Document | Document Title |
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US09283388B2 |
Selective high frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain, including cephalic and/or total body pain with reduced side effects, and associated systems and methods
Selective high-frequency spinal chord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side affects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 100 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address pelvic pain without creating paresthesia in the patient. |
US09283386B2 |
Neural element comprising nanowires and support layer
Provided is a neural device including a nanowire and a support layer. Further, provided is a neural device including: a substrate, at least one nanowire which is fixed on the substrate at a lengthwise end thereof to extend vertically and inserted into nerves to obtain electrical signals from nerve fibers or apply electrical signals to the nerve fibers; and a support layer which is formed on the substrate and which surrounds and supports at least one portion of the nanowire. |
US09283384B2 |
Electrical living body stimulation signal waveform generation device and electrical living body stimulation device
An electrical living body stimulation signal waveform generation device includes a waveform generation unit that generates a low-frequency pulse signal wave and a high-frequency signal wave individually, and a waveform synthesis circuit that superimposes the high-frequency signal wave on the low-frequency pulse signal wave during an ON period of the low-frequency pulse signal wave to form a synthesized wave having a waveform in which a level gradually rises from a point of time when the superimposition is started and the ON period and an OFF period are continuously repeated, wherein the synthesized wave is given as an electrical stimulus to a living body. |
US09283380B2 |
External pacemaker with an electrode temporarily connectable to a heart and coupled via a plug connector
An external pacemaker with at least one electrode temporarily connectable to the heart, and at the distal end of which is an active region, which makes contact with heart tissue, and at the proximal end is a contact plug. The electrode is for transmission of stimulation, defibrillation, and/or cardioversion pulses and is plugged into a pacemaker plug socket. The contact plug has first and second contact regions at its plug part. The plug socket matches the contact plug with two mating contacts, the first for transmitting stimulation pulses and the second for transmitting defibrillation and/or cardioversion pulses. In the plugged-in position, only the contact region on the plug part makes contact with the mating contact provided for transmitting the defibrillation and/or cardioversion pulses, such that no defibrillation and/or cardioversion pulse can be transmitted to electrodes which are unsuitable for defibrillation and/or cardioversion and have only a single-stage contact plug. |
US09283373B2 |
Knitted implantable electrode assembly and active implantable medical device
An active implantable medical device (AIMD). The AIMD comprises a knitted electrode assembly comprising: at least one biocompatible, electrically non-conductive filament arranged in substantially parallel rows each stitched to an adjacent row, and at least one biocompatible, electrically conductive filament having a first end intertwined with a first row of the at least one non-conductive filament, and a second end intertwined with a second row of the at least one non-conductive filament, wherein the first and second rows are spaced from one another. |
US09283371B2 |
Electro-stimulation system
An electro-stimulation system is provided with a compact power and control assembly and a plurality of shaped gel electrode patches with instructions to facilitate user administration of therapy. |
US09283365B2 |
Patch production
A method of producing projections on a patch including providing a mask on a substrate and etching the substrate using an etchant and a passivant to thereby control the etching process and form the projections, wherein the passivant does not include oxygen. |
US09283359B2 |
Balloon dilation catheter having transition from coaxial lumens to non-coaxial multiple lumens
A shaft for a balloon dilation catheter comprises a proximal portion wherein a guidewire tubular member is disposed coaxially within an outer tubular member, a shaft transitional portion, wherein the guidewire member is disposed within the outer member, with at least one distal tubular member not present in the proximal portion, a shaft distal portion, wherein the guidewire member and the distal members are disposed side-by-side and encased within a distal body, and fluid-tight barrier within a proximal lumen blocking the flow of fluid in the proximal lumen, but allowing the proximal lumen to remain in fluid communication with a distal lumens. |
US09283357B2 |
Methods, compositions and apparatus for delivering heterologous molecules to cells
A method for transferring a macromolecular complex to muscle cells by exsanguinating a region of the subject's microvasculature and delivering the complex to this region under high hydrostatic pressure. A balloon catheter having a balloon that extends substantially the full length of the cannula that is inserted into the subject is provided for use in the systemic delivery of macromolecular complex. |
US09283355B2 |
System for anchoring medical devices
Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that receives a catheter (or other medical instrument) and secures the catheter in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some embodiments, the anchor device can secure the catheter in an operative position relative to the skin penetration point without the use of sutures or skin tapes. |
US09283354B2 |
Catheter
In order to provide a catheter which can be operated even when it is deformed inside a bent blood vessel and whose movable part can be easily bent and the movable part thus bent is firmly kept in this shape, a catheter includes: a fluid-driven actuator including: a balloon; a restricting member for restricting inflation of the balloon in a short axis direction of the catheter; and a tube which is less stretchable in a long axis direction of the catheter than the balloon is, according to a cross-sectional view of the fluid-driven actuator taken along the short axis direction of the catheter, the tube being eccentrically provided with respect to the restricting member. |
US09283349B2 |
Methods and apparatus for device based prevention of kinetosis
Mechanisms are provided for alleviating kinetosis using a mobile device. Motion sensors, gyroscopes, cameras, inertial modules, proximity detectors, global position system (GPS) receivers, orientation sensors, etc., are used to monitor motion that a mobile device user feels through the vestibular system but may not observe. A kinetosis alleviation system generates activity on a mobile device display that simulates the detected motion. In some examples, the activity may be a frame around video or text that shows movement congruent or more congruent with detected motion. In other examples, the activity may be a video or text window itself that moves in a manner congruent with detected motion. |
US09283347B2 |
Device for dispensing oxygen for an anesthesia device
A device (10) for dispensing oxygen for an anesthesia device includes a switching element (15) that diverts oxygen between a first gas path (153) and a second gas path (154). The first gas path (153) leads to a patient (27) via a connection and port element. The second gas path (154) leads to a gas tapping port (20) for oxygen or gas insufflation. |
US09283346B2 |
Personal use oxygen concentrator with integrated fire safety
A personal use oxygen concentrator, including; a controllable user interface including at least one of visual and audio indicators, a power supply, a housing, a controllable product gas output device, a blower, a compressor, a selective adsorption system comprising adsorption beds and gas flow control valves comprising at least one of a PSA, VPSA, or VSA oxygen producing system, a programmable controller configured to control at least one of the blower, compressor, output device, user interface, and selective adsorption system, and an integrated smoke detection system and smoke detector controller, mounted within the housing, configured to be controlled by and provide data to the programmable controller, and the programmable controller may perform predetermined control actions when smoke is detected. |
US09283345B2 |
Apparatus for fluid tube
A fluid tube is disclosed herein. The breathing circuit tube has a wall which comprises a hollow geometry. The wall defines a passageway with a central longitudinal axis therethrough. The wall is expandable and contractible to adjust a diameter and a length of the passageway. The wall includes one or more corrugations that expand and contract to adjust the diameter and length of the passageway. The corrugations extend between terminal end portions of the wall. |
US09283343B2 |
Nasal cannula adapter
A nasal cannula adapter. The nasal cannula adapter includes a chamber having cannula clips, and a connector having an opening and a connector lumen in communication with the chamber and the opening. Systems for administering a gas to a patient comprise the nasal cannula adapter, a nasal cannula, and an airway device. Methods for administering a gas to a patient comprise administering a gas through a nasal cannula operably connected to the nasal cannula adapter operably connected to an airway device inserted into the airway of the patient. |
US09283341B2 |
Methods and apparatus for heart failure treatment
Methods and apparatus for assessing the condition of and treating patients for heart failure by the delivery of continuous positive airway pressure are disclosed. Treatment of obstruction due to reflex vocal cord closure often experienced by heart failure patients is distinguished from treatment of upper airway obstruction typically associated with Obstructive Sleep Disorder. Treatment may also be implemented by delivering synchronized cardiac pressure oscillations superimposed on a respiratory pressure level to provide assistance for the heart. Heart treatment pressure dose indicator may be calculated for prescribing and monitoring the delivery of treatment. The apparatus may also generate data to track heart failure condition that may be indicative of the degree of severity of heart failure based upon breathing patterns to assist in the diagnosis and management of heart failure patients. |
US09283338B2 |
Dose counter for a metered-dose inhaler
A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes a rotatably mounted first gear wheel having ratchet teeth and a display coupled to the first gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the first gear wheel. The dose counter further includes an actuator mechanism having a first ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of the first gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, and a second ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of a gear wheel coupled to the display. In use, a first ratchet tooth of the first gear wheel is rotatably driven by the first pawl and then a second ratchet tooth of the gear wheel coupled to the display is rotatably driven by the second pawl. |
US09283336B2 |
Delivery device and related methods
A dose delivery device with a mouthpiece having an inlet, an outlet, and an air path extending between the inlet and the outlet. A dose chamber having an opening may hold a dose, e.g., for inhalation by a user. A disc element may be arranged to move between a closed position in which the disc element closes the opening of the dose chamber, and an open position in which the disc opens the dose chamber to permit introduction of the dose into the air path of the device. Movement of the disc element from the closed position to the open position may be in a direction away from the dose chamber (e.g., a puller may engage the disc element and pull the element away from the chamber) and may leave a substantial portion of the dose in the dose chamber. |
US09283332B2 |
Intelligent air bubble detector and counters for automated infusion systems
Systems and methods for sensing bubbles during fluid infusion are disclosed. An infusion device comprises a pathway, a pump adjacent the pathway, one or more bubble sensors, and first and second modules. The pump alters the pathway to pump fluid through tubing received in the pathway. The bubble sensors are configured to detect bubbles in the fluid being pumped through the tubing. The first module is configured to generate a first alarm condition when the bubble sensors detect a bubble having a first volume above a first preselected threshold. The second module is configured to generate a second alarm condition when the bubble sensors detect a plurality of bubbles over a preselected period of time having a combined volume above a second preselected threshold. A third module may be also be used to record a total combined volume of bubbles detected by the bubble sensors during an infusion event. |
US09283329B2 |
Hypodermic syringe guide
An arterial syringe guide adapted for use with a common arterial syringe is provided for improving the safety of the arterial sampling procedure, for providing easy access to a syringe blood receptacle, and for facilitating the insertion of the needle of a syringe into a targeted artery. An integrated artery stabilizer holds the artery in place during use. A syringe holder retains the needle hub of a hypodermic needle. The blood receptacle component of the employed syringe may be separated from the device, leaving the needle component of the syringe locked on the device for safety. |
US09283324B2 |
Fluid transfer devices having cartridge port with cartridge ejection arrangement
Fluid transfer devices for use in manual cartridge filling procedures for filling cartridges with liquid drug dosages from medicament containing vials. The fluid transfer devices include a double ended main body having a longitudinal axis, a vial port for telescopic receiving a drug vial and a cartridge port for slidingly receiving a leading cartridge end. The cartridge port includes a cartridge securing arrangement for releasably securing a leading cartridge end therein and a cartridge ejection arrangement for at least partially ejecting a cartridge therefrom for assisting manual sliding ejection of a filled cartridge. The cartridge port can include either a combined cartridge securing and ejection arrangement or a discrete cartridge securing arrangement and a discrete cartridge ejection arrangement. |
US09283320B2 |
Fluid conveyance safety devices, methods, and systems
The disclosed subject matter includes a structure and method for making a dual-lumen needle from single lumen needles to take advantage of the much higher economies of scale. Variations include two needles joined by a flow junction and one needle and a single cannula joined by a flow junction. In addition disclosed are methods of using a dual-lumen needle in a two needle access for blood treatment is disclosed in which at least venous flow is provided through a dual-lumen needle with arterial flow just sufficient to provide air infiltration detection in the event of withdrawal of the dual-lumen needle. |
US09283316B2 |
Priming anticoagulant alignment for blood extraction
Methods and devices are described for reducing anticoagulant dilution of collected blood components during blood collection. |
US09283312B2 |
Dialysis system and method for cassette-based pumping and valving
A peritoneal dialysis system includes a disposable cassette including a flexible sheet; a hardware unit including (i) at least one pump actuator and piston head moved by the pump actuator, (ii) at least one valve actuator, (iii) at least one sensor, and (iv) a disposable cassette interface for interfacing with the disposable cassette, the disposable cassette interface including: (a) at least one pump aperture, the at least one piston head moveable out of and retractable into the at least one pump aperture to move a corresponding pumping portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette, the piston head moving within a vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber enabling a vacuum to be pulled around the piston head to the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette; (b) at least one valve aperture, at least a portion of the at least one valve actuator located in the valve aperture to move a valve portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette; and (c) at least one sensor aperture, the at least one sensor located in the at least one sensor aperture, the at least one sensor operable with a sensor portion of the flexible sheet of the disposable cassette. |
US09283308B2 |
Suction tip for surgical instruments
A suction tip for a surgical instrument includes a hollow housing having a top flat wall and a bottom flat wall and including a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end has a widened tip portion that is wider than the proximal end. The distal end may have a plurality of suction ports located at its front, top, right side and left side of the widened tip portion. Furthermore a ledge portion may protrude outwardly past a terminal end of the top flat wall to provide a clear space between the suction ports and tissue for evacuation of fluid in the clear space. Furthermore, the ledge portion which protrude outwardly may have bended tip in desire degrees and shapes. |
US09283307B2 |
Devices and methods for treatment of damaged tissue
Methods and devices for treatment of damaged tissue are disclosed, including treatment of wounds by employing non-electrically powered, reduced pressure therapy devices. Maintenance and control of the sub atmospheric pressure exerted may be provided by such devices while minimizing discomfort to the user. The devices may be configured to be worn inconspicuously underneath clothing. |
US09283306B2 |
Photoacoustic matching material and human tissue simulation material
Since a medium having light propagation properties and sound propagation properties similar to those of human tissues is provided, reflection of light and an acoustic wave at a surface of a test portion is prevented, and accuracy control of a photoacoustic wave diagnostic apparatus is realized. A photoacoustic matching material is provided which includes a polyol, an inorganic oxide, and a pigment, the latter two being dispersable in the polyol, and in this photoacoustic matching material, a dispersed amount of the inorganic oxide to the polyol is in a range of 0.10 to 0.25 percent by weight, and a dispersed amount of the pigment to the polyol is in a range of 0.0001 to 0.0005 percent by weight. |
US09283303B2 |
Surgical implant
A surgical implant comprising: a substrate having an exterior surface and a plurality of layers disposed over the substrate exterior surface. The substrate comprises a polymeric material, and the plurality of layers comprises: an activated substrate surface layer; a valve metal layer; and a porous valve metal oxide layer, wherein the valve metal layer is disposed between the activated substrate layer and the porous valve metal oxide layer. The disclosure provides for a method for producing a polymeric surgical implant. The exterior substrate surface is treated by one or more processes comprising: plasma activation; electron beam irradiation; ultraviolet light; and low energy Ar+ ion beam irradiation; producing an activated substrate surface layer. A plurality of layers is applied over the activated substrate surface layer. The surface is converted by a spark-anodization process in an alkaline bath containing Ca and P ions into a layer of porous valve metal oxide. |
US09283301B1 |
Shape-memory sponge hydrogel biomaterial
A hydrogel biomaterial that can be utilized as a nucleus pulposus replacement material is described. The hydrogel biomaterial can is an elastin-glycosaminoglycan-collagen composite hydrogel biomaterial that can mimic the biochemical and functional characteristics of the human nucleus pulposus. Methods for forming the hydrogel biomaterial are also described as are methods for use of the hydrogel biomaterial, one of which is as an in vivo nucleus pulposus replacement material, another of which is a scaffolding material for use in nucleus pulposus tissue engineering applications. |
US09283288B2 |
Methods of using optical agents
In certain aspects, the invention relates to processes for using renally excretable optical agents to detect one or more tissues of the renal system of a surgical patient. In certain aspects, the invention relates to a kit including a biocompatible composition containing one or more optical agents and instructions for using the optical agent(s) in a process of the present invention. |
US09283274B2 |
RSV specific binding molecule
The invention provides antibodies and functional equivalents thereof which are capable of specifically binding RSV. Nucleic acid sequences encoding said antibody, as well as antibody producing cells and methods for producing said antibody are also provided. |
US09283273B2 |
Protein formulation
A stable lyophilized protein formulation is described which can be reconstituted with a suitable diluent to generate a high protein concentration reconstituted formulation which is suitable for subcutaneous administration. For example, anti-IgE and anti-HER2 antibody formulations have been prepared by lyophilizing these antibodies in the presence of a lyoprotectant. The lyophilized mixture thus formed is reconstituted to a high protein concentration without apparent loss of stability of the protein. |
US09283272B2 |
Targeting intracellular target-binding determinants with intracellular antibodies
The invention provides a method for inhibiting an intracellular target in a cell with a bispecific antibody comprising contacting the cell with a bispecific antibody having a first Fv fragment with a cell-penetrating determinant and a second Fv fragment with an intracellular target-binding determinant under suitable conditions so that the first Fv fragment causes the bispecific antibody to enter the cell and the second Fv fragment binds the intracellular target in the cell and thereby inhibiting the intracellular target. |
US09283271B2 |
Human anti-SOD1 antibodies
Provided are novel human copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, also known as superoxide dismutase 1 or SOD1, specific antibodies as well as fragments, derivatives and variants thereof as well as methods related thereto. Assays, kits, and solid supports related to antibodies specific for SOD1 are also disclosed. The antibody, immunoglobulin chain(s), as well as binding fragments, derivatives and variants thereof can be used in pharmaceutical and diagnostic compositions for SOD1 targeted immunotherapy and diagnosis, respectively. |
US09283270B2 |
Method for stabilization of biological molecules
Thermostable polysaccharide based lyophilized vaccines are disclosed, particularly polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines and methods for preparation thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, a stabilized vaccine composition consists essentially of at least one polysaccharide-protein conjugate, at least one amorphous excipient, and a buffer component. |
US09283267B2 |
Formulations of tumour-associated peptides binding to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I or class II molecules for vaccines
The present invention relates to novel formulations of tumor-associated peptides binding to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I or II molecules as vaccines for the use in immunotherapeutic methods. In particular, the present invention relates to formulations for the immunotherapy of cancer, in particular renal and brain cancer, in particular glioma, especially glioblastoma cancer. The present invention furthermore relates to vaccine compositions for eliciting anti-tumor immune responses. |
US09283266B2 |
Metastasis inhibition preparations and methods
Disclosed are compositions and pharmaceutical preparations suitable for inhibiting metastasis of a malignant cancer in an animal. Methods for inhibiting and/or eliminating metastasis in an animal are also provided. In some embodiments, the preparations and compositions comprise a whole cell tumor preparation comprising tumor tissue cells and tumor connective tissue stroma. The disclosure also provides methods for preparing the preparations and pharmaceutical preparations. Inhibition of metastasis of malignant prostate cancer to the lung is shown in vivo. |
US09283258B2 |
Herpes treatment
Various human diseases, including herpes, antibiotic resistant bacterial infections, cutaneous Leishmaniasis, malaria and multiple sclerosis can be treated with injections of garlic juice. The garlic juice is produced by cutting, crushing, or otherwise damaging garlic cloves, and collecting the juice. This garlic juice is dissolved in a carrier solution, such as water or saline, and then injected into the patient. |
US09283257B2 |
Compositions comprising solanum tuberosum for lowering cytosolic NADH level to mimic calorie restriction
Embodiments herein relate to agents that mimic calorie restriction (CR) to extend life span, especially agents that lower the level of cytosolic NADH and increase the level of cytosolic NAD+ (relative to NADH) required to mimic calorie restriction that results in life span extension, at least in part by inhibition by NADH of SIR2, which is a key regulator of life span in both yeast and animals. NADH is a competitive inhibitor of SIR2, an NAD-requiring NAD-dependent histone deacetylase required for chromatin silencing and life-span extension. An overall reduction in NADH activates SIR2 and extends life span. The use of fluorescence measurements of NADH levels in a 96-well plate assay utilizing Baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a model to screen for agents and supplements that lower NADH levels is disclosed herein. A caloric restriction mimetic contains 1 part Mg2+ malate, 1 part turmeric and 98 parts dehydrated potato skins. |
US09283256B2 |
Antibacterial composition comprising Salvia extracts
The present invention relates to a selectively purified tanshinone compounds containing extract from the root of a Salvia spp comprising Cryptotanshinone, Dihydrotanshinone, Tanshinone I, and Tanshinone IIA. It comprises at least 15%, by weight of the said identified tanshinone compounds and at least 4% by weight, of cryptotanshinone. The extract and formulations thereof have been found to exhibit excellent anti-microbial properties against, in particular MRSA. |
US09283255B2 |
Compositions and methods for the prevention and treatment of red blood cell coagulation
A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting mammalian red blood cell coagulation is disclosed. The composition comprises an effective amount of Geum japonicum's organic extract and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. |
US09283252B2 |
Lactic acid bacterium having high oxalic acid decomposition ability
The present invention provides lactic acid bacteria having oxalic acid-degrading activity several times higher than those of conventionally known lactic acid bacteria having an oxalic acid-degrading activity, and uses thereof. Lactic acid bacteria capable of degrading a large amount of oxalic acid were screened from 132 strains of Lactobacillus lactic acid bacteria that have been independently isolated from feces and gastric juices of human adults. As a result, lactic acid bacteria having an oxalic acid degradation rate of 50% or more when cultured at 37° C. for 72 hours in a culture medium containing 10 mM oxalic acid at pH 6.5 at the start of culture were discovered. |
US09283249B2 |
Sodium nitrite-containing pharmaceutical compositions
Provided herein are pharmaceutically acceptable sodium nitrite and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods for determining the total non-volatile organic carbon in a sodium nitrite-containing sample. Further provided herein are methods for producing pharmaceutically acceptable sodium nitrite. Still further provided herein are methods of treatment comprising the administration of pharmaceutically acceptable sodium nitrite. |
US09283248B2 |
Bi-functional co-polymer use for ophthalmic and other topical and local applications
The invention contemplates a copolymer which is a graft or block copolymer useful to change wettability and surface characteristics of biological surfaces. Methods for use of these formulations and coatings to change wettability and sterically stabilize, and lubricate biological surfaces in a subject, for example, in the treatment of dry eye syndrome, and to prevent adherence of unwanted proteins, for example in the treatment of contact lens intolerance, are provided. |
US09283246B2 |
Pharmaceutical compositions containing carboxylated starch
The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing carboxylated starch derivatives as well a their use as osmotics in particular for use in the treatment of chronic renal failure by dialysis. |
US09283245B2 |
Composition containing PIAS3 as an active ingredient for preventing or treating cancer or immune disease
The present invention relates to a composition containing PIAS3 as an active ingredient for the prevention or treatment of cancer or immune disease. More specifically, the present invention relates to a composition containing the PIAS3 gene or an expressing protein thereof as an active ingredient for the prevention or treatment of cancer or immune disease, to an immunosuppressant composition, to a method for reducing or inhibiting undifferentiated T cells into Th17 cells using the PIAS3 gene or an expressing protein thereof, and to a method for activating regulatory T cells. |
US09283242B2 |
Uses of dihydro bases
The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a dihydro base described herein (e.g., compound DHdC). The dihydro base may show multiple tautomerism and may increase mutation of an RNA and/or DNA of a virus or cancer cell. The dihydro base may be used to reduce DNA methylation (e.g., in a cancer cell). The present invention also provides kits including the inventive pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating a viral infection (e.g., influenza, HIV infection, or hepatitis C) or cancer using the pharmaceutical compositions or kits. |
US09283241B2 |
Treatment to render implants resistant to diabetes
Disclosed is a medical device treated with a phenolic compound and a process for treating a device with the phenolic compound. For example, a collagen or elastin-based scaffold can be treated with pentagalloyl glucose (PGG). The treated scaffold can become resistant to glycoxidative stress associated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that are present in a hyperglycemic environments associated with diabetes mellitus. The treated scaffold can exhibit a reduced increase in stiffness as compared to an untreated scaffold. The treated scaffold can also exhibit reduced inflammation without negatively affecting the ability of the scaffold to remodel in vivo. |
US09283238B2 |
Prodrugs of 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds and their uses
The present disclosure provides prodrugs of biologically active 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds, salts and hydrates of the prodrugs, compositions comprising the prodrugs, intermediates and methods for synthesizing the prodrugs and methods of using the prodrugs in a variety of applications. |
US09283236B2 |
Aldosterone induced vascular elastin production
Compositions and methods for inducing the deposition of elastin by administering compositions including a mineralocorticoid, such as, for example, aldosterone and, optionally, a secondary active agent for enhancing or modulating the effect of the mineralocorticoid are described herein. |
US09283233B2 |
Method for on-demand contraception
The invention relates to a method for on-demand contraception, which method comprises administering a progestogen agent or progesterone receptor modulator, such as 17a-acetoxy-11b-(4-N,N-dimethylamino-phenyl)-19-norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione (ulipristal acetate) in a woman, within 72 hours before an intercourse or within 120 hours after the intercourse. |
US09283231B2 |
Sustained release formulations for the treatment of intraocular pressure of glaucoma
The present embodiments provide for methods of treating elevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma using a sustained release medicament consisting of prostaglandin in benzyl benzoate that is injected intraocularly no more frequently than once every two months. |
US09283229B2 |
Dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one compounds as S-nitrosoglutathione reductase inhibitors
The present invention is directed to novel dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one compounds useful as S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of making and using the same. |
US09283225B2 |
Pyrido-pyrimidine derivatives
Compounds of the formula I in which Het, R3 and R4 have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are inhibitors of RON and can be employed, for the treatment of cancer. |
US09283223B2 |
Method for treating a pulmonary hypertension condition
A method for treating a pulmonary hypertension condition such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in a subject comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of ambrisentan, wherein, at baseline, time from first diagnosis of the condition in the subject is not greater than about 2 years. |
US09283222B2 |
Inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase
Inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase, ways to make them and methods of treating patients using them are disclosed. |
US09283220B2 |
Compositions of opioid antagonists and methods for treating conditions caused by the varicella-zoster virus therewith
Provided are compositions comprising opioid antagonists, such as naltrexone naloxone, or nalmefene, or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and methods for treating conditions caused by the varicella-zoster virus therewith. |
US09283216B2 |
Abuse-resistant controlled-release opioid dosage form
Abuse-resistant, controlled release opioid tablets are a combination containing an opioid antagonist such as naloxone at a level above that needed to suppress the euphoric effect of the opioid, if the combination were crushed to break the controlled release properties causing the opioid and opioid antagonist to be released as a immediate release product as a single dose. The controlled release nature of the table prevents the accumulation of orally effective amounts of opioid antagonist when taken normally. The opioid antagonist is contained in a controlled-release matrix and released, over time, with the opioid. |
US09283215B2 |
Methods for treating multiple myeloma using 4-(amino)-2-(2,6-dioxo(3-piperidyl))-isoindoline-1,3-dione in combination with antibodies
Methods of treating, preventing and/or managing cancer as well as and diseases and disorders associated with, or characterized by, undesired angiogenesis are disclosed. Specific methods encompass the administration of an immunomodulatory compound alone or in combination with a second active ingredient. The invention further relates to methods of reducing or avoiding adverse side effects associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy or immunotherapy which comprise the administration of an immunomodulatory compound. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed. |
US09283210B2 |
Amorphous mirabegron and processes for crystal forms of mirabegron
Aspects of the present invention relate to amorphous form of mirabegron, amorphous solid dispersion of mirabegron, process for its preparation, processes for preparation of a form crystal and β form crystal of mirabegron and pharmaceutical composition thereof. |
US09283206B2 |
Trimethylangelicin as CFTR corrector in bronchial epithelial cells
The invention relates to the use of 4,6,4′-trimethylangelicin (TMA) and structural analogs thereof to prepare a medicament for the treatment of cystic fibrosis with the primary objective of correcting the defective CFTR in a sub-group of cystic fibrosis patients consisting of patients carrying the F508del-CFTR mutation. |
US09283204B2 |
Composition for treating neurodegenerative disease or neuropathological condition
This invention relates to extracts and refined fractions of a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, Alpinia officinarum (AO), components thereof, and the use of such compounds and compositions to treat neurodegenerative or neuropathological conditions or to inhibit aggregation of a-synuclein. |
US09283197B1 |
More potent and less toxic formulations of epinephrine and methods of medical use
The present invention provides pharmaceutical formulations of levorotatory-epinephrine, l-epinephrine, more potent and less toxic than existing pharmaceutical formulations of epinephrine, along with methods of producing and using these pharmaceutical formulations of l-epinephrine. |
US09283195B2 |
Methods used to characterize and treat glioblastoma
The invention encompasses methods and kits used in the identification of invasive glioblastoma based upon the expression of TROY. The methods and kits also allow prediction of disease outcome as well as therapeutic outcome. |
US09283193B2 |
Method of drug formulation based on increasing the affinity of crystalline microparticle surfaces for active agents
Methods are provided for coating crystalline microparticles with an active agent by altering the surface properties of the microparticles in order to facilitate favorable association on the microparticle by the active agent. Type of surface properties that are altered by the disclosed methods include by electrostatic properties, hydrophobic properties and hydrogen bonding properties. |
US09283188B2 |
Delivery systems for delivering functional compounds to substrates and processes of using the same
Delivery systems for incorporating functional compounds into substrates for use in various consumer products are disclosed. Specifically, the delivery system includes a carrier component comprising an ultrasonically energized adsorbent and one or more functional compounds. The ultrasonically energized adsorbent can adsorb the desired functional compounds and bind the functional compounds to the surface of the substrate. |
US09283185B2 |
Liposomal curcumin for treatment of cancer
The present invention provides a compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and melanoma, in a human patient. The methods and compositions of the present invention employ curcumin or a curcumin analogue encapsulated in a colloidal drug delivery system, preferably a liposomal drug delivery system. Suitable colloidal drug delivery systems also include nanoparticles, nanocapsules, microparticles or block copolymer micelles. The colloidal drug delivery system encapsulating curcumin or a curcumin analogue is administered parenterally in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. |
US09283183B2 |
Biphenyl compounds useful as muscarinic receptor antagonists
This invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, d, m, n, p, s, t, W, Ar1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R8 are as defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders. |
US09283182B2 |
Topical antiviral formulations
The present invention relates to formulations of nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), preferably [2-(6-Amino-purin-9-yl)-1-methyl-ethoxymethyl]-phosphonic acid (tenofovir, PMPA), or a physiologically functional derivative thereof, suitable for topical application and their use in the prevention of HIV infections. |
US09283181B2 |
CNS delivery of therapeutic agents
The present invention provides an effective and less invasive approach for direct delivery of therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods including a step of administering intrathecally to a subject suffering from or susceptible to a lysosomal storage disease associated with reduced level or activity of a lysosomal enzyme, a composition comprising a replacement enzyme for the lysosomal enzyme. |
US09283180B2 |
Vaporized medicants and methods of use
A method and formulation for delivering an active compound in a vaporized state using low temperatures to vaporize the formulation. The formulation contains an inert non-reactive compound that lowers the heat of vaporization of the formulation, and the active compound. The formulation may optionally contain glycerin, alcohol, and/or water. Examples of inert non-reactive compounds that can sufficiently lower the heat of vaporization of the formulation include propylene glycol and polysorbate. The formulation can be vaporized using a hand-held low temperature vaporizer or atomizer. |
US09283178B2 |
Methods for treating edema in the eye and intraocular implants for use therefor
Methods for reducing or preventing transplant rejection in the eye of an individual are described, comprising: a) performing an ocular transplant procedure; and b) implanting in the eye a bioerodible drug delivery system comprising an immunosuppressive agent and a bioerodible polymer. |
US09283173B2 |
Emulsified wax compositions and uses thereof
The present invention discloses emulsified wax compositions having a wide range of uses, including as cosmetic, pharmaceutical and agricultural compositions, particularly for improving skin moisture, appearance, and wound healing, for the treatment of inflammation and allergic responses of the skin, and for preservation of agricultural fresh produce. The composition of the invention comprises an aqueous phase and at least one wax at a concentration of at least 5%, at least one fatty acid and at least one basic amino acid or a salt thereof. |
US09283172B2 |
Use of stem cell conditioned medium to induce ZO-1 proteins expression for skin regeneration, repair and firming
A use of a stem cell conditioned medium to induce ZO-1 proteins expression for skin regeneration, repair and finning is revealed herein. First, mesenchymal stem cells are cultured in a cell culture dish containing complete growth media, wherein the complete growth media include α-MEM, fetal bovine serum, and human-basic fibroblast growth factors. After mesenchymal stem cells are sub-cultured in the complete growth media for three times, a conditioned medium which can effectively increase the activation of tight junction protein Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) can be acquired from the basal medium. |
US09283169B2 |
Water-in-oil emulsified skin cosmetic
The present invention relates to a water-in-oil emulsified skin cosmetic comprising the following ingredients (a) through (e): (a) Water: 5-50 wt % (b) Ethanol: 1-20 wt % (c) Volatile oil component: 2-50 wt % (d) Carboxy decyl trisiloxane represented by the following formula (1): 0.1-5 wt % (e) One, two or more selected from a group consisting of hydrophobized titanium dioxide, hydrophobized zinc oxide, and hydrophobized iron oxide: 2-50 wt %; wherein the object of the present invention is to provide a water-in-oil emulsified skin cosmetic containing the aforementioned powder (e) wherein powdery squeakiness over time after application on the skin is suppressed and at the same time absorption into the skin at the time of application and the absence of stickiness after application on the skin are improved. |
US09283167B2 |
Use of a product for keratin fibers, containing at least one specific polymer combination for improving the color retention of oxidative hair colorations
Methods and related agents. Said agents including, in a cosmetically acceptable carrier, a) at least one copolymer A having at least one structural unit (A1), at least one structural unit (A2), at least one structural unit (A3) and at least one structural unit (A4), wherein R1 represents an optionally heterofunctionalized alkyl group; R2 represents an optionally heterofunctionalized alkyl group which is different from R1; R3 independently represents an optionally heterofunctionalized alkyl group different from R1 and R2, and b) at least one copolymer B, which is different from copolymer A and has at least one structural unit (B1), wherein R4 represents an optionally heterofunctionalized alkyl group, improve the color retention of oxidatively dyed keratin-containing fibers. |
US09283166B2 |
Modulation of melanogenesis by modification of tyrosinase by palmitoylation
Compositions and methods for modulating melanogenesis by modifying tyrosinase palmitoylation are provided. |
US09283164B2 |
Cosmetic and topical skin preparation comprising higher alcohol-modified silicone
A cosmetic and a topical skin preparation comprising a higher alcohol-modified silicone (A) with the following general formula (1) wherein R1 is, e.g., an alkyl group; P is a monovalent organic group that contains the Si—O bond or is a long-chain monovalent hydrocarbyl group; at least one Q is a higher alcohol modifying group (—(C10-C30)-OH); and (m1+m2+m3) is a number in the range from 0 to 55 and most favorably (m1+m2+m3) is 1. |
US09283158B2 |
Oxidant preparation having optimized viscosity for treating keratin fibers
An oxidizing agent preparation for treating keratinic fibers, in particular human hair, includes in a cosmetic carrier (a) 0.01 to 25.0 wt. % of hydrogen peroxide, (b) 0.01 to 15.0 wt. % of one or more organic lipophilic compound(s) from the group of plant and animal fats, oils and waxes, paraffin hydrocarbons, C10-C24 fatty alcohols, silicone oils and dialkyl ethers of formula (I), in which R1 and R2 mutually independently denote an unbranched or branched C8-C24 alkyl group, and (c) 0.01 to 2.00 wt. % of one or more organic thickeners from the group of polysaccharides with the proviso that the oxidizing agent preparation does not include any synthetic polymers of the polyacrylic acid type. R1-O—R2 (I). |
US09283154B2 |
Method and compositions for improving appearance of skin
A method for making a composite particulate comprised of a colorant portion and a clear thermoplastic portion and cosmetic compositions containing the composite particulate. |
US09283150B2 |
Pill dispensing system
A pill dispenser comprising a container operatively arranged to hold at least one pill, a cap/timer assembly rotatably secured to the container, the cap/timer assembly arranged to be set to a time interval for dispensing the at least one pill, means for alerting a user when the timer has been set to the time interval, and a dispenser housed within the container and the cap, the dispenser operatively arranged to dispense only one pill at the beginning of the time interval, and to prevent dispensing until the time interval has elapsed. The dispenser also includes an audible alert to indicate that a pill has been dispensed. |
US09283149B2 |
Pill dispensing method and apparatus
The present invention is a pill dispensing method and apparatus wherein a first rotor rotates pills about a rotation axis along a first part of a spiral path at a first rotational speed whereupon the pills move spirally away from the rotation axis. A second rotor receives the pills from the first rotor and rotates the pills about the rotation axis along a second part of the spiral path at a second, greater rotational speed whereupon the pills move spirally away from the rotation axis toward a discharge chute which dispenses the pills into a pill bottle or a storage container. A counter can be provided for counting pills that exit the discharge chute or opening. |
US09283146B2 |
Machine and method for the automatic preparation of intravenous medication
Machine and method for the automatic preparation of medication, comprising:—a starting products area comprising at least one receptacle with bane products; a transfer tools area further comprising at least one transfer tool; a prepared products area comprising at least one container; and one robot with holding means for transporting the receptacle, the transfer tool and/or the container; wherein the robot, the starting products area, the transfer tools area, and the prepared products area are disposed in the same cabinet or chamber of the machine, so that the robot is adapted to transport the receptacle, the transfer tool and/or the container between the areas in the chamber. The machine further comprising a holding device between the receptacle, the transfer tool or the container and the robot's holding means, said holding device comprising elastic means for fixation to different sizes/forms of receptacles, transfer tools or containers. |
US09283145B2 |
Drug vial spikes, fluid line sets, and related systems
This disclosure relates to drug vial spikes, fluid line sets, and related systems. In some aspects, a fluid line set includes a frame, multiple spikes extending from the frame, and multiple fluid lines connected to the frame. The frame is configured to hold the fluid lines in a spaced apart configuration. |
US09283144B2 |
Manual bidet
According to an exemplary embodiment, a bidet assembly for a toilet generally includes a sprayer, a water supply system, and an arm. The sprayer is configured to spray water. The water supply system is configured to selectively communicate water from one or more water sources to the sprayer. The arm is operationally coupled to the water sprayer and the water supply system. The arm is configured such that rotation of the arm acts to rotate the sprayer and the arm forger comprises a feature configured to allow control of the amount of water flow from the water supply to the sprayer. |
US09283142B1 |
Portable sauna system
The present invention features a portable sauna system having a bathtub with an enclosure on three sides. The system features a portable sauna enclosure with a U-shaped sauna anterior support, a U-shaped sauna posterior support, and a U-shaped sauna middle support. The sauna anterior support and the sauna posterior support each feature a plurality of suction cups and a foam seal disposed on the sauna anterior support anterior side and the sauna posterior support posterior side, respectively. The sauna middle support features a first rolled curtain on a first spring biased roll, and a second rolled curtain on a second spring biased roll. The sauna middle support features a plurality of suction cups and a foam seal disposed on the sauna middle support second side. The system features a heat source. |
US09283140B2 |
Synchronization of repetitive therapeutic interventions
A medical device of the type used for assisting a user in manually delivering repetitive therapy to a patient (e.g., chest compressions or ventilations in cardiac resuscitation), the device comprising a feedback device configured to generate feedback cues to assist the user in timing the delivery of the repetitive therapy, at least one sensor or circuit element configured to detect actual delivery times, at which the user actually delivers the repetitive therapy, and a processor, memory, and associated circuitry configured to compare the actual delivery times to information representative of desired delivery times to determine cue times at which the feedback cues are generated by the feedback device. |
US09283139B2 |
Treatment and/or prevention of medical conditions via compression
Methods and systems for dynamic compression of venous tissue enable improved blood movement in the extremities. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a pressure pad provides a compressive force to a portion of the human body. The pressure pad is successively withdrawn and re-pressed against the body. In this manner, prevention and/or treatment of various medical conditions may be achieved, for example restless leg syndrome, edema, plantar fasciitis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, venous insufficiency, wound care, and/or the like. |
US09283125B2 |
Disposable wearing article
In a disposable wearing article, a first waist region is elasticized and formed of an inner sheet and an outer sheet. The non-skin-facing side of the outer sheet is formed substantially over its entire area with a plurality of thermocompression-bonded spots regularly and intermittently arranged at predetermined intervals. The outer sheet has non-thermocompressed regions surrounded by a plurality of thermocompression-bonded spots. A fibrous layer lying at least on the outer surface of said outer sheet is formed of thermal adhesive crimped fibers which are bonded together by thermocompression-bonding treatment in the thermocompression-bonded spots. The outer sheet and the inner sheet are bonded to each other by adhesive applied on at least one of respective opposite surfaces thereof so that the crimped fibers in the non-thermocompressed regions may protrude outward in a thickness direction of the outer sheet as the inner sheet contracts in the direction of the transverse axis Q. |
US09283123B2 |
Incontinence monitoring and assessment
A system for monitoring incontinence in one or more subjects comprises display means; input means operable by a user; one or more transmitters, each transmitter being associated with one or more subjects being monitored; the one or more transmitters being configured to transmit signals containing continence-related data for the one or more subjects, wherein the continence-related data has been obtained over time from a continence sensor associated with an absorbent article worn by each respective subject; a receiver unit configured to receive signals from the one or more transmitters; and processing means in communication with at least the receiver unit, the processing means including a display processor configured to process the received signals and communicate display information to the display means for display of a visual representation of continence-related information derived from continence sensors in the absorbent articles worn by the one or more subjects being monitored. The system may include a volume estimator and means for communicating to a carer a ‘risk of wetness leakage’ based on e.g. an estimated volume of wetness and e.g. a pad type. Pad type may be communicated to the system automatically by way of a pad type indicator associated with the pad and/or pad/sensor combination. |
US09283122B2 |
Tampon applicator
A tampon applicator includes an outer cylinder having an absorbent; an inner cylinder configured to push the absorbent into the outer cylinder; and a flange part extending outward in a radial direction from an outer peripheral surface of a grip cylinder part of the outer cylinder. The flange part is provided with a flange identifying unit including at least one of an identifying display portion; an identifying friction portion; or an identifying shape portion. |
US09283121B1 |
Apparatuses for transferring discrete articles
The present disclosure is directed to a transfer assembly for transferring discrete articles from or to a moving carrier member. The transfer assembly comprises a frame defining a rotation axis. The frame comprises a track having a circumferential shape surrounding the rotation axis. The transfer assembly comprises transfer members movably engaged with the track, each having a transfer surface. The transfer assembly comprises a wheel engaged with the frame and configured to rotate about the rotation axis. The wheel is engaged with the transfer members. As the wheel rotates about the rotation axis, the transfer members circumnavigate about a path about the rotation axis in correspondence with the track. The shape of the track causes the transfer surfaces to move radially relative to the rotation axis while the transfer surfaces are maintained a substantially constant distance away from the moving carrier member at the point of discrete article transfer. |
US09283119B2 |
Particle supplying apparatus and sheet article manufacturing apparatus
An absorbent sheet manufacturing apparatus has a cylinder part having a plurality of concave portions arranged in a circumferential direction, a particle filling part which is located above the cylinder part and which stores particles of high-absorbent resin, to sequentially fill the plurality of concave portions with particles by a particle filling opening in its lower end, and a communication part which is located adjacent to the particle filling opening. A concave portion facing a posterior edge of the particle filling opening is brought into communication with external space through the communication part. Therefore, when particles are filled into the concave portion from the particle filling part, air in the concave portion is forced out by particles entering the concave portion and is easily discharged to the external space through the communication part. As a result, it is possible to increase a density of particles filled in the concave portion. |
US09283118B2 |
Absorbent dressing with hybrid drape
A dressing may be suitable for use with systems and methods for treating a tissue site. Embodiments of the dressing may include a base layer, an adhesive, a sealing member, a first wicking layer, a second wicking layer, and an absorbent layer. The base layer may have a plurality of apertures and may be adapted to cover the tissue site. The adhesive may be positioned between the sealing member and the base layer such that the sealing member and the base layer define an enclosure. The first and the second wicking layer may each be disposed in the enclosure with the absorbent layer positioned between the first and the second wicking layer. Other dressings, systems, and methods are disclosed. |
US09283108B2 |
Sterilisation device
Apparatus for sterilization of a female mammal comprising at least one separation member for separation of a fallopian tube from a uterine cavity of the female mammal, a circulation assembly which is operatively connected to said at least one separation member, and at least one sterilization lumen which is operatively connected to said circulation assembly and debouching at a distal side of said at least one separation member, said at least one sterilization lumen being adapted for injection in use of a tissue necrotizing fluid capable of necrotizing a lining of at least a part of said fallopian tube, wherein said circulation assembly is adapted to circulate said tissue necrotizing fluid within said sterilization lumen and said fallopian tube. The apparatus allows quick, simple, safe and reliable sterilization. |
US09283107B2 |
Pump for producing or improving human penis erection
A pump to produce or improve human penis erection includes a substantially tubular inner assembly having a rimmed annular edge suited to accommodate an erect human penis, a translating assembly sliding along the inner assembly having an end shaped like a dome with an opening or circular seat suited to accommodate a valve and a lid, a bellows having two annular edges suited to be connected and joined respectively with the rimmed annular edge of the inner assembly, where the valve has a first substantially disk-shaped part, the center of which has a second substantially linear part perpendicular to the disk-shaped part, and where the lid includes a circular element having an elongated hole or slot in a radial direction, through which the second linear part of the valve is housed and protrudes, as well as one or more additional through holes. |
US09283106B2 |
Breathing system
A breathing system is provided which enhances the ability of a user to breathe through the user's nasal passageways. The breathing system generally includes a bridge member and a pair of nasal appliques which are attachable to the lateral portions of the user's nose. The bridge member is positionable adjacent the appliques to activate the system and impart a dilating force onto the user's nose. The system may be deactivated by removing the bridge member from the appliques, and thereby removing the dilating force from the user's nose. |
US09283102B2 |
Gastric space filler device, delivery system, and related methods
According to features of the present disclosure, a gastric space filler device and methods effective for reducing stomach volume are disclosed. A gastric space filler comprising at least one inflatable space filler and a sleeve to prevent leakage out of the gastric space filler device is disclosed. The gastric space filler device may be inflated with an insufflation fluid and with mineral oil, which further has the effect of reducing leakage. Delivery systems and methods for inserting a gastric space filler device into a patient are also disclosed. Sheaths and methods for covering a gastric space filler device during delivery into a patient are also disclosed. |
US09283096B2 |
Vascular reinforcement device
Technologies are generally provided for a vascular reinforcement device for preventing compression of a blood vessel in the presence of applied external forces applied which may occur due to pregnancy and obesity. The vascular reinforcement device may include a first portion configured to be positioned over the aorta and a second portion coupled perpendicularly with the first portion, the second portion configured to be positioned over the left renal vein for preventing the left renal vein from being compressed against the rigid aorta. A reinforcement structure may be embedded into the second portion for providing further protection from compression of the vein passing through the second portion. The vascular reinforcement device may be configured in an initial reduced profile position for delivery to the abdominal area via a delivery tube, and may be deployed into an expanded position over the aorta and the left renal vein. |
US09283094B2 |
Polymer-based stent assembly
Methods for preparing a polymer-based stent assembly comprising an inflatable balloon catheter and a polymer-based stent resistant to relaxation-related negative recoil are provided. The methods comprise heating a polymeric cylindrical device which is at a final predetermined shape and diameter to a temperature sufficiently above the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the polymer and for a time sufficient to erase any memory of previous processing of the polymeric cylindrical device and then quenching the polymeric cylindrical device to provide an educated polymeric cylindrical device having a memory of the final predetermined diameter and shape, mounting the educated cylindrical device on an inflatable balloon catheter, reducing the diameter of the educated cylindrical device by heating to a temperature at or slightly above the Tg of the polymer while evenly applying pressure on the exterior surface of the wall of the cylindrical device, and then cooling the cylindrical device below the Tg of the polymer to provide a stent assembly comprising an inflatable balloon catheter and an expandable, educated, polymeric stent snugly and stably disposed thereon. Assemblies comprising an inflatable balloon and a polymer based stent that is substantially resistant to relaxation related recoil mounted snugly on the balloon are also provided. |
US09283092B2 |
Laterally deflectable implant
A laterally deflectable asymmetric implant for implanting into a body may comprise a deflectable piece having distal and proximal ends and assuming a straightened insertion state. The backbone may abut or interconnect with said deflectable piece at the distal end of the deflectable piece. In a fully deflected state the implant may define an asymmetric shape, e.g. a D-shaped loop, defining an at least partially enclosed volume. The deflectable piece may comprise a sequence of segments interconnected at effective hinges. Longitudinal pressure applied to the proximal end of the deflectable piece (or applied to the backbone in an opposite direction) may cause relative longitudinal movement between the backbone and the proximal end of the deflectable piece and may generate outward horizontal movement of the deflectable piece away from the backbone. In one embodiment, the implant is implanted using lateral access into an anterior zone of a vertebra and deployed posteriorly. |
US09283090B2 |
Spinal construct and method
A spinal construct includes a first member including a surface that defines a first cavity and a second cavity. The first member is configured to engage a first vertebral surface. A second member includes a surface that defines a first cavity and a second cavity. The second member is configured to engage a second vertebral surface. The members are spaced and the first cavities are disposed in substantial alignment such that at least one first rod is disposed in the first cavities and the second cavities are disposed in substantial alignment such that a plurality of second rods are disposed in the second cavities and spaced via at least one spacer disposed between the second rods within at least one of the second cavities. Systems and methods are disclosed. |
US09283087B2 |
Interbody vertebral prosthetic and orthopedic fusion device with self-deploying anchors
An intervertebral prosthesis includes: a body; a first aperture extending from within the body and opening; a first anchoring element disposed within the first aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end of the first anchoring element includes a first portion of a first articulation mechanism; and a drive mechanism having: (i) a threaded shaft defining a longitudinal axis thereof and a head at a proximal end of the threaded shaft, (ii) a translator element having a threaded bore in threaded engagement with the threaded shaft, and a coupling element having a corresponding second portion of the first articulation mechanism, where the first and second portions of the first articulation mechanism engage one another such that the first anchoring element articulates relative to the a translator element. |
US09283085B2 |
Intervertebral disc prosthesis and method
The present disclosure generally relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis for partially or totally replacing an organic intervertebral disc. The disc prosthesis includes an interbody device, a face plate and a pair of locking mechanisms for achieving dual fixation in the cephalad and caudal direction. Methods according to the present disclosure achieve such dual fixation in a single fixation step. |
US09283084B1 |
Spinal fusion cage and vertebral body clamp
The invention is directed to a fusion cage designed for lateral placement. The cage is roughly rectangular in shape and hollow on the inside to accommodate bone graft material. Staples can be incorporated into the fusion cage to assist in securing the cage in position in the spine. A rod can be attached to the staples to assist in positioning the staples. A cable can be attached to the rod to assist in positioning the cage and to assist in positioning the spine. A lateral plate can be used with the cage to further assist in maintaining the cage and the spine in the desired position. |
US09283081B2 |
Joint prosthesis having a bending hinge that comprises a spreading axle
A joint prosthesis has a bending hinge, which is formed by a hinge fork and an axle pin, which comprises two axle stubs, which are arranged in an installation position for insertion, in which installation position the axle stubs are retracted in a coupling piece, and in an expanded position after implantation by movement in the axial direction into aligned hinge holes of the hinge fork, wherein the axle pin has two bearing areas at the ends of the axle pin and a joining area lying therebetween, and the axle pin is separated in the joining area along a plane extending in the axial direction, which plane intersects with the jacket of the axle pin at two points. |
US09283077B2 |
Implant and implant system
An implant system for implantation at a joint, the implant system including an implant device (10), the implant device comprising a body portion (20) having first (15) and second (16) ends, and a first elongate member (40), extending from the first or second end of the body portion, the implant system further comprising a corresponding fixation device (70) for securing the first elongate member to a subject, the fixation device comprising at least one latching element, the first elongate member comprising at least one cooperating element, the at least one cooperating element being capable of cooperating with said at least one latching element of the fixation device in use. |
US09283076B2 |
Glenoid resurfacing system and method
A system and method for repairing a defect on an articular surface. An excision guide is positioned on an articular surface, wherein the excision guide includes a guide head and a guide sleeve disposed on the guide head, wherein the guide head includes a contact surface configured to locate the excision guide relative to the articular surface. A guide pin may be advanced through the guide sleeve and secured to the articular surface, wherein the guide sleeve is configured to receive the guide pin therethrough and position the guide pin at an angle β relative to an axis generally normal and central to a defect on the articular surface, wherein angle β is less than 90 degrees. |
US09283068B2 |
Debranching visceral stent graft and methods for use
A visceral double-barreled main body stent graft and methods for its use, the stent graft comprises, a main body stent graft having distal and proximal ends, the main body stent graft's length ranges from about 100-120 mm and diameter at the proximal end ranges from about 30-45 mm, first and second lumens defined at the main body stent graft's distal end, the first lumen's diameter ranges from about 18-20 mm, the second lumen's diameter ranges from about 16-18 mm, the first and second lumens have about the same length from about 50-70 mm, the first lumen is secured to the second lumen along a shared length, and the main body stent graft defines a tubular wall that is contiguous with the first and second lumens such that any fluid entering the main body must exit through one of the first or second lumens. |
US09283067B2 |
Prosthesis for connecting an anatomical duct
According to the invention, the tubular prosthesis for connecting an anatomical duct includes at least two individual tubular elements and a sealed mechanical element for connecting said separate elements to each other. |
US09283063B2 |
Medical device and methods of delivering the medical device
A medical device and methods of delivery of the medical device within a patient's body are disclosed by the present invention. The medical device includes a first elongate member, a second elongate member and a coupling member. The coupling member is configured to be coupled to and extend between the first elongate member and the second elongate member to couple the first elongate member to the second elongate member when the medical device is in a first configuration. The coupling member is configured to be decoupled from at least one of the first elongate member and the second elongate member when the medical device is in a second configuration. |
US09283055B2 |
Method for establishing drill trajectory for dental implants
Aligning a drill bit for preparing a bore to receive a dental implant. Using a frame to position cartridges, the frame fitting patient anatomy and having a chamber to receive cartridges. Creating an initial cartridge with an opening to receive a guide sleeve. Optionally, mounting at least one measuring device assembly onto the initial assembly so that measuring device assembly takes measurements with a known relationship to the initial linear trajectory. Using the measurements to enhance a model of the surgical site and to select a surgical linear trajectory for a surgical bore to stay within bone found at the surgical site. Placing a surgical cartridge into the chamber; and placing a guide sleeve in the surgical cartridge with the guide sleeve oriented along the surgical linear trajectory to constrain a drilling trajectory of a drill bit along the surgical trajectory. Many variations disclosed. |
US09283053B2 |
Apparatus and methods for implanting objects, such as bronchoscopically implanting markers in the lung of patients
Apparatuses and methods for implanting objects, such as a marker, in the lungs of patients. In one embodiment, a bronchoscopic catheter assembly for implanting an object in the lung of a patient includes a handle, a delivery catheter projecting outwardly from the handle, and a push wire contained within the catheter In one aspect of this embodiment, the catheter can be configured to releasably hold a plurality of markers at a distal end. In another aspect of this embodiment, the push wire can be operably connected to the handle and axially moveable within the delivery catheter to eject the marker out of the catheter within the bronchi of the patient. In a further aspect of this embodiment, the marker can further include an anti-migration device associated with the marker for holding the marker in place once the marker is deployed in the bronchi. The anti-migration device can be integral with the marker or positioned proximate to the marker to prevent migration of the marker. |
US09283050B2 |
Curved cannula surgical system control
A robotic surgical system is configured with rigid, curved cannulas that extend through the same opening into a patient's body. Surgical instruments with passively flexible shafts extend through the curved cannulas. The cannulas are oriented to direct the instruments towards a surgical site. A teleoperation control system that moves the curved cannulas and their associated instruments in a manner that allows a surgeon to experience intuitive control is disclosed. The flexible shaft instruments are controlled as if extending along a virtual straight line insertion and withdrawal axis. Various port features that support the curved cannulas within the single opening are disclosed. Cannula support fixtures that support the cannulas during insertion into the single opening and mounting to robotic manipulators are disclosed. |
US09283047B2 |
Control device and control method for surgical system
A control device for surgical system that controls a surgical tool attached to a slave arm in accordance with manipulation input values for a position and an orientation from a remote control device, comprising a control unit that stores setting information for setting the position and the orientation of a first target portion of the surgical tool, corrects the manipulation input values in accordance with the setting information, and controls a position and an orientation of a post-correction second target portion of the surgical tool in compliance with corrected manipulation input values. |
US09283045B2 |
Surgical instruments with fluid management system
Various surgical instruments are disclosed. At least one surgical instrument includes an instrument mounting portion configured to mount to a robotic surgical system. The instrument mounting portion includes an interface to mechanically and electrically interface to the surgical instrument adapted for use with the robotic surgical system. A fluid management system is contained within the instrument mounting portion. The fluid management system includes a first container to contain a first fluid agent to be dispensed. |
US09283044B2 |
Solenoid system for magnetically guided capsule endoscopy
A solenoid system for magnetically guided capsule endoscopy, has the following components arranged under a patient table which defines a flat plane: a central coil with normal direction being perpendicular to the flat plane, and four coil pairs arranged in the form of a cross around the central coil with respect to the flat plane. Each pair includes two single coils, the normal directions of which are parallel to the flat plane and offset by 90 degrees in relation to each other. |
US09283043B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for robotic microsurgery
A system for microsurgery includes a first assembly and a second assembly, each including: (1) a planar remote center of motion (RCM) device configured to constrain motion of a surgical instrument attached to the planar RCM device such that an axis of the surgical instrument passes through the RCM while remaining in a planar region defined based on a rotational orientation of the planar RCM device; and (2) a rotational device attached to the planar RCM device and configured such that an axis of rotation of the rotational device passes through the remote center of motion. The rotational orientation of the planar RCM device is defined about the axis of rotation. The first assembly and the second assembly are configured to be positioned such that a distance between the remote centers of motion of the first assembly and the second assembly is no greater than two centimeters. |
US09283038B2 |
Hair removing system
The invention relates to a system and method for removing hair. The system comprises a hair detection device and a hair-removing device (20). Since 3D information on hairs (32) is required, but due to the very dispersed presence of, e.g., human hairs (32) on skin (30), known detection devices are too slow, the invention provides a combination of two image sensors. A first image sensor (12) produces a first image, based on which a selected part is imaged with a second image sensor (14) that provides the required 3D position information with which the hair-removing device (20) can remove the hair. Thus, optimum use may be made of both fast but less accurate image sensors, such as (2D) CCDs or CMOS sensors, and accurate but slow sensors such as 3D scanning sensors. |
US09283030B2 |
HF surgical device
An HF surgical device comprising an HF surgical generator, at least one surgical instrument having an active electrode and a neutral electrode, which are connectable to the HF generator. The surgical instrument is connectable to the HF generator via a first wire and the neutral electrode is connectable to the HF generator via second wire. The first and/or second wire is/are equipped with a shield and a decoupling capacitor is disposed at a distal end of each shielded wire. |
US09283026B2 |
Assessment of electrode coupling for tissue ablation
An electrode catheter (14) and a method for assessing electrode-tissue contact and coupling are disclosed. An exemplary electrode catheter (14) comprises an electrode (20) adapted to apply electrical energy. A measurement circuit (42) is adapted to measure impedance between the electrode (20) and ground as the electrode approaches a target tissue (24). A processor (50) determines a contact and coupling condition for the target tissue (24) based at least in part on reactance of the impedance measured by the measurement circuit (42). In another exemplary embodiment, the electrode catheter (14) determines the contact and coupling condition based at least in part on a phase angle of the impedance. |
US09283023B2 |
Hand-held cautery device
A disposable cautery device and related methods for making and disassembling a disposable cautery device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the disposable cautery device comprises a housing having a first end and a second end. A cautery tip extends from the housing first end, and the housing second end is configured to receive a removable power source. An actuator is provided to selectively complete an electrical connection between the cautery tip and the removable power source. The actuator is disposed within a recess formed in the housing, and the recess is at least partially circumscribed by a raised rim. A top surface of the actuator is flush with or lower than the rim to inhibit inadvertent actuation of the disposable cautery device. In some embodiments, an end cap is coupled with the second end of the housing to retain the removable power source in the housing, and removal of the end cap from the housing causes the coupling between the end cap and the housing to fracture. |
US09283022B2 |
Methods and apparatus for cryogenic treatment of a body cavity or lumen
Methods and apparatus for the treatment of a body cavity or lumen are described where a heated fluid and/or gas may be introduced through a catheter and into treatment area within the body contained between one or more inflatable/expandable members. The catheter may also have optional pressure and temperature sensing elements which may allow for control of the pressure and temperature within the treatment zone and also prevent the pressure from exceeding a pressure of the inflatable/expandable members to thereby contain the treatment area between these inflatable/expandable members. Optionally, a chilled, room temperature, or warmed fluid such as water may then be used to rapidly terminate the treatment session. |
US09283021B2 |
Plaque stabilization using cryoenergy
There is provided a method of supplying cryoenergy to a plaque within a blood vessel. The method comprises expanding an expandable membrane of a catheter apparatus with a pressure of less than 5 ATM (507 kPa), the catheter apparatus having been placed in thermal contact with the plaque within the blood vessel. The method also comprises establishing a temperature of between +15° C. (288K) and −35° C. (238K) at an interface of the expandable membrane and the blood vessel. A system and catheter apparatus are also provided. |
US09283016B2 |
System and method for forming porous bone filling material
A method for treating a vertebral bone comprises providing a gaseous substance and providing a flowable and settable bone filling material. The method further comprises introducing the gaseous substance into the bone filling material to form a porous bone augmentation material and inserting a material delivery device into the vertebral bone. The method further comprises injecting the porous bone augmentation material from the material delivery device and into the vertebral bone. |
US09283010B2 |
Contoured bone plate for fracture fixation having hook members and holder/impactor for same
A bone fixation plate for fixation of fractures having a small terminal bone fragment, such as fractures of the distal radius. The plate includes an elongated body, and two hook members extending from a first end of the elongated body. A contoured region is configured to approximate the surface contour of the distal radius proximate the volar rim, the dorsal rim, or the radial arm. Each hook member is configured to provide subchondral support to a distal bone fragment, without causing shortening of the fragment into the metaphyseal bone, and without providing a bending torque directed to the base of the plate. The tooth members of the hook plate are preferably sharpened at their tips and edges to facilitate their impaction. A holder/impactor for gripping the radial hook plate, and for further facilitating impacting of the hook plate without the need to pre-drill pilot holes, is also provided. |
US09283009B2 |
Compliant osteosynthesis fixation plate
A bendable polymer tissue fixation device suitable to be implanted into a living body, consisting of a highly porous body, made from a polymer, the porous body having a plurality of pores, such that the device is capable of being smoothly bent, wherein the bending collapses a portion of the pores to form a radius curve, and the polymer fixation device is rigid enough to protect a tissue from shifting. Preferably, the polymer fixation device may be capable of being gradually resorbed by said living body. In one embodiment, the polymer fixation device consists of a plurality of layers distinguishable by various characteristics, such as structural or chemical properties. In another embodiment, the polymer fixation device may feature additional materials which serve to reinforce or otherwise alter the structure or physical characteristics of the device, or alternatively the additional materials serve to deliver therapies to the living being. |
US09283007B2 |
Device for osteosyntheses or arthrodeses of two- bone parts, in particular of the hand and / or foot
In one embodiment the present invention is an implant suitable for implantation in bone, comprising a median zone extending along a longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end, the first end having a face extending generally perpendicular to the axis to form an abutment having a width; and a first fixation zone extending from the first end and the abutment, the first fixation zone including a pair of tabs formed of shape-memory material extending from a base portion of the tabs adjacent the abutment such that the abutment extends further from the axis in a radial direction than the base portion of the tabs, wherein the pair of tabs are separable from one another by shape-memory action at body temperature. |
US09283005B2 |
Systems and methods for posterior dynamic stabilization of the spine
Devices, systems and methods for dynamically stabilizing the spine are provided. The devices include an expandable spacer having an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the spacer has axial and radial dimensions for positioning between the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae. The systems include one or more spacers and a mechanical actuation means for delivering and deploying the spacer. The methods involve the implantation of one or more spacers within the interspinous space. |
US09282996B2 |
Extra-articular implantable mechanical energy absorbing assemblies
Implantable assemblies/devices and methods for manipulating energy transferred by members defining an anatomical joint, wherein the members collectively define a path of motion. Assemblies/devices are provided with a first component configured to be attached to a first member of the anatomical joint, a second component configured to be attached to a second member of the anatomical joint; and a hydraulic member joining the first and second components. The hydraulic member is placed under compression to absorb energy transferred by the members when the first component is attached to the first member and the second component is attached to the second member and a distance between locations of attachment of the first and second components becomes smaller then a predefined distance between the locations. |
US09282993B1 |
Steerable extendable devices
The present invention is a Distally Assembled Steerable Cannula (DASC), a robotically-manipulated device that can be deployed and extended within a patient's body by growing from its distal end, or can be used in non-medical applications. In one embodiment, growth occurs by sequentially assembling segments that interlock to form a rigid tube with a complex 3-D shape. The segments are individually transported through the growing cannula, and then assembled at the distal end. A segment can be wedge-shaped in profile, allowing adjustment of the local radius of curvature and direction of the cannula to be controlled by relative segment orientation. |
US09282992B2 |
Rotational thrombectomy wire
A rotational thrombectomy wire for breaking up vascular thrombus or other obstructive material having a core having a proximal region and a distal region and being rotatable by a motor. The distal region has a smaller diameter than the proximal region. A cable is coupled to the distal region of the core and extends distally thereof. A torque tube is positioned over the cable and a coil is positioned over a distal portion of the cable. A distal portion of the cable has a non-linear configuration. A first covering material is positioned over the coil. |
US09282982B2 |
Surgical milling cutter bracket
A surgical milling cutter bracket includes a retaining base having a through hole. The upper part of the retaining base is provided with a finger guide having an L-shaped support frame on the top of the finger guide. A downward protrusion is provided at the end of the short side of the L-shaped support frame. The lowest point of the protrusion is lower than the lowest point of the cylindrical head of the milling cutter during normal operation of the milling cutter. A bolt having a through hole at the center is fixed within the cavity of the finger guide. A depressor is provided on the upper part of the retaining base. The bolt passes through a hole of the depressor and is connected to a nut. The protrusion is able to prevent an object from contacting the cylindrical head, thus avoiding cutting the object unevenly. |
US09282980B2 |
Device and method for manipulating intervertebral tissue
A system and method for manipulating intervertebral tissue in one embodiment includes a conduit, a segmented expansion media configured to pass through the conduit, and an expandable node comprising a plurality of abrading strands and operably connected to the intervertebral tissue removal system conduit so as to receive the segmented expansion media therein, the expandable node expandable from a first condition whereat the plurality of abrading strands define at least one opening having a first maximum diameter, to an expanded condition whereat the at least one opening has a second maximum diameter larger than the first maximum diameter, wherein the second maximum diameter is less than a minimum diameter of the segmented expansion media, such that insertion of the segmented expansion media through the intervertebral tissue removal system conduit and into the expandable node causes the expandable node to expand from the first condition to the expanded condition. |
US09282979B2 |
Instruments and methods for non-parallel disc space preparation
Flexible shavers and curved access ports that reduce access and trajectory problems associated with conventional lateral approaches to the lower spine. These devices and methods allow for preparing a disc space in the lower spine at an angle that is parallel to the disc space. Consequently, these devices and methods allow for preparing with less endplate damage. |
US09282976B2 |
Remote-controlled actuator assembly
A remote-controlled actuator assembly includes a guide section (3) of an elongated shape, a distal end member (2) fitted to a tip end of the guide section for alteration in attitude, an operating tool (1) in the distal end member, and a restraining tool (6) for aligning the distal end member straight with the guide section. The distal end member is altered in attitude through advancing/retracting attitude altering members (31) in the guide section by attitude altering drive sources (43), which are controlled by an attitude control unit (62). An advance or retraction position detector (45) detects an advance/retraction position of the attitude altering members while the attitude altering members applying a preload to the distal end member restrained by the restraining tool. The attitude control unit uses the detection value as information on the advance/retraction position corresponding to an initial position-attitude of the distal end member. |
US09282971B2 |
Implants, methods of manufacturing the same, and devices and methods for delivering the implants to a vascular disorder of a patient
A device for delivering an implant to a vascular disorder of a patient includes a delivery pusher. A stationary blade may be coupled to the delivery pusher. The stationary blade may include a sharp and stationary cutting component for cutting through a suture coupling the implant to the delivery pusher and for thereby releasing the implant when placed in proximity to the vascular disorder. In some cases, the strength of a junction connecting the suture to the implant is equal to or greater than the tensile strength of the suture itself. Additionally, or alternatively, a detachment handle may be fixedly and permanently attached to the delivery pusher such that a user of the device need not couple the detachment handle to the delivery pusher. The detachment handle may include a user manipulable component for initiating a mechanical release of the implant when placed in proximity to the vascular disorder. |
US09282968B2 |
Applicator for endoscopic treatment of biliary disease
A device for treating biliary disease includes a component configured for deployment to a lumen of a gallbladder or gallbladder duct. The component has a proximal end and a distal end with a lumen extending therethrough and a fluid or gas delivery apparatus at its distal end. |
US09282966B2 |
Surgical stapling instrument
A surgical severing and stapling instrument, suitable for laparoscopic and endoscopic clinical procedures, clamps tissue within an end effector of an elongate channel pivotally opposed by an anvil. An E-beam firing bar moves distally through the clamped end effector to sever tissue and to drive staples on each side of the cut. The E-beam firing bar affirmatively spaces the anvil from the elongate channel to assure properly formed closed staples, especially when an amount of tissue is clamped that is inadequate to space the end effector. In particular, an upper pin of the firing bar longitudinally moves through an anvil slot and a channel slot is captured between a lower cap and a middle pin of the firing bar to assure a minimum spacing. Forming the E-beam from a thickened distal portion and a thinned proximal strip enhances manufacturability and facilitates use in such articulating surgical instruments. |
US09282963B2 |
Adapter for powered surgical devices
An adapter assembly for selectively interconnecting a surgical end effector including at least one axially translatable drive member and a powered actuator device including at least one rotatable drive shaft is provided. The adapter assembly includes an actuation shaft configured to convert rotation of a first drive shaft of the powered actuator device into an axial translation of a first drive member of the surgical end effector. The adapter assembly further includes an elongate tube configured to convert rotation of a second drive shaft of the powered actuator device into an axial translation of a second drive member of the surgical end effector. The actuation shaft is disposed within the elongate tube, and the actuation shaft and the elongate tube translate axially independent of each other. |
US09282960B2 |
Articulating suturing device and method
Devices, systems, and methods for suturing of body lumens allow the suturing of vascular puncture sites located at the distal end of a percutaneous tissue tract. An elongated articulated foot of the device can be inserted through the penetration and actuated so that the foot extends along the lumenal axis. The foot can carry suturing attachment cuffs with one end of the cuff adapted to receive a needle, while the other end receives suture. A portion of the foot and/or lumen of the shaft can receive a portion of the suture and can include friction reducing structure that aid with movement of the sutured during removal of the cuffs from within the penetration. |
US09282958B2 |
Devices and method for treating pelvic dysfunctions
In one embodiment, a method includes securing an implant that includes a pre-formed loop to a vaginal apex. An end of the suture is inserted through a selected portion of a pelvic tissue to dispose at least a portion of the implant within a pelvic region of the patient. The end of the suture is drawn through the loop while simultaneously advancing a uterus to approximate the vaginal apex to the selected portion of pelvic tissue. An apparatus includes an implant and a suture coupled to the implant having a pre-formed loop. configured to receive a portion of a delivery device therethrough. A trocar is coupled to an end of the suture that can be releasably coupled to an end of the delivery device. The trocar can be inserted through a pelvic tissue and drawn through the loop forming a knot to secure the implant to the pelvic tissue. |
US09282957B2 |
Table attachable adjustable retractor system
A novel retractor system can be attached to a table and can be adjusted at desired points in x-y-z axes, and which provides spine surgeries be made in a healthier manner via retractors which are mounted on the retractor carrier wings, and a set, which provides fusion of spines via this system by using an insert. |
US09282956B2 |
Devices and methods for manipulating bodily tissues
A medical device and a method for manipulating bodily tissues are described. The medical device includes an elongated portion having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The elongated portion has a defined width referred to as first width. The medical device further includes a head portion extending from the distal end portion of the elongated portion. The head portion includes a first flat surface on a first side and a second flat surface on a second side opposite the first side. The head portion has a defined width referred to as second width. The second width is greater than the first width. |
US09282952B2 |
Internal preservation fluid dispenser for endoscopic vessel harvester
An endoscopic vessel harvester includes a vessel keeper for capturing a target vessel within a tunnel that has been dissected along the target vessel. A cutter member cuts and cauterizes side branches while the target vessel is slidably captured in the vessel keeper. A spray nozzle carried by the vessel keeper delivers a preservative fluid via a manual control valve and a conduit. The preservative fluid is sprayed on the target vessel proximate a respective side branch immediately after being cauterized. Thus, a harvested vessel is bathed in preservative fluid prior to being actually removed from the body, enhancing endothelial preservation from cascading events. |
US09282950B2 |
Cervical cell tissue self-sampling device
A device, a kit, and a method of use thereof, for self-administration and collection of cervical cell tissue samples such as for Pap smear testing. The device comprises an insertion tube, within which is carried a movable cervical aligning tool with an aligning probe, and a cellular sampling tool with a cellular adhesion surface. The aligning probe and cellular adhesion surface can be selectively movable relative to the insertion tube to improve accuracy of the testing and user safety. |
US09282949B2 |
Charging station for battery powered biopsy apparatus
A charging station for a battery powered biopsy apparatus includes a charging dock having a housing and a charging unit contained in the housing. The charging unit has a set of electrical contacts. The housing is received in a first cavity of a driver assembly with the electrical contacts being coupled in electrical communication with the driver assembly when the driver assembly is mounted on the charging dock for charging. The charging unit provides a signal to the driver assembly to reset the driver assembly to an initialized state when the driver assembly is mounted to the charging station. |
US09282946B2 |
Ultrasonic tracking of ultrasound transducer(s) aboard an interventional tool
In one aspect, an ultrasound receive beamformer is configured for one-way only beamforming of transmissive ultrasound using one-way delays. The receive beamforming in some embodiments is used to track, in real time, a catheter, needle or other surgical tool within an image of a region of interest. The tool can have embedded at its tip a small ultrasound transmitter or receiver for transmitting or receiving the transmissive ultrasound. Optionally, additional transducers are fixed along the tool to provide the orientation of the tool. |
US09282944B2 |
C-arm pose estimation using intensity-based registration of imaging modalities
This invention provides a method for estimating C-arm fluoroscope pose. The method involves introducing a coordinate system into a C-arm image, and applying intensity-based 2D/3D registration without segmentation to the coordinate system C-arm image and an image or known model of the coordinate system, wherein the intensity-based 2D/3D registration yields the C-arm pose. The coordinate system may be provided by introducing one or more markers or a fiducial into an image. |
US09282941B2 |
Imaging method with a radiotherapy device and radiotherapy device
A method for imaging with a radiotherapy device is provided. The radiotherapy device includes a movably mounted imaging apparatus with an X-ray source and an oppositely disposed X-ray detector. The method includes preparing a first image with the imaging apparatus from a first imaging direction. The imaging apparatus is moved to a position that permits the preparation of a second image from a second imaging direction extending at an angle to the first imaging direction. The method also includes preparing the second image with the imaging apparatus from the second imaging direction, and verifying the position of an object to be irradiated using the first image and the second image. |
US09282940B2 |
Mobile X-ray imaging apparatus
A mobile X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generation unit, a boom member configured to hold and arrange the X-ray generation unit at an arbitrary position, a supporting column unit connected to the boom member and configured to elevate and pivot the X-ray generation unit, a display unit, including a display screen, coupled to the X-ray generation unit through a movable mechanism configured to enable the orientation of the display screen, with respect to the X-ray generating unit, to be altered. |
US09282935B2 |
X-ray CT apparatus
An X-ray CT apparatus includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, and a control unit. The X-ray detector includes at least two divided ranges. One range includes a small detection range in which X-ray detection elements of a small size for detecting the X-rays radiated from the X-ray tube are arrayed. The other range includes a large detection range in which the X-ray detection elements of a large size for detecting the X-rays radiated from the X-ray tube are arrayed. The control unit is configured to select the small detection range or the large detection range. The X-ray CT apparatus can efficiently achieve high resolution upon imaging and, further, is capable of fully utilizing X-ray detection elements of a small detector size. |
US09282934B2 |
Composite brain function monitoring and display system
A method of displaying the activity of a brain, the method including the steps of: (i) obtaining an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal from the brain; (ii) segmenting said EEG signal into either contiguous or overlapping segments comprised of a sequential number of samples of said EEG signal; (iii) representing said EEG segments as a fixed order autoregressive moving average (ARMA) signal representation with an autoregressive order between 8 and 13 and a moving average order between 5 and 11; (iv) rewriting in z-domain notation said fixed order ARMA signal representation to obtain a z-domain representation; (v) generating AR coefficient data and MA coefficient data for said segments of said EEG signal for said fixed order ARMA signal representation: (vi) determining the poles and zeros of said z-domain representation for said segments of said EEG signal by substituting said coefficient data for said segments of said EEG signal into said z-domain representation; (vii) calculating the sum of the number of poles determined in step (vi); (viii) calculating the sum of the number of zeros determined in step (vi); (ix) representing said ARMA signal representation as an infinite order autoregressive (AR) model in z-domain notation; (x) determining autoregressive coefficient data for said infinite AR model from the AR and MA coefficient data generated in step (v) of said fixed order ARMA representation; (xi) determining the sum of the poles for said infinite order AR model for said segments of said EEG signal as either: (a) the first autoregressive coefficient of said finite order AR model; or (b) the difference of the sum of poles and the sum of zeros as determined respectively in steps (vii) and (viii); (xii) determining an index value representing the activity of the brain for said segments of said EEG signal by applying a discriminating function to the sum of the poles of said infinite AR model for said segments of said EEG signal as determined in step (xi); and (xiii) displaying said index value on display means. |
US09282930B2 |
Electrode array and method of placement
A headset for detecting brain electrical activity may include a flexible substrate having first and second ends each configured to engage an ear of a subject and dimensioned to fit across the forehead of a subject. The headset may also include a plurality of electrodes disposed on the substrate and configured to contact the subject when the headset is positioned on the subject. First and second electrodes may contact top center and lower center regions of the forehead, respectively, third and fourth electrodes may contact front right and front left regions of the forehead, respectively, fifth and sixth electrodes may contact right side and left side regions of the forehead, respectively, and electrodes included within the securing devices may contact the ear regions. The third and fourth electrodes may be moveable in at least a vertical direction relative to the other electrodes. |
US09282922B2 |
Medical system comprising a compact barcode reader for consumable items
A medical system is proposed comprising at least one medical device for carrying out at least one medical function, and at least one medical consumable item interacting with the medical device in order to carry out the medical function. The medical device has at least one code reader for reading out at least one information component of an optical code on the medical consumable item. The code reader has at least one image sensor having a plurality of sensors. Furthermore, the code reader comprises at least one light-optical fiber plate, which is arranged in order to guide an image of the optical code to the image sensor. |
US09282919B2 |
Lancet pricking device
A lancet pricking device comprises a lancet, a launching spring, a trigger part and a holder housing the lancet, launching spring and trigger part. The lancet comprises a lancet body, lancet cap and pricking needle. The pricking needle is in both the lancet body and lancet cap. The trigger part has a pair of arms positioned inside the holder. The launching spring is attached to the lancet body. The lancet body is secured to the arms of the trigger part by an abutment of the lancet body on the arms such that the launching spring is compressed before a pricking operation. The trigger part cannot be pushed further into the holder before the lancet cap is removed, but can be pushed further into the holder after the cap is removed. The pair of arms warp when pressed to release the secured lancet body. |
US09282918B2 |
Multi-lancet unit, method and lancet device using the multi-lancet unit, and method of assembling and/or making the multi-lancet unit
Multi-lancet unit for a lancet device. The unit includes a plurality of lancets arranged in a row. Each lancet has a front ends a needle which extends from the front end, and a rear end. The front end of at least one of the plurality lancets is removably connected to the rear end of another of the plurality of lancets. The lancet device utilizes the multi-lancet unit and includes a body and a holding member which supports the multi-lancet unit. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. |
US09282910B2 |
System and method for targeting heart rhythm disorders using shaped ablation
A system and method to target a biological rhythm disorder, such as a heart rhythm disorder, include processing cardiac signals via a computing device to determine a shape in a region of tissue defined by a source associated with the biological rhythm disorder that migrates spatially on or within the shape, and identifying at least one portion of the tissue proximate to the shape to enable selective modification of the at least one portion of tissue in order to terminate or alter the heart rhythm disorder. |
US09282908B2 |
Methods and systems for optimizing lesion placement to minimize and treat cardiac fibrillation
Methods and systems for optimizing lesion placement to treat cardiac fibrillation in a patient include obtaining a map of one or more measurements indicative of a number and distribution of electrical circuit cores for a duration across a cardiac tissue substrate in response to electrical activity in the cardiac tissue substrate, identifying at least one region for the duration of the cardiac tissue substrate having a number of electrical circuit cores that is higher than a predetermined density threshold, generating a first sample set of lesions, the first sample set of lesions being registered onto the map, calculating and comparing a first total length of the first sample set of lesions to a predetermined length threshold, determining fitness of the first sample set of lesions, wherein fitness criteria is indicative of the level to which the sample set can terminate or at least minimize cardiac fibrillation. |
US09282907B2 |
Identification of healthy versus unhealthy substrate for pacing from a multipolar lead
A medical device system performs a method determining presence of scar tissue. Torso-surface potential signals are received by a processor from multiple electrodes distributed on a torso of a patient. The processor extracts features of the potential signal from each electrode and stores values of the features in a non-transitory storage medium. The processor determines a scar indicator index for each of the electrodes from the stored features and identifies which ones of the electrodes have an affirmative scar indicator index. An overall scar burden index is determined as a proportion of the electrodes with an affirmative scar indicator index. |
US09282905B2 |
Methods for laser speckle contrast imaging of blood perfusion
A method for imaging blood flow through target tissue is disclosed. An example method may include (a) directing a light beam at a blood-perfused target tissue, (b) reflecting the directed light beam off of static target tissue and flowing cells, (c) capturing a plurality of digital images of interference patterns of the reflected light in a plurality of successive frames, (d) measuring a light intensity of at least one pixel of each digital image, where the at least one pixel corresponds to an identical pair of coordinates in each successive frame, (e) comparing the measured light intensity of the at least one pixel of each digital image to the measured light intensity of the at least one pixel of an adjacent frame at the identical pair of coordinates and (f) determining a compiled light intensity for the at least one pixel for an aggregate motion contrast. |
US09282904B2 |
Portable detecting device with two electrodes
The invention is suitable for the communication and electron field, and provides a portable detecting device with two electrodes, the portable detecting device comprises: a main body of the portable detecting device and a wrist strap, wherein the main body of the portable detecting device comprises: a front and a back, wherein the front comprises a first lead electrode detecting a finger signal; and the back comprises a second lead electrode detecting a wrist signal. The technical solution provided by the present invention has the advantage of convenient for users to carry and easy for users obtaining the data thereof. |
US09282898B2 |
End-to-end trusted communications infrastructure
A method of delivery of medical data via a trusted end-to-end communication link. The method comprises obtaining a measurement of a parameter of a human being by a first sensor, obtaining a biometric from the human being by a second sensor, receiving input from the first and second sensors by a secure application executing in a trusted security zone of a processor, whereby access to the input from the first and second sensors by applications executing in a normal partition of the processor is blocked, wherein the input from the first and second sensors comprises the measurement of the parameter and the biometric, and transmitting a message based on the input from the first and second sensors via a trusted end-to-end communication link to a medical data server, wherein an application that receives the message executes in a trusted security zone of the server. |
US09282895B2 |
Method and implantable system for blood-glucose concentration monitoring using parallel methodologies
In an implantable medical device for monitoring glucose concentration in the blood, a blood-glucose concentration analysis is performed using correlations of blood-glucose concentration with measures of metabolic oxygen consumption including oxymetric, and/or temperature. Analysis of electrocardiographic data is used in a parallel method to detect and/or confirm the onset and/or existence and/or extent of hypoglycemia and/or hyperglycemia. Blood-glucose concentration calculation is enhanced by using the combination of the oxygen metabolism analysis and electrocardiographic analysis. |
US09282893B2 |
Wearable communication platform
An wearable communications garment that includes one or more user-selectable inputs integrated into the garment. A sartorial communications apparatus may include a flexible material that is worn (e.g., as an undergarment) by the user and includes one or more interactive sensors that may be manually activated by a user, even through one or more intervening layers of clothing. The apparatus may also include one or more additional body sensors configured to sense a user's position, movement, and/or physiological status. The sensor(s) may be connected via a conductive trace on the garment to a sensor module for analysis and/or transmission. Methods of manufacturing the garments as well as methods of using the garments are also described. |
US09282892B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying bio-information
A method of displaying bio-information on a screen includes outputting basic bio-information of a plurality of bio-parameters indicating a condition of a patient on one display screen, determining an occurrence of an event related to the plurality of bio-parameters, converting the basic bio-information into detailed bio-information about one of the plurality of bio-parameters based on a result of the determining an occurrence of an event, and outputting the converted detailed bio-information on the one display screen. |
US09282888B2 |
Digital measurement system and method for optical applications
A digital measurement system and method for optical applications including a mobile client device having a digital camera and an audio port, and a laser measurement device having a laser. The laser measurement device connected to the mobile client device and electrically connected to the audio port of the mobile client device. The mobile client device is configured to activate the laser at the same time as the digital camera is activated, and capture an image of a patient. The mobile client device is configured to access a measurement module to calculate position of wear measurements based on a location of a laser mark in the captured image. |
US09282884B2 |
Ophthalmic apparatus
An ophthalmic apparatus is provided with a light source, an optical measurement system, an optical reference system, an optical calibration system, a light receiving element, and a processor. The light receiving element receives an interference light for measurement produced by both the reflected light guided by the optical measurement system and the reference light guided by the optical reference system, and also receives an interference light for calibration produced by the calibration light guided by the optical calibration system and the reference light guided by the optical reference system. The processor determines a position of a measuring portion inside an eye to be examined by Fourier-analyzing the interference light for measurement and the interference light for calibration. |
US09282876B2 |
Dosing system for a dishwasher machine
The invention relates to a dispensing system (1) for delivering at least one cleaning-agent preparation (A, B, C) into the interior of an automatic dishwasher, encompassing a dispenser (2) having a light source (4), and a cartridge (3) couplable to the dispenser (2), in which cartridge at least one flowable preparation (A, B, C) is stocked; the cartridge (3) has a width (b) to depth (t) ratio from 3:1 to 20:1 and the cartridge (3) has a height (h) to depth (t) ratio from 3:1 to 20:1, and the walls of the cartridge (3) have, at least locally, a transmittance from 75% to 99% in the wavelength region between 700 nm and 1 mm; the flowable preparation (A, B, C) has a transmittance from 75% to 99% in the wavelength region between 700 nm and 1 mm. |
US09282875B2 |
Alarm unit for dishwashing systems
A method for sequentially monitoring a level of a sanitation agent comprises the step of providing a supply tube having a first portion and a second portion. The method includes the step of linking the supply tube first portion and the supply tube second portion with a pipe. An optical sensor is situated adjacent the pipe, and is used to take a reference reading and a fault check reading. A controller imposes a warning signal when a difference between the reference reading and the fault check reading is greater than a threshold. The reference reading is taken when the sanitation agent is in direct contact with the pipe. |
US09282870B2 |
High efficiency disposable cellulosic wiper
A high efficiency disposable cellulosic wiper includes a percentage by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers, and a percentage by weight of independent regenerated 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 oil residue removal efficiency of at least 150% as compared with a like sheet without independent regenerated cellulosic microfibers. |
US09282869B2 |
Liquid extraction cleaning device and method
A liquid extraction cleaning device comprises a main unit, a liquid pump, a flexible hose, and a hand tool. The main unit comprises a vacuum pump. The hand tool comprises a vacuum inlet port, an agitator, a spray nozzle, and a grip portion. The vacuum inlet port of the hand tool is operatively connected to the vacuum pump via the hose passageway in a manner such that the vacuum pump is capable of drawing fluid through the vacuum inlet port and into the hose passageway. The spray nozzle is operatively connected to the liquid pump in a manner such that the liquid pump is capable of forcing liquid out of the spray nozzle. |
US09282868B2 |
Low profile cleaning device
A low profile cleaning device is disclosed. The device has a low profile or height and can clean beneath structures that have a low clearance relative to the floor. The device includes sweeps mounted on a frame. As the device moves in a sweeping direction, the sweeps sweep or clean the floor. Trash or other debris collected by the device can be removed from hard to reach areas. |
US09282865B2 |
Cylinder vacuum cleaner
A cylinder vacuum cleaner comprising a main body which is fluidly connected to a suction hose used to pull the main body forwards along a floor, and a rear swivel castor for supporting the main body on the floor, the rear castor having a negatively-raked swivel axis which is offset from a wheel axis of the castor to provide a positive castor trail. |
US09282863B2 |
Surface treating appliance
A surface treating appliance includes a first cyclonic separating unit including at least one first cyclone, and a second cyclonic separating unit located downstream from the first cyclonic separating unit and including a plurality of second cyclones arranged in parallel. The plurality of second cyclones is divided into at least a first set of second cyclones arranged about an axis, and a second set of second cyclones, the first set of second cyclones extending about the second set of second cyclones. Each second cyclone has a longitudinal axis, with the longitudinal axes of the first set of second cyclones being arranged at a first angle to said axis, and the longitudinal axes of the second set of second cyclones being arranged at a second angle to said axis, and wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle. |
US09282862B2 |
Steering assembly for surface cleaning device
A surface cleaning device having a steering assembly is provided. The surface cleaning device includes a foot, a handle assembly with a user manipulated handle, and a steering assembly coupling the handle assembly to the foot. The steering assembly defines an open path between the handle assembly and the foot and includes a means for biasing the foot with respect to the handle assembly. Movement of the handle assembly stores energy within the biasing means so that the biasing means exerts a corresponding force on the foot. |
US09282861B2 |
Wet/dry vacuum cleaner with built-in dustpan accessory
Described is a vacuum cleaner, such as a wet/dry vacuum cleaner, having an improved vacuum hose storage assembly and dust pan assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner having a debris collection drum. The integrated pickup port in the dust pan can be formed by the shape of the product its used on or become a separate piece such as used in this design. The advantage of having the design integrated in the vacuum allows the user to pick up debris either collected by a broom or by other means into the collection chamber of the vacuum without having to remove the hose from the storage position and without having to hold the product while in use; freeing the users hands to control the broom or other device to direct additional debris to the vacuum for collection. |
US09282857B1 |
Toilet seat
An apparatus for providing easy access to a person's bottom while using a toilet includes a thicker-style of seat placed directly over a rim of a toilet bowl. The apparatus includes a pair of side access openings that are located on a left and an opposite right side of the seat. The access openings allow for easy access to the bottom of the person for hygienic cleaning after using the toilet. The person reaches through either side access opening while holding a quantity of toilet paper and wipes their bottom with a side-to-side or front-to-rear motion, thereby reducing a potential risk for contracting a urinary tract infection. At least one clamp assembly that is used to secure the seat in position extends downward from the seat and is adjustable to apply tension to the apparatus sufficient to secure it proximate the rim. |
US09282853B2 |
Food homogenizer
A food homogenizer includes a drive assembly including a driving motor. The driving motor engages a rotatable mating portion that extends along a rotation axis. A homogenizer assembly is removably attached with respect to the drive assembly. The homogenizer assembly includes a homogenizing chamber, a blade assembly positioned within the homogenizing chamber and a driven shaft that extends from the blade assembly along the rotation axis. The driven shaft is received within the mating portion such that rotation of the mating portion by the driving motor causes rotation of the blade assembly about the rotation axis. A supply assembly engages a receiving opening in the homogenizer and supplies a food product. The food homogenizer includes a rinse system including a drive assembly that engages a homogenizer assembly. The rinse system includes a dispenser assembly that dispenses a liquid to the homogenizer assembly. |
US09282851B2 |
Digital heat injection by way of surface emitting semi-conductor devices
A method and system are provided for digitally injecting heat into a wide range of products by way of incorporation of a special class of semi-conductor lasers, e.g. surface emitting devices. This technique relates to a more specific, economical, and advantageous way of practicing the art of directly injecting narrowband radiant energy that desirously matches the absorption specification of a particular material at a specified wavelength. |
US09282850B2 |
Coffee machine
A coffee machine includes a coffee supply module, a support surface for a cup placed beneath the coffee supply module and a steam supply nozzle. The steam supply nozzle can be connected to a milk container which is equipped with an emulsifying module. The emulsifying module has a connection seat in which the steam supply nozzle is inserted when the milk container is connected to the steam supply nozzle. Further, the emulsifying module has a pipe for sucking up milk from the milk container and a nozzle for supplying hot or emulsified milk to the cup. The steam supply nozzle is oriented toward the support surface and the connection seat of the milk container is oriented upwardly when the milk container is placed on the support surface with the steam supply nozzle inserted in the connection seat. |
US09282849B2 |
Beverage production machines with restrictors
Machines and methods for preparing single-servings of a beverage. The machine can include a housing and a basket assembly positioned in the housing. The basket assembly defines a chamber capable of receiving a cartridge containing a beverage precursor. A screen having a plurality of openings can be positioned at a bottom portion of the chamber. A first plate having a single restricting orifice can be secured to the screen. |
US09282846B2 |
Apparatus for cooking food in an airtight bag
A cooking apparatus includes a dual-chamber container with an inner container for holding a food item to be cooked and an outer container for maintaining contact between a temperature-controlled heat transfer liquid and the inner container while the food is being cooked. The dual-chamber container includes an inlet fluid port and outflow fluid port which may be coupled directly to corresponding fluid port connectors on a temperature control unit, or an intervening fluid coupling assembly may convey heat transfer liquid between the control unit and the dual-chamber container. Some control units are adapted to simultaneously control cooking temperature for more than one dual-chamber container. Some dual-chamber containers have a flexible inner container that is separable from an outer container which may be a rigid container or a flexible container. |
US09282838B2 |
Lockable beverage container closure
A beverage container closure or lid that is adapted for closing an open end of a beverage container is provided. The lid is selectively couplable to the beverage container and includes a selectively openable cover that, when closed, creates a fluid-tight seal between the beverage container and the environment. The lid is provided with a dual-locking mechanism including an actuation disk locking mechanism and a press-button locking mechanism. Each locking mechanism is operable to transition between a locking position and an unlocking position and opening the cover to permit the passage of fluid requires that both locking mechanism be in their respective unlocking positions. |
US09282833B2 |
Supporting device for display apparatus
A supporting device of a display apparatus to prevent a wire from separating from a wire hanger. The supporting device to fix the display apparatus to a wall includes a wire part coupled to the display apparatus, a wire hanger mounted to the wall, the wire hanger to hang the wire part on the wall, and a separation protector provided at the wire hanger, the separation protector serving to prevent the wire part from separating from the wire hanger. |
US09282830B2 |
Beverage container holder storage unit
A beverage container holder storage unit is described as having a housing having a first end and a second end, a support member extending across the first end of the housing, and a force delivering element. The housing defines an interior cavity to receive a plurality of beverage container holders. The housing has a discharge slot along a portion of the first end for removing the beverage container holders. The support member has a recess formed along one side and is configured to receive a bottom tab of the beverage container holders. The recess is aligned with the discharge slot, such that when a user positions the tab of a bottommost beverage container holder within the recess, the beverage container holder is removable through the discharge slot. The force delivering element is positionable within the interior cavity and is configured to deliver force to collapse the bottommost beverage container holder. |
US09282824B2 |
Collapsible and portable rocking chair
A collapsible and portable rocking chair includes left and right frame side assemblies collectively defining forward and rear leg portions, armrests, and back support members. The chair also includes cross-members connecting the left and right frame said assemblies and collectively defining a seat support in the set-up condition of the chair. The cross members are pivotally connected to one another as well as to the left and right frame side assemblies to facilitate folding of the chair frame to a collapsed condition. Each frame side assembly is supported on a fulcrum point for rocking movement of the chair frame. A rocker mechanism is attached to the chair frame to support the chair during rocking movement and to facilitate rocking of the chair in connection with the user's shifting weight. The rocker mechanism may be provided in connection with a front leg member, a rear leg member, or both. |
US09282821B2 |
Rack assembly
A rack assembly has a shelf attached to a slidable mount. A front wall and a back wall are mounted to the shelf. At least one elastic element extends between the front wall and the back wall above a left side and a right side of the shelf such that the front wall, back wall and at least one elastic element define a contained area capable of holding objects. |
US09282812B2 |
Anti-unfolding leg assembly for foldable table
An anti-folding leg assembly for a tabletop includes a leg frame for pivotally coupling at a bottom side of the tabletop to pivotally move between a folded position and an unfolded position, and an anti-folding arrangement including a table support having has a table coupling end adapted for pivotally coupling at the bottom side of the tabletop, and a leg support having a leg coupling end pivotally coupled at the leg frame. A pivot point is defined at a pivot connection between the table support and the leg support, and a centerline is defined between the table coupling end of the table support and the leg coupling end of the leg support when the leg frame is moved in the unfolded position, wherein the pivot point is located below the centerline when the leg frame is moved in the unfolded position. |
US09282801B2 |
Artificial nail
An artificial nail (1) has a member made of a material having electrical conductivity. The artificial nail (1) is given electrical conductivity by mixing an electrically conductive material into plastic serving as a base material. As the electrically conductive material, a carbon-based material, such as carbon black, carbon fiber, or black lead, or a metal-based material, such as a fine metal powder, a metal oxide, metal fiber, or a whisker, is used. Alternatively, the base material for the artificial nail (1) per se is an electrically conductive resin. |
US09282799B2 |
Attachment for a hand held appliance
A hairdryer includes a handle; a body comprising a fluid outlet and a primary fluid outlet; a fan unit for generating fluid flow through the hairdryer, the hairdryer comprising a fluid flow path extending from a fluid inlet through which a fluid flow enters the hairdryer to the fluid outlet, and a primary fluid flow path extending from a primary fluid inlet to the primary fluid outlet; a heater for heating the primary fluid flow drawn through the primary fluid inlet; and a nozzle attachable to the body, the nozzle comprising a nozzle fluid inlet for receiving the primary fluid flow from the primary fluid outlet, and a nozzle fluid outlet for emitting the primary fluid flow, and wherein the nozzle is configured to inhibit the emission of the fluid flow from the fluid outlet. |
US09282798B2 |
Lightening process with blonding mousse
Processes for lightening keratinic fibers are provided. In an exemplary process a ready-to-use lightening composition is produced by, immediately prior to application, combining a composition (A) comprising an alkalizing agent, a composition (B) comprising an oxidizing agent, and a composition (C) comprising a peroxo salt, and then mixing. The ready-to-use lightening composition is deployed from a foam dispensing vessel and distributed onto the fibers. The ready-to-use lightening composition is left on the fibers for a period of about 1 to about 60 min. and is washed out of the fibers. |
US09282797B1 |
Wheeled fishing cooler
A wheeled fishing cooler including a base, a cooler disposed within the base, a hinged lid attached to a rear side of the base, a U-shaped telescopic handle having a right end and a left end, an axel, a pair of wheels, a plurality of tubes, and a leg support. The leg support has a pair of horizontal supports, a pair of vertical supports, and a crossbeam. Each of the plurality of tubes is configured to hold a fishing rod and, alternately, a sun umbrella. |
US09282790B2 |
Deployable touch fastener
Embodiments related to a touch fastener and its methods of manufacture and use are disclosed. In one embodiment, the touch fastener may include a substrate with a first portion and a second portion displaceable relative to the first portion. A first fastening element may be formed in the first portion. When the first portion is displaced relative to the second portion, a force and/or moment generated by the displacement may cause the first fastening element to be deployed. |
US09282785B2 |
Multi-density sole elements, and systems and methods for manufacturing same
The invention relates to sole elements for articles of footwear, and systems and methods for manufacturing same. One embodiment of the invention includes a method of manufacturing a sole element for an article of footwear including the steps of forming a sole element preform, inserting the sole element preform into a press mold cavity, and press-forming the sole element preform within the press mold cavity to form a unitary finished sole element comprising a first region having a first density and hardness and a second region having a second density and hardness different from the first density and hardness. |
US09282782B2 |
Waterproof sole with high air and vapor permeability
A waterproof sole with high air and vapor permeability includes an upper layer made of breathable and waterproof material, a lower layer made of breathable and waterproof material, a shaped supporting layer made of rubber material between the upper layer and lower layer, and an outsole layer made of rubber material below the lower layer. A hollow space and a plurality of channels are connected to the bottom surface of the upper layer. A plurality of supporting projections are provided at a bottom surface of the supporting layer. A plurality of through-holes and inter-connected horizontal channels are provided in the outsole layer. |
US09282768B2 |
Method and apparatus for incorporating objects into cigarette filters
Cigarette filter rods having individual objects positioned at predetermined intervals therein are prepared by transferring the individual objects from a rotating horizontal pan to a rotating vertical wheel and then depositing the object into a web of filter tow. Each object is positioned within the moving web of tow. The web filter material and the objects positioned within the web are introduced into a rod-forming unit wherein the rod is formed. The rate of feed of the filter tow, the rate of rotation of the horizontal pan and the vertical wheel are controlled relative to one another such that objects are positioned at predetermined intervals along the rod. Cigarette filter elements having well controlled amounts of flavorant contained therein can be made from the rods. |
US09282765B1 |
Smoking article and method
A method of constructing a cigar includes the providing of a plurality of frusto-conically shaped tubes, each tube being of a smokable material such as a spirally wrapped layer of tobacco material. The tubes are nested, one tube inside the other tube. The nested tubes are then attached to a mouthpiece having a socket that is internally threaded. The nested tubes and mouthpiece are packaged either filled with tobacco filler material, partially filled, or unfilled in a container. |
US09282759B2 |
Composition including an unsaponifiable fraction
The present invention relates to a composition, notably cosmetic, nutraceutical, dermatological, pharmaceutical or dietary, including at least one unsaponifiable extract, a drug including one such composition, the use of one such composition, a treatment method consisting in administering one such composition and a method comprising the administration of one such composition. |
US09282752B1 |
Collapsible hitch mounted game hoist apparatus
A game hoist apparatus including a base unit attachable to the tow hitch of a vehicle, a boom and winch pulley system disposed on the base unit to attach and vertically lift a game animal for field processing. The apparatus has a swivel unit allowing the boom to rotate 360-degrees to access the game animal being processed and to load the animal into the vehicle for transport. The apparatus includes an attachable game skinning tool securable to a lower wall of a horizontal shaft of the base unit. The skinner tool has sharp skinner snatch pins to maintain one end of the animal's hide in a fixed position and to peel the hide from the animal is hoisted. The apparatus can be disassembled and collapsed into a small bundle for easy transport and storage. |
US09282751B2 |
Method and installation for stunning poultry and the obtainable bleeded poultry
The invention relates to a method and installation for stunning poultry, such as chicken, turkey, duck and quail, comprising the steps of: i) suspending the poultry with the poultry head down; ii) positioning the suspended poultry head; and iii) stunning the poultry via the suspended and positioned poultry head, and to obtainable debleeded poultry. |
US09282744B2 |
Synergistic fungicide composition
A synergistic fungicide composition, a formulation method and a use thereof are provided. The composition contains two active components A and B, where the active component A is benziothiazolinone, the active component B is one selected from dithianon, dimethomorph, iprodione and epoxiconazol, and the weight ratio of the two components is 1:50 to 50:1, and preferably 1:30 to 30:1. Test results show that, the fungicide composition has a significant synergistic effect, and more importantly, the application amount and the use-cost are reduced. The fungicide composition is effective in preventing and treating certain fungal diseases of crops such as food crops, vegetables and fruits. |
US09282739B2 |
Pesticidal compositions and processes related thereto
This document discloses molecules having the following formula (“Formula One”): and processes related thereto. |
US09282736B2 |
Oil formulations with thickeners
This invention is based on unexpected effect of at least one thickener to maintain suspension or dispersion of solid particles in an oil medium. Such effect of thickener enables significant higher weight ratio of solid particles in such suspension composition as compared to previously known compositions. As a consequence, the suspension compositions provided herein enable more active ingredient in the solid particle to be present in a fixed volume or weight of such composition as compared to previously known compositions. One advantage of the suspension composition provided herein can be for aerial spraying of active ingredient such as herbicides, insecticides, or other growth regulating compounds. |
US09282733B2 |
Trap-setting apparatus
A trap-setting apparatus for use in setting a dog-proof trap that includes a continuous side wall, a spring member that is movable between a tripped configuration extending away from the side wall and a rigging configuration adjacent thereto. The trap-setting apparatus includes a cam member and an elongate handle having a proximal member coupled thereto and a distal end displaced therefrom, the handle being configured to rotate the cam member when moved. The trap-setting apparatus includes a pair of hook members each having a first end coupled to the cam member and a second end selectively coupled to the spring member of the dog-proof trap. In use, a user movement of the handle causes the cam member to rotate relative to the side wall of the trap and to move the spring member from the tripped configuration toward the rigging configuration. |
US09282732B2 |
Fishing rod holder
An improved fishing rod holder is provided that includes a base assembly, a rod holder assembly, and a connecting member that connects the base and rod holder assemblies. The connecting member is connected to the rod holder assembly with a first T-joint. The rod holder assembly is configured to hold two fishing poles. The first T-joint is removable from the connecting member such that the connecting member and base assembly may be filled with water or sand to weigh down the fishing rod holder. In a second embodiment the rod holder assembly and the connecting member are the same, but the base assembly is replaced with a triangular-shaped base assembly. In third embodiment stabilization in enhanced, in a fourth embodiment fewer components are required, and in a fifth embodiment a canoe embodiment is presented. |
US09282731B2 |
Dual-bearing reel spool braking device
A present dual-bearing reel spool braking device is configured to apply a braking force to a spool that is rotatably mounted on a reel body with a centrifugal force. The spool braking device includes a rotating member, a brake shoe, a brake drum, and a selective fixing member. The rotating member rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the spool. The brake shoe is supported by a rotating member so as to be pivotal between a braking position where the brakes are applied to the spool with a centrifugal force and a non-braking position where a non-braking rotation of the spool is allowed. The brake drum is configured to come into contact with the brake shoe. The selective fixing member is mounted to the rotating member. The selective fixing member selectively fixes the brake shoe to the non-braking position by selectively engaging with the brake shoe. |
US09282729B2 |
Purple transgenic fluorescent ornamental fish
The present invention relates to transgenic purple ornamental fish, as well as methods of making such fish by in vitro fertilization techniques. Also disclosed are methods of establishing a population of such transgenic fish and methods of providing them to the ornamental fish industry for the purpose of marketing. |
US09282728B2 |
Aquarium with an integrated cleaning system
Various embodiments of an aquarium and its method of use are disclosed. In some embodiments the aquarium includes a first container including a waste collection area, an outlet, and a conduit fluidly connecting the waste collection area and the outlet. Depending upon the particular embodiment, the aquarium may also include features such as a second container adapted and configured to mate with the first container and receive the outlet such that fluid flows from the waste collection area through the outlet and into the second container when fluid is added above a preselected fluid level. In other related embodiments, the conduit may be formed by first and second portions of the conduit formed in the first container and a separate component. |
US09282726B2 |
Bird feeder
A bird feeder comprising a feed container having a side wall and a plurality of feed openings therein, a shroud extending about the feed container, the shroud having feed openings therein, the feed openings being spaced from the top of the shroud by a distance equal to between 20% and 80% of the total height thereof, a cover, a base, a center tube and a center rod within the center tube, the center rod being secured to the base and the shroud resting on the base, a spring mounted about the center rod, the arrangement being such that the feed openings in the shroud and the feed openings in the side wall are either aligned or misaligned depending on the weight on the shroud. |
US09282725B2 |
Non-invasive temperature and physical activity measurement of animals
A method for an observational screening method or a drug screening method, includes the steps of providing an enclosure for at least one animal with outer sidewalls, preferably 4 outer sidewalls; providing temperature sensing device for sensing a body temperature of at least one animal and/or activity measurement device for measuring at least one parameter related to physical activity of at least one animal; sensing a body temperature of at least one animal and/or measuring at least one parameter related to physical activity of at least one animal; providing data processing device; and processing data related to body temperature and/or to the parameter related to physical activity. |
US09282722B2 |
Hand-held transmitter for an animal training system
An animal training system for controlling the behavior of the animal includes a receiver configured to be worn by the animal, and a hand held transmitter. The hand held transmitter includes a case with an front face, a transmitter circuit within the case for transmitting a wireless signal to the receiver, and an actuator at the front face of the case. The actuator is coupled with the transmitter circuit, and is a non-depressible actuator which is manually movable relative to the case. |
US09282716B2 |
Witloof chicory bobine
A novel witloof chicory cultivar, designated ‘BOBINE’, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of witloof chicory cultivar ‘BOBINE’, to the plants of witloof chicory cultivar ‘BOBINE’ and to methods for producing a witloof chicory plant by crossing the cultivar ‘BOBINE’ with itself or another witloof chicory line. The invention further relates to methods for producing other witloof chicory lines derived from the cultivar ‘BOBINE’. |
US09282714B1 |
Soybean variety BK000159
Disclosed is the seed of a novel soybean variety, designated BK000159, a sample of which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-122491. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the variety, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the BK000159 variety, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in a soybean breeding program. |
US09282712B1 |
Wheat variety 25W31
A wheat variety designated 25W31, the plants and seeds of wheat variety 25W31, methods for producing a wheat plant produced by crossing the variety 25W31 with another wheat plant, and hybrid wheat seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety 25W31 with another wheat line or plant, and the creation of variants by mutagenesis or transformation of variety 25W31. This invention also relates to methods for producing other wheat varieties or breeding lines derived from wheat variety 25W31 and to wheat varieties or breeding lines produced by those methods. |
US09282711B2 |
Soybean variety 01046852
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046852. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046852. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046852 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046852 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
US09282708B2 |
Soybean variety 01046529
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046529. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046529. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046529 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046529 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
US09282706B1 |
Maize inbred PH1W82
A novel maize variety designated PH1W82 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1W82 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1W82 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 PH1W82 or a locus conversion of PH1W82 with another maize variety. |
US09282705B1 |
Maize inbred PH17SB
A novel maize variety designated PH17SB and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH17SB with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH17SB 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 PH17SB or a locus conversion of PH17SB with another maize variety. |
US09282702B1 |
Maize hybrid X08D492
A novel maize variety designated X08D492 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08D492 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08D492 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08D492, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08D492. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08D492. |
US09282699B2 |
Irrigation system
An irrigation system that includes a carriage may move along a predetermined path in a reciprocal manner. The carriage supports one or more exit ports that are fed plant growth material by a pressurized delivery arrangement. One or more plant stands are configured and arranged to straddle the carriage as it moves along the predetermined path. The one or more plant stands form a chamber into which plant roots may extend, and into which the one or more exit ports are able to discharge their plant growth material. The one or more plant stands may include side panels and a cap to reduce infiltration of light and contaminants, and to enhance the plant root-plant growth material interface and absorption rates. The carriage and/or the plant stand(s) may include friction reducing elements that facilitate transverse movement. The carriage and/or the plant stand(s) may be supported by a modular framework. |
US09282698B2 |
Light emitting diode grow light for plant growing applications
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for providing light to grow a plant. An LED array comprises blue light in a band between about 350 nm and 550 nm, red light in a band at about 630 nm and dark red light in a band at about 660 nm. An input device is provided for interrupting the dark red band at 660 nm in order to continue to provide light the plant while the plant continues to flower. |
US09282697B2 |
Garden shears
A pressing handle member of garden shears has two symmetric pressing handle elements sandwiching a separator. The separator and the pressing handle elements each respectively have a shaft aperture and a first pivot aperture. The separator has an anvil. A blade member is inserted in a first slot of the separator and pivoted onto a bolt that is disposed through the shaft aperture. Two connecting members are slidably coupled to an adjusting slot in the blade member. The gripping member has two symmetric handle elements sandwiching an assembly member. Each handle element has a second pivot aperture; a pin is placed through the second pivot apertures and the first pivot apertures of the pressing handle member. The gripping member also has a second through aperture and a joint is placed through the second through aperture and the connecting apertures of the connecting members. |
US09282696B2 |
Adjustable vane in combine harvester
A processing system for a combine harvester having a rotor housing that receives a rotor. A cover directs crop material through the rotor housing. At least one adjustable vane guides the crop material. The vane has a cover-facing proximal edge adjacent the cover and an edge projecting toward the rotor. A leading end of the vane is connected with a first pivot connection and the vane is connected to the cover along its inner edge with a second pivot connection. A line drawn through the pivot connections intersects a plane perpendicular to an axis of the cover and forms an angle with the plane of between 5 and 15 degrees. The vane pivots with respect to the cover about an axis along the line to adjust a tilt angle of the vane. Also, tilting the vane adjusts an angle of the distal edge of the vane relative the plane. |
US09282690B2 |
Three point hitch draft sensing system
A draft sensing mechanism for a three point hitch includes a hitch frame attached to a frame of a vehicle. The hitch frame includes left and right link supports for coupling to left and right draft links and left and right draft bars. Each draft bar has a first portion attached to a corresponding one of the link supports, and a second portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly with respect to its first portion. Draft forces applied by the draft links to the link supports are transmitted to the second portions of the draft bars. A linkage unit sums the draft forces from the draft bars and includes a draft force transducer which generates a draft force signal in response to deflection of the draft bars. |
US09282689B2 |
Soil tilling and planting implement
The combination of a rolling basket tillage implement and a seed distribution implement is disclosed. A height-adjustable mounting system for a rolling basket soil tillage implement is also disclosed for use with a planter that enables such an implement to be raised above the soil as needed to avoid wet conditions. |
US09288936B2 |
Shield case and antenna set comprising it
The present invention relates to a shield case and an antenna set comprising the same, wherein the shield case includes a shield surface for shielding embedded electronic elements against electromagnetic wave, a fixing unit coupled with a substrate mounted with the electronic elements, signal receivers for receiving a signal of desired frequency, and two strip antennas connected to a border of the shield surface, each antenna facing the other across the shield surface. |
US09288935B2 |
Cooling systems and heat exchangers for cooling computer components
Computer systems having heat exchangers for cooling computer components are disclosed herein. The computer systems include a computer cabinet having an air inlet, an air outlet spaced apart from the air inlet, and a plurality of computer module compartments positioned between the air inlet and the air outlet. The air inlet, the air outlet, and the computer module compartments define an air flow path through the computer cabinet. The computer systems also include a heat exchanger positioned between two adjacent computer module compartments. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchange elements canted relative to the air flow path. |
US09288933B2 |
Metal injection molded heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device is provided. The heat dissipation device includes an integrated heat spreader and a base plate coupled to the integrated heat spreader, wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of metal pellets to dissipate heat from the integrated heat spreader. |
US09288932B2 |
Ground-based heat sink facilitating electronic system cooling
Cooling systems and methods are provided which include a heat sink having a housing with a compartment, a coolant inlet, and a coolant outlet. The housing is configured for a coolant to flow from the coolant inlet through the compartment to the coolant outlet, wherein the coolant is transferring heat extracted from one or more electronic components. The heat sink further includes one or more heat pipes having a first portion disposed within the compartment of the housing and a second portion disposed outside the housing. The heat pipe(s) is configured to extract heat from the coolant flowing through the compartment, and to transfer the extracted heat to the second portion disposed outside the housing. The second portion outside the housing is disposed to facilitate conducting the extracted heat into the ground. |
US09288931B2 |
Cooling system and device housing apparatus using the same
A cooling system comprising: an evaporator for evaporating a refrigerant by performing heat exchange with outside air; a condenser for condensing a gas refrigerant into a liquid refrigerant by making a refrigerant and a cooling medium perform heat exchange with each other; a gas refrigerant pipe and a liquid refrigerant pipe connecting the evaporator and the condenser; and the evaporator including: an upper part header provided in a highest position of the evaporator, and connected with the condenser by the gas refrigerant pipe, through the gas refrigerant pipe a gas refrigerant flowing; a lower part header provided in a lowest position of the evaporator, and connected with the condenser by the liquid refrigerant pipe, through the liquid refrigerant pipe a liquid refrigerant flowing; a middle header provided in an intermediate position between the upper part header and the lower part header, and connected with the condenser by the liquid refrigerant pipe, through the liquid refrigerant pipe the liquid refrigerant flowing; an upper part evaporator, arranged between the upper part header and the middle header, including an upper part steam generating tube having a first flow path for leading a refrigerant of the middle header to the upper part header while making the refrigerant of the middle header perform heat exchange with outside air and having a second flow path for leading a refrigerant of the lower part header to the upper part header while making the refrigerant of the lower part header perform heat exchange with outside air; and a lower part evaporator, arranged between the lower part header and the middle header, including a lower part steam generating tube having a third flow path inserted into the middle header while making a refrigerant of the lower part header perform heat exchange with outside air, the lower part steam generating tube communicated with the second flow path of the upper part steam generating tube. |
US09288928B2 |
Load sharing device and I/O architecture against imparted abuse loads
A bracket configured to be interposed between the housing of a mobile electronic device and an electrical receptacle that is disposed in the mobile electronic device. The bracket includes a bracket body, an elongated opening through the bracket and a sheath surrounding portions of the bracket body. The bracket body includes an elongated protrusion extending in a front direction from the front face of the bracket body and a pair of fastener accommodations extending through the bracket body, each fastener accommodation disposed on opposite sides of the elongated protrusion. The sheath includes a first portion surrounding a portion of the bracket body elongated protrusion and a second portion including a pair of fastener openings. |
US09288918B2 |
Mobile device in which the interior switch element is protected by the housing
The invention relates to a mobile device (10) for activating at least one switch element (40) that is arranged inside a housing (11), having a key unit (20) that comprises at least one contact means (21), wherein the contact means (21) is aligned to the interior (12) of the housing (11) in order to activate the switch element (40), and having a receptacle (13) arranged on the housing (11) to which the key unit (20) is fastened. According to the invention, the receptacle (13) comprises a force transfer region (14) that is arranged between the key unit (20) and the switch element (40) such that the interior (12) of the housing (11) is protected from the outer region (2). |
US09288917B2 |
Manufacturing method for multi-layer circuit board
A manufacturing method for a multi-layer circuit board includes the following steps. Firstly, a substrate having two surfaces opposite to each other and a via connecting there between is provided. Next, a patterned circuit layer is formed on each of the surfaces by using the via as an alignment target. Each patterned circuit layer includes a concentric-circle pattern. Next, a first stacking layer is formed on each of the surfaces. Then, a first through hole penetrating regions of the first stacking layer and the substrate where a first concentric circle from the center of the concentric-circle pattern is orthogonally projected thereon is formed. Next, a second stacking layer is formed on each first stacking layer. Afterward, a second through hole penetrating regions of the first, the second stacking layers and the substrate where a second concentric circle from the center of the concentric-circle pattern is orthogonally projected thereon is formed. |
US09288914B2 |
Method of manufacturing a printed circuit board with circuit visible
A printed circuit board with circuit visible includes a wiring layer, a first adhesive layer, a first dielectric layer, and a cover film, which are stacked in described order, the wiring layer comprising at least one electrical contact pad. The cover film has at least one opening corresponding to the electrical contact pad. The cover film includes a second dielectric layer and a second adhesive layer. A flow initiation temperature of the first adhesive layer is in a range from 85 degrees centigrade to 90 degrees centigrade, and a hardening temperature of the first adhesive being lower than 150 degrees centigrade. |
US09288897B2 |
Environmental sensitive electronic device package
An environmental sensitive electronic device package includes a first substrate, a second substrate, an environmental sensitive electronic device, at least one side wall barrier structure, and a filler layer. The first substrate has at least one predetermined flexure area. The second substrate is located above the first substrate. The environmental sensitive electronic device is located on the first substrate and between the first substrate and the second substrate. The side wall barrier structure is located between the first substrate and the second substrate and surrounds the environmental sensitive electronic device. The side wall barrier structure has at least one flexure stress dispersing structure that is located in the predetermined flexure area. The filler layer is located between the first substrate and the second substrate and covers the side wall barrier structure and the environmental sensitive electronic device. |
US09288893B2 |
Implementations of twisted differential pairs on a circuit board
A twisted differential conductor pair is formed on a circuit board that includes first-third conductors. The second conductor includes first-third portions. The second portion of the second conductor extends between an end of the first conductor and an end of the third conductor, and couples an end of the first portion of the second conductor to an end of the third portion of the second conductor. A solder mask layer is formed over the first, second, and third conductors on the circuit board. An end of the first conductor and the end of the third conductor are exposed through the solder mask layer. The exposed end of the first conductor is coupled to the exposed end of the third conductor over the solder mask layer with a bridge. This configuration may be repeated to create multiple twists along the twisted differential conductor pair. |
US09288892B2 |
Transversely actuated piezoelectric bellows heatsink
A transversely actuated piezoelectric bellows heatsink (TAPBH) has a linkage that includes multiple rigid sections coupled by flexible joints. A first fixed support is affixed to a first end of the linkage, and a piezoelectric element is mechanically coupled to a second end of the linkage. A diaphragm is mechanically affixed to a first side of the linkage, and an air enclosure, having an open area, is affixed to the diaphragm. A second fixed support is mechanically affixed to a second side of the linkage. Cyclic power from the power supply causes the piezoelectric element to expand and contract to force the linkage to expand and contract in an analogous manner, thus causing the diaphragm to move in an amplified motion to cause air to enter and be expelled from the air enclosure via air valves. |
US09288888B2 |
Plasma torch with reversible baffle
A plasma arc torch includes an annular baffle defining distinct faces A, B, C, and D. Faces A and C are opposite from each other, and faces B and D are opposite from each other. First passages for fluid flow extend between the faces A and C, and second passages extend between the faces B and D. The baffle is installable in an annular space between an inner wall and an outer wall, in either of two orientations. In a first orientation, the first passages are open to fluid flow and the second passages are closed by engagement of the inner and outer walls with the faces B and D, and in a second orientation, flipped over relative to the first orientation, the second passages are open to fluid flow and the first passages are closed by engagement of the inner and outer walls with the faces A and C. |
US09288881B2 |
Control arrangement for controlling an atmosphere generating device
The present invention relates to a control arrangement for controlling an atmosphere generating device, comprising a control device (102) having a control surface (110), and a control object (104, 106) adapted to be freely-positioned onto the control surface, the control object comprising identification means (116), wherein the control device comprises a control unit (114) adapted to identify the control object, to receive relative positioning information from the control surface relating to the positioning of the control object, and to output control data corresponding to the placement information for controlling the atmosphere generating device. By means of the invention it is provided an intuitive user interface in which the user is provided with a flexible solution in which not only repositioning of the control object onto the surface of the control device influence the atmosphere, but also the identity of the control object. |
US09288873B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for using a high current switching device as a logic level sensor
A line voltage signal at a first voltage and a first current supplied by a line voltage switching device responsive to a sensed or detected event can be provided to a first node of a regulator. A portion of the line voltage signal can be passed at the first voltage through a capacitive device in the regulator and provided at a second node for return to an electrical circuit containing a load device. The remaining portion of the line voltage signal can be passed to a voltage divider comprising at least a first resistive device and a second resistive device. A signal output at a second voltage and a second current that is suitable for introduction to a high-impedance controller input can be obtained at a third node electrically coupled to a point between the first resistive device and the second resistive device. |
US09288870B2 |
Display module and tiled display manufacturing method
A flat panel display device including at least one display module in the form of a matrix of pixels formed by active media enclosed between two sets of conductors, where the display module has a front side by which it is to be exposed to viewers and an opposite back side where an electronic control circuit is located, and includes two sets of electrical conductors extending along two intersecting axes respectively to define a two-dimensional array of junctions forming said pixels, each of the conductors of at least one set of conductors being bent to extend from the front side to the opposite back side of the display module. |
US09288862B2 |
LED lighting apparatus and control circuit thereof
Disclosed is a light emitting diode lighting apparatus capable of improving a power factor and temperature characteristics. The light emitting diode lighting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a light source having a plurality of light emitting diode channels and performs a current regulating operation to allow a light source to emit light. The light source uses a current path provided by current regulating to emit light. |
US09288858B2 |
Light-emitting diode lighting system
The present application discloses a light-emitting diode (LED) lighting system, including: a toroidal transformer comprising a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals; and an illuminant comprising an LED circuit; wherein the illuminant is electrically connected to the pair of output terminals of the toroidal transformer. The present application uses a toroidal transformer to simplify a circuit and reduce the number of electronic parts used. On one hand, a service life of a product can be prolonged, and on the other hand, costs can be reduced and a recycling rate is high, which is beneficial to environmental protection. |
US09288856B2 |
Driver circuit of light sources and vehicle light provided with said driver circuit of light sources
Driver circuit of light sources, particularly of the LED type, comprising a first and at least a second group of light sources, each connected to a common power supply terminal, a first and at least a second regulation circuit, each suitable for regulating the current absorbed by a respective group of light sources, at least one actuation circuit operatively connected to a respective second regulation circuit, and a serial connection circuit, suitable for connecting in series at least a first and a second group of light sources, when the voltage downstream of the first group of light sources is greater than or equal to the voltage upstream of the second group of light sources. |
US09288852B2 |
Driving circuits for light emitting elements
A circuit for driving light emitting elements, such as LEDs, includes a first transistor having a source coupled to ground through a first resistive element, and a second transistor having a gate electrically coupled to a gate of the first transistor, a source electrically coupled to ground, and a drain for electrical connection to a first group of light emitting elements. The circuit also includes circuitry to provide a predetermined voltage at the source of the first transistor, circuitry to compensate for a difference in respective gate-source voltages of the first and second transistors, and circuitry to compensate for a difference in respective drain-source voltages of the first and second transistors. In some implementations, the circuit can achieve relatively low power consumption. |
US09288851B1 |
TRIAC low voltage dimming control system
A TRIAC low voltage dimming control system for effectively controlling the dimming of low voltage lighting using a TRIAC dimmer. The TRIAC low voltage dimming control system generally includes a TRIAC analyzer that applies a test voltage to a TRIAC dimmer and measures the amount of time required for the TRIAC dimmer to conduct electricity. Utilizing the measured time for the TRIAC dimmer to conduct electricity, the TRIAC analyzer is able to calculate an approximate state of the TRIAC dimmer and provide a corresponding level of DC electrical power to a DC load. |
US09288848B2 |
Apparatus fabrication using localized annealing
A method for fabricating an apparatus using radiation annealing includes forming an annealable layer on a substrate. A radiation absorbing layer is also formed on the substrate, wherein the radiation absorbing layer heats up In response to radiation, and the radiation absorbing layer is formed adjacent to at least a portion of the annealable layer and non-adjacent to a portion of the apparatus. Radiation is directed toward the apparatus to heat up the radiation absorbing layer to anneal the at least a portion of the annealable layer that is adjacent to the radiation absorbing layer without annealing the portion of the apparatus that is non-adjacent to the radiation absorbing layer. |
US09288847B2 |
Cold crucible induction melter integrating induction coil and melting furnace
A cold crucible induction melter includes an induction coil and a melting furnace. The induction coil serves as a water cooled segment to directly transmit an induced current to a molten material in the cold crucible induction melter (CCIM), improving energy efficiency. Simultaneously, the structure of the CCIM is simplified and enables a smooth discharge even when the molten material consists of a ceramic or a metal material with a high melting point. The cold crucible induction melter heats and melts waste using an induced current which is generated in a water cooled segment by a high frequency current that is applied to the induction coil. The water cooled segment and the induction coil are disposed in a vertical direction so that the induced current that is generated by the induction coil is directly transmitted to the molten material. |
US09288841B2 |
Direct digital frequency generation using time and amplitude
This application discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods for sharing a local oscillator between multiple wireless devices. In certain examples, an apparatus can include a central frequency synthesizer configured to provide a central oscillator signal having a first frequency, a first transmitter, the first transmitter including a first transmit digital-to-time converter (DTC) configured to receive the central oscillator signal and to provide a first transmitter signal having a second frequency, and a first receiver, the first receiver including a first receive DTC configured to receive the central oscillator signal and to provide a first receiver signal having a first receive frequency. |
US09288839B2 |
Base station apparatus and method of deciding master base station apparatus
Each of the base station apparatuses measures received electric field strength of receivable signals from other base station apparatuses, and superiority in cases of indirectly connecting each of the base station apparatuses to another or other plural base station apparatuses by a route in which one or plural base station apparatuses are interposed and a case of making direct connection between the base station apparatuses are determined based on a measurement result of the received electric field strength and thereby, the base station apparatus used as the highest master is decided. |
US09288836B1 |
Electronic bracelet
A bracelet including a plurality of circuits. The plurality of circuits includes a wireless communication circuit configured to communicate with a first device, a near-field communication circuit configured to communicate with a second device via a near-field communication antenna, and a power supply circuit including a battery. The first device is remote from the bracelet. The power supply circuit is configured to supply power to one or more of the plurality of circuits. |
US09288832B2 |
Wireless apparatus, base station, and communication controlling method thereof
A wireless apparatus, a base station, and a communication controlling method are provided. A communication controlling system comprises the wireless apparatus and the base station. The wireless apparatus is configured to transmit a connection request to the base station and then enter a connection setup communication procedure. The wireless apparatus enters a temporary waiting status during a waiting duration after transmitting the connection request. The wireless apparatus stays in the connection setup communication procedure in the temporary waiting status. The communication controlling method is able to perform the same operations as those performed by the wireless apparatus and the base station is able to perform the operations corresponding to the wireless apparatus. |
US09288830B2 |
Electronic device capable of communicating with another device
An electronic device comprises a first communicating unit wirelessly communicating with the other electronic device and a controller establishing wireless communication with the other electronic device through the first communicating unit by using setting information. The controller permits the other electronic device to remotely control the operation of the electronic device within a first range if the setting information used for establishing the communication is information not-temporarily issued (for example, a permanent SSID, a permanent PW). The controller permits the other electronic device to remotely control the operation of the electronic device within a second range limited as compared to the first range if the setting information used for establishing the communication is information temporarily issued (for example, a temporary SSID, a temporary PW). |
US09288826B2 |
Wireless communication device
A wireless communication device may establish a first type of connection by using a first wireless channel and establish a second type of connection by using a second wireless channel. In a specific situation where one connection of the first type of connection with the first device and the second type of connection with the second device is to be established, while the other connection has been established, the wireless communication device may form a multiple connection state where both the first and second types of connections are established in a first case where values of the first and second wireless channels are identical, and form a single connection state where one of the first and second types of connections is established in a second case where the values of the first and second wireless channels are not identical. |
US09288824B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving random access request and transmitting and receiving random access response
A base station transmits a random access response in response to a random access request (random access preamble) of a user equipment. The random access response includes information about a time when the random access request is transmitted and sequence number information of the random access request (random access preamble). The user equipment checks whether the received random access response is the response of the random access request transmitted by the user equipment, using the information about the time when the random access request transmitted and the sequence number information included in the received random access response. |
US09288823B2 |
HARQ Timing scheme for single-carrier uplink control information with inter-site carrier aggregation
There is a pattern for downlink almost blank sub frames ABSFs for a first network node (e.g., macro eNB) operating in a first component carrier (e.g., PCell). For a user equipment UE operating with the first network node on the first component carrier and also with a second network node on the second component carrier, then either or both of the following are imposed. The UE is scheduled on the first component carrier such that no uplink control information UCI from the UE is scheduled for any uplink subframe in the first component carrier which maps from any of the ABSFs; and the UE is scheduled on the second component carrier such that UCI from the UE is scheduled only for an uplink subframe in the second component carrier which maps from any of the ABSFs. By example, the UCI includes either/or ACKs and NACKs corresponding to data sent downlink to the UE. |
US09288821B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving scheduling assignments in a communication system
A method and apparatus for receiving a Scheduling Assignment (SA) by a User Equipment (UE) in a communication system in which a base station transmits the SA being a first type or a second type, the SA including a set of Information Elements (IEs), and a first IE. The method includes receiving the SA; identifying that each bit included in the set of IEs of the SA and at least one bit included in the first IE of the SA are set with a predetermined value; and performing an action corresponding to the SA of the second type, if each bit included in the set of IEs of the SA and the at least one bit included in the first IE of the SA are set with the predetermined value. |
US09288816B2 |
Providing service based on quality of service resources in a long term evolution communications system
In an embodiment, an apparatus (e.g., a client device or a server) sends, to a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network component, a request to setup a Quality of Service (QoS) bearer with a threshold level of QoS to support the communication session for the client device. The apparatus permits the client device to proceed with the attempt to setup the communication session irrespective of whether the LTE network component grants the threshold level of QoS for the QoS bearer. In another embodiment, the LTE network component rejects an initial QoS request from the apparatus due to QoS unavailability, and then receives another QoS request within a threshold period of time. Based on the two (or more) QoS requests being received within the threshold period of time, the LTE network component allocates an available level of QoS to the client device that is less than the requested level of QoS. |
US09288815B2 |
Computation of channel state feedback in systems using common reference signal interference cancelation
When enabled with common reference signal interference cancellation, a user equipment (UE) may still compute a channel state feedback value with consideration of any canceled interfering neighboring signals. When the neighboring cells are determined to be transmitting data during the time for which the channel state feedback value is being computed, the UE is able to derive the channel state feedback value considering those canceled interfering signals. The UE determines whether each neighboring cell is transmitting during the designated time either by obtaining signals that indicate the transmission schedule of the neighboring cells or by detecting the transmission schedule, such as based on the power class of the neighboring cells. If the UE determines that the neighboring cells are transmitting data during this time period, the UE will compute the channel state feedback value including consideration of the canceled interfering signals. |
US09288810B2 |
Wireless media sharing from multiple sources to a single sink
In one example, a method includes, during operation of a wireless media share session between a primary source device and a sink device, transferring, from the primary source device to a secondary source device using a wireless link, transmission rights to the media share session with the sink device. |
US09288806B2 |
Method and apparatus for information transmission in wireless communication system
According to one embodiment, a method for transmitting, by a user equipment (UE), information in a wireless communication system includes: determining a first information sequence based on a first cyclically shifted base sequence and a first orthogonal sequence by using a first physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource for a first antenna, wherein the first PUCCH resource is obtained based on a channel control element (CCE) index related to a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a parameter configured by a higher layer; determining a second information sequence based on a second cyclically shifted base sequence and a second orthogonal sequence by using a second PUCCH resource for a second antenna, wherein the second PUCCH resource is obtained by adding an offset to the first PUCCH resource; transmitting the first information sequence via the first antenna; and transmitting the second information sequence via the second antenna. |
US09288803B2 |
Method and apparatus of activating/deactivating secondary carriers in mobile communication system using carrier aggregation
A method for activating/deactivating secondary carriers of a User Equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation is provided. The method comprises, receiving a control message including an activation/deactivation Control Element (CE) in a first sub-frame from a Base station, identifying an activation command or a deactivation command of at least one secondary carrier based on the control message, determining whether a current sub-frame is a second sub-frame or not, performing at least one first operation for the at least one secondary carrier in a second sub-frame, and performing, when the activation/deactivation CE indicates deactivation of the at least one secondary carrier, at least one second operation for the at least one secondary carrier no later than the second sub-frame. |
US09288801B2 |
Method and device for transmitting random access and other uplink channels of other cell in mobile communication system carrier aggregation
The present invention relates to a transmission of a random access in a specific cell from a plurality of serving cells in a mobile communication system using a carrier aggregation technology, and a method for efficiently transmitting uplink channels other than the random access in another cell. In particular, the method for a terminal to transmit an uplink channel to a base station comprises the steps of: confirming whether an uplink channel for a second carrier having an uplink timing different from a first carrier is included in a subframe transmitting a Random Access Preamble for the first carrier; if included, confirming whether the sum of the electric power required for the transmission of the random access preamble and the electric power required for the transmission of the uplink channel exceeds the maximum transmission electric power of the terminal; and, if exceeding, transmitting the random access preamble preferentially before the uplink channel. In addition, the terminal for transmitting an uplink channel to a base station comprises: a transmitter/receiver for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from the base station; and a control unit for confirming whether the uplink channel for a second carrier having an uplink timing different from a first carrier is included in a subframe for transmitting a random access preamble for the first carrier, and if included, confirming whether the sum of the electric power required for transmitting the Random Access Preamble and the electric power required for transmitting the uplink channel exceeds the maximum transmission electric power of the terminal, and if exceeding, controlling the transmission so that the random access preamble is preferentially transmitted before the uplink channel. |
US09288798B2 |
Method and device for transmitting control information in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More specifically, a method for transmitting control information including ACK/NACK and a scheduling request (SR) from a terminal in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of: receiving a plurality of physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs); and transmitting a plurality of ACK/NACK and SR corresponding to the plurality of PDSCHs by using physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format 3, wherein the plurality of ACK/NACK are divided into first and second segments, and the SR is added to at least one of the first and second segments and is then joint coded with the plurality of ACK/NACKs of the segment to which the SR is added. |
US09288795B2 |
Dynamic subframe setting method for wireless communication system, and device for same
The present application discloses a method for a terminal to transmit/receive signals to/from a base station in a wireless communication system. Specifically, the method comprises a first step in which an uplink signal is transmitted from a first subframe and a downlink signal is received from a second subframe, and a second step in which a downlink signal is received from the first subframe and the second subframe if the first subframe has changed so as to be used for the reception of a downlink signal; and the method is characterized in that in the first step a protection space is located between the first subframe and the second subframe, in the second step the protection space is located at the front end of the first subframe, and the first subframe and the second subframes are consecutive. |
US09288794B2 |
Communications systems, communications device, infrastructure equipment and method
A communications system, including a mobile radio network including local base stations to communicate data to and from mobile communications devices via a wireless access interface. The mobile radio network is adapted to include a message processor and a message store, the message store arranged to store an indication of each of one or more message exchanges in a set of predetermined message exchanges between the base stations and one or more of the communications devices, each message exchange including a predetermined set of predetermined messages and requiring predetermined up-link and/or down-link communications resource for communicating the message exchange on the up-link and/or down-link, between a base station and the communications device. |
US09288791B2 |
Method for reporting channel state information in a wireless communication system, and apparatus therefor
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reporting channel state information, wherein the method comprises the following steps: receiving configuration information for periodically reporting channel state information; and periodically reporting the channel state information for a each of a plurality of periods based on the configuration information, wherein the channel state information is repeated so as to have a predetermined pattern based on periods, of which a second period is longer than a first period. The second period has a first value in a single transmission point operation mode. The second period has a sum of the first value and a second value which is proportional to the number of coordinated transmission points involved in a coordinated multi-point transmission operation in a coordinated multi-point transmission operation mode. |
US09288790B2 |
Method and apparatus for bearer processing
A bearer processing method is disclosed. The method includes these steps: a system border node receives a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) Context Request initiated by a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS); the system border node adjusts a Request Bearer Resource Allocation message of a system architecture evolution (SAE) system or the PDP Context Request of the UMTS according to the received PDP Context Request to map the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the SAE system and the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the UMTS. The present invention can map the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the SAE system and the Bearer Resource Allocation procedure of the UMTS. |
US09288784B2 |
Controlling communication mode changes in a communication system
In response to receiving an indication at a primary device of initiation of a communication mode change, the primary device transmits a first command. Each of one or more secondary devices that are in a responsive state when the first command is transmitted responds to the first command with a response message and remains in a responsive state until a second command is received from the primary device. Each secondary device that is not in a responsive state when the first command is transmitted changes to a responsive state after a predetermined amount of time in a non-responsive state and remains in a responsive state for at least a minimum time duration. The primary device collects response messages received from secondary devices, and in response to the number of response messages received being equal to an indicated number, transmits the second command. |
US09288783B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for reduction of interference during positioning measurements
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses enabling reduction of interference in a wireless system in order to assist a user equipment in performing positioning measurements. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a radio network node is configured to: receive a measurement report from the UE comprising signal quality measurements related to interfering cells; to select a set of most interfering cells and to determine a level of reduction of transmission activity to be executed at specific time for a determined duration. |
US09288781B2 |
Downlink signaling counter management for multiple subscriber identity devices
A downlink signaling counter management method for a communication device is adapted to be simultaneously associated with at least two subscriber identities and to simultaneously provide radio receiving capabilities to less than all of the subscriber identities. For each decoding of a paging block for a subscriber identity, it is determined whether the paging block decoding was correct and whether a previous paging block decoding condition is fulfilled. The downlink signaling counter is updated with different values depending on this determination results, and on whether the paging block decoding was based on a maximum number of paging bursts. |
US09288771B2 |
Terminal device for transmitting a power headroom report in a multi-carrier communication system, and method for same
A method and device for transmitting a power headroom report (PHR) by a user equipment (UE) in a communication system supporting a plurality of carriers. The method includes transmitting, to an eNode B (eNB), a power headroom report (PHR) related to the plurality of carriers configured for the UE. The power headroom report (PHR) comprises a first type power headroom (PH) and a second type power headroom (PH). While the first type power headroom (PH) is calculated for a power headroom report (PHR) related to a primary carrier and a non-primary carrier, the second type power headroom (PH) is calculated for a power headroom report (PHR) related to only the primary carrier. The second type power headroom (PH) is calculated for case of simultaneous transmission of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). |
US09288767B2 |
Method for controlling signal transmission power and device for same
A method for transmitting signals using a plurality of component carriers in a wireless communication system. The method according to one embodiment includes controlling transmission powers for one or more channels per each component carrier; and checking whether a total transmission power of a plurality of channels for simultaneous transmission over the plurality of component carriers exceeds a total maximum transmission power configured for a communication apparatus or not, the plurality of channels including a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH); and if the total transmission power of the plurality of channels over the plurality of component carriers exceeds the total maximum transmission power, adjusting a transmission power of the PUSCH in such a way that the total transmission power of the plurality of channels over the plurality of component carriers does not exceed the total maximum transmission power transmission power. |
US09288761B2 |
Power scan optimization
Embodiments of the present invention include devices, systems and methods for optimized camping on a cell. One method can include beginning a power scan of a range of radio-frequency channel numbers as part of an acquisition. Power can be measured for a first set of radio-frequency channel numbers at a time using adjacent channel interference detection. An average power can be computed for each radio-frequency channel number once the range has been scanned a predetermined number of times. Other aspects, embodiments and features are also claimed and described. |
US09288758B2 |
Portable terminal and method for scanning access points
A portable terminal and a method for scanning Access Points (APs) to perform the AP scan with low power consumption in a sleep mode are provided. The method includes checking whether a sleep mode entry request is detected in a state that a short range radio communication function is activated, transmitting, when the sleep mode entry request is detected, an access point list and a setup command for handing over an access point scan control from a control unit to a short range radio communication module, adjusting a scan period according to a motion of the portable terminal based on the access point list and the setup command, and scanning, at the short range radio communication module, access points at the adjusted scan period. |
US09288757B2 |
Techniques for conserving power for communication between wireless devices
Embodiments herein relate to various techniques for conserving power for communication between wireless devices. Example techniques described herein may achieve power conservation by synchronizing when devices in communication with one another may enter power save or sleep mode and subsequently when the devices may wake up from power save mode to resume communication. According to one technique, a sending device may establish a rendezvous time in a duration field of a control frame (e.g., an RTS frame), which may indicate a time at which the devices may awake from power save mode. According to another technique, a duration may be indicated in a duration field of one or more data frames, and a rendezvous offset may be indicated in a Quality of Service (QoS) control field of the one or more data frames. Such a duration and rendezvous offset may be used to establish a rendezvous time in this technique. |
US09288756B2 |
Systems and methods for device-to-device communication in the absence of network coverage
A method and system for establishing a secure device-to-device connection between two mobile devices involves the use of a WiFi Direct (LTE Direct or other similar protocols) link paired with an IP Multimedia Subsystems (IMS) link. A device detects the presence of another device that it wishes to connect to. The devices negotiate a group owner, then authenticate each other using a variety of techniques, such as a centrally issued certificate. Thereafter, the devices derive keys to be used for communication, both over the WiFi Direct link and via the IMS link. A WiFi Direct Link may be paired with a Push to Talk over Cellular (PoC) link in order to couple together more than two devices. In such a connection, devices transmit to a group owner, which then sends multicast versions to the rest of the group devices. |
US09288752B2 |
Method and apparatus for reducing energy consumption of radio communications in a wireless sensor network
A method, a non-transitory computer-readable medium and an apparatus for receiving a data packet that is transmitted from a first sensor node are disclosed. For example, the method performs a channel scan of a particular burst of channel scans. When the preamble packet is detected, the method determines whether the preamble packet is addressed to the second sensor node. When the preamble packet is addressed to the second sensor node, the method sends an acknowledgement packet to the first sensor node. The method then receives the data packet that is transmitted from the first sensor node. The method then sleeps for a duration of time, when there is no packet transmission that is ongoing that is destined to the second sensor node. |
US09288749B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining data transreceiving path in radio access system supporting multi-rat
A method for transreceiving data disclosed in the present invention is a method for a terminal transreceiving between a first base station supporting a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second base station supporting a second RAT in a radio access system supporting Multi-RAT, and comprises the following steps: receiving access information for the second base station from the first base station; accessing the second base station based on access information of the second base station; transmitting to the first base station command information including an address on the second RAT, which is used for accessing the second base station; and transreceiving data having a first flow ID from the first base station through the first RAT, and transreceiving data having a second flow ID from the second base station through the second RAT. |
US09288748B2 |
Measurement in simultaneous TDD-LTE and TD-SCDMA/GSM systems
In a mobile device for wireless communication capable of communicating on multiple radio access technologies (RATs), cell selection may be improved by reusing cell measurements for inter-RAT cell selection. This will reduce the number of cell measurements taken and improve mobile device performance. A time threshold may be used to instigate new cell measurement to prevent cell measurement data from being outdated. |
US09288737B2 |
Communication control method, user terminal, base station, and home base station
A communication control method applied to a mobile communication system, the mobile communication system including a home base station that forms a specific cell, and a mobility management device that performs verification of a user terminal for access permission to the specific cell in a handover procedure of the user terminal to the specific cell, comprises a step A of updating, by the user terminal, a list of a specific cell accessible by the user terminal; and a step B of omitting the verification of the user terminal by the mobility management device in the handover procedure when an elapsed time period after the update of the list is within a predetermined time period. |
US09288736B2 |
Efficient network hand-off utilizing stored beam-forming information
A system and method for performing efficient network hand-off (e.g., of a mobile communication device) utilizing stored beam-forming information. For example and without limitation, before determining to perform a particular hand-off, various aspects may comprise storing beam-forming information associated with the particular hand-off. Various aspects may also, for example, comprise determining to perform the particular hand-off. Various aspects may additionally, for example, comprise (e.g., after determining to perform the particular hand-off) accessing the stored beam-forming information associated with the particular hand-off to be performed. Various aspects may further, for example, comprise utilizing the accessed beam-forming information to form a communication beam to utilize for performing the particular hand-off. |
US09288735B2 |
Apparatus and method for switching radio access technology in wireless communication system
An apparatus and a method for switching a Radio Access Technology (RAT) by a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system are provided. The method includes detecting an event indicating that the UE should perform a switching operation from a first RAT to a second RAT different from the first RAT occurs while the UE uses the first RAT determining whether a RAT switching operation criterion is satisfied after detecting that the event occurs and if the RAT switching operation criterion is satisfied, performing the switching operation. |
US09288734B2 |
Traffic splitting based on latency between cells
Systems and techniques for traffic splitting based on latency between cells are herein described. At an eNodeB, a transmission path latency for a portion of a transmission path between the eNodeB and a user equipment (UE) may be measured via a secondary eNodeB when the UE is dually connected to both the eNodeB and the secondary eNodeB. The transmission path latency may be compared to a threshold. A layer in a transmission stack to split traffic to the UE may be determined based on the comparison of the transmission path latency to the threshold, the traffic being split between the eNodeB and the secondary eNodeB. |
US09288733B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling cell selection in a heterogeneous cellular network based on primary direction of traffic flow
Systems and methods are disclosed for controlling cell selection between a high power base station and a neighboring low power base station in a cellular network. In one embodiment, a primary direction of traffic flow for a user equipment located within a transition zone between a high power base station cell of the high power base station and a low power base station cell of the low power base station is determined to be either an uplink direction or a downlink direction. Cell selection for the user equipment is then controlled based on the primary direction of traffic flow for the user equipment such that selection of the high power base station cell is favored if the primary direction of traffic flow is the downlink direction and selection of the low power base station cell is favored if the primary direction of traffic flow is the uplink direction. |
US09288730B2 |
Multi-homed mobile relay
A mobile relay node having communication sessions with a plurality of wireless mobile device (UEs) and a communication link to a source base station via a first communication link is located within a moving vehicle. As the vehicle moves from the coverage area of the source base station to the coverage area of a target base station, the relay node performs a hand off process that initiates a second communication link with the target while maintaining and continuing to relay communications between the UEs and the source. Once the second communication link is active, the relay node switches UE traffic from the source base station to the target base station over the second communication link, and then releases the first communication link. |
US09288729B2 |
Method for performing a change of mode in devices directly communicating with each other in a wireless connection system, and apparatus for same
The present invention relates to a method for determining whether a mode change condition for performing a hand-over to a cellular network through which devices communicate with each other is satisfied, transmitting a mode change instruction message to a base station when the mode change condition is satisfied, receiving a mode change command message for starting a mode change from the base station, transmitting a first data packet index with respect to a data packet transmitted to a second device at a final stage through the communication between the devices to the base station, ending the communication with the second device when the inter-device communication end request message is received from the base station, and transmitting data to the second device through the cellular network. |
US09288726B2 |
Systems and methods for obtaining subscriber access information by a core network in a handover process
The present invention discloses a method for a core network to obtain user access information during a handover procedure, which includes: when the user handovers between HNBs or HeNBs and the core network does not carry out access control of the user, if the destination HeNB is connected to the core network directly or the user which does not support a closed subscriber group handovers to a hybrid destination HNB, the network element which controls the access of the user transmitting membership information of the user to the core network. The invention also discloses a corresponding system. The invention realizes that under the condition that the RAN side controlling the access of the UE during the handover process and the CN cannot know the membership of the UE, the RAN side notifying the core network of the membership information of the UE and the information of the H(e)NB. |
US09288725B2 |
Method for determining handover criterion in a cellular wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for determining handover criterion in a cellular wireless communication system, said cellular wireless communication system employing handover procedures according to which mobile stations may be handed over from a cell to another cell; said method comprising the steps of: receiving at least one handover control criterion parameter, and determining at least one handover criterion based on said at least one handover control criterion parameter. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method in a network control entity, a method in a network entity, a computer program, a computer program product, a network control entity device, a network entity device and a cellular communication system comprising such devices. |
US09288722B2 |
Sending an identifier of a wireless local area network to enable handoff of a mobile station to the wireless local area network
In a wireless communications network, the presence of a wireless local area network in a cell segment is determined. An identifier of the wireless local area network in the cell segment is sent to at least one mobile station in the cell segment to enable the at least one mobile station to hand off to the wireless local area network. Optionally, information identifying geographic boundaries of cell segments and the wireless local area network can be sent to the at least one mobile station. |
US09288721B2 |
Using a frequency error estimate of a first radio access technology (RAT) for a second RAT
Using a frequency error estimate (FEE) of a first RAT for a second RAT. The UE may include a first radio which supports, e.g., simultaneously, a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT. The first radio may use a lesser frequency of sleep and wake-up cycles when operating according to the first RAT than when operating according to the second RAT. The UE may perform a FEE associated with the first RAT. Accordingly, the UE may skip an FEE associated with the second RAT based on performing the FEE associated with the first RAT. |
US09288720B2 |
Dynamic network cell reselection after a failed handover
Apparatus and methods of performing a network cell reselection for a mobile device after a handover attempt fails. Initially, a handover is attempted for the mobile device in a radio resource control (RRC) connected mode from a serving network base station to a target network base station. Next a failure condition associated with the handover attempt is identified by the mobile device. In one scenario, the failure condition is identified in response to the mobile device receiving an RRC connection release message from its serving network base station. In another scenario, the failure condition is identified when the mobile device detects a radio link failure event. Thereafter, the mobile device performs a network scan to identify any available network base stations for the network cell reselection. Subsequently, the mobile device attaches to a preferred network base station of the identified available network base stations to complete the network cell reselection. |
US09288718B2 |
Byte caching in wireless communication networks
Various embodiments provide byte caching in wireless communication networks. In one embodiment, a plurality of data packets are received through an internet protocol (IP) data flow established between a wireless communication device and at least one server. Each of the plurality of data packets are combined into a packet bundle. A determination is made as to whether a second byte caching system is available. The packet bundle is transformed using one or more byte caching operations based on a second byte caching system being available. The transformed packet bundle is sent to the second byte caching system using an IP communication mechanism. |
US09288714B2 |
System and method for data size adaptation in a UE
A method is described for adapting the size of data for a future Transmission Time Interval (TTI) by a User Equipment (UE), wherein all the Media Access Control (MAC)-d flows are grouped and stored in different lists based on a type of grants associated with the MAC-d flows, ability of a MAC-d flow to be multiplexed with another MAC-d flow from a list, and data availability in a logical channel mapped onto a MAC-d flow in the current TTI. The E-TFC is then selected by the UE for the future TTI using the MAC-d flow having the highest power offset in a consolidated list including the grouped MAC-d flows. The size of the data is thereby adapted using the selected E-TFC. Further disclosed is a method for generating RLC PDUs by the UE for the future TTI using the variation in the scheduled grant for the UE and the size of the data adapted for the future TTI. |
US09288713B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically changing modes of a reliable transport protocol
A communication device minimizes an opportunity for a queue stall during a communication session employing a reliable transport protocol by setting a current mode of operation for a Radio Link Protocol (RLP) and, based on a quality of an air interface, switching to an RLP mode of operation different from the current mode during the communication session. |
US09288706B2 |
Method of anonymously reporting minimization of drive test measurements
The present invention provides a method of anonymously reporting minimization of drive test (MDT) measurements. According to the method, a mobility management entity (MME) obtains MDT data anonymity configuration which indicates whether MDT measurements are to be reported anonymously at a type allocation code (TAC) level; sends a TAC of a UE to a trace collection entity (TCE) if the MDT data anonymity configuration indicates MDT measurements are to be reported anonymously at the TAC level; sends an international mobile subscriber identification (IMSI) or an international mobile equipment identity and software version (IMEISV) of the UE to the TCE if the MDT data anonymity configuration indicates other information, e.g. Trace, is adopted for anonymously reporting MDT measurements. The present invention enables an MME to send different identities of a UE to the TCE according to different requirements for anonymity to implement anonymous reporting of MDT measurements. |
US09288702B2 |
User equipment reporting of connection loss
Provided are methods for handling reports on lost connections in a terminal device which is capable of being in communication connection with a plurality of network access nodes, wherein the terminal device generates, after having lost connection to a (first) network access node, a report on the loss of connection and, upon or after reconnecting of the terminal device with the same or a different network access node, sends the report on the loss of connection to the network access node. The network access node receiving a report on loss of connection from a terminal device, forwards said report to a central server and/or to a network access node to which the terminal device was connected before. Further provided are a terminal device comprising a receiver and a transmitter and being adapted to connect to an access node of a network, particularly of a wireless, e.g. a cellular radio network, said terminal device further comprising a report generator for generating a report on a loss of connection, wherein said transmitter is adapted to send said report to an access node upon or after reconnecting, and a network access node, particularly a network access node of a wireless, e.g. a cellular radio network, comprising a receiver and a transmitter and being adapted to be connected by a terminal device, wherein the receiver is adapted to receive reports on a loss of connection from a terminal device, and wherein the transmitter is adapted to forward or send a received report to a central server or to a different access node, particularly to an access node to which the terminal was connected before a loss of connection. |
US09288701B2 |
Mobile radio apparatus and mobile communication system
A mobile radio apparatus receives a broadcast signal transmitted from at least one base-transceiver station corresponding to a cell around a position of the mobile radio apparatus, obtains from the received broadcast signal a cell identifier for the cell and a cell flag for identifying whether or not the cell is a small cell or a macro cell, stores the obtained cell identifier and cell flag in a cell list, confirms a service quality class for a service of call connection target communication, determines whether or not the service desires a high throughput by using the confirmed service quality class when the cell list includes a cell flag representing a small cell, selects a macro cell from the cell list when it is determined that the service does not desire a high throughput, and transmits a call connection request signal to a base-transceiver station corresponding to the selected macro cell. |
US09288699B2 |
Femtocell use for radio frequency network sweeps
Systems and methods that utilize femtocell access points (FAP) to perform radio frequency (RF) network sweeps are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes: predicting an availability of an access point (AP) to perform an RF network sweep; and determining that the access point is available to perform the RF network sweep based, at least, on a prediction that a mobile device on a white list for the access point is not likely to access the access point during a time interval associated with performing the RF network sweep. In another embodiment, a method includes: comparing a network quality characteristic for a wireless channel associated with a FAP with a network quality characteristic for a wired network communicatively coupled to the FAP. The network quality characteristics can be the same. The method can then include employing the comparison to determine to which network an impairment is attributable. |
US09288696B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless device performance testing
A method and apparatus for obtaining a set of optimized angles of arrival for a corresponding set of radio links. The set of radio links model a radio environment of a wireless unit operating at a particular location within in a radio system. Each radio link represents a different propagation path between the wireless unit and transmitting antenna operating within the radio system. Each optimized angle of arrival represents an angle of arrival of one radio link with reference to the wireless unit. Each probe antenna of a set of probe antennas is positioned at a corresponding angle of the set of optimized angles of arrival. A corresponding set of probe radio signals is transmitted from the set of probe antennas. |
US09288695B2 |
System, method and device for testing mobile telephone call performance
A system and method of testing call performance of a plurality of mobile telephones is provided. In one embodiment the method comprises storing in a memory of a test device, data for one or more test scenarios that each comprises associated test parameters for attempting a plurality of telephone calls, causing the mobile telephone to attempt to establish a plurality of telephone calls of the test scenarios, and monitoring the plurality of telephone calls of the mobile telephone to determine test results data. The method further includes attempting and monitoring a plurality of telephone calls of the mobile telephone to determine test results data with one or more remote call servers and outputting the test results data to a remote computer system for processing to determine the number of dropped calls, call set up times, number of calls successfully initiated, number of calls having two way speech, and other data. |
US09288694B2 |
Partial failure handling of bearer mapping in dual connectivity
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for partial failure handling of bearer mapping in dual connectivity are provided. One method includes, during a secondary evolved node B (SeNB) addition procedure, providing a target SeNB with an indication of SeNB change together with information on bearers that were served by a source SeNB. The method may further include receiving, by a master evolved node B (MeNB), bearer mapping for failed bearers from the target SeNB, and providing the source SeNB with the bearer mapping for the failed bearers. |
US09288691B2 |
Method for reporting channel state information in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
The present invention relates to a method for enabling a terminal to report channel state information in a wireless communication system for supporting coordinated multi point (CoMP) transmission. Specifically, the method for enabling the terminal to report the channel state information in the wireless communication system for supporting CoMP transmission includes the steps of: receiving a reference signal from a serving cell and one or more cooperated cells; forming the channel state information for the CoMP transmission on the basis of the reference signal; and reporting the channel state information through a physical uplink shared channel to the serving cell, wherein the channel state information includes channel quality indicator (CQI) information and precoding matrix index (PMI) information, and the CQI information includes a wideband CQI and a CQI for each selected sub-band of the CoMP transmission. |
US09288688B2 |
Communication system for determining data transmitting scheme according to channel state
Disclosed is a data transmission method that may enhance a channel capacity in a wireless channel environment of a frequency band having a high directivity in which a transmission apparatus may form a transmission beam and transmit a training signal while sequentially changing a direction of the formed transmission beam, a reception apparatus may form a reception beam and receive the training signal while sequentially changing a direction of the formed reception beam, and the transmission apparatus may receive a response signal from the reception apparatus with respect to the training signal and determine a data transmission scheme based on the received response signal. |
US09288687B2 |
Automatic determination of component types and locations for wireless network design
A computer implemented method and system for determining component types and locations in a network design. The method includes automatically determining component types and locations according to a riser location as an entry point and antenna locations as a plurality of end points. The automatically determining component types and locations includes determining, by a processor of the computer, a first set of component types and locations according to a tree topology, according to the entry point and the plurality of end points, determining, by the processor, a second set of component types and locations according to a hybrid topology, according to the entry point and the plurality of end points, and determining, by the processor, one of the first set of component types and locations and the second set of component types and locations. |
US09288686B2 |
Topology discovery based on SCTP/X2 snooping
In one embodiment, a method for automatically creating a network route using a discovered IP address includes a first network device receiving a plurality of packets over an X2-C. The method further includes determining a packet type of one or more packets of the received plurality of packets. The method further includes discovering one or more IP addresses of a second RBS using information of the one or more packets, wherein the information used for discovering the one or more IP addresses is determined based on the determined packet type of the one or more packet). The method further includes creating a network route between a first RBS and the second RBS for each of the one or more discovered IP addresses. |
US09288675B2 |
Method and system for providing a distributed wireless network service
A distributed wireless network system includes a mobile unit capable of communicating over a Wi-Fi connection, a server that is coupled to and accessible over a global communication network, a first and a second Wi-Fi access point. The mobile unit and the first Wi-Fi access point are operated by a first user and the second Wi-Fi access point is operated by a second user. The server is configured to store user data of at least the first and the second user. The user data includes at least personal authenticity data of the user being allocated to a user login and a database of shared Wi-Fi access points. Upon transmission of identification data, the user login of the first user is transmitted to the server. It is then checked whether for this user login corresponding user data is stored at the server and whether the second Wi-Fi access point is in the list of shared Wi-Fi access points. If the checks are successful, access data from the server is transmitted to the mobile unit. |
US09288671B2 |
Device authentication method and devices
In a method for authenticating a device on a wireless local area network (WLAN) there is a once-off registration phase in which the device sends registration data in a MO SMS via the mobile network to the authentication system, and the authentication system performs a query to this mobile network to validate the subscriber and resolve the subscriber and device identifiers. The device receives network access information from the authentication system, allowing it to generate network access credentials on an on-going basis. This is permanent unless the registration is revoked due, for example, to the device being stolen. The network access information may be provided by the authentication system generating and signing a unique subscriber certificate during registration, and the device downloading it. The device uses the signed certificate to generate and encrypt the network access credentials for the network access. |
US09288670B2 |
Dynamic distribution of authentication sessions
This disclosure relates to authenticating and providing transport security over unsecured IP networks to network subscribers. The system includes an authentication service that authenticates network subscribers. The authentication service can dynamically define expiry times for network authentication. |
US09288667B2 |
Allocating network identifiers to access terminals
The disclosed subject provides embodiments of a method of allocating network identifiers to access terminals. One embodiment of the method includes allocating a fixed length identifier to an access terminal on initial entry of the access terminal to a network. The access terminal is identified by one of a plurality of mode-dependent identifiers in communication over an air interface between the access terminal and the network. The mode-dependent identifier is selected based on an operational mode of the access terminal. The method also includes providing the fixed length identifier to one or more entities in the network. |
US09288655B2 |
Message control system
Embodiments are presented for controlling usage of a communications device, whereby for a given number of messages generated from the device the operator (e.g., a child, person, etc.) has to successfully answer a question before a further batch of messages can be sent. The number of messages that can be sent before a question is to be answered can be configured by a parent. Further, a modifiable data store can be utilized to store questions, from which questions for presentation on the communication device can be sourced. The questions can relate to subject matter the child is studying at school, a standardized test, trivia, provided by a third party. |
US09288651B2 |
System and method for dynamically coupling a special number call with a function-focused answering unit
A system for dynamically coupling a special number call from a calling unit with at least one function-focused answerer includes: (a) at least one of an unlicensed mobile access network, a radio access network, and a public switched telephone network configured and situated for communicative coupling with the calling unit; (b) at least one network switch coupled with at least one of the networks; and (c) a special number call receiver coupled with the network switch. At least one of the special number call receiver and the network switch is configured for communicative coupling of the special number call with the at least one function-focused answerer unit. After receiving the special number call, the special number call receiver dynamically couples the special number call to an included function-focused answerer. Determining which function-focused answerer is an included function-focused answerer is made at the special number call receiver. |
US09288648B2 |
Transport stream packet generation device and method of generating transport stream packet thereof
A method of generating a transport stream (TS) packet in a data transmitting device includes receiving a packetized elementary stream (PES) packet and generating at least two TS packets among a plurality of TS packets corresponding to the PES packet at a time on a basis of an analysis result of the PES packet. |
US09288646B2 |
Multiple SIM multiple network diversity for enhancing call connectivity
Methods and devices are disclosed for establishing a second call during a first call on a multi-SIM communication device. A quality of the first call between a calling party and a called party using a first subscription for a first network may be determined to be degrading. Network alternatives may be provided for establishing the second call in response to determining that the quality of the first call is degrading. One of the network alternatives may be selected based on an order of suitability for originating the second call. A notification to the called party using information associated with calling party and the second call may be provided before the second call is originated. The information associated with the second call may identify the calling party to the called party before the second call is originated. |
US09288642B2 |
System and method for communicating using two-way SMS
The present invention is directed to a system and method for communicating using SMS messages between devices in different home networks, and, in one embodiment, to a method and system for assigning a local SMS number to a recipient device in a different home network such that a user is charged reduced communications costs. |
US09288641B2 |
Short message service (SMS) data transfer
Exemplary methods and systems for facilitating SMS data transfer services in mobile devices are described. An exemplary method includes sending a first SMS message to a device with a payload of the first SMS message including machine-readable information. Next, a second SMS message may be received from the device with a payload of the second SMS message including machine-readable information. The first or second SMS message payloads may include, for example, a synchronization message, a call message, call data, or a scheduling message. |
US09288639B2 |
User experience enhancements for controlling a group communication
User experience enhancements for conducting group communication sessions may include displaying visual feedback on a display to indicate a state of a group communication session. Embodiments may include displaying a quick contact group communication shortcut icon on a home screen of a wireless communication device display, displaying a group communication button in association with the quick contact group communication shortcut icon on the home screen of the display, detecting a selection of the group communication button by a user on a user interface, and initiating a group communication session with a device of a contact associated with the quick contact group communication shortcut icon. |
US09288638B2 |
Social networking of mobile devices
A method for social networking of mobile devices based upon telephone numbers of the mobile devices includes receiving user profile information and telephone numbers of contacts from a plurality of users' mobile devices; at least one of creating and updating respective user profiles based upon the telephone numbers of the users' mobile devices and the received profile information; identifying relationships among the users based at least upon the contacts contained in the contacts information; and establishing a social network group including at least two of the users based upon the identified relationships among the users. |
US09288629B2 |
Mobile device positioning system
Techniques for predicting a future location of a mobile device are included herein in which a previous location of the mobile device can be detected. Additionally, a current location of the mobile device can be detected. Furthermore, the future location of the mobile device can be predicted based at least in part on the previous location of the mobile device, the current location of the mobile device, and a location history. |
US09288624B2 |
Accelerated location information acquiring system and method
The present invention relates to a location information acquiring system developed to be used in professional trunked radio devices, comprising a global location data organization unit (4) wherein the locations of the subscribers can be acquired one after another sending location queries to a plurality of radios at the same time, which makes channel use more efficient, which can perform global location data transmission swiftly, which is in communication with the wireless communication unit (5), and which is adapted such that it will perform location queries to a plurality of subscriber radios (2) at the same time and acquiring the location information of the said radios (2), a global location data transmission unit (8) which is adapted such that it will perform the transmission of location information when it is radio's (2) turn, and a timer (14); and a method comprising the steps of sending, receiving query, and sending location information with timing. |
US09288620B2 |
Reducing overlapping geofences
The various embodiments provide systems and methods for combining overlapping/geographically close geofences associated with a plurality of geofence-enabled applications operating on the same computing device into a single, blended geofence. Each geofence-enabled application may monitor the blended geofence so the plurality of geofence-enabled applications may simultaneously or near-simultaneously detect that the blended geofence has been satisfied when the computing device satisfies the blended geofence. Thus, each of the plurality of geofence-enabled application may consume the output of location-sensing radios and/or communicate with the geofence server at the same time because each of the plurality of geofence-enabled applications detects when the blended geofence is crossed at the same or nearly the same time. Thus, by blending the plurality of geofence-enabled application's geofence areas, the various embodiments may improve battery life and/or conserve resources for a small decrease in accuracy such that the overall user experience on the computing device is improved. |
US09288617B1 |
Mobile media communications system
A computer implemented method and system that enables mobile and desktop devices to automatically communicate with websites of brick and mortar businesses, which are relevant to a category of interest and proximate to their current or a prospective geographic location. The system and method further enables generation of well-formed websites, media, and multimedia, and to concurrently and automatically demographically and geographically distribute and push the websites and media to nearby and prospectively interested mobile and desktop devices with relevancy-amplified, geotargeted media and multimedia communications, which media are selected by real-time machine-learned, high-probability consumer interest weighting and relevancy functions that are continuously updated in response to monitored consumer actions. The system further enables geographically regional and inter-regional systems management of these geotargeting capabilities to enable automated, local to worldwide replication and prospective advance market regional and demographic testing of the geotargeted and relevant distributively pushed media communications. |
US09288615B2 |
Location service requests throttling
A technique to allow a server such as a location server to throttle concurrent or closely timed location requests for the position of a given wireless device such that within a certain time period preferably only one location request will be initiated to the positioning engine and the remaining closely-timed location requests will be buffered or cached. When a position for the given wireless device is returned per the outstanding location request, then the retrieved position will be used to respond to each of the buffered location requests. Thus, a plurality of location requests are satisfied with a single request to the positioning engine. By optimizing the use of cached position requests, throttling of location requests per the invention reduces network traffic significantly, increases the efficiency of a positioning server (therefore reducing business cost), and provides for an improved grade or quality of location based services in general. |
US09288612B2 |
Inviting devices to join a mesh network
An apparatus, method, and program product are disclosed for inviting devices to join a mesh network. A network interface is accessible by a processor and a memory stores machine readable code executable by the processor. The machine readable code includes a network module configured to establish a mesh network via the network interface. The mesh network includes one or more electronic devices. The machine readable code includes a proximity module configured to detect a first electronic device within close proximity to a second electronic device. The first electronic device is not connected to the mesh network and the second electronic device is connected to the mesh network. The machine readable code includes an invitation module configured to send mesh network connection information to the first electronic device from the second electronic device in response to determining the first electronic device is within close proximity to the second electronic device. |
US09288610B2 |
Method for changing user-originating information through interaction with other user
A method for automatically changing information originating from at least either of a first user and a second user by using a mobile device includes steps of: (a) a first device searching second devices as a target to perform interaction and then selecting a specific second device among the searched second device to change the user-originating information; (b) the first device transmitting to, or receiving from, the specific second device data related to the interaction, if a touch gesture is detected in the first device; and (c) at least either of the first and the second devices allowing a server to update the information originating from at least either of the first user and the second user by referring to the transmitted data related to the specific interaction. |
US09288606B2 |
Mobile router network
A network is provided comprising a network management system, and a plurality of mobile routers. The network management system comprises at least one server and a link to a wide area network. Each mobile router is disposed in a corresponding one vehicle of a plurality of vehicles and is operable to selectively communicate with the network management system. The network management system selectively communicates with each mobile router. Each mobile router comprises: a local area network interface to provide a link to first a local area network comprising a first client device; a wide area network interface to provide a link to the wide area network; at least one processor to control operation of the router. The wide area network interface is operable to establish communication link with the network management system. An application executable by the at least one processor selectively acquires predetermined data. |
US09288605B2 |
Apparatus and a method for supplying information
An apparatus is provided with a first receiver for receiving changing information relating to a plurality of different sets of data such as financial data and a second receiver for receiving said changing information in synchronism with said first receiver means. A data base is provided to store information received by the first receiver and a subscriber profile store stores information associating a subscriber with a group of said different sets of data. The apparatus is arranged to supply, via the mobile telecommunications network, information from the data base for the group of data sets associated in the subscriber profile store with a subscriber when communication with that subscriber is first established and thereafter to supply changing information relating to the group of data sets associated with that subscriber directly to the subscriber from the second receiver. |
US09288602B2 |
Stereo extension apparatus and method
Disclosed herein are a stereo extension apparatus and method. The apparatus includes a database that stores predetermined information as a result of Gaussian mixture model (GMM) training or hidden Markov model (HMM) training; a modified discrete cosine transform (MDCT) transformer that transforms a mono signal through MDCT, a feature parameter extractor that extracts a feature parameter of the mono signal from an MDCT coefficient output from the MDCT transformer, a side signal energy estimator that estimates subband energy of a side signal with reference to information stored in the database based on the feature parameter; an energy controller that obtains the MDCT coefficient of a side signal estimated from the subband energy of the estimated side signal, an inverse MDCT transformer that obtains an estimated side signal by transforming the MDCT coefficient of the estimated side signal through inverse MDCT. |
US09288600B2 |
Sound generator
A sound generator includes a diaphragm including n sub-diaphragms (n, the amount of the sub-diaphragms); n voice coils corresponding to the sub-diaphragms; a signal source for outputting signals of n channels; n high-pass filters for receiving the signals of n channels and outputting n high frequency signals; n low-pass filters for receiving the signals of n channels and outputting n low frequency signals; a first mixer for mixing the n low frequency signals and then outputting a low frequency signal; and n second mixers for mixing the low frequency signal and the n high frequency signals, and then outputting n driving signals. The n driving signals actuates the n corresponding sub-diaphragms for producing stereo sounds. |
US09288597B2 |
Distributed wireless speaker system with automatic configuration determination when new speakers are added
In an audio speaker network, setup of speaker location, sound track or channel assignation, and speaker parameters is facilitated by an application detecting speaker locations and prompting a user to input rough room boundaries and a desired listener location in the room. Based on this, optimum speaker locations/frequency assignations/speaker parameters may be determined and output. |
US09288594B1 |
Auditory environment recognition
A computing device can capture audio data representative of audio content present in a current environment. The captured audio data can be compared with audio models to locate a matching audio model. The matching audio model can be associated with an environment. The current environment can be identified based on the environment associated with the matching audio model. In some embodiments, information about the identified current environment can be provided to at least one application executing on the computing device. The at least one the application can be configured to adjust at least one functional aspect based at least in part upon the determined current environment. In some embodiments, one or more computing tasks performed by the computing device can be improved based on information relating to the identified current environment. These computing tasks can include location refinement, location classification, and speech recognition. |
US09288591B1 |
Bone-conduction anvil and diaphragm
Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses for the transmission of audio information from a bone-conduction headset to a user. The bone-conduction headset may be mounted on a glasses-style support structure. The bone-conduction transducer may be mounted near where the glasses-style support structure approach a wearer's ears. In one embodiment, an apparatus has a bone-conduction transducer with a diaphragm configured to vibrate based on a magnetic field. The magnetic field being based off an applied electric field. The apparatus may also have an anvil coupled to the diaphragm. The anvil may be configured to conduct the vibration from the bone-conduction transducer. Additionally, the anvil may be coupled to a metallic component. The metallic component may be configured to couple to a magnetic field created by the bone-conduction transducer. |
US09288588B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating binaural beats using hearing aids
A hearing assistance system includes a pair of first and second hearing aids to generate a first acoustic signal having a first frequency and a second acoustic signal having a second frequency. When the first and second acoustic signals are each delivered to one of the ears of a listener being a hearing aid wearer, the listener perceives binaural beats at a third frequency being the difference between the first and second frequency. The effects of the binaural beats may include various health or other benefits to the hearing aid wearer. |
US09288586B2 |
Method and apparatus for signal reception using dynamically selectable modes
A communication system reduces power consumption of a radio receiver and/or ensures quality of signal transmission by using various modes of receiver operation. In one embodiment, the communication system is part of a hearing assistance system with a hearing aid including the radio receiver. In one embodiment, a mode of reception is selected during signal transmission based on a detected parameter indicative of quality of the signal transmission. In one embodiment, a hearing aid includes a radio receiver using independent sidebands to receive signals transmitted using each of an upper-sideband and a lower-sideband. |
US09288584B2 |
Hearing aid for providing phone signals
A hearing system includes a first hearing aid, the first hearing aid comprising: a first microphone for converting sound into electrical signals; a processor communicatively coupled to the first microphone, wherein the processor is configured to provide an output based on the electrical signals from the first microphone; a first speaker communicatively coupled to the processor, and is configured to provide an acoustic signal based on the output provided by the processor; and a first communication device configured to receive a control signal transmitted from a second hearing aid in response to a reception or detection of a signal associated with a phone by the second hearing aid; wherein the first hearing aid is configured to reduce a gain of the first hearing aid to a non-zero value in response to the control signal received from the second hearing aid. |
US09288582B2 |
Suspension system for micro-speakers
A speaker driver including a frame and a magnet assembly positioned within the frame. A sound radiating surface may be suspended over the magnet assembly. The sound radiating surface may include a top face and a bottom face, and the bottom face may face the magnet assembly. A suspension member may suspend the sound radiating surface over the magnet assembly. The suspension member may include a top side connected to the bottom face of the sound radiating surface and a bottom side connected to assembly support member that is separate from the magnet assembly. A voice coil extends from the bottom face of the sound radiating surface. |
US09288577B2 |
Preserving phase shift in spatial filtering
For preserving phase shift in spatial filtering is disclosed, an electronic device includes a microphone array. A filtering module spatially filters a plurality of received audio signals from the microphone array to increase the signal-to-noise ratio in one or more corresponding output audio signals. A phase module preserves a phase shift of at least one received audio signal in the corresponding output audio signal. |
US09288573B2 |
Interface circuit for connecting a microphone circuit to a preamplifier
An interface circuit is provided that is adapted to connect a microphone circuit to a preamplifier. The microphone circuit has a microphone and at least an output node and the preamplifier has at least an input node connected to the output node by the interface circuit. The interface circuit has at least a decoupling capacitor for DC decoupling the input node from the output node. The decoupling is connected between the input node and the output node. The interface circuit has at least one active circuit, comprising a resistor connected the decoupling capacitor. The resistor acts as part of a resistance multiplier and has an equivalent resistance that together with the decoupling capacitor defines a high-pass filter connected between the microphone and the preamplifier. The interface circuit may also have a biasing circuit connected to the resistor. |
US09288568B2 |
Headphone system for earbud speakers
The present invention relates to a personal headphone device, system and method configured to combine a headphone and earbud into one acoustical product. The headphone earbud device is configured with an adaptive connection for controlling the audio signals and/or device providing the audio signals. The adaptive connection includes an electro mechanical and/or mechanical connection so that when an earbud is placed into a headphone contact plates on the earbud mate with contact plates on the interior recess of the headphone so as to energize a loudspeaker in the headphone and or to control the device providing the audio signals. |
US09288563B2 |
Microphone stand mounting brackets
A mounting bracket system for mounting a loudspeaker monitor onto a microphone stand pole without requiring disassembly of either the loudspeaker monitor or the microphone stand. First and second mounting brackets may be mounted to a loudspeaker monitor or other product to be mounted. An indent on each mounting bracket is configured to engage a microphone stand or another elongated, pole-like structure, supporting the weight of the loudspeaker monitor through frictional forces. |
US09288562B2 |
Microphone boom
A microphone boom is provided with an extendable microphone assembly, and a headset having such a microphone boom. The headset includes a casing accommodating the signal transmission circuitry and further includes a speaker adapted to serve a sound signal at the proximity of a user's ear and the speaker is protruding from the casing at a speaker-end of the casing and a microphone assembly is fixated relative to the casing distally with respect to the speaker-end. |
US09288559B2 |
Multi directional multiplexer
Described herein is an optical transmission cross-connect for routing wavelength signals to a bank of directionless transceivers. One embodiment (1) includes an array of four common-port fibers (3) for transmitting and receiving a multiplexed optical signal and an array of sixteen add/drop fibers (5) for receiving and transmitting demultiplexed signals including individual wavelength channels. A dispersive grism (7) simultaneously spatially separates the wavelength channels from the optical signals in a dispersion dimension. A lens (45) focuses each said spatially separated wavelength channel in the dispersion dimension. A Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) device (11) separately manipulates each of the focused spatially separated wavelength channels to selectively steer the wavelength channels in a switching dimension. A micro-electromechanical mirror (MEMS) array (13) independently selectively directs the wavelength channels in the switching dimension such that the wavelength channels are coupled to predetermined ones of the add/drop fibers (5). |
US09288556B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring body balance of wearable device
A wearable device includes a communication unit that wirelessly communicates with a first external device; a motion sensor that senses the user's motion; and a control unit. The wearable device collects a first motion data generated by the user's motion and transmits the first motion data to the first external device, receives a first security level data and a second security level data from the first external device, and receives only the first security level data from the first external device when the wearable device is converted into a non-wearing state from a wearing state. |
US09288555B2 |
Data center network architecture
Data center network architectures that can reduce the cost and complexity of data center networks. The data center network architectures can employ optical network topologies and optical nodes to efficiently allocate bandwidth within the data center networks, while reducing the physical interconnectivity requirements of the data center networks. The data center network architectures also allow computing resources within data center networks to be controlled and provisioned based at least in part on a combined network topology and application component topology, thereby enhancing overall application program performance. |
US09288552B2 |
Method and distribution channel for creating ancillary revenue streams from related media content
A method for creating revenue for content related to a broadcast program and a related subscription distribution channel and web page. The method includes providing a subscription distribution channel that is accessible by a user, obtaining the content related to the broadcast program, and making the content available to the user via the subscription distribution channel. |
US09288548B1 |
Multimedia content search system
Techniques described herein enable a service to receive search requests from client systems and perform an integrated search across databases containing informational data for broadcast content and broadband content. The service receives the search request from the client device and formulates a query for at least one broadband database and at least one partner broadcast database. The service queries each broadband database with a compatible query that the service creates using information regarding the type of database queries each partner's database requires. Partners pay the service provider a fee for placing data in the database or for having their database searched by the service. The service formats the data received from the searches of the databases into a user interface screen that is presentable by the client device. The screen information instructs the client device on how it should respond to any key presses by the user. |
US09288543B2 |
Systems and methods for automated media programming (AMP)
Automated media programming (AMP) systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment of an AMP system, a computer server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and provides a website for enabling uploading of media content, sorting the media content, and downloading the media content. Independent users are permitted to submit, edit, rate, and consume media content over a broadcast media channel or network. In some embodiments of the AMP system, content on the Internet is automatically searched and topics from the searched content are automatically identified. The topics are preferably indicative of currently relevant news or events and are indicative of a type of media content that will be requested for uploading from producers. The AMP system publishes the topics to the producers, receives and stores media content uploaded from the producers that relate to the respective topics, and enable users to select and download the media content. |
US09288542B2 |
Multi-option sourcing of content
A content manager initiates play back of corresponding content on a display screen. The corresponding content is received on a primary broadcast channel selected amongst multiple available channels. During play back of the corresponding content, the content manager receives selection of over-the-top content available over a secondary channel with respect to the primary broadcast channel. The over-the-top content includes supplemental content associated with the corresponding content. In response to receiving the selection of over-the-top content, the content manager: i) retrieves the over-the-top content, and ii) initiates play back of the over-the-top content on the display screen. Accordingly, the user can selectively retrieve and play back supplemental content associated with a primary broadcast channel. |
US09288540B2 |
System and method for aggregating devices for intuitive browsing
A media device includes a communication interface communicatively coupling the media device to one or more other media devices and a display, and a controller associated with the communication interface. The controller is adapted to access one or more templates comprising a layout of a graphical user interface (GUI). The controller further identifies one or more other media devices from which media content may be streamed and one or more media content streams available from each of the one or more media devices and determine, based upon the template and the one or more media content streams, at least one of the media content streams to display. The controller then acquires and outputs the at least one of the media content streams for display in accordance with the layout. |
US09288535B2 |
Cadence detection for interlaced video based on temporal regularity
A method is proposed for analyzing an interlaced video signal including a first sequence of fields. A temporal regularity estimation process is applied to the first sequence of fields to compute a first metric. Inputs of the temporal regularity estimation process include pixel values from at least two fields having respective ranks differing by more than one in the sequence. The same temporal regularity estimation process is applied to second and third sequences of fields to compute second and third metrics. The second sequence is derived from the first sequence by swapping fields having ranks of the form 2k and 2k+1 for any integer k, while the third sequence is derived from the first sequence by swapping fields having ranks of the form 2k−1 and 2k. The first, second and third metrics are compared in a determination of the time arrangement of the fields in the first sequence. |
US09288534B2 |
Systems and methods for operating media devices
A wireless adapter enables communication between a content source and a content player for rendering of content at the content source by the content player, and a remote controller allows for control of the content delivery, and one or more features of the content source, player, or both. |
US09288529B2 |
Remote management system for at least one audiovisual information reproduction device
Method for remote management of at least one audiovisual information reproduction device comprising a host server connected to each audiovisual information reproduction device, the host server comprising a database containing management information for each audiovisual information reproduction device, wherein the host server also comprises a site manager communicating with the database, and comprising a number of screens, at least one first screen comprising a menu displaying the list of audiovisual information reproduction systems, validating the choice of each audiovisual information reproduction device causing the display of a first series of screens that the operator can use to modify the operating parameters of at least one selected audiovisual information reproduction device and/or a second series of screens that the operator can use to order at least one song for downloading onto the audiovisual information reproduction systems from a chosen list of devices or to delete at least one song, and/or a third series of screens displaying information about the use of an audiovisual information reproduction device. |
US09288525B2 |
Inter-device communications using visible light
A visual light communication (VLC) medium is used to provide communicative coupling between two or more devices. The communicative coupling supports a variety of functions such as, for example, device discovery, content discovery, and seamless transfer of media between the two or more devices. |
US09288522B1 |
Content sequence technology
Content sequence technology, in which a channel subscribed to by a user of a content delivery network is identified and a genre of the identified channel is determined. A play sequence policy is selected for the identified channel based on the determined genre. The play sequence policy defines one or more rules used in determining an order to play content files on the identified channel. Display of the identified channel is controlled based on the selected play sequence policy. |
US09288521B2 |
Systems and methods for updating media asset data based on pause point in the media asset
Systems and methods for associating data with a media asset are provided. A plurality of messages from a plurality of users is received at a remote server. Each message identifies a play position within the media asset at which the respective one of the users paused the media asset. A reference play position is selected based on the play position identified by one of the plurality of messages. A number representing how many of the messages identify a play position that corresponds to the reference play position is computed. In response to determining that the number exceeds a threshold, a frame of the media asset that corresponds to the reference play position is selected. Data associated with the media asset is updated based on the selected frame. |
US09288520B2 |
Technique for providing on a program channel composite programming content attributed to different sources
In providing composite programming content from different sources on a program channel, a host processor joins IP multicast groups for which “live” contents from multiple sources are provided. Specifically, the host processor collects packets containing the live contents based on their destination addresses associated with the IP multicast groups. Segments of the received live contents are selected to realize the composite programming content, which is provided on the program channel. |
US09288517B2 |
Method and apparatus for mobile communication based ordering of on-demand digital content
A computer implemented method and apparatus for mobile communication based ordering of on-demand digital content (such as video content in a network-based pay TV service). In some embodiments the mobile communication is via an SMS cell phone text and payment of the ordered content is by billing a financial account associated with the owner of the cell phone. The method generates for display to the user, upon selection of digital content desired to be ordered by the user and accessed by a specific network-enabled device associated with the user, a unique video activation request number (VARN), the VARN comprising a first component which uniquely identifies a specific one or more Internet-enabled devices and a second component that uniquely identifies the ordered digital content. Access by the Internet-enabled device to the ordered digital content is authorized only after receipt from a message-based mobile communication device of a communication message which includes the VARN is associated with the owner of the cell phone. |
US09288515B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating bitstream based on syntax element
A method and apparatus for generating an optimized bitstream. In the method, a bitstream including first and second processing units is received. The video processing units are encoded to generate syntax data for syntax elements of the video processing units. The syntax data of the video processing units are grouped according to the type of syntax element, and the groups are arranged in a predetermined order to produce the optimized bitstream. |
US09288510B1 |
Adaptive video transcoding based on parallel chunked log analysis
Adaptive video transcoding based on parallel chunked log analysis is described. The adaptive video transcoding method comprises receiving an intermediate video stream generated from an intermediate transcoding. The method also receives an intermediate transcoding log stream associated with the intermediate video stream. The method partitions the intermediate video stream into a plurality of video chunks, where each video chunk corresponding to a portion of video data of the video stream. The method further generates video chunk statistics for each of the video chunks using the intermediate transcoding log stream and transcoding parameters for each of the video chunks based on the generated video chunk statistics. The method transcodes each of the video chunks to a target format in parallel based on the generated transcoding parameters. The method assembles the transcoded video chunks into a target video stream in the target format. |
US09288507B2 |
More accurate advanced residual prediction (ARP) for texture coding
Techniques for advanced residual prediction (ARP) for coding video data may include inter-view ARP. Inter-view ARP may include identifying a disparity motion vector (DMV) for a current video block. The DMV is used for inter-view prediction of the current video block based on an inter-view reference video block. The techniques for inter-view ARP may also include identifying temporal reference video blocks in the current and reference views based on a temporal motion vector (TMV) of the inter-view reference video block, and determining a residual predictor block based on a difference between the temporal reference video blocks. |
US09288506B2 |
Signaling view synthesis prediction support in 3D video coding
In one example, a video coder is configured to code information indicative of whether view synthesis prediction is enabled for video data. When the information indicates that view synthesis prediction is enabled for the video data, the video coder may generate a view synthesis picture using the video data and code at least a portion of a current picture relative to the view synthesis picture. The at least portion of the current picture may comprise, for example, a block (e.g., a PU, a CU, a macroblock, or a partition of a macroblock), a slice, a tile, a wavefront, or the entirety of the current picture. On the other hand, when the information indicates that view synthesis prediction is not enabled for the video data, the video coder may code the current picture using at least one of intra-prediction, temporal inter-prediction, and inter-view prediction without reference to any view synthesis pictures. |
US09288505B2 |
Three-dimensional video with asymmetric spatial resolution
A video coding device may be configured to code a bitstream including multiple views plus depth information. Two of the views may have reduced resolutions, while a third view may have a full resolution. The third view may be predicted relative to upsampled versions of the two reduced-resolution views. Each view may include texture data and depth data, such that a view component may include a texture component and a depth component. Moreover, the texture and depth components may be arranged within an access unit according to a particular order, which may simplify component extraction from the access unit. |
US09288501B2 |
Motion vector predictors (MVPs) for bi-predictive inter mode in video coding
This disclosure describes video coding techniques applicable to a bi-predictive inter mode that uses adaptive motion vector prediction (AMVP). In particular, this disclosure describes techniques for encoding or decoding video data in which AMVP is used to code a first motion vector and a second motion vector associated with a current video block that is coded in the bi-predictive inter mode. More specifically, this disclosure describes techniques in which one motion vector of a bi-predictive video block can be used to define a candidate motion vector predictor (MVP) for predicting another motion vector of the bi-predictive video block. In many examples, a scaled version of the first motion vector of the bi-predictive video block is used as the MVP for the second motion vector of the bi-predictive video block. By defining an additional MVP candidate for the second motion vector of a bi-predictive video block, improved compression may be achieved. |
US09288497B2 |
Advanced video coding to multiview video coding transcoder
Systems, methods and computer program products for transcoding advanced video coding (AVC) bitstreams into multiview video coding (MVC) bitstreams are described. In some implementations, a MVC transcoder may be used to convert non-anchor pictures (e.g., at a specified temporal point) into anchor pictures by using only inter-view prediction. The MVC transcoder also may utilize inter-view reference pictures (in addition to temporal reference pictures) in the motion estimation/mode decision functions of the non-anchor pictures. The output of the MVC transcoder may be one or more MVC bitstreams each representing a different view of a same scene or image. |
US09288496B2 |
Video coding using function-based scan order for transform coefficients
Video coding devices and methods use a function-based definition of scan order to scan transform coefficients associated with a block of residual video data. A video coder may define a scan order for coefficients based on a predefined function and one or more parameter values. A video encoder may use a function-based scan order to scan a two-dimensional array of coefficients to produce a one-dimensional array of coefficients for use in producing encoded video data. The video encoder may signal the parameters to a video decoder, or the video decoder may infer one or more of the parameters. The video decoder may use the function-based scan order to scan a one-dimensional array of coefficients to reproduce the two-dimensional array of coefficients for use in producing decoded video data. In each case, the scan order may vary according to the parameter values, which may include block size, orientation, and/or orientation strength. |
US09288493B2 |
Method of deriving motion information
Provided is a method extracts a merge index from a bit stream, constructs a merge candidate list using available spatial and temporal merge candidates, selects a merge predictor among merge candidates using the merge index, and sets motion information of the merge predictor as motion information of the current prediction unit. The temporal merge candidate includes a reference picture index and a motion vector, and a motion vector of a temporal merge candidate block of a temporal merge candidate picture is set as the motion vector of the temporal merge candidate. Accordingly, the coding efficiency of the motion information is improved by including various merge candidates. Also, the computational complexity of an encoder and a decoder is reduced maintaining improvement of coding efficiency by adaptively storing motion information of reference picture and adaptively generating a temporal merge candidate. |
US09288492B2 |
Motion prediction or compensation method
Embodiments of the present invention provide a motion prediction or compensation method during a video coding and decoding process. A motion prediction or compensation method provided in the embodiments of the present invention includes: acquiring a candidate motion vector set; conducting a refined search for an optimal motion vector based on information of the candidate motion vector set; and performing motion prediction or compensation by using the motion vector acquired by the refined search. This improves coding performance and meanwhile maintains reasonable complexity. |
US09288489B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for HDR image encoding and decoding
To make available a HDR image encoding mechanism with strongly improved usability, we describe an image encoding unit (301) arranged to encode a high dynamic range image (IM_HDR-in) comprising: —an LDR selector (311) for identifying a low dynamic range of luminances (R_Norml_LDR) or corresponding range of luma code values (R_LDR) within the total range of luminances (Range_HDR) covered by the high dynamic range image; —a HDR selector for selecting at least one complementary range (R_above) within the total range of luminances (Range_HDR), comprising mostly luminances not covered by the low dynamic range of luminances (R_Norml_LDR); —a code mapping unit (315) arranged to encode in a first image (Im_1*), having a luma component comprising N bit code words, pixel luminances of the high dynamic range image (IM_HDR-in) falling within the low dynamic range of luminances (R_Norml_LDR) to code values (Y_out) according to a first mapping (CMAP_L), and pixel luminances of the high dynamic range image (IM_HDR-in) falling within the at least one complementary range (R_above) to code values (Y_out) according to a second mapping (CMAP_H), wherein the first and second mappings map to disjunct subranges of the range of luma code values of the first image (RcTot_Im1). |
US09288487B2 |
Methods and electronic devices for quantization and de-quantization
Electronic devices for de-quantization are disclosed. In one configuration, the electronic device includes a local storage storing a plurality of first user-defined sub-factors and a plurality of second sub-factors and a plurality of default de-quantization scales; a first multiplier connected to the local storage and generating a plurality of user-defined de-quantization scales by multiplying the first user-defined sub-factors and the second sub-factors; a multiplexer connected to the local storage and the first multiplier and selectively outputting one of the generated user-defined de-quantization scales and the stored default de-quantization scales for a block of a macro-block (MB) of a bitstream to be decoded; and a second multiplier connected to the multiplexer and generating a plurality of inverse quantized coefficients by multiplying the output de-quantization scales from the multiplexer by the quantized coefficients. |
US09288486B2 |
Method and apparatus for scalably encoding and decoding video signal
In one embodiment, the method includes predicting at least a portion of a current image in a current layer based on at least a residual coded portion of a base image in a base layer, a reference image, shift information for samples in the predicted current image, and offset information indicating a position offset between at least one boundary pixel of the reference image and at least one boundary pixel of the current image. The residual coded portion represents difference pixel data. |
US09288484B1 |
Sparse coding dictionary priming
A method and apparatus for performing sparse coding dictionary priming are disclosed. Sparse coding dictionary priming may include iteratively training a coding dictionary, which may include a plurality of codewords or bases. Iteratively training the coding dictionary may include identifying a sampling index cardinality, identifying a portion of a video stream, decomposing the portion of the video stream, and updating the codeword based on the portion of the video stream. Decomposing the portion of the video stream may include randomly identifying a set of codewords from the plurality of codewords wherein a cardinality of the set of codewords is the sampling index cardinality and wherein the sampling index cardinality is less a cardinality of the plurality of codewords, and determining a codeword having a maximum correlation with the portion of the video stream from the set of codewords. |
US09288480B2 |
Visual displays and telePresence embodiments with perception of depth using one or more reflected surface
System and method for a visual display system with a two-way mirror, which is between the observation zone and the image display device, positioned at an angle to reflect a backdrop surface that may be wider than the image display device or a backdrop with mirrored sides to extend the visual perception of the backdrop surface. A camera may be included with the visual display system for telepresence applications. The two-way mirror may extend into wall panels on the sides to form a room that appears to extend in depth by the reflection of the wall panels and a backdrop panel. |
US09288478B2 |
Image pickup apparatus that determines shooting composition, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus capable of generating image signals for viewing images shot in a composition (vertical or horizontal) intended by a photographer as a three-dimensional image. The apparatus has an image pickup device for converting an optical image to a picked-up image signal as an electric signal. The device includes a plurality of unit pixels, each of which has a plurality of photo diodes for converting the optical image to the picked-up image signal. When an image pickup operation is performed, a posture of the image pickup apparatus is determined, and the plurality of photo diodes in each unit pixel are grouped into a plurality of photo diode groups according to a result of the determination. A plurality of image signals are generated from picked-up image signals output from the photo diode groups, respectively. |
US09288469B2 |
Digital broadcast receiving method providing two-dimensional image and 3D image integration service, and digital broadcast receiving device using the same
A digital broadcast receiving apparatus for providing an integrated service of a 2D image and a 3D image. The apparatus comprising a demultiplexing unit configured to demultiplex a received digital broadcast signal; a PSIP or PSI/SI processor configured to extract at least any one of 3D service information related to a 2D image channel or service and 2D service information related to a 3D image channel or service from the demultiplexed digital broadcast signal; a decoder configured to decode an extension view video stream and a base view video stream from the demultiplexed digital broadcast signal; and an output formatting unit configured to format the extension view video stream and the base view video stream based on at least any one of the 3D service information and the 2D service information. |
US09288464B2 |
Method for scaling channel of an image
The present invention relates to a method for scaling a first channel, wherein the method comprises computing a low resolution second channel based on a transformation of the second channel with a transformation function used to transform high resolution channel into a low resolution channel; computing a correlation function between the low resolution second channel and the first channel; determining a predicted second channel having the high resolution from the low resolution second channel according to a prediction method; computing an high-pass second channel based on the difference between the second channel and the predicted second channel and based on the correlation function; determining a predicted first channel having the high resolution from the first channel according to the prediction method. |
US09288462B2 |
Conversion of an image to a transparency retaining readability and clarity of detail while automatically maintaining color information of broad areas
The present invention converts an image into a transparency, or “foreground image”, on which the readability of text and other detail is preserved after compositing with a background, while maintaining color information of broad areas of the image. |
US09288457B2 |
Image processing device, method of processing image, and image processing program including false color correction
There are provided a device and method that correct a false color occurring in a locally highlighted region in an image. A false color pixel is detected in data conversion processing of generating an RGB array image from an RGBW array image, low-band signals corresponding to respective RGBW colors that are different according to whether a pixel is a false color pixel, and the RGBW array is converted by interpolation processing to which the calculated low-band signals are applied to generate the RGB array image. The interpolation processing is performed using the low-band signals on an assumption that a W low-band signal mW, and RGB respective low-band signals mR, mG, and mB have a proportional relation in a local region. When a pixel of interest is a false color pixel, the low-band signal is calculated by an application of a low-pass filter having a coefficient in which a contribute rate of pixel values in the vicinity of the pixel of interest is made relatively lower than that of separated pixels. |
US09288456B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
First image data obtained by capturing an image of a subject under a first light condition, and second image data obtained by capturing an image of the subject under a second light condition different from the first light condition are input. The sampling positions of colors used to generate correction parameters are acquired. First color signal values are sampled from the sampling positions in the first image data, and second color signal values are sampled from the sampling positions in the second image data. Correction parameters used to correct the first image data which depends on the first light condition into image data which depends on the second light condition are generated based on the first and second color signal values. |
US09288455B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method of information processing apparatus, and storage medium for determining whether a projection pattern of a current frame differs from that of a previous frame
An information processing apparatus includes a data generation unit to sequentially generate projection patterns. A projection unit projects a projection pattern onto a target object every frame. A trigger signal generation unit generates a trigger signal when it is detected that the projection pattern of the current frame, to be projected onto the target object, is different from the projection pattern of a previous frame. An imaging unit images the target object, onto which the projection pattern is projected, according to the trigger signal. |
US09288454B2 |
Color imaging apparatus having color imaging element
A color imaging apparatus comprising: a color imaging element comprising a plurality of pixels and color filters of a color filter array arranged on the plurality of pixels, the color filter array including first filters corresponding to a first color that most contributes to obtaining luminance signals and second filters corresponding to two or more second colors, and the first filters including two or more sections adjacent each other in horizontal, vertical, and oblique directions; a direction determination unit acquiring pixel values of pixels of the two or more sections of the first filters near a target pixel of demosaicking processing and determining a correlation direction of luminance; a demosaicking processing unit that calculates a pixel value of another color at a pixel position of the target pixel and that uses one or more pixels of another color in the correlation direction to calculate the pixel value. |
US09288451B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An object detection unit of a network camera detects an object including a human figure from image data. An event detection unit analyzes the image data based on a result of the object detection by the object detection unit. Based on a result of the image data analysis, an event detection unit determines to make identifiable to a client a human figure that should be monitored by the client and to apply masking to a human figure that should not be monitored by the client to make it unidentifiable to the client. |
US09288450B2 |
Methods for detecting and recognizing a moving object in video and devices thereof
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus that extracts at least one key image from one or more images of an object. Outer boundary markers for an identifier of the object in the at least one key image are detected. An identification sequence from the identifier of the object between the outer boundary markers in the at least one key image is recognized. The recognized identification sequence of the object in the at least one key image is provided. |
US09288448B2 |
Image-monitoring device and method for detecting events therefor
Disclosed are an image monitoring device capable of detecting a meaningful event on the basis of a scenario by providing a function of setting various combinations of monitoring events in a monitored image in which a plurality of monitoring events are set, and an event detecting method thereof. The event detecting method of an image monitoring device includes: obtaining a monitored image; detecting an occurrence of a first monitoring event with respect to an object from the obtained monitored image; detecting an occurrence of a second monitoring event with respect to the object from the obtained monitored image; and storing information regarding the detected occurrence of the second monitoring event. |
US09288442B2 |
Multicasting a videoconference recording to a plurality of clients
A federated media server system. The federated media server system may include a plurality of media servers. A first media server may be coupled to a second media server over a network. The first media server may also be coupled to a third media server over the network. Additionally, the second and third media servers may be coupled to a plurality of respective clients. The first media server may be configured to record video, e.g., videoconferences, and stream recordings to clients and/or the second and third media servers. The second and third media servers may assist in performing video recording, transcoding, storage of recordings, multicasting, etc. |
US09288440B2 |
Method for tracking displays during a collaboration session and interactive board employing same
A method is described for manipulating a view displayed on one or more follower participants' devices to track a view displayed on a lead participant's device. A request to manipulate the view displayed on the one or more follower participant devices is received. The lead participant is identified. The follower participants are identified. A lead view of the lead participant is determined. The lead view is communicated to the follower participants computing devices for display. A computing device and a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions configured to implement the method are also described. |
US09288439B2 |
Audio-video remote visitation telecommunications technology
A telecommunications system for use in a secure facility such as a jail, prison or the like. The systems, devices and methods disclosed provide telecommunications, email, other messaging, financial services, vending, and commissary or canteen services for inmates of a secure facility with respect to family, friends and others. The system also includes a system for video visitation via audio-visual communication. The system includes a phone server adapted to be communicatively connected to an external service provider; a monitoring station communicatively connected to the phone server; an account manager server communicatively connected to the phone server, and at least one telecommunications device disposed at the secure facility for use by the inmate and which is communicatively connected to the phone server. A method of telecommunicating, including video visitation, via the system is also disclosed. |
US09288438B2 |
Communication control system and control device
A communication control system includes a first control device; a second control device, wherein the first control device and the second control device are grouped together by group identification information; a detecting unit configured to detect image data displayed on a display unit connected to the first control device; a first communication control unit configured to establish a session for performing data communication with the second control device identified by the group identification information, and send the image data; and a display control unit configured to implement control to display the image data sent from the first communication control unit. |
US09288434B2 |
Apparatus and method for congestion control in wireless communication networks
Embodiments of wireless communication devices and method for congestion control in a wireless network are generally described herein. Some of these embodiments describe a method, performed by an evolved NodeB (eNodeB), that includes operations of determining that a congestion condition exists on the network. An example method can also include transmitting a suspension notification to a user equipment (UE), the UE being in an RRC_CONNECTED state with the eNodeB, to notify the UE that a radio bearer (RB) operating in the network will be suspended. Other methods and apparatuses are also described. |
US09288433B2 |
Digital imaging apparatus and control method thereof
A digital imaging apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The digital imaging apparatus includes a body including a display unit configured to output an image signal as an image, and an image encoder; a user input unit comprising an image input unit configured to generate and output an outside image signal that corresponds to an outside image and is not encoded or compressed; and a data interface configured to transmit the outside image signal output by the image input unit to the body, wherein the image encoder is configured to encode the outside image signal, which is received by the body from the data interface, in a predetermined format. |
US09288431B2 |
Systems and methods for re-recording content associated with re-emerged popularity
Systems and methods for re-recording content associated with popularity that re-emerged are provided. A plurality of media assets is recorded. Responsive to determining that popularity of a given one of the plurality of media assets fell below a first threshold, the given media asset is selected for deletion and the given media asset is added to a list of a plurality of media assets that have been selected for deletion. Popularity for the given media asset in the list is retrieved after selecting the given media asset for deletion. The retrieved popularity of the given media asset, which previously fell below the first threshold, is compared to a second threshold. In response to determining that the retrieved popularity of the given media asset, which previously fell below the first threshold, is now above the second threshold, an action relating to re-recording the given media asset is performed. |
US09288430B2 |
Recording medium, playback device, recording device, playback method and recording method for recording progressive pictures at high frame rate
A recording medium on which video streams, control programs and index table are recorded. The video streams include video stream composed of progressive pictures and video stream composed of interlace pictures. The video stream composed of the progressive pictures has a mandatory rate or an optional rate. The index table indicates correspondence between titles and control programs. A control program corresponding to first play title and top menu title excludes a playback path, which specifies a playback of the progressive pictures in the video stream at the optional rate, from a playback target and instructs to perform a playback in accordance with another playback path. |
US09288429B2 |
Recording apparatus, its control method and program, and imaging apparatus having the recording apparatus
A imaging apparatus controls a lighting unit such that when the first recording medium is selected, the lighting unit is turned into a state different from a predetermined state in a state where recording into the first recording medium is stopped while recording into the second recording medium, and turned into the predetermined state in accordance with a recording start instruction of the first recording medium during recording into the second recording medium, and when the second recording medium is selected, the lighting unit is turned into the state different from the predetermined state in a state where recording into the second recording medium is stopped while recording into the first recording medium, and turned into the predetermined state in accordance with the recording start instruction of the second recording medium during recording into the first recording medium. |
US09288428B2 |
Shooting apparatus and method for controlling shooting apparatus
A camera includes: a shooting section that outputs images of an object; a moving image shooting control section that controls the shooting section to repeat shooting under predetermined shooting conditions at a predetermined frame rate; a moving image generation section that generates moving images based on images shot under the predetermined shooting conditions, respectively; an image extraction section that extracts a first image and a second image based on a predetermined condition from each of the moving images; a display section; and a display control section that performs control to simultaneously multi-display the first image and the second image of each moving image on the display section. |
US09288424B2 |
Generating a genre-based video mosaic in a cable services network
Methods and systems are provided for generating a genre-based video mosaic from multiple of video sources in a cable services network system. A cable services head end periodically searches a database for a genre descriptor identifying a type of programming broadcast in the cable services network, selects a group of video sources associated with the genre descriptor which are currently being broadcast in the cable services network, and generates a mosaic including the group of video sources associated with the genre descriptor which are currently being broadcast in the cable services network. A set-top box receives the mosaic from the head end, executes an application program enabling a subscriber to selectively tune the video sources in the mosaic, and displays the mosaic on a broadcast channel in the cable services network. |
US09288423B2 |
Image processing device, object selection method and program
There is provided an image processing device including: a data storage unit that stores object identification data for identifying an object operable by a user and feature data indicating a feature of appearance of each object; an environment map storage unit that stores an environment map representing a position of one or more objects existing in a real space and generated based on an input image obtained by imaging the real space using an imaging device and the feature data stored in the data storage unit; and a selecting unit that selects at least one object recognized as being operable based on the object identification data, out of the objects included in the environment map stored in the environment map storage unit, as a candidate object being a possible operation target by a user. |
US09288422B2 |
Systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system
Systems and methods for saving and restoring scenes in a multimedia system with minimal configuration are provided. The techniques of the present invention can allow the states of the components in the multimedia system to be captured in a scene. Once the scene has been saved, the scene can be restored at a later time. A remote control system for recommending scenes by comparing states of components in the current scene with states of components in saved scenes is also provided. The remote control system can also recommend scenes based on usage patterns. Moreover, the remote control system can allow users to designate one or more saved scenes as favorite scenes. |
US09288418B2 |
Video signal transmitter apparatus and receiver apparatus using uncompressed transmission system of video signal
In a video signal transmitter apparatus that removes a part of a blanking interval of a video signal, generates a converted video signal, based on the video signal including an active interval including video data and the blanking interval excluding the video data, a frequency divider divides a frequency of a pixel clock in synchronization with the video signal by a ratio of transmission frequency division, generate and output a frequency-divided clock as a converted pixel clock. A controller controls a first storage unit to write the video signal for the active interval of the video signal, and read the video signal for the active interval of the converted video signal and output a read video signal as the converted video signal, and to remove a part of a signal included in a horizontal blanking interval existing periodically every horizontal line for the blanking interval of the video signal. |
US09288416B2 |
Reference voltage circuit and image-capture circuit
A reference voltage circuit for generating a reference voltage to be referred when a pixel signal is digitally converted, includes ramp voltage generating means for generating a ramp voltage which drops from a predetermined initial voltage at a certain gradient, a transistor for forming, together with the ramp voltage generating means, a current mirror circuit, and gain change means for changing a current value of a current flowing from a predetermined power supply via the transistor to change the gradient of the ramp voltage generated by the ramp voltage generating means. |
US09288408B2 |
Pixel correction method
In a method for correcting defective pixels of an image sensor which has a plurality of pixels for generating respective exposure dependent pixel signals, a defect characteristic for each pixel is associated with the image sensor and comprises information at least on whether the pixel is unusable, is usable without limitations or corresponds to one of a plurality of predefined defect classes. The method comprises a determination being made after the generation of the pixel signals for each pixel, at least when the defect characteristic of the pixel does not correspond to an unusable pixel or to a pixel which can be used without limitations, in dependence on at least the associated defect class of the pixel and on pixel signals of a plurality of adjacent pixels, whether the generated pixel signal of the pixel should be corrected, with the generated pixel signal of the pixel being replaced with a replacement value if this is the case. |
US09288406B2 |
Subliminal frame insertion
Insertion of subliminal frames in content is performed at a content receiver. The content receiver may receive content, analyze a setting, and modify the received content based on the analyzed setting. The content receiver may modify the received content by periodically inserting subliminal frames in the received content as specified by the setting. In some implementations, the content may include video content and the subliminal frames may be one or more images. The inserted subliminal frames may be subliminally perceptible but consciously imperceptible by a human viewer of the content when the content is played. As such, viewing of the content that includes the inserted subliminal frames may result in subliminal learning by a human viewer. In various implementations, one or more conditions included in the analyzed setting may specify that certain subliminal frames are to be inserted when the content has certain characteristics, such as a rating or description. |
US09288402B2 |
Random access addressing on active pixel image sensor
An active pixel image sensor comprises a pixel array of active pixels that are capable of being random access addressed to provide pixel readout signals from the addressed pixels on N output lines, where N is a plural integer and M ADC lanes capable of performing analog-to-digital conversion of pixel readout signals, where M is a plural integer less than N. A switching arrangement is capable of selectively connecting output lines to the M ADC lanes. A control unit provides random access addressing of the pixels, and in synchronisation therewith controls the switching arrangement to connect the output lines on which the addressed pixels provide pixel readout signals to ADC lanes. |
US09288401B2 |
System and method of recognizing signal patterns
A system of recognizing signal pattern for recognizing a signal pattern of an electronic device includes a determining unit coupled to the electronic device for outputting an operating command to the electronic device according to an operating state, wherein the electronic device generates a light signal according to the operating command, and an image capturing unit coupled between the determining unit and the electronic device for capturing the light signal to generate a first signal pattern to the determining unit, such that the determining unit determines whether the first pattern corresponds to the operating state. |
US09288399B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program
There is provided an image processing apparatus including an image information combining unit that performs a pixel value combining process on a long-time exposure pixel and a short-time exposure pixel. The pixel information combining unit calculates a plurality of blending ratios based on pixel values of a plurality of pixels of different periods of exposure time, determines an applied blending ratio, which is applied to a blending process for the long-time exposure pixel and the short-time exposure pixel, based on the plurality of blending ratios, and determines pixel values of an output image or an intermediate image which is applied to produce the output image, by the blending process for the long-time exposure pixel and the short-time exposure pixel to which the applied blending ratio is applied. |
US09288397B2 |
Imaging device, method for processing image, and program product for processing image
For pixel signals of a plurality of pixels arranged in a first pixel area arranged in a two dimensional matrix form, a size of the first pixel area is converted to output first image data, and for pixel signals of pixels arranged in a second pixel area smaller than the first pixel area, a size of the second pixel area is converted to output second image data, wherein an operating mode is changed in response to the size of the second pixel area. |
US09288396B2 |
Camera timer
Disclosed are devices, systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for displaying useful countdown timers on a media capture device. A media capture device can increase contrast between countdown timer and the video of a scene to be captured by a media capture device and adjust the position and size of a counter displayed on the device based on whether the object is determined to be closer or further than a predetermined threshold distance. Countdown timers can be triggered by detection of objects and gestures. |
US09288395B2 |
Super-resolution based on optical image stabilization
A system and method for creating a super-resolution image using an image capturing device. In one embodiment, an electronic image sensor captures a reference optical sample through an optical path. Thereafter, an optical image stabilization (OIS) processor to adjusts the optical path to the electronic image sensor by a known amount. A second optical sample is then captured along the adjusted optical path, such that the second optical sample is offset from the first optical sample by no more than a sub-pixel offset. The OIS processor may reiterate this process to capture a plurality of optical samples at a plurality of offsets. The optical samples may be combined to create a super-resolution image. |
US09288393B2 |
Estimation of picture motion blurriness
The invention relates to a method for estimating a blurriness value based on a series of at least two frames acquired within a period of time greater than or equal to a given exposure time, the frames being grouped in at least one couple of frames, characterized in that it comprises determining, for each couple of frames of the series, first and second values corresponding to a displacement according to a first direction and a second direction, between the first frame and the second frame of a couple of frames, determining a first blur measure for one direction among the first and second directions by calculating a metric based on the displacement values for each couple of frames of at least a subset of the series, determining a second blur measure for the other direction among the first and second directions by calculating a metric applied to the displacement values for each couple of frames of the series of frames and determining a blurriness value based on the first and second blur measures. |
US09288390B2 |
Electronic device and method for driving camera module in sleep mode
A method for operating an electronic device which is in a first mode is provided. The method includes detecting a grip state of the electronic device, detecting a change in tilt when the detected grip state is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and switching a mode from the first mode to a second mode when the detected change in tilt is within a set tilt range. |
US09288387B1 |
Content display controls based on environmental factors
Approaches are described for controlling and filtering the display of content by computing devices. In particular, a mobile computing device can adjust the playing of media content (e.g., audio, video, images, games, ringtones) according to situational appropriateness and other environmental factors occurring around the device. For example, a mobile computing device such as a smart phone could use image and audio information captured by its sensors to determine that minors are present within the vicinity of the mobile phone, and filter certain portions of media content that would be deemed inappropriate for those minors. The environmental information can be determined based on data gathered by various sensors of the mobile device, including but not limited to cameras, microphones, global positioning system (GPS) devices, light sensors and others. |
US09288384B2 |
Image device and focus control method
When reliability of a defocus amount which is calculated using a signal from a region 50A is low, a digital camera expands the phase difference detection target region to the regions 50A, 50B, and 50C. Further, the digital camera calculates a defocus amount using a correlation operation result of an output signal group of pixel cells 31R in an odd numbered column and an output signal group of the pixel cells 31L in an odd numbered column and a correlation operation result of an output signal group of pixel cells 31R in an even numbered column and an output signal group of the pixel cells 31L in an even numbered column, in the regions 50A, 50B, and 50C. |
US09288383B2 |
Focusing apparatus, focusing method and medium for recoring the focusing method
Provided are a focusing apparatus for generating an image signal by converting image light incident through a focus lens to an electrical signal by an image pickup device, storing the image signal in a memory, calculating an AF evaluation value for an image signal read from the memory in a direction different from a reading direction of the image pickup device, and driving the focus lens by deriving a focus lens position corresponding to the calculated AF evaluation value, a focusing method thereof, and a recording medium for recording the focusing method. Accordingly, a focus can be correctly adjusted for various subject images, and a focus can be effectively adjusted for the images even in a high speed capturing mode. |
US09288380B2 |
Imaging device and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels each of which includes a photoelectric conversion unit that generates charges by photoelectrically converting light, and a transistor that reads a pixel signal of a level corresponding to the charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit. A phase difference pixel which is at least a part of the plurality of pixels is configured in such a manner that the photoelectric conversion unit is divided into a plurality of photoelectric conversion units and an insulated light shielding film is embedded in a region for separating the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, which are divided, from each other. |
US09288376B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically capturing and managing images
According to one embodiment of the invention, a camera determines whether to acquire an image (e.g., automatically), determines whether to store the acquired image, and determines how to store the acquired image. |
US09288375B2 |
Method and apparatus for automatically capturing and managing images
According to one embodiment of the invention, a camera determines whether to acquire an image (e.g., automatically), determines whether to store the acquired image, and determines how to store the acquired image. |
US09288374B1 |
Systems and methods for updating camera characteristics using a remote computing device
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for adjusting camera device characteristics using a remote imaging server. The camera device may take an initial image before the user takes a picture. The initial image is provided to the imaging server over a network. The imaging server analyzes the initial image and assesses which image parameters may need to be adjusted to capture a higher quality picture. The image parameters may include, but are not limited to, brightness, reflectivity, user vibrations, skin tone, subject movement, light sources, and/or user preferences. The imaging server may provide recommendations or adjustments to the camera device prior to the user taking a picture. The imaging server may also prompt the user to position or orientation of the camera device or a subject prior to taking a picture. |
US09288373B2 |
System and method for human computer interaction
The present invention relates to the technical field of the human computer interaction, more particularly to, a system and method for human computer interaction. The system for human computer interaction comprises a projection unit, a first image sensing unit, a second image sensing unit, an interface unit, an image processing unit, a projected interface processing unit, and a controlling unit. The system for human computer interaction provided by the present invention may easily project the human computer interaction interface on all kinds of planes encountered in people's daily life, to realize display of the human computer interaction interface everywhere, and improve users' experience. |
US09288372B2 |
Auto-exposure method using continuous video frames under controlled illumination
An illumination control process for use in a digital image capture and processing system includes illuminating an object in the field of view with different pulses of illumination over a pair of image frames, detecting digital images of the illuminated object over these image frames, and decode processing the digital images. In an embodiment, upon failure to read a symbol in one of the first and second images, these digital images are analyzed in real-time, and based on the results of this real-time image analysis, the exposure time is adjusted during subsequent image frames. In another embodiment, upon failure to read a symbol in one of the first and second images, these digital images are analyzed in real-time, and based on the results of this real-time image analysis, the energy level of the illumination is adjusted during subsequent image frames. |
US09288371B2 |
Image capture device in a networked environment
Described herein are methods and devices that employ wireless network to control the lighting of a target image scene or subject. As described, connected environments enable control of lighting devices within the environment through the use of a network. Some embodiments of the imaging devices described herein may employ the network to control lighting devices for the purpose of illuminating a target scene or subject. Certain embodiments may employ data regarding camera location, subject location, light bulb location, and the parameters of each light bulb in a room to calculate desired lighting parameters for capturing an image of the subject, and may further be able to wirelessly adjust the light bulb parameters to match the calculated parameters. |
US09288370B2 |
Imaging apparatus and audio processing apparatus
An audio signal acquired by an audio acquisition unit during a predetermined period from when a drive signal has been output is analyzed, and a noise reduction period is determined based on a specific frequency component included in the audio signal of the predetermined period. The noise generated in the noise reduction period is then reduced from the audio signal acquired by the audio acquisition unit. |
US09288368B2 |
Video and map data synchronization for simulated athletic training
The pending disclosure includes a computer server receiving a video file and a global positioning system (GPS) data file. The video file includes video frames each having a timestamp and the GPS data file includes portions of geographic data each having a timestamp. Further, the computer server receives video user input from a user device indicating a user selection of a synchronization video frame and a GPS user input from the user device indicating a user selection of a synchronization portion of geographic data. The computer server processes the selected synchronization video frame and the synchronization portion of geographic data to determine the timestamp of both the synchronization video frame and the synchronization portion of the geographic data. Further, the computer server synchronizes the GPS data file with the video file based on the timestamp of the synchronization video frame and the synchronization portion of the geographic data. |
US09288365B2 |
System and method for controlling access to a server on an image processing device
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided. Some embodiments include generating credentials for accessing a transmission service; sending, from a first application to a second application, the credentials and a request to perform operations related to a scan job; receiving, at the first application from the second application, credentials from the second application, and a request to access the transmission service; determining whether the credentials from the second application are valid; and in response to determining that the credentials from the second application are valid, getting a file from the second application using the transmission service; and sending the file to a destination. |
US09288364B1 |
Methods and systems for estimating half-tone frequency of an image
The disclosed embodiments illustrate methods and systems for estimating a half-tone frequency of an image. The method includes combining, by one or more processors, a first binary block, obtained from a portion of the image, with one or more second binary blocks to create a third binary block. Each of the one or more second binary blocks is obtained by shifting the first binary block. The method further includes estimating, by the one or more processors, the half-tone frequency of the portion of the image, based on the first binary block and the third binary block. |
US09288361B2 |
Systems, methods and computer program products for fax delivery and maintenance
This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for the delivery and maintenance of faxes where the faxes may remain at a faxing system for a minimal amount of time. The faxing system may send a queued fax to a connector responsive to a request from the connector to pull or retrieve a fax. The connector is configured to send a release notification to the faxing system after the fax is received. The faxing system is configured to delete the queued fax as soon as confirmation of the delivery of the fax can be determined or when an expiration time has elapsed. |
US09288359B2 |
Integrated platen scanner and document handler for a copier, multifunctional printer or standalone scanning device
An integrated document handling and platen scanning apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a main body; a platen glass positionally fixed to the main body; a CVT glass area positionally fixed to the main body; a first image module attached to the main body, the first image module being movable across the platen glass to scan an image on a first side of a document; a document handler attached to the main body and configured to invert the document and to feed the document across the CVT glass area; and an attachment point on the main body that attaches the main body to a copier body of a photocopier such that the main body, platen glass, first image module, and document handler move as a unit relative to the copier body. The first image module is configured to remain stationary and scan the image on the first side of the document as the document is fed across the CVT glass area. |
US09288355B2 |
Electronic device and method for printing based on information written by an external device in a power-off state
An electronic device comprises: a management unit configured to manage device information of the electronic device by storing the device information in a first storage unit; a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device according to short distance wireless communication; a storage control unit configured to control, when the electronic device transits from a power-on state to a power-off state, to write the device information stored in the first storage unit in a second storage unit; and a control unit configured to control, upon receiving a read request or write request of the device information from the external device via the communication unit, to read or write the device information stored in the second storage unit when the electronic device is in the power-off state. |
US09288354B2 |
Image forming apparatus, and control method for image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus is provided that is capable of returning from a sleep state in response to detection of a user or upon receipt of an input, wherein notification of failure to detect a user is provided if the image forming apparatus returns from a sleep state based on receipt of an input for more than a predetermined number of times. |
US09288352B2 |
Printing apparatus that prints an image on an envelope
A printing apparatus prints an image in a right direction based on an open/close state of a flap of a held envelope and on a position of the flap received from a user. A control method for controlling a printing apparatus, includes determining whether an envelope having a flap is held by a holding unit with its flap opened or the envelope is held by the holding unit with its flap closed, receiving, from a user, a front end, a far side, or a back end in the conveyance direction of the envelope as a position of the flap of the envelope held by the holding unit, and performing control such that a direction of an image to be printed on the envelope is decided based on a result of the determination and on the received position of the flap, and the image is printed on the envelope. |
US09288345B2 |
Data processing apparatus and method for processing data
An apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a touch operation performed on an operation panel that displays a display screen in which content of processing is set, a reception unit configured to receive the touch operation detected by the detection unit, and a control unit configured to control changes to a reception condition under which the reception unit receives the touch operation. In a case where touch time of the touch operation detected by the detection unit is shorter than a predetermined period of time, the control unit performs control for changing the reception condition such that the reception unit does not receive the touch operation in accordance with at least one of the content of the processing and content displayed on the display screen. |
US09288341B2 |
Continuous film and camera and method thereof
A method for continuous wireless transmission of image data through radio waves to an outside picture processing device and continuous capture of images on frames of camera film rolls, said method comprising the steps of providing a camera body, providing an image radio wave converter, providing a radio wave transmission attachment mounted on said camera body for transmitting image data though radio waves to outside picture processing device, providing a camera lens mounted on said camera body for capturing images on frames of camera film rolls, providing a plurality of housing compartments for receiving camera film rolls, and providing a plurality of detachable housing compartment doors operable for simultaneous removal of at least one camera film roll in a non-filming position when images are captured on all frames of the at least one camera film roll, without exposing remaining camera film roll in filming position is provided. |
US09288338B2 |
Image forming system and image forming apparatus that make miscellaneous affairs about use of image forming apparatus settle appropriately
Provided is an image forming system that makes operations to various miscellaneous affairs complete appropriately and certainly. Various miscellaneous affairs are settled by the miscellaneous-affairs information screen, which is a miscellaneous-affairs demand request circuit, in MFP, which is an image forming apparatus. The miscellaneous-affairs supporter list is stored in the memory, which is a memory circuit. If the request to another person is needed, a miscellaneous-affairs demand request is performed to a client terminal of a person chosen from the miscellaneous-affairs supporter list. In the case, the response to a miscellaneous-affairs demand request is obtained from the miscellaneous-affairs demand response screen, which is a miscellaneous-affairs demand response circuit of the client terminal. |
US09288337B2 |
Method for enabling a wireless device for geographically preferential services
Disclosed is system comprising: a server platform operative to communicate with a wireless communication network; and data storage coupled to the server platform to store a plurality of business rules, wherein the server platform is operative to: generate a first provision instruction to provision a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) with a first rule set associated with a first set of business rules for wireless usage incurred by a mobile terminal operating in the wireless communication network; generate a first billing instruction based on the first set of business rules and a first data type determined by a packet gateway that inspects packet data communicated to or from the mobile terminal. |
US09288332B2 |
System and method for providing high reliability network
A system and method for providing a high reliability network. Context servers store information about calls in a telecommunications system. Network control elements can obtain call information from the context servers to help make call control and reporting decisions. |
US09288330B2 |
Server, conference room management method of server, and network conference system
A server connected to a client terminal via a network, includes a conference room management unit that manages a conference room for holding a conference, and a medical image holding unit that holds the predetermined number of medical image data including medical image data linked to the conference, wherein the conference room management unit manages one state which is a conference live state and other states which are different from the one state as a conference room state. |
US09288327B2 |
Apparatus and method for routing an incoming call
An apparatus and method for routing an incoming call includes the apparatus configured to perform a routing decision resulting in the incoming call being routed to the voicemail of a called user. The apparatus further creates a transcription of a voicemail message being recorded on the voicemail of the called user. This is done by applying a speech analysis process to the voicemail message as the voicemail message is being recorded. Information about a context of the incoming call is determined from the transcription and a second routing decision is performed based on the information. |
US09288326B2 |
Systems and methods for routing a contact to an agent in a contact center
Techniques for handling contacts and agents in a contact center system are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for handling contacts and agents in a contact center system including determining a first caller grade for a first call, determining a first agent grade for a first agent, and matching the first caller and the first agent based on a comparison of the first caller grade with the first agent grade. |
US09288324B2 |
Call center call-back push notifications
A method for creating a push notification at a call center includes: receiving a call from a caller device; receiving, from the caller device, caller identification information; receiving, from the caller device, an inquiry; generating an encrypted token including the caller identification information and the inquiry; and when an agent is available, sending a push notification to the caller device for connecting the caller to the agent, the push notification being associated with the encrypted token, and wherein the agent uses the caller identification information from the encrypted token when the agent is addressing the inquiry. |
US09288323B2 |
Computer-implemented system and method for simultaneously processing multiple call sessions
A computer-implemented system and method for simultaneously processing multiple call sessions is provided. Multiple call sessions assigned to an agent are monitored. Content of each call session is displayed to the agent on an agent console. A script selected by the agent is identified and provided as synthesized speech to a caller of one of the call sessions. A verbal conversation between the agent and a caller of another one of the call sessions is simultaneously monitored while the script is provided to the caller. |
US09288321B2 |
Interactive voice response interface for webpage navigation
There is provided systems and method for interactive voice response interface for webpage navigation. An existing webpage may be altered so that the webpage and corresponding forms offer Interactive Voice Response (IVR) to a user. A JavaScript library of other software component corresponding to the IVR interface may be downloaded to the user's system and/or browser when the user accesses the webpage. The webpage includes HTML tags corresponding to elements or a separate file/database may include links to the elements. The HTML tags and/or file/database correspond to an IVR flow of information. The JavaScript library is built to interpret the HTML tags and/or file/database so the IVR flow of information may be presented to the user. Thus, when a user engages the interactive mode, the JavaScript library may present the IVR flow to the user, interpret input from the user, and send the input to the underlying webpage. |
US09288318B2 |
Inbound call screening for particular accounts
A system and method for improving the handling, management, and retention of particular accounts. An allowable calling number list is generated via a suitable mechanism such as a call center. The allowable calling number list is utilized by telephone number management server to manage inbound call access to suspended accounts. Account representatives are given access to the suspended numbers. Additionally, certain emergency inbound calls may be permitted from select numbers. |
US09288311B2 |
System and method for spoken caller identification in a cellular telephone headset
The subject disclosure describes monitoring when a headset is in communication with a mobile communication device, detecting the headset, comparing a name of a caller and a telephone number of the caller against a list of names and telephone numbers previously stored in a memory, determining that the name of the caller or the telephone number of the caller matches one of the names and telephone numbers in the list, determining that the one of the names and telephone numbers is associated with a pre-recorded message that the user previously recorded and stored in the memory, retrieving the pre-recorded message, and performing a text-to-speech conversion on the name and telephone number of the caller to generate a synthesized speech signal spoken text message and sending the synthesized speech signal and the pre-recorded message to the headset. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
US09288308B2 |
Method for terminating an operation of a CPE device, and respective CPE device using the method
The method for terminating an operation of a CPE device, which comprises a front-end component for an xDSL connection of a Central Office Equipment supplying a multitude of customers, comprises the steps of: sending a power loss information to the Central Office Equipment in case of a power loss or a switch-off operation of the CPE device and powering the front-end component for a predetermined time to avoid a termination impedance change of the front-end component, by keeping the supply power up for the front-end component, to keep the termination impedance stable as long as necessary for the Central Office Equipment to avoid introduction of non-cancelled crosstalk, which may arise in xDSL connections of other customers. |
US09288305B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring a characteristic of an object in mechanical contact with a mobile terminal
An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform, actuating within an apparatus a motion in at least one actuation direction, monitoring the motion in the apparatus in at least one monitoring direction, and determining from the monitoring an characteristic of an object in contact with the apparatus. |
US09288301B2 |
Smart watch
A smart watch in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first smart member configured to receive a voice signal sent from a mobile terminal, transform the input voice of a user to a voice signal, and send the voice signal to the mobile terminal while in talk mode; and a second smart member configured to input a control command about the talk mode into the first smart member, and transform the voice signal to voice and output the voice. |
US09288298B2 |
Notifications regarding interesting or unusual activity detected from an activity monitoring device
A method is provided, including: processing requests from a plurality of users to join a group event, the group event defined for an activity metric for each of the plurality of users for a period of time; analyzing the activity metrics of the plurality of users to determine a ranking of the plurality of users based on their activity metrics, and to identify a change in relationship between activity metrics of two or more of the plurality of users; generating a message, wherein generating the message includes, identifying, based on the identified change in relationship, one or more user accounts of select ones of the plurality of users to receive the message, selecting a message template based on the identified change in relationship, and populating the message template to generate a message describing the change in relationship; sending the message to the one or more user accounts. |
US09288296B2 |
Mobile phone and method for outputting kernel message
A mobile phone and a method for outputting a kernel debugging message are provided. The mobile phone comprises an audio jack, a level converter, an audio chip, a multiplexer and a central process unit (CPU). The level converter converts a voltage level of the first kernel debugging message to output a second kernel debugging message. The multiplexer comprises an output port, a first input port and a second input port. The output port is connected to the audio jack. The first input port is connected to the level converter. The second input port is connected to the audio chip. After receiving a debugging message output command, the CPU controls the output port to be electrically connected to the first input port to output the second kernel debugging message to the audio jack according to the debugging message output command. |
US09288295B2 |
Modular mobile device case
In preferred embodiments, an expandable and modular protective mobile device case apparatus comprises a protective shell configured to receive a mobile device; a circuit board located within the protective shell said circuit board comprising a USB hub and a mode selection switch, wherein the USB hub is in electrical communication with the mode selection switch; and a male plug member in electrical communication with the mode selection switch and configured to transfer electrical signals from the mode selection switch to the mobile device. |
US09288292B2 |
Low radiation wireless communicator
A wireless communicator, including a modem operable to transmit and receive voice communication phone calls, an accelerometer to measure an angle of orientation, and a controller coupled with the modem and with the accelerometer, the controller being operable to restrict operation of the modem when the wireless communicator is not being used in a low radiation listening mode and the accelerometer indicates a substantially stationary angle of orientation longer than a pre-designated length of time. |
US09288289B2 |
Portable device maintenance support apparatus, system, and method
A portable device maintenance support apparatus includes one set of terminals configured to connect to a hybrid communication network performed based on any one of a plurality of protocols, by a compound signal in which an analog signal is superimposed with a digital signal including at least device information, the hybrid communication network being performed between the portable device maintenance support apparatus and a field device, the one set of terminals being common to the plurality of protocols. |
US09288281B2 |
Common interface communicating with multiple back-end services via gateway application
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a common interface for communicating with multiple back-end services via a gateway application. In an example embodiment, a gateway application receives a first web service request and a second web service request. The first and second web service requests are generated by interactions with a graphical interface provided by the gateway application. The graphical interface can access a first service and a second service using different authentication protocols. The gateway application can respond to the first and second web service requests by executing a first function provided by the first service and a second function provided by the second service. Executing the first and second functions includes transmitting respective first and second service requests to the first and second services that are respective signed using a first authentication protocol for the first service and a second authentication protocol for the second service. |
US09288275B2 |
Computer implemented event-centric social networking platform
A computer-implemented event-centric social networking platform and a method for implementing the event-centric social networking platform have been disclosed. The platform creates shared experiences, primarily amongst friends local to a particular region. The platform includes a first repository, a second repository and a third repository. The platform includes an analytic engine for analyzing users' behavioral information and identify corresponding behavioral patterns. The platform includes a recommendation module configured to generate a plurality of recommendations corresponding to the catalog offerings based on user behavioral patterns, user interests related information and user preference information. The platform further includes an event planning module for enabling the users of the platform to organize/plan events around the available catalog offerings, and invite their respective friends, other users, shortlisted based on pre-defined criteria, to be a part of the planned event and share comments, images, and social media related to the event with their friends. |
US09288270B1 |
Systems for learning user preferences and generating recommendations to make settings at connected vehicles and interfacing with cloud systems
A cloud system that includes one or more servers for communicating with vehicles and processing information received from a vehicle and processing information sent to the vehicle is provided. The system enables establishing a communication link between a computing device associated with the vehicle and a server of the cloud system. The communication link is over a wireless network, and the communication link is established in association with a user account that is managed by the cloud system. The communication link is configured to be established for one or more sessions. Then, receiving, at the server, a plurality of actions associated with inputs made at the vehicle while the vehicle is associated with the user account, the plurality of actions being received during the one or more sessions. The server updates data associated with the user account to identify the plurality of actions at the vehicle and then generates a recommendation to apply a setting at the vehicle. One or more of the plurality of actions for the vehicle made during the one or more sessions are analyzed to identify a pattern that is indicative of a preference for a setting by a user of the vehicle that used the vehicle via the user account. Generating the recommendation to apply the setting occurs upon reaching or exceeding a predefined threshold. The system sends to the user account the recommendation to apply the setting for the vehicle. The computing device enables access to the user account to view and accept the recommendation. The computing device associated with the vehicle enables acceptance of the recommendation, such that acceptance of the recommendations causes an instruction to the vehicle to apply the setting. |
US09288265B2 |
Systems and methods for performing memory management in a distributed environment
Systems and methods for performing memory management among a plurality of devices in a network are described. In one implementation, the method for performing memory management comprises obtaining memory requirements for execution of an application. The memory requirements indicate memory space needed for executing the application. Further, the method comprises creating at least one memory pool, based on the memory requirements, by aggregating physical memories of the plurality of devices. Further, the method comprises executing the application in the at least one memory pool using semaphores and a mutex application programming interface (API). |
US09288256B2 |
URL prefetching
An enhanced tag management system is disclosed comprising a networked resource/asset prefetch feature. In some examples, the tag management system comprises a recommendation system, a collection system, a non-volatile data store, a user computing device with cache memory, and/or other components. The enhanced tag management system permits prefetching of resource/assets, such as images, videos, widgets, etc., while avoiding the skewing of analytical results. As a result, a user computing device may enjoy enhanced performance and reduced latency without sacrificing the reliability of collected analytics data. |
US09288254B2 |
Dynamic playlist for mobile computing device
A method of managing electronic media items includes accessing first geographic information that indicates a first geographic location of a first device; accessing second geographic information that indicates a second geographic location of a second device; determining whether the first device and the second device are within a defined geographic proximity based on the first geographic location and the second geographic location; if the determination indicates that the first device and the second device are within the defined geographic proximity, generating at least one playlist of media items based on a set of media preferences shared between a first user of the first device and a second user of the second device; and sending the playlist to the first device such that the first user is able to select one or more of the media items on the playlist to be output by the first device. |
US09288252B2 |
Managing web services using a reverse proxy
Method, system, and computer program product to manage traffic in a web services cluster using a programmable reverse proxy, by providing the reverse proxy in the cluster, the cluster hosting web services, defining, in a routing table in the reverse proxy, stacks and a weight for each stack, each stack including at least one version of a web service, receiving, at the reverse proxy, a URL requesting to access a web service, selecting one of a first stack and a second stack based on the weights of each stack, the first stack specifying a first version of the web service, the second stack specifying a second version of the web service, each of the first stack and the second stack selected at least once in a plurality of requests, and generating, at the reverse proxy, a URL directed to the version of the web service specified by the selected stack. |
US09288251B2 |
Adaptive bitrate management on progressive download with indexed media files
A method includes receiving streaming media data having an original media frame and an original frame index referencing the original media frame; determining an optimal session bitrate, wherein the optimal session bitrate is based on the available network bandwidth between a server and a terminal; allocating a frame budget for an output media frame by estimating a frame size of the output media frame based on the original frame index and the optimal session bitrate; generating the output media frame by processing the original media frame based on first encoding parameters and, if the allocated frame budget is greater than a frame size of the processed media frame, padding the processed media frame; and providing the output media frame. |
US09288247B2 |
Methods and apparatus for improved navigation of content including a representation of streaming data
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for improved navigation of content with streaming media. A method may include causing presentation of a document with at least one representation of streaming media on a display and causing presentation of a media download indicator on the display that provides an indication of download progress of the representation of streaming media. The method may further include causing presentation of content that does not include the representation of streaming media while causing the media download indicator to remain presented and then receiving an indication that a user desires to view the representation of streaming media. The method may further include causing, in response to the indication, presentation of a portion of the document that includes the representation of the streaming media on the display. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided. |
US09288243B2 |
Social sharing of contacts information
Sharing contact information among one or more communities or individuals in a social media environment, in one aspect, may comprise creating contact information associated with contact as social media content based on input from a first user. At least a portion of the contact information may be shared with a plurality of second users via a social media like application. |
US09288242B2 |
Bridging physical and virtual spaces
Examples of systems and methods for bridging virtual and physical spaces are described. In some of these examples, a particular communicant's real world state drives changes in one or more of the communications connections, virtual state, and communications interface of the particular communicant or another communicant. |
US09288236B2 |
Adaptive multimedia delivery via a broadband gateway
Aspects of a method and system for adaptive multimedia delivery via a broadband gateway are provided. A broadband gateway may be operable to determine which one or more of a plurality of devices is communicatively coupled to the broadband gateway. Content may be requested from, and/or scheduled to be delivered to, one or more of the devices. The gateway may be operable to select a provider from which to request the content based on results of the determining. The provider may be selected based on a bandwidth of a link between the broadband gateway and the one or more devices to which the content is to be delivered. The gateway may be operable to select one of a plurality of versions of the content based on results of the determining and requesting the selected version of the content from the selected content provider. |
US09288234B2 |
Security policy enforcement
A method of operating a network message interceptor for enforcing a security policy for communication over a network between first and second network endpoints, the interceptor being in communication with the network and external to the first and second endpoints, the network including transport layer security, and the security policy identifying at least one valid security standards for communication over the network, the method comprising the steps of: intercepting a handshake message transmitted over the network between the first and second endpoints; extracting from the handshake message an identification of a security standard selected for the communication between the first and second endpoints; determining a validity status of the identified security standard based on the security policy; and preventing communication between the first and second endpoints based on a negatively determined validity status of the identified security standard. |
US09288232B2 |
Techniques for reconciling permission usage with security policy for policy optimization and monitoring continuous compliance
In one aspect, a method for managing a security policy having multiple policy items includes the steps of: (a) mapping permissions to the policy items which apply to usage of the permissions so as to determine which of the permissions are granted to groups of users by each of the policy items; (b) identifying at least one of the policy items mapped in step (a) that is in violation of least privilege based on a comparison of an actual permission usage with the security policy; (c) identifying at least one of the policy items mapped in step (a) that increases operational risk; (d) verifying that policy constructs in the security policy are consistent with policy constructs inferred from the actual permission usage; and (e) identifying optimizations of the security policy based on output from one or more of steps (a)-(d). |
US09288230B2 |
Methods and apparatus for providing or receiving data connectivity
Methods and apparatus for providing or receiving data connectivity with an access network may include receiving or transmitting a request from a wireless device for data connectivity to a destination. The destination may be associated with use of an application. The methods and apparatus may further include determining whether the destination is a sponsored destination. The methods and apparatus may further include providing or receiving sponsored data connectivity via the access network from the wireless device to the sponsored destination for use of the application on the wireless device if the destination is a sponsored destination. |
US09288227B2 |
Systems and methods for transparently monitoring network traffic for denial of service attacks
A mitigation service can monitor network traffic in one direction between a client computer and a server computer. The mitigation service can receive a request from a client computer to establish a network connection with a server computer. The mitigation service can reply to the client computer with an acknowledgment that is configured to cause the client computer to issue a request to reset the connection. The acknowledgement is configured not to affect the establishment of the network connection with the server computer. The mitigation service can compare the details of the reset request with the request to establish the network connection. If the details match, the mitigation service can forward the request to establish the network connection to the server computer. |
US09288223B2 |
Potential attack detection based on dummy network traffic
A method, apparatus and product for potential attack detection based on dummy network traffic. One embodiment includes a method comprising analyzing an activity, wherein the activity is performed in response to a message, wherein the message is transmitted by a first application that is executed by a computing device, wherein the computing device is connected to a computerized network, wherein the first application is configured to transmit the message in order to induce a potential attacker to perform a malicious activity, wherein said analyzing comprises comparing the activity to a predetermined expected activity in response to the message; and determining, based on the analysis of the activity, that a second application is under a potential attack; whereby an operation of the first application is capable of exposing potential attacks on the second application without monitoring network traffic of the second application. |
US09288216B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing the effectiveness of chosen location attacks in a peer-to-peer overlay network
Methods and apparatus for reducing the effectiveness of chosen location attacks in a peer-to-peer overlay network. A method includes determining that new node identifiers are to be generated for a plurality of nodes in the network, inputting parameters to a hash function to generate a selected node identifier, and adopting a location in the network associated with the selected node identifier. Another method includes receiving a node identifier associated with a selected node, inputting parameters associated with the selected node to a hash function to generate a corresponding node identifier, comparing the node identifier with the corresponding node identifier, and determining that the selected node is a potential attacker if the node identifiers do not match. Another method includes detecting responsibility for initiating an update to one or more node identifiers, generating parameters to generate the node identifiers, and transmitting the parameters on the network. |
US09288215B2 |
Utilizing routing for secure transactions
The present disclosure relates to methodologies, networks, and nodes for providing secure transaction routing among network components. Network transactions (messages) may be intentionally routed though networks using different paths where the act of following the particular node paths or traversing particular nodes provides a security enhancing feature for the messages. A transaction receiving node will examine the paths taken from a sending node to determine if the paths correspond to predetermined paths to verify the authenticity of the transaction. In some embodiments, predetermined paths may change in a predetermined sequence where the sequence itself becomes a portion of the security feature. |
US09288206B2 |
Shared secret techniques for ubiquitous computing devices
Technologies and implementations for secure access to online services are generally disclosed. |
US09288197B2 |
Anonymous subject identification system
A computerized method and apparatus are established to identify a subject of common interest among multiple parties without releasing the true identity of any subject. Furthermore, a computerized network provides different parties at different locations with a mechanism to conduct cooperative activities concerning such a subject of common interest without exposing that subject to possible identity theft. |
US09288196B2 |
Identity verification via selection of sensible output from recorded digital data
A digital data sampler operating in a computer processor selects and stores digital data samples from a data stream used for generating audio-visual output during a session with a client operated by a user. The session generates the data stream independently of the data sampler. The data sampler may collect parameter data correlated to a probability will be remembered by the user at some future time, for each sample. The data sampler may store the data samples and parameter data as shared secret data for use in a future authentication session. During a future authentication session, an authentication device selects test data from the shared secret data to generate sensible output in an authentication process. The authentication process grants access to a controlled resource in response to user input indicating specific knowledge of the shared secret data selected from a presentation of similar sensible outputs. |
US09288193B1 |
Authenticating cloud services
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates authenticating cloud services that execute in an untrusted cloud computing environment. During operation, a verifying party receives a request for a credential from a compute instance that is executing in the untrusted cloud computing environment. This request includes one or more metadata parameters that are associated with the compute instance. The verifying party queries a management interface for the untrusted cloud computing environment to retrieve a second set of metadata parameters for the compute instance, and then compares the two sets of parameters. If the values for the two sets of parameters match, the verifying party grants the credential to the requesting compute instance. Otherwise, the verifying party denies the request. |
US09288191B1 |
System and method to anonymize data transmitted to a destination computing device
A method and system for anonymizing data to be transmitted to a destination computing device is disclosed. Anonymization strategy for data anonymization is provided. Data to be transmitted is received from a user computer, the data including a plurality of characters, with at least one character case sensitive. A case information word indicative of the case of the characters is created. The characters in the data is converted to a known case. Selective anonymization of the converted data is performed, based on a selected anonymization strategy, using an anonymization module. The anonymized data with the case information word and data indicative of the selected anonymization strategy is transmitted to the destination computing device over a network. |
US09288187B2 |
Externally controlled reachability in virtual private networks
A network that supports VPNs is enhanced to allow users in one VPN to communicate with users in another VPN in the course of executing a predefined application, such as VoIP. This capability is achieved dynamically by enabling a device that can communicate with the network elements that operate to normally prohibit inter-VPN communication to direct those network elements to enable such communication, at least for the purposes of specific applications. |
US09288185B2 |
Software firewall control
A software firewall that may be configured using rules specified for types of network interfaces rather than individual network interfaces. The network types may be specified with type identifiers that have a readily understandable meaning to a user, facilitating ease of configuring the firewall. The network types could include, for example, wired, wireless and remote access. A rule specified based on a network type can be implemented for network interfaces of that network type. The implementation may be performed automatically and may be updated based on network location awareness information. |
US09288183B2 |
Load balancing among a cluster of firewall security devices
A method for balancing load among firewall security devices in a network is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a switch causes firewall security devices (FSDs) of a cluster to enter into a load balancing mode. Responsive to receiving a heartbeat signal from an FSD, information regarding the FSD and the port on which the heartbeat signal was received are added to a table maintained by the switch that maps outputs of a load balancing function to ports of the switch. A received packet is forwarded to an FSD of the cluster by: (i) extracting a configurable number of bit values from a configurable set of bit positions within the packet; (ii) determining the output of the load balancing function; (iii) identifying the port to which the FSD is coupled based on the output and the table; and (iv) transmitting the packet to the FSD via the identified port. |
US09288180B2 |
Communication system and method
A communication system and method are provided. In the communication system, a first electrical device has an end point which is configured to connect to a plurality of 3G dongles, wherein the 3G dongles have different IP addresses; a cloud server integrates the IP addresses to generate an integrated IP address when the cloud server detects that the first electrical device is connected to the 3G dongles; and a second electrical device transmits data packets with the first electrical device via the integrated IP address through the cloud server. |
US09288172B2 |
Access restriction device, access restriction method, computer readable storage medium
An access restriction device including a processor; and a memory. The processor executes: receiving an email from a transmission source; specifying including analyzing, when a file is attached to the email, information in the file, and specifying a character string from the file; executing including specifying, from a storing unit in which a character string is associated with an access restriction process, an access restriction process that is associated with the character string specified at the specifying the character string, and executing the specified access restriction process on the file; and sending including attaching, instead of the file attached to the email, the file that has been subjected to the access restriction process at the executing to the email, and sending the email to which the file subjected to the access restriction process is attached to a transmission destination of the email. |
US09288170B2 |
Group messaging for facilitating interactions between users
A group messaging relationship establishment method is provided. The method includes determining, by a web server, whether a number of comments relating to information exceeds a predetermined first numerical threshold within a predefined first time period, in response to the number of comments relating to the information exceeding the predetermined first numerical threshold within the predefined first time period, establishing a corresponding instant messaging group relating to the information, and recording a unique identifier information for the instant messaging group relating to the information. |
US09288169B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for clustering and communicating between internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) entities and for supporting database access in an IMS network environment
Methods, systems, and computer program products for clustering and communicating between Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) entities and for supporting database access in an IMS network environment. According to one aspect, an IMS cluster node includes a serving call state control function (S-CSCF) for controlling media sessions between IMS users. The cluster node further includes a home subscriber service (HSS) function for storing and providing IMS subscription information to the S-CSCF function. A shared memory is operatively associated with the S-CSCF function and the HSS function. The S-CSCF function obtains IMS subscription information from the HSS function via the shared memory. |
US09288167B2 |
Preserving collaboration history with relevant contextual information
Preserving collaborative history includes detecting a trigger for a chat session between at least two participants using a processor and, responsive to the trigger, obtaining event data for an event occurring during the chat session and involving at least one of the participants. The event data is included within a transcript of the chat session. In other cases, event data is obtained from external systems that is correlated with the chat session and is included within the transcript. |
US09288162B2 |
Adaptive infrastructure for distributed virtual switch
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying at a network device, characteristics of a distributed virtual switch comprising a control plane component and a plurality of data plane components, grouping the data plane components, and adapting operation of the distributed virtual switch for one or more groups of the data plane components based on the characteristics. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein. |
US09288161B2 |
Verifying the functionality of an integrated circuit
Verifying the functionality of an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit being operable for processing a data packet thereby generating a data processing result. A data packet to be processed is evaluated to determine if the data packet is an erroneous data packet. If the data packet is identified as an erroneous data packet, a modified data packet is generated by modifying the erroneous data packet and providing the modified data packet to the integrated circuit. A determination is made as to whether the data processing result comprises the modification; and a malfunction of the integrated circuit is signaled, if the data processing result comprises the modification. |
US09288160B2 |
GID capable switching in an infiniband fabric
Methods, systems, and apparatus for extending the size of Infiniband subnets using GID switching in an Infiniband fabric. An Infiniband subnet is defined to include multiple local identifier (LID) domains, each including multiple nodes interconnected via one or more LID switches. In turn, the LID domains are interconnected via one or more GID switches. Messages may be transferred between nodes in a given LID domain using LID switches in the domain. Messages may be transferred between nodes in separate LID domains by routing the messages via one or more GID switches. In various embodiments, GID switches may be implemented to also operate as LID switches and perform routing based on selected packet header fields. |
US09288158B2 |
Dynamically expanding computing resources in a networked computing environment
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for dynamically expanding cloud capacity (e.g., computing resources), based on infrastructure needs. In a typical embodiment, an available capacity of a set (e.g., at least one) of computing resources in the networked computing environment will be determined. Then, a future capacity needed for processing a set of workloads in the networked computing environment will be forecasted. Such a forecast can be made based on multiple factors/approaches. For example, the forecast can be made based upon at least one of the following: an average consumption of the set of computing resources over a predetermined period of time, a periodic estimation of consumption of the set of computing resources, a scheduled consumption of the set of computing resources, and/or a potential capacity of the set of computing resources. In general, the scheduled consumption can be determined based on at least one resource consumption schedule stored in a computer data structure, while the potential capacity can be determined based upon a set of application events associated with the set of workloads. Regardless of the approach utilized, once the future capacity has been forecasted, it will be determined whether the future capacity exceeds the available capacity. If so, the available capacity of the set of computing resources will be expanded (e.g., hardware and/or software elements will be added to the networked computing infrastructure and/or made available) until the available capacity at least meets the future capacity. |
US09288148B1 |
Hierarchical network, service and application function virtual machine partitioning across differentially sensitive data centers
Methods, systems, and computer program products for hierarchical DCS-aware network, service, and application function VM partitioning are provided herein. A method includes partitioning multiple functions, within a set of virtual machines distributed across a hierarchical network of two or more data centers, into a first set of functions and a second set of functions, wherein the first set is associated with a higher performance sensitivity measure than the second set, and wherein said partitioning is based on a desired performance sensitivity measure associated with the functions and data center sensitivity measures of the data centers; executing the first set of functions in a first data center associated with a higher data center sensitivity measure than the one or more additional data centers; and executing the second set of functions in a second data center associated with a lower data center sensitivity measure than the first data center. |
US09288139B2 |
Methods for selection of link aggregation capable access points
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a processor configured to identify at least one interface (e.g., AP interface) configured to support link aggregation, identify one or more groups of the at least one interface, wherein all interfaces of a respective group are configured to be aggregated together, identify supported link aggregation types per group, select one of the groups to support communication via link aggregation, select at least one interface of the selected group, and send information to the selected at least one interface to initialize link aggregation. |
US09288134B2 |
Server-centric high performance network architecture for modular data centers
Disclosed are systems and methods for network architecture that is a server-centric network architectural design. |
US09288131B2 |
Signal combining apparatus
The present application relates to a signal combining apparatus having an input for receiving a signal from a signal generator and an output for outputting a signal to a signal analyzer. The input signal is split into a plurality of identical signals by a splitter and the signals are transmitted, to inputs a plurality of duplex combiners, each of which has an input/output port to which a device under test can be connected. Outputs of the duplex combiners are connected to a plurality of receive paths, whose outputs are connected to a signal relay which is operative to receive one or more signals received through the receive paths. An output of the signal relay is connected to the output of the signal combining apparatus, such that a composite signal output by the signal relay containing the signals received through the receive paths can be analyzed by the signal analyzer. |
US09288127B2 |
Network resource monitoring and measurement system and method
A method and system for analysing and measuring multiple sources of data over a communications network (18) so as to ascertain information or usage of one or more resources, such as resource servers (2). A data collection and processing means (20) collects and processes the data sources which are forwarded to a reporting server (34) as a combined data source made available to interested parties. |
US09288126B2 |
Clusterhead selection in a communication network
Technologies are generally described for clusterhead selection in a communication network. In an example, a first node may be configured to send a first responsibility and availability. In some examples, the first responsibility indicates a responsibility attributed to the second node to be the clusterhead for the first node. In some examples, the first availability indicates an availability of the first node to be the clusterhead for the second node. In some examples, the first node is effective to receive a second responsibility and availability; the second responsibility indicating a responsibility attributed to the first node to be the clusterhead for a second node; the second availability indicating an availability of the second node to be the clusterhead for the first node. In some examples, the first node is effective to determine the clusterhead based on the first and second responsibility and the first and second availability. |
US09288125B2 |
Application control of embedded web content execution
Web content is displayed concurrently with application content of an application that is hosting the web content. The web content includes at least some content that can be executed or run, such as a script. Performance of the web content is monitored, such as by monitoring the amount of time the web content has been executing and/or an amount of memory used by the web content. Feedback regarding the performance of the web content is provided to the application hosting the web content, and the application can determine whether and/or how to alter execution of the web content based on the performance of the web content. Execution of the web content can be altered in various manners, such as by throttling execution of the web content or ceasing execution of the web content. |
US09288119B2 |
Applying policies to subnets
Associations are maintained among a plurality of subnets, policies, and client types. Each subnet has an associated client type and policy. For a particular client device, (i) a client type of the particular client device, and (ii) a client type associated with the subnet on which the particular client device is hosted is determined. For the particular client device, (i) the determined client type of the particular client device with (ii) the determined client type associated with the subnet on which the particular client device is hosted is compared. Responsive to a determination that the client type of the particular client device matches the client type associated with the subnet that hosts the particular client device, a policy is applied to the particular client device. |
US09288117B1 |
System and method for managing virtual and dedicated servers
Some embodiments provide a hosting system for managing virtual and dedicated servers. The system includes a front-end user interface (UI) that allows users to configure, provision, and control virtual and dedicated servers through UI elements. The back-end system includes different actuators that perform different tasks related to the virtual and dedicated server. To interface with these different actuators, the hosting system includes a remote management component (1) that receives a user request from the front-end UI, (2) identifies an actuator that can fulfill the user request, and (3) sends the user request to the identified actuator. |
US09288116B2 |
System and method for NAS server test load generation
System and method embodiments are provided herein to test Network Attached Storage (NAS) server performance by generating a sufficient load in NAS client sessions. A test device is configured to run as many needed NAS clients to generate enough NAS session load for evaluating the NAS server performance. An embodiment comprises a method for testing a NAS server comprising starting a NAS client, establishing a session between the NAS client and the NAS server, exchanging communications for the session at a network stack layer below the NAS client, terminating the NAS client, starting a second NAS client, establishing a subsequent session between the second NAS client and the NAS server, exchanging communications for the subsequent session at the network stack layer while exchanging communications for the session, and terminating the second NAS client. |
US09288115B2 |
Network design device
According to the information about a request bandwidth of a path newly requested between a starting site and an ending site of the requested path and the information about the type of a device candidate which may be provided at each site and the number of ports of each device, an objective function indicating a device cost and a constraint to be considered when the objective function is minimized are set. According to the arithmetic performance of a solver for executing the design, a problem scale corresponding to one path accommodation designing operation is set. Based on the set problem scale, a mathematical programming problem for minimizing the objective function is generated. An accommodation designing process is repeated on a plurality of paths until a solution to the mathematical programming problem is obtained by the solver, and all requested paths are completely designed. |
US09288112B2 |
Automatic network discovery in precision time protocol networks
Aspects of the present invention provide systems and methods using precise timing relationships between nodes in computer networks to generate mappings depicting the physical arrangement or ordering of nodes in the computer networks. The technical effect is by tracking the timing delays between nodes as observed by an individual node, and collecting such information together for subsequent processing, nodes may receive and/or construct an entire physical network topology using an algorithm accordingly. |
US09288111B2 |
Summarization in a multi-domain network
A multi-domain network comprises domains of different network technology types. A network domain comprises a plurality of network nodes connected by links and comprising border nodes which connect with other network domains. In a first domain (AS A) of a first technology type, a method comprises determining an intra-domain topology of the nodes and links of the domain by collecting values of at least one network topology parameter of the first technology type. The method determines a summarized intra-domain topology of paths between border nodes of the domain which is described using values of at least one summarized network topology parameter. Values of the summarized network topology parameter are derived from the values of the network topology parameter of the intra-domain topology of the first technology type. The summarized network topology parameter is part of a common set of network topology parameters for advertising between domains comprising apparatus of different technology types. A domain can comprise multiple layers of different technology type. |
US09288108B2 |
Mechanism for facilitating spin mode-based dynamic updating of application servers in an on-demand services environment
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for facilitating spin mode-based dynamic updating of application servers in an on-demand services environment. In one embodiment and by way of example, a method includes upgrading a first set of application servers of a plurality of application servers at one or more computing devices, holding a first set of requests received at the first set of application servers from being processed while the first set of application servers is being upgraded, and upgrading a second set of application servers of the plurality of application servers upon completion of the first set of application servers. The method may further include holding a second set of requests received at the second set of application servers from being processed while the second set of application servers is being upgraded, and resuming processing of the first set of requests at the upgraded first set of application servers. |