| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09289273B2 |
Method and system for bodily translating a tooth with a wide and adjustable width brackets
A system and method for translating teeth along an arch wire which utilizes brackets with larger dimensions and with variable dimensions so that larger lever arms are possible thereby reducing the need for excessive pressure and reducing occasions of excessive tooth rotation which is incidental to tooth translation. |
| US09289271B2 |
Dental handpiece
A dental handpiece has a head section, a neck section, a grip section connected to the grip section, and a drive unit connected to the grip section. The handpiece also has a detent unit for preventing relative rotation between the neck and grip sections. The detent unit includes a detent pin arranged axially slidably in the grip section, a spring for biasing the pin proximally so that the distal end of the pin is arranged inside the grip section in a rest position, and a catch formed at the proximal end of the neck section for receiving the pin for engagement. When the drive unit is brought into connection to the grip section, the pin is pressed distally to project out of the grip section into engagement in the catch, to thereby prevent relative rotation between the neck section and the grip section. |
| US09289263B2 |
Catheter arrangement
At least one embodiment of the invention relates to a catheter arrangement comprising a catheter with a proximal section and a distal section, to measure a force acting on the distal section and simultaneously receive a temperature signal prevailing in the distal section. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the catheter arrangement comprises an evaluation unit connected to a single combined optical force and temperature sensor, and further comprises a readout signal generator to generate and feed a readout signal modulated with a carrier frequency into the force sensor and temperature sensor. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the catheter arrangement comprises a first readout device to read out a first modulated measuring signal portion, a second readout means to read out a second unmodulated measuring signal portion, and a processing unit to combine the first and second measuring signal portions. |
| US09289262B2 |
Dielectric coatings for laser fiber and related methods
A method and an apparatus according to an embodiment includes a distal end portion of an optical fiber core having a multilayer dielectric coating. For side-firing optical fibers, the coating can be disposed on an angled surface at the core distal end to produce total internal reflection of laser energy at the angled surface. The coating can also be disposed on an outer surface of the distal end portion of the core. The coating and the angled surface can be collectively configured to redirect laser energy in a lateral or side-fired direction. For end-firing optical fibers, the coating can be disposed on an outer surface of the distal end portion of the core. The coating and a perpendicular surface at the core distal end can be collectively configured to direct laser energy in a direction substantially parallel to the distal end portion of the optical fiber. |
| US09289260B2 |
Microwave surgical device
The solution of the problem to be solved is the provision of a means for determining timing both accurately and securely at which a treatment is shifted from gripping and coagulation (hemostasis or sealing) to resection by using a multifunctional treatment tool capable of exfoliation, gripping, coagulation (hemostasis or sealing) and resection of the treated region in a bipolar microwave treatment tool. A microwave surgical device control method and a device, in which the completion of coagulation (hemostasis or sealing) of tissue is detected and a microwave oscillation output is controlled by making use of the change in the direct current electric resistance value due to the reduction in the amount of water as the temperature rise of the tissue at the time of heating and coagulation of the tissue in the treated region with microwaves. |
| US09289259B2 |
Catheter with liquid-cooled control handle
An electrophysiologic catheter with an improved control handle is provided. The catheter includes a heat transfer assembly to better dissipate heat in the control handle. The heat transfer assembly includes a pump, a reservoir containing a coolant, a heat transfer member, and a coolant transport network transporting coolant between at least the reservoir and the heat transfer member. In one embodiment, the heat transfer member is located within the control handle as a heat exchanger on the circuit board to receive the coolant for transferring heat from the integrated circuits to the coolant. In another embodiment, the heat transfer member is located on the circuit board directly surrounding the integrated circuits to internally cool the integrated circuit within the control handle. A second heat transfer member is located outside of the control handle as a heat exchanger. |
| US09289257B2 |
Methods and systems for endometrial ablation utilizing radio frequency
Methods, systems and devices for endometrial ablation. In accordance with a method, a working end of an RF ablation device is positioned in a patient uterus to contact endometrial tissue, the working end comprising a dielectric wall capable of non-expanded and expanded shapes. An indicator mechanism is operatively coupled to the wall and configured to indicate non-expanded and expanded shapes of the wall. |
| US09289254B2 |
Electrosurgical device having a temperature measurement device, method for determining a temperature and/or a temperature change at a neutral electrode
A method for determining a temperature and/or a temperature change at a neutral electrode having a contacting agent layer. The method comprises determining at least one impedance value of the contacting agent layer and calculating a temperature change and/or a temperature at the neutral electrode, at least on the basis of the impedance value. The contacting agent layers may be made from hydrogel and the method uses a correlation that exists between the temperature change and the impedance change. |
| US09289250B2 |
Extender collar system
A collar for extenders and an extender assembly including a collar is disclosed. The collar is configured to receive extenders and maintain the extenders in a parallel orientation so as to prevent splaying and premature beak-off of the extenders from the spine. Methods of use are disclosed. |
| US09289246B2 |
Bone anchoring device
A bone anchoring device includes a bone anchoring element having a shaft for anchoring in the bone and a head; and a receiving part for coupling a rod to the bone anchoring element. The receiving part includes a first portion with a first end and a second end and a U-shaped recess for receiving the rod, the recess extending from the first end in the direction of the second end thereby forming two free legs and a second portion at the side of the second end opposite to the first end for accommodating the head, the second portion having a free end and being flexible so as to allow introduction and clamping of the head. The bone anchoring device also includes a locking ring embracing the second portion. The head is locked by means of exerting pressure with the rod onto the locking ring resulting in compression of the second portion of the receiving part and wherein the locking ring is mounted to the receiving part from the free end of the second portion. |
| US09289244B2 |
Polyaxial pedicle screw with increased angulation
A polyaxial bone anchor including a housing and a bone screw. A bottom surface of the housing includes an aperture that defines an angulation limit of the bone screw for each azimuthal angle around a longitudinal axis of the housing. The aperture is V-shaped, with the V-shape having converging side walls that define a low-angulation direction near their intersection and a high-angulation direction opposite the low-angulation direction. In some cases, the angulation limit of the bone screw is generally constant over a range of azimuthal angles centered around the high-angulation direction. The housing may be modular, including tabs on one component that are plastically deformed to engage a lip on another component. During assembly, a mandrel advances longitudinally along a bore in the housing, and forces the tabs radially outward toward the lip to a radially outward plastically deformed state. |
| US09289239B2 |
External fixation device
A device for the external fixation of a first bone element and a second bone element articulated to each other, comprises: a guide member equipped with a curvilinear guide; a first fastening member slidably associated with the guide and equipped with first means for releasable fastening to the first bone element; a second fastening member associated with the guide member and equipped with first means for releasable fastening to the second bone element; and relative movement means by which the first fastening member is moved relative to the second fastening member along the guide. |
| US09289234B2 |
Access device including shape memory deployment mechanism
A surgical access device is disclosed which includes a housing, a collar, and a plurality of deformable members. The housing defines a proximal end and a distal end and has a plurality of lumens extending therethrough. The collar is repositionable between a first position and a second position with the second position being closer to the proximal end of the housing than the first position. Each of the plurality of deformable members defines a distal portion, is coupled to the collar and is transitionable through one of the plurality of lumens. The plurality of deformable members is in a retracted state when the collar is in the first position and a deployed state when the collar is in the second position. One or more of the plurality of deformable members may also include a barb attached to the distal portion. |
| US09289233B2 |
Low-profile surgical access devices with anchoring
A surgical access device includes a proximal housing having proximal and distal end portions, the distal end portion of the housing being configured and adapted to engage a proximal portion of a flexible wound retractor. The proximal housing can be provided with a plenum chamber being defined therein, the plenum chamber being in fluid communication with at least one nozzle. The nozzle is preferably configured to direct pressurized fluid in an axial direction from the plenum chamber into a central bore of the surgical access device to provide a constant gaseous seal around a surgical instrument inserted therethrough, while inhibiting a loss of pressurized fluid from the body cavity therethrough. The plenum chamber can be adapted and configured to receive pressurized fluid and conduct the pressurized fluid to the at least one nozzle. |
| US09289228B2 |
Fluid injection device
A fluid injection device includes a fluid supply unit that accommodates and supplies fluid, a fluid injection unit that injects fluid supplied from the fluid supply unit, and a driving waveform generating device which is equipped with at least one adjusting device, a one-input multiple-control parameter changing unit that simultaneously changes plural control parameters for determining a fluid injection condition of the fluid injection unit on the basis of a signal from the at least one adjusting device, and a driving waveform generator that generates and outputs a driving waveform of the fluid injection unit on the basis of the control parameters set by the one-input multiple-control parameter changing unit. |
| US09289219B2 |
Drill bit incorporating depth gauge
There is provided a drill bit for use in forming holes in a material, and measuring the depth of the hole. The drill bit includes a body providing a cutting region for making holes, a cannulation along the length of the cutting region, and an insert disposed within the cannulation. The insert is movable with respect to the body so as to selectively project beyond the cannulation, and edges of the cutting region. |
| US09289216B2 |
Surgical clip
A surgical clip is provided having two clip arms and a resiliently flexible element via which the two clip arms are connected to each other. The two clip arms each have a first free end, these first free ends being held parallel to and in contact with each other with a predetermined closing force by the resiliently flexible element when the clip is in a rest position. The clip arms are held at a second end opposite the free end on the resiliently flexible element. The clip arms have between their first and second ends sections configured to cross each other. The clip arms further have stop elements configured to complement each other. The stop elements are adapted to be brought in mutual contact when the clip is transferred from the rest position to an application position in which the free ends are spaced apart from each other. |
| US09289212B2 |
Surgical instruments and batteries for surgical instruments
Various embodiments are directed to battery packs for use with surgical instruments. The battery packs may comprise a plurality of cells and at least a portion of the plurality of cells may not be electrically connected to one another. The battery packs may comprise a switch or other mechanism for interconnecting the plurality of cells and may also comprise, or be used in conjunction with, a discharge switch or plug configured to electrically connect an anode of the battery pack to a cathode of the battery pack, for example, via a resistive element. |
| US09289208B1 |
Articulation insert for surgical instrument
An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a flexible articulation insert and at least one feeder belt extending through the articulation insert, where at least some of the staples are frangibly connected to the feeder belt. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include at least one movable feeder belt; staples fixed to the feeder belt; and a flexible articulation insert having at least one feeder belt passage defined therein, the flexible articulation insert configured to bend through a range of motion; where each feeder belt extends through a corresponding feeder belt passage, and where each feeder belt passage is shaped such that the corresponding feeder belt and staples fixed thereto are slidable along the passage throughout the entire range of motion of the flexible articulation insert. |
| US09289207B2 |
Surgical staple with integral pledget for tip deflection
A circular stapler apparatus for stapling tissue includes a staple and pledget assembly and a circular staple head operable to drive staples toward an anvil. A staple of the staple and pledget assembly has a pair of legs disposed substantially perpendicular to a crown of the staple in a first position. The pair of legs is operable to advance against a pocket in the anvil to form a staple with bent legs. The staple and pledget assembly includes the staple and a pledget configured to receive the pair of legs of the staple. The pledget comprises a bioabsorbable material. The pledget is configured to advance distal ends of the pair of legs to a position in which the distal ends are laterally offset from a plane in which the crown of the staple is disposed. |
| US09289205B2 |
Systems for soft tissue repair
Systems for tissue repair are described where an elongate tissue repair device may be introduced into a single incision to access the damaged tissue. A suture delivery assembly may be sized for insertion through a single incision and positioned into proximity with a damaged or ruptured tissue region. A first portion of the damaged tissue region may be positioned within or along a channel defined along the suture delivery assembly and one or more lengths of suture may be secured to the first portion via the device. A second portion of the damaged tissue region may be similarly positioned within or along the channel and one or more additional lengths of suture may be secured to the second portion via the device. The first and second portions may then be approximated and secured to one another via the sutures to facilitate healing of the damaged tissue region. |
| US09289199B1 |
Retinal examination apparatus
An eyelid speculum comprising a longitudinally Elongated support, first and second elongated members carried by the support to extend laterally, and eyelid positioning spoons carried by the members, at least one of the members having adjustable connection to the support to be selectively positioned relative to the other of the members whereby the spoons may be relatively adjustably positioned. |
| US09289198B2 |
Locator and closure device and method of use
The present invention is directed to a method for sealing a puncture in a wall of a lumen of a body comprising the steps of deploying a deployment member of a sealing device through an elastic membrane adjacent the wall of the lumen and the puncture, wherein the sealing device includes a sealing element; positioning the sealing element adjacent the wall of the lumen; retracting the deployment member relative to the sealing element to stretch the membrane away from the wall of the lumen; retracting the deployment member relative to the sealing element to allow the elastic nature of the membrane to force the sealing element against the puncture; and retracting the device from the puncture. |
| US09289195B2 |
Auto-retraction apparatus and methods for sealing a vascular puncture
Apparatus for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel includes an introducer sheath, an occlusion member with a balloon thereon, a retraction assembly, and a syringe assembly including sealing material therein. During use, the introducer sheath is introduced into the puncture. With the balloon in a collapsed state, the occlusion member is introduced through the introducer sheath until the balloon is disposed within the vessel. The introducer sheath is coupled to the retraction assembly, the balloon is expanded, and the occlusion member is partially withdrawn to seal the puncture. A sealing compound is delivered from the syringe assembly through the introducer sheath into the puncture, the syringe assembly triggering the retraction assembly, whereupon the introducer sheath is automatically withdrawn at least partially from the puncture, delivering the sealing compound along the puncture. |
| US09289194B2 |
Insert and insert system for a laparoscopic instrument
An insert 30 comprises a rod 32 having a proximal end 34 and a distal end 36. The insert 30 also comprises a tool 38 which is demountably coupled to the distal end 36. Proximal end 34 is formed with a ball 40 which is configured to seat and engage in a socket of a handle 12 of a laparoscopic instrument 10. The rod 32 fits within a sheath 14 of the laparoscopic instrument 10. The distal end 36 of the rod 32 is provided with an attachment head 42 to facilitate the attachment of the tool 38. A linkage mechanism 44 in the attachment head 42 converts the linear motion of the insert 30 (and in particular rod 32) relative to the outer sheath 14 to a pivotal motion. |
| US09289193B2 |
Apparatus and method for cardiac tissue modulation by topical application of vacuum to minimize cell death and damage
A method and apparatus are provided for treating cardiac tissue to modulate ischemic heart tissue with topical sub-atmospheric pressure to minimize cell death and damage. |
| US09289190B2 |
Ultrasound strain imaging via pixel frame and window correlation
Embodiments for providing a strain image in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a processing unit sets windows on a pre-compression frame and a post-compression frame, and performs a correlation operation between the first and second frames within the windows to compute displacements for a third frame, wherein the processing unit selects at least one of previously set windows at an (N−i)th row by referring to current windows positioned at a Nth row in an axial direction, computes an initial displacement based on displacements corresponding to the selected at least one of windows, and determines a range for moving the current window on the second frame in the axial direction based on the computed initial displacement. |
| US09289188B2 |
Ultrasonic transducer
An ultrasound transducer and methods of fabricating and using the ultrasound transducer. The ultrasound transducer includes a composite layer having a first surface and comprising a plurality of piezoelectric elements separated by isolating material filled kerfs. The composite layer is configured so that the first surface includes an exposed face of each element of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. The transducer further includes a plurality of electrodes defined on the first surface, the electrodes having boundaries configured so that none of the exposed faces are in contact with more than one of the plurality of electrodes. The electrodes may be defined in a conductive layer deposited on the first surface of the composite body by forming a channel in the conductive layer that is aligned vertically with the dielectric kerfs. The transducer may be used to scan a treatment region with both HIFU and imaging ultrasound signals. |
| US09289178B2 |
Apparatus, unit measurer and method of measuring biological signal
A biological signal measuring apparatus is provided. The biological signal measuring apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive a biological signal from each of unit measurers arrayed on a subject's skin, and configured to receive a noise signal that is a common component of electrical characteristics, and a noise filtering unit configured to filter noise from a first biological signal between first electrodes of a first unit measurer among the unit measurers, by using a second noise signal between second electrodes of a second unit measurer among the unit measurers. The biological signal corresponds to a difference between the electrical characteristics of electrodes of each of the unit measurers. |
| US09289177B2 |
Sensing device, a method of preparing a sensing device and a personal mobile sensing system
There is provided a sensing device comprising an electromagnetic wave emitter for emitting electromagnetic waves to a surface; an electromagnetic wave detector for detecting the emitted electromagnetic waves that are reflected from the surface; and a force transmitting member configured to transmit a force applied thereto for detection, wherein the force transmitting member is positioned relative to the electromagnetic wave emitter and electromagnetic wave detector to substantially prevent waves emitted by the electromagnetic wave emitter from travelling directly to the electromagnetic wave detector. |
| US09289176B2 |
Classification of impacts from sensor data
Systems and methods are provided for classifying an impact to a head of a human being as one of a plurality of event classes. A sensor interface is configured to determine an acceleration at a location of interest on the human being from provided sensor data in response to the impact. A feature calculation component is configured to calculate a plurality of impact parameters from the determined acceleration at the location of interest. A pattern recognition classifier is configured to associate the impact with an associated event class of at least three associated event classes according to the calculated plurality of impact parameters. A post-processing component is configured to communicate the associated event class an observer via an associated output device. |
| US09289168B2 |
System and/or method for glucose sensor calibration
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to systems, methods and/or devices for calibrating sensor data to be used in estimating a blood glucose concentration. A relationship between sensor measurements and reference readings may be used to estimate a relationship between sensor measurements and blood glucose concentration. Such sensor measurements may be weighted according to a decreasing function of uncertainty associated with sensor values. |
| US09289167B2 |
Signal processing apparatus and method
A method and an apparatus to analyze two measured signals that are modeled as containing desired and undesired portions such as noise, FM and AM modulation. Coefficients relate the two signals according to a model defined in accordance with the present invention. In one embodiment, a transformation is used to evaluate a ratio of the two measured signals in order to find appropriate coefficients. The measured signals are then fed into a signal scrubber which uses the coefficients to remove the unwanted portions. The signal scrubbing is performed in either the time domain or in the frequency domain. The method and apparatus are particularly advantageous to blood oximetry and pulserate measurements. In another embodiment, an estimate of the pulserate is obtained by applying a set of rules to a spectral transform of the scrubbed signal. In another embodiment, an estimate of the pulserate is obtained by transforming the scrubbed signal from a first spectral domain into a second spectral domain. The pulserate is found by identifying the largest spectral peak in the second spectral domain. |
| US09289164B2 |
Methods for generating hybrid analyte level output, and devices and systems related thereto
Generally, methods, devices, and systems for generating a hybrid analyte level output are provided. The uncompensated analyte levels lag in time with respect to the lag-compensated analyte levels, and the hybrid analyte level output tracks between the uncompensated analyte levels and the lag-compensated analyte levels according to predetermined criteria. |
| US09289163B2 |
Prosthetic component for monitoring synovial fluid and method
An orthopedic system to monitor a parameter related to the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The orthopedic system includes electronic circuitry, a sensor, and a remote system to monitor and measure. The sensor is configured to measure color or turbidity. The electronic circuitry is coupled to and interfaces with the sensor. The electronic circuit includes a transmitter to transmit measurement data from the sensor to the remote system. The orthopedic system is configured to monitor color or turbidity of a fluid in proximity to the muscular-skeletal system. The orthopedic system can transmit a signal when a predetermined color is detected or when the turbidity of the fluid exceeds a predetermined value. Alternatively, the remote system includes a processor and software configured to analyze the measurement data from the sensor and transmit a signal when a predetermined color is detected or when the turbidity of the fluid exceeds a predetermined value. |
| US09289162B2 |
Control device for a medical test system
The invention concerns a control device for a medical test system which has a lancing element that can be inserted into body tissue to collect body fluid and a lancing drive for the lancing element. A sensor element for body fluid is arranged on the lancing element and a control unit is coupled to the sensor element for detecting a fault when collecting body fluid. In order to improve the success rate, the control unit actuates the lancing drive for an automatic puncture repetition in less than 1 second when a fault, e.g., inadequate wetting of a detection field, occurs. |
| US09289160B2 |
Portable biometric identification device using a dorsal hand vein pattern
A device for personal identification using a dorsal band vein-pattern in preferable configuration is disclosed. The device utilizes an on-board or external camera using wired or wireless communication operating in both visible and near infrared range, a memory unit, a processor and Speeded-Up Robust Features algorithm for image acquisition, processing and comparison against the existing database of hand vein-pattern images. The matching criterion between the images to be used for the person's authentication. Device can optionally use wireless connection for image transferring and processing. |
| US09289153B2 |
Joint and cartilage diagnosis, assessment and modeling
Methods are disclosed for assessing the condition of a cartilage in a joint and assessing cartilage loss, particularly in a human knee. The methods include converting an image such as an MRI to a three dimensional map of the cartilage. The cartilage map can be correlated to a movement pattern of the joint to assess the affect of movement on cartilage wear. Changes in the thickness of cartilage over time can be determined so that therapies can be provided. The amount of cartilage tissue that has been lost, for example as a result of arthritis, can be estimated. |
| US09289151B2 |
Implantable neural interface device with a deformable carrier
An improved deformable carrier or connector for an implantable neural interface device is described. The neural interface device comprises a carrier supporting at least one electrode array. The carrier comprises a tubular sidewall extending from a proximal carrier portion to a distal carrier portion. At least one deformable segment is provided in the carrier sidewall. The deformable segment is more pliable than the remainder of the carrier sidewall to preferably move in response to forces imparted on the carrier and the electrode array by the shifting forces in body tissue. The deformable segment takes the form of a thinned sidewall segment or a slitted wall segment. |
| US09289147B2 |
Multi-directional flexible wire harness for medical devices
A wire harness for a medical device includes a wiring bundle, a distal flex circuit, and a proximal flex circuit. The wiring bundle includes a plurality of twisted pair wiring and a shield, and operatively or conductively connects the distal flex circuit to the proximal flex circuit. The distal flex circuit may be configured to operatively or conductively connect to an electrically controlled object located in a distal portion of the medical device. The proximal flex circuit may be configured to operatively or conductively connect to an electrical connector. |
| US09289143B2 |
Systems, methods and devices for a skull/brain interface
Systems, methods and devices are disclosed for directing and focusing signals to the brain for neuromodulation and for directing and focusing signals or other energy from the brain for measurement, heat transfer and imaging. An aperture in the skull and/or a channel device implantable in the skull can be used to facilitate direction and focusing. Treatment and diagnosis of multiple neurological conditions may be facilitated with the disclosed systems, methods and devices. |
| US09289142B2 |
Implantable electrode lead system with a three dimensional arrangement and method of making the same
One embodiment of the invention includes an implantable electrode lead system that includes a series of shims stacked upon each other, a series of first components, and a series of second components connected to the series of first components through a series of connectors. One of the first components extends from one of the shims, and another of the first components extends from another one of the shims. The shims position the first components in a three dimensional arrangement. |
| US09289140B2 |
Systems and methods for imaging changes in tissue
The present invention provides systems and methods for monitoring tissue regions. In particular, the present invention provides systems and methods for detecting changes in tissue regions over a period of time. In some embodiments, the systems and methods of the present invention are used to evaluate the effectiveness of a particular treatment of a tissue region. In some embodiments, the systems and methods of the present invention provide a parametric response map approach for detecting and analyzing changes in tissue regions over a period of time to detect and monitor disease or tissue health and to monitor the impact of therapeutic interventions. |
| US09289138B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring blood pressure
The application relates to an apparatus and a method for estimating a central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) of a subject, in which a peripheral blood pressure waveform of the subject's pulse and at least two peripheral blood pressure measurements within the cardiac cycle of the subject are determined and the peripheral blood pressure waveform is manipulated with a transfer function to provide an estimate of the central blood pressure waveform of the subject's pulse. The at least two peripheral blood pressure measurements within the cardiac cycle of the subject and the peripheral blood pressure waveform of the subject's pulse are determined at substantially the same point on a peripheral artery of the subject. The estimate of the central blood pressure waveform of the subject's pulse provides an estimate of the central systolic blood pressure of the subject. |
| US09289137B2 |
Intravascular pressure devices incorporating sensors manufactured using deep reactive ion etching
An intravascular pressure sensor assembly is disclosed herein that is produced in part using photolithography and DRIE solid-state device production processes. Using DRIE production processes facilitates a number of features that could not be readily incorporated in sensor chips fabricated using mechanical saws. In accordance with a first feature, sensor chips are created with non-rectangular outlines. The sensor chip includes a widened portion that substantially abuts an inner wall of a sensor housing, and a cantilevered portion that is relatively narrow in relation to the widened portion. The non-rectangular outline of the sensor chip is formed using photolithography in combination with DRIE processing. In accordance with another feature, the sensor chip is positioned width-wise in the housing, thereby reducing a required length for the housing. In accordance with yet another feature, the sensor chip comprises one or more cutouts for receiving signal wires for connection to signal lead lines on the sensor chip. The outline of the sensor chip and the cutouts are formed using photolithography in combination with DRIE processing. |
| US09289136B2 |
Methods and systems for recalibrating a blood pressure monitor with memory
Systems and methods are provided for storing and recalling metrics associated with physiological signals. It may be determined that the value of a monitored physiological metric corresponds to a stored value. In such cases, a patient monitor may determine that a calibration is not desired. In some cases, a patient monitor may recall calibration parameters associated with the stored value if it determined that the stored value corresponds to the monitored metric value. |
| US09289134B2 |
Defibrillator display
Systems and methods related to the field of cardiac resuscitation, and in particular to devices for assisting rescuers in performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are described herein. |
| US09289133B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining cardiac output
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for determining a dynamical property of the systemic or pulmonary arterial tree using long time scale information, i.e., information obtained from measurements over time scales greater than a single cardiac cycle. In one aspect, the invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring cardiac output (CO) from a single blood pressure signal measurement obtained at any site in the systemic or pulmonary arterial tree or from any related measurement including, for example, fingertip photoplethysmography.According to the method the time constant of the arterial tree, defined to be the product of the total peripheral resistance (TPR) and the nearly constant arterial compliance, is determined by analyzing the long time scale variations (greater than a single cardiac cycle) in any of these blood pressure signals. Then, according to Ohm's law, a value proportional to CO may be determined from the ratio of the blood pressure signal to the estimated time constant. The proportional CO values derived from this method may be calibrated to absolute CO, if desired, with a single, absolute measure of CO (e.g., thermodilution). The present invention may be applied to invasive radial arterial blood pressure or pulmonary arterial blood pressure signals which are routinely measured in intensive care units and surgical suites or to noninvasively measured peripheral arterial blood pressure signals or related noninvasively measured signals in order to facilitate the clinical monitoring of CO as well as TPR. |
| US09289132B2 |
Catheter balloon having stretchable integrated circuitry and sensor array
A system, device and method are presented for utilizing stretchable active integrated circuits with inflatable bodies. The invention allows for such operative features to come into direct contact with body structures, such as the inner wall of a lumen. Such direct contact increases accuracy of measurement and delivery of therapy. |
| US09289128B2 |
In vivo flow cytometry based on cellular autofluorescence
The present invention generally provides methods and systems for performing in vivo flow cytometry by using blood vessels as flow chambers through which flowing cells can be monitored in a live subject in vivo without the need for withdrawing a blood sample. In some embodiments, one or more blood vessels are illuminated with radiation so as to cause a multi-photon excitation of an exogenous fluorophore that was previously introduced into the subject to label one or more cell types of interest. In some other embodiments, rather than utilizing an exogenous fluorophore, endogenous (intrinsic) cellular fluorescence can be employed for in vivo flow cytometry. The emission of fluorescence radiation from such fluorophores in response to the excitation can be detected and analyzed to obtain information regarding a cell type of interest. |
| US09289126B2 |
Subject information obtaining apparatus, subject information obtaining method, and program
A subject information obtaining apparatus has: a light source; a plurality of receiving elements which receive acoustic waves generated from a subject, and output signals; a memory unit for storing, for each of a plurality of predetermined positions, information to represent signals which are output from the plurality of receiving elements when an acoustic wave source is assumed to exist in the position; and an estimating unit for estimating a distribution of acoustic wave sources. The estimating unit assumes a distribution of acoustic wave sources, obtains signals corresponding to positions of respective acoustic wave sources in the assumed distribution from the stored information, and defines a distribution of acoustic wave sources, of which degree of coincidence between the obtained signals and signals obtained in an actual measurement is highest, as the distribution of acoustic wave sources. |
| US09289122B2 |
Portable retinal camera and image acquisition method
A camera for capturing an image of an object, for example an eye. The camera has at least two light sources and an image-sensing system having two image sensors. A multiple branch optical system transmits outgoing light from the light sources to the object, and transmits incoming light from the object to the image-sensing system. The multiple branch optical system includes an autofocusing element such as a variable power optical element that varies the focus of the incoming light. There is also an image display. There is a controller that controls the operation of the light sources, controls acquisition of images by the image-sensing system, and controls the display of images on the image display. The controller activates an autofocus light source and uses the resulting captured image to automatically adjust the image exposure parameters. The controller automatically adjusts the autofocusing element to improve the image focus, and then activates the second light source and acquires one or more images of the object while the second light source is activated. |
| US09289119B2 |
Device for determining at least one sight parameter of a subject in a plurality of viewing directions
Device for determining at least one sight parameter of a subject, includes stimulation elements for stimulating the sight of the subject in a predetermined viewing direction, elements for ophthalmological measurement of at least one sight parameter of a subject, the elements for ophthalmological measurement having at most one optical measurement axis for each eye, at least one optical conjugation system, arranged between the ophthalmological measurement apparatus and the right eye and/or left eye of a subject, and a system for aligning the optical conjugation system, so as to optically conjugate a point Y and a point E, the point Y intended to coincide with the optical center of rotation of the eye concerned, the point E being situated on the optical measurement axis, so as to align the image of the optical measurement axis with the ocular axis of the right or left eye in a plurality of viewing directions. |
| US09289117B2 |
Optical tomographic imaging apparatus
An optical tomographic imaging apparatus includes a first lens, a second lens and a scanning unit on an optical path of measurement light that irradiates an object to be examined. The second lens has a focal length longer than a focal length of the first lens. A portion of the object to be examined is disposed at a focal position of the first lens, and the scanning unit is disposed at a focal position of the second lens. The scanning unit scans the measurement light via the second lens with a smaller angle than an angle at which the measurement light irradiates the object to be examined via the first lens. |
| US09289115B2 |
Natural orifice surgery system
Embodiments of a surgical access port system that comprises a retractor that is adapted for being coupled to a cap and that is particularly useful in natural orifice surgery are described. The retractor comprises an outer ring, wherein the outer ring is configured to be disposed proximate the natural orifice of the patient and substantially surround the orifice; a tubular body; a funnel segment extending between and coupling the outer ring and the tubular body, wherein the funnel segment provides a diametric reduction between the relatively large diameter of the outer ring and the relatively smaller diameter of the tubular body, which is sized to fit within a natural orifice with minimal distention of the orifice; and an inflatable member disposed around the distal end of the tubular body, the inflatable member sized and configured to fit snugly around the tubular body in the deflated condition and to expand against the wall of the natural orifice in the inflated state to thereby stabilize and retain the retractor within the orifice. |
| US09289113B2 |
Processor for electronic endoscope and electronic endoscope apparatus
A processor for an electronic endoscope includes first and second image storing units; a motion detector obtains a difference of image data; and a controller executes control in one of a first mode where the image data is sequentially converted into the video signal, and the image data and the difference are sequentially stored in the first and second image storing units; a second mode where the image data stored in the first image storing unit is outputted, and the generated image data and the difference are sequentially stored in the second image storing unit; and a third mode where the image data stored in the second image storing unit is outputted, and the generated image data and the difference are sequentially stored in the first image storing unit, and in the second and the third modes, based on the difference. |
| US09289110B2 |
Control for surgical fluid management pump system
A surgical pump system arrangement receives an inflow cassette and provides fluid flow to a surgical site in a joint of a patient. The arrangement calculates load coefficients for a pressure loss curve based on an identified inflow cannula and an identified endoscope utilized therewith. The arrangement determines if the cannula is disposed at a surgical site and if adequate fluid flow is provided. Further, the arrangement determines if the inflow cannula and endoscope are properly identified. The arrangement integrates with an identified or unidentified surgical device to adjust pump operation when the surgical device is operating. The arrangement maps actuators disposed on a surgical handpiece or footswitch to control operation of the pump system, including providing suction to an outflow path of a surgical device that is not operating. The arrangement also determines when an inflow pump cassette is not properly inserted into the pump. |
| US09289107B2 |
Dishmachine
The present disclosure relates to a dishmachine that includes one or more features directed to water, energy or material savings. The disclosed dishmachines are still capable of meeting the soil demands of the articles to be cleaned. |
| US09289106B1 |
Floor treating machine head with flexible pad driver
A pad driver for a floor treating machine comprises an annular support plate to which is attached a plurality of resilient spoke members that project radially therefrom. The support plate is shock-mounted to a hub used to couple the pad driver to a floor treating machine drive motor shaft. On the free ends of the resilient spokes are connector plates on which abrasive pads are removably secured. |
| US09289105B2 |
Device and method for wet floor cleaning
A floor cleaning device is disclosed. It comprises a brush, which is rotatable around an axis of rotation, and a cover having a cover surface which faces the axis of rotation and has a plurality of ridges constituting liquid channels between them for transporting liquid to outfalls provided at lower ends of the liquid channels. In addition, a method of cleaning a floor is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of providing a brush, bringing the brush into contact with the floor, moistening the brush with a fluid, for example, a cleaning solution, rotating the brush, collecting droplets of fluid, released from the brush due to a centrifugal force associated with its rotational motion, in a plurality of liquid channels provided on a cover, and guiding the collected fluid through the liquid channels towards outfalls provided at lower ends of the liquid channels. |
| US09289102B2 |
Disposable seating-surface cover for a toilet-seat flap, and toilet module
A disposable seating-surface cover for a toilet-seat flap is configured to cover a seating surface of a toilet-seat flap in order to avoid contact between a user and the toilet-seat flap. The disposable seating-surface cover includes a deformable or foldable base section with an aperture. The disposable seating-surface cover further includes at least one adhesive section which is arranged on or in the base section and is made of a paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material. |
| US09289101B2 |
Collapsible toilet enclosure
A collapsible toilet enclosure has a base portion having a toilet aperture and a holding receptacle in fluid communication with the toilet aperture. The base portion has walls defining an inner space. An upper frame portion is pivotally connected to the base portion, the upper frame portion having a front wall, the upper frame portion being pivotable relative to the base portion between a collapsed position where the upper frame portion forms a lid for the base portion and a vertical position where the upper frame portion and a front wall of the base portion form a front wall of the toilet enclosure. The collapsible toilet has may be selectively secured to the upper frame portion in the vertical position. A doorframe is formed by an opening in the front wall of the upper frame portion and an opening in the base portion, the openings aligning to form the doorframe when the upper frame portion is in the vertical position. |
| US09289100B2 |
Cooking utensil having handle with textual information
A cooking utensil having a metal food holding member, a shaft member, a nut, and a handle is provided. The shaft member has a body portion and a threaded portion. The body portion has a slot therein. The threaded portion extends from the body portion and defines first threads thereon. An end portion of the metal food holding member is received in the slot and is coupled to the body portion. The nut is threadably received on the first threads of the threaded portion. The handle includes internal threads communicating with a first aperture of the handle. The first threads of the threaded portion are threadably received on the internal threads of the handle, such that the nut abuts against the handle and is disposed between the handle and the body portion of the shaft member. |
| US09289096B2 |
Temperature control device and method
A temperature control system for safely controlling the rate of flow of a flammable fluid at generally constant pressure is disclosed. The system may include a flow control apparatus that is free of a regulator mechanism, for affecting the flow of the fluid. The flow control apparatus may be operable between at least a first flow rate and a second flow rate, and may have at least one upstream opening and at least one downstream opening. The system may also include a first burner in fluid communication with the downstream opening of the flow control apparatus and a conduit in fluid communication at one end thereof with the upstream opening of the flow control apparatus, and configured at the other end thereof for connection to a fuel supply. A thermocouple may be located in the vicinity of the burner or an appliance used in conjunction with the burner. The thermocouple converts a sensed thermal state into an electrical signal. An electronic controller, in communication with the flow control apparatus, for activating the flow control apparatus to one of said first and second flow rates, and being in communication with the thermocouple for receiving the electrical signal from the thermocouple is also provided. An interface connected to the controller for manually inputting a desired temperature may be included, wherein the controller is operable to automatically cycle the flow control apparatus between the first and second flow rates until the temperature sensed by the thermocouple is similar to the desired temperature. |
| US09289095B2 |
Charcoal grilling apparatus and methods
Described are embodiments of a grilling apparatus and associated methods that can include a bottom portion defining a cavity and a firewall. The firewall can be positioned within the cavity defined by the bottom portion such that the cavity can be divided into a first section and a second section, where the first section can retain a heating element. A grate assembly that can include a grate and a handle can be positioned within the bottom portion and can be configured to rotate relative to the bottom portion. The grilling apparatus can include a lid that can be configured to cover at least a portion of the grate assembly. |
| US09289093B2 |
Brewing assembly and beverages production machine comprising said assembly
A brewing assembly includes a brewing chamber, a support structure carrying first and second portions of the brewing chamber, and a boiler for heating water. The support structure has a first part which is fastened to the first portion of the brewing chamber, and a second part which is fastened to the second portion of the brewing chamber. The first and second parts of the support structure can be mutually coupled and uncoupled. The first and second portions of the brewing chamber are mutually mobile to adopt an open position, and a closed position when the first and second parts of the support structure are coupled. The boiler is rigidly connected to one of the parts of the support structure and to one of the portions of the brewing chamber. |
| US09289091B2 |
Disposable beverage press
Apparatuses, systems and methods for providing a pressed beverage using a press and lid system. In one aspect, a beverage material is pressed to the bottom of a beverage container by means of a press ring including a filter. The walls of the beverage container exert a force on the press ring, folding flaps (perimeter portions) that are attached to the press ring by means of a flexible attachment member. Any beverage material or other debris that is not collected by the filter in the press ring is collected by a filter in the lid. Other variations and features consistent with the present invention exist. |
| US09289090B2 |
Cooktop appliances with intelligent response to cooktop audio
Cooktop appliances and methods of operation for intelligent response to cooktop audio are provided. One example cooktop appliance includes microphones for capturing an audio signal at the cooktop. A controller can compare the audio signal to a plurality of cooking event sounds representative of different cooking events. If the audio signal is matched to one of the cooking event sounds, operations responsive to the particular identified cooking event can be performed. |
| US09289086B2 |
Method and apparatus for hanging an object
A method for hanging an object and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes an apparatus comprising a track, an upper flange attached to a track, and a carrier disposed in said track. The carrier is laterally moveable along the length of the track. In one embodiment the apparatus comprises a top unit and a base unit. The top unit comprises pins, a track, at least one carrier, and a lower flange. The base unit is affixed to a ceiling, and the top unit is affixed to the base unit via the pins. In one embodiment the anchors are not visible from below. Further, in one embodiment, the carrier is vertically positionable within, and removable from a channel formed by the set of flanges. |
| US09289085B2 |
Floor matting
Floor mats comprising two layers bonded together with an undulating boundary between them. The surface color and/or surface texture of the first layer being different from the surface color and/or surface texture of the second layer. The mats having an interlocking periphery boundary adapted so the mats can be interlocked with adjoining mats to form a continuous planar mat flooring. |
| US09289083B2 |
Food container with discard compartment
A food container is divided into two compartments by a vertically extending partition wall. A user selects which of the two compartments will hold a food product and which compartment will receive inedible parts of the food product after edible part of the food product is consumed. A snap-on lid closes the container to retain the food product and discarded inedible parts inside the container. Flap openings in the lid allow access to the compartments. |
| US09289078B2 |
Product securement and management system
A merchandising system that improves the merchandising of product by limiting the number and the frequency with which product can be removed from, for example, a merchandising shelf. The merchandising system may include a base configured to support product and a housing configured to engage the base. The housing may comprise a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a front retaining wall mounted to the base at an angle. The system may further include a spring-urged pusher movably mounted on the base. The system may further include an opening defined by the first side wall and the front retaining wall through which product may be removed. |
| US09289076B2 |
Baby support
A baby support for supporting a baby positioned on a front torso of a supporting person. The baby support includes an elongated soft body that extends across a back torso of the supporting person and the baby. The baby support also includes fastening ends that overlap and secure to support the baby on the front torso of the supporting adult. The baby support may be configured to stretch to generate an elastic force to pull the back torso of the baby towards the back torso of the supporting person. |
| US09289074B1 |
Sleeping system and method for adjusting the same
The present invention discloses a sleeping system capable of customization so that at least six different levels of firmness may be achieved per bed. The present invention discloses three layers which may be positioned by the end user in order to achieve the desired firmness. The present invention also includes a method of selling such interchangeable modular bedding. In the method, after selling the bedding, at least one of the three layers may be exchanged in order to achieve yet another alternate firmness level. |
| US09289073B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling pressure in an inflatable device
A system includes a fluid controller coupled to an inflatable bladder and configured to add fluid to and remove fluid from the inflatable bladder, a control unit configured to provide information used by the fluid controller to adjust the pressurization of the inflatable bladder, the control unit including a user interface configured to display a plurality of indicia corresponding to a range of pressure levels in which the inflatable bladder is employed by a user, where each of the plurality of indicia is associated with a different level of pressure of the inflatable bladder, respectively. In one embodiment, the fluid controller is configured to adjust the pressurization, in response to a user input at the user interface, to a pressure level selected by the user based on a current pressure level of the inflatable bladder, the pressure level selected by the user and an operating time of the fluid controller. |
| US09289072B2 |
Compressible or retractable support for air blower cavity of air flow mattress
A compressible or retractable support is installed inside an air blower cavity of a body support system, such as a medical mattress with forced air flow. The support is compressed or retracted within the cavity when the air blower is inserted in the dynamic configuration of the body support system. The support rebounds to an uncompressed state to fill a greater portion of the air blower cavity when the air blower is removed to convert the body support system to a static configuration. |
| US09289070B2 |
Chair having a dynamically-flexible back and seat
A chair including a dynamically-flexible back and seat having a shape that adjusts to the movements of a user seated in the chair to enhance user comfort. Each of the back and seat has an air gap formed therewithin and a resilient frame or liner with a spring memory. The resilient liner is adapted to flex in response to compressive forces that are generated as the user slides his body back or from side-to-side in the chair. Accordingly, some of the chair back and some of the chair seat move into respective air gaps so that the shapes of the back and seat change to conform to the movements of the user. The air gaps also establish air flow ventilation channels which run laterally through the back and seat of the chair. In one case, a lumbar portion is rotatable back and forth around a vertical pivot axis so as to pivot towards one side of the chair back or the other side. |
| US09289069B2 |
Seat for molded plastic chairs
A seat on a stool, chair or bench has permanent depressions in the surface of the seat that corresponds in shape to an end view of a human iliac bone. A pair of spaced apart permanent depressions are provided on an axis that passes through and is perpendicular to a centerline from the back edge of the seat. One depression is on one side of the centerline and the other depression is on an opposite side of the centerline. A third permanent depression is on the centerline and spaced apart from the axis that passes through the pair of spaced apart permanent depressions and is closer to the rear edge of the seat than the pair of spaced apart permanent depressions. |
| US09289064B2 |
Shelf structure for a merchandiser
A shelf for a merchandiser. The shelf includes a skin that defines a support surface of the shelf, and a skeleton structure to which the skin is attached. The skeleton structure includes a first end bracket and a second end bracket that is spaced from and disposed opposite the first end bracket. The skeleton structure further includes an internal bracket that has a first end coupled to the first end bracket adjacent a rear end of the first end bracket, and a second end coupled to the second end bracket adjacent a rear end of the second end bracket. The internal bracket extends forward from the respective rear ends toward a front of the shelf. |
| US09289063B2 |
Convertible headboard table apparatus and method of use
A wall mounted headboard capable of storing and deploying a spring loaded table. The apparatus is comprised of a headboard pivotally connected to a first table section and assisted by a plurality of gas springs. The first table section is pivotally hinged to a second table section. The hinges between the table sections are hidden thus the table surface is free from anything disturbing a smooth surface. The weight of the second table section is offset by a plurality of torsion spring assemblies. The torsion spring assemblies are comprised of a torsion spring slidingly engaged in brackets mounted to each table section. The torsion spring assemblies allow a single user to move the second table section easily with minimal effort whether deploying or storing the table. The operation of storing or deploying the table can be performed from either side of the bed without walking around to the opposite side. |
| US09289062B1 |
Wine bottle storage racks
Racks are disclosed for storing a plurality of wine bottles, each bottle having a bottom portion and a neck portion. Each rack comprises a housing having two opposing side panels connected to a back panel, at least one of the side panels having a plurality of holes or notches. One or more structures are provided in the housing to receive the bottom portions of the wine bottles, such that the bottles are stored at angles with the neck of each wine bottle extending outwardly through a respective one of the holes or notches. The side panels may curve into an upper point to form a boat-shaped housing. The rack may include a plurality of V-shaped structures or a zigzag structure mounted on the back panel to receive the bottom portions of the wine bottles. Mirror-image and staggered bottle storage embodiments are described. |
| US09289058B2 |
Adjustable height desk platform
An adjustable height desk platform includes: a platform including a substantially flat work surface and a lower surface opposite to the work surface; a first leg member and a second leg member coupled to the lower surface, the first leg member and the second leg member each movable between a fully raised position and a fully lowered position; a rack and pinion gear system associated with the first leg member and the second leg member; and a latch mechanism associated with the rack and gear system, the latch mechanism adapted to selectively immobilize the rack and pinion gear system to retain the first leg member and the second leg member in the fully raised position or the fully lowered position. |
| US09289057B2 |
Item of furniture with a movable furniture part
An item of furniture comprises a stationary furniture part, a furniture part which can be moved by a drive, and a controller for controlling the drive. The movable furniture part comprises an operating section which is arranged movably on a main part of the movable furniture part, and also at least one force sensor for measuring a force which is exerted on the operating section, wherein the force sensor is connected to the controller. |
| US09289056B2 |
Coverable toothbrush assembly
A coverable toothbrush assembly protects bristles of a toothbrush from dirt, germs and the like. The assembly includes a toothbrush having a handle, a head and a neck. The neck is coupled to and extends between the head and the handle. A platform is coupled to the head. A plurality of bristles is coupled to and extends upwardly from the platform. A peripheral edge of the platform is spaced from a perimeter edge of the head. A cap is removably coupled to the toothbrush. The cap has a top and a perimeter wall coupled to and extending downwardly from the top. A bottom edge of the perimeter wall defines an access opening into an interior space of the cap. The perimeter wall engages the platform to couple the cap to the toothbrush. The bristles are positioned in the interior space when the cap is coupled to the toothbrush. |
| US09289054B2 |
Hair styling tool with movable dividers
A hair styling tool having a plurality of bristles and one or more movable members extending radially outward from the core and movable between opposing positions is provided. The movable members move between a retracted position where the divider is fitted between and even with or slightly above or slightly below the bristles to engage the hair and an extended position where the divider is moved out beyond the bristles to disengage the hair from the bristles. The hair styling tool having the movable member which engages and disengages the hair with the bristles minimizes tangling of the hair while brushing. The hair styling tool may be a rotating brush optionally equipped with a motor. |
| US09289051B1 |
Trauma utility belt
The present invention is a trauma utility device that includes an elongated belt having a plurality of compartments and devices for carrying and storing necessary equipment, a wide mid portion adjacent to the wearer's back with a high density foam pad for back support, and a scalloped upper edge at the wearer's hips, enhancing an individual's ability to freely turn and move while wearing the belt. The plurality of compartments and devices may include: a personal items pouch, a stethoscope chest piece holder, a stethoscope ear tube retainer, a communication compartment, a pen holder, and a trauma shears holster. The compartments and devices may be positioned on each side of the back mid portion around the longitudinal axis of the belt. Additionally, the belt and associated compartments and devices have an antimicrobial capability to help destroy and inhibit the growth of microorganisms and especially pathogenic microorganisms. |
| US09289050B2 |
Fastening tool
Provided is a fastener, which has advantages over the prior art in that a retaining force is not dependent upon the biasing force of a spring, the fastener hardly comes out, and is less restricted in size than the prior art. The fastener has another important advantage over the prior art in that it forms no hole in plain cloth. A fitting portion (2) and a base portion (3) are assembled to have a clamping unit (1) opened. A stopper (4) is pushed together with the plain cloth into the inside of the clamping unit (1). This clamping unit (1) is closed to hold the plain cloth between the outer circumference of the stopper (4) and the leading ends of holding means (26 and 36). With slide portions (22) being fully fitted in groove portions (32), retaining pawls (23) are fitted in pawl receivers (33b). |
| US09289047B2 |
Casing for a cosmetic article
The invention relates to a casing for a cosmetic article, the casing comprising: a base having an inner surface which accommodates a mirror; a lid rotatably mounted to the base, the lid being rotatable, relative to the base, between a closed position and an opened position; and an intermediate tray located between the base and the lid for accommodating the cosmetic article, the intermediate tray being slidably mounted to the base so as to be movable relative to the base between a retracted position, in which the intermediate tray substantially covers the inner surface of the base, and an extended position, in which the intermediate tray exposes the mirror, wherein rotation of the lid from the closed position to the open position causes the tray to slide from the retracted position to the extended position. |
| US09289046B1 |
Nail stud application tool
A packaging system for use with a fingernail embellishment product can comprise a container configured to contain one or more solid fingernail embellishment components. The container can comprise a lid configured to close the container. A protrusion can extend from the lid and extend in a first direction. The protrusion can comprise an elastomeric embellishment receiving portion. The embellishment receiving portion can be configured to engage with a fingernail embellishment component and apply the fingernail embellishment component to a fingernail. |
| US09289044B2 |
Tablet bumper assembly
A tablet bumper assembly is disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a bumper assembly having a first opening, a second opening, and a first protruding region at a first corner, where the first opening is configured to position the bumper assembly around a peripheral edge of a tablet computer, the second opening is configured to expose a display screen of the tablet computer, and the first protruding region prevents the tablet computer from lying flat on a support surface to allow air-cooling of the tablet computer. |
| US09289041B2 |
Portable modular cooking enabled travel bag
The invention is a portable modular travel bag with modular components intended to provide the ability to store and cook food. The travel bag contains slots and a power supply that allows to user to plug in and out components including at least a toaster, an egg cooker, a meat warmer, a refrigerator, a microwave, a coffee maker, a juicer, and a blender. |
| US09289039B2 |
Sunshades with solar power supplies for charging electronic devices
A device includes a frame structure; a shade attached to the frame structure; and a pole attached to the frame structure. The device includes a solar panel attached to the frame structure and positioned above the shade. The frame and the shade unfold upward along the pole to open the shade. The solar panel rotates up as the frame and shade unfold upward. The frame and the shade fold down along the pole to close the shade. The solar panel rotates down as the frame and shade fold down. |
| US09289038B2 |
Cantilever umbrella
An umbrella is provided that has a transverse member mounted canopy control module. The umbrella has a support structure and a canopy. The support structure has a first support member having an upper end and a second support member. The second support member has a first end disposed adjacent to the first support member and a second end disposed away from the first end. The second support member extending along a longitudinal axis disposed transverse to the first support member. The canopy has an upper hub. The upper hub is coupled with the second support member. The umbrella also has an enclosure disposed at the first end of the second support member. A canopy control mechanism is at least partially disposed in the enclosure to alter the configuration of the canopy. |
| US09289033B2 |
Method of manufacturing a hook member of a hook-and-loop fastener and a hook member manufactured by the method
The present invention provides a novel method for manufacturing a hook member of a hook-and-loop fastener. The method comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of plastic monofilaments (such as polypropylene (PP) monofilaments); forming a plurality of loops on each of the plurality of plastic monofilaments such that each of the plurality of plastic monofilaments has a plurality of loop portions and flat portions between adjacent loop portions; covering the flat portions of the plurality of plastic monofilaments with a web of substrate; fusing the flat portions of the plurality of plastic monofilaments to the substrate so as to fix the plurality of loop portions of the plastic monofilaments onto the substrate; and converting the plurality of loop portions into a plurality of hook elements to thereby producing the hook member that comprises a plurality of hook elements. |
| US09289031B2 |
Lacing cord and shoes using the same
A lacing cord is used in an article to be laced that includes shoes, clothing and bags. The lacing cord basically includes a core wire and at least one protruding part. The core wire includes at least one wire member. The at least one protruding part is provided to a peripheral section of the core wire so as to intersect with an axial direction of the core wire and to protrude radially outward from the peripheral section of the core wire. |
| US09289028B1 |
Multi-density, cushioned impact dissipating footwear sole
A footwear sole having a variety of cushioning materials to prevent, reduce and/or eliminate foot fatigue, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsal injuries as a result of improper weight distribution to the bottom of the foot. These cushioning materials can possess differing densities and can be arranged in such a fashion so as to force the impact of the body's weight on the foot to dissipate outwards rather than straight down. The sole includes a multi-layered metatarsal design and a multi-layered heel design. When the force of the body's weight is directed downwards, it results in the wearer's heel and metatarsal absorbing the body's weight, The present invention helps to prevent or reduce this by dissipating the force outwards from the foot. An expandable ball can also be included within the heel design for further absorbing impact at heel strike. |
| US09289027B2 |
Footwear item
A footwear item (1) for tilting a wearer's foot to address bio-mechanical problems. The item includes a foot receiving component (2) for receiving all or part of a wearer=s foot. The item also includes first and second wedge components (4,5), each having first and second respectively inclined surfaces (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b), the first surface (4a) of the first wedge component being mountable against a lower surface of the foot receiving component, and the first surface (5a) of the second wedge component being mountable against the second surface (5b) of the first wedge component. The mounted position of the second wedge component on the first wedge component is rotationally adjustable about an axis perpendicular to the second surface of the first wedge component, for altering the angle of inclination of the second surface (5b) of the second wedge component with respect to the first surface (4a) of the first wedge component, to thereby apply an adjustable tilt to the foot receiving component. |
| US09289026B2 |
Article of footwear with elongated shock absorbing heel system
An article of footwear is disclosed having at least one elongated heel support member. The elongated heel support member may be angled and extend from a heel region to a midfoot region, in order to disperse forces applied by a wearer's heel during movement. The heel system may include two heel support members, each associated with a side of the article of footwear. The article of footwear may also include a series of ribs in the midfoot region, which may abut a front edge of the heel support members. Finally, the article of footwear may include asymmetric side flaps extending downward from an upper plate so as to overlap a midsole. |
| US09289023B2 |
Impact attenuating bladder with fluid release control valve for helmet liner
An impact attenuating bladder for lining a helmet shell, the bladder having: a top layer and a bottom layer of fluid impermeable material defining a fluid containment chamber; a fluid outlet in flow communication with the fluid containment chamber; and a fluid release control valve in flow communication with the outlet, the control valve having: a sacrificial elastic membrane with an inside surface in flow communication with the fluid containment chamber and an outside surface, where the outside surface is disposed in an initial configuration when the bladder contains fluid at a minimum initial pressure, and in a rupture configuration when the bladder contains fluid at a maximum rupture pressure; and a membrane rupture device with a membrane engaging tip disposed a predetermined initial distance from the membrane in the initial configuration, and engaging the membrane in the rupture configuration. |
| US09289020B2 |
Tailoring device and methods
A tailoring device. The tailoring device may comprise a tube and a rod, wherein the tube may comprise a channel and one or more slits. The rod may be configured to be inserted through the channel of the tube and secured inside the tube. The slits may be used to partition the tube into one or more smaller tubes. A user may tailor a garment by inserting a measured piece of the garment into the channel of the tube and securing the measured piece of garment inside the tube by inserting the rod through the channel and into the tube while securing the garment inside the tube. The tube and rod may be removed from the garment and may be configured to reusable and easy to use. |
| US09289019B2 |
Adhesive protective covering
A protective covering can be quickly and efficiently applied to the skin including, without limitation, the underside of a foot. A sheet of durable material has a first side surface coated with at least one adhesive, and a second (opposite) side surface which can include a traction promoting material or tread design. The durable material can be pre-cut using cross-hatched pattern(s) of intersecting elongate cuts that divide the durable sheet material into segments or pieces. The durable sheet material can be sandwiched between two opposing and removable release liner sheets. |
| US09289014B2 |
Electronic smoking article and improved heater element
An electronic cigarette includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, and a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater. The heater is formed of a mesh material. |
| US09289013B2 |
Cigarette filter
To provide a cigarette filter that can achieve both strength in a dry state and disintegration in a wet state, this cigarette filter has a filter plug containing a cellulose ester staple fiber, a pulp, and an alkali metal salt of a water-soluble anionic polymer. The filter plug has an alkali metal content of 2 to 100 μmol per gram of the filter plug. The water-soluble anionic polymer may include at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polyacrylic acid and a polysaccharide having a carboxyl group. |
| US09289010B2 |
System and method for packaging
In one embodiment of an apparatus and process for packaging foodstuffs or other materials in a rigid container sealed by a flexible cover, a desired quantity of material to be packaged containing or together with some water or other liquid is placed in the container, the flexible cover is secured on the container so as to leave at least one unsealed opening, the container is heated and/or placed in a partial vacuum to bring the liquid above its boiling point to cause or permit vapor generated by the boiling liquid to expel other gases from the container through the unsealed opening, and the container is sealed while gas or vapor is still flowing out of the container through the unsealed opening. |
| US09289008B1 |
High temperature, resistant probiotics for food and feed preparations
A Pediococcus acidilactici strain that is viable at temperatures above 65° C., is able to grow in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and in a pH range between 1 and 6.2 and a consumable food product containing same. |
| US09289005B1 |
Frozen treat mold system
An apparatus including a container for a frozen confection treat allowing the treat to be frozen and later to be consumed in a frozen state as a popsicle as well as allowing the treat to be consumed in a melted state via a combination-lid-straw. The treat may also be consumed via a spoon-end attached to a straw-lower-section. The combination-lid-straw may be solid or have a continuous through-hole therethrough. |
| US09288999B2 |
Enclosed vacuum tumbling device
A vacuum tumbling system for marinating meat including a vacuum sensor; an airtight driver; an outer vacuum chamber configured to monitor and pull a vacuum; and an inner vacuum tumbling chamber configured to enclose a marinade mixture, liquid, and the meat, configured to be disposed inside the outer vacuum chamber, and configured to pull the vacuum from the outer vacuum chamber through a small hole which is recessed on a bottom surface of the inner vacuum tumbling chamber. The outer vacuum chamber monitors the vacuum through the vacuum sensor, pulls the vacuum through the airtight driver, and tumbles the inner vacuum tumbling chamber in response to the airtight driver being driven. |
| US09288997B2 |
Matchbox oven
A matchbox oven is disclosed. The matchbox oven includes a housing, a slider, a motor and a heat source. The housing includes a cavity and a first and second openings. The slider, which is configured for receiving food items, includes multiple stoppers serve as oven covers to prevent heat within the cavity from escaping through the first and second openings. The slider can be moved in and out of the cavity through the first and second openings by a motor. The heat source provides heat to the cavity for heating up any food item placed on a portion of the slider located within the cavity. |
| US09288990B2 |
Synergistic weed control from applications of penoxsulam and pethoxamid
Disclosed herein are herbicidal compositions comprising a synergistic herbicidally effective amount of (a) penoxsulam, or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof, and (b) pethoxamid, or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof. Also disclosed herein are methods of controlling undesirable vegetation, which comprise applying to vegetation or an area adjacent the vegetation or applying to soil to prevent the emergence or growth of vegetation (a) penoxsulam, or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof, and (b) pethoxamid, or an agriculturally acceptable salt thereof, wherein (a) and (b) are each added in an amount sufficient to produce a synergistic herbicidal effect. |
| US09288988B2 |
Synergistic fungicidal active substance combinations
Novel active compound combinations comprising a carboxamide of the general formula (I) (group 1) in which A, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the description, and the active compound groups (2) to (23) listed in the description have very good fungicidal properties. |
| US09288985B2 |
Plant disease control composition
To provide a plant disease control composition having excellent control effect against plant diseases.A plant disease control composition comprising an amide compound represented by formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the description, and fludioxonil has excellent control effect against plant diseases. |
| US09288984B2 |
Herbicidal concentrate compositions containing glyphosate and dicamba salts
The mixture of potassium or certain amine salts of glyphosate and dicamba allows the preparation of high-strength liquid compositions containing greater than 300 gae/L of total active ingredient loading if the pH is adjusted between about 6.0 and about 8.0. Compositions are particularly well-suited for herbicidal applications on crops that are resistant or tolerant to both glyphosate and dicamba. |
| US09288982B2 |
Method for making a peroxycarboxylic acid
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for making a peroxycarboxylic acid. The apparatus includes a reaction catalyst and a guard column for pretreating one or more reagents, which can increase the life, activity, and/or safety of the reaction catalyst. The peroxycarboxylic acid compositions made by the method and apparatus can include one or more peroxycarboxylic acids. |
| US09288981B2 |
Antimicrobial compositions and related methods of use
Antimicrobial compositions comprising one or more compound components generally recognized as safe for human consumption, and related methods of use, such compositions and methods as can be employed in a wide range of agricultural, industrial, building, pharmaceutical and/or personal care products and applications. |
| US09288976B1 |
Game calling device
A housing forms an enclosed chamber. A container essentially fills the chamber is fabricated of a crinkle paper or like material adapted to produce a crackling and rustling sound when touched and manipulated by a user. A plurality of objects within the container are fabricated of a rigid material adapted to provide a three dimensional shape to the container and the housing for facilitating the movement of the crinkle paper or like material when manipulated by the user for creating a sound which will attract game during use. |
| US09288971B2 |
Fishing lure
A fishing lure having a bent half-moon shape body. The top portion of the fishing lure having at least one attachment point. The bottom portion of the fishing lure is angled relative to the top portion. The shape of the fishing lure resulting in an up and down motion of the lure as it is dragged through the water. |
| US09288970B1 |
Baiter style body and fishing hook
An apparatus used for maintaining bait or bait fish at a more level attitude when trolling includes a non-stranded wire attached to a hook. A first end of the wire is threaded through an eye of the hook and wrapped around a shank of the hook. A main loop is provided at an opposite second end. The main loop can be modified to include a first upper loop and a second upper loop. The second upper loop is attached to a fishing line and a pin is inserted into a head of the bait fish, through the first upper loop, and through a bottom of a mouth of the bait fish to secure the bait fish to the apparatus. An elastic band maintains the mouth in a closed position. If desired, a single thicker non-stranded wire may be used or an optional trailer hook may be added to any version. |
| US09288964B2 |
Animal litter, process for preparing animal litter and method of removal of animal waste
An animal litter, process for preparing the animal litter and a method for removal of animal waste using the animal litter are provided. The animal litter generally includes ground malt sprouts, a lubricant, and a cohesiveness agent. The animal litter is in the form of discrete plural particles which tend to agglomerate when wetted. |
| US09288963B2 |
Device and method for removing dirt from a floor
A device for removing dirt from a floor includes a carrier frame moveable over the floor, a motor mounted on the carrier frame, and a rotating body drivable by the motor and connected with the carrier frame. Several shovel-holders for shovelling dirt from the floor are mounted on the rotating body spaced apart from each other in the peripheral direction, are moveable along a path along the floor, and each have an open end in the rotation direction of the rotating body. A sweeper device for sweeping dirt out of one of the shovel-holders is arranged along the path of the shovel-holders on the carrier frame at a position substantially stationary in relation to the carrier frame, and is fitted with a sweeper element which, on rotation of the rotating body, moves between the shovel-holders and sweeps through one of the shovel-holders in order to sweep out dirt therefrom. |
| US09288958B1 |
Maize inbred PH19V8
A novel maize variety designated PH19V8 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH19V8 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH19V8 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 PH19V8 or a locus conversion of PH19V8 with another maize variety. |
| US09288953B1 |
Maize inbred PH1VTK
A novel maize variety designated PH1VTK and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1VTK with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1VTK 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 PH1VTK or a locus conversion of PH1VTK with another maize variety. |
| US09288949B1 |
Grubbing apparatus
An apparatus for removing trees and bushes from the ground includes a frame configured for attachment to a vehicle. A first device is attached to the frame and configured to grasp a tree or a bush. A second device is attached to the frame and configured to cut, below ground, roots of the tree or bush grasped by the first device. |
| US09288947B1 |
Folding handsaw pack-pole systems
A folding handsaw pack-pole system is a folding pruning saw that a hunter or woodsman may conveniently carry folded and may carry in a sheath having a belt loop, for trimming branches from thick foliage or wooded area to clear lanes through the woods for shooting. The handle has a pole receiver so that the hunter doesn't have to carry a long extension handle with him into the woods, but rather cuts an appropriately sized branch to slide into the pole receiver to cut high branches that are normally beyond the user's reach without such an extension. |
| US09288945B2 |
Baler
A baler is formed with a bale chamber for compressing agricultural crop into bales, at least one knotter for knotting twine wrapped around a finished bale and a twine store having at least one magazine in which the twine rolls for supplying the knotter are accommodated with axes lying on a common line. |
| US09288940B2 |
Lawn mower with transport lock
A transport lock assembly for the mower deck of a lawn mower automatically engages when the deck is lifted to a clearance height. The transport lock assembly includes a transport lock that is biased into a locking position by a biasing member. The transport lock engages a surface of a deck prop that is also used in the lawn mower's height-of-cut assembly. The transport lock assembly includes a transport lock actuator that is used to disengage the transport lock, and also includes a transport lock disabling mechanism that prevents the transport lock from automatically engaging. |
| US09288939B2 |
Power vehicle with adjustable velocity profiles
Embodiments of the present invention relate to powered vehicles (e.g., lawn mowers) and, more particularly, to a control system for use with such a vehicle. In one embodiment, the vehicle includes a power source such as an internal combustion engine and one or more drive control levers incrementally movable between a neutral position and a maximum velocity position. The system may also include a velocity profile control system having an adjustment member that permits altering a ratio between control lever movement and velocity of an associated drive member or wheel. Thus, the system may alter a maximum potential velocity of the vehicle while the drive control lever(s) are positioned in the maximum velocity position without varying an output level of the power source. |
| US09295185B2 |
Sealed enclosure for power electronics incorporating a heat exchanger
A functional heat exchanger structure provides a hermetic seal for the power electronics. The heat exchanger includes one or more features built into the design. The features include a closed loop liquid circuit, air, or extended surfaces built-in to the design to transfer heat from the heat generating devices, spring clips snapped in built-in slots to mount heat-generating devices, preformed threaded rails to mount the printed circuit board (PCB), electrical isolation between the heat sink/cold plate and the electrical components, a sealed enclosure to provide environmental protection for the electronic components, a mounting feature to mount the sealed enclosure onto an external surface, an opening to accept a snap-in style cover, a stackable design, and an easily manifoldable configuration. |
| US09295179B2 |
Rackmount laptop support
A folding rack-mountable laptop support tray that can be fitted to a rack using 1 U or even 0 U of rack space, comprising a hinged or sliding bracket, connecting to a hinged or sliding arm, that supports a foldable tray comprising two cross-members, and two demountable supporting bars shown, or independent supports, when folded the unit fits in a laptop bag or rucksack to be carried until needed, the tray section being removable can be used as a desktop stand for a laptop to improve cooling. |
| US09295175B2 |
Seal structure for electronic control device
Disclosed is a seal structure for an electronic control device where a circuit board is accommodated in a housing with a connector attached to the circuit board and held between base and cover members of the housing. The seal structure includes a connector seal surface formed on a front end portion of the base member, a seal material arranged between the connector seal surface and the connector, a seal groove formed in an outer peripheral portion other than the front end portion of the base member, a seal protrusion formed on the cover member and engaged in the seal groove, and a sealant filled between the seal groove and the seal protrusion. Longitudinal end regions of the connector seal surface are extended in a width direction of the connector. Longitudinal end regions of the seal groove are connected perpendicular to the respective end regions of the connector seal surface. |
| US09295174B2 |
Protective enclosure for an electronic device
A protective enclosure for an electronic device includes a shell, a first cushioning layer and a second cushioning layer. The shell includes an inner and an outer surface, a retaining wall defined by a perimeter portion of the shell, the retaining wall having a top-side, a bottom-side, and left and right side wall portions. The first cushioning layer includes a front surface and a back surface, the back surface of the first cushioning layer being overmolded on the inner surface of the shell and the front surface cushioning the back portion of the electronic device. The second cushioning member includes a perimeter wall having a tope side wall, a bottom side wall, and left and right side walls, the perimeter wall being overmolded with the retaining wall of the bottom shell and adapted to form-fit over at least the perimeter portion of the electronic device. |
| US09295171B2 |
Electronic assembly and method of manufacturing same
An electronic assembly comprises a housing, a cover for the housing, a printed circuit board receivable in the housing, and a compliant pin header assembly. The compliant pin header assembly is mountable in the housing by inter-engaging features on the header assembly and the housing. The compliant pin header assembly has compliant pins for engaging corresponding features on the printed circuit board to connect the compliant pin header assembly electrically to the printed circuit board. The cover, when the electronic assembly is assembled, engages the housing and also engages the printed circuit board at a location spaced from an outer periphery of the printed circuit board. |
| US09295168B2 |
Flexible display device
A flexible display device includes a flexible display unit configured to display images, and a slap portion on the flexible display unit, the slap portion having a curvature and being configured to bend together with the flexible display unit. |
| US09295167B2 |
Method to prewet wafer surface
The present invention improves the wetting between process solution and the wafer surface when they are put into contact by pre-implementing an adsorbed liquid layer on the entire front surface of the wafer just prior to the process. The pre-implementing adsorbed liquid layer is realized by transporting vaporized liquid molecules from vapor phase at elevated temperature (relative to wafer) and condensing them onto wafer surface. The pre-implementing adsorbed liquid is fully filled in the patterned structures formed on the wafer by multilayer absorption of the vaporized liquid molecules and the temperature of the wafer surface is above dew point of the vaporized liquid while condensing, which avoids generating bubbles inside the patterned structures. |
| US09295165B2 |
Selective application by electroless plating of a tin-whisker impenetrable metal cap to metals on electronic assemblies
Since lead-tin solder was outlawed, electronic circuits constructed with lead-free tin solders have been plagued growth of whiskers of tin emanating from the tin soldered and/or tin coated surfaces. Such whiskers often short out the electronic circuits when present. The growth of tin whiskers in such electronic circuits (i.e., those fully or partially populated with components is addressed here by depositing a tin-whisker-impenetrable metal cap on all exposed tin coated surfaces in the circuit.In the process, metal surfaces where no cap is desired are masked, where after all exposed metal surfaces are cleaned, followed by immersing the entire circuit in an electroless bath, e.g., a nickel electroless bath, for a time sufficient to form a metal cap on all exposed metal surfaces, removing the circuit from the bath, rinsing and de-masking covered surfaces. |
| US09295164B2 |
Method of bonding flexible printed circuit board to a display panel
A method of bonding a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB). The method includes disposing a bonding material on a connection unit of a panel, disposing a connection unit of the FPCB on the bonding material; disposing a thermally conductive sheet on the connection unit of the FPCB; and heating and pressing the connection unit of the FPCB onto the connection unit of the panel. The thermally conductive sheet includes through holes that are formed in the thermally conductive sheet or grooves that are formed in a bottom surface of the thermally conductive sheet. In the operation of heating and pressing the connection unit of the FPCB, extended portions of the FPCB are accepted into the through holes or the grooves in the thermally conductive sheet. |
| US09295161B2 |
Method of forming electric wiring using inkjet printing and inkjet printing apparatus
A method of forming an electric wiring includes forming a trench on a substrate and ejecting first ink and second ink into the trench. The second ink contains a conductive material. The method includes heating the substrate to sinter the second ink such that a tunnel is formed in a lower portion of the trench by evaporation of the first ink, and the conductive material forms the electric wiring in an upper portion of the trench. |
| US09295160B2 |
Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
Gradation exposure is performed on an insulating layer by irradiating the insulating layer with exposure light using a photomask having a partial light-transmitting region that is configured to be partially transmittable of the exposure light. After the gradation exposure, development processing is performed on the insulating layer such that a recess is formed in a portion of the insulating layer that has been irradiated with the exposure light through the partial light-transmitting region. The partial light-transmitting region of the photomask has a plurality of first holes that are transmittable of the exposure light and a plurality of second holes that are arranged to surround the plurality of first holes and transmittable of the exposure light, and the area of each second hole is larger than the area of each first hole. |
| US09295159B2 |
Method for fabricating packaging substrate with embedded semiconductor component
A packaging substrate with an embedded semiconductor component and a method of fabricating the same are provided, including: fixing a semiconductor chip with electrode pads to an assisting layer with apertures through an adhesive member, wherein each of the electrode pads has a bump formed thereon, each of the apertures is filled with a filling material, and the bumps correspond to the apertures, respectively; forming a first dielectric layer on the assisting layer to encapsulate the semiconductor chip; removing the bumps and the filling material to form vias; and forming a first wiring layer on the first dielectric layer and forming first conductive vias in the vias to provide electrical connections between the electrode pads and the first wiring layer, wherein the first wiring layer comprises a plurality of conductive lands formed right on the first conductive vias, respectively. |
| US09295148B2 |
Computation of statistics for statistical data decimation
Systems and methods for statistical data decimation are described. The method includes receiving a variable from a radio frequency (RF) system, propagating the variable through a model of the RF system, and counting an output of the model for the variable to generate a count. The method further includes determining whether the count meets a count threshold, generating a statistical value of the variable at the output of the model upon determining that the count meets the count threshold, and sending the statistical value to the RF system to adjust the variable. |
| US09295147B2 |
EUV light source using cryogenic droplet targets in mask inspection
An apparatus for generating extreme ultra-violet (EUV) light, including a drive laser arranged to produce a laser pulse, a vacuum chamber, a set of focusing optics arranged to focus the laser pulse produced by the drive laser onto a target spot within the vacuum chamber, a target material generator arranged to deliver a series of droplets of a target material to the target spot by modulating a flow velocity of a supply of the target material through a nozzle tip and thereby inducing a formation process of the series of droplets which series of droplets from the nozzle tip are expelled through a triple point chamber, and a set of collector optics arranged to focus a quantity of EUV light generated when a droplet of the series of drople of the target material is exposed to the laser pulse at the target spot onto an intermediate focus spot. |
| US09295144B2 |
Wireless lighting control system
A lighting device includes a AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, a controller/processor electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, a light emitting diode (LED) current control circuit communicably coupled to the controller/processor and electrically connected to the AC/DC or DC/DC power converter, and one or more LEDs electrically connected to the LED current control circuit. |
| US09295143B1 |
Wireless controlled lighting system with shared signal path on output wires
A lighting system includes circuitry to provide wireless LED driver or fluorescent ballast control without requiring changes to existing wiring setups. A power stage includes a power converter coupled across a first set of power terminals. The first power terminals are coupled to a second set of terminals via the wiring. A load stage is coupled to the second power terminals, wherein power provided across the first set of terminals is received by the load stage and deliverable to lighting devices. The load stage further includes a dimming control signal receiver coupled across the second set of power terminals and configured to receive an encoded dimming control signal. The encoded signal is transmitted across the wiring setup, wherein the power stage further includes a dimming control signal decoder coupled across the first set of power terminals and effective to deliver a decoded dimming control signal to the controller. |
| US09295142B1 |
Power over Ethernet lighting system
A system for controlling a plurality of LED lighting fixtures includes a Power over Ethernet (PoE) LED driver coupleable to a PoE switch via a first power and communication link. The PoE LED driver includes a microcontroller for receiving first power and control signals from the PoE switch and for controlling a first LED driver chip to operate an LED lighting fixture in response thereto. An LED slave controller is connected to the PoE LED driver via a second power and communication link. The LED slave controller includes a second LED driver chip for receiving second power and control signals from the microcontroller to operate an LED lighting fixture in response. The first power and control signals are different from the second power and control signals. The first power and communication link is a CAT5/CAT6 cable. The second power and communication link is a CAT5/CAT6 or other cable type. |
| US09295137B1 |
Integrated lighting load and skylight control
An integrated room controller includes a lighting relay that operates a lighting load based on a lighting relay input signal. Further, the integrated room controller includes a motor control relay that operates a motor associated with an adjustable skylight fixture based on a motor control relay input signal. In addition, the integrated room controller includes a microcontroller that is coupled to the lighting relay and the motor control relay. The microcontroller generates and outputs the lighting relay input signal to the lighting relay and the motor control relay input signal to the motor control relay to control the operation of the lighting load and the adjustable skylight. The integrated room controller also includes a dimmer control circuit coupled to the lighting load and actuated by the microcontroller to control dimming operations associated with the lighting load. |
| US09295136B2 |
Lighting device
In a memory of a lighting device, correspondence relations among an initial output, a target output and time required for reducing brightness from the initial output to the target output are stored in advance. When the initial output and the target output are designated (YES at S1), the time necessary for brightness reduction is specified from the correspondence relation (S3), and the light emission output is reduced at such a change rate that the light emission output has a linear relation with respect to elapsed time from the initial output to the target output in a specified time, on a semi logarithmic graph in which the ordinate is a logarithmic axis representing light emission output and the abscissa is a linear axis representing time (S5). |
| US09295135B2 |
Power supply having a plurality of light emission units
A power supply is provided. The power supply includes a plurality of light emission units, a power source, a plurality of boards, a plurality of board resistors, and a feedback control unit. The light emission units are connected in parallel, and include a plurality of LEDs. The power source supplies a DC voltage to the light emission units. The boards have at least one light emission mounted thereon. The board resistors are disposed in each of the boards, and electrically connected to each other. The feedback control unit varies a current supplied from the power source, according to sum of the board resistors which are changed according to the number of connected boards. |
| US09295133B2 |
Solution processable material for electronic and electro-optic applications
An electro-optic device has a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, an active layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an interfacial layer in contact with the active layer. The interfacial layer is a blend of a metal oxide and a second material that at least one of reduces a work function or increases an electrical conductivity of the interfacial layer according to an embodiment of this invention. A composition for electro-optic devices is a blend of at least one metal oxide and at least one salt in a ratio, by volume, of at least 1:0.1 and less than 1:1.2. |
| US09295131B2 |
Segmented electroluminescent device with distributed load elements
The invention relates to an electroluminescent lighting device, which is based on an array of standard electroluminescent tiles (D1-Dn) combined with an array of ballast components (R1-Rn) mounted on a carrier board (30) in such a way that the power loss is evenly spread across the whole board area to minimize local electric power in the ballast components. The unavoidable remaining hot spots and electroluminescent tiles are thermally coupled in such a way that the additional thermal load on the electroluminescent emission layer is as symmetric as possible with respect to the self heating of the electroluminescent device. This can be achieved by a combination of properly designed heat spreading and thermal isolation of the electroluminescent and ballast components. Heat spreading is achieved by a properly designed interconnection structure (40) on the carrier board. Different options are proposed to thermally isolate the electroluminescent tiles from the hot spots. |
| US09295127B2 |
Power supply apparatus for LED lighting and LED lighting apparatus using the power supply apparatus
Disclosed are a power supply apparatus for an LED lighting and an LED lighting apparatus using the power supply apparatus. The LED lighting apparatus includes a power source unit configured to supply a rectified voltage, a voltage converter configured to include at least one first inductor and to convert the rectified voltage, an auxiliary coil configured to include a second inductor and to supply a detection voltage corresponding to the current of the first inductor of the voltage converter, a controller configured to control the current of the voltage converter using a driving pulse generated in response to a control signal and a sensing voltage, and a voltage regulation circuit configured to regulate the detection voltage and to supply the regulated voltage as an operating voltage for the controller. |
| US09295126B2 |
Current routing to multiple LED circuits
An illumination module includes a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) located in different zones to preferentially illuminate different color converting surfaces. The flux emitted from LEDs located in different zones may be independently controlled by selectively routing current from a single current source to different strings of LEDs in the different zones. In this manner, changes in the CCT of light emitted from LED based illumination module may be achieved. |
| US09295119B2 |
Lighting device and illumination apparatus using the same
A controller has a first mode and a second mode. First mode is of generating a PWM signal that has a duty ratio to be changed according to a luminous level for a light emitting element and has a constant amplitude. Second mode is of generating a PAM signal that has a constant duty ratio and has an amplitude to be changed according to the luminous level for the light emitting element. Controller is configured to apply one of PWM signal in first mode and PAM signal in second mode to a control terminal of a switching element, when the luminous level is a predetermined level or more. Controller is configured to apply the other of PWM signal in first mode and PAM signal in second mode to the control terminal of the switching element, when the luminous level is less than the predetermined level. |
| US09295118B2 |
Method for operating a circuit configuration with a control and/or regulating means for a light diode field
A method for operating a circuit configuration which includes a power source, a light diode field switched serially with the power source in which the light diode field comprises at least two serial circuits including at least one light diode and a switch, a control and/or regulating means for the light diode field, and a voltage sensor. The control and/or regulation means controlling the controllable switches and the power source such that the control and/or regulation means addresses the controllable switch of at least one serial circuit of the light diode field during a clock cycle for a pulse duration determined by the control and/or regulation means using a control pulse at the control input of the controllable switch for closing. The control and/or regulation means addresses the power source shortly before or at the latest simultaneous with the end of a pulse duration such that the current is reduced, namely by the amount of current through the serial circuit. The controllable switch at the end of the pulse duration is addressed by the control and/or regulation means for opening. During subsequent clock cycles the control and/or regulation means switch on only one of the controllable switches of the serial circuits for a period identified as diagnostics period. |
| US09295113B2 |
Power system for an LED module including multiple LEDs
A power system for a group of LED modules each of which includes a plurality of LEDs or series-connected LEDs, utilizes a plurality of polarized direct current power supplies with one electrical polarity separated, and the other electrical polarity commonly connected. Each individual LED, or each set of series-connected individual LEDs, in each of the LED modules, are connected in series to each of the direct power supplies and then to an opposite polarity to complete an electrical circuit. |
| US09295111B2 |
Microwave oven
The present invention relates to a microwave oven including an oven door and a heating chamber with a back wall, and the oven door is installed in the front of the heating chamber. There are more than one protrusion disposed on the back wall, and each of the protrusions has more than three reflecting surfaces and protrudes toward an inside of the heating chamber. The back wall of the heating chamber in the microwave oven has the structure of a plurality of reflecting surfaces, which makes the microwave emitted by a magnetron reach every position of the heating chamber by reflection of the multiple reflecting surfaces, thereby the microwave distributes more evenly and consistently, thus the food may be heated more rapidly and uniformly. |
| US09295110B2 |
Inductive heating device
An inductive heating device is structured such that a coil base and ferrites placed under a heating coil in the vertical direction are flushed with each other at their lower surfaces and are directly placed on a heat dissipation plate. A heat conductive member is charged between the ferrites and an electrical insulating member sandwiched between the heating coil and the ferrites, at least at a portion thereof, so that thickness variations in the ferrites are absorbed thereby, which realizes a state where they are thermally coupled to each other from the heating coil to the heat dissipation plate. |
| US09295108B2 |
Electrical heating device and method for the production thereof
A method of assembling an electrical heating device is provided. The electrical heating device includes a housing which encloses a circulation chamber through which a medium can flow and in which heating ribs protrude. The heating ribs are in thermally conducting contact with at least one PTC heating element. A control device is provided in a constructional unit with at least one assembled conductor board. The constructional unit is accommodated in a control housing that comprises a control housing cover and a control housing frame. The control housing frame circumferentially surrounds the assembled conductor board and is formed from a metallic material. The method includes installing the control housing on the housing such that a control element, producing a power loss, is held by the assembled conductor board and is placed in abutment with a cooling element formed on the housing. |
| US09295094B2 |
System and method for peer-to-peer connection reestablishment
Techniques are provided for efficiently reestablishing connection between peer-to-peer devices. For example, there is provided a method for peer-to-peer (P2P) connection reestablishment by a mobile device. The method may involve caching at least one of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) context and a session management (SM) context for a previous P2P session with a peer mobile device. The method may further involve establishing a connection with the peer mobile device based at least in part on at least one connection context identifier (CC ID) associated with the previous P2P session. The method may further involve reestablishing a previous session state based on the at least one of the RRC context and the SM context. |
| US09295093B2 |
Using pointers to tagged frequencies to indicate candidates for use in redirection or reselection
Embodiments include a method by which a network equipment efficiently directs a device attempting a connection to a congested or limited-capacity portion of a network to another resource (e.g., cell, frequency, and/or RAT) where the attempt is more likely to be successful. This method utilizes a connection reject message that comprises a small amount of information pointing to information broadcast in system information (SI) messages. The reject message may be used with existing or, alternately, enhanced SI messages comprising tags that resolve the pointer information in the reject message. Embodiments also include methods by which a device redirects to a resource based on the information contained in the reject and SI messages. Other embodiments include methods by which a device deprioritizes a resource during cell reselection based on information contained in the reject and SI messages. Embodiments include wireless communication devices, network equipment, or computer-readable media embodying these methods. |
| US09295092B2 |
Method and apparatus for a multi-radio access technology layer for splitting downlink-uplink over different radio access technologies
A multi radio access technology layer (MRL) is a convergence layer solution, located between the protocol layers and the technology-dependent MAC layers. The MRL layer is technology independent and uses the information received from the underlying technologies to select the most appropriate uplink and downlink technologies to match the respective service requirements. |
| US09295091B2 |
Radio communication system, communication control apparatus, and communication control method
Provided are a radio communication system, a communication control apparatus, and a communication control method allowing radio communication terminals to call each other in a case where device-to-device direct communication (D2D communication) is provided using a radio access network such as LTE. A terminal 400A sends a communication control apparatus a paging signal containing a direct communication request requesting for direct communication with a terminal 400B. The communication control apparatus 200 sends the terminal 400B a paging signal containing information indicating that the terminal 400A is requesting direct communication and configuration information on a communication environment necessary for direct communication. |
| US09295090B2 |
Direct mode communication system and communication attaching method thereof
A direct-mode communication system comprises a first client direct-mode communication apparatus and a backhaul network. The first client direct-mode communication apparatus transmits a register signal to the backhaul network to register with the backhaul network. After the first client direct-mode communication apparatus is registered, the backhaul network determines a location relationship between the first client direct-mode communication apparatus and a second client direct-mode communication apparatus. The backhaul network transmits a piece of wi-fi connection information to the first client direct-mode communication apparatus according to the location relationship. The first client direct-mode communication apparatus creates a wi-fi direct-mode communication connection with the second client direct-mode communication apparatus according to the piece of wi-fi connection information. |
| US09295089B2 |
Bandwidth management, aggregation and internet protocol flow mobility across multiple-access technologies
Systems, apparatuses and methods for bandwidth management, aggregation and internet protocol (“IP”) flow mobility (“IFOM”) across multiple-access technologies are provided. Included is a method that includes selecting, from a packet data network (“PDN”) connection formed through a plurality of access systems communicatively coupled with a wireless transmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”), an access system over which to transport a flow of internet protocol (“IP”) traffic to and/or from the WTRU. The method may also include sending, to the WTRU, a request to associate the flow of IP traffic with the selected access system. |
| US09295087B2 |
Mobile device smart button that adapts to device status
A method of establishing a persistent emergency call and positional indication of the call is provided. Upon a call center receiving a call by a user equipment (UE) device initiated by activation of a smart button, the call center issues a request for a current location. If the call is inadvertently terminated by the user prior to the emergency being cleared, the UE device, attempts to reestablish the call automatically and continually. Prior to initiating the call, if the UE device is in airplane mode or standby mode, these modes are automatically switched off and location services are enabled. |
| US09295086B2 |
Method for operating a radio communication device in a multi-watch mode
A method for operating a radio communication device in a multi-watch mode is provided. The radio communication device receives communications on a primary channel and at least one non-primary channel. Further, a talk-back channel is enabled to respond to communications received on the primary channel. The radio communication device determines whether there is any transmission activity in response to a communication received on the non-primary channel. The radio communication device further determines whether the communication received on the non-primary channel comprises critical information when there is no transmission activity for a pre-defined time period since the communication was received on the non-primary channel. When the radio communication device determines that the communication received on the primary channel comprises critical information, the radio communication device switches to the talk-back channel to respond to communications received on the non-primary channel. |
| US09295085B2 |
Communication system and method of data transmission for a medium access control layer
Communication system and method of data communication are provided. The method of data communication for a MAC layer includes initiating an access attempt; transmitting, by a mobile station, a probe to a base station (BS), wherein the probe includes header information and data frames; decoding the header information and the data frames; generating, by the BS, a SACK message; and transmitting the SACK message to the MS. |
| US09295083B2 |
Method and apparatus for random-accessing in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method for performing a random access, more specially, to a method for a terminal performing a random access in a wireless communication system, and comprises a step of transmitting to a base station a random access preamble selected from either a first random access preamble group or a second random access preamble group, wherein the first and second random access preamble groups are discriminated depending one packet type to be transmitted by the terminal. |
| US09295082B2 |
Distributed machine-to-machine connectivity
Connections and/or transmission times to or from machine-to-machine (M2M) type devices are staggered and/or randomized. M2M data/call sessions are distributed during a time interval. The distributed connections during a time frame can be random, pseudorandom, and/or distributed in accordance with a scheme to mitigate network congestion. |
| US09295080B2 |
High-speed tune-away for multi-SIM devices
A user equipment (UE) prevents re-transmissions of downlink high-speed data during a tune away procedure when an acknowledgment (ACK) to the high-speed data is not received at a network. In one instance, the UE decodes a first high-speed grant and corresponding downlink high-speed data before tuning away from a serving base station. The UE determines that a first timing for transmitting an acknowledgement of the decoded high-speed downlink data occurs during a tune away gap. The UE determines a second time for sending the acknowledgment based on a determination of a second high-speed grant missed during the tune away gap. The UE transmits an acknowledgement (ACK) for the decoded downlink high-speed data in accordance with a time line of the missed second high-speed grant. |
| US09295079B2 |
Methods and arrangements for handling unreliable scheduling grants in a telecommunication network
The present invention relates to methods and arrangements for handling unreliable scheduling grants in a WCDMA-communication system. A user equipment detects that a received scheduling grant is unreliable and adjust its serving grant based on that information. The user equipment is also able to report continuously received unreliable grants as an event to the network, allowing the network to adapt its operation to reduce the unreliable grants. |
| US09295074B2 |
Acknowledgement, error recovery and backoff operation of uplink multi-user multiple-input-multiple-output communication in wireless networks
Wireless communication in a wireless network comprises obtaining a transmission opportunity period (TXOP) for communicating with an access point (AP) over a wireless communication channel. An announcement is sent to the AP to share the transmission opportunity period among wireless stations, as a multi-user transmission opportunity period for simultaneously transmitting data from said wireless stations to the AP on multiple uplink (UL) spatial streams over the wireless channel. Correctly received UL frames received by the AP are acknowledged. Error recovery and backoff processing are performed upon loss of communication information based on frame type. |
| US09295070B2 |
Quality of service level adaptation for visual services in mobile communication networks
The invention refers to a method for performing a visual service associated to a mobile user equipment—UE—(10) in a communications network, the communications network comprising a mobile network (20), the method comprising receiving (S2) at a service node (30) within the mobile network (20) a message indicative of a request of the UE (10) associated to the visual service, obtaining the network address of the UE (10), and initiating an adaptation of a quality of service—QoS—level for a treatment of data traffic associated with the visual service between the UE (10) and the mobile network (20). The invention further relates to a service node (30) adapted for performing the method and a computer program loadable into the service node (30). |
| US09295069B2 |
Radio frequency radiation exposure mitigation using antenna switching
Methods, devices, and systems embodiments enable a multi-antenna mobile device to mitigate radio frequency (RF) radiation exposure to users. A processor may determine a distance between the multi-antenna mobile device and the select portion of the user and switch from using a first antenna that is closer to the select portion of the user to using a second antenna when the multi-antenna mobile device is close to the user. The signal strength of the first antenna may be compared to the signal strength of a second antenna of the multi-antenna mobile device, and the second antenna may be used instead of the first antenna when the signal strength of the first antenna is within a predetermined threshold of the signal strength of the second antenna. If acceptable signal quality is not obtained with the second antenna, the multi-antenna mobile device may switch back to the first antenna. |
| US09295068B2 |
Method of performing measurement at UE in wireless communication system and apparatus thereof
A method of performing measurement at a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving channel status information-reference signals (CSI-RSs) for channel status information feedback from a plurality of transmission points (TPs), performing radio resource management (RRM) measurement based on the CSI-RSs, and selecting one or more TPs for receiving a signal from among the plurality of TPs based on the result of measurement. |
| US09295064B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus to facilitate ranked network priority
Methods, systems and apparatus are disclosed to facilitate ranked network priority. An example method includes calculating a rank of a first wireless device relative to a plurality of wireless devices based on a first bid value associated with the first wireless device, allocating a first bit rate to the first wireless device based on the rank of the first wireless device at a first time, and in response to detecting a change in availability of the first bit rate at a second time, applying a second bid value for a second bit rate when the first wireless device is located in a first geographic area, and applying a third bid value for the second bit rate when the first wireless device is located in a second geographic area different from the first geographic area. |
| US09295058B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting data. In the method for transmitting data, a first transmission point can determine a reference signal sequence r(m) and transmit the determined reference signal sequence r(m) to a terminal. A parameter ns from among parameters for generating an initial value c_init of a pseudorandom sequence in order to determine the reference signal sequence can be determined on the basis of the slot number of a wireless frame, which a second transmission point transmits to the terminal. Accordingly, the demodulation performance of the terminal can be enhanced. |
| US09295054B2 |
Terminal device, base station device, transmitting method and receiving method
The present invention pertains to a terminal device, which, when ARQ is used for communication that uses an uplink unit band and a plurality of downlink unit bands associated with the uplink unit band, and when a transmission mode that supports up to 2 TB in a PCell is set in the terminal, is capable of reducing the amount of signaling from a base station while eliminating a lack of PUCCH resources when semi-permanent scheduling (SPS) is used in the PCell. A control unit in this device selects one value among values obtained by adding 1 to four PUCCH resource indexes, which have been preset for PUCCH resource 1 by the base station, on the basis of values for transmission power control information (TPC command for PUCCH) in a PDCCH, for which notification has been received at the start of SPS. |
| US09295050B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting reference signal in wireless communication system including relay station
A method and an apparatus for demodulating a downlink control channel by a relay node (RN) in a wireless communication system. The method includes receiving cell-specific reference signals on at least one antenna port from a base station (BS); receiving user equipment (UE)-specific reference signals on at least one antenna port from the BS; and demodulating a relay physical downlink control channel (R-PDCCH) based on either the cell-specific reference signals or the UE-specific reference signals. A type of reference signals used to demodulate the R-PDCCH is configured by higher layers. |
| US09295048B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting hybrid carrier aggregation
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus, e.g., base station, determines a plurality of component carriers configured for a user equipment (UE) served by the apparatus. The plurality of component carriers includes a primary component carrier and a secondary component carrier. The primary component carrier may be a time division duplex (TDD) carrier having a same uplink:downlink configuration as a first cell at a neighboring base station, and the secondary component carrier may be a TDD carrier having a different uplink:downlink configuration as a second cell at the neighboring base station. The apparatus exchanges data with the UE according to an effective uplink-downlink subframe partition of the configured component carriers. The effective uplink-downlink subframe partition may be time varying and the apparatus may operate to limit interference due to the different TDD configurations at the serving and neighbor cells. |
| US09295047B2 |
Method for transmitting and receiving downlink control information in a wireless communication system and apparatus for the same
A method for receiving a downlink signal in a user equipment of a wireless communication system from a base station comprises the steps of receiving control information from either a downlink control channel or a legacy downlink control channel in accordance with a previously set condition; and receiving a downlink shared channel or a legacy downlink shared channel on the basis of the control information, wherein the downlink control channel is received through a data region of a subframe, and the legacy downlink control channel is received through a control region of the subframe, the control information of the downlink control channel includes allocation information of the downlink shared channel, and the control information of the legacy downlink control channel includes allocation information of the downlink shared channel or the legacy downlink shared channel. |
| US09295046B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting ACK/NACK for downlink transmission in wireless communication system
A wireless communication system and a method and apparatus for transmitting ACK/NACK for downlink transmission in a wireless communication system are disclosed. The method for transmitting ACK/NACK information for a downlink transmission in a receiver of a wireless communication system includes being configured with N physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources respectively having indexes 0, 1, 2, . . . , and N−1 by a higher layer, receiving the downlink transmission from a transmitter in a downlink subframe set including M (1 |
| US09295045B2 |
Base station, relay station, transmission method, and reception method
The present invention provides a base station whereby efficient resource allocation for data signals is realized. In a base station (100) where a downlink control signal directed to a relay station is mapped onto an allocation area (R-PDCCH allocation area candidate) comprising M (where M is a natural number of 2 or greater) resource blocks, an allocation area candidate determination section (101) distributes the M resource blocks among N (where N is a natural number less than M) allocation area groups, and determines N resource block groups for the placement of the allocation area groups; and a control signal allocation section (102) maps the downlink control signal directed to the relay station onto the M resource blocks that are specified on the basis of the determined N resource block groups and the number of resource blocks constituting each of the allocation area groups. |
| US09295039B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control information in a wireless communication system
A wireless communication system is disclosed. Disclosed herein are methods for transmitting a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal in a wireless communication system, which includes setting transmit power for the PUCCH signal, and an apparatus thereof. If the PUCCH signal is transmitted on a subframe configured for a scheduling request (SR), the PUCCH signal includes one or more hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) bits and an SR bit. When determining the transmit power for the PUCCH, the SR bit is selectively considered depending on whether or not a transport block for an uplink shared channel (UL-SCH) is present in the subframe. |
| US09295037B2 |
Base station, terminal, transmission method, and reception method
A base station, a terminal, a transmission method and a reception method that allow the data processing on a reception side to have a margin irrespective of the time position of a resource region where control information is mapped. In a base station (100), a subframe type determining unit (101) determines, according to a configuration pattern applied to the local base station apparatus and being one of a plurality of configuration patterns different between downlink and uplink subframe configurations in time division multiplex, whether a subframe to be determined is a first type of subframe where control information is mapped only to a PDCCH region or a second type of subframe where the control information is mapped to both the PDCCH region and an R-PDCCH region. An allocation region candidate determining unit (102) determines, based on a result of the determination by the subframe type determining unit (101), a mapping region, where the control information is mapped, in the PDCCH or R-PDCCH region in the subframe to be determined. |
| US09295024B2 |
Wireless device and methods for use in a paging network
A wireless device includes a user interface that generates a pairing signal in response to an indication from a user to pair the wireless device to at least one remote device and generates a first location request signal in response to a second indication from a user to locate the at least one remote device. A short-range wireless transceiver communicates RF signals to pair the wireless device to the at least one remote device and that transmits a first RF paging signal to the at least one remote device in response to the location request signal. |
| US09295021B2 |
Measurement of time of arrival
Disclosed is a method of measuring time of arrival of a signal transmitted from a transmitter (120) to a receiver (110-n). The method comprises: modulating a plurality of narrowband signal portions onto different carrier frequencies; transmitting, by the transmitter, each modulated signal portion to the receiver; receiving, by the receiver, the transmitted signal portions; estimating the channel impulse response by combining (610) the received signal portions; and measuring (620) the time of arrival using the estimated channel impulse response. Further disclosed is a method of measuring a time of arrival of a signal transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver. The method comprises: estimating a noise level (1310) in an impulse response of a channel between the transmitter and the receiver; finding a first peak (1330) in the channel impulse response that is not noise or a side lobe of a subsequent peak, using the estimated noise level; and measuring the time of arrival (1220) using the first peak. |
| US09295020B2 |
Systems and methods registration and maintenance of wireless clients via a proxy wireless network service
A method for registration and maintenance of a data connection using a proxy wireless network service involves registering a multi-network terminal on a first network that is made up of a first network infrastructure. The method includes transmitting registration information for a second network to a proxy component that is part of the first network infrastructure. The transmission of the registration information causes the proxy component to forward said registration information to an agent component that is part of the second network that is made up of a second network infrastructure. The method also includes receiving a registered service from the second network based on the registration information that was transmitted to the first network infrastructure. The method also includes transmitting a message to the second network and receiving the registered service from the second network in response to the message. |
| US09295015B2 |
Methods, wireless communication stations, and system for synchronizing devices and neighbor area networking (NAN) configuration
Embodiments of a user station (STA) and methods for synchronizing with devices in a wireless communication network are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a STA accesses a list of social channels. The STA may transmit a scan message on a primary social channel. The primary social channel may be included in the list of social channels. The STA may determine an identity of the primary social channel by inspecting the list of social channels. The STA may synchronize with a device on the primary social channel when the STA detects transmissions on the primary social channel within a time duration subsequent to transmitting the scan message on the primary social channel. Otherwise, the STA may transmit a scan message on a secondary social channel selected from the list. |
| US09295014B2 |
Diminishing the impact of timing delay in downlink signals
When performing interference cancellation on selected information (e.g., synchronization signals, certain broadcast signals, etc.) through cross correlation, symbol periods of signals being combined will generally match up. Slight mismatches will generally produce negligible impact on interference cancellation. However, where the mismatch is severe due to significant timing offsets, serious performance degradation may occur, particularly when timing offsets are sufficiently large as to overlap data portions of a transmission. By selectively puncturing resource elements prior to the selected information and/or after the selected information, the selected information may be protected and allow for interference cancellation even in cases of large timing offsets. |
| US09295011B1 |
Low power chaining
A group of low power transceiver devices may create a private wireless network. In a private communication network, each device may monitor neighboring devices and transmit a low power signal on a periodic basis. At any time, if a device breaks away from the private communication network, the device determines its location and then transmits its location to one or more devices in the group at a high transmit power level. |
| US09295008B2 |
Method and apparatus for utilizing other sector interference (OSI) indication
Techniques for mitigating interference in a wireless communication system are described. In one design, a sector may determine multiple fast other sector interference (OSI) indications for multiple subzones, with each subzone corresponding to a different portion of the system bandwidth. At least one report may be generated for the multiple OSI indications, with each report including at least one OSI indication for at least one subzone. Each report may be encoded to obtain code bits, which may then be mapped to a sequence of modulation symbols. A sequence of modulation symbols of zero values may be generated for each report with all OSI indications in the report set to zero to indicate lack of high interference in the corresponding subzones. This allows a report to be transmitted with zero power in a likely scenario. A regular OSI indication may also be determined for the system bandwidth and transmitted. |
| US09294989B2 |
Method and an apparatus to optimize monitoring for a new EMBMS session in LTE networks
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus is configured to monitor for a notification of MCCH information change associated with an MBSFN area without having previously performed an MCCH information acquisition procedure to acquire MCCH information in the MBSFN area. Furthermore, the apparatus is configured to acquire the MCCH information while monitoring for the notification of the MCCH information change that indicates a change of MCCH information. |
| US09294988B2 |
Creating a preferred PLMN list for faster service acquisition
A processing device receives network data from a plurality of user devices. The network data identifies networks available to provide roaming service to at least one of the plurality of user devices at one or more geographical locations. The processing device generates at least one list of identifiers of preferred networks for at least one of the geographical locations based on the network data. The processing device sends the list of identifiers to the plurality of user devices. |
| US09294987B2 |
Communication control method, communication control apparatus and radio communication apparatus
In a radio communication system in which a radio communication apparatus performs communication with another apparatus via a radio relay apparatus, a communication quality value indicating communication quality between the radio communication apparatus and the radio relay apparatus is measured, a threshold for deciding a level of the communication quality is determined on the basis of a past tendency of the communication quality value, and transmission of contents between the radio communication apparatus and the other apparatus is blocked while a present value of the communication quality is smaller than the threshold. |
| US09294985B2 |
Bridge line appearance for location-aware mobile devices
A vPBX server manages calls in a bridged line appearance (BLA) group. A BLA group can include extensions for location-aware mobile devices. The vPBX server contains location based forwarding rules that can be applied together with BLA redirection rules in managing incoming calls. A single extension can appear as a user interface element (e.g., an icon or button) on multiple mobile devices. Using the user interface element, a primary user can view a secondary user's status, including the secondary user's location information. The vPBX server allows the primary user to redirect the incoming calls to devices in accordance with the forwarding rules and the redirection rules. |
| US09294984B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication system and communication method
The present invention has the object of forwarding packets according to a road line without using road line information while preventing unnecessary forwarding of packets. A communication apparatus includes: a positional information acquisition unit that acquires information that indicates the current position of the communication apparatus and the traveling direction of the vehicle unit; a reception unit that receives from a transmission origin device packets that contain forwarding information that indicates the position of the transmission origin device and the position of the transmission destination; a communication control unit that prevents forwarding of packets when the current position is not within an area from the position of the transmission origin device to the position of the transmission destination; an information processing unit that, when the current position is within the area, extracts, as a corrected position, a position that is specified by the traveling direction among positions that are separated from the current position by a remaining distance between the position of the transmission destination and the current position; and a transmission unit that transmits packets that include the forwarding information in which the position of the transmission destination is changed to the corrected position and the position of the transmission origin device is changed to the current position. |
| US09294983B2 |
Methods and arrangements for a multistack bluetooth controller
Embodiments may comprise logic such as hardware and/or code to assign or offload Bluetooth applications from the main processor while maintaining the legacy interface to the OS protocol stack and compatibility to legacy Bluetooth applications. Embodiments may comprise selection logic such as a multiplexer in the Bluetooth radio controller to allow it to support multiple Bluetooth core stacks. The selection logic may enable offloading specific applications to an additional stack, such as an embedded stack while supporting the operating system (OS) stack in parallel. Embodiments may also comprise a Bluetooth radio controller with one or more additional host interface drivers to support multiple Bluetooth core stacks. |
| US09294977B2 |
Radio communication system, radio base station, mobile communication terminal, and communication control method
A radio communication system includes multiple radio base stations and multiple mobile communication terminals. Each mobile communication terminal measures a reception quality of radio waves from each radio base station. A first mobile communication terminal that can execute interference rejection combining offsets the reception quality value of radio waves from a second radio base station by using a first bias value. A second mobile communication terminal that cannot execute interference rejection combining offsets the reception quality value of radio waves from the second radio base station by using a second bias value that is lower than the first bias value. The first radio base station selects, as the radio access point for the mobile communication terminal, a radio base station corresponding to a reception quality value indicating a best reception quality among the first reception power value and the offset second reception power value. |
| US09294974B2 |
Motion based search and measurement periodicity
Adjusting search and measurement periodicity based on device motion. A wireless device may camp on a serving cell. Signal strength, signal quality, and signal to noise ratio of the serving cell may be measured. If each is above a respective threshold, and if the wireless device is stationary, the periodicities at which searches and neighbor cell measurements are performed may be adjusted (e.g., increased) from baseline periodicities. |
| US09294971B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling uplink transmission power of user equipment
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling uplink transmission power of a user equipment. In the method, a serving base station receives from the user equipment a signal measurement report for a first neighboring base station transmitting the strongest signal to the user equipment, transmits, to the user equipment, a control signal including a path loss information for calculating the uplink transmission power, transmits, to the user equipment and the first neighboring base station scheduling information for the user equipment and receives, from the first neighboring base station, an uplink signal of the user equipment. According to the method, the uplink transmission power can be adjusted based on a pico base station close to the user equipment when the macro base station is a serving base station such that the amount of interference power of a multi cell may be minimized. |
| US09294967B2 |
Centralized circuit switch fallback
Systems and methods herein utilize interworking protocols with centralized functionality to perform CSFB with minimal latency for an inbound and/or outbound communication with a mobile device that is attached to a communication network not operable to service the communication. Embodiments utilize a centralized gateway that communicates in both an LTE network and CS network. In embodiments, the mobile device may be concurrently attached to the LTE network, registered with the centralized gateway, and registered with an MSC of the CS network. Upon the CS network receiving an inbound call for the mobile device or upon the mobile device originating a call, the MSC may set up the call with the mobile device with minimal latency because the mobile device is pre-registered with the MSC. |
| US09294964B2 |
Handover delay optimization
A method of anchoring a packet switched session of a subscriber comprises receiving a packet switched request for a session setup, and anchoring the packet switched session in a control node (MSC-S) of a visited network of the subscriber. |
| US09294963B2 |
Neighbor selection for handover in a radio access network
The following methods are disclosed: A method of initiating handover of a User Equipment, UE, in a cellular network comprising a plurality of enhanced Node Bs, eNBs, the method comprising: receiving at a source eNB, from the UE, a handover measurement report containing a Physical Cell Identifier, PCI, of a cell of a neighboring eNB; at the source eNB, performing a lookup of a Neighbor Relation Relation Table to identify a global cell identity and access mode associated with the PCI; and using the identified global cell identity and the access mode to determine an eNB identity for said neighboring eNB. A method of initiating handover of a User Equipment, UE, in a cellular net-work comprising a plurality of enhanced Node Bs, eNBs, the method comprising: receiving at a source eNB, from the UE, a handover measurement report containing a Physical Cell Identifier, PCI, of a cell of a neighboring eNB; at the source eNB, performing a lookup of a Neighbor Relation Table to identify a plurality of global cell identities associated with the PCI, the neighbor relation table also containing, for each such global cell identity, PCIs of neighboring cells; selecting the correct global cell identity from said plurality of global cell identities by comparing the PCIs of further neighboring eNBs cells reported by the UE with the neighboring PCIs of each of said plurality of global cell identities; and deriving from the selected correct global cell identity, an eNB identity of said neighboring eNB. A method of initiating handover of a subscriber from a cell of a source enhanced Node B, eNB, to a cell of a target enhanced Node B, eNB, via the X2 interface, the method comprising, at the source eNB, maintaining a Neighbor Relation Table (NRT) identifying the connectivity of the source eNB to cells of its neighboring eNBs, this information including for each eNB cell an indication that the eNB cell is an open, closed or hybrid eNB cell and, for each closed and hybrid eNB cell, a Closed Subscriber Group, CSG, identity; determining that a handover of the UE is required and using the information stored in the NRT to identify closed and optionally hybrid eNBs cells to which the subscriber has access, selecting a target eNB cell from the available open eNBs cells and the identified closed and optionally hybrid eNBs cells, and performing handover of the subscriber from the source to the target eNB cell including an X2 interface between the source and the target eNBs where no such interface exists a priori. |
| US09294961B2 |
Data rate throttling
The throttling of mobile device data rates is provided at events, e.g., sporting events, and other venues with large, dense crowds. The system can monitor the loading of the mobile radio antennas at the venue, and when the loading reaches a threshold loading point, the system can selectively throttle the data rates of mobile devices at the venue. In some embodiments, the system can throttle the data rates of certain applications on the mobile devices, or can select mobile devices that are placing a large strain on the network infrastructure to throttle. In other embodiments, the system can set maximum upload and download speeds for all the mobile devices at the venue. |
| US09294958B2 |
Method and apparatus for dynamically configuring a cell update message
The present disclosure presents a method and apparatus for dynamically configuring a cell update message at a user equipment (UE). For example, the method may include determining that a size of the cell update message at the UE is above a threshold value after a “measured results on random access channel (RACH)” information element (IE) is excluded from the cell update message. Furthermore, such an example method may include removing one or more IEs from the cell update message until the size of the cell update message is at or below the threshold value. As such, dynamic configuration of a cell update message at a UE is achieved. |
| US09294952B2 |
Method and apparatus in a multi-carrier system for controlling interruption and measurement performance
This disclosure provides example illustrations of device-side and network-side methods and apparatuses for avoiding more than a permitted level of interruption on a serving cell in association with the device making RRM and positioning measurements on one or more Secondary Component Carriers, SCCs, corresponding to one or more of the Secondary Cells, SCells, configured for the device according to a carrier aggregation, CA, configuration. Among the several advantages flowing from these teachings, a wireless device avoids exceeding a permitted level of interruption on a serving cell downlink or uplink by aligning the positioning and RRM measurements with respect to each other, to avoid exceeding a permitted level of interruption on the serving cell. The measurement alignment may be realized at least in part via adaptation of the corresponding measurement configurations and such adaptations may be performed by the wireless device, by a radio network node, and/or by a positioning node. |
| US09294948B2 |
Method for measuring interference strength in wireless communication system and device therefor
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and, more particularly, to a method for enabling a terminal to measure the strength of an interference signal in a wireless communication system and a device therefor, wherein the method comprises the steps of: measuring a first interference strength, which is the strength of an interference signal received from a first base station group; calculating a second interference strength, which is the strength of an interference signal received from a second base station group; and correcting the first interference strength on the basis of the second interference strength. |
| US09294947B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring interference in a wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring interference in a wireless communication system. User equipment (UE) receives a common reference signal (CRS) from a first domain having the same cell identity and a channel state information (CSI) reference signal (RS) from a second domain including a configuration of the CSI RS designated by the UE. The UE measures interference for the second domain on the basis of the received CRS and CSI RS. |
| US09294940B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining transmission power of preamble in wireless communication system
Provided are a method and an apparatus for determining transmission power of a preamble in a wireless communication system. A terminal estimates secondary cell (SCell) path loss with respect to a downlink (DL) component carrier (CC), which is in a linkage relationship with an uplink (UL) component carrier inside the SCell; decides the transmission power of a physical random access channel (PRACH) preamble based on the SCell path loss that is estimated; and transmits the PRACH preamble to a base station through the ULCC inside the SCell, based on the transmission power that is decided. |
| US09294937B2 |
Apparatus and method for selection between receivers in a wireless communication system
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for selecting between a Rake receiver and an interference cancellation engine (ICE) for receiving forward link signals in a wireless communication network. Selection can be based on one or more of various factors in the channel. These factors can include an average SINR of at least one of the first receiver or the second receiver, a dispersion of a downlink channel, a flatness metric, a number of locked fingers at the first receiver or the second receiver, or a size of an Active Set. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are claimed and described. |
| US09294936B2 |
System and method for improved location system accuracy
A plurality of wireless devices can obtain location related information from members of a plurality of location anchors located throughout a region being monitored. The devices can each send probes to the location anchors. The anchors which receive a probe can each respond with a signal carrying at least an anchor address. Each of the devices can process the respective received signal to establish a distance parameter, and, can forward the address and the distance parameter to a displaced location estimating engine. |
| US09294931B1 |
Co-primaryspectrum sharing for 4G/5G small cell base stations with long term fairness criteria
An apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code. The one or more memories and the computer program code are configured, with the one or more processors, to cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: allowing a first user to learn to share available radio spectrum with a second user in a coverage area of a cell, comprising, assigning a probability distribution function of a transmit configuration based on a number of component carriers in the cell, conducting a transmission from the cell, calculating a cost for operation of the cell over a selected time interval, updating the probability distribution function at an end of the selected time interval, selecting an optimal number of component carriers for use in the transmit configuration, and using the selected optimal number of component carriers to determine a sharing operation. |
| US09294930B2 |
Combined unique gold code transmissions
Methods, systems and instructions stored on computer-readable media for generating a first data stream and a second data stream. The first data stream is spread using a first gold code unique to a first tag. The second data stream is spread using a second gold code unique to a second tag. The spread first data stream and the spread second data stream are combined into a combined data stream. The combined data stream is transmitted to the first tag and the second tag. |
| US09294928B2 |
Wireless communication system
In a wireless communication system, an APM provides sequential numbers to channels formed by dividing a specific frequency band, selects the channels in bit-reversed order of the numbers to divide the channels in frequency groups, creates a small hopping table for each frequency group, and generates a hopping table using the plurality of small hopping tables, and an AP performs channel access to a STA by frequency hopping with reference to the hopping table. |
| US09294925B2 |
Low power base station and communication control method
Disclosed is a low power base station (300) which acquires propagation loss information indicating the propagation loss between the low power base station (300) and a high power base station (100). The low power base station (300) restricts the frequency band allocated to a femtocell terminal (400) under the low power base station (300) on the basis of the propagation loss indicated in the acquired propagation loss information. |
| US09294923B2 |
Detection of potentially fraudulent activity by users of mobile communications networks
A mobile communications fraud detection system is provided in which one or more probe devices are deployed to intercept predetermined types of data being carried over selected interfaces within the mobile communications network. In particular, the probe devices are arranged to intercept data being carried between equipment responsible for providing the air interface to mobile communications devices using the network and equipment interfacing with the mobile network's core switching equipment. Fraudulent activity relating to gateway fraud, revenue sharing fraud, credit or debit card fraud, spam generation and fraudulent or other activity indicative of the presence of malware executing on a mobile communications device. |
| US09294922B2 |
Mobile wireless communications device performing device unlock based upon near field communication (NFC) and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a near field communication (NFC) transceiver, a geo-position determining device, and a controller coupled with the NFC transceiver and the geo-position determining device. The controller may be configured to receive a tag geo-position from an NFC tag when in close proximity thereto via the NFC transceiver, determine the geo-position of the mobile wireless communications device using the geo-position determining device, and perform at least one device unlock operation when the tag geo-position is within a threshold distance from the mobile wireless communications device geo-position. |
| US09294918B2 |
Method and system for secure remote login of a mobile device
A system to securely login a mobile device may include a storage means for storing an encrypted file, a certification system to receive the encrypted file from the storage means, and a customer transaction system in communication with the certification system. The system may also include the mobile device to transmit the encrypted file from the storage means to the certification system to allow the mobile device to securely log into the customer transaction system. |
| US09294910B2 |
Release-independent modifications of network parameters
A UE indicates its radio access capabilities to the base station. An element is added to the radio access capabilities reported by the UE, to indicate in a release-independent manner if a certain network signaling parameter (e.g., NS-value) has been modified or if a new parameter has been introduced for an operating band. In this manner, the base station can distinguish UE with a modified NS-value behavior from legacy UE for the purpose of admission control, imposing scheduling or handover restrictions, or the like. |
| US09294909B2 |
Change of mobile communication system using reselection of preferred system
A mobile terminal is control to change from being attached to a first mobile communication system to being attached to a second mobile communication system, through an update of a list of preferred mobile communication systems for the mobile terminal, according to which update the second mobile communication system has a higher rank than the first mobile communication system. The mobile terminal receives the update via the first mobile communication system and changes from being attached to the first mobile communication system to being attached to the second mobile communication system based on the updated list. |
| US09294908B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling inter-PLMN handover to CSG cell
A method and apparatus for controlling inter-PLMN handover based on CSG lists of equivalent PLMNs is provided. A method for receiving subscriber information of a terminal at a Mobility Management Entity (MME) includes transmitting an update location request message for the terminal to a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), and receiving an update location acknowledgement message with the subscriber information of the terminal from the HSS, wherein the update location request message comprises a list of equivalent Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) among which the MME supports inter-PLMN handover of the terminal. The method and apparatus for controlling inter-plan handover to a CSG cell according to the present invention is characterized in that a control apparatus of a core network acquires the allowed CSG lists for determining a User Equipments (UEs) capability of access to a CSG cell and determines whether to permit inter-PLMN handover based on the allowed CSG lists. |
| US09294907B2 |
Mobile connectivity in a communication network
According to an implementation of the present subject matter, systems and methods for providing mobile connectivity to users while roaming, on a dynamic basis are described. The method includes receiving a location update message associated with a user latched to a secondary service provider, the user having a subscriber identity module (SIM) with a primary International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number provided by a default service provider of the user, wherein the location update message is based on the primary IMSI number of the user. The method also includes generating a dummy location update message based on the received location update message and a secondary IMSI number associated with the secondary service provider; and sending the dummy location update message to the secondary service provider associated with the secondary IMSI number such that the user is provided communication services by the secondary service provider based on the primary IMSI number. |
| US09294905B2 |
Method for enhancing the use of proximity services in a public land mobile network
A method for enhancing the use of proximity services in a public land mobile network includes: in a first step, a base transceiver station receives a first proximity services activation information related to a first user equipment of a plurality of user equipments; in a second step, the base transceiver station receives a second proximity services activation information related to a second user equipment of the plurality of user equipments; in a third step, a proximity services broadcast information is sent from the base transceiver station to the plurality of user equipments within the geographic area; and in a fourth step, the first user equipment starts to emit a first proximity services discovery signal and the second user equipment starts to emit a second proximity services discovery signal. |
| US09294901B2 |
Synoptic emergency cellular device and system
A wearable emergency cellular device for use in a medical emergency alert situation includes an application containing synoptic medical information and other user data, a call module for mobile communication with a call center and a display for selectively controlling information displayed on the cellular device. Only the call center is able to input the synoptic medical and selected other information to the device. The cellular device is usable for emergency situations other than medical, such as for personal security at home or for mobile use. Various access methods are described using panel displays for medical or other emergency personnel to access the stored cellular device information. Initiation of user communication with the call center can be activated manually or by the user's voice. Also described are an electronic emergency call system and methods for handling an emergency alert using the emergency cellular device. |
| US09294898B2 |
Communication terminal and warning information obtaining method
A communication terminal includes: a first receiving unit configured to receive a communication signal in a first communication system; a second receiving unit configured to receive a communication signal in a second communication system; a position information obtaining unit configured to obtain position information of a user; a mode determination unit configured to activate the second receiving unit if the position information obtaining unit obtains position information of the user in a case where the first receiving unit cannot receive a communication signal; and a user interface unit configured to provide the user with warning information extracted from the communication signal received by the second receiving unit. |
| US09294896B2 |
Method and system for video messaging
Methods, systems and devices, including computer programs, for creating, storing, formatting and sending video messages from one mobile device to another. A video message is recorded by camera element on a first mobile device. A recipient identifier associated with a second mobile device is logged by way of input by the sender. An alert is transmitted to the second mobile device by way of the identifier, thereby providing notification that the video message is ready to view and presenting a selectable screen object to activate the video message. The operating system of the second mobile device is determined, and the video message is formatted for viewing compatibility with that operating system. The video message is then uploaded to and played on the second mobile device. A reply message may similarly be sent from the second mobile device to the first mobile device, without the need to input a recipient identifier. |
| US09294895B2 |
Caching at the wireless tower with remote charging services
A RAN based data processing system is configured for content caching with remote charging services. The system can include a base station that includes an antenna, a receiver, a transmitter, a processor, a local cache, and a network interface to a data communications network. The system also can include an RNC coupled to the base station over the data communications network. The system yet further can include a charging service executing in memory of a host computer recording charges for data services provided in the RAN. Finally, the system can include a caching with remote charging module executing by the processor of the base station. The module can include program code enabled to receive a data request from an end user device, to route the request to a content server in a computer communications network through a coupled CN, to receive a response to the request, to cache the response in the local cache, to forward the response to the end user device, and to transmit data characteristic of the response to the charging service external. |
| US09294891B2 |
Short message sending method, short message service center and gateway
A short message sending method, a short message service center (SMS-SC) and a gateway are provided. The short message service center constructs a message body for bearing short message, includes routing information of the short message in this message body, and sends the message body to a short message mobile switching center gateway; after receiving the message body and determining that the message body includes the routing information of the short message, the short message mobile switching center gateway sends the short message to a core network service node according to the routing information. The SMS-SC sends the obtained routing information together with the short message to an SMS-GMSC, so that the SMS-GMSC does not need to request the routing information from an HSS or an HLR, which can reduce the interactive signaling, save the network resources, and optimize the system performance. |
| US09294885B2 |
Method and system for system information acquisition
The embodiments herein provide a method of acquiring a plurality of system information messages in a radio communication network. The method comprises the steps of overlapping a plurality of system information windows and acquiring the plurality of system information messages for which the system information window overlaps in the user equipment. The method of overlapping the system information windows comprises of transmitting system information scheduling configuration containing scheduling information list, calculating start sub-frame and start radio frame of the system information window for the system information messages from the scheduling information, determining occurrence of system information window overlap of the system information messages and acquiring a plurality of system information messages in the overlapped system information windows. The system information acquisition is performed until the plurality of system information messages in the overlapped system information widow is acquired. |
| US09294883B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for probe request and response exchange
Method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments of the invention are disclosed to improve the discovery of wireless networks. In example embodiments of the invention, a method comprises: transmitting a wireless message including at least one condition for response from one or more wireless devices, the condition for response including at least one of receive power of the wireless message at the one or more wireless devices, service level of the one or more wireless devices, or identity of the one or more wireless devices that can respond with a selected response; and receiving one or more responses from the one or more wireless devices that can satisfy the at least one condition. |
| US09294877B2 |
Use of a trained classifier to determine if a pair of wireless scans came from the same location
The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and apparatuses for determining the likelihood that two wireless scans of a mobile computing device were performed in the same location. The likelihood is determined by scanning for wireless networks with a computing device. The scanning includes a receiving a plurality of network attributes for each wireless networks within the range of the mobile computing device. Further, the likelihood is determined by comparing the plurality of network attributes from the scanning with a reference set of network attributes. The comparing of network attributes is used to determine an attribute comparison. Finally, the likelihood between a position associated with the reference set of network attributes and the computing device, based on the attribute comparison, determines a position associated with the network. |
| US09294875B2 |
Method for determining position of terminal in cellular mobile communication system
Disclosed is a method for determining the position of a terminal. The method for determining the position of a terminal belonging to an overlay network environment comprises: a step in which the terminal transmits a position determination request to a positioning server; and a step in which the terminal receives, from the positioning server, position determination support information comprising a virtual cell ID allocated to transmission points surrounding the terminal. Therefore, using this method for determining the position of a terminal enables highly accurate position determination even in an overlay network environment in which a plurality of transmission points are configured so as to have the same cell ID. |
| US09294874B2 |
Wireless user based notification system
A group of wireless device users are notified of an event. A location data determination algorithm is provided to a wireless device, where the algorithm determines a frequency at which the device interacts with network elements to determine its location. The location data is stored in a notification server and used to identify a user at a specific location. When a governmental or commercial entity wishes to issue a notification, a message is provided to those users whose location is identified as being in an area defined by the entity. |
| US09294871B2 |
Electronic mobile device
An electronic mobile device is disclosed. The electronic mobile device includes a housing including a plurality of sidewalls, a receiving space formed by the sidewalls, a slot formed in one of the sidewalls, and a non-conductive portion received in the slot. The non-conductive portion includes a non-metal body having a first surface facing the receiving space and a second surface opposed to the first surface. An antenna module is coupled with the housing, and the antenna module comprises an antenna coil locating on the first surface of the non-metal body. |
| US09294870B2 |
Communication device and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
A communication device may include an NFC interface configured to perform communication by using a NFC system and a controller. The controller may include a processor and a memory storing computer-readable instructions therein. The computer-readable instructions may instruct the communication device to determine whether a state is a first state, set an operation mode to a CE mode when it is determined that the state is the first state, transmit data to one external device when the operation mode is set to the CE mode when the state of the device is the first state. Additionally or alternatively, the communication device may further be caused to set the operation mode to a first mode when it is determined that the state is not the first state, and communicate communication target data with another external device when the operation mode is set in a specified mode. |
| US09294869B2 |
Methods, systems and apparatus to affect RF transmission from a non-linked wireless client
Embodiments of the present application relate generally to wireless electronics, wireless portable electronics, wireless media presentation devices, audio/video systems, and more specifically to passive or active RF proximity detection of wireless client devices in an environment that may or may not include wireless access points. A wireless client device may be forced, triggered, or configured to broadcast a wireless scan (e.g., an active WiFi scan) that includes data (e.g., packets) that may be discovered by a wireless media device (e.g., received by RF circuitry in the media device) and information from the wireless scan may be used by the wireless media device to detect presence of the wireless client device and/or its user, to establish a wireless data communications link with the wireless client device, to determine proximity of the wireless client device to the wireless media device, and for near field communication (NFC) with the wireless client device. |
| US09294868B2 |
Device, method and system for communicating data
A device, method and system for communicating data are disclosed. The method for communicating data is adapted for a base station, and the method includes grouping a data for transmission in a plurality of data subsets, in which the data for transmission includes a plurality of information bits, encoding the data subsets; modulating the data subsets, and transmitting the data subsets to a receiving device. A base station includes a communication protocol module grouping a data for transmission in a plurality of data subsets, in which the data for transmission comprises a plurality of information bits, encoding the data subsets, modulating the data subsets, and transmitting the data subsets to a receiving device. |
| US09294864B2 |
Methods and systems for detecting and preventing unintended dialing by a phone device
An exemplary method includes an unintended-dialing detection and prevention system 1) determining, based on an unintended-dialing detection heuristic, a phone dialing pattern associated with a phone dialing event of a phone device, 2) determining, based on the unintended-dialing detection heuristic, that the phone dialing pattern associated with the phone dialing event matches a predefined phone dialing pattern indicative of unintended dialing, and 3) automatically performing, in response to the determining that the phone dialing pattern associated with the phone dialing event matches the predefined phone dialing pattern indicative of the unintended dialing, an operation configured to prevent a placement of a phone call by the phone device in response to the phone dialing event. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed. |
| US09294863B2 |
Acoustic device, augmented reality acoustic device, acoustic system, acoustic processing method, and recording medium
An acoustic device includes: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor executes a process including: first determining, based on a state of a user, an arbitrary object from among objects around the user as an object that is watched by the user; second determining the watched object as a target when a predetermined determination time elapses from a timing at which the arbitrary object is determined as the watched object; generating, when the watched object is determined as the target, acoustic signals for outputting audio of a sound generator corresponding to the target in association with a position of the target; and making, based on a difference between a moving direction of the user and a direction of a body of the user, an adjustment to reduce remaining time until when the predetermined determination time elapses. |
| US09294862B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing audio signals using motion of a sound source, reverberation property, or semantic object
Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding an audio signal are provided, a method of encoding an audio signal including: receiving the audio signal including information about a moving sound source; receiving position information about the moving sound source; generating dynamic track information indicating motion of the moving sound source by using the position information; and encoding the audio signal and the dynamic track information. |
| US09294861B2 |
Audio signal processing device
A postprocessor mixes audio signals for an LSch and an RSch indicating virtual surround sounds generated by a virtual surround processing unit with audio signals of an Rch, an Lch, and a Cch, performs a high-pass filter process, and then outputs the processed audio signals as audio signals for an Rsp and an Lsp which are main speakers. Further, the postprocessor performs phase inversion on the audio signals for the LSch and the RSch indicating the virtual surround sounds generated by the virtual surround processing unit, mixes the processed audio signals with audio signals of the Rch, the Lch, the Cch, and an LFEch, performs a low-pass filter process on the mixed signals, and then outputs the processed audio signals as audio signals for an SW which is a subwoofer. Thus, in a sound field realized by a virtual surround system, an influence of the sounds emitted from the subwoofer on localization of sounds of channels of virtual speakers is reduced. |
| US09294859B2 |
Apparatus with adaptive audio adjustment based on surface proximity, surface type and motion
A method includes detecting a surface in proximity to a mobile device using sensor data and determining an acoustic reflectivity or acoustic absorptivity of the surface using the sensor data. The method may further compensate for the acoustic reflectivity or acoustic absorptivity by controlling a configurable group of microphones of the mobile device. Compensating for the surface acoustic reflectivity or acoustic absorptivity may include beamforming the outputs of the configurable group of microphones to obtain one of an omnidirectional beamform pattern or a directional beamform pattern. An apparatus that performs the method include a configurable group of microphones, a signal conditioner, and a surface compensator. The surface compensator is operative to detect a surface in proximity to the apparatus and determine a surface acoustic reflectivity or acoustic absorptivity. |
| US09294857B2 |
Detection and GSM noise filtering
This document discusses, among other things, a GSM noise detection system configured to detect GSM noise at a pole of a four-pole audio jack using first and second comparators. The GSM noise detection system can include first and second comparators configured to compare a value of the pole to respective first and second thresholds and to provide an output indicative of the comparisons and a detection circuit configured to count changes in the output over a first period of time and to detect GSM noise at the pole of the four-pole audio jack using the count. |
| US09294855B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing audio signal
An audio signal processing apparatus and method for processing an audio signal are provided. The audio signal processing apparatus includes a signal detector configured to detect a long-term envelope and a short-term envelope of a lower range signal of an input signal, and a controller configured to control a gain in a beat section of the input signal, wherein the beat section is determined based on the detected long-term envelope and the short-term envelope of the lower range signal. |
| US09294851B2 |
Hearing assistance devices with echo cancellation
According to various embodiment of a method of operating a hearing instrument, an acoustic signal pathway is provided from a microphone through a signal processor to a hearing instrument (HI) receiver in an acoustic mode of operation. An RF transmit signal pathway is provided from the microphone to an RF transmitter, and an RF receive signal pathway is provided from the RF receiver through the signal processor to the HI receiver in an RF mode of operation. An input signal representative of sound detected by the microphone is adaptively filtered. A first adaptation rate is used for the acoustic mode of operation and a second adaptation rate is used for the RF mode of operation. The second adaptation rate is faster than the first adaptation rate. |
| US09294849B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting user activities from within a hearing assistance device using a vibration sensor
The present subject matter relates to method and apparatus for processing sound by a hearing assistance device. In one example, the present subject matter is an apparatus for processing sound for a hearing assistance device, comprising: a microphone adapted for reception of the sound and to create a sound signal relating to the sound; a transducer that produces an output voltage related to motion; a signal processor, connected to the microphone and the transducer, the signal processor adapted to process the sound signal and the output voltage, the signal processor performing a vibration detection algorithm adapted to adjust hearing assistance device settings for a detected activity; and a housing adapted to house the signal processor. |
| US09294848B2 |
Adaptation of a classification of an audio signal in a hearing aid
A method determines the classification of an audio signal in dependence on a comparison of two difference sums of audio features over time periods of different length. Thus, an adequately exact yet quickly reacting adaptation of the classification in changing hearing situations is ensured. The method is advantageously used in a hearing aid. The audio signal is processed in different ways on the basis of the classification. |
| US09294846B2 |
Piezoelectric vibration element, and piezoelectric vibration device and portable terminal using piezoelectric vibration element
A piezoelectric vibration element which includes at least a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of piezoelectric layers alternately disposed in a first direction, and performs bending vibration in the first direction so as to change amplitude in a second direction vertical to the first direction by inputting an electric signal, and in which a center of a facing portion in the second direction is provided at a different position from a center of the piezoelectric vibration element in the second direction, the facing portion including a portion in which one of the piezoelectric layers interposed between the electrodes that are disposed so as to be adjacently opposed to each other, and a piezoelectric vibration device and a portable terminal using the piezoelectric vibration element are provided. |
| US09294843B2 |
Multimedia acoustics system having audio frequency digital interface
A multimedia acoustics system having the audio frequency digital interface, which includes at least a USB or IEEE1394 interface, a USB or IEEE1394 outlay sound card, a set of D type or T type audio frequency power amplifier and controlling circuit or MPU chip which match it, a PCB board and at least more than a pair of sound box. In every sound box configuring a full band loudspeaker and/or bandpass heavy undertone loudspeaker whose caliber is no more than 7 inches, the loudspeaker is configured a single diaphragm more magnet gaps and more loops which have resistance load characteristic or approximately resistance load characteristic, thereby form audio frequency digital multimedia acoustics system which has super high sensitivity and high fidelity quality and has 2.0 or 2.1 channel which is supplied by pc USB or IEEE1394 interface and 4.1˜7.1 channel which is supplied by single power supply. |
| US09294836B2 |
Systems and methods for adaptive noise cancellation including secondary path estimate monitoring
In accordance with methods and systems of the present disclosure, a processing circuit may implement at least one of: a feedback filter having a response that generates at least a portion of an anti-noise component from a playback corrected error, the playback corrected error based on a difference between the error microphone signal and a secondary path estimate; and a feedforward filter having a response that generates at least a portion of the anti-noise signal from a reference microphone signal. The processing circuit may also implement a secondary path estimate filter configured to model an electro-acoustic path of a source audio signal and have a response that generates a secondary path estimate from the source audio signal and a secondary path estimate performance monitor for monitoring performance of the secondary path estimate filter in modeling the electro-acoustic path. |
| US09294830B2 |
Wireless headset having adaptive powering
A system that includes a bus, a battery, core processing circuitry, radio frequency (RF) processing circuitry, first power regulating circuitry, second power regulating circuitry, and control circuitry is provided. The bus can be coupled to receive power from a source external to the system. The core processing circuitry and RF processing circuitry can be selectively coupled to each other via a switch. The switch can be operative to turn ON and OFF based on a signal level received on the bus. The first power regulating circuitry can be electrically coupled to the bus, the core processing circuitry, and the switch. The second power regulating circuitry can be electrically coupled to the battery, the RF processing circuitry, and the switch. The control circuitry can be operative to selectively turn ON and OFF the first power regulating circuitry and the second power regulating circuitry based on a number of monitored conditions. |
| US09294828B2 |
Integrated speaker light fixture
Apparatuses and a method for speaker fixture integration are provided. A speaker is integrated into a canned lighting fixture. The speaker is adapted to transmit audio in proximity to the canned lighting fixture. The audio acquired from one of: an electrical power source of the canned lighting fixture, a speaker line, and wireless audio. |
| US09294825B2 |
System and method for utility meter activation
A utility network includes a utility meter capable of measuring a property of the network once installed and capable of communicating the measurement to a server once activated. The network also includes an access point configured to communicatively couple to the utility meter and to the server and configured to notify the server when the utility meter has been bound to the access point. The network further includes a mobile device configured to notify the server when the utility meter has been installed, configured to request the server to add the utility meter to a queue of utility meters to be activated by the server, and configured to receive a response from the server when the utility meter is activated. |
| US09294821B2 |
Scrubbing noise remover and methods for use therewith
A scrubbing noise remover includes a proxy device that is operable to intercept a request from a video player to a streaming video server for at least one scrubbing segment of a selected one of a plurality of video programs, and in response, sending at least one corresponding fixed segment to the video player, and pass a request from the video player to the streaming video server for a plurality of non-scrubbing segments of the selected one of the plurality of video programs. |
| US09294820B2 |
Control of display for switching between currently displaying content and new content
A content playback device includes a communication unit which communicates with a control device; a display unit which displays content; an input unit which accepts input; and a content playback authorization determination unit which determines whether to switch from content being displayed to acquired content, wherein the content playback authorization determination unit determines whether it is necessary to acquire an instruction as to whether to switch from the content being displayed to the acquired content, and when the content playback authorization determination unit acquires an authorization instruction or determines that it is not necessary to acquire the instruction, the content playback authorization determination unit switches from the content being displayed to the acquired content, and when the content playback authorization determination unit acquires a rejection instruction, the content playback authorization determination unit causes the display unit to continue display of the content being displayed. |
| US09294819B2 |
Electronic device and method of controlling the same
A method of controlling an electronic device, and which includes obtaining, via a camera of the electronic device, an image of a plurality of users viewing a display unit of the electronic device; receiving a predetermined gesture made from a first user for obtaining gesture control authority of the electronic device; displaying a graphic item corresponding to the first user who made the predetermined gesture; displaying a control graphic item indicating a current gesture control authority of the electronic device; receiving a first gesture input for changing a display state of the control graphic item; selecting the graphic item according to the changed display state of the control graphic item according to the first gesture input; and handing over the gesture control authority to the first user corresponding to the selected one graphic item. |
| US09294817B2 |
Program guide system with combination category search
An interactive television program guide system is provided in which the program guide may provide the user with a selectable list of combination categories. Combination categories are composed of multiple simple categories such as sports, news, comedy, movies, children, etc. Program listings are supplied to the program guide. At least some of the program listings are associated with combination categories. A combination category build process may be used to assign combination categories to program listings. The user is able to use the selectable categories list to quickly identify programming of interest. |
| US09294816B2 |
Methods and systems for predicting user viewing preferences based on detected events
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that predicts user preferences based on detected events. For example, in response to a trigger, the media guidance application may monitor data associated with a user. The media guidance application may then process the monitored data to determine if the monitored data indicates that a user profile of a user should be updated. |
| US09294808B2 |
Transmission concept for an access unit stream
A transmission signal having a sequence of logical frames embed therein, is constructed such that each logical frame has a useful data section, wherein consecutive access units of an access unit stream are consecutively inserted into the useful data section of the sequence of logical frames, wherein each logical frame into which a begin of an access unit falls, has an access unit table having, per begin of the access units falling into the respective logical frame, a pointer pointing thereto. |
| US09294805B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set-top box having a controller to receive a selection of media content that has finished being broadcast where the selection is of the previously broadcast media content, transmit a request for the media content, and receive the media content for presentation at the display device, where the media content includes a plurality of segments, where one or more of the segments is provided by each of a plurality of digital video recorders (DVR's) that have recorded the media content, where the DVR's are remote from the set-top box, and where the plurality of segments are merged prior to presentation by the set-top box. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09294801B2 |
System for controlling media presentation devices
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a remote controller adapted to present a graphical user interface (GUI) with a first portion for selecting one or more set-top boxes (STBs) and one or more user accounts, and with a second portion corresponding to a console comprising a plurality of selectable icons, disable access to at least a portion of the plurality of selectable icons of the console, detect a selection of one of the STBs, detect a selection of one of the user accounts, establish a communication session with the selected STB, and enable access to the plurality of selectable icons of the console to manage operations of the selected STB. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09294797B2 |
Methods, systems, and products for control of devices
Methods, systems, and products control external devices during presentation of multimedia content. When a description of the multimedia content is received, the description includes control data for controlling an external device. The control data is stripped therefrom and sent to the external device to alter a presentation of the multimedia content. |
| US09294796B2 |
Inserting personalized information into digital content
Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for personalizing video content. A server receives a request for a digital video stream from a client device and generates a first set of personalized frames to be inserted into the requested digital video stream. The server combines the first set of personalized frames and the requested digital video stream to generate a personalized video stream and transmits the personalized video stream to a downstream device. The downstream device generates a second set of personalized frames to be inserted into the personalized video stream and combines the second set of personalized frames and the personalized video stream to generate an updated personalized video stream for transmission to the client device. |
| US09294795B2 |
Inserting personalized information into digital content
Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for inserting personalized information into digital content. A digital media player receives a personalized video content stream comprising personalized data associated with a user that replaces one or more frames of requested video content. The player extracts the personalized data from the one or more replaced frames of the video content stream, and displays the personalized data and the video content stream to a user. |
| US09294791B2 |
Method and system for utilizing switched digital video (SDV) for delivering dynamically encoded video content
A server may be used to handle at least some of processing of content that is based on web access operations initiated in a set-top box (STB), wherein one or more links between the server and the STB that are used to forward multimedia broadcasts are configured to free bandwidth for communicating at least a portion of the processed content to the STB. The bandwidth may be freed based on switched digital video (SDV) and/or dedicated IPTV channels or systems. The broadcast links may be reconfigured based on monitoring of multimedia broadcast access by the STB and/or one or more other STBs. The freed bandwidth in the multimedia broadcast links may be configured for unicast transport of processed content to a specific STB, or may be configured for multicast transport of the processed content to a plurality of STBs. |
| US09294787B2 |
Ad hoc collaboration network for capturing audio/video data
Software authenticates a first user of a first mobile device and a second user of a second mobile device. Each of the mobile devices includes a video capturing device and each user agrees or has previously agreed to share video data captured by the user with other authenticated users. The software determines whether the first mobile device is located proximate to the second mobile device. Then the software receives video data captured by the second mobile device and transmits the video data to the first mobile device for display along with an annotation indicating the location of the second mobile device relative to the first mobile device, if the first mobile device is proximate to the second mobile device. The software receives an indication from the first mobile device that at least some of the video data is to be indexed in a profile associated with the first user. |
| US09294783B2 |
Image encoding device
In an image encoding device, a variable-length encoder encodes a quantized macro blocks and generates encoded data. The variable-length encoder forcefully encodes an end macro block of a line group composed of macro block lines, as a non-skipped macro block. Each of macro blocks which are to be encoded subsequent to the end macro block is encoded as a non-skipped macro block until an amount of codes of the encoded data including the end macro block reaches the smallest unit of transmission of the transmission part. As a result, the encoded data including the end macro block is transmitted to the image decoding device by the smallest unit of transmission. |
| US09294781B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video by using transformation index, and method and apparatus for decoding video by using transformation index
Encoding and decoding a video using transformation index that indicates information that indicates a structure of a transformation unit transforming data of a current coding unit. |
| US09294780B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding video by motion prediction using arbitrary partition, and method and apparatus for decoding video by motion prediction using arbitrary partition
An apparatus for decoding a video by parsing asymmetric partition information indicating whether partition types include asymmetric partition types, from a bitstream of an encoded image, determining at least one coding unit included in a maximum coding unit by using split information parsed from the received bitstream, determining at least one prediction unit of a coding unit among the at least one coding unit, by using the asymmetric partition information and information about a partition type of the coding unit parsed from the received bitstream, and performing motion compensation using the prediction units for the coding unit. |
| US09294779B2 |
Multi-bit information hiding using overlapping subsets
Methods and devices for reconstructing coefficient levels from a bitstream of encoded video data for a coefficient group in a transform unit. Sign bits are hidden in the parity of partially overlapping subsets of a set of coefficients. This enables the hiding of multiple sign bits per coefficient group. Other information bits may be hidden instead of sign bits in some cases. |
| US09294776B2 |
Parallel processing for video coding
In one example, a device for coding video data includes a video coder configured to code, for a tile of an enhancement layer picture, data indicating a number of tiles in a base layer picture that need to be coded before the tile of the enhancement layer picture can be coded, code tiles of the base layer picture corresponding to the number of tiles, and, after coding the tiles of the base layer picture, code the tile of the enhancement layer picture substantially in parallel with at least one other tile in the base layer picture. |
| US09294769B2 |
Intra-prediction method using filtering, and apparatus using the method
Disclosed are an intra-prediction method using filtering and an apparatus using the method. An image-decoding method comprises: a step of filtering an n upper reference pixel of a block to be predicted and neighboring pixels of the n upper reference pixel so as to obtain the filtered n upper reference pixel; and a step of filtering an n left reference pixel of a block to be predicted and neighboring pixels of the n left reference pixel so as to obtain the filtered n left reference pixel. According to the present invention, intra-prediction may be efficiently performed to improve image-encoding/decoding efficiency. |
| US09294767B2 |
Inter picture prediction method for video coding and decoding and codec
The invention discloses an inter picture prediction method for video coding and decoding and a codec. The inter picture prediction method for video coding comprises: performing motion estimation over integer pixel positions of a reference picture, to determine an optimal motion vector for a current prediction unit in a current picture; and performing interpolation filtering processing for motion estimation over fractional pixel position by using the integer pixel position information to which the optimal motion vector directs in the reference picture, and spatially neighboring pixel information of the current prediction unit in the current picture. The inter picture prediction method for video decoding comprises performing decoding to obtain a motion vector in a current decoding unit; and for fractional pixel motion vector, performing interpolation filtering processing by using reference pixels to which the optimal motion vector directs in a reference picture, and spatially neighboring pixels of the current prediction unit in the current picture. The invention can improve the video coding and decoding efficiency, reduce the bit rate necessary for provision of the same video quality, and also reduce nonzero prediction residual signal so as to facilitate the reduction of blocking artifacts. |
| US09294764B2 |
Video encoder with intra-prediction candidate screening and methods for use therewith
An intra-prediction module includes a candidate screening preprocessor configured to process blocks of picture data based on intra-prediction candidate data corresponding to a plurality of pixels of the blocks. The intra-prediction candidate data indicates a first subset selected from a plurality of intra-prediction partitions and a second subset selected from a plurality of intra-prediction modes. The processing includes screening the intra-prediction candidate data to generate screened intra-prediction candidate data that indicates a third subset selected from a plurality of intra-prediction partitions and a fourth subset selected from a plurality of intra-prediction modes. A rate distortion optimization processor determines final intra-prediction data, based on the screened intra-prediction candidate data. |
| US09294761B2 |
Shutter glasses and display apparatus including the same
Disclosed are shutter glasses, a display apparatus, and control method therefore, which enables a user to control the display apparatus while wearing the shutter glasses. The shutter glasses include a communication unit which communicates with a display apparatus; a shutter which comprises a left eye shutter and a right eye shutter that are alternately open and shut; a sensor which senses a predetermined movement of the shutter glasses; and a controller which controls the shutter to be open and shut selectively based on a sync signal received from the display apparatus through the communication unit and corresponding to the 3D image, and controls the communication unit to generate and transmit a control signal controlling the display apparatus corresponding to the predetermined movement of the shutter glasses sensed by the sensor. |
| US09294747B2 |
Display apparatus, information processing apparatus, image display system, display apparatus control method and information processing apparatus control method
A display apparatus which displays image data sent from a plurality of information processing apparatuses via a communication line determines which of (1) image data sent from the same information processing apparatus and (2) image data sent from different information processing apparatuses are a plurality of received image data. Depending on the determination result, the display apparatus changes the display layout. |
| US09294739B1 |
Magnetically coupled waterproof hinge with integrated multi-stage button and state detection
An example of a waterproof hinge and button configuration for a head mounted device is provided. A magnet may be attached to the button, and a sensor may be positioned adjacent to the button to detect movement of the button. For example, the sensor may detect when the button is fully pressed, partially pressed, or not pressed at all by the level of magnetic flux density detected by the sensor. In addition, the sensor may detect an opened or closed position of the hinge based on the magnetic field polarity of the magnet. Due to the implementation of the sensor, the electrical components of the button are able to be removed so as to make the button-hinge configuration waterproof. |
| US09294736B2 |
Working vehicle periphery monitoring system and working vehicle
A working vehicle periphery monitoring system includes: a plurality of image capturing devices capturing a periphery of a working vehicle to output image information; a bird's eye image synthesizing unit synthesizing the image information to generate bird's eye image information for displaying a bird's eye image on a monitor; and a display control unit displaying, on the monitor, at least one of a first bird's eye image obtained by superimposing a first vessel image including at least the vessel other than a part of the vessel at a rear side of the working vehicle and front and rear wheels displayed with the vessel on an area of the working vehicle in the bird's eye image and a second bird's eye image obtained by superimposing a second vessel image including at least all of the vessel and the front and rear wheels displayed with the vessel on the area of the working vehicle in the bird's eye image. |
| US09294732B2 |
Systems and methods for sleep monitoring
A mobile computing device for performing a sleep study includes a camera, a display, a processor, and a tangible computer readable medium. The tangible computer readable medium includes a sleep study application embodied as code for selectively displaying a request to capture an image of a user of the mobile computing device using the camera. The sleep study application further includes code for, after storage of the image: selectively prompting a data collection module to store data samples generated based on signals generated using at least one of an electromyography sensor connected to the user, an electroencephalography sensor connected to the user, an electrocardiogram sensor connected to the user, and an oxygen saturation sensor connected to the user, an electrooculography sensor connected to the user, a temperature sensor connected to the user, and a pressure sensor connected to the user; and receiving the data samples from the data collection module. |
| US09294728B2 |
System and method for routing content
A system for transmitting information to a display includes one or more content sources, a network, a content processor, and a display device. The content sources are each capable of transmitting content to a content router in first formats according to packet-based communication protocol. The network selectively couples content sources to the content processor. The content processor requests and receives content from a selected content source. The content processor then modifies the first formats and generates a video stream based on the received content and transmits the video stream to the display device. The display device then displays the video stream. |
| US09294723B2 |
Meeting management system including automated equipment setup
In an illustrative embodiment, a method comprises displaying at least one preset parameter associated with a conference type. The conference type is associated with preset resources. The method further comprises accepting information defining the conference type, receiving preset information from the at least one displayed preset parameter, automatically determining a room by communicating with a scheduling server the availability of the preset resources based on the received preset information, and sending at least one command to control the associated preset resources in response to the start time and end time. |
| US09294721B2 |
Techniques for a mixed audio conference
Techniques for a mixed audio conference are described. An apparatus may comprise an audio video multipoint control unit to mix call information from multiple call connections established over a packet-switched network for a conference call. The apparatus may comprise a telephony gateway communicatively coupled to the audio video multipoint control unit. The telephony gateway may establish a bridge connection with a conference bridge servicing a call connection over a circuit-switched network, the telephony gateway to translate call information from the call connection for use by the audio video multipoint control unit. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09294719B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing in-app live support functionality
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing in-app live support functionality. According to a particular embodiment such an apparatus may be embodied by a user client device which includes, for example: a processor and a memory to execute instructions at the user client device; an application to execute upon the user client device via the processor and the memory; a graphical interface; an audio interface; a communications interface to communicatively link the user client device with a remote service over a network; the graphical interface to receive a user event within the application triggering a user initiated service call to the remote service via the network; the communications interface to receive an audio and video stream from the remote service via the network responsive to the triggering of the user initiated service call, the audio and video stream displaying at least video of a customer service agent and establishing two way audio communication between the user client device and the remote service; and wherein the communications interface further transmits audio captured at the user client device to the remote service and transmits a representation of the application as displayed via the graphical interface of the user client device to the remote service. Other related embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09294715B2 |
Controlling display of video data
A user terminal comprising: a network interface; a display; and a communications module configured to: receive video data from at least one further user terminal over a communications network during a communication event with said at least one further user terminal via said network interface; receive location information from said at least one further user terminal over the communications network via said network interface; in response to receiving said location information, display a map on said display, said map displaying a plurality of locations; and for each of said at least one further user terminal, control the video data received from said further user terminal to be displayed on said display to provide a visual indication of the location of said further user terminal at one of said plurality of locations. |
| US09294711B2 |
De-interlacing and frame rate upconversion for high definition video
Technologies and implementations for de-interlacing an interlaced digital video and up-converting a frame rate of a digital video are generally disclosed. |
| US09294706B2 |
Method and apparatus for playing back a moving picture
A method of playing back a moving picture in a portable terminal includes recognizing at least one playback list including moving picture files having file names that are more similar than a determined degree from among all moving picture files, identifying at least one overlap playback section formed of identical frames by analyzing frames of moving picture files included in the generated playback list, and upon playing one of the moving picture files included in the generated playback list, determining whether an auto-skipping function is activated, and playing the requested one of moving picture files based on the determination. |
| US09294700B2 |
Imaging element, imaging device, electronic device, and imaging method
To improve the speed of AD conversion. An amplifier amplifies, by a magnification larger than 1, signals of a pixel that outputs a signal in which there is no accumulation of a charge by a photon as a reset signal, and outputs a signal in which there is accumulation of a charge by a photon as an accumulation signal. A calculation unit generates an offset amount signal corresponding to an amount of own offset component using the amplified signal, and calculates a digital value corresponding to the own offset component using the generated offset amount signal and accuracy set for AD conversion of the amplified accumulated signal. |
| US09294699B2 |
Method for driving image pickup device, method for correcting digital signal, image pickup device, method for driving image capturing system, and image capturing system
There are provided a method for driving an image pickup device, a method for correcting a digital signal, an image pickup device, a method for driving an image capturing system, and an image capturing system. Digital signals are generated on the basis of a potential at an input node of a comparison unit by using a first reference signal whose potential changes by a first amount per unit time and a second reference signal whose potential changes by a second amount per unit time, the second amount being greater than the first amount. A correction value based on a difference in signal value between the digital signals is derived. A digital signal based on a pixel signal is corrected on the basis of the derived correction value. |
| US09294693B1 |
Image sensor with pixel units having interleaved photodiodes
An image sensor includes a plurality of photodiodes arranged into an array of rows and columns. The photodiodes are grouped into pixel units, where each pixel unit includes at least four photodiodes and shared pixel unit circuitry coupled to each of the four photodiodes. In one aspect the shared pixel unit circuitry may include a shared source follower transistor. In another aspect the shared pixel unit circuitry includes a shared reset transistor. Two of the photodiodes of the pixel unit are in a first column of the array and another two of the photodiodes are in a second column of the array. One of the photodiodes in the second column is in a row that is between rows of the two photodiodes in the first column. |
| US09294687B2 |
Robust automatic exposure control using embedded data
A method, system, and article provide robust automatic exposure control using embedded data. |
| US09294685B2 |
Image processing apparatus, electronic camera, and medium storing image processing program
In an image processing apparatus performing synthetic processing on N number of images (where N is an integer of two or larger) being captured from a same photographic scene under mutually different exposure conditions to generate a synthetic image with a higher dynamic range than the N number of images, obtaining the N number of images, and performing low-pass processing on at least one image among the N number of images to generate a low-pass image. Then, a weighting amount in the synthetic processing is decided based on the low-pass image, and the synthetic processing is performed on the N number of images according to the decided weighting amount to generate the synthetic image. Accordingly, a natural synthetic image with fewer changes in contrast, hue, and chroma is generated in a simple configuration when generating the synthetic image. |
| US09294683B2 |
Image pickup device and focal plane shutter
An image pickup device includes: a focal plane shutter including: a board including an opening; a leading shutter and a trailing shutter moving to open and close the opening; a leading-shutter actuator and a trailing-shutter actuator respectively causing the leading shutter and the trailing shutter to move; a leading-shutter sensor detecting that the leading shutter passes through a first position; and a trailing-shutter sensor detecting that the trailing shutter passes through a second position, an image pickup element that light enters through the opening; and a drive control portion. |
| US09294676B2 |
Choosing optimal correction in video stabilization
To correct for the motion a perspective transform of a pair of matrices can be applied to an input image to provide an output frame. The first matrix can represent a transform to be applied to the input frame and the second matrix can represent an identity matrix. Each matrix can contribute to the output frame according to a respective weighting factor. The weighting factors for the two matrices can be determined based on an estimate of the overscan. |
| US09294675B2 |
Image pickup apparatus capable of detecting motion vector, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image pickup apparatus capable of detecting a motion vector and selecting a vector search method which enables effects to be always obtained in various usages of a camera, taking into account load balancing with the performance. One input image is set as a reference image, and the other input image is set as a search target image. Using a template having a predetermined size on the reference image, a motion vector is detected from the search target image. A determination index associated with frequency of occurrence of parallax conflict is calculated. When the determination index is not larger than a threshold value, a first detection method using a single layer is selected, whereas when the determination index is larger than the threshold value, a second detection method using a plurality of layers is selected. |
| US09294670B2 |
Lenticular image capture
The display of images, such as lenticular images, in a limited display space can be aided through the use of motion-based control, whereby a user can rotate and/or translate a computing device in order to cause different views of a lenticular image to be displayed. Sensors can be used to determine the motion in order to select the appropriate view to display. Approaches can further assist the user in creating lenticular images. The user can specify various configurations in which to display different views in a lenticular. If the user is capturing the images, one or more previously-acquired images can be used as a guide to help the user to align the images. Various processing can be performed to cause the individual views of the lenticular to match as closely as possible in factors such as alignment, brightness, and color range, among other such options. |
| US09294668B2 |
Ranging apparatus, imaging apparatus, and ranging method
A ranging apparatus includes: an output ratio data calculation unit for calculating an output ratio data of first and second image data; a correction function calculation unit for calculating a correction function approximating the output ratio data by an N-order function (N being an integer equal to or greater than 1) having a pixel position as a variable; a correction unit for correcting at least one of the first and second image data on the basis of the correction function; and a ranging unit for calculating the defocus amount by using the picture image data corrected by the correction unit. |
| US09294667B2 |
MEMS auto focus miniature camera module with fixed and movable lens groups
A MEMS auto focus miniature camera module includes an image sensor and an optical train including at least one movable lens and one or more fixed lenses or fixed lens groups on either side of the movable lens. The movable lens provides an auto focus feature of the camera module. A MEMS actuator translates the movable lens through an auto focus range to adjust focus. |
| US09294660B2 |
Removable lenses for mobile electronic devices
In some embodiments, an auxiliary optical system for a mobile electronic device has a mounting component that is configured to be selectively attachable and detachable from the mobile electronic device. The mounting component is configured to be coupled to and decoupled from a multi-lens component with a plurality of lenses. When the multi-lens component is coupled to the mounting component, the multi-lens component can be prevented from moving, such as sliding or rotating. In some embodiments, an auxiliary optical system for a mobile electronic device comprises a removable onboard camera lens or onboard camera of a mobile electronic device. The onboard lens or onboard camera can be removed and/or replaced with another onboard lens or onboard camera with different optical qualities. |
| US09294658B2 |
Lens barrel, imaging device and camera
A lens barrel includes a first zoom/focus lens group and a second zoom/focus lens group configured to respectively vary a focal distance and imaging distance by moving in an optical axis, a first actuator configured to drive the first zoom/focus lens group, and a second actuator configured to drive the second zoom/focus lens group. |
| US09294656B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes: an interface unit configured to input an image signal from an imaging apparatus that exposes a specimen dyed with a fluorescent dye to excitation light and images fluorescence by a color imaging element; and a color correction circuit configured to retain information on a percentage of each of a component of a second color and a component of a third color with respect to a component of a first color corresponding to the excitation light in the image signal, which is determined in advance based on color filter spectral characteristics of the color imaging element, and reduce each of an amount corresponding to the percentage of the component of the second color and an amount corresponding to the percentage of the component of the third color from the input image signal. |
| US09294648B2 |
Image reading device
An image reading device includes a document table having a document read area, and an illumination unit that includes a light source configured to illuminate the document read area and a light-guiding body configured to allow light from the light source to be incident on both end portions extending in a main-scanning direction and configured to scatter or reflect the light to be emitted toward the document read area. The device includes an arc-shaped stepped portion that is formed at both end portions of the light-guiding body, a carriage that supports the illumination unit to be movable in a sub-scanning direction, a hold-down member that holds down the both end portions of the light-guiding body towards the carriage and is attached to the arc-shaped stepped portion to regulate movement of the light-guiding body in the main-scanning direction, and a photoelectric conversion unit. |
| US09294647B2 |
Function-based device registration for a data processing apparatus
A data processing apparatus includes a memory, an accepting unit for accepting an instruction to perform one of a first process and a second process from a user, the second process being different from the first process, and a controller. The controller is configured to: determine a candidate device from among at least one device, the candidate device possessing a first function that is used for performing the first process; register the candidate device as a first device to be used for performing the first process; register the candidate device as a second device to be used for performing the second process, the second process being different from the first process; and control the first device to perform the first process when the accepting unit accepts the instruction to perform the first process and control the second device to perform the second process when the accepting unit accepts the instruction to perform the second process. |
| US09294646B2 |
Image forming apparatus and detachable control panel for controlling power supply to the control panel
A novel electronic apparatus includes a main unit of the apparatus and a detachable control panel that can communicate with the main unit of the apparatus. The main unit of the apparatus includes a first power supply that supplies power to the entire main unit. The control panel includes a generating unit that generates power using external light, a voltage detection unit that detects the generated voltage by the generating unit, a second power supply that is charged by the generating unit and supplies power to the control panel, a control panel status detection unit that detects a status of the control panel, and a power supply control unit that controls supplying power to the control panel from at least either one of the first power supply or the second power supply based on the detection results by the voltage detection unit and the control panel status detection unit. |
| US09294645B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of operating image forming apparatus, configured to determine whether operating mode is executable based on charge remaining in battery
An image forming apparatus includes a voltage detector that detects voltage drop in battery output when the image forming apparatus enters operating mode, a table that stores data associating the entered operating mode with the voltage drop in battery output in performing the operating mode, a battery power detector that detects charge remaining on the battery, and an operating mode determination unit that determines whether or not the operating mode is executable based on the voltage drop in battery output in performing the operating mode. The operating mode determination unit determines whether or not the operating mode is executable based on the voltage drop in battery output in performing the operating mode acquired from the table and output voltage of the battery in accordance with the charge remaining on the battery. |
| US09294643B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes a determination section, acquisition section, generation section, notification section, and a management section. The determination section determines, when receiving a print job from a predetermined terminal apparatus via a network, whether or not the print job is a private print job. If the print job is a private print job, the acquisition section acquires, from another image forming apparatus coupled to the image forming apparatus to communicate with the image forming apparatus, information regarding the another image forming apparatus. The generation section generates a one time password on the basis of the acquired information. The notification section notifies the terminal apparatus of the generated one time password. The management section manages the generated one time password in association with the private print job and, when receiving the one time password from a user, executes the private print job associated with the one time password. |
| US09294641B2 |
Image reading unit and image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus including a contact image sensor module, a holder, and an urging member is provided. The contact image sensor module may extend in a first direction and include a shaft extending in the first direction and a protrusion protruding from the contact image sensor module in a second direction. The holder may accommodate the contact image sensor module and include an insertion section, in which a leading edge of the shaft is inserted, and a contact section contacting the protrusion from one side in the first direction. The first urging member may urge the contact image sensor module toward the one side in the first direction. |
| US09294640B2 |
Sheet post-processing device and image formation system
A sheet post-processing device is mounted in an image forming apparatus that includes an image reading unit and an image forming unit. The image forming unit is located under the image reading unit with a space therebetween. The sheet post-processing device includes: a first tray that is located in the space and houses a sheet ejected from the image forming unit; a post-processing unit that is located in the space and performs post-processing on a sheet in the first tray; a transfer member that, after the post-processing is performed on a sheet in the first tray, transfers the sheet to a front side of the image forming apparatus; and a second tray that is located closer to the front side of the image forming apparatus than the first tray and houses a sheet transferred by the transfer member. |
| US09294639B2 |
Image forming apparatus displaying information that is received from an external device and is directed to a user
An image forming apparatus includes a display device, an operation device, an information-for-display reception unit, and a display control unit. The display device displays information for display. The operation device is receives input of an operation by a user. The information-for-display reception unit receives the information for display from an external device. The display control unit controls the display device, and causes the display device to display the information for display when the information for display received by the information-for-display reception unit is directed to the user. |
| US09294637B2 |
Registering and using a plurality of functions of a plurality of image forming apparatuses
A computing device such as a terminal may acquire function information about a function provided by an external device. The device may select an input device having an input function and an output device having an output function to execute a main function comprising the input and output functions. In one example, an input function may be selected from one or more functions of the selected input device and an output function may be selected from one or more functions of the output device. A command may be output to the input device and the output device to have the devices execute a main function including the selected input and output functions. When at least one of the input device and the output device has a plurality of functions, a function to be used to execute the main function is selected from the plurality of functions. |
| US09294626B1 |
Voice based addressing of voice messages
A system for transmitting voice messages from a caller location to a receiver location using a plurality of computers each coupled to another through a network such as the Internet. The system also has a plurality of handheld portable recording-delivery devices which are coupled to the network. Each handheld portable recording-delivery device can convert voice input into digital data for transmission through the network. Destination information for the digital data being transmitted is generated using speech recognition of voice input. |
| US09294624B2 |
System and method for client interaction application integration
A system for client interaction application integration, comprising a plurality of enterprise communications systems, each comprising at least a call status system; and a callback cloud accessible coupled to the plurality of enterprise communications systems via a data network; wherein, upon receipt of a request from a consumer user to initiate a callback to the consumer user, the callback cloud performs the steps of: (a) obtaining from at least one of the enterprise communications systems a status of communications resources comprising at least an estimated wait time; (b) sending a notification to the consumer user from whom the request was received advising the consumer user of the estimated wait time for service; (c) providing at least an option to wait for a callback to the consumer user from whom the request was received; (d) receiving a selection from the consumer user from whom the request was received; and (e) directing at least one of the enterprise communications systems to initiate a callback to the consumer user from whom the request was received in response to the selection received from the consumer user; and further wherein at least one of the enterprise communications systems initiates a callback to a consumer user at the direction of the callback cloud. |
| US09294623B2 |
Systems and methods for self-service automated dial-out and call-in surveys
A poll definition comprising a plurality of poll questions and a phone list comprising a plurality of phone list entries is received over the network from a user. Each phone list entry comprises a phone number for one of a first plurality of poll targets. A first poll run is conducted as a dial-out poll run using the poll definition and the phone list, such that a first set of answers to the plurality of poll questions is received from at least some of the first plurality of poll targets. A second poll run is conducted as a call-in poll run, using the poll definition, such that a second set of answers to the plurality of poll questions is received from a second plurality of poll targets. A third poll run is conducted as a web survey, using the poll definition, such that a third set of answers to the plurality of poll questions is received from a third plurality of poll targets. |
| US09294620B2 |
Method, medium, and system for a customer service application for a portable electronic device
A customer service application resident on a user's portable electronic device is used to get information about a service and also request the service offered by a store. The customer service application can check for nearby stores when launched. Once the user is deemed to be within the service area of the store, the store host server computer can start sending information about various products, servers, events, or workshops offered by the store. The user can use the customer service application to request product or service help from store employees, register for an event/workshop, reserve a product for pickup, etc. |
| US09294617B2 |
Identifying a contact based on a voice communication session
Arrangements described herein include identifying a voice communication session established between a first communication device and a second communication device and, based on the voice communication session established between the first communication device and the second communication device, identifying a plurality of contacts who potentially may be the second user. A list including at least a name of each of the plurality of contacts who potentially may be the second user is presented to a first user using the first communication device. |
| US09294616B2 |
Identifying a contact based on a voice communication session
Arrangements described herein include identifying a voice communication session established between a first communication device and a second communication device and, based on the voice communication session established between the first communication device and the second communication device, identifying a plurality of contacts who potentially may be the second user. A list including at least a name of each of the plurality of contacts who potentially may be the second user is presented to a first user using the first communication device. |
| US09294610B2 |
Emergency alert system and program for portable devices
A system and software application that communicates with a central service for alerting a security service that help is needed, wherein an application running on a smart phone causes identity information, location information, and an emergency alert to be transmitted to an emergency response facility either by a single button press or a delayed count-down, or else, in the even that a data network is unavailable, presents an interface to directly dial an emergency response service with a single button press. |
| US09294607B2 |
Headset computer (HSC) as auxiliary display with ASR and HT input
The present invention related to human/computer interfaces and more particularly to a headset computing display device that accepts voice commands and tracks head motions to provide command inputs to and receive display information from a software application executed on a host computing device. An example embodiment of the present invention includes a method of, and corresponding system for, operating a native Smartphone or PC application, simultaneously displaying an output of the application through the Smartphone or PC screen and a headset computing display device, and using speech and head tracking commands to control the native application. The present invention enables hands-free operation of a Smartphone or PC application. |
| US09294606B2 |
Method for realizing downloading of mobile terminal application program and mobile terminal
The method of the present invention adds a plug-in control unit on an operation interface of a mobile terminal, and displays the plug-in control unit on the operation interface. An application program downloading icon pushed by a background server is arranged and displayed on the plug-in control unit, and before the downloading of the application program is completed, the application program downloading icon links to a downloading address of a corresponding application program. An operational instruction of a user is received, a corresponding application program is downloaded, and identification is displayed according to the downloading status. The present invention has the advantage of downloading and installing an application program quickly. |
| US09294605B1 |
Mobile terminal and method for controlling the same
A mobile terminal may display at least one content. A first function related to the content may be executed to display a first result screen upon receiving a first input, and a second function related to the first result screen is executed to display a second result screen upon receiving a second input following the first input. Second content of the second result screen, related to first content of the first result screen, which corresponds to an end point of the first input, may be displayed at a substantially center area. |
| US09294603B2 |
Standard mobile communication device distraction prevention and safety protocols
Methods and systems for providing standardized mobile device distraction prevention and safety protocols are disclosed. In particular, an embodiment of a method for activating a distraction prevention or safety protocol behavior in a mobile device when the mobile device satisfies a specific condition is disclosed. The method includes discovering one or more protocol activators configured to transmit discovery information associated with a specific condition. The method further includes activating distraction prevention safety protocol behavior in the mobile device based at least in part on the discovery information. In an implementation, the specific condition may be a specified environment itself and or include an event when the mobile device enters a specified environment or a specified sequence of numbers is dialed from the mobile device. |
| US09294602B2 |
Security device and information processing device
A security device and an information processing device capable of maintaining information useful for confirming a occurrence of a crime which include a switch that is provided so as to be operable with a hand that holds a housing, a light-emitting element that emits pulsed light in accordance with the operation of the switch, an imaging unit that performs imaging in an emission direction of the pulsed light and supplies image information, and a communication unit that transmits the image information to a communication network are provided. This structure allows a user to emit the pulsed light to an assailant, which prevents crimes and transmit to the communication network. |
| US09294598B2 |
Switch circuit
A signal line from a common terminal, which allows the insertion of a terminal of a cable for transmitting high-frequency signals or the insertion of a terminal of a cable dedicated to the transmission of audio signals, is branched into one line which is connected to one end of a high-frequency signal switch (USB switch) and the other line which is connected to one end of an audio signal switch (audio switch), respectively. A signal line from the other end of the high-frequency signal switch is connected to a target circuit. A signal line from the other end of the audio signal switch in a primary hierarchical position is branched into a plurality of lines, and the respective plurality of lines are connected to one end of audio signal switches (e.g., headphone switch and microphone switch) in a secondary hierarchical position. And the respective signal lines from the other end of the plurality of audio signal switches of secondary hierarchical position are connected to respective target circuits. |
| US09294596B2 |
Display of an electronic device supporting multiple operation modes
A method and an apparatus output data from an electronic device. The method includes: identifying at least one display area matched to at least one opening area formed in a part of a cover of the electronic device on a display screen of a display unit of the electronic device; operating the at least one display area in a first mode, and operating at least a partial area of a remaining display area of the display screen in a second mode. |
| US09294590B2 |
Frame conversion apparatus for converting controller area network frame into ethernet frame and frame conversion method thereof
A frame conversion apparatus for converting a CAN frame into an Ethernet frame and a frame conversion method thereof, configured to efficiently convert CAN frame data into Ethernet frame data, to achieve high-speed and high-volume transmission. |
| US09294586B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus, server, storage medium having stored therein information processing program, and information processing method
A production content is stored in a storage unit of a server in accordance with an operation on a terminal apparatus, a material content is selected from among a plurality of material contents so that the selected material content is used as a material to create the production content, and a request is made, from the terminal apparatus, to the server for creation of a production content associated with the selected material content. Then, a state of the request is presented to a plurality of terminal apparatuses. |
| US09294585B2 |
Near live-migration of operating system and application
A method for live-migration of an operating system and an application is provided. The operating system runs on a first computer. The application may run on the operating system. The live-migration may be performed to a second computer while the application showing no externally detectable downtime during live-migration of the application. The method may comprise operating a tracking tool that may track and store data modifications to a disk-system of the computer in a tracking file, triggering a shutdown of the first computer while the tracking tool continues to operate in tracking mode and shut down the first computer completely. Then restarting the first computer and sending the data modifications stored prior to the complete shutdown of the first computer to the second computer, which then may be started based on the sent data, followed by starting the application such that from an external perspective no application disruption is detectable. |
| US09294582B2 |
Application-driven CDN pre-caching
Techniques are provided for the caching of content prior to the content being requested. A request for desired content may be received from a client application at a caching server. The request may also indicate additional content related to the desired content that may be subsequently requested by the client application. The indicated additional content (and the desired content, if not already cached) is retrieved from an origin server. The desired content is transmitted to the client application at the user device, and the additional content is cached at the caching server. Subsequently, a second request may be received from the client application that includes a request for the additional content. The additional content, which is now cached at the caching server, is served to the client application by the caching server in response to the second request (rather than being retrieved from the origin server). |
| US09294580B2 |
Managed P2P network with content-delivery network
A content-acquisition request is sent to a centralized management service computer via a computer network. The content-acquisition request may query the centralized management service computer for a recommended content source to provide a first digital content item. If a response to the content-acquisition request is received via the computer network and identifies a recommended peer computer of a peer-to-peer network as the recommended content source, a request to download the first digital content item is sent to the recommended peer computer via the computer network. If a response to the content-acquisition request is not received, a fallback request to download the first digital content item is automatically sent to a content-delivery network computer via the computer network. |
| US09294570B2 |
Method and apparatus for social networking in a dynamic environment
In one embodiment, the present invention is a method and apparatus for social networking in a dynamic environment. In one embodiment, a method for social networking in a network includes broadcasting a first set of one or more keywords representing one or more interests of a first user in the network, receiving a response from a second user in the network indicating interest in at least one of the interests of the first user, and connecting to a server in the network, where the server hosts a group for supporting communications between at least the first network user and the second network user. |
| US09294569B2 |
Cell fabric hardware acceleration
An aspect includes a method for providing direct communication between a server and a network switch in a cell-based fabric. A host channel adapter of a cell fabric hardware accelerator is configured to provide the server with direct access to memory within the network switch. A plurality of data packets having a fixed size is received at the host channel adapter from the server. The host channel adapter is coupled to a bus of the server. A direct transmission is performed from the cell fabric hardware accelerator to the memory within the network switch on an interconnect bus to write the data packets directly into the memory. |
| US09294568B2 |
Providing electronic content to residents of controlled-environment facilities
Systems and methods for providing electronic content and applications to residents of controlled-environment facilities are disclosed. The portable computing device may be configured to determine that an external memory has been coupled to it. The external memory may include content requested by the resident and a key configured to allow the device to access the content to the exclusion of other devices associated with other residents. The portable computing device may retrieve the key from the external memory and allow the resident to view or play the content if the key matches a lock programmed within the device. If the resident attempts to insert a non-authorized external memory into the device, its contents may be erased and/or an alert may be generated. The content of the external memory may be transferred to the portable computing device and then the external memory may be locked so that it is unusable. |
| US09294567B2 |
Systems and methods for enabling access to extensible storage devices over a network as local storage via NVME controller
A new approach is proposed that contemplates systems and methods to support extensible/flexible storage access in real time by virtualizing a plurality of remote storage devices as NVMe namespace(s) via an NVMe controller using a storage network protocol. The NVMe controller exports and presents the remote storage devices to one or more VMs running on a host attached to the NVMe controller as the NVMe namespace(s), wherein these remote storage devices appear virtually as one or more logical volumes of a collection of logical blocks in the NVMe namespace(s) to the VMs. As a result, each of the VMs running on the host can access these remote storage devices to perform read/write operations as if they were local storage devices via the NVMe namespace(s). |
| US09294565B2 |
Efficient data access on a shared data network
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for providing efficient synchronized data access. A request to access data on a first data provider is received. The requested data on the first data provider is synchronized with a second data provider, such that the first and second data providers respectively comprise a same version of the requested data. A provider score can respectively be determined for the first data provider and for the second data provider, where the provider score utilizes heuristic data that may indicate a data access rate and/or a cost of data access, for the respective first data provider and second data provider. The request for data access can be routed to the data provider that comprises a desired provider score, where a desired provider score may indicate a desired rate of data access and/or cost of data access. |
| US09294563B2 |
Apparatus and method for level-based self-adjusting peer-to-peer media streaming
An apparatus and method for media streaming in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network having a plurality of peer modules connected on the network include a source peer module connected on the network, the source peer module being associated with a highest logical level of the network. A plurality of viewer peer modules is also connected on the network, each viewer peer module being associated with a logical network level. The logical network level associated with each viewer peer module is a quantity of logical network levels that the viewer peer module is logically below the source peer module. The P2P network is configured such that each viewer peer module can be connected to no more than one up-peer module logically above the viewer peer module, and each viewer peer module can be connected to any integer number of down-peer modules logically below the viewer peer module. |
| US09294559B2 |
Fault-tolerance mechanism optimized for peer-to-peer network
Communication element (E2) comprising at least one interface with a communication network (NTEL) containing other communication elements (E1), and a peer-to-peer network (Np2p) for processing requests (Req) from the other communication elements, consisting of nodes (N1, N2, N3, N4, N5) distributed among a set of processing devices and arranged in a circle. It is associated with a management device comprising admission means to insert a new node within the peer-to-peer network. The communication element is intended so that contextual information used for processing said requests can be stored in the nodes and is characterized in that the admission means are intended to determine a pair of adjacent nodes deployed on a same processing device and to insert the new node between the two nodes of the pair. |
| US09294550B2 |
Efficient data transfer for cloud storage by centralized management of access tokens
A data management server manages access tokens for accessing remote storage service servers. The data management server sends the access tokens to user terminals to enable the user terminals to communicate directly with the remote storage server to upload data to the remote storage service server or download data from the remote storage service server without routing of data traffic through the centralized data management server. The data management server initially communicates with a remote storage service server to open an account for a user and obtains an access token for accessing the account in the remote storage service server. |
| US09294541B2 |
Method and system for correlation of session activities to a browser window in a client-server enviroment
The present invention provides an improved method for correlation of session activities to a browser window in a client-server environment. The method includes intercepting data traffic between client and server; submitting requests to server and responses to client; monitoring all incoming client requests and server responses; looking for a session identifier and identifying corresponding marker locations for incoming browser requests missing the session identifier at a predefined main marker location; incoming client requests are intercepted, a correlation response and a session identifier is sent to a requesting client for repeating client request including the session identifier at predefined marker locations; using the session identifier for all subsequent requests originated by client, all predefined main marker locations containing the session identifier are removed and client requests are recorded and associated with the session identifier marking client request with a specific marker containing the session identifier and submitted to the server. |
| US09294531B2 |
Signaling and processing content with variable bitrates for adaptive streaming
A method for adaptive streaming of a media content, wherein the method comprises receiving a media presentation description that provides presentation information for the media content, determining a plurality of representations from the media presentation description that comprise segments that are provided with bitrate and quality information, selecting a media segment that meets a desired quality level to download from one of the representations, updating a buffered media time for downloading the media segment, and determining when to switch to another representation by comparing the buffered media time to a switching threshold value. |
| US09294529B1 |
Reusing data in content files
An embodiment for reusing data in content files includes receiving a request for a content file and retrieving a recipe that includes a series of instructions needed to compose the content file. Data identified by the recipe may then be retrieved from a content file server and the requested content file is composed based on the set of instructions in the recipe. In an example, the recipe is processed by a recipe player to compose a content file. In another embodiment, content files are stored in a cache as a series of instructions for generating them from portions of other content files. In this way, performance in a content delivery network may be improved by reusing similar data in content files. |
| US09294527B2 |
Mobile device streaming media application
A system and process for coordinating streaming content or messages is provided. A network-connected server maintains a database containing media content-related data, such as the text of a message, accompanying media, time of airing, payment and related comments. A user can view these feeds or streams of these consciousness messages by downloading a mobile application or browsing to a website. The application can also be used to create, schedule and pay for a media content message. |
| US09294526B2 |
Managing multiple dynamic media streams
A coordinated adaptive streaming system provides a level of intelligence between adaptive streaming heuristics applied to multiple multi-bitrate streams playing on a client computer at the same time. The system receives a media event that includes multiple multi-bitrate streams and plays two or more of the streams. Each stream registers with the coordinated adaptive streaming system so that the system is aware of each of the streams. The system receives a priority indication from each stream that indicates the priority of the stream relative to other streams associated with the media event. The system uses the received priority indications to make adaptive streaming decisions. Thus, the coordinated adaptive streaming system provides playback that more closely aligns with a user's priorities and provides a higher quality experience to a user viewing multiple concurrent media streams. |
| US09294523B2 |
Automatic future meeting scheduler based upon locations of meeting participants
In a network that supports communications between client devices and at least one meeting server, a meeting request that includes one or more meeting constraints to be satisfied is monitored prior to scheduling or initiating a meeting between a plurality of meeting participants associated with respective client devices. At least one meeting constraint includes a location constraint that identifies a location for a client device associated with a meeting participant prior to scheduling or initiating the meeting. In response to each meeting constraint being satisfied, including the at least one location constraint, the meeting is automatically scheduled or initiated for the participants via the meeting server. |
| US09294517B2 |
Call setup and control by third-party device
Method for setting up a communication session (SM) between two communication agents (A, B), triggered by the reception of an event (S) by a third-party communication element (C). Following the reception of this event, the third-party element sends the first of the two agents (A) a signalling message (M1) adapted to cause said agent to send an invitation message (M2) addressed to the second of the two agents (B) and intended to pass via the third-party element (C). |
| US09294512B2 |
System and method for handling complaints about unsolicited communications
A system and method to control sending of unsolicited communications over a network is provided. Typically, the network is the Internet and the system defines a SPAM prevention tool for users of an on-line service, such as an on-line bidding service. Users may contact an intended recipient with a contact form, which is forwarded to the recipient's e-mail address by an on-line service provider. A link accessible from a Web site allows recipients of unsolicited e-mail to complain to the on-line service provider. Sanctions are implemented against the sender of unsolicited e-mail based on the frequency of complaints. When the complaint level against a sender reaches a certain threshold, the sender is unable to use the contact form for a predetermined time period. |
| US09294507B1 |
Techniques for data security in a multi-tenant environment
The usage of data in a multi-tenant environment can be controlled by utilizing functionality at the hypervisor level of various resources in the environment. Data can be associated with various tags, security levels, and/or compartments. The ability of resources or entities to access the data can depend at least in part upon whether the resources or entities are also associated with the tags, security levels, and/or compartments. Limitations on the usage of the data can be controlled by one or more policies associated with the tags, security levels, and/or compartments. A control service can monitor traffic to enforce the appropriate rules or policies, and in some cases can prevent encrypted traffic from passing beyond a specified egress point unless the encryption was performed by a trusted resource with the appropriate permissions. |
| US09294503B2 |
Health monitor based distributed denial of service attack mitigation
Provided are methods and systems for mitigating a DDoS event. The method may comprise receiving an indication of a collapse of a collapsible virtual data circuit associated with network data traffic. In response to the received indication of the collapse, the collapse may be attributed to the DDoS event. Furthermore, the method may comprise redirecting the network data traffic to one or more DDoS mitigation services. The method may further comprise mitigating the DDoS event by the one or more DDoS mitigation services. |
| US09294502B1 |
Method and system for detection of malicious bots
A computerized method and system for detecting access of a protected server by malicious bots are provided. The method comprises receiving a request from a client machine; generating a polymorphic script code challenge that includes a scrambled secret; sending the polymorphic script code challenge to the client machine in response to the received request; receiving a token from the client machine in response to the polymorphic script code challenge; comparing contents of the token to the secret in its unscrambled form; and determining the client machine to be a malicious bot in an event including any one of the token does not match the secret and a token has not been received, wherein a new polymorphic script code challenge containing a new scrambled secret is generated for each new request received from a client machine. |
| US09294497B1 |
Method and system for behavioral and risk prediction in networks using automatic feature generation and selection using network topolgies
A system or method may include receiving, by a processor, data describing a network, wherein the network includes a plurality of entities and links describing relationships between the plurality of entities. The method may further include identifying a set of seed entities from the plurality of entities based on predefined rules. The method may further include generating a set of sub-networks based on the set of identified seed entities, wherein each of the sub-networks may include one or more other entities of the plurality of entities having at least one link to the at least one seed entity. The method may further include calculating a risk score for each of the generated sub-networks. |
| US09294494B1 |
Cloud based logging service
Methods and systems are provided for facilitating access to a cloud-based logging service. According to one embodiment, access to a cloud-based logging service is integrated within a network security appliance by automatically configuring access settings for the logging service and providing a basic level of service from the logging service by registering a user account for the security appliance with the logging service. A log is transparently created within the logging service by making use of the automatically configured access settings and treating the logging service as a logging device. A request is received by the security appliance from an administrator to access data associated with the log. Responsive thereto and without requiring separate registration of the administrator with the cloud-based logging service, the data is transparently received by the security appliance from the logging service and is presented via a graphical user interface (GUI) of the security appliance. |
| US09294490B1 |
Apparatus and method for identifying a domain name system resource exhaustion attack
A machine includes a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions executed by the processor to identify a resource attack in response to spikes in the number of unique subdomains being queried and spikes in the number of timeouts or delayed responses from a specified name server. |
| US09294489B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting an intrusion on a cloud computing service
Provided is a method and apparatus for detecting an intrusion in a cloud computing service. An elementary detector may monitor a virtual machine provided by a cloud computing service, and may generate a raw alert based on a result of the monitoring. An intrusion detection system (IDS) dispatcher may determine occurrence of an intrusion into the cloud computing service by comparing the raw alert and a local database. The IDS dispatcher may generate a hyper alert when it is determined that the intrusion has occurred. An intrusion detection system (IDS) manager may determine the occurrence of the intrusion by comparing the hyper alert and a global database. |
| US09294488B2 |
Control loop control using broadcast channel to communicate with a node under attack
In one embodiment, a control loop control using a broadcast channel may be used to communicate with a node under attack. A management device may receive data indicating that one or more nodes in a computer network are under attack. The management device may then determine that one or more intermediate nodes are in proximity to the one or more nodes under attack, and communicate an attack-mitigation packet to the one or more nodes under attack by using the one or more intermediate nodes to relay the attack-mitigation packet to the one or more nodes under attack. |
| US09294478B2 |
Hardware-based device authentication
An opportunity for a computing device to participate in a secure session with a particular domain is identified. A domain identifier of the particular domain is received and a secured microcontroller of the computing device is used to identify a secured, persistent hardware identifier of the computing device stored in secured memory of the computing device. A secure identifier is derived for a pairing of the computing device and the particular domain based on the hardware identifier and domain identifier of the particular domain and the secure identifier is transmitted over a secured channel to the particular domain. The particular domain can verify identity of the computing device from the secure identifier and apply security policies to transactions involving the computing device and the particular domain based at least in part on the secure identifier. |
| US09294477B1 |
Media access control address security
An access interface system for interfacing between an enterprise network and a service provider network comprises an interface and a processing system. The interface is configured to receive traffic from the service provider network wherein the traffic identifies a virtual link and a media access control address, transmit the traffic to the enterprise network if the media access control address is allowed for the virtual link, and block the traffic if the media access control address is not allowed for the virtual link. The processing system is configured to determine if the media access control address is allowed for the virtual link. |
| US09294474B1 |
Verification based on input comprising captured images, captured audio and tracked eye movement
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a verification request, sending one or more patterns for display at one or more specified locations on a screen of a device, receiving verification input responsive to the one or more patterns, and granting or denying the verification request based at least in part on the verification input. The verification input comprises one or more captured images, captured audio and tracked eye movement. The verification request may be generated in conjunction with an attempted launch of a designated application on a first device, with user access to the designated application on the first device being controlled responsive to the granting or denying of the verification request. |
| US09294472B2 |
Apparatus and method for managing health data
An apparatus and method for managing health data through a user terminal are provided. The method includes inputting a user terminal number for identifying the user terminal, and information of a medical instrument for measuring the health data to a management server interworked with the user terminal, receiving, by a receiver, a security type table mapped onto the user terminal number and comprising a security type code for instructing the health data which the medical instrument has measured to be stored in a first memory without security or in a second memory with security, from the management server, and storing the health data in the first memory or the second memory, which the security type code instructs, through determining the security type code of the security type table when the health data is received from the medical instrument. |
| US09294463B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for context-aware security control in cloud environment
An apparatus, method and system for context-aware security control in a cloud environment are provided. The apparatus includes an authentication header inspection unit and a packet data processing unit. The authentication header inspection unit generates an authentication header based on the received context information and key of a user, compares the generated authentication header with the authentication header of packet data received from a remote user terminal, and outputs the results of the comparison. The packet data processing unit performs one of the transmission, modulation and discarding of packet data from the cloud server of a cloud service network based on the results of the comparison by the authentication header inspection unit. |
| US09294457B2 |
Federated realm discovery
A federated realm discovery system within a federation determines a “home” realm associated with a portion of the user's credentials before the user's secret information (such as a password) is passed to a non-home realm. A login user interface accepts a user identifier and, based on the user identifier, can use various methods to identify an account authority service within the federation that can authenticate the user. In one method, a realm list of the user device can be used to direct the login to the appropriate home realm of the user. In another method, an account authority service in a non-home realm can look up the user's home realm and provide realm information directing the user device to login at the home realm. |
| US09294452B1 |
Authentication translation
Authentication translation is disclosed. A request to access a resource is received at an authentication translator, as is an authentication input. The authentication input corresponds to at least one stored record. The stored record is associated at least with the resource. In response to the receiving, a previously stored credential associated with the resource is accessed. The credential is provided to the resource. |
| US09294449B2 |
Low latency active noise cancellation system with client intercommunication
A system and method for providing load balanced secure media content and data delivery (10) in a distributed computing environment is disclosed. Media content is segmented and encrypted into a set of individual encrypted segments on a centralized control center (15). Each individual encrypted segment has the same fixed size. The complete set of individual encrypted segments is staged to a plurality of intermediate control nodes (17, 19). Individual encrypted segments are mirrored from the staged complete set to a plurality of intermediate servers (21a-b, 23a-b). Requests are received from clients (11) for the media content at the centralized control center. Each individual encrypted segment in the set is received from one of an intermediate control node and an intermediate server optimally sited from the requesting client. The individual encrypted segments are reassembled into the media content for media playback. |
| US09294448B2 |
Cryptographic security functions based on anticipated changes in dynamic minutiae
Dynamic key cryptography validates mobile device users to cloud services by uniquely identifying the user's electronic device using a very wide range of hardware, firmware, and software minutiae, user secrets, and user biometric values found in or collected by the device. Processes for uniquely identifying and validating the device include: selecting a subset of minutia from a plurality of minutia types; computing a challenge from which the user device can form a response based on the selected combination of minutia; computing a set of pre-processed responses that covers a range of all actual responses possible to be received from the device if the combination of the particular device with the device's collected actual values of minutia is valid; receiving an actual response to the challenge from the device; determining whether the actual response matches any of the pre-processed responses; and providing validation, enabling authentication, data protection, and digital signatures. |
| US09294446B2 |
Content encryption
An audio/video content delivery system includes a content source linked by an internet data connection to a content receiver, the content receiver configured to receive access-controlled encoded broadcast content from a content source by a separate broadcast data path. The content source includes an encryptor sending encrypted content to the content receiver according to a content encryption key. The content receiver includes: a host module including a decryptor decrypting encrypted content received from the content source; and a removable conditional access module (CAM) including an access control unit decoding the access-controlled encoded broadcast content, the host module and removable CAM configured to provide an encrypted communication link therebetween for decoded access-controlled encoded broadcast content. The content source and the CAM are configured to communicate to establish the key required by the decryptor in the host module to decrypt the encrypted content received from the content source. |
| US09294444B2 |
Systems and methods for cryptographically splitting and storing data
A secure data parser is provided that may be integrated into any suitable system for securely storing and communicating data. The secure data parser parses data and then splits the data into multiple portions that are stored or communicated distinctly. Encryption of the original data, the portions of data, or both may be employed for additional security. The secure data parser may be used to protect data in motion by splitting original data into portions of data, that may be communicated using multiple communications paths. |
| US09294442B1 |
System and method for threat-driven security policy controls
Methods, systems, and media for a security system are provided herein. Exemplary methods may include: acquiring a firewall security policy from a policy compiler; receiving network traffic originating from a source machine and directed to a destination machine; analyzing the network traffic using the firewall security policy; forwarding or dropping each of the network traffic according to the security policy; accumulating the network traffic and metadata associated with the network traffic; and initiating an update to the firewall security policy by the policy compiler using at least one of the accumulated network traffic and metadata. |
| US09294439B2 |
Systems and methods for application-based interception of SSL/VPN traffic
A method for intercepting, by an agent of a client, communications from the client to be transmitted via a virtual private network connection includes the step of intercepting communications based on identification of an application from which the communication originates. The agent receives information identifying a first application. The agent determines a network communication transmitted by the client originates from the first application and intercepts that communication. The agent transmits the intercepted communication via the virtual private network connection. |
| US09294437B1 |
Remotely configured network appliances and services
A network gateway is implemented on behalf of a customer entity. The network gateway may be implemented using a distributed computer system and the network gateway may connect a network of the customer entity to a public communications network. The network gateway may include network-related services without the need for adding specialized hardware. The network gateway may be provisioned programmatically in response to instructions received from the customer entity. The network gateway may be provisionable and accessible over several different types of data connections. The network gateway, by virtue of being implemented on a distributed computer system, is scalable upon demand without additional input by the customer entity. |
| US09294434B1 |
Connectionless communications
Described are techniques for facilitating automated connections between any two devices a plurality of devices—including applications—across disparate and unsecured networks including the Internet. For example, details about a device or application including its unique identity are managed through a master repository in a protocol-agnostic manner. By requiring hosts in a network to maintain communication (bi-directionally) with the repository, the repository acts as an intelligent-management bridge between different devices and sources. |
| US09294432B2 |
Computer implemented methods and apparatus for communicating feed information to one or more recipients
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods and computer-readable media for communicating feed information to one or more recipients. In some implementations, an instruction to communicate an information update to one or more identified first recipients is received. In some instances, an additional recipient indicator is identified and an identification of one or more second recipients based on the additional recipient indicator is generated. In some instances, the one or more second recipients are provided access to the information update. |
| US09294431B2 |
Location-based content aggregation and distribution
In one embodiment, a method includes storing one or more content postings that each include data representative of one or more content instances. Each content posting is associated with one or more first users. The method also includes storing one or more data records associating one or more geographic locations with accessing of the content instances. The method also includes selectively sending one or more of the content postings for display on an access device based on a past or present geographic location of the access device. |
| US09294430B2 |
Method of enabling digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device
The invention enables digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device. An application running on the wireless device has been automatically adapted to parameters associated with the wireless device without end-user input (e.g. the application has been configured in dependence on the device OS and firmware, related bugs, screen size, pixel number, security models, connection handling, memory etc. This application enables an end-user to browse and search music content on a remote server using a wireless network; to download music content from that remote server using the wireless network and to playback and manage that downloaded music content. The application also includes a digital rights management system that enables unlimited legal downloads of different music tracks to the device and also enables any of those tracks stored on the device to be played so long as a subscription service has not terminated. |
| US09294424B2 |
Multimodal conversation transfer
In one embodiment, a user may transfer a multimodal conversation. A multimodal conversation may have a first mode communication session and a second mode communication session. A first user point of presence may execute a first transfer of the first mode communication session with a first partner point of presence from the first user point of presence to a first target point of presence. A second user point of presence may execute a second transfer of the second mode communication session with a second partner point of presence from the second user point of presence to a second target point of presence. |
| US09294422B2 |
System and method for providing internet content through SMS services
In one exemplary embodiment, a system includes a method of providing Internet content through a text-messaging service includes receiving an Internet search query in a text message from a mobile device. The text message includes a query term and an application code. The application code identifies an Internet-based application. The text message is converted to a peer-to-peer message protocol message. An Internet-application server include the internet-based application is identified with the application code. The Internet search query is converted from the text message to a peer-to-peer message protocol message. The peer-to-peer message protocol message is forwarded to the Internet-application server. A query response is received from the Internet-based application. The query response is converted into a text message response. The text message response is communicated to the mobile device. |
| US09294419B2 |
Scalable multi-layer 2D-mesh routers
Architectures, apparatus and systems employing scalable multi-layer 2D-mesh routers. A 2D router mesh comprises bi-direction pairs of linked paths coupled between pairs of IO interfaces and configured in a plurality of rows and columns forming a 2D mesh. Router nodes are located at the intersections of the rows and columns, and are configured to forward data units between IO inputs and outputs coupled to the mesh at its edges through use of shortest path routes defined by agents at the IO interfaces. Multiple instances of the 2D meshes may be employed to support bandwidth scaling of the router architecture. One implementation of a multi-layer 2D mesh is built using a standard tile that is tessellated to form a 2D array of standard tiles, with each 2D mesh layer offset and overlaid relative to the other 2D mesh layers. IO interfaces are then coupled to the multi-layer 2D mesh via muxes/demuxes and/or crossbar interconnects. |
| US09294417B2 |
Source node and relay node that cooperatively transmit an alamouti code
Methods, systems and apparatuses are provided for transmitting and receiving space-time block coded data in a wireless communications system with co-operative relays. A source node transmits RF signals representing first and second sets of data symbols in respective first and second channels (in time frequency code or any combination) of a wireless communications system, the first and second sets of data symbols being for transmission from separate antennas respectively according to a space-time block code. A relay node receives the RF signals representing the first set of data symbols in the first channel and transmits RF signals representing the first set of data symbols in the second channel. A destination node received the RF signals representing the second set of data symbols from the source node and the RF signals representing the first set of data symbols from the relay node. This enables decoding of the received RF signals representing the first and second sets of data symbols according to the space-time block code. |
| US09294414B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for modifying bandwidth and/or quality of service for a user session in a network
Bandwidth and/or Quality of Service (QoS) for a user session may be modified in a network that includes a Regional/Access Network (RAN) that facilitates differentiated end-to-end data transport between a Network Service Provider (NSP) and/or an Application Service Provider (ASP) and a Customer Premises Network (CPN) that includes a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) by receiving a request at the NSP and/or the ASP to change the bandwidth and/or QoS associated with the user's session. An Application Programming Interface (API) is used at the NSP and/or the ASP to communicate with the RAN to modify the bandwidth and/or QoS associated with the user's session. |
| US09294411B2 |
Application aware network virtualization
A networked system includes a plurality of information handling systems (IHSs). A networking device couples the plurality of IHSs to a network. The networking device is operable to receive a packet associated with a first network application from a first IHS of the plurality of IHSs. The networking device then determines that a first virtual port is associated with the first network application in a database. The networking device then assign packets received from the first IHS and associated with the first network application to the first virtual port. The networking device then forwards packets received from the first IHS and associated with the first network application over the network using the first virtual port. The first virtual port provides access to a virtual network that is provided for the first network application and configured using network information associated with the first network application. |
| US09294407B2 |
Network device load balancing in a virtualized computing environment
Techniques for balancing network load at network devices in a virtualized computing environment are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first network device having network load above a threshold value is determined. Further, a first host coupled to the first network device is identified. The first host executes a workload that transmits and receives network traffic via the first network device. If the first host is not coupled to any other network device, the network load at the first network device is reduced by initiating migration of at least a part of the workload to a second host coupled to any other network device. If the first host is coupled to a second network device, the network load at the first network device is reduced by instructing a virtual switch of the first host to route at least a part of the network traffic between the workload and second network device. |
| US09294403B2 |
Mechanism to control resource utilization with adaptive routing
Methods and apparatus relating to techniques for controlling resource utilization with adaptive routing are described. In one embodiment, an output port for transmission of an incoming message that is to be received at an input port is determined at routing logic. The routing logic selects the output port from a first output port and a second output port based on congestion information that is detected at one or more other routing logic communicatively coupled to the routing logic. The first output port provides a deterministic route for the incoming message and the second output port provides an adaptive route for the incoming message. Other embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US09294401B2 |
Method and apparatus for data transfer in a peer-to-peer network
A method is provided of managing traffic in a network. The method comprises applying (S5) an indication to a packet being sent through the network, the indication being selected in dependence upon a level of traffic determined (S3) for a subscriber associated with the packet and representing a per-hop behaviour to be applied subsequently to the packet. The indication is applied so as to manage at least to some extent traffic associated with the subscriber. |
| US09294400B2 |
Switching system, switching control system, and storage medium
A switch system realizes extension of the number of entries of an open flow table by using tables in a switch as existing resources. Specifically, the switch configures an open flow table by logically combining a plurality of tables, each of which defines processing to a given packet, based on a condition and a processing content defined in each table. The switch refers to the open flow table to determine the processing content to a reception packet. The switch executes the processing of the reception packet based on the determined processing content. |
| US09294397B1 |
Apparatus and method for forwarding packets based on approved associations between ports and addresses of received packets
A switch includes ports including a first port and a second port. A processor approves associations between the ports and addresses of packets. A memory stores entries having respective indicators indicating approval of an association between respective ports and addresses. The first port receives a first packet sent to the switch. The controller: determines whether one of the entries includes an address of the first packet; if none of the entries includes the address of the first packet, sends a first message to the processor requesting approval of the first packet; if one of the entries includes the address of the first packet, determines whether the indicator of the one of the entries indicates approval and based on this, sends the first message to the processor; receives a response from the processor based on the first message; and based on the response, forwards the first packet to the second port. |
| US09294393B1 |
Interconnecting virtual private networks
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving from a plurality of customer edge devices, endpoint addresses at a central mapping system operating as a control plane for a provider network in communication with a plurality of customer networks, and mapping the endpoint addresses to provider edge devices in the provider network. Wherein the customer edge devices store customer endpoint routes for active flows and the provider edge devices store customer edge device site locator addresses for use in a mapping and encapsulation overlay in the provider network. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein. |
| US09294392B2 |
Identifying, translating and filtering shared risk groups in communications networks
A method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for processing shared risk group (SRG) information in communications networks are disclosed. The method includes receiving network information comprising SRG information from a second domain at a first domain, obtaining at least one SRG identifier by processing the SRG information, and processing the at least one SRG identifier, the processing using processing criteria. The apparatus includes a network interface adapted to receive network information comprising shared risk group information, a processor coupled to the network interface and configured to execute one or more processes, and a memory coupled to the processor and adapted to obtain at least one SRG identifier by processing the SRG information and to process the at least one SRG identifier using processing criteria. The computer-readable storage medium is configured to store program instructions that when executed are configured to cause the processor to perform the method. |
| US09294390B2 |
Hash table storage and search methods and devices
A hash table storage method includes: obtaining attribute information of at least two levels of hash tables; sequentially obtaining Key information from a received packet according to the attribute information of the at least two levels of hash tables; sequentially determining whether the Key information is stored in its corresponding hash table; and storing the Key information in its corresponding hash table if the Key information is not stored in its corresponding hash table. |
| US09294383B2 |
Baseline wander compensating method, baseline calibration module and ethernet transceiver using the same
The present disclosure illustrates a baseline wander compensating method adapted for compensating baseline wander induced in an Ethernet transceiver. The baseline wander compensating method comprises following steps. Firstly, an output packet is detected. Next, a detection result of the output packet and a predetermined value are compared, and a control signal is generated correspondingly. Based on the control signal, a first calibration signal or a second calibration signal is selected, and a calibrating calculation is executed for the selected one of the first calibration signal and a second calibration signal. Next, an input signal is compensated according to a baseline calibration value generated from the calibrating calculation. |
| US09294381B2 |
Systems and methods for trap monitoring in multi-core and cluster systems
In a multi-core device or clustered system, instead of snmpd polling for configured monitoring values of an entity to determine if reached a threshold, each core in a multi-core system or node in a clustered system triggers information to the snmpd about entities that may be or are generating SNMP traps. A configured threshold T is distributed among the cores or nodes, as the case may be, based on the number of cores or nodes. If there are ‘n’ cores in a multi-core device, and the configured threshold is ‘T’, then each core checks for a per-core threshold value ‘T/n’. If there are ‘n’ nodes in a clustered system, and the configured threshold is ‘T’, then each node checks for a per-node threshold value ‘T/n’. According to the pigeonhole principle, if an entity has reached or exceeded the threshold ‘T’, then the entity must have reached or exceeded a value of ‘T/n’ on at least one core or node. Upon the entity crossing a ‘T/n’ value on any core or node, the core or node informs snmpd about this entity. Snmpd then gathers information about this entity from all the cores and checks for the threshold ‘T’. |
| US09294379B2 |
Wake pattern management
Wake pattern management techniques are described. In one or more implementations, network traffic received by a network interface device of a computing device is monitored and a traffic pattern is recognized in the monitored network traffic. An application of the computing device is identified that corresponds to the recognized traffic pattern and responsive to this identification, at least a portion of the identified application is woken. |
| US09294372B2 |
Status determination in computer network-based communications system
A method for determining a status of a presentity by determining a success rate for a plurality of transactions of the same transaction type that are initiated by at least one entity in a first computer network-based communications system in a plurality of corresponding transaction requests, where the transactions relate to a presentity, identifying a status descriptor that has a predefined association with the transaction type, identifying a condition that has a predefined association with the status descriptor and the transaction type, and associating the status descriptor with the presentity if the success rate meets the condition. |
| US09294368B2 |
Methods and apparatus to determine impressions using distributed demographic information
An example method to monitor media exposure involves receiving, at a first internet domain, a first request from a client computer, the first request indicative of access to the media at the client computer. The example method also involves determining if the client computer is known. If the client computer is not known, a response is sent from the first internet domain to the client computer, the response to instruct the client computer to send a second request to a second internet domain, the second request to be indicative of access to the media at the client computer. If the client computer is known, an impression of the media is logged. |
| US09294365B2 |
Cognitive radio system and cognitive radio carrier device
A method for operating a server includes receiving, at the server, a request from a mobile device identifying a data file and retrieving the data file from a remote storage device in response to receiving the request. A party other than a party that operates the server operates the remote storage device. A number of collaborator devices are identified. Each of the number of collaborator devices is capable of establishing a mobile-to-mobile communications link with the mobile device. Respective portions of the data file are allocated to each of the number of collaborator devices based on at least one of (a) throughputs associated with the number of collaborator devices and (b) potential debits charged by the number of collaborator devices. Respective portions of the data file are transmitted to each of the number of collaborator devices according to the allocation. |
| US09294364B2 |
Method and apparatus for transforming application access and data storage details to privacy policies
An approach is provided for transforming application access and data storage details associated with a mobile device to application specific privacy policies. A policy platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of an application code to identify one or more application programming interfaces invoked by the application code. The policy platform causes, at least in part, a profiling of one or more invocation characteristics of the one or more application programming interfaces. The policy platform further causes, at least in part, a mapping of the one or more invocation characteristics against one or more policy templates to cause, at least in part, a generation of at least one policy for the application code. |
| US09294358B2 |
Systems and methods of discovering and controlling devices without explicit addressing
A method of discovering a device in a communication network having multiple interconnected nodes includes continuously monitoring, by a device to be discovered, any IP packets sent by a discoverer. The method further includes transmitting, by the discoverer, an IP packet destined for a downstream device and receiving, by the device to be discovered, the IP packet. The method further includes determining, by the device to be discovered, whether the IP packet is intended for the device to be discovered. If the IP packet is not intended for the device to be discovered, retransmitting, by the device to be discovered, the IP packet to the downstream device via an egress port of the device to be discovered. |
| US09294357B2 |
Optimizing resource usage in systems which include heterogeneous devices, including sensors and smartphones
Managing devices in a system may comprise receiving information associated with a first device in the system and a first set of capabilities provided in the first device; receiving information associated with a second device in the system and a second set of capabilities provided in the second device; determining one or more required capabilities that need to be activated for the system, the system comprising at least the first device and the second device; for each of the one or more required capabilities, selecting automatically by a processor based on the information received and one or more criteria, which capability in the first device and the second device to activate to satisfy the one or more required capabilities; and activating said selected capability in the first device or the second device. |
| US09294355B2 |
Adjustable data rates
Adjustable data rate data communications may be provided. First, a plurality of remote data rates at which a remote device is configured to operate may be received. Then, a plurality of local data rates at which a local device is configured to operate may be received. A greatest one of the plurality of local data rates may comprise a cable data rate comprising a greatest rate supported by a length of cable connecting the local device and the remote device. Next, an operating data rate may be determined. The operating data rate may comprise a highest one of the plurality of local data rates that has a corresponding equivalent within the plurality of remote data rates. The local device may then be operated at the operating data rate. |
| US09294349B2 |
Host traffic driven network orchestration within data center fabric
Presented herein are techniques to handle data packets received at a top-of-rack (ToR) switch in an underlay network hosting one or more tenant networks. The underlay network may comprise a plurality of ToR switches each connected to each of a plurality of spine switches. The data packet may be received from a virtual machine in a tenant network, and have a header with a data packet identifier. A mobility domain identifier may be determined that corresponds to the network portion within which the virtual machine can be migrated. The mobility domain may be configured on the ToR switch on a per-port basis based on the virtual machine connected to the ToR switch port. A unique identifier may be formed based on the data packet identifier and mobility domain identifier. Using this unique identifier, provisioning information may be obtained for the tenant network on the ToR switch. |
| US09294347B2 |
Systems and methods for automatic access layer configuration
Systems and methods are provided that may be employed for automatic access layer configuration, for example, to achieve correct server profile provisioning so as to enable information handling system network connectivity from a server through one or more aggregator switches that is configured to fit a given workload and/or network connectivity architecture. The disclosed systems and methods may be implemented using intelligent platform enablement and exchange of information between information handling system compute resource/s and adjacent access layer switch/es. |
| US09294344B2 |
Shared risk group handling within a media gateway
A media gateway controller (MGC) is described herein that implements a shared risk group package to control and prevent a media gateway (MG) from establishing redundant links like a primary link and a secondary link that use resources that share the same risk of failure. Essentially, the MGC uses the shared risk group package to control which resources like ephemeral terminations are used by the MG to establish the primary link and the secondary link such that if any of the resources associated with the primary link fail then the secondary link remains operational within the MG and if any of the resources associated with the secondary link fail then the primary link remains operational within the MG. |
| US09294340B1 |
Systems and methods for updating data across multiple network architectures
A method for updating a storage element may include receiving a first set of data from a first device that operating in a structure. The first set of data corresponds to a first data type interpretable by the first device. The method may also include translating the first set of data into a second set of data of a second data type interpretable by a second device operating in the structure but not by the first device. The first set of data and the second set of data are associated with a first portion of information associated with occupancy properties of the structure. The method may then include storing the second set of data in a storage element that includes a second portion information associated with the occupancy properties of the structure. |
| US09294338B2 |
Management computer and method for root cause analysis
In analyzing an elaborate computer system which requires large-scale or numerous event propagation models, a law-of-causality matrix gains size, so that significant amount of storage resources has been used in a management computer. To solve such a problem, the management computer to manage the computer system stores topologies, event propagation models, and causality information including one or more causal relations in the storage resources, determines, when the management computer analyzes or detects an event, whether a causal relation has already been created for the event to be analyzed, and creates the causal relation based on a topology and event propagation models, if not yet. |
| US09294337B2 |
Methods and systems for integrating independent IMS and WebRTC networks
Independent IMS and WebRTC communications networks are integrated via an applications server including IMS and WebRTC functionality. A user equipment device including IMS and WebRTC capability is registered via the same application server with both the IMS and WebRTC networks. The application server is configured to make a routing determination whether to route a communications session over an IMS communications path or an RTC communications path when it is determined that parallel independent paths are available. |
| US09294336B2 |
Wireless communication device, router, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method
Provided is a router including a network interface that communicates with a network, a first communication interface that communicates with a mobile communication interface of a wireless communication device through a mobile communication control station, a second communication interface that communicates with a wireless LAN interface of the wireless communication device through a wireless LAN control station, and a conversion unit that converts an origin address of one of data to the network received from the mobile communication interface and data to the network received from the wireless LAN interface into an origin address of another one of the data. |
| US09294335B2 |
Processing load distribution
Technologies are generally described for dynamically distributing a processing load. In some examples, a method performed under control of a server may include receiving information regarding load distribution from an end device and dynamically distributing a processing load between the server and the end device based at least in part on the information regarding load distribution. |
| US09294331B2 |
Attention commands enhancement
A method of packet domain event reporting performed by a user equipment (UE) including a mobile termination (MT) and a terminal equipment (TE), and the user equipment thereof. The method according to one embodiment includes performing, by the MT, context activation for establishing a dual-stack bearer between the MT and a network; receiving, by the MT from the network, information indicating that the context activation of the dual-stack bearer is not possible between the network and the MT; and sending, by the MT to the TE, a message including a reason parameter for indicating a reason as to why the context activation of the dual-stack bearer is not possible between the network and the MT, when a requested Packet Data Protocol (PDP) type is Internet Protocol (IP) v4v6 and a assigned PDP type is either IPv4 or IPv6. |
| US09294330B2 |
System and method for computer originated audio file transmission
A system and method for computer originated audio file transmission includes a server having a communications module operable to communicate with a terminal unit. The server may also include a storage module operable to store at least one file. A processor may be provided to separate the file into a plurality of packets. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the communications module is operable to send an initial burst of packets to the terminal unit, wherein the initial burst of packets includes at least two of the plurality of packets. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the communications module is further operable to send additional packets of the plurality of packets at a predetermined rate, until each of the plurality of packets has been sent to the terminal unit. |
| US09294320B2 |
Wireless transmission system and wireless transmitter, wireless receiver, wireless transmission method, wireless reception method and wireless communication method used with same
A wireless transmission system includes a wireless HDMI transmitter and a wireless HDMI receiver. The wireless HDMI transmitter includes a carrier oscillator provided for each channel of an HDMI transmission path to output a carrier signal in a millimeter band, an OOK modulator provided for each carrier oscillator to perform on-off keying modulation on a carrier signal outputted by its corresponding carrier oscillator, and an input circuit provided for each channel of the HDMI transmission path to input a digital signal outputted by a source device to the OOK modulator. |
| US09294316B2 |
Scrambling sequences for wireless networks
An integrated circuit includes logic configured to generate scrambling sequences, each based on a different scrambling seed, for a smart-utility-network data packet communication. A Hamming distance between any two scrambling sequences is half the length of a PSDU of the data packet or greater. |
| US09294315B2 |
Modulation and equalization in an orthonormal time-frequency shifting communications system
A method of data transmission including arranging a set of data elements into an original data frame having a first dimension of N elements and a second dimension of N elements, where N is greater than one. The method includes transforming the original data frame in accordance with a transformation matrix to form a first transformed data matrix having at least N2 transformed data elements wherein each of the transformed data elements is based upon a plurality of the data elements of the original data frame and wherein a first dimension of the first transformed data matrix corresponds to a frequency shift axis and a second dimension corresponds to a time shift axis. A permuted data matrix is formed by permuting at least a portion of the elements of the first transformed data matrix so as to shift the at least a portion of the elements with respect to the time shift axis. The method further includes transforming the permuted data matrix using a frequency-shift encoding matrix to form a transmit frame and generating a modulated signal in accordance with elements of the transmit frame. |
| US09294311B2 |
Method of performing resource specific channel estimation in heterogeneous network system and apparatus thereof
A method for performing resource specific channel estimation at a user equipment in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving one or more reference signals in a specific subframe from a serving cell, and performing channel estimation for a control region of a corresponding downlink subframe, based on the one or more reference signals. The channel estimation for the control region is performed based on one or more reference signals included in a data region of the corresponding downlink subframe. |
| US09294306B2 |
Intelligent prevention of spam emails at share sites
A computer-implemented method for preventing spam emails from a share site includes providing a network-based computer system to enable users to set up share sites and to send emails from the share sites, detecting potential spam emails based on one or more spam detection rules, identifying false positive emails in the potential spam emails based on one or more false alarm reduction rules, removing false positive emails from the potential spam emails to produce a list of verified spam emails, identifying a sender of the list of verified spam emails as a spammer, and prohibiting the spammer from sending emails from one or more share sites owned spammer. |
| US09294303B2 |
Resource configuration change management
Prior to a first configuration change of a first resource, such as a network resource of a network, a processor determines a first performance metric of a second resource, such as a second network resource of the network. The first configuration change does not result in complete failure or fault of the second resource. Subsequent to the first configuration change of the first resource, the processor determines a second performance metric of the second resource and compares the second performance metric to at least one of the first performance metric and a service objective to yield comparison results. Based on the comparison results, the processor can cause a second configuration change of the first resource. The second configuration change of the first resource can revert a configuration of the first resource to its state prior to the first configuration change. |
| US09294299B2 |
Method of communication between two items of termination equipment
A method for communicating between first termination equipment and at least one second and one third termination equipment through respective first and second pseudo links in a packet-switching network. The method includes the following steps performed by the first termination equipment: intercepting a data frame sent by first customer equipment, connected to the second termination equipment, to second customer equipment, the data frame including identifiers of the first customer equipment and the second customer equipment; determining a parameter for identifying the second termination equipment, based on the identifier of the first customer equipment; and determining a parameter for identifying the third termination equipment, based on the identifier of the second customer equipment; and transmitting, to the second termination equipment, of a request to establish a third pseudo-link between the second termination equipment and the third termination equipment through which the data sent by the first customer equipment are transmitted. |
| US09294297B2 |
Node-based quality-of-service management
Systems and methods for scheduling network communications in a managed network can include a Network Controller discovering a plurality of network nodes; the Network Controller classifying the discovered network nodes into two or more classifications of node for node-level prioritization of network communications; the Network Controller receiving reservation requests from at least some of the plurality of network nodes, wherein the reservation requests request one or more time slots for their respective network nodes in an upcoming communication window; and the Network Controller assigning time slots in the upcoming communication window to one or more network nodes in response to reservation requests, wherein the assignment is based on a priority of the network nodes and wherein the priority is assigned to the nodes according to their classification. |
| US09294296B2 |
Automated test execution in a shared virtualized resource pool
In a computer-implemented method for automated test execution in a shared virtualized resource pool, a test description containing at least one model for a service under test (SUT) is received and one or more infrastructure configurations to be tested by resources in the shared virtualized resource pool based upon the test description are identified. In addition, a service lifecycle management (SLiM) tool is interacted with to cause the SUT and a load source to be created, the SLiM tool is directed to instantiate the SUT and the load source on the one or more infrastructure configurations in the shared virtualized resource pool for the SUT, and the SLiM tool and the load source are interacted with to receive performance data related to performance of the SUT under one or more loads generated by the load source. |
| US09294293B2 |
Virtual contact cards
A service provider receives from a user who has an account with it contact card information and recipient information picture information, therefrom determines a virtual contact card and contact channels through which the virtual contact card is sent to the recipients designated by the user, and sends the virtual contact card to the designated recipients through the contact channels. The virtual contact card and contact channels may be selected from what have been previously registered, either by the user or a third person, with the service provider and stored in the user's account, or just newly created, updated, and sent from the user at the time of transmission request to the designated recipients. The virtual contact card, when updated by the user, may be automatically sent by the service provider to the same recipients that previously received a pre-updated version. |
| US09294292B2 |
Optimized multicast routing in a Clos-like network
Techniques are provided for optimizing multicast routing in a network. At a router device, a message is sent to one or more physical devices. The message is configured to solicit a response indicating a network assignment for each of the physical devices. A response message is received from each of the physical devices. The response message comprises network assignment information for each of the physical devices. For each of the physical devices, the network assignment information is translated into a segment identifier. The segment identifier is distributed to other router devices in the network. |
| US09294288B2 |
Facilitating secure online transactions
A method and system for mutually authenticating an identity and a server is provided in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. The method commences with transmitting a token from the server. Thereafter, the method continues with establishing a secure data transfer link. A server certificate is transmitted during the establishment of the secure data transfer link. The method continues with transmitting a response packet to the server, which is validated thereby upon receipt. The system includes an authentication module that initiates the secure data transfer link and transmits the response packet, and a server authentication module that transmits the token and validates the response packet. |
| US09294287B2 |
Interrogating an authentication device
Methods, systems, and computer programs for interrogating an authentication device are disclosed. For example, a mobile device can include an interrogator module that interrogates an authentication module in a mobile device accessory, for example, upon installation of the mobile device accessory. In some implementations, challenge-response pairs and a challenge-response distribution are stored in a memory of an interrogator module. The challenge-response distribution defines selection probabilities for the challenge values. In some instances, the interrogator module receives an authentication request from an authentication module, and in response to the authentication request, the interrogator module selects an initial challenge value according to the challenge-response distribution. The interrogator module sends the authentication module an interrogation message that includes the initial challenge value. The interrogator module can modify the challenge-response distribution, for example, based on suspicious behavior. |
| US09294285B2 |
Information recording device
The data storage portion stores an encrypted medium device key Enc (Kcu, Kmd_i) generated by encrypting a medium device key (Kmd_i), a medium device key certificate (Certmedia), and encrypted content data generated by encrypting content data, the controller stores a controller key (Kc) and first controller identification information (IDcu), the information recording device being configured to execute, after being connected to an external host device, an one-way function calculation based on the controller key (Kc) and the first controller identification information (IDcu) to generate a controller unique key (Kcu) used when decrypting the encrypted medium device key Enc (Kcu, Kmd_i), and second controller identification information (IDcntr) used when decrypting the encrypted content data. |
| US09294284B1 |
Systems and methods for validating application signatures
A computer-implemented method for validating application signatures may include maintaining a signature-validation database that associates application publishers with signature keys by, for each application in a set of applications, (1) identifying a key used to sign the application, (2) determining that the application claims to be provided by a publisher, (3) verifying that the claimed publisher provides the application, and (4) maintaining, in response to verifying that the claimed publisher provides the application, an association that indicates that the publisher of the application is authorized to use the key. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. |
| US09294279B2 |
User authentication system
Techniques are provided for users to authenticate themselves to components in a system. The users may securely and efficiently enter credentials into the components. These credentials may be provided to a server in the system with strong authentication that the credentials originate from secure components. The server may then automatically build a network by securely distributing keys to each secure component to which a user presented credentials. |
| US09294277B2 |
Audio encryption systems and methods
Encryption systems and methods for audio data, and more particularly, for complete audio encryption of recorded data for transmission, management, review, and modification or transformation of selected segments of encrypted audio data, without compromising data security by exposing unencrypted data at any time. |
| US09294271B2 |
Quantum-key-distribution receiving device and method for using single-photon detector
There is provided a quantum-key-distribution receiving device used in a quantum key distribution system that utilizes a pair of quantum-entangled photons including a signal photon and an idler photon, the quantum-key-distribution receiving device including a single-photon detector in which a secure-key generation rate is dependent on a first performance index η/(1+Pa), η denoting a detection efficiency and Pa denoting an after-pulse probability. |
| US09294264B2 |
High-frequency signal processing device and wireless communication system
To reduce the influence of a spurious in a high-frequency signal processing device and a wireless communication system each provided with a digital type PLL circuit. In a digital type PLL circuit including a digital phase comparator unit, a digital low-pass filter, a digital control oscillator unit, and a multi-module driver unit (frequency divider unit), the clock frequency of a clock signal in the digital phase comparator unit is configured selectably among a plurality of options. The clock frequency is selected among frequencies which are integer multiples of a reference frequency, in accordance with which frequency band of a standard is to be set for an oscillation output signal of the digital control oscillator unit. |
| US09294263B2 |
Methods and systems of synchronizer selection
A circuit includes a plurality of synchronizers to adapt a signal from a first clock domain to a second clock domain. Each synchronizer of the plurality of synchronizers includes a synchronizer input to receive the signal from the first clock domain and a synchronizer output to provide the signal as adapted to the second clock domain. The circuit also includes a multiplexer (mux) that includes a plurality of mux inputs and a mux output. Each mux input is coupled to the synchronizer output of a respective synchronizer of the plurality of synchronizers. The mux output provides the signal, as adapted to the second clock domain, from the synchronizer output of a selected synchronizer of the plurality of synchronizers. |
| US09294262B2 |
Receiver clock test circuitry and related methods and apparatuses
An integrated circuit includes a plurality of receivers, each having a clock and data recovery circuit. A first local clock recovery circuit in a first receiver can be caused to produce a test clock which simulates a condition to be tested, and while a second receiver in the plurality of receivers that includes a second local clock recovery circuit is caused to use the test clock in place of the reference clock while receiving a test data sequence at its input. The clock and data recovery circuits in the receivers can include clock control loops responsive to loop control signals to modify the selected reference clock to generate the local clock in response to selective one of (i) a corresponding data signal for normal operation or during a test, and (ii) a test signal applied to the clock control loop in which case the test clock is produced. |
| US09294260B2 |
Phase adjustment circuit for clock and data recovery circuit
Described are phase adjustment circuits for clock and data recovery circuits (CDRs). Systems and apparatuses may include an input to receive a serial data signal, an edge data tap to sample transition edges in the serial data signal for generating a data edge detection signal, a CDR circuit including a phase detector to receive the serial data signal and the data edge detection signal, and to output a phase lead/lag signal indicating the phase difference between the serial data signal and the data edge detection signal, and a phase adjustment circuit to generate phase lead/lag adjustment data. The CDR circuit is to output a recovered clock signal based, at least in part, on the phase lead/lag signal adjusted by the phase lead/lag adjustment data. |
| US09294253B2 |
Wireless adaptive packet control message apparatus, systems, and methods
Embodiments of wireless adaptive control message apparatus, systems, and methods are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09294252B2 |
Communication resource allocation systems and methods
A channel descriptor management message is transmitted on a broadcast connection to a mobile terminal. The channel descriptor management message provides a format for a frame. The frame includes a resource space. The channel descriptor management message defines a plurality of channels within the resource space and allocates at least one of the channels to a plurality of users. Subsequent resource allocation messages may refer to a location within a channel rather than a location within the entire resource space. |
| US09294246B2 |
Wireless communication device using common control channel and wireless communication method using the same
A wireless communication method using a control channel between wireless communication devices including: exchanging profile information between a node and intermediate relay nodes therearound so as to allow the node to transmit/receive data to/from a destination node; determining, by the node, a first intermediate relay node using the profile information and determining a wireless communication mode with the first intermediate relay node; and transmitting/receiving data between the node and the first intermediate relay node by the determined wireless communication mode is provided. |
| US09294245B2 |
Method and apparatus for sequence distributing and sequence processing in communication system
A sequence distributing and sequence processing method and apparatus in a communication system are provided. The sequence distributing method includes the following steps: generating sequence groups including a number of sequences, the sequences in the sequence groups are determined according to the sequence time frequency resource occupation manner which is supported by the system; distributing the sequence groups to cells. The method avoids the phenomenon that signaling transmission is needed to distribute the sequences to the cells for different time frequency resource occupation manner, and saves in so far as possible the wireless network transmission resource occupied during the process of distributing the sequences through distributing the sequence groups comprising a number of sequences to the cells. |
| US09294244B2 |
Method and apparatus for channel estimation and detection in MIMO system
The present invention provides a method for performing channel estimation and detection in a Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) system, including: generating a demodulation reference signal, DM-RS, pattern for an extended cyclic prefix (CP); and estimating and detecting channel performance based on the generated DM-RS signal pattern. The DM-RS pattern supports from rank 1 to rank 8 patterns for 8 layer transmission. A transmitter, a receiver and a system thereof are also provided. The solution of the present invention improves channel estimation accuracy, saves channel estimation implementation and implementation complexity at terminals. |
| US09294237B2 |
Method for performing joint jitter and amplitude noise analysis on a real time oscilloscope
A method for determining jitter and noise of an input signal. The method includes acquiring one or more uncorrelated waveform records by an acquisition unit of a test and measurement instrument, determining a correlated waveform from the acquired waveform(s), dividing the correlated waveform into unit intervals, dividing an uncorrelated waveform into unit intervals, measuring a timing displacement (t1) between the correlated waveform and the uncorrelated waveform for each unit interval to form an apparent-jitter array ([t1]), measuring a voltage displacement (V1) between the correlated waveform and the uncorrelated waveform for reach unit interval to form an apparent-noise array ([V1]), calculating a horizontal shift (ts) between the correlated waveform and the uncorrelated waveform for each unit interval to form a compensated edge time array ([ts]), and calculating a vertical shift (Vs) between the correlated waveform and the uncorrelated waveform for each unit interval to form a compensated amplitude voltage array ([Vs]). |
| US09294233B2 |
Decoding method
A decoding method for decoding information content in at least one data packet, which is transmitted from a sender to a receiver via a data link. The information is represented by a bit sequence, which is transformed into a transmittable redundancy version. The information is initially transmitted for a first time in a first data packet from the sender to the receiver. The information is represented by a first redundancy version, which is self-decodable. An incorrect receipt is confirmed by sending a confirmation from the receiver to the sender. The information is retransmitted at least a second time in a second data packet from the sender to the receiver upon receipt of the confirmation, wherein, for representation of the information, a second redundancy version is used, the selection of which is performed in dependence on a coding parameter, describing whether the redundancy version is self-decodable or not. |
| US09294226B2 |
Universal object delivery and template-based file delivery
Data objects can be delivered over a network using a file delivery system and universal object delivery and template-based file delivery. This might be done by forming source data into a sequence of data objects represented by symbols in packets, sending those to receivers on request, wherein a transmitter obtains a template file delivery table with delivery metadata for the data objects, and constructing a first transmission object identifier for a data object based on a transmission object identifier construction rule described in the template file delivery table. A receiver might receive packets, extract a second transmission object identifier, associate encoded symbols comprising the received data packet with the data object if the first transmission object identifier and the second transmission object identifier identify the same data object, and recover, at least approximately, the source data for the data object based on the encoded symbols associated with the data object. |
| US09294225B2 |
Reduced state sequence estimation with soft decision outputs
A receiver may be operable to receive an inter-symbol correlated (ISC) signal, and generate a plurality of soft decisions as to information carried in the ISC signal. The soft decisions may be generated using a reduced-state sequence estimation (RSSE) process. The RSSE process may be such that the number of symbol survivors retained after each iteration of the RSSE process is less than the maximum likelihood state space. The plurality of soft decisions may comprise a plurality of log likelihood ratios (LLRs). Each of the plurality of LLRs may correspond to a respective one of a plurality of subwords of a forward error correction (FEC) codeword. |
| US09294220B2 |
Adjusting channel quality report in a wireless communication network
The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement in a first communication node for adjusting a channel quality report transmitted between the first communication node and a second communication node. The first communication node and the second communication node are comprised in a wireless communication network, and are adapted to communicate with each other via a radio link. In a first step, a channel quality report is received from the second communication node. The channel quality report is established by the second communication node. Then at least one channel characteristic parameter is obtained. The next step is to determine a channel quality offset based on the obtained channel characteristic parameter. Based on the channel quality offset, the channel quality report is adjusted. |
| US09294214B2 |
Coordinated multipoint (COMP) techniques for reducing downlink interference from uplink signals
Base stations (BSs) can remove inter-BS interference components from received uplink signals using downlink information communicated over a backhaul network. The downlink information is associated with downlink transmissions of neighboring base stations, and is used to remove the inter-BS interference in accordance with interference cancellation techniques, e.g., signal interference cancellation (SIC), etc. The downlink information includes information associated with downlink transmission of the interfering BSs, such as information bits (e.g., data), parity information, control information, modulation and coding scheme (MCS) parameters, forward error correction (FEC) parameters, and other information. Additionally, inter-BS interference can be suppressed using channel information of interference channels using interference suppression techniques, e.g., interference rejection combining (IRC), etc. |
| US09294213B2 |
Packet data network connections for multi priority wireless devices
A device and method for forming a packet data network (PDN) connection at a dual access priority mode configured user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The method comprises sending, from the UE to a mobility management entity (MME), a PDN connectivity request message that includes a NAS signaling priority override indicator to indicate that the PDN connection has a different NAS signaling priority mode than an existing PDN connection. The existing PDN connection is operating in a first signaling priority mode. The existing PDN connection is deactivated at the UE. A new PDN connection, operating in a second NAS signaling priority mode, is established at the UE. |
| US09294209B2 |
Device and method for transmitting multiplexed data frame
An apparatus and method for transmitting, through multiplexing a data frame that generates at least one super frame including at least one slice configured in a unit of a plurality of PLframes, generates a multiplexing super frame by rotating the at least one super frame by a predetermined phase value, and transmits the at least one super frame is provided. |
| US09294203B2 |
Problem signature terminal diagnosis method and system
Systems and methods for problem signature terminal diagnosis are disclosed. In an example embodiment, measured operational statistics of a satellite terminal of a peer group of satellite terminals are received and converted into normalized operation statistics. Normalized deviations of the operational statistics are determined and compared to the threshold deviations. A diagnosis zone corresponding to a problem signature is determined based on the normalized deviations by determining that coordinates of the normalized deviations are within the diagnosis zone, comparing a ratio based on the normalized deviations to a threshold ratio, or comparing a differential of the normalized deviations to a threshold differential. A satellite terminal is diagnosed with a problem defined by the problem signature based on the determined diagnosis zone. |
| US09294202B1 |
Adjusting application parameters for interference mitigation
Aspects of adjusting application parameters for interference mitigation are disclosed. In one aspect, a computing device is provided that employs a control system configured to detect and mitigate electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated within the computing device. More specifically, the control system is configured to detect possible EMI conditions and adjust parameters within the computing device to mitigate such EMI. In this manner, the computing device includes an aggressor application and a victim receiver. The control system is configured to analyze performance tradeoffs based on an acceptable performance level of the aggressor application and the performance degradation experienced by the victim receiver. Based on such analysis, the control system is configured to adjust parameters associated with the aggressor application to mitigate the EMI. Thus, the control system provides designers with an additional tool that may reduce the performance degradation of the victim receiver attributable to the EMI. |
| US09294201B2 |
Optical communication systems and methods
An underwater system including at least one input device that is in sensory communication with water and generates input signals. The system further includes at least one optical transmitter and at least one optical receiver that allow omni-directional transmission and reception through water of optical signals representing the input signals, and allow data rates greater than 1 Mbps. |
| US09294198B2 |
Pulsed light communication key
A Universal Serial Bus (USB) key may include an optical transceiver having a USB interface for engagement to an electronic device such as a laptop computer or other USB-configured device. The USB key may include a converter or buffering, isolation, modulation or amplification circuitry. The USB key sends and receives data signals which may be carried upon an optical transmission as generated by an LED light source which in turn is in communication with a host device such as a network processor. The USB key may also include operational amplifiers (op-amps) and transistor amplifiers. |
| US09294197B2 |
Optoelectronic component
This invention relates to an optoelectronic component which has the following: an optical component which emits optical signals to an input/output end face of a light guide and/or receives optical signals and converts them into electronic signals, a component carrier located on the optical component, and a housing part which surrounds the optical component and which has coupling means which form optical coupling means and mechanical coupling means (alignment means), the optical coupling means routing the optical signals coming from the optical component to the input end face of the light guide and/or routing the optical beams emerging from the input/output end face of the light guide to the optical component, the mechanical alignment means aligning the light guide with respect to the optical component for efficient signal transmission. |
| US09294192B2 |
Method, system, and transceiver device for bi-directionally transmitting digital optical signals over an optical transmission link
A method for bi-directionally transmitting digital optical signals over an optical transmission link in which a first optical transmit signal is created according to a first binary digital signal in such a way that the bit information of the first binary digital signal is included in first sections of the symbol interval of the first optical transmit signal. A second optical transmit signal is created by creating an optical wavelength reuse signal using the first optical transmit signal received at the second end of the optical transmission link, the optical wavelength reuse signal being modulated according to a second digital signal in such a way that the bit information of the second digital signal is included in second sections of the symbol interval of the first optical transmit signal received. |
| US09294190B2 |
Low cost direct modulation and coherent detection optical OFDM
System and method for compensating distortions introduced by an optical channel and by at least one directly modulated transmitting laser that transmits a modulated optical signal that carries data to a receiving end over the optical channel. At the receiving end, the transmitted signal is received by a coherent receiver that processes the received signal by compensating the distortions introduced by the optical channel by applying, on the received signal, an operator being capable of essentially compensating for all fiber distortions in the optical channel; compensating the non-linear phase distortions and/or statistical phase distortions introduced by the directly modulated transmitting laser by applying, on the processed signal obtained after compensating the fiber distortion, a non-linear operator being the extraction of the absolute value of the compensated signal; and extracting the data carried by the processed signal, from the absolute value of the processed signal obtained after compensating the non-linear phase distortions and/or statistical phase distortions, thereby demodulating the processed signal. |
| US09294183B2 |
Distributed wireless transmission and reception system, and expanded wireless network
The present invention relates to a distributed transmission and reception system, and an expanded wireless network. The distributed transmission and reception system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a distributed transmission system, a distributed reception system, and a distributed relay system. A source signal of a source radio is divided into a plurality of signals through the distributed transmission system, is relayed through an associate's radio, and can be distributed into and transmitted to other networks which are located out of a distance range. A destination radio positioned in another network can restore the original signal of the outgoing radio with the help of relay from the associate's radio via the distributed reception system. The associate's radio providing help in relay amplifies only a part of the source signal, and thus the intensity of the signal can be enhanced. Accordingly, when the outputs of associate's radio providing help in relay are combined, the combined associate's radio function as a high-power radio, and thereby having a greater capability than the original distance range capability. When a distributed transmission system and a distributed reception system operate within one network, a distributed relay system is constructed. The distributed relay system relays a signal arriving at another network to be transmitted to yet another network, thereby consequentially, expanding a wireless network area. |
| US09294181B2 |
Method and apparatus for switching antenna in portable terminal
A method and apparatus of switching an antenna in a portable terminal having a plurality of antennas, a plurality of communication modules, and a switch unit for switching a wireless path are provided. The method includes determining whether a received signal strength of at least one communication module is reduced to or below a preset reference value, measuring, when the received signal strength of the at least one communication module is determined to be reduced to or below the preset reference value, respective received signal strengths of the plurality of the antennas with respect to a frequency band supported by the at least one communication module, and controlling the switch unit, based on the measurement result, such that a wireless path is formed between the at least one communication module and an antenna having a greatest received signal strength among the plurality of the antennas. |
| US09294174B2 |
Method and device for radio reception using a plurality of antennas and a multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port amplifier
The invention relates to a method for radio reception using a plurality of antennas and a multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port amplifier. The invention also relates to a receiver for radio communication using this method. The receiver for radio communication comprises: four antennas; a multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port amplifier comprising adjustable impedance devices, each of the adjustable impedance devices having a reactance at a frequency, the reactance of any one of the adjustable impedance devices being adjustable by electrical means; four analog processing and conversion circuits; a multiple-input signal processing device delivering a signal to a destination, the multiple-input signal processing device delivering a tuning instruction; and a tuning control unit, the tuning control unit receiving the tuning instruction from the multiple-input signal processing device, the tuning control unit delivering tuning control signals to the multiple-input-port and multiple-output-port amplifier as a function of the tuning instruction. |
| US09294171B2 |
Base station calibration
In one embodiment, an LSAS base station has a tree architecture including a central controller at the tree root, one or more intermediate levels of hubs forming tree branches, and an antenna module for each service antenna at a tree leaf. To calibrate an overall ratio characterizing differences between downlink and uplink channels between the central controller and each antenna module, neighbor-calibration procedures are calibrate neighbor ratios between parent nodes and their child nodes. Appropriate neighbor ratios are multiplied to generate overall ratios. To reduce time required to perform the neighbor-calibration procedures, odd and even phases are performed. In the odd phase, neighbor ratios are generated between parents in all odd levels and their children in even levels, and analogously for the even phase for even-level parents and odd-level children. Within each phase, independent parent-child pairs can be calibrated simultaneously. |
| US09294167B2 |
Method and apparatus for amplifying multiple input multiple output (MIMO) in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for amplifying a MIMO signal in a wireless communication system are disclosed. A signal amplifier for amplifying a MIMO signal in a wireless communication system includes: a recognition module for recognizing network information and antenna information of a source device; and an adaptive link construction module for forming a link between a plurality of antenna with respect to the source device and a plurality of antenna with respect to the destination device on the basis of the recognized information. |
| US09294165B2 |
Signal generating method and signal generating device
A transmission method of simultaneously transmitting a first modulated signal and a second modulated signal at a common frequency performs precoding on both signals using a fixed precoding matrix and regularly changes the phase of at least one of the signals. One of signal generation processing in which phase change is performed and signal generation processing in which phase change is not performed is selectable, thereby improving general versatility in signal generation. |
| US09294160B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting distributed MIMO in a wireless communication system
Techniques for supporting distributed MIMO are described. For multi-user distributed MIMO, a cell directs its transmit power toward a UE while reducing interference to UE(s) in neighbor cell(s). For single-user distributed MIMO, multiple cells concurrently send transmissions to a UE. In an aspect, a UE sends channel estimates for serving and non-serving cells to support multi-user distributed MIMO. Each cell may use the channel estimates to select UEs for data transmission and determine precoding vectors to use for data transmission to the selected UEs. In another aspect, a UE sends CQI information for serving and non-serving cells to support single-user distributed MIMO. Each cell may use the CQI information to select UEs for data transmission and determine modulation and coding schemes to use for the selected UEs. In yet another aspect, a UE determines CQI information for a serving cell by taking into account interference nulling by non-serving cells. |
| US09294159B2 |
Doppler-nulling traveling-wave antenna relays for high-speed vehicular communications
An antenna relay system for facilitating wireless communication between mobile terminals on a high-speed rail vehicle and stationary base stations with substantially reduced Doppler shift effects comprises matched traveling wave directional antennas mounted to a high-speed rail vehicle and positioned collinearly alongside the railway. Both antennas continually transmit and receive at a fixed angle relative to the motion of the train so as to circumvent the Doppler shift. The signal transmitted or received by the stationary antenna is conducted to a nearest node for communication with an access network. |
| US09294157B2 |
Radio-frequency identification system
The invention is a radio-frequency identification system consisting of a reader and a tag. The reader comprises a transmit/receive resonant circuit comprising one or more coils, a means for repeatedly driving the transmit/receive resonant circuit with pulses of a periodic signal, a means for obtaining a tag response signal from the transmit/receive resonant circuit, a means for extracting tag information from the tag response signal obtained from the transmit/receive resonant circuit, a receive resonant circuit comprising one or more coils, a means for obtaining a tag response signal from the receive resonant circuit, and a means for extracting tag information from the tag response signal obtained from the receive resonant circuit. The tag comprises a plurality of resonant circuits, a means for recognizing he presence of an interrogating magnetic field, and a means for embedding information to be communicated to the interrogating reader in at least one coil current. |
| US09294155B2 |
Near-field communication and impact sensor
A device including at least one of an NFC reader or and NFC tag. An impact sensor to detect an impact to the device. Wherein the impact to the device effects whether data is transferred to a second device. |
| US09294153B2 |
Systems and methods of wireless power transfer with interference detection
Systems and methods of wireless power transfer system with interference detection disclosed herein detects possible excessive energy transfer associated with parasitic metal objects placed in close proximity with system coils by comparing power received on the receiving side of the system with the power consumed on the primary side considering known losses in the system. If the result of such comparison shows that power consumed on the primary side substantially exceeds power received on the secondary side, the system may terminate operation. |
| US09294151B2 |
Wireless data transmission via inductive coupling using di/dt as the magnetic modulation scheme and hysteresis
The disclosed couplers operate in a “near field” mode, meaning energy, whether used to transmit data or power, is transferred through magnetic induction using a ∂i/∂t circuit (meaning a change in current over a change in time), such as by using inductive transmission and receive coils in which resistors and/or other components such as diodes are placed into series and/or in parallel with the coils and used to control the shape of the pulse, e.g. its voltage and/or frequency. In an embodiment, one connector comprises a voltage comparator which comprises a hysteresis circuit adapted to be centered at a predetermined no pulse voltage for use in data transmission. |
| US09294140B2 |
Radio frequency interference mitigation
A computing device including a wireless communication system is provided herein. The computing device includes a plurality of antennas coupled to the wireless communication system. The computing device also includes a pattern controller to shape an antenna pattern of the plurality of antennas to point a null of the antenna pattern toward a Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) source of the computing device. |
| US09294139B1 |
System and methods for constructing a noise replica
A data acquisition system and a method of operating the data acquisition system are disclosed. A zero crossing detector generates a mains cycle start signal in accordance with a power line frequency of a mains power source. An analog-to-digital converter samples a signal provided by a test probe and generates data samples at a sampling rate. A noise replica generator generates noise replicas from the data samples at a replica generation rate, and noise estimates from the noise replicas at the sampling rate, wherein the noise replica generation rate is less than the sampling frequency. A noise removal module removes each noise estimate from a corresponding data sample. |
| US09294137B2 |
Method for reducing amplitude noise in a received signal within an RFID interrogator
A method is performed for a signal transmitted by an RFID interrogator being a radiofrequency electromagnetic sine wave. An amplitude noise contribution RSdAN to a demodulated received signal RSd within a frequency interval of a low-pass filter is determined by means of a measured demodulated transmitted signal TSd as RSdAN=k.TSd in that a dc component DCRS in said demodulated received signal RSd and a dc component DCTS in said demodulated transmitted signal TSd are measured and a conversion factor k is determined as k=DCRS:DCTS. A receiver output signal O is continuously generated out of the received signal by subtracting said amplitude noise contribution RSdAN from the demodulated received signal RSd, filtering the cleaned signal RSd-k.TSd by the low-pass filter and amplifying it. The conversion factor is determined in an exceptionally simplified way as said ratio of said dc components. No receiving interruptions are needed. |
| US09294136B2 |
Frequency interference detection and correction
A system for detecting and correcting for spurious frequencies that may coincide in a bandwidth of interest in an RF metrology system. The system can (1) utilize a deterministic scheme to detect an interference by a spurious frequency and correct the distortion effect or (2) utilize a mixed signal processing architecture to avoid the occurrence of spurious frequency contamination. A detection scheme identifies the event of distortion and triggers either (a) a shift in the analog to digital convert sample rate or (b) a mathematical vector manipulation. The shift of the analog to digital convert sample rate moves an aliased image of the spurious frequency outside of the frequency of interest. The mathematical vector correction removes the distortion and restores the signal of interest. |
| US09294134B2 |
Viterbi decoding device and method for decoding a signal produced by a convolutional encoder
A Viterbi decoding device to decode a signal produced by a convolutional encoder is described. The device may include: an analog-to-digital conversion unit to extract a soft symbol S=(S0, S1) from the signal, the soft symbol including a first sample value S0 and a second sample value S1; and a digital processing unit to compute, for each of the N states, a branch metric value of BM—0_K in dependence on the soft symbol S, K being an index identifying the respective state. The digital processing unit may store the soft symbol S as a complex number S=S0+J*S1 in a complex number format; and compute a complex branch metric value BM—0_(K, K′)=BM—0_K+J*BM—0_K′ in a complex number format on the basis of the soft symbol S, with K different from K′. |
| US09294130B1 |
Quasi-cyclic low-density parity-check (QC-LDPC) encoder
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for generating parity information for using information in a low-density parity check (LDPC) encoder. A quasi-cyclic LDPC generator matrix K can be generated based on the non-invertible parity-check matrix H. Parity information can be generated by the LDPC encoder based at least in part on the user information, the non-invertible parity check matrix H, and the quasi-cyclic LDPC generator matrix K. |
| US09294129B2 |
Low-power low density parity check decoding
In an example implementation of this disclosure, a message passing low density parity check (LDPC) decoder may, during decoding of a first group of bits, lock a first variable node upon a bit-value probability of the first variable node reaching a determined threshold, and lock a first check node upon all variable nodes connected to the first check node being locked. The LDPC decoder may cease decoding the first group of bits upon all variable nodes of the LDPC decoder being locked, all check nodes of the LDPC decoder being locked, reaching a maximum number of iterations, or reaching a timeout. During a particular iteration of the decoding of the first group of bits in which the first variable node is locked, the LDPC decoder may refrain from generating a bit-value probability for the locked first variable node. |
| US09294127B2 |
Current mode analog belief propagation
An analog belief propagation system uses current mode implementations of storage elements and circuit implementations of at least some nodes of a factor graph using current representations. The system mitigates or avoids effects of non-linearities and approximations in storage and processing elements of the system, for instance, by using storage cells that reproduce current values and using factor circuits that separate control sections and signal path sections of the circuits. |
| US09294123B2 |
Apparatus and method to accelerate compression and decompression operations
Methods and apparatuses relating to an instruction to decode encoded information of a compression scheme are described. In one embodiment, a processor includes a decode unit to decode an instruction, and an execution unit to execute the instruction, the execution unit including a state machine and content addressable memory (CAM) circuitry, the state machine to receive a pointer to a stream of encoded information of a compression scheme, fetch a section of the encoded information, and apply the section of the encoded information to the CAM circuitry to obtain decoded information. |
| US09294121B2 |
System and method for improving signal to noise ratio for high frequency signal component
An apparatus and method for improving signal to noise ratio of a physiological signal is provided. At least one sensor senses the analog data signal, the analog data signal having a first component including ECG data and a second component including ancillary data. A converter is coupled to the at least one sensor that automatically converts the analog data signal into a digital data signal and decimates the digital data signal from a first sample rate to a second sample rate. A gain compensation circuit is coupled to the converter that automatically measures a magnitude of at least one of the first component and second component of the digital data signal and compares the measured magnitude to a reference value to determine if a gain applied to the analog data signal should be modified and automatically compensates the digital data signal in response to the determination that the analog gain value should be modified, wherein the compensated digital data signal corrects defects associated with a settling period of the converter resulting from modifying the gain applied to the analog data signal. |
| US09294120B2 |
Digital technique for excess loop delay compensation in a continuous-time delta sigma modulator
A continuous time delta sigma modulator includes a quantizer, a buffer module, and a reference module. The quantizer includes a comparator that updates a digital output each cycle of a clock signal based on a comparison of a reference potential with an input generated based on a sample of an analog signal. The buffer module receives the digital output, stores the digital output for a predetermined delay period, and outputs the digital output after the predetermined delay period as a delayed digital output. The predetermined delay period is less than one cycle of the clock signal. The reference module selectively varies the reference potential based on the delayed digital output. |
| US09294118B2 |
Multi-input analog-to-digital converter
In an example, there is disclosed a multiple-input analog-to-digital converter configured to receive a plurality of analog inputs and to output one or more digital outputs. In one embodiment, two input analog signals are received. The two analog signals may be mixed in a combiner, which provides them to a pipeline ADC. In another embodiment, the combiner may time multiplex the two analog input signals and provide two separate outputs signals. Advantageously, the multiple-input ADC of the present Specification may be realized with a single ADC pipeline. |
| US09294117B2 |
Method and system for gain control for time-interleaved analog-to-digital convertor (ADC)
A system for processing signals may be configured to apply digital conversion to analog signals, and to apply, prior to the analog-to-digital conversion, a gain to at least a portion of the analog signals. The gain may be controlled and/or adjusted based on processing of digital output generated based on the analog-to-digital conversion. The system may comprise a plurality of sampling slices, which may be configured to provide the analog-to-digital conversion in interleaved (e.g., time-interleaved) manner. Each of the sampling slices may comprise a dedicated gain element, for applying gain to signals handled by the corresponding slice. The gain applied by the gain elements of the sampling slices may be controlled, independently, collectively, and/or in based on grouping into subsets. The gain may be controlled based on application of a particular gain control algorithm, which may be selected from a plurality of predefined algorithms. |
| US09294116B2 |
Digital to analog converter discharge circuit and associated method for analog to digital converter circuits
A circuit includes an amplifier circuit that receives a residue voltage from an output capacitor connected to an output of a digital to analog converter (DAC). The DAC is employed in a pipeline stage of an analog to digital converter (ADC). The amplifier circuit provides a scaled output voltage based on the residue voltage. A sample circuit samples the scaled output voltage during a first portion of a hold phase of the DAC. A discharge circuit supplies the sampled scaled output voltage to the output of the DAC during a second portion of the hold phase of the DAC to mitigate settling time of the DAC. |
| US09294115B2 |
Passive amplification circuit and analog-digital convertor
A differential signal is amplified by passive amplification which does not a reference of a common-mode voltage. At this time, the voltage of the differential signal is passive-amplified twice before carrying out a successive approximation type analog-digital conversion operation. The passive amplification is attained by providing a plurality of capacitances which carry out a sampling operation, and switching these connection relation by using switches. Without being accompanied by the increase of the consumed power and the chip size, an influence by the noise of s comparator is reduced to a half so that the effective resolution can be increased for one bit. |
| US09294114B2 |
Reference signal generating circuit, ad conversion circuit, and imaging device
A reference signal generating circuit, an AD conversion circuit, and an imaging device are provided. A clock generating unit includes a delay section including delay units, each of which delays an input signal and outputs a delayed signal, and outputs a low-order phase signal based on a signal output from the delay section. A high-order current source cell unit includes high-order current source cells, each of which generates the same constant current. A low-order current source cell unit includes low-order current source cells weighted to generate constant currents having current values that differ by a predetermined proportion of a current value of the constant current generated by the high-order current source cell. Selection of the high-order current source cell is performed based on a clock obtained by dividing a clock based on the low-order phase signal. |
| US09294110B1 |
Correction circuits for successive-approximation-register analog-to-digital converters
In one embodiment, a correction circuit comprises circuit comprises a replica transistor biased at a current density to match that of a high side transistor of an output power switch at a specific load. A sample and hold circuit is coupled to the replica transistor to sample a voltage across the replica transistor. A differential amplifier provides a level shifted differential replica voltage to a tap of a resistor ladder of a successive approximation register analog-to-digital converter in response to the sampled voltage across the replica transistor. A current source provides a current to a top of the resistor ladder. |
| US09294108B2 |
RF circuit with DCO, state machine, latch, modulator, timing update
A phase locked loop circuit (30, 100, 110) includes a controllable oscillator (42) for generating an output signal of desired frequency responsive to a control signal, a first phase detection circuit (32, 102, 112) for generating an output indicative of phase differential responsive to the output signal and a first edge of a reference signal and a second phase detection circuit (34, 104, 114) for generating an output indicative of phase differential responsive to the output signal and a second edge of a reference signal. The control signal to the controllable oscillator (42) is driven by the outputs of the first and second phase detections circuits. |
| US09294106B2 |
Capacitance multiplier and loop filter noise reduction in a PLL
According to an embodiment, a circuit includes a first charge pump configured to generate a first current at a first node, a second charge pump configured to generate a second current at a second node, a loop filter coupled between the first and second nodes, the loop filter including a first filter path coupled to the first node, a second filter path coupled to the second node, and an isolation buffer interposed between the first and second filter paths. The second current at the second node is different than the first current at the first node. The circuit further includes an oscillator configured to apply a first gain to an output of the first filter path and a second gain to an output of the second filter path. |
| US09294103B2 |
Pre-program of clock generation circuit for faster lock coming out of reset
A method and apparatus for achieving fast PLL lock when exiting a low power state is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes operating a PLL in a first state in which the PLL is locked to a first frequency. The method further includes programming the PLL to operate in a second state in which the PLL is locked to a second frequency. The programming may occur while the PLL is operating in the first state, and the PLL may continue operating in the first state after programming is complete. Thereafter, the PLL may be transitioned from the first state to a low power state. Upon exiting the low power state, the PLL may transition directly to the second state, locking to the second frequency, without having to transition to the first state or lock to the first frequency. |
| US09294096B2 |
Semiconductor device
[Object] A novel programmable logic device is provided.[Solution] Programmable switches each include a first transistor and a second transistor. The first transistor in a first programmable switch controls conduction between a first wiring and a gate of the second transistor in the first programmable switch. The second transistor in the first programmable switch controls conduction between the first wiring and a second wiring. The first transistor in the second programmable switch controls conduction between another first wiring and a gate of the second transistor in the second programmable switch. |
| US09294093B2 |
Level shift circuit utilizing resistance in semiconductor substrate
An apparatus such as a level shift circuit includes a first signal output device configured to output a first level shifting signal, a second signal output device configured to output a second level shifting signal, and first and second detector devices. The level shifting signals are to control an output switching element of a high potential side of an output device that includes a power source and a load. The first and second detector devices are respectively configured to compare the first and second level shifting signals to a reference signal and output respective first and second comparison result signals. The first and second comparison result signals are configured to at least partly control switching of the first and second level shifting signals based at least in part on the presence of a parasitic resistance. |
| US09294092B2 |
Error resilient packaged components
A packaged component may include an interposer and integrated circuit dies mounted on the interposer. At least one of the dies may be a radiation-hardened integrated circuit die, whereas the remaining dies may be non-radiation-hardened dies. If desired, the interposer may be a radiation-hardened interposer whereas the integrated circuit dies may be non-radiation-hardened dies. The radiation-hardened die or the radiation-hardened interposer may include monitor circuitry that is used to test non-radiation-hardened circuitry of the packaged component. Test results may be stored in a database at the monitor circuitry or transmitted to external devices such as a server. The monitor circuitry may be used to reconfigure failed circuitry or may control multiplexing circuitry in the interposer to functionally replace the failed circuitry. If desired, the monitor circuitry may adjust power consumption of non-radiation-hardened circuitry based on the test results. |
| US09294083B2 |
Semiconductor devices and methods providing non-linear compensation of field-effect transistors
Semiconductor devices and methods are disclosed including switch circuitry providing improved switching performance. A semiconductor die includes a semiconductor substrate, at least one field-effect transistor (FET) formed on the semiconductor substrate, and a compensation circuit connected to a respective source of each of the at least one FET, the compensation circuit configured to compensate a non-linearity effect generated by the at least one FET. |
| US09294081B2 |
System and method for breakdown protection for switching output driver
An integrated circuit device includes a driver circuit (100) having a pull-up network with a first pull-up transistor (108) coupled to a second pull-up transistor (110) at a first node (VP), and a pull-down network coupled to the pull-up network including a first pull-down transistor (112) coupled to a second pull-down transistor (114) at a second node (VN). A first bias switch (116) is coupled to the first node. A second bias switch (118) is coupled to the second node. A control circuit (104) is coupled to operate the first and second bias switches. The first bias switch is operated to reduce a voltage at the first node during a pull-down cycle of the driver circuit and the second bias switch is operated to reduce a voltage at the second node during a pull-up cycle of the driver circuit. |
| US09294076B2 |
Switching power supply device and pulse width modulation circuit used therein
A problem of the present invention is to provide a switching power supply device and a pulse width modulation circuit capable of operating stably in synchronization with a clock signal. To solve the problem, a pulse width modulation circuit 3A in a switching power supply device 1A includes square-wave voltage output means 8A for, when an integrated voltage Vn rises to an upper threshold voltage or more, shifting a square-wave voltage VPWM to L level, or when the voltage Vn drops to a lower threshold voltage or less, shifting the voltage VPWM to H level, and clock means 6A for outputting a first clock signal VCL1 and a second clock signal VCL2, which are 180° out of phase from each other. The square-wave voltage output means 8A is adapted to: (1) if the clock signal VCL1 changes while the voltage Vn is dropping, shift the voltage VPWM to H level even when the voltage Vn has not yet reached the lower threshold voltage; and (2) if the clock signal VCL2 changes while the voltage Vn is rising, shift the voltage VPWM to L level even when the voltage Vn has not yet reached the upper threshold voltage. |
| US09294071B2 |
Antenna duplexer
An antenna duplexer includes first and second filters connected to an antenna terminal. The first filter has a passband of a low frequency band. The second filter has a passband of a high frequency band. The second filter is a ladder-type filter including series-arm resonators and parallel-arm resonators. At least one parallel-arm resonator out of the parallel-arm resonators has a main resonance and an auxiliary resonance. Attenuation poles caused by the main resonance and the auxiliary resonance are within the low frequency band. This antenna duplexer has a high attenuation characteristic and a high isolation characteristic while maintaining a low insertion loss. |
| US09294068B2 |
Filter circuit and module
A filter circuit includes: a first band-pass filter, a second band-pass filter, a third band-pass filter and a fourth band-pass filter each having input and output terminals; a first terminal to which one of input and output terminals of first band-pass filter and one of input and output terminals of second band-pass filter are connected; a second terminal to which one of input and output terminals of third band-pass filter and one of input and output terminals of fourth band-pass filter are connected; a third terminal to which another one of input and output terminals of first band-pass filter and another one of input and output terminals of fourth band-pass filter are connected; and a fourth terminal to which another one of input and output terminals of second band-pass filter and another one of input and output terminals of third band-pass filter are connected. |
| US09294067B2 |
Combined balun transformer and harmonic filter
In one embodiment, a balanced to unbalanced transformer utilizes a crossover configuration such that some portion of the secondary coil (inductor) is shared between two resonators (capacitors). Adding a first capacitor in parallel with a portion of the secondary inductor creates a first harmonic trap (filter), and also efficiently uses the secondary coil (inductor) as a resonating element.Adding a second capacitor which shares (crossover configuration) a portion of the secondary inductor with the first capacitor creates a second harmonic trap (filter), which may be tuned to the same harmonic as the first harmonic trap, or may be tuned to a different harmonic. |
| US09294066B2 |
Transmission device
A transmission device that establishes efficient match with an impedance mismatch section of a differential transmission system. The transmission device includes: a differential driver; a differential receiver; a differential line that connects between the differential driver and the differential receiver, the differential line including in-phase signal wiring and inverted-phase signal wiring; a delay increasing structure interposed in the differential line at an upstream of the impedance mismatch section; and a delay increasing structure interposed at a downstream of the impedance mismatch section. The delay increasing structure is interposed only in one of the in-phase signal wiring and the inverted-phase signal wiring, and the delay increasing structure is interposed only in another of the in-phase signal wiring and the inverted-phase signal wiring. |
| US09294058B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for driving the same
A semiconductor device including an integrator circuit, in which electric discharge from a capacitor can be reduced to shorten time required for charging the capacitor in the case where supply of power supply voltage is stopped and restarted, and a method for driving the semiconductor device are provided. One embodiment has a structure in which a transistor with small off-state current is electrically connected in series to a capacitor in an integrator circuit. Further, in one embodiment of the present invention, a transistor with small off-state current is electrically connected in series to a capacitor in an integrator circuit; the transistor is on in a period during which power supply voltage is supplied; and the transistor is off in a period during which supply of the power supply voltage is stopped. |
| US09294057B2 |
Efficient low noise high speed amplifier
A hybrid amplifier includes a linear amplifier coupled in series with a switching amplifier. The linear amplifier may generate an intermediate amplified signal according to an input signal. The switching amplifier may generate an output signal according to the intermediate amplified signal, the output signal having an amplitude with respect to a reference voltage provided at a reference node. The linear amplifier may drive the reference node to adjust the reference voltage responsive to transient changes in the output signal. A high-pass filter coupled to the linear amplifier and the switching amplifier may enable the switching amplifier to provide most of the steady-state current, which may drive a load, from actual ground. The linear amplifier and switching amplifier may be independently powered, for example from a power supply having a primary winding and two electrically isolated secondary windings that respectively provide power to the linear amplifier and the switching amplifier. |
| US09294053B2 |
Amplifying circuit including active inductor
An amplifying circuit includes a first transistor configured to convert an input voltage signal to a current signal, a second transistor configured to convert the current signal to an output voltage signal, and a variable active inductor in which resistors and a switch are arranged between a gate and a drain of the second transistor. The amplifying circuit further includes a third transistor configured to draw a current and connected in parallel to the first transistor and a bias circuit configured to control individually a current flowing through the first transistor and a current flowing through the third transistor. |
| US09294050B2 |
CMOS based RF antenna switch
A novel and useful radio frequency (RF) front end module (FEM) circuit that provides high linearity and power efficiency and meets the requirements of modern wireless communication standards such as 802.11 WLAN, 3G and 4G cellular standards, Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc. The configuration of the FEM circuit permits the use of common, relatively low cost semiconductor fabrication techniques such as standard CMOS processes. The FEM circuit includes a power amplifier made up of one or more sub-amplifiers having high and low power circuits and whose outputs are combined to yield the total desired power gain. An integrated multi-tap transformer having primary and secondary windings arranged in a novel configuration provide efficient power combining and transfer to the antenna of the power generated by the individual sub-amplifiers. |
| US09294047B2 |
Power amplifier apparatus, transmitter apparatus, and method of controlling the power amplifier apparatus
A power amplifier apparatus includes an amplifier configured to amplify an input signal converted into an analog signal, a distortion compensator circuitry configured to perform a pre-distortion process to an input signal at a second sampling rate higher than a first sampling rate at which the input signal is converted into an analog signal, a remover configured to remove a frequency component exceeding a frequency band corresponding to the first sampling rate from the input signal subjected to the pre-distortion process, a first rate converter configured to convert a sampling rate of the input signal from which the frequency component is removed from the second sampling rate to the first sampling rate, and a first signal converter configured to convert the input signal the sampling rate of which is converted into an analog signal at the first sampling rate to supply the input signal converted into the analog signal to the amplifier. |
| US09294044B2 |
Bias circuit and amplifier
A bias circuit according to an embodiment is a bias circuit that supplies a bias voltage to an amplifying element. The bias circuit of the embodiment includes a first current source that has a characteristic of varying an output current with the surrounding temperature variations, and a second current source that has a different output characteristic from the first current source and that can control the output current. The bias circuit of the embodiment also includes a comparator for comparing the output current of the first current source with the output current of the second current source, and a bias supply part that controls the output current of the second current source on the basis of the comparison result of the comparator and supplies a bias voltage to the amplifying element in accordance with the comparison result. |
| US09294041B2 |
Average frequency control of switcher for envelope tracking
This disclosure relates generally to radio frequency (RF) switching converters and RF amplification devices that use RF switching converters. For example, an RF switching converter may include a switching circuit that receives a power source voltage and a switching controller that receives a target average frequency value identifying a target average frequency. The switching circuit is switchable so as to generate a pulsed output voltage from the power source voltage. The switching controller switches the switching circuit such that the pulsed output voltage has an average pulse frequency. The switching controller also detects that the average pulse frequency of the pulsed output voltage during a time period differs from the target average frequency, and reduces a difference between the average pulse frequency and the target average frequency. In this manner, the effects of manufacturing variations and operational variations on the average pulse frequency can be eliminated, or at least diminished. |
| US09294040B1 |
Power amplifier and transmission device
A power amplifier includes an output terminal, capacitive element groups including capacitive elements, and amplifier groups including amplifiers. Capacitive elements of the capacitive element groups are disposed on a first circle whose center is located on the output terminal. Amplifiers of the amplifier groups corresponding to the capacitive elements of the capacitive element groups are disposed on a second circle, which is concentric with and larger than the first circle. Each of the capacitive elements of the capacitive element groups is connected to both the output terminal and the corresponding amplifier of the amplifiers of the amplifier groups. |
| US09294039B2 |
Constant GM bias circuit insensitive to supply variations
A bias circuit for biasing a field effect transistor (FET) to provide a transconductance (gm) that is substantially unaffected by power supply voltage variations. In one embodiment the circuit includes two parallel current paths, each including two amplifying elements such as FETs, the FETs in one of the paths both being diode-connected, and the FETs in the other path not being diode-connected. Variations in the power supply voltage result in comparable changes in the voltage drops across all four FETs, and drain-induced barrier lowering (DIBL) results in relatively small changes in gm with changes in power supply voltage. |
| US09294037B2 |
Apparatus and methods for autozero amplifiers
Apparatus and methods for autozero amplifiers are provided herein. In certain configurations, an autozero amplifier includes at least three transconductance stages and an autozero timing control circuit configured to control an autozero sequence of the transconductance stages. The autozero timing control circuit can stagger autozeroing of the transconductance stages, such that a relatively small amount of the amplifier's amplification circuitry is connected to or disconnected from the amplifier's signal path at any given time. For example, in certain configurations, when one of the transconductance stages in autozeroed over a particular time interval, the remaining transconductance stages can operate in parallel to provide amplification during that time interval. |
| US09294036B2 |
Method and apparatus for local oscillation distribution
A circuit includes an oscillation generation circuit, a distribution circuit, and a transceiver circuit. The oscillation generation circuit is configured to generate a first oscillation signal having a first frequency. The distribution circuit includes a voltage to current stage, a transmission portion and a current to voltage stage. The voltage to current stage is configured to receive the first oscillation signal, and convert the first oscillation signal into a current form. The transmission portion is configured to transmit the first oscillation signal in the current form. The current to voltage stage is configured to receive the first oscillation signal in the current form and generate a second oscillation signal having a sub-harmonic frequency of the first frequency, such as half of the first frequency. The transceiver circuit is configured to operate in a frequency band responsive to the second oscillation signal. |
| US09294035B2 |
Multigate resonant channel transistor
An embodiment includes an oscillator comprising an amplifier formed on a substrate; a multiple gate resonant channel array, formed on the substrate, including: (a) transistors including fins, each of the fins having a channel between source and drain nodes, coupled to common source and drain contacts; and (b) common first and second tri-gates coupled to each of the fins and located between the source and drain contacts; wherein the fins mechanically resonate at a first frequency when one of the first and second tri-gates is periodically activated to produce periodic downward forces on the fins. Other embodiments include a non planar transistor with a channel between the source and drain nodes and a tri-gate on the fin; wherein the fin mechanically resonates when the first tri-gate is periodically activated to produce periodic downward forces on the fin. Other embodiments are described herein. |
| US09294033B2 |
Modular, self supporting exterior enclosure system with insulating, evacuated tubes having solar collector rods
A tubular building enclosure system with thermally-broken glass modules having evacuated air spaces assembled in rows and/or columns to form a structurally self-supporting, thermally insulating, and solar energy collecting facade. |