method and apparatus for mapping applications to radios in a wireless communication device
Techniques for mapping applications to radios in a wireless communication device are described. In one design, a controller residing below an operating system may receive inputs from applications residing above the operating system. The controller may determine radios selected based on the application inputs and further to mitigate interference between these radios. The controller may determine mapping of the applications to the radios based on the application inputs and may provide, to the applications, information indicative of the radios to which the applications are mapped. The applications may obtain connectivity via their selected radios. The controller may interface with entities in both upper layers and lower layers to facilitate radio selection and application-to-radio mapping. The controller may control the operation of a connection manager and/or a coexistence manager, manage databases for these managers, provide CPU and memory resources for these managers, manage a data bus used for communication, etc. |
| US09185715B2 |
Inter-system call switching between co-existence wireless systems
Techniques for switching a user equipment (UE) between wireless systems by first establishing a connection with a target system before disconnecting from a serving system are disclosed. In one design, the UE may initially communicate with a first wireless system (e.g., a WLAN system) of a first radio technology. The UE may receive a page to establish a connection with a second wireless system (e.g., a cellular system) of a second radio technology. The first and second wireless systems may be part of a small cell. The page may be sent by the second wireless system to the UE in response to a decision by a network entity to switch the UE from the first wireless system to the second wireless system. The UE may establish a connection with the second wireless system in response to the page and may thereafter terminate communication with the first wireless system. |
| US09185707B2 |
Method and apparatus of transmitting a white space map information in a wireless local area network system
A method of transmitting a White Space Map information in a wireless local area network system (WLAN) is disclosed. A method of transmitting a white space map information from a first station to a second station in a regulatory domain where a licensed device and an unlicensed device are permitted to operate together in a wireless local area network (WLAN) comprises acquiring a first list of available channels at each location of a plurality of locations from a regulatory database; determining a second list of available channels at a white space zone (WSZ) using the first list of available channels at each location of a plurality of locations; and transmitting, to the second station, one of a beacon frame, a probe response frame and a white space map announcement frame comprising a white space map (WSM) element, the WSM element including information of the WSZ and the second list of available channels, wherein the WSZ is a geographical area in which commonavailable channels are set. |
| US09185705B2 |
Apparatus and methods for flexible RF configuration in multi-antenna wireless systems
An apparatus includes a baseband signal processing block, processing circuitry, and at least one radio frequency (RF) communication module communicably coupled to the baseband signal processing block and configured to communicate using a selected mode of communication in a channel. The processing circuitry is configured to detect a sub-channel band of unavailable spectrum within the channel, the band of unavailable spectrum being less than a whole of the channel. The channel includes one contiguous band of frequencies divisible into at least two non-overlapping non-adjacent sub-channels. The processing circuitry is configured to select one mode of communication selected from a plurality of modes including: a carrier aggregation (CA) only mode, a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) only mode, and a carrier aggregation multiple input multiple output (CA-MIMO) hybrid mode. |
| US09185697B2 |
Method and apparatus for device-to-device communication
A first user equipment (UE) and a second UE communicate with a network element (e.g., an eNB) over a carrier (e.g., an uplink or downlink cellular carrier). The first and second UEs also engage in D2D communication using resources of the carrier that have been allocated to them by the network entity. Using the allocated resources, the first and second UEs communicate using a subframe that has a first set of symbols in during which the first UE transmits, a second set of symbols during which the second UE transmits, and a guard interval between the first and second UEs. |
| US09185695B2 |
Systems and methods for OFDMA and SC-FDMA switching
A method for selecting an uplink modulation scheme may include receiving downlink control information (DCI). The format of the DCI may be decoded. The uplink modulation scheme may be determined according to the format of the DCI. The uplink modulation scheme may be selected. An uplink signal may be transmitted according to the uplink modulation scheme. |
| US09185693B2 |
Mobile communication method, mobile station, and radio base station
In a mobile communication method according to the present invention, a mobile station (UE) receives downlink data transmitted from a radio base station by using a downlink radio resource assigned to the mobile station by predetermined scheduling information, in a predetermined cycle. The method includes the steps: (A) notifying, to the mobile station (UE), the predetermined cycle and information on the downlink radio resource; (B) notifying, to the mobile station (UE), the predetermined scheduling information; and (C) transmitting downlink data in the predetermined cycle by using the downlink radio resource assigned by the predetermined scheduling information, the transmission starting at a certain point determined on the basis of the received predetermined scheduling information. In the step (C), the predetermined scheduling information is discarded, when the information on the downlink radio resource and information notified by the predetermined scheduling information are inconsistent with each other. |
| US09185690B2 |
Allocating and determining resources for a device-to-device link
An evolved Node B (eNB) for allocating resources for a device-to-device (D2D) link between User Equipments (UEs) is described. The eNB includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The eNB allocates resources for a D2D signal. The D2D signal is transmitted or received by the UE in uplink spectrum in a case of Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) or in uplink subframes in a case of Time Division Duplexing (TDD). |
| US09185689B2 |
Apparatus and method for resource allocation in wireless communications
A method for a base station to allocate resources to a mobile station, the resources being included in one or more subbands each including a plurality of resource units, the method including: allocating a part of a first one of the subbands to the mobile station, the part including one or more resource units in the first one of the subbands; and indicating to the mobile station the allocated part of the first one of the subbands by indicating a resource allocation pattern corresponding to the allocated part of the first one of the subbands. |
| US09185687B2 |
Transmission and reception bandwidth setting method, mobile terminal and base station in radio communication system that defines a plurality of signal bandwidths
In a radio communication system defining a plurality of bandwidths, mobile terminals of kinds respectively corresponding to the plurality of bandwidths are accommodated in the system, and a minimum transmission bandwidth of the plurality of bandwidths is set as a transmission bandwidth of a downlink common channel. Or, every mobile terminal accommodated in the radio communication system is provided with a capability for processing a bandwidth equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and equal to or more than two transmission bandwidths that are equal to or less than a predetermined value are set as a transmission bandwidth of a downlink common channel. In the latter case, the mobile terminal identifies a bandwidth of a received downlink common channel. |
| US09185683B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting and receiving data in a wireless communication system and method thereof
An apparatus for transmitting and receiving data in a wireless communication system method thereof are disclosed. In a terminal of a wireless communication system, the present invention includes receiving a physical downlink control channel (hereinafter abbreviated PDCCH), receiving a physical downlink shared channel (hereinafter abbreviated PDSCH), and demodulating the PDSCH by interpreting the PDCCH according to a type of a subframe including the PDCCH and the PDSCH. |
| US09185681B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting paging message in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting a paging message in a cloud radio access network (RAN) system is provided. A baseband unit (BBU) or a mobility management entity (MME) determines a location update range of a user equipment (UE) based on moving speed and a moving direction of the UE, and transmits information this to the UE. The UE transmits information on moving information of the UE, which is determined based on the received information and a measurement result with respect to at least one accessible remote radio frequency (RF) unit (RRU) of the UE, and the measurement result to the BBU or the MME; and The BBU or MME updates the location update range of the UE based on the received measurement result and the moving information of the UE, and transmits a paging message to the UE through at least one RRU included in the updated location update range of the UE. |
| US09185680B2 |
Contextual push notification service
A contextual push notification service is provided, including: receiving, by a mobile device, a notification message. The notification message comprises at least one context rule and a notification message. The at least one context rule is compared, on the mobile device, with at least one user context preference. Based on the results of the comparison, a notification action is taken. |
| US09185678B2 |
System and method for matching capabilities of access points with those required by an application
A system and method uses a communication request and/or historical data collected by one or more devices to identify whether to fulfill the request using ad hoc networking or access points. If an access point is determined to be used, the system and method attempts to identify those access points that can best fulfill the request and then attempts to use such access points to fulfill the request. |
| US09185677B2 |
Method device and system for estimating access points using log data
The present disclosure provides a system, device and method for estimating an AP location using log data. Information, which is not pre-stored in a database when the information is updated, is classified and then location information of an AP is estimated by using log data of a user in such a manner of estimating a location of the AP by using log data of a user in wireless LAN based positioning and thus updating the database for the wireless LAN based positioning, thereby improving positioning accuracy. |
| US09185674B2 |
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for determining location of a mobile device(s) in a distributed antenna system(s)
Distributed antenna systems provide location information for client devices communicating with remote antenna units. The location information can be used to determine the location of the client devices relative to the remote antenna unit(s) with which the client devices are communicating. A location processing unit (LPU) includes a control system configured to receive uplink radio frequency (RF) signals communicated by client devices and determines the signal strengths of the uplink RF signals. The control system also determines which antenna unit is receiving uplink RF signals from the device having the greatest signal strength. |
| US09185670B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring enhanced timing measurements involving multifarious radio links
In its various aspects, the present invention addresses the many challenges associated with making timing measurements involving multifarious radio links. Such measurements are referred to herein as “enhanced” to connote that such timing determinations are being made across multifarious radio links. Here, a radio link will be understood as connecting two radio nodes, and two radio links are considered to be multifarious with respect to each other if they are opposite in terms of uplink and downlink transmit directions, and further if they are associated with different cell identifiers and/or if the two links are between different pairs of radio nodes. In this context, the teachings herein disclose the sharing of “enhanced timing measurement” capability information, e.g., between radio nodes and positioning nodes. Such information indicates the enhanced timing measurement capability of a radio node. Sharing such information enables another node, e.g., a positioning node, to determine an enhanced timing measurement configuration to be used by a radio node. Further, additional teachings herein disclose advantageous configurations for making enhanced timing measurements, and techniques for compensating timing measurements determined from multifarious radio links, e.g., compensating for frequency-dependent propagation time differences. |
| US09185665B2 |
Power headroom report method and apparatus for mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation
A Power Headroom Report (PHR) method and apparatus for a mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation are provided. The method for transmitting PHR of a terminal in a mobile communication system includes configuring, when a PHR is triggered for at least one activated serving cell, an extended PHR for the at least one activated serving cell, the PHR being triggered when a change of a downlink path loss in the at least one activated serving cell is greater than a predetermined threshold value, and transmitting the extended PHR. |
| US09185661B2 |
Performing power control based on nominal packet size
Performing power control by determining a maximum required signal-to-interference plus noise ratio for a nominal packet size of a received data signal, wherein the maximum required signal-to-interference plus noise ratio corresponds to a quantity of physical resource blocks used for the nominal packet size of the data signal. A received signal-to-interference plus noise ratio of the received data signal is compared with the maximum required signal-to-interference plus noise ratio. In response to the received signal-to-interference plus noise ratio exceeding the maximum required signal-to-interference plus noise ratio, power control is performed for the data signal to reduce the received signal-to-interference plus noise ratio. |
| US09185658B2 |
Uplink power control method and user equipment
The present invention relates to an uplink power control method and user equipment, which involve determining a power correction factor by considering the number of antenna ports. According to the present invention, even when a base station transmits the same power control information to the user equipment, the user equipment maps the power control information to another power correction factor and determines an uplink transmission power depending on an uplink transmission condition. Thus, uplink power control can be performed in a more efficient manner. |
| US09185655B2 |
Dynamic power mode switch in a wireless ad-hoc system
In ad-hoc wireless networks, functionality can be implemented to dynamically enable/disable an ad-hoc power save mode depending on whether or not the WLAN device is in a continuous traffic environment. The WLAN devices in the ad-hoc wireless network can use beacon frames to transmit a power mode switch request, to respond to a received power mode switch request (to indicate acceptance or rejection of the received power mode switch request), and to indicate a power mode switch status. The WLAN devices switch the power mode if all the WLAN devices in the ad-hoc wireless network accept the power mode switch request. Changing the power mode depending on the environment can improve power savings, data throughput, and reliability. |
| US09185654B2 |
Network server having an information and scheduling controller to support one or more low duty cycle wireless devices
A network server, such as, for example, a mobile positioning center, having an information or schedule controller or having access to an information or schedule controller is provided. The information or schedule controller is provided with a schedule for a low duty cycle wireless device to provide the network server with the ability to store messages for transmission to the low duty cycle wireless device when the low duty cycle wireless device is in a low power mode of operation and transmit the messages during scheduled awake times. |
| US09185652B2 |
Bluetooth low energy module systems and methods
Disclosed are various embodiments of Bluetooth low energy (BLE) modules and methods implemented therein. An embodiment of the disclosure can obtain in a BLE module an advertiser packet transmitted by a BLE advertiser. An advertiser cache can be checked to determine whether the advertiser cache in the BLE module contains an entry associated with an advertiser address from the advertiser packet. The BLE module can determine whether a payload value of the advertiser packet has changed relative to a previous advertiser packet associated with the advertiser address. The BLE module can then suppress forwarding of the packet to a host processor and/or on-board processor executing firmware. The BLE module can also suppress sending a scan request packet back to the BLE advertiser. |
| US09185639B1 |
Discovery and acquisition methods for directional networking
A system and method of assisting a radio in finding a network is presented. A method first detects existing nodes. A message is received on a slow communication link in a slow network from a new node. One or more existing nodes are found that may connect to new node with a fast communication link in a fast network. The fast network has a data rate that is faster than the slow network. A message is transmitted over the slow network to the new node to provide the new node possible existing nodes that are near it that it may connect to. Based on that message the new node establishes a fast communications link on the fast network between the new node and an existing node. The fast communications link can be a directional link. |
| US09185635B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting proximity-based services
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate ProSe operation. In the context of a method, a mobile terminal is camped on to a second cell that does not proximity-based services (ProSe), while in a state in which context information not stored by a network. The method also determines whether signals are received from a first cell that does support ProSe and that satisfy a predefined condition, such as a predefined strength of the signals from the first cell, a predefined reliability metric, an allowed transmit power or a time for which one or more parameters will remain effective. In an instance in which the predefined condition is satisfied, the method also includes receiving discovery messages from a mobile terminal camped in the first cell, while being camped in the second cell. |
| US09185634B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhancing receiving efficiency of an multimedia broadcast multicast service in a wireless communications system
A method for enhancing receiving efficiency of a multimedia broadcast multicast service, know as MBMS, in a wireless communications system includes setting an indicator for indicating whether an MBMS service is transmitted on an MBSFN, an abbreviation of MBMS over a Single Frequency Network, carrier or not, and sending the indicator to a user equipment of the wireless communications system. |
| US09185633B2 |
Radio base station, mobile station, mobile communcation method for improving positioning reference signal reception processing time in the mobile station
A radio base station that includes an upper-layer information transmission unit configured to transmit a length of Cyclic Prefix (CP) used in neighboring cells and a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) transmission unit configured to transmit the PRS generated based on the length of CP, in a subordinate cell included in the neighboring cells. |
| US09185629B2 |
Multi-hop network having reduced power consumption
The present disclosure is directed to networks having reduced power consumption characteristics and associated methods. In one aspect, a method for reducing power consumption in a multi-hop network can include receiving data at a plurality of primary nodes in a multi-hop network and transmitting the data from the plurality of primary nodes to a plurality of secondary nodes. Individual primary nodes have nearest neighbors at a defined distance and the secondary nodes are spaced at a distance that is greater than the defined distance away from individual primary nodes. Data is transmitted from a given primary node to a secondary node by skipping at least one intervening node and reducing power consumption of the wireless network. |
| US09185628B2 |
System and method for provision of a second line service to a telecommunications device using dialed trigger sequence/direct dial
A method and system for providing a second line service (“SLS”) feature to a subscriber using a telecommunications device (“TD”) which includes receiving at a switch on the network of the subscriber's primary service provider a communication made up of a trigger and a directory number. When the communication is received at the primary service provider's switch, the switch parses the communication and detects the trigger. Once the switch has received the communication, the switch additionally transmits a query message to a SLS platform that manages the SLS feature. As a result of the switch's query message transmission, the switch receives a reply to the query message from the SLS platform. Based at least in part on the reply to the query message, the switch can route the communication such that the switch connects one or multiple voice channel circuit between the subscriber's TD and the terminating TD. |
| US09185618B1 |
Seamless roaming in wireless networks
A system and method for providing a seamless transition between access points for mobile devices. The method comprises associating a unique identifier for a plurality of mobile stations with a unique identifier for a first network in an acknowledgment table, then, upon receiving a frame from a mobile station, acknowledging the reception of the frame if the frame includes the unique identifier for the mobile station and the unique identifier for the network. The transfer of operation between access points is effectuated through the use of control circuitry which transfers portions of the contents of the acknowledgement table between various access points. This has the effect that the mobile stations does not sense a change in access points and thus the roaming from a first access point to a second access point is seamless. |
| US09185617B2 |
Method and system for supporting an evolved UTRAN
A method and system for supporting an evolved universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) are disclosed. The system includes a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a UTRAN and an E-UTRAN. The UTRAN sends to the WTRU a list of available radio access technologies in a coverage area of the UTRAN. The list includes information related to the E-UTRAN. The WTRU receives the list and may initiate a handoff based on the list. The WTRU then sends its multi-mode/multi-RAT capability information including the E-UTRAN capability to the UTRAN. The UTRAN then sends a measurement capability message to the WTRU. The measurement capability message includes parameters necessary for performing measurements on an E-UTRAN channel. The WTRU performs measurements based on the measurement capability message and reports measurement results to the UTRAN. The UTRAN may initiate a handoff to the E-UTRAN based on the measurement results. |
| US09185616B2 |
Access control for macrocell to femtocell handover
Access to a femtocell can be controlled as part of handover of a mobile device from macrocell to femtocell. Macro network platform issues a handover (HO) request towards femto network platform and a single virtual femto node, which represents a plurality of femto access points (APs). Location estimate(s) for the mobile device drives selection of a target femto AP. Selection of the target AP results in acceptance of the HO request. The mobile device also can request macro-to-femto (MTF) handover. HO neighbor list(s) is generated by decoding a network-issued identifier for each femto APs in a set of femtocells, and selectively ranking each femto AP based at least on channel quality; access privileges of the mobile device to each of the identified femto APs determines selectivity. Validation of mobile device's access right(s) drives acceptance of the MTF HO request to a top ranked femto AP. |
| US09185614B2 |
Computation of measurement metrics for wireless networks
Methods and apparatus for computing measurement metrics in a wireless communications network are provided. One example method generally includes obtaining a channel impulse response (CIR) from one or more reference signals (RSs) transmitted from one or more antennas of a base station (BS); calculating an absolute square per element of the CIR to generate channel energy response (CER) elements; calculating a threshold value based on a noise variance estimated from a portion of the CER elements; selecting CER elements that exceed the threshold value; and computing a reference signal received power (RSRP) value based on the selected CER elements. |
| US09185613B2 |
Handover in heterogeneous wireless networks
A first base station in a network initiates handover of a wireless device in connected mode to a second base station. The first base station and the second base station have substantially different transmit powers. The first base station initiates a handover employing a first criterion, if the wireless device is in an active call from a first call category with the first base station. The first base station initiates a handover using a second criterion, if the wireless device is not in an active call from a first call category with the first base station. |
| US09185610B2 |
Handling cell reselection to intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and inter-rat cells of home PLMN
A method and apparatus for wireless communications are provided. A first cell on which a user equipment (UE) is camped may be identified as a visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) of the UE. Information of a second cell among neighboring cells of the first cell may be received via a broadcast message from the first cell. The second cell may be part of a home PLMN (HPLMN) and the HPLMN may not be an equivalent PLMN (EPLMN) to the VPLMN associated with the first cell. Alternatively, the second cell may belong to an Equivalent HPLMN (EPLMN). When the second cell is determined to be a best cell according to absolute priority reselection rules or a highest ranked cell among the neighboring cells of the first cell, the second cell may not be barred for a period of time from being considered or identified as a candidate for reselection. |
| US09185607B2 |
High rate packet data (HRPD) idle state handout from femto access point to macro access network
Systems and methods for identifying an address of a femto node during handoff of an access terminal from a femto node to a macro node. In one embodiment, the femto node assigns a unique identifier to the access terminal. The access terminal passes the unique identifier to the macro node. The macro node partitions the unique identifier to determine the address of the femto node. In another embodiment, the femto node registers its address with a domain name system. The macro node queries the domain name system to obtain the address of the femto node. In another embodiment, the macro node sends the unique identifier to a proxy. The proxy partitions the unique identifier to determine the address of the femto node. |
| US09185604B2 |
Qualifying available reverse link coding rates from access channel power setting
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed regarding data rate and resource allocation decisions which are made for a communications channel, such as a wireless reverse connection. The wireless reverse connection may be between stations. One of the stations may be a base station and another station may be a field unit. The field unit may transmit data to a base station at a first data rate, based on a first resource allocation. Also, the field unit may transmit, to the base station, an indication, such as a digital data word, that the field unit has the capability to support the transmission of uplink data at a second data rate. The base station may transmit a second resource allocation to the field unit. After receiving the second resource allocation, the field unit may transmit additional uplink data to the base station at the second data rate based on the second resource allocation. |
| US09185600B2 |
Methods and devices for providing robust nomadic wireless mesh networks using directional antennas
The number of directional antennas and associated radios needed to ensure a nomadic wireless mesh network (NWMN) remains operational in the event of node or link failures, while minimizing delay and other unwanted effects, may be determined using novel methods and devices. Such a determination may reduce the number of antennas and radios a service or network provider normally uses, thus reducing its costs. |
| US09185599B2 |
Method and device for managing interference in neighbouring cells having multiple sending and receiving nodes
Disclosed is method for controlling interference in a wireless system having multiple sending and receiving nodes. In the method for controlling interference in a wireless system having multiple sending and receiving nodes, a plurality of receiving nodes share each other's channel information, each of the receiving nodes uses the shared channel information to calculate a precoding matrix which is fed back to the sending nodes, and each of the sending nodes uses each of the precoding matrices received as feedback to transmit a send signal to the receiving nodes, thereby controlling interference. Complete interference alignment can be achieved even by just sharing channel information between receiving nodes, and the invention can be employed not only for inter-cell interference but also for intra-cell interference environments. |
| US09185598B2 |
Methods and apparatus for controlling channel utilization
Methods and apparatus for determining a portion of a channel, e.g., a peer discovery channel, to use in a communications network, e.g., an ad hoc peer to peer network, are described. In the communication network, the channel includes a recurring set of time/frequency resources. A device monitors the congestion level and decides to use a whole channel or a fraction of a channel (e.g., ½. ¼) as a function of the congestion level. The device may change the fraction of the channel it occupies as the congestion level changes. The device broadcasts control information indicating the fraction of the channel it occupies. The device may be a mobile wireless terminal. |
| US09185592B2 |
MDT information-reporting format in a wireless communication system, and time-stamp configuring method and apparatus
A method for configuring a Minimization of Drive Test (MDT) information reporting format and a time-stamp is provided that supports MDT in a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) system. The method defines a reporting format needed in a process where UE transmits MDT measurements to a serving base station, and sets the number of bits required to log time stamp and the unit of logging time. |
| US09185591B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for electronic spectrum management with remote access to data in a virtual computing network
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for automated identification of baseline data and changes in state in a wireless communications spectrum, by identifying sources of signal emission in the spectrum by automatically detecting signals, analyzing signals, comparing signal data to historical and reference data, creating corresponding signal profiles, and determining information about the baseline data and changes in state based upon the measured and analyzed data in near real time, which is stored on each apparatus or device units and/or on a remote server computer that aggregates data from each of the units, wherein the data is accessible via remote computer devices. |
| US09185589B2 |
Methods and apparatus to identify wireless carrier performance effects
Example methods and apparatus to identify wireless carrier performance effects are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes receiving an indication of media content presentation on a wireless communication device, monitoring a wireless carrier operating parameter in response to receiving the indication of media content presentation, and monitoring the wireless communication device for a media content presentation command. The example method also includes associating the media content presentation command and the wireless carrier operating parameter with a scoring factor indicative of subscriber preferences, and generating a report including the scoring factor. |
| US09185588B2 |
Method and device for sending and receiving a broadcast control channel in a mobile communication system
The present invention relates to a method and device for automatically optimizing the send parameters in a mobile communication system wherein, in order to optimize the BCCH reception performance, a terminal stores information relating to BCCH reception failure reasons or the number of instances of packet combination for BCCH reception, and this information is reported to a base station. |
| US09185584B1 |
Dual controller functionality in a wireless communication system
In normal operation, a primary signaling controller in a first RAN manages bearer connectivity and tracking area updates for a UE and further interfaces with a second RAN over a primary signaling interface to facilitate inter-RAN signaling related to transition of the UE from being served by the first RAN to being served by the second RAN, such as circuit-switched fallback signaling. Upon detecting failure of the primary signaling interface, the first RAN is dynamically reconfigured to have such inter-RAN signaling for the UE pass over a secondary signaling interface between the second RAN and a secondary signaling controller of the first RAN, while the primary signaling controller continues to manage bearer connectivity and tracking area updates for the UE. |
| US09185568B2 |
Communication device, program and communication control method
There is provided a communication device comprising: a detection unit that detects presence or absence of communication connection with a server storing data related to a communication environment of a communication area where a first communication service is provided; a data acquisition unit that acquires data related to a surrounding communication environment; and a determination unit that determines availability of usage of a second communication service using a part or whole of a spectrum assigned to the first communication service based on the data acquired by the data acquisition unit, wherein when communication connection with the server is not detected by the detection unit, the data acquisition unit senses a communication environment surrounding the communication device or receives data related to a communication environment from another communication device located near the communication device. |
| US09185560B2 |
Identity management on a wireless device
A wireless device may perform a local authentication to reduce the traffic on a network. The local authentication may be performed using a local web server and/or a local OpenID provider (OP) associated with the wireless device. The local web server and/or local OP may be implemented on a security module, such as a smartcard or a trusted execution environment for example. The local OP and/or local web server may be used to implement a provisioning phase to derive a session key, associated with a service provider, from an authentication between the wireless device and the network. The session key may be reusable for subsequent local authentications to locally authenticate a user of the wireless device to the service provider. |
| US09185555B2 |
Method for authentication of a wireless backup system for an optical network unit
An apparatus comprising a first passive optical network (PON) component configured to couple to a second PON component via an optical link and authenticate the second PON component based on authentication information to authorize a backup wireless link between the first PON component and the second PON component. The backup wireless link corresponds to a wireless backup system for the PON. The authentication information is associated with an identifier of the wireless backup system. Also included is a network component comprising a first passive optical network (PON) component configured to receive authentication information for a wireless backup system for a PON from a second PON component and compare the authentication information to expected authentication information at the first PON component to authorize a wireless link between the first PON component and the second PON component for the wireless backup system. |
| US09185547B2 |
System and method for receiving call in wireless terminal
A system and method for receiving a call in a wireless terminal having a single Radio Frequency (RF) unit and at least two Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards, wherein the system includes: the wireless terminal for informing a user of occurrence of an incoming call through a second SIM card for which an incoming call forwarding is pre-registered while performing a call through a first SIM card; a Base Station (BS) related to the first SIM card for informing the wireless terminal of the occurrence of the incoming call through the second SIM card, in response to a paging request for the second SIM card that is received from a BS related to the second SIM card; and the BS related to the second SIM card for requesting the BS related to the first SIM card for paging to the second SIM card if a call request to the second SIM card for which the incoming call forwarding is registered is received. |
| US09185546B2 |
Mobile communication method, switch, and subscriber information server
A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes a step A in which, in location registration processing of a mobile station, an switch of a first communication scheme and an switch of a second communication scheme send a subscriber information server first information used to determine whether or not all coverage areas have a same capability of providing a telephony service by packet switching; and a step B in which, when a status inquiry request made upon receipt of a terminating-call signal destined for the mobile station is received from an application server, the subscriber information server determines based on the first information whether or not to make an inquiry at the switch of the first communication scheme or the switch of the second communication scheme about whether or not provision of the telephony service by packet switching is possible in an area where the mobile station is located. |
| US09185541B1 |
Data usage measurement over multiple networks
Systems and methods of determining wireless data usage are provided. Wireless data usage of a wireless device on a first network of a first network operator is determined. A message indicating a performance of a handover of the wireless device from the first network to a second network of a second network operator is received and the wireless data usage of the wireless device on the second network is determined based on the message received. |
| US09185538B2 |
Wireless subscriber application and content distribution and differentiated pricing
Systems and methods for pricing and distributing applications and content to a wireless client device are disclosed. A first group can be formed by associating at least one item from a main catalog with a first subscriber ID (SID) associated with a first client device. A shopping catalog can be generated for the first client device from the main catalog based on at least one of platform ID, runtime API, and language. The first group can be included with the shopping catalog based on a first SID associated with the first client device. The pricing of the same item can be different in the first group and the main catalog. |
| US09185528B2 |
WiFi mapping and motion detection
An apparatus includes a plurality of transceivers positioned to transmit and/or receive signals that pass through at least a portion of a structure of interest, wherein each of the transceivers receives a signal from at least one of the other transceivers, and a processor using the strength of the received signals, the locations of the transceivers, prior knowledge of building practices, and exterior characteristics of the structure to produce a map of the structure of interest and/or to detect movement of persons in the structure of interest. A method of producing a map of the structure of interest and/or detecting the movement of persons in the structure of interest is also provided. |
| US09185520B2 |
Enhanced location based services
Location information (e.g., GPS information) pertaining to the location of a device may be integrated into a distributed antenna system (DAS) to enhance location based services. This may be accomplished via a system that filters and combines GPS information with DAS information. Utilization of the enhanced location based services system may enhance accuracy performance of indoor location services and improve round-trip time (RTT) location responses associated with network assisted GPS (e.g., A-GPS) location requests for services from indoor calls. |
| US09185519B2 |
System and method for geography-based correlation of cellular and WLAN identifiers
Methods and systems for tracking mobile communication terminals based on their identifiers. The disclosed techniques identify cellular terminals and Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) terminals that are likely to be carried by the same individual, or cellular and WLAN identifiers that belong to the same multi-mode terminal. A correlation system is connected to a cellular network and to a WLAN. The system receives location coordinates of cellular identifiers used by mobile terminals in the cellular network, and location coordinates of WLAN identifiers used by mobile terminals in the WLAN. Based on the location coordinates, the system is able to construct routes that are traversed by the terminals having the various cellular and WLAN identifiers. The system attempts to find correlations in time and space between the routes. |
| US09185516B2 |
Radio frequency interference awareness assistance data
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for providing radio frequency interference (RFI) awareness assistance data to global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers are described. In some embodiments, a first method includes receiving at a location server RFI situational information. The first method further includes maintaining at least one time and location dependent database of an RFI situation. The first method further includes sending at least one assistance data message to at least one receiver including the RFI situational information. In another embodiment, a second method includes receiving RFI awareness assistance data from a location server. The second method further includes adapting a position location measurement according to the received RFI awareness assistance data. The second method further includes calculating a location of the receiver based at least in part on the adapted position location measurement. |
| US09185514B1 |
Orchestration of application updates over a wireless communication network
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for orchestrating application updates over a wireless communication network. In a particular embodiment, a method provides registering a first application with an update controller and, in response to registering the first application, determining first network data update parameters for the first application and determining network constraints on application data updates over a wireless communication network. The method further provides determining when the first application is allowed to request data updates based on the first network data update parameters and the network constraints and notifying the first application of when the first application is allowed to request data updates over the wireless communication network. |
| US09185512B2 |
Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a transmission section which transmits, to an external device that has collected an index pertaining to a feature of an output of a sensor for each classification, classification information for specifying the classification, and a reception section which receives information about the index corresponding to the classification information. |
| US09185507B2 |
Hybrid derivation of surround sound audio channels by controllably combining ambience and matrix-decoded signal components
Ambience signal components are obtained from source audio signals, matrix-decoded signal components are obtained from the source audio signals, and the ambience signal components are controllably combined with the matrix-decoded signal components. Obtaining ambience signal components may include applying at least one decorrelation filter sequence. The same decorrelation filter sequence may be applied to each of the input audio signals or, alternatively, a different decorrelation filter sequence may be applied to each of the input audio signals. |
| US09185502B2 |
Acoustical transmission means and method for transmitting sound
An acoustic transmission device for transmission of acoustical energy to the cochlea includes a liquid conducting assembly, an acoustic input unit, and a vibration transducer abutting a transmission area on an outer surface of the skin over a transition area of the acoustic input unit. The assembly includes a tube with a liquid or semi-liquid medium filling the bore of the tube, and is adapted to be terminated in direct operative association with the cochlea. The acoustic input unit is adapted to be disposed subcutaneously between a skull bone surface and an external skin surface. The vibration transducer is adapted to be magnetically attachable at a fastening area adjacent to the transmission area by a magnetic assembly configured to be provided under the skin in the fastening area around the transition area. |
| US09185500B2 |
Compression of spaced sources for hearing assistance devices
This application relates to a system for compression and mixing for hearing assistance devices by application of compression to individual sound sources before applying a head-related transfer function (HRTF) to prevent compression and cross modulation of interaural-level-difference (ILD) cues for localization, according to one example. Variations of the present system use coordinated compression to left and right individual source signals after application of HRTFs. |
| US09185499B2 |
Binaural hearing aid with frequency unmasking
A hearing aid includes: at least one microphone for provision of at least one microphone audio signal in response to sound received at the at least one microphone; a signal separation unit configured to provide an estimate of a target signal and an estimate of a masker signal based on the at least one microphone audio signal; a frequency modifying unit configured to modify a frequency content of at least one of the estimate of the target signal and the estimate of the masker signal, to thereby output the estimated target signal and the estimated masker signal substantially in different frequency bands; and a receiver for conversion of a combination of the estimate of the target signal and the estimate of the masker signal output by the frequency modifying unit into an acoustic signal for transmission towards an eardrum of a user of the hearing aid. |
| US09185495B2 |
Oscillation device and electronic apparatus
An oscillation device includes: a piezoelectric vibrator (110) in which electrode layers (112, 113) are formed over top and bottom surfaces of a piezoelectric layer (111); a vibrating member (120) having at least atop surface to which the piezoelectric vibrator (110) is bonded; and a resin member (130) formed continuously in a circumferential direction over at least the outer side surface of the piezoelectric vibrator (110). Therefore, since it is possible to increase the working area of the piezoelectric vibrator, it is possible to realize both an increase in the sound pressure level of the output and miniaturization of the apparatus. |
| US09185493B2 |
Method and apparatus for computing metric values for loudspeaker protection
Systems and methods thereof for obtaining metrics and an accurate threshold to prevent loudspeaker overheating, based on autocorrelation and cross-correlation of band-pass filtered current and voltage measurements are disclosed. The methods invented are based on instantaneous voltage and current measurements. The invention does not require a DC or pilot signal to be added to the audio signal in order to do perform the measurement, and it is not disturbed by capacitive or inductive components in the complex impedance of the voice coil. |
| US09185490B2 |
Single enclosure surround sound loudspeaker system and method
A single enclosure loudspeaker system projects multi-channel surround sound into a listener's room, and so replaces multiple conventional surround channel loudspeakers. The loudspeaker system includes a pair of opposing multi transducer arrays oriented laterally toward walls or reflecting surfaces (relative to the viewing axis) within the media space. The multi-element arrays are housed in a single self-powered loudspeaker enclosure along with a single (or multiple) low-frequency electro-acoustical drive element(s). In one embodiment of the invention, surround channel program material is pre-processed by an integrated wireless transmission device that performs certain digital signal processing and channel mixing steps in advance of wireless surround signal broadcast to a receiver. |
| US09185489B2 |
Automatic voiding diary
A device that may be used as an automatic voiding diary detects urinary and/or fecal voiding events and records voiding information indicative of the voiding events without the need for significant patient interaction. The device includes a microphone that captures internal and/or external sounds that are associated with voiding events and generates an electrical signal based the sounds. The device processes the electrical signal to determine whether the signal is indicative of the occurrence of a voiding event (i.e., the device detects voiding events) by, for example, comparing the electrical signal to a signal template or comparing an amplitude of the signal to a threshold. The device may be a device implanted within the patient or an external device that can be carried or attached to the body or clothing of the patient. |
| US09185488B2 |
Control parameter dependent audio signal processing
Detection from sensors may be used to configure or modify the configuration of audio directional processing to improve user safety and/or communication by processing at least one control parameter dependent on at least one sensor input parameter, processing at least one audio signal dependent on the processed at least one control parameter, and outputting the processed at least one audio signal. |
| US09185486B2 |
Ophthalmic lens with micro-acoustic elements
The present invention discloses an ophthalmic device with micro-acoustic electromechanical elements and associated methods. In some embodiments, the micro-acoustic electromechanical elements may be useful for the purpose of providing audible warnings and/or messages to a user. The audible warnings and/or messages can include, for example, messages transmitted wirelessly through a communication element of the ophthalmic device and/or generated within the ophthalmic device. In addition, in some embodiments the ophthalmic device can be an energized contact lens that is used both for optical correction and the transmission of sound through bone resonance to the inner ear of a user. |
| US09185485B2 |
Methods and apparatus for processing audio signals
Various methods and apparatus for processing audio signals are disclosed herein. The assembly may be attached, adhered, or otherwise embedded into or upon a removable oral appliance to form a hearing aid assembly. Such an oral appliance may be a custom-made device which can enhance and/or optimize received audio signals for vibrational conduction to the user. Received audio signals may be processed to cancel acoustic echo such that undesired sounds received by one or more intra-buccal and/or extra-buccal microphones are eliminated or mitigated. Additionally, a multiband actuation system may be used where two or more transducers each deliver sounds within certain frequencies. Also, the assembly may also utilize the sensation of directionality via the conducted vibrations to emulate directional perception of audio signals received by the user. Another feature may include the ability to vibrationally conduct ancillary audio signals to the user along with primary audio signals. |
| US09185478B2 |
Ruggedized sound system
A sound system configured to play audio files in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments is disclosed. The system includes a housing, a speaker, a power supply, and a mounting attachment that provides protection for sensitive system components and allow the system to be securely attached to a variety of surfaces and objects. |
| US09185477B2 |
Suspension for sound transducer
The present invention relates to a suspension for a sound transducer. The present invention discloses a suspension for a sound transducer, to which a diaphragm and voice coil of the sound transducer are attached and which guides the vibrations of the diaphragm and voice coil, comprising: a central portion to which a voice coil is attached; an outer peripheral portion resting on a frame; and a connecting portion connecting the central portion and the outer peripheral portion, wherein the central portion has a mold portion, which is molded by heat or pressure to take the place of a center diaphragm. |
| US09185467B2 |
Reception apparatus, reception method, and reception program
A reception apparatus is configured to receive data including a plurality of packets each of which has information on a time point when the packet is generated; to extract a terminal packet which is a packet included in the data received and which has information on a time point which is nearest to a current time point; and to control an operation clock by comparing the information on the time point included in the terminal packet with information on an elapsed time obtained by adding information on a time point, which is included in a terminal packet of preceding data, to an elapsed time from when the preceding data is received to the current time point. |
| US09185466B2 |
Method for provisioning high speed wireless infrastructure
Several million television receive antennas installed on roof tops in the US and around the world. A method is disclosed that uses each of the millions of television receive antennas as transmitters to provide high speed wireless mobile and broadband infrastructure to send and receive internet, data, audio, video, at user locations and communication between devices and sensors securely. This is the first converged broadcast and broadband interactive wireless infrastructure utilizing the television as an interface for applications such as financial transactions, home-to-home interconnection, environmental, energy management (smart meters), social networking, streaming, gaming, and security management. A personal server connects to a television receiver and antenna which connects among them wirelessly and connect to a broadcasting site server and an electric-substation server. The invention creates wireless cloud eliminating the need of a personal computer. The method overcomes the problem of interference whist preserving latency, synchronization, and time accuracy. |
| US09185465B2 |
Implementing media requests via a one-way set-top box
A method can include initiating a video request via an application operating on a smart device. The method can also include transmitting the video request to a service provider from the smart device via a network to enable transmission of configuration information to a one-way set-top box and to enable transmission of video content corresponding to media content associated with the video request to the one-way set-top box based on the configuration information. |
| US09185464B2 |
Service alert messages for customer premises communication devices
A method includes providing identifying information for a customer premises communication device to a provider network, wherein the customer premises communication device is a node of a customer premises network. The method may further include registering a communication channel between the customer premises communication device and the provider network. In addition, the method may include receiving at least one service alert message from the provider network using the communication channel. The type of service alert message is selected based on the customer premises communication device. |
| US09185462B2 |
Method and system for implementation of an interactive television application
The present invention provides a method and system for implementation of an interactive television application. Particularly, the invention provides method and system for designing and implementation of synchronized interactive television applications using quick response (QR) code, wherein the quick response (QR) code is used to tag the broadcasted television content. More particularly, the invention provides method and system for decoding the quick response (QR) code at the receiver side to provide a universal resource locator (URL) which hosts augmented services for the content on the interactive television as well as on the secondary communication device. |
| US09185461B2 |
Spot notification method, spot notification device, and spot notification device program
A spot notification device includes: a viewing history acquisition unit that acquires a program viewing history of a user; a program metadata acquisition unit that acquires program metadata including a name and locational information on a spot introduced in a program; a spot list generation unit that generates, on the basis of the viewing history and the program metadata, a spot list including the name and locational information on the spot; a current location acquisition unit that acquires a current location of the user; an activity history holding unit that holds the current location in time series as an activity history; a notifying spot determination unit that sets a search range in accordance with the activity history and refers to the spot list to search for the spot present within the search range; and a spot notification unit that notifies the user of information relating to the spot. |
| US09185459B1 |
Storage management technology
Storage management technology, in which a system determines a first amount of storage space on a downloader device of a user that is available for download of new content made available on channels subscribed to by the user. The system also determines a second amount of storage space needed to download new content that has been made available on channels subscribed to by the user. The system further compares the second amount of storage space to the first amount of storage space and determines whether the second amount of storage space exceeds the first amount of storage space. Based on a determination that the second amount of storage space exceeds the first amount of storage space, the system controls downloading of the new content to the downloader device and deletion of previously-stored content on the downloader device based on a content allocation policy. |
| US09185449B2 |
Interactive television program guide system having multiple devices within a household
An interactive television program guide system based on multiple user television equipment devices in a single household is provided. The system provides a user with an opportunity to adjust program guide settings with a given one of the interactive television program guides. The system coordinates the operation of the interactive television program guides so that the program guide settings that were adjusted with the given interactive television program guide are used by the other interactive television program guides. Program guide setting include features related to setting program reminders, profiles, program recording features, messaging features, favorites features, parental control features, program guide set up features (e.g., audio and video and language settings); etc. The operation of applications such as web browser applications; home shopping applications, home banking applications, game applications, etc. may also be coordinated. |
| US09185448B2 |
Remote control method, and system, receiving device, mobile internet device and recording medium for implementing the same
A remote control method comprises: providing a receiving device electrically connected with a display device; the receiving device establishing wireless communication connections respectively with a mobile internet device and a computer; a user inputting a control instruction to the mobile internet device to transmit the control instruction to the receiving device therefrom; the receiving device forwarding the control instruction to the computer; and the computer responding to the control instruction and transmitting a screen frame to the receiving device for the display device to output the screen frame. The remote control method may simplify the operating procedures for switching computers and enhance the communication quality between the mobile internet device and the computer. |
| US09185445B2 |
Transmitting a prioritized audio stream along with multimedia content
Systems and methods for transmitting a prioritized audio stream along with multimedia content are disclosed. A particular method includes receiving a designation at a server of a prioritized audio stream to be transmitted with multimedia content. The designation is received at a server prior to transmission of the multimedia content. The multimedia content is retrieved from a first content source and the prioritized audio stream is retrieved from a second content source that is different than the first content source, where the first content source and the second content source are external to the server. The prioritized audio stream is added to a least a portion of the multimedia content to form a composite content stream. The method includes transmitting the composite content stream to a destination device via a network. |
| US09185444B2 |
Video playback system with multiple video decoders and related computer program products
A video playback system with multiple video decoders includes a content provider server for providing video signals of a target video; a first video decoder; a first display for displaying video content outputted from the first video decoder; a second video decoder; a second display for displaying video content outputted from the second video decoder; a playback control server for controlling the first and the second video decoders; and a mobile communication device for transmitting selection messages to the playback control server via internet and then transmitting modification messages to the playback control server via internet. The playback control server opts to utilize the first video decoder to receive a portion of video signals of the target video according to the selection message, and opts to utilize the second video decoder to receive subsequent video signals of the target video according to the modification message. |
| US09185437B2 |
Video data
Computer program products and a mobile terminal for transmitting and receiving video data. Image data of first and second frames of a video signal captured by a camera is used to determine encoded first spatial units of the first frame and encoded second spatial units of the second frame at lower spatial resolution, which are transmitted to the receiver terminal. The second spatial units are unaligned with the first spatial units due to rotation of the camera between the first and second frames, such that each of the second spatial units partially overlaps with at least one first spatial unit. An indication of the angle of rotation of the camera between the first and second frames is detected using a rotational motion sensor and transmitted to the receiver terminal. The receiver terminal combines the first and second spatial units using the indication to reconstruct an image of higher spatial resolution. |
| US09185435B2 |
Methods and apparatus to characterize households with media meter data
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to characterize households with media meter data. An example method includes identifying, with a processor, a target set of household categories associated with a target research geography, when a quantity of households within the target research geography representing the target set of household categories does not satisfy a threshold value, generating a first subset of categories and a second subset of categories from the target set of household categories, identifying a first set of households representing the first subset of categories from the target set of household categories and identifying an associated total number of household tuning minutes and a total number of household exposure minutes associated therewith, for each category in the second subset of categories from the target set of household categories, calculating a household tuning proportion and an exposure proportion, the household tuning proportion and exposure proportion based on the total number of household tuning minutes and exposure minutes, respectively, and calculating the panelist behavior probability based on the exposure proportion and the household tuning proportion. |
| US09185433B2 |
System and method for receiving broadcast content on a mobile platform during travel
A vehicle information system for passenger vehicles, such as automobiles and aircraft, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The vehicle information system includes a broadband communication system with a broadband antenna system and a broadband control system. Exploiting the advent of high-speed connectivity solutions, the vehicle information system supports a low-cost, high-capacity bidirectional data connection with a terrestrial content system and thereby can be established as another node on the “Worldwide Net.” The vehicle information system likewise provides wireless access points for communicating with passengers' personal media devices. As desired, the vehicle information system can support mobile telephone connectivity and/or presentation of live integrated digital television (IDTV) programming. The vehicle information system thereby provides enhanced information, entertainment, and communication services during travel. |
| US09185430B2 |
Deblocking filtering method and deblocking filter
An exemplary deblocking filtering method includes checking if at least one of two adjacent blocks is an intra-coded block and accordingly generating a checking result; and applying a deblocking filtering scheme with a clipping range to the two adjacent blocks by a deblocking filtering circuit as long as the checking result indicates that at least one of the two adjacent blocks is the intra-coded block. |
| US09185419B2 |
Method and device for coding a sequence of images
A method of coding a sequence of images comprises at least one image comprising an image region of interest.The coding method comprises the following steps implemented for said at least one image of said sequence of images: determining (S10 to S23) an image portion comprising the image region of interest on the basis of a rate-distortion criterion representing a compromise between the compression efficiency the distortion of the image portion and the compression efficiency the distortion of the whole of said at least one image; and coding (S24) said at least one image on the basis of the determined image portion. |
| US09185417B2 |
Video decoding switchable between two modes
Video decoder apparatus and method, for decoding a motion-compensated transform-coded video stream. The apparatus has: a first mode in which it is operable to decode the video stream at a first resolution, and wherein a motion-compensation step of the decoding is performed in the image-domain. It also has a second mode in which it is operable to decode the video stream at a second resolution, and wherein at least one motion-compensation step is performed in the transform-domain. The decoder is adapted to switch between the two modes while decoding the video stream. |
| US09185416B2 |
Image encoding apparatus
Provided is a moving picture coding apparatus for increasing a compression ratio of a moving picture signal while maintaining high image quality. To minimize the number of bits required for a residual block, quantized transform coefficients are adaptively divided into a plurality of subsets according to a size of a transform block, and non-zero quantized transform coefficients of each subset are scanned and encoded. Also, an intra prediction mode of the current block is determined using reference pixels obtained by filtering reference pixels of the current block. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the amount of data required for the residual block of the current block. |
| US09185414B1 |
Video encoding using variance
Disclosed herein are implementations of systems, methods, and apparatuses for video encoding using variance. One aspect of the disclosed implementations includes a method for encoding a video stream that includes generating a first input variance based on pixel values of a first block of a first frame of the video stream, generating a first reconstruction variance based on pixel values of a reconstructed first block that is reconstructed from an encoding of the first block, comparing the first input variance and the first reconstruction variance to detect a visual artifact in the reconstructed first block, and encoding a second block of a second frame of the video stream using an encoding mode that is selected based on the detection of the visual artifact in the reconstructed first block by the comparison. |
| US09185413B2 |
Channel equalizer and method of processing broadcast signal in DTV receiving system
A channel equalizer includes a first transformer, an estimator, an average calculator, a second transformer, a coefficient calculator, a compensator, and a third transformer. The first transformer converts normal data into frequency domain data, where a known data sequence is periodically repeated in the normal data. The estimator estimates channel impulse responses (CIR) during known data intervals adjacent to each normal data block. The average calculator calculates an average value of the CIRs. The second transformer converts the average value into frequency domain data. The coefficient calculator calculates equalization coefficients using the average value, and the compensator compensates channel distortion of each normal data block using the coefficients. The third transformer converts the compensated data block into time domain data. |
| US09185412B2 |
Signal to noise improvement
Systems, methods, and processor executable code for high quality wide-range multi-layer image compression of a sequence of video images. A computer-implemented method of adding signal-to-noise improvement layers which are targeted to specific aspects of a sequence of images. The method comprises selecting one or more aspects of a coded image to improve, isolating those image aspects using the selection criteria, and coding a signal-to-noise layer using the isolated coded image aspects. A computer-implemented method for generating a signal-to-noise correction layer from a digitized video image represented as pixels. The method comprises quantizing and dequantizing the digitized video image to create a coded image, subtracting the coded image from the digitized video image to create a signal-to-noise difference image represented as pixels, and applying one or both of quantization weighting and pixel weighting to the signal-to-noise difference image pixel values such that larger difference image pixel values have smaller quantized values. |
| US09185408B2 |
Efficient storage of motion information for high efficiency video coding
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for signaling the storage of motion information describing the depicted motion associated with digital pictures. In one embodiment, the method comprises signaling the replacement of a motion vector stored in connection with a previously coded picture with the motion vector of the currently coded frame. Another signal may be used to indicate motion vector replacement for all pictures in a sequence. |
| US09185406B2 |
Image decoding device, image coding device, methods thereof, programs thereof, integrated circuits thereof, and transcoding device
An image decoding device for increasing decoding efficiency and reducing the number of memory accesses includes a division unit dividing a picture into first and second coded image data; and first and second decoding units decoding, in parallel, the first and second coded image data and storing decoding results into a frame storage unit. The first and second decoding units decode the first and second coded image data using second and first decoding result information, respectively, and store the resulting first and second decoding result information into an information storage unit. When decoding a target macroblock, each of the first and second decoding units performs image processing on the corresponding second or first decoding result information indicating part of the decoded macroblock included in the macroblock line adjacent to the macroblock line including the target macroblock, and the target macroblock. |
| US09185405B2 |
Coded block flag inference in video coding
A video decoder determines whether a first condition is satisfied. The first condition is satisfied when any sibling residual quad tree (RQT) node of a current RQT node is associated with a significant luma coefficient block. In addition, the video decoder determines whether a second condition is satisfied. The second condition is satisfied when a chroma transform block of a parent RQT node of the current RQT node is significant and is split along with a luma transform block of the parent RQT node. In response to determining that neither the first nor the second condition is satisfied, the video decoder determines that a luma coded block flag (CBF) for the current RQT node is omitted from the bitstream. |
| US09185403B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for visual inspection of transcoded video
The present invention provides a method, apparatus and system for visually comparing a video file against its source as the video file is being re-encoded, for example, into another video format. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a video frame and a corresponding re-encoded video frame are placed into a single wide (combined) video frame to display each image, for example, side-by-side in the same frame. By synchronizing the source video frames with the re-encoded video frames and displaying them on the same wide video frame, differences caused by, for example, the encoding process may be visually determined as the video is being re-encoded into a desired, second video format. |
| US09185402B2 |
Traffic camera calibration update utilizing scene analysis
Methods and systems are disclosed for updating camera geometric calibration utilizing scene analysis. Geometric calibration parameters can be derived with respect to one or more cameras and selected reference points of interest identified from a scene acquired by one or more of such cameras. The camera geometric calibration parameters can be applied to image coordinates of the selected reference points of interest to provide real-world coordinates at a time of initial calibration of the camera(s). A subset of a video stream from the camera(s) can then be analyzed to identify features of a current scene captured by the camera(s) that match the selected reference points of interest and provide a current update of the camera geometric calibration parameters with respect to the current scene. |
| US09185401B2 |
Method and apparatus for camera network calibration with small calibration pattern
A method for calibrating a camera network includes generating a projection matrix by each of cameras in respect of a calibration pattern that is disposed at a plurality of different positions in a photography zone. A portion of the projection matrix is produced as a sub-projection matrix. Sub-projection matrixes are arranged widthwise and lengthwise to generate one sub-measurement matrix. A singular value decomposition (SVD) is performed on the sub-measurement matrix to change the sub-measurement matrix into a matrix having a rank of 3 and a SVD is performed on the changed sub-measurement matrix. A rotation value of the calibration pattern, and an internal parameter and a rotation value of each camera are extracted to thereby calibrate the camera network. |
| US09185393B2 |
Image capturing device, semiconductor integrated circuit, and image capturing method
An image capturing device in one aspect of the present invention includes: an imaging device; a lens optical system including a focus lens; a driving section for driving one of the imaging device and the focus lens; a displacement control section for controlling displacement of the imaging device or the focus lens to be driven based on a predetermined displacement pattern; a diaphragm having an aperture having a size which can be changed and being provided in the lens optical system; an aperture control section for controlling the size of the aperture of the diaphragm; a synchronizing section for controlling the displacement control section and the aperture control section based on exposure timing; and an image capturing parameter determining section for determining the exposure time, the size of the diaphragm aperture, and the displacement pattern, wherein: the predetermined displacement pattern includes a first-type displacement pattern and a second-type displacement pattern by which the imaging device or the focus lens is displaced over different ranges between a first focus position and a second focus position in an image capturing scene; the first-type displacement pattern and the second-type displacement pattern are repeated alternately; and the aperture control section controls the diaphragm so as to have a first aperture and a second aperture having a different size from that of the first aperture in the first-type displacement pattern and the second-type displacement pattern based on timing from the synchronizing section. |
| US09185391B1 |
Adjustable parallax distance, wide field of view, stereoscopic imaging system
An imaging system and methods for using an imaging system where the operator is able to variably adjust the parallax distance for enhanced stereo performance are disclosed. In addition, by coordinating the parallax distance with the optical settings of the camera, artificial 3D experiences can be created that give a user the perception of observing a scene from a distance different than that actually employed. The imaging system may also include a plurality of stereo camera supersets, wherein a first one or more stereo camera supersets are positioned at a different height relative to a first stereo camera superset. Novel specific uses of the camera system, such as in capturing events of interest are described. Useful techniques for extracting or encoding wide field of view images from memory are also disclosed. |
| US09185390B2 |
Camera system and camera control method
A camera system and method are suitable for use in applications in which three dimensional images are generated without using complicated procedures. A camera system includes: a first camera and a second camera; a camera adaptor box; and a camera control unit. The camera adaptor box controls the operations of the first and second cameras and transmits the images from the first and second cameras to the camera control unit. The camera control unit outputs a control signal, received from a control panel to control the cameras, to the camera adaptor box. The camera control unit outputs a video signal received from the camera adaptor box to a display apparatus and a recording apparatus. |
| US09185386B2 |
Video processing device, transmission device, video processing system, video processing method, transmission method, computer program and integrated circuit
Provided is a video processing device that quickly identifies a distribution mode of a stream of display data, e.g., subtitles, and reproduces the data according to the distribution mode. The video processing device receives a transport stream including additional information and a data stream of display data to be displayed along with a 3D video, the additional information indicating whether the transport stream further includes left-view and right-view data streams generated from left-view and right-view data used for displaying the display data; determines whether the transport stream includes the left-view and the right-view data streams based on the additional information; and reproduces the left-view and the right-view data from the left-view and the right-view data streams when the transport stream includes the left-view and the right-view data streams, and reproduces alternative left-view and right-view data when the transport stream does not include the left-view and the right-view data streams. |
| US09185375B2 |
Color imaging element and imaging device
The color imaging element and the imaging device according to the present invention can improve reproduction precision of demosaicing processing in a high frequency region and suppress aliasing. Further, the color imaging element can achieve high resolution by reducing occurrence of color moire (false color). Furthermore, the color imaging element and the imaging device can perform pixel demosaicing processing with high precision. Still furthermore, a basic array pattern including a square pattern and a grating filter line is repeated in a first direction and a second direction, and thus a color filter array can perform signal processing in a subsequent stage according to a repeating pattern of the square pattern and the grating filter line, and can simplify the processing in a subsequent stage more than a conventional random array. |
| US09185374B2 |
Method and system for producing full motion media to display on a spherical surface
A method and system for producing full motion media for display on a spherical surface is described. The method may include selecting a subject of full motion media for display on a spherical surface. The method may the include capturing the selected subject as full motion media (e.g., full motion video) in a rectilinear domain. The method may then include processing the full motion media in the rectilinear domain for display on a spherical surface, such as by orienting the full motion media, adding rotation to the full motion media, processing edges of the full motion media, and/or distorting the full motion media in the rectilinear domain for instance. After processing the full motion media, the method may additionally include providing the processed full motion media to a spherical projection system, such as a Science on a Sphere system. |
| US09185371B2 |
Liquid crystal projector having shade member preventing deterioration of polarizing plate
A liquid crystal projector which prevents deterioration of the aluminum grid inorganic polarizing plate due to dust in the cooling air for cooling the liquid crystal panel module. A shade member along the surface of the inorganic polarizing plate prevents the surface from being directly hit by the cooling wind and thus prevents dust from attaching to the surface of the plate. |
| US09185370B2 |
Camera and camera control method
A camera according to the present invention, which is capable of continuous shooting before and after a still image shot according to photographer's operation, comprises: an imaging section converting an object image into image data; a still image shooting section obtaining image data of the still image according to release operation; a continuous shooting section obtaining the image data by continuous shooting before and after the obtaining of the still image in the still image shooting section; an image processing section performing image processing which is different from that of the image data obtained by the still image shooting section and changed sequentially, on the image data obtained by the continuous shooting section; and a recording section recording the image data image-processed by the image processing section. |
| US09185365B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling sensor node using vibration sensor and magnetic sensor
An apparatus and method for controlling a sensor node are provided that may calculate an azimuth angle and a slope of the sensor node using a 2-axis magnetic sensor and a 3-axis acceleration sensor, and may detect a target approaching the sensor node. The apparatus may include a calculation unit to calculate an azimuth angle and a slope of a sensor node, based on a magnetic values measured by a 2-axis magnetic sensor and a acceleration values measured by a 3-axis acceleration sensor; a sensor control unit to filter the magnetic values and the vibration values and to amplify the filtered magnetic values and the filtered vibration values, when the azimuth angle and the slope are calculated; and a detection unit to detect a target based on the amplified magnetic values and the amplified vibration values. |
| US09185361B2 |
Camera-based tracking and position determination for sporting events using event information and intelligence data extracted in real-time from position information
Position information of equipment at an event, such as a ball, one or more players, or other items in a game or sporting event, is used in selecting camera, camera shot type, camera angle, audio signals, and/or other output data for providing a multimedia presentation of the event to a viewer. The position information is used to determine the desired viewer perspective. A network of feedback robotically controlled Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ), manually controlled cameras and stationary cameras work together with interpolation techniques to create a 2D video signal. The position information may also be used to access gaming rules and assist officiating of the event. The position information may be obtained through a transceiver(s), accelerometer(s), transponder(s), and/or RADAR detectable element(s) fitted into the ball, apparel or equipment of players, the players themselves, or other playing equipment associated with the game or sporting event. Other positioning methods that can be used include infrared video-based tracking systems, SONAR positioning system(s), LIDAR positioning systems, and digital signal processing (DSP) image processing techniques such as triangulation. |
| US09185357B2 |
Optical tissue sectioning using full field optical coherence tomography
According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a multimodal optical sectioning microscope (200, 400, 600) for full-field imaging of a volumic and scattering sample comprising: —a full-field OCT system for providing an image of a first section in depth of the sample comprising an illumination sub-system (201, 401, 601) and a full-field imaging interferometer with a detection sub system (208, 408, 608) and an optical conjugation device for optically conjugating the sample and said detection sub system, wherein said optical conjugation device comprises a microscope objective (203, 403, 603), —a supplementary full-field optical sectioning imaging system for providing a fluorescent image of a second section in depth of said sample comprising a structured illumination microscope with an illumination sub system (623), means (421, 422) for generating at the focal plane of said microscope objective of said full-field imaging interferometer a variable spatial pattern illumination and a detection sub system (624), optically conjugated with said focal plane of the microscope objective. |
| US09185351B2 |
Browsing and viewing video assets using TV set-top box
Roughly described, a system and method for delivering video content to a user's client device in a video-on-demand (VOD) system, which includes providing a collection of video segments, the segments having a predefined default sequence; establishing a streaming video session according to a session-oriented protocol; transmitting toward the client device a script executable by the client device, the script operable to transmit navigational codes toward the head-end equipment in response to and indicating user selection among navigational choices; beginning transmission of the video segments in the collection toward the client device in accordance with the default sequence of segments; and in response to receipt of one of the navigational codes, and without tearing down the streaming video session, altering the transmission sequence to jump to the segment that the user selected. |
| US09185344B2 |
Transmission terminal, communication system, and computer-readable storage medium
A transmission terminal is connected to a management device via a network. The transmission terminal includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a communication state of another transmission terminal from the management device; a selection accepting unit configured to accept a selection of the another transmission terminal from a user to participate in an established session that has been already established for the another transmission terminal; a participation determination unit configured to determine that it is not possible to participate in the established session when the communication state of the another transmission terminal whose selection has been accepted indicates participation restriction; and a communication unit configured not to transmit a participation request to the management device when it is determined that the participation is not possible. |
| US09185342B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing instant social image cobrowsing through the cloud
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing instant social image cobrowsing through the cloud, including, for example, means for loading an application at the client device, the application displaying a graphical interface at the client device; receiving input at the graphical interface of the client device to initiate an instant share session; generating an action at the client device to request an instant share session; communicating the action from the client device to a remote host organization via a public Internet; receiving, at the client device, a pointer to a dynamically created co-browse site at the host organization responsive to communicating the action from the client device to the remote host organization; following the pointer to the dynamically created co-browse site at the host organization communicably linking the client device with the host organization; and exchanging a video telephony stream between the client device and a remote party through the dynamically created co-browse site. Other related embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09185341B2 |
Digital domain content processing and distribution apparatus and methods
Methods and apparatus for distributing content using a spectrum generation device. In one embodiment, digital content is received via a time-multiplexed network transport (such as Gigabit Ethernet), and converted to frequency channels suitable for transmission over a content distribution (e.g., Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC)) network. In one variant, the conversion is performed using digital domain processing performed by a full spectrum generation device. Additionally, methods and apparatus for selectively adding, removing, and/or changing digital content from the full spectrum device are also disclosed. Various aspects of the present invention enable physical (infrastructure) consolidation, and software-implemented remote management of content distribution. |
| US09185338B2 |
System and method for fingerprinting video
Disclosed are various embodiments of generating video fingerprints. Scene changes can be detected in a video and a video fingerprint generated based upon a time at which the scene change occurs as well as time intervals between the scene changes relative to adjacent scene changes. A video can be captured and analyzed by comparing scene changes detected in the video to those described by the video fingerprint. |
| US09185333B2 |
Method and system for accessing content for presentation via a set-top box
An approach is provided for presenting, via a set-top box, a first media content to a user. The user is prompted with an option to experience a second media content relating to the first media content. The set-top box presents the second media content to the user upon selection of the option by the user. |
| US09185332B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a scan
Systems and methods for a video scan are provided. The scan may be dynamically interactive and a function of characteristics of the programs in the scan (e.g., commercial breaks or the end of a program approaching) The scan may simultaneously display multiple scan windows for a plurality of programs, for example in a scan wizard. The scan wizard allows the user to simultaneously view a scan window and an information panel, select criteria for the scan from a criteria panel, and control the scan using a scan control panel. The scan may allow the user to record a program displayed in the scan without interrupting the scan (e.g., by using an additional tuner). The scan may display, within the scan interface, trick-play functions for appropriate scanned programs (e.g., recorded, cached and on-demand programs). The user may select and perform trick-play functions for a scanned program without exiting the scan mode. |
| US09185330B2 |
Laser driving circuit, laser driving method, projector apparatus and apparatus which uses laser light
Disclosed herein is a laser driving circuit, including: a plurality of laser driving video current generation circuits configured to generate a plurality of kinds of laser driving current for driving a plurality of laser light sources configured to emit laser light having wavelengths different from each other based on an inputted video signal; a high frequency superposition section configured to superpose a high frequency signal having a frequency higher than a frequency band of the video signal on the laser driving current generated by the laser driving video current generation circuits; and a waveform correction section configured to correct a waveform of the high frequency signal. |
| US09185328B2 |
Device and method for displaying a three-dimensional PIP image
Provided are a device and method for providing a three-dimensional PIP image, for combining and outputting a main image with a PIP image. A device for providing a three-dimensional PIP image according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an image acquisition unit for acquiring a main three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional or three-dimensional PIP image from a broadcast signal, external device, or recording medium; a PIP-combining unit for combining the main image and the PIP image; and a three-dimensional formatter for formatting the combined image of the main image and the PIP image into a format that can be stereoscopically displayed. Accordingly, an image may be provided with a main three-dimensional image and a two-dimensional PIP image or a main three-dimensional image and a three-dimensional PIP image which are overlaid. |
| US09185327B2 |
Image display device, method for indicating connector, and connector
An image display device and a connector are disclosed. The image display device includes: a connector connected with a cable through which a video signal is transmitted; a display panel for displaying an image based on the video signal inputted via the cable to the connector from an external apparatus; and a display controller for displaying a connector indication indicating the connector on the display panel. The connector includes a cable detection mechanism for detecting presence or absence of a connection of the cable, and the display controller changes a connector indication mode displayed on the display panel, according to a detection result of the cable detection mechanism. |
| US09185326B2 |
System and method enabling visual filtering of content
There is presented a system and method enabling visual filtering of content. The system comprises a server, a content database storing content units and accessible through the server, and a filtering and display application. The filtering and display application is configured to enable visual filtering of the content units by filtering a plurality of graphical representations corresponding to a plurality of content units stored by the system, to extract a first plurality of graphical representations for displaying to a user, displaying the first plurality of graphical representations as active graphical representations selectable by the user in a first featured display, and dynamically filtering the first plurality of graphical representations and replacing the first featured display with another featured display of a first subset of active graphical representations selectable by the user according to an input received from the user. |
| US09185324B2 |
Sourcing EPG data
An EPG data service for an Intelligent TV includes various of source plugins polling and retrieving updated EPG information from a plurality of respective EPG information sources and an EPG subservice receiving the EPG information retrieved by the various source plugins, aggregate the EPG information, and provide a relevant portion of the EPG information to an application of the Intelligent TV. For an EPG source with substantially no updated EPG information, the respective source plugin associates EPG information from the EPG source with dummy EPG data. The EPG subservice aggregates the updated EPG information from the plurality of EPG sources and resolve conflicts between duplicate EPG information from the plurality of EPG sources according to various rules. |
| US09185320B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method for driving solid-state imaging device, and electronic device
A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit composed of pixels including photoelectric conversion elements which are arranged in a matrix, and a pixel drive unit configured to perform a row selection operation of simultaneously selecting plural rows when a row is selected in accordance with an address signal for the respective pixels in the pixel array unit in a read period where signals are read out from the pixels. |
| US09185318B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, signal processing method of solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array section and a signal processing section. The pixel array section is configured to include a plurality of arranged rectangular pixels, each of which has different sizes in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a plurality of adjacent ones of which are combined to form a square pixel having the same size in the vertical and horizontal directions. The signal processing section is configured to perform a process of outputting, as a single signal, a plurality of signals read out from the combined plurality of rectangular pixels. |
| US09185315B2 |
Anti-eclipse circuitry with tracking of floating diffusion reset level
An anti-eclipse circuit for an imager is formed from pixel circuitry over the same semiconductor substrate as the imaging pixels. More specifically, two adjacent pixel circuits are modified to form an amplifier. One input of the amplifier is adapted to receive a reset signal from one of the pixel circuits while another input is adapted to be set at a predetermined offset voltage from the output of the amplifier. The amplifier is preferably a unity gain amplifier, so that the output of the amplifier set to a voltage level equal to the predetermined offset from the voltage level of the reset signal. Accordingly, the anti-eclipse circuit outputs a reference voltage at predetermined level from the reset voltage of a pixel and does not need to be calibrated for fabrication related variances in reset voltages. |
| US09185314B2 |
Mitigating the effects of signal overload in analog front-end circuits used in image sensing systems
Output voltage of a charge-to-voltage converter used in an image sensing system is compared with one or more thresholds to determine if the output voltage exceeds predetermined threshold levels. If the output voltage exceeds one or more of the threshold levels, the input terminal of the charge-to-voltage converter is connected to a reference voltage to prevent the charge-to-voltage converter from saturating. Problems that could be caused due to overload of the voltage-to-charge converter are obviated. In an embodiment, the charge-to-voltage converter is implemented by an operational amplifier (OPAMP). A pair of comparators compares the output of the OPAMP with corresponding threshold voltages. The result of the comparison is used to generate a signal for connecting the input of the OPAMP to the reference voltage, thereby preventing saturation of the OPAMP. |
| US09185313B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, method of driving the same, signal processing method for the same, and imaging apparatus
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device, including, a pixel array unit, first driving means, second driving means, and third driving means. |
| US09185311B2 |
Image sensor with a split-counter architecture
A split-counter architecture is implemented within an image sensor system. A first counter within an image sensor region counts image data from pixel regions within the image sensor region, and outputs the most significant bits of the image data to a second counter external to the image sensor region, reducing the bandwidth required between the image sensor region and the second counter, and reducing the size of the counters within the image sensor region. |
| US09185310B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, illuminance measuring method performed by solid-state imaging device, and camera module
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes an illuminance value calculating unit and an illuminance value output unit. The illuminance value calculating unit calculates an illuminance value based on an integration result of luminance values. The illuminance value output unit outputs the illuminance value calculated by the illuminance value calculating unit by setting, as a target, a subject image obtained through application of one of two or more illuminance measurement conditions. The two or more illuminance measurement conditions are set in advance by varying at least one of an electronic shutter time and an analog gain. |
| US09185307B2 |
Detecting transient signals using stacked-chip imaging systems
Imaging systems may be provided with stacked-chip image sensors. A stacked-chip image sensor may include a vertical chip stack that includes an array of image pixels, control circuitry and storage and processing circuitry. The image pixel array may be coupled to the control circuitry using vertical metal interconnects. The control circuitry may provide digital image data to the storage and processing circuitry over additional vertical conductive. The stacked-chip image sensor may be configured to capture image frames at a capture frame rate and to output processed image frames at an output frame rate that is lower that the capture frame rate. The storage and processing circuitry may be configured to process image frames concurrently with image capture operations. Processing image frames concurrently with image capture operations may include adjusting the positions of moving objects and by adjusting the pixel brightness values of regions of image frames that have changing brightness. |
| US09185303B2 |
Array camera imaging system and method
Aspects of the disclosed technology relate to an imaging system and method in which an array camera is employed along with an image processor to make use of parallax convergence differences in color and luminance between different cameras or groups of cameras within an array camera to provide improved super resolution performance. |
| US09185302B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for previewing still and motion images
An image processing apparatus and method for regulating viewing image output of the image processor which processes motion and still images in a time divisional manner are provided. The image processing apparatus includes an image processor processing the viewing and still images in a time divisional manner, a timing manager storing the viewing image processed by the image processor temporarily and outputting the viewing image at a preset time of a frame period, and a controller controlling, in response to a capture request, the image processor to process the still image at a residual part of a current frame to be at a beginning part of a next frame and to process the buffered viewing image to be at the residual part of the next frame, wherein the residual part of the next frame is a part which remains after processing the still image completely. |
| US09185298B2 |
Image blur correction apparatus, image blur correction method, and imaging apparatus
Provided is an image blur correction apparatus including a lens unit having an imaging optical system and an imaging unit configured to generate an image signal of a captured image, a blur detection unit configured to detect blurring occurring in the lens unit, a first correction unit configured to perform image blur correction by turning the lens unit in a first direction and in a second direction, a second correction unit configured to perform image blur correction on a captured image obtained by the imaging optical system, and an image blur correction control unit configured to drive the first correction unit and the second correction unit based on blurring detected by the blur detection unit. |
| US09185296B2 |
Optical unit with shake correcting function
Provided is an optical unit with a blur correction function, wherein even when a photoreflector and a drive mechanism for blur correction are provided in a movable module provided with an optical element, sizes in an optical axis direction and a direction crossing the optical axis direction can be prevented from increasing. In an optical unit (100) with a blur correction function, a drive mechanism (500) for blur correction is provided between the outer peripheral surface of an image capturing unit (1) and a fixed body (200) (upper cover (250)), and a first photoreflector (580) and a second photoreflector (590) are provided between a bottom portion (substrate (15)) of the image capturing unit (1) and the fixed body (200) (lower cover (700)), between which a swing support (180) is provided. The first photoreflector (580) is provided in a position overlapping in the direction of an optical axis (L) with an axis line (X0) out of two axis lines (X0, Y0) when the image capturing unit (1) is swung, and the second photoreflector (590) is provide in a position overlapping in the direction of the optical axis (L) with the axis line (Y0). |
| US09185290B1 |
Wide-area aerial camera systems
A system for capturing aerial images, the system comprising at least one steerable camera module, the steerable camera module comprising a camera and a beam-steering mechanism in the optical path of the camera module whereby the pointing direction of the camera is time-multiplexed to provide a wider effective field of view, the beam-steering mechanism comprising a steerable mirror tilted with respect to an optical axis of the camera module, the steerable mirror adapted to spin about the optical axis to effect beam steering. |
| US09185288B2 |
Apparatus and method for generating and consuming three-dimensional (3D) data format to generate realistic panoramic image
An apparatus and method for generating and consuming a three-dimensional (3D) data format to generate a realistic panoramic image are provided. The apparatus may include an image preprocessing unit to search for a matching point between images captured by a plurality of cameras, and to extract, as image information, at least one of a depth value, a texture value and object division information from each of the captured images, an image information structuring unit to structure 3D data to use the extracted image information to generate a realistic image, a 3D data format storage unit to store format information of the structured 3D data in a database (DB), realistic image generating unit to generate a realistic panoramic image using the stored format information of the 3D data, and a realistic image rendering unit to perform rendering on the generated realistic panoramic image. |
| US09185281B2 |
Camera platform system
A camera platform system 1 has a camera 11 that takes an image of an object to generate a shot image, camera platforms 12 and 13 that rotate the camera around a pan axis and a tilt axis, and image processors 4, 5, and 6 that generate a display image based on the shot image. When the camera passes a predetermined angle position to rotate around the tilt axis, the image processor generates a first display image corresponding to an image formed by rotating the shot image by an angle larger than 0 degree and smaller than 180 degrees around the pan axis at the predetermined angle position before generating a second display image corresponding to an image formed by rotating the shot image by 180 degrees around the pan axis. |
| US09185279B2 |
Imaging system
An imaging system includes an imaging body having an optical system and an imaging element, a power supplier configured to supply power to the imaging element, and a housing configured to hold the imaging body and the power supplier, wherein the optical system includes at least one optical element projecting from the housing, and a distance AP between a gravity center A of a portion including the optical system and a gravity center P of the entire imaging system and a distance BP between a gravity center B of the power supplier and the gravity center P of the entire imaging system satisfy the following condition. AP>BP |
| US09185277B2 |
Panel camera, and optical touch screen and display apparatus employing the panel camera
A panel camera, and an optical touch screen and a display apparatus employing the panel camera. The panel camera includes a lens panel comprising a plurality of narrow-angle lenses arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) array and a light-detection panel comprising a plurality of light detectors which are arranged in a 2D array to respectively correspond to the plurality of narrow-angle lenses to receive lights passing through the plurality of narrow-angle lenses from outside and obtain a remote image. |
| US09185275B2 |
Control flap
An apparatus can include a processor; memory operatively coupled to the processor; a display operatively coupled to the processor; a camera that includes a lens, an active state and a dormant state; a housing that houses at least the processor and the camera and that includes a surface where the surface comprises an aperture aligned with the lens of the camera; a flap where, in a first orientation, the flap covers the aperture and where, in a second orientation, the flap exposes the aperture; and circuitry that determines the state of the camera based on the orientation of the flap. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US09185274B2 |
Portable waterproof pack with air bladder
The present invention relates to a portable waterproof pack, and more particularly, to a portable waterproof pack with an air bladder pack, which includes an air bladder pack, into which an air is injected, formed in a rear surface of a pack main body, and thus, can float on the water to reduce a risk of losing a portable terminal, such as a smart phone, without a buoyancy means when the portable terminal falls into water. |
| US09185271B2 |
Imaging device detecting motion vector
An imaging device includes a first detection unit, a vector correction unit, and a second detection unit. The first detection unit is configured to detect a motion vector based on reference image data and input image data after aberration of a lens is corrected. The vector correction unit is configured to correct an error component included in the motion vector detected by the first detection unit according to an aberration characteristic of the lens. The error component is produced by aberration correction. The second detection unit is configured to set a search area of the motion vector based on the motion vector corrected by the vector correction unit and detect the motion vector in the search area. |
| US09185266B2 |
Method of creating an ICC profile for a printing system
A method of characterizing an imaging system is described includes printing a color chart having a plurality of predetermined color patches; measuring the color patches to obtain colorimetric data; initializing a Neugebauer model with the Neugebauer solids of said colorimetric data; optimizing the global parameters of the Neugebauer model; optimizing the parameters associated with Demichel terms based on the Neugebauer primary associated with the Demichel term; optimizing parameters that vary with device coordinates; creating a characterization file for the imaging system. |
| US09185265B2 |
Image processing method and image processing apparatus for performing a tone correction to acquire a combined image
According to the present invention, there is provided an image processing method that performs a tone correction to obtain a combined image with suitable brightness and contrast when a plurality of image data pieces is combined, and an image processing apparatus that can execute the method. The image processing method includes detecting brightness distribution for each of the plurality of image data pieces, calculating a characteristic amount of each brightness distribution from the brightness distribution, and acquiring a correction amount for a tone correction executed to the combined image data based on the obtained characteristic amount of the brightness distribution. |
| US09185262B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus
An image reading device includes a light source, an imaging element and a control unit. The light source irradiates light on a document. The irradiated light of the light source reflected by the document is incident on the imaging element. The control unit is configured to, if the document is an ordinary document having no light-emitting screen, set a light amount of the irradiated light of the light source at a predetermined reference value and is configured to, if the document is a special document having a light-emitting screen, reduce the light amount of the irradiated light of the light source to become lower than the reference value. |
| US09185260B2 |
Steganographic encoding and decoding
This patent document relates generally to steganography and digital watermarking. One claim recites an apparatus comprising: electronic memory for buffering samples corresponding to imagery; and a programmed processor. The processor is programmed for: analyzing the samples corresponding to the imagery to determine whether a color value comprises color saturation; adjusting the samples to adjust the color saturation into a linear region, the adjusting yielding adjusted samples; encoding the auxiliary information in the adjusted samples, said encoding adapted to an anticipated watermark detection. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided too. |
| US09185259B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a reading apparatus body, an accommodation member, and a positioning member. The reading apparatus body reads a document mounted on a document platen. The accommodation member accommodates the reading apparatus body and moves from one end portion to the other end portion of the document when reading the document. The positioning member is mounted on the reading apparatus body, the positioning member having a convex section positioning the reading apparatus body in a height direction by coming into contact with the document platen and an engaging section engaging with an engaged section formed in the accommodation member in the height direction. |
| US09185254B2 |
Printer and printing method
A flatbed type printer includes a table on or over which a print medium including a flat print surface is placed, a print head, a projecting unit configured to project a Gray code pattern on the table, an image taking unit configured to take an image of the projected Gray code pattern, a generating unit configured to generate a first spatial code image using an image taken with no print medium placed and to generate a second spatial code image using an image taken with the print medium placed, a generating unit configured to generate an image of the print surface using the first and second spatial code images, a normalizing unit configured to normalize the print surface in the image of the print surface, and a converting unit configured to convert print data edited on the normalized print surface into data printable on the pre-normalization print surface. |
| US09185251B2 |
Method and device for displaying and selecting functions and associated conditions using a set of hard keys
An operation device according to the present disclosure includes a number of hard keys, a function icon display unit, a condition icon display unit, a function item receiving unit, a function item change unit, a condition item receiving unit, and a setting condition receiving unit. The function icon display unit can display a number of function icons indicating the function item respectively assigned to the number of hard keys. The condition icon display unit can display a condition icon indicating a condition item. The function item change unit changes an assignment to the hard keys from the function item to the condition item. The condition item receiving unit displays a condition icon corresponding to the condition item assigned to the hard key. The setting condition receiving unit receives a setting condition indicated by the condition item corresponding to the hard key for which the selection was received. |
| US09185248B2 |
Method and device for sharing a camera feature
Methods and electronic devices for sharing a camera feature are described. In one aspect, the present disclosure describes a method. The method is performed by a first electronic device which has a camera. The method includes: establishing wireless communications between the first electronic device and a second electronic device using a short range communication module of the first electronic device; and entering a camera-feature-sharing mode in which a camera-related feature of the second electronic device is accessible to the first electronic device using the short range communication module and in which a camera-related feature of the first electronic device is accessible to the second electronic device using the short range communication module. |
| US09185246B2 |
Camera system comprising color display and processor for decoding data blocks in printed coding pattern
A camera system including: a substrate having a coding pattern printed thereon anda handheld digital camera device. The camera device includes: a digital camera unit having a first image sensor for capturing images and a color display for displaying captured images to a user; and an integral processor configured for: controlling operation of the first image sensor and color display; decoding an imaged coding pattern printed on a substrate; and performing an action in the handheld digital camera device based on the decoded coding pattern. The decoding includes the steps of: identifying a data block in the imaged coding pattern; decoding a control block to determine the size of data to be extracted from a data area; and decoding the coding pattern contained in ae data area of the data block. |
| US09185239B2 |
Tone advisor, a tone assisting system and a method of associating tones with callers
A tone advisor, a tone assisting system and a method of associating tones with callers. In one embodiment the method includes: (1) monitoring calls to and from a user, (2) obtaining information based on the calls and (3) categorizing a caller associated with at least one of the calls into a contact group according to the information and (4) assigning a genre of tones to the contact group. |
| US09185238B1 |
System and method for scheduling, establishing and maintaining an open communication channel with an advisor
A system is provided for scheduling and maintaining an open communication channel between multiple parties. The system includes a client device connected to a host device via a network. The client device is configured to interact with a website in order to schedule a communication with an advisor. The client device can then be used to participate in the scheduled communication with the advisor. During the communication, a telephone application may be configured to monitor the communication channel between the parties. If the application determines that the client connection has been lost, the application may ask the advisor whether he/she wants to reestablish a connection with the client. If the answers is yes, then the application may ask the client if he/she wants to reestablish a call with the advisor. If the answer is yes, then the application will rejoin the client with the advisor over the communication channel. |
| US09185237B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for adjusting a quota consumption rate
The subject matter described herein includes systems, methods, and computer readable media for adjusting a quota consumption rate. An exemplary method occurs at a first policy node. The method includes detecting a trigger for adjusting a quota consumption rate associated with a subscriber. The method further includes in response to detecting the trigger, adjusting the quota consumption rate associated with the subscriber. |
| US09185234B2 |
Automated account mapping in a wireless subscriber billing system
Systems and methods for automated account mapping in a wireless subscriber billing system are disclosed. An external ID associated with a wireless client device is captured from a billable event communicated between a wireless client device and a wireless subscriber billing system. Then, the external ID is associated with a Subscriber ID (SID) used to communicate a billing request to an operator billing system. |
| US09185230B1 |
System for integrating VoIP client for audio conferencing
Aspects of the present disclosure disclose system, apparatus and methods for providing an integrated web conferencing. In various aspects, the disclosure is directed to integrating a VoIP client for audio conferencing with a web client. In particular, the system provides for integrating a web portion of a web conference with an audio portion of the web conference. More specifically, the system, apparatus and methods provide for connecting a VoIP client to an audio conferencing portion of the system to facilitate communications between client and server. |
| US09185225B1 |
Method and apparatus for modifying digital messages containing at least audio
A voice and/or video message for a user in the form of a voicemail or a video mail is edited in accordance with editing of text corresponding to audio of the message. Speech contained in the audio of the voice or video message is automatically converted to corresponding text and presented to the user via a graphical user interface. In response to various user inputs in relation to the presentation of the corresponding text, the corresponding text is modified and the digital representation of the voice or video message is modified in a manner corresponding to the modification of the corresponding text. New versions of the modified voice or video message including the modified digital representation of the voice or video message can be created and saved. |
| US09185223B1 |
Real time feedback of script logic
A system, method, and computer readable medium for real time feedback of script logic that comprises counting at least one agent utilizing at least one panel associated with at least one caller, establishing an average length of time required to utilize the at least one panel associated with the at least one caller, tallying a number of callers terminating interaction during utilization of the at least one panel, calculating statistics associated with the counted agents per panel, the established average length of time required per panel and the tallied number of callers terminating interaction per panel, and displaying the calculated statistics. |
| US09185222B1 |
Identifying escalation events in communication sessions
Embodiments provide communication session analysis and intervention methods and systems. Exemplary methods include monitoring a communication session conducted by a first customer service agent, providing script items to the first customer service agent, receiving session information associated with the communication session, identifying an escalation event in the session information, during the communication session, using on one or more predetermined communication criteria, and inviting a second customer service agent to join the communication session, in response to the escalation event. |
| US09185219B2 |
Recording user communications
A call handling platform receives a call placed by a caller, collects data points based on the caller's interaction with an interactive voice response module, and computes an experience score for the caller using the data points. The call handling platform compares the experience score to a predetermined first threshold that indicates a first level of caller satisfaction. The call handling platform determines whether an option is enabled for recording screen captures of a display screen coupled to a machine used by a human agent. Upon determining that the caller has a lower level of satisfaction than the first level of satisfaction, the call handling platform routes the call to a human agent. Based on determining that the option for recording screen captures is enabled, the call handling platform initiates recording of screen captures of a display screen coupled to a machine used by the human agent. |
| US09185212B2 |
Devices, systems and methods for mobile custom response
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for selecting and sending one of a plurality of responses to a call on a communications device. A user may select a default response or a custom response. When the user receives a call to a communications device, a set of responses is displayed on the communications device to facilitate selection by the user. A response includes a message and a call processing command. A message is in the form of an audio clip, text message, webpage, picture, video, etc. A call processing command, such as “accept call”; “reject call with voicemail”; “reject call without voicemail”; “place caller on hold”; “forward call to 555-555-5555”; “I will call you back”; etc. is performed along with the message. This plurality of responses can be organized by the user in groups associated with classes of callers, such as friends, family, co-workers, etc. In this manner, the responses available to the user when a call is received changes depending on the caller. |
| US09185211B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for operating a communication system in one of a tone mode and a text mode
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for enabling a first user at a first communication device to communicate with a far-end user at a second communication device via a relay service providing translation services for the first user. The communication system may be operable in a plurality of modes, including a tone mode in which an audible tone conveying a message may be transmitted to the second communication device regardless of a format of the character data generated by the first communication device. A text mode may include sending a text signal corresponding to the message being displayed at the relay service regardless of the format of the character data. Switching modes may be responsive to a determination that the far-end user is a live person. Related methods of operating the communication system are also disclosed. |
| US09185205B2 |
System and method for anonymizing a telephone number
A system and method for enabling a telephone number to be called in an anonymous manner by associating an identifier with the telephone number and providing for calling the number via the identifier. In one embodiment, the telephone call, including communication of the telephone number is performed using encryption. The identifier may be an email address or user identifier. Other users may call the telephone number via a website that operates as a virtual payphone, using software downloaded to a computer or other communication device, or by calling a voice portal, for example. |
| US09185204B2 |
Method and apparatus for designing an improved transmit signal for use in a single ended line test (SELT)
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses of using a novel transmit signal that can be used to improve performance of various loop diagnostic features of SELT. In embodiments, a novel transmit signal uses a wide contiguous band of tones that includes frequencies in both upstream and downstream bands. In these and other embodiments of the invention, the SELT transmit signal is designed such that any crosstalk noise in adjacent lines appears as a burst of noise that falls within the limits of the FEC settings of the system such that it can be fully corrected without harming the performance of modems connected on the adjacent lines. |
| US09185202B2 |
Alert management utilizing mobile devices
Methods, computer systems, and computer-storage medium are provided for managing patient alerts using a mobile device. A mobile device associated with a patient caregiver receives a critical alert related to the patient, and the alert is presented on the mobile device. The alert includes important contextual information that enables the caregiver to make a quick assessment of how to effectively address the alert. The alert includes options for accepting the alert or rejecting the alert. Acceptance of the alert enables the caregiver to communicate the alert to selected caregivers that can assist in managing the alert. Rejecting the alert causes the alert to be automatically communicated to additional caregivers associated with patient. |
| US09185201B2 |
Communication system and mobile communication device, and server for communication system
According to an aspect, communication system includes a server and a first mobile communication device. The server is configured to transmit, when acquiring a search request of a mobile communication device, search information related to the search request to the first mobile communication device. The first mobile communication device includes: a first communication unit for communicating with the server, a second communication unit for communicating with a mobile communication device by short-range wireless communication to acquire device information related to the mobile communication device including at least identification information thereof, and a storage unit for storing the device information, and configured to transmit, when receiving the search information, the device information related to a target of the search request to the server. |
| US09185200B2 |
Smartphone biosensor
A mobile computing device that includes an image sensor may be used to detect the result of a biomolecular assay. The biomolecular assay may be performed in an optical assay medium that provides an optical output in response to light from a light source, with the optical output indicating result. A wavelength-dispersive element may be used to disperse the optical output into spatially-separated wavelength components. The mobile computing device may be positioned relative to the wavelength-dispersive element such that different wavelength components are received at different locations on the image sensor. With the mobile computing device positioned in this way, the image sensor may be used to obtain one or more images that include the separated wavelength components of the optical output. A wavelength spectrum of the optical output may be determined from the one or more images, and the result may be determined from the wavelength spectrum. |
| US09185194B2 |
Handheld electronic device, support assembly, and support assembly fabricating method
The present invention provides a support assembly mounted between a rear cover and a screen of a handheld electronic device to support and fasten a component of the handheld electronic device. The support assembly includes an appearance part and an internal structure support part, where the appearance part and the internal structure support part are fabricated through integral molding of an amorphous alloy; the internal structure support part is formed by extending the top or the middle of the appearance part inwards; and an average thickness of the internal structure support part is less than 2 mm. The present invention simplifies a process of assembling the handheld electronic device. The present invention further provides a support assembly fabricating method and a handheld electronic device. |
| US09185188B1 |
Method and system for determining optimal time period for data movement from source storage to target storage
Techniques for determining optimal time window for data movement from a source storage system to a target storage system are described herein. According to one embodiment, statistics data is received representing historic performance statistics over a predetermined period of time by a source storage system, where the historic performance statistics include resource consumption of a plurality of resources including at least one of a processor, memory, input-output (IO) transactions, and network bandwidth. An analysis is performed by an analysis module executed by a processor on the historic performance statistics to determine an optimal time window within the predetermined time period for data movement from the source storage system to a target storage system based on the analysis. A scheduler executed by the processor is to schedule the data movement from the source storage system to the target storage system according to the optimal time window. |
| US09185183B2 |
Method and system for providing location-based user information via a map
A method and system for providing location-based user information using a map is disclosed. The method includes displaying a plurality of local areas on a map. If one of the plurality of local areas is selected, user information corresponding to the selected local area is loaded, where the user information contains a name of a user, a phone number of the user, a subscribed local area where a wireless communication network service to which the user subscribes is provided, and a current local area where the user is currently receiving a wireless communication network service. The selected local area is displayed by distinguishing the selected local area from non-selected other local areas, a local time of the selected local area, and the user name from among the loaded user information. When displaying the user name, the phone number, the subscribed local area and the current local area are selectively displayed in addition to the user name. |
| US09185178B2 |
Interface gateway and method of interfacing a property management system with a guest service device
An interface gateway interfaces between a first device and a second device serving a hospitality establishment. The first device is one of a property management system (PMS) and a guest service device, and the second device is the other of the property management system (PMS) and the guest service device. One or more communication ports perform data communications with the first device and the second device. One or more processors receive a message from the first device, determine that the message is in a first format, convert the message from the first format to an internal data structure, parse the message in the internal data structure to determine that the message is applicable to the second device, determine that the second device supports a second format, convert the message from the internal data structure to the second format, and send the message in the second format to the second device. |
| US09185176B2 |
Methods and apparatus for managing locate and/or marking operations
First ticket information describing a locate operation to be performed is electronically received, including image information and/or geospatial metadata relating to a dig area and/or a work site. Field information relating to the locate operation as at least partially performed and/or environmental information relating to the dig area and/or the work site is electronically received and processed to provide a quality assessment of the locate operation. |
| US09185172B2 |
System and method for rendering a remote view at a client device
Examples of systems and methods are provided for facilitating rendering at a local client device a remote view associated with a remote application on a remote server. A method may comprise generating the remote view of the remote application based on display output data of the remote application, wherein a portion of the display output data is visible in the remote view, tracking coordinates and dimensions of the portion of the display output that is visible, receiving a message from the remote server comprising coordinates and dimensions of one of a window box, a dialog box and an object, comparing the coordinates and dimensions of the portion of the display output data that is visible with the coordinates and dimensions of the one of the window box, the dialog box and the object, and adjusting the portion of the display output data that is visible based on the comparison. |
| US09185156B2 |
Network-independent programming model for online processing in distributed systems
Systems and methods include a distributed system that uses a declarative language to separate application logic from the network technology used to communicate. For example, in a system with a plurality of processing nodes, each processing node may include at least one processor, a networking layer for communicating with other processing nodes, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the processing node to perform operations. The operations may include receiving a processing plan using the networking layer and analyzing the processing plan to determine a service to perform and a number of inputs anticipated for the service. The operations may also include performing the determined service. The processing plan defines a processing tree comprising a subset of the plurality of processing nodes, the processing tree having unidirectional communication from the root to a final level of the tree. |
| US09185150B2 |
System and method for monitoring and selectively sharing an image in an image library
Systems and methods for sharing an image in a communication session are disclosed. In some aspects, a software application is run on a first computing device, while a communication application is run on the first computing device. The first computing device is associated with a presenter in a communication session implemented via the communication application. That one or more images were added to an image library of the first computing device since a time when the communication application started running on the first computing device is determined, using the communication application. The communication application facilitates transmission of at least one of the one or more images to one or more second computing devices. The one or more second computing devices are associated with one or more audience members in the communication session. |
| US09185147B1 |
System and methods for remote collaborative intelligence analysis
A system provides collaboration and exchange of information among a group of users based on creation, sharing and exchange of multimedia objects. The system further provides techniques to share the multimedia objects in the form of cards among analysts. A graphical user interface providing a number of views through which multimedia objects can be viewed and manipulated is also disclosed. |
| US09185145B2 |
Method and apparatus for the implementation of a real-time, sharable browsing experience on a guest device
The present invention describes a method and apparatus for the implementation of a real-time, sharable web browsing experience on a guest device, utilizing the transfer of URL and form data information. The present invention further describes a method for joining a synchronized browsing session administered by a synchronization server, comprising activating a hyperlink associated with the synchronized browsing session, sending a request to join the synchronized browsing session to the synchronization server in response to the activation of the hyperlink, and joining the synchronized browsing session. The present invention further describes a method for implementing a synchronized browsing session, comprising receiving information related to a shared web browsing interaction performed by a host device from a synchronization server, and performing the shared web browsing interaction based on the information received from the synchronization server. |
| US09185139B2 |
Location based routing
A method may include receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) Invite message associated with a call and determining that the call involves location based processing. The method may also include identifying location information associated with the call based on header information included in the SIP Invite message and identifying a location ID based on the location information. The method may further include modifying the SIP Invite message to include the location ID, identifying a call type associated with the call and identifying a mobile switching center to which the SIP Invite message is to be forwarded based on the call type and the location information. |
| US09185135B2 |
Location based enforcement of mobile policy
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, devices, methods, computer program products, computer media, and other implementations, including a method that includes communicating data representative of one or more location-based restrictions corresponding to a venue area to a mobile device determined to be located within the venue area, and controlling, by at least one venue server, use at the mobile device of services available at the venue area from one or more nodes associated with the venue area based, at least in part, on a determination, by the at least one venue server, of whether the mobile device complies with the location-based restrictions corresponding to the venue area. |
| US09185133B2 |
Methods, devices and systems for establishing end-to-end secure connections and for securely communicating data packets
The invention provides methods, devices (102, 110, 124, 136) and communication systems (100) for establishing end-to-end secure connections and for securely communicating data packets. Such a communication system (100) comprises a first device (124, 136), an intermediate device (110) and a second device (102). The first device (124, 136) communications via a first network (120), which is based on a first transport protocol and a first transport security protocol with the intermediate device (110). The second device (102) communications via a second network, which is based on a second transport protocol and a second transport security protocol with the intermediate device (110). The intermediate device (110) modifies packets received via first network to packets suitable for communication via the second network, and vice versa. The first device (124, 136) is able to reconstruct a header of a received packet as if the packet was sent via the second network (108) and its transport and security protocols. Further, the first device (124) is able to verify, on basis of the reconstructed header, verification fields which are generated on basis of the second transport security protocol. |
| US09185129B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing DOS attacks on trunk interfaces
A method of protecting a data network from denial of service (DOS) attacks is described. The method may use various network tools to selectively block or disable portions of a data trunk experiencing a DOS attack, thereby preventing the DOS attack from reaching at least some resources on the network. In one embodiment, a network switch identifies a virtual LAN (VLAN) carrying suspect data on a data trunk. The network switch then adjusts a spanning tree for the network so that one or more ports on the compromised VLAN are blocked or disabled, while non-compromised VLANs are allowed to continue carrying data. Other approaches are also presented for avoiding the loss of valid data when a network blocks one or more VLANs or other portions of a network in response to a DOS attack or other intrusion. |
| US09185128B2 |
Malware analysis methods and systems
Methods of analyzing malware and other suspicious files are presented, where some embodiments include analyzing the behavior of a first malware sample on both a virtual machine and a physical computing device, the physical device having been booted from a secondary boot source, and determining whether the behavior of the malware sample was different on the virtual machine and the physical computing device. In certain embodiments, a notification indicating that the behavior was different may be generated. In other embodiments, a malware analysis computing device that is configured to receive a base hard drive image may be networked booted, and the behavior of the malware sample on the malware analysis computing device may be analyzed. In certain embodiments, a malware-infected hard drive image may then be copied off the malware analysis computing device for further forensic analysis. |
| US09185107B2 |
Securing passwords with hash value
A password security system, hosted by a server, whose method of operation may include receiving a client hash value from a client where the client hash value is computed by hashing a password to generate a first hash value, and hashing the first hash value combined with a user input of an answer to a challenge to generate the client hash value. A server hash value is computed using password data for the user that is stored in a data store coupled to the server and a server-side answer that is stored in the data store. A determination is made whether the server hash value matches the client hash value and data access is granted to the user in view of a determination that the server hash value matches the client hash value, and data access is denied to the user in view of a determination that the server hash value does not match the client hash value. |
| US09185105B2 |
System and method for single sign-on session management without central server
A method and system for single sign-on session management. Functions of session management and client log-in, normally handled by separate system servers, are incorporated as plug-in modules on individual web content servers. In this manner, network traffic to grant and validate client user credentials is reduced or minimized. |
| US09185104B2 |
Method and apparatus for communication, and method and apparatus for controlling communication
Method and apparatus for communication between client and service provider using external server, and a method and apparatus for controlling communication between a client and a service provider are provided. The method includes: receiving from the service provider a first authentication token indicating that the service provider has authenticated communication with the client by logging on the service provider; storing, in the external server, authentication information containing the first authentication token and additional information relating to communication with the service provider; receiving, when there is a request to access the service provider, authentication information corresponding to the request from the external server; and communicating with the service provider using the received authentication information. It is possible to alleviate the burden on a user to enter his or her ID and password, and to remove necessity for a user to enter the ID and password after registration has been performed once. |
| US09185100B1 |
Device pairing using a cryptographic commitment process involving measured motion values
A method includes receiving, in a first device, an access request. The method further includes measuring a motion of the first device to determine a first motion value, performing a pairing protocol with a second device, and granting the access request responsive to a successful pairing in accordance with the pairing protocol. The pairing protocol comprises a cryptographic commitment process. The successful pairing is based at least in part on a determination that a second motion value supplied by the second device substantially matches the first motion value. The cryptographic commitment process comprises sending a committed first motion value to the second device prior to receiving the second motion value from the second device. |
| US09185097B2 |
Method and system for traffic engineering in secured networks
Aspects of a method and system for traffic engineering in an IPSec secured network are provided. In this regard, a node in a network may be authenticated as a trusted third party and that trusted third party may be enabled to acquire security information shared between or among a plurality of network entities. In this manner, the trusted third party may parse, access and operate on IPSec encrypted traffic communicated between or among the plurality of network entities. Shared security information may comprise one or more session keys utilized for encrypting and/or decrypting the IPSec secured traffic. The node may parse IPSec traffic and identify a flow associated with the IPsec traffic. In this manner, the node may generate and/or communicate statistics pertaining to said IPSec secured traffic based on the flow with which the traffic is associated. |
| US09185096B2 |
Identity verification
A method of verifying the identity of a user comprising: initiating (50) a sign-in request from a first computing device to an authentication server; receiving (58) an instruction from the authentication server to provide signature data from a second computing device; entering (64) signature data at the second computing device and sending the signature data to the authentication server; verifying (65) the signature data at the authentication server; notifying (66) the user that their identity has been verified on the basis of the data received from the second computing device. |
| US09185095B1 |
Behavioral profiling method and system to authenticate a user
Methods and systems for behavioral profiling are described. In some embodiments, a method includes observing behavioral characteristics of user interactions during a current session with the user through one of a plurality of channels. Variations between the behavioral characteristics of the user interactions observed during the current session and a behavioral profile previously developed based on prior usage patterns of the user through the plurality of channels are identified, in real-time or near real-time. For the user to proceed in the session, a challenge level is implemented based on the variations between the behavioral characteristics and the behavioral profile. |
| US09185094B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatuses for the secure transmission and restricted use of media content
The systems, methods and apparatuses described herein permit encrypted media content to be displayed by an apparatus for a restricted time period. The apparatus may comprise a communication interface configured to couple to a controlling device to transmit a first nonce and to receive the encrypted media content and an association encryption envelope. The association encryption envelope may comprise at least a second nonce and a first time restriction expressed as a first time interval. The apparatus may further comprise a counter, a storage configured to store a value of the counter representing a time of when the first nonce is transmitted, and an engine configured to perform operations according to the first time restriction. |
| US09185093B2 |
System and method for correlating network information with subscriber information in a mobile network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving information for network traffic in a wireless network; correlating the information with a subscriber of a plurality of subscribers; and generating a behavior profile for the subscriber based on the information over a period of time. |
| US09185092B2 |
Confidential communication method using VPN, system thereof, program thereof, and recording medium for the program
In a confidential-communication system that uses a first-communication network that is Internet capable of confidential communication using VPN, and a second communication network that is an audio-circuit network, a method is implemented wherein a send/receive-processing portion 5 of a communication control device 3 completes authentication between users by implementing a P2P connection between each communication control device 3 by referencing specific information that specifies another party of a P2P connection in a memory portion 4 on the communication device 3 before confidential communication starts using VPN; a confidential-communication preparation portion 70 of the communication control device 3 exchanges via the second communication network VPN joint information required to establish a VPN link with the first communication network; and a switching portion 71 of the communication control device 3 starts confidential communication using VPN over a first-communication network. |
| US09185091B2 |
Extensible access control architecture
Software for managing access control functions in a network. The software includes a host that receives access control commands or information and calls one or more methods. The methods perform access control functions and communicate access control results or messages to be transmitted. The host may be installed in a network peer seeking access to the network or in a server controlling access to the network. When installed in a peer, the host receives commands and exchanges information with a supplicant. When installed in an access control server, the host receives commands and exchanges information with an authenticator. The host has a flexible architecture that enables multiple features, such as allowing the same methods to be used for authentication by multiple supplicants, providing ready integration of third party access control software, simplifying network maintenance by facilitating upgrades of authenticator software and enabling access control functions other than peer authentication. |
| US09185090B1 |
Method and apparatus for simplified, policy-driven authorizations
A system and method uses a set of XACML policies to identify an action or other single degree of variations of various entities that may be called using requests, and uses information from the policy that is useful for obtaining one or more XACML subjects and resources from a request to access the resource, and then builds an XACML policy request using the action or other single degree of variation, and the one or more subjects and resources to determine if authorization for performing the action or other single degree of variation on the one or more resources on behalf of the one or more subjects is granted. Only if the authorization is granted is the action or other single degree of variation performed on the one or more resources. |
| US09185088B1 |
Secure and efficient communication through an intermediary
Techniques are disclosed for secure and efficient communication from a source to a destination through an intermediary. The disclosed techniques employ a source-to-intermediary encryption algorithm to encrypt the communication from the source to the intermediary. The disclosed techniques also employ an intermediary-to-destination encryption algorithm to encrypt the communication from the intermediary to the destination. Thus, a more optimal encryption algorithm may be employed for communication between the intermediary and the destination, even if the more optimal encryption algorithm is not supported by the source. Also, a more optimal encryption algorithm may be employed for communication between the source and the intermediary, even if the more optimal encryption algorithm is not supported by the destination. |
| US09185085B2 |
Systems for provisioning universal integrated circuit cards
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system for receiving a request to modify a universal integrated circuit card, generating a package comprising configuration data for modifying the universal integrated circuit card, encrypting the package with a transport key to generate an encrypted package, transmitting the encrypted package to a communication device communicatively coupled to the universal integrated circuit card to provision the universal integrated circuit card, and providing a mobile network operator trusted service manager system information relating to the configuration data to enable the mobile network operator trusted service manager system to manage content and memory allocation of the universal integrated circuit card. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09185083B1 |
Concealing data within encoded audio signals
A method and apparatus for concealing data to be transmitted within an environment. A sound frequency map is identified based on sounds detected within the environment. A number of audio symbols for use in representing a number of data blocks in the data to be transmitted within the environment are selected using the sound frequency map. An encrypted audio signal is formed using the number of audio symbols. |
| US09185079B2 |
Method and apparatus to tunnel messages to storage devices by overloading read/write commands
Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for securely transferring data between a storage system and an agent are described. In some embodiments, a system establishes a tunnel between the storage system and the agent. The system further securely transfers the data between the storage system and the agent using the tunnel. In one embodiment, the tunnel uses an action and results mailbox to transfer the data. In another embodiment, the tunnel is based on a trusted send facility. |
| US09185078B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing cross organizational data sharing
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing cross organizational data sharing including, for example, means for storing customer organization data in a database of the host organization; allocating at least a sub-set of the customer organization data to be shared as shared data; configuring a hub to expose the shared data to a proxy user and configuring the proxy user at the hub with access rights to the shared data; configuring one or more spokes with access rights to the shared data of the hub via the proxy user; receiving a request from one of the hubs for access to the shared data of the customer organization via the proxy user at the hub; and returning a response to the hub having made the request. Other related embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09185076B2 |
Packet processing apparatus, network equipment and packet processing method
A packet processing apparatus includes a static pattern matcher comparing pattern information defining a packet to be filtered with a value regarding at least a part of a received packet, the pattern information being stored by a pattern information manager. A frequency calculator calculates the frequency of matching by the static pattern matcher. A dynamic pattern matcher matches the frequency and a preset comparison value and a processing determiner determines a processing on the received packet based upon the dynamic pattern match. |
| US09185073B2 |
Systems and methods for data packet processing
Systems and methods for performing efficient network address (NAT) translation are described herein. In some aspects, partial NAT entries are created for data packets before all the IP fragments of the data packets are received. Further, the IP fragments are transmitted before all the IP fragments of the data packets are received. In some aspects, unique IP-IDs are generated for IP fragments and/or data packets at a NAT device. |
| US09185072B2 |
Stateless NAT44
An apparatus comprising a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to receive a mapping rule that associates a downstream internal Internet Protocol version four (IPv4) address prefix to an upstream external IPv4 address prefix, receive a first IPv4 packet from an upstream network node with a destination address field comprising an external IPv4 address comprising the external prefix, and perform a first network address translation IPv4 to IPv4 (NAT44) process by replacing the external IPv4 address in the first IPv4 packet's destination address field with an internal IPv4 address based on the mapping rule, wherein the internal IPv4 address comprises the internal prefix and a port set identifier (ID) associated with set of destination ports at a downstream node assigned to receive the first IPv4 packet. |
| US09185070B2 |
MANET with DNS database resource management and related methods
A network includes a first MANET subnet including a first collector node and first client nodes sending first resource status messages to the first collector node. The first collector node maintains a first DNS database based upon the first resource status messages. The network includes a second MANET subnet including a second collector node and second client nodes sending second resource status messages to the second collector node. The second collector node maintains a second DNS database based upon the second resource status messages. The network includes a transit router node sending updates from the first DNS database to the second collector node, and sending updates from the second DNS database to the first collector node. The first and second collector nodes each maintain and synchronize a combined DNS database from the first and second DNS databases, providing resource availability and status throughout the combined network to their respective clients. |
| US09185060B1 |
Initiating instant messaging (IM) chat sessions from email messages
Systems and methods for integrating instant messaging (IM) services and email services are described. In one embodiment, email messages and IM chat session transcripts are threaded to each other so that an email thread history may be traced back to an IM chat session transcript and, conversely, an IM thread history may be traced back to an email message. |
| US09185055B2 |
Communicating network path and status information in multi-homed networks
An example network system includes a layer two (L2) device and a layer three (L3) device. The L2 device includes a control unit is configured to determine a preferred network path from a first L2 network in which the L2 device resides to an intermediate L3 network in which the L3 device resides that couples the first L2 network to a second L2 network having a second L2 device. The control unit includes a management endpoint (MEP) module. The MEP module executes an operations, administration, and management (OAM) protocol to monitor the first L2 network and output an L2 frame in accordance with the OAM protocol to the L3 device to notify the L3 device that it is within the preferred network path. A MEP module of the L3 device executes an OAM protocol that outputs L2 frames to the L2 device indicating the status of the L3 network. |
| US09185053B2 |
Virtual fault tolerant ethernet appliance and method of operation
An apparatus includes at least one processing unit configured to execute a virtual network appliance and a virtual machine. The virtual network appliance includes a virtual NIC driver configured to transfer packets to and from a physical port of the apparatus. The virtual network appliance also includes an internal network interface configured to transfer the packets to and from the virtual machine through a hypervisor. The virtual network appliance further includes an aggregator configured to transfer the packets between the virtual NIC driver and the internal network interface. |
| US09185051B2 |
Supporting enhanced media communications using a packet-based communication link
A method for supporting communications includes establishing a packet-based audio communication link with a remote device and informing a local computing device of the audio communication link. A message requesting identification of enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote device is received from the local computing device and tunneled in the audio communication link to the remote device. A tunneled response in the audio communication link is received from the remote device and forwarded to the local computing device. The response identifies the enhanced media capabilities associated with the remote device. |
| US09185048B2 |
Data transmission between devices based on bandwidth availability
In one embodiment, in response to data to be transmitted to or from an electronic device, the electronic device determines whether the electronic device currently has a first network connection with a sufficiently high bandwidth. If the electronic device currently does not have a first network connection with a sufficiently high bandwidth, then the electronic device estimates a future time when the electronic device is likely to have a second network connection with a sufficiently high bandwidth, and schedules transmission of the data at the future time. |
| US09185047B2 |
Hierarchical profiled scheduling and shaping
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: determining, by the network node, that a port of the network node is ready to receive a packet; identifying a packet having a highest packet priority among a plurality of packets received via a plurality of interfaces, wherein the step of identifying includes, for each of a plurality of components at a first hierarchy level: identifying a first level highest priority packet among a plurality of packets available to the component, based on a packet priority associated with each of the plurality of packets available to the component, sharing the packet priority of the first level highest priority packet with at least one component at a second hierarchy level; and transmitting the packet having the highest priority to the port. |
| US09185046B2 |
Packet spraying for load balancing across multiple packet processors
A network device includes multiple packet processing engines implemented in parallel with one another. A spraying component distributes incoming packets to the packet processing engines using a spraying technique that load balances the packet processing engines. In particular, the spraying component distributes the incoming packets based on queue lengths associated with the packet processing engines and based on a random component. In one implementation, the random component is a random selection from all the candidate processing engines. In another implementation, the random component is a weighted random selection in which the weights are inversely proportional to the queue lengths. |
| US09185041B2 |
Load balancing traffic in a MPLS network
A method and system for managing traffic in a network. Label switch paths are identified. Each label switch path begins at a first provider edge and ends at a second provider edge. For each label switch path, logical paths are identified. Most recent data received from the first provider edge is transmitted to the second provider edge via a selected logical path. |
| US09185035B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing packet in MPLS-TP network
An apparatus and method for processing a packet in a multi-protocol label switching-transport profile (MPLS-TP) network are provided. In the method of processing a packet, a packet transport layer (PTL) index and a layer stack (LS) or multiple label pop (MPOP) loopback header are used, and it is possible to remove a size limitation on lookup results of a lookup table when multiple labels are stacked, and solve the problem of having to extract all labels as label keys regardless of label operations upon an incoming label map (ILM) table lookup. |
| US09185034B2 |
Low latency communication via memory windows
A high performance computer system has compute nodes interconnected by an inter-node communication network. The compute nodes include local packetized interconnects. Shared memory between compute nodes is emulated by tunneling packetized interconnect packets between the compute nodes. A memory region on one of the compute nodes is used as a window into a memory region in another compute node. Special registers may be provided to expedite remote operations on small amounts of data. |
| US09185030B2 |
Virtual machines in a packet switching device
In one embodiment, a packet switching device creates multiple virtual packet switching devices within the same physical packet switching device using virtual machines and sharing particular physical resources of the packet switching device. One embodiment uses this functionality to change the operating version (e.g., upgrade or downgrade) of the packet switching device by originally operating according to a first operating version, operating according to both a first and second operating version, and then ceasing operating according to the first operating version. Using such a technique, a packet switching device can be upgraded or downgraded while fully operating (e.g., without having to reboot line cards and route processing engines). |
| US09185026B2 |
Tagging and synchronization for fairness in NOC interconnects
Systems and methods described herein are directed to solutions for NoC interconnects that provide end-to-end uniform- and weighted-fair allocation of resource bandwidths among various contenders. The example implementations are fully distributed and involve tagging the messages with meta-information when the messages are injected in the interconnection network. Example implementations may involve routers using various arbitration phases, and making local arbitration decisions based on the meta-information of incoming messages. The meta-information can be of various types based on the number of router arbitration phases, and the desired level of sophistication. |
| US09185016B2 |
System and method for monitoring and analyzing internet traffic
Systems, methods and apparatus for analyzing Internet traffic. In an aspect, a method receives at a server from a client device a report request for a report related to web site traffic; in response to the report request, sends from the server web site traffic data and application code to the client device. The application code has instructions that cause the client device to: generate a report to display the web site traffic data, time the display of the web site traffic data, periodically request updated web site traffic data according to the time of the display, and update the report with the updated web site traffic data; and the method sends from the server to the client device the updated web site traffic data in response to the request for updated web site traffic data. |
| US09185014B2 |
Real-time adaptive processing of network data packets for analysis
A network monitoring system that summarizes a plurality of data packets of a session into a compact session record for storage and processing. Each session record may be produced in real-time and made available during the session and/or after the termination of the session. Depending on protocols, a network monitoring system extracts different sets of information, removes redundant information from the plurality of data packets, and adds performance information to produce the session record. The network monitoring system may retrieve and process a single session record or multiple session records for the same or different protocols to determine cause of events, resolve issues in a network or evaluate network performance or conditions. The session record enables analysis in the units of session instead of individual packets. Hence, the network monitoring system can analyze events, issues or performance of the network more efficiently and effectively. |
| US09185010B2 |
Communication system, communication method, server equipment, and communication equipment
A communication equipment notifies a server equipment of a communication port to which a communication cable is connected. If another communication port as a connection partner of the notified communication port is not yet connected to the communication cable, the server equipment transmits a first notification instruction to another communication equipment having the said another communication port. The said another communication equipment indicates, in a viewable manner, a communication port corresponding to the first notification instruction as a communication port to which the communication cable is required to be connected. |
| US09185009B2 |
Status aware media play
Techniques for determining status aware media play are described. When current user behavior with respect to a media segment deviates from baseline user behavior, the media segment is tagged in memory, and a determination is made as to whether playback functionality with respect to the tagged media segment should be adjusted. |
| US09185005B2 |
Quality-of-experience measurement for voice services
Technologies are generally described for determining a quality-of-experience (QoE) of a network communication. In some examples, a process for determining a QoE metric for a network communication includes receiving a media signal from the network communication. The process may also include extracting an experience indicator from the media signal, wherein the experience indicator corresponds to a participant's subjective usage experience associated with a service quality of the network communication, and determining the QoE metric for the network communication based on the experience indicator and a quality-of-service (QoS) metric for the network communication. |
| US09185000B2 |
Overlay network topology system and a network node device therefor
A load management method for controlling a plurality of distributed community loads with a plurality of controllers. The controllers are connectable to a network and the distributed community loads are connectable to a power grid. The loads are controllable by a corresponding one of the controllers according to a local need and a power grid supply or a community need of the loads. A network node device adapted to communicate with other node devices of a same community within an overlay network topology system. The system has a plurality of node devices organized in a number of hierarchically linked rings. The plurality of node devices of a same ring is interconnected in groups of node devices. One of the node devices is a parent node for linking the node devices of a first ring to node devices of a second ring at another hierarchy by being a parent node to both first and second rings. |
| US09184997B2 |
Selective network merging
Subsets of isolated communications networks are selectively merged without merging the entire isolated communications networks, and devices are imported across isolated communications networks without merging the isolated communications networks. The presently disclosed technology provides for improved scalability, performance, and security in logical networks spanning two or more physical communications networks. |
| US09184996B2 |
Thin client system, management server, client environment management method and program
The thin client system is capable of automatically providing an appropriate client environment according to the performance of each terminal. The thin client system includes at least one terminal, a client environment server where a client environment used by the terminal operates, and a management server which allocates the predetermined client environment based on a utilization request of the client environment from the terminal, wherein the management server comprises a client environment management unit which receives from the terminal, terminal identification information for identifying the terminal, and terminal part information for identifying a terminal part which is a component of the terminal, and uses a client environment component that is set in advance so as to correspond to the terminal part information to generate the client environment in the client environment server. |
| US09184995B2 |
Traffic visibility in an open networking environment
A method of monitoring network traffic includes accessing a network that includes a controller and a switch device having a flow table, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the switch device, and is configured to program a behavior of the switch device through an openflow protocol, and obtaining information regarding the programmed behavior of the switch device, wherein the act of obtaining the information is performed by a network appliance that is communicatively coupled to the network. An apparatus communicatively coupled to a network, includes a processor configured for accessing the network that includes a controller and a switch device having a flow table, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the switch device, and is configured to program a behavior of the switch device through an openflow protocol, and obtaining information regarding the programmed behavior of the switch device. |
| US09184993B2 |
Configuring network devices
Improved systems and methods for configuring network devices are provided. Aspects of the disclosure relate to novel QoS configuration parameters and methods for using QoS configuration parameters to reduce impacts caused by security breach within a network. In one embodiment, a QoS configuration parameter is selected from a plurality of configuration parameters on a central database based upon unique identifying information of a network device and a status signal. In one embodiment, each configuration parameter comprises at least a first parameter for configuring a communication speed of the network device and a second parameter configurable to alter the ability of the network device to communicate with another device in the network. Further aspects of the disclosure relate to providing improved services to an end user. In one embodiment, services may be customized to an end user and allow increased flexibility for both the service provider and the end user. |
| US09184989B2 |
Grid proxy architecture for network resources
Various embodiments allow Grid applications to access resources shared in communication network domains. Grid Proxy Architecture for Network Resources (GPAN) bridges Grid services serving user applications and network services controlling network devices through proxy functions. At times, GPAN employs distributed network service peers (NSP) in network domains to discover, negotiate and allocate network resources for Grid applications. An elected master NSP is the unique Grid node that runs GPAN and represents the whole network to share network resources to Grids without Grid involvement of network devices. GPAN provides the Grid Proxy service (GPS) to interface with Grid services and applications, and the Grid Delegation service (GDS) to interface with network services to utilize network resources. In some cases, resource-based XML messaging can be employed for the GPAN proxy communication. |
| US09184986B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing and scaling control plane traffic in carrier ethernet transport networks
Methods and apparatuses for merging continuity check messages (CCMs) are described. Some embodiments determine multiplexer and de-multiplexer nodes in a network for multiplexing and de-multiplexing CCM traffic. One embodiment creates an optimization problem which when solved identifies nodes in the network that should be configured as multiplexer nodes to multiplex multiple CCMs into a group CCM and/or as de-multiplexer nodes to de-multiplex a group CCM into multiple CCMs. This embodiment uses the solution of the optimization problem to configure nodes in the network as multiplexer nodes and/or as de-multiplexer nodes. Another embodiment determines weights for different paths in the network that can be used for merging CCM traffic, and then merges the CCM traffic based on these weights. |
| US09184985B2 |
Investigating a communication aspect of a data flow
The invention relates to a method, device (24) in a network node of a communication network (N), a computer program and a computer program product for investigating the correctness of a communication aspect of a data flow (DF1) passing through the network, where the data flow is provided in relation to a user terminal (10) connected to the network. The device (24) obtains at least one network generated event data record (EDR1; EDR3) of a first type and a network generated event data record (EDR2; EDR4) of a second type, compares the event data records of the first type with the event data record of the second type, determines the correctness of the communication aspect based on the comparison and sends alarm messages (AMI, AM2) in relation to the communication aspect if the two types of event data records indicate differences in the communication aspect. |
| US09184983B2 |
Cross-stratum optimization protocol
An apparatus comprising an application cross-stratum optimization (CSO) gateway (ACG) coupled to an application layer that handles a plurality of servers, a network CSO gateway (NCG) coupled to a network layer that handles a plurality of network nodes and configured to communicate with the ACG using a CSO protocol (CSOP), and a CSO interface established between the ACG and the NCG that enables the exchange of a plurality of CSOP messages to allow joint application-network resource allocation, provisioning, and optimization. Also disclosed is a network apparatus implemented method comprising sending a user profile from a user plane to an application plane, sending an application profile from the application plane to a network plane via a CSO interface between an ACG and a NCG, and sending network capability information from the network plane to the application plane via the CSO interface. |
| US09184982B2 |
Balancing the allocation of virtual machines in cloud systems
Methods, systems, and machine-readable and executable instructions are provided for balancing the allocation of a number of virtual machines (VMs) in clouds systems. Balancing the allocation of VMs in cloud systems can include determining a number of relationships of a plurality of nodes in a cloud system. Balancing the allocation of VMs in cloud systems can include assigning a number of VMs to the plurality of nodes in response to a request based on a criteria of the request and the number of relationships of the plurality of nodes to balance VMs in the cloud system, where the criteria include a type and a priority for each of the number of VMs. |
| US09184981B2 |
System and apparatus for distributed mobility management based network layer virtual machine mobility protocol
A network element (NE) comprising a hypervisor configured to receive a first virtual machine (VM) from a source hypervisor, and send a first VM mobility registration request to a management node, wherein the first VM mobility registration request comprises a VM identifier associated with the first VM and an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the hypervisor. Also disclosed is a management node comprising a binding cache, and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to receive a first VM mobility registration request from a first hypervisor, wherein the first VM mobility registration is associated with a VM, and record VM information from the first VM mobility registration request in an entry of the binding cache. |
| US09184971B2 |
Apparatus for and method of robust packet detection and frequency offset estimation
A novel and useful apparatus for and method of packet detection and carrier frequency offset estimation. The packet detection mechanism is robust to channels and sustains reasonable miss-detect (and false alarm) rates at low SNR values. The mechanism uses a modified combined cross correlation and delay and correlate scheme. A delay and correlate scheme is used in order to handle the effects of multipath while swapping integration and multiplication to increase cross-correlation factors resulting in improved sensitivity in low SNR conditions. Correlation is divided into multiple chains to generate a plurality of partial correlations to observe short patterns in the spread sequence resulting in improved performance in long multipath channels. |
| US09184970B2 |
Pilot patterns for OFDM systems with multiple antennas
The present invention relates to orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) communication systems with four transmit antennas and one or more receive antennas, and in particular to methods for inserting scattered pilots (SPs) into the transmit signals of such OFDM systems, for estimating channel properties on the basis of the scattered pilots, a multi-antenna OFDM transmitter, and an OFDM receiver. In this context, it is the particular approach of the present invention to keep the same SP pattern like in the single-transmitter case, to partition the pilots into as many subsets as there are transmitters (transmit antennas), and to interleave these subsets both in time and in frequency. In this manner, the granularity of pilots of the same subset is reduced. This offers increased flexibility in designing the scattered pilot patterns and greater accuracy of the estimated channel properties. |
| US09184968B2 |
Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for selecting a cyclic prefix length
Methods, devices, and computer program products for energy and/or cost efficient selection of cyclic prefix length, based at least in part on consideration of propagation and channel conditions, are disclosed. The conditions can relate to, for example, the frequency selectivity and time dispersion of a radio channel, as well as its radio propagation profile and environmental conditions. |
| US09184965B1 |
Energy efficient highway addressable remote transducer soft modem
A method and a highway addressable remote transducer (HART) soft modem device for modulating and demodulating analog signals with HART messages are provided. A phase coherent frequency shift keying (FSK) modulator modulates and transmits analog signals with HART messages, and a phase coherent FSK demodulator receives and demodulates the analog signals with the HART messages. The FSK modulator is a digital modulator that outputs 1 or 0 for transmission. With oversampling and low pass filtering, the digital modulation results in low jitter and good signal to noise ratio. The FSK demodulator applies a fast energy detect algorithm and dynamically reduces or increases a clock speed of a central processing unit (CPU) of the HART soft modem device for reducing power consumption of the CPU. Furthermore, the HART soft modem device uses direct memory access (DMA) to further reduce the power consumption, thereby reducing the overall power consumption by around 50%. |
| US09184963B2 |
Transmitting device, receiving device and communication method for an OFDM communication system with new preamble structure
A transmitting device, a receiving device, and a communication method for transmitting and receiving data modulated on frequency subcarriers of an OFDM communication system. An OFDM burst includes a preamble part and payload data part, whereby the preamble includes a section of pilot symbols mapped onto every n-th frequency subcarrier and signaling data mapped onto the frequency subcarriers between the frequency subcarriers with the pilot symbols. A first channel estimation on the basis of the received pilot symbols is performed, the result of which is used to reconstruct the entire section of the received preamble as a training pattern for an accurate channel estimation, which is used for a channel equalization of the received payload part. |
| US09184962B2 |
Distributed antenna system for MIMO signals
A distributed antenna system includes a multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) base station configured to output at least a first signal and a second signal. At least one master unit communicates with the MIMO base station. At least one remote unit communicates with the master unit. At least one antenna is coupled with the remote unit for receiving signals from the remote unit. A hybrid coupler is coupled between the remote unit and antenna and is configured to receive the first signal Ch1 and the second signal Ch2 from the remote unit on respective first and second ports and to provide an output signal on at least one output port. The output signal includes at least a portion of the first signal and at least a portion of the second signal. The antenna is coupled with the output port. |
| US09184958B2 |
System and method of encoding and transmitting codewords
Systems and methods are provided for encoding and transmitting codewords. A message is encoded in two encoders. For at least one of the two encoders, the message is algebraically modified prior to being encoded. In a specific example, the message is algebraically modified prior to being encoded in each of two traditionally non-systematic encoders, with the result that the output is equivalent to that of a turbo encoder. |
| US09184956B2 |
Relay and terminal in multi-pair two-way relay network and communication method thereof
A relay and a terminal in a multi-pair two-way network and a communication method thereof is provided. A communication method of a relay of a network including K transmit-and-receive pairs including a plurality of terminals, with the relay including M antennas and each of the terminals including N antennas, including accessing a codebook including codewords, the codebook being configured to enable effective channels from the K transmit-and-receive pairs to the relay to be aligned in independent dimensions, respectively, when the K transmit-and-receive pairs transmit signals simultaneously, each of the effective channels being aligned based on one of the codewords, selecting one or more of the codewords indicating the effective channels from the K transmit-and-receive pairs to the relay, respectively, and transmitting information associated with the selected codewords to corresponding ones of the K transmit-and-receive pairs. |
| US09184955B2 |
Method and device for signal processing
A method for signal processing is provided. The method includes: obtaining a predistortion signal for compensating nonlinear distortion generated by a transmission path; adding the predistortion signal to the transmission path to compensate the nonlinear distortion; and outputting the nonlinear distortion compensated signal by the transmission path. With the above method, the nonlinear distortion of the transmission path can be compensated without modifying a current transmission path, thereby enhancing transmission performance of a transmitter by using a simple structure. |
| US09184945B2 |
Method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance
A method for compensating the frequency dependent phase imbalance in a transmitter is provided. The transmitter processes a baseband signal. The method includes the following steps: (a) compensating the baseband signal with a predetermined delay amounts; (b) inputting the compensated baseband signal to an upconversion circuit to generate a radio frequency (RF) signal; (c) inputting the RF signal to a delay information extractor to obtain a correlation value related to the information of the predetermined delay amount; (d) changing the predetermined delay amount and compensating the baseband signal again with the changed predetermined delay amount, and performing steps (b) and (c) again to update the correlation value; and (e) selecting a candidate delay amount from the predetermined delay amount according to the correlation value, and compensating the transmitter by using the candidate delay amount. |
| US09184942B2 |
Automatic gain control in a communications system
An automatic gain control technique generates one or more gain control signals based on a known sequence of samples received in a preamble of a packet received over a particular communications link and generates one or more adjusted gain control signals based on a previously unknown sequence of samples received in a payload of a packet. In at least one embodiment of the gain control technique, time domain samples of the preamble of a symbol are used to generate the one or more gain control signals. In at least one embodiment of the gain control technique, frequency domain samples are used to generate the one or more adjusted gain control signals. The one or more gain control signals include digital and/or analog gain control signals that are provided to digital signal processing modules and/or analog circuits in an interface circuit, respectively, to adjust the gain applied to a received signal. |
| US09184941B2 |
Channel estimation method and apparatus for cooperative communication in a cellular mobile communication system
A channel estimation method and apparatus are provided for a terminal in a cellular mobile communication system including a plurality of base stations. The method includes maintaining a maximum number of CSI processes supported by the UE; receiving CSI process report information; determining a number of CSI to be updated based on the maximum number of CSI processes supported by the UE; generating at least one CSI report based on the determined number of CSI to be updated; and transmitting the at least one CIS report to an evolved Node B (eNB). |
| US09184940B2 |
Method and apparatus for completing a circuit switched service call in an internet protocol network
A method and an apparatus for completing a circuit switched service call in an Internet Protocol network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a session request. The method queries an tElephone NUmbering Mapping (ENUM) server for a called party of the session request, and determines if at least one Naming Authority Pointer (NAPTR) resource record associated with the called party is received from the ENUM server. The method determines if a Session Initiation Protocol Universal Resource Identifier (SIP URI) is returned, if the at least one NAPTR resource record associated with the called party is received, and processing the session request using the SIP URI, if the SIP URI is returned. The method determines if the processing of the session request using the SIP URI resulted in a successful call completion and processes the session request using a telephone URI, if the processing of the session request using the SIP URI resulted in an unsuccessful call completion. |
| US09184938B2 |
Communications system
A method of providing services in a communication system. The method comprises: establishing a call instance from a caller terminal to a service provider terminal in the communication system; transmitting from the service provider terminal a service proposal in the form of an electronic document via the established call instance to the caller terminal; selectively accepting or rejecting the service proposal at the caller terminal; and in the case of acceptance of the service proposal, transmitting a request for money to a backend server in the communication system from the caller terminal; transmitting electronic cash tokens from the backend server to the caller terminal in response to the request to receive money; forwarding the electronic cash tokens from the caller terminal to the service provider terminal, whereafter the service provider provides services in accordance with the service proposal. |
| US09184926B2 |
Method, system, and computer-readable storage medium for remote control of a video conferencing device
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium for remotely controlling a video conferencing device registered with a video conferencing management server. The method includes establishing a connection to the video conferencing management server via a local access network (LAN), receiving a list of video conferencing devices registered with the video conferencing management server, selecting a video conferencing device from the list of video conferencing devices registered with the video conferencing management server, downloading a remote control application from the video conferencing management server, receiving registration information for the selected video conferencing device from the video conferencing management server, the registration information including at least an internal LAN address of the selected video conferencing device, establishing, using the registration information, a connection directly with the selected video conferencing device, and controlling the selected video conferencing device using the remote control application. |
| US09184924B2 |
Nodes for communicating credit related information
A PCRF node (120) for a communications system, equipped with an interface (Gx) towards a PCEF node (130), in the system. The PCRF node (120) is arranged to use said interface to provide the PCEF node (130) with new or updated PCC rules for a User Equipment. The PCRF node (120) is also equipped with an interface (Sy) towards an OCS node (115), and is arranged to as a result of a trigger signal, request a credit indication for the new or updated PCC rules for the User Equipment from the OCS node (115) over the interface to the OCS node (115), to receive a credit indication for the new or updated PCC rules for the User Equipment from the OCS node (115) over the interface (Sy) to the OCS node, and to provide said credit information to the PCEF node (130). An OCS node (115) is also disclosed. |
| US09184917B2 |
Method and system for registering a DRM client
A client, method and system for registering a DRM client is disclosed. The method (100) includes the steps of: initiating (110) a registration request via a DRM client with an encrypted registration message including an asymmetric key cryptographic identity, a customer identifier and an application specific information (AINFO) field including a digital signature and a device certificate chain; validating (120) information in the application specific information (AINFO) field by a DRM registration server; and receiving (130) a registration response, the registration response being encrypted and including access information, to obtain content. Advantageously, this method provides an enhanced and reliable means of authentication. |
| US09184910B2 |
Distributed single sign on technologies including privacy protection and proactive updating
Technologies for distributed single sign-on operable to provide user access to a plurality of services via authentication to a single entity. The distributed single sign-on technologies provide a set of authentication servers and methods for privacy protection based on splitting secret keys and user profiles into secure shares and periodically updating shares among the authentication servers without affecting the underlying secrets. The correctness of the received partial token or partial profiles can be verified with non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs. |
| US09184909B1 |
Apparatus and methods for clock and data recovery
Apparatus and methods for clock and data recovery (CDR) are provided herein. In certain configurations, a first CDR circuit captures data and edge samples from a first input data stream received over a first lane. The data and edge samples are used to generate a master phase signal, which is used to control a phase of a first data sampling clock signal used for capturing the data samples. Additionally, the first CDR circuit generates a master phase error signal based on changes to the master phase signal over time, and forwards the master phase error signal to at least a second CDR circuit. The second CDR circuit processes the master phase error signal to generate a slave phase signal used to control a phase of a second data sampling clock signal used for capturing data samples from a second input data stream received over a second lane. |
| US09184907B2 |
Flexible threshold counter for clock-and-data recovery
One embodiment provides a data-receiving device component comprising a phase shifter, timer logic, and control logic. The phase shifter is configured to release a train of clock pulses with a controlled phase shift. The timer logic is configured to receive data from a data-sending device, and for each transition of the data received, to determine whether a clock pulse from the train is early or late with respect to the transition, and to tally the late clock pulses relative to the early clock pulses. The control logic, operatively coupled to the phase shifter and to the timer logic, is configured to incrementally advance the phase shift when the late clock pulses outnumber the early clock pulses by a non-integer power of two. |
| US09184906B1 |
Configurable pulse amplitude modulation clock data recovery
Embodiments include systems and methods for using generalized pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-X) signaling with an at-rate not-return-to-zero (NRZ) clock data recovery (CDR) system. Some implementations include dual-mode signaling for an at-rate CDR (e.g., using standard NRZ signaling at lower operating frequencies and pseudo-NRZ signaling derived from PAM-X signaling at higher operating frequencies. Embodiments derive an apparent direction of signal transition from PAM-X signaling. The direction can be used to calculate pseudo-NRZ values. For example, when the PAM-X signal transitions in an upward direction, a pseudo-current NRZ value and a pseudo-previous NRZ value of ‘−1’ and ‘+1’ can be generated, respectively. An at-rate NRZ CDR can use the pseudo-NRZ values and a derived error value to make an offset determination. The offset determination can then be used to offset a generated clock signal in the CDR system. |
| US09184905B2 |
Phase compensation receiver
A phase excursion compensation circuit of a phase modulation signal demodulator detects occurrence of a slip of a received signal from a change in a phase compensation amount that is formed into the received signal by a phase excursion compensation unit, and corrects the phase compensation amount of the received signal after the slip is generated. |
| US09184898B2 |
Channel quality indicator for time, frequency and spatial channel in terrestrial radio access network
A wireless communication terminal that communicates on a plurality of sub-carriers divided into a plurality of frequency bands, wherein each frequency band includes at least one sub-carrier. The terminal measures a channel quality indicator (CQI) for a plurality of frequency bands, identifies a subset of frequency bands for which the channel quality indicator has been measured based on a subset criterion, and transmits a report identifying a subset of frequency bands for which a channel quality indicator has been measured or frequency bands not in the subset. In some embodiments, the report also includes a subset CQI value associated with at least the subset of frequency bands identified. |
| US09184897B2 |
Method of transmitting data and communication device
A method of transmitting data is described comprising selecting a transmission mode from at least a first and a second transmission mode, wherein according to the first transmission mode data is transmitted in at least two first time periods using first communication resources wherein the at least two first time periods are separated by a first time interval, wherein according to the second transmission mode data is transmitted in at least two second time periods using second communication resources wherein the at least two second time periods are separated by a second time interval, and wherein the first time interval is longer than the second and the first communication resources allow the transmission of a higher amount of data than the second communication resources; and transmitting data according to the selected transmission mode. |
| US09184894B2 |
Method and apparatus for signaling to a mobile device with set of training sequence codes to use for a communication link
The present patent application improves DARP by allowing multiple users on one time slot (MUROS). It comprises means and instructions for signaling training sequence set information to a remote station, comprising receiving signaling from a remote station indicating if a new set of training sequences is supported, and using a channel description to signal the training sequence set to be used by the remote station for a communication channel being established. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described. |
| US09184889B2 |
Method and system having reference signal design for new carrier types
A method and network element for providing reference signals to a user equipment, the method determining a reference signal pattern at the network element; and sending the reference signals to the user equipment using a reference signal mapping based on the reference signal pattern. Further a method and user equipment for receiving reference signals from a network element, the method determining a reference signal mapping at the user equipment; and detecting the reference signals at the user equipment using the reference signal mapping. |
| US09184887B2 |
Base station and terminal connection method for the base station
The present invention relates to a base station, and to a terminal connection method for the base station. The terminal connection method for the base station according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a step of connecting to a terminal; an information extracting step of extracting information for determining a timeout value of the connection of the terminal when the connection to the terminal is completed; and a time-out setting step of setting a time-out value of the terminal according to the extracted information. According to the one embodiment of the present invention, the base station may efficiently utilize resources and overhead expenses for connection setup may be reduced. |
| US09184885B2 |
Data interaction method and data interaction device
Disclosed are a method and device for data exchanging, and relates to communication technology. The embodiments of the present application includes: pre-allocating virtual resource to user terminals, and activating the virtual resource in case of need, so user terminals can use the pre-allocated resource to exchange data with network side. When inactive, the virtual resource can allocated to other users. For small data, irregular service, pre-allocation of virtual resource and activating it in case of need, can improve efficiency of use of resource. Meanwhile, dividing users into groups and scheduling by groups can reduce control overhead. |
| US09184878B2 |
Non-disruptive network noise measurement
Presented herein are non-disruptive noise estimation techniques that utilize a correlation between attributes of a received signal and the noise to generate estimated noise values for symbols of the signal. More specifically, a digital signal comprising symbols transmitted over a telecommunications network is received. For each of a plurality of the symbols, an estimated noise value associated with the respective symbol is generated through a correlation of a log-likelihood ratio (LLR) value to predetermined noise values. The estimated noise values for the plurality of symbols are used to generate noise information representing time and frequency characteristics of noise in the telecommunications network. |
| US09184875B2 |
Close proximity communication device and methods
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for receiving an encoded data packet, one or more activation commands, and a communication identifier, decoding the received data packet, validating the decoded received data packet, and executing one or more routines associated with the respective one or more activation commands. |
| US09184873B2 |
Ultra-high-speed optical transport based on adaptive LDPC-coded multidimensional spatial-spectral scheme and orthogonal prolate spheroidal wave functions
Systems and methods for transmitting data, including encoding one or more streams of input data using one or more adaptive Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoders, wherein the encoders generate one or more signal constellations; modulate one or more signals using hybrid multidimensional coded modulation; apply orthogonal prolate spheroidal wave functions as electrical basis functions; generate one or more spectral band group signals by selecting and combining two or more spectral band groups with center frequencies that are orthogonal to each other; and spectral-mode-multiplex and transmit the one or more adaptive LDPC-coded data streams including the one or more spectral band group signals combined into corresponding spatial modes over a transmission medium. |
| US09184872B2 |
Method and apparatus for LDPC transmission over a channel bonded link
A particular overall architecture for transmission over a bonded channel system consisting of two interconnected MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) 2.0 SoCs (Systems on a Chip) and a method and apparatus for the case of a “bonded” channel network. With a bonded channel network, the data is divided into two segments, the first of which is transported over a primary channel and the second of which is transported over a secondary channel. |
| US09184870B2 |
Systems and methods for control channel signaling
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for providing flexible channel information feedback. In some cases this may be according to reporting types assigned by one or more sectors, with different reporting types for each sector. In other cases, a reporting mode is determined to determine the reporting types to be utilized. |
| US09184869B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control information in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method in which a terminal transmits control information in a wireless communication system, comprising the following steps: selecting a PUCCH resource for control information from among a plurality of PUCCH resources; transmitting, through the selected PUCCH resources, a PUCCH signal carrying the modulation value corresponding to the control information; and transmitting a reference signal for the demodulation of the PUCCH signal, wherein the control information is identified by a combination of the PUCCH resource and resources for the modulation value and the reference signal. |
| US09184868B2 |
Transmission interface device capable of calibrating transmission frequency automatically and method thereof
The present invention relates to a transmission interface device capable of calibrating the transmission frequency automatically, which comprises a clock generating unit, a data transmission unit, and a control unit. The clock generating unit is used for generating an operating clock, which determines a transmission frequency. The data transmission unit is used for connecting to a host and transmitting a plurality of data to the host or receiving the plurality of data from the host according to the operating clock. When the host or the data transmission unit detects transmission errors in the plurality of data, the host or the data transmission unit generates an error handling. The control unit generates an adjusting signal according to the error handling and transmits the adjusting signal to the clock generating unit for adjusting the transmission frequency of the operating clock. |
| US09184866B1 |
Distributed optical block multiplexer topologies
An optical network includes a fiber optic link and one or more distributed block filter pairs. A given block filter pair includes a first block filter and a second block filter disposed at disparate locations along the fiber optic link. The first block filter of a respective pair is a bi-directional device that redirects optical carriers within a particular block wavelength range onto or off of the fiber optic link depending on a direction of the optical signals. The second block filter of a respective pair also is a bi-directional device that redirects carriers within the particular block wavelength range onto or off of the fiber optic link depending on a direction of the optical signal. The block filter pairs enable bi-directional communications over the fiber optic link between corresponding nodes disposed at different locations along the fiber optic link. Since the wavelength range in a block includes multiple carriers in both directions, the wavelength range in its entirety can be connected to a single subtended fiber and transmitted a significant distance before the carriers are separated and provided individual ports for connection to equipment. This feature thus provides multi-wavelength fiber conservation not only in the main fiber line as in conventional multi-wavelength systems, but in the subtended fiber lines as well. |
| US09184864B2 |
Optical transmission system, optical transmitting apparatus, and optical receiving apparatus
An optical transmission system includes an optical transmitting apparatus that includes a polarization controller configured to change a polarization state of a signal light at an operating frequency included in a frequency range at which polarization trackability is obtained on a receiving side, based on a notified monitoring result, the optical transmitting apparatus being configured to output the signal light having the changed polarization state, and an optical receiving apparatus that is provided on the receiving side and includes a monitoring control unit configured to receive the signal light having the changed polarization state and monitor transmission quality of the received signal light, the optical receiving apparatus being configured to notify the optical transmitting apparatus of the monitoring result. |
| US09184862B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for transmitting SDH/Sonet section overhead bytes
The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies and discloses a method, an apparatus and a system for transmitting SDH/Sonet section overhead bytes, which reduce a burden of an intermediate node of a PTN network in a process of transmitting DCC bytes in the PTN network. In the present invention, a pseudo wire is established between a local end node and a peer end node. The local end node separates target overhead bytes from section overhead bytes of an SDH/Sonet frame, where the target overhead bytes include DCC bytes; packages the target overhead bytes to obtain a dedicated overhead packet; and sends the dedicated overhead packet to the peer end node, where the dedicated overhead packet is transmitted as a service packet of the pseudo wire. The embodiments of the present invention are mainly applied to a process of transmitting an SDH/Sonet service in the PTN network. |
| US09184860B2 |
Time synchronization method and system, and node device
The present disclosure discloses a time synchronization method. In the method, a first node sends a first time packet at a first time over a first working wavelength; a second node receives the first time packet at a second time. The first node sends a second time packet at a third time over a second working wavelength. The second node receives the second time packet at a fourth time; calculates an absolute time deviation between the second node and the first node according to the first time, the second time, the third time, the fourth time, a first signal transmission rate corresponding to the first working wavelength, and a second signal transmission rate corresponding to the second working wavelength, and synchronizes the local time between the second node and the first node. Further, a time synchronization system and a node device are disclosed. |
| US09184858B2 |
Microphone system and method for selecting an operating frequency for a or said microphone system and computer program
Wireless microphones are used in a plurality of applications, such as concerts, discussions, theater performances, operas, etc. The wireless microphones are normally connected to a transmitter which transmits the audio signals captured by the microphone to a base station via a transmitting frequency. The invention relates to a microphone system (1) having a base station (3) and having a microphone module (2) wherein the base station (3) is designed to wirelessly receive audio information and/or test information transmitted from the microphone module (2) on an operating frequency, wherein the base station (3) has a receiving analysis module (14) and/or is coupled thereto, which is designed to analyze the reception quality of the audio information and/or the test information on a plurality of possible transmitting frequencies, wherein the receiving analysis module (4) is designed to select the operating frequency from the plurality of possible transmitting frequencies. |
| US09184856B2 |
Detecting wireless noise within time period in which no data is purposefully wirelessly communicated
Wireless noise is detected within a time period specifically held after a data packet is wirelessly communicated, where no data is purposefully wirelessly communicated during this time period. The time period may be an inter-frame space (IFS) period within which no data is to be wirelessly communicated, and that is a period waited for prior to accessing a wireless medium over which data is wirelessly communicated. One or more actions are performed to counteract the noise. The frequency at which a liquid crystal display is being driven may be decreased so that harmonics caused thereby that caused the noise are no longer within the wireless communication frequency range. An opposite-in-phase version of the noise may also or alternatively be combined with a signal when data is subsequently wirelessly received. The signal includes a data component and a noise component, the opposite-in-phase version of the noise canceling out the noise component. |
| US09184848B2 |
Optical repeater amplifier insertion and removal technology
A repeater amplifier assembly that includes at least two chassis containing optics and electronics. The chassis are connected with a size-adjustment mechanism that can adjust a size of the repeater amplifier assembly by reversibly adjusting the positions of the chassis with respect to each other. To insert the repeater amplifier assembly into a repeater housing, the repeater amplifier assembly is accessed in a contracted position. The amplifier is inserted into the housing, and then a control of the size adjustment mechanism is actuated to urge the chassis outwards until the chassis push against the repeater housing. To remove the repeater amplifier assembly from the repeater housing, the control is actuated to cause the size adjustment mechanism to pull the chassis inwards with respect to each other until the chassis no longer push against the repeater housing. The repeater amplifier assembly may then be freely removed from the repeater housing. |
| US09184846B2 |
Pluggable optical host and network I/O optoelectronic module
In an embodiment, a pluggable optical host and network I/O optoelectronic module (hereinafter “module”) includes a first optical-electrical-optical (OEO) converter and a second OEO converter. The first OEO converter is configured to convert N inbound optical signals to M inbound optical signals and includes N network-side optical receivers, first signal processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the N network-side optical receivers, and M host-side optical receivers communicatively coupled to the first signal processing circuitry. The second OEO converter is configured to convert M outbound optical signals to N outbound optical signals and includes M host-side optical receivers, second signal processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the M host-side optical receivers, and N network-side optical receivers communicatively coupled to the second signal processing circuitry. |
| US09184844B2 |
Optical network system and method for controlling optical network system
An optical network system for controlling a passive optical network (PON) in which at least one symmetric optical subscriber terminal and at least one asymmetric optical subscriber terminal coexist is provided. |
| US09184843B2 |
Determining propagation delay of communications in distributed antenna systems, and related components, systems, and methods
Components, systems, and methods for determining propagation delay of communications in distributed antenna systems are disclosed. The propagation delay of communications signals distributed in the distributed antenna systems is determined. If desired, the propagation delay(s) can be determined on a per remote antenna unit basis for the distributed antenna systems. The propagation delay(s) can provided by the distributed antenna systems to a network or other system to be taken into consideration for communications services or operations that are based on communications signal delay. As another non-limiting example, propagation delay can be determined and controlled for each remote antenna unit to be uniquely distinguish the remote antenna units. In this manner, the location of a client device communicating with a remote antenna unit can be determined within the communication range of the remote antenna unit. |
| US09184842B2 |
Apparatus for communicating a plurality of antenna signals at different optical wavelengths
A remote radio unit is disclosed that includes antenna interfaces, RF receivers, and a digital-to-optical converter. The antenna interfaces each receive an antenna signal from a different antenna. The RF receivers downconvert the antenna signals to baseband signals, and convert the baseband signals to digital streams of user data. The digital-to-optical converter converts each of the digital streams of user data to optical signals having different optical wavelengths for output to an optical fiber for communication to a radio equipment control unit. Related radio base stations and network control points are disclosed. |
| US09184841B2 |
Multi-level decoder with skew correction
An optical communication system, a transmitter, a receiver, and methods of operating the same are provided. In particular, a transmitter is disclosed as being configured to encode optical signals in accordance with a multi-level coding scheme. The receiver is configured to provide skew correction to the optical signals received from the transmitter by dividing a received signal into separate level-specific components and sampling each of the components with distinct sampling blocks. |
| US09184840B2 |
Optical module
An optical module includes first optical elements disposed on a first surface side of optical waveguides, first signal wirings disposed on the first surface side in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting with a transmission direction of an electrical signal transmitted by a first signal wiring, second optical elements disposed on a second surface side of the optical waveguides, and second signal wirings disposed on the second surface side in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting with a transmission direction of an electrical signal transmitted by a second signal wirings, the optical waveguides being disposed in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting with an optical waveguide direction of an optical signal guided by an optical waveguide at an interval which is narrower than an interval between the adjacent first signal wirings and narrower than an interval between the adjacent second signal wirings. |
| US09184839B1 |
Method and apparatus for compensating impairments in radio frequency circuitry of a wireless device
The present disclosure describes techniques for identity-based RF circuitry compensation. In some aspects data from a wireless device is received via radio frequency circuitry, the data including an identifier that uniquely identifies the wireless device. Impairments of the radio frequency circuitry are estimated based on the received data and then the estimated impairments are associated with the identifier of the wireless device. In response to subsequently receiving data that includes the identifier, the radio frequency circuitry is compensated using the estimated impairments. |
| US09184837B2 |
Mobile terminal capable of localization, localization server and method for localizing the mobile terminal using the localization server
A mobile terminal capable of localization, a localization server, and a method for localizing the mobile terminal using the localization server are disclosed. The disclosed localization server includes a control unit configured to control transmissions of visible-light signals from a multiple number of visible-light transmitting devices; and a position computing unit configured to compute a position of a mobile terminal based on time information regarding when the visible-light signals transmitted respectively from the plurality of visible-light transmitting devices were received at the mobile terminal, where the control unit controls the transmissions such that each of the plurality of visible-light transmitting devices sequentially transmits the visible-light signal for a particular first time period with no overlapping of transmission times of the visible-light signals transmitted respectively from the plurality of visible-light transmitting devices. |
| US09184835B2 |
Multiple wireless connectivity hub
A hub device detects, using a plurality of different wireless communication interfaces, the presence of a plurality of different wireless devices, wherein, initially, each of the plurality of different wireless devices implements an unknown type of wireless connectivity. The hub device detects a type of wireless connectivity, of a plurality of different types of wireless connectivity, for each of the plurality of different wireless devices whose presence is detected, and causes a connection to be established to the plurality of different wireless devices, via selected ones of the plurality of different wireless communication interfaces, based on the type of wireless connectivity detected for each of the plurality of different wireless devices. The hub device forwards data received from one of the plurality of different wireless devices to another of the plurality of different wireless devices using two different ones of the plurality of different types of wireless connectivity. |
| US09184833B2 |
Optical fiber testing using OTDR instrument
A method for testing the operation of an optical fiber cable in a communication network using an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) instrument includes receiving a range of identifiers of fiber sets to be tested. Identifiers of a first fiber set are displayed. The first fiber set is included in the range and constitutes a next fiber set to be tested. A determination is made whether the first fiber set is connected to the OTDR instrument. In response to determining that the first fiber set is connected to the OTDR instrument, a test of the first fiber set is performed using the OTDR instrument. Identifiers of a second fiber set are displayed. The second fiber set is included in the range and constitutes a next fiber set to be tested. |
| US09184831B2 |
Mobile communication method, radio base station, and relay node
A mobile communication method according to the present invention comprising a step A in which, when a predetermined trigger is detected, the radio base station DeNB notifies the relay node RN of a transmission timing of an MBSFN subframe by a signal for changing the configuration of an RRC connection that is set between the radio base station DeNB and the relay node RN, a step B in which the radio base station DeNB performs scheduling such that a downlink signal is transmitted to the relay node RN at the transmission timing of the MBSFN subframe, and a step C in which the relay node RN performs scheduling such that a downlink signal is transmitted at a timing other than the transmission timing of the MBSFN subframe. |
| US09184822B2 |
Medical apparatus and methods including an array system for segmenting signals and generating a complex waveform at a focal point using recombination of segmented signals
An apparatus and methods are provided to realize an input waveform using wavelet processing and reconstruction via separated antenna array systems having different beam paths and different frequency components which can include phased array transmitters to recreate the input waveform in medical applications. One aspect of the invention can include a wavelet function used for the examples shown herein which includes a first and second moments of a statistical function, i.e. the mean and variance used with an inverse wavelet to create rectangular pulses that lend themselves to use in the invention herein. Other embodiments of the invention can use other input waveform separation functions paired with signal separation and recombination at a focus point. A selected function can be matched to its application associated with avoidance of sending the input waveform along a single beam path, a desired a focus point, and separation of an input signal. |
| US09184820B2 |
Spatio-temporal processing for communication
A space-time signal processing system with advantageously reduced complexity. The system may take advantage of multiple transmitter antenna elements and/or multiple receiver antenna elements, or multiple polarizations of a single transmitter antenna element and/or single receiver antenna element. The system is not restricted to wireless contexts and may exploit any channel having multiple inputs or multiple outputs and certain other characteristics. Multi-path effects in a transmission medium cause a multiplicative increase in capacity. |
| US09184818B2 |
Method and apparatus for transreceiving channel state information in cooperative multipoint communication system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting channel state information in a cooperative multipoint communication system. A method for a terminal transmitting the channel state information (CSI) to multiple base stations according to one embodiment includes receiving a first piece of CSI setting information with respect to reporting of CSI including at least one of a rank indicator (RI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), and a channel quality indicator (CQI), with respect to a first base station; receiving a second piece of CSI setting information with respect to reporting of CSI including at least one of an RI, a PMI, and a CQI, with respect to a second base station; and transmitting the CSI with respect to the first base station and the second base station on the basis of the CSI setting information on the first and second base stations. |
| US09184816B2 |
Transmission method, transmitter apparatus, reception method and receiver apparatus
Transmission quality is improved in an environment in which direct waves dominate in a transmission method for transmitting a plurality of modulated signals from a plurality of antennas at the same time. All data symbols used in data transmission of a modulated signal are precoded by hopping between precoding matrices so that the precoding matrix used to precode each data symbol and the precoding matrices used to precode data symbols that are adjacent to the data symbol in the frequency domain and the time domain all differ. A modulated signal with such data symbols arranged therein is transmitted. |
| US09184813B2 |
Method for reducing interference at a terminal of a wireless cellular network, wireless cellular network, node and central node of a wireless network
A method for reducing interference at a terminal of a wireless cellular network is described. The terminal experiences interference from a plurality of interfering nodes in the wireless cellular network. The method includes selecting the precoders of the interfering nodes such that the sum of distances between the interference projector matrices for the terminal is minimized. |
| US09184811B2 |
Base station apparatus, mobile station apparatus and control information transmission method
The present invention is directed to preventing the load to be required for blind detection in a mobile station apparatus (UE) from increasing and switching between SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO dynamically, even in the event the system bandwidth is expanded. The present invention has a DCI format selection section (209) that selects identification information which identifies between a DCI format for SU-MIMO and a DCI format for MU-MIMO, a control signal generation section (210) that generates control signals including the identification information and including the DCI format for SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO, having the same number of bits, and a transmission section that transmits the control signals to a mobile station apparatus. |
| US09184809B2 |
Wireless communication method and access point apparatus
The number of training signals for channel estimation is reduced. A wireless communication method includes: a step of reading, by an access point apparatus, stored training weights for a station which performs channel estimation; a step of generating, by the access point apparatus, a weight training symbol by multiplying the training weights by a training symbol and transmitting the generated weight training symbol; a step of estimating, by a station apparatus, weight channel information from the received weight training symbol; a step of transmitting, by the station apparatus, the weight channel information to the access point apparatus; a step of calculating, by the access point apparatus, transmission weights using the received weight channel information and the stored training weights; a step of transmitting, by the access point apparatus, a data signal in accordance with the transmission weights; and a step of calculating and storing, by the access point apparatus, new training weights using the weight channel information and the stored training weights. |
| US09184807B2 |
MIMO receiver having improved SIR estimation and corresponding method
A method and corresponding receiver product, the method including: receiving a plurality of data streams over a wireless multiple-input-multiple-output data channel, whereby each data stream is received at all of a plurality of receive antennas from all of a plurality of transmit antennas with a respective weighting having been applied to each stream as transmitted from each different transmit antenna; receiving a common pilot signal over a common pilot channel; receiving an indication of the weightings; extracting the individual data streams from the plurality received at the receive antennas; and using the weightings and the common pilot signal together with information regarding the extracted data streams to calculate, for each of the streams, an estimate of signal power relative to interference from the one or more others of the data streams. |
| US09184805B2 |
Fractal dipole antenna communication systems and related methods and use
A communication system and method for using a communication system is provided. An embodiment of an exemplary system can include different communication sets adapted to communicate with each other in different orientations/while moving in a highly secure manner. A first communications system embodiment can include a plurality of segmented fractal antennas and a communications data encoding and/or decoding system adapted to receive communication data and parse such communication data into groups or bins for transmission through an associated segment of the segmented fractal antennas. A second communication system embodiment of the invention has an identical or substantially identical segmented fractal as the first communication system embodiment's plurality of segmented fractal antennas and a communications data encoding and/or decoding system which receives signals sent by the first system and decodes received communications data. |
| US09184800B2 |
Automated sharing of application data over a near field communication link
A computer-implemented technique includes establishing, at a first computing device including one or more processors, a near field communication (NFC) link with a second computing device. The technique includes identifying, at the first computing device, an application having a foreground designation in an operating system of the first computing device, the identifying being performed upon establishment of the NFC link with the second computing device. The technique includes determining, at the first computing device, an identifier for the application, wherein the identifier uniquely identifies the application at a source external to the first computing device. The technique also includes transmitting, from the first computing device, the identifier for the application via the NFC link to the second computing device. |
| US09184793B2 |
Power line-communication adapter
The present invention relates to a power-line-communication adapter including a main functional unit (PLTC) supplied with direct voltage by an internal voltage converter (AC/DC), characterized in that said adapter includes at least one switch (I1, I2) for interrupting the direct current supply to the main unit (PLTC) while the adapter is operating in standby mode. |
| US09184792B2 |
Charging communication system and charging equipment
In a charging communication system in which a charging control device performs communication between an electric vehicle and a charging equipment, the electric vehicle is equipped with a first communication device and a second communication device both configured to communicate with the charging equipment by using the same signal line in the charging cable; and a signal line connection device configured to switch connection/disconnection between the second communication device and the signal line. The charging control device, which controls a battery on the electric vehicle, calculates an amount of change in a signal line voltage between before and after the signal line connection device connects the second communication device to the signal line, and the charging control device causes, when the amount of change does not fall within a predetermined allowable range, the signal line connection device to disconnect the second communication device from the signal line. |
| US09184783B2 |
Device for separating signal transmission and reception and communication system including same
A communication system includes an antenna. A signal transmission and reception unit for cellular CDMA communication and a signal transmission and reception unit for PCS COMA communication are coupled to the antenna. |
| US09184775B2 |
Methods and apparatus for adaptive nonlinear coincident interference cancellation
Methods and apparatus to cancel an interfering signal using an analog cancellation stage followed by a digital cancellation stage. In an exemplary embodiment, the interfering signal is processed to determine modulation type for removal in the analog domain. The digital stage provides further interference reduction in the digital domain. |
| US09184774B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing a multi-sensor receiver in a DSM3 environment
In accordance with one embodiment, a method is implemented in a vectored system for improving a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a far end transmitted signal on a victim line in the system. The method comprises mitigating, by the vectored system, self-induced far-end crosstalk (self-FEXT) on the victim line based on self-FEXT mitigation coefficients and receiving, by a second sensor, information relating to at least one of: self-FEXT of the vectored system, external noise, and the far end transmitted signal. The method further comprises learning, at the second sensor, coefficients relating to self-FEXT coupling into the second sensor and removing self-FEXT from the second sensor based on the learned coefficients. Upon removal of self-FEXT from the second sensor, a linear combiner configured to combine information relating to the victim line and the second line is learned. |
| US09184772B2 |
Electronic devices for RF front end signal processing
An electronic device includes a circuit board. The circuit board includes a power amplifier footprint configured for mounting a first power amplifier or a second power amplifier thereon. The power amplifier footprint includes a first part and a second part. The first part includes multiple I/O pads. When the first power amplifier is mounted on the circuit board, the I/O pads in the first part are coupled to the first power amplifier. The second part includes multiple I/O pads. When the second power amplifier is mounted on the circuit board, both the I/O pads in the first part and the I/O pads in the second part are coupled to the second power amplifier. |
| US09184770B2 |
Broadcast transmitter and method of processing broadcast service data for transmission
A method processing broadcast data in a broadcast transmitter is described. The method may include randomizing broadcast service data, encoding the randomized broadcast service data at a code rate of D/E. D |
| US09184769B2 |
Decoding method and decoder
The method according to the invention relates to the decoding of a sequence of symbols, the sequence of symbols having been generated by: calculating a CRC value for an initial message; combining the initial message and the CRC value so as to produce a transformed message; and, encoding the transformed message. The decoding comprises: generating a number of path hypotheses via a trellis diagram corresponding to the trellis diagram of a finite-state machine comprising the encoder and the CRC generator, in which the encoder and the CRC generator are supplied with the same input. According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the trellis diagram is adapted to take into account bit stuffing possibly inserted in the transformed message before encoding. |
| US09184768B2 |
Data-processing device and data-processing method
When an LDPC code having a code length of 16200 bits is mapped to 16 signal points, a demultiplexer performs exchanging such that when a (#i+1)-th bit from a most significant bit of code bits of 4×2 bits and a (#i+1)-th bit from a most significant bit of symbol bits of 4×2 bits of 2 consecutive symbols are represented by a bit b#i and a bit y#i, respectively, for an LDPC codes having coding rates of 7/15, b0 is allocated to y0, b1 is allocated to y2, b2 is allocated to y6, b3 is allocated to y3, b4 is allocated to y4, b5 is allocated to y1, b6 is allocated to y5, and b7 is allocated to y7. |
| US09184766B1 |
Decoding circuit
A decoding circuit is disclosed, which relates to a technology for changing a decoding structure without changing a circuit structure. A decoding circuit for decoding N input signals to generate output signals corresponding to elements of 2N binary information includes: a controller configured to generate control signals; a decoding unit configured to generate output signals by decoding the N input signals, wherein the number of output signals is controlled in response to the control signals; and a combination unit configured to output a first output signal by logically combining the output signals of the decoding unit. |
| US09184764B1 |
High-speed low-latency current-steering DAC
A digital to analog converter (DAC) includes a quantity of N cells including a Least Significant Bit (LSB) cell, a Most Significant Bit (MSB) cell and, N−2 cells ordered therebetween. Each of the N cells is configured to carry a current of I, 2*I, 4*I, 8*I, . . . , 2^(N−1)*I, respectively. At least the LSB cell includes a first cell element and a second cell element driven by a first current input and a second current input, respectively. A difference between a magnitude of the first current input and a magnitude of the second input current is approximately equal to I. |
| US09184755B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device according to an aspect of the invention relates to an AD converter that converts a signal level of an analog signal into a digital value by using a comparator, and determines an amount of adjustment of an offset voltage of the comparator based on an offset determination result of the comparator obtained immediately after a least significant bit (LSB) of a digital value output as a conversion result is converted. |
| US09184751B2 |
Physical unclonable function generation and management
Methods, systems and devices related to authentication of chips using physical physical unclonable functions (PUFs) are disclosed. In accordance one such method, a test voltage is applied to a PUF system including a first subset of PUF elements that are arranged in series and a second subset of PUF elements that are arranged in series, where the first subset of PUF elements is arranged in parallel with respect to the second subset of PUF elements. In addition, the PUF system is measured to obtain at least one differential of states between the first subset of PUF elements and the second subset of PUF elements. Further, the method includes outputting an authentication sequence for the circuit that is based on the one or more differentials of states. |
| US09184748B2 |
Adaptive buffer
An embodiment of a buffer for a transmission line, a circuit including such a buffer, a high-speed data link, and a low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) system. |
| US09184747B2 |
Member for electrostatic capacitance-type sensor and electrostatic capacitance-type sensor using the same
A member for an electrostatic capacitance-type sensor which suppresses a decrease in the variation amount of the electrostatic capacitance caused between an input body and the electrode through a proximate operation or a touch operation by the input body and has a metallic luster appearance which does not degrade with time, and is economical, and an electrostatic capacitance-type sensor using the same. The disclosed member includes a sheet member having an operation surface S on which a proximate operation or a touch operation by an input body is carried out and an electrode which is disposed on the opposite side of the operation surface of the sheet member, in which the sheet member includes a decorative layer having a metallic luster, and the decorative layer is a continuous film made of silicon or an alloy of silicon and a metal. |
| US09184744B2 |
Gate signal generation with adaptive signal profiles
A gate signal is generated by summation of multiple signal profiles. The gate signal is applied to a switching device to switch the switching device between an off state and an on state. While the gate signal is applied to the switching device, at least an n-th order derivative of a load signal of the switching device is detected, with n being an integer which is equal to or larger than 2. Depending on the detected n-th order derivative, one or more of the signal profiles are adapted. |
| US09184743B2 |
Control apparatus for switching device
A control apparatus for a switching device which suppresses surge voltages at the time of current shutoff of a switching device to protect from overcurrents although the switching device is not in an overcurrent state, including a current sensor, a comparator, a timer latch, a control circuit, and a transistor. The current sensor detects the current of a switching device and outputs a detected voltage. The comparator outputs a signal when the detected voltage is equal to or greater than a reference voltage. When the time duration of the output signal is equal to or greater than a setting time, the timer latch outputs a surge suppression detection signal, based on which the control circuit outputs to the transistor a driving signal to turn off the switching device. The reference voltage is smaller than a reference voltage used when detecting an overcurrent flowing in the switching device. |
| US09184740B2 |
Power circuit with short-circuit protection circuit
A power circuit including a current-limiting semi-conductor switch and a control system connected to the current-limiting semi-conductor switch and configured to bias the semi-conductor switch into conduction and into cut-off. The control system further comprises a short-circuit protection circuit configured to detect and evaluate the voltage drop via the current-limiting semi-conductor switch. |
| US09184738B2 |
PWM (pulse width modulation) signal outputting circuit and method of controlling output of PMW signal
A PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal outputting circuit includes a counting unit for counting a number of clocks to output a counter value, and for resetting the counter value to resume counting when a reset signal is input to the counting unit; a dead time value storage unit for storing a dead time value; and a plurality of PWM signal outputting units for setting a start setting value and a termination setting value. The PWM signal outputting unit generates a termination signal and a start signal. Further, the PWM signal outputting unit is configured to output a PWM signal, which is raised according to the start signal generated by itself and is decreased according to the termination signal generated by itself. Further, the PWM signal outputting units is configured to generate the termination signal when the counter value matches to the termination setting value generated by itself. |
| US09184734B1 |
Voltage or current controlled current-feedback operational-amplifier based multivibrator
A voltage or current controlled current-feedback operational-amplifier based multivibrator provides oscillation based on two current feedback operational amplifiers, three resistors and one grounded capacitor. The multivibrator can achieve almost constant frequency of oscillation and its duty cycle can be adjusted by a control voltage or a control current. The multivibrator can be used for generating pulse-width modulated signals. |
| US09184733B2 |
Low power architectures
Systems and methods for operating transistors near or in the sub-threshold region to reduce power consumption are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for low power operation comprises sending a clock signal to a flop via a clock path comprising a plurality of transistors, wherein the clock signal has a high state corresponding to a high voltage that is above threshold voltages of the transistors in the clock path. The method also comprises sending a data signal to the flop via a data path comprising a plurality of transistors, wherein the data signal has a high state corresponding to a low voltage that is below threshold voltages of the transistors in the data path. The method further comprises latching the data signal at the flop using the clock signal. |
| US09184731B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing digital step attenuator output power peaking during attenuation state transitions
A method and circuit for significantly reducing positive switching transients (glitches) of digital step attenuators (DSA's) by controlling the timing of state transitions for individual attenuator stages within a DSA. Such control prevents the DSA output power from peaking during attenuation state transitions and ensures that any transient glitch during the transition results in reduced power at the DSA output. Attenuation stage timing delay can be implemented on an integrated circuit die or “chip” for monolithic implementations of a DSA by adding circuitry which ensures that any attenuation state changes result in increased attenuation rather than decreased attenuation, thereby reducing or eliminating positive transient glitches at the DSA output. |
| US09184728B2 |
Elastic-wave filter device
An elastic-wave filter device includes a reception filter section including a longitudinally coupled resonator-type elastic-wave filter section that has a balanced-to-unbalanced conversion function and has improved common-mode isolation characteristics. Among IDT electrodes of a filter section, each of the other comb-shaped electrode of a first IDT electrode including a pair of comb-shaped electrodes, one of which is connected to a first balanced-signal terminal, and the other comb-shaped electrode of a second IDT electrode including a pair of comb-shaped electrodes, one of which is connected to a second balanced-signal terminal, is connected to one of ground electrodes that are provided on a piezoelectric substrate. Inductors are provided on the piezoelectric substrate, and each inductor is connected between the other comb-shaped electrode of one of the first and second IDT electrodes and one of the ground electrodes. |
| US09184727B2 |
SAW device and method for post-seal frequency trimming
A surface acoustic wave (SAW) device includes a piezoelectric crystal substrate on which an acoustic channel is formed, at least one electro-mechanical transducer operatively associated with the acoustic channel, and an encapsulating casing having a cover spaced above the acoustic channel and thereby defining a sealed volume around the substrate. A mass deposition device within the casing is spaced between the acoustic channel and the cover, preferably as gold-coated heating wire spanning the acoustic channel and having ends that are connectable to an electric power source outside the casing. Stress and aging shifts can be induced after sealing of the cover. Tuning is achieved by evaporating metal molecules off the heated wire onto the acoustic channel as the frequency is monitored, until the mass loading of metal molecules on the transducer produces the target frequency. |
| US09184726B2 |
Piezoelectric vibrating strip, piezoelectric vibrator, oscillator, electronic device, and radio timepiece
A piezoelectric vibrating strip includes a pair of vibrating arm portions in parallel with a central axis therebetween, and a base portion integrally cantilevering base end portions of the pair of vibrating arm portions in a length direction. Each of the pair of vibrating arm portions has a first groove portion and a second groove portion in a main face, the first groove portion being placed closer to a leading end portion in the length direction of the vibrating arm portions and having a groove width along a width direction orthogonal to the length direction and a thickness direction of the vibrating arm portion. The second groove portion is closer to the base end portion than the first groove portion and has a groove width along the width direction. The groove width ratio of the second groove portion to the first groove portion is between 0.4 and 1.0. |
| US09184718B2 |
Gain control circuit, communication device, electronic appliance, and gain control method
The present technology relates to a gain control circuit, a communication device, an electronic appliance, and a gain control method which aim to provide a technology capable of suppressing intermodulation distortion. The gain control circuit includes a first amplifier for amplifying an input signal, and a signal determination unit for determining an input signal to be input to the first amplifier, and controlling an amplification factor of the first amplifier based on the determination result. The communication device includes a first amplifier for amplifying a received signal, a receiving unit for performing a receiving process based on a signal output from the first amplifier, and a signal determination unit for determining a received signal to be input to the first amplifier, and controlling the amplification factor of the first amplifier based on the determination result. In the gain control method, an input signal to be input to a first amplifier for amplifying an input signal is determined, and the amplification factor of the first amplifier is controlled by a feed forward system based on the determination result. |
| US09184717B2 |
Power control device
The invention relates to a power control device for a power output stage. A forward signal corresponding to a wave advancing on a wall feed line and a return signal corresponding to a wave returning on the wave feed line is obtained by means of a directional coupler and is supplied to a controller after narrow-band selection for controlling the output of the power output stage. Narrow-band selection is not carried out in the baseband but on an intermediate frequency level above the baseband. |
| US09184714B2 |
Musical instrument master volume amplifier
A circuit and method for decoupling the perceived tone and volume of an amplified musical signal, such as a guitar amplifier, and allowing for the operator to achieve the desired sonic tone, texture and dynamic feel while separately controlling the overall perceived volume level of the amplifier device. |
| US09184712B2 |
Low power high-speed digital receiver
Described herein is a low power high-speed digital receiver. The apparatus of the receiver comprises: a sampling unit operable to sample a differential input signal and to boost input signal gain, the sampling unit to generate a sampled differential signal with boosted input signal gain; and a differential amplifier to amplify the sampled differential signal with boosted input signal gain, the differential amplifier to generate a differential amplified signal. |
| US09184709B2 |
Resonant pre-driver for switching amplifier
An arrangement and a method for improving the efficiency of a multistage switching amplifier using a resonant circuit element is presented. The multistage amplifier comprises a pre-driver amplifier, a final stage amplifier and a series L-C arrangement coupled between the pre-driver amplifier and the final stage amplifier. The series L-C arrangement forms a parallel L-C resonant circuit with a gate to source capacitor of an input transistor of the final stage amplifier. An oscillation of energy takes place between the gate to source capacitor of the input transistor of the final stage amplifier and the series L-C arrangement. This oscillation of energy provides the final stage amplifier with driving current and improves efficiency of the overall multistage amplifier arrangement. |