Document Document Title
US09271803B2 Hybrid registration method
A registration method whereby a sensor-based approach is used to establish initial registration and whereby upon the commencement of navigating an endoscope, image-based registration methods are used in order to more accurately maintain the registration between the endoscope location and previously-acquired images. A six-degree-of-freedom location sensor is placed on the probe in order to reduce the number of previously-acquired images that must be compared to a real-time image obtained from the endoscope.
US09271802B2 Malleolar registration clamp and malleolar registration method
A malleolar registration clamp comprising a reference unit and a receiving portion for receiving the malleolus, wherein the receiving portion is designed to receive at least part of the malleolus in a defined position relative to the receiving portion, and the position of the reference unit relative to the receiving portion is defined.
US09271801B2 Methods, systems, and devices for gauging a bone tunnel
Devices, systems, and methods are provided for gauging a bone tunnel. In one exemplary embodiment, a graft repair system can include an elongate pin, an elongate pusher shaft configured to be positioned over one opposed end of the pin when the pin is positioned within a bone tunnel, and a gauge member configured to be positioned over another opposed end of the pin when the pin is positioned within the bone tunnel. When the pusher shaft abuts the bone adjacent one of the open ends of the bone tunnel and the gauge member abuts the bone adjacent the other open end of the bone tunnel, an indicator mark on the pin can be visible through one or more windows formed in the gauge member. The indicator mark's position relative to each of the one or more windows can indicate one or more characteristics related to the bone tunnel.
US09271799B2 Robotic surgical system with removable motor housing
A robotic system. A housing is removably attachable to a tool interface portion of the robotic system and includes a drive system. In various arrangements, the drive system includes at least one onboard motor that is configured to generate a rotary control motion for application to a surgical end effector. A first drive assembly operably interfaces with portions of the tool interface portion to generate another rotary control motion for application to the surgical end effector.
US09271797B2 Robotic surgery
A robotic tool holder, including a housing, configured to be gripped by a human hand, and a wireless transmitter, located within the housing. The holder further includes a plurality of individual controls attached to the housing, the controls being configured, in a first mode of operation of the robotic tool holder, to activate respective motions of a first surgical tool physically attached to the housing in response to manipulation of the controls by the human hand, and in a second mode of operation of the robotic tool holder, to activate via the wireless transmitter respective motions of a second surgical tool remote from and disconnected from the housing in response to the manipulation.
US09271794B2 Monitoring and noise masking of thermal therapy
Image-guided therapy of a tissue can utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or another medical imaging device to guide an instrument within the tissue. A workstation can actuate movement of the instrument, and can actuate energy emission and/or cooling of the instrument to effect treatment to the tissue. The instrument can be an MRI compatible laser probe that provides thermal therapy to, e.g., a tissue in a brain of a patient. By tracking a probe position within tissue through feedback, multiple data slices provided around the probe position can be processed to monitor treatment and view thermal data. The operator selects treatment area reference points with the assistance of noise masking.
US09271793B2 Method and apparatus for personal skin treatment
Disclosed is a skin treatment device for personal use. The device includes an optical radiation providing module operating in pulsed or continuous operation mode, a mechanism for continuously displacing the device across the skin, and a device displacement speed monitoring arrangement. When the device is applied to skin, the optical pulses repetition rate establishes the power of the optical radiation as a function of the device displacement speed. The device a hair removal mechanism configured to mechanically remove hair from the treated segment of the skin.
US09271792B2 Peripheral switching device for microwave energy platforms
An electrosurgical system includes a power source, a microwave applicator, a switching mechanism, and a controller. The power source is configured to generate microwave energy. The microwave applicator is configured to deliver microwave energy from the power source to tissue. The switching mechanism includes a housing having input and output ports. The input port is connectable to the power source and the output port is connectable to the microwave applicator. The housing is configured to house one or more switches therein. The controller is in operative communication with the switching mechanism to toggle the switch from a first state, wherein microwave energy generated by the power source is directed to the microwave applicator to a second state, wherein microwave energy is directed to a resistive load operably coupled to the switching mechanism.
US09271790B2 Real-time arc control in electrosurgical generators
An electrosurgical generator is disclosed. The generator includes a radio frequency output stage configured to generate a radio frequency waveform and a sensor circuit configured to measure a property of the radio frequency waveform during a predetermined sampling period to determine whether an arc event has occurred. The generator also includes a controller configured to determine a total charge and/or total energy deposited by the radio frequency waveform during the predetermined sampling period associated with the arc event. The controller is further configured to adjust the output of the electrosurgical generator based on at least one parameter to limit arcing.
US09271788B2 Ablation devices with adjustable radiating section lengths, electrosurgical systems including same, and methods of adjusting ablation fields using same
An energy applicator for directing energy to tissue includes a feedline and a radiating section operably coupled to the feedline, wherein the radiating section has a length. The energy applicator also includes a length adjustment member adapted to allow for selective adjustment of the length of the radiating section.
US09271783B2 End-effector assembly including a pressure-sensitive layer disposed on an electrode
An end-effector assembly includes first and second jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another, at least one of the jaw members moveable from an open position to a closed position for grasping tissue therebetween. First and second conductive plates are disposed on opposing surfaces of corresponding first and second jaw members. First and second compressible membranes are configured to electrically connect corresponding first and second conductive plates to a surgical field when subjected to a compression bias.
US09271781B2 Skeletal manipulation method
A method of treating scoliosis in a subject includes securing a scoliosis treatment device to first and second locations on the subject's skeletal system, the scoliosis treatment device including a first portion, a second portion moveably mounted relative to the first portion, and an adjustment device disposed on the device and configured to change a distraction force between the first location and the second location, the adjustment device including a rotationally mounted magnetic element configured to move the second portion relative to the first portion in response to rotation of the magnetic element. An external adjustment device is provided external to the subject and is able to adjust the distraction force between the first location and second location.
US09271780B2 Distractor with removable footplates
A bone distractor assembly configured to distract first and second bone segments on opposite sides of a bone gap is provided. In one embodiment the distractor assembly includes a distractor having a first coupler and a second coupler, a first footplate releasably coupled to the first coupler, a second footplate releasably coupled to the second coupler, and a locking mechanism releasably coupling the first and second footplates to the first and second couplers. The first and second footplates releasably are each configured to attach to bone. The locking mechanism includes a tube, wherein removal of the tube releases the first and second footplates from the first and second couplers.
US09271778B2 Method and an apparatus for screw removal
A method and an apparatus for screw removal from bone plates used in osteosynthesis. The method includes the steps of: performing an incision in the soft tissue surrounding an implanted bone screw having a screw head inserted in an elongated plate hole of a bone plate; positioning an expandable tip of the apparatus in a portion of the plate hole which is not occupied by the bone screw and in the proximity of the screw head of the bone screw, wherein the expandable tip is in an unexpanded position; and widening the plate hole in a lateral direction essentially perpendicular to a major axis of the elongated plate hole by expanding the expandable tip of the apparatus from the unexpanded position to an expanded position.
US09271776B2 System and method for facilitating repair and reattachment of comminuted bone portions
A fracture fixation system serves in repairing comminuted bone portions of a bone. The fracture fixation system includes a plate having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, one of a screw and a post, and at least one aperture for receiving the one of the screw and the post therethrough. The plate is secured to a main portion of the bone, and the one of the screw and the post is inserted through the at least one aperture through the plate. The portion of the comminuted bone portions is attached to the one of the screw and the post using at least one suture. The one of the screw and the post is rotated to wind the at least one suture therearound to reposition the portion of the comminuted bone portions relative to the main portion of the bone.
US09271773B2 Bone plate structure
The present invention discloses an approximately π-shaped improved bone plate structure, fixed on a bone of an animal for maintaining the relative positions of different portions of the bone. One of the other features of the present invention is that bone plate structure comprises at least one contouring portion for allowing the surgeons to intra-operatively adjusting the shape in accordance with the shape of the bone. Furthermore, the present invention may fit the bone with multi-axis, decreasing stress concentration, preventing the opening portion from being unsuitably covered and preventing the wound deformation from being pressed.
US09271766B2 Devices and methods for stabilizing tissue and implants
An implant for repairing a joint between a first bone and a second bone includes a first section constructed of a substantially rigid material and a graft constructed of soft tissue having a first end and a second end. The first section has a first end surface configured for positioning against the first bone. The graft is configured for stabilizing the first section relative to the first bone. A first fastener is configured for mounting to the graft and the first section to anchor the graft to the first section. A second fastener is configured for mounting to the graft and the first bone to anchor the graft to the first bone.
US09271763B2 Transverse rod connector
A transverse rod connector includes an elongate member having first and second ends and first and second connection members. The first and second connection members are connected with first and second ends, respectively. The first and second connection members are configured for multidirectional positioning with respect to the elongate member. The first and second connection members are each dimensioned to be selectively and releasably secured to a bone anchor.
US09271762B2 Offset variable angle connection assembly
Systems for securely connecting a spinal implant to a bone anchor by using an offset connection assembly. The variable angle connection assembly is able to securely connect the spinal implant to the anchors even when there is a variance in the angle and position of the anchors with respect to the spinal implant. The connection assembly will not inadvertently lock the components of the connection assembly preventing the relative movement of the components.
US09271761B2 Bone anchoring device
A bone anchoring device for securement to a bone. The device includes an anchor, a receiver, a retainer and an insert. The receiver includes a seating surface defining a cavity communicating with the exterior of the receiver through a first opening configured to receive the connection head of the anchor therethrough. The retainer includes at least two discrete retaining members configured to engage with the receiver seating surface when they are captured between the connection head and the seating surface. The insert is disposed within the receiver and configured to frictionally engage the connection head. The insert includes a main body and at least one pin protruding from the main body, for circumferential insertion between two adjacent retaining members of the retainer.
US09271760B2 Locking device for locking a rod-shaped element in a receiving part of a bone anchor and bone anchor with such a locking device
A locking device includes a first locking member including a first end, a second end, a central axis, an outer surface with an external thread, a coaxial bore, and an internal thread provided along at least a portion of the bore, and a second locking member including a first end, a second end, and an outer surface with an external thread. When the second locking member is positioned in the first locking member, the second locking member is movable along the central axis by rotating the second locking member. Movement of the second locking member is limited towards the first end of the first locking member by a first stop and towards the second end of the first locking member by a second stop, where at least one of the first stop or second stop is arranged in the bore of the first locking member.
US09271757B2 Automated growing rod device
A remotely controllable growing rod device comprises a housing containing on-board electronics and at least one drive assembly operable to move associated extension elements relative to each other. Each extension element terminates in an anchor element configured to be anchored to a part of the spine, such as the pedicle of a vertebral body. The on-board electronics includes a microprocessor, a power supply, such as an inductive power supply, and a receiver/transmitter. The microprocessor is configured to receive remotely transmitted movement data through the receiver and is further configured for feedback controlled actuation of the drive assembly for relative movement the associated extension elements to achieve a desired physiological condition of the patient's spine.
US09271756B2 Systems and methods for joint replacement
Systems and methods for joint replacement are provided. The systems and methods include a surgical orientation device, a reference sensor device, and at least one orthopedic fixture. The surgical orientation device, reference sensor device, and orthopedic fixtures can be used to locate the orientation of an axis in the body, to adjust an orientation of a cutting plane or planes along a bony surface, or otherwise to assist in an orthopedic procedure(s).
US09271752B2 Method and apparatus for placing a cannula in a bladder
A cannula is placed in an enlarged opening through a bladder wall and an abdominal wall by applying pulling tension to a placement guide extending through a small pathway to hold an inflated placement balloon in sealing contact with the bladder wall. The seal confines distension fluid in the bladder to establish sufficient reactive resistance to enlarge the opening through the bladder wall with blunt force dilation from an obturator.
US09271750B2 Expandable cannula and method of use
A cutting device includes an elongated shaft that extends between a proximal end and a distal end. A distal arm extends from the distal end of the elongated shaft. The distal arm includes an inner surface defining a cavity and an outer surface defining a blunt tip. At least one proximal arm extends from the distal end of the elongated shaft at a position proximal to the distal arm. The at least one proximal arm having an inner surface defines a cavity including a cutting portion configured to cut tissue.
US09271744B2 Patient-specific guide for partial acetabular socket replacement
A device for partial acetabular replacement includes a patient-specific acetabular guide. The acetabular guide has a first surface configured to nestingly mate in only one position to the patient's acetabulum. The acetabular guide includes a patient-specific guiding formation configured to guide a cutting tool to remove damaged tissue from a defect of the patient's acetabulum and prepare a patient-specific implantation slot corresponding to the defect after removal of the damaged tissue. A patient-specific partial acetabular implant can be configured to nestingly mate with the patient-specific implantation slot.
US09271739B2 Surgical instrument and system of surgical instruments
A surgical instrument, for example a cutting block for use in knee surgery, comprises a mounting surface defining at least one opening for receiving a mounting projection. The mounting surface further defines a blind recess which extends linearly from the at least one opening. The blind recess may extend to an edge of the mounting surface. A system including a surgical instrument and one or more mounting projections is also disclosed. The blind recess can be used as a track to guide a projection to an opening, increasing the area of the instrument that can be used to locate the projection in the correct position. The recess acts as a guide for the projection to enter the opening by providing tactile feedback to guide the projection towards the opening. If the recess also extends to the edge of the instrument, the recess may be visible more easily when the surgeon is installing the instrument providing visual as well as tactile feedback.
US09271738B2 Device for control of difficult to compress hemorrhage
Bleeding from blood vessels located in difficult-to-compress regions of the body (especially the abdomen, pelvic or groin region) is controlled by the use of a portable, small-footprint belt-like device that contains multiple inflatable bladders. The inflatable bladders are selectively positioned and inflated over exsanguinating blood vessels, thereby exerting pressure to stop the bleeding. The device may also be used to provide perfusion support in low flow disease states such as hemorrhagic shock and cardiac arrest.
US09271734B2 Methods and devices for sheath compression
A sheath is configured for elongation from a first length to a second, longer length and a retention member retains the sheath at the first length. A portion of the retention member is removed or disengaged, the sheath is released and expands in situ to the second longer length. A method for releasing the retention member is also disclosed.
US09271731B2 Device and method for through the scope endoscopic hemostatic clipping
Medical device used to cause hemostasis of blood vessels using a clip arrangement delivered to a target region through an endoscope. Method for using the device to cause hemostasis of a blood vessel through an endoscope. Medical device including a reversibly closeable clip, a locking arrangement, a control wire, a sheath, and a handle with an actuating trigger. Through the endoscope, hemostatic clipping device that is fully reversible and lockable. Hemostatic clip that reversibly targets and clips bleeding ulcers.
US09271730B2 Instrument for stretching the skin
Instrument for stretching the skin for closing wounds, having a skin expander, having at least two jaws mechanically adjustable relative to each other in a tension direction on the skin expander, having barbs associated with the jaws the barbs being anchorable in the skin in the area of the edges of the wound, wherein a tensile force is exerted on the skin by means of the barbs by adjusting the jaws, the force stretching the skin and drawing the edges of the wound toward each other, wherein one or more barbs are each disposed on a carrier extending transverse to the tension direction, wherein the carriers are releasably mounted on the jaws, and wherein the carriers can be fixed in position relative to each other by attachable fixing elements.
US09271722B2 Methods for passing multiple sutures through tissue
Methods for passing multiple sutures through tissue are provided herein. In particular, the methods described herein allow multiple sutures to be passed through tissue without removing a suture passing instrument from a patient's body. In one embodiment, a method for passing a suture through tissue is provided that includes loading first and second suture limbs into a suture passing instrument, positioning the instrument within a patient's body, actuating the instrument to pass a portion of the first suture limb through the tissue, pulling the first suture limb through the tissue, pulling the second suture limb to reload the suture passing instrument without removing the instrument from the patient's body, actuating the instrument a second time to pass a portion of the second suture limb through the tissue, and pulling the second suture limb through the tissue.
US09271718B2 Suturing and ligating method
In a suturing and ligating method, a suture strand is wound around a gripper a predetermined number of times by turning a proximal end portion of a curved needle with a rolling mechanism. The gripper then grips the portion of the suture strand, which has not been inserted into the tissue. The gripper is then withdrawn through loops of the suture strand, which are wound around the gripper. The distal-end working unit and the gripper are then moved relatively to each other in order to form a knot across the incision.
US09271716B2 Surgical constructs and methods for securing tissue
Suture constructs and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. One exemplary embodiment of a construct includes a first limb, a second limb, a coaxial region, and a collapsible snare defined by the first and second limbs. The coaxial region can be formed by a portion of the second limb being disposed in a volume of the first limb, which allows for a low profile construct that is useful in various soft tissue repair procedures. The construct can be configured to be disposed in tissue to draw the tissue toward bone, and the coaxial region can be deconstructed so that the first and second limbs can be used to help secure the desired location of the tissue with respect to the bone. Various features of the construct and methods for using the same in a surgical procedure are also provided.
US09271713B2 Method and apparatus for tensioning a suture
An apparatus can include a tensioning member having a body defining a first bone engaging surface, a second opposite suture receiving surface, and an outer perimeter. First and second suture attachment members can be positioned relative to the second surface and spaced apart from each other, and can be configured to be coupled to a suture. First and second suture engaging members can extend from the second surface and can be positioned in spaced relation to the first and second suture attachment members. Rotation of the tensioning member in a first direction can selectively engage the first and second suture receiving members with the suture, thereby forming a non-linear path of travel of the suture relative to the first and second suture attachment members and suture engaging members and increasing the tension in the suture.
US09271711B2 Methods and devices for tissue retraction
Methods and devices are provided for retracting tissue. In one exemplary embodiment, a retractor is provided that includes a base and a plurality of blades configured to removably and replaceably mate to the base. One or more of the plurality of blades can be configured to mate to the base in one of a plurality of available positions. In use, one or more adjustment mechanisms can be actuated to move one or more of the blades, thereby forming a pathway through tissue. The retractor can be formed from one or more radiolucent materials.
US09271707B2 Clip applier and methods of use
An apparatus for delivering a closure element can include a splittable carrier tube and a splitter to split the tube. The carrier tube can have an outer surface retaining a closure element in a tubular configuration and can be split into radially-expandable flaps. A closure element can have a shape-memory body having a relaxed configuration with a planar-annular body defining a lumen with tines directed inwardly from the body. The clip can be held in a retaining configuration having a substantially asymmetrically-elongated tubular shape with a trapezoidal longitudinal cross-sectional profile and a proximal end having the tines being longitudinally directed with a first tine being more distally oriented compared to a substantially opposite second tine being more proximal, and retracting to a deploying configuration having a tubular shape with a rectangular longitudinal cross-sectional profile with the first tine being even with the second tine when being delivered.
US09271705B2 Surgical instrument adapter with highly secure locking shaft mechanism
A highly secure instrument adapter includes a handle with an internal locking and release mechanism which does not use a pushing release and which requires little physical effort to lock and release, yet provides a stable and secure connection between an instrument and the handle. The locking mechanism is comprised an ergometric handle having an open handle cavity, a receiver having an internal threaded tubular body and a plurality of locking apertures, and a rotating collar having a limited range of rotation, a plurality of fingers that project outward from the flattened surface on a spacer structure, and a plurality of circular apertures placed alternately between said fingers.
US09271704B2 Reel for surgical tape
The present invention relates to a component (101) intended to be mounted on the ejection barrel of a device for dispensing surgical staples, characterized in that it comprises: fixing means (102) designed to fix said component (101) on said ejection barrel removably or non-removably, securing means (103) for securing a surgical tape to said component (101), said securing means allowing said tape to slide within said component (101). The invention further relates to a kit comprising such a component and/or a device for dispensing surgical staples and/or a surgical tape.
US09271702B2 Medical instrument with a detent
A medical instrument includes a shaft which is connected at the proximal end to a handle, and it also includes an insert which is guided along the shaft and which is connected at the proximal end to a movable grip part of the handle. At its distal end, the insert has a tool which can be actuated by pivoting of the grip part. A lock is also provided which can be brought into locking engagement with the movable grip part. To cancel the lock function, a detent is provided which can be brought between lock and movable grip part, such that the lock function can be cancelled by the detent.
US09271692B2 System and method for triggering an imaging process based on non-periodicity in breathing
A method of triggering an imaging process includes obtaining breathing signals, analyzing the breathing signals to identify a non-periodicity in a subject's breathing, and generating a signal to cause an imaging process to begin in response to the identified non-periodicity. A computer product having a set of instructions stored in a non-transitory medium, wherein an execution of the instructions causes a method to be performed, the method includes obtaining breathing signals, analyzing the breathing signals to identify a non-periodicity in a subject's breathing, and generating a signal to cause an imaging process to begin in response to the identified non-periodicity. A system for triggering an imaging process includes a processor that is configured for obtaining breathing signals, analyzing the breathing signals to identify a non-periodicity in a subject's breathing, and generating a signal to cause an imaging process to begin in response to the identified non-periodicity.
US09271691B2 Method and x-ray device to determine a three-dimensional target image data set
In a method and x-ray device to determine a three-dimensional target image data set showing at least one partial region of interest of an acquisition region, wherein the image data of the three-dimensional target image data set are reconstructed from two-dimensional projection images acquired from various projection directions, first projection images are acquired without a collimation of the radiation source from first projection directions and a three-dimensional overview image data set of the acquisition region is reconstructed from the first projection images. The partial region of interest is selected in the overview image data set. Second projection images are acquired, with collimation at the partial region, from second projection directions, the second projection directions differing from the first projection directions. The target image data set showing the acquisition region and the partial region of interest is reconstructed from all first and second projection images.
US09271687B2 Method and apparatus for adjusting an X-ray emission range
A method of adjusting an X-ray emission range includes: displaying an image obtained by capturing X-rays which pass through a subject; receiving a user input with respect to the captured image; and controlling a collimator according to the received user input, to adjust the X-ray emission range according to a size and position of the collimator.
US09271686B2 Endorectal prostate probe composed of a combined mini gamma camera and ultrasound sensor
A dual modality probe is disclosed having both a gamma probe sensor and an ultrasound sensor. A dual imaging system is provided having the probe and at least one external gamma imaging detector and a data acquisition computer system for collecting data simultaneously from the gamma probe sensor, the gamma imaging detector, and the ultrasound sensor of the probe. A method for evaluating a target organ of a patient utilizing the probe and imaging system, and performing a biopsy of the organ is disclosed.
US09271684B2 CT imaging apparatus and methods
An apparatus has a patient support, a rotatable gantry supporting a source of imaging radiation, and a radiation detector that operates in a cyclical pattern of an exposure phase followed by a readout phase. For a first detector cycle in which the gantry has a first angle of rotation, the source of radiation is controlled to emit a first radiation beam pulse during the exposure phase, and respective first imaging data is read out during the readout phase. For a second, subsequent detector cycle, it is determined if the gantry has rotated through at least a threshold angular displacement relative to said first angle of rotation, and if so, the source of radiation is controlled to emit a second radiation beam pulse during the exposure phase, and respective second imaging data is read out during the readout phase.
US09271683B2 Radiation focal position detecting method, radiation detecting apparatus and radiation tomographic imaging apparatus
A radiation focal position detecting method for detecting a positional displacement of a focal point of a radiation source in a radiation tomographic imaging apparatus is provided. The method includes providing a radiation absorber that covers parts of first and second detecting element regions, the parts lying on mutually adjoining sides of the first and second detecting element regions in a radiation detector including a plurality of detecting elements arranged in channel and slice directions, and specifying, based on intensities of radiation detected by the detecting elements in the first and second detecting element regions, a position of the focal point or an amount of movement of the focal point from a reference position.
US09271681B2 X-ray computed tomography apparatus
According to one embodiment, an X-ray computed tomography apparatus comprises an X-ray generating unit, an X-ray detecting unit, a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the X-ray generating unit and the X-ray detecting unit, a reconstruction processing unit configured to reconstruct first images respectively corresponding to volumes, a shift detecting unit configured to detect shifts of an object image due to warp of the top within a reconstruction coordinate system of the reconstruction processing unit, which shifts respectively correspond to the first images, and a control unit configured to move an origin of the reconstruction coordinate system for each of the volumes based on each of the detected shifts and control the reconstruction processing unit to reconstruct second images, which shifts respectively correspond to the volumes from the output from the X-ray detecting unit on the reconstruction coordinate system whose origin has been moved.
US09271680B2 System and methods for computing activation maps
Systems and methods can be used to determine activation information for points along a surface or selected region of interest. In one example, a computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method that includes computing a local activation vector based on relative timing among electrical signals corresponding to neighboring points of a plurality of points on a surface envelope. An activation time can be computed for each of the plurality of points as a function of corresponding local activation vectors.
US09271679B2 Method and apparatus for processing medical image signal
A method of processing a medical image signal includes estimating first time courses and first spatial patterns for a group of objects from first brain function data for the group, and estimating second time courses and second spatial patterns for a target object from second brain function data obtained from the target object by using the first time courses and the first spatial patterns.
US09271672B2 Method and apparatus for indicating the emergence of an ulcer
A method of monitoring a patient's foot forms a thermogram of the sole of at least one foot of the patient, and determines whether the thermogram presents at least one of a plurality of prescribed patterns. The method also compares the thermogram against a prior thermogram of the same foot, and produces output information indicating the emergence of an ulcer on a given portion on the at least one foot as a function of 1) whether the thermogram is determined to present the at least one pattern, and 2) the comparison with the prior thermogram, which shows non-ulcerated tissue at the given location.
US09271671B2 Sensor and method for removing interfering substance
A technique is provided, wherein any influence, which would be otherwise exerted on a reaction of an objective substance caused by a reagent enzyme by an interfering substance contained in a specimen, is suppressed in relation to an electrochemical sensor for measuring the objective substance contained in the specimen. A sensor comprises a substrate; a detecting unit which is provided on the substrate and which detects an objective substance; a filter which covers the detecting unit, which permits permeation of the objective substance on one hand, and which regulates permeation of an interfering substance contained in a sample on the other hand; and removing unit which removes the interfering substance adhered to the filter.
US09271668B2 Safety blood collection assembly with indicator
A needle assembly is disclosed. The needle assembly includes a housing having a flash chamber, and having a distal end and a proximal end engageable with a specimen collection container. The assembly includes a cannula having a patient end, a non-patient end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining a cannula interior. The patient end of the cannula projects at least partially from the distal end of the housing, and the cannula interior is in fluid communication with the flash chamber. The assembly further includes a shield restrainably engaged with a portion of the housing and axially transitionable over the patient cannula from a retracted position in which the patient end is exposed, to an extended position in which the patient end is shielded by at least a portion of the shield, wherein at least a portion of the flash chamber is visible in the retracted position.
US09271660B2 Virtual prosthetic limb system
A system for configuring a prosthetic limb for use by a living being is provided. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to receive a control signal generated in response to a command from the living being and to generate a plurality of virtual bodies on a display including members of a virtual prosthetic limb and at least one virtual object. The ECU is further configured to control movement of at least one member of the virtual limb responsive to the control signal, to determine a contact force between first and second virtual bodies of the plurality of virtual bodies upon engagement between the first and second bodies caused by movement of one of the one member of the virtual limb and the at least one virtual object and to adjust a position of at least one of the first and second bodies responsive to the contact force.
US09271657B2 Method and system for patient-specific modeling of blood flow
Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.
US09271651B2 System and method for integrated quantifiable detection, diagnosis and monitoring of disease using patient related time trend data
A system comprising a memory device having a plurality of routines stored therein, a processor configured to execute the plurality of routines stored in the memory device, the plurality of routines comprising: a routine configured to effect, when executed, accessing of patient deviation scores indicative of differences between patient data and reference data representative of a population segment, wherein the patient deviation scores are derived from longitudinal data of the patient data such that the patient deviation scores include a plurality of sets of patient deviation scores, each set indicative of differences between patient data collected at a respective point in time and the reference data; a routine configured to effect, when executed, identifying a trend in the patient deviation scores for at least one clinical parameter; a routine configured to effect, when executed, generating of a report including a visual indication of the trend; and a routine configured to effect, when executed, outputting of the report. The report includes one or more views including Z, T, D, DT, and D feedback on T views, using image and non-image data.
US09271649B2 Imaging apparatus including a lens rotatably connected to a front cover
An imaging apparatus configured to capture an image of an object to be detected is provided. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a lens, and a front cover. The lens is located on the imaging unit and has a first optical axis. The front cover is rotatably connected to the lens. Relative locations of the front cover and the object are fixed by the leaning-against of the front cover. The lens is rotated with respect to the front cover, so that the first optical axis is rotated with respect to the object.
US09271647B2 Methods for objectively determining the visual axis of the eye and measuring its refraction
Provided are methods for determining an axis of best vision of an eye or for objectively determining a visual axis of an eye and for making the most accurate measurement of refraction. Generally, an optical measuring device or instrument projects laser beams into the eye during a scan. Positions of the projected beams are detected and measured on the retina to produce a set of projections. Wave front tilt of radiation that is backscattered from the retina is calculated as a best fit from the set of projections. The axis of best vision or the visual axis is reconstructed from a set of those traces of chief rays exiting from the eye that cross the nodal point of the optical system of the eye and that are normal to the wave front tilts. Measuring with the Styles Crawford scans centered over this axis provides the most accurate objective refraction.
US09271644B2 Laser scanning systems
The invention provides a method of reducing jitter error in a laser scanning system (1) adapted to produce a scanned image comprising a number of lines of an object (18). The method comprising the steps of providing a reference object (22) arranged such that the scanned image produced by the laser scanning system (1) includes a reference image (24) of the reference object (22); processing the reference image (24) to calculate an error arising from non-repeatable displacement of the lines of the reference image (24); and adjusting at least one operating parameter of the laser scanning system (1) in response to the calculated error.
US09271643B2 Compact multimodality optical coherence tomography imaging systems having a ring of optical fibers in image capture path
Systems for imaging a sample are provided. The system includes an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging portion having an associated OCT path defined by one set of optical elements between an OCT signal delivery optical fiber and the sample; an image capture portion having an associated image capture path defined by a second set of optical elements between an image capture device and the sample, different from the OCT path; and an illuminator portion having an associated illumination path defined by a third set of optical elements between an illumination source and the sample. The OCT path, the image capture path, and the illuminator path have at least one optical element in common, and the respective paths differ from each other by at least one optical element. The OCT path and the image capture path share a common intermediate conjugate image plane. Focal control is achieved for the OCT path and the image capture path concurrently through adjustment of one or more common optical elements distal to the common intermediate conjugate plane, such that focal control requires no differential adjustment between optical elements not in common to both paths.
US09271640B2 Optical speculum
A system for direct imaging and diagnosing of abnormal cells in a target tissue includes an image acquisition system comprising a plurality of independently movable optical elements. The image acquisition system is arranged to capture at least one of a single image or multiple images or video of cells within the target tissue using at least one of bright field or dark field source divided into independently operated segments to obtain a plurality of data sets. An image analysis and control unit in communication with the image acquisition system analyzes the data sets and applies algorithms to the data sets for diagnosing abnormal cells.
US09271637B2 Solid state illumination for endoscopy
A device for illuminating a body cavity may include an elongate tube, at least one lens element, and at least one deployable element. The elongate tube may include an internal lumen extending between a distal opening at a distal end and a proximal opening at a proximal end opposite the distal end. The at least one lens element may extend substantially across a diameter of the internal lumen of the elongate tube. The at least one deployable element may include a light source. The at least one deployable element may be operably coupled to a region of the elongate tube proximate the distal end and may be configured to be moved between an insertion position and a deployed position.
US09271635B2 Fluorescence endoscope apparatus
A fluorescence endoscope apparatus includes: a light source unit emitting light in a combination of light in plural types of wavelength bands in two types of wavelength ranges of RGB and two types of exciting light, with plural types of emitting patterns and in a time division; an image pickup unit receiving reflected light and two types of fluorescence; and an image-processing unit outputting a white light image and two types of fluorescence images.
US09271633B2 Stereo camera for hermetically sealed endoscope
In one embodiment, an endoscopic camera for a robotic surgical system includes a stereo camera module mounted to a robotic arm of a patient side cart. The optical and electro-optic components of the camera module are hermetically sealed within a first housing. Signals from an electro-optic component travel through traces in a ceramic substrate forming one side of the hermetically sealed first housing. A second housing surrounds the first housing and optical fibers are dispersed between the housings to provide lighting in a body cavity. The camera module may be sterilized by an autoclave.
US09271632B2 Rotation unit, insertion apparatus, insertion body, and insertion system
A cylindrical rotation unit attachable to an elongated insertion unit which includes a base in which a central axis is defined, and a rotation member provided on an outer circumference of the base movably in an axial direction of the central axis relative to the base and rotatably around the central axis in response to the rotation of a rotation force transmission portion which is rotatable around a longitudinal axis parallel with the central axis of the base includes: an engagement portion attachable to and detachable from an outer circumferential surface of the base; and a contact portion which is provided to contact on the rotation member away from the engagement portion and which disposes the rotation member on an outer circumference of the rotation force transmission portion while the engagement portion is engaged with the outer circumferential surface of the base.
US09271629B2 Frequency domain optical coherence tomography image noise reduction by subtraction of adjacent depth data
An information processing apparatus for frequency domain optical coherence tomography comprises an image scanning unit that receives measurement data from an optical coherence tomography device, while moving a measurement point to the next adjacent point at each measurement time by controlling the optical coherence tomography device, and generates depth information based on the measurement data to produce a raw tomographic image. The apparatus includes a noise reduction unit that reduces noise from the raw tomographic image to produce a result tomographic image. The noise reduction unit reduces the noise from the raw tomographic image by subtracting the depth information generated by the image scanning unit at each measurement time from the depth information generated at another measurement time adjacent to said each measurement time.
US09271628B2 Lid operating mechanism for a drawer-type dishwasher
A dishwasher includes an outer housing, a drawer having front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a washing tub, a lid for selectively closing the washing tub and an operating mechanism that raises and lowers the lid as the drawer is shifted into and out of the outer housing. The operating mechanism includes a lifting slider slidably mounted in the outer housing operatively coupled to a lifting spring and a compression slider, also slidably mounted in the outer housing coupled to a compression spring. The lifting slider and compression slider are provided with corresponding lifting rollers and compression rollers that engage the lid. As the drawer is withdrawn from the outer housing, the lifting spring urges the lifting slider upward raising the lid and, as the drawer is inserted into the outer housing, the compression slider forces the lid downward onto the washing tub.
US09271625B2 Cleaning device
A cleaning cloth constructed of an upper sheet and lower sheet that are joined together for form an interior cavity into which additional cleaning cloths, cleaning materials, abrasive materials, scented materials, etc. can be placed. The cleaning cloth includes strips that can be used to connect the cleaning cloth to a mop head or other surface.
US09271624B2 High efficiency disposable cellulosic wiper
A disposable cellulosic wiper includes a percentage by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers, and a percentage by weight of regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers having a number average diameter of less than about 2 microns and a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 ml. The microfibers are selected and present in amounts such that the wiper exhibits a Laplace pore volume fraction at pore sizes less than 15 microns of at least 1.5 times that of a like wiper prepared without regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers.
US09271622B2 High efficiency disposable cellulosic wiper
A disposable cellulosic wiper includes a percentage by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers, and a percentage by weight of regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers having a number average diameter of less than about 2 microns and a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 ml. The microfibers are selected and present in amounts such that the wiper exhibits a relative water residue removal efficiency of at least 150% as compared with a like sheet without regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers.
US09271616B2 Moist towelette dispensing apparatus
A moist towelette dispenser device adapted for use in combination with a toilet paper holder assembly having an elongated cylindrical spindle with two ends engageable which mount on a conventional toilet paper fixture to support a roll of toilet paper. The device provides for concurrent dispensing of toilet paper and moist towelettes and an air freshener. A housing provides a dispensing site for the towelettes and is engageable to the room mount by two elongated members. The toilet paper is operatively mounted on the spindle engaged between the members.
US09271615B1 Method of installation of bathroom accessories
Disclosed is a method of installing bathroom accessories such as towel racks on the walls of a bathroom. The method includes the following primary steps: revising accessories if said accessories lack horizontal wall fastener apertures to provide that they have at least one such aperture, selecting a location to place an accessory and marking it, drilling a fine opening at each mark to determine whether a wall stud is disposed at such opening, drilling a big enough hole to accommodate an expansion anchor collapsed end at each fine opening where no wall stud has been located, locating the accessory at that point, inserting fasteners into each aperture using a screw if a wall stud was found at that opening and using an expansion anchor at the other locations, tightening the fasteners while inserting any central element such as a towel bar, completing tightening, and covering each fastener with a cover cap.
US09271613B2 Electronic soap dispenser
An electronic soap dispenser includes an upper dispensing head supported above a sink deck, and a liquid soap reservoir and a pump assembly supported below the sink deck. A capacitive sensor is operably coupled to the dispensing head. A controller is in electrical communication with the capacitive sensor and activates the pump assembly in response to input from the capacitive sensor.
US09271612B2 Dispensing device
A dispensing device has a downward-facing outlet for dispensing a material, a mechanism causing material to be dispensed, a first sensor facing in a first horizontal direction, adapted to detect a person approaching the dispensing device, and an alert mechanism. The first sensor, detecting an approaching person, activates the alert mechanism, signaling the approaching person of the presence of the dispensing device.
US09271611B2 Systems for improving hand hygiene
The invention relates generally to the field of hand sanitation, and particularly to a systems that encourage or compel the use of a hand sanitizer in order to open or unlock a door, unlock an access panel or drawer, or use a shared electronic device.
US09271609B2 Expandable surface modular cutting board system
A modular cutting board system comprised of a plurality of cutting boards is disclosed. In this invention, individual cutting boards can be retentively conjoined to other cutting boards of the same or similar make through magnetic holding force, provided by magnets disposed in the non-working surface sides of the cutting boards, to produce a larger working surface. This invention allows for the optional use of magnetic assemblies in place of magnets alone to increase holding force and prevent magnetic interference with steel utensils. Other optional embodiments include rubber gaskets to produce watertight seals and complementary protrusions and recessions to aid in alignment at the conjoining sides. Importantly, this plurality of cutting boards can be easily detached from a conjoined state and into individual cutting boards. This quality of the present invention improves sanitation through easier cleaning and also facilitates storage, compared to large and unwieldy cutting boards.
US09271606B1 Retrofittable grill fan assembly
A retrofittable grill fan assembly for PURPOSE includes a housing that has a first end wall, a second end wall and a perimeter wall attached to and extending between the first and second end walls. An air conduit is attached to the housing and is in fluid communication with an interior of the housing. The air conduit extends outwardly and downwardly from the housing. A coupler is mounted on the housing and is releasably engaged to an upper edge of a grill bowl. A fan is positioned within the housing and the housing at least one air inlet extending therethrough. The fan draws air into the housing through the at least one air inlet and expels air outwardly through the conduit when the fan is turned on. A power supply is electrically coupled to the fan and an actuator is electrically coupled to the fan to turn the fan on or off.
US09271603B2 Bottled water dispensers with single-serve coffee brewing features
Combined water dispensers and coffee making devices are disclosed, which include a cabinet configured to house a water bottle in a bottom half of the interior portion of the cabinet; a cold tank that is configured to receive water from the water bottle, which is connected to an evaporator; one or more hot tanks that are configured to receive water (directly or indirectly) from the cold tank, which are connected to a heating coil to heat the water that is contained therein; and a coffee making device located on a top side of the cabinet. The coffee making device receives water from the hot tank, receives a disposable cartridge that contains coffee grinds for a single-serving of coffee, causes water to contact the coffee grinds to produce a coffee beverage, and employs a set of spikes to make water entry and exit apertures in the cartridge.
US09271601B2 System, method and capsule for preparing a beverage
The invention relates to a system, method and capsule for preparing a predetermined quantity of beverage suitable for consumption using an extractable product. The system comprises an exchangeable capsule, and an apparatus comprising a receptacle for holding the exchangeable capsule, and a fluid dispensing device for supplying a fluid to the exchangeable capsule. The capsule comprises an exit area to allow draining from the prepared beverage from the capsule there through, wherein the exit area comprises a filter layer. The filter layer comprises a layer of non-woven and/or woven fibrous material with at least one first region where the non-woven and/or woven material has been sealed to prevent egress of liquid there through and at least one second region where the non-woven and/or woven material has not been sealed to allow egress of liquid there through.
US09271598B2 Method for preparing a food liquid contained in a capsule by centrifugation and device adapted for such method
A method for preparing a food liquid from a food substance contained in a single-use capsule by passing water through the substance. The method includes centrifugally rotating the capsule while introducing water therein to pass the water through the substance to form the food liquid, opening at least one liquid delivery outlet in the capsule which is peripherally offset relative to the center of the capsule, and delivering the food liquid from the at least one liquid delivery outlet to dispense the beverage.
US09271593B1 Suspension device for shower rod
A suspension device includes a sticking piece, a suspension seat, and a connecting head. The sticking piece has a back face coated with a hydrophilic adhesive. The suspension seat has a first shell connected with a front face of the sticking piece. The first shell has a slideway and two insertion plates. The connecting head has a mounting portion and a resting portion. The mounting portion has a mounting hole mounted on one end of a shower rod. The resting portion has a second shell provided with a protruding slide and two slots. The second shell is juxtaposed to the first shell, with the slide sliding into the slideway, and with the two insertion plates being inserted into the two slots, such that the connecting head is combined with the suspension seat.
US09271591B2 Kilt hanger
A kilt hanger for accommodating a kilt and kilt accessories is disclosed. The kilt hanger includes a frame defining two arms and three horizontal members. A kilt is folded into thirds or three panels and connected to the kilt hanger using a pair of clasps or clips on each horizontal member. Accordingly, each panel of the folded kilt is connected to a different horizontal member with a center panel of the kilt connected to a central horizontal member and each other panel connected to an outer horizontal member. The outer horizontal members are positioned higher on the arms than the central horizontal member. A vest and jacket can also be placed on the kilt hanger along with a fly plaid that is draped over an optional horizontal dowel member. Methods of using and fabricating the kilt hanger are also disclosed.
US09271590B2 Drinking straw and method and device for manufacturing a drinking straw
A drinking straw comprises a thermoplastic tube and an active ingredient in the tube, releasable in a liquid drawn through the tube. The active ingredient is held in place between branched portions of the straw defined by neighbouring recesses formed in the tube and an inner seam connecting the neighbouring recesses. The branched portions are spaced from the ends of the straw. A device and method for making the drinking straw are disclosed as well.
US09271587B2 Hanging vessel
A hanging vessel includes a hanger and a containment vessel shaped as a solid of rotation having a central axis, a closed bottom, an open top, and a lower sidewall with a diameter that increases from the bottom upward. The hanger includes a first hoop located around the lower sidewall, and a second hoop located above the first hoop. The first and second hoops are open hoops having respective first and second gaps, and are connected by an intermediate section aligned with a tensile section extending from the second hoop to an attachment point on the axis above the open end. An alternative hanger has helical turns conforming to the vase. The hanger is preferably formed from a single piece of resilient wire. The vessel may be a vase having a bulbous portion that can be positively retained by the hoops or turns.
US09271585B1 Hanging sunglass holder system
An apparatus for organizing and storing many pairs of sunglasses conveniently. The hanging sunglass holder is a hanging, fabric panel equipped with a series of vertically stepped, horizontally drawn cords or strings upon which multiple pairs of sunglasses, folded, and flat could be hung by their temples. The fabric panel, able to be rolled up for storage when not in use, serves not only as a safe and secure apparatus for storing sunglasses, but also as an attractive, tapestry-like, individualized wall-hanging in its own right.
US09271580B2 Baby carrier cover assembly
A cover assembly for a body-mounted soft structured baby carrier which provides protection from the elements (such as the sun or other elements) via a hood for the baby being carried which has an outer shell configured in the shape of an animal, fantastical creature, video game character, superhero or princess, and is capable of being removably attached or secured to an existing chest-mounted soft structured baby carrier using upper and lower straps which attach to the upper and lower securing straps on the existing body-mounted soft structured baby carrier.
US09271578B2 Mattress and method of adjusting pressure of mattress
A mattress and a method of adjusting the pressure of a mattress are provided. The method includes a first process of measuring internal pressure before a user lies on a mattress having at least two zones in which cells having a closed inner space filled with fluid are formed, a second process of measuring an increase in the internal pressure of each cell occurring when the user lies on the mattress, and an average pressure adjusting process of adjusting an amount of the fluid introduced into each cell of the mattress based on a pressure variation caused by a difference between the internal pressure detected from each cell in the first process and the internal pressure detected from each cell in the second process.
US09271576B2 Self-aligning, compactable chair
A self-aligning, compactable, collapsible seating structure formed by sections of hollow tubing, each hollow tubing component has a first end having a first diameter and a second opposing region having a second, reduced diameter. Reduced diameter regions are insertable into said tubing regions having a first diameter to form a self-aligning joint. A pair of rigid, U-shape frames are rotatively connected together to form an A-frame shaped support. Dimensions of the chair in an operational, deployed configuration may be reduced along two dimensions (i.e., height, length) into a compacted configuration for storage or transport. The novel chair may be compacted into a thin bundle that may be rolled up in and contained within fabric that forms a portion of the chair. In its compacted, rolled up state, the novel chair is suitable for transportation within a backpack or other such enclosure.
US09271572B2 Lift system
A household lift is provided with a stationary base and rack, wherein the movement of the drive gears and an associated movable portion is supported for linear motion parallel to the rack by at least a pair of extensible slides that are oriented at approximately right angles to one another.
US09271569B2 Reconfigurable table
A table includes a vertical support column and a base. The base includes a first floor engaging portion disposed on a first side of a vertical axis and a second floor engaging portion disposed on an opposite second side of the vertical axis. The first and second floor engaging portions are weighted such that the base has a center of gravity spaced from the vertical axis on the second side of the vertical axis. A worksurface member is supported by the vertical support column and is vertically spaced from the base. The worksurface member is rotatable relative to the base. In one aspect, the worksurface member has an overall length greater than the overall length of the base. In another aspect, a stop limits rotation of the worksurface member.
US09271567B2 Collapsible power-driven table stand
A collapsible power-driven table stand includes a supporting body of an elongated shape, a first stand having a first driving member and a plurality of first extendable rods driven by the first driving member to move axially relative to each other and a second stand having a second driving member and a plurality of second extendable rods driven by the second driving member to move axially relative to each other. The first driving member is pivotally attached to one end of the supporting body and the second driving member is also pivotally attached to another end of the supporting body in order to allow both the first and second stands to extend/collapse relative to the supporting body. Accordingly, the assembly of the collapsible power-driven table is simplified and the overall size thereof is reduced.
US09271566B1 Toothbrush having integrated flashlight
An illuminating toothbrush for illuminating the inside of a users mouth while the user brushes her teeth and/or gums. The illuminating toothbrush comprises a conventional toothbrush having elongated handle portion and bristle head portion modified with a lighting element connected to an internal battery compartment and a manually actuated momentary switch. The lighting element is positioned on the handle portion to enable it to direct light towards the bristle head, configuring it to illuminate the mouth of a user when the bristle head is in the user's mouth. In operation, when the manual switch is depressed through the application of manual pressure, the lighting element illuminates and when the manual pressure is removed, the lighting element ceases to illuminate.
US09271565B2 Mouthwash formulations for use with toothbrush delivery device
Disclosed are compositions suitable for use with an oral care implement. The compositions provide improved sensory appeal, and comparable reduction in volatile sulfur compounds and antibacterial activity to advanced formula toothpaste formulations. The compositions include a high percentage of antibacterial agent and flavoring, when compared to conventional toothpastes, and some mouth washes formulations, such that only minor amounts of the composition can be delivered to the oral care implement to provide improved reduction in volatile sulfur compounds, antibacterial efficacy, and optionally a cooling sensation.
US09271563B2 Portable self powered line mountable electric power line current monitoring transmitting and receiving system
A method of determining a fault on a power line conductor includes the steps of determining a magnitude and a direction of a load current waveform in the power line conductor with a loop coil and determining a magnitude and a direction of a fault current waveform in the power line conductor with the loop coil. A polarity of the fault current waveform is compared with a polarity of the load current waveform to determine if a change in polarity between the fault current waveform and the load current waveform occurred to determine the direction of the fault. Data representing a fault to at least one remote location is transmitted when a predetermined trigger value is reached.
US09271562B2 Retractable hairbrush system
The new hairbrush system employs a handle made of curved rods that collapse into the body of the brush via tracks, turning it into a non-electric hair roller for setting and smoothing hair. The barrel of the brush system has curved bristles that grip hair and curved slits that allow for airflow. The carbon fiber (or equivalent) body provides for a lightweight yet sturdy tool that can effectively be used as a brush (without collapsed handle) when not being used as a roller (with collapsed handle).
US09271561B2 Apparatus for improving the interchangeability of portable electronic devices amongst various supports and related methods
Disclosed are apparatus and related methods of interchangeably securing (a) portable electronic devices or (b) portable electronic devices that are housed within protective cases to one more supports. In one embodiment, the apparatus may be a holster with a coupling means for removably securing the holster to a support (e.g., a clip, armband, or vehicle mount) that features cooperating coupling means. In another embodiment, the apparatus may be a protective case with a coupling means for removably securing the holster to a support that features cooperating coupling means.
US09271559B2 Body armor support harness
A hip harness for supporting upper body armor. The harness includes a hip belt, a frame, and a coupler. The hip belt is securable about the hips of a user of the body armor. The frame provides flexible support and has a lower end secured to the rear portion of the hip belt. The coupler is adjustably securable to the upper end of the frame. It has strips that fit through attachment loops on the back of the body armor to secure the harness to the armor.
US09271554B2 Applicator
An applicator including an applying part of a liquid absorber impregnated with an application liquid. An indicator portion having a jagged configuration that varies in reflectance of light depending on the quantity of the application liquid in the liquid absorber is formed adjacent to the liquid absorber, and the formed area of the indicator portion of an application liquid feeder can be visually observed from the outside so that the quantity of the application liquid can be displayed by the reflected light of indicator portion. The applicator allows a visual check on whether the application liquid is full or less when the applicator is unused or when the application liquid is decreased after use, from the change of the reflectance of light in indicator. The applicator permits easy confirmation of the liquid quantity and can easily avoid liquid blobbing.
US09271550B2 Adjustable umbrella
An adjustable umbrella, which includes: an umbrella base, a stand column, a sliding sleeve, a cross rod, an umbrella cover adjustment mechanism, a drawing rod, and an umbrella frame, wherein a top of the umbrella frame is rotatably attached to a top end of the cross rod through a rotating mechanism, a bottom joint of the cross rod is rotatably connected to the sliding sleeve, the umbrella frame has an elongated umbrella rib with a bottom end, the bottom end of the elongated umbrella rib is connected to the umbrella cover adjustment mechanism, the umbrella frame is rotatable by adjusting the umbrella cover adjustment mechanism. The sunshade is novel in appearance, and has strong practical performance and reasonable and practical structure.
US09271549B2 Bracelet formed of hinged links
A bracelet includes a plurality of links assembled in an articulated manner using pins. Each pin passes through interlocking parts of links in which a cylindrical passage is arranged where a pin can slide relatively freely. In order to ensure the position of the pin once the links have been assembled, a locking element is arranged in a cavity made in one of the links so as to partially intersect the passage in which the pin is arranged. This pin includes a groove, which is penetrated by an external part of the locking element when the element is in the closed position. Pressing on the locking element, then rotating it by an angle of 90°, releases the external part of the pin groove so that the pin is then released.
US09271544B2 Tethered fluid-filled chambers
An article of footwear may incorporate a chamber with an outer barrier and a tether element. The barrier may be formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity, and tether element may be located within the interior cavity and joined to opposite sides of the barrier. Upon pressurization of the chamber, the tether element may extend across the interior cavity and be placed in tension by the outward force of a pressurized fluid within the interior cavity. The tether element may have a variety of configurations. For example, the tether element may have a diagonal orientation, or different tether elements may have different lengths. A tether element may also have plates or tie pieces secured to opposite sides of the chamber, with one or more tethers extending between. Also, the tether element may include one of more sheets that extend across the interior cavity.
US09271542B2 Apparatus for damping an applied force
An apparatus comprises a first portion comprising a generally flexible material formed in a generally planar rectangular shape. A second portion comprises the generally flexible material formed in the generally planar rectangular shape. The first portion and the second portion are joined to form a V-shaped structure. The first portion and the second portion are configured to be joinable to a surface of at least one structure for damping an applied external force.
US09271539B2 Footwear
Footwear is disclosed having an upper secured to a sole and defining at least a front portion. An apron portion having first and second lateral portions and a lower end, each of the first and second lateral portions including a free lateral outer edge can be attached at the lower end to the front portion. A first fastener for releasably connecting the first and second lateral portions together is also provided, the first fastener being configurable between a fastened position in which the first and second lateral portions are held adjacent one another, and an unfastened position in which at least an upper portion of each of the first and second lateral portions, respectively, can be readily separated.
US09271538B2 Microprocessor control of magnetorheological liquid in footwear with bladders and internal flexibility sipes
A sole, sole insert or sole component for footwear that includes at least one outer bladder, at least one inner bladder located in the outer bladder, an internal sipe, and at least one electronic control system including a microprocessor. The internal sipe is formed by a portion of an inner surface of the outer bladder and a portion of an outer surface of the inner bladder. The surface portions forming the sipe oppose each other and are configured to move relative to each other in a sliding motion. The sipe includes a lubricating media with at least a magnetorheological liquid for use to increase or decrease the sliding resistance between the opposing sipe surfaces by altering an arrangement of metal particles in the magnetorheological fluid. The control system controls a flow resistance of thee magnetorheological liquid by altering the arrangement of the metal particles in the magnetorheological fluid.
US09271535B1 Hair extension sewing device
A hair extension applicator including a base, an opening, a needle, a hook, a pair of curved hook extenders, a pair of grips, a concave thumb controller, an activation control, and a motor. The thumb controller has a selectively activated position. The hook is configured to create a loop in a thread when the thumb controller is in the activated position. The needle is configured to stitch the thread through a hair extension when the thumb controller is in the activated position. Each of the pair of hook extenders is configured to protect a user's head from injury.
US09271534B2 Garment with drawstring closure
Embodiments of the invention include a drawstring closure that allows two sides of a garment to securely and evenly tighten the garment and the fly of the garment. One embodiment of the invention includes a drawstring closure for use on a garment, including a first front panel, wherein the first front panel comprises a first tab, and wherein the first tab comprises a first opening through which a drawstring can be threaded; a second front panel, wherein the second front panel comprises a second tab, wherein the second tab comprises second and third openings through which a drawstring can be threaded; a first drawstring, wherein the first drawstring is attached to the first tab, the first drawstring is threaded through the third and the first opening; a second drawstring, wherein the second drawstring is attached to the first front panel; and the second drawstring is threaded through the second opening.
US09271522B2 Cooking oven with oxygenating means and method for operating same
The invention relates to a cooking oven (1), having a cavity (2) which is closable by a door (3). To reduce bacteria growth the invention is characterized in that oxygenating gas or ozone generating means (4) are provided for supplying at least a part of the cavity (2) or a region (5) adjacent to the cavity (2) with oxygenating gas or ozone.
US09271519B2 Kits and methods for nutrition supplementation
The present invention relates to methods of co-administration of various vitamin and mineral compositions, and in a specific embodiment, said methods comprise co-administering one composition comprising vitamin A, beta carotene, B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, iron, magnesium and zinc, and a second composition comprising omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA, to supplement the nutritional needs of individuals within physiologically stressful states; and kits provided for co-administration of various vitamin and mineral compositions, and in a specific embodiment, said kits comprise one composition comprising vitamin A, beta carotene, B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D3, vitamin E, iron, magnesium and zinc, and a second composition comprising omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA, to supplement the nutritional needs of individuals within physiologically stressful states.
US09271515B2 Raw bone product and method
A raw bone product including ground raw bone compressed into a mass, wherein the ground raw bone has been subjected to a hydrostatic pressure of at least 4000 atm for a predetermined amount of time, and wherein the mass is maintained at a temperature of at most 40° F.
US09271507B2 Apparatus and method for manufacturing a strand of a pasty mass
Apparatus and methods for producing a string of a pasty material, such as sausagemeat. The apparatus includes an extrusion head that includes at least one conveyor conduit for the pasty material to be shaped into a string. The conveyor conduit has an inlet, an outlet, and a receiving chamber for a casing material to be applied to the string. The receiving chamber has an entry for the casing material and an exit for applying the casing material to the string surface. The receiving chamber is also adapted to impart to the casing material, when flowing through the receiving chamber, a movement having at least a rotatory movement component about at least a longitudinal axis of the receiving chamber.
US09271505B2 Apparatus for conveying, inspecting and stacking items
A machine for inspecting, sorting and stacking items includes a plurality of conveyor lanes for moving items through the machine. An imaging system is arranged relative to the conveyor lanes to view items moving along the conveyor lanes. A reject arrangement is downstream of the imaging system and includes a plurality of selectively actuatable reject mechanisms, each reject mechanism associated with a respective one of the conveyor lanes enabling items to be selectively dropped from each conveyor lane on an individual lane basis. Items that pass inspection are conveyed to a downstream stacker, then on to item stack conveyors before being moved onto a side transfer conveyor. A controller analyzes image data to make a determination of whether any item is below a defined quality threshold and, if so, to control the reject mechanism to drop the below quality item out of the conveyor lane.
US09271504B2 Insecticidal compositions and uses thereof
The present invention provides compositions and methods for controlling plant pests. In particular, the present invention provides plant extracts with insecticidal activity.
US09271496B2 Synergistic fungicidal mixtures for fungal control in cereals
A fungicidal composition containing a fungicidally effective amount of a compound of Formula I: (3S,6S,7R,8R)-8-benzyl-3-(3-((isobutyryloxy)methoxy)-4-methoxypicolinamido)-6-methyl-4,9-dioxo-1,5-dioxonan-7-yl isobutyrate, and at least one fungicide selected from the group consisting of: benzovindiflupyr and penthiopyrad provides synergistic control of selected fungi.
US09271495B2 Controlled release biocidal salts
A controlled release biocidal salt of a first component comprises a cation of a Nα—(C1-C22) alkanoyl di-basic amino acid alkyl (C1-C22) ester cationic biocidal molecule and a second component comprising an anion of a monomeric anionic molecule having insignificant biocidal activity. The salt is characterized such that when the salt is exposed to an aqueous medium, the salt partially dissolves thereby releasing biocidal ions in an amount sufficient to exceed the MIC or MBC of a target bacteria being controlled, and further characterized as leaving a residual reservoir of undissolved salt capable of releasing more biocidal ions as the salt is consumed or otherwise removed from the environment encompassing the target bacteria. The preferred cationic biocidal molecule comprises Nα-lauroyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (“LAE”).
US09271494B2 Shelf stable, reduced corrosion, ready to use peroxycarboxylic acid antimicrobial compositions
The present invention relates to shelf stable and/or less corrosive peroxycarboxylic acid antimicrobial compositions, including ready-to-use compositions. Shelf stable compositions can include defined ratios of hydrogen peroxide to peroxycarboxylic acid and/or hydrogen peroxide to protonated carboxylic acid, but need not include strong acid. Reduced corrosion compositions can include carboxylic acid and corrosion inhibitor at acid pH. Compositions of the invention can have advantageous activity against spores.
US09271489B2 Carbonate ester tuber treatment composition
A carbonate ester composition containing at least one carbonate ester, preferably an alkylene carbonate, and a sprout inhibitor. A tuber having, on at least a part of a surface thereof, the disclosed carbonate ester composition. A method of applying the carbonate ester composition onto the surface of a tuber. A method of applying a carbonate ester composition onto the surface of a potato tuber.
US09271486B2 Combination animal repellents
The present invention provides compositions and methods for the control and management of wildlife populations (including domesticated animals) and pests such as rodents, birds including geese, deer and other herbivores such as rabbits, ground hogs, raccoons, moose and elk, tunneling animals such as moles, voles and gophers and insects, carnivores and other organisms such as predators. Specifically provided are FIFRA exemption-based formulations which may be applied to natural or artificial surfaces.
US09271483B2 Externally-adjustable fishing reel drive gear pair backlash adjustment mechanism
Disclosed is an externally-adjustable fishing reel drive gear pair backlash adjustment mechanism which includes a drive spindle, a housing consisting of a main cover and a side lid, and a gear pair consisting of a rack and a main gear on the drive spindle; middle portions of the main cover and the side lid being respectively provided with a bearing mounting counterbore, bearings being respectively mounted at two ends of the drive spindle, the drive spindle being mounted in the bearing mounting counterbores of the main cover and the side lid through the bearings at two ends, the bearing of the side lid being bonded to the main gear, a backlash existing between the main gear and the rack; and an adjustment mechanism adjusting a gear pair backlash outside the housing.
US09271482B2 Fish shaped lure for trolling
Transfer sheets on which an image quite closely resembling an external appearance of a bait fish is color printed on the surface of a hologram sheet are adhered to back sides of bilaterally symmetrical body-half segments made of a flexible transparent thermoplastic resin in a state that the image can be viewed perspectively from the surface side. Only front head sides which occupy at least half in both the body-half segments are adhered and remaining rear end sides are kept open, by which a line equipped with a hook is guided out and wired to the front from the rear end sides via an interior hollow of a lure body.
US09271481B2 3 Dimensional moving and visible gill for fishing lures
A 3-dimentional moving and visible filamentous material for insertion into a rebate or slot in the gill area of a baitfish lure which is designed to protrude out and away from the lure and intentionally simulates fibrous gill filaments and the exsanguination of an injured, bleeding prey fish. This filamentous insertion is created from a crimson natural, synthetic, or combination material that is metallic or translucent and naturally reflective in nature. The rebate or slot is a dissimilar wall height recess incorporated into the design of the lure which is located between the head and body of the lure where the circumference of the head portion is slightly larger than circumference of the body portion in the area of a “gill slit” causing a vortex of turbulent water flow impacting and agitating the filamentous insertion fibers. The method of attachment is in the form of a water-resistant, transparent glue.
US09271479B2 Inflammation in vivo model
The present invention relates to a non-human animal deficient in the N-terminal domain of the IL-33 gene. Also provided herein is the use of said non-human animal as an in vivo model of inflammatory diseases, especially with regard to screening methods for anti-inflammatory compounds, and methods for evaluating and optimizing the pharmacological properties of a given anti-inflammatory compound.
US09271477B2 Device for fish farm cage
The present invention relates to a device for isolating farm cages for fish against undesirable organisms, which device is arranged enclosing the farm cage, where the device comprises a fine-meshed fluid-permeable net which is open upwardly and downwardly when arranged round the farm cage, where the fluid-permeable net will extend a distance down in the farm cage's depth direction, in order thereby to form a skirt round the farm cage.
US09271476B1 Convertible and size adaptable dog lead
In first, second, and third embodiments of the invention the dog lead is formed from a cord and has a first loop and a second loop at one end and a handle at the other end. The handle and a portion of the cord are passed through the first loop to form a collar. The handle and an additional portion of the cord are then passed under the dog's chest and through the second loop to form a chest band. In a fourth embodiment of the invention, a stop is mounted snugly on the cord and a washer is mounted to the cord. In a fifth embodiment of the invention, an inner stop and a outer stop are provided on both sides of a ring to keep the collar from becoming tight or loose, making the dog lead virtually escape proof.
US09271474B2 Pet stroller with latchable canopy bar
A pet stroller having a frame assembly and a cloth platform enclosure connected to a platform enclosure member that defines a base and a sidewall of a pet seating area. Upper and lower canopy bars are pivotably connected to the rear pivot blocks that are pivotable to extend or retract a canopy over the pet seating area. A cloth canopy assembly is connected to the handle and the upper and lower canopy bars. A latch assembly is connected to the platform enclosure member and is movable to a latched position in which it clamps the lower canopy bar to the platform enclosure member to form an enclosed pet seating area.
US09271467B1 Maize inbred PH24WY
A novel maize variety designated PH24WY and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH24WY with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH24WY 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 PH24WY or a locus conversion of PH24WY with another maize variety.
US09271463B1 Soybean variety XB56V13
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated XB56V13. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety XB56V13. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety XB56V13 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety XB56V13 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09271461B1 Maize inbred PH1KN9
A novel maize variety designated PH1KN9 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1KN9 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1KN9 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 PH1KN9 or a locus conversion of PH1KN9 with another maize variety.
US09271448B2 Method for cultivating sugar cane
The present invention relates to a method for cultivating sugar cane comprising planting sugar cane shoots in a growth medium, growing seedlings from the shoots at a temperature of at least 15° C. and 10-120 days after having planted the shoots planting the seedlings obtained therefrom into the field if the growth medium is not a field, or, in case the growth medium is a field, exposing the seedlings obtained from the shoots to ambient conditions, where the seedling, while growing, is treated with at least one strobilurin fungicide and/or at least one carboxamide fungicide and/or at least one GABA antagonist insecticide and/or at least one nicotinic receptor agonists/antagonist insecticide and/or at least one chloride channel activator insecticide.
US09271444B2 Fruit harvesting unit
A fruit harvesting unit mounted on a harvesting machine. The harvesting unit comprises a straddling chassis delimiting a harvesting tunnel in which plants to be shaken are introduced successively to move through said tunnel between a front opening and a rear opening of said tunnel. The harvesting unit has a main shaker system including two shaker devices disposed on respective sides of the harvesting tunnel to delimit transversely a central part of said tunnel, and an additional shaker system that is mounted on the straddling chassis and comprises two shaker devices disposed on respective sides of the harvesting tunnel to delimit transversely a front upper part of said tunnel.
US09271443B2 Skid plate for crop header having flexible cutterbar
A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly, and a draper assembly. The cutterbar assembly is mounted to the header frame and includes a plurality of skids. Each of the skids has a lower margin configured to engage the ground such that the skids cooperatively cause flexing of the cutterbar assembly along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced. Each skid presents a skid surface extending from the lower skid margin.
US09271440B2 Parallel linkage opener with adjustable spring loaded packer wheel
An seeder includes a frame on ground wheels defining tool bars for seeding elements spaced across the frame. Each element includes a pair of parallel arms connected to the tool bar bracket forming a parallel linkage for up and down movement of a support arm connected at a rear end and carrying the packer wheel. A spring applies a downward spring force on the parallel linkage to apply a downward force on the packer wheel so that the spring force increases as the parallel arms pivot upwardly and decreases as the parallel arms pivot downwardly. A control device is arranged to raise and lower the tool bar in response to a detected value of a sensor so as to change the angle of the parallel linkage and change the spring force. A cam controlled double rack adjustment of the height of the opener allows the user to change seeding depth.
US09277684B2 Self-wrapping EMI shielding textile sleeve and method of construction thereof
A self-wrapping, textile sleeve for routing and protecting elongate members from electromagnetic interference and a method of construction thereof is provided. The sleeve has an elongate wall constructed from interlaced yarns. At least one of the yarns is provided as heat-settable polymeric yarn that is heat-set to bias the wall into a self-wrapping configuration about a longitudinal central axis of the sleeve to bring opposite edges into overlapping relation with one another to provide a generally tubular cavity in which the elongate members are received. Further, at least one of the yarns is provided as a bi-component metallic wire having an aluminum core and an outer layer of copper.
US09277681B2 Electronic control apparatus
An electronic control apparatus includes housing members, and a circuit board. At least one of the housing members is opposed to a heat-generating region which is heated by the heat-generating electronic component. A heat radiating portion of the housing member includes a convex portion protruding from an inner wall surface at a location opposed to the heat-generating region, and a concave portion opened to an outer wall surface at a location shifted from the convex portion in a thickness direction. The convex portion is close to the heat-generating region through a clearance. The concave portion has a lateral wall formed in a tapered shape such that an opening area of the concave portion is larger than a bottom area of the concave portion. A thickness of the heat radiating portion is smaller than a thickness of a region peripheral to the heat radiating portion in the housing member.
US09277679B2 Heat sink fin including angular dimples
A heat sink fin that has a first substrate. The first substrate includes a first angular dimple and a first micro air channel in fluid communication with the first angular dimple. The first angular dimple includes a first surface that forms an angle relative to a first plane of the first substrate. The first angular dimple includes a first micro diameter hole in fluid communication with the first angular dimple. The heat sink fin also has a second substrate folded against the first substrate. The second substrate includes a second angular dimple and a second micro air channel in fluid communication with the second angular dimple. The second angular dimple includes a second surface that forms an angle relative to a second plane of the second substrate. The second angular dimple includes a second micro diameter hole in fluid communication with the second angular dimple.
US09277677B2 Cooling an electronic device using a thermally conductive loop
A continuous loop of thermally conductive material is provided with a first portion in frictional contact with a casing of an electronic device and a second portion located within a cooling region. The loop is advanced such that the first portion is located within the cooling region and the second portion is in frictional contact with the casing.
US09277675B2 Electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a heating component, a housing, and a heat pipe. The housing accommodates the heating component and includes a wall. The wall includes a first region configured to receive heat from the component and a second region configured to have a lower temperature than a temperature of the first region. At least a portion of the heat pipe is buried in the wall from the first region to the second region.
US09277667B2 Display
A display which thickness is allowed to be reduced is provided. A display includes: a display panel; and a back-face member having rigidity and provided on a back face of the display panel, the back-face member covering the back face, or the back face and other part of the display panel.
US09277666B2 Display device
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a display, a circuit substrate, connector terminals, a first cover, a second cover, and a fastening member. The circuit substrate includes a first side and a second side adjacent to the first side, and overlaps a second face of the display. The connector terminals are disposed at a vicinity of each of the first side and the second side. The first cover includes a first opening exposing the connector terminals therethrough, and covers the second face. The second cover includes a linking portion and a noncircular through hole, and covers the first opening across the first side and the second side. The linking portion is positioned in between the first side and the second side. The fastening member is inserted through the through hole so as to fix the second cover, the circuit substrate, and the display.
US09277665B2 High-voltage installation with a desired breaking point
A material-saving, cost-efficient and simultaneously safe high-voltage system for energy transfer includes a busbar and at least one high-voltage device connected to the busbar by an electrically conductive connecting device or connector. The connecting device or connector has a predetermined breaking point which is constructed in such a manner that the predetermined breaking point will break if a predetermined force is exerted between the busbar and the high-voltage device.
US09277651B2 Differential passive equalizer
Disclosed in the present specification is a circuit board. The circuit board includes a first reference plane and a second reference plane, wherein the second reference plane includes a defected ground structure. The circuit board also includes a signal trace coupled to a signal via, wherein the signal trace is disposed above the first reference plane. The circuit board additionally includes a spiral inductor positioned adjacent to the defected ground structure, wherein the spiral inductor is coupled to the signal via.
US09277645B2 Method of manufacturing a printed circuit board
A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board includes the initial steps of providing a first layer stack and providing a second layer stack. The first layer stack includes a first electrically-insulating layer. The first electrically-insulating layer includes a first surface and one or more electrically-conductive traces disposed on the first surface. The second layer stack includes a second electrically-insulating layer and a first electrically-conductive layer. The second electrically-insulating layer includes a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first electrically-conductive layer is disposed on the first surface of the second electrically-insulating layer. The second layer stack further includes a cut-out area defining a void that extends therethrough. The cut-out area is configured to receive therein at least a portion of a device to be coupled to the first surface of the first electrically-insulating layer and electrically-coupled to one or more of the one or more electrically-conductive traces.
US09277644B2 Capacitance touch panel module and fabrication method thereof
A method of fabricating a capacitance touch panel module includes forming a plurality of first conductive patterns on a substrate comprising a touching area and a peripheral area along a first orientation, a plurality of second conductive patterns along a second orientation, and a plurality of connecting portions in the touching area; forming a plurality of insulated protrusions, in which each insulated protrusion covering one connecting portion, and forming an insulated frame on the peripheral area; and forming a bridging member on each insulated protrusion.
US09277643B2 S-shaped ceramic feedthrough
An electrical interconnect has a non-planar ceramic substrate with opposing first and second ends. A first conductive layer having first and second opposing sides is disposed within the ceramic substrate with one of the first and second opposing sides exposed at the first end and one of the first and second opposing sides exposed at the second end. The electrical interconnect is useful to join an integrated circuit in a hybrid package to a circuit board in high frequency communication applications.
US09277636B2 Plasma torch
To lengthen the service period on DC plasma abatement devices a modified DC plasma torch is provided with an electrically conductive cathode and an electrically conductive anode spaced apart from one another to form a gap therebetween; a metal swirl bush at least partially located within the gap and comprising a channel adapted to permit, in use, a gas to flow through the gap; and a ceramic element interposed between any one or more of: the cathode and the swirl bush; and the anode and the swirl bush.
US09277633B1 Radio frequency powered gas-filled lamps
A method and system for powering gas-filled lamps using radio and/or microwave frequencies is disclosed. The method and system may include a gas-filled lamp, an antenna positioned proximal to the gas-filled lamp, a conductive element surrounding the gas-filled lamp, and a power source connector coupled to the antenna.
US09277632B2 Emergency lighting monitoring and reporting system
An emergency lighting system with central batteries power remote LED fixtures and exit signs, with all components integrated throughout a single or multiple buildings. Status reports are available on demand and the system will generate written records required by the Life Safety Code. A wide range of fixtures optimized for emergency lighting are available for interior and exterior applications and all can be monitored via internet, with report displays available on any digital device. Easy access to batteries, automated testing, high lumen outputs, efficient optics and long lamp life ensure the lowest possible life cycle costs.
US09277631B2 Lighting apparatus having a lighting means comprising at least one LED
A lighting apparatus is provided. A lighting means of the apparatus has one or more LEDs. A first device of the apparatus cooperates with a pulse width modulation device for optionally adjusting brightness of the LED. To simplify the maintenance of the lighting apparatus, a memory and a second device are provided. The memory stores information relating to the lighting means. The second device generates a signal, which encodes the information using the pulse width modulation device. As a result, the signal can be transmitted by the LEDs as a pulse width-modulated light signal.
US09277625B2 Dimming system and dimming converter and load dimming method thereof
A dimming system and a dimming converter and load dimming method thereof are provided. In the dimming converter, a cutting phase determination unit is connected with an input terminal and configured to determine phase angle information of a power supply signal of an output of a load terminal in a dimmer; an output unit is configured to output a dimming signal corresponding to the phase angle information determined by the cutting phase determination unit from a dimming output terminal to a load of the dimming system according to a correspondence relationship between the phase angle information and the dimming signal stored in a storage unit and to output a phase-cut power source signal from a supply output terminal to the load. The dimming system can be compatible with a large number of loads with different dimming requirements to thereby improve the dimming efficiency of the loads.
US09277623B2 Load current control circuit
A system and method for operating one or more light emitting devices is disclosed. In one example, the intensity of light provided by the one or more light emitting devices is adjusted responsive to current feedback from the one or more light emitting devices.
US09277618B2 Monolithic LED chip in an integrated control module with active circuitry
A lighting device includes a monolithic LED chip flip-chip mounted onto an interconnect structure. The monolithic chip includes LED junctions formed from a single LED junction. An active electronic component is also mounted onto the interconnect structure at a distance from the monolithic chip that is less than five times the maximum dimension of the monolithic chip. The active electronic component controls LED drive currents independently supplied to the LED junctions. Different types of phosphor are disposed laterally above the various LED junctions. A color sensor measures the light emitted from the lighting device when drive currents are supplied to first and second LED junctions. The active electronic component then supplies more drive current to the first LED junction than to the second LED junction in response to the color sensor measuring the light emitted when the prior LED drive currents are supplied to the first and second LED junctions.
US09277615B2 LED drive circuit
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an LED drive circuit that is capable of ameliorating insufficient lighting and improving power utilization efficiency. This LED drive circuit is an LED drive circuit wherein the number of LEDs that are turned on varies in accordance with the voltage of a commercial alternating-current power supply, the LED drive circuit being characterized by having an LED row in which multiple LEDs are connected in series, a current detection resistor for detecting a current that flows in the LED row, a bypass circuit that is connected to an intermediate connection part of the LED row, and a current-limiting circuit that is connected to an end of the LED row, wherein the bypass circuit includes a first current-limiting component, the current-limiting circuit includes a second current-limiting component, the first current-limiting component is controlled on the basis of a voltage across the ends of the current detection resistor or a voltage that is obtained by dividing the voltage across the ends of the current detection resistor, and the second current-limiting component is controlled by the divided voltage that is obtained by dividing the current detection resistor.
US09277613B2 Method for driving LED
Method and means for driving one or more LEDs. The method includes turning a power switch on to provide current through an inductor and the power switch, measuring voltseconds of the LEDs at a cycle time, comparing the measured voltseconds to a reference signal at an end of the cycle time, generating a signed discrete logical signal based on a difference between the measured voltseconds and the reference signal, and generating a control signal using the signed discrete logical signal to regulate a peak current through the power switch by keeping the cycle time voltseconds substantially constant. The reference signal may be proportional to a set average LED voltage.
US09277611B2 LED driver with high dimming compatibility without the use of bleeders
A switching converter detects when a dimmer circuit supplying power to the switching converter changes from a conducting state to a nonconducting state or from a nonconducting state to a conducting state; an equivalent input resistance of the switching converter is changed to a first, higher value when the dimmer circuit is in the conducting state and to a second, lower value when the dimmer circuit is in the nonconducting state, thereby drawing a minimum current from the dimmer circuit while the dimmer circuit is in the nonconducting state.
US09277610B2 Power converter circuit for low power illumination device, control circuit thereof and method thereof
A power converter circuit of a low power illumination device includes a boost converter circuit, a buck converter circuit, and a control circuit, for cooperating with a dimmer and an electric transformer. The control circuit configures the boost converter circuit to alternatively operate in a current conducting mode and an off mode, to draw current from the electric transformer in the current conducting mode, and to stop drawing current from the electric transformer in the off mode. The control circuit further configures the buck converter circuit to generate the required output signals to the low power illumination device according to the configuration of the dimmer so that the low power illumination device may perform the required dimming function.
US09277608B2 Circuit for operating parallel light emitting diode strings
A circuit for operating a light-emitting diode assembly, wherein the light-emitting diode assembly comprises a plurality of strands connected in parallel of one or more light-emitting diodes which are arranged in series and through which in the operational state a particular partial current of an operating current flowing through the light-emitting diode assembly flows, comprises a current source for providing the operating current. The circuit is designed to detect the greatest partial current and to control an operational value provided by the partial current source on the basis of said greatest partial current such that none of the partial currents exceeds a predetermined maximum current.
US09277605B2 Solid-state lighting apparatus and methods using current diversion controlled by lighting device bias states
A lighting apparatus includes a string of light emitting diode (LED) sets coupled in series, each set including at least one LED. The apparatus further includes a plurality of current diversion circuits, respective ones of which are coupled to respective nodes of the string and configured to operate responsive to bias state transitions of respective ones of the LED sets. In some embodiments, a first one of the current diversion circuits is configured to conduct current via a first one of the LED sets and is configured to be turned off responsive to current through a second one of the LED sets. The first one of the current diversion circuits may be configured to conduct current responsive to a forward biasing of the first one of the LED sets and the second one of the current diversion circuit may be configured to conduct current responsive to a forward biasing of a second one of the LED sets.
US09277598B2 Induction heating cooker
An induction heating cooker including a cooking plate on which a cooking vessel is placed, a plurality of heating coils disposed while being adjacent to one other below the cooking plate, and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) on which circuits configured to drive the heating coils are placed, wherein the PCB is divided into a high frequency circuit part on which circuits characterized by high frequency are placed and a low frequency circuit part on which circuits characterized by low frequency are placed, and the high frequency circuit part is spaced apart from the low frequency circuit part by a predetermined distance. The interference between the high frequency circuit part and the low frequency circuit part is minimized while enhancing the operation efficiency of each heating coil. The assembly efficiency and the working efficiency are enhanced when an inverter circuit is wired to a corresponding heating coil.
US09277597B2 Electrically extensively heatable, transparent object, method for the production thereof, and use thereof
An electrically extensively heatable, transparent object includes at least one electrically conductive, transparent coating on an electrically insulating substrate. An electrically conductive band is connected to two electrical busbars and is applied on the coating and at least partially surrounds the periphery of a data transmission window. The electrically conductive band has at least one interruption that separates a greater part of the electrically conductive band from busbars.
US09277595B2 Heating lamp having base to facilitate reduced air flow about the heating lamp
Embodiments of heating lamps and heating lamp arrays are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a heating lamp may include a heating lamp envelope having a filament disposed within the heating lamp envelope; a base coupled to the heating lamp envelope to support the heating lamp envelope; and one or more recesses formed in the base to provide an improved grip for a user. In some embodiments, a heating lamp array for use in a semiconductor process chamber may include a plurality of heating lamps, each heating lamp comprising a heating lamp envelope having a filament disposed within the envelope and a base coupled to the heating lamp envelope to support the envelope, the base having one or more recesses formed in the base to provide an improved grip for a user, wherein a distance between adjacent heating lamp bases is about 0.02 inches to about 0.08 inches.
US09277592B2 System for bearer binding and event reporting function relocation and method thereof
The present invention discloses a method for a bearer binding and event report function relocation so as to implement deferred linking of the policy and charging control session in the roaming scenario. The present invention implements the deferred linking of the policy and charging control session in roaming scenarios of home roaming and local breakout by establishing a new subsession of the S9 session between a visited PCRF and a home PCRF in a process of the BBERF relocation, and linking the new subsession of the S9 session to the Gxx session established between the destination BBERF and the visited PCRF and the corresponding Gx session.
US09277591B2 Channel steering for implementing coexistence of multiple homogeneous radios
Techniques are disclosed for controlling, in a network device, multiple radio circuits operating in a same or similar frequency band and in close physical proximity. In some embodiments, the radio circuits operate on the same network protocol. The network device can include a coexistence controller coupled to the network circuits. According to some embodiments, the network circuits are each assigned a priority, and the coexistence controller can control operations between the network circuits by selectively adjusting one or more transmission operating parameters of a respective network circuit based on a plurality of operating criteria, which include each network circuit's priority. Among other benefits, the embodiments disclosed herein can increase wireless network bandwidth and reduce mobile device power consumption by providing coordination among the radio circuits so that the transmitting and receiving operations are performed in a way that they do not interfere with their respective antennas.
US09277590B2 Active antenna arrays
In order to reduce the weight, cost and complexity of an active antenna array, designed for use with a plurality of different mobile telecommunications systems (multi-band system), the array comprises a plurality of antenna elements, which are divided into a plurality of antenna groups; a plurality of RF transceivers, which are divided into transceiver sets, wherein each transceiver of a set is arranged to operate on a different mobile telecommunications system, and including respective phase shifting and feeding networks coupled between each transceiver set and a respective antenna group, so that each transceiver of a set is coupled to each antenna element of the respective antenna group.
US09277585B2 Methods, wireless communication station, and system for WLAN channel selection through beacon requests
Embodiments of a user station (STA) and methods for WLAN channel selection through beacon requests are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a STA requests that an access point (AP) transmit a beacon signal on a first sub-band. The first sub-band may include a channel of interest to the STA. The STA may determine that the AP supports the first sub-band if the AP transmits the requested beacon signal.
US09277583B2 Enhanced dedicated-channel signaling in a CELL—FACH state
A new set of random-access preamble signatures are introduced to differentiate new-release UEs from UEs compliant only with earlier releases. Additional new features of a random-access procedure are also disclosed, including an ability to deploy multiple transmission-time-intervals TTIs) in a given area. An example mobile terminal, according to some embodiments of the present invention, selects a TTI from two or more possible TTIs. The mobile terminal then selects a preamble signature from a group of one or more preamble signatures associated with enhanced-uplink resources and associated with the selected TTI, and transmits a random-access channel (RACH) preamble, using the selected preamble signature. In some embodiments, the mobile terminal selects between a 2-millisecond TTI and a 10-millisecond TTI.
US09277581B2 Communication apparatus, communication method, program and storage medium
A communication apparatus (101) includes: receiving means for receiving a communication parameter, which is necessary for communication, from another communication apparatus; storage means (103, 212) for storing the communication parameter; first detecting means for detecting a connection instruction for connection to a network; and connecting means which, if the connection instruction (S401) has been detected by the first detecting means, is for executing processing for connecting to the network using a communication parameter already stored in the storage means (212), or processing for connecting to the network after a communication parameter is received from another communication apparatus by the receiving means, in accordance with the type of communication parameter already stored in the storage means (212).
US09277578B2 Enabling combinational services in a communications network
A combinational service is made enjoyable on the terminal of a user of a communication network in a simplified way. The user establishes a call on the circuit domain, and on his/her terminal, menu options are made available related to the enjoyment of the combinational service in consequence of the establishment of such call on the circuit domain.
US09277570B2 Efficient location updates, paging and short bursts
A mobile terminal in a wireless communication network may be one of several modes of operation. When in an idle mode, the mobile terminal may avoid a lengthy random access procedure normally associated with responding to a page from a base station, if the base station includes in the page an indication of a resource that the mobile terminal may utilize when responding to the page. Additionally, the mobile terminal may transmit an efficient location update MAC header to a base station, whether prompted to by a page from the base station or not. Furthermore, without leaving the idle mode or a sleep mode, the mobile terminal may exchange short data burst messages with a base station.
US09277568B2 Method, apparatus and system for random access
A method can be used for facilitating a random access procedure between a first transceiver and a second transceiver within a cell. The first transceiver selects a signature sequence from a set of signature sequences, incorporates the signature sequence into a signal, and transmits the signal to the second transceiver. The set of signature sequences being obtained from a Zadoff-Chu sequence with zero correlation zone.
US09277567B2 Systems and methods for improved communication efficiency in high efficiency wireless networks
Systems, methods, and devices for wireless communication are described herein. In some aspects, a method of wireless communication includes transmitting a first message for reserving a communication medium utilizing a first transmission characteristic such that the first message is decodable by at least a first subset of a plurality of wireless devices. The method may further include subsequently transmitting a second message for clearing a reservation of the communication medium utilizing a second transmission characteristic such that the second message is decodable by at least a second subset of the plurality of wireless devices and not the first subset of the plurality of wireless devices, thereby clearing access to at least one communication channel for the second subset of the plurality of wireless devices.
US09277566B2 Cross-subframe control channel design
Certain aspects of the disclosure relate to performing cross-subframe control channel signaling for wireless communications. A method may be provided for signaling downlink control channel resource allocations and/or physical control format indications in a subframe different from the subframe in which a downlink data transmission may be performed. In one aspect, the method may include transmitting PDCCH and/or PCFICH during a first subframe to allocate resources for a PDSCH during a second subframe and transmitting the PDSCH during the second subframe.
US09277564B2 Method and apparatus to facilitate support for multi-radio coexistence
A method of wireless communication includes monitoring coexistence issues among supported radios in a User Equipment (UE). The method includes determining a coexistence policy for communication resource operation within a user equipment (UE) and configuring communication resources of the user equipment in accordance with the determined coexistence policy. The policy may give priority to an LTE modem, an ISM modem, or may implement a variable priority scheme. The policy may be communicated to each modem from a host over a software messaging communication line. Modems in the UE may communicate with each other through logical lines providing real time communication. The policy may determine the operation of each modem and the treatment of the logical lines by each modem.
US09277561B2 Channel allocation notifying method, communication method, and communication apparatus
The number of communication channels necessary for communication with a terminal is calculated by using type and volume of data to be transmitted. When calculated number of communication channels is one, a single communication channel is allocated based on quality information of a communication line to the terminal and, when calculated number of communication channels is more than one, then more than one communication channels are allocated based on the quality information. Allocation information used for notifying of allocated communication channels is generated based on virtual channels, which are defined in advance as channel units having a combination of a plurality of consecutive communication channels, and the allocation information is transmitted to the terminal.
US09277560B2 Wireless communication devices
A telecommunication network is described in which information relating to access to resources such as the world wide web, may be transferred between wireless communication terminals at least one of which is a client of a server connected to the network and providing access to the resources. A method of transfer and a terminal suitable therefor are described.
US09277559B2 Sharing radio resources among devices of different device classes
A base station may receive a resource request, from a device, that includes a request to access a radio resource. The base station may determine a device class to which the device belongs. The base station may determine an amount of radio resources permitted to be allocated to devices belonging to the device class, may determine an amount of radio resources being utilized by devices belonging to the device class, and may compare the amounts. The base station may determine whether radio resources are available to be allocated to the device based on comparing the amounts, and may process the resource request based on the determination. The base station may grant the resource request when radio resources are available to be allocated to the device, and may deny or postpone the resource request when radio resources are not available to be allocated to the device.
US09277555B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving data in communication system
A data transmission apparatus in a communication system includes a verification unit configured to verify a basic frequency band capable of being used for transmitting and receiving data to and from a plurality of terminals, and a multi-bandwidth mode in the basic frequency band; a generation unit configured to generate data packets in the multi-bandwidth mode; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the data packets in the multi-bandwidth mode, wherein the multi-bandwidth mode includes a ½× bandwidth of the basic frequency band, a basic bandwidth, a 2× bandwidth of the basic frequency band, a 4× bandwidth of the basic frequency band and an 8× bandwidth of the basic frequency band.
US09277554B2 Servers and methods for operating a communication system
A server includes a memory device configured to store a plurality of computer-executable instructions, and a processor coupled to the memory device. When the processor executes the plurality of computer-executable instructions, the processor is programmed to determine an available spectrum of frequencies within a location over time, and receive a request from a wireless device to access the available spectrum for a predefined duration. The processor is also programmed to select a frequency band within the spectrum that is available to be used by the wireless device for the predefined duration, and transmit an authorization message to the wireless device to use the selected frequency band.
US09277552B2 Optimized system access procedures
A base station subsystem (BSS) and a method are described herein for improving an Access Grant Channel (AGCH) capacity when a downlink Temporary Block Flow (TBF) is established for at least one mobile station and used for sending the respective downlink payload. Plus, a mobile station (MS) and a method are described herein for improving the AGCH capacity when the mobile station is sent information required for establishing a downlink TBF on which it receives its respective downlink payload.
US09277548B2 Physical structure and reference signal utilization of enhanced physical downlink control channel for OFDM/OFDMA systems
A two-level physical structure is defined for better diversity for both distributed and localized transmission in enhanced physical downlink control channel (ePDCCH). First level is a physical unit of enhanced resource element groups (eREGs), where the group of REs is predefined for each eREG. Second level is a logical unit of enhanced control channel elements (eCCEs), where the group of eREGs is predefined or configurable by higher layer for each eCCE. For distributed transmission of ePDCCH, eCCE consists of several eREGs that are distributed in multiple non-contiguous PRBs spreading over the whole channel frequency. Downlink control information (DCI) is transmitted on a number of aggregated eCCEs according to the modulation and coding level required. The utilization reference signals of antenna ports for ePDCCH demodulation is based on the logical order of eCCEs and the aggregation level for DCI transmission.
US09277547B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting control information
A method of receiving uplink control information at a communication apparatus in a wireless communication system configured for Time Division Duplex (TDD) operations and having a plurality of cells is described. A first set of at least one of one or more Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) signals and one or more Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) signals are transmitted within M downlink subframes, where M≧1. A second set of at least one of one or more PDCCH signals and one or more PDSCH signals are transmitted within N downlink subframes, where N≧1. Acknowledgment information is received on an uplink subframe, the acknowledgment information including first acknowledgment information corresponding to the first set and second acknowledgment information corresponding to the second set.
US09277546B2 System and method for signaling control information in a mobile communication network
A method of operating a wireless communication terminal includes receiving one or more downlink control messages that each contain scheduling information scheduling the wireless terminal to receive a downlink transmission on either a primary carrier or a secondary carrier. The method also includes determining, for each of the downlink control messages, whether that message includes scheduling information for the primary carrier or for a secondary carrier. Additionally, the method includes selecting a format for an uplink control message based on whether any of the downlink control messages includes scheduling information for a secondary carrier, generating an uplink control message based on the selected format, and transmitting the uplink control message to the base station.
US09277544B2 Method and apparatus for allocating resources of a control channel in a mobile communication system using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
Methods and apparatuses are provided for wireless communication. Control symbols are mapped to a plurality of resource element groups (REGs) which is not assigned to a physical channel format indication channel (PCFICH) or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel (PHICH). The mapped control symbols are transmitted on a packet dedicated control channel (PDCCH). A number of a plurality of resource elements (REs) in each of the REGs depends on an index of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol and a number of configured reference signals. A number of the REGs in a physical resource block (PRB) on an OFDM symbol depends on the index of the OFDM symbol and the number of configured reference signals.
US09277543B2 Mobile communication system, base station device, mobile station device, communication method, and integrated circuit
A mobile communication system, a base station device, a mobile station device, a communication method, and an integrated circuit that each can efficiently transmit HARQ-ACK and/or channel state information are provided.A mobile station device includes means for receiving a first parameter that is used for instructing whether simultaneous transmission of information relating to HARQ-ACK and channel state information is allowed or not; and means for receiving a second parameter that is used for instructing whether simultaneous transmission of the information relating to HARQ-ACK and the channel state information is allowed or not, and controls a transmission method of the information relating to HARQ-ACK and the channel state information based on the first parameter, the second parameter, and whether or not the information relating to HARQ-ACK corresponds to transmission on a single physical downlink shared channel only on a primary cell.
US09277540B2 System, apparatus and method for control channel configuration in wireless communication systems
In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, a method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for wireless communication. The method, apparatus, and computer program product, in an implementation, may be configured to provide separate control channels for each of downlink grant information and uplink grant information, encode the control channels with an identifier known only to receiving nodes that are configured to decode the control channels with the identifier, and convey information to the receiving nodes that the identifier is known to the receiving nodes. The method, apparatus, and computer program product, in an implementation, may be configured to determine an aggregation level of a common search space related to common control resources, wherein the aggregation level is less than four, and receive control data from one or more candidates in the common search space that include contiguous control channel elements according to the aggregation level.
US09277539B2 Method for performing inter-cell device-to-device (D2D) communication in wireless communication system and device therefor
A method for performing inter-cell D2D communication includes: receiving a first signal which is a D2D communication request signal including information on a D2D terminal selected from D2D terminals within a cell to which a base station belongs; determining whether the selected D2D terminal is a D2D terminal within the cell using information on the selected D2D terminal; transmitting a second signal, for requesting inter-cell D2D communication to a base station belonging to a neighboring cell, if the selected D2D terminal is a D2D terminal belonging to the neighboring cell; receiving a third signal for approving the inter-cell D2D communication, from the base station cell as a response to the second signal; and transmitting, to the D2D terminal within the cell, information on a resource allocated for communication between the D2D terminal within the cell and the selected D2D terminal according to the third signal.
US09277538B2 Node selection in a packet core network
A method of allocating user plane nodes to a connection being established across a packet core network is described. The method comprises maintaining at a Domain Name System (DNS) server one or more DNS resource records for each available user plane node in the packet core network, wherein the one or more DNS resource records comprises a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) for each area identity, each area identity represents a group of user plane nodes, associated with a user plane node in the packet core network; processing a connection establishment request originating from a user equipment (UE) to a core network node within the packet core network; sending a DNS query to a DNS server, the query containing at least one criterion for selecting a user plane node; receiving the query at the DNS server and, on the basis of the or each criterion, identifying one or more DNS resource records satisfying the criteria/criterion, and returning the identified DNS resource record(s) to said core network node; and receiving the DNS resource record(s) at the core network node, and using the fully qualified domain names (FQDNs) representing each area identity associated with a user plane node in the packet core network that are contained in the or each DNS resource record(s) when allocating a user plane node to said connection. A core network node arranged to allocate user plane nodes to a connection being established across a packet core network, and an apparatus configured to operate as a Domain Name System (DNS) server are also described.
US09277536B2 Method and system for WiFi communication utilizing full spectrum capture
A single receiver is operable to utilize full spectrum capture to capture signals over a wide spectrum comprising a plurality of WiFi frequency bands, extract one or more WiFi channels from said captured signals and aggregate a plurality of blocks of said WiFi channels to create one or more aggregated WiFi channels. The WiFi frequency bands include 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi frequency bands. A plurality of blocks of the WiFi channels may be aggregated from contiguous blocks of spectrum and/or non-contiguous blocks of spectrum in one or more of said plurality of WiFi frequency bands. One or more non-WiFi channels may be filtered out from the captured signals. One or more aggregated WiFi channels may be assigned to one or more WiFi enabled communication devices. At least a portion of the one or more aggregated WiFi channels may be dynamically assigned to one or more other WiFi enabled communication devices.
US09277531B2 Downlink inter-cell interference cancellation with cell aggregation coordinated multi-point
A method includes receiving at a user equipment from a network access node a temporary identifier associated with an interference cancellation group to which the user equipment is assigned; decoding a control channel using the temporary identifier to determine a downlink resource allocation for the user equipment and to determine a downlink resource allocation for at least one other user equipment assigned to the same interference cancellation group; and receiving a downlink signal in accordance with the determined downlink resource allocation for the user equipment while canceling interference from the downlink signal that is associated with the at least one other user equipment by using the determined downlink resource allocation for the at least one other user equipment. Apparatus for performing the method are also disclosed.
US09277530B2 Delivery of push notifications to an inactive computing device
A method performed by a notification handler process running on a device includes receiving a first push notification for a first application while the recipient device is inactive; determining that delivery of the first push notification would cause the device to become active without prompting a user of the device to interact with the first application; in response to determining what delivery of the first push modification would cause, locally storing the first push notification; receiving a second push notification for a second application while the recipient device is still inactive; determining that delivery of the second push notification would cause the device to become active prompting the user to interact with the second application; and in response to determining what delivery of the second push modification would cause, delivering the received second push notification to the second application and the stored first push notification to the first application.
US09277526B2 Location trust score
A gateway can be configured to receive measurement data that can characterizes measurements taken at a mobile device. The measurement data can include location information for the mobile device. The gateway can also be configured to calculate a location trust score for the mobile device. The location trust score can characterize the likelihood that the location information is at least one of accurate and trustworthy. The gateway can be further configured to generate trusted location information that characterizes a location of the mobile device based on the location trust score.
US09277525B2 Wireless location using location estimators
A wireless location system is disclosed including one or more location centers for outputting locations of mobile stations (MS) for both local and global MS location requests via Internet communication between a distributed network of location centers. The system uses a plurality of MS locating technologies including those based on: two-way TOA and TDOA; pattern recognition; distributed antenna provisioning; GPS signals. Difficulties, such as multipath, poor location accuracy and poor coverage are alleviated via such technologies in combination with: (a) adapting and calibrating system performance according to environmental and geographical changes; (b) capturing location signal data for continual enhancement of an historical database; (c) evaluating MS locations via heuristics and constraints related to terrain, MS velocity and MS path extrapolation, and (d) adjusting likely MS locations. The system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas.
US09277524B2 Cooperative localization of portable electronic devices
A method, computing device and computer readable memory for cooperative localization of a portable electronic device is provided. Location identification messages are received each providing a known location of a respective portable electronic device and an associated transmitter identification (ID) of the respective portable electronic device and stored. Location request messages providing one or more transmitter IDs in communication range with a query portable electronic device and a transmitter ID of the query portable electronic device are received and location information from the stored location information associated with the one or more transmitter IDs received in the location request message is retrieved. A location of the query portable electronic device is estimated based on the retrieved location information and stored with the associated transmitter ID of the query portable electronic device.
US09277523B2 Method and apparatus for assisted positioning in a wireless communication system
Systems and methodologies are described herein that facilitate reduced complexity network-assisted device positioning in a wireless communication system. As described herein, a mobile device and/or other suitable device can utilize positioning assistance messages received from a location server, a serving network cell, and/or other entities, to assist in position fixing based on reference signals (e.g., positioning reference signals (PRSs)) detected from nearby network cells. Positioning assistance messages as described herein can include, for example, information relating to PRS bandwidths, transmit antenna configurations, and/or other parameters of respective cells from which reference signals are detected by a device during positioning. As further described herein, messaging load can be reduced by providing bandwidth and/or antenna configuration information relative to a given reference cell, such that parameters of non-reference cells that are equivalent to corresponding parameters of the reference cell can be omitted from transmitted positioning assistance data.
US09277521B2 Synchronization of a radio device
The present disclosure relates to a method for synchronizing a radio device with a network node of a Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM, radio communication system. The method comprises obtaining a reference array based on a known training sequence, TSC, of a synchronization burst, SB, of a synchronization channel, SCH, of the network node. The method also comprises receiving an SB including the TSC from the network node and forming a received array. The method also comprises comparing the reference array to the received array for finding a sequence of the received array which has identity with the reference array, and thereby finding the position of the TSC in the received SB. The method also comprises determining whether the identity of the found sequence with the reference array is above a predefined threshold, in which case the radio device can be time synchronized based on the found TSC.
US09277520B2 Methods and arrangements for ad-hoc wireless networks
A method, User Equipment (UE), and network node in an ad-hoc network. The UE determines a node in the ad-hoc network that is able to provide a reference signal comprising a pattern that can be used for synchronization purposes when the UE is in DRX mode in the ad-hoc network. The node is determined by requesting the node to indicate whether the node is able to provide the reference signal, and receiving an accept signal or message from the node. The UE then receives the reference signal from the determined node, enters DRX mode, and uses the received reference signal to maintain synchronization while in the DRX mode.
US09277519B1 Method for performing mobile communications and mobile terminal device
A method for performing mobile communications may include comparing a received digitized signal with a local reference synchronization sequence to generate a plurality of candidate timing estimates. Each of the plurality of candidate timing estimates may represent an estimated temporal location of a synchronization sequence in the received digitized signal. The method may further include demodulating the received digitized signal according to each of the plurality of candidate timing estimates to produce a plurality of reliability metrics, wherein each of the plurality of reliability metrics may be associated with one of the plurality of candidate timing estimates. The method may additionally include selecting one of the plurality of candidate timing estimates as a selected timing estimate based on a comparison between one or more of the plurality of reliability metrics and performing synchronized mobile communications using the selected timing estimate and a frequency offset value associated with the selected timing estimate.
US09277517B2 Macro-network synchronization based on nearby FM radio
Exemplary methods and systems may generally be implemented to allow a macro-network base station without access to a GPS reference signal to provide some or all of the functionality for which existing macro-network base stations typically rely on GPS. In a first aspect, an exemplary macro-network base station may determine its location using a location-determination technique that is based upon the angles of arrival of FM radio signals from nearby FM stations. In a second aspect, an exemplary macro-network base station may stabilize its local oscillator by phase-locking its local oscillator to an FM radio signal, and periodically adjusting its local oscillator to account for phase drift of the FM radio signal. And in a third aspect, an exemplary macro-network base station may synchronize its frame-start timing with a nearby base station using a frame-start timing signal that the base station has synchronized to frame transmissions from the nearby base station during a setup routine.
US09277513B2 Terminal apparatus for controlling downlink transmission power and method for same
A terminal apparatus for controlling downlink signal transmission power and a method for same are disclosed. The present invention is a method and a terminal apparatus for transmitting downlink transmission power, a method for the base station controlling the downlink transmission power in a wireless communication system comprising the steps of: transmitting a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) to the terminal through a carrier comprising orthogonal frequency distribution multiplexing (OFDM) symbols which do not have a cell-specific reference signal (CRS); and transmitting an upper layer parameter for controlling the transmission power of the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), wherein the upper layer parameter comprises information on at least one of PDSCH energy per resource element (EPRE), channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) EPRE, and demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) EPRE.
US09277511B2 Method of setting UE mode switching for RPD reduction
A UE communication device is provided having a transmitter architecture that transmits SRS transmissions and PUSCH transmissions. A reference mode chosen from a LPM, an MPM and an HPM is selected based on a present power mode of the SRS transmission or based on a predicted power mode that the PUSCH transmission following the present SRS transmission will likely operate in. The transmitter architecture has an exemplary extended switching point structure allowing the RPD between the SRS transmission used for pre-quarter selection and the subsequent PUSCH transmission applying the pre-quarter to be minimized.
US09277509B1 Dynamic power boosting based on contiguous and non-contiguous coverage
A method, system, and medium are provided for dynamically activating and deactivating power boosting operations in a mobile communications network. A determination of whether a power boosting operation is appropriate or not is made based on the network's coverage contiguity characteristics. Power boosting operations are activated when the network exhibits contiguous coverage and deactivated when the network's coverage is non-contiguous.
US09277505B2 Methods for power control and link adapation in LTE-based mobile communication system
Provided is a power control and link adaptation method for compensating for a long round trip delay time and slow channel fading in a long term evolution (LTE)-based mobile communication system having a long round trip delay time, similar to a satellite mobile system, the method that may compensate for the long round trip delay time of the satellite mobile system in which a distance between a base station and a terminal is relatively long, when compared to a terrestrial LTE system, support a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) level requested by a terminal, by predicting a channel after the round trip delay time elapses, maintain compatibility within an existing LTE frame, by generating a transmit power control (TPC) instruction for an uplink closed-loop power control, on a frame by frame basis, and compensate for slow channel fading of the satellite mobile system.
US09277502B2 Hibernate mode for chat service
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to hibernating a client of an instant messaging service. A user wishing to conserve battery life and connection overhead in a mobile device may transmit a hibernate command to a chat server. Although the user's connection is torn down, the user will still maintain a presence on the instant messaging service and be able to receive messages.
US09277501B2 Envelope tracker driven transmit beamforming
A method and telecommunication device in which the telecommunication device is provided with multiple antennas and power amplifiers to provide a beamformed transmit stage. An envelope tracking circuit helps achieve significant power savings in the power amplifier and can be used to provide the power supply for the multiple power amplifiers. A single envelope tracking power supply may be used to produce the supply voltage to the individual power amplifiers that operate on the transmit signal and its phase shifted variant. Accordingly, the user equipment experiences the benefits of both reduced power consumption using the envelope tracker and beam formed transmission.
US09277500B1 Power efficient wireless connectivity
Described herein are systems and methods for reducing power consumption in a device while maintaining a wireless local area network connection. An interface processor of a wireless interface is configured to maintain a network connection while an application processor is in a low power mode. The interface processor may awaken the application processor to a high power mode upon receipt of a wakeup signal, loss of network connection, detection of a network suitable for connection, or other pre-determined event.
US09277496B2 Cell selection
A first base station for use in a communications network, the first base station having a first cell operating range, comprising: means for obtaining data relating to at least one characteristic of a signal transmitted by a second base station having a second cell operating range which is different from and overlaps with the first cell operating range of the first base station; means for determining a cell selection bias value for the first or second base station using the obtained data; and means for transmitting the determined cell selection bias value to a user device within the first cell operating range of the first base station.
US09277492B2 Enhancement to PLMN selection process while roaming
A method and apparatus for a mobile wireless device configured to adaptively scan for a preferred wireless network while roaming is described. In one embodiment, at least a portion of a database including characteristic information regarding wireless networks can be stored within the mobile wireless device. Network characteristic information can include mobile country codes, mobile network codes, location area codes and cell-IDs. When the mobile wireless device is connected to a network that is not a preferred network, the mobile wireless device can use the database information in conjunction with characteristics from a connected wireless network to determine when to scan for the preferred wireless network.
US09277490B2 System and method of locating wireless connection among a plurality of wireless connections
A system and method of locating a wireless connection among a plurality of possible wireless connections. More particularly, a system and method of locating a user preferred wireless connection among a plurality of possible wireless connections. The method includes scanning for available networks and determining whether the available networks satisfy one or more user preferences. The method further includes establishing a secondary network connection with one of the available networks based on one or more user preferences being satisfied.
US09277482B2 Adaptive reoptimization rate for unstable network topologies
In one embodiment, the network stability of a communication network is determined based on one or more network metrics related to stability, and then based on the network stability, a particular frequency at which to perform route reoptimization is determined, where the frequency inversely corresponds to the network stability. As such, distributed route reoptimization is triggered in the communication network at the adaptively determined frequency.
US09277480B2 Cloud controller for next generation data network
A Next Generation Data Network is described. It leverages the “cloud” for data management, low frequency data computation and analytics. The wireless network is a single frequency network that permits limited non-line of sight operation. The wireless network using packet switched beams, the beams are formed and switched electronically. It utilizes advanced signal processing to compensate for low transmit signal power and multipath reflections that can be frequency or flat fades.
US09277477B2 Method and apparatus for locating communities over an ad-hoc mesh network
An approach is provided for locating communities over an ad-hoc mesh network. Community identifiers are used to locate communities and community members over an ad-hoc mesh network. The community identifiers are also associated with keys to authenticate members of the community and to protect the privacy and anonymity of information exchanged between the members.
US09277474B2 Wireless communication system, mobile station, base station, and communication method
A wireless communication system includes a serving base station, a mobile station, and peripheral base stations. The mobile station communicates with the serving base station. The serving base station includes a sending unit. The sending unit in the serving base station sends, to the mobile station, a signal indicating that communication is going to be performed in cooperation with the peripheral base stations. The mobile station includes a sending unit. The sending unit in the mobile station broadcasts a predetermined request signal to the peripheral base stations in accordance with the reception of the signal. The peripheral base stations, which have received the predetermined request signal, each include a notifying unit. The notifying units individually notify the serving base station of selection information that is information on the peripheral base station that is going to communicate with the mobile station in cooperation with the serving base station.
US09277472B1 Determining user experience metrics for different communication networks
One or more user experience metrics are obtained for one or more types of wireless communication networks. One or more user experience indicators may be displayed on a screen in conjunction with a signal strength indicator. Different sets of user experience metrics may also be obtained, each set being associate with an application on a user device. Each set of user experience metrics may be displayed in conjunction with a list of applications. A user may provide user input selecting a wireless communication network and the user device may be configured to use the selected wireless communication network.
US09277469B2 Method for cell reselection and cell handover in a wireless communication system
A method for cell reselection and cell handover in a wireless communication system.The method comprises performing a cell reselection or handover between a user equipment connected to a radio access node and a neighbor cell, said neighbor cell having a subscriber list of subscribed user equipments.Said user equipment is not in said subscriber list and the method further comprises: a. generating, said radio access node, a closed subscriber group (CSG) list containing said user equipment and at least one neighbor cell detected; b. communicating, said radio access node, said CSG list to a management entity; c. reporting, said management entity, to said at least one neighbor cell included in said CSG list an invited neighbor subscriber group list, or INSG list, containing said authorized user equipment; and d. performing said cell reselection or handover between said authorized user equipment and the neighbor cell if said authorized user equipment is included in said INSG list.
US09277468B2 Maintaining neighbor cell list
Access terminals are provisioned to conduct intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and inter-RAT measurements and report physical layer identifiers of detected cells. The provisioning may involve cycling through all or a portion of a defined superset of physical layer identifier one subset at a time. In addition, the physical layer identifiers may be prioritized to improve the search procedure. Measurement report messages (including physical layer identifiers of the detected cells) are received at an access point as a result of the provisioning. A neighbor cell list for the femtocell is maintained based on the received measurement report messages and, optionally, other information. This other information may related to, for example, one or more of: physical layer identifier information received from access terminals that register with the access point, physical layer identifier information received via network listen operations, information regarding co-located cells, or physical layer identifier information received from a network entity.
US09277467B2 Communication system with adaptive handover controller and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a communication system includes: estimating a channel; calculating a predicted signal within the channel; evaluating a prediction accuracy of the predicted signal; and adjusting a handoff parameter when the prediction accuracy of the predicted signal is within a threshold range for communicating through a mobile station.
US09277463B2 Method and system for managing security in mobile communication system
A method, an apparatus, and a system for solving and managing security problems, which may occur during a handover of a User Equipment (UE) between PLMNs in a mobile communication network, by using a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) protocol are provided. By the method, a UE can perform a security mode command and an authentication with a network. Further, the method can prevent interruption of communication due to authentication or security during a handover of a UE between Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs).
US09277460B2 System and method for providing voice service in a multimedia mobile network
User Equipment (UE) receiving non-voice packet switched service in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN) cell undergoes handover to a circuit switched GSM/Edge Radio Access Network (GERAN)/UTRAN cell in response to a requirement for voice service. The voice service is established in the circuit switched domain of a GERAN/UTRAN cell to ensure service continuity regardless of UE mobility that would otherwise not be possible if the voice service was established in the eUTRAN cell. A Gs-like interface between a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the CS Core Network and the Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the Evolved Packet Core provides an interface for page requests and location update procedures to be performed.
US09277457B2 Efficient data delivery in cellular networks
Apparatus for use within a radio access network of a cellular communications network, where the cellular communications network belongs to an operator domain. The apparatus comprises a radio control unit for controlling radio channels within one or more cells of the radio access network, and a data source for maintaining or accessing data content, the data source being allocated in use an IP address that is unique at least within said operator domain. The apparatus further comprises an IP packet classifier configurable to inspect packets received from a client and to identify packets addressed to said IP address, and to redirect such identified packets to said data source. The apparatus also comprises an IP packet route selector configured to react to the establishment of a connection between a client and said data source by routing data content packets from said data source to the client via a radio channel or channels controlled by said radio control unit. The IP packet route selector is further able to react to a handover of the client to a peer apparatus responsible for a different set of radio channels by routing data content packets from said data source to the client via an IP backbone network.
US09277453B2 Method and a system for transmitting pilot
The disclosure discloses a method for transmitting a pilot, which includes the step of: selectively transmitting or not transmitting a demodulation pilot in a subframe according to a setting, in a control signaling, of triggering or not triggering a demodulation pilot transmission in the subframe. A system for transmitting the pilot is further disclosed, which includes a pilot selectively transmitting unit configured to selectively transmit or not transmit a demodulation pilot in a subframe according to a setting, in a control signaling, of triggering or not triggering a demodulation pilot transmission in the subframe. The method and system of the disclosure are capable of reducing the pilot overhead and improving the capacity of the LTE/LTE-Advanced system.
US09277451B1 Reduction of network loading due to multiple device connections in wireless data networks
In systems and methods for reducing network traffic generated by a plurality of wireless devices operating over a communication network, an indication is received at an access node when a plurality of wireless devices assigned to a subscriber operate simultaneously as active wireless devices over a communication network. A priority list of the active wireless devices arranged according to the highest priority based on operating parameters of the active wireless devices is compiled. One of the active wireless devices is selected as a wireless host device based on the active wireless devices based upon the compiled priority list. Channel state data received from the active wireless devices at the access node is correlated to determine whether the active wireless devices and the wireless host device are in close proximity with each other. A wireless connection is established between the wireless host device and the active wireless devices, that are found to be in close proximity of wireless host device.
US09277445B2 Wireless end-user device with differential traffic control policy list and applying foreground classification to wireless data service
A wireless end-user device has wireless wide-area network (WWAN) and wireless local-area network (WLAN) modems. One or more processors classify whether an application is interacting with a user in a user interface foreground of the device. At a time when Internet service activities are communicated through the WWAN modem, the processors use a differential traffic control policy list to determine whether or not to apply a differential traffic control policy to an application requesting Internet service access. When the policy is applicable, and the application is not classified as interacting with a user in the device user interface foreground, the Internet service access request is blocked.
US09277438B2 Devices for determining a reference subframe and determining a mode
A wireless communication device for determining a reference subframe is described. The wireless communication device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The wireless communication device determines a reporting subframe n. The wireless communication device also determines a reference subframe n−nreference based on a limit and at least one limiting criterion. The wireless communication device further generates a report based on the reference subframe if the reference subframe is determined. The wireless communication device additionally sends the report during the reporting subframe if the reference subframe is determined.
US09277436B2 Minimizing drive test logged data reporting
This disclosure pertains to a method in a network node, a method in user equipment, a network node and user equipment in a wireless communications network. More particularly, there is provided methods and platforms for network based control of report messages comprising logged measurements in a wireless communications network. In accordance with some example embodiments, a UE (30) that has stored logged data i.e. logged measurements that are bigger than a single transmission packet, i.e. report message, segments the logged measurements and sends only a portion of the logged measurements that fits into a single report message. The UE (30) also indicates to a network node (28) that additional logged measurements exist at the UE buffer (44).
US09277435B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting channel state information in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. A method for a terminal to transmit channel state information to a plurality of transmission points in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of: receiving a configuration for reporting the channel state information; and selecting at least one subband for reporting the channel state information to each of a first transmission point and a second transmission point in accordance with the configuration for reporting the channel state information, wherein the configuration for reporting the channel state information comprises information on whether or not to select the subband for the first transmission point same to be the subband for the second transmission point.
US09277433B2 Wireless end-user device with policy-based aggregation of network activity requested by applications
A wireless end-user device has a wireless wide-area network (WWAN) modem and supports multiple wireless network types. A network service activity control policy set has a policy element that associates one or more Internet activity access controls with at least one end-user application. One or more processors determine whether to apply the Internet activity access controls to an Internet access request by or on behalf of the end-user application, based at least on which of the wireless network types is configured to support Internet service activity. The determination may further be based on whether or not the application is interacting with a user. When the controls are to be applied, network activity for the Internet access request is delayed until it can be associated with network activity for one or more other requests not associated with the application.
US09277432B2 Systems and methods for automated on-device performance testing of mobile applications
Methods and systems for measuring the performance of a mobile application and its associated user page flows include a communication link configured to connect a plurality of mobile client devices to an application server running the mobile application. The system includes a first module configured to implement a plurality of mobile network protocols; a second module configured to implement a plurality of mobile carrier protocols; a third module configured to implement a plurality of mobile operating systems; and a processing module configured to download the application and user pages from the application server and measure performance on each of the plurality of mobile client devices using different combinations of the plurality of mobile network protocols, the plurality of mobile carrier protocols, and the plurality of mobile operating systems.
US09277431B1 System, method, and computer program for generating mobile subscriber network experience indicators based on geo-located events
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for generating mobile subscriber network experience indicators based on geo-located events. In use, one or more call trace logs are received including protocol flow information between User Equipment and one or more network elements associated with a network. Additionally, one or more call detail records are generated utilizing the one or more call trace logs, each of the one or more call detail records including an associated international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI). Further, the one or more call detail records are geo-tagged with location information associated with the one or more call trace logs. In addition, the one or more geo-tagged call detail records are aggregated based on the international mobile subscriber identity associated with the one or more geo-tagged call detail records, such that a subscriber corresponding to the international mobile subscriber identity is associated with at least one of the aggregated geo-tagged call detail records. Furthermore, a plurality of key performance indicators are identified for the subscriber, utilizing the at least one aggregated geo-tagged call detail record associated with the subscriber. Moreover, a network experience indicator associated with the subscriber is generated utilizing one or more of the plurality of key performance indicators. Still yet, the network experience indicator associated with the subscriber is displayed utilizing a graphical user interface.
US09277429B2 Monitoring probe for identifying a user plane identifier of a user device
Methods of identifying a user plane identifier of a user device by a monitoring probe in communication with a network device, the monitoring probe, and the system using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, the monitoring probe includes a monitor, a comparator and a user plane identifier output. The monitor monitors a network device for receipt of a first control plane message comprising a first control plane identifier and a user device identifier, and monitors the network device for receipt of a second control plane message comprising a second control plane identifier and a user plane identifier. The comparator compares the first with the second control plane identifier to determine whether the control plane identifiers correspond. The user plane identifier output outputs the user plane identifier being identified as that of the user device, when the control plane identifiers correspond.
US09277428B2 Method and apparatus for responding to a potential mass random access event
A radio controller monitors a radio channel for a first period of time and determines a first indication of signals received without detecting synchronization or with detecting synchronization but failing error correction during that time. Responsive to determining that the first indication is above a predetermined threshold indicative of an interference condition, causing an instruction to be broadcast identifying a subset of subscriber devices allowed transmitting random access requests on the radio channel. The radio controller monitors the radio channel for a second period of time and determines a second indication during that time. If the second indication is an improvement over the first indication, the radio controller determines that the interference condition is caused by the mass random access event.
US09277425B2 Systems and methods for automatic frequency control for mobile communication systems
System and methods are provided for communicating with multiple wireless networks using a mobile communication system. An example mobile communication system includes a first communication device configured to communicate with a first wireless network and generate a reference signal for determining a first frequency deviation between the first communication device and the first wireless network, and a second communication device configured to communicate with a second wireless network and determine a second frequency deviation between the second communication device and the second wireless network based at least in part on the reference signal.
US09277420B2 Concentric cells in a wireless communication system
Aspects described herein relate to a base station for providing air-to-ground wireless communication over various altitudes. The base station includes a first antenna array comprising one or more antennas configured to form a first cell coverage area extending substantially from a horizon up to a first elevation angle away from the first antenna array to a predetermined distance from the first antenna array. The base station further includes a second antenna array configured at an uptilt elevation angle to form a second cell coverage area extending at least from the first elevation angle to a second elevation away from the second antenna array, wherein the first cell coverage area and the second cell coverage area are concentric to define the ATG cell at least to the predetermined distance and up to a predetermined elevation.
US09277419B2 Device, system and method of indicating station-specific information within a wireless communication
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of indicating station-specific information within a wireless communication. For example, a device may include a wireless communication unit to transmit a wireless communication frame to a plurality of stations using a respective plurality of beamforming configurations, wherein the wireless communication unit is to transmit to the stations beamforming configuration information including station-specific information corresponding to the plurality of beamforming configurations, respectively.
US09277418B1 Methods, devices and systems for separating overlappingly transmitted signals and enabling joint spectrum access
In one example embodiment, a device includes a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions therein and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to receive a mixture signal, and determine a first signal and a second signal from the mixture signal, the first signal being a signal of a first technology and the second signal being a signal of a second technology, the first and second signals being overlappingly transmitted signals, at least one of the first signal and the second signal being used for processing of information associated with the at least one of the first signal and the second signal.
US09277416B2 Method and apparatus for scheduling radio resources
Embodiments of the disclosure provide methods and apparatuses for scheduling radio resources in a communication system. According to the method, in response to receiving a request for accessing a target frequency band utilized by a Macro BS and a LPN from a frequency-shared system, a first notification is transmitted to the Macro BS, such that the Macro BS deactivates the target frequency band, and a second notification is transmitted to the LPN, such that the LPN extends its coverage. Then, information on the extended coverage is received from the LPN.
US09277415B2 Resource sharing priority
A device implements multiple protocols that share overlapping resources. In some cases, a first operation, such as a scan, may have a resource conflict with a second operation associated with a different protocol. In some cases, determining grant normal priority level requests associated with the first operation over those at the normal priority level associated with the second operation may lead to operator-noticeable degradation in device performance. A protocol controller may request a selected portion of the first operation at a low priority level. Requesting the selected portion at the low priority level may allow the second operation to selectively override the portion of the first operation. The selective overriding of the first operation may allow for execution of the first and second operations without operator-noticeable performance degradation.
US09277414B2 Wireless communication system, base station, and mobile station
A wireless communication system 1 performs inter-cell coordination control that coordinates a pico base station 100 and a macro base station 200 with each other and transmits a signal to a mobile station 10 of a picocell. The pico base station 100 includes a controller 100a and a communication unit 100b. The controller 100a interleaves resources of an E-PDCCH of the picocell corresponding to a predetermined resource unit based on a coordinated area ID that is an identifier common to the pico base station 100 and the macro base station 200. The communication unit 100b transmits a control signal to the mobile station 10 of the picocell using a first resource of the E-PDCCH of the picocell that corresponds to at least a part of the predetermined resource unit and is to be decoded by the mobile station 10 of the picocell.
US09277413B2 Cooperative cognitive radio spectrum sensing using a hybrid data-decision method
A spectrum sensing method for cognitive radio to detect spectrum holes in an environment of bandwidth scarcity. The method comprises first receiving a wireless signal at a cognitive radio user, and then discovering the frequency edges of allocated frequency bands by using wavelet transform coefficients to detect discontinuities in the power spectral density of the received signal. After determining the allocated frequency bands, the method determines frequency band availability by detecting the in band energy using a bi-threshold energy detector, where the energy detector makes hard decisions and soft decisions. Finally, a fusion center combines hard and soft decisions collected from a cooperative spectrum sensing network of cognitive radio users and makes a final decision using a hybrid of data fusion and decision fusion to determine the final decision regarding spectrum availability.
US09277407B2 Methods for authentication using near-field
Authentication methods are used to authenticate, a device1 having an ESN1 (electronic serial number), a device2 having an ESN2, and/or a user of the devices. In one implementation, device1 receives the ESN2 in a near-field signal; derives an authentication result as a function of the ESN1 and ESN2; and sends the authentication result to an authenticator device to use in completing authentication. Authentication is confirmed when the device1 authentication result matches an authentication result independently generated by the authenticator device, which is provisioned with the ESN1 and ESN2. In a second implementation, device1 generates a RAND1 (random number) and sends the RAND1 to device2 over a near-filed link. An authenticator device confirms authentication upon receiving the same RAND1 from both device1 and device2.
US09277406B2 Methods and system for secure communication between an RFID tag and a reader
Methods and a system involve secure communication between an RFID tag and a reader via the over-the-air interface, and to corresponding RFID tags and corresponding readers. A modification of the Rabin method is employed wherein within the framework of the encryption of a plaintext M into which an identification element of the RFID tag or of an object furnished therewith is incorporated, there is computed by the RFID tag, the Montgomery residue (Montgomery reduction) of the square of the plaintext M modulo n with respect to a Montgomery base R, i.e. C*=M2R−1 mod n, and the resultant ciphertext C* is employed for authenticating the RFID tag. The modulus n=p·q is the public key of the reader, the prime numbers p, q are the private key of the reader, and the Montgomery base R is an integer that is larger than the modulus n.
US09277405B2 Access control interfaces for enhanced wireless router
A wireless router provides access control to information resources stored at the wireless router. The wireless router supports user profiles and/or device profiles that respectively enable user level and/or device level access control. The wireless router may register users via a user registration interface presented by the client device. The wireless router may register client devices using a device identifier. Requests to initiate a communication session may be received by the wireless router from client devices over a wireless local area network. The wireless router may authenticate a client device based on a device identifier and/or authenticate a user based on user credentials obtained via a login interface presented by the client device. The wireless router may control access to information resources stored at the wireless router during the communication session based, at least in part, on access privileges for the authenticated client device and/or authenticated user.
US09277404B2 Method for registering a wireless communication device at a base device and corresponding system
A method for registering a wireless communication device at a base device may include the steps of: transmitting from a wireless authentication device a piece of authentication information; receiving at the wireless communication device the piece of authentication information, e.g., using in-band communication; transferring the piece of authentication information from the wireless communication device to the base device; analyzing at the base device the transferred piece of authentication information; and incorporating the wireless communication device into a network depending on the result of the analysis. A corresponding system and to a use thereof are also provided.
US09277402B2 Systems and methods for secure high-speed link maintenance via NFC
Systems, methods, and devices for communicating with a second apparatus in a wireless communications network are described herein. In some aspects, a first wireless communication unit is configured to communicate with the second apparatus via a first wireless protocol. The first wireless communication unit may transmit a first message to the second apparatus. A second wireless communication unit is configured to communicate with the second apparatus over a communication link via a second wireless protocol. The second wireless communication unit may be further configured to disconnect the communication link if the first wireless communication unit does not receive a second message from the second apparatus within a predetermined amount of time after transmission of the first message.
US09277401B2 Device utilizing an optical signal to access an access point
Disclosed is a device that receives an optical signal having an authorization code that allows the device to utilize an access point to obtain access to the Internet and other networks. The device may include: a modem; a light sensor; and a processor. The light sensor may receive an optical signal from a light source. The processor may execute operations including: processing the received optical signal to identify an authorization code and to connect the device through the modem to the access point based upon the authorization code such that the device may obtain access to the Internet and other networks.
US09277398B2 User equipment capability signaling
A user equipment (UE) configured for signaling UE capability is described. The UE includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The UE sends an indicator regarding whether the UE can support different time division duplex (TDD) configurations on different bands for a band combination. The UE also sends an indicator regarding whether the UE can support concurrent transmission and reception on different bands for the band combination. The UE additionally sends an indicator regarding whether the UE can support different uplink timing adjustments for the band combination.
US09277396B2 Method and apparatus for managing user equipment history information in wireless communication network
A method and an apparatus for managing User Equipment (UE) history information are provided. The method for managing user equipment history information in a wireless communication network includes determining if a recording event occurs when the user equipment enters into an idle mode; recording information about the recording event in idle mode user equipment history information when the recording event occurs; and transmitting the recorded idle mode user equipment history information to a base station when the user equipment accesses the base station.
US09277393B2 Communication supporting method and apparatus using non-access stratum protocol in mobile telecommunication system
A method and apparatus for supporting Non-Access Stratum (NAS) communication between a User Equipment (UE) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME) efficiently by addressing the signaling problems occurring between the UE and the MME in a situation where it is necessary for a network node to identify the UE and acquire UE information, if there is any, from another network node to which the UE has been attached, are provided. The method for communication between the UE and network based on the NAS protocol messages and operations is implemented with the involvement a UE, an MME, and an old MME or an old Serving General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) to which the UE has been attached before so as to facilitate discovering a best node using the UE information acquired from the old MME or old SGSN during the communication between the UE and the network, resulting in a reduction of a communication delay between the UE and network and an improvement of communication efficiency.
US09277390B2 Mobile payment and identity verification system
Techniques are disclosed relating to facilitating transactions via mobile devices. In one embodiment, an account that is linked to a mobile telephone number of a mobile device is established at a computer system. In such an embodiment, the account permits a user to make and receive payments, and is not accessible without using the mobile device. In some embodiments, the account is established without setting up a username and password. In one embodiment, a request is sent from a payment application of the mobile device to the computer system. In some embodiments, the payment application is made active on the mobile device in response to a user input within a different application running on the mobile device. After the payment application is active, a purchase is confirmed within the payment application such that the request is sent responsive to the confirming and without authenticating the user within the payment application.
US09277386B1 Object location tracking system and method
A system for tracking the location of an object in an area having a plurality of electronic devices, connected via a network through a variety of communication protocols, comprises a location server in communication with the network and each of the plurality of electronic devices. Each of the electronic devices is associated with a last-known device location within the area that is stored in the location server. An electronic tag that is fixed with the object has a control circuit that enables wireless communication with the network both through any of the electronic devices and through any of the variety of communication protocols. The control circuit maintains at least periodic contact and GPS location reporting with the location server through the network, preferably through one of the electronic devices designated as the owner device, or any of the other electronic devices.
US09277385B2 911 assist by wireless charger with NFC in the vehicle
A method for requesting emergency assistance for a vehicle involved in an accident. The method includes the following: storing vehicle operating conditions prior to the accident in a storage device; detecting the accident; after the accident, deactivating charging of a smartphone being charged on a wireless charging pad; transmitting to the smartphone the vehicle operating conditions stored prior to the accident; transmitting the vehicle operating conditions from the smartphone to emergency authorities; and calling the emergency authorities using the smartphone and initiating handsfree communication with the emergency authorities.
US09277380B2 Method for controlling call termination based on gaze, and mobile communication terminal therefor
A mobile communication terminal for controlling call termination based on a user's gaze includes a call answer and decline judging unit configured to compare a user's gaze movement frequency with preset call answer and call decline frequencies and judge a call answer or a call decline according to frequencies coinciding with each other; and a call termination control processing unit configured to perform a call mode or a call refusal mode according to the judgment of the call answer and decline judging unit.
US09277378B2 Short message service validation engine
A method, performed by a computer device, may include receiving a Short Message Service (SMS) message. The method may further include analyzing one or more sender parameters associated with the received SMS message to validate the one or more sender parameters; determining whether the one or more sender parameters have been validated based on the analysis; rejecting the SMS message in response to determining that the one or more sender parameters have not been validated; analyzing message content included in the SMS message to validate the message content; determining whether the message content has been validated based on the analysis; rejecting the SMS message in response to determining that the message content has not been validated; and forwarding the SMS message to a recipient, in response to validating the one or more sender parameters and in response to validating the message content.
US09277376B2 Method and apparatus for persistent connections to a device through the use of multiple physical network connections and connection hand-offs between multiple bands, modes and networks
Embodiments communicate messages between mobile devices and destination devices. An exemplary embodiment includes a first border server operable to establish a first communication connection to the mobile device over a first network operating under a first protocol, a second border server operable to establish a second communication connection to the mobile device over a second network operating under a second protocol, and a transport management server communicatively coupled to the first border server and the second border server, and operable to establish a third communication connection to the destination device over a third network operating under a third protocol. The first protocol is configured to communicate a first encapsulated portion of the message. The second protocol is configured to communicate a second encapsulated portion of the message. The third protocol is configured to communicate the first encapsulated portion of the message and the second encapsulated portion of the message.
US09277369B2 Method for determining location of wireless devices
Methods for determining a location of a client device in a wireless network having at least a first other network device with a known location are disclosed. Transmission-to-self calibrations are performed at the first other network device and/or the client device to determine RF group delay of the first other network device and/or the client device. The client device receives messages and acknowledgements from the other network devices and determines its location based on information received including the time at which it received the messages, the acknowledgements and the RF groupdelay of the first other network device. As such, the location calculation can be refined by accounting for the RF group delays of the first other network device and/or the client device.
US09277367B2 Method and device for providing augmented reality output
Methods and devices for generating an augmented reality output are described. In one aspect, the method includes: obtaining camera data from a camera associated with an electronic device, the camera data defining an image representing a card having a graphic disposed thereon; obtaining sensor data from a sensor associated with the electronic device; and generating an augmented reality output on an output interface based on the sensor data and the graphic.
US09277361B2 Methods and systems for cross-validating sensor data acquired using sensors of a mobile device
Methods and systems for cross-validating sensor data are described. An example method involves receiving image data and first timing information associated with the image data, and receiving sensor data and second timing information associated with the sensor data. The method further involves determining a first estimation of motion of the mobile device based on the image data and the first timing information, and determining a second estimation of the motion of the mobile device based on the sensor data and the second timing information. Additionally, the method involves determining whether the first estimation is within a threshold variance of the second estimation. The method then involves providing an output indicative of a validity of the first timing information and the second timing information based on whether the first estimation is within the threshold variance of the second estimation.
US09277358B1 Providing information to a mobile device based on an event at a geographical location
A system, method, and computer readable medium for providing information to a mobile device based on an event comprising detecting an occurrence of the event, determining if the event is a specific event and if the event occurred at or near a geographical location and sending an alert of the event to at least one mobile device if the event is the specific event, if the event occurs at or near the geographical location, and if the at least one mobile device is located at or near the geographical location.
US09277357B2 Method and system for map generation for location and navigation with user sharing/social networking
Methods and systems for map generation for location and navigation with user sharing/social networking may comprise a premises-based crowd-sourced database that receives images and location data from a plurality of users of wireless communication devices, and for each of said plurality of users: receiving a determined position of a wireless communication device (WCD), where the position is determined by capturing images of the surroundings of the WCD. Data associated with objects in the surroundings of the WCD may be extracted from the captured images, positions of the objects may be determined, and the determined positions and the data may then update the premises-based crowd-sourced database. The position of the WCD may be determined utilizing global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals. The elements may comprise structural and/or textual features in the surroundings of the WCD. The position may be determined utilizing sensors that measure a distance from a known position.
US09277355B1 Cellular telephone tracking techniques
Communications device includes a device speed determining unit that determines a speed of movement of the communications device, and a responsive unit that analyzes the speed of movement of the communications device and determines or enable a determination of whether it is indicative of walking of a holder of the communications device or indicative of motorized transport of the holder of the communications device.
US09277351B2 Wireless transmission duration and location-based services
The exemplary embodiments provide a computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing location-based services provided via a wireless access point. A signal is received from a client device by at least one wireless access point. A distance the signal has traveled to the at least one wireless access point is determined. A determination as to whether the client device is within an allowed range of the at least one wireless access point is made based on the determined distance. Responsive to a determination that the client device is within an allowed range, a location of the client device is determined. Location-based service information is sent to the client device based on the determined location of the client device.
US09277345B2 Signal strength indicator for multicast broadcasting in a wireless network
The quality of a multicast broadcast that is being received by a mobile device may be determined. In one implementation, a method may include receiving a radio signal corresponding to a multicast broadcast of content; measuring a strength of the received signal; determining a minimum signal strength to receive the content associated with the multicast broadcast; determining a signal quality metric, associated with the multicast broadcast, the signal quality metric being based on a difference between the measured strength of the signal and the determined minimum signal strength; and providing a visual indication of the signal quality metric.
US09277344B2 Multi-dimensional audio transformations and crossfading
A method for creating a multi-dimensional audio map is provided. The method includes assigning a first audio attribute to a multi-dimensional space comprising at least three dimensions. The method also includes creating, by a computer processor responsive to user input, a first audio attribute layer within the multi-dimensional space, including a first dimension representing an audio attribute value of the first audio attribute for a location defined by at least two other dimensions. A method for generating a mixed output using the multi-dimensional audio map is also provided.
US09277341B2 System and method for producing a narrow band signal with controllable narrowband statistics for a use in testing a loudspeaker
An apparatus may include a signal generation module for generating a signal to test a loudspeaker. The signal generating module may be configured to receive a plurality of inputs identifying parameters relating to a test signal for the loudspeaker, generate a plurality of narrowband signals based on the plurality of inputs, sum the narrowband signals together to produce a broadband test signal, and transmit the broadband test signal to the loudspeaker to generate sound based on the broadband test signal.
US09277339B2 Sound source detection apparatus
In a sound source detection apparatus that detects a sound source of a detection subject on the basis of collected sounds, sounds are collected by at least one sound collector, an autocorrelation between sounds collected in time series by the sound collector is calculated, and a determination as to whether or not the sound source of the detection subject exists is made on the basis of the autocorrelation. More particularly, sounds are preferably collected respectively by two or more sound collectors such that the existence of the sound source of the detection subject is determined by determining whether or not the autocorrelations of the sounds collected by the two or more sound collectors satisfy a predetermined condition. By using the autocorrelation to detect the sound source of the detection subject in this manner, high robustness against an S/N ratio is exhibited, leading to an improved detection performance when detecting the sound source of the detection subject.
US09277337B2 Generating an adapted audio file
The present idea refers to an apparatus for generating an adapted audio file. The apparatus comprises an identification unit (51) for supporting identification of a frequency range (fr) associated with an auditory disorder of a user of the apparatus, and an adaptation unit (52) for adapting a frequency characteristic of an audio file (af) representing a track of music which adaptation is subject to the identified frequency range (fr). An audio player (6) is provided for playing the adapted audio file (aaf).
US09277336B2 Vented dome
A hearing device includes a BTE unit and a thin acoustic tube. The BTE unit includes a microphone, an amplifier, a power source, and a receiver and is configured to mount behind or on a user's ear. The tube includes a proximal end and a distal end with the proximal end and the distal end being connected to the receiver and to a flexible mounting insert respectively. The insert comprises a dome shape part and at least one core hole permeable for sound transmitted from the tube, which is configured to arrange in a user's ear canal to transmit sound generated by the BTE unit to a tympanic membrane of the user. The inserts diameter is adapted to at least have the same diameter as user's ear canal diameter to close the ear canal of the user and has at least one internal vent pathway located on the circumference of the core hole.
US09277333B2 Method for adjusting the useful signal in binaural hearing aid systems and hearing aid system
A method operates a hearing aid system and the hearing aid system has at least two hearing aid devices, between which a signal path is provided, and with at least one signal processing unit, which is provided to process audio signals. In the method the signal processing apparatus filters first audio signals with a filter predetermined for a defined spatial direction, from which a useful signal arrives, so that second audio signals are generated, in which the components of the useful signal in the second audio signals are equalized to a greater degree than in the first audio signals. The second audio signals are then filtered with an adaptive filter, so that third audio signals are generated, in which the components of the useful signal are equalized to an even greater degree than in the second audio signals.
US09277331B2 Techniques for testing compatibility of a wireless communication device
Techniques for testing a wireless communications device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a system and method for testing a wireless communications device. The method may comprise generating an audio test signal. The audio test signal may be transmitted to a wireless communication device through a wireless base station simulator via a VoIP application. The method may also comprise receiving an output signal, where the output signal may be generated by the wireless communication device and transmitted to a telecoil probe. The method may further comprise processing the output signal by comparing the output signal with the audio test signal.
US09277328B2 Condenser microphone
A handheld condenser microphone is provided with a condenser microphone unit having two unidirectional condenser elements. A conductive fabric 221 is put between a lock ring 213 and the second condenser element 10b, when an acoustic-electric transducer 220 is fixed inside a unit case 210 by fastening force of the lock ring 213.
US09277326B2 Miniature speaker
A miniature speaker is disclosed. The miniature speaker includes a frame providing a receiving space, a magnetic circuit positioned in the receiving space and a vibration unit including a diaphragm and a voice coil driving the diaphragm. The magnetic circuit includes a main magnet positioned on a center of the lower plate, a pair of auxiliary magnets positioned spaced from the main magnet for forming a magnetic gap, a pole plate attaching to a top surface of the main magnet, and an upper plate. The upper plate includes a pair of main segments attached to top surfaces of the auxiliary magnets, and a pair of connecting beams connecting with the main segments and located between the two auxiliary magnets. The magnets are prevent from being attracted to each other by virtue of the upper plate.
US09277317B2 Tunable inductive device for parametric audio systems and related methods
An apparatus and method for optimizing a parametric emitter system having a pot core inductive device coupled between an amplifier and emitter. The pot core inductive device allows for adjustments of the air gap formed between the two halves of the pot core structure to adjust its inductive value. This post-manufacture adjustability allows for corrections of differences caused by operations of other components in the audio system and to account for slight differences in the electrical circuit of different amplifier/emitter combinations. As efficiency of the system is dependent on the functional relationship between the amplifier, inductive device, and emitter, this allows for fine tuning of the signal to obtain high quality.
US09277316B2 Sound processing device and sound processing method
A sound processing apparatus which can improve precision of analyzes on ambient sounds, carries out analysis on the ambient sounds based upon collected sound signals acquired by two sound collectors. The sound processing apparatus is provided with a level signal converter that converts the collected sound signal into a level signal, which indicates an absolute value of the collected sound signal from which phase information is removed. A level signal synthesizer generates a synthesized level signal in which the level signals acquired from the collected sound signals of the two sound collectors are synthesized, and a detector/identifier carries out analysis on the ambient sounds, based upon the synthesized level signal.
US09277312B2 Electronic device with bone conduction vibrator
An electronic device includes: a main body; a screen panel disposed on a surface of the main body and configured to display an image; a frame-shaped cover panel disposed on the surface of the main body to cover an outer periphery of the screen panel; a bone conduction vibrator incorporated in the main body and attached to a rear surface of the screen panel, and an adhesive layer fixedly attaching the cover panel at a rear surface thereof to an outer peripheral portion of the surface of the screen panel. The adhesive layer extends along the outer peripheral portion of the surface of the screen panel and has a missing portion in which an area to be located in the vicinity of the bone conduction vibrator is missing. The missing portion-provides a gap between the surface of the screen panel and the rear surface of the cover panel.
US09277310B1 Audio playback system
An audio playback system for an audio signal generated by an audio output device includes a generally U-shaped headphone arrangement having two opposing ends each terminating with an audio transducer. A top enclosure of the headphone arrangement includes a remote control holder, a personal attachment holder, and a headphone circuit. A remote control is adapted for selective engagement with the remote control holder of the headphone arrangement and is fixable to a personal attachment and worn by the user. Control signals are transmitted to the headphone arrangement by the remote control in response to the person interacting with the remote control. The headphone circuit alters the audio output of the headphone circuit in accordance thereto. The headphone circuit receives the audio signal directly from the audio output device, the network, or indirectly from the remote control. The remote control is also adapted for controlling the audio output device and network.
US09277309B2 Detachable wireless listening device
Broadly speaking, the embodiments described herein relate to a media apparatus that can be used in conjunction with a host device to provide an end user a pleasurable listening experience especially during periods of physical activity. In the described embodiments, the host device can take the form of a portable media player. In particular, the media apparatus can include a listening device.
US09277305B2 Suspension for a sound transducer
An object of the present invention is to provide a suspension for a sound transducer which has a central portion serving as a center diaphragm and which has a cover layer and a copper pattern partially removed to prevent a decrease in sound pressure from being caused by an increase in weight of a vibration system. According to the present invention, there is provided a suspension for a sound transducer which includes a central portion, a peripheral portion, and a support portion for connecting the central portion to the peripheral portion, the suspension comprising: a base film, a conductive film attached on the base film by means of an adhesive, and a cover layer attached on the conductive film by an adhesive, wherein at least part of the cover layer disposed on the central portion is removed.
US09277301B2 Optical unit and optical device
A signal processing element that modulates beam from an input/output unit, an optical substrate mounting the signal processing element, and a temperature controller that controls a temperature of the signal processing element are included, the signal processing element includes an incidence surface on which the beam is incident, a modulation layer that modulates the beam from the incidence surface, and a driving substrate for controlling the modulation of the beam arranged on the opposite side of the incidence surface, the temperature controller is arranged opposite the driving substrate, the incidence surface is connected to the optical substrate by a first connection portion, the driving substrate is connected to the temperature controller by a second connection portion, and an area on the temperature controller side of the second connection portion is more greatly deformed than that on the driving substrate side according to change in volume of the temperature controller.
US09277299B2 Line switching device
A line switching device includes multiple input ports to which signals are input and that include first input ports and second input ports different from the first input ports; multiple output ports that include given output ports; a branch unit that branches first signals input from the first input ports; and a switch that selectively outputs, among second signals input from the second input ports and branched signals branched from the first signals by the branch unit, signals that are to be switched to an output port among the given ports.
US09277288B2 Systems and methods to attenuate intermodulation interference
The present invention is directed to systems and method for attenuating intermodulation interference. In particular, methods and systems to attenuate intermodulation interference contained within an aggregate signal having a transmitted signal that was transmitted over a communications channel having channel effects that produce the intermodulation interference are provided. The communications channel may be a cable television distribution network and the signal may be a cable television signal. A method is provided to predict when intermodulation interference will be large, so that actions within a receiver can be taken to reduce the impact of the interference and improve overall receiver performance.
US09277285B2 Broadcasting method and system with variable audio/video program menu
A broadcasting system for AV program selection comprising a network, an AV signal providing system, a user device and a digital AV signal processing device is proposed. The network, the AV signal providing system, the user device and the digital AV signal processing device are in communication with each other via the network. A broadcasting method is applied to the AV signal providing system. The broadcasting method comprises steps of: providing a plurality of AV programs for selection; and transmitting an AV signal corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of AV programs to the digital AV signal processing device in response to a user's selecting operation on an AV program menu revealed by way of the digital AV signal processing device, wherein the AV program menu contains information of only partial the plurality of AV programs, and is created by way of the user device.
US09277280B2 Method for controlling digital film play-count and a system thereof
The invention discloses a method for controlling digital film play-count and a system thereof, wherein a play-count parameter is added into a KDM file where a key delivery message used for controlling film play is embedded, detecting the play-count parameter for a playing film, setting RSA key abstracts of an FDM packager of all authorized contracting film producers, safely importing the KDM and play-count into a security module, detecting the play-count parameter for a playing film. The film is not permitted to play unless existing play-count is less than the authorized play-count in the FDM. The invention fulfills the requirements and demands for controlling the distribution and playback of digital films in the second-tier market using technologies such as the authorized play-count and a method to charge on the basis of play-count.
US09277278B2 Systems and methods for enhancing audience measurement data
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for enhancing audience measurement data. Offline and online audience measurement data may be compared and correlated to improve the quality of each data and source set. Positive correlations between the offline and online data sets related to a particular event may indicate demographic traits that are likely true, such that outliers may be removed from the set or considered at a reduced weight. Negative correlations may indicate that demographic information within a source set, such as the online measurement data, may be false or suspect.
US09277267B2 Content output system, information display apparatus, content output apparatus, and content information display method
A content output system includes a content output apparatus; and an information display apparatus, the content output apparatus and the information display apparatus being capable of communicating with each other. The content output apparatus includes a selection section configured to select, in response to a selection instruction, one piece of content from among a plurality of pieces of content that can be output, as content composed of a video signal and/or an audio signal; and an output section configured to output the content selected by the selection section. The information display apparatus includes a display section; and a control section configured to allow the display section to display, as content information display, information on the plurality of pieces of content that can be output from the content output apparatus in a state in which content that is output from the output section of the content output apparatus is displayed so as to be distinguished from remaining pieces of content that can be output.
US09277262B2 Content orchestration for assembly of customized content streams
There is provided a content orchestration system and a method for use by the content orchestration system to enable assembly of one or more customized content streams. In one implementation, such a content orchestration system includes a computing platform having a processor, and a content orchestration engine for execution by the processor. The content orchestration engine is configured to receive data describing multiple content sources capable of providing content for use in assembling a customized content stream. The content orchestration engine is also configured to identify customization guidelines corresponding to a destination of the customized content stream, and to determine instructions for assembling the customized content stream based on the data and the customization guidelines.
US09277261B2 Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
An information processing apparatus which communicates with an image capturing apparatus and reproduces video data obtained by the image capturing apparatus, comprises a unit which requests a segment list in which information of segments of video data is written; a unit which acquires the requested segment list; a unit which decides which segment, from the segments in the acquired segment list to request; a unit which requests the decided segment from the image capturing apparatus; and a unit which acquires the requested segment, in the case where a number of segments in the acquired segment list is greater than a first threshold, a predetermined segment from the segments in the segment list is requested and the predetermined segment is neither the latest segment nor the earliest segment in the segment list.
US09277260B2 Media convergence platform
Device capabilities, media rights, and content are managed using a convergence platform to allow seamless consumption of content across disparate devices. Media content can be paused on one device having a particular set of capabilities and rights and resumed on a different device having another set of capabilities and rights. A user can play media on a mobile device, continue playing the media on a desktop computer, and subsequently move to a large screen television and capabilities and rights are automatically identified to seamlessly provide the most appropriate authorized content. Personalized media content information can be provided based on maintained information for user playback stoppage events and the user can resume playback of any number of media streams.
US09277255B1 Metering of internet protocol video streams
A processor-implemented method meters IP video streams. The processor implements a meter. The method includes detecting, by the processor, a video watch page; harvesting, by the processor, data from the video watch page; storing, by the processor, the harvested data as current page data; detecting, by the processor, a video play button operation indicating a video playing; and inferring, by the processor, the video playing correlates to a video referenced in the current page data.
US09277254B2 Transport stream multiplexers and methods for providing packets on a transport stream
Examples described include transport stream multiplexers that may not need to search for an appropriate source to use to generate a transport stream packet. Instead, the source to use may be indicated by a position (e.g. an entry) in a memory table, e.g. a metadata array. Methods for placing transport stream packets on a transport stream and initializing the metadata array are also described.
US09277251B2 Geographically independent determination of segment boundaries within a video stream
A method for creating an announcement stream for a geographic region is provided. The method receives, at a designated computer system, characterizing metadata for a first audio/video stream; analyzes a second audio/video stream to obtain characterizing metadata for the second video stream; compares, with the computer system, the characterizing metadata for the first video stream to the characterizing metadata for the second video stream to generate offset data; and calculates timing information corresponding to segment boundaries for the second video stream using the offset data.
US09277250B2 Network based video analytics through an application program interface (API) with metric triggered notifications
A video surveillance system ingests a video stream from a remotely located video capture device. An application programming interface (API) provides an interface for functions to interface between the video surveillance system and the remotely located video capture device. An analytics engine of the video surveillance system receives video sent through the API. The analytics engine compares an extracted metric from the video stream against at least one previously established value as part of assessing a previously established condition to generate either a TRUE or a FALSE result. When and only when a TRUE result is generated, is a notification action performed that conveys a notification over a network using internet protocol communications to a previously designated user.
US09277249B2 Method and system for providing on-demand and pay-per-view content through a hospitality system
A method and system for providing content to a receiving device from a local headend is set forth. The local headend communicates channel data for content stored at a video server to a receiving device, receives a selection of the channel data to form selected content from the receiving device and communicates content corresponding to the selection to the receiving device. The local headend stores a purchase record corresponding to the selection at the local headend, associates the purchase record with the receiving device within the local headend and communicates a request for a callback from the local headend to the receiving device. The receiving device communicates a callback signal from the receiving device to an external headend comprising purchase data corresponding to the purchase record.
US09277242B2 Parameter update method for entropy coding and decoding of conversion coefficient level, and entropy coding device and entropy decoding device of conversion coefficient level using same
Methods and apparatuses for decoding and encoding video are provided. A method includes obtaining bit strings corresponding to current transformation coefficient level information by arithmetic decoding a bitstream based on a context model that indicates a probability as to whether a bit from a bit string is a one or a zero, updating or maintaining a previous binarization parameter based on a comparison of a predetermined value and a size of a previous transformation coefficient, obtaining the current transformation coefficient level information by performing de-binarization of the bit strings using the determined current binarization parameter, and generating a size of a current transformation coefficient using the current transformation coefficient level information.
US09277241B2 Context reduction for context adaptive binary arithmetic coding
A reduction in the number of binarizations and/or contexts used in context adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC) for video coding is proposed. In particular, this disclosure proposes techniques that may lower the number contexts used in CABAC by up to 56.
US09277237B2 User interface remoting through video encoding techniques
Methods, techniques, and systems for user interface remoting using video streaming techniques are provided. Example embodiments provide User Interface Remoting and Optimization System (“UIROS”), which enables the efficient remoting of pixel-oriented user interfaces on behalf of their guests using generic video streaming techniques, such as H.264, to send compressed user interface image information in the form of video frame encoded bitstreams. In one embodiment, the UIROS comprises server side support including a UI remoting server, a video encoder, and rendering support and client side support including a UI remoting client, a video decoder, and a display. These components cooperate to implement optimized UI remoting that is bandwidth efficient, low latency and CPU efficient.
US09277235B2 Image processing apparatus and method
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method that can improve encoding efficiency while preventing an increase in load.An extraction circuit 71 of a filtering prediction circuit 64 extracts motion compensation images for generating a prediction image in a high-resolution enhancement layer from reference frames in a low-resolution base layer. A filtering circuit 72 of the filtering prediction circuit 64 performs filtering, which involves upconversion and which uses analysis in the time direction, on a plurality of motion compensation images in the base layer extracted by the extraction circuit 71 to generate a prediction image in the enhancement layer. The present invention can be applied to, for example, an encoding apparatus and a decoding apparatus.
US09277233B1 Parameter update method for entropy coding and decoding of conversion coefficient level, and entropy coding device and entropy decoding device of conversion coefficient level using same
Methods and apparatuses for decoding and encoding video are provided. A decoding apparatus includes a parser, a parameter determiner, and a syntax element restorer for obtaining current transformation coefficient level information by performing de-binarization of bit strings using a current binarization parameter, and generating a size of a current transformation coefficient using the current transformation coefficient level information.
US09277226B2 Image decoding device and method thereof using inter-coded predictive encoding code
An image encoding device and corresponding decoding device are disclosed for achieving a high rate of compression. The encoding device includes an image conversion module that converts the direction of the images using right-left symmetry mode convention or up-down symmetry mode conversion. Encoding modules are used to encode both the unconverted and converted images. A mode selector module compares the quantity of codes in the encoded unconverted images and the quantity of codes in the encoded converted images, and selects codes that are smaller in the quantity of codes for output.
US09277224B2 Method and apparatus for encoding video, and method and apparatus for decoding video
Disclosed are method and apparatus for encoding and decoding an image which divides a current picture into blocks with various sizes and varies a number of intra prediction modes according to the sizes of the divided blocks.
US09277219B2 Encoder and decoder and methods thereof for encoding/decoding a picture of a video sequence
An object of the embodiments is to achieve an improved reference picture handling. That is achieved by taking into account whether the reference pictures in the decoded picture buffer are long-term reference pictures or short-term reference pictures when determining how they should be marked when the information of the reference picture set is received. The reference pictures are marked as “used for short-term reference” or “used for long-term reference” in the Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB) depending on whether they are included as short-term pictures or long-term pictures in the RPS of a current picture.
US09277216B2 Systems and methods for wavelet and channel-based high definition video encoding
A wavelet transform (WT) is applied to a data stream of high definition video frames, each comprising one or more data channels digitally representing the same image. A WT is applied to each channel. Visual-quality preserving data filters and data substitution techniques are selectively applied that typically lead to at least 90-to-1 compression of the final encoded video frame. Image edge data is extracted and preserved and image noise is reduced to enhance compressibility. After the first WT, primarily low frequency (LL) image data is retained. With each later WT, more non-LL data is retained. Temporal sequences of LL images that result from the final iteration of the wavelet transform are compressed by means of a chain of invertible differenced images. Any color space can be used. Cross-channel conditional substitution is applicable. Complete multi-resolution scalability is incorporated into the encoded product. Extra-high definition video encoding is also achievable.
US09277207B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program for generating multi-view point image
There is provided an image processing apparatus including a left eye image input unit configured to input a left eye image (L image) which is a left eye image signal applied to three-dimensional image display, a right eye image input unit configured to input a right eye image (R image) which is a right eye image signal applied to three-dimensional image display, a parallax information generating unit configured to generate parallax information from the left eye image (L image) and the right eye image (R image), and a virtual view point image generating unit configured to receive the left eye image (L image), the right eye image (R image), and the parallax information, and generate virtual view point images including a view point image other than view points of the received LR images.
US09277204B2 Modular LADAR sensor
A lightweight, low volume, inexpensive LADAR sensor incorporating 3-D focal plane arrays is adapted specifically for modular manufacture and rapid field configurability and provisioning. The present invention generates, at high speed, 3-D image maps and object data at short to medium ranges. The techniques and structures described may be used to extend the range of long range systems as well, though the focus is on compact, short to medium range ladar sensors suitable for use in multi-sensor television production systems and 3-D graphics capture and moviemaking. 3-D focal plane arrays are used in a variety of physical configurations to provide useful new capabilities.
US09277203B2 Stereoscopic camera, system and network
The present invention provides a new and improved stereoscopic camera, system and network of such for acquiring stereoscopic image data and, in particular, stereoscopic images of a location or points and objects within a location. Some of the benefits of these include simultaneous left/right view acquisition, a system where the display is remote from the stereoscopic camera, stereoscopic digital zoom wherein a subset of pixels is displayed, pan-tilt-zoom choice of the displayed image, interactive adjustment of images, and a network of stereoscopic cameras with a common image processing unit. The invention is capable of producing high resolution, real-time stereoscopic image data while avoiding or mitigating the deleterious effects of spurious parallax.
US09277202B2 Image processing device, image processing method, image display apparatus, and image display method
A motion vector detecting unit 12 detects a motion vector V1 of an input image X(n), and an interpolating vector generating unit 13 generates an interpolating vector V2 in accordance with the motion vector V1. In a two-dimensional display mode, the input image X(n) is output as an original image, and an image generating unit 16 generates an interpolated image X(n+0.5) in accordance with the interpolating vector V2. In a three-dimensional display mode, the input image X(n) is output as a left-eye image L(n), and the image generating unit 16 generates a right-eye image R(n+0.5) in accordance with a sum of the interpolating vector V2 and a parallax vector V3 input from the outside. The image generating unit is shared in a frame rate conversion process and a three-dimensional conversion process, and the right-eye image is generated at the same location as the interpolated image in time axis. In this way, image quality is increased when a moving image is displayed with a small amount of circuit.
US09277188B2 Method for initiating a consumable-based cycle of operation
A method of initiating a cycle of operation based on a consumable includes providing a consumable reader having a software architecture configured to image data, communicate over a network, and identify functionalities of appliances based on a unique identifier associated with each instance of a functionality, imaging data about the consumable using the consumable reader; retrieving cycle data associated with the consumable based on the imaged data; ascertaining in the software architecture at least one functionality associated with the cycle data; selecting from the plurality of appliances an appliance having the at least one functionality using the unique identifier associated with an instance of the at least one functionality; and communicating the cycle data to the selected appliance over the network of appliances wherein the selected appliance can conduct a cycle of operation associated with the consumable using the cycle data.
US09277185B2 Intelligent video verification of point of sale (POS) transactions
A method of monitoring a point of sale (POS) transaction including: receiving non video data regarding the POS transaction; defining exceptional transaction rules based at least on predetermined non video POS data events; inferring a potentially exceptional transaction based on a corresponding exceptional transaction rule and the received POS non video data; and verifying the inferred potentially exceptional transaction with video data regarding a corresponding POS transaction.
US09277182B2 Method and system for interrupting inserted material in a content signal
A system and method includes an automation system generating a modified content signal from a content signal by inserting insertion material into the content signal during a break and a monitoring system monitoring the content signal. The automation system controls the automation system to return to the content signal in response to monitoring the content signal when the break ends on the content signal before an end of the insertion material.
US09277176B2 Offloading a video portion of a video call
A method for offloading a video portion of a video call form a cellular network to a WLAN is provided. The method can include a wireless communication device participating in a video call with a remote device over a connection between the wireless communication device and a cellular network. The video call can include a first video stream carried over a first bearer on the cellular network and an audio stream carried over a second bearer on the cellular network. The method can further include the wireless communication device establishing a connection between the wireless communication device and a WLAN; performing a call setup procedure with the remote device to establish a second video stream over the WLAN; terminating the first video stream; and using the second video stream and the audio stream to continue the video call.
US09277174B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method and information processing program
In a video communication performed by using an imaging unit and a video display device, a communication terminal acquires a video captured by the imaging unit, stores at least a part of the acquired video in a storing unit, and determines a video of a predetermined interval after a start of the video communication being currently in progress from the stored video, as a replacement video. Then, the communication terminal is triggered when a predetermined start condition is satisfied during the output of the video captured by the imaging unit, and outputs the replacement video instead of the video.
US09277166B2 Map your movie
A method of displaying an interactive geographical representation associated with a video content item is described. The method includes: playing the video content item, wherein the video content item includes at least one scene; requesting relevant metadata associated with the at least one video scene, the relevant metadata including a geographical representation and geolocation metadata associated with the at least video scene; receiving the relevant metadata; and displaying an interactive geographical representation along with at least one visual indication, wherein the at least one visual indication is associated with the at least one video scene and positioned at a location indicated by the geolocation metadata. Related systems, apparatus and methods are also described.
US09277165B2 Video surveillance system and method using IP-based networks
A technique capable of preventing an increase in the load of a system and a IP-based network that perform both a process of transmitting information in real time and a process of storing and searching history information and of improving the scalability of the system. A video surveillance system includes: plural cameras that capture images; a monitoring apparatus that displays the images captured by the cameras; an information generating apparatus that generates information for searching the images captured by the cameras; and a search apparatus that searches the images captured by the cameras. The information generating apparatus acquires the images captured by the cameras, generates retrieval data from the acquired images, and transmits the generated retrieval data to the search apparatus. The search apparatus stores the retrieval data received from the information generating apparatus in a storage device, and notifies the monitoring apparatus that the retrieval data has been stored.
US09277159B2 Display apparatus, and remote control apparatus for controlling the same and controlling methods thereof
A display apparatus and a display method are provided. The display apparatus includes: a receiver configured to receive a plurality of contents; a signal processor configured to obtain image frames by processing the received plurality of contents; a display configured to output a plurality of content views including a first content view and a second content view by sequentially outputting the obtained image frames; a remote control signal receiver configured to receive a control command from a remote control apparatus; and a controller configured to, when the received control command is to control the first content view, determine whether the received control command is a control command that has an influence on the second content view.
US09277156B2 Universal parallel television remote control
A portable control unit that interacts with a variety of types of media equipment. The control unit searches for media equipment (including media players) located within an area and retrieves user interaction information corresponding to discovered media players. The control unit can be instructed to control any of the discovered media players. The control unit uses the retrieved user interaction information to adapt. The control unit may periodically, or when relocated, look for new media players in its neighborhood. The control unit interacts with multiple multimedia sources that supply video and/or audio to the media players. The control unit may have a screen on which it displays a video in addition to controlling selection and presentation of a video and/or an audio in any one of the discovered media players. The control unit maintains an updateable media guide that provides a list of multimedia elements available for viewing and/or listening.
US09277153B2 Image pickup device and image pickup display system
Provided is an image pickup device that includes: pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element and one or more switching elements; control lines provided to perform open/close control of at least one first switching element; a buffer circuit provided for each control line, and configured to output a voltage to each control line; second switching elements each provided between corresponding one of the control lines and a power source of the corresponding buffer circuit; and a switch control circuit that is, upon image pickup driving, configured to control one of the second switching elements, provided between a defect holding line that includes an electrically short-circuited part in the plurality of control lines and the power source of the buffer circuit of the defect holding line, to be in an open state, and configured to control another one of the second switching elements to be in a closed state.
US09277152B2 Photographing optical lens assembly, image capturing unit and mobile device
A photographing optical lens assembly includes, in order from object side to image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third and fourth lens elements have refractive power. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. An object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element are aspheric. The sixth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof. When specific conditions are satisfied, it is easier to miniaturize the photographing optical lens assembly and achieve better image quality in a limited space.
US09277150B2 Image pickup apparatus and camera system capable of improving calculation accuracy of defocus amount
An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element that includes imaging pixels and focus detection pixels and that performs a photoelectric conversion of an object image, a readout unit that reads a pair of image signals from the focus detection pixels with a predetermined period, a storage unit that stores the pair of image signals read by the readout unit and optical information of the pair of image signals, an addition unit that adds a plurality of signals of time-series continuous frames of the pair of image signals, and a conversion coefficient determination unit that determines a conversion coefficient that converts an image shift amount of a pair of image signals of an addition frame obtained by the addition unit into a defocus amount, and the conversion coefficient determination unit determines the conversion coefficient of the addition frame based on the time-series continuous optical information.
US09277148B2 Maximizing perceptual quality and naturalness of captured images
A method, system and computer program product for improving the perceptual quality and naturalness of an image captured by an image acquisition device (e.g., digital camera). Statistical features of a scene being imaged by the image acquisition device are derived from models of natural images. These statistical features are measured and mapped onto the control parameters (e.g., exposure, ISO) of the digital acquisition device. By mapping these statistical features onto the control parameters, the perceptual quality and naturalness of the scene being imaged may be based on the values of these control parameters. As a result, these control parameters are modified to maximize the perceptual quality and naturalness of the scene being imaged. After modification of these control parameters, the image is captured by the image acquisition device. In this manner, the perceptual quality and naturalness of the image captured by the image acquisition device is improved.
US09277141B2 System, method, and software for image processing
According to certain embodiments, an image processing system includes a computing system that receives a video signal including data for one or more images and determines a region of interest in a particular image of the one or more images. Using the determined region of interest, the computing system instructs the camera to generate a peripheral region of one or more subsequent images having a reduced information intensity level relative to the information intensity level with which the region of interest of the one or more subsequent images are generated. The region of interest of the one or more subsequent images corresponds to the region of interest of the particular image. The peripheral region including portions of the image other than the region of interest.
US09277137B1 High frame rate interleaved imagers
Two or more imagers having associated frame rates are each configured with a global shutter having an exposure interval less than a frame interval. The exposure interval for a first imager is offset from the exposure interval of a second imager such that the first imager is exposed while the second imager is not exposed. When interleaved, an effective frame rate exceeds the individual frame rates provided by the individual imagers. This interleaved imaging system may be used to recover, at high frame rates, images that are projected from spatial light modulators.
US09277133B2 Imaging apparatus supporting different processing for different ocular states
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a first display unit, a second display unit, and a controller. The imaging unit is configured to obtain an image of an object. The first display unit is configured to be observed through an ocular lens. The second display unit includes a touchpanel. The controller is configured to cause the first display to display a live view which is based on the image obtained by the imaging unit and temporarily store the image in a first state. The controller is configured to cause the second display unit to display the image temporarily stored and obtain information concerning image processing based on an output from the touchpanel in a second state.
US09277116B2 Imaging device, display device, control method, and method for controlling area change
An imaging device includes an imaging unit that receives light coming from a subject and thus generates electronic image data; a display unit that displays an image corresponding to the image data; an angle-of-view setting unit that an angle of view to be changed for the image displayed by the display unit according to a first signal input from the outside; and a control unit that starts control of change to a predetermined angle of view set by the angle-of-view setting unit according to a second signal different from the first signal.
US09277110B2 Tracking device and tracking method for prohibiting a tracking operation when a tracked subject is obstructed
A tracking device includes an imaging part for repeatedly acquiring image data on a subject image, a tracking processing part for setting a tracking position based on first image data to perform tracking processing on a subject in the tracking position based on second image data, and a relative distance information calculating part for calculating relative distance information using (1) a determined information about a distance to the tracking position and (2) a determined information about a distance to a surrounding area around the tracking position. When the tracking processing part determines that another subject in the surrounding area is located at the closer range than the subject in the tracking position, the tracking processing part prohibits tracking processing.
US09277105B2 Self-leveling camera heads
In one embodiment, a self-leveling camera head may include an eccentric leveling weight assembly that is supported inside an outer housing for free rotation about an axis. The leveling weight assembly may be removably coupled to a separate camera module assembly supported inside the outer housing for rotation about the axis so that its images will be “upright,” i.e. earth normal.
US09277100B2 Method to control a color printer or color copier with the aid of additional printed positioning markings
In a method to control a printer or copier, a color measurement unit is provided for determining a measurement value of a print marking in a measurement region of color measurement unit. The print marking is printed on the printing substrate web. In addition a positioning marking is also printed on the printing substrate web in a predetermined position relative to the print marking in order to determine a relative position between the print marking and the measurement region of the color measurement unit. The positioning marking comprises at least two partial regions printed in different colors, the partial regions being formed such that a determined color value of the positioning marking changes given a movement of the measurement region of the color measurement unit transverse to a movement direction of the printing substrate web. A real color value is determined with the color measurement unit if the measurement region of the color measurement unit is arranged in a region of the positioning marking. A relative position between the print marking and the color measurement unit is determined depending on a real color value. The measurement value of the print marking is determined and the printer or copier is controlled depending on the measurement value of the print marking.
US09277095B2 Distribution evaluation apparatus and method, distribution determining apparatus and method, image processing apparatus and method, and computer readable medium
A distribution evaluation apparatus includes an evaluation value calculating unit that calculates weighted energy, as an evaluation value representing distribution of located objects x and y, by calculating a product resulting from multiplying weighting function values ω(x) and ω(y) and probability density function values φ(x) and φ(y) representing densities or sizes of the located objects x and y, by a mutual influence value determined by a function fr having as a variable a distance between the located objects x and y, and then by summing the resulting products with respect to all the located objects x and y into the weighted energy, and an evaluating unit that evaluates the distribution of the located objects in accordance with the evaluation value calculated by the evaluation value calculating unit.
US09277093B2 Method, apparatus, and computer product for managing image formation resources
Common portions of applications are extracted as common system service. A platform is formed by the common system service and a general purpose OS. A printer application, a copy application, and various applications are mounted on the platform. As a result, each software (application) corresponding to a printer, a copier, a facsimile device, and so on can be developed efficiently and the productivity of the apparatus as a whole can be improved.
US09277091B2 Embedding information in paper forms
This disclosure provides methods and systems of embedding and extracting information in a printed document. According to one exemplary embodiment, a method is provided wherein information is encoded by one or more partial or complete gaps in a line associated with a form, and the line gaps are patterned to provide N-bit codes.
US09277090B2 System and method of document reproduction
A document reproduction system includes an optical scanning device configured to output an electronic representation of a document comprising both machine printed and non-machine printed elements; and a computing device in communication with the optical scanning device. The computing device is configured to distinguish between the machine printed and non-machine printed elements in the electronic representation of the document. The computing device is configured to selectively print or store only the machine or non-machine printed elements based on user input. A method of document reproduction includes scanning a document having both printed and non-printed content to produce an electronic image; and automatically distinguishing between the printed and non-printed elements in the electronic image of the document.
US09277089B2 Method to control image processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, and image file
A method to control an image processing apparatus includes obtaining linkage information representing a relation between a plurality of image files and recording the linkage information as metadata in each of the plurality of image files. This method ensures that a large number of image files are more easily and conveniently classified since linkage information representing relations between a plurality of image files is recorded as metadata in each of the plurality of image files.
US09277088B2 Information processing apparatus, control method for the same and computer-readable medium
An information processing apparatus for searching, from a plurality of photo book templates, for a photo book template to lay out a plurality of images therein, comprises: a unit configured to compare position information defined for each of a plurality of image frames included in the photo book templates with position information of each of the plurality of images, and to lay out, in an image frame among the plurality of image frames, an image among the plurality of images that matches the position information defined for the image frame; and a unit configured to search for a photo book template to lay out the plurality of images therein based on the number of images laid out by the layout unit and a layout of the thus laid-out images.
US09277087B2 Systems and methods for routing a facsimile confirmation based on content
A method for routing a confirmation of receipt of a facsimile or portion thereof according to one embodiment of the present invention includes analyzing text of a facsimile; detecting at least one document feature of the facsimile based on the analysis; comparing one or more detected document features to a plurality of document features, each of the plurality of document features corresponding to one or more known document types; and routing the confirmation to one or more destinations based on at least one of the comparison and the analysis.Systems and computer program products are also presented.
US09277085B2 Information processing apparatus enabling transmission of file containing link information, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An information processing apparatus that is capable of accessing to a destination file even when a file including effective entity data and link information to the destination file is transmitted to an external apparatus. An obtaining unit obtains a destination file when a designated file to be transmitted contains link information to the destination file that is different from the designated file. An edition unit edits the link information contained in the designated file so as to become valid link information to the destination file even when the destination file obtained by the obtaining unit and the designated file will be transmitted to an external apparatus. A transmission unit transmits the designated file containing the link information edited by the edition unit and the destination file to the external apparatus.
US09277084B2 Data processing device, data processing system, and data processing method
A data processing device including a first reception unit configured to receive data and store the data in a first storage unit; a process control unit configured to acquire the stored data and sequentially execute process units with respect to the acquired data; a second storage unit configured to store data corresponding to an execution result obtained up to one of the process units, when the one of the process units is suspended; and a moving unit configured to move the data stored in the second storage unit to the first storage unit in response to receiving a request to process the data stored in the second storage unit. The process control unit executes the process units from and beyond the suspended one of the process units, with respect to the data that has been moved from the second storage unit to the first storage unit.
US09277081B2 Multi-functional device having scanner module and image scanning apparatus employing the scanner module
A multi-functional device comprising an image forming apparatus to form a printing image and a scanner module to scan an image. The scanner module includes an illuminator to illuminate a light to a document mount, a sensor unit to read an image information of an object placed on the document mount, and an imaging lens to focus the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit. The illuminator includes a light source to emit light, a light guiding unit and changes a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount, and a guide holder which comprises an installation part where the light guiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light source holder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of the light guiding unit.
US09277079B2 Image forming apparatus and method for displaying application screen of image forming apparatus that ensures display of application screen on operation panel with different resolution
An image forming apparatus into which applications are installable includes an operation panel and a resolution comparing circuit. The operation panel has a display resolution. The resolution comparing circuit compares the display resolution with resolution of an application screen that an installed application displays. If the resolution comparing circuit determines that the display resolution is higher than the application screen resolution, the image forming apparatus displays the application screen as a screen provided with a frame.
US09277077B2 Image forming apparatus having power save function, control method thereof, and storage medium
An image forming apparatus, having an SSD as an auxiliary storage device, which is capable of preventing loss of data in the auxiliary storage device caused by lapse of a retention period in a power save state or a power off state. In a case where the auxiliary storage device is determined to be an SSD based on type information that is acquired when the image forming apparatus is activated, a predicted retention period is calculated, and is set in a part of the apparatus that operates in the power save state. The part of the apparatus that operates in the power save state causes the image forming apparatus to transit from the power save state to a normal state based on the set predicted retention period.
US09277056B2 Conference room audio/video cable interface device
A cable management hub for use in providing an interface between one or more pieces of audio-visual presentation equipment and a laptop. The cable management hub comprises a first portion that includes one or more cables that mate with respective cables from the laptop. The cable management hub further includes one or more buttons, each of which is configured to generate an electrical signal when pressed by a user that indicates a desire by the user to transfer control of the audio-visual presentation equipment from a previous user, if one exists, to the user that pressed the button. If no one had control, then the user that presses the button would gain control of the audio-visual equipment. The cable management hub further includes one or more illuminated indicators configured to illuminate in a manner indicative of a received status condition signal.
US09277054B2 Apparatus and method for integrating computer-telephony and search technology
Call center, automatic call distribution (ACD), with computer telephony integration (CTI) providing a search engine that is automatically fed with the calling line identifier (CLI) such that a search can be performed to find related documents, emails, URLs using private or public databases that may be accessed for free or only after having paid a subscription. The application also mentions that the system can be applied to outgoing calls in which case the dialed number is used for performing the search.
US09277052B2 Pre-call recording
A recording of a subject is covertly generated prior to, and subsequent to an operator answering the call. The recording of the subject prior to the operator answering the call involves recording the subject and/or enabling the operator to listen in on the subject prior to indicating to the subject that the operator is communicating on the line. The subject is connected and a ring tone is generated and played back to the subject while audio received from the subject on the connection is recorded or otherwise monitored. Playback of the ringtone leads the subject to believe a connection has not yet been established. The operator may listen to the audio transmitted by the subject without the subject knowing the operator is covertly ascertaining situational information. The operator may provide a selection or answer the call to begin bi-direction communication with the subject which causes the ring tone to cease playing and lead the subject to believe the connection has just been established.
US09277034B2 Spring unit and sliding mechanism
A spring unit including a zigzag spring 40A, 40B; a first sliding unit 20A including a first spring securing part 22 securing a first end of the spring, a first spring accommodating part 28A, 28B accommodating the spring; first slide guiding parts 25 on both sides of the first sliding unit; a second sliding unit 30A including a second spring securing part 32 securing a second end of the spring, a second spring accommodating part 36A, 36B accommodating the spring, second slide guiding parts 35 on both sides of the second sliding unit, wherein the first and second slide guiding parts 20A and 30A are engaged to mutually slide, and the spring 40A, 40B is held inside a space formed between the first and second spring accommodating parts 28A, 28B, 36A, and 36B while the first and second slide guiding parts 25 and 35 are engaged.
US09277033B2 Server for communicating with multi-mode devices using multi-mode applications
Multi-mode communication devices capable of multiple wireless and/or wired network communication modes can be configured to communicate for backend services (e.g. Web Services, database, events) via a network gateway to operate in response to available modes. For example, for some activities, the devices are configured to communicate in any available mode while for other activities (e.g. high bandwidth communications), they are restricted to certain mode(s). Component applications for execution by the devices can specify message delivery properties to indicate the mode(s) to be used. The network gateway comprises at least one communication subsystem for communicating with the multi-mode device in accordance with selectable modes of communication; a message processor for processing messages for sending to the multi-mode communication device; and a mode selector for selecting a mode for sending a particular message in response to delivery mode properties received from the multi-mode communication device.
US09277028B2 Synchronizing user relationship across computer systems implementing workspaces
Computer-implemented methods, computer software, and computer systems for synchronizing user relationship across computer systems implementing workspaces. A computer system that provides features accessible by users by executing a workspace is accessed. Features provided to the users by remaining computer systems depends on the relationships between the users. A triggering event that represents a change to the computer workspace—for example, addition or removal or a user in the workspace, addition or removal of content in the workspace—is detected. Features provided to a first user by the remaining computer systems is affected by the change. Changes in relationships between the first user and the remaining users responsive to the change are determined, and provided to one or more of the remaining computer systems as respective messages that include the changes in the relationships.
US09277026B2 Cache stickiness index for content delivery networking systems
Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cache stickiness index for providing measurable metrics associated with caches of a content delivery networking system. In one embodiment, a method for generating a cache stickiness index, including a cluster stickiness index and a region stickiness index, is disclosed. In embodiments, the cluster stickiness index is generated by comparing cache keys shared among a plurality of front-end clusters. In embodiments, the region stickiness index is generated by comparing cache keys shared among a plurality of data centers. In one embodiment, a system comprising means for generating a stickiness index is disclosed.
US09277025B2 Distributed content caching
A content server farm in a host network may be configured to receive a message indicating that content is to be downloaded to a content consumer device in the host network different from a partner network. A first copy of the content is stored at an originating content provider device in the partner network. A path for downloading the first copy of the content from the originating content provider device in the partner network to the content consumer device in the host network includes peering points that connect the host network to the partner network. The content server farm may determine whether a second copy of the content is cached at the content server farm in the host network, acquire the content when the second copy of the content is not cached at the content server farm in the host network, cache the content as the second copy at one or more locations in the content server farm in the host network, and generate indices that correspond to the second copy of the content and the locations at which the second copy of the content is stored.
US09277024B2 Suppressing content of a social network
A method of suppressing content of a social network, the method comprising monitoring for a number of gestures of rejection of content on the social network from a number of users, generating suppression data based on the gestures of rejection, receiving input from a first user among the number of users indicating that the suppression data is to be leveraged, and suppressing content based on the suppression data.
US09277023B1 Push notification delivery system with feedback analysis
A push notification delivery system includes a server system including a processor, a network interface, and memory storing program instructions having code segments for receiving a received push notification, code segments for determining at least one of a favorable push time and a favorable message format based upon a database of received push information developed from a plurality of prior sent push notifications, and code segments for pushing the message to the destination in accordance with the at least one of a favorable push time and a favorable message format. A method for delivering push notifications includes receiving a received push notification including a message and a destination, sending a sent push notification derived from the received push notification to the destination in accordance with at least one favorable condition, receiving received push information related to the sent push notification, and storing the received push information in a database.
US09277019B2 Systems and methods to provide communication references to connect people for real time communications
Methods and apparatuses to present communication references to connect people for real time communications in response to requests to terminate the presentation of documents. One embodiment includes: responsive to a request from a user to terminate a presentation of a document, determining a reference to an entity based on a content of the document; presenting the reference with information about the entity to terminate the presentation of the document; and responsive to a request made via the reference, establishing a connection for real time communications between the entity and the user.
US09277018B2 Mobile device detection of wireless beacons and automatic performance of actions
A mobile device may perform actions based on sensing a wireless beacons. The action to take, for a particular beacon, may be determined based on a query to a remote database or server. For example, in one implementation, a method may include detecting a wireless beacon that is in proximity to the mobile device; querying, based on the beacon identifier, a remote computing device for attribute information relating to the wireless beacon; and determining, based on the received attribute information, one or more actions to perform by the mobile device.
US09277014B2 Handling of auxiliary NAS
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including: receiving, at the network device, a traffic message including an IP address; identifying the traffic message as belonging to a new session; generating a request message based on identifying the traffic message as belonging to a new session, wherein the request message includes the IP address; transmitting the request message to a policy server; and receiving, from the policy server, a policy message including a policy. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including: receiving, at the policy server, a request message from a network device, the request message including a subscriber IP and a network device identifier; identifying a subscriber session associated with the IP address; recording the network device identifier in association with the subscriber session; retrieving a policy associated with the subscriber session; and transmitting the policy to the network device.
US09277011B2 Processing an unsuccessful write request in a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a first device of a dispersed storage network (DSN), when a number of successful write requests of a set of write requests is equal to or greater than a threshold number but less than all, identifying one or more unsuccessful write requests of the set of write requests. The method continues with first device sending the one or more unsuccessful write requests to an auxiliary writing unit of the DSN. The method continues with the auxiliary writing unit, for an unsuccessful write request, identifying a storage unit of the DSN to produce an identified storage unit, sending the unsuccessful write request to the identified storage unit, and verifying successful execution of the unsuccessful write request by the identified storage unit.
US09277006B2 Peer-to-peer communication of non-common data
In individualized data communication of a data entity (200) between peers of a group, the data entity (200) includes at least one common data piece (210) and at least one non-common data piece (220). The at least one common data piece (210) is shared by all peers of the group, whereas the at least one non-common data piece (220) is shared by a subgroup of the group. A non-common data identifier (600) is used to identify the at least one non-common data piece (220). By receiving the non-common data identifier (600), one peer of the group may determine whether another peer of the group is sharing the same non-common data piece (220).
US09277005B2 Optimized consistent request distribution for balanced load distribution in a content delivery network
Some embodiments provide a proprietary 64-bit consistent distribution scheme that preserves the efficiencies of CARP while providing a significantly more balanced distribution of requests that is on par with schemes reliant on computationally expensive cryptographic hashes. The scheme performs hashing of requested URLs and identifiers of available servers over a 64-bit space while optimizing the hashing to remove computationally expensive operations. Some embodiments provide a variant of the scheme to provide a differentiated distribution on the basis of one or more differentiating factors. A first variant utilizes load factor values to adjust the resulting hashes and to produce a first distribution of differentiated content that varies from a second distribution of undifferentiated content. A second variant identifies requests for differentiated content from requests for undifferentiated content and utilizes a first scheme to distribute the differentiated content and a second altered scheme to distribute the undifferentiated content.
US09277001B2 Determining location of hardware components in a cloud computing environment based on hardware components self-locating other hardware components
A method, system and computer program product for managing hardware components in a cloud computing environment. Each hardware component in a data center of the cloud computing environment detects and identifies other hardware components within a communication range of the hardware component using a wireless protocol. Furthermore, each hardware component determines its actual location as well as its relative location with respect to the detected hardware components, such as based on a triangulation of the wireless signals. Such information is transmitted to an administrative server. An inventory of the hardware components in the data center, including their current location, is then compiled by the administrative server. In this manner, a hardware component can be more easily located after being relocated in the data center. Furthermore, the administrative server will be able to balance a workload across these hardware components based on their location.
US09277000B2 Providing a user with virtual computing services
Systems and methods for providing a user with virtual computing services are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for providing virtual computing services to a specific user, may comprising: detecting a request generated from a user device of the specific user to access data; in which the data is not accessible by applications installed on the user device; identifying a file type of the data; and providing the specific user access to a remote application or a virtual desktop, in which the remote application or the virtual desktop is configured to allow the specific user to open, execute, edit, and/or access the data.
US09276999B2 System and method for providing a service
According to one example of the present invention, there is provided a system for providing a service. The service is accessible from a client application and is provided through a service application using a set of service provider resources. The system comprises a mapping module for generating mapping data, the mapping data being generated in part from an enterprise architecture definition, in part from a vocabulary definition; and in part from a client context definition. The system additionally comprises a communication module for receiving a communication request, transforming the communication request using the generated mapping data, and processing the transformed communication request.
US09276991B2 Method and apparatus for providing a dynamic tool menu based upon a document
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for providing a tool menu based upon a document displayed on an endpoint device are disclosed. For example, the method opens the document requested by a user in the endpoint device, detects one or more portions of the document that require data entry, determines a type of data entry that is required for the one or more portions of the document that are detected to require data entry, detects one or more configuration settings of the endpoint device and displays one or more tools selected from a plurality of tools on the tool menu based upon the type of data entry that is required for the one or more portions of the document and the one or more configuration settings of the endpoint device.
US09276984B2 Distributed on-demand media transcoding system and method
A method for delivering media content over a network includes transcoding the media content to generate multiple copies of the media content, each of the multiple copies having a different destination type or a different source type or both, storing the multiple copies in a cache, receiving requests for the media content, and selecting and delivering a copy of one of the multiple copies in response to each of the requests. A further method for providing media content transcoding services includes fetching media content, selecting one of multiple transcoders for transcoding from multiple source types to multiple destination types, wherein the one transcoder is selected based at least on the destination type, sending the media content to the selected transcoder, transcoding the media content to the destination type, thereby generating transcoded media content, and transmitting the transcoded media content.
US09276983B2 Content delivery network video content invalidation through adaptive bitrate manifest manipulation
A method for invalidating content segments of a bitstream. The method comprises a step of delivering a manifest file from an origin server to a content delivery network. The manifest file may have a time-to-live value and may be redelivered based on the time-to-live value. The method comprises a step of delivering one or more content segments from the origin server to the content delivery network. The manifest file may contain pointers to the content segments. The method comprises a step of modifying the manifest file at the origin server to include invalidation information based on an input signal. The method comprises a step of invalidating the content segments throughout the content delivery network based on the invalidation information.
US09276979B2 System and methods for resilient media streaming
A computer implemented method of streaming media on a computing device is disclosed in which a streaming protocol adapter is provided on the computing device for streaming media to a local streaming client on the computing device with enhanced resiliency. The streaming adapter downloads one or more stream files that include the media file formatted for delivery according to a transfer protocol, and also include streaming template transactions for supporting communicating from the streaming adapter to the streaming client. The streaming client may be a standard real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) client, and the streaming adapter may be an RTSP adapter.
US09276975B2 Method and apparatus for monitoring quality of service of network
When capturing packets at the application level for the purpose of QoS monitoring, a QoS monitor needs to be bound to the same IP address and port as those of a media player. However, due to the unicast duplicate binding problem, a unicast packet captured by the QoS monitor will not be received by the media player, which means the QoS monitor have affected the operation of the media player. The present invention provides a solution to make the QoS monitor, upon the receipt of a unicast packet, forward the packet to the socket of the media player. In order to guarantee that the forwarded packet can be received by the socket of the media player, the QoS monitor needs to keep the port unchanged and replace the destination IP address with the local host address (127.0.0.1). According to the invention, the QoS monitor can sniff the media player without interference to the normal operation of the media player.
US09276974B2 Topical activity monitor and identity collector system and method
A method for identifying respective networked devices in a social communications network, which networked devices communicate messages relevant to an article. The messages may include posts, shares, likes, votes, ranks, and other comments. A server of the social communications network maintains a respective identity (e.g., user name or handle) for each connected networked device, respectively, of the social communications network. The server includes an API for requests. The method includes receiving a search item from a data communications network, collecting articles related to the search item from each of the at least one source of articles of the data communications network, storing in a database, for each respective one of the article from the step of collecting, a respective unique identifier representing the article, comparing the search item to each respective unique identifier, respectively, of the database, to determine similarity of the respective unique identifier to the search item, compiling a result set of each respective unique identifier determined similar to the search item in the step of comparing, communicatively detecting the share count of the messages of the social communications network related to the result set, deriving a score based collectively on all of the share counts from the step of communicatively detecting, the score represents topical activity of networked devices of the social communications network for the search item, calling the API of the server intermediating communications among the networked devices of the social communications network, receiving the identities of the networked devices of the social communications network; and storing the identities in a database in a storage.
US09276973B2 Peer-to-peer data storage
A determination is made of users that form a group within a social network in which the users communicate with each other over a network with electronic devices in a client-server architecture. The users in the group within the social network form a peer-to-peer (P2P) storage group within a P2P storage network. In the P2P storage network, users are peers that act as a client and a server for each other.
US09276972B2 Real-time media optimization over remoted sessions
Real-time media optimization may be provided. First, a remote session may be established with a remote computing device. Then, during the remote session, non-real-time media data may be exchanged with the remote computing device over a server path. Moreover, real-time media data may be exchanged with the remote computing device over a media path during the remote session.
US09276969B2 Method and system for providing a setup timer in a SIP-based network
A system and method for providing a setup timer in a SIP-based network including initiating a session by transmitting one or more messages to a first user. The system and method also comprises starting a first timer upon transmitting the one or more messages, wherein the first timer is configured to expire after a first predetermined time period. The system and method further comprises starting a second timer upon transmitting the one or more messages, wherein the second timer is configured to expire after a second predetermined time period. The system and method furthermore comprises transmitting one or more instructions upon expiration of at least one of the first timer and the second timer, and taking one or more actions based at least in part on the one or more instructions.
US09276968B2 Automatically configuring a web-enabled portable device to access the internet
Automatically configuring a portable electronic device for accessing a site on a public network is disclosed. The method and system include establishing a connection to at least one server for establishing and maintaining website accounts, and sending information uniquely identifying the electronic device to the at least one server. The at least one server sends user account information to the device, including an account ID and password, created based on the electronic device information. The user account information is stored on the device for use the next time the device accesses the website, whereby the user does not have to enter account information in order to establish the ISP connection or the website account before accessing the public network or, if the user account is not completely set up, to establish the user account a next time the device connects to the at least one server.
US09276967B2 System and method for determining optimal bandwidth for streaming to a client device in an adjustable bit rate video system
A system and method for selecting an initial bandwidth setting. A determination is made that a client is initiating a communication session. Network conditions for the client are determined. A bandwidth setting for the client is selected utilizing the network conditions and a previous bandwidth setting saved in a memory. The communication session for the client is initiated utilizing the bandwidth seating.
US09276957B2 Systems and methods for handling SSL session not reusable across multiple cores
The present invention is directed towards systems and methods for managing SSL session persistence and reuse in a multi-core system. A first core may indicate that an SSL session established by the first core is non-resumable. Responsive to the indication, the core may set an indicator at a location in memory accessible by each core of the multi-core system, the indicator indicating that the SSL session is non-resumable. A second core of the multi-core system may receive a request to reuse the SSL session. The request may include a session identifier of the SSL session. In addition, the session identifier may identify the first core as an establisher of the SSL session. The second core can identify from encoding of the session identifier whether the second core is not the establisher of the SSL session. Responsive to the identification, the second core may determine whether to resume the SSL session.
US09276955B1 Hardware-logic based flow collector for distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack mitigation
Methods and systems for an integrated solution to flow collection for determination of rate-based DoS attacks targeting ISP infrastructure are provided. According to one embodiment, a method of mitigating DDoS attacks is provided. Information regarding at least one destination within a network for which a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack status is to be monitored is received by a DDoS attack detection module coupled with a flow controller via a bus. The DDoS attack status is determined for the at least one destination based on the information regarding the at least one destination. When a DDoS attack is detected the flow controller is notified of the DDoS attack status for the at least one destination by the DDoS attack detection module. Responsive thereto, the flow controller directs a route reflector to divert traffic destined for the at least one destination to a DDoS attack mitigation appliance within the network.
US09276953B2 Method and apparatus to detect and block unauthorized MAC address by virtual machine aware network switches
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for detecting and blocking unauthorized MAC addresses used by virtual machines. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides automated and consistent verification of VM traffic against values assigned to each VM by network administrator. In another embodiment, the disclosure provides for validating a newly discovered VM by comparing its attributes with the corresponding description of the known VMs stored at a database. A re-validation check may also be implemented. If the VM is validated, the VM will be processed according to network policy to support features including VMReady. If the VM fails validation, other actions can be taken.
US09276948B2 Method and apparatus for identifying a threatening network
A system and method for identifying a threatening network is provided. The system comprises a network movement before/after algorithm that provides a graphical plot of changes in networks' communications activity from before to after a key event occurs, so that an analyst is able to identify anomalous behavior; a network progression algorithm that provides a graphical plot to analyze behavior in small increments of time without specification or emphasis upon a particular event, so that the analyst is able to see a trend in behavioral changes; a statistical network anomaly ranking algorithm that provides as output a ranked list of the networks; and an anomaly trend graphs algorithm that analyzes and visualizes the networks' anomaly scores over time, so that the analyst is able to see which networks are consistently suspicious, which networks accumulate more suspiciousness in response to an event, and which networks are trending toward more suspiciousness.
US09276947B2 Identifying misuse of legitimate objects
A query is received from a client device regarding an object. The query includes an identifier of the object and a set of associated usage attributes describing a usage of the object on the client device. A set of usage facts associated with the identified object is identified. The set of usage facts describe typical usages of the object on a plurality of client devices. A determination is made whether the usage of the object on the client device is suspicious based on the set of usage facts associated with the object and the set of usage attributes included in the query. A report is provided to the client device based on the determination.
US09276946B2 Blacklisting and whitelisting of security-related events
A disclosed computer-implemented method includes receiving and indexing the raw data. Indexing includes dividing the raw data into time stamped searchable events that include information relating to computer or network security. Store the indexed data in an indexed data store and extract values from a field in the indexed data using a schema. Search the extracted field values for the security information. Determine a group of security events using the security information. Each security event includes a field value specified by a criteria. Present a graphical interface (GI) including a summary of the group of security events, other summaries of security events, and a remove element (associated with the summary). Receive input corresponding to an interaction of the remove element. Interacting with the remove element causes the summary to be removed from the GI. Update the GI to remove the summary from the GI.
US09276945B2 Method and system for providing security aware applications
Instructions for monitoring and detecting one or more trigger events in assets used to implement an application are generated. Instructions for implementing at least one responsive action associated with each of the one or more trigger events is generated. At least part of instructions for monitoring and detecting the one or more trigger events is provided to an asset used to implement the application. The at least part of the instructions for monitoring and detecting the one or more trigger events are used by the asset to detect a trigger event. The instructions for implementing the at least one responsive action associated with each of the one or more trigger events is then used to automatically implement the at least one responsive action associated with the detected trigger event.
US09276937B2 Determining eligibility to access downloadable content associated with physical media
In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with provisioning of downloadable content. In various embodiments, an image may be taken of physical media under control of a content consumer, such as a videodisc or CD (or of packaging associated with such physical media). A piece of downloadable content may be identified that is associated with the physical media. After determination of whether provisioning of the downloadable content is authorized, the downloadable content may then be provisioned to the content consumer. In various embodiments, streaming content may be similarly provisioned. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09276923B1 Generating authentication challenges based on preferences of a user's contacts
Generating user authentication challenges based in part on preferences of one or more contacts of a user includes receiving an authentication request from a user. One or more contacts of the user associated with the authentication request are determined. One or more preferences of the close contact or contacts are determined. An authentication challenge based on the one or more preferences of one or more of the user's contacts is generated. The authentication request is allowed or denied based on the completion on the authentication challenge.
US09276922B2 Border property validation for named data networks
One embodiment provides a system for distributing packets within a trust domain. During operation, the system receives, by an ingress node in the trust domain, a message. The system creates a property vector for the message, where the property vector indicates a number of properties that have been determined for the message. The system generates a first authenticator for the message based on the property vector and a secret key shared by a plurality of nodes in the trust domain. The system transmits the message, the property vector, and the first authenticator to another node in the trust domain, thereby facilitating secure and efficient distribution of messages within the trust domain without requiring intermediate nodes to determine the properties indicated in the property vector.
US09276921B2 System and method for establishing a communication session
A server in a communications network establishes a communication channel between a user's device and another device having a display. Particularly, the server generates a Quick Response (QR) code utilizing one or more parameters, and sends it to a device for display to a user. Using his or her device, the user captures an image of the displayed QR code and extracts the parameters using an image analysis technique. The device then sends the extracted parameters back to the server, which then utilizes them to authenticate the user and establish the communications session.
US09276920B2 Tunneling using encryption
A scalable access filter that is used together with others like it in a virtual private network to control access by users at clients in the network to information resources provided by servers in the network. Each access filter uses a local copy of an access control data base to determine whether an access request is made by a user. Each user belongs to one or more user groups and each information resource belongs to one or more information sets. Access is permitted or denied according to access policies which define access in terms of the user groups and information sets. The first access filter in the path performs the access check, encrypts and authenticates the request; the other access filters in the path do not repeat the access check. The interface used by applications to determine whether a user has access to an entity is now an SQL entity. The policy server assembles the information needed for the response to the query from various information sources, including source external to the policy server.
US09276918B2 Computer-readable medium, information processing device, information processing method and information processing system
An example system causes a computer of an information processing device including a restriction unit for restricting use of functions and a handwritten input receiving unit to carry out functions of requesting an input of a handwritten signature, sending, to a server, a result of a handwritten input which has been input in response to the request of the signature input, and receiving the input of authorization information which has been issued by the server that has received the handwritten input result and which shows that the use of the functions is authorized, and moreover cancelling the restriction by the restriction unit when the input of the authorization information is received.
US09276915B2 Privacy system
The disclosure relates generally to mobile device applications, and more particularly, to a privacy system for a mobile device application. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of sending and receiving encrypted messages between users within an associated group of users is provided. The method includes: receiving a first message from a first user within the group of users, wherein the first message includes proprietary information; encrypting the first message into ciphertext; transforming the ciphertext into a second message, wherein the second message includes quotidian information; and sending the second message to a second user within the group of users. Once the second user receives the second message, the second user will assay the second message to be an encryption of an unknown first message. The second message is received from the second user, and is decrypted into the first message, which is displayed to the second user.
US09276914B2 Auto-user registration and unlocking of a computing device
A computing device provides an indication that the computing device accepts dynamic user registration of user accounts over a wireless connection. A wireless mobile device automatically connects to the computing device, establishes an encrypted connection, and receives, over the encrypted connection, and passes an encrypted account token over the encrypted connection to the computing device, all without physical interaction with the computing device. The computing device automatically contacts a remote account server to retrieve a user account associated with the account token and registers the user account with the device.
US09276911B2 Secure and scalable mapping of human sequencing reads on hybrid clouds
System and methods are provided for performing privacy-preserving, high-performance, and scalable DNA read mapping on hybrid clouds including a public cloud and a private cloud. The systems and methods offer strong privacy protection and have the capacity to process millions of reads and allocate most of the workload to the public cloud at a small overall cost. The systems and methods perform seeding on the public cloud using keyed hash values of individual sequencing reads' seeds and then extend matched seeds on the private cloud. The systems and methods are designed to move the workload of read mapping from the extension stage to the seeding stage, thereby ensuring that the dominant portion of the overhead is shouldered by the public cloud.
US09276909B2 Integrity protection and/or ciphering for UE registration with a wireless network
Techniques for performing registration with a wireless network using integrity protection and/or ciphering are described. A user equipment (UE) may perform a security procedure with the wireless network for a first session and may generate UE security context data at the UE. The UE security context data may include a cipher key used for ciphering, an integrity key used for integrity protection, a temporary UE identity, and/or other information. The UE may use the UE security context data for secure communication with the wireless network during the first session. The UE may store the UE security context data upon termination of the first session. The UE may thereafter use the stored UE security context data for registration with the wireless network for a second session following the first session. The UE may perform integrity protection and/or ciphering for message(s) for registration based on the stored UE security context data.
US09276907B1 Load balancing in a network with session information
Methods and systems for balancing load among firewall security devices (FSDs) are provided. According to one embodiment, session data, including session entries representing previously established traffic sessions from a particular source to a particular destination and forming an association between the previously established session and a particular FSD, is maintained for each port of a session-aware switching device. When a TCP SYN packet is received, the switching device: (i) reduces its vulnerability to a DoS attack by foregoing installation of a forward session entry for the forward traffic session within the session data until a processed TCP SYN/ACK packet associated with the corresponding reverse traffic session is received; (ii) selects an FSD to associate with the forward traffic session and a corresponding reverse traffic session by performing a load balancing function on the TCP SYN packet; and (iii) causes the TCP SYN packet to be processed by the selected FSD.
US09276891B2 Mobile communication device
The present invention aims at offering a mobile communication device allowing the user to identify the sender when the user selects or opens a mail in a mail list by outputting an image and music that have been registered to the address book. Accordingly, when a mail is selected in the mail list of the mail box 401, or when a mail is opened and the mail message is displayed, the received mail display control unit 140 searches a mail address of the sender of the received mail in the address book 301. If the image/music data ID information 303(?) that has been registered in association with the sender of the mail address is present in the address book 301, the received mail display control unit 140 reads image data or music data from the image/music information 302 of the information storage unit 100 based on the image-music data ID information 303. After the brightness of the image is raised so that the image has enhanced contrast, the image is displayed on the display unit 120 as a background image of a mail list or a mail message while the music is output by the audio processing unit 104.
US09276890B2 System and method for providing notifications on a mobile computing device
A system and method for providing notifications on a mobile computing device are disclosed. The method comprises enabling multiple applications that operate on the mobile computing device to generate notifications in response to event occurrences. A plurality of notification representations are presented in a notification bar on the display. The plurality of notification representations are individually generated by a corresponding application in response to an event occurrence. The plurality of notification representations are represented in a first portion of the notification bar and with a number that represents how many notification representations from an application have been generated and not dismissed by a user.
US09276884B2 Intelligent notification system and method
An intelligent notification system configured for receiving and processing any suitable input message, determining whether or not an output notification should be sent and for sending such output notifications with the appropriate information to the appropriate parties according to predetermined business rules.
US09276878B2 Method and system of centralized control and management for fiber channel over Ethernet networks
A method implemented in an FCoE controller and manager (FCM) coupled to a first fiber channel over Ethernet (FCoE) data forwarder (FDF), the method comprising sending to the first FDF a first Controlling FDF Information (CFI) request that requests the name of the first FDF, receiving from the first FDF a first CFI acceptance comprising the name of the first FDF, receiving from the first the second CFI acceptance associated with a second FDF, wherein the first CFI acceptance and the second CFI acceptance allow the FCM to develop topology information for a FCoE network comprising the FCM, the first FDF, and the second FDF, creating a first base forwarding table for the first FDF, and creating a second base forwarding table for the second FDF, wherein the second base forwarding table is different than the first base forwarding table.
US09276873B2 Time-based QoS scheduling of network traffic
Quality of service may be achieved in a network using time-bases queues that are associated with different maximum latency periods. A device may receive a request to allocate resources for a packet flow, the resources being allocated at a number of network devices. The device may select, in response to the request, a set of queues that includes a queue selected at each of the network devices, the selected queue, at each of the network devices, being associated with a maximum latency period. The device may transmit one or more messages, to the network devices, indicating that the selected set of queues are to be used for buffering of the packet flow during packet scheduling.
US09276872B2 Sharing IP network resources
A system and method for sharing access to an internet protocol (IP) network among multiple internet service providers (ISPs) uses multiprotocol label switching (MPLS). End-users are coupled to a broadband customer access network. Each end-user is also associated with at least one of the ISPs. An aggregation router interfaces the customer access network with a network backbone. The network backbone includes a border router for interfacing between the network backbone and the network of an ISP. When the border router is activated, it creates a forwarding equivalency class (FEC) corresponding to the ISP. The border router stores a label for the FEC and the interface for reaching the ISP in an FEC table. The border router advertises the label binding for the FEC to all upstream nodes. An intermediate node receiving the label binding creates its own FEC table, associates a new label with the FEC, and advertises the new label binding to its upstream nodes. The aggregation router receives and builds a FEC table containing the label bindings for all ISPs reachable over the network backbone. When the aggregation router receives a data packet from an end-user, the aggregation router determines the ISP associated with the end-user, labels the data packet with the label corresponding to the FEC for that ISP, and routes the packet on the network backbone. The packet eventually reaches the border router, which pops off the label and passes the packet to the ISP.
US09276868B2 Maintaining packet order in a parallel processing network device
A plurality of packets are received by a packet processing device, and the packets are distributed among two or more packet processing node elements for processing of the packets. The packets are assigned to respective packet classes, each class corresponding to a group of packets for which an order in which the packets were received is to be preserved. The packets are queued in respective queues corresponding to the assigned packet classes and according to an order in which the packets were received by the packet processing device. The packet processing node elements issue respective instructions indicative of processing actions to be performed with respect to the packets, and indications of at least some of the processing actions are stored. A processing action with respect to a packet is performed when the packet has reached a head of a queue corresponding to the class associated with the packet.
US09276867B2 Hierarchical scheduling system with layer bypass including updating scheduling information of a scheduling layer for each item whether or not it bypasses the scheduling layer
In one embodiment, a hierarchical scheduling system including multiple scheduling layers with layer bypass is used to schedule items (e.g., corresponding to packets). This scheduling of items performed in one embodiment includes: propagating first items through the hierarchical scheduling system and updating scheduling information in each of the plurality of scheduling layers based on said propagated first items as said propagated first items propagate through the plurality of scheduling layers, and bypassing one or more scheduling layers of the plurality of scheduling layers for scheduling bypassing items and updating scheduling information in each of said bypassed one or more scheduling layers based on said bypassing items. In one embodiment, this method is performed by a particular machine. In one embodiment, the operations of propagating first items through the hierarchical scheduling system and bypassing one or more scheduling layers are done in parallel.
US09276866B2 Tuning congestion notification for data center networks
A system, method or computer readable medium to provide efficient congestion notification is described herein. In various embodiments, a packet is received at an intermediate node of one or more data center networks. A current queue length at the intermediate node is determined. A threshold value for the current queue length is tuned by dynamically computing an upper bound and a lower bound based at least in part on the network. The packet is marked to indicate possible congestion in the one or more data center networks when the current queue length exceeds the threshold value. In some embodiments, the packet is marked when it is being de-queued. In a further embodiment, Flexible Initial Packet Size (FIPS) may be utilized to improve the efficiency of the tuning.
US09276864B1 Dynamic network traffic throttling
Information about the transmission of packets or other information can be inferred based at least in part upon the state of one or more queues used to transmit that information. In a networking example, a hook can be added to a free buffer API call from a queue of a NIC driver. When a packet is transmitted and a buffer freed, the hook can cause information for that packet to be transmitted to an appropriate location, such as a network traffic control component or control plane component, whereby that information can be compared with packet, source, and other such information to infer which packets have been transmitted, which packets are pending, and other such information. This information can be used for various purposes, such as to dynamically adjust the allocation of a resource (e.g., a NIC) to various sources based at least in part upon the monitored behavior.
US09276862B1 Telecommunications and network traffic control and rate deck synchronization system
A telecommunication and network traffic throttle and control and rate deck synchronization system including one or more processors coupled to a communications network. The system is configured to monitor, control, and throttle network traffic and to generate and synchronize rate decks to limit and block unwanted and harmful traffic to optimize performance of and protect telecommunications and network infrastructure. Received routing requests are parsed for subscriber identifiers that have assigned current rate decks. Routing requests are forwarded only for subscribers having unexpired assigned rate decks. When new assigned rate decks are generated with prospective effective times, the current date decks are modified to expire before the effective time, and subscribers are sent URLs having embedded security hashes, which must be downloaded before the current assigned rate decks expire. Routing requests cannot be forwarded upon expiration, and until subscribers download the new rate decks and an associated rate deck file hash.
US09276861B2 Selecting among multiple concurrently active paths through a network
Methods and systems for selecting among multiple concurrently active paths through a network are provided. According to one embodiment, a method is performed by a network interface of a source node within a loop-free, reverse-path-learning network. The network is divided into multiple virtual networks. A packet destined for a destination node and specifying an address for the destination or including information from which the address can be derived is received from the source. A set of virtual networks that can be used to transport the packet from the source node to the destination node is determined. Each virtual network in the set of virtual networks provides a different path through the network from the source to the destination. A particular virtual network from the set of virtual networks is selected, thereby effectively selecting a particular path from multiple selectable paths between the source and the destination.
US09276859B2 Enterprise cognitive radio integrated with laser communications
A wireless data access system is provided to ameliorate bursty traffic occurring in a radio communications link such as a WiFi, WiMAX, 3G or cellular telephone link to a wireless network access device. A data traffic event is detected relating to traffic in the link. The traffic event may be a traffic burst exceeding a predetermined threshold. Based on detecting the data traffic event, a free-space optical communications link is established to the network access device to handle the traffic burst. The established radio link may be used to set-up and coordinate the free-space optical link.
US09276856B2 Slipstream bandwidth management algorithm
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing a slipstream bandwidth management algorithm including, for example, means for executing an application a computing device, in which the application is to communicate with a remote computing device over a public Internet; means for approximating outgoing bandwidth for communications from the computing device to the remote computing device; means for approximating incoming bandwidth for communications received at the computing device from the remote computing device; means for allocating multiple simultaneous Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections in support of the application based at least in part on the approximated outgoing bandwidth and based further on the approximated incoming bandwidth; and means for iteratively adjusting bandwidth communicated for the application between the computing device and the remote computing device based at least in part on latency between the computing device and the remote computing device. Other related embodiments are disclosed.
US09276847B2 Systems and methods for providing a ReNAT virtual private network
Included are systems and methods for providing a ReNAT virtual private network (VPN). Accordingly, some embodiments include receiving, at a network operations center (NOC), external packets from a client workstation on a private network and providing source addressing for the external packets to identify the private network from where the external packets were received. Similarly, some embodiments include receiving data from the external packets from a ReNAT twin NAT, where the ReNAT twin NAT includes both a destination public address and a public source address for the data and decrypting the data and forwarding the data with the public source address to the ReNAT twin NAT. In some embodiments the NOC provides a virtual private network within the NOC for facilitating communication of the data between a remote computing device across a wide area network and the client workstation in the private network.
US09276844B2 Distributed media access controller transmitting network coded cells via optical transmitters
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving, by an apparatus, a Media Access Control (MAC) frame destined for a destination device; dividing, by the apparatus, the MAC frame into frame fragments; coding the frame fragments into encoded cells; and causing, by the apparatus, transmission of selected subsets of the encoded cells, as distinct flows of the encoded cells, by respective optical physical layer transmitter devices reachable by the destination device.
US09276838B2 Software defined network virtualization utilizing service specific topology abstraction and interface
A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause a service specific virtual topology base, positioned in a network stratum, to receive a virtual service negotiation initiation message from an application stratum component, wherein the initiation message comprises a plurality of network source addresses, a plurality of network destination addresses, and a service specific objective, obtain a plurality of computed network paths that traverse a network of network stratum Network Elements (NEs) between the network source addresses and the network destination addresses and meet the service specific objective, and calculate service specific virtual topology that abstractly represents the computed service specific network paths.
US09276836B2 Method and apparatus for advertising border connection information of autonomous system
A method and an apparatus for advertising border connection information of autonomous system are disclosed. Moreover, the method includes: establishing and maintaining, by a border node of the autonomous system, the border connection information of the autonomous system; flooding the border connection information within the autonomous system; and receiving, by nodes of the autonomous system, the border connection information. The method and the apparatus for advertising border connection information of autonomous system of embodiments of the present invention may adapt to dynamic change of network topology, and dynamically advertise the border connection information of the autonomous system within the system in time, so as to optimize networks and improve quality of service of the networks.
US09276832B2 Buffer sizing for multi-hop networks
A wireless network node can include a wireless network antenna, a processor in communication with the wireless network antenna, and a non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable code. The processor can be configured to calculate an initial buffer size. The processor can be configured to adjust the initial buffer size to a current buffer size based on a current network load.
US09276831B2 Determining network latency with limited computing resources
Disclosed are techniques for accurately determining network latency. The techniques include steps for transmitting a latency packet between a network test device and a remote network node. The techniques particularly include steps for recording timestamps upon transmission and receipt of the latency packet by the respective network device and the remote network node. Network latency is determined based on a difference between timestamps of the network device (transmitting and receiving the latency packet) and a difference between the timestamps of the remote network node (transmitting and receiving the latency packet).
US09276828B2 System and method for a service metering framework in a network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment executed at a service metering framework (SMF) engine including a processor, and includes interfacing, by an event listener at the SMF engine, with an application being executed in a cloud by a remote client device, detecting a metering event associated with the application during execution of the application, receiving a value of at least one metering attribute associated with the metering event, and storing the at least one metering attribute and the value as a formatted metered record in a SMF database searchable according to the metering attribute. In a specific embodiment, the event listener exposes an application programming interface (API) of the SMF engine to the application to facilitate definitions of the metering event and the at least one metering attribute in the application.
US09276823B2 Dynamic fusion management
A system and method for managing a network of nodes that share sensor data is presented. In one embodiment, the system and method clusters groups of nodes into subnets. Nodes in a common subnet share sensor data with other nodes in the subnet at one rate, while nodes that are not in a common subnet share sensor data at a second substantially reduced rate.
US09276818B2 Mesh network commissioning
Securely joining devices to a mesh network using Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) is described. A secure commissioning session is established between a joiner device and a commissioning device of the mesh network, in response to a joiner router receiving a DTLS-ClientHello message from the joining device, which is requesting to join the mesh network, and relaying the received message, encapsulated in a DTLS Relay Receive Notification message, to the commissioning device. The commissioning device transmits commissioning messages to the joining device over the secure session to enable the joining device to join the mesh network. The joiner router receives an indication from the commissioning device, that the joining device is to be entrusted to receive network credentials for the mesh network, and receives a key to securely transmit the network credentials from the joiner router to the joining device to complete commissioning the joining device to the mesh network.
US09276815B2 N-node virtual link trunking (VLT) systems management plane
Aspects of the present invention include an N-Node virtual link trunking (VLT) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the N-Node VLT system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices (switches or servers) and the core network. The N-Node VLT system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core. Accordingly, the N-Node VLT system eliminates the disadvantage of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (active-standby links) by allowing link aggregation group (LAG) terminations on multiple separate distribution or core switches and also supporting a loop-free topology. Additional benefits of an N-Node VLT system include, but are not limited to, higher resiliency, improved link utilization, and improved manageability of the network.
US09276814B2 Migration of profiles between virtual connect domains
Migration of profiles between virtual connect domains is described. In an example, a plurality of validations are performed on a profile from a first virtual connect domain virtualizing devices using a first configuration. The profile is updated based on a second virtual connect domain virtualizing devices using a second configuration. The profile is moved for use by a device in the second virtual connect domain.
US09276811B1 Providing virtual networking functionality for managed computer networks
Techniques are described for providing virtual networking functionality for managed computer networks. In some situations, a user may configure or otherwise specify one or more virtual local area networks (“VLANs”) for a managed computer network being provided for the user, such as with each VLAN including multiple computing nodes of the managed computer network. Networking functionality corresponding to the specified VLAN(s) may then be provided in various manners, such as if the managed computer network itself is a distinct virtual computer network overlaid on one or more other computer networks, and communications between computing nodes of the managed virtual computer network are handled in accordance with the specified VLAN(s) of the managed virtual computer network by emulating functionality that would be provided by networking devices of the managed virtual computer network if they were physically present and configured to support the specified VLAN(s).
US09276808B2 Peer, application and method for detecting faulty peer in peer-to-peer network
An application, peer and method for determining a faulty peer in a structured Peer-to-Peer overlay network. The overlay network includes plural peers besides the faulty peer. The method includes determining that a message sent from a given peer to a target peer along a first path did not reach the target peer; determining an intermediate peer at which the message had arrived; using a second path to send the message from the given peer to the target peer; determining that the message had arrived at the target peer on the second path; adjusting a node identifier (nodeID) of at least one of the target peer and the intermediate peer to obtain a new target peer or a new intermediate peer; and reusing the first and second paths to send the message to the new target peer or the new intermediate peer until the faulty peer is detected.
US09276807B2 Redundant communication framework
A device determines a communication failure associated with a first network, and selects, based on the communication failure, a failover device from a list of failover devices. The device and the failover devices communicate via short-range communications, and the selected failover device connects to a second network. The device provides, to the selected failover device, a request to receive a service from the first network, and determines whether the selected failover device accepts the request. When the selected failover device accepts the request, the device establishes a communication channel with the selected failover device, and receives the service from the first network via the selected failover device, the communication channel, and the second network.
US09276804B2 Systems and methods for broadband backup
A method and system for providing a payment network via a plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks using a network interface device are provided. The method includes receiving, a first network message containing financial transaction data from a first one of a plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks, determining a destination of the financial transaction data from the network message, transmitting the financial transaction data to a second one of the plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks using a second network containing the financial transaction data, where at least one of the first one and the second one of the plurality of multiprotocol label switching networks is an Internet-based network that provides back-up access for transmitting the financial transaction data between a payment card interchange network and at least one of an issuer bank and a merchant bank using a Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnel inside an IPSec connection.
US09276802B2 Systems and methods for sharing information between virtual agents
Systems, methods, and apparatus for use with at least one first virtual agent executing on a first device. In some embodiments, the at least one first virtual agent is programmed to: share information with at least one second virtual agent executing on at least one second device different from the first device, wherein the at least one first virtual agent is associated with a first user and the at least one second virtual agent is associate with a second user; and use the information shared between the at least one first virtual agent and the at least one second virtual agent to make a joint recommendation for the first and second users.
US09276800B2 Single frequency synthesizer based FDD transceiver
The present invention relates to a single frequency synthesizer based FDD transceiver. A single frequency synthesizer generates and provides a carrier frequency so that frequency up-conversion and frequency down-conversion can be performed at the time of transmission and reception. Accordingly, the area, power consumption, and design complexity of the entire system can be reduced, and the performance of the system can be improved.
US09276798B2 Non-recursive digital calibration for joint-elimination of transmitter and receiver I/Q imbalances with minimized add-on hardware
A digital calibration circuit is used to provide joint-elimination of transmitter and receiver I/Q imbalances. Digital I and Q quadrature signals are received and converted to analog I and Q quadrature signals on I and Q for transmission on output channels. An output mixer is used to convert the quadrature signals to an unbalanced RF output. An unbalanced RF signal is received selectively either externally or from the RF output using a source follower, and the received signal is mixed to provide analog I and Q quadrature signals, using a local oscillator (LO). The LO adds an additional 90 ° phase shift between I and Q quadrature channels of the unbalanced RF input. Parameter estimating the transmitted digital I and Q quadrature signals and providing estimations of I and Q quadrature imbalance conditions.
US09276795B2 Data transmission coexistence within television white space channels
Methods, systems, and/or devices are provided that permit data transmissions over unused television channels. A method operational in a receiver device, includes monitoring one or more repurposed channels within a television broadcast frequency spectrum for data waveforms, wherein waveforms of different bandwidths coexist within the one or more repurposed channels, and at least a larger waveform has a first bandwidth larger than a channel bandwidth for each repurposed channel. The method also includes receiving a waveform over a repurposed channel from among the one or more repurposed channels, wherein the received waveform has a second bandwidth smaller than the channel bandwidth. The method further includes processing the received waveform by applying a downclocking factor to a clock of the receiver device that causes the receiver device to process the received waveform according to the second bandwidth to obtain a data payload from the received waveform.
US09276790B2 Phase rotation for preambles within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
Phase rotation for preambles within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. An appropriately designed phase rotation vector and/or appropriately designed cyclic shift delays (CSDs) are applied to respective sub-band components of the preamble. With appropriately designed CSDs, certain fields within the preamble are not modified. For example, a legacy short training field (L-STF) of the preamble is not changed when using appropriately designed CSDs. The respective CSDs may be implemented as integer multiples of a common CSD (e.g., 0×CSD, 1×CSD, 2×CSD, etc. such that one of the values of such a CSD vector may be zero [0], another may be the common CSD itself, etc.). Also, by employing an appropriately designed phase rotation vector and integer multiples of a CSD to a preamble, the respective peak to average power ratio (PAPR) between different respective fields within the preamble may be minimized.
US09276787B2 Transmission of signaling messages using beacon signals
Techniques for sending signaling messages with beacon signals in a wireless communication network are described. In one design, a transmitter station may map a signaling message (e.g., a reduce interference request) to multiple code symbols. The transmitter station may select multiple resource elements from among a plurality of resource elements based on the multiple code symbols. In one design, each code symbol may be sent across frequency by selecting one of multiple subcarriers in one symbol period. In another design, each code symbol may be sent across time by selecting one of multiple symbol periods on one subcarrier. The transmitter station may generate a beacon signal having transmit power on the selected resource elements and no transmit power on remaining resource elements. The transmitter station may send the beacon signal to at least one receiver station.
US09276786B2 Noise-based gain adjustment and amplitude estimation system
Methods and systems for amplitude estimation and gain adjustment using noise as a reference are described. An example receiver can include an antenna and a front end amplifier coupled to the antenna. The receiver can also include a detector circuit coupled to the front end amplifier. The receiver can be configured to determine a power of a received signal at the antenna based on a gain of the receiver. The gain of the receiver can be determined based on a noise figure of the front end amplifier and a noise amplitude.
US09276780B2 Calibration of single-ended high-speed interfaces
A method for calibrating signal swing and a trip reference voltage. The signal swing of a system can be calibrated in a symmetric or asymmetric technique through adjustment of a drive parameter such as a supply voltage for a transmitter or a drive termination. The trip reference voltage of the system can also be calibrated in a symmetric or asymmetric technique through sampling of a data pattern to determine an ideal level of the trip reference voltage.
US09276779B2 System and method for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks
Systems and methods for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks are disclosed. For example, a system for providing a full fail-safe capability in signal transmission networks includes at least a first electronic circuit to transmit and receive signals or data, at least one driver unit coupled to the at least a first electronic circuit, and at least one receiver unit coupled to the at least a first electronic circuit and the at least one driver unit. The at least one receiver unit includes at least one offset signal generating unit, a signal comparing unit, and a switching unit to couple an offset signal from the at least one offset signal generating unit to an input of the signal comparing unit.
US09276777B2 Method for determining feedback information and circuit to perform such method
A method includes receiving a first signal at a circuit from a first base station and receiving a second signal at the circuit from a second base station different from the first base station. The method further includes determining a first channel estimate based on the first signal, determining a second channel estimate based on the second signal and determining a feedback information based on the first channel estimate and based on the second channel estimate.
US09276772B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data based on secured path bandwidth in network established by using audio/video interface
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data. The method and apparatus previously determines a validity of a data transmission path for transmitting a stream from a source device to a sink device. The validity of the transmission path is verified by checking and securing the data transmission path, thereby executing a streaming service based on the validity.
US09276770B2 Network connecting device and method
A network connecting device includes: a wired LAN connection detection section that detects connecting of a LAN cable; a profile management section that manages a profile; a profile selection section that selects in sequence at least one profile that indicates wired LAN connection; a network configuration section that sets a network configuration based on the selected profile; a network identification information acquisition section that acquires network identification information; a network determination section that determines whether or not a wired LAN with which a connection is formed by the LAN cable and a network indicated by the profile match each other; and a network connection section that applies the profile when it is determined as a match.
US09276764B2 Enhanced carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocols
Systems and methods for enhanced carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocols are described. In various implementations, these systems and methods may be applicable to Power Line Communications (PLC). For example, a method may include attempting to access a communications channel to transmit a frame after a backoff time proportional to a randomly generated number within a contention window (CW), the CW having an initial value carried over from a previous transmission of a different frame. Additionally or alternatively, some of techniques described herein may facilitate the spreading of the time over which devices attempt to transmit packets, thereby reducing the probability of collisions using, for example, Additive Decrease Multiplicative Increase (ADMI) mechanisms.
US09276763B2 Intermittently operable communication apparatus with different carrier sense levels switched between transmission and reception and method therefor
The communication apparatus intermittently carries out receiving operation during a predetermined reception period. The apparatus includes a wireless communication section for carrying out wireless communication, which includes a carrier sensor for sensing a carrier at the beginning of the communication, and a carrier sense switching section for using carrier sense levels different between packet transmission and reception to switch the carrier sense level of the carrier sensor according to the packet. Thus, the apparatus can use and flexibly adjust the optimum carrier sense level for the intermittent receiving operation within the reception period.
US09276756B2 Synchronization of multicast information using incremental updates
Techniques that enable a network device such as a router to provide multicast routing services without interruption, even in the event of a switchover. An incremental updates technique is used to synchronize multicast information maintained by a first processor and multicast information maintained by a second processor. The first processor may be a management processor operating in active mode in a network device and the second processor may be a management processor operating in standby mode in the network device. The second processor may also be a processor on a linecard of the network device.
US09276755B2 Channel occupancy efficient, low power wireless networking
An apparatus and method are provided for efficiently sharing a single wireless channel and for providing improved power saving. Automatic beacon “sliding” establishes a round-robin contention-free channel schedule among multiple IBSSs. Entering an idle state immediately following communication after a beacon saves power. Further power savings occur when presumptions of pending traffic may be made.
US09276752B2 System and method for secure software update
A secure software update provides an update utility with an update definition, a private encryption key and a public signature key to a target device. A software update package is prepared on portable media that includes an executable update program, a checksum for the program that is encrypted with a symmetrical key, an encrypted symmetrical key that is encrypted with a public encryption key and a digital signature prepared with a private signature key. The update process authenticates the digital signature, decrypts the symmetrical key using the private encryption key, and decrypts the checksum using the symmetrical key. A new checksum is generated for the executable update program and compared to the decrypted checksum. If inconsistencies are detected during the update process, the process is terminated. Otherwise, the software update can be installed with a relatively high degree of assurance against corruption, viruses and third party interference.
US09276751B2 System and method for circular link resolution with computable hash-based names in content-centric networks
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for constructing a linked object. During operation, the system constructs a first portion of the linked object. The first portion includes at least one or more data items and a computable identifier calculated based on the one or more data items, and the first portion is referenced by a self-certified name associated with the linked object. The system constructs a second portion of the linked object. The second portion includes at least the computable identifier and an external link that references a second linked object using a self-certified name associated with the second linked object.
US09276750B2 Secure processing environment measurement and attestation
Embodiments of an invention for secure processing environment measurement and attestation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction unit and an execution unit. The instruction unit is to receive a first instruction associated with a build or a rebuild of a secure enclave. The execution unit is to execute the first instruction. Execution of the first instruction, when associated with the build, includes calculation of a first measurement and a second measurement of the secure enclave. Execution of the first instruction, when associated with the rebuild, includes calculation of the second measurement without calculation of the first measurement.
US09276749B2 Distributed validation of digitally signed electronic documents
Systems and methods are presented for distributed validation of a digitally signed electronic document. A computing device accesses both a representation of the electronic document and a digital signature for the electronic document that includes a digest generated by the digital signature's creator by applying a one-way function to the electronic document. The computing device applies the same one-way function to the accessed representation of the electronic document to generate a new digest, and includes both the digital signature and the new digest in a request sent to a separate validation server. The request does not include the electronic document. The validation server generates validation results that depend on comparing the digest from the digital signature with the new digest, and that do not depend on having the electronic document available to the validation server. The computing device receives the validation results from the separate validation server.
US09276747B2 Remote profile security system
A method comprises storing, at the server computer system, user profile information for the remote user. The user profile information for the remote user (or a link to the user profile information) is encrypted using authentication information. The user profile information is associated with user identification information, at the server computer system, using the authentication information, which is selectively made available by the remote user via the network to the server computer system in order to enable the server computer system to associate the user profile information with the user identification information.
US09276746B2 Encryption system, encryption processing method of encryption system, encryption device, decryption device, setup device, key generation device, and key delegation device using a user identifier for a user who belongs to a k-th hierarchy in an organization
In a wildcard-applicable anonymous hierarchical identity-based encryption system, it is aimed to make the number of pairing operations a fixed number. A user identifier ID and a pattern P are used. The user identifier ID includes k number of hierarchy identifiers. The pattern P includes either of a hierarchy identifier, a wildcard value and a blank value for each hierarchy. An encryption device 400 extracts a key value H corresponding to a hierarchy of the wildcard value and a key value H corresponding to a hierarchy of a pattern value from a public key PK, calculates a cipher value C1 and a cipher value C3, and outputs ciphertext data CT including plaintext cipher value C0, the cipher value C1, and the cipher value C3. A decryption device 300 extracts the hierarchy identifier of the hierarchy corresponding to the wildcard value from the user identifier ID, decrypts the plaintext cipher value C0 included in the ciphertext data CT using the extracted hierarchy identifier, the cipher value C1 and the cipher value C3 which are included in the ciphertext data CT, and outputs plaintext data M.
US09276742B1 Unified storage and management of cryptographic keys and certificates
Cryptographic resources, such as those including PGP keys and certificates, are transformed such that they are understood by certificate repositories, such as in a format understood by the Java JAVA tools of JAVA KEYSTORE (JKS). JAVA is one example of a general-purpose computer programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented. JAVA KEYSTORE is one example of a repository of security certificates, such as authorization certificates and public key certificates, used for instance in SSL encryption. The transformation of the cryptographic resources is completed such that the necessary metadata for retrieving the original cryptographic resources, or artifacts thereof, are retained. In that way, cryptographic resources are effectively hidden within the certificate repository until needed. The security program applies an algorithm to generate keys for JKS storage such that the keys “masquerade” in a JKS canonical format until the time in which the resources are needed to be in a PGP canonical format.
US09276738B2 Digital tachograph
A digital tachograph has a security module. A public key, a secure private key, and a signage are stored in the security module. Vehicle-relevant data and the corresponding checksum are encoded using a secure private key and stored in the digital tachograph in a data format by the security module.
US09276736B2 Connection key distribution
A system and a method implementing the method pertaining to securely providing a mobile device with a cryptographic key in a vehicle. The method includes generating a cryptographic key pair. The key pair may include at least a first cryptographic key and a second cryptographic key. The method may further include creating a label using a scannable image readable by a mobile device; the scannable image may be based on the second cryptographic key. And the method may include providing the label to the vehicle for displaying the scannable image.
US09276729B2 Determination of a noise and interference covariance measure
A method includes receiving a signal including a two-dimensional signal pattern in a time-frequency representation, the two-dimensional signal pattern including first reference resource elements at predetermined positions in the two-dimensional signal pattern. The method further includes determining a first covariance measure based on the first reference resource elements of the signal pattern. The method further includes determining a second covariance measure based on resource elements of the signal pattern different from the first reference resource elements. The method further includes determining a noise and interference covariance measure of the received signal based on the first covariance measure and based on the second covariance measure.
US09276728B2 Interference avoidance-based communication apparatus and method
Provided is an interference avoidance-based communication apparatus and method, the apparatus including an interface to receive operating channel number information transmitted by another communication apparatus in response to an event occurring in the other communication apparatus, and a processor to verify a current use channel of the other communication apparatus based on the received operating channel information, allocate a first weighted value to a remaining channel, aside from the verified current use channel and a second weighted value to the verified current use channel, and generate channel map information for use in hop selection based on the remaining channel to which the first weighted value is allocated and the current use channel to which the second weighted value is allocated.
US09276725B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving feedback on channel state information
A method for performing a channel state information (CSI) report in a wireless communication system, can include receiving, at a user equipment, a configuration message on each of a plurality of downlink component carriers (DL CCs), the configuration message including cell indexes indicating serving cells and information used for configuring the CSI report of the serving cells, and transmitting, at the user equipment, a CSI report of only a single serving cell in a corresponding subframe, wherein the transmitting of the CSI report of only the single serving cell including when CSI reports of two or more serving cells of the plurality of serving cells collide with each other in the corresponding subframe, dropping one or more CSI reports having lower priorities, and when CSI reports of different serving cells having a same priority collide with each other in the corresponding subframe, dropping CSI reports of one or more serving cells other than one serving cell having the lowest cell index.
US09276722B2 Expanded search space for R-PDCCH in LTE-A
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatuses for providing an expanded search space for a relay-specific control channel on a backhaul link. According to certain aspects, due to inband interference, a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel (R-PDCCH) may be signaled utilizing resources reserved for backhaul data. According to certain aspects, a two-dimensional search space may be provided for R-PDCCH. R-PDCCH may be transmitted in one of a plurality of layer-specific search spaces corresponding to one of a plurality of antenna ports. Further, in a layer-specific search space, R-PDCCH may be transmitted using at least one of multiple R-PDCCH decoding candidates from a common search space and/or a relay node-specific search space.
US09276721B2 Decoding data in group search space based on group control information
Provided is a method and apparatus for decoding data by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. The method comprises the following steps: receiving group control information identified by a group identifier (ID) allocated to a plurality of UEs including the UE, wherein the group control information includes scheduling information indicating a group search space that is a wireless resource area through which data for the plurality of UEs can be transmitted; receiving data through the group search space; and decoding the data on the basis of a unique ID of the UE in the group search space.
US09276719B2 Method and apparatus for generating pilot tone in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access system, and method and apparatus for estimating channel using it
The present invention relates to a pilot tone generating method and apparatus of an orthogonal frequency division multiple access system and method, and a channel estimation method and apparatus using the same. The channel estimation apparatus includes a pilot tone extracting unit for extracting a pilot tone, which is inserted within a frame with data tone, masked with an orthogonal code; a pilot tone unmasking unit for unmasking of the pilot tone extracted from the pilot tone extracting unit by using an orthogonal code information; and a channel estimation operating unit for estimating a channel by calculating an average of the pilot tones which is unmasked in the unmasking unit.
US09276718B2 Method and a system for bandwidth aggregation in an access point
A method and a system for providing communication between at least one wireless client device through a connectivity to a corresponding dedicated access point, as well as locating and recognizing a plurality of neighboring access points, the method including notifying, by the dedicated access point, a predetermined absence period to a wireless client device to which the dedicated access point communicates, the dedicated access point becoming a client to a second access point during the predetermined absence period, receiving, by the dedicated access point as a client, data corresponding to a backhaul bandwidth of the at least second access point and aggregating the received backhaul data from the second access point to the dedicated access point's own backhaul data, and sending, by the dedicated access point, the aggregated backhaul bandwidth data to the wireless client device after the predetermined absence period has lapsed.
US09276716B2 Sensor data transport and consolidation within communication nodes in a network
In one embodiment, sensor data is transported in a network to a rendezvous point network node, which consolidates the information into a consolidated result which is communicated to the destination. Such consolidation by a network node reduces the number of paths required in the network between the sensors and the destination. One embodiment includes acquiring, by each of a plurality of originating nodes in a wireless deterministic network, external data related to a same physical event; communicating through the network said external data from each of the plurality of originating nodes to a rendezvous point network node (RP) within the network; processing, by the RP, said external data from each of the plurality of originating nodes to produce a consolidated result; and communicating the consolidated result to a destination node of the network. In one embodiment, the network is a low power lossy network (LLN).
US09276708B2 Secondary system usage in multicarrier networks
After an evolved Node-B (eNB) has selected primary component carriers and secondary component carriers, the eNB can transmit (for example, by broadcast), the information for secondary usage (such as certain conditions) to devices. The devices can also be machines or the like that are able to operate on cellular system resources, for example, machine-to-machine type communication in a cellular system. The devices can figure out component carrier utilization in the cells they can detect. Furthermore, the devices can estimate the interference caused by themselves based on the eNB's broadcasting conditions as well as upon additional information, in some circumstances. Finally, the devices can then decide whether to establish device-to-device (D2D) or other secondary communication connection themselves by using the secondary component carriers.
US09276701B2 Apparatus and method for communicating FEC mode and alarming mismatch
A multi-mode transmission unit processes data to form an error correction code in accordance with one of a plurality of selectable processes. The data, correction code and a process identifier can be transmitted to a receiving unit which can carry out error correction of the data in accordance with the identified process.
US09276700B2 Methods and apparatus to report link quality measurements for downlink dual carrier operation
Methods and apparatus to report link quality measurements for downlink dual carrier operation are disclosed. Example methods and apparatus disclosed herein implement one or more example techniques for reporting link quality measurements involving, for example, modifying measurement reporting messages to increase the number and/or types of link quality measurements that can be reported, permitting mobile stations, when appropriate, to use different reporting messages capable of supporting more link quality measurements, and/or prioritizing certain link quality measurements to be reported when the reporting messages do not contain sufficient space to report all requested and/or specified link quality measurements.
US09276697B2 Network evaluation apparatus and network evaluation method
A network evaluation apparatus that evaluates a design of an optical network, the network evaluation apparatus including: a processor that selects two nodes, between which a lightpath is to be set up, from a plurality of nodes based on a traffic volume demand values, calculates a decreased amount of cost based on numbers of the plurality of nodes and a plurality of routers for relaying a signal transmitted between the two nodes selected, calculates an increased amount of cost based on a transmission distance of the lightpath and a number of a plurality of repeaters to be inserted according to a segment distance, and determines a value of the optical network based on the decreased amount of cost and the increased amount of cost.
US09276695B2 Method and apparatus for construction of compact optical nodes using wavelength equalizing arrays
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to An optical node comprising of at least two optical degrees; a plurality of directionless add/drop ports; and at least one wavelength equalizing array, wherein the at least one wavelength equalizing array is used to both select wavelengths for each degree, and to perform directionless steering for the add/drop ports.
US09276690B2 Distributed electrical cross device, and system and method thereof for implementing sub-network connection (SNC) cascade protection
The present invention discloses a distributed electrical cross apparatus, and a system and method for the distributed electrical cross apparatus implementing an SNC cascade protection. The apparatus includes a backboard and at least four single-boards integrated with electrical cross units, wherein the single-boards are inserted in the limited number of slots in the backboard, and these single-boards also set line-side service access units, client-side service access units and backboard access units. The present invention has both accessing of line-side services and accessing of client-side services in the same single-board, access and flexible scheduling of various services such as line-side services and client-side services and so on are implemented on the backboard with limited number of slots, and the function of the distributed electrical cross system processing various services is increased in the case of low cost.
US09276686B2 Distributed antenna systems and methods of wireless communications for facilitating simulcasting and de-simulcasting of downlink transmissions
Distributed antenna systems (DASs) can include a plurality of spatially separated remote antenna units. According to at least one example, a first group of remote antenna units can simulcast downlink transmissions on a first carrier with a particular sector identity (ID). A second group of remote antenna units, including at least one different remote antenna unit from the first group, can simulcast downlink transmissions on a second carrier with the same sector ID. According to at least one other example, two or more remote antenna units which include respective coverage areas that are non-adjacent to one another can be employed to simulcast downlink transmissions.
US09276676B2 Visible ray communication system and method for transmitting signal
A visible ray communication system and method that improve transmission rate and remove an influence of inter-color interference to improve the communication quality. A transmission apparatus included in the visible ray communication system allocates each carrier signal component of an OFDM signal, which is modulated into transmission information, to a plurality of LEDs of different colors. The information is added to a combination of a carrier frequency and an LED wavelength, when a carrier signal is allocated to an, in addition to each carrier signal being modulated into the information.
US09276672B2 Method, transport apparatus, and system for detecting submarine optical cable line
A method for detecting a submarine optical cable line includes: splitting a detection signal input to a first optical functional unit in an optical functional module of an optical cable line into a first detection signal and a second detection signal; directly coupling and looping back the first detection signal to an output end of a second optical functional unit in a direction opposite to the first optical functional unit to constitute a first loopback path, and outputting a first detection loopback signal; looping back the second detection signal passing through the first optical functional unit to the output end of the second optical functional unit to constitute a second loopback path, and outputting a second detection loopback signal; and detecting a status of the submarine optical cable line according to power of the first detection loopback signal and power of the second detection loopback signal.
US09276671B2 System for determining a propagation time of an optical signal between two optical devices using an optical link
A system is provided for determining a propagation time of an optical signal between two devices in an optical transmission network. The first device is designed to determine the propagation time following the transmission of an optical measurement signal in a propagation direction towards a second device using an optical link while passing through an intermediate device, which includes at least one amplifier and one chromatic-dispersion compensation module that introduces a delay, and following the reception an optical return signal from the second device using the same optical link in a direction opposite to the propagation direction. The measurement system is configured to extract the return signal output by the intermediate device; regenerate the extracted return signal; feed the regenerated signal into the optical link, at the input of the intermediate device; and obtain a return signal-reception time while taking account the delay introduced by said compensation module.
US09276670B2 Self-diagnostic method for PON protection system, and PON protection system
A self-diagnostic method for PON protection system, in which optical switch-related failure can be previously inspected, and a PON protection system. A circuit is configured while an optical switch is switched so that signal light from an ONU is input to both a normal system OSU and a redundancy system OSU of an optical access network including the ONU, and there are conducted a circuit configuration test in which the signal light to the normal system OSU and the signal light to the redundancy system OSU are monitored for a predetermined period of time, and when the signal light to one of the OSUs and the signal light to the other do not correspond to each other, it is judged as abnormality and an open state test in which an optical switch is opened so that the signal light from the ONU is input to only the normal system OSU of the optical access network including the ONU, a circuit of the redundancy system OSU and the ONU is brought into an open state, the signal light to redundancy system OSU is monitored for a predetermined time of period, and when the signal light to the redundancy system exists, it is judged as abnormality.
US09276668B2 Sonic fast-sync method and system for bluetooth
A method, apparatus and computer program product for fast-synching a wireless Bluetooth connection using a first device's wireless identifier is provided. One implementation of the present invention modulates the wireless identifier as a sonic Bluetooth code over a sonic carrier signal. To send the wireless identifier, one implementation accesses a storage area associated with the first wireless device holding the sonic carrier signal. Aspects of the invention then transmit the sonic Bluetooth code as modulated over the sonic carrier signal. A sonic transducer, such as a microphone on the second wireless device, receives the sonic carrier signal and wireless identifier for demodulation. In response, the second wireless device requests to establish a physical channel with the first wireless device using the wireless identifier received over the sonic carrier signal.
US09276664B2 Mobile interactive satellite services
A system for providing mobile interactive satellite services includes a satellite operable to communicate with mobile units, a terrestrial base transceiver station operable to communicate with mobile units, and a ground station in communication with the satellite and the terrestrial base transceiver station to provide mobile interactive satellite services. The mobile interactive satellite services include a multicast component and an interactive component such that the ground station provides both the multicast component and the interactive component using the satellite, with the terrestrial base transceiver station used to provide an ancillary terrestrial component. A device for communicating with a mobile interactive satellite service system includes an antenna, a transceiver coupled to the antenna and operable to communicate with a mobile interactive satellite service system, a user input device, an output device, a processor unit, and a network interface. The processor unit is coupled to the user input device, the output device, and the transceiver such that the processor is operable to output received information from the transceiver using the output device, to receive interactive information from the user input device, and to transmit data based on the received interactive information using the transceiver. The network interface is coupled to the processor such that the processor is operable to side load information.
US09276657B2 Space-time block coding systems and methods
Although orthonormal space-time coding matrices provide for optimal communication system performance in that associated correlation matrices include no non-zero off-diagonal elements, unity code rate orthonormal coding matrices are difficult to identify for arbitrary communication network equipment. According to embodiments of the present invention, non-orthonormal space-time coding matrices, for which associated correlation matrices include non-zero off-diagonal elements, are used to encode data symbols. The non-orthonormal space-time coding matrices are more easily determined, and undesirable effects of the non-zero off-diagonal components are reduced by selecting a coding matrix from among a number of such matrices. For example, a particular space-time coding matrix may be selected from a number of generated space-time coding matrices based on a number of non-zero off-diagonal elements or a power of a trace of the associated correlation matrices.
US09276656B2 Method and system for improving uplink performance
The present invention is directed to improvements for distributed antenna systems and more particularly to methods and systems for improving uplink communications. In one embodiment, Aggregation Point Noise Blocking provides for blocking or filtering the noise contributed by one or more of the branches coupled to an aggregation point that are not carrying the signal from a particular terminal. Signal activity from a given terminal on a particular branch can be identified and that information can be used to selectively block or filter the signal noise contributed by the other branches to an aggregation point. The selective blocking or filtering can also include an attenuation function to attenuate the signal and provide dynamic range smoothing. In another embodiment the signal can be regenerated to produce a signal that has a restored or very high SNR. An uplink regeneration block can be provided which demodulates the uplink signal to recover the transmitted information and then re-modulates the transmitted information to regenerate a signal at a restored or very high SNR.
US09276654B2 Transmitter and signal transmitting method thereof
A signal transmitter and receiver are provided. The transmitter includes: a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) precoder configured to, in response to a first input signal and a second input signal, generate a first transmission signal and a second transmission signal by performing MIMO precoding by pre-phase shifting or pre-phase shifting/hopping the second input signal, and superposition encoding the first input signal and the pre-phase shifted or pre-phase shifted/hopped second input signal; and an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modulator configured to OFDM modulate the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal.
US09276648B2 Method and system for performing multiple access in wireless OFDM cellular systems considering both space and frequency domains
The method comprising a base station equipped with a large number of antennas according to a two-dimensional rectangular array and a number M of cell users, said rectangular array comprising N1 antenna elements along one axis with a regular spacing dx and N2 antenna elements along a perpendicular axis with a regular spacing dy, said users being characterized by angles (θ,φ) in a spherical coordinate system, where in order to achieve orthogonal multiple access the method comprises: selecting a grid spacing (Δu,Δv) in the (u, v) domain; discretizing the (u, v) domain; constructing a set of signals ST[k,l,f]; calculating time-domain excitations AT[n,m,t]for the antenna elements in the array given by coordinates (ndx,mdy) for generation of the downlink transmit signals; and obtaining the frequency contents SR[k,l,f] of the complex baseband signals received from the M users in the uplink.The system implements the method of the invention.
US09276646B2 Method of managing cooperating set for coordinated multiple point transmission and reception and related communication device
A method of managing cooperating set for a network in a wireless communication system supporting a technology of coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission/reception includes periodically updating a cooperating set of CoMP for a user equipment of the wireless communication system; wherein the cooperating set of CoMP represents a set of transmission points directly and/or indirectly participating in data transmission to the user equipment in the wireless communication system.
US09276645B2 Inductive charger for providing radio frequency (“RF”) signal to a portable electric device
An inductive charger for a portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device has a radio frequency (“RF”) antenna configured for receiving an outgoing RF signal, as well as a secondary coil. The inductive charger includes a primary coil configured for creating a magnetic flux. The magnetic flux is configured for coupling to the secondary coil in the portable electronic device to induce current. The inductive charger includes RF coupling assembly that receives an incoming RF signal. The RF coupling assembly is configured to radiate the outgoing RF signal that is based on the incoming RF signal. The inductive charger includes a radiator configured to receive the outgoing RF signal from the RF coupling assembly. The radiator is configured to radiate the outgoing RF signal to the RF antenna of the portable electronic device.
US09276643B2 Mobile wireless communications device providing near field communication (NFC) unlock and tag data change features and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) transceiver and a controller coupled with the NFC transceiver. The controller may be configured to receive tag data from at least one NFC tag when in close proximity thereto via the NFC transceiver, verify the tag data, and when the tag data is successfully verified, perform at least one device unlock operation. The controller may be further configured to determine whether the tag data should be changed based on a predetermined schedule, and if it is determined that the tag data should be changed, communicate with the at least one NFC tag to change the tag data.
US09276640B2 Near field communications-triggering for wireless display/docking
Described herein are techniques related to devices with wireless docking capabilities and more particularly near field communications-based techniques for docking and undocking devices. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09276639B2 Wirelessly charged electronic device with shared inductor circuitry
An electronic device may contain an input-output device such as a speaker, vibrator, or near field communications antenna. The input-output device may include an inductor. The inductor in the input-output device may be shared by wireless charging circuitry in the electronic device so that wireless charging signals can be converted into power to charge a battery in the electronic device. A separate inductor may also be provided within an input-output device to support wireless charging. A drive circuit may supply drive signals to the input-output device such as audio signals, vibrator control signals, or near field communications output signals for external near field communications equipment. An input amplifier that is coupled across the inductor in the input-output device may be used in receiving near field communications signals.
US09276637B2 Communications on power systems
A power and data supply system that includes circuitry for supplying power and data to an output via a common transmission line is provided. The circuitry comprises a DC power source, a data signal source, a modulator configured to generate a modulated signal in dependence on the data signal, and an inverter, wherein the inverter is controlled by the modulated signal, such that the inverter generates an AC signal for output to the transmission line.
US09276628B1 Photovoltaic cell and E-ink display on the front side of a cell phone case
A cellular telephone case has front and back panels. A cellular telephone is coupled to the case by pushing the telephone into the case such that the main dock connector of the telephone engages a plug on the back panel. When the telephone is in this position, a back surface of the telephone is held in place on an inside surface of the back panel. The front panel is hinged so that it folds over and covers the telephone. In this folded position, the upward and outward facing outside surface of the front panel includes an E-ink display, a plurality of photovoltaic cells for charging a rechargeable battery of the case, and several buttons. Image information from the telephone is transferred to the case through the dock connector, and then viewed on the display using energy stored in the battery, even after the telephone has been decoupled from the case.
US09276624B2 Antenna system with self-identifying antenna
According to one embodiment disclosed herein, there is provided an antenna module including a self-identification mechanism that may be used by one or more wireless circuits for management purposes. The self-identification mechanism may, for example, take the form of an integrated circuit (IC) device or chip that stores a serial number that may function as a unique identifier for an antenna on which it is mounted or associated. In one embodiment, a wireless module, for example containing RF components for sending and receiving signals from the antenna, queries the serial number device, and acquires the serial number for the antenna. The wireless module can use the serial number for any number of purposes, and in particular to verify that the antenna connected is a compliant antenna that will operate within the range, within the limits, and/or with the performance specified for the radio circuits within the wireless module.
US09276620B2 Second-order input intercept point (IIP2) calibration method of a mixer in a wireless communication system and the mixer using the same
A mixer included in a receiver of a wireless communication system is provided. The mixer includes a switching unit including a plurality of transistors receiving a Radio Frequency (RF) signal and a Local Oscillation (LO) signal, and outputting a baseband signal, and a voltage controller outputting a voltage control signal controlling a body voltage of at least one transistor from among the plurality of transistors to thereby control a threshold voltage of the at least one transistor.
US09276616B2 Integrated circuit chip inductor configuration
An integrated circuit chip including a first inductor; a second inductor having n1 turns and located a distance r1 from the first inductor; and a third inductor having n2 turns and located a distance r2 from the first inductor; wherein the second and third inductors are coupled so as to cause current to circulate around the second inductor in a first rotational direction and around the third inductor in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction; and wherein n1, n2, r1 and r2 are such that current induced in the first inductor due to magnetic coupling from the second inductor is negated by current induced in the first inductor due to magnetic coupling from the third inductor.
US09276614B2 Buffer management in a turbo equalization system
A plurality of partially-decoded codewords that have been processed at least once by a first and a second error correction decoder is stored. A plurality of metrics associated with how close a corresponding partially-decoded codeword is to being successfully decoded is stored. From the plurality of partially-decoded codewords, a codeword having a metric indicating that that codeword is the closest to being successfully decoded by the first error correction decoder and the second error correction decoder is selected. The selected codeword is output to the first error correction decoder.
US09276607B2 Padding after channel encoding repetition and interleaving
Described herein are techniques related to the generation of data blocks that collectively include padding appended before a first or after a last of the data blocks. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09276604B2 Feed forward double-sampling modulator
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide analog to digital conversion of an analog input. A multistage modulator using a feed-forward technique can alternately convert integrated samples of the analog input to digital representations. For example, the modulator is arranged to alternately output the digital representations to form a digital representation of the analog input.
US09276601B2 Converting circuit with control circuit to detect signals input into the converting circuit, and communication device
A converting circuit and a communication device are provided. The converting circuit includes: a sample hold circuit for receiving an analog signal; a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC); a comparator being connected with an output end of the sample hold circuit and an output end of the DAC; and a control circuit being connected with an output end of the comparator, wherein when the sample hold circuit receives an analog signal, the control circuit controls the sample hold circuit and the comparator to work, controls an output of the DAC based on an output of the comparator, and outputs a corresponding digital signal; and when the control circuit detects a digital signal is input, the control circuit controls the DAC to convert the digital signal into an corresponding analog signal and output the corresponding analog signal. The converting circuit can reduce chip area and chip cost.
US09276600B2 Output changing method for an A/D conversion apparatus and A/D conversion apparatus
An output changing method of an A/D conversion apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a pulse delay circuit in which delay units are connected in series, and an encoding circuit which detects the number of stages of the delay units, through which a pulse signal passes during predetermined measurement time, and generates numeric data corresponding to the number of stages. The apparatus receives an analog input signal as power supply voltage of the pulse delay circuit to perform A/D conversion for the analog input signal. The method includes determining whether or not the analog input signal is within an allowable voltage range in which the apparatus operates normally, outputting the numeric data as an A/D conversion value if the analog input signal is within the range, and outputting numeric data formed of a specified value as the A/D conversion value if the analog input signal is not within the range.
US09276596B1 Analog to digital converting apparatus and initial method thereof
An analog to digital converting apparatus and an initial method thereof are provided. The analog to digital converting apparatus includes a first and a second switching capacitor units, a circuit unit, a first and a second initialization switches, a third and a fourth capacitors and a logic buffer. The first and the second switching capacitor units respectively couple first capacitors and second capacitors to a first logic voltage, a second logic voltage or a first or a second input voltage according to a first control signal, and respectively generate a first and a second voltage. The circuit unit compares the first voltage and the second voltage to generate the first control signal. The first and the second initialization switches are respectively connected in series between the first and the second voltage and a common-mode endpoint. The logic buffer outputs the first or the second logic voltage to the common-mode endpoint.
US09276593B2 Injection locked oscillator
An injection locked frequency divider includes a ring oscillator, an input terminal, an output terminal and a control voltage terminal. The ring oscillator has a three-stage cascade connection of a first amplification circuit including an N-channel MOS type transistor and P-channel MOS type transistors, a second amplification circuit configured in the same manner as the first amplification circuit and a third amplification circuit configured likewise. A high frequency signal is input to a gate terminal of each P-channel MOS type transistor. A predetermined DC control voltage is supplied to a gate terminal of each P-channel MOS type transistor.
US09276592B2 Multimedia interface receiving circuit
A multimedia interface receiving circuit includes a phase-locked loop (PLL) and four signal processing channels. Each of the channels includes a phase detecting circuit. In a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) configuration, one of the processing channels is disabled, and the PLL provides a locked clock signal to the other three processing channels. Each of the other three processing channels adjusts the phase of the locked clock signal to generate a sampling clock signal. In a DisplayPort (DP) configuration, the PLL changes to connect to the phase detecting circuit of one of the four signal processing channels to form an analog clock data recovery (ACDR) circuit to generate a fundamental clock signal. Each of the three other processing channels adjusts the phase of the fundamental clock signal to generate the sampling clock signal.
US09276587B2 Clock generation system
A clock generation system provides a low power approach for generating clock signals. The clock generation system may use a free running clock and, at intervals, maintain the accuracy of the free running clock. The free running clock may be the source of other system clocks, such as a 32 KHz clock for system timing and a 13 MHz clock to facilitate audio playback, e.g., MP3 decoding and playback. The clock generation system eliminates the need for two different crystal oscillators and a complex PLL for generating the low frequency clock.
US09276584B2 Compensated oscillator
An oscillator includes a compensated current source that adjusts an output current based on process, supply voltage, and temperature (“PVT”) variations of an integrated circuit device. The oscillator generates an output signal having a frequency based, in part, on the output current of the compensated current source. Accordingly, the output signal has a relatively low sensitivity to PVT variations.
US09276581B2 Nonvolatile programmable logic switch
A nonvolatile programmable logic switch of an embodiment includes: a cell including: a first memory including a first terminal connected to a first wiring line, and a second terminal; a second memory including a third terminal connected to a second wiring line, and a fourth terminal connected to the second terminal of the first memory; a first transistor, of which one of a source and a drain is connected to the second and fourth terminals, the other of the source and the drain is connected to a third wiring line, and a gate is connected to a fourth wiring line; and a second transistor, of which one of a source and a drain is connected to the second and fourth terminals, the other of the source and the drain is connected to a gate of a pass transistor, and a gate is connected to a fifth wiring line.
US09276580B2 Time division multiplexed limited switch dynamic logic
A dynamic logic circuit includes a precharge device configured to precharge a dynamic node in accordance with a first and second evaluation clock signal. A first evaluation tree is configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a first value in response to one or more first input signals in accordance with the first evaluation clock signal. A second evaluation tree configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a second value in response to one or more second input signals in accordance with the second evaluation clock signal.
US09276575B2 Low leakage state retention synchronizer
Described is an apparatus which comprises: a first memory unit having an input and an output, wherein the first memory unit operates on a first power supply which is operable to be turned off; a second memory unit having an input coupled to the output of the first memory unit, and an output, wherein the second memory unit operates on a second power supply which is always on; and a control logic coupled to the first and second memory units, the control logic to provide one or more control signals to each of the first and second memory units.
US09276573B2 High-performance low-power near-Vt resistive memory-based FPGA
A Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) of the island-type comprising a plurality of cluster-based Configurable Logic Blocks (CLBs), whereby each of the cluster-based CLBs is surrounded by a global routing structure formed by a plurality of multiplexers and pass/transmission-gates organized in Switch Boxes (SBs) and Connection Blocks (CBs), the switch boxes and the connection blocks comprising at least a first plurality of resistive memories inserted in a data path of a first routing architecture of the switch boxes and the connection blocks. Each CLB contains Basic Logic Elements (BLEs), as well as local routing resources.
US09276566B2 Dual edge-triggered retention flip-flop
A dual edge triggered retention flip-flop reduces clock tree power dissipation in an active mode and leakage power in a low-power (e.g., standby) mode. For example, a first latch can be used to latch a first state of an input to a flip-flop in response to a first (e.g., positive-going) edge of a clock signal and a second latch can be used to latch a second state of the input to the flip-flop in response to a second (e.g., negative-going) edge of a clock signal. A retention latch can be used to latch and retain the state of the flip-flop when the first and second latches are disabled to save power in the low-power mode. The retention latch can also be used to initialize at least one of the first and second flip-flops when exiting the low-power mode.
US09276558B2 Surface acoustic wave device including a confinement layer
In a surface acoustic wave device, a plurality of surface acoustic wave elements include piezoelectric bodies having the same cut-angle. A propagation azimuth of a surface acoustic wave in at least one of surface acoustic wave elements is different from a propagation azimuth of a surface acoustic wave in at least another one of the surface acoustic wave elements. In each of the surface acoustic wave elements, a confinement layer configured to confine the surface acoustic wave inside the piezoelectric body is disposed on the piezoelectric body at the side opposite to the side where an electrode is located.
US09276553B2 Impedance matching device and control method
In an impedance matching device, a storage unit stores a control value representing a load value and a value equivalent to input impedance in advance. The control value identifies inductance and capacitance values matching a predetermined impedance value by use of either a first or second matching circuit. An impedance estimation unit estimates input impedance of the power transmission antenna. The load value estimation unit estimates load value of a circuit connected to a power reception antenna and consuming transmitted electric power. A circuit selection unit electrically connects the first matching circuit, the second matching circuit, or a through circuit per the load value and the input impedance equivalent value. A control value output unit reads out the control value stored in the storage unit based on the load value and the input impedance equivalent value, and outputs the control value to the circuit selected by the circuit selection unit.
US09276552B2 Output match directional coupler
A directional coupler that provides directional coupling and an impedance transformation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the directional coupler includes a low pass filter having a filter inductor that is coupled between an input port and an output port and a filter capacitor coupled between the output port and ground. The directional coupler also includes detector circuitry wherein the filter inductor is magnetically coupled to a detector inductor in the detector circuitry such that current passing through the filter inductor generates a detector current through the detector inductor. Furthermore, the low pass filter and the detector circuitry cooperate to transform a first impedance presented at the output port to a second impedance presented at the input port. Accordingly, the filter inductor is used in the low pass filter to provide an impedance transformation so as to operate with the detector circuitry to provide a detector current for directional coupling.
US09276551B1 Impedance tuners with rotating multi-section probes
A new slide-screw impedance tuner structure uses multi-segment, disc-shaped, rotating metallic probes. This ensures probes covering multiple frequency bands to be served using a single vertical control mechanism, instead of multiple axes, motors, motor control and double or triple carriages. Additional benefits are high resolution in the area where the gap between center conductor and probe is small (high GAMMA), smooth increase of proximity between probe and center conductor (basic anti-corona discharge form) and the possibility to compensate for the negative phase slope at higher GAMMA, native to traditional slide screw tuners.
US09276550B2 Impedance matching switch circuit, impedance matching switch circuit module, and impedance matching circuit module
An impedance matching switch circuit module includes a first switch device connected to first and second high-frequency input/output terminals, a second switch device connected between the first high-frequency input/output terminal and a first matching terminal, and a third switch device connected between the second high-frequency input/output terminal and a second matching terminal. Impedance matching elements having appropriately set element values (inductances or capacitances) are connected to the first and second high-frequency input/output terminals and the first and second matching terminals, and on/off control is performed for the first, second, and third switch devices.
US09276549B1 Via system of printed circuit board and method of making same
A printed circuit board (PCB) includes a top outer layer, a bottom outer layer, a signal transmission layer, an inner signal transmission layer, and a via system defined in the PCB. The via system includes two pairs of vias configured to transmit signals from a transmitter to a receiver. A signal transmission pathway is defined in the top outer layer, the signal transmission layer, and the inner signal transmission layer. Signals are sent from the transmitter to a first pair of vias, the signals are transmitted from the first pair of vias to a second pair of vias, and the signals are sent from the second pair of vias to the receiver. The two pairs of vias and the signal transmission pathway provide impedance matching to the signals.
US09276548B2 Stacked LC resonator and band pass filter using the same
Provided are a stacked LC resonator and a band pass filter using the same. The stacked LC resonator includes a flat metal base layer; a plurality of spiral inductors disposed layer by layer, corresponding to the flat metal base layer; and a plurality of dielectric layers, formed between the spiral inductors, and between the flat metal base layer and the spiral inductor corresponding to the flat metal base layer. The band pass filter includes two resonators with symmetrical structures, wherein the spiral inductors of the two resonators are disposed corresponding to each other.
US09276547B2 Systems and methods of stacking LC tanks for wide tuning range and high voltage swing
A cascaded arrangement of resonant tanks capable of widening frequency selection and tuning within an RF circuit is presented. Moreover, usage of DTC allows for larger frequency tuning per tank as well as handling of higher voltage swings while maintaining high linearity across the tuning range.
US09276546B2 Electromagnetic interference filter assembly
An assembly and method for providing electromagnetic interference isolation. The assembly includes an enclosure which has a first panel and a second panel. Bus bars extend through the first panel and the second panel. A mounting plate is positioned between the first panel and the second panel. The mounting plate has locating members thereon. A plurality of inductive cores are positioned proximate the locating members, the inductive cores having openings through which the bus bars extend. The inductive cores are precisely positioned in the enclosure to facilitate the electromagnetic interference isolation.
US09276545B2 Method of power amplifier switching power control using post power amplifier power detection
Various embodiments described herein relate to a power management block and one or more amplification blocks used in the transmitter of a communication subsystem. The power management block provides improved control for the gain control signal provided to a pre-amplifier and the supply voltage provided to a power amplifier, both of which are included in a selected one of the amplification blocks. The power expended by the power amplifier is optimized by employing a continuous control method in which one or more feedback loops are employed to take into account various characteristics of the transmitter components and control values. Post power amplifier transmission power is detected for input into the one or more feedback loops executed in the power management block. A controller for the power amplifier is design to stabilize the system with respect to gain expansion in the power amplifier.
US09276532B2 High speed amplifier
A circuit may include one or more transistors connected directly to an output, and an inductance network. The inductance network may connect to a source node of at least one of the transistors, to compensate capacitance of the output. Thus, the response time of the circuit may decrease, and a non-dominant frequency response pole frequency of the circuit may increase.
US09276524B2 High frequency oscillator circuit
An oscillator circuit includes a field effect transistor and a resonant circuit having a first terminal connected to the field effect transistor. The resonant circuit includes an inductance and a capacitance and has a second terminal for connecting to a radiator. The field effect transistor includes a gate electrode coupled to a source of gate voltage, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a graphene channel disposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode and electrically connected thereto. The graphene channel is disposed relative to the gate electrode for being biased by the gate electrode into a negative differential resistance region of operation. The oscillator circuit is capable of generating a continuous wave THz frequency signal, and is further capable of being enabled and disabled by the bias applied to the gate electrode.
US09276523B1 Panel washing systems and methods
Embodiments disclose automated systems and methods for washing solar panels. The solar panels may be arranged in rows with varying lengths. A washing device unit may be configured to clean a first row, and a second washing may be configured to clean a second row, wherein the first row may include more solar panels than the first row. The first washing device may be configured to receive cleaning fluid from a fluid source and supply the cleaning fluid to the second washing device in areas that the second row is adjacent to the first row.
US09276522B1 Mass damper for solar tracker
In an example, the system has a mechanical isolator comprising an elastic material configured to separate the panel rail from the torque tube cause destructive interference with a natural resonant frequency of the system without the mechanical isolator to reduce a mechanical vibration of the system.
US09276521B2 Clamp for solar panel array
A clamp for securing photovoltaic panels to a support tube of a photovoltaic panel array has a lower brace for positioning on the support tube perpendicular to the support tube. The lower brace has a central web with a pair of side walls depending from opposite edges of the web. Support shoulders are formed in the side walls. Straps have tabs on an upper end that land on the support shoulders. An upper brace has flanges for engaging upper edge surfaces of adjacent ones of the panels. At least one deflectable standoff positions the upper brace a distance from the lower brace that is selected to be greater than a thickness of the adjacent ones of the panels. Tightening bolts between the braces deflects the standoff and draws the upper brace toward the lower brace to clamp the adjacent ones of the panels between the lower and upper braces.