| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09192349B2 |
Computed tomography device and method and data storage medium for operation thereof
In a method for operating a computed tomography device for reducing the load on at least one technical component of the computed tomography device during operation of the at least one technical component, as well as a computed tomography device and a data storage medium that implement such a method, for at least one scan parameter of the computed tomography device affecting the at least one technical component an extreme value is defined, the method being an operating mode for the computed tomography device is selected in which the settable value for the at least one scan parameter affecting the at least one technical component is limited to a certain percentage below or above the extreme value for the operation of the at least one technical component. |
| US09192348B2 |
Method and system for automated detection of tissue interior to a mammalian ribcage from an in vivo image
Described herein are systems and methods for efficient and accurate, automated detection of a region of interest interior to the ribcage from an in vivo mammalian image. It is found that efficient, automated identification of the region of interest interior to the ribcage can be achieved by the use of both a bone distance mask and a surface distance mask. The technique solves the problem of accurate and fast identification of the region of interest for a wide range of sizes and shapes of mammals, e.g., small mammals such as mice. |
| US09192345B2 |
Radiation devices and methods
Radiation diagnosis devices, systems and methods are in general catheter form and include at least one diagnostic balloon that provides at least one diagnosis function and assists in placement of at least one radiation detector at a desired diagnosis location within an existing body cavity or at a percutaneous site. Data collected by the detector that is positioned as determined by the medical professional allows the medical professional to monitor radiation levels, either residual from a prior radiation treatment, during a brachytherapy treatment at the diagnostic catheter insertion site or in adjoining site, or during externally administered radiation. |
| US09192344B2 |
Floor mat radiation attenuation shield
A system attenuates scatter radiation during a radiological procedure. The radiological procedure using a radiation machine including an emitter, a receiver, a base, and a table for a patient. The base is supported by a floor. The system includes a barrier formed of a radiation attenuation material and positioned over an area on the floor. The barrier is comprised of an elastomeric material and disposed beneath the table. The barrier on the floor can reduce substantial amounts of scatter radiation. |
| US09192341B2 |
Computed tomography device and method for operating a computed tomography device
A method is disclosed for operating a computed tomography device including an x-ray source embodied to emit a fan-type beam bundle and a detector arrangement interacting therewith and including a plurality of detector elements. An embodiment of the method provides that an integration time provided to read out a detector element is dependent on the position of the detector element within the detector arrangement, wherein with a detector element which detects x-rays which penetrate the isocenter lying between the x-ray source and the detector arrangement, a longer integration time is provided, than with a detector element which detects x-rays which penetrate an examination volume which is further away from the isocenter. |
| US09192338B2 |
Apparatus and method for monitoring blood glucose levels including convenient display of blood glucose value average and constituent values
A method of presenting glucose data to a person with diabetes from a blood glucose meter is provided in which an effective meal average (EMA) value is presented, followed by two or more of the individual values that make up the EMA, to provide improved feedback data for clinical decisions by patients who need to alter their dose of insulin. The EMA can also comprise a measure of the variability of its constituent values. The EMA encompasses those values that occur at specified times such as 1 hour before and 1 hour after a specified meal time. The EMA is calculated over a limited number of days previous to the calculation (e.g., 3 days) and has a minimum number of values that must be obtained within the time and date ranges. An algorithm allows for exclusion of any given reading from the average (e.g., post-prandial or control solution readings). Patients can use 1 to 8 EMA on any given date range (e.g., preferably 4, that is, breakfast, lunch, supper and bedtime snack). |
| US09192336B2 |
Method of analyzing and processing signals
A physiological measurement system is disclosed which can take a pulse oximetry signal such as a photoplethysmogram from a patient and then analyze the signal to measure physiological parameters including respiration, pulse, oxygen saturation and movement. The system comprises a pulse oximeter which includes a light emitting device and a photodetector attachable to a subject to obtain a pulse oximetry signal; analog to digital converter means arranged to convert said pulse oximetry signal into a digital pulse oximetry signal; signal processing means suitable to receive said digital pulse oximetry signal and arranged to decompose that signal by wavelet transform means; feature extraction means arranged to derive physiological information from the decomposed signal; an analyzer component arranged to collect information from the feature extraction means; and data output means arranged in communication with the analyzer component. |
| US09192333B1 |
System and method for early detection of mild traumatic brain injury
A wireless system and methods for non-invasive detection of brain injury that includes a detection device for reliable monitoring and analyzing of sleep movement in comparison with normal sleep movement architecture to identify dampened sleep movement patterns indicative of brain injury. |
| US09192331B2 |
Releasing structure for lancing device
A releasing structure for a lancing device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a lancet body with a lancet at the front; a lancet holder mounted with the lancet body with the lancet at the front; a stem disposed behind the lancet holder and moving the lancet holder forward/backward; a rotary housing pushing/pulling the stem while turning forward at a predetermined angle about a rotational axis defined in the movement direction of the lancet; a torsion spring storing torque for turning the rotary housing forward at a predetermined angle; and a loading handle transmitting torque to the torsion spring while turning forward at a predetermined angle. |
| US09192324B2 |
Breath alcohol sampling system with spirometric client identity confirmation
An system for monitoring alcohol in the breath of a test client confirms the identity of the test client based on spirometric data. The system includes a sample chamber receiving a breath sample, an alcohol sensor measuring the alcohol content of the breath sample, and a spirometric sensor generating spirometric data from the breath sample over the test client's entire exhalatory phase. A processor analyzes the spirometric data with stored client characterization data for a known client to confirm the identity of the test client. The client characterization data can be a probability density in a phase space in which at least two spirometric variables (e.g., flow and volume time-series data) are correlated. |
| US09192323B2 |
System for detecting respiratory muscle activity of a patient receiving assisted breathing
The invention relates to a system for detecting respiratory muscle activity of a patient (1) receiving assisted breathing, which is connected to an assistance device (2) by a pneumatic circuit (3). Said system is characterised in that it comprises: a means (4, 5) for acquiring air pressure and flow signals in the pneumatic circuit (3), sent to a means (6) for continuously estimating the theoretical air pressure expected in the pneumatic circuit in absence of respiratory muscle activity from the patient; and a means (7) for comparing estimated and actual theoretical pressures in order to continuously detect a pressure differential showing respiratory muscle activity in the patient. |
| US09192320B2 |
Apparatus and method for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a field of view
The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) for influencing and/or detecting magnetic particles in a field of view (28), wherein the field of view (28) comprises at least one sub field of interest covering at least a portion of an object of interest containing magnetic particles. The apparatus (100) applying the known principle of Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) comprises selection means for generating a magnetic selection field (50) having the known field pattern showing a field free point (FFP), drive means for changing the position in space of the FFP by means of a magnetic drive field, receiving means for acquiring detection signals depending on the magnetization of the magnetic particles within the field of view (28), a control unit (150) for controlling a signal receiving unit (140) comprised in the receiving means for acquiring a set of high resolution detection signals and a set of low resolution detection signals, wherein the set of high resolution detection signals depends on the magnetization of at least one subfield of interest and the set of low resolution detection signals depends on the magnetization of at least one adjacent subfield being arranged adjacent to the at least one subfield of interest, and a reconstruction unit (152) for reconstructing a particle distribution quantity depending on the set of high resolution detection signals and the set of low resolution detection signals. The present invention further relates to a corresponding method as well as to a computer program. |
| US09192319B2 |
Method for separating signal sources by use of physically unique dictionary elements
A method for separating signal sources by use of physically unique dictionary elements. The method is particularly advantageous for separating cerebral from artifactual sources in electroencephalographic (EEG) recording, making use of dictionary element pattern recognition methods that are tuned to the unique physical properties of each source domain. |
| US09192311B2 |
Pulse wave detection device and pulse wave detection method
A pulse wave detection device that includes a piezoelectric transducer acquiring the velocity pulse wave of a test subject and an information processing unit that processes the acquired velocity pulse wave and selectively detects regular velocity pulse wave data. The information processing unit acquires a differential waveform, extracts the extreme value of the velocity pulse wave, calculates the area value of a domain surrounded by the differential waveform and a reference line, compares the previous value and the current value of the extreme value with each other with respect to the velocity pulse waves chronologically adjacent to each other when the area value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and determines that the two velocity pulse waves are regular velocity pulse wave data when a difference between the two extreme values is less than or equal to a predetermined value. |
| US09192309B1 |
Acute ischemia detection based on smoothed temporal thresholding
A heart monitor is disclosed. The monitor computes ST segment deviations and stores the results in heart rate based histograms. Periodically, the monitor analyzes the histogram data to determine a normal range of ST deviation for a particular heart rate range. The monitor computes heart rate dependent ischemia detection thresholds based on the upper and lower boundaries of the normal range. A current threshold for a heart rate range is set as a weighted average of the prior threshold and a provisional threshold based on recent data, thereby limiting the amount the actual detection threshold changes from period to period. |
| US09192306B2 |
Photoacoustic imaging devices and methods of imaging
A photoacoustic medical imaging device may include a substrate, an array of ultrasonic transducers on the substrate, at least one groove etched on the substrate, at least one optical fiber, and at least one facet. Each optical fiber is disposed in one of the grooves. Each facet is etched in one of the grooves and coated with a layer of metal having high infrared reflectivity. Each optical fiber is configured to guide infrared light from a light source through the fiber and toward the respective facet. The facet is configured to reflect the infrared light toward a target. |
| US09192304B2 |
Apparatus and method for orthogonalizing signals detecting blood oxygenation and blood volume
A filter for detecting changes in skin color. The filter includes a filter material capable of filtering a frequency range and configured to orthogonalize an overall red response and an overall blue response in response to a spectral power distribution of a given light condition. The overall red response is based on a first plurality of spectral responses for a first human perceived chromatic channel used primarily for detecting blood oxygenation in a human. The overall blue response is based on a second plurality of spectral responses for a second human perceived chromatic channel used primarily for detecting blood volume. |
| US09192301B2 |
Radiological simulation
A data processing apparatus, system and method for simulating radiological imaging of a physical object, comprising: an object model generator configured to generate a data model, wherein the data model comprises data representative of the orientation of the physical object with respect to a frame of reference and simulated composition data; and an image simulator configured to perform a radiological simulation on the data model and generate a simulated radiological image of the physical object. |
| US09192300B2 |
Acquisition and particular association of data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user
A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message, and associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with the particular item. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure. |
| US09192291B2 |
Anoscope
An anoscope kit includes an anoscope having a plurality of spaced apart fingers having free ends and a dilator removably positionable within the anoscope to aid insertion of the anoscope. The dilator has a proximal region, an intermediate region and a distal region. The distal region includes an enlarged distal head. A ramped surface extends from the enlarged distal head toward the intermediate region. The intermediate region has an outer surface to contact the fingers of the dilator. |
| US09192280B2 |
Method and system for detecting and removing a clogging condition of a filter in a dishwasher
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems for detecting and removing a clogging condition of a filter in a dishwasher. According to one embodiment, the method includes determining a normal water level or a normal rate of water level change for a wash cycle of the dishwasher and monitoring a water level or a rate of water level change during execution of the wash cycle. The method further includes detecting the clogging condition of the filter by detecting a deviation thereof. A current position of the wash cycle being executed may then be determined. The method further includes executing a remedial operation to facilitate removal of the clogging condition and determining if the clogging condition has been removed. Finally, the method includes resuming operation of the dishwasher at a wash cycle position based on the current position if the clogging condition has been removed. |
| US09192278B2 |
Self-cleaning substrate
Provided is a self-cleaning substrate system. The system includes a substrate and a cleaner coupled to the substrate, wherein the cleaner includes at least one of an electrode, an ultrasound emitter, or a coronal wind generator. The system includes a circuit configured to determine a characteristic of the substrate. The system further includes a power source. The system includes a controller operatively coupled to the cleaner, the sensor, and the power source. The circuit provides a feedback signal indicative of the detected characteristic to the controller, and wherein the controller is coupled to the cleaner such that the cleaner can be controlled by the controller. |
| US09192274B1 |
Floor wiping mechanism for self-propelled floor cleaner
A floor wiping mechanism for mounting in the body of a self-propelled floor cleaner is disclosed to include a frame defining an opening, two rotating shafts suspending in the opening of the frame at two opposite lateral sides in a parallel manner with respective opposite ends thereof positioned in the frame, a wiping cloth made in the form of an endless belt and mounted around the two rotating shafts. When the self-propelled floor cleaner is steering, the floor wiping mechanism is moved with the self-propelled floor cleaner, causing the wiping cloth to wipe the floor. |
| US09192273B2 |
Brushroll cleaning feature with overload protection during cleaning
A cleaning device agitator system having an agitator and one or more cleaning members. The agitator has first and second ends, a longitudinal axis and one or more agitating devices. One or more friction surfaces may project from the spindle. The cleaning members are adjacent the agitator and adapted to move between a first position and a second position. In at least the second position, the cleaning members engage the agitator, such as by engaging the friction surfaces, to remove debris. Agitator and cleaning members may be incorporated into a cleaning head having an inlet nozzle and a chamber in which the agitator rotates, and there may be an activation mechanism using, for example, a resilient member to move the cleaning members. An overload protection device may be provided, and may adjust its sensitivity depending on whether the cleaning devices are in the first or second position. |
| US09192270B2 |
Drain system and method for vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner comprising a tank for collecting material having a base, an outside surface and an opening disposed at the base. A drain system is disposed adjacent the opening and includes a drain tube having an outlet and a cap mounted to the drain tube and removably secured to prevent material from exiting the drain system. When the cap is removed, the drain tube slides out of the opening in a first direction and the outlet permits material to leave the drain tube in a direction other than the first direction. |
| US09192262B2 |
Roasting and/or grilling apparatus and heating insert for a roasting and/or grilling apparatus of this kind
A roasting and/or grilling apparatus for cooking purposes, having a cooking chamber, a food holding unit arranged in the cooking chamber, and a combustion chamber for arranging a heating apparatus. The combustion chamber surrounds the cooking chamber at least in sections at the sides and the combustion chamber is open to the cooking chamber. The combustion chamber and/or the cooking chamber also have an associated air inlet in a lower region and an associated air outlet in an upper region for the purpose of creating a chimney effect. A heating insert for arrangement in the roasting and/or grilling apparatus is also provided. The heating insert is exchangeable and is designed to accommodate a heat source. In this case, the heat source is a fossil fuel and/or a gas burner and/or a radiant electric heating element. |
| US09192261B2 |
French press coffee maker with spent grounds removal
A French press coffee maker includes a carafe, a plunger, and a ladle. The carafe includes a base wall and an upwardly extending generally cylindrical side wall. The plunger includes a rod and a piston connected to the rod. The piston is movable with respect to the carafe in an axial direction. The ladle includes a base having a peripheral rim and an upwardly extending arm connected with the base. |
| US09192258B2 |
Serving utensils
A new and improved serving utensil is provided. The serving utensil may include a pair of elongated arms integrally formed together, or joined together by a hinge. Each elongated arm may comprise an elongated member, having an upper edge and an opposing lower edge, integrally connected to a gripping portion at its distal end and handle portions extending upwardly from the elongated member and having a concave or curvilinear shape. The serving utensil may further include a pair of guard members integrally connected to, and extending perpendicularly outward from, the pair of elongated arms. |
| US09192253B2 |
Box, rack, system and method for the presentation of products
A box includes a floor, two end walls and two side walls. In the floor, a plurality of openings are provided, which are dimensioned to each receive a supporting bar. The openings are arranged to evenly lift a carrier introduced into the box with supporting bars introduced into the openings and position the same at a position above the floor. A rack for receiving such a box includes a supporting frame and the plurality of supporting bars which are mountable to the supporting frame. Further, a system and a method for the presentation of products are described. |
| US09192252B2 |
Cart for transporting shelving
Storage and transport of a gondola-type shelving with safety achieved by providing a wheeled cart system having shelves limiting the height of any stack of the gondola-type shelves and both vertical and horizontal guard rails which may be readily affixed or removed from the cart as necessary to enable loading and unloading of the cart and safe storage and transport of items in the cart. |
| US09192249B2 |
Integrated product display with pusher arm
A display including a tray having a front side and a back side and two side walls. One or more display compartments are formed within the display. A pusher arm is provided for each of the compartments. Each pusher arm has an upper side and a lower side and is connected on the lower side to the back side of the tray and slidably connected on the upper side to each of the display compartments. |
| US09192248B2 |
Child harness
Described herein is a child harness for use in car seats, child buggies and other devices where a child (or adult) is to be restrained on a seat. The harness design avoids the presence of ‘tails’ or loose endings thereby minimizing any risk of such endings becoming tangled in other objects. The design also allows for a wide variety of size adjustment. |
| US09192246B2 |
Rotatable tray with an angle adjusting function
A rotatable tray is installed on a child seat for accommodating a container, and the rotatable tray includes a platform, a fixing base, a positioning base, a resilient component and a supporting base. The platform includes a communicating chamber, and the fixing base is fixed in the communicating chamber. The positioning base includes a first engaging portion, and the positioning base is slidably disposed in the communicating chamber. The resilient component is disposed between the fixing base and the positioning base. The supporting base is connected to the platform, an engaging base protrudes from an end of the supporting base, and a second engaging portion is disposed on the supporting base. The engaging base is pivoted in the communicating chamber so that the platform can rotate relative to the supporting base. The resilient component drives the first engaging portion to selectively engage with the second engaging portion. |
| US09192245B2 |
Mattress and side rail assemblies having high airflow
A mattress assembly includes an inner core comprising a base core layer comprising planar top and bottom surfaces, and at least one comfort layer comprising planar top and bottom surfaces disposed on the top surface of the base core layer; a side rail assembly disposed about a perimeter of the inner core; and a plurality of air channels extending from a central region of the inner core to the side rail assembly configured to permit the flow of fluid from and to the inner core. |
| US09192244B2 |
Tunnel generating bed cooling system
Human skin surface cooling system used in bed during sleep, directing forced room air to an area above a flat mattress and under a top bed sheet, creating a tunnel of cool, moving air. User pre-selects air volume and run time, triggering a preset operating cycle from a remote actuator button. Weight bars isolate cooled bed area from non-cooled area. Optional fragrance and sound systems are provided. |
| US09192243B2 |
Lighted multi-plane window well enhancement system
The invention utilizes a number of thin, flexible layers placed in parallel to each other and the back wall of a window well. The inner layer is translucent such that when lit, the lighting shines through the layer and illuminates the middle and outer layers or shines through all the layers and through the window well and into the room. Alternatively, the inner layer is reflective so that it reflects light directed towards it into the other layers. The various layers can be variably transparent, translucent and/or opaque and can be shaded. By spacing the layers apart, depth can be imparted to a viewer. The outermost layer can have the appearance of a metallic film and/or artistic representations. This outer film can be stenciled such that patterns of light shine through in various places. |
| US09192241B1 |
Lighted cup holder for seating arrangements
A method and apparatus include attaching a lighted cup holder to a seating arrangement. The lighted cup holder includes a cup holder body and a light-producing light source, with the cup holder body being attached to the seating arrangement and having a cup receptacle therein, the light-producing source being disposed within the cup receptacle for illuminating the receptacle. A light-sensitive element operatively connected to the light source selectively controls production of light by the light source in such a manner that illumination of the cup holder is provided only under conditions where visibility is reduced to the point that it becomes difficult to locate the cup holder. The light-sensitive element is mounted on a master lighted cup holder and controls illumination of the master lighted cup holder and one or more slave lighted cup holders operatively connected to the master lighted cup holder. |
| US09192236B2 |
Guard and combination for rotatable or swivel seat and method of installing same
A guard for a rotatable or swivel seat includes a first generally planar surface and an opposing second generally planar surface. The first and second surfaces define an inner peripheral edge that surrounds a central opening. A skirt extends generally perpendicularly from the first and second surfaces. The skirt generally surrounds and is spaced radially outwardly from the inner peripheral edge. The guard includes a plurality of equidistantly spaced-apart fastener points formed on or in at least one of the first and second surfaces. Each fastener point is spaced radially outwardly from the inner peripheral edge and radially inwardly from the skirt. The guard is attachable to a platform of a seat in both a first configuration wherein the skirt of the guard extends away from the platform of the seat and a second configuration wherein the guard is inverted from the first configuration. |
| US09192235B2 |
iChair
The present invention is a foldable chair assembly for providing comfort to a user in outdoor environments comprising a folding chair having a frame structure defined by a pair of vertical front frame members coupled to a pair of vertical rear frame members by way of a plurality of pairs of cross frame members, a seating member extending between the pair of vertical front frame members and the pair of vertical rear frame members, a back rest, a pair of armrests, a cup holder, a plurality of foot pads, a front pocket, a side pocket, an umbrella attached to the folding chair through an umbrella loop of the back rest and an adjustable tray secured between the pair of vertical front frame members. The folding chair, the umbrella and the adjustable tray are arranged in a way to provide comfort to the user while reclining in outdoor environments. |
| US09192234B2 |
Progressively curved lumbar support for the back of a chair
A progressively curved lumbar support located within the back of an office or home chair to enable a user to be seated close to a work surface (e.g., a desk or a table). The chair back tilts backwards and forwards when the user shifts his weight back and forth. The lumbar support includes a cushion back support manufactured from a resilient material that is responsive to a compressive force applied thereto when the user reclines against the chair back. In particular, a tilt pressure-responsive rod rides up and down over a pair of inclined guide blocks to cause the cushion back support to change its shape from a convex configuration at which to support the user's lower back and maintain a proper posture when the user sits erect and the chair back stands upright to a relatively flattened configuration when the chair back tilts backwards. |
| US09192233B2 |
Personal storage device with charging capability
Described is a lightweight and durable storage device comprising a main enclosure of rigid material with interior partitions (FIG. 18), a hingedly attached and lockable access door panel (210) (119), an infinitely designable cosmetic door cover (113), a means for securing the enclosure to a fixed surface (111), a self contained unit for charging electronic items stored inside the enclosure (1410), a means for exterior venting (218), an exterior attachment (114) and means for securing larger items outside the enclosure (1210), and a non-abrasive surface material (1810) applied to high use areas of the enclosure. |
| US09192232B2 |
Retainer for sliding device provided with buffer member
A retainer for a sliding device provided with a buffer member includes a body which is arranged between sliding rails, and has buffering insertion grooves on one side that are open in the outward direction, which is the withdrawal direction, and on the other side, which is the closing direction, so as to adjust the range of withdrawal when the sliding rails are withdrawn; and buffer member portions protruding from the two ends of the body, respectively, in the direction of an accommodation body, and being arranged so as to be respectively inserted into the buffering insertion grooves for coming into contact when the sliding rails are withdrawn. |
| US09192229B2 |
Table with nesting top
A table may be sized and configured to nest with another table to reduce a height of a plurality of stacked tables in a nested configuration. The table may include a table top with a receiving portion disposed at least proximate an intersection of an upper surface and a sidewall. The table top may also include a lip and a lower portion of the lip may include a contact surface that is sized and configured to contact an upper surface of an adjacent, nested table. The lower portion of the lip may also include an engaging portion that is sized and configured to be disposed in a receiving portion of an adjacent, nested table. The contact surface and the engaging portion may be directly adjacent to each other in the lower portion of the lip. |
| US09192228B2 |
Table top expander
A table expander is provided. The table expander includes a table top. The table top includes a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer edge. The table expander further includes a plurality of clamps attached to the bottom surface of the table top. The clamps may be oriented near the outer edge of the table top and may be equidistant to one another. The present invention may include two, three or four clamps. The table top may be placed on a table so that the clamps are surrounding the edges of the table. The clamps may be secured to the table, thereby securing the table top to the table. |
| US09192224B1 |
Covered hammock with adapter panel
The disclosure includes a hammock made of a flexible piece of material whose ends can be gathered into endpoints where the suspension system is attached so that the hammock can be suspended between two points (trees/posts/etc). The hammock is covered with a flexible material (such as mosquito netting/fabric/etc) so that the hammock is enclosed. On one or both sides of the hammock an adapter panel is attached between the canopy and the hammock body. |
| US09192217B1 |
Accordion wallet with electromagnetic shielding
An accordion wallet with electromagnetic shielding includes an outer case comprised of a first member and a second member that are connected via a hinge member. The first member and the second member include webbing members on opposing sides, which opens to limit exposure to the interior of the wallet. The interior of the wallet includes a plurality of copper sleeves that are configured to each store a single credit card. The copper sleeves prevent electromagnetic radiation from interacting with the magnetic strips of the credit cards. |
| US09192216B2 |
Apparatus for safekeeping of a headset or ear bud
The invention relates to an apparatus for safekeeping of a headset or ear bud, comprising a base plate (11) having an axle (14) molded on orthogonal to this plate, on which axle a winding spool (2) is mounted so as to rotate, wherein the winding spool (2) has two circular disks (22, 27) disposed parallel to one another, between which disks a winding space is formed, and wherein a recess (25) for passing through a mini-plug (71) is disposed in the upper disk (22), which is disposed on the side facing away from the base plate (11). |
| US09192215B2 |
Quick assembly methods and components for shade structures
A quick connect system is provided for a shade structure. The system includes a hub and a structural member. The hub has a top surface, a plurality of side walls forming a slot therebetween, and a displaceable retention device having a free end disposed at an elevation below the top surface. The displaceable retention device is moveable laterally away from the slot. The structural member has an end configured to swing in the slot. The end has a laterally extending rotation device. The rotation device extends laterally beyond the free end of the displaceable retention device when the end is disposed in the slot. |
| US09192211B2 |
Article of footwear incorporating a sole structure with elements having different compressibilities
A sole structure of an article of footwear includes a foam element and a non-foam element with different compressibilities. The foam element is positioned adjacent to the non-foam element. The non-foam element may define a plurality of apertures, with ends of at least a portion of the apertures being located adjacent to a lower area of the foam element. The non-foam element may also form a protrusion that may be located in a central area of the non-foam element and extends into the foam element. In addition, a portion of the non-foam element that forms a side of the sole structure may define an indentation. |
| US09192210B2 |
Protective garment having a thermally reflective layer
Protective garment for environments having high radiant heat loads and/or high conductive heat loads is described. A protective footwear article and method of making includes an upper with an opaque outer layer; an inner layer; and a thermally reflective layer positioned between the outer layer and the inner layer, the thermally reflective layer having a reflective surface facing the outer layer. |
| US09192209B2 |
Article of footwear with elongated shock absorbing heel system
An article of footwear is disclosed having at least one elongated heel support member. The elongated heel support member may be angled and extend from a heel region to a midfoot region, in order to disperse forces applied by a wearer's heel during movement. The heel system may include two heel support members, each associated with a side of the article of footwear. The article of footwear may also include a series of ribs in the midfoot region, which may abut a front edge of the heel support members. Finally, the article of footwear may include asymmetric side flaps extending downward from an upper plate so as to overlap a midsole. |
| US09192207B2 |
Graphical element laminate for use in forming a skate boot
A method of manufacturing a skate boot, including providing a first sheet of thermoplastic material, the thermoplastic material being at least one of translucent and transparent, printing a graphic element on the first side of the first sheet of thermoplastic material, providing a second sheet of base layer material with a first side of the second sheet of base layer material having a design element, positioning the first side of the first sheet onto the first side of the second sheet such that the graphic image is disposed between the first side of the first sheet and the first side of the second sheet, and joining the first sheet and the second sheet together to form a graphic element laminate. The graphic element laminate is affixed to an outer surface of a skate boot core. |
| US09192202B2 |
Head garment
A head garment is provided that has a head band and at least one hair holding component. The head band is formed from an piece of material that is folded over on itself to provide inner and outer layers and a bottom edge. A top edge is formed by sewing the free edges of the layers together. Ends of the layers are also sewn together to provide a rear seam. The rear seam is provided with an opening through which the component can be extended when it is desired to be used, or which can be moved through the opening to be held between the layers when not desired to be used. The component being secured between the layers. An alternative head garment has a button attached to a rear of a head band for releasably securing a hair net thereto. Each head garment may include a visor if desired. |
| US09192193B2 |
Molecularly imprinted polymers for treating tobacco material and filtering smoke from smoking articles
The invention provides a method of isolating certain target compounds from tobacco, tobacco materials or smoke generated by a smoking article. The method can be used to remove undesirable compounds from tobacco, tobacco materials, or tobacco smoke. The method can also be used to remove flavor compounds from tobacco or tobacco materials, which can then be used as flavor components for tobacco material used in smoking articles and smokeless tobacco compositions. |
| US09192192B1 |
Method and apparatus for treating low quality forage
Apparatus and methods are provided for treating low quality forage with a treating agent and water. In certain cases, the treating agent is calcium oxide. |
| US09192188B2 |
Nutritional supplement
A dietary supplement and method of supplementation comprises a vegetable component consisting essentially of juices extracted from two parts by weight fresh, unpeeled carrots; one part by weight fresh, unpeeled beet root; one part by weight of fresh, unpeeled cucumber; and a selected quantity of aloe vera juice. A cleansing component includes at least one of the following: about 2 fluid ounces (59.1 ml) of lemon juice; about 1.5-2 fluid ounces (44.3 to 59.1 ml) of lime juice; about 1 fluid ounce (29.6 ml) of aloe vera juice; and about 4-6 fluid ounces (118.3 to 177.4 ml) of cranberry juice. The vegetable component is ingested orally twice daily and the cleansing component is ingested orally once daily. |
| US09192187B2 |
Method for preparing a ready-to-eat food tray
A method for preparing a sterilized ready-meal package, including providing a main container defining a main volume intended to accommodate a main food product, and having a first opening at the upper part surrounded by a first planar edge. At least one secondary container defining a secondary volume is included and has a second opening at the upper part surrounded by a second planar edge. The secondary container is introduced inside the main container, so that said first edge and said second edge are flush. At least one secondary food product is introduced inside the secondary volume, and at least one main food product is introduced inside the main volume. A perimetric seal is made between a covering film, arranged to cover said first and second openings, and said first edge, and an inner seal is made between the covering film and the second edge. |
| US09192182B2 |
System and method for continuous citrus peel cellular expansion
A method for treating citrus peel by clean steaming pieces of raw citrus peel; and rupturing at least some of the cells of the pieces of raw citrus peel to release liquid, sugar and oil bound within the pieces of raw citrus peel. The clean steaming step may involve using clean steam that is free of chemical water treatment additives, and the clean steam may be the only water introduced to the process. |
| US09192179B2 |
Methods for promoting gut microbiota balance
The present disclosure relates to nutritional compositions comprising a fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) in an amount of 35 to 44% by weight; a polysaccharide that is not a partially hydrolyzed guar gum such as, for example, an arabinogalactan in an amount of 50% to 38% by weight; and inulin in an amount of 12% to 24% by weight. The FOS and the polysaccharide may be present in a weight ratio of about 1:1. More specifically, the FOS and inulin may be present in a weight ratio of about 7:3. Also provided are methods of promoting gut microbiota balance and health. The methods include administering an effective amount of the nutritional composition to patients in need of same. |
| US09192178B2 |
Griddle having attached warming plate
A countertop griddle and related methods of cooking food with a countertop griddle including a warming tray. The warming tray can be rotatably attached to the countertop griddle such that the warming tray can be rotatably pivoted from a covering disposition to an intermediary disposition to an open disposition. When in the covering disposition, the warming tray can serve to protect a user from exposure to grease spatter and to receive heat conducted from a cooking surface. During cooking, the warming tray can be rotated to the intermediary disposition such that the user can manipulated the food item being prepared. Finally, the warming tray can be rotated to an open disposition defining a serving tray for receiving a cooked food item. The warming tray can be detached from the countertop griddle when the warming tray is positioned in any of the covering, intermediate or open dispositions. |
| US09192176B2 |
Process for producing frozen confectionery products
A process for producing a frozen confectionery product is provided, the process comprising: supplying a frozen confection to a nozzle which has an orifice having a non-circular cross-section; dispensing a filling comprising sauce and/or inclusions into the frozen confection inside the nozzle; extruding the frozen confection and filling from the nozzle through the orifice until the extruded frozen confection makes contact with a receiving surface; wherein the longest axis of the product is parallel to the direction of extrusion; and then cutting the extruded frozen confection with an iris cutter. |
| US09192174B2 |
Workstation of a food item processing system
The invention relates to a workstation of a food item processing system, said workstation comprising a food item reception area for receiving food items at the workstation from a primary conveyor of the food item processing system, a food item dispatch area for returning processed food items to the primary conveyor, a computer registration device arranged for obtaining information about a return of a processed food item from said food item dispatch area to said primary conveyor and sending said information to a computer system. |
| US09192172B2 |
System and method for processing slaughtered animals and/or parts thereof
A system for processing a carcass or carcass part of a porcine, bovine, ovine, or caprine slaughter animal involves a plurality of processing steps. The system includes a primary transport system that includes an overhead conveyor and a plurality of carriers for holding a carcass or carcass part, a plurality of processing stations, which processing stations are arranged along the track, each of the processing stations being adapted to carry out one or more processing steps on a carcass or carcass part, wherein in at least one processing station a step of removing a part of the carcass or carcass part is carried out, a secondary transport system, which secondary transport system is arranged adjacent to the processing station in which said part is removed from the carcass or carcass part, which secondary transport system is adapted to receive said part. |
| US09192171B2 |
Apparatus and method for skinning and removing usable meat from a large game animal carcass
An improved apparatus and method for skinning large game animals is used by fastening the animal head to an upright at one end of the apparatus structure, making incisions at and cuts around the neck and attaching to the skin the end of a cable from a manually powered windlass mechanism mounted on an upright at the opposite end of the structure. As the windlass is operated the skin is drawn back over and off the carcass and the carcass is brought to a near horizontal position in open space between the two end upright parts of the structure. Two extensions are then swung into place along the animal's hind legs and attachments are made to the leg tendons. The skinned hide is then removed from the hind legs. The carcass is thus secured in a convenient and sanitary position for removing usable meat. |
| US09192167B2 |
Method for the biological control of listeria
The invention relates to a method for controlling the proliferation of Listeria, with the exception of the treatment methods applied to the human or animal body, characterized in that it uses protozoa of the Willaertia magna species, and also to a disinfecting agent containing such protozoa. |
| US09192163B2 |
Pest control composition
A pest control composition is provided having an excellent control effect on pests and containing an ester compound represented by the following formula (1) and diethyl adipate. A method is also provided for controlling pests including applying the pest control composition to pests or habitats of pests. |
| US09192160B2 |
Aminoindanes amides having a high fungicidal activity and their phytosanitary compositions
New aminoindanes amides are described, having general formula (I) the relative phytosanitary compositions and their use for the control of phytopathogenic fungi. |
| US09192159B2 |
Azoxystrobin formulations
The present invention provides microemulsifiable concentrates and microemulsions comprising azoxystrobin and propiconazole. |
| US09192157B2 |
Tissue retrieval, storage, and explant culture device for the derivation of stem cells
A device is provided for securing a tissue sample from biological material. The tissue sample is housed in bottom and top platens that are configured to promote fluid communication between the tissue sample and the exterior environment to permit transport or cryogenic fluid to contact the sample. Additionally, diskette assemblies may be provided within the platens that permit sub-samples to be separated without directly handling the tissue sample. The diskette assemblies may also be configured to promote fluid communication with the sub-sample housed therein. |
| US09192154B2 |
Wildlife barrier apparatus and system
A barrier for blocking access to an enclosed space so that wildlife cannot enter the space for either nesting or other habitation is disclosed. Plural resilient spikes extend outwardly in an array from a base. When the apparatus is inserted into a space, the spikes bend so that the tips engage the walls of the space to lodge the barrier in place and resist extraction. The spikes discourage wildlife from entering and nesting in the space. |
| US09192151B2 |
Dual action lethal containers, systems, methods and compositions for killing adult mosquitos and larvae
Dual action lethal containers, systems, methods, compositions and formulas used to kill mosquitoes and their larvae. The containers can have separate interior larvicidal and adulticidal coatings separated from each other by horizontal water line holes in the container. Another container can use a novel combined coating of a larvicidal and adulticidal coating. Unique compositions of adulticidal coatings, larvicidal coatings and combined adulticidal and larvicidal coatings can be used as liners. |
| US09192148B1 |
Apparatus for feeding birds
A feeding apparatus for use in dispensing feed formula to hummingbirds or other animals. The apparatus comprises a reservoir containing a ready-to-consume and preservative free feed solution for birds. The walls of the reservoir are made of a metal layer and a paper or plastic layer to provide a barrier to light, oxygen, and flavor to maintain the feed solution in a substantially sealed environment. |
| US09192147B2 |
Platform bird feeder with an adjustable wobbling baffle
A platform bird feeder is provided including a base platform with a seed tray, a baffle and a center pole having a bottom end connected the tray, the baffle being tiltably and adjustably mounted to the pole above the base. Preferably, the seed tray has a seed protecting grate to hinder squirrels from accessing the seed in the tray. The height of the baffle above the seed tray may be adjusted up and down to allow the user to increase and decrease the seed access space, respectively, between the baffle and the tray. When the baffle is at a desired height, it is secured in place by an adjustable securing mechanism that, while holding the baffle at the desired height, allows the baffle to tilt or wobble when sufficient weight is placed on one side of the baffle. |
| US09192145B2 |
Animal harness arrangement and associated buckle construction
Disclosed are harness assemblies for use in tethering a pet, such as a dog, to a leash. The harness assemblies distribute the forces associated with restraining the animal over the animal's entire body. The harness assemblies also provide a wide range of adjustability and are easy to position upon or take off the animal. Various buckle constructions are also disclosed for use in easily securing the harness onto an animal. The various components of the present invention, and the manner in which they interrelate, are described in greater detail hereinafter. |
| US09192140B1 |
Soybean variety 01046348
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046348. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046348. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046348 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046348 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09192139B1 |
Soybean variety 01046343
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046343. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046343. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046343 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046343 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09192135B2 |
Soybean cultivar CC1211481
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety CC1211481 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety CC1211481 and its progeny, and methods of making CC1211481. |
| US09192134B2 |
Soybean cultivar AR1211948
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety AR1211948 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety AR1211948 and its progeny, and methods of making AR1211948. |
| US09192133B2 |
Soybean cultivar AR1211262
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety AR1211262 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety AR1211262 and its progeny, and methods of making AR1211262. |
| US09192132B2 |
Soybean cultivar CC1217018
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety CC1217018 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety CC1217018 and its progeny, and methods of making CC1217018. |
| US09192126B1 |
Maize inbred PH1V7B
A novel maize variety designated PH1V7B and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1V7B with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1V7B through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1V7B or a locus conversion of PH1V7B with another maize variety. |
| US09192125B1 |
Maize inbred PH1TPD
A novel maize variety designated PH1TPD and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1TPD with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1TPD through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1TPD or a locus conversion of PH1TPD with another maize variety. |
| US09192124B1 |
Sorghum inbred PHONPFVIE
A novel sorghum variety designated PHONPFVIE and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a plant that comprise crossing sorghum variety PHONPFVIE with another plant. Methods for producing a plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHONPFVIE through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the sorghum seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid sorghum seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the sorghum variety PHONPFVIE or a locus conversion of PHONPFVIE with another sorghum variety. |
| US09192118B1 |
Soybean variety XB37E13
A novel soybean variety, designated XB37E13 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB37E13, cells from soybean variety XB37E13, plants of soybean XB37E13, and plant parts of soybean variety XB37E13. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB37E13 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB37E13, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB37E13, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB37E13. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB37E13 are further provided. |
| US09192116B1 |
Maize inbred PH1D7S
A novel maize variety designated PH1D7S and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1D7S with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1D7S through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1D7S or a locus conversion of PH1D7S with another maize variety. |
| US09192113B2 |
Hybrid pepper ‘E20S4216’
A hybrid pepper designated ‘E20S4216’ is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of hybrid pepper ‘E20S4216’ to the plants of hybrid pepper ‘E20S4216’ and to methods for producing a hybrid plant, and to methods for producing other pepper lines, cultivars or hybrids derived from the hybrid pepper ‘E20S4216’. |
| US09192108B2 |
Method for producing drip irrigation tubes
In a method for producing drip irrigation tubes, a body is extruded, from which the tube is formed and in which metering elements (10) are attached, which are connected to the body by means of ultrasonic welding. For such drip irrigation tubes, the water enters the metering elements (10) from the inside of the drip irrigation tubes through inlet openings, flows through the metering elements, and exits the drip irrigation tubes through outlet openings in a metered manner. The body is formed into a tube body, which is flattened, and the metering elements (10) come to be situated in a central region inside this flattened tube body. The flat tube body is fed between a sonotrode (6) and an anvil (7) of an ultrasonic welding device (3), and the metering elements (10) are welded to the walling of the tube body. The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the method. |
| US09192100B1 |
Apparatus for clearing matted grass clippings from lawnmower discharge port
An apparatus that removes matted clumps of wet grass from a lawnmower discharge port includes a hinge having a first flap secured to a trailing edge of the discharge port. A second flap is secured to a rigid flat plate about mid-length of the plate. The plate has a position of repose normal to a longitudinal axis of symmetry of the lawnmower and a pivoted position parallel to the longitudinal axis. The position of repose allows grass clippings propelled by a rotating blade to travel without obstruction toward the discharge port. A cord is secured to the plate so that a lawnmower operator can cause the plate to pivot from its position of repose to drive matted clippings through the discharge port. A torsion spring resists the pivoting of the plate and returns the plate to its position of repose when the cord is released by the operator. |
| US09192097B2 |
Floor seal for a center knife drive for a sickle of a plant cutting machine
A floor seal for a forwardly facing opening through a floor of a plant cutting machine through which a knife arm extends for side to side reciprocating movement for driving a sickle of the machine as the machine is moved forwardly for performing a plant cutting operation. The floor seal includes a stationary outer peripheral seal element engaged with a peripheral edge of the floor about the opening and carrying a cover element in covering relation to the opening about the knife arm and defining and bounding a forwardly facing aperture containing the knife arm and an inner peripheral seal element carried in the aperture by the cover element bounding and forming a barrier to entry of loose material or sealed condition about the knife arm and movable side to side therewith relative to the outer seal and cover. |
| US09192091B2 |
Agricultural apparatus with hybrid single-disk, double-disk coulter arrangement
An agricultural furrow opening system having a hybrid single-disk, double-disk opener is disclosed including a swing-arm, a primary disk, and a deflecting disk. The primary disk is coupled to a distal end of the swing-arm and configured to rotate about a first axis. The primary disk is rolled about a direction of travel at a first oblique angle θP and yawed about a vertical direction at a second oblique angle ζP. The deflecting disk is coupled to the distal end of the swing-arm and configured to rotate about a second axis. The deflecting disk is rolled about the direction of travel at a third oblique angle θD and yawed about the vertical direction at a fourth oblique angle ζD. The first oblique angle θP is between the vertical direction and the third oblique angle θD. |
| US09198334B2 |
Metamaterial for deflecting an electromagnetic wave
A metamaterial for deflecting an electromagnetic wave is disclosed, which comprises a functional layer. The functional layer comprises a plurality of sheet layers parallel to each other, and each of the sheet layers comprises a sheet-like substrate and a plurality of man-made microstructures arranged in an array on the sheet-like substrate. The sheet-like substrate comprises a plurality of unit blocks, and each of the man-made microstructures and a corresponding one of the unit blocks occupied thereby form a unit cell. Refractive indices of the unit cells arranged in a first direction in each of the sheet layers decrease gradually. Each of the unit cells has an anisotropic electromagnetic parameter. Through use of the metamaterial of the present disclosure, deflection of the electromagnetic wave can be achieved. |
| US09198332B2 |
Cooling-type switching element module
A cooling type switching element module includes an outer conductor pipe, an inner conductor pipe that transmits electric power in conjunction with the outer conductor pipe, and first and second switching elements. The first switching elements are provided on outer surfaces of the outer conductor pipe, and the second switching elements are provided on outer surfaces of a projecting portion of the inner conductor pipe. A coolant flows within the inner conductor pipe, and outside the outer conductor pipe. The first and second switching elements are cooled from both sides by the coolant flowing within the inner conductor pipe, and by the coolant flowing outside the outer conductor pipe. By employing the above-described structure, it is possible to provide a switching element module having a cooling function, in which improved cooling performance, improved electrical performance, and downsizing are achieved. |
| US09198324B1 |
Modular mount rack frame
A modular mount rack frame for storing mounted devices is described herein. A first embodiment includes a single modular rigid support structure with linearly aligned apertures into which screws can reversibly insert to support a mounted device. In a second embodiment two rigid support structures are stacked and aligned vertically, and they mechanically attach to each other. In this second embodiment, either of the two rigid support structures can support the other while contacting a flat horizontal surface. Both single module rigid support structure or two rigid support structures can attach to a rack base for mobility across a flat horizontal surface. Each modular rigid support structure is also laterally adjustable in horizontal length. |
| US09198322B2 |
Compliant drawer latch assembly
A compliant drawer latch is provided. The compliant drawer latch includes a first portion affixed to an inside surface of a chassis, and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion includes a latch strike plate, a latch spring cap plate, and a latch return spring arranged between the latch strike plate and the latch spring cap plate. A drawer contacts the latch strike plate when the drawer is seated in the chassis. When the drawer over-travels the latch strike plate compresses the latch return spring up to a predetermined distance, and the compressed latch return spring applies force to the latch strike plate to return the latch strike plate to a latching position when the drawer rebounds from over-travel. |
| US09198321B1 |
Server chassis bracket
An apparatus including: a server component bracket having: a first set of holes configured to secure a set of grommets gripping a server component; a set of connectors; and a plunger comprising a pin and configured to generate an audio verification of successful installation of the server component bracket; and a server chassis bracket having: a set of sidewalls; a second set of holes configured to secure the set of connectors of the server component bracket; a side rail configured to guide the set of connectors into the second set of holes; and an aperture configured to secure the pin of the plunger following successful installation of the server component bracket into the server chassis bracket. |
| US09198318B2 |
Data storage module
A fixing mechanism for fixing a data storage device is disclosed. The fixing mechanism includes a first latching member, a second latching member and a pressing member. The first latching member is for latching a first hole, so as to fix a first side of a data storage device. The second latching member is connected to the first latching member for latching a second hole, so as to fix a second side of the data storage device. The pressing member is connected to the second latching member. The pressing member drives the second latching member to rotate in a first direction as being pressed, so as to separate the second latching member from the second hole, and further drives the first latching member to rotate in the first direction, so as to push the first side of the data storage device for lifting the data storage device. |
| US09198317B2 |
Multi-functional FPC assembly
An improved multi-functional flexible printed circuit (FPC) assembly 142 is provided for use in an electronic communications device 100. The FPC assembly 142 can comprise a curved FPC 144 a flexible substrate 156 and components thereon and can be positioned against a portion of an interior surface 137 of the housing 106 so as to share common wall surfaces for improved volumetric space utilization. The FPC assembly 142 can have a curved contour which matches a curvature of the curved housing 106. The components can include flexible metal conductors 158, multiple antennas 160 and 162, speaker felt 150 and/or a seal or gasket 146. |
| US09198315B2 |
Cover for a portable mixer amplifier
The invention relates to a cover (2) for a portable electronic mixer amplifier (1), said cover (2) comprising at least: a cover shell (4) having a front side (4.1) and a rear side for being mounted on a lower device part (3) of the mixer amplifier (1), closure devices (8) for locking the cover (2) to the lower device part (3), wherein the closure devices (8) can be adjusted between an open and a locked position. According to the invention, the cover (2) comprises a carrying device (6) which allows a user to carry the device, and closure recesses (10) are designed in the cover shell (4) in which the closure devices (8) are accommodated. The closure recesses, in particular actuatable closure parts (20), are preferably aligned in the locked position with the front side (4.1) of the cover shell and protrude when in the open position. |
| US09198314B2 |
USB memory stick
A USB memory stick includes housing having a frame hole, a tray providing a fastening structure, and a memory attached to the tray and mounted with the tray in the housing. The memory includes a mating fastening structure fastened to the fastening structure of the tray, a stepped bottom wall formed of a plurality of steps rising one behind another, a plurality of vertical clearance compensation spring leaves respectively disposed corresponding to the steps, and a mating locating block forced into engagement with the frame hole of the housing. |
| US09198311B2 |
Latch and panels of computing systems
A latch having an idle position, a first position, and a second position is associated with a first panel and a second panel of a computing system. The first panel is associated with the latch being positioned in the first position. The second panel is associated with the latch being positioned in the second position. |
| US09198309B2 |
Carbon-fiber chassis of an information handling system
A chassis and a method of manufacturing a chassis of an information handling system are disclosed. The chassis includes a carbon-fiber composite and a plurality vents of formed in the carbon-fiber composite. Each of the plurality of vents is a channel extending through the carbon-fiber composite. |
| US09198302B2 |
Method of soldering an electronic component with a high lateral accuracy
The present invention relates to a method of soldering an electronic component (3) to a substrate (1) with high accuracy using transient liquid phase soldering. The component (3) is exactly positioned above the substrate (1) with a handling tool, placed in the melted solder (2) and pressed against the substrate (1). The component (3) is then released and the solder (2) allowed solidifying. Due to the use of a solder (2) having a sufficiently high amount of a second metal or metal alloy of a higher melting point which only partly dissolves in the melted first metal or metal alloy of a lower melting point, a solid framework forms during the liquid phase soldering which inhibits a lateral movement of the placed component (3) during soldering. Since the positioning of the component (3) is made using exact reference features on the substrate (1), the whole soldering process results in a highly accurate lateral position of the soldered component. |
| US09198301B2 |
Printed circuit assembly for a solenoid module for an automatic transmission
A printed circuit assembly (PCA) that provides for a method of rebuilding an electrically operated automatic transmission solenoid module. The PCA allows for a repairable yet rugged interconnection of several solenoids that reside within the span of the module assembly. |
| US09198300B2 |
Flux management system and method for a wave solder machine
A wave solder machine is configured to perform a wave solder operation on an electronic substrate. The wave solder machine includes a fluxing station configured to apply flux onto the electronic substrate, a pre-heating station configured to heat the electronic substrate, a wave soldering station configured to attach electronic components to the electronic substrate with solder, and a conveyor configured to transport substrates through a tunnel passing through the fluxing station, the pre-heating station and the wave soldering station. The wave solder machine further includes a flux management system configured to remove contaminants from the tunnel. The flux management system is in fluid communication with the tunnel for passage of a vapor stream from the tunnel through the flux management system and back to the tunnel. Methods of performing a wave solder operation are further disclosed. |
| US09198293B2 |
Non-cylindrical conducting shapes in multilayer laminated substrate cores
Non-cylindrical conducting shapes are described in the context of multilayer laminated substrate cores. In one example a package substrate core includes a plurality of dielectric layers pressed together to form a multilayer core, a conductive bottom pattern on a bottom surface of the multilayer core, and a conductive top pattern on a top surface of the multilayer core. At least one elongated via extends through each layer of the multilayer core, each elongated via containing a conductor and each connected to a conductor of a via in an adjacent layer to electrically connect the top pattern and the bottom pattern through the conductors of the elongated vias. |
| US09198291B2 |
Plastic panel and flat panel display device using the same
Discussed is a flat display panel. The flat display panel includes a display area to display an image with a plurality of panel electrodes, and a non-display area. A plurality of link lines connected to the panel electrodes are provided in the non-display area. The display area and the non-display area are provided in a base substrate. A plurality of link pads, electrically connected to the link lines and a plurality of link terminals provided in a driving element, are provided in a bonding part adhered to the driving element in the non-display area. Two resistance pads are respectively connected to two link terminals which are electrically connected to each other through the driving element. At least two pads are respectively connected to the two resistance pads. |
| US09198289B2 |
Electrical connectors and printed circuits having broadside-coupling regions
An electrical connector that includes a circuit board having a board substrate that has opposite board surfaces and a thickness measured along an orientation axis that extends between the opposite board surfaces. The circuit board has associated pairs of input and output terminals and signal traces that electrically connect the associated pairs of input and output terminals. The input and output terminals being configured to communicatively coupled to mating and cable conductors, respectively. Each associated pair of input and output terminals is electrically connected through a corresponding signal trace that has a conductive path extending along the board substrate between the corresponding input and output terminals. At least two signal traces form a broadside-coupling region in which the conductive paths of the at least two signal traces are stacked along the orientation axis and spaced apart through the thickness and extend parallel to each other for a crosstalk-reducing distance. |
| US09198284B2 |
Circuit board and method for manufacturing same
A semiconductor device (20) has a plurality of device-side lands (23) which are disposed asymmetrically in relation to an intersection point (B). The plurality of device-side lands (23) include 45 device-side connection lands and four device-side isolation lands. Each of the device-side connection lands is mechanically connected to a printed board (10) via a connection component (30). Each of the device-side isolation lands is mechanically isolated from the printed board (10). |
| US09198280B2 |
Via structure for transmitting differential signals
A printed circuit board includes first and second signal pads located on a top surface of the printed circuit board and arranged to transmit a first differential signal, first and second signal vias extending through the printed circuit board and arranged to transmit the first differential signal, a first signal trace located on the top surface of the printed circuit board and connecting the first signal pad and the first signal via, and a second signal trace located on the top surface of the printed circuit board and connecting the second signal pad and the second signal via. The first and second signal vias are located on opposite sides of a line connecting the first and second signal pads. |
| US09198277B2 |
Signal transmission device
A height of a signal transmission device is decreased as low as possible as maintaining or improving a cooling performance for the communication module. Ina signal transmission device provided with a communication module provided on a substrate and a cooling mechanism for cooling the communication module, the cooling mechanism includes: a heat-transfer plate including a first region which overlaps with bottom surfaces of a plurality of the communication modules and is thermally connected to the bottom surfaces and a second region which does not overlap with the bottom surfaces of the communication modules; and a heat-release fin provided in the second region of the heat-transfer plate. |
| US09198276B2 |
Soft-start adapter for AC heated electron gun
A circuit to power an electron source includes a filament transformer comprising a primary side and a secondary side, a high-voltage transformer coupled to the filament transformer and the electron source, and an alternating current (AC) current limiter coupled in series with the primary side or the secondary side of the filament transformer. The AC current limiter includes a diode bridge and a current-limiting device in the diode bridge. |
| US09198265B2 |
Illumination apparatus automatically adjusted with time
An illumination apparatus which comprises a timing module, a control module and a first power conversion module and can be automatically adjusted with time is provided. The timing module sets the time into N sessions, and generates an ith timing signal according to the ith session corresponding to the current time, wherein i and N are natural numbers and i≦N. The control module reads the ith timing signal from the timing module, and outputs an ith control signal. The first power conversion module, coupled to an AC power supply, the control module and a first light source, converts the AC power supply signal into a DC power signal and outputs the DC power signal to the control module, and outputs an ith DC driving signal to drive the first light source to emit light of the ith situation after receiving the ith control signal. |
| US09198263B2 |
Method for communicating a network, a secondary station and a system therefor
The present invention relates to a method for communicating in a network comprising at least one primary station communicating with at least one secondary station, comprising (a) the secondary station sending to the primary station a buffer status report representative of the amount of data in a buffer of the secondary station, (b) in absence of acknowledgement from the primary station, the secondary station retransmitting the buffer status report and, (c) if a maximum number of retransmissions has been reached, the secondary station sending a further buffer status report to the primary station. |
| US09198262B1 |
Directional lighting system and method
The method of spatial lightbulb operation includes determining the position of the lightbulb relative to a physical space, detecting a contextual event, determining a spatial lighting pattern associated with the contextual event, and selectively controlling lightbulb light emitting elements based on the position of the lightbulb and the spatial lighting pattern. A lightbulb including: a plurality of individually controlled light emitting elements mounted in fixed, predetermined positions on the substrate; a light sensor mounted to the substrate; a wireless communication module; and a processor configured to: index each light emitting element; progress each of the plurality of light emitting elements through an orientation pattern; associate a reference point on the lightbulb with an external reference point; and selectively operate individual light emitting elements of the plurality according to lighting instructions, based on a relationship between the reference point on the lightbulb and the external reference point. |
| US09198257B2 |
Lighting system and method of retrieving status information of a lighting system
A method of retrieving status information of a lighting system includes propagating a command signal from a controller to a node of the lighting system by operating upstream transceivers that are upstream of the node in a transmitting mode and operating downstream transceivers that are upstream of the node in a receiving mode; propagating a reply signal including the status information of the LED unit of the node from the node to the controller by operating the upstream transceivers that are upstream of the node in a receiving mode and operating each of the downstream transceivers upstream of the node in a transmitting mode and reversing an operating mode of an upstream transceiver of a network segment from operating in a transmitting mode to operating in a receiving mode only when the downstream transceiver is operating in transmitting mode. |
| US09198254B2 |
LED backlight driving circuit and LCD device
A light emitting diode (LED) backlight driving circuit includes an LED lightbar, and a driver integrated circuit (IC) coupled to the LED lightbar. The driver IC is configured with a protection pin that controls the driver IC to enter a protection mode when a voltage of the protection pin exceeds a preset voltage range, an undervoltage module is coupled between a power input end of the LED lightbar and the protection pin, and an overvoltage protection module is coupled between a power output end of the LED lightbar and the protection pin. An output overvoltage protection module is coupled between the power output end of the LED lightbar and the protection pin. The input undervoltage protection module outputs a first control voltage that exceeds the preset voltage range to the protection pin when the power input end of the LED lightbar is in an undervoltage state. The output overvoltage protection module outputs a second control voltage that exceeds the preset voltage range to the protection pin when the power input end of the LED lightbar is in an overvoltage state. |
| US09198252B2 |
System and method for controlling lighting
A system for controlling a light source to enhance the appearance of one or more objects within an environment illuminated by the light source. The system includes a tunable white light source to illuminate an object and a camera configured to capture one or more digital images the object and identify attributes of the object, including object color values. The system further includes a light control module configured to determine at least one optimal lighting condition for the light source based, at least in part, on the object attributes, wherein the optimal lighting condition is configured to enhance the appearance of the object illuminated by the light source while maintaining the overall appearance of light within the environment. The light control module is further configured to adjust the spectral composition of the light source based on the optimal lighting condition. |
| US09198248B2 |
LED lighting device and LED lighting control method
An LED lighting device comprises an LED light source unit; a light intensity control unit configured to provide a light intensity control signal for controlling a light intensity through a plurality of steps in a light intensity control mode; and a light source driving unit configured to provide power to the LED light source unit according to the light intensity control signal. |
| US09198243B2 |
LED driver circuit for supplying TRIAC holding current by using controllable current source
An LED driver circuit for supplying a TRIAC holding current by using a controllable current source has a single-stage power factor correction circuit architecture, and the circuit receives an input voltage received by a conversion module of the controllable current source to form an operating current for driving an LED light source to emit light and monitoring the change of the input voltage by a control chip, and adopts a switching method of a fixed cut-off time of a switch unit, so that the controllable current source outputs a constant operating current in a standard peak value to achieve the constant current status during the operation of the LED light source while assuring the operating current is always greater than a holding current required by the TRIAC element when the TRIAC element is conducted. |
| US09198238B2 |
Driving light emitting circuit
A light emitting circuit is provided. The light emitting circuit may include a first light emitting diode (LED) group to which LEDs are connected, and a second LED group to which LEDs are connected. A resistive load is serially connected to the first LED group to control a current with respect to the first LED group, and a capacitive load is serially connected to the second LED group to control a current with respect to the second LED group. |
| US09198236B1 |
System and method for controlling a multiple-color lighting device
A light-emitting structure, comprising: a ground path; a first current path receiving a control current; a first light-emitting element receiving the control current from the first current path and generating light within a first wavelength range based on the control current; a first conductive substrate portion formed over the first light-emitting element, and receiving the control current from the first light-emitting element; a first connection element receiving the first control current from the first conductive substrate; a second current path receiving the control current from the first connection element; a second light-emitting element receiving the first control current from the second current path, and generating light within the first wavelength range based on the control current; a second conductive substrate portion receiving the first control current; and a grounding element receiving the control current from the second substrate portion, and passing the control current to the ground path. |
| US09198235B2 |
Connection piece made of a composite of graphite and carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon and method of manufacturing the connection piece
A connection piece for connecting graphite electrodes contains at least one region made of graphite and at least one region made of carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon. The graphite contains less than 10 mass-% of fibers and the carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon contains more than 20 mass-% of carbon fibers. The connection piece preferably contains a graphite body in the shape of a cylinder or a bi-cone. There is a plurality of groove-shaped recesses in the graphite body which are filled with the material made of carbon-fiber-reinforced carbon having a percent by weight of carbon fibers of more than 20 mass-%. |
| US09198234B2 |
Hydrocarbon fluid pipeline including RF heating station and related method
A hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may include pipeline segments connected together in end-to-end relation between first and second spaced apart geographic locations and configured to carry hydrocarbon fluid therethrough. The hydrocarbon fluid pipeline may also include a radio frequency (RF) heating station that may include an RF source and an RF heater between adjacent pipeline segments of the plurality thereof. The RF heater may include an inner tubular dielectric coupler between the adjacent pipeline segments, and an electrically conductive outer housing surrounding the inner tubular dielectric coupler and connected to the RF source to heat the hydrocarbon fluid. |
| US09198233B2 |
Audible noise manipulation for induction cooktop
A method for operating an induction cooktop having multiple induction heating coils includes monitoring a characteristic of the heating coils indicative of audible noise generated by simultaneous operation of multiple induction heating coils. Upon indication of audible noise from the monitored characteristic, an operating characteristic of at least one of the induction heating coils is varied so as to change the audible noise into a pre-defined, stored audible noise pattern that is desirous to a consumer or user of the cooktop. |
| US09198232B2 |
Nanostructure-based heating devices and methods of use
A heating device having a thermally conducting member made from a matrix of carbon nanotubes and having opposing ends. A connector portion can be positioned at each end of the conducting member, and can be capable of receiving a current from an external source to permit the conducting member to generate heat. A coupling mechanism can be included and associated with the connector portion so as to provide the connector portion with substantially uniform contact across a contact surface area with the conducting member. Methods of using the heating device are also disclosed. |
| US09198225B2 |
Ad-hoc surveillance network
A method and related apparatuses, the method comprising: setting up a network of a plurality of mobile devices (208); obtaining sensory data from at least one mobile device of the network (210); analyzing the obtained sensory data in order to detect at least one predetermined event (212); and in response to detecting at least one predetermined event (214), providing an indication about the detected event to at least one mobile terminal of the network. |
| US09198222B2 |
Telecommunication network
A telecommunication network including: a radio access network; and a network switching subsystem operable for communication with the radio access network and with a demand-driven, dynamically-configurable IP based computing infrastructure. |
| US09198221B2 |
Mobile cellular networks
Multiple mobile cellular network (MCN) communication systems can be networked together to form a network of MCN communication systems (NOM). Each MCN communication system within the NOM can operate as an independent cellular network to provide communications between user equipment within a covered area. When a UE in one MCN of the NOM moves into a different MCN of the NOM, the corresponding MCN communication systems can handover the UE. The UE can also be handed over between MCN communication systems when the MCN communication systems move. |
| US09198220B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing local breakout in a mobile network
There is provided a Local Breakout Gateway node for use in a hierarchical mobile network. The node comprises a database, which stores a plurality of Local Breakout Policy rules. The node further comprises a receiver for receiving an IP packet from a Mobile Node attached to the network at which the node is located, the network being a visited network for the Mobile Node. The node further comprises means for selecting a Local Breakout Policy from the plurality of Local Breakout Policy rules, and means to apply the selected Local Breakout Policy to the received IP packet. The node further comprises a Network Address translation function to apply a Network Address Translation to the received IP packet, and a transmitter for sending the IP packet to a destination according to the applied Local Breakout Policy. |
| US09198212B2 |
Direct link setup mechanisms for wireless LANs
A client station including a communication circuit to communicate, via an infrastructure mode, with an access point in a basic service set; identify, based on signals transmitted by the access point, a plurality of client stations in the basic service set capable of communicating via a direct link setup mode; and during a predetermined time period, communicate, via the direct link setup mode, with the plurality of client stations; and a control circuit to, during the predetermined time period, determine strength of signals received from the plurality of client stations via the direct link setup mode, determine highest supportable data rates for communicating with the plurality of client stations via the direct link setup mode, and select, based on (i) the strength of the signals and (ii) the highest supportable data rates, one or more of the plurality of client stations for communicating via the direct link setup mode. |
| US09198208B2 |
Method for controlling a network system, network system, and computer program
The invention relates to a method for controlling a network system, the network system including a wireless network to which a client is wirelessly connected, and a backbone network which is connected to the wireless network, having the following steps: (i) Establishing a tunnel between a client control device connected to the backbone network and the client for transmitting data between the client control device and the client, (ii) Sending status information from the client to the client control device via the tunnel, (iii) Evaluating the transmitted status information using the client control device, and (iv) Sending a control signal for controlling the client, which depends on the evaluated status information, from the client control device to the client via the tunnel. The invention further relates to a network system and a computer program. |
| US09198207B2 |
Method of handling small data transmission in wireless communication system
A method of handling a small data transmission for a network of a wireless communication system includes allowing a user equipment of the wireless communication system to establish a first radio resource control (RRC) connection for the small data transmission; receiving a first RRC connection setup complete message corresponding to the first RRC connection from the user equipment, wherein the first RRC connection setup complete message comprises small data information; and transmitting an RRC connection release message to the user equipment to release the first RRC connection when determining that the small data information is invalid. |
| US09198205B2 |
Apparatus and method for communication
Apparatus and method for communication are provided. The solution includes controlling a relay node to provide an out-band wireless service; setting up and maintaining a first connection with a primary radio access network of a donor cellular system supporting in-band cellular access relays, setting up and maintaining a second connection with a radio access network of a donor cellular system, the second connection providing a mobile backhaul connection for the out-band wireless service, and the first connection carrying control signalling required to control and manage the first and second connection and the out-band wireless service. |
| US09198202B2 |
Default civic address locations for mobile E9-1-1 calls
A device obtains a geographic position of a mobile telephone. The device retrieves geographic locations associated with multiple different civic addresses from memory, and determines if the geographic position is within a certain proximity of one of the geographic locations. The device retrieves a civic address of the multiple different civic addresses, that is associated with the one of the geographic locations, from the memory for use in identifying the civic address at which the mobile telephone is located. |
| US09198197B2 |
Determining maximum packet duration
There is provided a method comprising: determining, by a transmitter node, maximum packet duration for a data packet to be transmitted, wherein the data packet comprises a plurality of data units; causing a transmission of the data packet; causing a reception of an acknowledgement frame indicating a failed reception of multiple consecutive data units of the transmitted data packet; determining a transmission duration during which the failed multiple consecutive data units were transmitted; and determining whether or not to adjust the maximum packet duration for upcoming data packet transmissions on the basis of the determined transmission duration. |
| US09198196B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus
A wireless communication apparatus includes: a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with first and second counterpart communication apparatuses through a wireless channel during a period in which the wireless channel is allowed to be exclusively used, wherein the communication module multiplexes first and second data frames and transmits the first and second data frames to the first and second counterpart communication apparatuses, wherein the communication module completes receiving first and second receipt confirmation frames being respectively sent from the first and second counterpart communication apparatuses at first and second receipt completion timings, the second receipt completion timing being in synchronization with the first receipt completion timing, and wherein the communication module transmits a next first data frame and a next second data frame after elapse of a given time from the first receipt completion timing and the second receipt completion timing. |
| US09198193B1 |
Systems and methods for controlling network connection overhead associated with mobile device communications
Systems and methods include storing execution parameters for handling application messages for two or more client applications and storing callback paths for notifying the two or more client applications of transmission of the application messages. The method includes receiving an indication of a client application message available for transmission, receiving one or more network control messages that include an indication of an activity state of a network. The method includes determining whether to delay the client application message. Responsive to the determining, based at least in part on the indication from the one or more network control messages that a network connection is active, the method includes allowing transmission of the client application message, and sending an indication of acknowledgement by one or more of the callback paths. |
| US09198189B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method
A wireless communication apparatus is capable of improving communication efficiency by reducing the amount of control information transmitted. A channel quality information extraction section extracts CQI's from a received signal. An allocation control section allocates subcarriers for every communication terminal apparatus and selects a modulation scheme in such a manner that required transmission rate is satisfied for each communication terminal apparatus based on required transmission rate information, etc. and CQI's for communication terminal apparatus of each user. A required subcarrier number determining section decides the number of subcarriers allocated to every communication terminal apparatus so as to satisfy the required transmission rate for each communication terminal apparatus. A required subcarrier number information generating section generates information for the number of subcarriers allocated to every communication terminal apparatus. A subcarrier allocation section allocates packet data to selected subcarriers. Modulating sections adaptively modulate packet data allocated to each subcarrier. |
| US09198183B2 |
Accommodating multi-SIM-multi-standby communication device tuneaway events at a communication network base station
In overview, the various embodiments describe methods for configuring a nodeB to recognize tuneaway events and to operate in a manner that mitigates the adverse effects of user equipment (UE) tuneaways on network capacity. In the various embodiments, the nodeB may detect that a UE is periodically tuning away based on the periodic, characteristic nature of the drops in the UE's signal strength. When the nodeB recognizes that a UE is performing periodic tuneaways, the nodeB may implement various resource management strategies while the UE is in a tuneaway gap to minimize the impact of the UE's tuneaway gaps and may resume normal resource management operations when the UE is not in a tuneaway gap. Thus, the various embodiments enable the nodeB to determine and manage the effects of a UE's tuneaway gaps, thereby increasing network capacity, optimizing power management, and enhancing the overall user experience. |
| US09198180B2 |
Opportunistic receive diversity for multi-subscriber scenario
An opportunistic receive diversity scheme for VAMOS and similar deployments is disclosed. Receive diversity may be conditionally enabled when a VAMOS call is assigned to one of the SIMs of a mobile device. For example, receive diversity may be enabled when VAMOS data does not overlap with a time slot that is used by another subscription of the mobile device for receiving page messages. Also, receive diversity for a VAMOS call may be limited to situations where the VAMOS channel conditions are poor. Receive diversity may be enabled in cases where multiple subscriptions are assigned the same VAMOS channel, where VAMOS channel conditions have deteriorated, or where one of the subscriptions is not on a VAMOS channel. Also, receive diversity may be dynamically enabled for multiple subscriptions in cases where the subscriptions are assigned to different VAMOS channels. |
| US09198179B2 |
Methods and apparatus for subframe configuration and generation in a multi-carrier communication system
Methods and apparatus for subframe configuration and generation in a multi-cell multi-carrier system. A frame for radio transmission in the system consists of multiple subframes, and each subframe consists of multiple Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. Training symbols, frequency-domain data scrambling, size of Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT), or length of cyclic prefix can be configured differently for each subframe to facilitate different applications, such as unicasting or broadcasting. |
| US09198175B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmission and reception in multi-carrier wireless communication systems
Data transmission and reception is provided by configuring control channels in a wireless communication system using a plurality of carriers. User equipment (UE) may monitor physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidates within common search spaces (CSSs) and User Equipment-specific search spaces (USSs). If the UE is configured with cross-carrier scheduling, when two PDCCH candidates originating from a CSS and a USS, respectively, have cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled by the same Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) and have a common payload size and the same first control channel element (CCE) index, the UE may interpret that only the PDCCH originating from the CSS is transmitted, thereby solving ambiguity of downlink control information (DCI) detection. |
| US09198174B2 |
Supporting multiple access technologies in a wireless environment
Support for multiple wireless access technologies in a common radio access network is provided. In one aspect, a method of wireless communication includes determining whether to map a shared data channel to at least one resource element. The mapping determination is based at least in part on whether the shared data channel is associated with a legacy wireless technology or an advanced wireless technology. The method further includes transmitting the shared data channel based at least in part on the mapping determination and transmitting a reference signal in the at least one resource element. |
| US09198172B2 |
Deferred access method for uplink packet channel
The equipment and techniques disclosed herein introduce a deferred acknowledgement (DACK), in the context of a protocol for a wireless station to request and obtain access to a wireless network resource for communication of one or more data packets. Essentially, a network node, such as a wireless base station, sends the DACK instruction in response to the access request telling the requesting station that the node has heard the request but that the requesting station should defer its transmission. The requesting station need not back off and re-initiate its access request. Instead, the requesting station waits for a later acknowledgement (ACK) granting access to a resource as requested. Although the DACK provides additional signaling, this technique can still utilize a fast ACK type message, that is to say a relatively short signaling packet. |
| US09198168B2 |
Radio communication apparatus, radio communication system, and radio communication method
A radio communication apparatus that performs communication with another radio communication apparatus by using a plurality of pairs of a downlink frequency band and an uplink frequency band, the apparatus includes: a receiving unit configured to receive a control message by using a downlink frequency band of a first pair among downlink frequency bands of the pairs during a random access procedure to said another radio communication apparatus, the control message including identification information indicating use of an uplink frequency band of a second pair different from the first pair, the downlink frequency band of the first pair being monitored for control messages by the radio communication apparatus; and a control unit configured to control the radio communication apparatus to perform data communication with said another radio communication apparatus by using the uplink frequency band of the second pair indicated by the identification information included in the control message. |
| US09198167B2 |
Method of generating networks by utilizing multi-channel
A method of generating networks by utilizing a multi-channel so that channels may be efficiently used, inter-channel interference may be avoided, and a network may be energy efficiently managed is provided. Through a super personal area network (PAN) coordinator that manages all networks based on a multi-channel, a PAN capable of avoiding inter-channel interference may be formed. In addition, it is possible to grasp use states of channels used for transmitting and receiving beacon frames, to observe a change in a network topology, and to form an energy efficient PAN. |
| US09198166B2 |
Wireless communication system, base station, mobile station, and wireless communication method
A wireless communication system controls a transmission timing in each cell so that a control channel of a first cell and a data channel of a second cell temporally overlap each other. The wireless communication system includes a base station of the first cell. The base station of the first cell includes a first control unit and a first communicating unit. The first control unit notifies a base station of the second cell information used to specify a resource of the control channel of the first cell. The first control unit sets a resource of the control channel of the first cell. The first communicating unit notifies the mobile station of the first cell of information for decoding the first resource and transmits a control signal to the mobile station of the first cell by using the first resource. |
| US09198158B2 |
Predictive paging based on mobility history and movement patterns
A method and apparatus for efficient paging of user equipment (UE) in an LTE network is disclosed. In addition to storing the Last Seen eNodeB (LSeNB) for each UE attached to a mobility management entity (MME), the MME also maintains an LSeNB List of the eNodeBs seen immediately before the LSeNB for each UE. When a notification for a UE arrives at the MME, then MME can select from several paging methods, including paging only the LSeNB to locate the UE and sending a paging request LSeNB as well as to the list of eNodeBs seem immediately before the LSeNB. The MME can send a paging request to more than a single eNodeB but less than a full Tracking Area. Efficient paging is especially needed for voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calls where a call will go to voice mail if a page isn't answered quickly. |
| US09198156B2 |
Paging mobile stations in a hybrid network
A paging procedure implemented by a base station avoids transmission of unnecessary page messages. In a first embodiment, a first base station is notified by a mobile switching center when a paging request is sent to a mobile station via a second base station. The first base station does not page the mobile station, but stores a paging parameter in memory. When the first base station receives a page response message from the mobile station, it correlates the unsolicited page response message with a paged mobile list to determine a corresponding paging parameter, and forwards the page response message with the stored paging parameter to the mobile switching center. In a second embodiment, the first base station pages the mobile station and then sends an immediate paging response to the mobile switching center without waiting for a page response from the mobile station to terminate the paging procedure at the mobile switching center. |
| US09198154B2 |
Method and apparatus for constructing a user-generated geographical system
A method and apparatus are provided to permit location discovery, including location discovery in indoor settings. The method may identify a wireless fingerprint present at a geographical location and determine whether the wireless fingerprint corresponds to a previously observed wireless fingerprint associated with the predefined geographical location. A new wireless fingerprint and a geographical location, or bind, may be received by the system and the system may evaluate whether or not the new bind is erroneous or not, or if the new bind is an improvement over existing binds in determining whether or not to accept the new bind. |
| US09198152B2 |
Method for a secure detach procedure in a radio telecommunication network
A method for performing a detach of a terminal registered to a telecommunication network is disclosed. The detach is performed by associating an identification for the terminal, deriving a signature for the identification, and allocating a pair consisting of the identification and the signature to the terminal. The method further includes sending the detach request including the identification and the identification signature from the registered terminal to the network. The detach request is received at the network and compared to a record of registration data of the terminal kept at the network. The terminal is detached from the network if the received detach request coincides with the record of registration data. |
| US09198148B2 |
Coding methods of communicating identifiers in peer discovery in a peer-to-peer network
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate identifying peers based upon encoded signals during peer discovery in a peer to peer network. For example, direct signaling that partitions a time-frequency resource into a number of segments can be utilized to communicate an identifier within a peer discovery interval; thus, a particular segment selected for transmission can signal a portion of the identifier, while a remainder can be signaled based upon tones communicated within the selected segment. Moreover, a subset of symbols within the resource can be reserved (e.g., unused) to enable identifying and/or correcting timing offset. Further, signaling can be effectuated over a plurality of peer discovery intervals such that partial identifiers communicated during each of the peer discovery intervals can be linked (e.g., based upon overlapping bits and/or bloom filter information). |
| US09198144B2 |
Power supply adjustment and polar modulation in a MIMO system
Aspects of a method and system for power supply adjustment and polar modulation in a MIMO system are provided. In each RF transmit chain of a MIMO system that utilizes polar modulation, aspects of the invention may enable generating a signal representative of an amplitude of a pair of phase-quadrature baseband signals; and controlling a voltage and/or current regulator utilizing said generated signal. In this regard, a voltage and/or current supplied to a power amplifier and/or mixer of one or more of the transmit chains may be controlled based on the generated signal. Additionally, a gain of a power amplifier for each RF transmit chain may be controlled utilizing said signal representative of an amplitude. The signal representative of an amplitude may be generated by squaring each of the phase-quadrature baseband signals and calculating a square root of a sum of the squared signals. |
| US09198142B2 |
Transmit power control for dynamic spectrum access
A transceiver and a method of transmitting data are provided. A frequency band, such as a licensed frequency band, is monitored during a sensing block. Based upon the use of the frequency band during the sensing block, a probability of non-interfering is calculated during a plurality of time periods in a subsequent inter-sensing block. The probability of non-interfering is used by the transceiver to determine a transmit power level such that the possibility of interference with licensed use on the frequency band is reduced. Embodiments of the present invention may be used to improve the transmission rate of the cognitive radio user. |
| US09198138B2 |
Device and method for controlling power in mobile terminal
A device and a method for controlling a transmission power in a mobile terminal are provided. The device includes an antenna set in an optimized state, a memory including a power control table that includes transmission power control data for satisfying a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) standard in a state where efficiency of the antenna is optimized, a sensor for detecting a distance between the mobile terminal and a user, a controller for receiving distance data from the sensor and for outputting transmission power control data corresponding to the distance data by referring to the power control table, and a power amplifier connected between a transmitter and the antenna for controlling transmission power of a signal according to the transmission power control data and for outputting the signal to the antenna. |
| US09198134B2 |
Power efficient communications
A method, system, and device provide power-efficient communications within the context of available power. Transmission and receipt data rates are scalable in accordance with output power available from a power source. Data is transmitted at a data rate determined, at least in part, by the available output power. |
| US09198133B2 |
Power efficient communications
A method, system, and device provide power-efficient communications within the context of available power. Transmission and receipt data rates are scalable in accordance with output power available from a power source. Data is transmitted at a data rate determined, at least in part, by the available output power. |
| US09198126B2 |
System and method for providing enhanced throughput in a satellite-based broadcast data service
A method is provided that enhances the throughput of data broadcasts in a multi-beam satellite communication system by taking advantage of target users whose normal environment or equipment provide a better channel performance than that of the nominal environment or equipment for which the system is tuned, which enables a larger coverage area per beam than the nominal design supports. A system is provided that operates the method. A preferred embodiment is described using the Iridium Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) system as a basis. |
| US09198125B2 |
Method of performing power save multi-poll (PSMP) procedure wireless local access network system and station supporting the procedure
A method of performing a power save multi-poll (PSMP) procedure of a very high throughput (VHT) wireless local access network (WLAN) system using a bonding channel consisting of a plurality of subchannels is provided. Wherein the PSMP procedure comprises a PSMP frame transmission phase, a downlink phase, and an uplink phase, and wherein the PSMP frame comprises transmission time information indicating a time allocated to each station (STA) in each of the downlink phase and the uplink phase and transmission channel information corresponding to the transmission time information. |
| US09198123B2 |
Communication system and method
A modem is disclosed, one embodiment including: first and second interface apparatuses; and a processing apparatus arranged to transmit a request message to part of a wireless cellular network to request establishment of a channel to access a packet-based network, wherein the request message requests the channel as being of a type that supports both a first and second version of a packet protocol; receive a response message indicating rejection of the request, and upon detecting that a field in the response message defines a reason other than the part of the wireless cellular network does not support first and second versions of the packet protocol on a single channel, to default to transmit a default request message to request establishment of a channel to access the packet-based network, the default request message requests the channel as being of a type that supports the first version of the packet protocol. |
| US09198119B2 |
Method and apparatus for peer-2-peer Wi-Fi ranging using near field communication
According to some aspects, a method includes communicating a request from a first device to a second device using near field communication (NFC). The request includes a preferred mode of wireless local area network (Wi-Fi) operation and state information of the first device. The method further includes receiving a reply at the first device, sent from the second device, including acceptance of the preferred mode of Wi-Fi operation. The method further includes communicating wireless information to establish the Wi-Fi communication link from the first device to the second device. |
| US09198117B2 |
Network system with common secure wireless message service serving multiple applications on multiple wireless devices
Each of several mobile end-user devices contains a device messaging agent that securely communicates with a network message server over a wireless network. The network message server delivers messages to the device messaging agent on behalf of a plurality of network application servers. Each network application server supplies the network message server with application data and an indication of a device and an application on the device to which the application data should be delivered. The network message server securely passes the data and an application identifier to the device messaging agent on the appropriate mobile end-user device. The device messaging agent maps the application identifier to a software process corresponding to the application, and a secure interprocess communication service delivers the application data to that software process. |
| US09198116B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing network broadcast information to WLAN enabled wireless communication devices
One illustrative method of providing network broadcast information to a wireless device from a wireless local area network (WLAN) includes the steps of receiving, from one or more available cellular networks or a network database, cellular network broadcast information associated with the one or more available cellular networks; providing the cellular network broadcast information in a generic container message which varies in content and format according to one or more cellular standards associated with the one or more available cellular networks; and causing the generic container message to be regularly broadcasted for receipt and use by a wireless device. In an alternative approach, the steps include regularly broadcasting a network interworking indicator which is indicative of whether cellular network broadcast information is available for receipt from the WLAN; receiving a probe request from a wireless device; and causing the cellular network broadcast information to be sent to the wireless device in the generic container message in response to the probe request from the wireless device. The generic container message may alternatively or additionally include wireless network broadcast information from different types of wireless networks (e.g. Wi-MAX) which are available to the WLAN. |
| US09198108B2 |
Mobile communication system, relay-station mobility management apparatus, relay-station mobility control method, and computer-readable medium
The second data transfer unit (RN S/P-GW 8) terminates a relay-station data bearer provided between a relay station (RN 2) and the second data transfer unit, and transfers user data between a first data transfer unit (UE S/P-GW 6) and the relay station (RN 2) by associating a mobile-station data bearer provided between the mobile station (RN-UE 3) and the first data transfer unit (UE S/P-GW 6) with the relay-station data bearer. When a belonging destination of the relay station (RN 2) is changed from the first base station (DeNB 1-1) to the second base station (DeNB 1-2), a relay-station mobility management unit (RN MME 7) changes a path of the relay-station data bearer, which is terminated by the relay station (RN 2) and the second data transfer unit (RN S/P-GW 8), so as to pass through the second base station (DeNB 1-2). It is thereby possible, for example, to change base stations without interrupting communication of a mobile station (RN-UE 3) during operation of a relay node cell. |
| US09198107B1 |
Managing network selection for wireless communication
In systems and methods of managing network selection for a wireless device, a record is sent to a wireless device in communication with a first communication network, the record comprising a plurality locations where other wireless devices have changed from communicating with the first communication network to communicating with a second communication network and a plurality of timer durations. At least one of the plurality of timer durations is associated with one of the plurality of locations. It is determined that the wireless device has entered one of the plurality of locations, and a timer is started using the at least one timer duration associated with the entered location. Before the at least one timer expires, the wireless device is prevented from changing from communicating with the first communication network to communicating with the second communication network. |
| US09198105B1 |
Determining access node capacity
A throughput of information received from an access node at an application running on a wireless device is determined, and a modulation and coding scheme assigned to the wireless device to communicate with the access node is identified. Based on the throughput and the modulation and coding scheme, a number of free physical resource blocks per frame of the access node is estimated, to enable a determination of access node capacity. |
| US09198095B2 |
Inter-RAT coordination of mobility settings
The present invention relates to a method in a first radio network node of a first radio access technology, for communicating mobility parameter changes to a second radio network node of a second radio access technology. The method comprises determining (610) an updated value of a first threshold controlling when a handover to the second radio access technology is triggered, and sending (620) information related to the updated value of the first threshold to the second radio network node, wherein the information comprises an indication of a type of a measurement associated with the first threshold. |
| US09198094B2 |
Method for setting search space for handover of relay node in wireless communication system, and device therefor
Disclosed in the present invention is a method for a relay to execute a random access procedure in a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention comprises the steps of: transmitting a random access preamble to a target cell; receiving a downlink signal from the target cell; obtaining a relay node-physical downlink control channel (R-PDCCH) by blind decoding the downlink signal; and receiving a random access response message on the basis of the R-PDCCH, wherein a search space for the blind decoding is located in a data region of a subframe, and information on the search space is delivered from the target cell to a serving cell of the relay node, and then signaled to the relay node. |
| US09198093B2 |
Identifying mobile station in a cellular wireless communication system
A method of facilitating identification of a user equipment (UE) is disclosed. A first network control node (NCN) receives an radio link failure (RLF) indication message including a first mobile identity indicator (MII) of a UE. The first NCN determines a second MII of the UE, the second MII being associated with the first MII, and a second NCN associated with the second MII. And the first NCN sends the second MII to the second NCN. |
| US09198092B2 |
PSC transmission with time offset for unique small cell identification
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The method and apparatus resolve issues related to voice and data handovers between micro cells, femto cells and other small cells, and to handovers from macro cells to small cells are becoming increasingly significant as small cells are more widely deployed. In order to handoff a call associated with a user equipment, a base station attempts to identify neighboring cells that are within communication range of the user equipment based on a primary scrambling code and delays between multiple transmissions of the PSC detected by the user equipment and reported to the base station by the user equipment. |
| US09198090B2 |
Node and method for AoIP address change
A first node (110, 115, 135, 200) for an IP connection with a second node over an A interface between a Access Network (101) and a Circuit Switched Core Network (122), said IP connection comprising an RTP and an RTCP connection. The first node has an RTP address comprising an IP address and a UDP port in the RTP connection and can change its RTP address and signal said change by a message to the second node (200, 135, 110, 115) over the RTCP connection and receive an ACK message. The first node is arranged to, following said change of RTP address, receive user plane data over the RTP connection from the second node at its changed and unchanged RTP address and to initiate an Internal handover with Mobile Switching Centre support if said ACK message from the second node is not received within a time limit. |
| US09198089B2 |
Caching architecture for streaming data between base stations in mobile networks
A method and apparatus for handing over a terminal connection. A handover request is sent from a source base station to a target base station. A first control message (including a session identifier for identifying the session, and current parameters for the session) is also sent from the source base station to a control server. If the target base station is associated with a cache storage unit containing the content data, a second control message (including a session identifier for identifying the session, and current parameters) is sent from the control server to the target base station. At the target base station, the content data packets are retrieved from the cache storage unit, and a header of each retrieved content data packet is populated with parameters calculated using the received current parameters and session identifier. The content data packets are then sent from the base station towards the terminal. |
| US09198087B2 |
Base station handover method, base station controller, and mobile terminal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a base station handover method, which includes: detecting, by a base station controller, that a mobile terminal is handed over from a first base station with low configuration to a second base station with high configuration; and instructing, by the base station controller, the mobile terminal to switch a radio configuration mode between the mobile terminal and the second base station to a high-capacity radio configuration mode. The embodiments of the present invention further disclose a base station controller and a mobile terminal. By adopting the embodiments of the present invention, the capacity of a base station can be increased. |
| US09198083B1 |
Integrated paging mechanism
Illustrative methods and systems may help to more efficiently use network resources in fall back scenarios. An illustrative method involves a network component: (a) receiving a first paging request directed to a target user-entity (UE) for a first communication of a first communication type, (b) initiating a first paging process to page the target UE for the first communication, (c) before the first paging process is complete, receiving a second paging request directed to the target UE, wherein the second paging request for a second communication of a second communication type, wherein the second communication type that has a higher priority than the first communication type, and (d) in response: (i) refraining from assigning network resources for the first communication, and (ii) using a result of the first paging process to determine whether or not to assign network resources for the second communication. |
| US09198080B2 |
Broadband telecommunication service for providing a personalized service capability to a mobile terminal at a remote environment
Embodiments of a system and method of providing broadband telecommunication services over a packet-switched network enable enhanced personalization. A mobile terminal is registered in a first remote environment, where the mobile terminal has a home environment and a home service capability. The telecommunication services are provided to the mobile terminal in the first remote environment in accordance with the home service capability. |
| US09198072B2 |
Calculating and reporting channel characteristics
An interference covariance calculation technique is selected at a first communication device, where the interference covariance calculation technique is to be utilized by a second communication device when computing a channel quality indicator (CQI) associated with a communication channel between the first communication device and the second communication device. The interference covariance calculation technique is selected from a set of multiple techniques for calculating interference covariance. The first communication device transmits an indication of the selected interference covariance calculation technique to the second communication device. The first communication device receives a CQI calculated by the second communication device in accordance with the selected interference covariance calculation technique. |
| US09198071B2 |
Channel state information reference signal configuring and reporting for a coordinated multi-point transmission scheme
A method for wireless communication includes allocating overlapping sets of resources to different UEs. The resources may be for channel state information (CSI) measurement and received power measurements. The overlapping resources include a first set of resources, allocated to a first UE, for the CSI measurements and a second set of resources, allocated to a second UE, for the received power measurements. The method also includes receiving a CSI measurement report and a received power measurement report. The reports are based on the first set of resources and the second set or resources, respectively. |
| US09198063B2 |
Method of detecting a jamming transmitter affecting a communication user equipment, user equipment and evaluation unit with interfaces to the user equipment
The invention relates to a method of detecting a jamming transmitter affecting a communication user equipment, wherein said communication user equipment (UE) and a number of base node stations (BNS) are components of a cellular code division multiple access (CDMA) based radio network (RN), wherein a communication signal unit (SU) is correlated with a pseudonoise spread code (SC) in a serving cell coverage area (CA) of a serving base node station (sBNS) and transmitted as a pseudonoise chip (CHI) in a multiple shared communication frequency channel spectrally located between an upper frequency and a lower frequency of a communication frequency band (FB I-XIX) and the pseudonoise spread code (SC) is received by the communication user equipment (UE) as a serving pseudonoise spread code (sSC) from said serving base node station (BNS) in a serving downlink channel (sCPICH). |
| US09198060B2 |
Information handling system physical component maintenance through near field communication device interaction
Information handling system maintenance is aided by sending maintenance codes with a management processor of the information handling system to a mobile telephone with a NFC communication. The maintenance code and an identifier of the information handling system are provided to an administrative station to confirm that the proper maintenance is taking place at the proper system before the maintenance is authorized. |
| US09198058B2 |
Method for switching working mode on relay network, base station, relay node, and communications system
The present invention provides a method for switching a working mode on a relay network, a base station, a relay node, and a communications system. A donor eNB (DeNB) sends an RN reconfiguration message to a relay node RN in frequency division duplex FDD mode, so that the RN switches from the FDD mode to a half-duplex frequency division duplex H-FDD mode. The DeNB receives an acknowledgment message sent by the RN in FDD mode. When the DeNB verifies, according to the RN reconfiguration message and the acknowledgement message, that the RN has already started to switch from the FDD mode to the H-FDD mode, the DeNB switches from the FDD mode to the H-FDD mode. |
| US09198052B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting data to a wireless communication device to minimize congestion and interference from undetectable devices through carrier sensing
An apparatus estimates an influence rate at which transmission of data to a first wireless communication device is influenced by a second wireless communication device that is undetectable by means of carrier sense. The apparatus determines transmission quantity based on the estimated influence rate, and detects a congestion state of the first wireless communication device. The apparatus transmits data to the first wireless communication device according to the determined transmission quantity when congestion for the first wireless communication device is detected. |
| US09198043B2 |
Control system, information processing apparatus, terminal device, control method, and computer readable medium
A control system includes an information processing apparatus and a terminal device which perform wireless communication with each other, wherein the terminal device is moved with a user, and includes: a switching request signal transmission section that transmits a switching request signal, the information processing apparatus includes: a received signal strength measuring section that measures a received signal strength of a transmitted signal; and a control section that sets the received signal strength measured when receiving the switching request signal to a switching threshold value, and switches the information processing apparatus from the second status to the first status when the received signal strength becomes less than the switching threshold value, and switches it from the first status to the second status when the received signal strength becomes larger than the switching threshold value. |
| US09198041B2 |
Method of and system for authenticating a user to operate an electrical device
A user is authenticated to operate an electrical device in a network, by encoding an identification symbol with identification data that identifies the user, and by encoding a composite symbol with the identification data and with operating data that enables the electrical device to be operated. The composite symbol is associated with the electrical device to be operated. An image of the identification symbol, and an image of the composite symbol, are captured and compared. The user is enabled to operate the electrical device when the identification data in the composite symbol matches the identification data in the identification symbol. |
| US09198039B2 |
Method and device for updating firmware based on device management command
An electronic device includes a memory including a first storage area in an active state and a second storage area in an inactive state, and a first controller configured to execute a first operating system stored in the first storage area, and execute a management command for firmware update on the first operating system, wherein the first controller receives the management command from a management serer, receives update data based on the management command, store the update data in the second storage area, activates the second storage area, deactivates the first storage area, and executes an updated first operating system within the update data. |
| US09198038B2 |
Apparatus and methods of identity management in a multi-network system
Apparatus and methods of communication include receiving, at a device, a device-specific identifier and a credential associated with an issuing identity provider, wherein an identity of the device is capable of authentication by the identity provider based on the device-specific identifier and the credential. Further, the aspects include storing the device-specific identifier and the credential in a secure environment on the device. Additionally, the device-specific identifier is capable of being associated with different subscriber service accounts each with a different one of a plurality of service providers. The described aspects also include apparatus and methods of an identity provider and a provisioning provider for managing identities in a multiple network environment, and apparatus and methods of a service provider for providing the device with access to a service. |
| US09198030B2 |
Method and system for a networked self-configuring communication device utilizing user preference information
A first personal electronic (PE) device may enable generation, updating, and/or storage of user configuration information. The user configuration information may comprise information pertaining to device configuration and/or operational preferences specific to the device user and/or various use settings, connectivity, and/or use of available resources. The generation, updating, and/or storage of the user configuration information may be performed manually and/or automatically, and may be performed directly within the first PE device and/or via networked devices, which may communicatively coupled to the first PE device. A second PE device may be enabled to be communicatively coupled to the first PE device and/or the networked devices. The second PE device may then be enabled to download existing user configuration information from the first PE device and/or the networked device, and the downloaded user configuration may be utilized to configure the second PE device. |
| US09198029B2 |
Service processing method and device for ubiquitous UE
The disclosure discloses a service processing device for a ubiquitous User Equipment (UE). The device is a UE middleware embedded in the ubiquitous UE, and includes: a data transferring module, configured to perform data interaction with a ubiquitous node (U-node) via a protocol layer for U-node network connectivity and a protocol layer for wide-area connectivity; an interaction-frame module, configured to provide a capability to select from and convert between different communication-interaction models for data interaction between a functioning module and the U-node via the data transfer module; and the functioning module, configured to determine a UE capability required by a service, determine required U-nodes in a peripheral network environment, aggregate the required U-nodes into a virtual UE, integrate service data, and present the integrated data to a user. The disclosure further discloses a service processing method for a ubiquitous UE. With the solution of the disclosure, a ubiquitous UE in a ubiquitous network is allowed to acquire context information in time, thereby achieving optimized resource utilization and adaptation to a dynamically changing environment. |
| US09198027B2 |
Generic mobile devices customization framework
A method for open mobile alliance (OMA) device management (DM) and over-the-air customization of a generic mobile device is disclosed. The method comprises receiving an activation message from the generic mobile device to register with a service provider, wherein the generic mobile device is pre-configured to support a plurality of functions. The method also comprises associating the generic mobile device with a service provider from the service providers as indicated by the activation message. The method further comprises sending one or more OMA service objects to customize the generic mobile device according to the service provider, wherein the one or more OMA service objects enable or disable each of the pre-configured functions on the generic mobile device to support one or more service features available by the service provider. |
| US09198024B1 |
Remote device activation
An application installed on a mobile device currently activated for service with a mobile wireless communication network captures information uniquely identifying a currently unsubscribed mobile device. The unique information may be captured from the currently unsubscribed mobile device via any of several short range transfer mechanisms. The application transfers the captured information and other information used to activate the currently unsubscribed mobile device to an activation service of the mobile wireless communication network, and the service activates the currently unsubscribed mobile device. In another example, a self-activation portal system determines an identifier of an owner of an account associated with an identifier provided by a user of a mobile device to be activated for use with a mobile wireless service. The system sends a message to the account owner offering options to accept or decline the activation request. |
| US09198021B2 |
Extended local IP access for a converged gateway in a hybrid network
The implementation of Local IP Access (LIPA), “Extended” LIPA (ELIPA), and Selected IP Traffic Offload (SIPTO) for the design of a “Converged Gateway” (CGW) are disclosed. The gateway system may provide various features such as femtocell access to local networks, public Internet, and private service provider networks. |
| US09198019B2 |
Communication system and method for discovering end-points that utilize a link layer connection in a wired/wireless local area network
A communication system and method are provided for discovering wireless client devices within a local area network. A discovery message may be broadcast to a plurality of access points via a select access point to discover an access point. A response may be received from the discovered access point that may report a presence of a particular wireless client device located within a coverage area of the discovered access point. A status of the particular wireless client device may then be requested from the discovered access point. |
| US09198016B2 |
Enterprise wireless device usage reporting
The management of communications devices on an application service system is disclosed. The communications devices are associated with a user and a subscription account of a wireless service provider as identified by a wireless number. Charge data is received on the application service system from a billing system of the wireless provider. The charge data is for one of the communications devices. The charge data is then saved in a wireless device inventory database that includes one or more device records, each of which is associated with a particular one of the communications devices. The device records are also be defined by a wireless number and a charge record that includes one or more charge identifiers and corresponding charge amounts therefor. The charge data is stored in the device record. A report may be generated from the wireless device inventory database. |
| US09198015B2 |
Obtaining event response information
A method begins by a processing module establishing information regarding a potentially adverse event. The method continues with the processing module determining group constraints for a group regarding the potentially adverse event, wherein the group constraints includes one or more of: family member devices, neighbor devices, friend devices, first responders, co-workers, and devices of other persons having an affiliating commonality. The method continues with the processing module determining whether a temporary group exists regarding the potentially adverse event and that is in accordance with the group constraints. When the temporary group exists regarding the potentially adverse event that is in accordance with the group constraints, the method continues with the processing module identifying event response information regarding the potentially adverse event and selecting a portion of the event response information. |
| US09198010B2 |
Data assistance application for mobile devices
A data assist application allows people to share structured data, and update and/or collaborate in real time. Companies can use embodiments of the invention to send and/or receive structured data. Embodiments of the data assist application work standalone or while a user is talking to a person or a company. In use, information is spread when people share data with non-users. The data are preferably owned and/or controlled by the user and stored on user devices. Further embodiments of the invention integrate with OS-supplied data and third party apps. |
| US09198006B2 |
Selective review of bundled messages from a wireless communication device
A system, method, and computer device that allow a wireless communication device to selectively bundle messages in an access channel communication packet being sent to another computer device on the wireless communication network, such as a base station are disclosed. The bundled messages are typically sent in response to a request sent to the wireless communication device for response to a specific event, such as the setup of a group communication call. The receiving computer device determines if the access channel communication packet contains data indicating one or more bundled messages are therewithin such that resources only then will expended to review the bundled messages to check for the availability of the requested resources. |
| US09197999B2 |
Providing a location identifier for a location with multiple co-users
Providing location information on a mobile device includes receiving signals from external devices. Each signal includes information that specifies a geographic location for the external device that has provided the signal. A geographic location for the mobile device is calculated by using the information contained in each of the received signals. A representation of the geographic location of the mobile device is generated. The representation of the geographic location is included within an electronic message that provides information describing a user of the mobile device to other users of an electronic communications system. The electronic message is transmitted to another device to provide an indication of the geographic location for the user to one of the other users of the electronic communications system. |
| US09197998B2 |
Method and system for positioning wireless device
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method. The method includes storing a database of positioning data. Each positioning data can associate position information of a location with an identifier of a wireless station for providing wireless connection at the location and a characteristic of a wireless signal received at the location. Further, the method includes receiving a position request from a wireless device that receives an identifier and a specific characteristic of a wireless signal from a specific wireless station, identifying the specific wireless station using the identifier to retrieve a group of positioning data from a database, selecting a subset in the group of positioning data using the specific characteristic, and determining position information of the wireless device using the selected subset of positioning data. |
| US09197996B2 |
Tracking location of mobile device in a wireless network
A method and system for dynamically tracking the location of mobile nodes (104, 106, 108, 110n) in a wireless network (102) is disclosed. The method comprises: for each mobile node, dynamically measuring the range between the mobile node and at least one neighboring node (step 202); and executing a Bayesian tracking algorithm for each mobile node (step 204). The algorithm has the measured range as an input, exchanges data with tracking algorithms for neighboring mobile nodes, and utilizes a statistical model of error in measured range and a statistical model of node motion to dynamically determine location. |
| US09197995B1 |
Location-aware social media platform for owners of non-human animals
An example method of presenting animal-related alerts includes receiving information pertaining to a plurality of non-human animals, where the information includes, for each non-human animal, an indication of a location associated with that non-human animal. The method also includes determining a location of a user's device, determining that a location associated with a particular non-human animal is within a pre-defined distance from the location of the user's device, and generating an alert, where the alert comprises information pertaining to that particular non-human animal. The method also includes presenting, using the user's device, the alert to the user. |
| US09197993B2 |
System and method for detecting and controlling transmission devices
A method of detecting, controlling and managing transmission of a transmitting device within a facility is disclosed. The method involves transmitting information to the transmission device, detecting a response transmission from the transmission device by a least one transmission detection facility, extracting identification information associated with the transmission device in response to the transmitted information; and determining a location of the transmission device based on the response transmission received by the at least one received transmission detection facility, wherein the response transmissions are sorted by the identification information, determining an allowability of the located transmission device with the set area and interacting and manipulating transmission of the detected transmitting device. |
| US09197982B2 |
Method and system for distributed transceivers for distributed access points connectivity
A controlling entity communicates with a plurality of network devices having a plurality of distributed transceivers and one or more corresponding antenna arrays. The controlling entity receives information, such as location information, propagation environment characteristics, physical environment characteristics and/or link parameters and quality from the network devices and/or communication devices that are communicatively coupled to the plurality of network devices. The controlling entity coordinates communication of data streams for the distributed transceivers and the antenna arrays based on the received information. The network device comprises an access point, a router, a switching device, a gateway and/or a set top box. The controlling entity is located within or external to one of the network devices. One or more functions performed by the controlling entity are split between the controlling entity and one or more of the network devices. |
| US09197977B2 |
Audio spatialization and environment simulation
A method and apparatus for processing an audio sound source to create four-dimensional spatialized sound. A virtual sound source may be moved along a path in three-dimensional space over a specified time period to achieve four-dimensional sound localization. A binaural filter for a desired spatial point is applied to the audio waveform to yield a spatialized waveform that, when the spatialized waveform is played from a pair of speakers, the sound appears to emanate from the chosen spatial point instead of the speakers. A binaural filter for a spatial point is simulated by interpolating nearest neighbor binaural filters chosen from a plurality of pre-defined binaural filters. The audio waveform may be processed digitally in overlapping blocks of data using a Short-Time Fourier transform. The localized sound may be further processed for Doppler shift and room simulation. |
| US09197975B2 |
System for detecting and reducing noise via a microphone array
A system for detecting noise in a signal received by a microphone array and a method for detecting noise in a signal received by a microphone array is disclosed. The system also provides for the reduction of noise in a signal received by a microphone array and a method for reducing noise in a signal received by a microphone array. The signal to noise ratio in handsfree systems may be improved, particularly in handsfree systems present in a vehicular environment. |
| US09197973B2 |
Piezoelectric speaker device
A piezoelectric speaker device that includes an insulation layer having an electric insulation property formed on a user-side driving electrode, and flaw detection electrode lines formed on the insulation layer. If the flaw detection electrode lines are determined to be damaged due to the occurrence of a flaw, the driving voltage applied to the driving electrodes is lowered. In order to prevent electric-shock accidents, the driving voltage is lowered to below 42.4 V, preferably, and to 0 V, more preferably. |
| US09197967B2 |
Microphone and method to position a membrane between two backplates
A microphone includes two backplates. A membrane is located between the two backplates. A voltage source applies a first bias voltage to the membrane and the first backplate and applies a second bias voltage to the membrane and the second backplate. A control unit adjusts the first and the second bias voltage. A method to center the membrane in a final electro-mechanic equilibrium position between the two backplates in a microphone is also disclosed. |
| US09197964B2 |
Amplifier unit and mobile electronic device provided with the amplifier unit
An amplifier unit suitable for a wide variety of uses, which can flexibly support diverse sound recording scenarios, and a mobile electronic device provided with the amplifier unit. An amplifier unit has microphone/line input terminals respectively provided on the topside surface and the left side surface. When a connector is connected to a mobile electronic device, stereophonic sound is recorded using one of the terminals when the mobile electronic device is held in portrait orientation, and using the other terminal when the mobile electronic device is held in landscape orientation. It is possible to switch each of audio signals coming through the two terminals between monophonic and stereophonic. |
| US09197963B1 |
Broad sound field loudspeaker system
A sound system processor for converting left and right channel signals from an audio source into composite left and right signals and employing at least one low and high pass filters, a plurality of sum processors, and at least one difference processor so as to create at least two or more composite signals for delivery to speaker drivers to generate a broad sound field from a compact multi-speaker sound system source. |
| US09197956B2 |
Comformable eartip
Certain embodiments provide a conformable eartip. The conformable eartip includes a round flange and a core. The round flange includes a sealing surface for mating with walls of an ear canal. The round flange extends from an insertion end to an opposite end of the conformable eartip. The sealing surface is tapered from the opposite end toward the insertion end of the conformable eartip. The core is joined to the round flange at the insertion end of the conformable eartip. The core extends from the insertion end to a base of the core toward the opposite end of the conformable eartip. The core includes a channel extending through the core from the insertion end of the conformable eartip to the base of the cor. In various embodiments, the conformable eartip provides an elongation ratio of at least 1.4 and/or a compression ratio of at least 2.0. |
| US09197950B2 |
Optical branching/synthesizing device
An optical branching/synthesizing device 20A includes an optical branching coupler group 25A and an optical combiner 26. The optical branching coupler group 25A includes a first-stage optical branching coupler 22 that receives a downstream optical signal Sd from an OLT device 12 at light input/output end 22a, and second-stage optical branching couplers 23 and 24 including light input/output ends 23b and 24a connected to light input/output ends 22c and 22d of the optical branching coupler 22 at the previous stage, respectively. A light input/output ends 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b of the optical branching couplers 23 and 24 transmit the downstream optical signal Sd to each ONU device 13 and receive upstream optical signals Su from the ONU devices 13. The optical combiner combines the upstream optical signals Su output from the light input/output ends 22b, 23a, and 24b of the optical branching couplers 22 to 24. |
| US09197948B2 |
Regional independent tandem telephone switch
Implementations of the present disclosure involve an apparatus and/or method for a regional independent tandem switch of a telecommunications network. The tandem switch processes communications between a long distance carrier and a local exchange carrier through a voice over IP (VOIP) network. By utilizing the VOIP network, the regionally independent tandem may process long distance communications to and from any point in the network, regardless of the physical proximity of the tandem to the originating/destination communication device. The regionally independent nature of the tandem also allows for flexibility in communication routing through the network, load balancing between the network tandem switches and reduction of needed components of the network for proper processing of the long distance communications. |
| US09197946B2 |
System and method for automatic content program discovery
A system for program information discovery is described. A method and a device for generating and inserting a watermark for such program information discovery into a program signal to be rendered are disclosed, along with the corresponding method and device for watermark detection and decoding from the rendered program signals. Watermark, which carries channel/program information, is encoded and embedded at the set top box where the program streams are received and decoded for rendering. Second screen devices are employed for watermark detection and decoding by capturing the render program signals which has the watermark embedded. The extracted watermark information may be sent to information servers for more detailed channel/program information. |
| US09197940B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating dynamic webpages in a media communication system
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an Internet Protocol Television system having a controller to create a template defining a format of presentation of an webpage or HTML page using an iTV or IPTV application system, receive a request for the page from a subscriber of the iTV or IPTV system. The system can access application system subscriber data for the subscriber and a presentation of the page is dynamically adapted according to the application system subscriber data. In one alternative at, the page can be dynamically adapted by changing in content or by changing a look and feel of an HTML page or webpage. In another alternative, the webpage or HTML page can be dynamically adapted by modifying graphic user interface elements based on the application system subscriber data. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09197939B2 |
Moving image data delivery system, an advertising image data delivery system, and a moving image viewing apparatus
An advertisement provider issues coupons to an audiences of television set in exchange of viewing a commercial message and receives advertising rate from the advertiser of the commercial message in exchange of informing of the coupon issuance. A television station allows the audience to decompress a downloaded digital image data of a television program in exchange of presentation of the coupon. The television station receives allotment of the advertising rate in exchange of informing of the coupon presentation form audiences. The television station sorts the presented coupons by the advertisement providers to inform each advertisement provider of the coupon presentation. The television station allows the decompression even in a shortage of the presented coupon, provided that it will be compensated by money or later presentation of coupon by due data. The commercial messages are provided automatically or by request. The audience may voluntarily replace television program by commercial message. |
| US09197937B1 |
Automatic on-demand navigation based on meta-data broadcast with media content
A method for enabling a user to easily select and consume on-demand content is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method is performed by a communication device and includes the following steps: (1) receiving meta-data received by a set-top-box from a head-end system; (2) in response to receiving the meta-data, obtaining information associated with the received meta-data; (3) displaying one or more on-demand options in response to obtaining the information associated with the meta-data; (4) receiving user input indicating a user of the communication device has selected one of the displayed on-demand options; and (5) in response to receiving the user input, causing the set-top-box to (i) tune to an on-demand channel or (ii) display an on-demand menu. |
| US09197936B2 |
Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications
Systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications are provided. In particular, the systems and methods for providing remote access to interactive media guidance applications provided herein generally relate to enhancing remote access capabilities by providing algorithms and techniques for managing and correcting disparities that may be found between program listings data used by the interactive media guidance application and the remote access server. |
| US09197934B2 |
Fault tolerant system with equivalence processing driving fault detection and backup activation
A system includes a primary functionality and a backup functionality for the primary functionality. A measurement circuit measures operational parameter values of the primary functionality. A fault detection circuit determines a level of equivalence between the operation of the primary functionality and a reference functionality based on a weighted comparison of the measured operational parameter values of the primary functionality to corresponding reference operational parameter values for the reference functionality If the equivalence determination fails to find equivalence, the fault detection circuit signals a fault in the primary functionality and activates the backup functionality. |
| US09197933B2 |
Display apparatus and method for controlling the same
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a signal processor which processes a broadcast signal; an application executor which executes at least one application; a storage which stores a code command to change a use of a memory area, the storage including a first memory area allocated for processing the broadcast signal and a second memory area allocated for execution of the application; and a controller which, if the application is executed, changes, based on the code command, the first memory area to an area for execution of the application. |
| US09197928B2 |
Pluggable interactive television
Techniques are disclosed herein that provide a TV receiver that supports a set of existing iTV standards and proprietary iTV implementations. Further, the TV receiver can be extended to support additional iTV standards and proprietary iTV implementations. A digital television data stream is received and processed by a client. The digital television data stream is analyzed to determine which interactive television format is present. A registry of interactive television virtual machines is searched to determine whether a virtual machine is registered for the interactive television format. Each of the interactive television virtual machines is adapted for one of the interactive television formats. If a virtual machine that matches the interactive television format is found, it is loaded and hosted. Hosting the virtual includes providing services to the virtual machine through common application programming interfaces (APIs) machine includes. The common APIs may be used by any virtual machine that is loaded. |
| US09197925B2 |
Populating a user interface display with information
A method of populating a series of tiles of an interactive user interface with information is disclosed. The interactive user interface is in a form of a visual display of a representation of an object having a surface contour, and the method includes the step of populating the tiles such that information of greater priority is initially populated in tiles that are most prominently displayed on the object and information of lesser priority is initially populated in tiles that are less prominently displayed on the object. Apparatus and a computer readable storage medium for performing the method are also disclosed. |
| US09197923B2 |
System and method for synching portable media player content with storage space optimization
A device is provided for use with a content provider that is operable to provide content, which includes a plurality of content components. The device includes a communication portion, a memory portion, a parsing portion, a counting portion and a processing portion. The communication portion can receive the content from the content provider. The parsing portion can parse the content into the plurality of content components and can store the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion. The counting portion can provide a counter for each of the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion, respectively. The processing portion can retrieve and process one of the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion. The counting portion can further increment the counter associated with the retrieved one of the parsed plurality of content components within the memory portion. |
| US09197922B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method
Provided is an information processing system including a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus. The first information processing apparatus includes a content recording unit to record a content and to obtain and record a sights keyword related to the recorded content. The second information processing apparatus includes a place-name accumulating unit to obtain and accumulate place-name information corresponding to a current location of the second information processing apparatus, a sights keyword acquisition unit to obtain the sights keyword recorded on the first information processing apparatus, a sights keyword determining unit to narrow down a sights candidate in the place-name information, to thereby extract sights-candidate place-name information, and to determine the sights keyword corresponding to the sights-candidate place-name information, and a content-record informing unit to inform that a content related to the determined sights keyword is recorded on the first information processing apparatus. |
| US09197921B2 |
Input device and method, information processing apparatus and method, information processing system, and program
An input device includes: an operating section which is held by a user and operated in a three-dimensional free space in order to operate an information processing apparatus by remote control; a calculation section which calculates a hand shake related value for controlling selection of an image to be controlled which is displayed on the information processing apparatus, the hand shake related value being relevant to an amount of hand shake of the operating section; and an output section which outputs the hand shake related value as an operation signal for operating the information processing apparatus by remote control. |
| US09197916B2 |
Systems and methods for communicating and enforcing viewing and recording limits for media-on-demand
Systems and methods for communicating and enforcing viewing and recording limits for media-on-demand are provided. The system may provide a guidance application that allows users to select on-demand media offerings. The delivery of the on-demand media offerings may be managed based on the length of program, the bandwidth required, the available bandwidth, the time of delivery, pricing and other factors. The system may manage the delivery of on-demand offerings by assigning a number of different types of viewing rights to a user when an on-demand offering is selected. The system may warn a user of insufficient rights and enforce selected viewing rights. |
| US09197915B2 |
Providing personalized experiences related to streaming of broadcast content over a network
An approach for providing personalized experiences to users of broadcast content streaming. Supplemental content identifications are obtained for individual sets of supplemental content associated with one or more selectable events. The one or more sets of supplemental content selected based on characteristics of an event selected by the user and on one or more user characteristics. The supplemental content being presented to the user using client computing platforms along with sets of streaming broadcast content associated with one or more events selected by the user to create personalized experiences. |
| US09197913B2 |
System and method to improve user experience with streaming content
Provided are systems and methods for improving a viewing experience of a user during consumption of streamed content. In one implementation, the systems and methods relate to a model of polling a live streaming event by a management server of a service provider server and using that model to feed into future polling. The polling response returns up-to-date information about an event to be viewed. The system and method model the polling frequency and enter the same in an algorithm such as a supervised machine learning algorithm. This algorithm is presented as a mathematical formula and provides an input to the polling system to determine when to poll and how frequently to poll. |
| US09197912B2 |
Content classification for multimedia processing
An apparatus and method for processing multimedia data, such as, for example, video data, audio data, or both video and audio data for encoding utilizing a determined content classification is claimed. Processing the multimedia data includes determining complexity of multimedia data, classifying the multimedia data based on the determined complexity, and, determining a bit rate for encoding the multimedia data based on its classification. The complexity can include a spatial complexity component and a temporal complexity component of the multimedia data. The multimedia data is classified using content classifications, which are based on a visual quality value for viewing multimedia data, using the spatial complexity, the temporal complexity, or both the spatial complexity and temporal complexity. |
| US09197907B2 |
Adaptive ads with advertising markers
A streaming server and a method are described herein for providing a content stream with advertisements embedded therein through a network (e.g., IP network, CDN network, wireless network) to a client (e.g., personal computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, or a HTTP capable television). |
| US09197903B2 |
Method and system for determining a macroblock partition for data transcoding
A system and corresponding method determines a macroblock partition to transcode digital data from a first video standard to a second video standard with any spatial resolution. The system includes a processing module and an encoding module. The processing module processes digital data to determine a macroblock partition. The encoding module is coupled to the processing module for encoding the digital data based on the macroblock partition. The system is further coupled to a decoding module for receiving the digital data. The method determines the partition of a macroblock for transcoding digital data with any spatial resolution and without any motion estimation. |
| US09197902B2 |
Wavelet transformation using multicore processors
A method for wavelet based data compression comprising: receiving data associated, with a set of pixels, computing wavelet coefficients by applying a series of Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) low-pass and high-pass filtering operations, wherein a number of filtering operations is reduced by: identifying common partial products for at least one of the lowpass filtering operations and the high-pass filtering operations, classifying a first portion of the wavelet coefficients as low magnitude coefficients and a second portion of the wavelet coefficients as high magnitude coefficients, eliminating the common partial products for the high magnitude wavelet coefficients, replacing multiplication operations for the low magnitude wavelet coefficients with shift-and-add operations, and eliminating the common partial products, and applying the DWT based on remaining filtering operations. |
| US09197901B2 |
Moving picture coding apparatus, moving picture decoding apparatus, and stream data
A signal separation unit (101) separates an input picture made up of component pictures of RGB, each of which has an equal number of pixels as the input picture, into three component pictures, and outputs the three component pictures. Each of coding units (102 to 104) codes one of the component pictures into an intra-picture prediction coded picture or an inter-picture prediction coded picture, and outputs a bit stream corresponding to the component picture. A bit stream multiplexing unit (105) multiplexes three bit streams outputted from the three coding units into one bit stream, and outputs the bit stream. Each of the coding units (102), (103) and (104) determines a prediction method for the component picture at the time of coding. |
| US09197900B2 |
Localized redundancy for fragment processing
A live media stream encoding system encodes live media streams into numerous variants of the live media streams each including multiple fragments. Live media streams are delineated, dispatched as jobs, and converted using distributed and dynamically scalable encoder and fragmenter resources without using any centralized encoding management system. Encoded fragments are maintained in shared storage and accessed as needed by devices during playback. Localized redundancy and/or geographic redundancy is provided throughout the system to prevent disruption upon failure of a particular node. |
| US09197899B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of image compression for high resolution live medical image sharing
A video stream of live medical images is generated at a local site having a medical image scanner. A live video stream is transmitted to at least one remote site via a network, which may include wired or wireless Internet connections. Network conditions are monitored during a network session and predictions are made on a predicted bit rate for transmission. The compression parameters for the live video stream are selected based on the predicted bit rate. |
| US09197898B1 |
Signaling signed band offset values for sample adaptive offset (SAO) filtering in video coding
A method for signaling sample adaptive offset (SAO) band offset syntax elements in a video encoder is provided that includes receiving a plurality of band offset syntax elements, entropy encoding an absolute value of a magnitude of each band offset syntax element in a compressed video bit stream, and entropy encoding a sign of each non-zero band offset syntax element in the compressed video bit stream following the absolute values of the magnitudes. |
| US09197897B2 |
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. |
| US09197895B2 |
Intra prediction 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. |
| US09197894B2 |
Moving picture coding method and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus includes a counter unit which counts the number of pictures following an intra coded picture; and a motion estimation unit which compares respectively only reference pictures which are the intra coded picture or the following pictures, selected from among a reference picture Ref1, a reference picture Ref2 and a reference picture Ref3 stored in memories, with a picture signal, and determines the reference picture whose inter picture differential value is smallest. |
| US09197892B2 |
Optimized motion compensation and motion estimation for video coding
A system (and a method) are disclosed for intelligently fetch one or multiple reference blocks from memory for each block to be motion compensated or motion estimated within a video processing system. The system includes a reference block configuration evaluation unit and a motion compensation memory fetching unit. The reference block configuration evaluation unit analyzes the reference block configuration of the block being motion compensated with a plurality of reference block configurations of its neighboring blocks. In response to a reference block configuration evaluation result, the reference block configuration evaluation unit decides the configuration of reference blocks to be fetched from a memory. The motion vector memory fetching unit fetches the number of reference blocks for motion compensation accordingly. |
| US09197887B2 |
Geometric correction apparatus and method based on recursive bezier patch sub-division cross-reference to related application
Provided is a geometric correction apparatus and method based on a recursive Bezier patch sub-division. A geometric correction method may include: receiving, from a camera, a first image that is obtained by photographing a black screen that is projected by a projector onto a projection surface; receiving, from the camera, a second image that is obtained by photographing a predetermined pattern that is projected by the projector onto the projection screen; generating a third image by subtracting the first image from the second image; and performing geometric correction with respect to the predetermined pattern to correct a distortion between the predetermined pattern and the third image. |
| US09197886B2 |
Detecting plant degradation using peer-comparison
A method implemented in a computer system for detecting performance degradation in a hybrid fiber-coaxial (HFC) cable plant having customer premises equipment (CPE) elements, active elements, and passive elements. The method collects radio frequency (RF) metric values, computes absolute deviation values of the RF metric values from reference RF metric values, computes relative hierarchical deviation values of the RF metric values, and computes relative peer deviation values of the RF metric values. The method sends an alarm message to an operator when the absolute deviation value, relative hierarchical deviation value, or relative peer deviation value for any element exceeds a threshold value. |
| US09197885B2 |
Target-less auto-alignment of image sensors in a multi-camera system
A pair of cameras having an overlapping field of view is aligned based on images captured by image sensors of the pair of cameras. A pixel shift is identified between the images. Based on the identified pixel shift, a calibration is applied to one or both of the pair of cameras. To determine the pixel shift, the camera applies correlation methods including edge matching. Calibrating the pair of cameras may include adjusting a read window on an image sensor. The pixel shift can also be used to determine a time lag, which can be used to synchronize subsequent image captures. |
| US09197884B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for displaying 3-dimensional image and location tracking device
A system, apparatus, and method for displaying a 3D image and a location tracking device are provided. A location tracking unit receives an image frame acquired by capturing an image of a user, detects a location of the user using the received image frame, calculates a movement velocity of the user using the detected location of the user and at least one of previously detected locations of the user, predicts a location of the user at time point which a predetermined time elapses using the detected location of the user and the calculated movement velocity, and calculates a 3D image change amount based on the predicted location of the user. An image processing unit performs a control operation to display a 3D image based on the calculated 3D image change amount. |
| US09197878B2 |
Methods for interfacing with an interactive application using a controller with an integrated camera
A method for determining a position of a controller in a three-dimensional space is disclosed. One method includes an operation to calibrate a computer program to identify a group of recognized fixed points from a plurality of fixed points within the three-dimensional space using a depth camera integrated with the controller. Another operation activates use of the controller and depth camera during interface with the application. During use of the controller, image and depth data within the three-dimensional space is captured with the depth camera of the controller. The captured data can then be used to enable input to a computer system. |
| US09197875B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
An image processing device and image processing method that are capable of generating a stereoscopic image with limited system resources. Mask information defines a display region so that substantially the same number of pixels in first image data and second image data are displayed while the pixels are dispersed substantially uniformly. A mixer unit references the mask information and mixes the first image data with the second image data to generate output image data, which is a stereoscopic image. |
| US09197873B2 |
Stereoscopic display device and display method of stereoscopic display device
A stereoscopic display device includes: a parallax adjustment section performing a parallax adjustment on each of a left-eye image and a right-eye image which are inputted; and a display section displaying the left-eye image and the right-eye image which are resultant of the parallax adjustment by the parallax adjustment section. The parallax adjustment section performs the parallax adjustment only on a region other than an OSD image region with an OSD image superposed therein in each of the left-eye image and the right-eye image. |
| US09197872B2 |
Managing stored content
A content management system may assist users in managing the storage of various pieces of content, such as television programs, that the user has recorded. The system may track the user's consumption behavior, determining which programs the user regularly watches and which programs the user regularly ignores, and use that consumption behavior to determine which recorded programs to recommend for relocation to a remote storage, or for outright deletion. The system can also use the behavior information to modify new recording requests, such as directing a new request to a secondary storage location if it is unlikely that the user will view the recording. |
| US09197871B2 |
Signal processing device with pixel correction, signal processing method, program solid-state image sensor, and electronic apparatus
There is provided a signal processing device including a correction processing unit that acquires a pixel signal output from a sensor on which pixels are disposed in an array in which a spatial frequency of a color pixel which is a pixel acquiring a color component is lower than a spatial frequency of luminance pixels which are pixels acquiring luminance components, and then corrects the pixel signal output from a defective pixel out of the pixels that the sensor includes. During correction of a pixel signal of the color pixel, the correction processing unit performs correction referring to pixel signals of the luminance pixels having a spatial frequency higher than the spatial frequency of the color pixel. |
| US09197869B2 |
Video display device and cooling system
A video display device includes: a video processing unit including a light source and optical components, which generates and displaying video signals; and a cooling mechanism unit cooling the light source and the optical components, wherein the cooling mechanism unit includes an air cooling fan generating cooling air for cooling the optical components to be circulated in the device, a heat exchanger arranged in a flow path of the circulating cooling air, performing heat exchange of the cooling air obtained after the cooling of the optical components from a high temperature to a low temperature, a cooler cooling heat generated in the light source and heat generated in the heat exchanger by a cooling liquid, and a circulating thermal regulator circulating the cooling liquid with respect to the cooler while managing a liquid temperature of the cooling liquid so as to be a constant temperature. |
| US09197868B2 |
Optimizing video stream processing
Transaction units of video data and transaction data captured from different checkout lanes are prioritized as a function of lane priority values of respective ones of the different checkout lanes from which the transaction units are acquired. Each of the checkout lanes has a different lane priority value. The individual transaction units are processed in the prioritized processing order to automatically detect irregular activities indicated by the transaction unit video and the transaction data of the processed individual transaction units. |
| US09197865B2 |
Device having built-in digital data device powered by unlimited power source for light device
A device having built-in digital data means is powered by an unlimited power source for a lamp-holder, LED bulb, or light device connected to unlimited power source by prongs or a base that can be inserted into a socket that would otherwise receiving a bulb. The device may take the form of a webcam having auto tracking functions and retractable prongs that plug directly into a wall outlet. |
| US09197862B2 |
Contact state estimating apparatus
A position and a posture of a virtual face is searched so that a total cost E of a first cost E1 and a second cost E2 is approximated to a smallest value or a minimum value. A first cost E1(e1) corresponds to a sum of elastic energy with a first deviation e1(s) as a deformation amount, of a virtual spring group having a value of a first coefficient function w1(e1(s)) in a target region of a standard image as a spring coefficient. A second cost E2(e1, e2) corresponds to a sum of elastic energy with a second deviation e2 as a deformation amount, of a virtual spring group having a value of a second coefficient function w2(e2(s) of each pixel s included in the target region of the standard image as a spring coefficient. |
| US09197860B2 |
Color detector for vehicle
A color detector for a vehicle that detects a color of an external image by receiving predetermined image data from a camera photographing the external image of the vehicle, may include an RGB converting unit converting a photographed image of the camera into RGB image data, an HSI (Hue, Saturation, and Intensity) image extracting unit extracting a hue image, a saturation image, and an intensity image of the RGB image data, a reverse image extracting unit extracting a reverse saturation image, a reverse modulo saturation image, and a reverse luminance image of the RGB image data, and a color detecting unit detecting white, black, red, and yellow colors by using two or more images selected from the hue image, the saturation image, the intensity image, the reverse saturation image, the reverse modulo saturation image, and the reverse luminance image by a predetermined algorithm. |
| US09197855B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method of managing data transmission, and transmission management program
When a refrained state is detected at a first transmission terminal, a transmission management system sends operation state information of the first transmission terminal, which is determined based on the refrained state of the first transmission terminal, to a second transmission terminal that may initiate communication with the first transmission terminal before the second transmission terminal starts communication with the first transmission terminal. |
| US09197854B2 |
Videoconferencing systems with recognition ability
A videoconferencing system which encodes different streams of information. The information may include video, audio, speech recognized versions of the audio, and language translated versions of the audio. Text may be sent as part of the videoconference. |
| US09197852B2 |
System and method for point to point integration of personal computers with videoconferencing systems
A system and method for integrating a personal computer based presentation with a videoconferencing system. A coupling device includes a card, insertable into a PCMCIA slot of a laptop computer or like machine, which includes a cable coupled to the card at a first end and to a connector coupled at a second end. The card includes firmware for loading into RAM of the computer and software operable to execute code. |
| US09197850B2 |
Display apparatus having a cover for a webcam
A display apparatus for a computer system has a webcam integrated in the display apparatus, a first housing portion having a recording opening for the webcam and an opaque second housing portion movably connected to the first housing portion, wherein the second housing portion covers the recording opening in a first position and exposes the recording opening in a second position. |
| US09197848B2 |
Video conferencing transitions among a plurality of devices
Embodiments of methods, systems, and storage medium associated with transitioning a video conference session from one device accessible by a user to another device accessible by the user are disclosed herein. In one instance, the method may include detecting at least one condition for transitioning a video conference session from a first device accessible by the user associated with the video conference session to a second device accessible by the user that is not associated with the video conference session, and in response to the detection, transitioning the video conference session to the second device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed. |
| US09197846B2 |
Display control apparatus, display control method, display control system, and storage medium
A display control apparatus, which executes control required to display a moving image, received via a network, on a display unit, the apparatus comprising: an input unit configured to input an operation instruction required to operate the display control apparatus; and a control unit configured to execute control required to display, on the display unit, a moving image at a frame rate depending on whether or not processing according to the operation instruction input by the input unit is executed. |
| US09197832B2 |
Solid-state image pickup apparatus and drive method therefor
A solid-state image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. For the convenience sake, among the plurality of pixels, two pixels from which signals are not read in parallel are set to be a first pixel and a second pixel. A first reset transistor is disposed in an electrical path between a first reset power supply line and the control electrode of an amplifying transistor contained in the first pixel. A second reset transistor is disposed in an electrical path between the control electrode of the amplifying transistor contained in the first pixel and the control electrode of an amplifying transistor contained in the second pixel. A third reset transistor is disposed in an electrical path between the control electrode of the amplifying transistor contained in the second pixel and a second reset power supply line. |
| US09197831B2 |
Photoelectric conversion system
A photoelectric conversion system is configured to correct a difference in offset component of signals to be outputted per photoelectric conversion device. |
| US09197828B2 |
Solid-state imaging device
An imaging sensor comprises a pixel array having an active imaging portion and a shielded portion. The active imaging portion provides an image signal corresponding to light incident on the pixel array. The shielded portion is shielded from the light incident on the pixel array and therefore provides a dark current signal. The imaging sensor includes a black-level adjustment circuit which adjusts the imaging signal to compensate for variations in the imaging signal black-level values. The black-level adjustment circuit includes an average value calculator to calculate an average signal value for each of a plurality of shielded regions in the shielded portion of the pixel array. A region selector is configured to select average signal values that are within a predetermined range. A black-level adjustment value calculator uses the selected values to calculate an adjustment value for the black-level of the image signal. |
| US09197827B2 |
Imaging device and imaging method
An imaging method uses an imaging device including a taking lens having a plurality of regions each with an independent characteristic and an image pickup element having a plurality of light-receiving sensors provided so as to correspond to the plurality of regions, the plurality of light-receiving sensors performing pupil division of a light beam passing through any of the plurality of regions for selective light-receiving, from an imaging signal from a light-receiving sensor corresponding to one region of the plurality of regions, an image corresponding to the one region is generated. When the generated image is corrected, an influence of a light beam passing through a region other than the one region is removed from the image generated so as to correspond to the one region. |
| US09197826B2 |
Method for controlling solid-state image pickup device
Charges accumulated in pixels contained in one or a plurality of readout object rows that form a partial region of a photodetecting region are selectively read out in each of the L times (L is an integer not less than 2) of imaging frames, and in each of the L times of imaging frames, resetting of charges accumulated in pixels contained in only a part of non-readout object rows is performed, as well as, resetting is performed at least once in a period of the L times of imaging frames for each of the two or more non-readout object rows. Accordingly, a control method for a solid-state imaging element capable of reducing the time required per one imaging frame and reducing load on the peripheral circuit when selectively reading out charges accumulated in pixels in a partial region of the photodetecting region is realized. |
| US09197825B2 |
Solid-state imaging element and camera system
A solid-state imaging element that includes a plurality of semiconductor layers stacked, a plurality of stack-connecting parts for electrically connecting the plurality of semiconductor layers, a pixel array part in which pixel cells that include a photoelectric conversion part and a signal output part are arrayed in a two-dimensional shape, and an output signal line through which signals from the signal output part of the pixel cells are propagated, in which the plurality of semiconductor layers includes at least a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer, and, in the first semiconductor layer, the plurality of pixel cells are arrayed in a two-dimensional shape, the signal output part of a pixel group formed with the plurality of pixel cells shares an output signal line wired from the stack-connecting parts, and the output signal line has a separation part which can separate each output signal line. |
| US09197818B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes a determining unit operable to determine whether a subject indicated by a feature quantity information extracted by an extracting unit is a same face indicated by a feature quantity information stored in a storing unit as the registration candidate, and a display unit operable to display a screen for prompting a user to perform an operation concerning registration in accordance with number of times the determining unit determines that the subject indicated by the feature quantity information extracted by the extracting unit is the same subject indicated by the feature quantity information stored in the storing unit as the registration candidate. |
| US09197812B2 |
Image processing device, image processing method, and imaging apparatus
An image processing device includes a plurality of clock selection units configured to select a clock signal to be supplied to each of a plurality of calculation units forming a pipeline from a plurality of clock signals and output the clock signal to the calculation unit, a data delivery unit disposed on the pipeline between the calculation unit to which a first clock signal is input and the calculation unit to which a second clock signal is input, and a control unit configured to control a selection of the clock signal and a combination and a disposition order of the data delivery unit and the calculation units forming the pipeline in accordance with an operation mode of image processing. |
| US09197810B2 |
Systems and methods for tracking location of movable target object
An automated process uses a local positioning system to acquire location (i.e., position and orientation) data for one or more movable target objects. In cases where the target objects have the capability to move under computer control, this automated process can use the measured location data to control the position and orientation of such target objects. The system leverages the measurement and image capture capability of the local positioning system, and integrates controllable marker lights, image processing, and coordinate transformation computation to provide tracking information for vehicle location control. The resulting system enables position and orientation tracking of objects in a reference coordinate system. |
| US09197807B2 |
Imaging device including phase detection pixels arranged to perform capturing and to detect phase difference
An imaging device including phase difference detection pixels and, more particularly, an imaging device that comprises a plurality of pixels that are two-dimensionally arranged to capture an image and to detect phase difference, a first photoelectric conversion pixel row; and a second photoelectric conversion pixel row, wherein the first photoelectric conversion pixel row and the second photoelectric conversion pixel row are each disposed such that circuits formed in every pixel for phase difference detection are arranged opposite to each other with respect to an opening of a photoelectric conversion pixel. In the imaging device, phase difference detection may be performed with respect to entire photographed screen areas. In addition, the imaging device including phase difference detection pixels may have no defect pixels and thus improved image quality is obtained. Photographing and AF of a subject may be performed in low luminance. |
| US09197804B1 |
Semiconductor and optoelectronic devices
A camera system including, a first image sensor array and a second image sensor array wherein the first image sensor array is designed for a first focal plane in front of the camera, and the second image sensor array is designed for a second focal plane in front of the camera, wherein the distance to the first focal plane is substantially different than the distance to the second focal plane. |
| US09197803B2 |
Camera module
A camera module includes an image sensor IC, a resin multilayer board including thermoplastic resin layers stacked in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a light receiving surface of the image sensor IC, a mounting electrode which is stacked on the thermoplastic resin layer and on which the image sensor IC is mounted, and a via-hole conductor electrically connected to the mounting electrode. The resin multilayer board includes a flat plate portion including a surface on which the mounting electrode is mounted, and a rigid portion including a greater number of thermoplastic resin layers than that of the flat plate portion, and the via-hole conductor is arranged in the flat plate portion so as to avoid the thermoplastic resin layer on which the mounting electrode is stacked. |
| US09197800B2 |
Imaging robot
An imaging robot for automated digitizing of two-dimensional art is disclosed. The imaging robot includes three mutually orthogonal translation stages for positioning an imaging device at a plurality of shooting positions forming a two-dimensional grid of positions spaced from the art at a substantially same shooting distance. An image of a portion of the art is captured at each of these shooting positions. The images of the portion of the art are then combined, or stitched, forming a composite image of the art. |
| US09197799B2 |
Super light field lens with focus control and non spherical lenslet arrays
Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools. |
| US09197797B2 |
Camera module
A camera module includes an image sensor, a circuit board, and a stiffener. The stiffener is located one side of the circuit board and includes a bottom plate grounded. The image sensor is located on another side of the circuit board. The stiffener includes a sidewall extending from the bottom plate. The sidewall and the bottom plate cooperatively hold the circuit board. An insulative coating is coated on the sidewall to avoid short circuiting. |
| US09197793B2 |
Mouth camera
Here is disclosed a video camera for capturing a video image from a participant's point of view. The video camera is mountable in the participant's mouth by the participant gripping the video camera between his or her upper and lower teeth. The device includes a compact video camera having a lens for gathering a video image and a mouth guard dimensioned to fit comfortably between the participant's upper and lower teeth. The mouth guard has first and second arcuate indentations dimensioned and configured to snuggly receive the participant's upper and lower teeth, respectively. The video camera is housed in a camera housing formed on the mouth guard such that the lens is positioned between the participant's upper and lower teeth and is oriented to gather the video image from outside the participant's mouth. |
| US09197790B2 |
Optical scanning projection module
An optical scanning projection module includes a scanning light component including a plurality of sub light sources and at least one light-splitting element, a main light reflective element, a scanning element and a photosensitive element. Sub light beams of the sub light sources are converged to form a main light beam. One of the sub light beams travels to the light-delivering element to form a partial reflective light beam and a partial penetrating light beam. With a scanning manner, the partial reflective light beam or the partial penetrating light beam is reflected by the scanning element to be an inspection light, and the main light beam is reflected by the scanning element to be a projection light. The photosensitive element outputs a sensing signal according to the inspection light. Thus, the optical scanning projection module controls the operation of the scanning light component according to the sensing signal. |
| US09197786B2 |
Image reading device, image forming apparatus, and image reading method
An image reading device includes a density reference plate, an image reading section, a storage section, and a control section. When density reference data for at least one of a plurality of colors with respect to at least one of a plurality of regions is abnormal data, the control section calculates a change rate. The change rate is a rate of change between preliminary density reference data and density reference data both for one of the colors other than the at least one color with respect to the at least one region. The control section corrects the abnormal data based on the change rate calculated with respect to the at least one region and also on preliminary density reference data for the at least one color with respect to the at least one region. |
| US09197785B2 |
Operation device, operation method, and image forming apparatus including the operation device
An operation device which displays a document preview image on a paper sheet preview image, includes: a changing unit which changes a size of document image data corresponding to the document preview image in accordance with a movement amount and a movement direction when a user touches a part of the document preview image and moves the touched part; a determining unit which determines whether or not a vertical size and a horizontal size of the document preview image after the change are larger than a vertical size and a horizontal size of a largest paper sheet preview image; and an enlargement continuous shooting setting unit sets an enlargement continuous shooting mode if it is determined that the vertical size and the horizontal size of the document preview image are larger than the vertical size and the horizontal size of the largest paper sheet preview image. |
| US09197784B2 |
Printing device capable of displaying thumbnail image of motion image file
A printing device having a retrieving unit to retrieve an image file representing a motion image, a generating unit to extract a plurality of frame images from the image file and generate a first output image in which the plurality of extracted frame images are laid out on a single page. A displaying unit displays the first output image having the plurality of extracted frame images. The plurality of extracted frame images are displayed each at a size larger than a size of the frame image laid out in the first output image and each at a time different from one another and different from a time when the displaying unit displays the first output image. A printing unit prints the first output image having the plurality of extracted frame images. |
| US09197783B2 |
Image forming apparatus
According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus having a function to erase an image formed on a recoding medium is provided. The image forming apparatus has an operation panel which, in a first mode in which an image forming process and an erasing process are not executable, accepts selection of any mode of a second mode in which the image forming process and the erasing process are executable, and a third mode in which the image forming process is not executable and the erasing process is executable. |
| US09197782B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
An image processing device includes a main memory, a parameter register, an image processor, and a parameter transfer unit. The main memory stores therein a parameter used in image processing. The parameter register temporarily stores therein the parameter. The image processor executes the image processing on image data by using the parameter stored in the parameter register. The parameter transfer unit transfers the parameter stored in the main memory to the parameter register during a period in which the image processing is not executed. |
| US09197779B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming system
An image forming apparatus includes a function performance information storage section, a function performance information receiving section, and a function selection section. The function performance information storage section stores function performance information of the image forming apparatus. The function performance information receiving section receives the function performance information of the mobile terminal. The function selection section compares the function performance information of the image forming apparatus with the function performance information of the mobile terminal to select the function for which the performance of the image forming apparatus is determined to be superior. The image forming apparatus transmits the information representing the function which is not selected by the function selection section to the mobile terminal, and performs the processing of the function selected by the function selection section. |
| US09197778B2 |
Method for reducing communication delay in printing apparatus having a wireless LAN capability
When a printing apparatus including a wireless communication unit receives a print job, a power saving mode of the wireless communication unit becomes temporarily disabled. When reception of the print job is completed, the power saving mode returns to an enabled state. |
| US09197775B2 |
Image reading device, copier, and image forming apparatus
An image reading device includes: a placement stage on which document sheets bearing respective images are placed; a pair of guide members that hold the document sheets placed on the placement stage between them and guide a document sheet when it is conveyed, at least one of the pair of guide members being movable in a width direction that is perpendicular to a conveying direction of the document sheets placed on the placement stage; an interval-between-guide-members detecting unit that detects an interval between the pair of guide members; a document sheet conveying unit that conveys the document sheets placed on the placement stage sequentially one by one and thereby causes the document sheets to pass a reading position; a document reading unit as defined herein; a first inclination correction unit as defined herein; and a correction mode switching control unit as defined herein. |
| US09197774B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus having an automatic document feeding unit so as to successively read documents is disclosed. The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to form an image on a printing medium, an image reading unit pivotally coupled to an upper portion of the image forming unit to expose and shield a top of the image forming unit, an automatic document feeding unit pivotally coupled to an upper portion of the image reading unit to expose and shield a top of the image reading unit, and a locking device to selectively expose any one of the top of the image forming unit and the top of the image reading unit. Since the locking device prevents the top of the image forming unit and the top of the image reading unit from being simultaneously exposed, the automatic document feeding unit can be prevented from being damaged due to the simultaneous exposure of the top of the image forming unit and the top of the image reading unit. |
| US09197770B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing image forming job, and recording medium
A method and apparatus for performing an image forming job by maintaining a cover, which covers a scan area and has adjustable transparency, in a transparent state until a job for acquiring image data of a scan object starts in an image forming apparatus. If the job for acquiring the image data of the scan object positioned in the scan area starts, the image forming apparatus converts the cover into an opaque state and acquires the image data of the scan object. If the job for acquiring the image data of the scan object is ended, the image forming apparatus reconverts the cover into a transparent state. Therefore, efficiency of a job for acquiring image data of a scan object is improved. |
| US09197766B2 |
Digital microform imaging apparatus
A digital microform imaging apparatus, comprising a chassis, a fold mirror supported by the chassis and including a reflecting surface for directing light from a first substantially vertical optical axis to a second substantially horizontal optical axis, a microform media support structure supported at a location intersected by the first optical axis, a first carriage supported for movement along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the second optical axis, an area sensor supported for movement along the second optical axis, the area sensor further supported by the first carriage for rotation about an axis parallel to the second optical axis and a lens supported for movement along the second optical axis, the lens positioned between the area sensor and the fold mirror, a first motor mounted to the first carriage and linked to the area sensor for rotating the area sensor between at least two positions for obtaining portrait and landscape images of a microform media. |
| US09197762B2 |
Image reading device, forming apparatus, and processing method detecting and removing perforations to correctly identify blank documents
An image reading device includes an image reading section, a first white reference member, and a control section. The image reading section reads an original document. The first white reference member is be read by the image reading section and indicates a first white reference. The control section determines whether or not a perforation image is present in the original document image indicative of the original document on a basis of an image density of a first reference image indicative of the first white reference member and an image density of the original document image. |
| US09197757B2 |
System and method for set-top box call connection
A system for initiating a voice call includes a set-top box operable to control a selection of a television channel for display on a television. The set-top box is further operable to initiate a voice call between a first telephone and a second telephone. The first telephone is associated with a first telephone network and the second telephone is associated with a second telephone network. The system includes a remote control in communication with the set-top box. The remote control is operable to receive a first input associated with the selection of the television channel from a user and a second input associated with the voice call. The voice call is initiated by the set-top box in response to the second input being received by the set-top box. |
| US09197753B1 |
System to record and analyze voice message usage information
A voice message system records voice message usage information by creating voice message records when a voice message is sent and when it is received. The voice message record includes: the voice message, a voice message sender identity, a voice message recipient identity, and voice message action records. A voice message action records includes a voice message action that specifies an action on the voice message, and a voice message action time that includes the time at which the action occurs. Voice message actions include sent, received, and listened. The system further includes a voice message analyzer for analyzing voice message records, and a voice message reporter for generating reports from an analysis by the analyzer. The voice message system provides tractable information for voice messages, allowing companies to enforce a voice message usage policy. |
| US09197752B2 |
Method for designing an automated speech recognition (ASR) interface for a customer call center
A method of designing a customer interface for a service center, such as an automated speech recognition (ASR) self-service center. Customer activity to an existing service center is monitored, providing customer model, which includes a collection of customer tasks. These tasks are assigned to action-object pairs, which are further assigned to routing destinations. Dialog modules are designed, based on the customer model data, including disambiguation dialogs. |
| US09197747B1 |
Method and apparatus of applying call suppression measures to restrict phone calls
A determination of whether to perform telephone call blocking includes initiating a telephone call from a call server, determining whether the call is a solicitation call and determining the area code of the call and performing a lookup operation of the area code in a call suppression database. The process may also include retrieving a call block entry for a current day from the call suppression database, and comparing the area code to the call block entry for the current day to determine whether the call should be blocked. |
| US09197743B2 |
VoIP gateway device, control method thereof and VoIP
Provided are a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway device, a control method thereof, and a VoIP gateway system. The VoIP gateway device includes: a connector which is connected to a first terminal; a communication unit which communicates with a proxy server that relays a VoIP communication; a storage unit which stores a ringtone corresponding to a call received by a call back function; and a controller which transmits an invite message to the proxy server for connecting a call from a first terminal to a second terminal corresponding to the call back function upon request from the first terminal for the call back function, and transmits the stored ringtone to the first terminal upon receiving a ringing message from the proxy server in response to the invite message. |
| US09197740B2 |
Method and system for providing additional information to called parties
A system for providing additional information to called parties, the system comprises a base unit device for sending additional information to called parties, the base unit comprises a microprocessor, at least one Ethernet port, at least one telephone port, a first transceiver, and a first wireless antenna; and a display unit for receiving the additional information from the base unit device and displaying the additional information to the called parties, the display unit comprises a second transceiver, a liquid crystal display, a second wireless antenna, and a set of keys. |
| US09197736B2 |
Intuitive computing methods and systems
A smart phone senses audio, imagery, and/or other stimulus from a user's environment, and acts autonomously to fulfill inferred or anticipated user desires. In one aspect, the detailed technology concerns phone-based cognition of a scene viewed by the phone's camera. The image processing tasks applied to the scene can be selected from among various alternatives by reference to resource costs, resource constraints, other stimulus information (e.g., audio), task substitutability, etc. The phone can apply more or less resources to an image processing task depending on how successfully the task is proceeding, or based on the user's apparent interest in the task. In some arrangements, data may be referred to the cloud for analysis, or for gleaning. Cognition, and identification of appropriate device response(s), can be aided by collateral information, such as context. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. |
| US09197730B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates display screen space of mobile terminal to be flexibly utilized in consideration of user's convenience and necessity. The present invention includes displaying 1st screen on 1st region within touchscreen, if 1st gesture is detected, forming 2nd region within the touchscreen, displaying at least one portion of the 1st screen of the 1st region at a timing point of detecting the 1st gesture as 2nd screen, when touch input to the 1st region is detected or the 2nd region is formed, changing the 1st screen of the 1st region into 3rd screen automatically, if 2nd gesture is detected, generating merged screen including at least one portion of the 3rd screen of the 1st region and at least one portion of the 2nd screen of the 2nd region, and displaying the merged screen on 3rd region. |
| US09197728B2 |
Firmware upgrade function for deskphone electronic protocol converter
The invention relates to a method of programming a processing unit by firmware in a protocol converter for providing first data received from a telephone device in accordance with a first protocol to a headset system in accordance with a second protocol and for providing second data received from the headset system in accordance with the second protocol to the telephone in accordance with the first protocol, the operation of the protocol converter being controlled by the processing unit. The invention further relates to a protocol converter, such as an Electronic Hook Switch adapter, for providing first data received from a telephone device in accordance with a first protocol to a headset system in accordance with a second protocol and for providing second data received from the headset system in accordance with the second protocol to the telephone device in accordance with the first protocol. The headset system provides firmware to the protocol converter in accordance with the second protocol. |
| US09197726B2 |
Combination mobile phone case and electronic cigarette
A mobile phone case comprising: a protective case element designed for coupling to a mobile phone via a fiction fit; a mobile phone power port for conductively coupling the case element with the mobile phone; a housing embedded within the case element; a rechargeable battery located within the housing and conductively coupled to the mobile phone power port; an external power port conductively coupled to the battery, the external power port for accepting power so as to recharge the battery; an electronic cigarette element embedded within the housing and comprising a heating element, conductively coupled to the battery, for heating a liquid into a vapor and a tubular element designed to allow a user to suck said vapor through said tubular element; and a processor configured for routing power from the battery to the mobile phone power port and to the heating element of the electronic cigarette element. |
| US09197724B2 |
Wire arrangement structure and electronic device using the same
A wire arrangement structure includes a first fixed rod, a second fixed rod, a movable rod, a wire, and an elastic member. The elastic member is connected to the movable rod. When the second fixed rod slides relative to the first fixed rod, the elastic member provides a force to move the movable rod to adjust the length of the wire. |
| US09197720B2 |
Deployment and hosting of platform independent applications
Method, system, and programs for determining a point of execution for applications that are interoperable across different device platforms is disclosed. An application capable of being executed in a plurality of different device formats is deployed to a client device. The application is hosted for execution at a server. A dynamic determination is made regarding whether a request to the application should be executed by the client device or the server. |
| US09197717B2 |
Server-side scheduling for media transmissions according to client device states
A system embodying the subject disclosure includes a memory to store instructions. A controller coupled to the memory, responsive to executing the instructions, can perform operations including obtaining performance characteristics for segments of a network; the segments are selected based on a trajectory of a mobile device coupled to the network. The controller can predict future transport and segment characteristics based on the performance characteristics. The controller can receive a request from the mobile device for transmission of a data packet over the network. The controller can monitor a power state of the mobile device and predict a future power state of the mobile device. The controller can determine a target time for fulfilling the request, based on the future power state and the future transport and segment characteristics. The controller can schedule a time for fulfilling the request according to the target time. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09197711B1 |
Systems and methods for detecting the presence of web tracking
A computer-implemented method for detecting the presence of web tracking may include identifying an Internet resource that may be retrieved from an initial domain and that may trigger a hypertext transfer protocol request directed to an additional domain that may be different from the initial domain, determining, based on a difference between the initial domain and the additional domain, that the hypertext transfer protocol request may include a third-party hypertext transfer protocol request, identifying a hypertext transfer protocol cookie that may be sent from the additional domain in response to the third-party hypertext transfer protocol request and determining, based on an expiration date of the hypertext transfer protocol cookie and the difference between the initial domain and the additional domain, that the hypertext transfer protocol cookie may include a third-party tracking cookie. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09197706B2 |
Apparatus and method for bundling application services with inbuilt connectivity management
An apparatus and method for bundling application services with inbuilt connectivity management comprising launching a software application; detecting a need for connectivity to use the service associated with the software application; establishing connectivity; determining whether connectivity is established; and executing the service associated with the software application utilizing the established connectivity. |
| US09197705B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting driving using wireless communication network and system thereof
A method of allowing a local Driving Assistance Service (DAS) center within a base station to provide a DAS to a vehicle by using a communication network is provided. The method includes receiving, from a vehicle terminal, local DAS information and surrounding information of the vehicle, generating Analyzed-local (A-local) DAS information by using the received local DAS information, and transmitting, when the DAS is provided by using the generated A-local DAS information, the A-local DAS information to the vehicle terminal. |
| US09197702B2 |
System for and method for media upload multithreading for large file uploads
Exemplary embodiments provide a system and method for uploading large files to a remote server faster. The system and method divide the file into smaller file chunks and utilize parallel thread execution to prepare and upload the file chunks to the remote server. The uploading may further utilize a plurality of HTTP connections. Once all chunks have been uploaded to the remote server, the chunks may be consolidated into the original file by using content tokens and chunk numbers associated with the uploaded chunks. |
| US09197700B2 |
Keychain syncing
Some embodiments provide non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program which when executed by at least one processing unit of a device synchronizes a set of keychains stored on the device with a set of other devices. The device and the set of other devices are communicatively coupled to one another through a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. The program receives a modification to a keychain in the set of keychains stored on the device. The program generates an update request for each device in the set of other devices in order to synchronize the set of keychains stored on device with the set of other devices. The program transmits through the P2P network the set of update requests to the set of other devices over a set of separate, secure communication channels. |
| US09197699B2 |
Load-balancing cluster
A load-balancing cluster includes a switch having a plurality of ports; and a plurality of servers connected to at least some of the plurality of ports of the switch. Each server is addressable by the same virtual Internet Protocol (VIP) address. Each server in the cluster has a mechanism constructed and adapted to respond to connection requests at the VIP by selecting one of the plurality of servers to handle that connection, wherein the selecting is based, at least in part, on a given function of information used to request the connection; and a firewall mechanism constructed and adapted to accept all requests for the VIP address for a particular connection only on the server that has been selected to handle that particular connection. The selected server determines whether it is responsible for the request and may hand it off to another cluster member. |
| US09197694B2 |
Providing on-demand access to services in a wide area network
An integration services network is described which is operable to facilitate access to a composite service by a plurality of users having associated client machines. Each of the users is associated with one of a plurality of independent enterprises. At least one data store has a directory stored therein which maps an identity for each of the users to a policy framework which defines access information relating to a plurality of services. At least one computing device is operable to set up the composite service by integrating operation of the plurality of services. The plurality of services are associated with and controlled by a plurality of independent service providers. |
| US09197692B2 |
Remote application invocation system and method
A server generates a unique URL corresponding to a data payload, provides that unique URL for exposure to mobile devices of different types, and when the server receives a request for the unique URL from a mobile device, the server uses a payload-type to mobile-device-type mapping to generate a device-type-specific URI that includes the data payload, formatted for the device type. The server delivers the device-type-specific URI to the mobile device to invoke an application for handling the data payload. |
| US09197691B2 |
System and method for latency measurement at each network element participating as an RTP relay in a telecommunication network
A real-time transport packet creating system and method are provided for use with a source terminal, a destination terminal and a real-time transport packet. The real-time transport packet creating device includes a receiver, a latency generator and a transmitter. The receiver can receive the real-time transport packet from the source terminal at a first time. The latency generator can generate an output real-time transport packet. The transmitter can transmit the output real-time transport packet to the destination terminal at a second time. The output real-time transport packet is based on the received real-time transport packet, the first time and the second time. |
| US09197690B2 |
Method and system for transmitting content
This disclosure provides systems and methods for transmitting content to users. In some implementations, a system can include a session manager operable to initiate a unicast session with an end user device over a dedicated channel and to transmit a unicast multimedia stream associated with the unicast session. The unicast multimedia stream can include service identifier that is recognizable to the end user. The system can also include an interface operable to receive a transmission command that includes the end-user recognizable service identifier, and to transmit the content associated with the multimedia stream to the end user device in response to the content transmission command. |
| US09197686B1 |
Backfill of video stream
Data streaming includes: sending a first media data stream to a destination; detecting that a portion of the first media data stream needs to be resent; and sending to the destination a second media data stream. The second media data stream comprises media data that corresponds to at least some of the portion of the first media data stream; and in the second media data stream, data that is obtained more recently is resent prior to data that is obtained less recently. |
| US09197685B2 |
Systems and methods for fast video startup using trick play streams
Systems and methods for fast startup of video playback in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes identifying a location within the first video stream at which to commence playback, identifying a frame of video in the second video stream that corresponds with the identified location in the first video stream, requesting the identified frame of video in the second video stream, requesting and buffering video from the first video stream starting at the identified location, decoding the identified frame of video in the second video stream, displaying the decoded frame of video in the second video stream while buffering video from the first video stream, decoding video from the first video stream, and displaying the decoded video from the first video stream when the first video stream is sufficiently buffered for continuous playback. |
| US09197684B2 |
Streaming media delivery composite
A system delay factor associated with a segment file of a streaming media product is determined. A file transfer delay factor associated with the segment file of the streaming media product is also determined. A media delivery composite is determined for the segment file of the streaming media product based upon, at least in part, the system delay factor associated with the segment file and the file transfer delay factor associated with the segment file. |
| US09197683B2 |
Interference management for dynamic uplink and downlink configuration
An apparatus and method for managing interference to facilitate allocation of a dynamic uplink and downlink configuration are disclosed herein. Determining whether a first cell causes interference less than a pre-determined threshold level to one or more neighboring cells or whether flexible subframes of radio frames associated with the one or more neighboring cells operate as downlink subframes. In response to the determining condition being met, allocating a first flexible subframe of a first radio frame associated with the first cell to operate as a downlink subframe at normal transmit power level. In response to the determining condition not being met, allocating the first flexible subframe of the first radio frame associated with the first cell as one of a downlink subframe operating in a reduced transmit power level or as an uplink subframe. |
| US09197682B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for generating a video stream of a mapped route
A method, apparatus and computer program product for generating a video stream of a mapped route, where the video stream provides a perspective of traveling from one location to another at a dynamic perceived speed and from a dynamic perceived viewing angle. Metadata associated with images may provide context to waypoints along a mapped route, such as identification of landmarks or points of interest. Other context may be provided based on the use of the video stream. The perceived speed of movement along the route and perceived viewing angles in various portions of the route may therefore be altered based on the context to allow a user the chance to adequately view areas of interest. |
| US09197681B2 |
Interaction using content
A method, computer-readable medium and system for interacting using content are disclosed. A web response may be executed on a first computer system and/or another computer system associated with the first computer system responsive to the initiation of a call over a voice channel between the first computer system and a second computer system. The web response may include automatically downloading content over a data channel so that it can be automatically presented at the first computer system and/or another computer system associated with the first computer system. The content may include video, audio, information from a social networking website, a blog, other content, some combination thereof, etc. In this manner, more and/or different types of content can be used to communicate with callers by causing content to be presented in conjunction with communication over a voice channel. |
| US09197673B1 |
System and method for reception and transmission optimization of secured video, image, audio, and other media traffic via proxy
A proxy server may receive from a user endpoint, a secure connection request to a second server. The secure connection request may comprise a globally unique identifier registered for the endpoint. The proxy server may intercept, from the user endpoint, a first secure handshake with the second server. The proxy server may initiate a second secure handshake with the second server based on the intercepted first secure handshake. The proxy server may intercept from the second server a second secure handshake response comprising a server certificate with metadata. The proxy server may generate a second certificate using the metadata and signed with a first certificate authority associated with the globally unique identifier registered for the endpoint. The proxy server may transmit to the user endpoint a modified response to the secure connection request secured with the second certificate to establish a proxied secure connection. |
| US09197672B2 |
Method and system for selective application of device policies
A method and system for selective application of device policies are described herein. The method can include the step of receiving one or more policies from a messaging server in which the policies are intended to be indiscriminately applied to a computing device. Out of the received policies, one or more container policies that are to be applied to a container of the computing device can be identified. The identified container policies can be applied to the container such that the identified container policies may be prevented from being indiscriminately applied to the computing device. |
| US09197666B2 |
Method and apparatus for mitigating distributed denial of service attacks
An approach for mitigating distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks includes assigning a set of temporary network addresses to a hostname for a finite period and assigning one or more other sets of temporary network addresses to the hostname in one or more following finite periods, responding to a hostname lookup request based on the set of temporary network addresses, the one or more other sets of temporary network addresses, or a combination thereof that are active, responding to a network address lookup request based on at least one of the set of temporary network addresses and the one or more other sets of temporary network addresses that is associated with a current one of the finite period or the one or more following finite periods, and retiring the set of temporary network addresses, the one or more sets of temporary network addresses, or a combination thereof after a configurable number of finite periods, wherein no further network address or hostname lookup request is served based on the retired set of temporary network addresses, the retired one or more sets of temporary network addresses, or a combination thereof. |
| US09197664B1 |
System and method for malware containment
Systems and methods for malware containment on connection is provided. In exemplary embodiments, digital devices are quarantined for a predetermined period of time upon connection to the communication network. When a digital device is quarantined, all network data transmitted by the digital device is temporarily directed to a controller which then analyzes the network data to identify unauthorized activity and/or malware within the newly connected digital device. An exemplary method to contain malware comprises detecting a digital device upon connection with a communication network, temporarily redirecting network data from the digital device, and analyzing the network data to identify malware within the digital device. |
| US09197663B1 |
Methods and systems for identifying potential enterprise software threats based on visual and non-visual data
Visual and non-visual elements associated with the candidate files are analyzed to determine whether the candidate files are malware. A visual element (e.g., icon) is extracted from the candidate file, and the icon's image is compared to a group of reference images associated with trusted entities. If the icon's image matches a reference image, the candidate file may be malware masquerading as trusted software. The non-visual elements associated with the candidate file are used, in combination with the visual elements, to determine whether the candidate file is malware. |
| US09197659B2 |
Security scanning system and method
The present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium, method and system for determining security vulnerabilities for a plurality of application programs used to provide television services to a customer device over a communications network. The method includes running a first scanning program against a first application program relating to a control panel for the customer device; running a second scanning program against a second application program that provides Internet content to the customer device; running a third scanning program against a third application program that relates to a component management system of customer premises equipment; and correlating security vulnerabilities identified utilizing the first, second, and third scanning programs. |
| US09197657B2 |
Internet protocol address distribution summary
Examples disclosed herein relate to an Internet Protocol address distribution summary. A processor may determine a statistical distribution between at least one portion of bits of Internet Protocol addresses accessing a website and determine a summary value representative of the degree of change within the statistical distribution. The processor may output the summary value. |
| US09197656B2 |
Computer program, method, and system for preventing execution of viruses and malware
Preventing execution of viruses or malware on a computing device includes compiling an inventory recordation of legitimate applications and terminating execution of any application not on the inventory recordation while in a protected mode. An instantaneous and unprompted inventory recordation known as a “snapshot” can be performed by the computer program. A user may further train the computer program to identify legitimate applications routinely accessed by the user and to be updated to the inventory recordation, such that the inventory recordation is personal to the user. After training, the protected mode can be activated. A smart icon graphical user interface is utilized, that automatically toggles between locked and unlocked depending on if the computing device is at risk or not, to place the computing device in a protected or unprotected mode. |
| US09197652B2 |
Method for detecting anomalies in a control network
A method for monitoring and controlling, industrial or building automation to detect anomalies in a control network, wherein a technology of an intrusion detection system (IDS) is configured to analyze a time sequence and time intervals of correct messages in the network traffic and to use the messages to train an anomaly detection system. Detecting a time sequence and a rhythm of correct messages allows for the detection of malfunctions or manipulations of devices and attacks that are performed using regular monitoring or control stations that have been taken over by attackers or that are defect, and that cannot be detected using content-based methods or by a considerable increase of data traffic. An additional security barrier is thus provided that can continue monitoring and protecting a technical unit from possible acts of sabotage, even if the control network of the technical unit has already been corrupted. |
| US09197648B2 |
System and method for verifying the identity of an internet user
A system and method for verifying the identity of an Internet user are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a central computing system is configured for receiving and processing data related to the user. Using a computing device in communication with the computing system, a user account is created containing the user's basic information, including an email address belonging to the user. Upon validating the user's email address, the system obtains the user's name, address and last four digits of their social security number and, using that information, attempts to gather additional information related to the user from an at least one consumer records database in communication with the computing system. The user is then presented with an at least one identity verification question based on the additional information gathered. Upon the user correctly answering an acceptable percentage of the verification questions, the user's identity is considered to be verified. |
| US09197647B2 |
Integrity checking of a client device in a networked computer environment
Integrity checking a remote client includes generating integrity services configured to perform integrity checks on the client when executed thereon, and downloading a set of the generated services to the client. The integrity checking also includes receiving respective integrity check results from the downloaded services and performing respective integrity tests on each downloaded service based in part on the integrity check results received from that service. The integrity checking further includes replacing the set of downloaded services with a new set of services that perform same integrity tests as the replaced set of downloaded services if any downloaded service fails the respective integrity test performed thereon. |
| US09197646B2 |
Verifying source of email
A system is configured to generate an email with a main hyperlink and a verification hyperlink; transmit the email to an email account of a user; receive an indication of a selection of the verification hyperlink; and transmit a confirmation message to a recipient device of the user when the verification hyperlink is selected. |
| US09197642B1 |
Token-based billing model for server-side rendering service
A token-based billing model for delivering server-side rendered applications to remote users. A token represents a right to access a server-side rendered application. Each remote user is associated with one or more tokens. When a given token expires, the set of tokens associated with a user is decremented. The rate at which tokens expire are modulated based on aggregate load across the resources of the server-side rendered application provider, as well as the individual loads attributable to each of the users. |
| US09197637B2 |
Method of comparing private data without revealing the data
Disclosed in this specification is a method and program storage device for comparing two sets of private data without revealing those private data. If the comparison deems the two data sets sufficiently similar, helper data may be provided to permit reconstruction of one of the private data sets without transmission of that private data set. |
| US09197630B2 |
Automated certificate management
A certificate management system provides automated management of certificate lifecycles and certificate distribution. Rather than depend upon an administrator to manually distribute and manage certificates, the system self-generates certificates, distributes the certificates to appropriate servers or other parties, and transitions from old certificates to new certificates in a well-defined manner that avoids breaking functionality. After generating one or more certificates, the system securely shares certificates in a way that parties that use them can find the new certificates without an administrator manually distributing the certificates. When it is time to update certificates, the system generates new certificates and shares the new certificates in a similar way. During a transition period, the system provides a protocol by which both old and new certificates can be used to perform authenticated access to resources, so that the transition from an old to a new certificate does not break services. |
| US09197629B2 |
Remote direct memory access authentication of a device
An approach is provided in which a server receives a first request from a client over a command port connection. The server, in turn, sends a first phase authentication token to the client over the command port and receives a second request from the client over a management port connection. In response, the server sends a second phase authentication token to the client over the management port connection, which the server receives back from the client over the command port connection. In turn, the server authenticates the client to utilize the command port connection accordingly. |
| US09197628B1 |
Data leak protection in upper layer protocols
Methods and systems for Data Leak Prevention (DLP) in a private network are provided. According to one embodiment, information is received from an administrator (i) defining a DLP rule to be applied to packets associated with an upper layer protocol and (ii) defining an action to take when a condition associated with the rule is satisfied. The rule includes a regular expression and/or a string that is configured to detect existence of sensitive information. A packet originated by a host device is received. The packet is determined to be associated with the upper layer protocol. A command, request or method of the protocol is identified that is specified by or represented by the packet. The packet is scanned for sensitive information based on the rule. When the scanning results in a conclusion that sensitive information is contained within the packet, then the defined action is performed. |
| US09197625B2 |
Cloud-based device information storage
Device information for each of multiple devices associated with a user account is maintained by a cloud service. The device information can include credential information allowing the device to be accessed by other ones of the multiple devices, remote access information indicating how the device can be accessed by other ones of the multiple devices on other networks, and property information including settings and/or device drivers for the device. The device information for each of the multiple devices is made available to other ones of the multiple devices, and can be used by the multiple devices to access one another and provide a consistent user experience across the multiple devices. |
| US09197624B2 |
Using clock drift, clock skew, and network latency to enhance machine identification
Methods and systems for authenticating a user device employ a database of global network latencies categorized and searchable by location and calendar date-time of day usage, providing network latency by geography and by time. The database is constructed using voluminous daily data collected from a world-wide clientele of users who sign in to a particular website. Accuracy of the latency data and clock skew machine identification is made practical and useful for authentications using a service provider-proprietary, stable reference clock, such as an atomic clock, so that internal clock jitter of a service provider performing authentications does not affect the network latency time and clock skew identification of user devices. Increased authentication confidence results from using the database for correcting network latency times and user device signatures generated from the clock skew identifications and for cross checking the authentication using comparisons of initial registration to current sign in data. |
| US09197623B2 |
Multiple resource servers interacting with single OAuth server
A framework, which conforms to the OAuth standard, involves a generic OAuth authorization server that can be used by multiple resource servers in order to ensure that access to resources stored on those resource servers is limited to access to which the resource owner consents. Each resource server registers, with the OAuth authorization server, metadata for that resource server, indicating scopes that are recognized by the resource server. The OAuth authorization server refers to this metadata when requesting consent from a resource owner on behalf of a client application, so that the consent will be of an appropriate scope. The OAuth authorization server refers to this metadata when constructing an access token to provide to the client application for use in accessing the resources on the resource server. The OAuth authorization server uses this metadata to map issued access tokens to the scopes to which those access tokens grant access. |
| US09197620B2 |
Information processing device and information processing method
An information processing device includes a reception unit and a control unit. The reception unit receives an access request including identification information of a transmission source from a terminal. The control unit acquires user information that is information about a user using the terminal based on the identification information included in the access request. |
| US09197617B1 |
Client device connectivity with integrated business rules
Applications executing on mobile client devices may access remote resources via network connections. Operational capabilities and financial costs of these connections may differ. Developers, network administrators, and other parties may wish to moderate usage of various available conditions to conform to business rules. Connectivity information including one or more network grants are integrated into an application received from a developer at ingestion by an application management server, which accesses those business rules. The client devices may coordinate with a proxy server to provide additional controls. Networking public interfaces provide the developer with a simplified pathway for development of applications which use network connections, particularly on mobile devices. |
| US09197609B2 |
Method, device and system for protecting multimedia data of multimedia message
The present disclosure provides a method, device and system for protecting multimedia data of a multimedia message. By performing digital watermark encryption of the multimedia data in the multimedia message at a sender of the multimedia message and performing digital watermark decryption of the multimedia data in the multimedia message at a receiver of the multimedia message, the encryption protection over the multimedia data in the multimedia message is strengthened, thus implementing the protection over an intellectual property of a user of a terminal, and improving the level and capacity of protection over the intellectual property of the user. |
| US09197605B2 |
System and method for controlled access to up-to-date personal information
A method and system for controlling a recipient's access to a user's information. The method includes receiving a plurality of contact information, registration information and access information from the user. Only person's knowing the user's registration information can update the contact and access information of the user. The contact information entered by a user is about that user. The access information defines accessible sets of contact information to be made accessible to recipients. A telephone exchange is associated with each recipient; and a local server is associated with each telephone exchange. The accessible set of information is stored in the local server for access by the recipient. The system handles updates to information on the local servers when a user updates their contact information. The system can automatically place calls for a recipient to a user that has granted the recipient access to a number for communicating with the user. |
| US09197599B1 |
Integrated business system for web based telecommunications management
The specification discloses a method of doing business over the public Internet, particularly, a method which enables access to legacy management tools used by a telecommunications enterprise in the management of the enterprise business to the enterprise customer, to enable the customer to more effectively manage the business conducted by the customer through the enterprise, this access being provided over the public Internet. This method of doing business is accomplished with one or more secure web servers which manage one or more secure client sessions over the Internet, each web server supporting secure communications with the client workstation; a web page backplane application capable of launching one or more management tool applications used by the enterprise. Each of the management tool applications provide a customer interface integrated within said web page which enables interactive Web/Internet based communications with the web servers; each web server, supports communication of messages entered via the integrated customer interface to one or more remote enterprise management tool application servers which interact with the enterprise management tool applications to provide associated management capabilities to the customer. |
| US09197598B2 |
MAC address distribution
According to an example, in a method for MAC address distribution by an apparatus, a MAC address is received in the apparatus, in which the apparatus includes a data store on which is stored a local slice set containing a plurality of slices, and in which each of the plurality of slices is assigned a respective slice identifier. An address value for the received MAC address may be determined and a correlation between the determined address value and one of the slice IDs of the plurality of slices may be identified. In addition, the received MAC address may be stored in the slice having the slice identifier identified as being correlated to the determined address value. |
| US09197595B1 |
Evaluating IP-location mapping data
Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a first, a second and a third network address mapping. The method includes mapping each of the network addresses in the first, second and third network address mappings to respective first, second and third locations. The method includes determining, for each of the network addresses in the first, second and third network address mappings, location agreements. The method includes determining a first and second network address mapping agreement rate, a first and third network address mapping agreement rate, and a second and third network address mapping agreement rate, respectively based on location agreements determined for each of the network addresses. The method includes determining a confidence level associated with the first network address mapping based on the agreement rates. |
| US09197593B2 |
Social data associated with bookmarks to multimedia content
Members of a social network service may share real-time comments about multimedia content they are viewing. The comments are attached to bookmarks that allow other members to view the video and add to the discussion thread. |
| US09197592B2 |
Social network service system, image display method, and computer-readable storage medium
A social network service system includes a server wherein a terminal of a member is connectable to the server. The server includes a memory configured to store a home screen includes top image data for each member, a selector configured to select a type of an image processing, and a processor configured to process, at a predetermined timing, the top image data of a member in accordance with the type of the image processing which is selected by the selector. |
| US09197591B2 |
Method and system for validating email from an internet application or website
An improved method for controlling a computer device user's email accessibility to an email receiver includes the steps of: (a) providing software configured to generate a unique email address link for use by the email sender, (b) configuring this email address link to include code that causes any email message created by the email sender to have included within it a token which identifies the email sender and causes the email server handling this message to communicate with the server on which the software is running for the purpose of receiving authorization from this server as to whether to deliver the email message to its intended receiver, and (c) establishing a set of rules which seeks to restrict the email message of spammers from being authorized for delivery to the email receiver. |
| US09197588B2 |
Method of supporting third-party applications in an instant messaging system and a system using the same
A mobile terminal system for providing instant messaging to a third-party application includes a mobile terminal having one or more processors and memory for storing one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the mobile terminal to perform the instructions of acquiring an application ID (appid) and a software development kit (SDK) from an instant messaging open platform by the third-party application; registering the third-party application at the instant messaging open platform using the acquired appid and SDK when the third-party application initiates; providing an open application programming interface (API) to the third-party application via the instant messaging open platform; and transmitting information between the instant messaging open platform and the third-party application via the open API. |
| US09197580B2 |
Dynamic redistribution of percent allocated calls during outages
Work assignment methods and systems are provided that dynamically redistribute a percent allocation of contacts after an outage at a contact center. In general, a work assignment mechanism, upon receiving information that a contact center is removed from a system of available contact centers, dynamically recalculates a percentage allocation of each available contact center in the system. Subsequently received contacts are distributed among the available contact centers in accordance with the recalculated percentage allocation. When a contact center is returned to the system from an outage, the percentage allocation of contacts can be incrementally increased to the returning contact center. |
| US09197578B2 |
High-availability remote-authentication dial-in user service
A method may include receiving, in a first server from a second server, a request for a service of a network by a device; sending, from the first server to the second server, a response to the request for the service to permit access to the service; and sending state information about the response to a third server for storage in a database. |
| US09197577B2 |
Policy control method and system, and relevant apparatus
The present invention discloses a policy control method and system, and a relevant apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a policy decision apparatus, a control policy request sent by a gateway device, where the control policy request carries a subscriber identifier; sending, by the policy decision apparatus, a session request message carrying the subscriber identifier to a charging system; receiving, by the policy decision apparatus, a response message; receiving, by the policy decision apparatus, a notification message sent through an established session by the charging system, and generating a service data flow control policy according to information of an occurred charging relevant event; and sending, by the policy decision apparatus, the control policy to the gateway device. The method may implement, based on charging relevant information of a subscriber, policy control of a data flow, flexibility is desirable, and service experience of the subscriber is good. |
| US09197564B2 |
Methods and apparatus for load balancing across member ports for traffic egressing out of a port channel
Methods and apparatus for load balancing across member ports for traffic egressing out of a port channel are provided herein. An example method according to one implementation may include: assigning a quantized value based on current load to each of the network ports in the port channel; receiving a data packet addressed to egress through the port channel; identifying a traffic flow with which the received data packet is associated; determining whether the identified traffic flow is a new traffic flow; and selecting one of the network ports in the port channel as an egress port. Selection of the egress port may be weighted according to the quantized value of each of the network ports in the port channel. |
| US09197562B2 |
Congestion control in packet data networking
A network element controls congestion in a link of a packet data network. A congested link is identified and a throttle rate is determined for one or more of the traffic groups traversing the congested link. The central controller determines the throttle rates using a weight of the group and the current traffic rate of the group through the link. The throttle rates are sent to switches to throttle traffic for each affected group. |
| US09197559B1 |
Adaptive streaming using non-local information
Methods, systems, and apparatuses can provide for adaptive streaming using non-local information. Non-local information identifying usage statistics associated with a network service group can be collected and used to derive session parameters associated with each of a plurality of sessions within the network service group. The non-local information can also be updated and the updated non-local information can be used to dynamically adjust the session parameters. |
| US09197557B2 |
Relay server and relay communication system
A relay server performs control to establish a routing session between the relay server and another routing relay server, control to establish a sub routing session between the relay server and a sub routing apparatus, and a packet forward control to forward a received packet via the routing session or the sub routing session. The packet forward control is such a control that, when a destination of a packet is associated with the sub routing apparatus of the relay server in a content stored in a sub address filter information storage unit, the packet is forwarded to the sub routing apparatus, while otherwise the packet is forwarded to the destination. |
| US09197556B2 |
Communications over multiple protocol interfaces in a computing environment
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for communications over multiple protocol interfaces in a computing environment is disclosed. The method includes: identifying a network interface for egress data packet communications; responsive to the identified network interface differing from a data packet fragmentation technique desired for the data packet communications, deriving fragmentation data according to the desired data packet fragmentation technique; generating an application layer header for the data packet communications; storing values of the fragmentation data in select fields of the application layer header; fragmenting the data packet communications according to the desired data packet fragmentation protocol; and transmitting the data packet communications including the application layer header over the identified network interface. |
| US09197555B2 |
Communication system, controller, node controlling method and program
A configuration of a communication system that is able to effect packet forwarding in accordance with an intended forwarding path even in an environment where a node represented by a Layer-2 switch (L2SW) and a node represented by an OpenFlow switch exist together, is provided. The communication system includes a first node, such as a Layer-2 switch, a plurality of second nodes, equivalent to the OpenFlow switches, and a controller. The controller causes the first node to receive a destination learning packet from one of the second nodes lying on the downstream side of the first node on a preset packet forwarding path. The destination learning packet has a node lying on the downstream side of the first node as a transmission source, so that the controller causes the first node to perform a packet forwarding operation in accordance with the packet forwarding path. |
| US09197553B2 |
Using a virtual internet protocol address to represent dually connected hosts in an internet protocol overlay network
Techniques are presented herein for distributing address information of host devices in a network. At a first router device, a packet is received from a first host device that is destined for a second host device. The first host device is dually-connected to the first router and a second router device. The second router device is part of a virtual port channel pair with the first router device. A message is sent to the second router device, the message indicating that the first host device is connected to the second router device. The packet is encapsulated with an overlay header and is sent to a third router device that is connected to the second host device. The encapsulated packet contains a Layer 2 address associated with the first host device and a Layer 3 address associated with the first host device. |
| US09197549B2 |
Server load balancer traffic steering
A network switch comprises a load balancer steering mechanism configured to receive a service request received from a load balancer and forward the service request to a first server in a load-balanced server cluster. The service request was initiated by a client and transmitted to the load balancer. The network switch is configured to receive return traffic transmitted by the first server, and to automatically steer the return traffic to the load balancer. |
| US09197540B2 |
Unregistered multicast packet forwarding to multicast router ports
A system includes a switching processor and switching logic. The switching processor is communicatively coupled to a virtual local area network (VLAN) and/or one or more ports. The switching logic is configured to: install a Multicast Control (MC) table on the switching processor, determine if multicast flooding is disabled in the switching processor; detect whether multicast routers are communicatively coupled to the port(s); install a multicast router flood entry on the MC table at least partially in response to detecting that at least one of the multicast routers is communicatively coupled to the port(s); receive at least one multicast packet at the switching processor; determine at least one received multicast packet destination based at least in part on the multicast router flood entry; and send at least one received multicast packet to the destination(s). Exemplary computer program products and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09197532B2 |
Communication analysis apparatus and communication analysis method
To obtain a communication analysis apparatus and a communication analysis method that are allowed to analyze a communication message and a waveform signal in such a manner that the communication message and waveform signal are associated with each other. A communication analysis apparatus includes division organization information addition means for adding, to a plurality of division data obtained by dividing data into predetermined lengths, division organization information 300 including a division unit 3011 for defining the predetermined lengths and a division position 3013 that is information about the start position and end position of division data in the data. |
| US09197523B2 |
Systems and methods for extracting media from network traffic having unknown protocols
Methods and systems for analyzing network traffic. An analysis system receives network traffic, which complies with a certain protocol. The received network traffic carries a data item, which may be of value to an analyst. In order to access the data item in question, the analysis system automatically identifies the media type of the data item, by processing the network traffic irrespective of the protocol. The analysis system identifies the media type irrespective of the protocol in order to avoid the computational complexity involved in decoding the protocol. |
| US09197522B1 |
Native storage data collection using multiple data collection plug-ins installed in a component separate from data sources of one or more storage area networks
A native data collection component may be implemented as a tool, appliance, application and/or utility, and including physical and/or logical implementations thereof. The native data collection component may be responsible for data orchestration, data collection, and aggregation and distribution of collected data from among multiple sources of a storage area network (SAN). The native data collection component is not required to be installed as an agent on any data source of the SAN, and the native data collection component may be independent of a particular data source and act as an independent performance characteristic collection mechanism. In an embodiment, the native data collection component may include three devices/sub-components: a data orchestration device, a data collection interface and a data aggregation and distribution device. Each sub-component may be service based and communication with each service may be done using state-less protocols. |
| US09197521B2 |
Cloud based logging service
Methods and systems are provided for providing access to a cloud-based logging service to a user without requiring user registration. According to one embodiment, access to a cloud-based logging service is integrated within a network security gateway appliance by automatically configuring access settings for the logging service without registering the gateway appliance with the logging service. A traffic or event log is transparently created within the logging service by making use of the automatically configured access settings and treating the logging service as a logging device. A request is received, by the gateway appliance, from an administrator to access data associated with the log. Responsive to the request, the data from the logging service is transparently retrieved, by the gateway appliance, and presented to the administrator via a graphical user interface (GUI) of the gateway appliance. |
| US09197514B2 |
Service level agreement based storage access
A method and a system implementing a service level agreement based storage access system. A service level agreement based storage access system presents a single interface for data storage consumers and translates generic data operation requests to data operation request specific to a storage server. The SLA based storage access system also monitors storage server performance and may throttle processes to ensure service level agreements are not violated. |
| US09197513B2 |
Computer implemented methods and apparatus for representing a portion of a user interface as a network address
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable storage media for representing a portion of a user interface of a web browser as a web address. In some implementations, a computing device receives a request to encode as a web address a portion of a user interface provided in a web browser at the computing device. The computing device then generates a web address to identify content of the portion of the user interface. The portion of the user interface represented by the web address includes a primary user interface component and one or more secondary user interface components associated with the primary user interface component. |
| US09197512B2 |
Optimizing content production based upon distribution channel metrics
Embodiments are directed towards determining an overall success of a plurality of features and recommending a subset of those features to a user for generating new content. For each feature that is associated with content, an overall success may be determined based on a success of each of a plurality of content that the feature is associated. A subset of the features may be displayed to the user—from which the user can select features to utilize for generating the new content. Based on the features selected by the user, the displayed features may be dynamically updated to include one or more recommended features. A feature may be recommended to the user based on a combination of the overall success of each selected feature and the overall success of each recommended feature. The selected features may be utilized to create the new content. |
| US09197510B2 |
Efficient network data dissemination
A method of efficiently disseminating various types of information throughout a mesh network is disclosed. Information is typically propagated through the network using a variety of protocols and messages. However, in one embodiment, a single message, communicates all of this information at once. The message includes data originating at the leader, which does not change as the messages are propagated through the network, as well as topology and link information that is created by the forwarding nodes. The data originating at the leader includes the identity of the leader node and a sequence number. Additionally, a version number is included by the leader which represents the state of the quasi-static information. Quasi-static information may include, for example, the identity of a node that has access to a central control system or the internet. This compact message format allows improved efficiency and use of the network. |
| US09197508B2 |
Time-based scheduling for tunnels computed by a stateful path computation element
In one embodiment, a path computation element (PCE) in a computer network receives one or more path computation requests (PCReqs), and records a time of each PCReq and the corresponding requested bandwidth. Based on this information, the PCE may determine a traffic profile of the computer network, and may augment a traffic engineering database (TED) with requested bandwidth according to time based on the traffic profile. As such, prior to a particular time, the PCE may determine placement of tunnels within the traffic profile for the particular time. |
| US09197506B2 |
System and method for SIEPON energy saving statistics
A system and method for Service Interoperability in Ethernet Passive Optical Network (SIEPON) energy saving statistics. Energy saving statistics can be collected from a plurality of subordinate nodes in a point-to-multipoint network through a mechanism that aggregates energy saving statistics as those energy saving statistics are reported upstream. Such aggregation of energy saving statistics can be advantageous in that the aggregated energy saving information can appear uncorrelated to individual subordinate nodes. Privacy concerns are thereby addressed. |
| US09197501B2 |
Zero-step auto-customization of mobile applications
In an embodiment, mobile application downloaded and installed in a mobile device is launched for the first time. The mobile application automatically locates a configuration server and connects automatically to the located configuration server. After connection is established with the configuration server, appropriate configuration parameters set is identified and automatically fetched to the mobile device. The fetched configuration parameters set is automatically applied to the mobile application. After applying the configuration parameters set, automatically authenticate the mobile application to an enterprise server. Thus, when the user of the mobile device launches the installed mobile application for the first time, the zero-step auto-customization noted above takes place without manual intervention. The user is thus able to use the mobile application in a normal manner subject to the configurations applied. |
| US09197500B2 |
Role based server installation and configuration
The described systems and methods are directed at configuring a server based on a selected role. An installation application is configured to install core components in a server where these core components enable the server to perform the basic functions of a network computing device. A role management application is configured to enable a system administrator to select a role for the server and to automatically determine software components associated with the selected role. The role management application is then configured to build the software components and install the components on the server. The role management application is further configured to configure the components for the selected role. The automated installation process performed by the role management application enables a server to be efficiently configured for a particular role without installing other unnecessary components unrelated to the role. |
| US09197499B2 |
Virtual server migration plan making method and system
The management software of virtual servers which collects the information on the configuration change conducted on the physical server, and simulates the state of the physical server after the configuration change is conducted. Thereafter, the simulated information is input to the compatibility check function to confirm the compatibility of the virtual server operation to the physical server changed in the configuration, and used for making the migration plan. |
| US09197498B2 |
Method for automatically applying access control policies based on device types of networked computing devices
Techniques for managing access control policies are described herein. According to one embodiment, access control policies (ACPs) and access control rules (ACRs) are downloaded from a management server to a network access device (NAD) over the Internet, where the network access device is one of a plurality of network access devices managed by the management server over the Internet. In response to a request from a network client device for entering a network, a device type of the network client device is detected and an ACP identifier is determined based on the device type using the ACRs An ACP is selected from the ACPs based on the ACP identifier and enforced against the network client device. At least the selected ACP is reported to the management server to distribute the selected ACP to other network access devices. |
| US09197496B2 |
Rule engine evaluation of context objects
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving a Diameter message at the DRA from an origin device; establishing a context object in response to receiving the Diameter message; evaluating a rule that includes a context object reference, wherein the evaluation includes accessing the context object based on the context object reference; and transmitting a message based on the evaluation of the rule. |
| US09197489B1 |
Live migration of virtual machines in a hybrid network environment
Technologies are described herein for performing live migration of virtual machines in a hybrid network environment. A network tunnel infrastructure is established between a first network and a second network. A secure communication channel is then created over the network tunnel infrastructure between a source host computer hosting the virtual machine and a target host computer. Live migration of the virtual machine from the source host computer to the target host computer is performed using the secure communication channel, and the network address of the virtual machine is transferred to the target host computer. The operation of the fully migrated virtual machine may then be resumed on the target host computer. |
| US09197484B2 |
Server infrastructure for digital plaque displaying certificates, associated documents and current status
A digital plaque that can display one of several stored certificates that can also retrieve updates to a displayed certificate when needed. The digital plaque is used to display a certificate and associated information. Typically the certificate displayed is one of an award, a recognition, a score card, a picture, a transcript, a document, a sales deed, a ticket, a poster, a document cover, a book cover, a patent application, a granted patent and a graduation record. A collection of such certificates is stored in memory and displayed when selected by a user. Status information and supporting documents associated with the selected certificate can be retrieved from a remote server and portions of the retrieved information can be displayed. |
| US09197479B2 |
Systems and methods to manage a queue of people requesting real time communication connections
Methods and apparatuses to provide services to people who wish to make connections for real time communication, such as live telephone conversation, chat, video conferencing, etc. In one embodiment, a method includes: presenting to a communicatee a plurality of requests for real time communication connections to the communicatee, the requests being received from a plurality of communicators; prioritizing the requests according to an input from the communicatee; and establishing a real time communication connection to the communicatee according to the prioritizing of the requests. |
| US09197478B2 |
Method and receiver for receiving a composite signal
A data processor selects a set of BOC correlations in accordance with a BOC correlation function for the sampling period if the primary amplitude exceeds or equals the secondary amplitude for the sampling period. An electronic data processor determines whether the receiver is operating in a steady-state mode by evaluating the detected primary amplitude. The data processor selects and/or processes a set of BOC correlations for the sampling period to track a carrier of the received composite signal if the receiver is operating in the steady-state mode. In one embodiment, the data processor forms a first code error using the selected BOC correlations with a first chip spacing to drive the code tracking. |
| US09197477B2 |
Apparatus and circuit for processing carrier aggregation
A circuit for processing Carrier Aggregation (CA) is provided. The circuit includes a plurality of Component Carrier (CC) processors, each CC processor configured to estimate a frequency offset for a related CC and to compensate the estimated frequency offset, a reference clock generator configured to generate a reference clock using a reference frequency offset as one of frequency offsets output from the plurality of CC processors, a plurality of reception Phase Lock Loop (PLL) units, each reception PLL unit configured to generate a reception carrier frequency for the related CC corresponding to the reference clock, and a plurality of transmission PLL units, each transmission PLL unit configured to generate a transmission carrier frequency for the related CC corresponding to the reference clock. |
| US09197472B2 |
Broadcast signal transmitter, broadcast signal receiver, and method for transceiving broadcast signals in broadcast signal transceivers
A broadcast signal receiver according to the present invention comprises: a demodulator for performing OFDM demodulation on a received broadcast signal including a frame for the delivery of a broadcast service: a frame demapper for outputting the frame, the frame including a preamble that contains first signaling information, and a plurality of link-layer-pipes (LLPs) that contain PLP data, second signaling information and third signaling information, with the PLP data including a base layer and an enhancement layer of the broadcast service; and a decoder for decoding the first signaling information, for decoding the second and third signaling information, and for selectively decoding the PLP data by using the third signaling information. |
| US09197467B2 |
Multiple protocol receiver
The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to methods and apparatus for providing a multi-protocol receiver for use in a radio frequency (RF) network. The receiver is designed to listen for multiple different packet preambles in parallel and, upon detection of a particular preamble, shift to demodulating the data portion of the packet using the single modulation technique associated with the particular preamble. Transmission of packets may be performed using a single radio frequency for all network devices or by frequency hopping techniques but using the same hopping pattern for all network devices. The receiver may be used with general communications networks or more specific applications, such as Smart Grid and AMI networks, and meshed networks of metrology devices. |
| US09197464B2 |
Reception circuit
The present invention discloses a reception circuit capable of enhancing accuracy of signal reception. The reception circuit includes a variable termination resistance unit, coupled to at least one channel, for utilizing at least one termination resistance corresponding to the at least one channel to perform impedance matching, a receiver, coupled to the at least one channel, for receiving a calibration signal to generate a digital calibration signal, and a data determination control unit, for comparing the digital calibration signal with a predefined data, to adjust the at least one termination resistance. |
| US09197463B2 |
On-board power line communication system
An on-board power line communication system that performs power line communication during charging and discharging of a battery prevents electromagnetic wave leakage from a power line from interfering with other on-board devices. A vehicle includes a PLC communication device that performs PLC communication using a charging cable that is connected to a battery, and an interference suppressor that prevents electromagnetic wave leakage from the charging cable, which accompanies PLC communication, from interfering with the operations of an on-board electronic device. The interference suppressor reduces electromagnetic wave leakage from the charging cable by reducing the output frequency of the PLC communication device or the value of current flowing through the charging cable while the on-board electronic device is performing a specific operation that will be affected by interference from PLC communication. |
| US09197458B1 |
Edge equalization via adjustment of unroll threshold for crossing slicer
A system and method for decision feedback equalization of a crossing slicer. A serial receiver includes a data slicer and a crossing slicer, and implements decision feedback equalization for the data slicer, with a plurality of data weights. The serial receiver also implements decision feedback equalization for the crossing slicer, using crossing weights that are interpolated between corresponding pairs of the data weights. The crossing weights may be formed by any suitable interpolation method, including linear interpolation, cubic interpolation, or spline interpolation. |
| US09197457B1 |
Method and apparatus for adaptive equalisation using particle swarm optimization for uplink SC-FDMA
A method and apparatus are provided for channel equalization in a communication system. The channel equalization method includes calculating, using processing circuitry, filter coefficients of an adaptive equalizer in a frequency domain using particle swarm optimization (PSO) and filtering the signal using the computed filter coefficients. |
| US09197455B2 |
Two stage adaptive equalizer for a batch receiver
A two stage adaptive filter for use in a batch receiver includes an equalizer filter having as inputs an acquired signal representing a batch of data points and an equalizer filter value. The filtered signal is batch processed to produce reference and data symbols, which symbols are input to a residual filter to generate iteratively over the batch an error value. The error value is convolved with the equalizer filter value to produce a new equalizer filter value for use by the equalizer filter when a next batch of data points is processed. |
| US09197454B2 |
Differential signal transmitters
A differential signal transmitter circuit includes an output driver circuit and a leakage current preventing circuit. The output driver circuit is configured to transmit a pair of differential signals according to a supply power. The leakage current preventing circuit is coupled to the supply power and configured to couple the supply power to the output driver circuit in a power on state and decouple the supply power from the output driver circuit in a power off state. |
| US09197453B2 |
Transmitter circuit and method for operating thereof
In various embodiments a transmitter circuit may include a first circuit configured to transmit data in a first data transmission mode, a second circuit configured to transmit data in a second data transmission mode and a switching circuit configured to control the first circuit and the second circuit to transmit data in the first data transmission mode or in the second data transmission mode. Further, a corresponding method for operating the transmitter circuit is provided. |
| US09197450B2 |
SS7 MAP/Lg+ to sip based call signaling conversion gateway for wireless VoIP
An SS7-based call protocol conversion gateway that translates between circuit-switched SS7 protocols and session initiation protocol (SIP) oriented protocol, allowing an E911 call initiated over a switched network to be routed by a VoIP network. The SS7-based call protocol conversion gateway provides a PSAP with MSAG quality (street address) information about a VoIP dual mode phone user without the need for a wireless carrier to invest in building out an entire VoIP core. Thus, wireless carriers may continue signaling the way they are today, i.e., using the J-STD-036 standard for CDMA and GSM in North America, yet see benefits of a VoIP network core, i.e., provision of MSAG quality location data to a PSAP. |
| US09197445B2 |
Method and system for using subjects in instant messaging sessions on a mobile device
A system and method are provided that incorporate subjects or subject lines into instant messaging sessions or conversations on a mobile device. During an instant messaging session, the user is provided with an option to specify a subject for at least the current portion of the session or for the entire session. The subject is proposed to the other users in the session, who can accept, ignore or modify the subject at their end. Multiple subjects can be specified for a single conversation if desired, and the subjects can be displayed with the contact in a message list. The instant messaging sessions may then be searched using search tools that are typically used for search email and other data messages. |
| US09197441B2 |
Method and system for service protection
A method and system for service protection based on the Dual Node Interconnection (DNI) protection structure in the transport network are provided. When creating a DNI protection group, a plurality of services are configured in one direction, wherein one is a working service, and the others are protection services; the multiple services have the same add node and drop node, but not exactly the same passed interconnection nodes; on each interconnection node of the add ring, two services in the DNI protection group through the local node to the drop ring are adapted as two services in a 1+1 protection group; on the drop node, services in the DNI protection group are adapted as two services in a 1+1 protection group transmitted from two directions of the drop ring; when a fault occurs, said interconnection node and drop node execute switching according to the 1+1 protection protocol. |
| US09197440B2 |
Method for a fast sensor system
The invention relates to a method for controlling a sensor system (10) for a vehicle (100), comprising at least one or two sensors (11, 12) which have respective detection regions (11b, 12b) and metrologically detect changes in these detection regions (11b, 12b) and emit them as measured signals (11a, 12a), a control unit (15), especially in the form of a microprocessing unit which is connected to the sensors (11, 12), the control unit (15) evaluating the measured signals (11a, 12a) and generating at least one control signal (16) based thereon, at least one memory (18) in which at least the last control signal (16) is stored, and an interface (19) via which the control unit (15) forwards at least the last control signal to an external control module (21). At least one measured signal (11a, 12a) of a sensor (11, 12) is detected by the control unit (15) in a number of measurement steps (11.1-4, 12.1-4) and the control unit (15) transmits at least the last control signal (16) to the external control module (21) via the interface (19) between the individual measurement steps (11.1-4, 12.1-4). |
| US09197438B2 |
Packet forwarding node
A packet forwarding node of a transport network performs a first packet forwarding mode in which received packets are processed and forwarded on a per-packet basis. The forwarding node performs a second packet forwarding mode when the node identifies a group of consecutive packets. The group of packets are destined for the same destination node of the transport network. The second packet forwarding mode comprises determining a forwarding treatment for the group of packets and forwarding the group of packets with the determined treatment. The forwarding is performed without processing the headers of at least some of the packets in the group. The group of consecutive packets is identified by a control packet preceding the group or by inter-packet signalling which indicates that the packet before the inter-packet signalling and the packet after the inter-packet signalling are to be treated as part of the same group. Packets which are determined to be received on transit channels can be forwarded without processing headers of individual packets. |
| US09197437B2 |
Home appliance, home appliance diagnostic system, and method
A home appliance, a home appliance diagnostic system, and an operation method are provided, which allow a user to easily perform smart diagnosis by image progress and simply operate an input device and to diagnose a status of a home appliance, by displaying setup of smart diagnosis in a menu image including characters and images and outputting explanation of progresses on a screen by stages in accordance with a set diagnosis method. |
| US09197436B2 |
Method and apparatus for using contents of wireless terminal in home network system
Provided is a method for using home network contents of a wireless terminal located outside a home network. The method includes transmitting bandwidth information and wireless terminal information to a contents storage device, when a home gateway receives a remote access request message including the bandwidth information from the wireless terminal; setting, by the home contents storage device, the bandwidth information as a filtering parameter for the wireless terminal; filtering, by the contents storage device, contents available for the wireless terminal and generating a contents list corresponding to the wireless terminal by using the filtering parameter, upon receiving a request for the contents list; and transmitting the generated contents list to the wireless terminal. |
| US09197429B1 |
Reducing size of multicast retry transactions
Disclosed are methods in which a source device that may multicast a message to a plurality of destination devices. The source device may receive an acknowledgement from less than all of the plurality of destination devices. Each acknowledgement may include an indication of the destination device from which the acknowledgement is received. A destination device may process the multicast message and generate an acknowledgement in response. In response to a time period subsequent to transmission of the multicast message, the source device may generate an updated message that indicates an acknowledgement status of each destination device associated with the group identifier from which an acknowledgement has been received. |
| US09197427B2 |
Methods and systems for screensharing
A user engaged in an online chat session with one or more other users can start a screen sharing session with the other users without having to leave the context of the online chat session. In an implementation, a chat window for the chat session includes a screen sharing button. The screen sharing button can be clicked to start a screen sharing session with the other chat participants. A system generated message is displayed within the chat windows of the other chat participants inviting them to view the remote screen. Upon accepting the invite, a viewer is launched to show the information being displayed on the remote screen. |
| US09197424B2 |
Inline power device for multiple inline formats
Techniques are provided for delivering power to powered devices. Power is received from an inline power device and the power is separated into multiple power distribution paths. The power is received at a connector jack comprising conductor pins configured to receive the power and data. A transceiver is configured to interface with the first portion and the second portion of the conductor pins of the connector jack. The power distribution paths are electrically isolated, and rectifying diodes are configured to interface with the conductor pins are also electrically isolated. The power is transmitted from the inline power device across the multiple power distribution paths. |
| US09197420B2 |
Using information in a digital certificate to authenticate a network of a wireless access point
A method and apparatus for establishing a wireless connection. A digital certificate having a second name is obtained by a processor unit in response to receiving a selection of a network using a first name broadcast by a wireless access point. A determination is made by the processor unit as to whether the digital certificate is valid. A determination is made by the processor unit as to whether the second name in the digital certificate matches the first name broadcast by the wireless access point. The processor unit establishes the wireless connection to the wireless access point in response to the digital certificate being valid and the second name in the digital certificate matching the first name broadcast by the wireless access point. |
| US09197416B2 |
Verification apparatus, verification program, and verification method
In a verification apparatus, a biometric information acquisition unit acquires a plurality of biometric information pieces from an object. A first verification unit calculates, as a verification score, the similarity between the biometric information piece and a verification information piece, and compares the calculated verification score with a first determination value to determine whether the biometric information piece matches the verification information piece. When the verification fails, a second verification unit performs verification on the plurality of biometric information pieces having a predetermined relationship, using the verification information piece and a second determination value which defines a less stringent criterion than the first determination value. The second verification unit compares the verification score with the second determination value, and determines that the match is confirmed when a plurality of biometric information pieces satisfy the criterion defined by the second determination value. |
| US09197414B1 |
Cryptographic protocol for portable devices
Embodiments are directed towards communicating using a mobile device that performs actions including. A mobile device may be provisioned with an access point such that a provisioning key and a provisioning token for each of the provisioned access points may be stored on the mobile device. The mobile device may be determined to be in the presence of a provisioned access point based on the provisioning key and an advertising nonce. The advertising nonce may be encrypted with the provisioning key. A communication channel between the mobile device and the access point may be established based on a session nonce, the advertising nonce, and the provisioning key. A session key may be generated based in part on the advertising nonce and a message counter. And, encrypted message packets that include a message and a message authentication tag may be communicated to the access point. |
| US09197409B2 |
Key derivation techniques
Systems and methods for authentication generate keys from secret credentials shared between authenticating parties and authenticators. Generation of the keys may involve utilizing specialized information that, as a result of being used to generate the keys, renders the generated keys usable for a smaller scope of uses than the secret credential. Further, key generation may involve multiple invocations of a function where each of at least a subset of the invocations of the function results in a key that has a smaller scope of permissible use than a key produced from a previous invocation of the function. Generated keys may be used as signing keys to sign messages. One or more actions may be taken depending on whether a message and/or the manner in which the message was submitted complies with restrictions of the a key's use. |
| US09197406B2 |
Key management using quasi out of band authentication architecture
To provide key management layered on a quasi-out-of-band authentication system, a security server receives a request for activation of a user interface window for a particular user from a network device via a communication channel. It then transmits an activation PIN to an out of band authentication system for forwarding to the user's telephone via a voice or text message. It next receives the previously transmitted PIN from the network device via the communication channel, and authenticates the user based on the received PIN. After authenticating the user, it establishes a secure, independent, encrypted communication channel between the user interface window and the security server on top of the original communication channel. It then generates and transmits to the user interface window and/or receives from the user interface window via the secure communication channel, key material and certificate material for public key and/or symmetric key cryptography based operations. |
| US09197399B2 |
Digital signal sampling method
A method for processing a received digital signal includes generating a clock signal used for sampling the received signal by comparator which compares the received signal to a reference. A phase shifter adjusts the phase of the first clock signal to maximize the vertical eye opening of the signal at the sampling time. The phase of the clock signal may be adjusted in a first direction and a measure of vertical eye opening of the signal compared to a previous measure. If the measure of vertical eye opening has increased the signal another phase adjustment may be made in the same direction whereas if the vertical eye opening of the signal has decreased a further phase adjustment in the opposite direction may be made. |
| US09197393B2 |
Multi-transceiver wireless communication device and methods for adaptive multi-band communication
Embodiments of a multi-transceiver wireless communication device and methods for adaptive multi-band communication are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the multi-transceiver wireless communication device is configurable for half-duplex operation and for asymmetrical full-duplex operation on two non-interfering channels. In some embodiments, a contention-based channel access procedure may be performed to attempt to gain access to both a primary channel and an auxiliary channel. A primary transceiver and an auxiliary transceiver may be configured for asymmetrical full-duplex operation when access to both the primary channel and the auxiliary channel is granted. One of the transceivers may be configured for half-duplex operation when access to only one of the channels is granted. During asymmetrical full-duplex operation, the primary transceiver may be configured to communicate data packets using the primary channel, and the auxiliary transceiver may be configured to communicate control packets using an auxiliary channel. |
| US09197384B2 |
Method and device for uplink resource allocation
A method for transmitting an uplink signal by a device in a wireless communication system, the method including receiving a control channel signal including a resource allocation (RA) field; and transmitting an uplink signal according to the control channel signal. A size of the RA field is represented by the following expression MAX (RASizeA, RASizeB). RASizeA is a first number of bits for indicating a resource indication value (RIV) corresponding to a starting resource block (RB) and a length of contiguously allocated RBs. RASizeB is a second number of bits for indicating a combinatorial index r corresponding to 4 indexes, and the 4 indexes are used to indicate a start resource block group (RBG) index and an end RBG index of a first RB set and a start RBG index and an end RBG index of a second RB set. |
| US09197380B2 |
Repeater nodes in shared media networks
In one embodiment, a repeater node in a shared media network may intercept a shared media transmission from a first node to a second node. Once a shared media transmission is intercepted, the repeater node may determine whether the second node returns an acknowledgement (ACK) to the first node. If the second node does not return an ACK to the first node, the repeater node repeats the shared media transmission to the second node. Also, according to one or more additional embodiments of the disclosure, when receiving an ACK at the repeater node from the second node in response to the repeated shared media transmission, the repeater node may also forward the ACK from the second node to the first node. |
| US09197379B2 |
Methods and apparatus for modified PHICH
Techniques provide additional Hybrid-ARQ indication resources for LTE TDD subframes that are normally without conventional LTE PHICH resources or that have too few LTE PHICH resources. In some embodiments, a modified PHICH is created using unused REGs in the control region of the downlink subframe. In others, a modified PHICH resides within the resources of an AL=1 PDCCH, and is formed using encoding and modulation processes that differ from normal PDCCH processing. In other embodiments, the PUSCH HARQ feedback bits are carried by a conventional LTE PDCCH, which is distinguished from other PDCCHs by scrambling it with a new type of RNTI: HARQ indicator Radio-network temporary identifier (HI-RNTI). In still other embodiments, the modulation symbols of PHICH are then placed on top of those normally reserved for PDCCHs. For such overlapped radio resources, the modulation symbols from the modified PHICH will replace those from normal PDCCHs for transmission. |
| US09197372B2 |
Enhanced node B and method for precoding with reduced quantization error
Embodiments of an enhanced Node B (eNB) and method for precoding with reduced quantization error are generally described herein. In some embodiments, first and second precoding-matrix indicator (PMI) reports may be received on an uplink channel and a single subband precoder matrix may be interpolated from precoding matrices indicated by both the PMI reports. Symbols for multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) beamforming may be precoded using the interpolated precoder matrix computed for single subband for a multiple user (MU)-MIMO downlink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) transmission. In some embodiments, each of the first and second PMI reports includes a PMI associated with a same subband that jointly describes a recommended precoder. |
| US09197369B2 |
HARQ-ACK feedback detection for an I/Q-multiplexed control channel
In a network that provides high-speed packet access, a mobile terminal is served by multiple activated serving cells which are grouped into cell groups. The mobile terminal monitors control channel transmissions to detect whether there are any transmissions for the mobile terminal from the activated serving cells for each cell group and provides feedback to a primary serving cell. When no transmission is detected from serving cells of a particular cell group, the mobile terminal may transmit feedback information explicitly indicating that no transmission is detected for that cell group. Alternatively, the mobile terminal may withhold transmitting feedback for that cell group and increases the power for transmitting the feedback information for cell groups in which transmissions were detected. |
| US09197363B2 |
Method and device for receiving downlink signal
The present invention relates to A METHOD AND A DEVICE FOR RECEIVING A DOWNLINK SIGNAL IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. More specifically, the method of the present invention comprises the following steps: receiving first control information for downlink scheduling in the first slot of a resource block pair, wherein the first control information includes allocation information on at least one resource unit; receiving a data in the second slot of the resource block pair, when the allocation information on the resource unit having the resource block pair with the first control information has a first value; and attempting to detect second control information for uplink scheduling in the second slot of the resource block pair, when the allocation information on the resource unit having the resource block pair with the first control information has a second value. |
| US09197361B2 |
Sending arrangement and method for transmitting signals
On the basis of single-ended signals based on logic levels, and of differential, in particular common-mode-based, signals, a transmission arrangement and a corresponding method are proposed, in which a serialized signal transmission is always performed in an error-free and stable manner. |
| US09197360B2 |
Systems and methods for reducing a relatively high power, approximately constant envelope interference signal that spectrally overlaps a relatively low power desired signal
Systems and methods are provided for processing time-domain samples of a digitized signal in rectangular coordinates. The digitized signal can include a low power desired signal and a high power, approximately constant envelope interference signal that spectrally overlaps the desired signal. A rectangular to polar converter can obtain magnitude and phase of each time-domain sample in polar coordinates. An interference estimator can estimate a magnitude of the interference signal based on magnitudes of a predetermined number of time-domain samples in polar coordinates. A subtractor can obtain a difference magnitude for each time-domain sample in polar coordinates based on the magnitude of that sample and the estimated magnitude of the interference signal in polar coordinates. A polar to rectangular converter can obtain time-domain samples in rectangular coordinates of the desired signal with reduced power of the interference signal based on the difference magnitude and phase of time-domain samples in polar coordinates. |
| US09197358B2 |
Method and system for soft frequency reuse in a distributed antenna system
A method for routing and switching operator RF signals includes providing one or more Digital Remote Units (DRUs) and providing at least one Digital Access Unit (DAU) configured to communicate with at least one of the one or more DRUs. A first DRU is operable to communicate using a first set of frequencies characterized by a first frequency band over a first geographic footprint and a second set of frequencies characterized by a second frequency band different from the first frequency band over a second geographic footprint including and surrounding the first geographic footprint. A second DRU is operable to communicate using the first set of frequencies over a third geographical footprint and a third set of frequencies characterized by a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band over a fourth geographic footprint including and surrounding the third geographic footprint. |
| US09197357B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for processing optical network signal
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for processing an optical network signal. The method includes: receiving an optical signal sent by an optical line terminal, where the optical signal includes two polarization components perpendicular to each other, and downlink data is modulated on one of the polarization components; dividing the optical signal into two signals, where each signal is the optical signal; demodulating the downlink data from one optical signal and performing, for the other optical signal, vertical polarization rotation processing and processing of modulating uplink data onto two polarization components of the optical signal; sending the other optical signal on which the vertical polarization rotation processing and the uplink data modulation processing are performed to the optical line terminal. With the embodiments of the present invention, signal processing load of the optical network unit and the optical line terminal can be lowered. |
| US09197355B2 |
Drop port based shared risk link group systems and methods
Drop port based shared risk link group (SRLG) systems and methods assign SRLG information to drop ports in another level or layer of a network. Thus, drop side SRLG information can be shared between different networks or layers enabling a combination with line side SRLG information within a network to identify and prevent single points of failure across the networks. Typically, SRLG details are assigned to line ports (NNI ports) within a network and this information is not shared with external networks or network layers for routing a connection through the network and the external networks. By assigning SRLG details to a drop port, this information can be relayed between the network and the external networks and considered when planning a route through all of the networks. |
| US09197351B2 |
Method of selecting wavelength of optical network unit in passive optical network
Provided is a method of selecting a wavelength of an optical network unit including selecting a pre-loaded default wavelength as an available wavelength candidate or the wavelength that has been changed when a preset wavelength changing condition is satisfied as the available wavelength candidate, acquiring frame synchronization for a downstream signal having the same wavelength as the selected available wavelength candidate, and transmitting a registration request message to an optical line terminal (OLT) from which the downstream signal has been transmitted when the frame synchronization is acquired, assigning the available wavelength candidate to an available wavelength used for communication with the OLT and registering the terminal in the OLT when a registration allowance message is received from the OLT. |
| US09197350B2 |
Systems and methods for routing and wavelength assignment for network virtualization
A method for routing and wavelength assignment for optical network resources required for a plurality of virtual network requests includes receiving the plurality of virtual network requests. The method further includes determining a number of virtual links for each virtual network request. The method includes sorting the plurality of virtual network requests based on the number of virtual links, and selecting a virtual network request from the plurality of virtual network requests and setting a number of allowable spans. Additionally, the method includes determining whether a valid virtual node mapping exists for the virtual network request on any of a plurality of wavelengths based on the allowable spans, and based on determining that no valid virtual node mapping exists on any of the plurality of wavelengths, incrementing the number of allowable spans. |
| US09197349B2 |
Method of operating a primary optical node and a secondary optical node
The invention relates to a method of operating a primary optical node, particularly an optical line terminal (OLT), for an optical communications system, wherein said OLT is configured to receive at least one upstream optical signal (uos) from at least one secondary optical node, particularly an optical networking unit (ONU), within at least a first wavelength range (wr1), and to transmit at least one downstream optical signal (dos) to said at least one ONU within at least a second wavelength range (wr2), wherein said OLT determines a currently unused wavelength subrange (wsr2) within said first wavelength range (wr1), assigns a specific target wavelength (λt) within said currently unused wavelength subrange (wsr2) to said ONU, signals said target wavelength (λt) to said ONU, receives an upstream signal (us) from said ONU, and provides feedback information to said ONU. |
| US09197348B2 |
Optical transmission device and optical transmission method
There is provided an optical transmission device including: a packet disassembler configured to disassemble a packet into a plurality of signals having a different wavelength; an amplifier configured to amplify, for each of the wavelength, each signal into which the packet is disassembled by the packet disassembler, based on a correction value set for each wavelength; and a multiplexer configured to multiplex the respective signals amplified by the amplifier so as to transmit a packet generated by multiplexing the respective signals. |
| US09197342B2 |
Communication device, communication system and communication method
A communication device includes an addition unit which outputs a result of adding a predetermined number to the number of data blocks of a first signal, a comparison unit which, on the basis of comparison of the addition result with the number of data blocks of a second signal outputs the addition result of subtracting the number of data blocks of the second signal from the addition result, as a selection result, a data insertion unit which, on the basis of comparison of the selection result with the number of data blocks of the first signal, inserts either of the first signal and adjustment data into the second signal, and a storage unit which stores the selection result, and outputs the selection result stored last time to the addition unit, as the predetermined number. |
| US09197340B2 |
Connector and interface circuit for simultaneous content streaming and user data from handheld devices
An apparatus for enabling simultaneous multimedia content and user data streaming from a handheld device to a display device is disclosed. The apparatus enables power charging of the handheld device while streaming the multimedia content and the user data from the handheld device. The apparatus comprises a data-multimedia-power interface (DMPI) connector installed in the handheld device and designed to enable the transport of at least high definition multimedia signals, data signals, a power signal, and control signals between the handheld device and the display device; and a DMPI circuit for multiplexing the high definition multimedia signals with the data signals, to enable simultaneous streaming of the respective multimedia content and the user data to the display device, wherein the DMPI circuit further extracts a power signal from the display device for power charging of the display device. |
| US09197338B2 |
Media device with enhanced data retrieval feature
A personal media device including a broadcast receiver that receives broadcast media and broadcast media data from a broadcast source where the broadcast media data includes a media identifier associated with the broadcast media. The media device also includes a data transceiver that sends a retrieval request to a media server for enhanced media data where the retrieval request includes the media identifier and receives the enhanced media data via a wireless data channel. The media device further includes a processor that performs a media device operation in response to the received enhanced media data. |
| US09197336B2 |
System and method for providing customized audio content to a vehicle radio system using a smartphone
A method is disclosed for providing real time information content from a remote content source to an individual travelling in a vehicle over a personal electronic device (PED) of the individual, for playback over a subsystem of the vehicle. A control is designated on the vehicle subsystem which enables the individual to request the information content from the remote content source. A short range wireless link is established between the user's PED and the vehicle subsystem and the PED is used to access the information content from at least one Cloud based information service. The information content is then streamed back to the vehicle subsystem over the PED and played back to the individual, at least substantially in real time, while the individual is traveling in the vehicle. |
| US09197335B2 |
System and method for automatically inserting advertising and other content into playback of a broadcast signal
A system is disclosed for inserting selected content into a signal being broadcast by a broadcast station, and being received by a vehicle radio system. A vehicle radio system may be incorporated which has a processing system. A personal electronic device (PED) able to be carried by a user is also used. The PED may supply selected content to the processing system. The processing system may detect a first signal in the received broadcast signal that indicates a commercial break period of predetermined duration is to begin, and a second signal in the received broadcast signal that indicates that the commercial break period is to end. The processing system may obtain the selected content from the PED and insert the obtained, selected content into the broadcast signal for seamless playback through the vehicle radio system during the commercial break period. |
| US09197334B2 |
Radio signal receiver unit and signal processing unit
The present invention provides a mechanism for recording only a received radio signal conforming to recording conditions and discarding a received radio signal not conforming to the recording conditions. The radio communication unit includes: (a) a signal detector for detecting a feature quantity of a received radio signal; (b) a signal-reception processing unit for inputting a received radio signal to be input to the signal detector or a received radio signal that has been output from the signal detector to demodulate the received radio signal; (c) a data judgment unit for determining whether the received radio signal demodulated by the signal-reception processing unit is correct or incorrect and/or for determining the characteristics of the received radio signal demodulated by the signal-reception processing unit; (d) a condition setting section for inputting recording conditions of the received radio signal; and (e) a signal judgment unit for: inputting feedback signals from the signal detector, the signal-reception processing unit, and the data judgment unit; using at least a part of the feedback signals to determine whether the received radio signal conforms to the recording conditions; and controlling the received radio signal prior to signal processing to be recorded into a signal recording unit on the basis of a result of the determination. |
| US09197333B1 |
Method and system for connection establishment
During connection establishment, an access network and/or an access terminal may decide whether to transmit bearer-traffic data rather than null-traffic data based on a channel quality of a wireless link. For example, if the access network has forward bearer-traffic data ready for transmission to the access terminal during connection establishment, the access network may decide to transmit that forward bearer-traffic data rather than forward null-traffic data in response to determining that a forward-channel quality of the wireless link is sufficient to carry such data. As another example, if the access terminal has reverse bearer-traffic data ready for transmission to the access network during connection establishment, the access terminal may decide to transmit that reverse bearer-traffic data rather than reverse null-traffic data in response to determining that a reverse-channel quality of the wireless link is sufficient to carry such data. |
| US09197332B2 |
Fast detection of collocated RF jammers facilitating optimized gain setting selection of front-end receiver amplifiers
In collocated radios, interference is mitigated to permit concurrent radio operation. In response to detection of imminent transmission of interfering wireless (i.e., RF jammer) signals, gain settings of one or more stages of front-end receiver amplifiers may be quickly configured to permit concurrent frequency division operation instead of consecutive time-division operation. This expansion of concurrent operation may improve communication bandwidth and/or may produce reliable, consistent results. Gain control responsive to detection of imminent RF jamming may maintain amplification in a linear range where interference can be filtered out. Receiver gain may be shifted from a default high gain or high sensitivity setting to lower gain to maintain integrity of a signal of interest (SoI), which avoids clipping, distortion and unwanted products caused by a high power jamming signal that could otherwise make it impossible to recover the SoI. This mitigation technique supplements and/or replaces other interference mitigation techniques. |
| US09197326B2 |
Optical wavelength comb generator device
The present application relates to comb frequency generator devices generally and more particularly to the use of comb generators for use in fibre optic communications. More particularly, the application provides a frequency comb generator device. The device comprises a laser (30), a biasing circuit for providing a DC bias current (26), an RF circuit (22) providing a RF signal and a drive circuit (28) for combining the RF signal with the DC bias current to provide a drive current to the laser (30). With the DC bias current below threshold of the laser diode and RF bias with a frequence close to the relaxation ascillation frequency of the laser diode, a periodic pulse train is emitted with constant phase. |
| US09197323B2 |
Asymmetric compensation of polarization dependent loss in dual-polarization optical systems
Methods and systems for asymmetrically compensating degradation of an optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) induced by polarization dependent loss (PDL) in dual-polarization optical system include using an OSNR compensator. The OSNR compensator may separate the dual-polarization components and determine which component has degraded OSNR. The degraded component may be OSNR compensated using a phase-sensitive amplifier and/or a regenerator with a phase-sensitive amplifier. |
| US09197319B2 |
Device for monitoring optical link fault and method thereof
There are provided a device for monitoring an optical link fault and a method thereof. According to an embodiment of the invention, the device for monitoring an optical link fault and the method thereof apply an optical link fault monitoring signal to an optical link and precisely identify a type of the fault using waveforms of a reflected signal returned from the optical link or a wavelength dependence of reflected signal intensity. |
| US09197317B2 |
Communication system, and communication device
A communication system includes information acquisition devices having facility information and an information collection device for collecting the facility information from the information acquisition devices. The information collection device requests the information acquisition devices to send the facility information by using the first communication unit and the second communication unit of the information collection device. Each of the information acquisition devices includes a communication scheme specifying section for specifying which one of the first communication unit and the second communication unit in each of the information acquisition devices has first received the request to send from the information collection device, and a communication control section for making a reply to the request to send by using the communication unit specified by the communication scheme specifying section. |
| US09197315B2 |
Peer group diagnosis detection method and system
Systems and methods for peer group diagnosis detection are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a beam profile including a plurality of satellite beam characteristics is determined. A peer group of satellite terminals is determined. Terminal profiles with terminal characteristics for the satellite terminals in the peer group are determined. A normalized baseline profile including normalized terminal characteristics for the peer group is determined. Measured operational statistics of the satellite terminals in the peer group are received and converted into normalized operation statistics using the terminal profiles and the normalized baseline profile. Normalized peer group operational statistics including a mean and a standard deviation of normalized operational statistics are determined. A normalized deviation of the normalized operational statistics is determined for each satellite terminal. The normalized deviations for each satellite terminal are compared to a threshold deviation. Satellite terminals are diagnosed as good, degraded, or bad. |
| US09197312B2 |
Near field communication system in a local network
A system for a local network, the system being configured to extend a near field communication (NFC) between an NFC device and an NFC mobile device beyond the range defined by the NFC standards. |
| US09197307B2 |
Method and terminal apparatus for receiving reference signal
A wireless communication system and a method for detecting downlink receiving power in the system are disclosed. N cells in the system respectively transmit data to at least one receiving terminal via N resource blocks using the same time-frequency resources; multiple channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) of a corresponding cell are set in each resource block, and orthogonality is maintained among the CSI-RSs of all the cells, wherein N is an integer greater than 1. Said method includes: an additional demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) used for indicating a receiving power is set in a puncture position in the resource block of the first cell which corresponds to a CSI-RS set in a resource block of another cell; and the receiving power of said first cell is detected according to said additional DM-RS. By using said method, the receiving power of a single cell in N cells can be detected, and the system overhead is not increased. |
| US09197305B2 |
Precoding control indication feedback method, user equipment, and base station
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a precoding control indication feedback method, a user equipment, and a base station. Channel capacity values corresponding to precoding matrices in a precoding matrix set are calculated. A sequence number of a precoding matrix corresponding to a maximum channel capacity value is used as a PCI to be used. The PCI to be used, a CQI indicating downlink channel quality, and ACK/NACK indicating a data decoding result are borne over an uplink HS-DPCCH. The same are fed back to a corresponding base station node to instruct the base station node to select a MIMO single-stream manner or a single-antenna manner to send data to be sent. |
| US09197304B2 |
Method and apparatus for conveying antenna configuration information via masking
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for conveying information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme to a recipient, such as a mobile device. In particular, information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme can be conveyed by masking, such as cyclic redundancy check masking, to provide information regarding the antenna configuration and/or the transmission diversity scheme. In this regard, a set of masks can be determined based upon hamming distances between the masks and bit diversities between the masks and where each of the masks within the set is associated with an antenna configuration and a transmission diversity scheme. |
| US09197298B2 |
Group identification and definition within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
Group identification and definition within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. A group identification definition field may be transmitted to a number of receiving devices for use in interpreting current or subsequently received packets that include a group identification field (group ID). The group ID can serve a number of functions such as indicating those receiving devices for which the packet is intended, the identification of fields within the packet corresponding to the various devices, certain parameters (e.g., code type, code rate, modulation type, etc.) associated with such fields within the packet, etc. The group identification definition field may be updated or modified to allow for modification of the manner in which subsequent packets, including respective group IDs, are processed. One of a variety of events may direct the group identification definition field may be updated or modified. |
| US09197291B2 |
Circuit arrangement and method for bidirectional data transmission
A transformer arrangement for signal transmission is provided, the transformer arrangement having at least one transformer with a primary coil and a secondary coil and a controller. The controller is configured in a magnetization phase to control a first current to flow through the primary coil to increase until a predefined criterion is fulfilled, wherein the magnetization phase is longer than a time constant of the primary coil of the at least one transformer. The controller is configured in a voltage application phase to apply a voltage to the at least one transformer so that a second current flows through the primary coil, wherein the second current has a polarity which changes during the voltage application phase compared with the first current, wherein the voltage application phase is shorter than two times the time constant of the primary coil of the at least one transformer. |
| US09197288B2 |
Determining the signal quality of an electrical interconnect
One embodiment provides a network device that includes PHY circuitry comprising transmit circuitry (Tx) and receive circuitry (Rx), wherein the Tx and Rx circuitry are configured to be coupled to a respective channel to communicate with an external device via the channels, wherein the network device configured to communicate with the external device using an Ethernet communications protocol; and test circuitry. The test circuitry is configured to: designate a through channel and at least one crosstalk channel from among the channels; determine, in the time domain, an approximate available signal voltage of a first response signal, wherein the first response signal is in response to a test signal applied to the through channel; determine a first noise profile of the first response signal in response to the test signal applied on the through channel; determine a second noise profile of a second response signal, wherein the second response signal is in response to the test signal applied on a crosstalk channel and measured on the through channel; and determine a signal-to-noise ratio of the through channel based on, at least in part, the approximate available signal voltage and the first and second noise profiles. |
| US09197284B2 |
Method and apparatus for pilot signal processing in a wireless communication system
A wireless communication system is provided that spreads pilot signals, or channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs), using a spreading code chosen from a set of mutually unbiased bases (MUBs). The advantages of such spreading with MUBs are that multiple base stations can send their pilot signals on a same time-frequency resources, making the pilot signal design very efficient and also improving channel estimation at a user equipment through orthogonal and quasi-orthogonal spreading which gives a gain above noise and interference. A short spreading code chosen from MUBs may be used for spreading pilot signals transmitted from each antenna of a base station within a time-frequency resource comprising multiple closely-spaced subcarriers in frequency and/or multiple closely-spaced symbols in time. |
| US09197280B1 |
Radio frequency switch
A radio frequency switch may include: a common port transmitting and receiving a radio frequency signal; a receive switch unit including a first switch unit having a plurality of first switch elements and a second switch unit having a plurality of second switch elements; and a transmit switch unit including a third switch unit having a plurality of third switch elements and a fourth switch unit having a plurality of fourth switch elements. The receive switch unit may further include a plurality of first capacitors connected between a first terminal and a body terminal of each of the plurality of first switch elements. The transmit switch unit may further include a plurality of second capacitors connected between a second terminal and a body terminal of each of the plurality of third switch elements. |
| US09197278B2 |
Reference oscillator arbitration and scheduling for multiple wireless subsystems
Systems and methods are described for controlling a reference oscillator shared by multiple subsystems of a communications system and arbitrating usage of the reference oscillator among these subsystems. By changing the properties of the reference oscillator (e.g., by tuning the reference oscillator) according to the needs of particular subsystem(s), the communications system can configure the reference oscillator to meet the specification requirements of these particular subsystem(s) and can later reconfigure the reference oscillator to meet the needs of other subsystems. Further, the controller can configure the subsystems based on parameters that impact multiple subsystems (e.g., by implementing geographic awareness, spectrum occupation awareness, and availability of Assisted GPS (AGPS) functionality) to achieve further optimization of the communications system. |
| US09197273B2 |
Case for mobile communication device with flash and camera controls
A mobile device case is formed with a hollow case housing for receiving a mobile device and controlling a mobile device camera therein. The mobile device includes a case connector for electronically connecting the case to the mobile device at insertion of the mobile device into the hollow case housing and at least one camera control actuator for controlling operation of the mobile device camera, when the mobile device is present in the hollow case housing. The hollow case housing comprises a first housing section and a second housing section that comes together by respective tongue and groove elements to thereby encapsulate the mobile device. |
| US09197270B2 |
Double ring antenna with integrated non-cellular antennas
Wireless electronic devices may include a ground plane, a double ring antenna and non-cellular antennas integrated within the double ring antenna. The double ring antenna may comprise first and second metal rings around the perimeter of a ground plane to operate as MIMO cellular antennas. At least one non-cellular antenna, such as a MIMO Wi-Fi antenna, may be integrated between the first and second metals rings on one or more sides of the wireless electronic device. |
| US09197268B1 |
Method and apparatus for compensating for IQ mismatch in radio frequency receivers
A receiver including a physical layer module, a function module, a residual module, an IQ mismatch module, and a compensation module. The physical layer module is configured to (i) receive a signal, and (ii) downconvert the signal to generate a downconverted signal, wherein the downconverted signal has IQ mismatch. The function module is configured to determine (i) a first value based on a first function and a resultant signal, and (ii) a second value based on a second function. The residual module is configured to estimate a residual IQ mismatch based on the first value and the second value. The IQ mismatch module is configured to estimate an IQ mismatch coefficient based on the estimate of the residual IQ mismatch. The compensation module is configured to compensate for the IQ mismatch of the downconverted signal including generating the resultant signal based on the estimate of the IQ mismatch. |
| US09197263B2 |
Compensation apparatus, signal generator and wireless communication equipment
A compensation apparatus compensates a quadrature-demodulated signal output from a quadrature demodulator 5 that performs quadrature demodulation by using a signal of a carrier frequency fc, by removing an image component caused by the quadrature demodulator 5 from the quadrature-demodulated signal. The compensation apparatus includes a signal generator 10 that generates a reference signal having a predetermined bandwidth in a reception band, and provides the reference signal to an input side of the quadrature demodulator 5. The reference signal includes a frequency band that is biased to either a higher-frequency side or a lower-frequency side with respect to the carrier frequency. |
| US09197256B2 |
Reducing effects of RF mixer-based artifact using pre-distortion of an envelope power supply signal
A radio frequency (RF) power amplifier (PA) and an envelope tracking power supply are disclosed. The RF PA receives and amplifies an RF input signal to provide an RF transmit signal using an envelope power supply signal, which at least partially envelope tracks the RF transmit signal, such that the RF input signal has an RF mixer-based artifact. The envelope tracking power supply provides the envelope power supply signal, which includes mixer-based artifact pre-distortion to at least partially remove effects of the RF mixer-based artifact from the RF transmit signal. |
| US09197254B2 |
Transmitter and method of operating a transmitter
A transmitter is provided that comprises an oscillator, a power amplifier, and a heating element. The power amplifier generates a high power signal according to the low power signal. The transmitter may be operated such that a heat production rate of the group consisting of the power amplifier and the heating element is substantially constant. The heating element may be a dummy power amplifier. A method of operating a transmitter is also disclosed. |
| US09197244B2 |
Multi-layer system for symbol-space based compression of patterns
A method and apparatus for symbol-space based compression of patterns are provided. The method comprises generating an output sequence responsive of an input sequence, the input sequence being of a first length and includes a plurality of symbols, by extraction of all common patterns, wherein a common pattern includes at least two symbols and the output sequence is of a second length that is shorter than the first length; and storing in a memory the output sequence as a data layer. |
| US09197241B2 |
Output power control for RF digital-to-analog converter
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for power control of RF DACs. In one aspect there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus may include a multiphase clock generator to provide tunable multiphase clock signals including a first clock signal and a second clock signal; and a radio frequency digital-to-analog converter including a first input to receive digital input data, a second input to receive the first clock signal and the second clock signal, and an output to provide an analog output signal, wherein when at least one of a phase difference and a time difference between the first clock signal and the second clock signal is varied, a gain of the analog output signal is varied. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described. |
| US09197240B1 |
Method and circuit for noise shaping SAR analog-to-digital converter
An analog-to-digital conversion system includes a track-and-hold unit configured to output an input value; a digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion unit configured to generate a feedback value; a coupling unit configured to generate an error signal value based on the input signal and the feedback value; a loop filter configured to generated a filtered error signal value; a comparison unit configured to generate a comparison result based on the input value minus the summation of the feedback value and the filtered error signal value; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to, during a sampling cycle, set an N-bit logical value accordingly to N comparison results; and to cause the coupling unit to generate the error signal value. N is a positive integer. |
| US09197238B1 |
Adaptive clocking for analog-to-digital conversion
An analog-to-digital conversion system and method includes, for example, a comparator for sampling an analogy quantity during a sampling period and for performing a series of bit-wise conversions on the sampled analog sample during a conversion period, where each bit-wise conversion occurs during a respective bit-wise conversion cycle in which successive bits of a sample are successively determined during a respective bit conversion cycle and in which a predetermined number of bit-wise conversions are to be performed. A clock generator is arranged for generating a clock signal for clocking the converter during the conversion period, wherein each bit conversion cycle includes a reset period having a first length and an amplification period having a second length, wherein one of the first and second lengths is dynamically selected. |
| US09197236B1 |
Digitizer auto aperture with trigger spacing
A method for producing sampled data, which as the requested sampling period is increased, each sample is the average of an increasing number of ADC samples such that a maximum number of ADC samples are evenly space across the sample period. The method can include choosing one of multiple ADC with varying speed versus resolution capabilities to further increase the quality of the sampled data as the sampling period increases. |
| US09197233B2 |
Low power ADC for high dynamic range integrating pixel arrays
In one or more embodiments, an apparatus and method for processing an analog signal into a digital signal includes an input current buffer circuit, a signal charge integration node, a dual function comparator, a step charge subtractor, a state latch, a coarse N-bit counter, an optional residue signal buffer and a residue signal M-bit time-to-digital (TDC) converter. The circuitry is free running, meaning that it is never reset. Instead, what is tracked for each frame is how much additional charge has been accumulated since the end of the previous integration period. Between each frame, the state of the counter and the amount of charge residing in the integration node are recorded. This information from the beginning and end of a given frame is differenced and to this is added the amount of charge indicated by the number of times the counter overflowed during the integration period. |
| US09197230B2 |
Atomic oscillator, electronic apparatus, and moving object
An atomic oscillator includes a gas cell, a semiconductor laser, a light detector, a bias current control section controlling a bias current based on intensity of light detected by the light detector, a memory, and an MPU. The MPU sweeps the bias current and stores a value of the bias current and a value of the intensity of the light when the intensity of the detected light shifts from a decrease to an increase and re-sweeps to set the bias current based on the value of the bias current stored in the memory after the sweep, compares the value of the intensity of the detected light with the value of the intensity of the light stored in the memory while the bias current control section controls the bias current, and determines whether to perform the sweep again in accordance with the comparison. |
| US09197229B2 |
Panel driving circuit and ring oscillator clock automatic synchronization method thereof
A ring oscillator clock automatic synchronization method of a panel driving circuit includes steps of: when a vertical blanking interval happens, a master driver generates a pulse signal to slave drivers respectively. A pulse width of the pulse signal equals to N times of a master ring oscillator clock, wherein N is larger than 0. When a slave driver receives the pulse signal, the slave driver uses its slave ring oscillator clock to count the pulse width of the pulse signal to obtain that the pulse width of the pulse signal equals to M times of the slave ring oscillator clock, wherein M is larger than 0. The slave driver compares M with N and automatically adjusts the slave ring oscillator clock according to the comparison result to make it achieve synchronization with the master ring oscillator clock. |
| US09197228B2 |
Circuit and method for adjusting oscillating frequency of an oscillator
A circuit comprises an oscillator, a frequency divider and a comparator. The oscillator generates an oscillating signal (Fvco). The frequency divider is communicatively coupled to the oscillator, divides a frequency of the oscillating signal by a denominator and generates a divided signal. The comparator is communicatively coupled to the oscillator and the frequency divider, and is configured to obtain a first count of the divided signal (Fvco/N) within a predetermined time and a second count of a reference signal within the predetermined time; compare the first count with the second count, and generate a comparison result according to the first count and the second count. The oscillator is further configured to adjust the frequency of the oscillating signal according to the comparison result. |
| US09197226B2 |
Digital phase detector
According to one example, a digital phase detector is disclosed for use with a phase lock loop. The digital phase detector is configured to operate in a low-frequency environment and to filter noise and transients in a signal, while also being tolerant of dropped phase pulses. In some embodiments, the digital phase detector is configured to measure up to two REFCLK edges with respect to a FBCLK signal, and if an edge occurs in the first half of REFCLK, classify the edge as lagging, and if an edge occurs in the second half of REFCLK, classify the edge as leading. If both edges are leading or both are lagging, the smaller of the two is used as the phase. If one is leading and one is lagging, the difference is used as the phase. |
| US09197222B2 |
Method and apparatus of a resonant oscillator separately driving two independent functions
Capacitive adjustment in an RCL resonant circuit is typically performed by adjusting a DC voltage being applied to one side of the capacitor. One side of the capacitor is usually connected to either the output node or the gate of a regenerative circuit in an RCL resonant circuit. The capacitance loading the resonant circuit becomes a function of the DC voltage and the AC sinusoidal signal generated by the resonant circuit. By capacitively coupling both nodes of the capacitor, a DC voltage can control the value of the capacitor over the full swing of the output waveform. In addition, instead of the RCL resonant circuit driving a single differential function loading the outputs, each output drives an independent single ended function; thereby providing two simultaneous operations being determined in place of the one differential function. |
| US09197218B2 |
Electronic device, electronic apparatus, moving object, and method for manufacturing electronic device
An electronic device includes: a support member including a first terminal, a second terminal, and a support portion extending from the first terminal and coupling the first terminal with the second terminal; an electronic component; and a bonding member connecting the first terminal with the electronic component. In a plan view along a direction in which the first terminal and the electronic component overlap each other, a portion of the first terminal is adjacent to the support portion with a notch portion therebetween and protrudes toward the extending direction side of the support portion. The support portion is bent at a portion adjacent to the protruding portion of the first terminal along the overlapping direction. |
| US09197215B1 |
Graphene-based non-boolean logic circuits
A dual-gate transistor having a negative differential resistance (NDR) region is disclosed. The dual-gate transistor includes a back-gate, a zero-bandgap graphene layer disposed on the back-gate, a top-gate disposed on a portion of the zero-bandgap graphene layer adjacent to the top-gate, and a drain disposed on a portion of the zero-bandgap graphene layer adjacent to the top-gate and displaced from the source. Also included is a dynamic bias controller configured to simultaneously sweep a source-drain voltage and a top-gate voltage across a Dirac point to provide operation within the NDR region. Operation within the NDR region is employed to realize non-Boolean logic functions. Graphene-based non-Boolean logic circuits are constructed from pluralities of the disclosed dual-gate transistor. Pattern recognition circuitry for operation between 100 GHz and 500 GHz is also disclosed via the graphene-based non-Boolean logic circuits. |
| US09197206B2 |
Proximity switch having differential contact surface
A proximity switch assembly and method for activating a proximity switch is provided. The assembly includes a proximity sensor generating a signal, and a contact surface proximate to the proximity sensor and having a differential elevation change feature. The proximity switch also includes control circuitry processing the signal to detect a differential increase in the activation signal indicative of a hard press on the contact surface. The control circuitry detects activation of the switch based on the differential increase exceeding a differential threshold. Activation can further be determined based on a stable signal. |
| US09197203B2 |
Cycle modulation circuit for limiting peak voltage and associated power supply
A cycle modulation circuit for limiting voltage peak value of a power supply employed an active clamp. The power supply receives an input power which is modulated through a power driving unit to become a driving power transformed through a transformer to be output. The cycle modulation circuit includes a comparison unit and a linear voltage generation unit. The comparison unit receives the input power to generate a level signal which is used as a base value to compare level with an oscillation signal generated by the linear voltage generation unit, thereby to modulate and output a pulse width limit signal with a composite cycle consisting of a high level and a low level. The pulse width limit signal is input to the power driving unit to limit the peak value of the driving power modulated by the power driving unit. |
| US09197202B2 |
Phase mixing circuit, and semiconductor apparatus and semiconductor system including the same
A phase mixing circuit includes a first mixing unit configured to mix phases of first and second clocks at a predetermined ratio, and generate a first mixed signal; a second mixing unit configured to mix phases of an inverted signal of the first clock and an inverted signal of the second clock at the predetermined ratio, and generate a second mixed signal; and an output unit configured to generate an output signal based on of the first and second mixed signals. |
| US09197201B2 |
Impulse voltage generation device
A signal generator generates a combined signal that is generated only in the period where supply of a pulse signal is effected, a pulse signal whose frequency is of a higher impulse repetition frequency than the frequency of the period setting signal and whose amplitude represents a voltage value that is lower than the high voltage HVDC value. A semiconductor switch accumulates electric charge on a capacitative element by means of the high voltage HVDC from the high voltage generator when the voltage value of the combined signal is lower than the set gate voltage value and generates an impulse voltage whose peak value is the value of the high voltage HVDC, by means of the electric charge that is discharged from the capacitative element when the voltage value of the combined signal exceeds the set gate voltage value. |
| US09197186B2 |
Duplexer with phase shifter circuit
A duplexer comprising an improved matching circuit for matching between transmitting path and receiving path is specified. In this case, the matching circuit comprises a hybrid and matching elements. |
| US09197175B2 |
Methods and systems for pre-emphasis of an envelope tracking power amplifier supply voltage
Embodiments provide systems and methods for producing an envelope tracking (ET) PA supply voltage with minimum headroom relative to the desired RF output signal of the PA. In an embodiment, the PA supply voltage is generated by applying an ET signal to an ET path of the wireless device, and by further applying pre-emphasis to the ET signal to compensate for a frequency response of the ET path. Embodiments operate by estimating the frequency response of the ET path and determining the pre-emphasis based on the estimate of the frequency response of the ET path. In embodiments, the pre-emphasis is applied using a pre-emphasis filter, which may be within or outside of the ET path. Further, the pre-emphasis may be applied to the ET signal in digital or analog form. |
| US09197172B2 |
Switched mode high linearity power amplifier
A switched mode, high linearity power amplifier can include a dynamic quantizer, a pulse width modulator and an output driver. In one embodiment, the dynamic quantizer can include a sigma-delta modulator configured to provide a multi-level digital signal. The pulse width modulator can receive the multi-level digital signal and provide a variable pulse width signal based, at least in part, on the multi-level digital signal. The output driver can include a class D output driver. The output driver can receive the variable pulse width signal to operate the class D output driver and provide an amplified signal. In one embodiment, the output driver can adjust the amplified signal to compensate for output errors. |
| US09197171B2 |
Multi-stage amplifier with pulse width modulation (PWM) noise shaping
A pulse width modulation (PWM) amplifier includes a first amplifier stage, a second amplifier stage, and a gain module. The first amplifier stage is configured to amplify an analog input signal in the analog and digital domains using a first pulse width modulation (PWM) generator, to provide a first stage output for coupling to a load. The gain module is configured to amplify a quantization error of the first PWM generator by a predetermined gain. The second amplifier stage is configured to spectrally shape and attenuate the amplified quantization error of the first PWM generator using a second PWM generator, to provide a second stage output for coupling to the load. |
| US09197170B2 |
Active lumped element circulator
An integrated circuit can comprise: a first port, a second port, and a third port; and a plurality of microwave operational amplifiers coupled to each other and the first port, the second port, and the third port. The plurality of microwave operational amplifiers can be arranged to substantially pass a signal provided to the first port to the second port while substantially isolating the signal provided to the first port from the third port; the plurality of microwave operational amplifiers can be arranged to substantially pass a signal provided to the second port to the third port while substantially isolating the signal provided to the second port from the first port; and the plurality of microwave operational amplifiers can be arranged to substantially pass a signal provided to the third port to the first port while substantially isolating the signal provided to the third port from the second port. |
| US09197166B2 |
Increasing power amplifier linearity to facilitate in-device coexistence between wireless communication technologies
A method of increasing power amplifier linearity to facilitate in-device coexistence between wireless communication technologies is provided. The method can include determining a scheduled time period during which data is received by a device via a first wireless communication technology. The method can further include adjusting an operational parameter of a power amplifier applied to a transmission from the device via a second wireless communication technology to increase a linearity of the power amplifier during the scheduled time period. |
| US09197158B2 |
Dynamic frequency divider circuit
The invention relates to a Frequency Divider Circuit for dividing an input RF signal to a frequency divided RF signal. The circuit comprises a RF pair, a switching-quad pair coupled in series with a transimpedance amplifier and a double pair of emitter followers. The circuit comprises coupling elements for providing first DC paths to first amplifier paths of the RF pair and for providing second DC paths to second amplifier paths of the series arrangement of the switching-quad pair and the transimpedance amplifier. The first DC paths are independent of the second DC paths. RF connections are provided to couple the first and the second amplifier paths for transferring a signal from the first amplifier paths to the second amplifier paths. |
| US09197156B2 |
Oscillation element, oscillator, and imaging apparatus using the same
An oscillation element includes an antenna for oscillation configured to oscillate electromagnetic waves, and multiple negative resistance elements electrically connected to the antenna in parallel, and the multiple negative resistance elements are disposed in only a place where the phases of electromagnetic waves oscillated therefrom are the common phase or opposite phase. |
| US09197153B2 |
Power tool having display that displays residual capacity of battery
A power tool includes a housing, an electric motor accommodated in the housing, a secondary battery that supplies electric power to the electric motor, a handle provided at the housing, a trigger switch provided at the handle for controlling electric power supply to the electric motor, a residual capacity display for displaying a residual capacity of the secondary battery, and a lock-release switch provided at the handle and configured to allow the trigger switch to be operable and to start displaying the residual capacity at the residual capacity display upon manipulation to the lock-release switch. |
| US09197146B2 |
Brushless direct-current motor and control for power tool
Brushless direct-current (“BLDC”) motor and control for a power tool. A BLDC motor of a power tool is controlled in either a pulse-width modulation (“PWM”) commutation mode or a centerline commutation mode. When the motor is rotating slowly, the motor is operated using PWM commutation. When the motor is rotating at a speed greater than a threshold speed value, the operation of the motor is transitioned to the centerline commutation mode. When operating in the centerline commutation mode, the high-side field-effect transistors (“FETs”) and low-side FETs can each be used for motor speed control. By switching between speed control using the high-side FETs and speed control using the low-side FETs, the heat generated by freewheeling currents can be approximately evenly distributed among the high-side and low-side FETs. |
| US09197145B2 |
Motor control apparatus and power steering apparatus
The present invention performs pulse shift control in such a manner that a difference between switching timings of PWM duty signals can reach or exceed a second predetermined value when the difference between the switching timings of the PWM duty signals of phases falls below the first predetermined value, and determines a correction amount for the phase by the pulse shift control in such a manner that a correction amount after switching becomes smaller than a correction amount before the switching of a phase on which the pulse shift control is performed in pulse shift phase switching control. |
| US09197142B2 |
Drive unit
A drive unit includes an ultrasonic actuator having an actuator body formed using a piezoelectric element, and a driving element provided on the actuator body and configured to output a driving force by moving according to the vibration of the actuator body, and a control section configured to induce the vibration in the actuator body by applying a first and a second AC voltages having a same frequency and different phases to the piezoelectric element. The control section adjusts the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage so that the first AC voltage and the second AC voltage have different voltage values from each other. |
| US09197138B2 |
Voltage step-up six-phase autotransformer passive rectification AC-DC converter
A three phase step-up autotransformer construction is discussed herein. The passive 12-pulse AC-DC converter offers simplicity, high reliability and low cost solution to AC-DC power conversion. The autotransformer is a component of the passive 12-pulse AC-DC converter. The autotransformer converts three-phase AC power into six-phase AC power. With appropriate vector design, the autotransformer may be configured to draw a near sinusoidal 12-pulse current waveform from the three-phase voltage source. The six-phase output may be configured to drive a rectifier (non-linear) load. |
| US09197136B2 |
Switched-mode power supply for providing a stable output voltage
The present invention is a switched-mode power supply for providing a stable output voltage. An excitation winding, a vice-output winding and an active snubber circuit are connected to a primary side of a flyback-based transformer. A main-output winding is connected to a secondary side of the transformer. A primary-side PWM controller and a secondary-side PWM controller are respectively connected to the primary side and the secondary side of the transformer. By a time-shared-energy-transfer method, the main-output winding and the vice-output winding are controlled to sequentially extract demand electricity from the transformer during a same switching cycle. Additionally, by a time-shared-energy transformation, the output voltage on the secondary side of the transformer is stabilized to be provided between a stable minimal voltage and a preset higher voltage for satisfying a heavy-loading status and a light-loading status. |
| US09197133B2 |
Voltage waveform detector, power controller and control method for switched-mode power supplies with primary-side control
Disclosed are a voltage waveform detector, a power controller and a control method used therein, adaptive for a switched-mode power supply having a power switch and an inductive device. A disclosed power controller has a voltage waveform detector and a constant-current control unit. The voltage waveform detector estimates a discharge time of the inductive device when the power switch is turned off. In the voltage waveform detector, a differential capacitor is coupled between an input node of a comparator and a feedback node, at which the feedback voltage corresponds to a reflection voltage of the inductive device. The constant-current control unit integrates a current-detection signal over the discharge time to control a maximum output current of the switched-mode power supply. |
| US09197132B2 |
Power converter with an adaptive controller and method of operating the same
A controller for a power converter, and method of operating the same. The controller improves power converter operating efficiency by regulating an internal power converter operating characteristic depending on a value of a power converter parameter measured after a manufacturing step, or an environmental parameter, preferably employing a table with entries dependent on the parameter value. The internal operating characteristic may be an internal bus voltage, a voltage level of a drive signal for a power switch, a number of paralleled power switches selectively enabled to conduct, or a basic switching frequency of the power converter. The controller may regulate an internal operating characteristic of the power converter using a functional relationship dependent on the parameter value. The environmental parameter may be received as a signal from an external source. The parameter measured after a manufacturing step may be a parameter measured from representative power converter(s). |
| US09197131B2 |
Voltage sensing in a voltage converter
A method for sensing an output voltage in a voltage converter includes at least one switching element and a transformer. A voltage is sampled across an auxiliary winding or a signal obtained from the voltage across an auxiliary winding in order to obtain a plurality of samples after the at least one switching element has assumed a first operation state and until the auxiliary voltage reaches a predefined threshold. The auxiliary winding is inductively coupled with the transformer. At least one sample obtained is evaluated before the auxiliary voltage reaches the predefined threshold. |
| US09197130B2 |
Regulator device having degradation detection
A regulator device includes: a power input terminal; a power output terminal; a plurality of regulators each including an operating FET and a monitoring FET to be driven together with the operating FET, the plurality of regulators being arranged in parallel between the power input terminal and the power output terminal; and a controller configured to drive the operating FET and the monitoring FET included in one of the regulators, when the controller determines whether the monitoring FET included in the one of the regulators have degraded, the controller configured to stop driving the operating FET and the monitoring FET included in the one of the regulators and configured to drive the operating FET and the monitoring FET included in another of the regulators. |
| US09197129B2 |
Boost converter topology for high efficiency and low battery voltage support
A method and apparatus for a boost converter topology for low battery voltage support. In the method, an input voltage is boosted by closing first through third switches and then opening a fourth switch to charge a capacitor. The first and second switches are then opened. The voltage is then doubled by closing the third and fourth switches to discharge the first capacitor into a second capacitor and charging a third capacitor. A further embodiment provides an additional method for selectively boosting an input voltage to an electronic device. The method first characterizes the efficiency of a circuit, and then determines a crossover point for a ratio of output voltage to input voltage, and then enabling or disabling a voltage boost converter based on the crossover point. |
| US09197128B2 |
Apparatus and methods for voltage converter bypass circuits
Apparatus and methods for voltage converter bypass circuits are provided. In one embodiment, a voltage conversion system includes a bypass circuit and a voltage converter including an inductor and a plurality of switches configured to control a current through the inductor. The bypass circuit includes a first p-type field effect transistor, a second p-type field effect transistor, a first n-type field effect transistor, and a second n-type field effect transistor. The first and second n-type field effect transistors are electrically in series between a first end and a second end of the inductor. Additionally, the first and second p-type field effect transistor transistors are electrically connected in series between the first end and the second end of the inductor. |
| US09197123B2 |
Power supplying apparatus having a detectable useful life
There is provided a power supplying apparatus capable of determining whether to be normally operated by detecting whether a capacitor deteriorates with age based on a ripple voltage generated by switching of a primary side, the power supplying apparatus including a power supply unit switching input power to convert the input power into preset direct current (DC) power, a detecting unit setting a reference voltage based on the DC power of the power supply unit and comparing the reference voltage with a ripple voltage included in the DC power to detect a voltage level of the ripple voltage, and a controlling unit determining whether an abnormality has occurred according to a detection result of the detecting unit. |
| US09197122B2 |
Load drive circuit, load drive method, and luminaire
A load drive circuit may include a DC power source configured to provide a DC output voltage for at least one load based on an output voltage of an AC/DC converter, the DC output voltage having a ripple, a variable resistance module connected to the load, a ripple reduction module that generates, based on a reference voltage and a feedback signal from the load, a variable resistance adjusting signal for adjusting the resistance of the variable resistance module so as to reduce a ripple of the load current, wherein the reference voltage is generated based on the DC output voltage, and a reference voltage adjusting module that adjusts the average value of the reference voltage based on the variable resistance adjusting signal, so as to make the average value of the reference voltage approach the average value of the feedback signal as much as possible. |
| US09197119B2 |
Permanent magnet motor and washing machine provided therewith
A permanent magnet motor includes a rotor including a rotor core formed with magnet insertion holes and permanent magnets inserted into the insertion holes. The rotor core includes a plurality of pairs of divided cores. The divided cores of each pair are adjacent to each other, and one divided core of each pair has two ends formed with respective engagement convexities and the other divided core has two ends formed with respective engagement concavities. The permanent magnets included permanent magnets having a lower coercive force and permanent magnets having a higher coercive force. A number of the permanent magnets having the lower coercive force and a number of the permanent magnets having the higher coercive force for each of the divided cores are the same as the other divided cores such that the divided cores have an equal total flux such that the divided cores have an equal total flux. |
| US09197118B2 |
Synchronous rotary electric machine having a hybrid-excitation rotor
A machine (1) having a rotor (11) including permanent magnets (PM) and field coils (EC). The magnets are housed in first axial recesses (E1) distributed within a circumferential portion of the magnetic body, thus defining circumferential polar sections. The coils are housed in second axial recesses (E2) distributed within an intermediate portion of the magnetic body and defining pole teeth (RT). The ratio of a width of a pole tooth to a height of a permanent magnet is around 0.65 to around 1. |
| US09197116B2 |
Annular rotor for an electric machine
The invention relates to an annular rotor having a hollow shaft for an electric machine. In order to allow transport of such a machine, particularly for a very large model, the rotor is divided in the circumferential direction into a plurality of partial annular rotor segments (1). The rotor further comprises a hollow shaft, wherein the closed ring shape of the rotor can be broken by separating the rotor segments (1) from each other. |
| US09197110B2 |
Electrostatic stabilizer for a passive magnetic bearing system
Electrostatic stabilizers are provided for passive bearing systems composed of annular magnets having a net positive stiffness against radial displacements and that have a negative stiffness for vertical displacements, resulting in a vertical instability. Further embodiments are shown of a radial electrostatic stabilizer geometry (using circuitry similar to that employed in the vertical stabilizer). This version is suitable for stabilizing radial (lateral) displacements of a rotor that is levitated by annular permanent magnets that are stable against vertical displacements but are unstable against radial displacements. |
| US09197109B2 |
Electric motor configured for facilitated washability
An electric motor having a casing positioned between a head end cap and a tail end cap is provided. An output shaft passes through the head end cap and the tail end cap and a cooling fan is mounted for rotation relative to the output shaft. The electric motor includes a fluid distribution chamber adjacent the tail end cap, an inlet port for supply of fluid to the chamber, and a plurality of discharge apertures for distributing fluid from the chamber toward the cooling fan. The fluid distribution chamber facilitates the washing and cleaning of the electric motor. |
| US09197104B2 |
Venting device for electric machine
A venting device to define a venting pathway between adjacent stacked laminations of a stator assembly of an electric machine is provided. The venting device comprises a first mesh plate and a second mesh plate. The first mesh plate includes a set of angled first slats and a set of first interconnecting members connecting adjacent first slats. The second mesh plate includes a set of angled second slats and a set of second interconnecting members. The set of angled second slats are disposed above the set of first slats. The set of second interconnecting members connect adjacent second slats and are positioned offset from the set of first interconnecting members. |
| US09197099B2 |
Power supply system comprising a fuel cell
A power supply system driving a load including a main power apparatus and a backup power apparatus is disclosed. The main power apparatus provides main power to the load according to city power. The backup power apparatus provides backup power to the load when the city power does not correspond to a first pre-determined condition and includes a recombination unit, a fuel cell unit, a transformation unit, and a control unit. The recombination unit recombines a methanol component to a hydrogen component. The fuel cell unit receives the hydrogen component to generate a first power. The transformation unit detects the city power and transforms the first power to generate the backup power. When the city power does not correspond to a first pre-determined condition, the control unit activates the reformer, the fuel cell unit, and the transformation unit to generate the backup power. |
| US09197097B2 |
Temperature-controlled power supply system and method
A temperature-controlled power supply system is disclosed. The temperature-controlled power supply system comprises a power source, for supplying input power; a rechargeable battery module, for receiving the input power for power storage; a charging unit, coupled between the power source and the rechargeable battery module, for charging the rechargeable battery module with the input power; a temperature sensing unit, coupled to the rechargeable battery module, for sensing a temperature of the rechargeable battery module; and a current control unit, coupled to the temperature sensing unit and the charging unit, for controlling a current for charging the rechargeable battery module according to the temperature of the rechargeable battery module. |
| US09197095B2 |
Wireless power charging apparatus and method of charging the apparatus
A wireless power charging apparatus and method are provided, which recognizes location information of at least one wireless power receiving apparatus; selects at least one of at least one wireless power transmitter that supplies power to the at least one wireless power receiving apparatus based on the location information; and supplies power to the at least one wireless power receiving apparatus through the at least one selected wireless power transmitter. |
| US09197087B2 |
Portable charger with rotatable locking portions
A portable electrical power source configured to provide power for a portable electronic device includes a base, a chargeable battery, a connector, and at least one locking structure. The base includes a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The base defines a receiving room between the first surface and the second surface and at least one cavity. The chargeable battery is received in the receiving room. The locking structures are rotatably received in the cavities to lock the portable electronic device onto the first surface of the base. The connector is positioned on the first surface and is electrically connected to the chargeable battery and the portable electronic device. The chargeable battery charges the portable electronic device through the connector. |
| US09197084B2 |
Charge controller with protective function and battery pack
A charge controller includes a charge control circuit that, when detecting that a charging power supply is connected, controls the charging transistor to apply the charge current; a first and second control switch element connected in series between one terminal of a secondary battery and an external terminal; and a protection circuit that, when the secondary battery is over-discharged, turns off the first control switch element to stop discharge current and when deeply discharged, turns off the second control switch element. The protection circuit sends a charge inhibit signal to the charge control circuit when the secondary battery is deeply discharged, and while receiving the charge inhibit signal, the charge control circuit keeps the charging transistor off to prevent the charge current from flowing even if detecting that the charging power supply is connected. |
| US09197083B2 |
Electronic apparatus, control method, and recording medium
There is provided an electronic apparatus that can properly control a power state of an electronic apparatus by using a temperature of a battery pack. The electronic apparatus detects a temperature of a battery pack and a remaining capacity of the battery pack. If the temperature of the battery pack is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature, the electronic apparatus performs process for turning a power state of the electronic apparatus from ON to OFF based on the remaining capacity of the battery pack. |
| US09197072B2 |
Charging device including a housing recess
A charging device charges an in-vehicle battery for an electric vehicle by a power supply fed from an attachment plug extending from an external power supply. The charging device includes: a charging inlet; a housing recess formed within the charging inlet; a charging connector disposed within the housing recess; and an illumination light source embedded in an upper peripheral wall of the housing recess. The illumination light source emits light downward, and an optical axis thereof is positioned closer to an opening of the housing recess than a front surface of the charging connector. A first irradiation light emitted toward the opening of the housing recess than the optical axis is emitted obliquely downward from the charging inlet. A second irradiation light emitted toward a bottom of the housing recess than the optical axis is emitted to the charging connector. |