| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09301763B2 |
Tiltable and respositionable anvil assembly for stapler and stapler comprising the same
A tiltable and repositionable anvil assembly for a stapler and a stapler comprising the same are provided. The tiltable and repositionable anvil assembly comprises: an anvil body having a connection portion for pivotable connection; a limitator; and a compression spring disposed between the anvil body and the limitator, in which in an operation of the stapler, the limitator is clamped at a clamping position between the connection portion of the anvil body and a connection portion of the stapler so as to keep the anvil body in a vertical state, and after the operation of the stapler, the limitator is moved away from the clamping position between the connection portion of the anvil body and the connection portion of the stapler, so that the anvil body is tiltable to a tilted state and the compression spring is compressed. |
| US09301759B2 |
Robotically-controlled surgical instrument with selectively articulatable end effector
Devices and systems are provided for controlling movement of a working end of a surgical device by means of a robotic system. In one embodiment, systems and devices are provided for moving an end effector on a distal end of a surgical fastening device. Movement can include rotational movement of the end effector about an axis of the shaft, articulation of the end effector relative to the shaft, and actuation of an end effector, e.g., closing, firing, and/or cutting. |
| US09301757B2 |
Surgical fastener applying apparatus including fluid-activated firing mechanism
A surgical fastener applying apparatus includes an end effector assembly having an anvil assembly and a cartridge assembly. The anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly is movable relative to the other between open and closed positions. The cartridge assembly is configured to retain a plurality of surgical fasteners therein. A fluid-actuated drive assembly including a distal piston member is configured to oscillate between proximal and distal positions. The distal piston member includes a base and a rack extending distally from the base and slidably disposed within the cartridge assembly. A drive beam is configured for translation through the cartridge assembly to eject the surgical fasteners from the cartridge assembly. A pawl assembly couples the drive beam to the rack such that the drive beam is incrementally advanced along the rack and through the cartridge assembly as the distal piston member oscillates between the proximal position and the distal position. |
| US09301756B2 |
Surgical coils and methods of deploying
Surgical coils are disclosed for marking, anchoring, stapling and suturing. Such surgical coils may be implanted in the body by deforming them to a small cross section profile, sliding them through a low profile delivery device then deploying them from an embodiment of a delivery device at a targeted site. Embodiments of surgical coils when deployed revert back to a coiled configuration and circle tissue at the target site. Such surgical coils may be deployed about attachment members, such as suture lines, marker lines and the like for anchoring same. |
| US09301755B2 |
Compressible staple cartridge assembly
A fastener cartridge can comprise a support portion, a tissue thickness compensator positioned relative to the support portion, and a plurality of fasteners positioned within the support portion and/or the tissue thickness compensator which can be utilized to fasten tissue. In use, the fastener cartridge can be positioned in a first jaw of a surgical fastening device, wherein a second jaw, or anvil, can be positioned opposite the first jaw. To deploy the fasteners, a staple-deploying member is advanced through the fastener cartridge to move the fasteners toward the anvil. As the fasteners are deployed, the fasteners can capture at least a portion of the tissue thickness compensator therein along with at least a portion of the tissue being fastened. |
| US09301753B2 |
Expandable tissue thickness compensator
A tissue thickness compensator may generally comprise a biocompatible material, a first component, and a second component, wherein the first component and second component form a reaction product to expand the tissue thickness compensator. The first component may comprise a first hydrogel precursor, the second component may comprise a second hydrogel precursor, and the reaction product may comprise a hydrogel. The reaction product may be formed in vivo and/or in situ by contacting the first component and the second component. The first component and/or second component may be encapsulated and configured to release the components when ruptured. The reaction product may comprise a fluid-swellable composition. Articles of manufacture comprising the tissue thickness compensator and methods of making and using the tissue thickness compensator are also described. |
| US09301751B2 |
Tenodesis implant
The present disclosure relates to a two-piece implant. The implant includes a first piece having at least two prongs and a protrusion located between the prongs and a second piece coupled to the first piece, wherein the second piece is configured to rotate relative to the first piece. A method of tissue repair is also disclosed. |
| US09301749B2 |
Expandable clip for tissue repair
An apparatus, system, and method for repairing openings such as septal defects includes advancing a catheter to the site of the defect, grasping opposing edges of the defect, passing one or more suture lines through the opposing edges, tightening the suture lines, and deploying and expanding a fastener to secure the suture lines and close the defect. The fastener can include tissue-growth-inducing materials to encourage tissue growth onto or into the fastener and/or suture. The fastener includes a locking clip portion and a plug portion, which may be an expandable portion and/or tissue-growth-inducing portion. |
| US09301748B2 |
Suture apparatus, system and method
A suture apparatus having a housing, actuator and capture rod, the actuator being engaged to the capture rod to form an actuator-capture rod assembly, an elongated cannula shaft having a lumen that extends through the shaft, and capture rod retraction means, the housing including an internal region that is configured to receive and support the capture rod retraction means, actuator proximal end and actuator rod distal end therein, wherein said capture rod retraction means is in communication with said actuator. The actuator-capture rod assembly and capture rod retraction means being positioned and configured to transition from a retracted position to an extended position when an actuation force is applied to the actuator and return the retracted position by the retraction means when the actuation force is released. |
| US09301746B2 |
Suture-based closure with hemostatic tract plug
Devices for closing a passage through tissue communicating with a body lumen. The device may include an elongate body, a sheath disposed at the distal end of the device for disposition within a body lumen, a hollow needle disposed within a needle lumen of the body, the needle being selectively advancable through the needle lumen, a suture-anchor ejection mandrel disposed within the hollow needle that is also selectively advancable through the hollow needle, a suture-anchor and suture disposed within the hollow needle, a distal end of the suture attached to the suture anchor for ejection out the hollow needle by the mandrel. A needle guide disposed between the sheath and proximal end of the body may include a needle port through which the needle can exit. A hemostatic plug is disposed over the needle port so as to be penetrated by the needle upon exiting the port. |
| US09301745B2 |
Knotless suture constructs
Systems and methods for soft tissue to bone repairs, without knot tying. The soft tissue repair systems include self-cinching constructs with at least one splice area, a turning loop (turning eyelet), a fixed end and a tensioning limb. The eyelet is fixed and is created into the suture splice by splicing or knotting, or by other known methods in the art. The eyelet is configured to redirect the tensioning of the construct (the force of tensioning). |
| US09301738B2 |
Tissue sample securement and extraction apparatus and method
A tissue sample securement apparatus secures a volumetric tissue sample. The tissue sample securement apparatus according to the present invention includes an expandable-retractable tissue sampling device, which tissue sampling device includes an axial displacement member, an expandable tip construction, and a tensile member. The axial displacement member includes a distal member end and a proximal member end. The tip construction extends from the distal member end, and the tensile member extends in adjacency to the axial displacement member and is connected to the tip construction for selectively retracting a member-retractable distal portion of the tip construction. The selectively retracted distal portion simultaneously severs and secures a volumetric tissue sample. The tissue sample may then be retrieved via a catheter member for directing the device to and from the target tissue mass. |
| US09301736B2 |
Fine needle biopsy with adaptor
Disclosed herein is a biopsy needle system, an adaptor for the system, and a method of using the system. The system includes an outer needle, an inner needle, and an adaptor. The outer needle has a longitudinal passage, a length, and a hub on the proximal end of the outer needle. The inner needle has a longitudinal passage and a length that is greater than the length of the outer needle. The inner needle is configured to fit within the longitudinal passage of the outer needle. The adaptor is configured to fit within the hub of the outer needle and includes a tapered longitudinal passage that guides a distal end of the inner needle through the adaptor and into the longitudinal passage of the outer needle. |
| US09301728B2 |
X-ray apparatus
A mask-image-taking-time calculating section 36 (i) sets a first imaging-time, in a first mask image, in accordance with X-ray imaging-conditions, and (ii) calculates a second imaging-time, in mask images from the second, for a mask image to be taken next in accordance with the imaging-time and brightness of the mask image taken previously such that average brightness of the mask image taken previously and a mask image to be taken next is target brightness. A live-image-taking-time calculating section 38 calculates an imaging-time for a live image in accordance with an actual imaging-time for the mask image having X-rays applied thereto from an X-ray irradiating device in accordance with the first or second imaging-time. An image processor 6 calculates a subtraction image by difference between a reference mask image obtained through averaging two or more mask images taken in accordance with the first or second imaging-time and the live image. |
| US09301725B2 |
Radiation image capturing system
A radiation image capturing system includes a radiation image capturing apparatus, one or more radiation generation apparatuses and a calculation unit. The radiation image capturing apparatus includes a control unit which controls a scan driving unit and a readout integrated circuit of the radiation image capturing apparatus since before start of irradiation of the radiation image capturing apparatus and detects the start of the irradiation when data read out by the readout integrated circuit is equal to or more than a threshold. Before radiation image capturing, the calculation unit calculates a maximum body thickness for each of the radiation generation apparatuses on the basis of the data read out in the radiation image capturing apparatus irradiated by the radiation generation apparatus, the maximum body thickness up to which the control unit can detect the start of the irradiation through a subject. |
| US09301722B1 |
Guiding computational perception through a shared auditory space
In an example, a computer-implemented method receives one or more user inputs and captures a sound associated with a sound source via one or more capturing devices using sound source localization. The method then estimates one or more first posterior likelihoods of one or more positions of the sound source based on the one or more user inputs and a second posterior likelihood of a position of the sound source based on the sound. The method then estimates an overall posterior likelihood of an actual position of the sound source based on 1) the one or more first posterior likelihoods of the one or more positions of the sound source estimated based on the one or more user inputs and 2) the second posterior likelihood of the position of the sound source estimated based on the sound. |
| US09301715B2 |
Method for producing an analytical magazine
A method for producing an analytical magazine is proposed. The analytical magazine is designed to receive a plurality of analytical aids in a plurality of chambers. The method comprises the following steps: providing at least one first component of the analytical magazine, wherein the first component comprises a plurality of receptacles; providing a plurality of analytical aids, wherein the analytical aids are connected to one another and preferably oriented with respect to one another by at least one holding element; introducing the analytical aids into the receptacles; and separating the analytical aids from the holding element. |
| US09301713B2 |
Method and system to assess mechanical dyssynchrony based on motion data collected by a navigation system
A method and system are provided for analyzing motion data collected by a cardiovascular navigation system to determine a level of dyssynchrony exhibited by a heart. The method and system comprise obtaining a motion data (MD) set that includes a plurality of map point specific motion data (PSMD) collections of motion data. The motion data in each PSMD collection includes information indicating an amount and direction of motion that occurred at a corresponding map point on a wall of the heart during a select period of time, such as during at least one cardiac cycle. The method and system divide the PSMD collections of data into sectors which may be associated with corresponding phases of the cardiac cycle, and analyze the sectors of the PSMD collections to determine at least one of a slope, a magnitude and a direction of motion at the corresponding map point of the wall of the heart during the associated sector. The method and system assess at least one of the slope, magnitude and direction of motion occurring at the corresponding map points of the wall, and calculate a measure of dyssynchrony in the map points of the wall based on at least one of i) whether the map points move in a select direction during select sectors, ii) whether the map points move by a select amount during the select sectors, iii) a direction of strain waveform during select phases of the cardiac cycle and/or iv) an extent of strain during the select phases. |
| US09301711B2 |
System and method for assessing neural health
A method of identifying a change in the health of a nerve during a surgical procedure includes determining a sensitivity of the nerve at a first time, determining a sensitivity of the nerve at a second time, and providing an indication to a user corresponding to a change in the sensitivity of the nerve from the first time to the second time. In each instance, the sensitivity of the nerve is determined by providing an electrical stimulus via an electrode disposed on a distal end portion of an elongate medical instrument, and monitoring a magnitude of a mechanical response of a muscle innervated by the nerve. |
| US09301710B2 |
Processing a video for respiration rate estimation
What is disclosed is a system and method for estimating a respiration rate by analyzing distortions in reflections of structured illumination patterns captured in a video containing a view of a subject's thoracic region. In one embodiment, a video of a target region of a body of a subject of interest is received. Video image frames are processed to estimate 3D time-series data for the target region. As more fully disclosed herein, the subject's respiration rate is estimated from the 3D time-series data. Measurements can be acquired under a diverse set of lighting conditions. The teachings hereof provide a non-contact approach to patient respiratory function monitoring that is useful for intensive care units and for monitoring at homes, and which aid in the detection of sudden deterioration of physiological conditions due to changes in respiration rates. The teachings hereof provide an effective tool for non-contact respiratory function study and analysis. |
| US09301709B2 |
Method for optimizing the gas conversion rate in a respiratory gas analyzer
A method for optimizing a gas conversion rate in a respiratory gas analyzer, more particularly for nitric oxide (NO) in the respiratory gas, and an associated device are disclosed. |
| US09301703B2 |
Biological information processing device, biological information processing system, biological information compression method, and biological information compression processing program
This biological information processing device is provided with: a peak detection unit for detecting the peaks of a biological signal generated in a cardiac cycle; a waveform clipping unit for clipping out a first peak-to-peak biological signal between two peaks, which are adjacent on the time axis of the biological signal, on the basis of detection results of the peak detection unit; and a resampling unit for transforming the first peak-to-peak biological signal to a second peak-to-peak biological signal for a prescribed number of samples. The biological information processing device is further provided with: an orthogonal transformation unit for generating orthogonal transformation coefficients by performing an orthogonal transformation on the second peak-to-peak biological signal; a differential processing unit for generating a differential signal for the orthogonal transformation coefficients on the time axis; and an encoding unit for encoding the differential signal. |
| US09301702B2 |
Systems and methods for exploiting pulmonary artery pressure obtained from an implantable sensor to detect cardiac rhythm irregularities
Techniques are provided for use with a pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) monitor having an implantable PAP sensor. In one example, a PAP signal is sensed that is representative of beat-by-beat variations in PAP occurring during individual cardiac cycles of the patient. The PAP monitor detects intervals within the signal corresponding to the durations of cardiac cycles, then detects cardiac rhythm irregularities based on the intervals. For example, the PAP monitor can detect and distinguish atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia based on the stability of the intervals of the PAP signal along with other information such as ventricular rate. The PAP monitor can also detect and distinguish premature contractions based on durations of the intervals. Examples where the PAP monitor is a component of an implantable cardiac rhythm management device (CRMD) are also provided. |
| US09301701B2 |
Method for measuring tourniquet limb occlusion pressure
Improved tourniquet apparatus for measuring a patient's limb occlusion pressure includes an inflatable tourniquet cuff for encircling a limb at a location and to which a tourniquet instrument is releasably connectable. The instrument includes pressure sensing for producing a cuff pressure signal indicative of the level of pressure in the cuff, a pressure regulation mechanism communicating with the cuff and responsive to the cuff pressure signal for moving fluid into and out of the cuff, thereby regulating the pressure in the cuff, a blood flow transducer for producing a blood flow signal indicative of blood flow past the cuff, and limb occlusion pressure means responsive to the blood flow signal and the cuff pressure signal for increasing the cuff pressure level until blood flow indicated by the blood flow signal decreases to a level less than a minimum detection threshold, and then suspending fluid movement into and out of the cuff to produce a limb occlusion pressure value that is indicative of a pressure in the cuff when the fluid motion is suspended. |
| US09301697B2 |
Systems and methods for recalibrating a non-invasive blood pressure monitor
Techniques for non-invasive blood pressure monitoring are disclosed. Data corresponding to a patient may be received from a hospital information system. The data may include, for example, drug administration data, medical procedure data, medical equipment data, or a combination thereof. Whether a blood pressure monitoring system needs to be recalibrated may be determined, based at least in part on the received data. If it is determined that the blood pressure monitoring system needs to be recalibrated, the recalibration may be performed and at least one blood pressure measurement of the patient may be computed using the recalibrated blood pressure monitoring system. |
| US09301696B2 |
Earbud covers
An earbud cover is configured to be removably attached to, and at least partially cover, an audio earbud. The removable earbud cover includes at least one light guide configured to guide light from at least one optical emitter associated with the audio earbud to a region of a body of a subject wearing the audio earbud and/or guide light from the body of the subject to at least one optical detector associated with the audio earbud. The removable earbud cover may include at least one alignment member that facilitates stability of the audio earbud when inserted within an ear of the subject. The removable earbud cover may include at least one lens region, at least one light diffusion region, and/or at least one luminescence region in optical communication with the at least one light guide. |
| US09301695B2 |
Stress model based on RR integral average
A method of determining stress includes receiving a data signal including multiple consecutive RR intervals of a subject. The method may also include calculating heart rate variability (HRV) data for the subject from the data signal. The method may also include calculating an RR integral average (RRIA) from the HRV data, the RRIA indicating a stress level of the subject. |
| US09301694B2 |
Optical finger mouse, electronic device and physiological characteristics detection device
There is provided an optical finger mouse including two light sources, an image sensor and a processing unit. The two light sources emit light of different wavelengths to illuminate a finger surface. The image sensor receives reflected light from the finger surface to generate a plurality of image frames. The processing unit detects a displacement and a contact status of the finger surface and a physiological characteristic of a user according to the plurality of image frames. There is further provided an electronic device and a physiological characteristic detection device. |
| US09301686B2 |
Autofluorescent organ phantom and associated method of production
A calibration device for instrumentation for medical imaging, also called a “phantom,” including a matrix. The calibration device includes at least one additive for simulating the autofluorescence properties of an organ or of a living tissue in the spectral band covering the red and near infrared, said additive belonging to the porphyrin class, such as protoporphyrin IX. |
| US09301685B2 |
Notification apparatus, method for performing notification and assist robot acting as the same
In accordance with an embodiment, a notification apparatus comprises a detection module and a notification module. The detection module detects a predetermined operation confirmation sound from a medical instrument. The notification module sends a notification to a predetermined terminal in response to the detection of the operation confirmation sound. |
| US09301672B2 |
Dental scanner device and system and methods of use
A three-dimensional (3D) scanner device for generating a three dimensional (3D) surface model of shaped objects, such as dental structures, applicable for use in the field of dentistry, particularly to dental prosthetics manufacturing. Methods and systems relating to the device are also disclosed. |
| US09301670B2 |
Fluid circulation arrangement for providing an intensified wash effect in a dishwasher and an associated method
According to embodiments of the present invention, a dishwasher may provide an intensified wash effect. The dishwasher may include a rack defining a bottom and a sidewall, wherein the rack is adapted to receive dishware therein. A dishwashing fluid supply channel may be configured to supply dishwashing fluid to a spray assembly. The spray assembly may comprise at least one nozzle member. Thereby, the spray assembly may be adapted to receive the dishwashing fluid from the dishwashing fluid supply channel and to dispense the dishwashing fluid therethrough. The spray assembly may be coupled to the sidewall of the rack. Further, the nozzle member may be attached to an arm which is moveable between at least a first position wherein the arm is adjacent the sidewall of the rack and a second position wherein the arm is adjacent the bottom of the rack. |
| US09301668B2 |
Dishwasher and control method therefor
A dishwasher capable of efficiently washing dishes is provided. A dishwasher includes a washing tub, a rack, an area input unit and a spray module. The washing tub forms a space in which dishes are washed. The rack has the dishes loaded thereto, being provided inside the washing tub. The area input unit receives an area selected from a plurality of areas into which the rack is divided. The spray module sprays washing water toward the selected area input to the area input unit in the plurality of areas of the rack. |
| US09301666B2 |
Surface cleaning apparatus
A hand vacuum cleaner is provided with a wand mounted to the dirty fluid inlet of the hand vacuum cleaner and the wand has a distal inlet that is mounted on a surface cleaning head. The hand vacuum cleaner has a cyclonic cleaning stage. The dirty fluid inlet has a passage with a passage axis and the cyclonic cleaning stage has a longitudinal axis. The fluid flow motor is displaced from the passage axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. |
| US09301665B2 |
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner that includes a suction source, a cleaner head, and a controller. The suction source includes an impeller and a first motor for driving the impeller, and the cleaner head includes an agitator and a second motor for driving the agitator. The controller is configured to generate control signals for controlling simultaneously the excitation of the first motor and the second motor. |
| US09301664B1 |
System and method for capturing dust from debris transportation
A system and method for capturing dust from debris transportation are disclosed. The system comprises at least one piece of hollow tubing comprising a plurality of air intake passages and configured to transport debris and capture dust when coupled to a negative pressure source, the air intake passages further configured such that an air curtain of suction emanates from the plurality of air intake passages when the negative pressure source is engaged in generating a negative pressure. |
| US09301663B2 |
Surface cleaning apparatus with different cleaning configurations
An upright surface cleaning apparatus comprises a surface cleaning head having a dirty air inlet. A support structure is moveably mounted to the surface cleaning head and a portable cleaning unit is removably mounted to the support structure. An above floor cleaning wand is provided. The wand is removable from the support structure without removal of the cleaning unit from the support structure and the cleaning unit is removable from the support structure without disconnecting the wand from the support structure. |
| US09301655B1 |
Hands free washing assembly
A hands free washing assembly for washing a user's back includes a primary frame that may be coupled to a support surface. A coupler is coupled to the primary frame. The coupler engages the support surface so the primary frame is retained on the support surface. A plate is selectively operationally coupled to the primary frame. A user rubs the user's back on the plate so the plate scrubs the user's back. A secondary frame is operationally coupled to the primary frame. The secondary frame retains the plate on the primary frame. |
| US09301654B2 |
Liquid dispenser
A sanitary liquid dispenser having a spherical housing with a discharge port and a fluid reservoir positioned within the dispenser. The fluid reservoir includes a disposable deformable bag with a nozzle projecting downwardly from the bag. The dispenser includes a proximity detector for activating a discharge mechanism when detecting the proximity of an object beneath the dispenser. The discharge mechanism includes a valve within the nozzle. |
| US09301648B2 |
Drink mixer bottle and agitator
A shaker including a vessel and an agitator. The vessel includes a container wall. A rounded bottom closes off the container wall, wherein a border of the bottom is formed radially towards a center axis of the vessel such that the bottom transitions from the container wall to be outwardly domed. An agitator is for use in combination with the vessel, the agitator further comprising a tetrahedral body having four planar faces, four vertices, and six edges, each edge traveling between each of the vertices. Each vertex is rounded off and configured to forcibly contact the container wall and an entirety of the bottom upon shaking the vessel. These rounded vertices create a propeller-like spinning and tumbling motion through the liquid-powder mixture when the vessel is vigorously shaken up and down, and scalloped edges of the agitator produce additional turbulence to efficiently blend a liquid/powder mixture. |
| US09301643B2 |
Lid for a cooking vessel
A lid for a cooking vessel, in particular, of a cooking pot includes a plurality of shaped elements projecting downwards at the underside of the lid. The shaped elements are flat or curved concavely and respectively form a planar lower surface that accumulates condensate, is enclosed in a U-shaped manner, slopes towards the edge of the lid, and leads to a drip off edge at its lowest location. |
| US09301632B2 |
Zipper assist device and method
A zipper closure device for assisting in the closing of a zipper on a garment. The device has spring operated jaws which close on a zipper pull and grip the zipper pull by pressure on the sides of the zipper pull, until released. Attached to the clamp is a pull strap which allows the zipper to be pulled from above or below to more easily close or open the zipper, without the need to reach a zipper in the middle of a user's back. |
| US09301627B1 |
Shopping cart corrals with at least two advertisement panels arranged in a staggered fashion and method of providing same
Certain embodiments disclose a corral and enclosure defined by three members having an opening configured to hold one or more shopping carts and display one or more advertisements, with two substantially parallel walls of different lengths and advertisement panels affixed on the walls, such that they are staggered. The staggered arrangement of the at least two advertisement panels facilitates better visibility and allows the simultaneous viewing of at least two advertisement panels. The longer member also further protects vehicles parked on its side from colliding with shopping carts. |
| US09301624B2 |
Foldable play yard apparatus including a clamp and a method of attaching a flexible sheet to the clamp
A foldable play yard apparatus is provided. The play yard includes a frame having a plurality of upright posts. The posts have a top, a bottom, and a clamp connected to at least one longitudinal side of the post. The play yard further includes a flexible enclosure having a plurality of edges inserted in the clamps to form walls between the upright posts. The clamp includes: a housing having an opening for receiving the edge of the enclosure and defining an interior channel within the housing; a flag piece, which is positioned in the interior channel of the housing, connected to the edge of the enclosure; and a locking piece positioned across the interior channel from the flag piece. A frictional engagement between the locking piece and the flag piece maintains the flag piece and the edge connected thereto within the interior channel. |
| US09301620B2 |
Hunting seat
A hunting seat includes a base coupled to a tube structure. The base has a first surface and a second surface. A seat has attached pivotally thereto an adjustment tube having a plurality of adjustment holes disposed within. The seat has a seating surface configured to support a person and a seat underside surface opposite to the seating surface. In a substantially flat ground use, the base is disposed with the first surface facing the seat underside surface and the adjustment tube disposed within and pinned to a tube of the tube structure. In a sloped ground use, the base is disposed with the second surface facing the seat underside surface and the adjustment tube pinned in a pair of brackets pivotally mounted to a section of the base. A method of operating a hunting seat is also described. |
| US09301616B2 |
Always level folding chair
A chair is provided that is configurable to provide a substantially horizontal seating surface when the chair is disposed on an angled ground surface. The chair comprises a back frame having a pair of telescoping back legs including an upper back leg tube and a lower back leg tube slidingly disposed within the upper back leg tube. The chair additionally includes a pair of locking mechanisms comprising a locking key that includes a locking aperture through which the respective lower back leg tube extends. Each locking mechanism is structured and operable to selectively position the respective locking key in an engaged position that binds the lower back leg tube such that the lower back leg tube cannot slide into the upper back leg tube, and a disengaged position that allows the lower back leg tube to freely slide within the upper back leg tube. |
| US09301614B1 |
Marsh duck hunting stool
In accordance with one embodiment a marsh duck hunting stool, comprised of unitary construction having no detachable members, provides a compact, lightweight, floatable structure, with simple functionality, primarily used in a duck marsh environment. The stool includes a horizontally oriented seat platform with a single, elongated, vertically oriented support member. The support member comprises two tubular members, one sliding within the other, providing a plurality of seat height settings. A foot and stake assembly is pivotally disposed on the bottom end of the sliding tubular member. The foot and stake assembly limits soft soil penetration and provides fore and aft/side to side stability. The sliding tube rotates within the foot and stake assembly thereby providing 360 degree pivot of the seat platform. |
| US09301613B1 |
Mobile seat system
A mobile seat system for positioning a user low to a ground surface and enabling the user to move about as needed. The system features a base with a plurality of caster wheels and a cushion that is removably attached to the base via a screw-like mechanism. The cushion may have a back support component to help support the user's back. |
| US09301606B2 |
Unattended full-automatic book management system
Thorough optimization and improvement have been made on the basis of original closed-shelf stack room by the unattended full-automatic book management system of the invention. The concept of a book basket is brought in to process an order of each borrower in a batch. The device is simplified and the efficiency of single functional part is enhanced during the period of storing books, taking books, returning books, conveying a book basket and transmission, thereby the functions of the whole system being optimized. The system includes bookracks, a laneway vehicle, a laneway vehicle interface, a transmission device, a book taking window, and a book returning window, and further includes a book basket and a book box independent of the bookracks. The data information inside the database of the closed-shelf stack room system is administered and operated by the closed-shelf stack room management system to accomplish the interaction between the collection system and the control system of the full-automatic closed-shelf stack room. Ultimately books are administered through the full-automatic closed-shelf stack room. |
| US09301605B2 |
Rack frame assembly
An end unit has an end wall and first and second side walls forming a corner. One end of an L-shaped rail with first and second flanges seats in the corner against the end wall, with the flanges flat against the side walls. One side wall has a protrusion abutting the first flange to restrict movement of the rail away from the other side wall. The first side wall has a tab in a slot in the first flange, engaging the flange on a side of the slot away from the end wall, preventing movement of the rail away from the first side wall, while permitting movement of the rail away from the end wall to a position where the tab aligns with the slot to permit movement of the rail away from the first side wall. A pin in aligned holes prevents the movement away from the end wall. |
| US09301602B2 |
Overbed table holder system
An overbed table holder system that allows a patient to dispose personal trash or hold a container filled desirable objects to a patient lying in a hospital bed. The system includes a moveable overbed table, a bag or container holding, an intermediate member disposed between the bag and container holding member and the table's perimeter side edge, and a ring element that receives either a disposable trash bag or a container holder. The ring element is connected to the intermediate member that temporarily snap fits against the perimeter side edge and over the table. During use, a disposable trash bag or one of two types of container holders may be placed over the ring element. Objects or containers may be placed inside the container holder. The intermediate member is forced against the perimeter side edge at a desired location to hold the bag or a container. The intermediate member may be easily moved to any location along the perimeter side edge and remove entirely for cleaning. |
| US09301599B1 |
Inclinable desk device
An inclinable desk device includes a panel that may be used to support an object. Each of a pair of mounts is configured for being coupled to a support surface. The panel is slidably adjustable relative to the mounts to achieve a desired angle with respect to the support surface. |
| US09301598B2 |
Grooming systems, devices, and methods including detection of hair-covered skin lesions during grooming and including topographical analysis
Systems, devices, and methods are described for acquiring, among other things, lesion information from a hair or fur-covered region of a biological subject. |
| US09301597B2 |
Foldable hand tool
A hand tool assembly, such as a push broom, includes an elongated work head defining a width and having a slot formed therein extending in a direction along the width. A handle includes an end portion slidably mounted in the slot such that the end portion is movable between a first position and a second position. A fastening mechanism releasably secures the end portion of the handle to the work head when the end portion is in the first position. |
| US09301593B2 |
Packaging systems and methods
A packaging system for a cosmetic product is disclosed. The system includes a reservoir for holding a cosmetic product. The reservoir defines an open end of the reservoir and a closed end opposite the open end of the reservoir. The system further includes a casing positioned at least partially over the reservoir, wherein at least a portion of the casing is transparent for observing the reservoir through the casing, and wherein a size and/or shape of the reservoir as observed through the casing appears different than an actual size and/or shape of the reservoir. |
| US09301592B2 |
Multi-purpose makeup applicator
A multi-purpose makeup applicator. The applicator includes a handle, a hollow elongated shaft extending longitudinally outward from the handle, a first applicator located within the shaft and a second applicator formed on the shaft. The first applicator comprises an elongated member, affixed to the handle at one end, and an applicator tool affixed to a second, opposite end. The elongated member of the first applicator is a retractable eyeliner tool for applying cosmetics around the eyes. The second applicator is coupled to the distal end of the shaft and comprise bristles extending outwardly from the shaft forming a brush used to apply cosmetics, such as mascara. A twist and slide mechanism may be located in the handle for retracting and/or extending the first applicator. The second applicator can retract/extend into/out of the elongated shaft or can remain in a permanent extended position. |
| US09301589B2 |
Cosmetic applicator and method of making
A method of manufacturing a cosmetic applicator formed of a substrate and an application element comprising one or more application areas that are cohesively maintained on the substrate in a gapless, side-by-side formation in the presence of wet and/or dry binders. The substrate is subjected to a wetting agent that provides a better bind for the cosmetic slurries as they are printed onto their respective application area. The cosmetic compositions of each cosmetic application area may be different. Various cosmetic effects may be provided to end-users in a portable application. |
| US09301586B1 |
Arise ponytail holder
A ponytail holder includes a first body member, a second body member movably coupled to the first body member with a hinge member, and a fastening member to secure the first body member to the second body member, wherein the first body member and the second body member form a conical shape, in a closed state. |
| US09301584B2 |
Carrying case assembly
A carrying case assembly for positioning an electronic device to take a self portrait includes a housing structured to insertably receive the electronic device. An arm is movably coupled to the housing. The arm is positionable between a deployed position and a stored position. The arm is positionable in an extended position after the arm is positioned in the deployed position. The arm may be gripped by a user. The electronic device is retained a selected distance away from the user. |
| US09301582B2 |
Umbrella having improved shaft and rib assembly
An umbrella is formed of an elongated shaft having a first end and an opposite second end and a runner slidably disposed about the elongated shaft. The umbrella includes a rib assembly including a plurality of ribs that are attached to the runner by a plurality of struts that move between open and closed positions. In accordance with the present invention, the elongated shaft has a cross-sectional shape defined by a plurality of curved sections and a plurality of planar sections interspersed between the plurality of curved sections for providing increased torsional strength to the elongated shaft. At least one of the ribs can have a cross-sectional shape defined by a plurality of curved sections and a plurality of planar sections interspersed between the plurality of curved sections for providing increased torsional strength to the at least one rib. |
| US09301581B1 |
Automatic umbrella with canopy rotating function
An umbrella with a canopy rotating function comprises a central shaft, an upper nest assembly, a lower nest assembly, a canopy unit. The upper nest assembly comprises an upper nest body, a fastener and a movable upper nest. The lower nest assembly comprises a pulley seat, a lower nest body and a movable lower nest. Thus, in an opened state, the upper nest body and the lower nest body are connected and positioned, and the canopy unit can link with the movable upper nest and the movable lower nest, so that the movable lower nest and the movable upper nest synchronously rotate relatively to the central shaft. |
| US09301580B1 |
Sliding element for adjustable jewelry
Disclosed is a sliding element for use with jewelry including a plate body, a sliding flange extending from a first lateral edge of the plate body, and a crimping flange extending from a second lateral edge of the plate body. The plate body, the sliding flange, and the crimping flange can be stamped from a uniform flat metal sheet. |
| US09301576B2 |
Method of printing onto an article
A method of printing onto an article includes placing an article on a holding assembly, flattening a portion of the article and printing onto the flattened portion of the article. Flattening can be accomplished using a flattening plate and by controlling the shape of a surface of the holding assembly using a vacuum. |
| US09301574B2 |
Internally illuminated light diffusing footwear
An illumination system is housed in a footwear, the footwear including a sole and an upper. An interfacing layer and a liner form inner interior layers connected to the upper. A plurality of illumination sources are electrically connected to a power source and positioned adjacent to the liner. The illumination sources are positioned between the liner and upper. The upper has a light diffusing section. The light emitted from the plurality of illumination sources is diffused as it passes through the light diffusing section of the upper. Aesthetic designs can be creating, either through the arrangement of the plurality of illumination sources or the provision of a light impermeable section on the upper. The light impermeable section, in combination with the light diffusion section, can be used to form or outline an aesthetic design. The result is an internally illuminated footwear with diffused light. |
| US09301573B2 |
Modular footwear display apparatus
This invention is a removable module for customization of the display of images, animations or videos on footwear. It may synchronize with other like modules for a more dynamic and broader display across multiple pieces of footwear. In addition, it has a unique and sturdy attachment mechanism comprising a L-shaped attachment bar that locks into the data receptacle of the display. This allows stable binding of the module to footwear when in use and rapid attachment and removal. |
| US09301572B2 |
Upper arrangement for footwear, and footwear with said upper arrangement
The invention relates to an upper arrangement (22) for footwear (2), comprising an upper region (23) with a water vapor-permeable upper material layer (24) that comprises a lower end section; a waterproof and water vapor-permeable upper functional layer laminate (26) that comprises a lower end section; and an upper base (34) with an upper base functional layer laminate (38) that has a lateral end section. The lower end section of the upper region (23) is connected to the lateral end section of the upper base (34); and the upper base functional layer laminate (38) is designed as a multilayer laminate that comprises a waterproof and water vapor-permeable functional layer (40) that lies bottommost and at least one water vapor-permeable textile layer (42) that lies over said functional layer. |
| US09301571B2 |
Sole with adjustable sizing
A system and method of manufacturing a customized sole with adjustable sizing is disclosed. The sole includes a fixed region and an adjustable region. The adjustable region is deformable when the sole is heated to a melting point associated with the adjustable region. The shape and size of the sole may be adjusted by deforming the adjustable region. |
| US09301570B2 |
Shoe with elasticity
Disclosed is a shoe with elasticity, which can be easily and conveniently put on and taken off a user's food and can always maintain the original shape thereof. The shoe with elasticity, comprising a sole serving as a bottom of a shoe, an upper combined with edges of the sole for covering a top and sides of a user's foot when a user wears the shoe, an elastic member coupled to the counter of the upper for covering the heel of the user's foot, a support, extending backward from the counter of the upper of the shoe and combined with a lower end portion of the elastic member, for supporting the heel of a user, and a fixing member having a first end fixed to one side of the upper and a second end detachably attached to the other side of the upper, for surrounding the exterior of the elastic member and fixing the user's foot in the shoe. Accordingly, a user can easily put on and take off the shoe with elasticity according to the present invention, so that weak and old people and handicapped people can comfortably walk when wearing the shoe. |
| US09301564B2 |
Magnetic garment wear and attachments for apparel
This invention relates to the method, apparatus and garment technique for attaching neckwear apparel together with magnets at the collar area while leaving the top shirt button unbuttoned. The invention will feature pieces of fabric portions to make up a whole garment. There are many origami folding techniques and shown will not be limited to the single example illustrated but encompass all origami sculptural combinations of fabrics and other materials that are made from both natural and synthetic fibers. For purposes of this invention, shown will be a typical garment made from fabric and will be cut into 8″×8″ portioned squares or 13″×13″ squares for the larger garment styles. The portions will be bound together, and have between a 5 to 15 folding step processes to make the ornamental garment piece. All the sculptural forms and magnetic attachments created are the invention as a whole. |
| US09301557B1 |
Heat pipe material and garment
A heat pipe material suitable for making wearable garments is disclosed. The material has a sandwich structure including a conduction layer, a separation layer, a wick layer and an insulating layer. The conduction layer is made of discs of a rigid, thermal conducting material connected by a flexible, impermeable material. The separation layer is flexible, porous to gas and maintains a separation between the outer layers. The wick layer transfers a working fluid by capillary action. The insulating layer is the outer skin of the garment made from the heat pipe material and is flexible, impermeable to air and has a low thermal conductance. To create a functioning heat pipe, the material is sealed about its periphery and contains a working fluid. A thermal source is functionally connected to the working fluid. The heat pipe garment help maintains a wearer's body temperature close to 37 degrees Celsius. |
| US09301553B1 |
Separating lined tights/thigh-high legwarmers
A composite leg-covering garment comprising exterior fabric and interior insulative fabric. Opposed peripheral edges can be fastened to form a tubular configuration wrapping tightly around the leg to provide the look of tights, the warmth of leggings and, yet, the ease of donning and removal of breakaway pants. The opposed edges are joinable by a single zipper running either the entire length or substantially the entire length of the garment. Preferably an elastic thigh cuff is located along the upper edge of the garment and an elastic ankle cuff provided at the bottom. Alternatively, two zippers are provided, one from the ankle up to almost the thigh cuff and the other from the thigh cuff down, the zippers being on opposite sides of the garment. The extension of the two zippers overlaps along the length of the garment. The leg-coverings can attach to a pair of shorts. |
| US09301539B2 |
Vegetable-based minced meat alternative
A vegetable-based food product comprising at least 50 wt % protein, wherein the protein is gluten or is proteinaceous material derived from gluten, and wherein the product has the texture of minced meat. A method for preparing a vegetable-based food product including fermenting a gluten-based material with a mould and then processing the fermented product into a vegetable-based food product for use as a replacement for minced meat. |
| US09301535B1 |
Equipment and methods to dry sugar beet pulp and other products
A system of drying agricultural products may include a spreader trailer system 100, a windrow construction system or cultivator system 200, a fluffer or aeration system 300, a drag bar system 400, a wide row maker system 500, a conveyer collection system 600 and a collection truck 640. A spreader trailer uses a plurality of chains or other belt drive systems 137 to move a plurality of flat conveyer bars 135 toward spinning breakup tines 157. The breakup tines allow the agricultural product to fall down upon a plurality of rotational plates 160 that disperse the product over an asphalt surface. Windrows over asphalt allow the product to heat at the sides of the windrow. The disclosed system prevents uneven drying and presents new efficiencies. |
| US09301534B2 |
System for food product casing removal
An automated casing removal system for removing the casing of encased food products supported on a support frame. An inclined surface on the support frame has a staging area onto which encased food product is loaded. The staging area has a cutting member moveable along a portion of the length of the staging area, and a stop mechanism downstream from the cutting member on the inclined surface. The stop mechanism extends within a plane which intersects the inclined surface to prevent the food product from moving down the inclined surface. The staging area has retaining member upstream of the stop mechanism which retains the casing to unravel the casing from the food product as the food product rolls down the inclined surface when the stop mechanism is removed. |
| US09301533B2 |
Alpha-amylase variants
A variant polypeptide having alpha-amylase activity is disclosed. The variant polypeptide has an amino acid sequence which, when aligned with the alpha-amylase comprising the sequence set out in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprises at least one substitution of an amino acid residue with reference to SEQ ID NO: 2. The variant polypeptide has one or more altered properties as compared with a reference polypeptide having alpha-amylase activity. Such a variant polypeptide may be used in the preparation of a baked product. |
| US09301527B2 |
Insect repellent composition
The present invention relates to methods of applying an insect repellent composition containing, in a physiologically acceptable medium, as active insect repellent material, at least 20% by weight of 1-methylpropyl (2-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate, said active insect repellent material being used in an aqueous medium with about 5% by weight of at least one copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and hexadecene and at least one silicone oil. |
| US09301523B2 |
Composition and method for controlling harmful arthropods
The present invention provides a composition for controlling harmful arthropods having an excellent control efficacy on harmful arthropods. A composition for controlling harmful arthropods comprising an carboxylic acid represented by a formula (I) wherein each of symbols are the same as defined in the Description; or salts thereof and at least one kind of pyrazole compounds selected from the group (A) consisting of chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole and a compound represented by a formula (II), shows an excellent controlling efficacy on harmful arthropods. |
| US09301515B2 |
Horseshoe and copper-zinc alloy for a horseshoe
A copper-zinc alloy that is particularly suitable as a material for a horseshoe includes at least the following components, in percent by weight: 59-73% of copper, 2.7-8.5% of manganese, 1.5-6.3% of aluminum, 0.2-4% of silicon, 0.2-3% of iron, 0-2% of lead, 0-2% of nickel, 0-0.4% of tin, balance zinc and unavoidable impurities. |
| US09301511B1 |
Fishing rig with floatation device
A fishing rig for positioning an item of bait off of the bottom of body of water comprises a leader line having an inboard end and an outboard end and a terminal hook for attaching to one end portion of the bait, with the terminal hook being mounted on the leader line toward the outboard end. The rig may further comprise an adjustable hook for attaching to an opposite end portion of the bait, and the adjustable hook may be attached to the leader line between the inboard and outboard ends, and a position of the adjustable hook on the leader line may be adjustable. The rig may also comprise a buoyant float for floating a connected bait off of the bottom of the body of water, and the float may be connected to the leader line between the terminal and adjustable hooks. |
| US09301510B2 |
Mice that produce antigen-binding proteins with pH-dependent binding characteristics
Genetically modified non-human animals are provided that comprise an immunoglobulin heavy chain locus comprising an unrearranged human heavy chain variable region nucleotide sequence comprising an addition of at least one histidine codon or a substitution of at least one endogenous non-histidine codon with a histidine codon. Compositions and methods for making the genetically modified non-human animals as described herein are provided. Non-human animals capable of expressing an antigen-binding protein characterized by pH-dependent antigen binding, enhanced recyclability and/or enhanced serum half-life are also provided. |
| US09301508B2 |
Poultry loading assembly
A poultry loading assembly includes a primary frame and a chute operationally coupled to the primary frame. A primary scissor is operationally coupled between the primary frame and the chute and is actuated to lower or lift the chute. A first conveyor belt is rotatably mounted on the chute and receiving poultry thereon proximate a loading area. A head is operationally coupled to the chute opposite the loading area and is continuously retained in a parallel orientation with the support surface. The head is selectively positionable proximate the container and is selectively movable toward or away from a container. A second conveyor belt is operationally coupled to the head. The first conveyor belt transports the poultry to the second conveyor belt and thereafter the second conveyor belt transports the poultry into the container. |
| US09301506B2 |
Non-choking dog harness
A pet harness device is disclosed that enables users to control animals without placing unnecessary pressure or stress on the animal's trachea, neck, and/or leg pits. The pet harness device comprises an X-shaped component secured around an animal's front legs and chest and then secured on top of an animal's back via a cord component. The X-shaped component comprises a first pair of extending portions that are positioned around an animal's front legs and a second pair of extending portions that are positioned around an animal's chest. The extending portions are then secured on top of the animal's back via a cord component. The cord component comprises a plurality of adjustable buckles for securing the X-shaped component together on top of the animal's back, and at least one ring for securing a leash strap component. A leash can then be secured to the leash strap component for controlling the animal. |
| US09301504B2 |
Animal play toy
The invention provides animal play toys that engage an animal in play before and during consumption of a treat. In one aspect, the invention provides an animal play toy having a top portion defining at least one hole therethrough and a weighted bottom portion. The animal play toy is able to stand upright when there is no interaction with the animal play toy. One or more ropes of a consumable product or a non-consumable product can be attached to the top portion of the animal play toy through the hole. |
| US09301498B2 |
System for treatment of lice, and corresponding method for treatment of lice
A lice treatment system for marine organisms, such as fish, is described where the system is a closed system comprising: an inlet (1) for fish that shall be treated, a first separator (2) to separate the fish and water and which is arranged after the inlet (1), a pipeline (6) for the transport of the fish, in which, at least, one part of the pipeline (6) constitutes a liquid bath (5) for the fish and which is arranged to receive the treatment liquid, a second separator (7) to separate the fish and the treatment liquid, an outlet (8) for the discharge of the treated fish and which is arranged after the second separator (7), and a circulation pump (10) for the circulation of the treatment liquid in the closed system. The part of the pipeline that constitutes the liquid bath (5) is formed in a U-shape so that a liquid bath with respective liquid surfaces (4) is formed. |
| US09301495B1 |
Livestock feeder
A livestock feeder has a hopper, a feed outlet opening through the hopper for dispensing the feed, a feed trough operably positioned beneath the hopper for receiving the feed, and a broadcast spreader mechanism that includes a sling plate that is operably mounted to cover the feed outlet opening. The broadcast spreader mechanism has a motor for spinning the sling plate for broadcasting the feed outwardly when in operation. A retracting mechanism retracts the sling plate to uncover the feed outlet opening when the sling plate spins, so that the feed from the hopper falls downwardly into the broadcast spreader mechanism to be broadcast and dispensed. A tubular skirt surrounds the broadcast spreader mechanism for catching the feed as it is broadcast, and directing the feed downwardly into the feed trough. |
| US09301490B1 |
Soybean cultivar 48364117
A soybean cultivar designated 48364117 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 48364117, to the plants of soybean cultivar 48364117, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 48364117, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 48364117. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 48364117. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 48364117, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 48364117 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09301486B1 |
Soybean cultivar 34221541
A soybean cultivar designated 34221541 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 34221541, to the plants of soybean cultivar 34221541, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 34221541, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 34221541. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 34221541. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 34221541, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 34221541 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09301483B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH656805
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH656805. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH656805, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH656805 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH656805. |
| US09301482B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH010964
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH010964. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH010964, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH010964 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH010964. |
| US09301481B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH437225
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH437225. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH437225, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH437225 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH437225. |
| US09301480B2 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH162191
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH162191. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH162191, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH162191 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH162191. |
| US09301473B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV996840
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV996840. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV996840, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV996840 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV996840 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV996840. |
| US09301465B2 |
Pepper line ‘hot pops purple’
The invention provides seed and plants of pepper line ‘Hot Pops Purple’. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper line ‘Hot Pops Purple’, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants. |
| US09301464B2 |
Hybrid pepper ‘E20S12779’
A hybrid pepper designated ‘E20S12779’ is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of hybrid pepper ‘E20S12779’ to the plants of hybrid pepper ‘E20S12779’ and to methods for producing a hybrid plant, and to methods for producing other pepper lines, cultivars or hybrids derived from the hybrid pepper ‘E20S12779’. |
| US09301459B1 |
Irrigation system
A fully automated land irrigation system to irrigate regular and irregular shapes of land. The system includes a water deliver pipe assembly configured to travel laterally while irrigating adjacent to a stationary row of spaced access valves supplied by a water main. The system includes a single coupler automated connector to automatically supply water to the water delivery pipe assembly. The connector includes a swing arm pivotably mounted to and hydraulically connected to the water delivery pipe assembly, a valve coupler mounted to the swing arm to selectively access water from the water main via the spaced access valves and a water conveyance to operably flow water between the valve coupler and the swing arm. The valve coupler includes a vertical coupler travel configured to provide essentially vertical travel of the valve coupler relative to the swing arm. |
| US09301458B2 |
Apparatus for general tree trimming or precision tree trimming having an aerial tank
Disclosed herein is an apparatus preferably coupled to a boom on a truck, the apparatus capable of a plurality of configurations for a variety of uses. In one configuration, the apparatus can perform rapid semi-precise cutting of vegetation. In another configuration, the apparatus can perform more precise trimming of one or more areas (e.g., limbs) and optionally use an aerial tank mounted at the far end of a boom assembly. Typically the aerial tank will be mounted just beneath the attachment of the cutter head assembly to the boom and above one or more insulation couplings. In some disclosed embodiments, the aerial tank that can be remotely controlled. The aerial tank can be used as a liquid chemical supply or cleaning liquid supply as needed for various tree trimming tasks. |
| US09301457B2 |
Disk saw felling head with hydraulic line routing through horn section
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a disk saw felling head has a fore-aft dimension, a lateral dimension, and a vertical dimension such that the fore-aft dimension, the lateral dimension, and the vertical dimension are perpendicular to one another. The disk saw felling head comprises a frame comprising a first mounting post, a second mounting post, a motor housing, and a horn section, The first and second mounting posts are configured for attaching the disk saw felling head to a base machine and spaced laterally apart from one another relative to the lateral dimension and extending vertically relative to the vertical dimension. The horn section is mounted to a top portion of the first mounting post and a top portion of the second mounting post relative to the vertical dimension. |
| US09301456B2 |
Solar greenhouse structure
A solar greenhouse structure includes a plurality of supporting frames, a light-permitting roof supported by at least one supporting frame, and at least one solar panel disposed below the roof and near the bottom surface thereof. The instant disclosure uses thinner solar panels, where the supporting frames can be less rigid, in lowering the solar greenhouse cost. |
| US09301445B1 |
Grain deflector for combine head
A grain deflector assembly includes a combine head that has a pair of lateral walls and a rear wall extending therebetween. The rear wall has an intake chute extending therethrough. An auger extends between the lateral walls. The auger is positioned in front of the intake chute. A frame has a first end, a second end and a rear side and a front side each extending between the first end and the second end. The frame is coupled to the combine head. The frame extends between the lateral walls. The frame is positioned over the intake chute. The frame extends forwardly over the auger. A panel is coupled to the frame. The panel extends between the first end, the second end, the front side and the rear side. The panel may deflect grain tossed upwardly by the auger such that the grain is directed into the intake chute. |
| US09301440B1 |
Compositions and methods of treating animal manure
Disclosed are manure amendment compositions containing a dry or liquid mixture of (1) alum mud and at least one member selected from the group consisting of acid (e.g., sulfuric), bauxite, and mixtures thereof, or (2) bauxite and at least one member selected from the group consisting of acid (e.g., sulfuric), alum mud, and mixtures thereof, which when added to animal manure will form a treated manure product having improved environmental, health and/or animal performance. Also disclosed are various methods of using the manure amendment composition. |
| US09301437B1 |
Hedge separator and method for using the same
A hedgerow cutter for cutting a hedgerow having a root mass, stalks, branches and foliage, into smaller hedgerow segments is formed of a frame, having a vertically oriented centerline, adapted for attachment to a powered vehicle sized and configured to travel alongside, and parallel to a hedgerow, a root cutting spade assembly sized to be driven down and through the root mass of the hedgerow to cut and thereby separate a segment of the hedgerow root mass from the hedgerow and an elongated hedge cutter assembly, for cutting through the hedgerow stalks, branches and foliage, said hedge cutter assembly attached to the upper portion of the spade assembly and oriented to extend generally upwardly and means for extending the root cutting spade assembly outwardly and downwardly away from the centerline and into the hedgerow root mass to separate the root mass of the hedgerow segment from the hedgerow and extending the hedge cutter assembly into the stalks, branches and foliage of the hedgerow to separate the hedgerow segment from the hedgerow. |
| US09307682B2 |
Apparatus and method for dissipating heat
An apparatus includes a display. The display may include a frame disposed at a bottom surface of the display. The apparatus may include a semiconductor chip. A heat pipe constructed of a thermally conductive material may be affixed to the frame. A surface of the heat pipe may oppose the semiconductor chip at a predetermined distance from the semiconductor chip. |
| US09307679B2 |
Server room managing air conditioning system
In accordance with embodiments, a server room managing air conditioning system includes: a first coil; a second coil; and an air supply fan. The first coil adjusts returned air of a server room to a predetermined temperature value lower than a supplied air temperature target value and dehumidifies the returned air. The second coil adjusts the returned air of the server room to a predetermined temperature value higher than the supplied air temperature target value so that the supplied air temperature target value and a supplied air humidity target value can be achieved when the returned air is mixed with air adjusted by the first coil. The air supply fan mixes the returned air and supplies the mixed returned air as the supplied air to the server room. |
| US09307676B2 |
Thermally enhanced electronic package
A thermally enhanced electronic package comprises a driver chip, an insulator, a flexible carrier, and carbon nanocapsules. The flexible carrier includes a flexible substrate, a wiring layer formed on the substrate, and a resistant overlaying the wiring layer. The driver chip is connected to the wiring layer. The insulator is filled in the gap between the driver chip and the flexible carrier. The carbon nanocapsules are disposed on the driver chip, on the resistant, on the flexible carrier, or in the insulator to enhance heat dissipation of electronic packages. |
| US09307675B2 |
Radiant heat circuit board, method of manufacturing the same, heat generating device package having the same, and backlight
Provided is a radiant heat circuit board for mounting a plurality of heat generating devices. The radiant heat circuit board includes a metal plate comprising an integrated metal projection to which the plurality of heat generating devices are attached, an insulation member exposing the integrated metal projection, the insulation member comprising a plurality of insulation layers disposed on the metal plate, and first and second electrode pads disposed on the insulation member, the first and second electrode pads disposed being electrically separated from each other. The first and second electrode pads receives a voltage from circuit wires disposed on the insulation layers different from each other of the insulation member. Thus, a radiant projection may be disposed between the heat generating devices to improve heat radiation. |
| US09307674B2 |
Cooled electronic system with liquid-cooled cold plate and thermal spreader coupled to electronic component
Apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of an electronic component. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled cold plate and a thermal spreader associated with the cold plate. The cold plate includes multiple coolant-carrying channel sections extending within the cold plate, and a thermal conduction surface with a larger surface area than a surface area of the component to be cooled. The thermal spreader includes one or more heat pipes including multiple heat pipe sections. One or more heat pipe sections are partially aligned to a first region of the cold plate, that is, where aligned to the surface to be cooled, and partially aligned to a second region of the cold plate, which is outside the first region. The one or more heat pipes facilitate distribution of heat from the electronic component to coolant-carrying channel sections of the cold plate located in the second region of the cold plate. |
| US09307667B2 |
Display device
There is provided a display device including a display in which an image is displayed on a display surface, and a back chassis that is disposed on a surface opposite to the display surface of the display. A display holding portion that holds the display is provided in the back chassis. |
| US09307666B2 |
Electric circuit device, electric circuit module, and power converter
The present invention provides an electric circuit device in which it is possible to achieve simultaneously the improvement of cooling performance and reduction in operating loss due to line inductance. The above object can be attained by constructing multiple plate-like conductors so that each of these conductors electrically connected to multiple semiconductor chips is also thermally connected to both chip surfaces of each such semiconductor chip to release heat from the chip surfaces of each semiconductor chip, and so that among the above conductors, a DC positive-polarity plate-like conductor and a DC negative-polarity plate-like conductor are opposed to each other at the respective conductor surfaces. |
| US09307659B2 |
Constraint mechanism and related electronic device
A constraint mechanism includes a constraint component disposed on a second housing, and a flexible component disposed on a first housing. The constraint component includes a guide slot and an engaging portion. The flexible component includes a main body, a bending portion and a contacting portion. A first edge of the main body is fixed by a side of an opening on the first housing. A first side of the bending portion is connected to the main body, and is located at a position adjacent to a second edge of the main body. The contacting portion is disposed on a second side of the bending portion. A rim of the contacting portion is an arc structure. The contacting portion moves along the guide slot, so that the arc structure can be constrained by the engaging portion, to constrain a movement of the first housing relative to the second housing. |
| US09307653B2 |
Substrate cleaning method, substrate cleaning apparatus and storage medium for cleaning substrate
A substrate cleaning method is capable of preventing a liquid stream on a substrate from being cut and circuit patterns thereon from being damaged. The substrate cleaning method includes a liquid film forming process that forms a liquid film on an entire substrate surface by supplying a cleaning liquid L from a central portion of the substrate W toward a peripheral portion thereof while rotating the substrate; a drying region forming process that discharges a gas G on the substrate surface and removes the cleaning liquid on the substrate surface; and a residual liquid removing process that removes the cleaning liquid remaining between the circuit patterns by discharging a gas G while moving in a diametrical direction of the substrate. |
| US09307644B2 |
Connector assembly with an asymmetrically disposed alignment unit
A connector assembly includes a socket connector which includes a socket housing, a plurality of first terminals spaced apart from each other in a first direction of the socket housing, and a first alignment unit which protrudes from the socket housing and is asymmetrically disposed with respect to a virtual line which passes through a center of the socket housing in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plug connector which is coupled to the socket connector and includes a plug housing, a plurality of second terminals spaced apart from each other in the first direction of the plug housing and respectively coupled to the plurality of first terminals, and a second alignment unit disposed on the plug housing and coupled to the first alignment unit. |
| US09307642B2 |
Printed board, printed board unit, and method of manufacturing printed board
A printed-board includes a first conductor-layer, a second conductor-layer provided to a layer different from the first conductor-layer, an insulation-layer provided between the first conductor-layer and the second conductor-layer, a plurality of through-holes that pass through the first conductor-layer, the second conductor-layer, and the insulation-layer, and a plurality of vias that are formed in the plurality of through-holes, respectively, and couple the first conductor-layer and the second conductor-layer, each of the plurality of vias including a conductor portion that occupies part of an internal space of the through-hole, and a non-conductor portion that occupies remaining part of the internal space, wherein in a given pair of vias adjacent to each other, the conductor portion of one of the pair of vias is arranged so as to face the non-conductor portion of another one of the pair of vias. |
| US09307641B2 |
Wiring substrate and semiconductor device
A wiring substrate includes a first multi-layer wiring layer including an insulating layer formed of a non-photosensitive resin, a plurality of external connection pads formed on an upper face side of the first multi-layer wiring layer, and a second multi-layer wiring layer formed on the first multi-layer wiring layer, the second multi-layer wiring layer including an insulating layer formed of a photosensitive resin, the second multi-layer wiring layer having a wiring pitch narrower than the wiring pitch of the first multi-layer wiring layer. The external connection pads are exposed from the insulating layer of the second multi-layer wiring layer. |
| US09307640B2 |
PCB pad for imager of vehicle vision system
A circuit board for an image processing chip of a vision system of a vehicle is configured for a surface mount device to be attached thereto and includes at least one mounting location having a plurality of solder pads established thereat. The pads are arranged in a manner that enhances soldering of the device or component to the pad and circuit board. The pads may be arranged similarly in respective portions of the mounting location, such that the pads of one portion of the mounting location may be generally parallel to one another and may be generally orthogonal to the pads of another portion of the mounting location. Optionally, the pads may be generally tear-drop shaped, and the tear-drop shaped pads may be arranged so as to point generally towards or generally away from a center area of the mounting location of the circuit board. |
| US09307637B2 |
Metallized via-holed ceramic substrate, and method for manufacture thereof
The present invention provides a metallized via-holed ceramic substrate having (1) a sintered ceramic substrate, (2) an electroconductive via formed in the sintered ceramic substrate, having an electroconductive metal closely filled in a through-hole of the sintered ceramic substrate, wherein the electroconductive metal contains a metal (A) with melting point of 600° C. to 1100° C., a metal (B) with higher melting point than the metal (A), and an active metal, (3) a wiring pattern on at least one face of the sintered ceramics substrate, having an electroconductive surface layer and a plating layer thereon, wherein the electroconductive surface layer consists of an electroconductive metal containing the metal (A), the metal (B), and an active metal, (4) an active layer formed in the interface between the electroconductive via and the sintered ceramic substrate, and (5) an active layer formed in the interface between the electroconductive surface layer and the sintered ceramic substrate. |
| US09307636B2 |
Printed wiring board
An object of the present invention is to provide a printed wiring board which does not require arranging signal lines oblique to the warp or weft threads constituting a substrate and is capable of reducing a difference in transmission rates between the signal lines. The present invention relates to a printed wiring board including: an insulating layer; and a signal layer including a set of at least two signal lines and disposed on one side of the insulating layer. A substrate is embedded inside the insulating layer in such a manner to be further from the signal layer than a center of the insulating layer in a thickness direction of the insulating layer is. The insulating layer has a laminated structure of a thick layer, the substrate, and a thin layer. A ratio of a thickness of the thick layer to a thickness of the thin layer is greater than five. |
| US09307635B2 |
Electrode pattern and touchscreen using the same
A touchscreen electrode pattern constituted by wavy conductive lines, each wavy conductive line includes multiple troughs of wave and multiple crests of waves, wherein an interval between adjacent troughs of waves in each wavy conductive line is larger than 1.5 times of a predetermined value, and an amplitude difference between adjacent trough of waves and crest of waves in each wavy conductive line is smaller than ⅓ times of the predetermined value. |
| US09307632B2 |
Multilayered substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A multilayered substrate and a method of manufacturing the same. The multilayered substrate includes a plurality of wiring layers and reinforcing layers disposed at the outermost portions of both surfaces of the multilayered substrate, respectively, in order to decrease warpage of the multilayered substrate and has wiring patterns optimized depending on a scheme in which external electrodes are formed on an electronic component. |
| US09307625B2 |
Droplet dispensing device and light source comprising such a droplet dispensing device
A droplet dispensing device includes a reservoir for receiving a liquid material, an outlet nozzle in fluid communication with the reservoir and a piezoelectric actuating means acting on the liquid material at the outlet nozzle to exit the outlet nozzle in a sequence of droplets. A piezoelectric actuating means that includes a piston, which is actuated by a piezoelectric actuator at one end and dips the other, free end into the liquid material is provided just upstream of the outlet nozzle. |
| US09307622B2 |
Three-way switching circuit having delay for inrush current protection
A three-way load control device may be coupled to a circuit including an AC power source, an electrical load, and an external single-pole double-throw (SPDT) three-way switch. The load control device may include a three-way switching circuit comprising an internal SPDT switch, a relay coupled to the internal SPDT switch, a turn-on delay circuit responsive to a voltage at a movable contact of the internal SPDT switch, and a turn-off delay circuit responsive to voltages at fixed contacts of the internal SPDT switch. The turn-on delay circuit renders the relay conductive after a turn-on delay from when either the internal SPDT switch or the external three-way switch is actuated to turn the electrical load on. The turn-off delay circuit renders the relay non-conductive after a turn-off delay from when either the internal SPDT switch or the external three-way switch is actuated to turn off the electrical load. |
| US09307618B2 |
Multi-function controllable luminous decoration
A multi-function controllable luminous decoration includes a casing and an inductive light-emitting device disposed in the casing. The inductive light-emitting device includes a detection switch, a control unit, a light-emitting unit, a TF (Trans-Flash) card, a main control chip, a data line port, a battery, and a charging management chip. The present invention is able to vibrate and emit light, and has the functions of showing the characters and pictures stored in the TF card, storage, charging management, enhancing culture information and increasing ornament, interesting and practicability to satisfy the demands of more consumers. |
| US09307617B2 |
Illumination apparatus and storage medium
There is provided an illumination apparatus including an illumination unit, a reception unit, and a control unit configured to control illumination of the illumination unit in accordance with a default illumination pattern. When the reception unit receives an illumination pattern, the control unit performs illumination control different from the illumination according to the default illumination pattern. |
| US09307611B2 |
Pixel circuit, display device, and electronic device
An object is to enable application of forward/reverse voltage to or forward/reverse current to a display element and to lower power consumption of a driver circuit for driving a pixel. A memory storing the potential of a source signal line input through a switch, a first transistor whose gate is supplied with one output of the memory, a second transistor whose gate is supplied with the other output of the memory, a display element electrically connected to one of a source a drain of a first transistor and one of a source and a drain of a second transistor, a power source line electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor and the other of the source and the drain of the second transistor, and a counter power source electrically connected to the display element are included. |
| US09307608B2 |
Wavelength sensing lighting system and associated methods
A wavelength sensing lighting system that may comprise a light source included in an array to emit illuminating light, the array including a plurality of light sources, a sensor included in the array configured to sense environmental light from an environment, and a controller operatively connected to each of the sensor and the light source and may be configured to analyze the environmental light sensed by the sensor to at least one of detect and generate data relating to a condition of the environment, the data being transmittable in a data light. The controller may be configured to receive the data included in the data light using the sensor. The controller may be configured to analyze the data and to control the transmission of the data light from the light source. The controller may be configured to operate the array to emit an alert upon sensing an event. |
| US09307600B2 |
Synchronized light source for rolling shutter imagers
A lighting system adapted for use with a rolling shutter imagers. The system uniquely provides synchronous operation of a light source in the context of an imager with a “rolling-shutter”-type exposure architecture. The preferred embodiment comprises a lamp such as a LED, a drive circuit coupled to the lamp capable of energizing the lamp for switching the lamp on and off, and a lamp control circuit coupled to the drive circuit with a means for receiving a timing signal from an imaging system, the lamp control circuit synchronously energizing the lamp with the timing signal via the drive circuit, the timing signal being a line timing signal for a PWM system based on a multiple of lines, a signal indicating a pause in the imager readout, or a signal indicating a portion of the imager readout time when the lamp may safely be flashed on without corrupting the desired active imager lines. |
| US09307598B2 |
LED lighting device with replaceable driver-control module
An LED lighting device with a replaceable driver-control module interface is described. The LED lighting device may include a driver-less LED lighting device, a driver-control module with driver function, and a housing interface on the driver-less LED lighting device to house and connect the driver-control module. The driver-less LED lighting device receives AC from an external AC source and passes the AC to the driver-control module. The driver-control module receives AC from the driver-less LED lighting device and provides DC to the driver-less lighting device to drive LED diodes in the driver-less LED lighting device. The housing interface on the lighting device houses the driver-control module such that, when the driver-control module is fastened to the driver-less lighting device through the housing interface, the driver-control becomes an integral part of the lighting device. |
| US09307594B2 |
Apparatus for driving light emitting diode having a current switch
An apparatus for driving LEDs. The apparatus that drives a first LED unit having at least one LED and second LED unit connected to the first LED unit and having at least one LED comprises a rectifying unit for rectifying an AC power source connected to the first LED unit, a first current detector connected between the rectifying unit and the first LED unit and having its operation state changed depending on a level of current flowing through the first LED unit, a second current detector connected between the rectifying unit and the second LED unit and having its operation state changed depending on a level of current flowing through the second LED unit, and a reverse current protector connected between the first and second current detectors for providing a path to connect the first and second LED units in series. |
| US09307591B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for providing a luminaire inductively coupled to a power transmission line
Systems, methods, and devices for providing a luminaire inductively coupled to a power transmission line include a current transformer containing a plurality of tap points, and a plurality of tap switches that can be coupled to the tap points. The plurality of tap switches are connected to a microcontroller. Further, the systems, methods, and devices include an energy storage device, and LED light source(s). In some instances the current transformer powers the LED light source(s), and in other instances, the current transformer charges the energy storage device and the energy storage device in turn powers the LED light source(s), and in yet other instances, a combination of powering directly from the current transformer or energy storage device may be switched back and forth depending on a variety of parameters. |
| US09307586B2 |
Flyback AC-to-DC converter
Techniques and corresponding circuitry and drivers are disclosed for improving power factor (PF) and total harmonic distortion (THD) of a flyback power factor correction (PFC) topology operating in transition-mode. In one or more embodiments, the PF and THD are improved by correcting the on-time of the switching element of the flyback PFC topology to actively shape the wave of the PFC input current. In some embodiments, the on-time is corrected using a phase-lock-loop module that synchronizes with the rectified input line voltage signal and a output regulator module that corrects the switch on-time. The control may be implemented using a digital or an analog controller. |
| US09307584B2 |
Organic light emitting display device with substantially polygonal sub-pixels
An organic light emitting display device includes a plurality of sub-pixels arranged in a substantially hexagonally-shaped structure, each of the sub-pixels including a corresponding one of a plurality of organic light emitting devices, wherein the plurality of sub-pixels includes a plurality of first sub-pixels for emitting light of a first color, a plurality of second sub-pixels for emitting light of a second color, and a plurality of third sub-pixels for emitting light of a third color, and wherein centers of adjacent ones of the first, second, and third sub-pixels form a triangle having one of three sides that is shorter than the other two of the sides. |
| US09307583B2 |
Cooking apparatus and operating method thereof
Provided herein are a cooking apparatus and an operating method thereof. The cooking apparatus includes a cavity, a microwave generator to generate and output microwaves of a plurality of frequencies to heat an object within the cavity, and a controller to calculate interpolated microwave frequencies for a heating session, based on microwave frequencies calculated during a scanning session, and to calculate heating times of the interpolated microwave frequencies. Thereby, operating efficiency of the cooking apparatus is improved. |
| US09307579B2 |
Transparent window with an electrically heatable coatable
A transparent window (1) has an electrically heatable coating, which extends over a substantial part of the area of the window (1), in particular over its viewing area (A). In addition, the coating is electrically connected to at least two mutually opposite low-impedance bus bars in such a way that, after an electrical feed voltage has been applied to the bus bars, a current flows between them over a heating area (21) formed by the coating. In this arrangement, there is between the bus bars and the heating area (21) at least one at least partially light-transmitting transitional region (15), the effective surface resistance of which is lower than the surface resistance of the coating. In order to obtain a transitional region (15) having the visual appearance of a band filter, it is proposed that the surface resistance in the at least one transitional region (15) increases in the direction from the assigned bus bar to the heating area (21). |
| US09307575B2 |
Method and apparatus of supporting UE relay functions
A method and a Public Safety ProSe-enabled User Equipment (UE) for use in a wireless communication system. The method according to one embodiment includes performing ProSe by the Public Safety ProSe-enabled UE in a cellular communication system. The Public Safety ProSe-enabled UE is a member of a ProSe Group, and at least one UE of the ProSe Group is not served by a cellular network. In addition, the method according to the embodiment is performed by checking whether the Public Safety ProSe-enabled UE is in a location served by the cellular network and transmitting first information related to the ProSe Group from the ProSe Group to the cellular network if a condition is satisfied. |
| US09307573B2 |
Providing link quality intelligence from physical layer to higher protocol layers
Providing link quality intelligence from physical layer to higher protocol layers. The PHY (physical layer) of devices operating within wireless communication systems assess 1 or more operational parameters corresponding to a PHY link that communicatively couples 2 or more devices. These PHYs provide this assessed intelligence to the devices' higher protocol layers so that these higher protocol layers have greater visibility of the operational parameters of the PHY link. These higher protocol layers may use this assessed intelligence to make decisions about how future communication are governed across the PHY links. For example, based on a change of the operational parameter(s), the higher protocol layers may modify the operational parameter(s) for future communications. The higher protocol layers may direct the PHY to assess a particular set of operational parameters, and the higher protocol layers may assess different operational parameters at different times. |
| US09307567B2 |
Methods for detecting rejoining nodes in an IBSS
Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication. In one method, a first node of an independent basic service set (IBSS) may receive a beacon from a second node of the IBSS. The beacon may include a token. Based at least in part on the token, the first node may determine that the second node has disconnected from and rejoined the IBSS. In another method, a token may be generated at a node. The token may indicate that the node has disconnected from and rejoined an IBSS. A beacon including the token may be transmitted to the IBSS responsive to the node rejoining the IBSS. |
| US09307566B2 |
Method and arrangement for redirection of terminal
Methods and arrangements for handling shortcomings when a wireless user terminal (200), currently using a first connection (2:1) with a first network node (202), is redirected to a second connection in a release-with-redirect process. The connection first network node sends a first redirect message (2:2) to the terminal with an instruction to attach to the second connection. The terminal then sends a message (2:5) to the first network node which comprises a failure indication indicating that the terminal has made a failed attempt (2:3) to attach to the second connection. The first network node then identifies (2:6) a cause for the failed attempt by using the failure indication. The first network node also performs at least one of: sending (2:7) a second redirect message to the terminal based on the identified cause, and providing (2:9) the identified cause to a network management function, to enable adaptation of the release-with-redirect process. |
| US09307562B2 |
Radio repeater system
A system and/or method for facilitating wireless communication in an area where it is difficult to transmit and receive signals may use a preexisting wired emergency communication infrastructure to transmit signals between elements of a radio repeater system. Optionally, the system may include synchronization of retransmissions. Analog and/or digital signals and/or data may optionally be transferred over the preexisting network. Data and/or signals may optionally include audio and/or video signals, digital data, telemetry data, and/or synchronization data. The system may optionally include multiple wireless receivers and/or a voter to select a version of a signal from at least one of the receivers. A network for concurrent repeating of a direct mode simplex wireless signal may optionally include multiple receivers and/or a voter. The simplex network may optionally include a coloring circuit. The power of retransmission and/or the insulation between a receiver and a transmitter may optionally be adjusted. |
| US09307561B2 |
Enhanced connection admission control process
An evolved node B receives a random access preamble from a mobile device and determines if utilization exceeds a threshold. Upon determining utilization exceeds the threshold, the eNodeB sends a random access response including a backoff indicator and a modified uplink grant indicating that the mobile device can override the backoff indicator if the connection request is part of a voice over long term evolution call. |
| US09307560B2 |
Method for scheduling a random-access communication system with absolute and proportional throughput guarantees
A method for scheduling a random-access communication system having high-priority (HP) and low-priority (LP) nodes is provided, where the scheduling is configured such that the system provides an absolute throughput guarantee for the HP nodes, and a proportional throughput guarantee for the LP nodes. The method is based on obtaining a length of a contention window assigned to an individual node, which is either a HP or a LP node, from a per-slot attempt rate of this individual node. In particular, the attempt rate of each individual node is determined by an algorithm configured such that a resultant sum of the per-slot attempt rates of all the individual nodes is a fixed value independent of the number of the individual nodes. By this scheduling method, the maximum system throughput is approached. The method can be advantageously used in a wireless local area network (WLAN). |
| US09307558B2 |
System and method for optimal listen before transmit in wireless communications
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for transmitting data in a listen before talk (LBT) wireless transmission regime. A digital radio receiver is configured to simultaneously receive and decode digital data transmissions from multiple radio channels. A digital radio transmitter is configured to listen to the multiple radio channels prior to transmitting digital data on a selected one of the multiple channels, based on locally determined channel occupancy. Optimal LBT efficiency is achieved within the set of multiple channels, thereby improving overall transmission efficiency between the transmitter and the receiver. |
| US09307557B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting data frame using channel bonding in wireless LAN
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting a data frame using channel bonding in a wireless local area network in which high throughput (HT) stations and legacy systems coexist. The method includes adding a legacy format physical layer header including information, which indicates that a medium is being used while a frame exchange sequence is performed with respect to the HT format data frame, to the HT format data frame, transmitting the HT format data frame with the physical layer header by using channel bonding, and broadcasting the legacy format CF-End frame through a plurality of channels used in the channel bonding. Accordingly, after a frame exchange sequence is completed, the legacy stations which use channels used in the channel bonding can participate in a fair contention for medium access. |
| US09307550B2 |
Evolved node B controlled centralized resource reuse for device-to-device and cellular users
Device-to-device (D2D) communication is one alternative to communication between devices through a radio access network. One interesting D2D communication method is reuse-mode D2D, where D2D nodes communicate with each other using the same uplink (UL) radio resource that is being used by some other cellular user equipment(s) (UEs). In other words, the UL cellular resources occupied by cellular UEs are reused by D2D nodes in their short-range communications. Centralized control of D2D communication can be performed by appropriate signaling between a D2D-capable UE and an evolved Node B (eNB). |
| US09307548B2 |
Band and channel selection in 5G
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for band and channel selection in a radio system are provided. One method includes generating, by a network entity, at least one performance map showing performance for different portions of spectrum in a wideband radio system. The method may further include combining the at least one performance map with dynamic information, and selecting at least one portion of the spectrum to use for access based on the combined at least one performance map and dynamic information. |
| US09307543B2 |
Packet-switched network return
Systems and methods for generating a Long Term Evolution network return procedure. A mobile terminal may generate, in absence of redirection instruction from a circuit-switched network, a Long Term Evolution network return procedure that when instantiated by the mobile terminal implements connection of the mobile terminal to a Long Term Evolution network based on a ranking of measured Long Term Evolution network access points. |
| US09307535B1 |
Managing transmission power for hybrid-ARQ groups
A base station that serves a plurality of wireless communication devices (WCDs) will group the WCDs into physical hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) channel (PHICH) groups based on channel quality reported by the WCDs and will then differentially allocate transmission power among the PHICH groups, so as to provide higher transmission power for transmission to PHICH groups of WCDs that reported lower channel quality, while providing lower transmission power for transmission to PHICH groups of WCDs that reported higher channel quality. |
| US09307534B2 |
Radio communication system, radio communication apparatus, and ciphering method
A radio communication apparatus includes a control unit that, if a radio access bearer (RAB) for a circuit switching domain is reconfigured between a dedicated channel (DCH) and enhanced uplink dedicated channel/High Speed Downlink Packet Access (E-DCH/HSDPA) and an RAB corresponded to RAB information exists as an established RAB and there exists no transparent mode (TM) radio bearer for a core network (CN) domain included in an information element of CN domain identity (ID), and at least one TM radio bearer is included in an information element of radio bearer (RB) information to setup, calculates a start value that is used on a new RAB. |
| US09307532B2 |
Signaling for wireless communications
A communication system, such as a wireless CDMA system, detects markers with fewer errors by having field units transmit the markers at different power levels (e.g., 9 dB for one marker and 11 dB for another marker). The difference in power levels of the markers allows the base station to identify the request markers using alternative criteria with a low probability of error, where the alternative criteria may include comparing the markers to respective energy level thresholds, monitoring occupancy of time slots, occupancy of mutually exclusive code channels, or combinations thereof. For example, in one particular embodiment, a request marker, which is generally a high priority marker, is transmitted with higher power, which improves the probability of detection and reduces the probability of false detection of the request marker. |
| US09307531B2 |
Random access method, mobile terminal, and mobile communications system
The present invention discloses a random access method, a mobile terminal, and a mobile communications system, and relates to the communications field. The method includes: obtaining a dynamic probability class (N) and an access service class (ASC) of a current service that are in a system information block; calculating an access probability of the current service according to the N and the ASC of the current service; successively comparing random numbers corresponding to available access timeslots with the access probability of the current service until a random number corresponding to an available access timeslot is less than or equal to the access probability of the current service; and sending an access preamble to a base station in the available access timeslot. Embodiments of the present invention apply to establishment of a random access process for a mobile terminal. |
| US09307530B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting control information in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method in which a terminal transmits control information in a CA-based wireless communication system and to an apparatus for the method, the method comprising: a step of configuring a first cell and a second cell having different subframe configurations, the second cell has UL-DL configuration #0; a step of receiving a downlink control information (DCI) format including an N-bit field (N>1), for the second cell; and a step of transmitting a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) signal corresponding to the downlink DCI format through a subframe. The N-bit field indicates either an uplink (UL) index or a downlink assignment index (DAI). For PUSCH timing, in cases where a reference UL-DL configuration applied to the second cell is any one of UL-DL configurations #1 to #6, the N-bit field indicates the DAI. |
| US09307527B2 |
Selecting a codeword and determining a symbol length for uplink control information
A wireless communication device configured for selecting a codeword and determining a symbol length for uplink control information is described. The wireless communication device includes a processor and instructions stored in memory. The wireless communication device establishes communication with a base station, receives downlink control information from the base station and receives base station information. The wireless communication device generates uplink control information based on the base station information. The wireless communication device also determines a number of symbols for the uplink control information for a plurality of layers and sends the uplink control information. |
| US09307523B2 |
Reference signal design for coordinated multipoint transmission
A method includes controlling a set of transmission points, which are configured to operate in accordance with a Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) transmission scheme, to simultaneously transmit a composite Reference Signal (RS) to a mobile communication terminal. Feedback, which is indicative of a response of a composite communication channel between the transmission points and the terminal, is received from the terminal. The feedback is estimated in the terminal based on the composite RS received in the terminal from the transmission points. Subsequent transmission from the transmission points is configured based on the received feedback. |
| US09307520B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for configuring energy-saving cell
A method for configuring a cell includes the following steps. A network node obtains information for configuring serviceless Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) sub-frames of a first cell; and the network node configures serviceless MBSFN sub-frames of a neighboring cell of the first cell by alternating the serviceless MBSFN sub-frames of the neighboring cell with the serviceless MBSFN sub-frames of the first cell according to the information for configuring the serviceless MBSFN sub-frames of the first cell. In the method for configuring the first cell, the serviceless MBSFN sub-frames of the neighboring cell alternate with the serviceless MBSFN sub-frames of the first cell, thereby reducing interference between cells and improving stability of the system. |
| US09307519B2 |
Neighboring cell paging at border mobile switching center
A method is provided for paging a mobile station (40) served by a wireless telecommunications network (A). The method includes: remembering a last known location of the mobile station (40), and implementing a first paging strategy for the mobile station (40) within a first collection of cells (32) served by a first mobile switching center (20). If a response to the first paging strategy is not received by the first mobile switching center (20), then the method further includes: selecting one or more cells (32) served by a second mobile switching center (22) based upon the last known location of the mobile station (40); identifying the selected cells (32) in an intersystem paging request; forwarding the intersystem paging request from the first mobile switching center (20) to the second mobile switching center (22); and, in response to the second mobile switching center (22) receiving the intersystem paging request, paging the mobile station (40) in those cells (32) served by the second mobile switching center (22) which are identified in the intersystem paging request. |
| US09307518B2 |
Method and apparatus for communicating with base station based on speed of user equipment in mobile communication system
Methods and apparatuses are provided for performing communication by a UE in a mobile communication system. A speed of the UE is measured by using an acceleration sensor in the UE. The UE determines that a change of the measured speed is detected in accordance with a predetermined criteria. The UE transmits information about the measured speed to a serving base station if the change of the measured speed is detected. Information about a target cell determined by the serving base station based on the measured speed is received from the serving base station. A handover procedure to the target cell is performed in response to receiving the information about the target cell. |
| US09307515B1 |
Self identifying modulated light source
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a self identifying light source including an emitter that produces visible light; and an autonomous modulator in electrical communication with the emitter that automatically and continually modulates the visible light produced by the emitter, wherein the modulated visible light represents an identification code of the light source. In some embodiments, the emitter is a light emitting diode (LED) and further comprising an LED driver that provides a specified voltage and current to each LED in the light source. |
| US09307513B2 |
Method of supporting multi-homing in a ubiquitous sensor network
Method of Supporting Multi-homing in a Ubiquitous Sensor Network The present invention provides a method for supporting multi-homing in a ubiquitous sensor network. In the method, a sensor network gateway sends a configuration request to a sensor network controller, the configuration request being for querying whether a sensor network governed by the sensor network gateway supports multi-homing; then, the sensor network gateway receives a configuration file from the sensor network controller, the configuration file being for indicating whether the sensor network supports multi-homing; when the sensor network supports multi-homing, a binding update message is sent to the sensor network controller, wherein the binding update message comprises an identifier of the sensor network and an indicator for indicating that the sensor network supports multi-homing. By adopting the solution of the present invention, the sensor node or sensor network is enabled to simultaneously access to the Internet in a multi-interface manner. |
| US09307510B2 |
Resource allocation for distributed device-to-device synchronization
Methods, systems, and devices are described for synchronizing a user equipment (UE) in a device-to-device communications network. The UE may scan for a synchronization signal transmitted from another UE in the network. A synchronization frame including a plurality of slots to use may be identified based at least in part on a result of the scanning. The identified synchronization frame may be analyzed to select a slot to use from the plurality of slots of the synchronization frame. A synchronization signal may be transmitted using the identified synchronization frame and the selected slot. |
| US09307507B2 |
Systems and methods of selective scanning for ad-hoc networks
Methods, devices, and computer program products for selective scanning of ad-hoc networks are described herein. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a message identifying a number of times the message has been forwarded. The method further includes selectively scanning for other ad-hoc networks based on the identified number. In one aspect, a root device for an ad-hoc network is responsible for generating synchronization messages for nodes of the ad-hoc network. The synchronization message includes a count of the number of times the synchronization message has been forwarded. When the hop count reaches a limit, the synchronization message is no longer retransmitted or forwarded by receiving nodes. Nodes receiving this message may recognize they are positioned near the edge of the ad-hoc network. In at least one embodiment, these nodes may selectively scan for other ad-hoc networks based on the hop count reaching or exceeding a predetermined threshold. |
| US09307499B2 |
Using sensors to trigger transmit power management
A user device transmits data at a first transmit power level. The user device detects a presence of a human body part within a predetermined distance from an antenna of the user device using one or more sensors disposed at a back side of the user device. In response to the detection of the presence of the human body part, the user device transmits information at a second transmit power level that is less than the first transmit power level. |
| US09307498B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for enabling power back-off indication in PHR in a telecommunications system
The exemplary embodiments describe a method for use in a user equipment, a method for use in a radio base station; a user equipment and a radio base station. According to the exemplary embodiments, the user equipment is configured to decide on application or not of a power reduction and to indicate it decision in a power headroom report intended for transmission to the radio base station. The radio base station is configured to receive the power headroom report and based on the indicated information in the received power headroom report, the base station in made aware of an additional or special power backoff (e.g. to fulfill SAR requirements) has been applied and thereby able to distinguish it from normal power backoff or power reduction. |
| US09307497B2 |
Methods and devices for setting RoT limit
Methods and devices to dynamically determine suitable cell-specific RoT limits are provided. The suitable cell-specific RoT limits can advantageously be set both with respect to a short time scale and a long time scale In accordance with some embodiments the long term time scale operation is based on UE measurements representative for the intended coverage area of the cell. In accordance with some embodiments the short term time scale operation is based on UE measurements from active User Equipments only. Furthermore, also receiver capabilities of and cell isolation to neighboring base stations can be considered in the long time scale operation. |
| US09307496B2 |
Communication device and transmission power control method
In a mobile station, an RF receiving unit receives a signal transmitted from another communication device. A reception quality detecting unit detects reception quality on the basis of the received signal. A receiving processing unit extracts a TPC value from the received signal. A transmission power control unit corrects the extracted TPC value on the basis of the detected reception quality. If a conversion condition is satisfied, the transmission power control unit corrects the TPC value. For example, the conversion condition includes a condition in which a first variation direction of the detected reception quality is an inverse of a second variation direction of transmission power represented by the TPC value. |
| US09307495B2 |
Monitoring a battery in a portable electronic device
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that monitors a battery in a portable electronic device. During operation, the system monitors a state of charge of the battery while the battery is powering the portable electronic device. Next, when the state of charge of the battery reaches a predetermined reserve capacity, the system monitors a voltage of the battery. Then, when the monitored voltage of the battery reaches a predetermined termination voltage, the system puts the portable electronic device into a low power usage state. |
| US09307492B2 |
Operating mode switching method
An operating mode switching method for a electronic device is disclosed. The operating mode switching method includes receiving a notification message via a proximity-based wireless communication technology; switching from an initial operating mode to an environmental operating mode corresponding to the notification message; and switching from the target operating mode back to the initial operating mode when not effectively receiving an environmental signal corresponding to the notification message via a short-ranged wireless communication technology. |
| US09307485B2 |
Session setup in an energy-efficient cellular wireless telecommunications system
The invention relates to a telecommunications system comprising at least a plurality of SA-cells. The invention provides a method for a terminal to facilitate establishment of a data connection between the terminal and at least one of the SA-cells. The method includes steps of, while the terminal is in an idle mode, the terminal transmitting an information request message (IRM) for the plurality of SA-cells and receiving, from each SA-cell of one or more SA-cells of the plurality of SA-cells, a message comprising at least information indicative of a strength with which the each SA-cell received the IRM. The method further includes the step of, at least partially based on the messages received from the one or more SA-cells, the terminal selecting an SA-cell of the plurality of SA-cells for establishing the data connection between the terminal and the selected SA-cell. |
| US09307479B2 |
Dedicated barring and escape command
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method includes receiving a connection request in uplink signaling from a user equipment, the user equipment being located in a cell; making a determination whether the user equipment can be connected and, if it is determined that the user equipment cannot be connected, informing the user equipment by downlink signaling, as a response to the connection request, that the user equipment cannot be connected. The downlink signaling includes information that indicates that the user equipment should de-prioritize a current carrier frequency or current radio access technology, and can further include a timer value to indicate a period of time for which the current carrier frequency or current radio access technology is to be de-prioritized. The method can be executed by an evolved NodeB (eNB) of an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN). |
| US09307477B1 |
Apparatus and method for interfacing wireless client device to multiple packet data networks
A networking device includes a tunneling module, a mobility agent module, and a wireless network interface that establishes a wireless link with a wireless client terminal. The tunneling module establishes first and second tunnels with first and second local mobility anchors, respectively. The first and second local mobility anchors are associated with first and second packet data networks, respectively. The mobility agent module stores a mapping of a plurality of addresses respectively assigned to local mobility anchors. The mapping maps a first address to the first local mobility anchor and a second address to the second local mobility anchor. In response to receiving a first packet from the wireless client terminal, the mobility agent module identifies, based on a source address of the first packet, a selected local mobility anchor from the mapping. The tunneling module tunnels the first packet from the networking device to the selected local mobility anchor. |
| US09307472B2 |
Method and system for soft handoff in mobile broadband systems
The present invention provides a method and system for facilitating efficient handoff and data throughput in mobile broadband communication systems. Methods implemented by a system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention include selectively enabled soft handoff, performing Layer 2 bearer functions at the base station and using the mobile device to coordinate soft handoff and interference avoidance without the need for a centralized coordination function. |
| US09307471B1 |
Selecting an access node for wireless device communication
In systems and methods of selecting an access node for wireless device communication, it is determined that a first loading of a first access node meets a first loading criteria, and a wireless device is selected which is in communication with the first access node and which detects a second access node. A request is sent to the second access node to accept a handover of the wireless device, and a timer is started comprising a first timer value when the request is rejected by the second access node. A second request is sent to the second access node to accept a handover of the wireless device to the second access node when the timer expires, and the wireless device is instructed to change from communicating with the first access node to communicating with the second access node when the second request is accepted by the second access node. |
| US09307468B2 |
Communication system and method
A communication system that includes mobile user equipment and a communication network is provided. The communication network includes a first base station communicating with the user equipment according to a first defined radio frame format with a first sequence of radio frames each having the same length and each being allocated a respective first System Frame Number (SFN) to sequentially number the radio frames of the first sequence. A second base station is provided to communicate with the user equipment according to a second defined radio frame format including a second sequence of radio frames each having the same length and each being allocated a respective second SFN such that the radio frames of the second sequence are sequentially numbered. A radio signal includes first information indicative of a difference between the first and second SFNs at a particular time and second information usable with the first information. |
| US09307464B2 |
Cellular communication system, apparatus and method for handover
A method for handover of a wireless subscriber communication unit from a first base station to a second base station in a wireless network is described. The method comprises at the wireless subscriber communication unit receiving a handover command message from the first base station. At the first base station, the method comprises sending a scheduling request message to the second base station, in response to an acknowledgement message sent from the wireless subscriber communication unit. The method further comprises, at the second base station, scheduling, in response to the scheduling request message, at least one uplink scheduling resource (UL-SCH) for the wireless subscriber communication unit to transmit a handover (HO) confirmation message to the second base station; and receiving a handover confirmation message from the wireless subscriber communication unit on the at least one uplink scheduling resource (UL-SCH). |
| US09307458B1 |
Controlling reverse-direction neighbor reports based on the characteristics of queued bearer traffic
A wireless communication device (WCD) may determine that the WCD has bearer traffic queued for transmission to a radio access network (RAN). The WCD may be configured to transmit the bearer traffic and neighbor reports over a reverse-direction channel of the RAN. The neighbor reports may contain information related to wireless coverage areas. One or more characteristics of the bearer traffic may also be determined. Based on the one or more characteristics of the bearer traffic, the neighbor reports may be scheduled to be transmitted over the reverse-direction channel at a particular rate. The WCD may transmit the neighbor reports over the reverse-direction channel at the particular rate. |
| US09307454B2 |
Method and apparatus for maintaining location continuity for a UE following handover
Techniques for maintaining location continuity for a user equipment (UE) following handover are described. The UE communicates with a first radio access network (RAN) and is served by a source serving node and a source location server prior to handover. The UE communicates with a second RAN and is served by a target serving node and a target location server after the handover. In an aspect, location continuity may be maintained for the UE by transferring an identity of the target serving node to a location server during handover of the UE. In one design, the target serving node sends its identity to the target location server, which updates a Location and Routing Function (LRF) serving the UE. In another design, for handover from packet-switched domain to circuit-switched domain, the source serving node sends the target serving node identity to the source location server, which updates the LRF. |
| US09307453B2 |
Method, device and system for processing reverse single radio voice call continuity
The present invention provides a method, device, and system for processing reverse single radio voice call continuity. The method includes, before handing over a voice service from a CS domain network to a PS domain network, preconfiguring, in the PS domain network by a UE, information about resources needed for the voice service handover; and in the process of handing over, by the UE, the voice service from the CS domain network to the PS domain network, establishing a forwarding channel between a first network element of the PS domain and a second network element of the CS domain by using the preconfigured information about resources, where the forwarding channel is configured to forward voice service data between the UE and a peer UE after the UE accesses the PS domain network. |
| US09307451B1 |
Dynamic enterprise boundary determination for external mobile devices
Methods and arrangements for according access of a mobile device to an enterprise network. the presence of a mobile device relative to an enterprise network is detected, the enterprise network including a plurality of defined zones, wherein each zone is associated with a security level and with one or more resources. An agent of the mobile device is negotiated with to accord access to at least one of the defined zones. The negotiating includes: assessing at least one security constraint relative to the mobile device; and thereupon designating at least one zone to be accessible to the mobile device. Other variants and embodiments are broadly contemplated herein. |
| US09307445B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting data packets of nodes in wireless sensor network
An apparatus and method for transmitting a plurality of data packets of a plurality of nodes in a wireless sensor network. The plurality of data packets includes a plurality of original data values. The apparatus deleting the one of the plurality of original data values in accordance with a determination that an absolute difference between one of the plurality of original data values and a first preset value is smaller than a second preset value, or storing the one of the original data values in a database as an optimized data and setting the first preset value as the one of the original data values. |
| US09307443B2 |
System and method for remotely controlling mobile communication devices
A system for remotely controlling mobile communication devices includes a redirection system, a remote control system and a mobile data communication device. The redirection system detects a triggering event at a host system and in response to the triggering event continuously redirects data items from the host system to a wireless network. The mobile data communication device receives data items from the wireless network and executes a plurality of device operations. The remote control system receives control information from a user interface and transmits the control information through the redirection system to the wireless network. The control information is received and executed by the mobile data communication device to remotely control one or more of the device operations. Methods of controlling the operation of mobile data communication devices are also disclosed. |
| US09307442B2 |
Header size reduction of data packets
The invention relates to a method for reducing the header size of data packets by removing inner headers from the data packets, wherein at least an outer header remains for routing purposes. When removing the inner headers from a data packet, a newly configured address of the receiving and/or the transmitting entity is inserted in the remaining outer header of the data packet. Context information is provided in the receiving entities for reconstructing the removed inner headers, wherein the context information is referred to by the newly configured address that is in the source and/or destination address of the outer header. The reduced data packet is transmitted with only one header, thereby significantly reducing the size of each data packet. The original packet is completely reconstructed at the receiving entity thereby allowing to proceed with the usual processing of each data packet. |
| US09307440B1 |
Prioritized delivery for a collection of content
A method of prioritizing delivery to a mobile device for an audio album through a wireless network. The method comprises dividing, by a server computer, the audio album into two groups based on historical statistics of playback probability of a plurality of tracks of the audio album to be played next after a track that is being played, wherein tracks with a higher probability than a predefined threshold are placed in an immediate playback group, group 1, wherein tracks with a lower probability than the predefined threshold are placed in a later playback group, group 2. |
| US09307439B2 |
Long term evolution mobility network timer and retry management
Management of a network may be accomplished by adjusting timer settings and/or retry criteria. For example, communications and management from an end-to-end perspective of entities in a network may be conducted; timers and/or retry criteria may be adjusted dynamically based on network traffic load; timers and/or retry criteria may be adjusted dynamically based on overload conditions; feedback mechanisms may be implemented to allow downstream network elements to inform upstream network elements about the health status and/or load condition of the network; and/or differentiated timer and retry criteria/mechanisms may be implemented. |
| US09307438B2 |
Methods and devices for deactivating a node in a communication network
A method for deactivating a first node in a communication network includes determining, in a first time period, a number (A) of active mobile UE devices in a first network cell; determining a number (B) of static UE devices in the first network cell; and determining a number (C) of requests for direct D2D communication from UE devices in the first network cell. The method includes estimating a number of active UE devices in the first network cell for a second time period based on one or more of A, B, and C and determining whether the estimated number of active UE devices is less than a threshold. If so, the method includes transmitting a request to a second node to take over communication with one or more of the UE devices. If the request is accepted by the second node, the first node is deactivated. |
| US09307432B2 |
Processing delay estimate based on crowdsourcing data
Techniques are provided for providing a processing delay estimate of an access point, or turnaround calibration function (TCF), associated with round trip time (RTT) measurements. Mobile devices, access points, and/or other systems can utilize these techniques to derive processing delay from the RTT measurements. Crowdsourcing can also be used to help increase the accuracy of the processing delay estimate, which can be propagated to multiple devices. |
| US09307427B2 |
Method and apparatus for use of a relay schemed to facilitate efficient broadcast communication in device to device environment
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with improving packet communication in a broadcast D2D communication system. In an example, a communications device is equipped to receive a first packet during a first timeslot from a broadcast transmitter, measure a power level of a NACK received during the first timeslot, receive the first packet during a second timeslot, and determine whether to transmit the first packet during the second timeslot based on the measured power level of the NACK. In such an aspect in which the communications device determines that the measured power level of the NACK is above a threshold power level, the communications device may act as a relay and transmit the first packet during the second timeslot. |
| US09307425B2 |
Method and device for transferring data
Provided in embodiments of the present invention are a method and a device for transferring data. The method includes: transferring data to a base station via a first link, a second link offloading for the first link; if a radio link failure (RLF) occurs on the first link, transmitting an RLF indication message to the base station, where the RLF indication message is used to notify the base station that the RLF occurs on the first link; and transferring, over the second link, at least a portion of the data on the first link. According to embodiments of the present invention, when a link failure occurs between a user equipment and the base station during a mobile data offloading process, data transfer is performed via the offloading link, a time delay can be reduced and the data transfer efficiency is improved. |
| US09307421B2 |
Apparatus and method for setting up radio front haul link in cooperative communication system
A method for setting up a radio front haul link by a serving Base Station (BS) in a cooperative communication system is provided. The method includes receiving a measurement result report message including a measurement result for each of a serving BS and neighbor BSs, determining at least one neighbor BS with which the serving BS will set up a radio front haul link according to the measurement result for each of the serving BS and the neighbor BSs, and performing a radio front haul link set up operation with the at least one neighbor BS. |
| US09307420B2 |
Load estimation in frequency domain pre-equalization systems
A method for noise rise estimation in a wireless communication system comprises measuring (210) of received total wideband power of an antenna a plurality of times. An estimate of a noise floor measure is computed (212) based on at least a number of the measured received total wideband powers of the antenna. Interference whitening of a received signal is performed (214) per user for a multitude of users. A useful signal power per user after the interference whitening, preferably Frequency Domain Equalization, is determined (216). A noise rise measure per user is calculated (220), based at least on the useful signal power per user and the noise floor measure. The calculation in turn comprises compensation of the noise rise measure per user for the effects of the interference whitening. An arrangement for noise rise estimation is adapted for such a method. A radio base station comprises such an arrangement. |
| US09307418B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus to monitor mobile internet activity
Systems, methods, and apparatus to monitor mobile Internet activity are disclosed. An example method comprises determining, with a processor, whether a device is communicatively coupled to a WiFi network, the WiFi network identified by a Service Set Identifier. Whether proxy settings are configured on the device in association with the WiFi network is identified. Registration information is transmitted from the device to a registrar if the proxy settings are not configured, the registration information comprising a classification of the WiFi network and the Service Set Identifier. The proxy settings of the WiFi network are configured based on instructions received from the registrar, the instructions to cause the device to transmit network communications using the proxy settings when communicatively coupled to the WiFi network. |
| US09307417B2 |
Dynamic scrolling-ticker for initiating telecommunications services
A system and method for initiating communications between a first wireless device and a second wireless device. The method includes the steps of detecting the status of the first wireless device, notifying the second wireless device via a scrolling ticker message based on the detecting step and establishing a communication session between the first and second wireless devices. The detecting step includes generating an alert based on a predefined event. The system for establishing a communication path between a first mobile device and a second mobile device includes an IMS core, a presence server communicatively coupled to the IMS core and in communication with the first mobile device, a scrolling ticker server in communication with the presence server and with the second mobile device, wherein the presence server communicates availability of the first mobile device and the scrolling ticker notifies the second mobile device of the availability of the first mobile device. |
| US09307416B2 |
Using information obtained from one wireless medium for communication in another wireless medium
The present invention may include system for utilizing operational information obtained by one wireless communication medium that is supported by a wireless device in order to optimize the operation of another wireless communication medium also supported in the same device. More specifically, the present invention may leverage channel condition information collected as part of the standard operation of a wireless communication medium including interference avoidance capabilities, like Bluetooth™ with Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH), in order to modify the operation in another wireless communication medium such as by determining a channel scan list of potential operational channels to scan, determining a scan order for the channel scan list of potential communication channels based on, for example, the probability that a channel is currently being utilized by a target device, and/or altering a scan rate for one or more communication channels. |
| US09307414B2 |
Co-existence aware rate support
An apparatus has a first communication module and a second communication module. The first communication module is compatible with a first wireless communication technology, and the second communication module is compatible with a second wireless communication technology that differs from the first wireless communication technology. Transmissions by the second communication module may contribute to interference at the first communication module. The first communication module refrains from advertising support for any data rate that is not expected to be sufficiently resilient in the face of interference caused by transmissions from the second communication module. |
| US09307413B2 |
Management of radio frequencies in a wireless or hybrid mesh network
In a wireless or hybrid mesh communication system, radio frequencies are managed by assigning an in-use frequency channel to each local family of nodes, distributing spare frequency channel(s) among the local families of nodes, and changing the in-use frequency channel of at least one selected local family of nodes to a new frequency channel selected among its spare frequency channel(s), if any, or among the spare frequency channel(s) of another local family of nodes if said at least one selected local family of nodes has no spare frequency channel(s), and/or as the in-use frequency channel of another local family of nodes if none of said local families of nodes has spare frequency channel(s). |
| US09307412B2 |
Method and system for evaluating security for an interactive service operation by a mobile device
A method for evaluating security during an interactive service operation by a mobile communications device includes launching, by a mobile communications device, an interactive service configured to access a server over a network during an interactive service operation, and generating a security evaluation based on a plurality of trust factors related to a current state of the mobile communications device, to a security feature of the application, and/or to a security feature of the network. When the security evaluation is generated, an action is performed based on the security evaluation. |
| US09307409B2 |
Apparatus, system and method of protecting domains of a multimode wireless radio transceiver
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of protecting domains of a multimode wireless radio transceiver. For example, an apparatus may include a protection domain controller (PDC) to restrict access of a configuration software to a protection domain of a plurality of protection domains of a multimode wireless radio transceiver based on a security level of the configuration software, wherein the protection domain includes one or more radio configuration parameters of the multimode wireless radio transceiver. |
| US09307402B2 |
Method of protecting an identity of a mobile station in a communications network
A method of protecting an identity of a mobile station in a communications network is provided, where the communications network includes an access node and a gateway node. The method includes receiving a first mobile station identifier value at the access node, storing the first value in the access node, receiving a second mobile station identifier value, correlating the second identifier value with the first identifier value in the access node, sending the first and second identifier values from the access node to the gateway node over an interface, storing the first identifier value and the second identifier value in the gateway node, and correlating the second identifier value with the first identifier value in the gateway node. |
| US09307395B2 |
Ad-hoc group bidding
Mobile devices band together in an ad hoc grouping based on their location. As the mobile devices travel, their users may have a shared, mutual goal at a common location. The mobile devices having the common location are invited to join the ad hoc grouping. Should any of the mobile devices accept and join the ad hoc grouping, the users may act as a cohesive unit and bid to achieve their shared, mutual goal. |
| US09307394B2 |
Devices and methods for preventing out-of-service periods in multi-subscription scenarios
Access terminals capable of employing multiple subscriptions are adapted to prevent out-of-service periods for one or more subscriptions. According to one example, an access terminal can establish a data communication on a first subscription utilizing a first network, and an idle mode connection on a second subscription utilizing a second network. A determination can be made that the first subscription is indicating data transfer. In response to such a determination, the second subscription can attempt a change from a radio access technology associated with the second network to a different radio access technology. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included. |
| US09307390B2 |
Group based mobility optimization method and device in machine-type communication
The present invention relates to a method and device of performing Tracking Area Update TAU for a group of Machine-Type Communication MTC devices in a communication network. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the group comprises a first MTC device and at least one second MTC device that have the same group ID and location information, the communication network comprises an old Mobility Management Entity MME and a new Mobility Management Entity MME before and after TAU, respectively, for providing mobility management to the group of MTC devices, and the method comprises: after the new MME receives a TAU request about the first MTC device, obtaining a context of the first MTC device from the old MME; the new MME checking the context of the first MTC device to find the group ID of the group; and if the group ID is included in the context of the first MTC device, the new MME utilizing the group ID to obtain from the old MME a context of the at least one second MTC device. |
| US09307381B2 |
Optimized emergency alert message delivery
An apparatus, method and system for providing an emergency alert message in a communication system. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a transceiver (250) configured to receive an alert of an emergency message on a plurality of broadcast subchannels and to receive at least one message segment associated with the emergency message on the plurality of broadcast subchannels. The apparatus also includes a processor (220) configured to reconstruct the emergency message from the at least one message segment associated therewith. |
| US09307376B2 |
Selecting information handling system communication protocol based on network constraints
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone calls at an information handling system are managed based upon data transfer allocations associated with an information handling system wireless wide area network (WWAN) account to reduce data transfer overages at the WWAN account. If data transfer associated with a WWAN account approaches an allocation threshold, VoIP telephone calls associated with the information handling system that would use WWAN data transfer are instead configured to proceed through a WWAN telephone call with a WWAN telephone number that does not use data transfer. |
| US09307372B2 |
No responders online
A rapid assignment dynamic ownership queue for text message sessions queues incoming text messages destined for a service bureau, at a network server. Simultaneous access is provided to any one text message of the queued incoming text messages to a plurality of operator terminals at the service bureau. Initial ownership of the one text message is assigned as a result of a first acting terminal of the plurality of operator terminals having completed an action in service to the text message, and ownership is re-assigned to a subsequent operator terminal having completed another action in service to the text message after the first acting terminal. A configurable escalation queue may be implemented to assign an escalation code to each queued item, regardless of its position in the queue list, to alter the presentation of the queue item. A No Responders Online feature can indicate if all terminal devices are “offline”. |
| US09307370B1 |
Method and apparatus for establishing a group call in a multiple wireless technology communication system
A communication system is provided that sets up a group call, originated in a first originating network, in a second originating network when insufficient resources are available in the first originating network, wherein the first originating network is one of a narrowband network and a broadband network and the second originating network is the other network of the narrowband and broadband networks. An infrastructure device of the first originating network receives a first group call request from an originating mobile device and, in response to receiving the request, determines that insufficient resources are available in the first originating network for allocation to the mobile device for the group call. In response to determining that insufficient network resources are available, the infrastructure device arranges to set up an originating leg of the group call for the originating mobile device in the second originating network. |
| US09307366B2 |
Indoor navigation to known points of interest
Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, and machine readable mediums that provide location based services such as navigation in an indoor space by utilizing a network of specially configured locator nodes (LNs) and the identified line of sight (LOS) relationships between the LNs. The LOS relationships may be automatically learned by the LNs. |
| US09307362B2 |
Systems and methods for optimizing message notification timing based on geographic location
Systems and methods are provided for timing message notifications to be provided to mobile device users based on their respective geographic locations with respect to a targeted content area. The timing of message notifications may be controlled in order to optimize the chances of delivering targeted content to a mobile device user based on the current geographic location of the user's device relative to a targeted content area. As the particular client application may not be actively executing at a time when the user's device happen to be located within a targeted content area, a general message notification sent to the user's device, which may be displayed at any time, may increase the likelihood that the user will launch the client application when it is not already executing at the device and thereby, allow targeted content to be delivered to the user's mobile device at the appropriate time and location. |
| US09307359B2 |
Methods, systems, and apparatus for a geo-fence system
Methods, systems, and apparatus for defining, generating, utilizing, and/or detecting a geo-fence are described. A trigger is obtained, the trigger generated in response to a change in a geo-fence criteria. One or more boundaries of the geo-fence based on the geo-fence criteria are defined in response to obtaining the trigger. |
| US09307358B2 |
Non-intrusive region notification
Techniques of non-intrusive region notification are described. A mobile device can be programmed to trigger an application program when the mobile device enters or exits a region. The region can be defined by various virtual fencing technologies. If, at the time of entry or exit of a region, the mobile device is in a power-saving operating mode, the mobile device can transition to an active operating mode temporarily, register a fence-crossing event (entry or exit of the region) with the application program, and then transition back to the power-saving operating mode. The mobile device can launch the registered application program in response to the mobile device receiving a user input to enter the active operating mode. The application program can provide a user interface associated with the region on a display surface of the mobile device in place of a home screen or other user interface. |
| US09307357B1 |
Quantifying mobility of mobile devices via a privacy preserving mobility metric
Embodiments of the invention generate metrics quantifying the mobility of a mobile device without persisting information related to the device's specific location at any given time. Specifically, at multiple intervals, a value of a mobility metric is computed based on the distance between the current location of the mobile device and a previously identified origin location of the mobile device. The values of the mobility metric computed over a period of time quantify the overall mobility of the mobile device. The mobility metric does not provide any information regarding the specific location of the mobile device at any given time. |
| US09307354B2 |
Retroactive check-ins based on learned locations to which the user has traveled
A mobile device enables its user to retroactively “check in,” on social media, to locations to which the device has previously been. The mobile device automatically tracks the locations to which it goes during some time interval. As the mobile device goes to each location, the mobile device stores data that specifies that location. Following the time interval, and potentially in response to a request by the device's user to view the locations previously visited, the mobile device presents a list of at least some of the locations on its display. The device's user can select one or more of the presented locations. The selection of a location causes the mobile device to post, to an Internet-based social media service, information pertaining to the selected location. For example, such information can indicate that the device's user had been at the selected location. |
| US09307348B2 |
Storage medium having stored therein communication program, information processing apparatus, communication system, communication method, and storage medium having communication function
An example of an information processing apparatus performs near field communication with a communication target. An example of a communication target has stored therein main data to be read, identification information, and status information set in accordance with writing of the main data to the communication target. In accordance with the fact that, as a result of the communication target coming close to the information processing apparatus, the information processing apparatus has become capable of performing near field communication with the communication target, the information processing apparatus reads the identification information and the status information from the communication target. Further, the information processing apparatus determines, on the basis of the read identification information and status information, whether or not it is necessary to read the main data. |
| US09307346B2 |
System and a method for remotely interacting with items in an electrical field affected environment
A method and a system for remotely interacting with items in an electric field affected environment for communicating with a computing device is provided. The system includes a host for receiving commands from a computing device and a client for receiving and performing the signals received from the host. The host sends signals via modulated electric field. The client interacts with the items in the environment to determine their presence and location. The client further includes sensing devices and acting devices for sensing the condition of the items and manipulating the items respectively. |
| US09307331B2 |
Hearing device with selectable perceived spatial positioning of sound sources
A new hearing device system is disclosed herein. The hearing device system has a hearing device and a control device that allows a user to select perceived directions of arrival of selected sound signals transmitted to the hearing device. |
| US09307327B2 |
Portable electroacoustic device
Disclosed is a portable electroacoustic device. The device includes a shell having a receiving space; a fixing part received in the receiving part and connected with the shell, and a vibrating unit positioned in the receiving space. The vibrating unit includes a vibrating system and a magnetic circuit system fixed with the fixing part for driving the vibrating system. The magnetic circuit system has a magnetic gap. The vibrating system includes a vibrating plate for driving an external medium to generate resonate, and a voice coil inserted in the magnetic gap for driving the vibrating plate. The shell includes a lower plate having a through hole, the vibrating plate connects with the lower plate and is accommodated in the through hole. |
| US09307322B2 |
Systems and methods of frequency response correction for consumer electronic devices
Frequency response correction systems and methods for consumer electronic (CE) devices are disclosed. Applying one or more of disclosed techniques can improve a consumer's listening experience. The frequency response of a CE device can be corrected to remove or attenuate salient, undesirable features of with minimal user interaction. Audio quality can be tuned for optimal or near optimal performance even at maximum or near maximum volume levels substantially without fluctuations, clipping, or any other distortions. In some embodiments, audio response of the CE device can be captured, smoothed, and corrected. Correction parameters can be stored on the CE device. |
| US09307317B2 |
Wireless programmable microphone apparatus and system for integrated surveillance system devices
A wireless programmable microphone apparatus and related devices are disclosed. The programmable wireless microphone apparatus may be used by a law enforcement agency to collect data that may be used as evidence in a legal proceeding. The wireless programmable microphone apparatus includes one or more internal storage devices that may be secure storage drives and/or be pre-configured to execute one or more related applications in a plug-in fashion. The storage device may contain a suite of applications that are pre-configured to execute without requiring “installation” on a computer system prior to execution. The wireless programmable microphone may have one or more wireless communication and connection interfaces to stream audio and associated metadata to an associated mobile surveillance system. The wireless communication interfaces may also be used for device authentication. Optionally, audio and metadata information may be stored locally and synchronized with other devices at a later time. |
| US09307315B2 |
Waterproof audio and storage system
A portable and waterproof audio reproduction device is provided, comprising a case having a base and a lid defining an internal volume, and further including a seal between the base and the lid sufficient to prevent water from entering the internal volume when the lid is closed onto the base. The case includes control electronics within the internal volume, wherein the control electronics are adapted to receive an audio signal from an audio device located either inside the case or outside the case. The case also includes a battery, electrically connected to the control electronics. Surface transducers are electrically connected to the control electronics and operatively attached to an internal surface of the case, wherein the surface transducers are capable of receiving the audio signal from the audio device and causing vibration of the internal surface in response to the audio signal. |
| US09307307B2 |
Portable wireless waterproof speakers
A portable speaker system includes: a waterproof enclosure; a wireless communication element enclosed within the waterproof enclosure, the wireless communication element able to receive audio data from a mobile device; a pair of speakers enclosed within the waterproof enclosure that are able to generate an audio output based on the audio data received from the mobile device; and a set of connection ports located within a first recessed area of the waterproof enclosure, the first recessed area including a flexible cover that is able to expose the first recessed area when in an open position and form a waterproof seal with the waterproof enclosure when in a closed position. |
| US09307304B2 |
Dynamic assignment of signals to ports in an access platform
Signals may be forwarded to a variety of ports for transmission. The signals may be modulated for transmission. The forwarding of signals to ports may be accomplished by forwarding the signals to one or more signal modulators using a processing unit. The mapping of signals to ports may change responsive to a triggering event. |
| US09307302B2 |
Passive optical network switch
A Passive Optical Network (PON) Switch which breaks down and regenerates a point to multipoint optical communication signals that are compliant with a PON protocol between an Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and an Optical Network Unit (ONU) by performing a conversion between optical communication signals compliant with PON protocol and data units compliant with Ethernet protocol. |
| US09307299B2 |
Open API digital video recorder and method of making and using same
An apparatus, system and method of a digital video recorder. The apparatus, system and method include at least one memory device, a plurality of communication access points for receiving at least one program play, and an open application programming interface associated with the at least one memory device for programming a plurality of applications to operate on the at least one program play. Each of the plurality of applications correspondent to said open application programming interface manipulates metadata associated with ones of the programs plays. The metadata may relate to interactivity with detailed, non-topical aspects of the ones of the program plays. |
| US09307298B2 |
System and method for video statistical multiplexing adapting to internet protocol networks
The present invention discloses methods and systems of statistical video multiplexing to improve the performance of video encoding by minimizing delay while achieving high video quality. The video encoders used in the system are capable of calculating the complexity of underlying video sources and communicating the complexity to the multiplexer. Furthermore, the video encoders are capable of estimating the look-ahead complexity, i.e. the future complexity and communicating the future complexity values to the multiplexer. A processor associated with the multiplexer allocates bit rates for the video encoders according to the received complexity values and future complexity values. The bit rate information is then communicated to the video encoders. Each video encoder will then exercise its coding control parameters to regulate the resulting bit rate to be within or close to the allocated bit rate. |
| US09307289B2 |
Networked personal video storage and delivery
A portable video delivery device includes data storage, a secure processor, and a wireless network interface that acts as an access point for a secure personal wireless network. Transcoded media files are stored in the data storage so that the portable device maintains a library of stored media programs that can be carried along with the user during commuting, travel and/or other activities. To playback the stored programming, other media player devices use the personal wireless network to securely connect to the portable device and to obtain previously-transcoded content from the data storage of the device. |
| US09307282B2 |
Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel. |
| US09307280B2 |
Broadcast receiving device and method for receiving broadcast thereof
A broadcast receiving device and a method for receiving a broadcast thereof are provided. The broadcast receiving device includes a channel receiving unit which receives a channel broadcasting signal, generates a first parallel signal from the received channel broadcasting signal, converts the parallel signal into a serial signal, and outputs the serial signal; and a main body unit which receives the serial signal output from the channel receiving unit, reconverts the received serial signal into a second parallel signal, processes the second parallel signal, and outputs a video signal, an audio signal, and an additional data signal extracted from the processed second parallel signal. Since the channel receiving unit is provided as a separate unit from the main body unit, the thickness of the broadcast receiving device can be further reduced. |
| US09307279B2 |
Digital broadcasting receiving apparatus with improved start-up speed and start-up method for the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus
A digital broadcasting receiving apparatus with improved start-up speed and a start-up method for the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus are provided. The start-up method for the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus includes performing a booting operation related to a central processing unit (CPU) when the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus is powered on, performing a channel decoding operation related to a channel to be displayed while the CPU booting is being performed, and displaying the channel decoded by the channel decoding operation when the CPU booting and the channel decoding are finished. Accordingly, the start-up time of the digital broadcasting receiving apparatus can be remarkably reduced. |
| US09307276B2 |
Processing method for control messages and security module to carry out said method
The present invention concerns a method for processing messages intended to allow the access to conditional access content and to a security module arranged for implementing this method. The method comprises the steps of receiving by a security module comprising at least one decryption module, a plurality of messages, these messages belonging to at least two different categories; assigning a different priority level to messages from each different category, one of said priority level being defined as high and another priority level, lower that the high priority level, being defined as the standard priority level; associating a value to the messages to which the standard priority level has been assigned; assigning at least one threshold value for the value associated with messages having a standard priority level; and comparing between the threshold value for a determined message and the value associated with said message. If no value associated with said message having standard priority level exceeds the corresponding threshold value, processing the messages according to their priority level, a message to which the high priority level has been assigned being processed before a message to which a lower priority level has been assigned, and change of the value associated with the messages having a standard priority level according to said predefined rule. If the value associated with one of said messages having a standard priority level exceeds the threshold value for the corresponding message, processing one of the messages having a standard priority level before processing a message having a higher priority level, and change of the value associated with the messages having a standard priority level according to said predefined rule. |
| US09307271B2 |
Virtual channel table for a broadcast protocol and method of broadcasting and receiving broadcast signals using the same
A virtual channel table for broadcasting protocol and a method for broadcasting by using the virtual channel table includes identification information identifying and permitting discrimination of active and inactive channels contained in the virtual channel table. At a receiver, the virtual channel table transmitted from the transmitting side is parsed, thereby determining whether the current received channel is an active or inactive channel. |
| US09307268B2 |
System and method for providing video-on-demand (VOD) service in network
A system for providing Video-on-Demand (VOD) service in a network includes a plurality of user devices and a server. Activation of an allowed transmission mode or a peer-to-peer transmission mode is dependent on whether a peer-to-peer transmission function of a first user device of the user devices is limited or not. The first user device calculates respective transmission rates of the two transmission modes to determine their respective download ranges. The transmission mode having a higher transmission speed downloads data close to a start of the target data and another transmission mode having a lower transmission speed downloads data close to an end of the target data. Based on the target data temporarily stored in other user devices, the first user device assigns each of the two transmission modes a download sequence of a plurality of clips of the target data to download the clips of the target data. |
| US09307266B2 |
Methods and apparatus for context based line coding
Methods and apparatus intelligently switching between line coding schemes based on context. In one exemplary embodiment, an High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) system is configured to transmit control and video data according to an 8B/10B line coding protocol, and data island data according to TERC4 (TMDS (Transition Minimized Differential Signaling) Error Reduction Coding 4-bit). Various elements of the disclosed HDMI devices are configured to determine when a context switch occurs, and thereafter seamlessly transition between the appropriate line code protocol. |
| US09307255B2 |
Apparatus and method for encoding/decoding multi-plane images using bi-prediction and recording medium using same
The present disclosure relates to technology for generating an efficient predicted image by using a correlation between color planes in encoding of a multi-plane video. An apparatus for encoding a multi-plane video including two or more color planes by using a bi-prediction includes: an intra-predictor for generating a first predicted block by performing an intra-prediction on a current block of a current plane; an inter-plane predictor for generating a second predicted block by performing an inter-plane prediction; a dual-plane predictor for generating a third predicted block based on the first predicted block and the second predicted block; an optimum mode determiner for selecting one optimum predicted block having a highest encoding efficiency from the first to third predicted blocks; and an encoder or a decoder for encoding or decoding the current block based on a selected optimum predicted block. |
| US09307249B2 |
Processing device and method of compressing images
The present application relates an encoder. The encoder partitions an image domain into several substructures each having one of at least one size dimension, and defines at least one geometric primitive for each substructure on the basis of geometry data. The encoder also retrieves, for each substructure, a subset of image data and determines whether pixel values of the retrieved subset are the same. If the pixel values are describable by a texture mapping operation, then the encoder defines a compressed texture image and assigns texture mapping data to the geometry data. Otherwise, the encoder defines an uncompressed texture image and assigns texture mapping data to the geometry data. The compressed image includes the geometry data, the texture mapping data, and the texture image data. |
| US09307248B2 |
Image encoding method and apparatus for performing bit-plane scanning coding upon pixel data and related image decoding method and apparatus
An image encoding method includes at least following steps: receiving a plurality of target pixels within a frame, wherein pixel data of each target pixel has at least one color channel data corresponding to at least one color channel; determining a bit budget of the target pixels; and performing bit-plane scanning coding upon selected pixels according to the bit budget and a scanning order, and accordingly generating encoded pixel data of the selected pixels as encoded data of the target pixels, wherein the selected pixels are derived from the target pixels, and the bit-plane scanning coding extracts partial bits of pixel data of each selected pixel as encoded pixel data of the selected pixel. In addition, a corresponding image decoding method is provided. |
| US09307246B2 |
Apparatus for decoding moving picture
Provided is an intra prediction decoding apparatus that restores quantized residual coefficients, intra prediction information and size information on a prediction unit from a received bit stream, restores an intra prediction mode of the current prediction unit on the basis of the intra prediction information and the size information on the current prediction unit, generates unavailable reference pixels of the prediction unit, and adaptively filters the reference pixels on the basis of the intra prediction mode. Also, the apparatus generates a prediction block by adaptively filtering reference pixels corresponding to the intra prediction mode. Then, the apparatus generates a restoration image using the prediction block and a restored residual block. Accordingly, a prediction block close to an original image can be restored, and an image compression ratio can be improved. |
| US09307245B2 |
Moving image encoding device
An updated region encoding unit detects an updated region in a frame of an inputted image signal and encodes the updated region. A retransmission candidate tile extracting unit extracts from within a screen a tile which does not belong to an updated region in a current frame and which is a partial region transmitted after encoded with a quality equal to or less than a first quality. A character likelihood estimating unit, with respect to a tile extracted by the retransmission candidate tile extracting unit, calculates a likelihood value indicating likelihood that the tile is a character region. A character-likelihood-order intra update unit selects a tile in decreasing order of the likelihood value from among tiles extracted by the retransmission candidate tile extracting unit, and encodes the tile with a second quality which is higher than the first quality and transmits the result. |
| US09307244B2 |
Data storage controlling device, data reading controlling device, and data storing method
A data storage controlling device has: a compression unit which performs lossless compression on each compression object region; determination means which determines whether or not the lossless compression is possible in each compression determination region including a plurality of compression object regions; and a storage control unit which performs storage control in each compression determination region in such a manner that data after the lossless compression in a compression determination region is stored as compressed data into a storage unit when it is determined that the lossless compression in each compression object region included in the certain compression determination region is possible, and image data before the lossless compression in the certain compression determination region is stored into the storage unit when it is determined that the lossless compression in each compression object region included in the certain compression determination region is impossible. |
| US09307241B2 |
Video encoding method and a video encoding apparatus using the same
The present application provides a video encoding method that includes setting frame types for a video sequence; obtaining a B frame; determining whether a current macroblock of the B frame satisfies a Direct prediction mode, and if yes determining whether the current macroblock satisfies a Skip prediction mode; if the current macroblock does not meet either mode, computing at least one of a mode cost after performing motion compensation on the current macroblock using two bidirectional prediction motion vectors obtained in the Direct prediction mode; a mode cost after performing motion compensation on the current macroblock using a forward prediction motion vector obtained in the Direct prediction mode; and a mode cost after performing motion compensation on the current macroblock using a backward prediction motion vector obtained in the Direct prediction mode; and selecting a mode with a smallest cost as an optimal prediction direction to encode the current macroblock. |
| US09307240B2 |
Fade type determination device
A fade state determination unit (5) determines that the target picture is in a fade state when a feature value A is equal to or larger than a threshold value TH_A. If the target picture has been determined to be in the fade state, a fade-in determination unit (6) determines that the target picture is of a fade-in type when a feature value B is equal to or larger than a threshold value TH_B1 and a feature value C is less than a threshold value TH_C. If the target picture has been determined to be in the fade state, a fade-out determination unit (7) determines that the target picture is of a fade-out type when the feature value B is less than a threshold value TH_B2 that is smaller than the threshold value TH_B1. A cross-fade determination unit (8) determines that the target picture is of a cross-fade type when the target picture has been determined to be in the fade state and be not of the fade-in type nor of the fade-out type. |
| US09307229B2 |
Stereoscopic image display and crosstalk compensation method thereof
A stereoscopic image display and a method for compensating for a crosstalk of the stereoscopic image display are disclosed. The stereoscopic image display includes a crosstalk compensation circuit and a display element. The crosstalk compensation circuit detects an input frame frequency, performs over driving control (ODC) modulation on 3D data to firstly compensate for a crosstalk of the 3D data, and multiplies the firstly compensated 3D data by a constant value, which is previously determined depending on the detected input frame frequency and is greater than zero and equal to or less than 1, to finally compensate for the crosstalk of the 3D data. The display element displays left eye image data and right eye image data included in the finally compensated 3D data in a time division manner. |
| US09307227B2 |
Stereoscopic image registration and color balance evaluation display
A method of generating a stereoscopic image registration and color balance evaluation display enables a user to align two cameras used to produce a stereoscopic video signal or to analyze a received stereoscopic video signal. Left and right images from the cameras are converted into desired video signal components. Corresponding pixels from the left and right images are compared for each of the video signal components, and plotted as x and y inputs to a Cartesian plot to produce respective two-dimensional (2D) histograms. The multiple 2D histograms are presented as a Quad Diamond display so a user may align the two cameras or analyze the received stereoscopic video signal. |
| US09307226B2 |
Method of generating a photograph for an e-mail name list based on a dynamic image
The present invention discloses a method of transmitting three dimensional information. The method includes providing a remote server having a three dimensional image database, and a local terminal device coupled to the remote server via network, wherein the local terminal device includes a stereo image display. The local terminal device transmits a request command for three dimensional images to the remote server through the network, followed by sending the desired three dimensional images to the local terminal device through the network. |
| US09307222B1 |
Configuration settings of a digital camera for depth map generation
Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying image capture instructions for capturing images that may be used to generate quality depth maps. In some examples, the image capture instructions are generated by predictively determining in a scene-independent manner configuration settings to be used by a camera to capture a minimal quantity of images for generating the quality depth map. The image capture instructions may thus indicate a quantity of images to be captured and the aperture and focus settings to be used when capturing the images. The image capture instructions may be determined based in part on a distance estimate, camera calibration information and a predetermined range of optimal blur radii. The range of optimal blur radii ensures that there will be sufficient depth information for generating a depth map of a particular quality from the yet-to-be-captured images. |
| US09307218B2 |
Imaging apparatus having focal correction, and control method for the same
An imaging apparatus includes an autofocus function, and performs focus adjustment by displacing a focus lens to an in-focus opposition. A focal correction calculation unit calculates a focal correction amount using at least one type of information selected from the diaphragm information used for exposure adjustment, positional information for the zoom lens, and positional information for the focus lens. The focal correction amount is further revised, and processing is executed to suppress coloring on the subject image resulting from chromatic aberration. The correction amount after revision is sent to a focal adjustment unit and the focal lens is driven and controlled by the lens control unit. |
| US09307215B1 |
Automatic white balance methods and systems for electronic cameras
A system for brightness-sensitive automatic white balancing of an electronic color image includes a processor and a memory with (a) brightness-specific color-weighting maps each specifying illuminant-specific auto white balance parameters, (b) brightness range definitions respectively indicating applicability range of the brightness-specific color-weighting maps, and (c) instructions for white balancing the electronic color image according to scene brightness and based upon the brightness-specific color-weighting maps. A system for adaptive automatic white balancing of an electronic color image includes a processor and a memory having (a) a color-weighting map specifying a probability distribution of color ratios defining auto white balance parameters, the probability distribution composed of a plurality of illuminant-specific probability distributions respectively associated with a plurality of different spectral types of illuminant, and (b) instructions for processing one or more electronic color images to refine at least one of the plurality of illuminant-specific probability distributions. |
| US09307212B2 |
Tone mapping for low-light video frame enhancement
A technique is provided for generating sharp, well-exposed, color images front low-light images. A series of under-exposed images is acquired. A mean image is computed and a sum image is generated each based on the series of under-exposed images. Chrominance variables of pixels of the mean image are mapped to chrominance variables of pixels of the sum image. Chrominance values of pixels within the series of under-exposed images are replaced with chrominance values of the sum image. A set of sharp, well-exposed, color images is generated based on the series of under-exposed images with replaced chrominance values. |
| US09307204B1 |
Enhancement of media sink compatibility
Described herein are systems and methods to facilitate and enhance compatibility between a source device, such as a set-top box, and a sink device, such as a television or audio system. The source device is configured to recognize extended display identification data (“EDID”) associated with sink devices which have been determined to provide incorrect EDID data. A replacement EDID is used by the source to provide operability. Likewise, commands from the source which are incompatible with, or produce undesired results in the sink may be removed or replaced with replacement commands. |
| US09307202B2 |
Apparatus and method for creating situation awareness when scheduling conference calls
A method for creating situation awareness when scheduling video conferences includes providing a user with access to a set of names stored in a directory service database, and allowing the user to select one or more of the names. In response to selection of one or more names, geographical location values associated with the names in the directory service database are retrieved, and a map is provided. The map and one or more geographical objects showing the geographical location of the users associated with the selected names is then displayed on a display. |
| US09307201B2 |
Counterpart terminal information management system, communication terminal, communication system, and recording medium
A counterpart terminal information management system (50) includes: a terminal manager (5002) that manages, for each one of a plurality of terminals (10), terminal identification information for identifying the terminal, and terminal related information previously set by default, in association with each other; a counterpart terminal manager (5003) that manages, for each one of the plurality of terminals (10), the terminal identification information for identifying the terminal, counterpart terminal identification information for identifying a candidate counterpart terminal that may be requested by the terminal to have communication with, and counterpart terminal related information individually set by a user who operates the terminal (10), in association with one another; a receiver (51) that receives, from a first terminal (10aa), a request to share a candidate counterpart terminal managed for the first terminal (10aa) with the second terminal (10ac), and information indicating whether to permit or reject sharing of the counterpart terminal related information individually set by the user of the first terminal (10aa) with the second terminal (10ac); and a transmitter (51) that transmits information regarding the candidate counterpart terminal managed for the first terminal (10aa) to the second terminal (10ac). In response to the information indicating to permit sharing of the counterpart terminal related information, the transmitter (51) transmits the counterpart terminal related information of the candidate counterpart terminal to be shared, which is managed by the counterpart terminal manager (5003) in association with the terminal identification information of the first terminal (10aa). in response to the information indicating to reject sharing of the counterpart terminal related information, the transmitter (51) transmits the terminal related information of the candidate counterpart terminal to be shared, which is managed by the terminal manager (5001) in association with the terminal identification information of the candidate counterpart terminal. |
| US09307200B2 |
Use of face and motion detection for best view framing in video conference endpoint
A video conference endpoint detects faces at associated face positions in video frames capturing a scene. The endpoint frames the video frames to a view of the scene encompassing all of the detected faces. The endpoint detects that a previously detected face is no longer detected. In response, a timeout period is started and independently of detecting faces, motion is detected across the view. It is determined if any detected motion (i) coincides with the face position of the previously detected face that is no longer detected, and (ii) occurs before the timeout period expires. If conditions (i) and (ii) are met, the endpoint restarts the timeout period and repeats the independently detecting motion and the determining. Otherwise, the endpoint reframes the view to encompass the remaining detected faces. |
| US09307197B2 |
Transmission management apparatus
A transmission management apparatus manages transmission states of a plurality of transmission terminals including a first transmission terminal and a second transmission terminal. The apparatus includes a terminal management table storage unit configured to store therein a terminal management table in which terminal information including an identifier and an identification name of each transmission terminal is managed; a receiving unit configured to receive a terminal information request signal from the first transmission terminal, the terminal information request signal indicating a request for information for identifying the second transmission terminal, the first and second transmission terminals being in transmission therebetween; a terminal state acquisition unit configured to acquire the information for identifying the second transmission terminal from the terminal management table in response to the terminal information request signal; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the information acquired by the terminal state acquisition unit to the first transmission terminal. |
| US09307195B2 |
Controlling resolution of encoded video
A user terminal for participating in video calls comprises: an encoder having a frame size, being the size in pixels at which it encodes frames of video; and a pre-processing stage which supplies a sequence of frames to the encoder at that frame size, each frame comprising at least an image region representing a source video image at a respective moment in time. The pre-processing stage is configured to supply at least some of the frames to the encoder in a modified form, by resizing the source video image to produce the image region of each modified frame with a size smaller than the frame size of the encoder, and combining with a border region such that the modified frame matches the frame size of the encoder. The encoder encodes the frames at the frame size and transmits them to a receiving terminal as part of a live video call. |
| US09307192B2 |
Interactive zooming in video conferencing
In a video conferencing application, a user viewing a scene can performing zooming by selecting an area in the scene, then dynamically switching a video feed of the scene to the selected area of the scene. The hardware and software of the video conferencing application can limit the video transmitted to the user to include only the selected area of the scene. Transmitting only the selected area of the scene, and excluding the non-selected area of the scene from transmission, can more efficiently use the available bandwidth of the video conferencing application. |
| US09307187B2 |
Display control device and display control method
A display control device includes a determining portion determining a frame rate in displaying a frame image on a display portion as a determined frame rate; and a converter converting a present frame rate into the determined frame rate when the determined frame rate is different from the present frame rate. The determining portion determines, based on information about an OSD image, whether the determined frame rate is set to a frame rate identical to or higher than the present frame rate, and when determining that the determined frame rate is set to the frame rate higher than the present frame rate, determines the frame rate as the determined frame rate to display the frame image at the determined frame rate starting from a frame image which is K frames after a currently displayed frame image, where K is an integer not less than 1 and not more than 10. |
| US09307186B2 |
Conversion of video frame rate
A video frame rate converter has a temporal synchronization analyzer for dividing the input video sequence into successive groups of frames each of Nin consecutive frames and a motion analyzer for analyzing motion over the frames of each group to provide a group motion measure. The inverter includes both an interpolator for performing interpolation on a group of Nin input frames to provide Nout output frames, where Nin is different from Nout; and a synchronizer for deleting or repeating an identified frame from the group of Nin input frames to provide Nout output frames. A switcher then switches group-by-group in dependence upon the group motion measure between the interpolator and the synchronizer to form an output video sequence having an output frame rate different from the input frame rate. |
| US09307184B2 |
Multi-user recording allocation
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for allocating recordings to multiple users of a receiver. A graphical user interface may be displayed at a receiver and may show a listing of programs that have been recorded from a service provider broadcast or other transmission. An enhanced graphical user interface may include a listing of multiple users, each with separate listing of recordings. The recordings may be stored in a storage device associated with the receiver. A particular recoding may be deleted from the storage device when the recording has been deleted from each user's list of recordings. |
| US09307182B2 |
Display device with force dispersal structure
A display device includes a housing, a display module, and a force dispersal member. The housing has a top plate and a bottom plate, wherein the top plate has a top plate inner surface and the bottom plate has a bottom plate inner surface. The display module is disposed on the bottom plate and at least a portion thereof is covered by the top plate. The display module includes a body and a ledge, wherein the body has a corresponding top surface and a back surface. At least a portion of the top surface faces the top plate inner surface while the back surface faces the bottom plate inner surface. The ledge extends out from an end of the body and is positioned between the top plate and the bottom plate. The force dispersal member is disposed on the ledge and has a top end and a bottom end. The top end faces the top plate inner surface and the bottom end faces the bottom plate inner surface. A vertical distance from the bottom end to the bottom plate inner surface is no greater than the vertical distance between the back surface and the bottom plate inner surface. |
| US09307181B1 |
Time-based triggering of related content links
Video content can be amplified to enhance the experiences of content consumers. In that regard, the presentation of the video content need not be treated as a standalone experience, but rather can be integrated with other rich and related content to provide a more immersive and engaging experience. Video content can be presented in a first portion of the display, and references to related content can be presented in a second portion of the display. The references can be triggered at defined times of the presentation of the video content. The related content can be displayed alongside the video content upon selection of an associated reference or in some cases automatically at the defined time. |
| US09307179B1 |
Method and system for protecting content in graphics memory
A method and system for protecting content in graphics memory are disclosed. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method, which includes the steps of storing a first privilege level in a privilege map with restricted access, wherein the first privilege level is associated with a memory page used to store the content; and determining whether to permit a request to access the memory page based on the first privilege level. |
| US09307178B2 |
System and method for optimized appliance control
A device receives a request from a controlling device, such as a remote control, smart phone, or the like, where the request is intended to have one or more target devices perform one or more functional operations. The device responds to the request by applying the optimum methodology to propagate one or more commands to each intended target appliance to cause each intended target appliance to perform the intended one or more functional operations. |
| US09307176B2 |
Display apparatus, upgrade apparatus, display system and control method of the same
A display apparatus is provided, including: an image processor which processes an image signal received from an image source according to a preset image processing process and displays an image on a display; an upgrade apparatus which upgrades the image processing process when connected to the display apparatus; a power supply which supplies power of the display apparatus; and a controller which controls the power supply to supply power to the upgrade apparatus through the connector before supplying power to the image processor in response to a determination that the upgrade apparatus is connected to the display apparatus. |
| US09307173B2 |
Signal processing circuit, solid-state imaging device, and camera system
A signal processing circuit includes: a reference signal generating circuit that generates a reference signal of a ramp waveform of which a voltage value varies with the lapse of time by changing a current; and a signal processing unit including a plurality of processing sections that process the reference signal as a ramp wave and a potential of a supplied analog signal, wherein the reference signal processing circuit has a function of adjusting an offset of the reference signal by adjusting the current from the time of starting the generation of the reference signal or adjusting the level of the reference signal at least at the time of starting the generation of the reference signal. |
| US09307172B2 |
Floating point image sensors with tile-based memory
An image sensor may include an array of image sensor pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each image pixel arranged along a given column may be coupled to analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry that is capable of converting analog pixel signals into a digital floating point equivalent representation. The ADC circuitry may be configured to obtain an illumination value during an auto exposure period. The illumination value, which serves as an exponent value, can be stored as tile data in a tile column memory circuit. During actual readout, the ADC circuitry may be configured to perform mantissa conversion. During mantissa conversion, the ADC circuitry may use a reference voltage value that is adjusted based on the tile data. A mantissa value that is obtained during the mantissa conversion may then be combined with the exponent value for that tile to yield a final floating number point for that image pixel. |
| US09307167B2 |
Image pickup device and image pickup display system for reducing afterimage in image output
An image pickup device includes: an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels, the pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element; a drive section performing a readout operation and a reset operation of a signal electric charge, the signal electric charge being accumulated in the pixel; and a correction section correcting a timing of performing the reset operation to allow an afterimage in an image output from the image pickup section to be reduced. |
| US09307164B2 |
Imaging lens barrel and method for controlling operation of the same
An imaging lens barrel includes: a barrel body; a rotating body including a first magnetic scale and a second magnetic scale; a magnetic sensor device including a first magnetic sensor and a second magnetic sensor; a phase difference calculation section configured to calculate a phase difference between a first phase signal and a third phase signal; a correction table memory configured to store a correction table storing a correction value for correcting a difference between the phase difference and a design value in association with the phase difference; a phase difference correction section configured to read a correction value corresponding to the phase difference calculated by the phase difference calculation section and to correct the phase difference using the read correction value; and an absolute position calculation section configured to calculate an absolute position of the imaging lens. |
| US09307162B2 |
Local enhancement apparatus and method to generate high dynamic range images by blending brightness-preserved and brightness-adjusted blocks
An embodiment of a local enhancement apparatus is provided, in which a block divider divides an image into a plurality of blocks, and a first enhancement unit performs a brightness-preserved enhancement on each block of the plurality of blocks to generate a brightness-preserved block. A second enhancement unit performs a brightness-adjusted enhancement on the each block to generate a brightness-adjusted block. A scene dynamic range estimator generates a dynamic range of the image according to characteristics of the image. A blender blends the brightness-preserved blocks and the brightness-adjusted blocks to generate an enhanced image based on the dynamic range. |
| US09307161B2 |
System and method for capturing digital images using multiple short exposures
Methods, devices, and computer program products for image sensors with overlapped exposure brackets supporting multiple short exposures are described. In one aspect, a method of capturing an image is disclosed. The method includes capturing, on a first subset of pixels on an image sensor, a first image with a first exposure length. The method further includes simultaneously capturing, on a second subset of pixels on an image sensor, a plurality of images with a second exposure length, wherein the second exposure length is shorter than the first exposure length. The method further includes combining the plurality of images with a second exposure length into a second image. Finally, the method includes combining the first image and the second image. |
| US09307160B2 |
Methods and systems for generating HDR images
Methods and systems for generating HDR (High Dynamic Range) images are provided. First, frames are continuously captured, wherein the respective frames are captured with a same exposure time. At least one intermediary frame is then generated according to at least one of the frames. The at least one intermediary frame is composed using a HDR composition algorithm to generate a HDR image. |
| US09307155B2 |
Method of determining exposure control value for vehicle-mounted camera
The method is for determining an exposure control value for controlling exposure of a camera mounted on a vehicle to take images in the vicinity of the vehicle. The method includes a detection step of detecting a target from a taken image which the camera has taken in a state where the target is disposed within a image-taking area of the camera, a measurement step of measuring brightness of the target in the taken image, and a calculation step of calculating the exposure control value to such a value that the brightness of the target becomes equal to a target brightness appropriate for recognizing the target. |
| US09307154B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method for displaying an image region of a display image which includes a designated certain position
An image processing device according to the present disclosure includes: a locating unit which locates a first in-focus region of each of plural images which are obtained by capturing a same subject and have different in-focus positions; and a display unit which displays a first image among the plural images, wherein when a certain position is designated on the first image displayed by the display unit, at least a second image having the first in-focus region which includes the certain position is selected from among the plural images, and the selected second image is displayed on the display unit. |
| US09307153B2 |
Method and apparatus for previewing a dual-shot image
A dual-shot image preview method and apparatus is disclosed. An electronic device with dual image sensors provides a preview screen combining in real-time a partial image captured from a first image sensor and a rear image captured from a second image sensor. The partial image is a portion of a front image that includes a desired portion of the user, such as the user's face based on algorithmic detection. The electronic device displays a dual-shot preview screen by overlaying the partial image on the rear image. |
| US09307152B2 |
Display control apparatus and camera system where dialogue box is displayed based on display mode
A display control apparatus for controlling a display of a video image photographed by a camera discriminates a state and controls a display of a dialogue box in accordance with data which shows whether or not the dialogue box is displayed in accordance with a display mode for displaying the video image photographed by the camera and with the determined state. |
| US09307145B2 |
Video camera with temperature sensor
A video camera includes a first temperature sensor, a control logic circuit, a main system, a heating module, a fan and a power supply. After the power supply supplies power to the video camera, the first temperature sensor comes to be active, when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is less than T1, the first temperature sensor outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the heating module and the fan and prevents the power supply from supplying to the main system; and when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is greater than T1, the first temperature sensor outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit which enables the power supply to supply to the main system and inactivates the heating module and the fan, and therefore, a normal activation and stable operation of the video camera at low temperatures are ensured. |
| US09307144B2 |
Image capturing apparatus
An image capturing apparatus includes image capturing devices; page memories for the image capturing devices, respectively, each page memory storing a piece of image data output from the corresponding image capturing device; a page-memory read unit configured to read pieces of image data stored in the page memories line by line in a time division manner; an image processing unit configured to perform predetermined image processing on the pieces of image data read from the page memories for the image capturing devices line by line in the time division manner; and a write monitoring unit configured to monitor write states of the pieces of image data that are output from the image capturing devices and written into the page memories, and control the page-memory read unit to start reading the pieces of image data from the page memories. |
| US09307142B2 |
Imaging method and imaging apparatus
An imaging method includes photographing a subject to acquire image data, determining a pointing motion performed by a photographer included in the subject based on the image data, and outputting an instruction signal corresponding to the motion. The method further includes performing the photographing more than once to acquire image data based on the instruction signal, and creating a composite image based on the image data obtained by the performing the photographing more than once and the instruction signal. |
| US09307141B2 |
Focus detection device, photoelectric conversion system, method of driving focus detection device
A focus detection device, a photoelectric conversion system, and a method of driving the focus detection device are provided in which a length of an electric charge accumulation period is determined based on a signal level based on an electric charge accumulated by a photoelectric converter in a sub-accumulation period. |
| US09307139B2 |
Imaging apparatus and imaging method for selecting image from among captured images
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that photographs an object through a lens; a memory unit that stores images captured by the imaging unit; an adjusting unit that adjusts a position of the lens, based on a value that is obtained from each of the images captured by the imaging unit and that represents an extent of focusing by the lens; a calculating unit that calculates a local maximum value of the value, based on temporal changes of the value that is obtained from each of the images successively captured by the imaging unit and that represents the extent of focusing by the lens; and a selecting unit that selects an image from among the images stored in the memory unit, based on differences of the local maximum value and the value obtained from each of the images and representing the extent of focusing by the lens. |
| US09307135B2 |
Electronic viewfinder capable of providing various photographing angles to a user, and photographing apparatus using the same
A photographing apparatus is provided. The photographing apparatus includes: a main body including a photographing unit configured to photograph a subject; a first holder fixed to the main body; a viewfinder including a display unit and an ocular portion configured to view an image of the subject displayed on the display unit, wherein the viewfinder is supported by the first holder such that the ocular portion is slid to a first position adjacent to the main body and a second position spaced apart from the main body; and a toggle spring configured to elastically connect the first holder and the viewfinder, wherein a direction of an elastic force of the toggle spring is switched from a slide obstructing direction to a slide allowing direction when the viewfinder is slid. |
| US09307131B1 |
Display system using mountable tablet enclosure
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for displaying content. One representative embodiment involves (a) an enclosure apparatus having a front face that includes a see-through portion and an attachment surface; and (b) a tablet computing device that (i) has a display screen on its front surface, and (ii) is enclosed within the enclosure apparatus such that the display screen is visible through the see-through portion of the front face of the enclosure apparatus, with the attachment surface securely attached to an inside surface of a window so that the display screen of the tablet computing device is visible through the window. |
| US09307127B2 |
Image capturing device and image capturing system
An image capturing device and an image capturing system are provided. The image capturing device includes an optical system, a first filter provided near a diaphragm position of the optical system, a sensor, and a lens array. The first filter includes a plurality of filters respectively having different spectral characteristics. The sensor includes a plurality of filters respectively having different spectral characteristics. The lights from an object pass through the respective filters of the first sensor and the respective filters of the second sensor to simultaneously form a plurality of types of spectral image of the object on an image plane of the sensor. |
| US09307125B2 |
Position detection device, lens barrel, and imaging apparatus
Provided is a position detection device including a detection unit configured to have a photo-reflector including a light emitter and a light receiver, the light receiver receiving light emitted from the light emitter and reflected by a reflective surface moved in a predetermined direction, the detection unit detecting a movement amount of the reflective surface based on a change in intensity of the received light, and a transparent member configured to be disposed between the reflective surface and the detection unit and to move together with the reflective surface, the transparent member being provided with a light blocking surface configured to block light and a light transmitting surface configured to transmit light, the light blocking surface and the light transmitting surface being arranged in a moving direction of the reflective surface. |
| US09307121B2 |
Conversion circuit, image processing device, and conversion method that perform A/D conversion of an image signal
A conversion circuit includes: a conversion section configured to convert each of analog pixel signals into digital pixel data; a timing acquisition section configured to acquire specified timing, in which the specified timing defines a display period during which display of each of the analog pixel signals is performed in a cycle of a synchronization signal; a timing setting section configured to set timing that defines an extension period that is longer than the display period, in which the timing is other than the specified timing; an enable signal generation section configured to generate an enable signal, in which the enable signal indicates the extension period as a period during which the digital pixel data is valid; and an output section configured to output the digital pixel data that is valid, in accordance with the enable signal. |
| US09307119B2 |
Systems and methods for computation-efficient image processing system architecture
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for a computation-efficient image processing system architecture. Image data can be transmitted from a computer, online service, and/or other image source to an output device having a set of image processing modules in two or more image paths, including an edge detection module and a video decoding module. The edge detection module can produce edge tag output, and the video decoding module, operating in parallel, can generate decoded video output. The edge tag output and decoded video output can be transmitted to a set of downstream image processing modules, including modules for color trapping, edge smoothing, and other operations. Because earlier processing stages share information with downstream modules which require the same or related data, redundant processing can be reduced or eliminated. Complex image operations can therefore be carried out, and high-quality output can be generated, without sacrificing responsiveness. |
| US09307118B2 |
Method, apparatus, and program for generating color conversion lookup table
A color conversion lookup table generation method includes the processes of (i) acquiring a set of parameter values which represents a specific color; (ii) acquiring a plurality of ink value set candidates which corresponds to the set of parameter values, and evaluated values each associated with a result of printing based on a corresponding one of the plurality of ink amount set candidates; (iii) allowing a user to input a preference characteristic of the user; and (iv) applying a color conversion lookup table which converts the set of parameters into a set of ink amounts which is determined on the basis the preference characteristic and the evaluated values. |
| US09307116B2 |
Image reader
An image reader is provided, which includes a first analog front end unit configured to perform A/D conversion for analog signals that are output via a first group of channels of a number resulting from rounding up, to a closest whole number, an average value between a number of at least one channel for a first image reading unit and a number of channels for a second image reading unit, among analog signals output from the first image reading unit and the second image reading unit, and a second analog front end unit configured to perform A/D conversion for analog signals that are output via a second group of channels other than the channels in the first group, among the analog signals output from the first image reading unit and the second image reading unit. |
| US09307115B2 |
Image processing device generating rectangular image data from intermediate image data
An image processing device performs: generating intermediate image data representing an intermediate image in which a first image is combined with a second image; and generating rectangular image data representing a rectangular image by executing at least one of addition of at least one pixel to the intermediate image and deletion of at least one pixel from the intermediate image such that number of pixels aligned in the first direction of the rectangular image is brought into coincidence with a third pixel number and number of pixels aligned in the second direction of the rectangular image is brought into coincidence with a fourth pixel number. A ratio of the third pixel number to the fourth pixel number is equal to a ratio of the first pixel number to the second pixel number. |
| US09307111B2 |
Image reading device
An image reading device comprising: a document placing portion; a conveyor; and a reading unit configured to read an image of the document. The reading unit includes: an image sensor; and a support which supports the image sensor, wherein in the case of reading the image of the document conveyed by the conveyor. The support is to be stopped at a predetermined reading position; a guide; and a driving unit. The reading unit further includes: a release unit configured to release the contact with the guide by separating the support from the guide when the support is moved toward the predetermined reading position; and a contact portion configured to contact with the support separated from the guide by the release unit when the support is moved toward the predetermined reading position. |
| US09307109B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing system, and image processing method
An image processing apparatus is disclosed, including a marking position detection part and a first character recognition part. The marking position detection part detects a marking position with respect to a first sheet based on first image data scanned from the first sheet. The first character recognition part conducts a first character recognition with respect to an area specified based on the marking position, for second image data scanned from a second sheet. |
| US09307108B2 |
Information processing system and information processing method
An information processing system includes a first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus that are interconnected via a network. The first information processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a group of programs, a first install unit configured to install a first program of the input group of programs onto the first information processing apparatus, and a transmission unit configured to transmit a second program of the input group of programs to the second information processing apparatus. The second information processing apparatus includes a second install unit configured to install the second program transmitted from the transmission unit onto the second information processing apparatus. |
| US09307105B2 |
Image processing apparatus, and method and program for presenting information representing operation procedures to be performed on the image processing apparatus
An image forming apparatus combines a plurality of sub-movies representing operation procedures to be performed to perform maintenance on the image forming apparatus and plays the combined sub-movies sequentially as one movie. In response to stopping the movie being played, the image forming apparatus displays a replay mark for use to issue a command to replay the movie from the beginning of a sub-movie corresponding to a position where the movie is stopped. |
| US09307103B2 |
Image display control apparatus, image display control method, and non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by image display control apparatus
An image display control apparatus includes: a storage storing data sets; and a controller. The controller displays a first screen containing at least two of first data relating images corresponding to the data sets. When a first operation is accepted during display of the first screen, the controller replaces the first screen with a second screen containing at least three of second data relating images corresponding to the data sets. At least one second data relating image is displayed with information indicating that its corresponding data is set as data to be output. Each second data relating image has a display area smaller than that of each first data relating image. The number of second data relating images on the second screen is greater than that of first data relating images on the first screen. |
| US09307101B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus including: a communication section for communicating with a portable type terminal device which is provided with a photographing function, a display function, and a communication function; and a control section for: a) receiving a photographed image of an image forming apparatus, having been photographed by the portable type terminal device, from the portable type terminal device; b) determining a photographed location of the image forming apparatus based on the photographed image; and c) transmitting a display information according to the photographed location to the portable type terminal device. |
| US09307097B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, including: an image forming section; a reading section which reads the image formed by the image forming section over a predetermined width in a width direction of the sheet; a colorimeter which reads the image over a width smaller than the predetermined width; a calibration section which calibrates the reading section on the basis of a difference between first reading section measurement data and first colorimeter measurement data; a specification section which specifies adjacent images having a largest difference in brightness of a predetermined threshold value or more from among images for color adjustment formed on the sheet; and a color adjustment section which controls the colorimeter to read at least one of the adjacent images and adjusts a color of the image formed by the image forming section on the basis of second colorimeter measurement data. |
| US09307095B2 |
Prepaid short message services revenue capture
A prepaid messaging solution that utilizes a pre-delivery debit query to tariff a short message, coupled with an additional debit query performed once necessary billing information has been acquired. A short message is tariffed prior to message delivery via a pre-delivery debit query to a prepaid server. During message delivery, the prepaid server is queried a second time, following the HLR query performed by the Short Message Service Center (SMSC). This subsequent debit query bills a subscriber for any additional service fees discovered throughout message delivery, e.g., international/roaming fees, etc. If either the pre-delivery debit query or the subsequent debit query indicates that a subscriber has insufficient account balance to deliver a short message, the message is prevented from being delivered. If a message is dropped due to lack of account balance, any funds debited throughout the attempted message delivery may be credited back to the subscriber's prepaid account. |
| US09307092B1 |
Using secondary channel information to provide for gateway recording
Systems and methods for using secondary communication channel information, such as RTCP information to facilitate correlating business information to allow gateway recording. Using information in this secondary communication channel the recording system can correlate the business metadata either directly (e.g., using a phone extension) or through one or more indirect operations (e.g., a call ID-to-universal call id-to-phone extension). Additionally, information in the primary communication channel may be used to perform an indirect operation to correlate auxiliary business information (e.g., using the CALLID or UCID in SIP signaling to resolve the agent's phone extension and thereby access auxiliary business information.) |
| US09307091B2 |
Method and apparatus for the secure storage of audio signals
In one embodiment, a method, system and apparatus for recording audio is provided so that the recording can be authenticated. The system may be implemented as a central server that is accessed via one or more lines for audio communication, or as a stand-alone unit. The system operates by encrypting communicated data (e.g., audio signals), storing the encrypted information, and providing at least one user with a key that can be used to decrypt the stored information. |
| US09307090B2 |
Converged voice services
Novel tools and techniques for providing a subscriber with converged voice services, in which calls to one of the subscriber's telephone numbers is routed to some or all of the subscriber's telephone numbers (e.g., sequentially or simultaneously, depending on system configuration and/or subscriber preference). Some implementations employ a VoIP switch to handle call distribution among the subscriber's various phone lines, even if some (or all) of the subscribers telephone lines are not VoIP lines. In such implementations, upon receiving an incoming call directed to one of the subscriber's lines, a service switching point will route the call to a VoIP switch. Instructed by an application server, the VoIP switch will set up call legs (e.g., via the PSTN) to one or more of the subscribers' telephone numbers. Optionally, when one of the call legs is answered, the application server will instruct the VoIP switch to disconnect the other call legs. |
| US09307084B1 |
Protecting sensitive information provided by a party to a contact center
In one embodiment, a secure mechanism operates in conjunction with a three-way bridge in a contact center to protect against inadvertent exposure of sensitive information provided during a call. During the call, an agent may bridge on an interactive voice response system (“IVR”) onto the call prompting the party to enter sensitive information, such as a credit card account number, to effect a payment. The information may be provided by the party using dual-tone multiple frequency (“DTMF”) tones or speech. The IVR may provide a confirmatory announcement indicating the sensitive information received. A switch may be controlled by the IVR so that any sensitive information expected from the party or provided by the IVR in a confirmatory announcement is not presented to the agent or to a recording system. In this manner, the IVR suppresses the exposure of sensitive information to the agent and/or a recording system. |
| US09307083B2 |
Systems and methods of parallel media communication in contact handling systems
Methods and apparatus for improving a contact with a customer in a contact handling system by enabling parallel communication via more than one media during a contact are disclosed. The method can include establishing a first connection path with the customer and communicating a first communication with the customer over the first connection path via a first media. The method can include establishing a second connection path with the customer and communicating a second communication with the customer over the second connection path while the first connection path is open over the second communication path via the second media. |
| US09307081B2 |
Teletypewriter (TTY) for communicating pre-stored emergency messages to public safety answering points (PSAPs)
A system and method for communicating a pre-stored emergency message from a TTY to a PSAP may include, in response to receiving an emergency call signal, accessing a pre-stored emergency message stored in a memory. A PSAP may be dialed. In one embodiment, the PSAP may be dialed by the user dialing 911 or the TTY may automatically dial 911 in response to the user selecting a hard or soft-button associated with communicating an emergency message to a PSAP. The pre-stored emergency message may be communicated to a PSAP using a TTY communications protocol. A TTY compatible device utilized by a PSAP operator may be configured to provide the PSAP operator with pre-stored messages available for selection and communication to the emergency caller. By providing pre-stored messages on TTY devices, emergency communications between users of the TTY devices may be expedited, thereby potentially saving lives. |
| US09307080B1 |
Dynamic call control
A request to establish a voice communications session between a user of a telephonic device and an interactive voice response (IVR) system of a call handling system is received by a dynamic call control engine. A resource requirement for the voice communications session is determined. Resource usage data for multiple call handling systems is accessed by the dynamic call control engine. A particular call handling system from among the multiple call handling systems is selected based on the resource usage data and the resource requirement. A connection to be set up between the telephonic device and the particular call handling system to allow the user of the telephonic device to participate in the voice communications session with an IVR system of the particular call handling system is enabled. |
| US09307079B2 |
Handling announcement media in a communication network environment
In order to efficiently handle the switch between user media and announcement media, a basic step is to first determine a configuration of the user media. Next, a configuration of the announcement media to be presented is determined based on the determined user media configuration. Subsequently, the announcement media is configured according to the announcement media configuration, and the configured announcement media is finally sent to the intended user. In this way, the overall appearance or sound of the announcement will be virtually the same as or at least similar to the overall appearance or sound of the user media, preferably without distortions. This allows the user to perceive the announcement as clearly as possible. |
| US09307074B1 |
Information transmission device and system
A computer implemented method includes making a phone call from a sender to a receiver and providing a non-audio identifier to the receiver in a phone call signal of the phone call. The non-audio identifier provides access to information of the sender by the receiver. |
| US09307073B2 |
Visual assistance systems and related methods
Visual assistance systems and related methods are disclosed. A visual assistance system includes a visual assistance service configured to receive and display images from a user device on an electronic display for a live assistant. The visual assistance service is also configured to transmit assistant audio from the live assistant conveying information derived by the live assistant's review of the images. A visual assistance system comprises a user device configured to capture and transmit the images to the visual assistance service. The user device is also configured to receive the assistant audio from the visual assistance service, and reproduce the assistant audio to a user of the user device. The user is registered with the visual assistance service as having at least a minimum level of visual disability. A method of operating the visual assistance system includes receiving the images from, and transmitting the assistant audio to the user device. |
| US09307072B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing a function in an electronic device
A method and apparatus for performing a function in an electronic device includes an electronic device displaying 110 a first set of elements on a touch-sensitive display. Then the device receives 115 a first input on the touch-sensitive display, wherein the first input selects at least one element from the first set of elements. Then the device determines 120 that the first input has continued on a path from the at least one element to an edge of the touch-sensitive display. In response to the determining, the device calculates 130 a target key based on at least one characteristic of the path. After calculating, the device senses 155 an activation of the target key by a user. Subsequently, when the target is pressed the device performs 165 the function associated with the target key on the at least one element. |
| US09307070B1 |
Communication device
The communication device comprising a voice communication implementer, a 1st device remotely controlling implementer, a 2nd device remotely controlling implementer, and a device vibration implementer. |
| US09307069B2 |
Home appliance, mobile terminal, and operation method thereof
A home appliance, a mobile terminal, and an operation method thereof are disclosed. The home appliance includes a communication unit to receive a remote control signal from a mobile terminal, an input unit to receive a user input signal from a local key, and a controller to assign priority to the user input signal according to the input of the local key and to control an operation of the home appliance corresponding to the user input signal when a time difference between input of the local key and reception of the remote control signal is within a predetermined time. When a plurality of control rights is requested, the home appliance may assign priority to any one of the requested control rights. |
| US09307065B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing E-mail and outgoing calls
A vehicle-mounted device includes: a phone book acquiring section for acquiring a phone book data of a portable device via a communication section; a manipulation section for rejecting an arrival of a call at a call section; a specification section for specifying a mail address of the opposite party from which the arrival of a call is rejected by the manipulation section with reference to the phone book data; and a call-rejected party mail-reception notification suppressing section for suppressing the notification of reception of an E-mail from the mail address specified by the specification section to the vehicle-mounted device. |
| US09307061B2 |
Flexible electronic apparatus
An apparatus with a first flexible layer and at least one adjustment member attached to the first flexible layer. The adjustment member is movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the adjustment member is configured to allow flexibility of the apparatus, and in the second configuration, the adjustment member is configured to restrict flexibility of the apparatus. |
| US09307057B2 |
Methods and systems for resource management in a single instruction multiple data packet parsing cluster
Methods and systems are provided for operating a SIMD packet parsing cluster, wherein the cluster includes a plurality of M packet parsing engines 1 to M, and the cluster further includes a shared memory and an instruction memory storing a plurality of instructions to be performed by each of the engines, and wherein the instructions include one or more memory accessing instructions that require accessing the shared memory. The method comprises transmitting the instructions to the engines for instructions to be executed by the engines; for each of the engines 2 to M, delaying execution of each of the memory accessing instructions by a delay time compared to a previous engine; and each one of the engines performing one of the memory accessing instructions at a time that the other engines are not performing one of the memory accessing instructions. |
| US09307054B2 |
Intelligent network interface system and method for accelerated protocol processing
A system for protocol processing in a computer network has an intelligent network interface card (INIC) or communication processing device (CPD) associated with a host computer. The INIC or CPD provides a fast-path that avoids host protocol processing for most large multipacket messages, greatly accelerating data communication. The INIC or CPD also assists the host for those message packets that are chosen for processing by host software layers. A communication control block (CCB) for a message is defined that allows DMA controllers of the INIC to move data, free of headers, directly to or from a destination or source in the host. The CCB can be passed back to the host for message processing by the host. The INIC or CPD contains hardware circuits configured for protocol processing that can perform that specific task faster than the host CPU. One embodiment includes a processor providing transmit, receive and management processing, with full duplex communication for four fast Ethernet nodes. |
| US09307053B2 |
Direct data placement over user datagram protocol in a network environment
An example method for direct data placement over User Datagram Protocol (UDP) in a network environment is provided and includes creating a queue pair (QP) for unreliable datagram transport in Infiniband according to an OpenFabrics Application Programming Interface (API) specification, mapping data generated by an application for transmission over the QP in a network environment to a UDP datagram, and passing the UDP datagram to a network interface for transmission. |
| US09307052B1 |
Edge side landing pages
According to various embodiments of the present invention, acceleration can be used in connection with edge caching. Edge Side Landing Pages (ESL pages) are cached upstream on a Content Delivery Network (CDN), so as to reduce or eliminate round trips to the origin, thereby improving efficiency and reducing latency. ESL pages optimize performance for first time and repeat visitors for pages flagged to be cached upstream on the CDN. This allows pages cached on the CDN to be accelerated in addition to being cached. At the same time the system still efficiently serves requests to the origin for pages that are not cached on the CDN. |
| US09307050B2 |
Configurable network device user interface
Network devices, systems and methods are described that configure a network device user interface. One method includes receiving input to define user-selectable information from among a list of pre-arranged network information presented on a network device display. The method includes configuring the user-selectable information into a particular grouping and presenting the user-selectable information according to the particular grouping. |
| US09307049B2 |
Voice-over-IP-(VoIP-) telephony computer system
A Voice-over-IP-(VoIP-) telephony computer system includes a client computer (1) with a web browser (20) installed and which is connectable to a network (4) with access to the public Internet (6), a web server (101) which can be reached over the public Internet (6) from said client computer (1), a gateway computer (102) which can be reached over the public Internet (6) from said client computer (1), a VoIP private branch exchange (PBX) device (9) which can be reached from said gateway computer (102), wherein the VoIP telephone computer system is adapted to run following steps of establishing and maintaining a VoIP telephone connection between the client computer (1) on the one hand and the gateway computer (102) and the VoIP PBX device (9) on the other hand: the client computer (1), using the web browser (20), downloads an applet type application (30), which is adapted to establish a VoIP telephone connection from said web server (101), said downloaded applet type application (30) establishes a tunnel connection (50) to said gateway computer (102) and installs a SIP telephony client (40) on said client computer (1), and all VoIP telephone connection related data between the client computer (1) and the gateway computer (102) and vice versa are transferred using the tunnel connection (50). |
| US09307048B2 |
System and method for proactive task scheduling of a copy of outlier task in a computing environment
The described implementations relate to distributed computing. One implementation provides a system that can include an outlier detection component that is configured to identify an outlier task from a plurality of tasks based on runtimes of the plurality of tasks. The system can also include a cause evaluation component that is configured to evaluate a cause of the outlier task. For example, the cause of the outlier task can be an amount of data processed by the outlier task, contention for resources used to execute the outlier task, or a communication link with congested bandwidth that is used by the outlier task to input or output data. The system can also include one or more processing devices configured to execute one or more of the components. |
| US09307044B2 |
System and method for routing content based on real-time feedback
A method includes receiving at a cache server a content request from a client system, determining that the cache server is overloaded in response to receiving the content request, and in response to determining that the cache server is overloaded, returning to the client system a domain redirection response including a load status of the cache server. |
| US09307042B2 |
Orchestration server for video distribution network
A computing device receives, from a user device, a data call, and forwards the data call to a backend network device. The computing device receives, from the backend network device, a response to the data call in a first format. The computing device identifies a type of the user device and converts the response from the first format into a second format to create a reformatted response. The reformatted response addresses compatibility issues or simplifies processing by the user device. The computing device sends the reformatted response to the user device. |
| US09307041B2 |
Internet connection user communications system
A method for communicating in real-time to users of a provider of Internet access service, without requiring any installation or set-up by the user, that utilizes the unique identification information automatically provided by the user during communications for identifying the user to provide a fixed identifier which is then communicated to a redirecting device. Messages may then be selectively transmitted to the user. The system is normally transparent to the user, with no modification of its content along the path. Content then may be modified or replaced along the path to the user. For the purposes of establishing a reliable delivery of bulletin messages from providers to their users, the system forces the delivery of specially-composed World Wide Web browser pages to the user, although it is not limited to that type of data. |
| US09307040B2 |
Boundary-less M2M service layer
A system may include a boundary-less machine-to-machine (“M2M”) service layer, which may reside between an application layer and a core network layer. The boundary-less M2M service layer may allow M2M applications to interact with multiple applications (e.g., multiple M2M applications, multiple non-M2M applications, or a mix of both). The boundary-less M2M service layer may also allow M2M devices and applications to interact over various types of networks, such as wireless and wireline networks. |
| US09307037B2 |
System and method for utilizing attendee location information with an event planner
A system and method for providing enhanced event planning capabilities including receiving information regarding an invitee. The invitee information may be stored for later use. The presence of the invitee at an event may be detected. In response to the detected presence, information may be communicated to a communications device associated with the invitee regarding the event, using the stored invitee information. |
| US09307035B1 |
Managing social equity in a portal platform
An administrator can use a portal platform to manage social equity for social collaboration features of the web sites. A goal is to encourage users to contribute to an on-line community's social activities such as its blogs, message boards, and wiki pages. The portal platform supports social equity features, where users can earn points for their participation. The administrator can specify a counter period, where the points accumulated during the last period are reset. This feature can be used to encourage continual participation by the users. |
| US09307034B1 |
Token-activated, federated access to social network information
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to federated access to social networking information of a user initiated upon activation of a physical access token. A user may initiate a workflow, by activating a physical token, that establishes a federated access session between a third-party system and a social networking system to allow the third-party system to augment the user's experience with social networking information without the user directly accessing either the third-party system or the social networking system. |
| US09307032B1 |
Media session extension in a wireless network
A wireless access node and media session extension method configured to extend a media session in a wireless network are provided. The wireless access node in one example embodiment includes a communication interface configured to exchange wireless communications with a user equipment (UE), a storage system configured to store a UE fail state corresponding to the UE of a current media session and store an extended dormancy time period, and a processing system coupled to the communication interface and to the storage system, with the processing system configured to obtain the UE fail state, if the UE fail state is true, then load the extended dormancy time period into a dormancy timer corresponding to the UE, and if the dormancy timer expires, then maintain one or both of a traffic channel and a signaling channel between the wireless access node and the UE. |
| US09307028B2 |
Device for archiving handwritten information
There is provided an electronic pen device configured to be used with a remote secure server for registering handwritten signatures, the secure server comprising an authentication database storing authentication information in connection with pre-registered users and a signature registration database for registering handwritten signatures, the electronic pen device comprising: an input/output (I/O) interface; a memory; a tip and capturing means connected thereto for capturing handwritten signatures; a network interface adapted to be connected to a data network, and a processing unit connected to the I/O interface, to the capturing means, to the memory and to the network interface. As another aspect of the invention, there is further provided a system for registering handwritten signatures. As another another aspect of the invention, there is further provided a method of authenticating handwritten signatures. As a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of signing a document by a plurality of contracting user. As a further further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic pen device configured to be used with a remote server for archiving handwritten information. |
| US09307027B2 |
Identifying server protocol for translation in smart grid
A system and method for managing smart grid communication is disclosed. The system includes a communication module, a discovery module, a translation module and a smart grid module. The communication module receives data initiating smart grid communication between a utility server and a communication node. The discovery module identifies a server protocol used by the utility server to communicate with the communication node. The discovery module identifies a node protocol used by the communication node to communicate with the utility server. The node protocol is incompatible with the server protocol. The translation module performs a protocol translation between the server protocol and the node protocol. The smart grid module handles the smart grid communication between the utility server and the communication node using the protocol translation. |
| US09307026B2 |
Fulfillment of applications to devices
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating fulfillment of applications to various devices that may be associated with a user account. When a request to obtain access to an application is received, a device characteristic of the various devices is identified and a corresponding application binary associated with the application is identified. The corresponding application binaries are distributed to the devices corresponding to the user account. Additionally, an appropriate browser accessible application is identified and access can be granted to a device depending upon the capabilities of a browser executed by the device. |
| US09307022B2 |
Apparatus and method for determining group owner in establishment of Wi-Fi direct connection
A method and a first device for determining a group owner during establishment of a local-wireless communication connection are provided. The method includes searching for a second device that supports the local-wireless communication connection; searching, if the second device is found, for services supportable by the second device; determining an intent value of the first device corresponding to a group owner authority with respect to a service to be connected among the found supportable services; transmitting, to the second device, a negotiation message including the determined intent value of the first device; receiving, from the second device, a negotiation message including an intent value of the second device; and determining, from among the first device and the second device, a device having the group owner authority by comparing the determined intent value of the first device with the intent value of the second device. |
| US09307021B2 |
Adaptive media transmission processing
Provided are methods and systems for processing information. In one example method a first frame of a first group of frames of an information transmission can be processed. The first frame can be encoded without reference to other frames of the information transmission. Additionally, a second frame can be processed in the first group of frames. The second frame can be processed with reference to a frame from a second group of frames of the information transmission. |
| US09307018B2 |
Workload deployment with real-time consideration of global network congestion
In one embodiment, a system includes a switch controller configured to communicate with each of a plurality of network devices in a network, the switch controller including a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to: receive a request to instantiate a new workload or to move a current workload in the network, determine a throughput associated with the new or current workload, and select an optimum location to place the new workload or to move the current workload in the network based on the throughput associated with the new or current workload. According to another embodiment, a method includes receiving a request at a switch controller to instantiate or move a workload, determining a throughput associated with the workload, and selecting an optimum location to place or move the workload based on the throughput associated with the workload. |
| US09307016B2 |
Mobile device workload management for cloud computing using SIP and presence to control workload and method thereof
A method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions. The programming instructions are operable to manage workload for cloud computing by transferring workload to at least one mobile device using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). |
| US09307014B1 |
Supplemental capacity unit for portable wireless devices
A supplemental capacity unit for portable wireless devices preferably includes a housing, an electronic control board, a hard drive, a communication software program, a wireless modem, an antenna, random access memory and a plurality of ports. The electrical control board is retained in the housing. The electronic control board is preferably microprocessor based. The communication software program is preferably stored on the hard drive. The communication software program is downloaded to the portable wireless device. The communication software program allows the tablet to access the computing power, memory and storage capacity of the wireless device control unit. The wireless modem provides a connection to the internet. The antenna is connected to the wireless modem. The antenna receives and transmits wireless signals. A power supply provides an electrical power to all the electrical components. |
| US09307011B2 |
Synchronous mirroring of NVLog to multiple destinations (architecture level)
Systems and methods herein are operable to simultaneously mirror data to a plurality of mirror partner nodes. In embodiments, a mirror client may be unaware of the number of mirror partner nodes and/or the location of the plurality of mirror partner nodes, and issue a single mirror command requesting initiation of a mirror operation. An interconnect layer may receive the single mirror command and split the mirror command into a plurality of mirror instances, one for each mirror node partner, wherein the mirror instances may be simultaneously launched. After the plurality of mirror operations has begun, the interconnect layer may manage completion reports indicating the completion status of respective mirror operations, and send a single return to the mirror client indicating whether the mirror command succeeded. |
| US09307009B2 |
Presenting execution of a remote application in a mobile device native format
In one example, a mobile device includes one or more processors configured to issue a request to access a resource maintained by a remote computing device, wherein the request causes the remote computing device to: execute an application to access the resource; receive, via the network interface, information corresponding to graphical output resulting from execution of the application, wherein the graphical output corresponds to a format specific to the remote computing device; present a graphical representation of the received information in an output format optimized for the mobile device; receive an input command in an input format specific to the mobile device, wherein the input command comprises a command for interacting with the application; translate the input command to a format specific to the application executed by the remote computing device; and send the translated command to the remote computing device. |
| US09307007B2 |
Content pre-render and pre-fetch techniques
Content pre-render and pre-fetch techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a likelihood is predicted of subsequent navigation to content associated with a network address based at least in part on monitored navigation performed by a computing device to one or more network addresses. A determination is then made whether to cause the computing device to pre-fetch and pre-render the content based at least in part on the prediction. |
| US09307001B2 |
Video feed layout in video conferences
A method for positioning video feeds of a video conference on an electronic display. The method includes selecting a first property of the plurality of video feeds used to position the plurality of video feeds on the electronic display. A first and second value of the first property is received from a respective first and second video feed. A request for a layout style of the plurality of video feeds on the electronic display is received. The layout style has a plurality of positions for the plurality of video feeds. Each of the plurality of positions has a criteria of the first property. The first and second video feed belong is positioned on the layout. The positioning is based on a relationship of the criteria of each of the plurality of positions to the first and second values. |
| US09307000B2 |
Content distribution system, content distribution device, content distribution method and program
To provide a content distribution system for suitably controlling bit rate for each receiving terminal while reducing the number of probe packets transmitted toward the receiving terminals from a distribution device. A content distribution device which is mutually connected via a network to a plurality of receiving terminals has a content packet transmission unit for transmitting content data, a probe packet transmission unit for transmitting probe packets, a probe packet reception unit for receiving return packets from the receiving terminals, and a transmission control unit for determining the transmission intervals of the probe packets and the bit rate of the content data. In addition, the transmission control unit treats receiving terminals having similar time variations in the bit rate as a small group in determining the transmission intervals of probe packets to be transmitted to the receiving terminals belonging to the same small group together. |
| US09306996B2 |
Streaming connection management method and streaming data connection system
A streaming connection management method and system are provided. In the streaming connection management method, a streaming source establishes a plurality of connecting requests through a first relay server, and the first relay server provides first streaming data. A number of connections established with the first relay server is determined. When the number of the connections established with the first relay server is greater than or equal to a first relay threshold of the first relay server, a data balance method is executed to obtain a second relay threshold. The first relay server is adjusted to provide a second streaming data, in which a pixel value of the first streaming data is greater than a pixel value of the second streaming data. |
| US09306995B2 |
Communicating data in flows between first and second computers connected over a network
A network arrangement includes a first computer connected over a network to a second computer. Data over plural flows is communicated over the network between the first computer and second computer, where the second computer has a resource remotely accessible by the first computer over the data network, and where the second computer has a device driver to receive user input at a user input device attached to the first computer. According to different priorities assigned to the corresponding plural flows, at least a first one of the plural flows of data is caused to be throttled such that at least a second one of the plural flows is provided a greater portion of a bandwidth of the network, where the second flow is used for communication of data related to remote access of the resource of the second computer by the first computer. |
| US09306981B2 |
Bioinformatic processing systems and methods
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for facilitating trusted handling of genomic and/or other bioinformatic information. Certain embodiments may facilitate policy-based governance of access to and/or use of bioinformatic information, improved interaction with and/or use of distributed bioinformatic information, parallelization of various processes involving bioinformatic information, and/or reduced user involvement in bioinformatic workflow processes, and/or the like. Further embodiments may provide for memoization processes that may persistently store final and/or intermediate results of computations performed using genomic data for use in connection with future computations. |
| US09306978B2 |
Automatic tuning of virtual data center resource utilization policies
A computer-implemented process receives a request to utilize one or more virtual data center (VDC) resources at a virtual data center and determines a particular service level applicable to request. Based on the particular service level and mapping information that indicates associations between VDC resource utilization policies and service levels, the process determines a particular VDC resource utilization policy corresponding to the request and causes completion of the request according to the particular VDC resource utilization policy. Another process determines that a resource utilization performance is incompatible with a requested service level and selects a new resource utilization based in part on the resource utilization performance information and mapping information. The process causes data distributed according to a prior resource utilization policy to be distributed according to the new resource utilization policy in one or more resources at a virtual data center. |
| US09306976B2 |
Method, apparatus, signals and medium for enforcing compliance with a policy on a client computer
A method and system for enforcing compliance with a policy on a client computer in communication with a network is disclosed. The method involves receiving a data transmission from the client computer on the network. The data transmission includes status information associated with the client computer. The data transmission is permitted to continue when the status information meets a criterion. |
| US09306974B1 |
System, apparatus and method for automatically verifying exploits within suspect objects and highlighting the display information associated with the verified exploits
A threat detection system is integrated with intrusion protection system (IPS) logic, virtual execution logic and reporting logic is shown. The IPS logic is configured to identify a first plurality of objects as suspicious objects and outputting information associated with the suspicious objects. The virtual execution logic is configured to receive the suspicious objects and verify whether any of the suspicious objects is an exploit. The virtual execution logic includes at least one virtual machine configured to virtually process content within the suspicious objects and monitor for anomalous behaviors during the virtual processing that are indicative of exploits. The reporting logic is configured to issue a report including the information associated with the suspicious objects from the IPS logic and results of the virtual processing of the content within the suspicious objects. |
| US09306965B1 |
Cybersecurity system
A cybersecurity system for processing events to produce scores, alerts, and mitigation actions. The system includes sensors for receiving and processing data to form events, distributed analytic platform for processing events to form analytic workflows, and scoring engines for processing events using analytic workflows to produce scoring engine messages. The system also includes real time analytic engine for processing scoring engine messages and distributed analytic platform messages using the analytic workflows and analytic workflow and event processing rules to form and transmit a threat intelligence message. Threat intelligence messages include broadcast messages, mitigation messages, and model update messages. The system also includes logical segments which associate an analytic model, a set of analytic models, or an analytic workflow; one or more sources of inputs about activity within the logical segment, and a set of actions for mitigating an impact of the anomalous activity occurring within the logical segment. |
| US09306959B2 |
Dual bypass module and methods thereof
A dual bypass module for managing an integrated secured network environment is provided. The module includes network ports that receive and transmit data traffic flowing through the network. The module also includes a set of monitoring ports that is configured for transmitting the data traffic between the dual bypass module and a set of monitoring systems. The module further includes a set of relays configured for controlling the flow of data through the dual bypass module. The module yet also includes a configurable integrated circuit. The configurable integrated circuit includes at least one of a first logic arrangement for determining conditions of the set of monitoring systems, a second logic arrangement for redirecting the data traffic through a secured alternate path when a monitoring system is unavailable, and a third logic arrangement for redirecting the data traffic through a secured alternate path when a communication path becomes unavailable. |
| US09306952B2 |
System and method for wireless gaming with location determination
In accordance with the teachings of the present embodiment, a system and method for wireless gaming with location-dependent gaming functions are provided. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus includes a gaming server; a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices; and a gaming communication device operable to transmit and receive gaming information to and from the gaming server via the wireless network. A location of the gaming communication device on the property is used to alter a game play function, such as a bet option, wager, graphic overlay, permission, or to provide location-dependent advertising or embedded advertising. Based upon the location of the gaming communication device on the property, a predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device may be enabled and/or controlled. |
| US09306940B2 |
Mitigating risk of account enumeration
Technology is disclosed for mitigating account enumeration and thus enhances network security. The technology can receive from a client computing device a sequence of characters corresponding to a portion of an email address input by a user. The technology retrieves a set of email addresses that have a common first portion identical to the received sequence of characters and generates hashed data. The hashed data is sent to the client computing device. A result value is then generated by hashing the input email address by using the same hashing function as the hashed data. If the result value is in the hashed data, the technology displays a text region for collecting from the user a password. |
| US09306939B2 |
Authorization token cache system and method
A system includes one or more processors to request access tokens from a token service computer, cache the access tokens and related information in a token cache, transmit the access tokens with a resource request to a resource server, and receive requested resources in response to the resource request. The resource server transmits representations of requested resources to computing devices having valid tokens. The access tokens and related information including credentials information and token metadata are stored in the token cache. |
| US09306938B2 |
Secure authentication systems and methods
Systems and methods are provided for authentication by combining a Reverse Turing Test (RTT) with password-based user authentication protocols to provide improved resistance to brute force attacks. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for user authentication, the method including receiving a username/password pair associated with a user; requesting one or more responses to a first Reverse Turing Test (RTT); and granting access to the user if a valid response to the first RTT is received and the username/password pair is valid. |
| US09306936B2 |
Techniques to classify virtual private network traffic based on identity
Techniques are provided for obtaining first and second digital certificates from a certificate authority database for establishing a secure exchange between network devices. The first digital certificate contains identity information of a first network device, and the second digital certificate contains classification information of the first network device. In one embodiment, a secure key exchange is initiated with the second network device, and the first and second digital certificates are transmitted as a part of the secure key exchange to the second network device. In another embodiment, the first and second digital certificates are received by an intermediate network device. The first digital certificate is encrypted and is not evaluated by the intermediate network device. The second digital certificate is evaluated for classification information of the first network device. Source information associated with the first network device is stored, and encrypted traffic is processed between the network devices. |
| US09306935B2 |
Provisioning digital certificates in a network environment
A method for provisioning digital certificates in a compute service environment may include authorizing a customer entity for using and/or controlling a network resource in the compute service environment. Upon completing the authorization, a digital certificate may be issued to the customer entity. The digital certificate may be associated with the network resource and may be issued for a limited duration period. The use and/or control of the network resource by the customer entity may be monitored. Reissuance of the digital certificate may be conditioned on whether the customer entity is still using and/or controlling the network resource in the compute service environment. If the customer entity is still using and/or controlling the network resource in the multi-tenant environment, the digital certificate may be automatically reissued for another limited duration period. The automatically reissuing may take place without receiving a certificate reissue request from the customer entity. |
| US09306933B2 |
Ensuring network connection security between a wrapped app and a remote server
A network connection between an app on a mobile device and a remote server is either enabled or denied based on whether a security wrapped app can verify that the connection is with a known and trusted server. The wrapped app uses a socket interception layer injected into the app code along with a trust store, also part of the wrapped app to determine whether a network connection attempted by the app should be allowed. The layer buffers relevant function calls from the app by intercepting them before they reach the device operating system. If the layer determines that a network connection is attempted, then it snoops the negotiation phase data stream to discern when the server sends a certificate to the app. It obtains this certificate and compares it to data in the trust store and makes a determination of whether the server is known and trusted. |
| US09306929B2 |
Vertical social network
A method is provided to manage access to a social network from a mobile device, which has a user ID. The method is executed by a server, which manages accesses for a plurality of social networks, each social network being associated with a location and a time window. The method includes: receiving a request from the mobile device to join a social network, the request comprising at least information on the location of the mobile device and the user ID; gathering a timestamp associated with the received request; retrieving at least one social network associated with the location of the mobile device and a time window comprising the time indicated by the timestamp and registering the user ID in association to the at least one social network. |
| US09306928B2 |
System and method for associating a universal user identification and a domain specific user identification
There is presented a system and method for associating a domain transcendent identification (ID) of a user and a domain specific ID of the user, the system comprising an ID association server accessible by a plurality of secure domains over a network. The system also includes an ID associator application that when executed by ID association server is configured to receive a domain specific ID that associates the user to the secure domain, enter the domain specific ID in a domain transcendent ID record created for the user, generate a unique data associated with the domain transcendent ID record and identify a network location for submission of the unique data, send the unique data and the network location to the user, and associate the domain transcendent ID and the domain specific ID. |
| US09306925B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing system
An image processing apparatus including: a first interface; a second interface configured to be connected with a server configured to perform user authentication; an image processing unit configured to execute a job including image processing; and a control device configured to: receive authentication information of a user via the first interface; transmit the received authentication information to the server via the second interface; execute a specific operation after receiving the authentication information, the specific operation being a part of the job; receive a result of the user authentication from the server after executing the specific operation; determine whether the user authentication by the server has been successful in accordance with the received result; and execute the rest of the job after completing the specific operation and determining that the user authentication has been successful. |
| US09306924B2 |
System for personalized telematic services
A telematics system can provide authenticated access to telematic services. Upon connection of a mobile communication device to an automotive telematic system, and receipt of a request to access a telematic service, the system can determine by a processing unit of the automotive telematic system whether a personalized key for user authentication is required to access the telematic service and, if it is determined that the personalized key is required, request the personalized key from the mobile communication device. |
| US09306918B2 |
System and method for secure transmission of media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a gateway comprising a controller to receive from a communication device a request for media content, receive a key and a record associated with the communications device from an interactive television system, wherein the record comprises a list of entitled media content, determine whether the requested media content is in the list of entitled media content, retrieve the requested media content from the interactive television system when the requested media content is determined to be in the list of entitled media content, encrypt the retrieved media content utilizing the key, and transmit the encrypted media content to the communications device. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09306916B2 |
System and a method for a remote direct memory access over converged ethernet
A method and a system embodying the method for receiving a remote direct memory access packet comprising an opaque data, a virtual address, and a payload at a virtual network interface card that generated the opaque data; reconstructing a stream identifier by separating the opaque data into an encrypted stream identifier and a first digest; decrypting the encrypted stream identifier; verifying the decrypted stream identifier using the first digest; providing the verified stream identifier to a system memory management unit; and mapping the virtual address and the provided stream identifier by the system memory management unit to a physical address, is disclosed. |
| US09306914B2 |
Method and system for backing up profiles of authentication module
A system for backing up a profile includes: a management server that stores and manages received information and a terminal that generates a plurality of division profiles by dividing a profile that is stored at an embedded authentication module and that transmits backup request information including the plurality of division profiles to the management server, wherein the management server stores the plurality of division profiles based on the backup request information. |
| US09306913B1 |
Adaptive encryption optimization
Adaptive encryption optimization is disclosed. A first secure tunnel is established between a device and a node. It is determined that a second secure tunnel between an application on the device and a server has been established. The second secure tunnel is established at least in part using the first secure tunnel. The first secure tunnel is removed based at least in part on the determination that the second secure tunnel has been established. |
| US09306909B2 |
Connection identifier assignment and source network address translation
A controller of a network control system for configuring several middlebox instances is described. The middlebox instances implement a middlebox in a distributed manner in several hosts. The controller assigns a first set of identifiers to a first middlebox instance that associates an identifier in the first set with a first packet. The controller assigns a second set of identifiers to a second middlebox instance that associates an identifier in the second set with a second packet. |
| US09306901B2 |
IP address distribution system and IP address distribution method
An IP address distribution system according to the present invention includes a network including a plurality of switches, and an IP address distribution apparatus connected to the network, in which each of the switches holds therein arrangement information that indicates a position thereof in the network, and when receiving an IP-address request signal from one of, devices connected thereto, adds the held arrangement information to the IP-address request signal and transfers the IP-address request signal, and when receiving an IP-address request signal, the IP address distribution apparatus selects an IP address from a range corresponding to the arrangement information added to the signal and distributes the selected IP address to a request source device. |
| US09306899B1 |
System and method for determining presence based on an attribute of an electronic message
Systems and methods are provided for determining a presence of an electronic message recipient based on an attribute of the electronic message, such as the content and/or context of the electronic message. The systems and methods can include acquiring, at a server, an electronic message from a sender, and determining an attribute of the electronic message. Based on the determined attribute, the server assigns an urgency level to the electronic message, which corresponds to a response time period. The server then monitors the recipient's device for a response to the electronic message, and to collect monitoring data about activity performed by the recipient on the device, or the environment surrounding the device. If the recipient does not respond within the response time period the server informs the sender a presence status of the recipient based on the monitoring data. |
| US09306898B2 |
Systems and methods for transmitting information, alerts, and/or comments to participants based on location information
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for sharing information related to a location also referred to herein as a “spot,” such as spot alerts and/or spot comments (e.g., shared information, advertisements, etc.) received, displayed, played, and/or actuated, for example, on recipient mobile electronic devices proximately located to such location (e.g., spot). Users of the system can create spot alerts in which designated recipients can receive messages, such as spot alerts and/or spot comments (e.g., shared information, advertisements, etc.) received, displayed, played, and/or actuated, for example, on respective recipient mobile electronic devices, when located within a proximity of a defined location (e.g., spot). |
| US09306897B2 |
Smart media device ecosystem using local data and remote social graph data
Techniques associated with a smart media ecosystem using local data and remote social graph data are described, including identifying an account associated with a user based on a detection of a presence of a compatible device, the compatible device being associated with the account in a profile, receiving an input indicating a request for media content, retrieving remote social graph data from a remote database, cross-referencing the remote social graph with profile data being stored locally, the profile data associated with media preferences, updating the profile data with a learned media preference generated by a learning module, selecting targeted media content based on the profile data, and sending a control signal to a media device, the control signal configured to cause the media device to output the targeted media content. |
| US09306896B2 |
Delivery of messages for a life event of user of social networking system
A social networking system provides suggestions of gifts to users for presentation to a target user for a life event of the target user. Merchants provide bids for their products. The social networking system selects products as gift suggestions based on the merchants' bids, recipient's interests, and the candidate user to whom the gift is suggested. The selected gift and any messages relating to the life event are held until a specified time and then delivered to the target user. At the time of delivery, the target user may be provided with alternative products that the target user can select instead of the gift. The social networking system can earn revenue based on promotion of products as gift suggestions, promotion of products as gift alternatives, and for any financial transaction related to the gift. |
| US09306892B2 |
Transaction message collector
Various embodiments of systems and methods for a transaction message collector are described herein. The message collector receives the message from a message producer. In one aspect, the message is stored in an active message bulk storage or a new active message bulk storage. In another aspect, after the message is stored in the message collector, a confirmation is sent from the message collector to the message producer informing the message producer that the message is stored in the message collector. In yet another aspect, the active message bulk storage is forwarded to a message consumer for consumption based upon meeting at least one of plurality of time or memory based conditions. In a further aspect, after the active message bulk storage is consumed by the message consumer a result of consumption of the active message bulk storage is created and sent to the message producer. |
| US09306891B2 |
Methods, systems and devices for dynamically modifying routed messages
Methods, servers and systems for communicating signaling information in a telecommunications signaling network implement methods that include receiving a first message encoding signaling information from a source component and processing the message using a fixed pipeline having a plurality of modules, each module having at least one procedure for performing a specific set of tasks. Application level routing operations may be performed to identify a suitable destination component. Information contained in the first message may be used to generate a second message encoding signaling information, which is sent to the identified destination component. |
| US09306890B2 |
System and method for regulating electronic messages
A system for regulating e-mail comprises a database of information profiling legitimate e-mail usage. When an e-mail is received at the system, it is scrutinized relative to the information in the database. If the e-mail is found to be legitimate based upon this evaluation, it is delivered to the intended recipient. If, however, the e-mail appears on the basis of the evaluation to be the last in a series of illegitimate e-mails or otherwise has characteristics inconsistent with the profile of legitimate e-mail usage, the e-mail may not be delivered and the postmaster and administrator at the source of the e-mail is contacted. |
| US09306887B1 |
Systems and methods for implementing email delivery
The invention relates to systems and methods for managing emails where an email server that may comprise one or more computer systems, and which may be part of an email system, receives an email addressed to a specified first user. The email server may analyze the received email and access one or more electronic databases, which may comprise information related to one or more respective registered users of the email system. The databases may be stored on one or more computer-readable storage media operatively connected to the email server. |
| US09306880B1 |
Method and apparatus for enabling people to find each other and stay together in virtual environments
A directory maintains a record of where a user is located within a plurality of virtual environments. As the user moves within a virtual environment or between virtual environments the user's location is updated in the directory. The user (invitation sender) may send invitations to other users (invitation recipients) to meet the user at a particular time. The invitation may be implemented as a URI which may be sent by Instant Message, E-mail, chat, etc. When an invitation recipient clicks on the URI to accept the invitation, the invitation will be validated and, if valid, enable the invitation recipient to move to the current location of the invitation sender. Invitations may be to meet the invitation sender or to follow the invitation sender. Where the invitation is to follow the invitation sender, a group may be formed that can move within and between virtual environments. |
| US09306879B2 |
Message-based identification of an electronic device
A message-based identification process can facilitate reliable interoperation between accessories and host devices. During an identification process, the devices can negotiate an operating agreement that specifies particular communications (e.g., messages) that each device is permitted to send to or receive from the other, for example by having one device send a list of specific messages that it intends to send to and/or receive from the other. The other device can review the proposal and either accept or reject it. If a proposal is accepted, the devices can begin interoperating using messages that were included in the agreed-upon proposal while ignoring any received messages that were not included in the agreed-upon proposal. |
| US09306878B2 |
Intelligent automated messaging for computer-implemented devices
Various computer-implemented systems and methods are provided here for purposes of intelligent predictive messaging. An exemplary system can be operated to obtain message context data associated with a messaging session, process the message context data to obtain suggested message content for the messaging session, and automatically populate a message field of a user device with at least some of the suggested message content. The system may proceed by sending a message from the user device, where the message includes content of the message field. |
| US09306875B2 |
Managed switch architectures for implementing logical datapath sets
Some embodiments provide a system that includes a set of network controllers for receiving definitions of first and second logical switching elements. The system includes several managed switching elements. The set of network controllers configure the several managed switching elements to implement the defined first and second logical switching elements. The system includes several network hosts that are each (1) communicatively coupled to one of the several managed switching elements and (2) associated with one of the first and second logical switching elements. Network data communicated between network hosts associated with the first logical switching element are isolated from network data communicated between network hosts associated with the second logical switching element. |
| US09306874B2 |
Network relay system and switching device
A port switch of type A has a distribution mode for maintaining a backward compatibility with a port switch of type B. A distribution identifier calculating unit performs a logical operation with the same operational expression to the same bit region as the type B in a header contained in a frame, thereby calculating a k-bit (k>j) distribution identifier partly containing the same j-bit bit region as the type B. A distribution table indicates a correspondence relation between three sub-links and the k-bit distribution identifier, and has contents in which the j-bit distribution identifier in the distribution table of the type B is replaced with the k-bit distribution identifier partly containing the same j-bit value as that of the j-bit distribution identifier. |
| US09306854B2 |
Method and apparatus for diagnosing interface oversubscription and microbursts
A methodology is described for providing a dedicated interface-level oversubscription diagnostics queue that would store header data and timestamps for ingress frames which would otherwise be dropped due to the input FIFO queue being full. When the microburst is over, the data may be transmitted to the main CPU to analyze the cause of oversubscription as well as affected traffic. |
| US09306849B2 |
Methods and systems for managing distribute media access control address tables
Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for switching a network packet. One method includes operations for receiving a packet having a media access control (MAC) address, and for switching the packet by a first packet switching device (PSD) when the MAC address is present in a first memory. Further, the method includes operations for transferring the packet to a second PSD when the MAC address is absent from the first memory and present in a second memory associated with the second PSD, and for transferring the packet to a third PSD when the MAC address is absent from the first memory and the second memory. |
| US09306840B2 |
Securing software defined networks via flow deflection
A flow deflection capability is provided for deflecting data flows within a Software Defined Network (SDN) in order to provide security for the SDN. A flow forwarding rule is generated for a first network element of the SDN based on detection of a condition (e.g., TCAM utilization condition, CPU utilization condition, or the like) associated with the first network element. The flow forwarding rule is generated by a control element of the SDN or the first network element of the SDN. The flow forwarding rule is indicative that at least a portion of new flow requests received at the first network element are to be forwarded from the first network element to a second network element of the SDN. The flow forwarding rule may specify full flow deflection or selective flow deflection. |
| US09306838B2 |
Method for avoiding a loop in a network
According to an example, a method for avoiding a loop in a network, which is performed by each ED in each VPN site, comprises: interacting with other EDs in a same VPN site to elect a DED; assigning an authorized forwarding instance to each ED in the same VPN site when the ED is elected as the DED; obtaining the authorized forwarding instance from the DED when the ED is not elected as the DED; allowing traffic of the authorized forwarding instance transmitted from or to a public network, and blocking traffic of unauthorized forwarding instance transmitted from or to the public network. |
| US09306836B2 |
Searching for multicast consumers in a network of interconnected nodes
Examples described herein provide for generating a multicast consumer search request from a request node in the network. The request is then routed to the interconnected nodes and received at a target node having a directly-connected multicast consumer. Identification information associated with the directly-connected multicast consumer is forwarded from the target node back to the request node. |
| US09306830B2 |
Layer-3 performance monitoring sectionalization
A method is disclosed for the collection of performance metrics by establishing service operations administration and maintenance (OAM) sessions between an actuator and a plurality of reflectors in a communication network. Test packets from an actuator simultaneously reach a plurality of reflectors along a test path. Each single test packet results into a plurality of test results, one per reflector, with quasi-synchronous performance metrics to sectionalize a network and more efficiently isolate fault or performance problems without the need for additional test packets to isolate the issue. Another method is disclosed wherein an actuator generates and transmits a plurality of simultaneous test packets, one per NID device, resulting into a plurality of test results, one per reflector, with quasi-synchronous performance metrics to sectionalize a network and more efficiently isolate fault or performance problems without the need for additional test packets to isolate the issue. |
| US09306828B2 |
Method of, and apparatus for, adaptive sampling
A method of sampling sensor data from a computing system is presented. The computing system includes a plurality of components and a sensor network for monitoring the computing system. The sensor network includes primary sensor nodes operable to obtain primary parameter data from a measurement of a primary parameter of the components, and secondary sensor nodes operable to obtain secondary parameter data from a measurement of secondary parameters of the components. The method includes: a) obtaining secondary parameter data from secondary sensor nodes relating to components; b) processing, in a computing device, the secondary parameter data; c) determining, based upon determined or pre-determined relationships between the secondary parameters and the primary parameter, a sample rate for the primary parameter data for the components; and d) obtaining primary parameter data from the primary sensor nodes relating to components at the determined sample rate. |
| US09306825B2 |
Providing a witness service
Described are embodiments directed at providing a witness service that sends notifications with a resource state to clients. Embodiments provide a protocol that includes various messages for registering and receiving notifications regarding the state of a resource. The protocol may include a message for requesting node information from a first node in a cluster. The node information identifies nodes in the cluster that provide a witness service, which monitors a resource. The protocol includes a message that is used to register with the witness service for notifications regarding a state, or state change, of a network or cluster resource. The protocol also includes messages for sending notifications with state information of the resource. |
| US09306819B2 |
Controller driven OAM for split architecture network
A method is performed by a network element implementing a controller of a split architecture network. The method requests that a subset of switches in the network report metrics for a data flow to provide a management module with information for executing a management function. A second method is performed by a network element implementing a switch. The switch reports metrics for a data flow to the controller, wherein the switch forwards a management packet with the data flow and collects the metrics for the data flow. |
| US09306815B2 |
Method and apparatus of establishing computer network monitoring criteria
A method and apparatus of monitoring computer devices operating on a network is disclosed. Computer devices are all different and require monitoring settings that are tailored to their specific requirements. One example method of automatically configuring a set of monitoring requirements may include creating initial monitor counter values at a computing device and monitoring at least one computer based on the initial monitor counter values. Additional operations may include calculating override monitor counter values based on the monitoring of the at least one computer, and monitoring the at least one computer based on the override monitor counter values. The override values may be better suited for the device(s) being monitored and may replace the previously used monitoring settings. |
| US09306811B2 |
Systems, computer implemented methods, geographic weather-data selection interface display, and computer readable medium having program products to generate user-customized virtual weather data and user-customized weather-risk products responsive thereto
Systems, computer implemented methods, and computer readable medium having program products are provided to customize by a user weather-risk products and to provide a customized weather-risk product to be purchased by user. Embodiments of a system include a tract-user computer having a display to display graphical user interfaces to a user and an input to receive user selections, the tract-user computer being connected to a communications network to receive graphical user interfaces and transmit user selections to a weather-risk product issuer computer. Embodiments of a system can also include a database to associate user selections with actuarial data, location data, and basis weather data and a weather-risk product issuer computer to transmit graphical user interfaces to the tract-user computer, receive user selections, and process user selections to generate virtual weather data and to generate weather-risk products. |
| US09306797B2 |
Forking interworking
Communication systems, such as the long term evolution (LTE) of the third generation partnership project (3GPP), may interoperate with other communication systems. Interoperating communication systems may benefit from forking interworking in cases where, for example, one network supports session initiation protocol forking and one network does not. A method may include receiving a session initiation protocol invite request containing a session description protocol offer from a network not supporting forking. The method may also include receiving, in different early dialogs, a plurality of provisional session initiation protocol responses containing session description protocol answers. The method may further include storing information from the answers together with information about a related session information protocol dialog. |
| US09306796B1 |
System, method, and computer program product for dynamically configuring a virtual environment for identifying unwanted data
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for dynamically configuring a virtual environment for identifying unwanted data. In use, a virtual environment located on a first device is dynamically configured based on at least one property of a second device. Further, unwanted data is identified, utilizing the virtual environment. |
| US09306795B2 |
Multiplexing and transmission of traffic data and control information in a wireless communication system
Techniques for transmitting traffic data and control information in a wireless communication system are described. In an aspect, traffic data and control information may be multiplexed at a coded data level. A user equipment (UE) may encode traffic data to obtain coded traffic data, encode control information to obtain coded control data, multiplex the coded traffic data and the coded control data, modulate the multiplexed data, and generate SC-FDMA symbols. In another aspect, traffic data and control information may be multiplexed at a modulation symbol level. The UE may encode and modulate traffic data to obtain data modulation symbols, encode and modulate control information to obtain control modulation symbols, multiplex the data and control modulation symbols, and generate SC-FDMA symbols. The UE may perform rate matching for traffic data to account for control information. The UE may also perform multiplexing and puncturing for different types of control information. |
| US09306794B2 |
Algorithm for long-lived large flow identification
A mechanism for identifying long-lived large flows in a communication network is disclosed in which packets transmitted through ports of a switching device or router are continuously examined. As new flows are recognized, their flow definition information is processed through a hashing table that uses a predetermined number of hash stages each having a pre-selected number of hash buckets. Each hash bucket has a counter that is incremented each time flow definition information ends up in the bucket. At the same time as counters are incremented, they are compared against a threshold number. If the bucket counters for all the hash stages exceed this threshold number, the flow is identified as a long-lived large flow and stored as such in a flow table. |
| US09306789B2 |
Estimation of CFO based on relative values of frequency bins corresponding to used subcarriers of received preamble symbols for OFDM systems
It is proposed a method for receiving and demodulating an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal received through a transmission channel (TC) by a receiver (RCV), comprising demultiplexing said signal to generate time symbols (yl(n)) and performing a time-to-frequency conversion of these time symbols to generate frequency bins (Yl(k)) corresponding to received symbols, the received symbols comprising preamble symbols. The method comprises: Determining an estimated carrier frequency offset on the basis of frequency bins corresponding to used subcarriers of the preamble symbols; Applying said estimated carrier frequency offset to the time symbols so as to correct the carrier frequency of these received symbols. |
| US09306784B2 |
Signalling channel and radio system for power saving in wireless devices
Wireless devices, transmitters, systems and methods are provided that have a narrow band signaling channel and a wide band channel, for example an OFDM channel. In order to save power, the wireless device is nominally powered down with the exception of a receiver specific to the narrow band signaling channel. Once instructed to do so over the narrow band signaling channel, the wireless device wakes up the rest of its wide band receive circuitry. |
| US09306779B2 |
Chaotic communication systems and methods
Example chaotic communication systems and methods are described. In one implementation, a method receives a portion of a chaotic waveform that has a temporal length. The method also receives a data signal for communication to a destination. A chaotic data signal is generated based on the received data signal. The chaotic data signal includes the chaotic waveform inserted at periodic intervals based on the temporal length of the chaotic waveform. |
| US09306773B2 |
Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) channel estimation to improve the smoothing process
A method of processing communication signals, is described. The method includes receiving a communication signal in a time domain, converting the communication signal to a frequency domain, providing resource blocks, the resource blocks including a first resource block and a second resource block, the first resource block having a first boundary and a second boundary, the first boundary being adjacent to the second resource block, the second boundary being non-adjacent to other resource blocks, the first resource block including pilot signals, generating a third resource block based on the one or more pilot signals, providing a first waveform based on the resource blocks and the third resource block, applying a smoothing filter against the first waveform to generate a second waveform, and converting the second waveform from the frequency domain to the time domain. |
| US09306772B2 |
Method for carrying out instant messaging with packet switched data
A method is provided for the instant transfer of packet switched data corresponding to at least one data content type between at least two terminals connected to each other by a packet switched network. An information element which is specific to the at least one data content type is transmitted to each element of the network involved in the communication link when a communication link is set up between the at least two terminals. |
| US09306771B1 |
Systems and methods of managing network communication
A first throughput is determined of a first data flow at a gateway from a first access node and a second throughput is determined of second data flow at an inspection node from the gateway. A third throughput is determined comprising one or more third data flows from the gateway to a second access node based on a difference between the first throughput and the second throughput. At least one of the third data flows of the third throughput is identified, and when the third throughput meets a throughput threshold the identified third data flow is adjusted. |
| US09306765B2 |
Access node based targeted information insertion
Advertisements or other types of targeted information are delivered to set-top boxes or other user interface devices of a signal distribution system. In one aspect of the invention, an access node sends a message to the user interface device directing the user interface device to switch from a content stream to a targeted information stream at a specified time. Responsive to the message, the access node receives a request from the user interface device to join a targeted multicast group associated with the targeted information stream. Without requiring receipt of a subsequent request from the user interface device to leave a content multicast group associated with a content stream, the access node causes the user interface device to be dropped from the content multicast group prior to the specified time. The access node then delivers the targeted information stream to the user interface device via the targeted multicast group. |
| US09306764B2 |
Dynamic spanning tree root selection
Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to provide root re-selection in a spanning tree protocol are disclosed. An example method includes transmitting, from a current root device on a playback network, a query message to a router on the playback network. The example method includes evaluating a response received from at least one intermediate device between the current root and the router, the at least one intermediate device relaying the query message from the root to the router and transmitting a response back to the current root device indicating a root path cost associated with that intermediate device. The example method includes determining, based on the received root path cost(s), an updated designation of a new root device for the playback network. The example method includes, if the new root device is different from the current root device, exchanging bridge priority between the current root and the new root. |
| US09306761B2 |
Video streaming system and method
A system and method implementing simultaneous video streaming to multiple end-user mobile user devices (MUD) is disclosed. The system/method utilizes an Ethernet/SATA bridge (ESB) to permit a host computer system (HCS) the ability to load video media content (VMC) on a local storage media (LSM) via a SATA multiplexer (MUX) using a hardware MAC-to-LBA transmission decoder (LTD). The HCS is configured to load a hardware service queue register (SQR) with end-user IP target address and VMC addressing information. A streaming FIFO controller (SFC) scans the SQR and retrieves data from the LSM via the SATA MUX and packetizes the IP target address and VMC data with an hardware Ethernet transport encoder (ETE) to transfer the VMC data stream directly from the LSM to the end-user MUD without HCS TCP/IP protocol intervention. |
| US09306759B2 |
Ultra high-fidelity content delivery using a mobile device as a media gateway
A system may include a group of user devices; and one or more base stations configured to receive programming content from a content provider, and distribute the received programming content, via a broadcast or multicast technique, to the group of user devices. A particular user device, of the group of user devices, may receive distributed programming content, and output, to device that is external to the user device, the programming content received from the particular base station. |
| US09306758B2 |
Dynamic adjustment of MLDP tunnel and PIM binding
A capability is provided for modifying association of a Multicast Label Distribution Protocol (MLDP) tunnel with Protocol Independent Multicast (PIM). Information associated with a multicast source and multicast group (multicast SG) is received. The multicast SG is associated with an MLDP tunnel. Association of the MLDP tunnel with an outgoing interface list of the multicast SG is modified by faking an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) local membership operation for the multicast SG on the MLDP tunnel. Modifying association of the MLDP tunnel with the outgoing interface list of the multicast SG includes adding the MLDP tunnel to the outgoing interface list of the multicast SG by faking an IGMP local membership join for the multicast SG on the MLDP tunnel or removing the MLDP tunnel from the outgoing interface list of the multicast SG by faking an IGMP local membership prune for the multicast SG on the MLDP tunnel. |
| US09306756B2 |
Policy and charging rules node expired message handling
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node and machine-readable storage medium including a policy and charging rules node (PCRN) receiving a plurality of related service requests from different devices. The PCRN may proceed to generate a policy and charging control (PCC) rule based on at least one service request and other information stored in the PCRN if a mate service request does not arrive during the duration of a waiting timer. If the mate service request arrives subsequent to the expiry of the waiting timer, the PCRN may then generate a subsequent PCC rule to replace the previously generated rule, with the new PCC rule incorporating information from both of the mate service requests. |
| US09306755B2 |
Data transmission device
The invention relates to a data transmission device for transmitting data between an Ethernet connection (3) suitable for energy transmission and a lighting mains current-free two-wire connection (4). According to the invention, a means for energy transmission is disposed between the Ethernet connection (3) and the lighting mains current-free two-wire connection (4). |
| US09306754B2 |
System and method for implementing transaction signing within an authentication framework
A system, apparatus, method, and machine readable medium are described for performing transaction signing within an authentication framework. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: executing an online transaction between a first server and a client; providing transaction details of the online transaction to a second server; generating a signature over the transaction details using a key at the second server; transmitting an authentication request to the client with the signature and the transaction details; authenticating a user on the client to generate authentication data, the authentication data specifying whether the user was successfully authenticated on the client; and transmitting the authentication data, the transaction details, and the signature to the second server; using the transaction details and the key to validate the signature and using the authentication details to authenticate the client at the second server, wherein upon validating the signature and authenticating the client, the second server transmits a confirmation for the transaction to the first server. |
| US09306751B2 |
Secure time and crypto system
A system that performs time dependent cryptographic operations on input material resulting in outputs valid only over limited preconfigured life times to mitigate the security drawbacks of unattended operations while capturing the benefits of automation. Tamper protection circuitry is used to ensure the integrity of the system's internal independent source of time, cryptographic processor and key material. Configuration management of the system is authorized only after authenticated credentials held by multiple personnel are presented to the system. |
| US09306745B2 |
Secure key management
According to one embodiment, a method for implementing secure key management is provided. The method includes populating a section of information associated with a key, the section being populated with information relating to how the key was created. The method also includes populating the section with information relating to how the key was acquired by a secure module; and binding the section to the key, wherein the key is encrypted. |
| US09306741B1 |
Updating keys for use in authentication
A method is used in updating keys for use in authentication. A cryptographic operation is performed based on a stored representation of a higher-level key. The cryptographic operation results in a derived key. The derived key is used for authentication. A key update operation is applied to replace the derived key after authentication. |
| US09306738B2 |
Managed secure computations on encrypted data
The subject disclosure is directed towards secure computations of encrypted data over a network. In response to user desired security settings with respect to the encrypted data, software/hardware library components automatically select parameter data for configuring a fully homomorphic encryption scheme to secure the encrypted data items while executing a set of computational operations. A client initiates the set of computational operations via the library components and if requested, receives secure computation results in return. |
| US09306737B2 |
Systems and methods for secure handling of data
The methods and systems described herein provide for secure implementation of external storage providers in an enterprise setting. Specifically, the present invention provides for allowing the secure use of processes that may transmit files to external storage providers or access files from an external storage provider. In some arrangements, process, such as an untrusted process, may request access to a file. A security agent may intercept the request and encrypt the file. The file can then be transmitted to the external storage provider. A user may subsequently request access to the file. A security agent may intercept a message in connection with this request, determine whether the user is authorized to access the file, and decrypt the file. |
| US09306726B2 |
Mobile terminal apparatus, base station apparatus and communication control method
To optimize operation of a mobile terminal apparatus when a Half-duplex FDD scheme is applied, the mobile terminal apparatus performs radio communications with a base station apparatus by HD-FDD, and when transmission timing of an uplink signal and reception timing of a downlink signal overlaps each other, selectively performs transmission processing of the uplink signal and reception processing of the downlink signal, based on a priority relationship defined between the uplink signal and the downlink signal. |
| US09306724B2 |
Apparatus and method for avoiding interference between access points
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for avoiding signal interference between access points (APs) in a non-license band, and more particularly, an interference avoidance apparatus and method between access points (APs) that avoid interference based on whether an overlapping basic service set (OBSS) is present, whether an overlapping operation channel between adjacent APs is used, whether it is possible to select a non-overlapping operation channel between adjacent APs, and the like. |
| US09306723B2 |
Multi-carrier control signaling in wireless communication system
A method in a wireless communication terminal including monitoring a terminal specific search space of a first Component Carrier (CC) from a base unit, wherein the search space corresponds to a set of Physical Downlink Control CHannel (PDCCH) candidates monitored by the terminal for PDCCH messages, and receiving an activation message on the first CC, wherein the activation message activates at least one additional CC. The size of the search space monitored by the terminal after receiving the activation message is greater than the size of the search space monitored before receiving the activation message. |
| US09306721B2 |
Method and apparatus for device-to-device communication
A first UE receives a first uplink-downlink configuration from a network entity via broadcast signalling. The first uplink configuration designates a first set of subframes of a series of subframes as uplink subframes. The first UE also receives a second uplink-downlink configuration via dedicated signaling. The second uplink-downlink configuration designates a second set of subframes of the series of subframes as uplink subframes. The first set of uplink subframes and the second set of uplink subframes differ from one another by at least one uplink subframe. |
| US09306718B2 |
System and method for mitigating helicopter rotor blockage of communications systems
A method for mitigating helicopter rotor blockage of communications comprising fast fourier transforming (FFT) pilot symbols, implementing a time delay of one frame, applying a forgetting factor to an accumulated spectrum, and performing a leaky coherent integration, wherein the leaky coherent integration adds a result of the fast fourier transform of the one current frame of data to the accumulated spectrum. The method also comprises calculating a threshold, wherein the threshold is based on a mean energy of all FFT bins in the accumulated spectrum, masking the FFT bins, wherein masking comprises retaining only FFT bins that exceed the threshold and above a minimum expected rotor blocking frequency, inverse fast fourier transforming the accumulated spectrum, erasing the pilot symbols below the threshold and removing them from the signal, and erasing data symbols that lie in a blockage by setting associated bit-log likelihood ratios to zero. |
| US09306713B2 |
Method and apparatus for random access in an orthogonal multiple-access communication system
Techniques for accessing a wireless communication system are described. A user equipment (UE) sends a random access preamble for system access. The random access preamble may include a random identifier (ID), a channel quality indicator (CQI), etc. The UE may randomly select the random ID or may be assigned this random ID. The UE receives a random access response from a base station. The random access response may include control channel resources (e.g., CQI and PC resources), uplink resources, and/or control information (e.g., timing advance and PC correction) for the UE. The random access response may be sent in two parts using two messages. A first message may be sent on a control channel and may include identification information and possibly other information. A second message may be sent on a shared data channel and may include remaining information for the random access response. |
| US09306707B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing control information included in data unit in a mobile communication system
A method and apparatus for processing control information included in a data unit in a mobile communication system are provided. A receiver processes control information of a first type immediately irrespective of reordering of a received data unit, when the received data unit comprises the control information of the first type. The receiver processes control information of a second type after reordering of the received data unit, when the received data unit comprises the control information of the second type. |
| US09306704B2 |
Broadcasting method and communication device
A broadcasting method and a communication device are disclosed by the present invention. The method includes: receiving a first data packet; and if the currently received first data packet is a repeated data packet, discarding the currently received first data packet when the times that the currently received first data packet is capable of being forwarded is less than or equal to the times that is determined according to a pre-stored hop parameter of the first data packet. After receiving the repeated data packet, a device further determines, according to a judgement result, whether to discard the data packet or continue forwarding the data packet, thereby improving the reliability of sending the data packet in the broadcasting manner. |
| US09306699B2 |
Wavelength-selective switch array
An input section for a wavelength-selective switch array includes a plurality of optical ports. The plurality of optical ports includes a first sub-plurality of optical ports having a plurality of first port optical axes, a second sub-plurality of optical ports having a plurality of second port optical axes, and a plurality of optical power elements. Each one of the plurality of optical power elements is disposed at an end of a respective one of each of the plurality of optical ports. The plurality of optical power elements further includes a first sub-plurality of optical power elements including a plurality of first optical power element optical axes displaced relative to the plurality of first port optical axes and a second sub-plurality of optical power elements including a plurality of second optical power element optical axes displaced relative to the plurality of second port optical axes. |
| US09306694B2 |
Clock signal synchronization among computers in a network
Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are disclosed for clock signal synchronization among computers in a network, including designating, as a primary clock signal for all the computers in a network, a clock signal from one of the computers in the network; providing the primary clock signal, simultaneously and in parallel, from the computer whose clock signal is designated as the primary clock signal to all the other computers in the network; and providing the primary clock signal, simultaneously and in parallel, from each computer in the network to all computers in the network through multiplexers and phase locked loops, with the primary clock signal locked in phase across all the computers by a phase locked loop on each computer. |
| US09306683B2 |
Compact radiofrequency power meter
A compact and versatile power meter is created through the use of a discrete component network providing for phased splitting and combining of signals obtained at taps along a transmission conduit having a predefined phase separation. The use of the discrete component network eliminates the need for bulky waveguides or microstrip antenna designs, the latter providing phase shift through their physical dimensions. |
| US09306681B2 |
System and method of on-body mobile devices to reduce radiation exposure to the upper body
A system of mobile devices that reduces the transmission strength of outgoing signals originating from a handheld device, and sends such signals to a second device, situated near or on a lower-body location, where the signals may be amplified to the current permitted maximum transmission strength vis-a-vis the brain (SAR), or above that level to the greater maximum strength permitted in the areas of, e.g., the feet and ankles, where the signal is then sent outward. The devices divert radio frequency (RF) radiation exposure downward toward the lower extremities. The intelligence and power of the devices may be split between two or more devices, resulting in longer use time, deeper and more complex computing capability, and fewer disruptions due to power. In addition, a benefit in one or more embodiments is better, more reliable reception, due to the use of two or more coordinated receiving antennas. |
| US09306680B2 |
Method and device for calibrating frequency synthesizer in communication terminal
A method and a device for calibrating frequency synthesizer in communication terminal are provided. The method may include: controlling the communication terminal to transmit a continuous wave signal in a specified channel; controlling a measurement device to measure the continuous wave signal to obtain a measured frequency deviation value of the frequency synthesizer in the communication terminal; calculating a center oscillation frequency point of a reference crystal oscillator of the communication terminal and a frequency calibration step corresponding to the center oscillation frequency point based on the measured frequency deviation value; and storing the center oscillation frequency point and the corresponding frequency calibration step in the communication terminal. The method can reduce frequency calibration cost and time. |
| US09306677B2 |
Underwater communication system
Problem to be SolvedTo provide an underwater communication system in which no holes need to be drilled in a shell body of a hermetically-sealed structure whose object is to operate underwater.SolutionThe underwater communication system includes: a hermetically-sealed structure 2 including a shell body 5 having a watertight structure and that is disposed underwater; a transmission unit 9 that is arranged in the hermetically-sealed structure 2 and that can perform wireless transmission; a non-conductive propagation medium 4 that includes one end portion being brought into contact with the outside of the shell body 5 having the watertight structure without making a hole therein; and a reception unit 10 that receives an electrical signal wirelessly transmitted from the transmission unit 9 from the other end portion of the propagation medium 4 that is located distally from the shell body 5. |
| US09306676B1 |
Cycle slip compensation in coherent receiver
A receiver architecture and method recovers data received over an optical fiber channel in the presence of cycle slips. In a first cycle slip recovery architecture, a receiver detects and corrects cycle slips based on pilot symbols inserted in the transmitted data. In a second cycle slip recovery architecture, a coarse cycle slip detection is performed based on pilot symbols and a cycle slip position estimation is then performed based on carrier phase noise. The receiver compensates for cycle slips based on the position estimation. |
| US09306675B2 |
Digital coherent receiver, optical reception system, and optical reception method
A digital coherent receiver, includes: an acquisition circuit configured to acquire a plurality of digital electrical signals obtained by sampling a plurality of analog electrical signals by using a sampling signal and digitally converting the plurality of analog electrical signals, the plurality of analog electrical signals being obtained by subjecting a plurality of optical signals to photoelectric conversion; a phase deviation detector configured to output a detection value corresponding to a phase deviation between the sampling signal and the optical signals by using the digital electrical signals; a determination circuit configured to determine whether or not a variation amount of the detection value is equal to or less than a first variation amount; and a compensation circuit configured to compensate wavelength dispersion of the digital electrical signals based on the detection value when the variation amount is equal to or less than the first variation amount. |
| US09306664B1 |
In-service optical signal to noise ratio monitoring in an optical network
Methods, mediums and systems described herein determine real-time in-service OSNR measurement without disrupting or turning off one or more channels of the network. An OSNR monitor described herein may be integrated with existing optical line systems. The OSNR measurements performed by the OSNR monitors are independent of the modulation format and thus, may work with all phase formats, amplitude format or a combination thereof. The real-time in-service OSNR data may be used to perform global network optimization to determine the optimal routing and data rate in the optical network. The OSNR data may be used to establish protection and restoration paths for network resiliency and to maximize data throughput. |
| US09306663B2 |
Controller, a communication system, a communication method, and a storage medium for storing a communication program
[Technical Problem]Placing optical performance monitors at all of nodes and links in a network results in a high monitoring capital expenditure (CAPEX).[Solution to Problem]A controller connected to a network and a plurality of nodes includes: a first degraded path detecting means for detecting a wavelength path as a first degraded path, whose quality is detected to be degraded, based on received parameter of wavelength paths in the network; a correlation path computation means for computing a correlation path which is correlated to the first degraded path; a second degraded path detecting means for detecting a second degraded path from the correlation path; and a failure localization means for localizing a node or a link connecting nodes as a failure node or a failure link, wherein the node or the link are traversed by both of the first degraded path and the second degraded path. |
| US09306658B2 |
Method and apparatus for a spectrally compliant cellular communication system
A system for wireless data transmission that uses a channel bandwidth, channel separation, and radio frequency power spectrum which is compatible with existing deployments of wireless voice services. The transmitted waveforms are thus compatible with existing cellular networks. However, the time domain digital coding, modulation, and power control schemes are optimized for data transmission. Existing cellular network sites can thus be used to provide a high speed service optimized for wireless data traffic without the need for new radio frequency planning, and without interfering with existing voice service deployments. |
| US09306657B2 |
Soft handoff method and apparatus for mobile vehicles using directional antennas
A method of providing a communication link for a mobile platform. The method may involve generating a single beam and controlling the single beam to simultaneously generate first and second communication lobes from the single beam, with the first communication lobe being steered to communicate with a first base transceiver station (BTS). The method may further involve simultaneously using the second communication lobe to communicate with the second BTS and fading out the first lobe so that communication with the mobile platform is transferred to the second BTS. |
| US09306656B2 |
Wireless signal propagation apparatus
There is provided apparatus for propagation of a wireless signal through a barrier comprising a first antenna for location on a first side of the barrier, a second antenna for location on a second side of the barrier and a waveguide. The waveguide comprises a conducting member passing through the barrier between the first and second sides. The conducting member is held within an insulator sleeve such that it is spaced from a surrounding metal wall of the waveguide. A wireless signal received by the waveguide on the first side of the barrier is transmitted through the barrier by Transverse Electro-Magnetic (TEM) mode propagation along the waveguide is re-radiated on the second side. |
| US09306654B2 |
Opportunistic active interference cancellation using RX diversity antenna
A method of performing interference cancellation (IC) in a wireless communication device having a receiver comprising at least a primary receiver chain and a diversity receiver chain includes determining an interference level of a transmitted signal on the receiver; determining whether the interference level is within a predetermined range; selecting a first mode of operation if the interference level is within a predetermined range; and selecting a second mode of operation if the interference level is not within the predetermined range. The first mode includes receiving, at the primary receiver chain, a first signal corresponding to the transmitted signal; receiving, at the diversity receiver chain, a second signal corresponding to the transmitted signal for providing to an IC circuit; generating, at the IC circuit, an output signal based on the second signal; and generating a cancellation signal based on the output signal and the first signal. |
| US09306646B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving downlink radio signal
A method of a receiving a downlink signal from a base station including a two-dimensional (2D) antenna array composed of a plurality of antenna elements in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes receiving a reference signal allocated to at least one column-direction antenna array of the 2D antenna array, receiving information about a semi-static beam candidate set composed of at least one semi-static beam applicable to the at least one column-direction antenna array, and measuring an average channel state for semi-static beamforming using the received reference signal and the information about the semi-static candidate set. The 2D antenna array is virtualized to one-dimensional (1D) antenna array supporting dynamic beamforming by applying at least one semi-static beam in the semi-static beam candidate set to the column-direction antenna array. |
| US09306645B2 |
Interference avoidance for beamforming transmissions in wireless communication devices and systems
Systems and techniques for interference avoidance beamforming transmissions are described. A described technique includes accessing, at a first device, data for transmission to a second device; performing, at the first device, a channel sounding process with a third device to obtain channel feedback regarding a wireless channel between the first device and the third device; determining a steering matrix based on the channel feedback to reduce interference leakage received by the third device during a beamforming transmission from the first device to the second device; and performing, at the first device, the beamforming transmission to the second device based on the data and the steering matrix. |
| US09306641B1 |
Multiple input multiple output wireless communication system and channel decomposition method thereof
A multiple input multiple output wireless communication system and a channel decomposition method thereof are provided. The wireless communication system includes a precoding unit, a channel estimation unit, a channel decomposition unit and a quantization unit. The precoding unit receives a plurality of transmission data streams and a quantized wireless channel information to provide a plurality of transmission symbols to a wireless channel. The channel estimation unit estimates the wireless channel to provide a channel matrix. The channel decomposition unit makes a plurality of elements in a diagonal the same real numbered elements through matrix rations and matrix decompositions, and correspondingly rotates a first unit matrix and a second unit matrix to obtain a channel state information. The quantization unit provides the wireless channel information according to the channel state information. |
| US09306629B2 |
Mobile device using information acquired via near field communication
There is provided a mobile device including: a first communication unit configured to perform contactless communication; a second communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with an external device; a designation control unit configured to make a user designate an own device or the external device as an entity using specific information that is received from outside via contactless communication by the first communication unit; a first specific process unit configured to execute a specific process to use the specific information when the user designates the own device as the entity using the specific information; and a transmitting control unit configured to make the second communication unit transmit the specific information received by the first communication unit to the external device, when the user designates the external device as the entity using the specific information. |
| US09306628B2 |
Mechanism for generating a hybrid communication circuitry for facilitating hybrid communication between devices
A mechanism is described for facilitating hybrid communication between devices according to one embodiment. A method of embodiments, as described herein, includes coupling an inductive coil of a near proximity circuitry with a capacitive pad of a body area circuitry to form a hybrid circuitry, and facilitating, via the hybrid circuitry, the hybrid communication between a plurality of devices. |
| US09306627B2 |
Active passive near field communication anti-collision method, initiator and tag
In near field communication between an active initiator and a plurality of passive listening devices, the initiator device obtains a unique identity code from each listening device using an initialization process. The initiator transmits a poll request signal including a sequence of coupled data including an identification vector and an allocation vector. Each listening device stores an embedded introduction vector. In response to receive of the poll request signal, the listening device compares each received introduction vector with its stored embedded introduction vector. If a match is found, the listening device calculates a time slot for transmission of its poll response signal based on the coupled allocation vector with the matched introduction vector. The time slot calculated will not overlap with any other time slot so that bit level collisions in the poll response signals will be avoided. |
| US09306626B2 |
NFC device context determination through proximity gestural movement detection
An apparatus and system are provided for interpreting the gestural path of a first NFC device within NFC range of a second NFC device, or the gestural path of the second NFC device within range of the first NFC device, to determine context for a pre-determined function. The second NFC device includes a plurality of inductive coupling elements, each element configured to output a signal when within range of the first NFC device. A controller module receives the signal from each element when the first NFC device is within range and determines a path of the first NFC device across the second NFC device based on a time difference of receipt at the controller of the signals. The plurality of inductive coupling elements may be active or passive, and interact with the first NFC device in a peer-to-peer mode or read/write mode, depending on the configuration of each device. |
| US09306619B2 |
Direct sequence spread spectrum signal receiving device and method
A direct-sequence spread spectrum signal receiving device may comprise a receiver unit, a chip sequence generating unit, a correlation unit, and comparison unit. The receiver unit may extract a chip stream from a radio-frequency signal, said chip stream containing a first chip sequence. The chip sequence generating unit may generate a plurality of trial chip sequences on the basis of a first trial chip sequence and on the basis of a plurality of index rotations. The correlation unit may determine a plurality of correlation values on the basis of said plurality of trial chip sequences and on the basis of said first chip sequence, each of said correlation values indicating a degree of correlation between a respective one of said trial chip sequences and said first chip sequence. The comparison unit may determine whether a maximum one of said correlation values exceeds a defined threshold value. |
| US09306618B2 |
Filter enhancer and method
A filter enhancer provides greater performance in a passive filter. The passive filter has an input terminal for receiving a signal in a first frequency band and an output terminal for providing a signal in a second frequency band. The filter enhancer includes: (a) a first canceller circuit coupled between input terminal and output terminal, the first canceller circuit including a first finite impulse response (FIR) filter for attenuating signals in the first frequency band; and (b) a control circuit coupled to output terminal and first canceller circuit for providing adaptive coefficients for configuring the first FIR filter. The first FIR filter may be implemented by either a digital FIR filter or an analog FIR filter. The filter enhancer may further include a second canceller circuit coupled between input terminal and output terminal, the second canceller circuit including a second FIR filter for attenuating signals in the second frequency band. |
| US09306617B2 |
Independent control of branch FETs for RF performance improvement
A FET-based RF switch architecture and method that provides for independent control of FETs within component branches of a switching circuit. With independent control of branch FETs, every RF FET in an inactive branch that is in an “open” (capacitive) state can be shunted to RF ground and thus mitigate impedance mismatch effects. Providing a sufficiently low impedance to RF ground diminishes such negative effects and reduces the sensitivity of the switch circuit to non-matched impedances. |
| US09306615B2 |
Method for communication terminal to reside in a plurality of networks and communication terminal
The present invention provides a method for a communication terminal to reside in a plurality of networks, and a communication terminal thereof. The method comprises the steps of: acquiring a first signal intensity corresponding to a first communication network and acquiring a second signal intensity corresponding to a second communication network; when the first signal intensity is greater than a first threshold, registering a first service in the first communication network; when the second signal intensity is greater than a second threshold, registering a second service in the second communication network; when the second signal intensity is less than or equal to the second threshold, searching for the second communication network and registering the second service in the first communication network; and when the first signal intensity is less than or equal to the first threshold, searching for the first communication network and registering the first service in the second communication network. According to the present invention, the communication terminal can operate at both the first communication network and the second communication network simultaneously, and can execute the first service and second service at the same time. As a result, it is able to ensure a normal, basic communication service as well as a high-speed data service. |
| US09306612B2 |
Mobile electronic device holder
A mobile electronic device holder for retaining electronic devices of various sizes and configurations in a foldable case that removably secures to a variety of surfaces. The mobile electronic device holder includes a foldable base having a first, second, and third panel, wherein the first panel is removably secured to the second panel and the second panel is secured to the third panel. The first panel includes a pair of flexible and extendable arms that are used to hold an electronic device therein. A first and second retracting mechanism are attached to the second panel so as to removably connect the first panel thereto. The mobile electronic device holder further includes a variety of attachments and fasteners in order to allow the user to removably secure the foldable base to a variety of surfaces. |
| US09306610B2 |
Active antenna array for a mobile communications network with a plurality of gain switches and a method for adjusting a signal level of individual radio signals
An active antenna array for a mobile communications network and a method for receiving radio signals is disclosed. The active antenna array has a plurality of antenna elements for relaying radio signals, a plurality of first amplifiers for amplifying a plurality of individual receive signals a plurality of first analog-to-digital converters and a plurality of first gain switches located between one of the plurality of first analog-to-digital converters and the plurality of first amplifiers. A digital signal processor is connected to outputs of the plurality of first analog-to-digital converters and has a common gain switch control line connected to at least two of the plurality of first switches for controlling the gain of the first gain switches. |
| US09306606B2 |
Nonlinear filtering using polyphase filter banks
A method and apparatus for analyzing an input signal. A nonlinear filter system comprises a plurality of polyphase filter banks corresponding to a plurality of orders of nonlinearity. Each of the plurality of polyphase filter banks is configured to process an input signal with respect to a plurality of selected frequency subbands to generate an output signal that corresponds to a corresponding order of the each of the plurality of polyphase filter banks. |
| US09306605B1 |
Electronic device having frequency shifting UART
An electronic device includes a radio configured to operate at an operating frequency, and a first universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) configured to operate as a master and at a baud rate. The electronic device also includes a second UART configured to communicate with the first UART, operating as a slave. The second UART has a controller configured to generate a frequency shift based upon the operating frequency of the radio being evenly divisible by the baud rate, and a baud clock generator. The baud clock generator is configured to generate an operating baud rate from a master clock signal, with the operating baud rate to be the baud rate shifted by the frequency shift. Transmitter circuitry is configured to operate based on the operating baud rate, and receiver circuitry is configured to operate based on the operating baud rate. |
| US09306604B2 |
Wedge shaped corner transmitter
A corner mounted device is provided. The corner mounted device includes a housing and a data transmitter within the housing. The housing may include a first rear surface, a second rear surface, and a front surface adjoining the first rear surface and the second rear surface, with an internal cavity formed in between. The housing may be in the form of a wedge shape. The first rear surface and the second rear surface may be substantially perpendicular relative to one another, and may thereby be secured to a corner of intersecting walls and/or ceiling. |
| US09306602B2 |
Encoding method, decoding method
An encoding method generates an encoded sequence by performing encoding of a given coding rate according to a predetermined parity check matrix. The predetermined parity check matrix is a first parity check matrix or a second parity check matrix. The first parity check matrix corresponds to a low-density parity check (LDPC) convolutional code using a plurality of parity check polynomials. The second parity check matrix is generated by performing at least one of row permutation and column permutation with respect to the first parity check matrix. An eth parity check polynomial that satisfies zero, of the LDPC convolutional code, is expressible by using a predetermined mathematical formula. |
| US09306598B2 |
Compression format for high bandwidth dictionary compression
Method, apparatus, and systems employing dictionary-based high-bandwidth lossless compression. A pair of dictionaries having entries that are synchronized and encoded to support compression and decompression operations are implemented via logic at a compressor and decompressor. The compressor/decompressor logic operatives in a cooperative manner, including implementing the same dictionary update schemes, resulting in the data in the respective dictionaries being synchronized. The dictionaries are also configured with replaceable entries, and replacement policies are implemented based on matching bytes of data within sets of data being transferred over the link. Various schemes are disclosed for entry replacement, as well as a delayed dictionary update technique. The techniques support line-speed compression and decompression using parallel operations resulting in substantially no latency overhead. |
| US09306594B2 |
Sigma delta RF modulator having capacitive coupling, analog/digital converter and apparatus including such a modulator
A continuous-time sigma delta radio frequency modulator is provided, including at least two LC resonators coupled in parallel by a coupling capacitive element, producing an at least 4th-order bandpass filter, a frequency response of the bandpass filter presenting at least two poles that can be brought closer together or moved further apart depending on the capacitive element value; a feedback loop for shaping the quantization noise with a predetermined noise transfer function; and an adder for receiving: at one of its inputs an analog signal; and at its other input a signal provided by the feedback loop; and the output of which is linked to the input of the bandpass filter, the feedback loop including a finite impulse response filter, the coefficients of which being calculated to obtain a noise transfer function which maximizes the signal-to-noise ratio in a signal bandwidth while ensuring the stability of the feedback loop. |
| US09306592B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit
A feedback loop, which feedbacks information of an output voltage or a load current, is provided. The feedback loop has a first mode, which digitalizes and feedbacks the information of the current voltage or the load current, and a second mode, which feedbacks the information as an analog value. |
| US09306591B2 |
Calibration of high speed asynchronous convertor
An example method includes extracting calibration coefficients of each stage of a pipeline analog-to-digital convertor (ADC). The calculation of the corrected digital output of the pipeline ADC can be based on the digital output of each pipeline stage and the estimated calibration coefficient of the corresponding stage. Therefore, a relaxed design of the operational amplifier and sizing of capacitors in a high speed asynchronous ADC can be achieved. |
| US09306588B2 |
Switchable secondary playback path
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a processing system may include a plurality of processing paths including a first processing path and a second processing path, a digital-to-analog stage output, and a controller. The first processing path may include a first digital-to-analog converter for converting the digital input signal into a first intermediate analog signal, the first digital-to-analog converter configured to operate in a high-power state and a low-power state. The second processing path may include a second digital-to-analog converter for converting a digital input signal into a second intermediate analog signal. The digital-to-analog stage output may be configured to generate an analog signal comprising a sum of the first intermediate analog signal and the second intermediate analog signal. The controller may be configured to operate the first digital-to-analog converter in the lower-power state when a magnitude of the digital input signal is below a threshold magnitude. |
| US09306584B2 |
Multi-function delay locked loop
A delay circuit provides a quadrature-delayed strobe, a tightly controlled quadrature DLL and write/read leveling delay lines by using the same physical delay line pair. By multiplexing different usage models, the need for multiple delay lines is significantly reduced to only two delay lines per byte. As a result, the delay circuit provides substantial saving in terms of layout area and power. |
| US09306574B1 |
Clock divider circuit with synchronized switching
The clock divider circuit includes a dividing circuit, a selection circuit, and a synchronization circuit. The dividing circuit is configured to receive an input clock signal at a first frequency, and to produce a number of different periodic signals based thereon. The selection circuit is configured to receive various ones of the periodic signals. An output clock signal may be provided from the selection circuit based on a selection made therein. The input clock signal may have a frequency that is an integer multiple of the output clock frequency. The selection circuit is configured to provide the output clock signal at different, selectable frequencies. The synchronization circuit may control the timing of the switching of the output clock signal from one frequency to the next so that such switching may be performed without glitches. |
| US09306572B2 |
Output buffer, gate electrode driving circuit and method for controlling the same
The present disclosure discloses an output buffer, a gate electrode driving circuit and a method for controlling the same. The output buffer includes a first transistor, a second transistor and an input signal control unit. The input signal control unit controls an input signal to obtain a pull-up signal and a pull-down signal, which are input to input terminals of the first transistor and the second transistor, respectively. The above output buffer uses the input signal control unit to divide one input signal into two signals, i.e., the pull-up signal and the pull-down signal. |
| US09306569B2 |
Compensation circuit for use with input buffer and method of operating the same
A compensation circuit for use with an input buffer includes an input buffer configured to amplify an input signal and output a compensated signal. A process detector includes a replica of the input buffer. The process detector is configured to output at least one comparison signal indicating a variation in the input buffer. The input buffer controls an output signal based on the at least one comparison signal. |
| US09306567B2 |
Memory device with programmed device address and on-die-termination
An identifier value stored within a programmable register of a memory device is compared with a selector address received, together with a memory access command, via a signaling interface having at least one I/O node coupled to a bidirectional signaling line. On-die termination circuitry is transitioned between first and second states or maintained in one or the other of the first and second states based, at least in part, on whether the selector address matches the identifier value, with transition to the first state including switchably coupling a first termination resistance between the I/O node and a supply voltage line. |
| US09306563B2 |
Configurable single-ended driver
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a configurable single-ended driver. An embodiment of an apparatus includes an interface with a channel; and a single-ended driver to drive a signal on the channel, wherein the driver includes a mechanism to configure a termination resistance of the driver, configure a voltage swing of the driver, and configure a signal response of the driver. |
| US09306562B2 |
Household appliance comprising touch sensors
The present invention relates to a household appliance (1) comprising a panel (2) which is produced from at least partially electrically conductive material, a transparent non-conductive plate (3) which is placed onto the panel (2), more than one sensor (4) which is located on the non-conductive plate (3) and detects the touch of the user on the non-conductive plate (3), a circuit board (5) which evaluates the signals received from the sensor (4) and controls the operation of the household appliance (1) according to these signals, and at least one transmission element (6) which transmits the signals received from the sensor (4) to the circuit board (5). |
| US09306559B2 |
Controlling turn on FETs of a hot plug device
A computer program product for controlling the in rush current to a hot plug device. The computer program product includes program instructions that cause a processor to perform a method. The method includes providing a series of turn on pulses to the gates of a plurality of turn on FETs on a hot plug device coupled to a direct current power source, wherein each pulse causes the plurality of FETs to pass current from the direct current power source to a subsystem of the hot plug device, and wherein each pulse has a duration that ends before the impedance of the turn on FETs falls below a safe operating region. The method further includes providing a steady turn on signal to the FETs in response to the output voltage from the FETs to a subsystem of the hot plug device exceeding a predetermined voltage threshold. |
| US09306554B2 |
Semiconductor circuit and semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor circuit includes an operational amplifier, a voltage drop circuit, and a switch. The operational amplifier has an output terminal connected to an active element that produces a load drive current. A reference voltage is input to the non-inverting input of the operational amplifier. The voltage drop circuit drops a voltage outputted from the operational amplifier. The switch applies a voltage corresponding to a predetermined current flowing when the active element is on to the inverting input of the operational amplifier in a first interval in which the active element is on in response to a predetermined voltage from the operational amplifier. The switch allows the voltage dropped by the voltage drop circuit to be input to the inverting input in a second interval in which the active element is off, thereby shortening a time period until the load drive current starts to flow. |
| US09306552B1 |
High voltage maximum voltage selector circuit with no quiescent current
A maximum voltage selection circuit may include multiple inputs, each for receiving a different input voltage, an output for delivering the highest of the input voltages, and a voltage selection circuit. The voltage selection circuit may automatically select the input having the largest voltage magnitude, automatically deliver the voltage at the selected input to the output, and not draw quiescent operating current from any of the inputs. For each and every unique combination of two of the multiple inputs, the voltage selection circuit may include an enhancement mode FET with a channel connected in series between a first input of the unique combination of the two inputs and the output; a connection between the gate of the enhancement mode FET and the second input of the unique combination of the two inputs through the channel of a depletion mode FET; an additional enhancement mode FET with a channel connected in series between the second of the unique combination of the two inputs and the output; and a connection between the gate of the additional enhancement mode FET and the first of the unique combination of the two inputs through the channel of an additional depletion mode FET. |
| US09306551B2 |
Interpolator and interpolation cells with non-uniform driving capabilities therein
An interpolator includes interpolation cells. Each interpolation cell includes a first driving unit and a second driving unit. The first driving unit includes a first pulling-up circuit for selectively coupling an output terminal to a high voltage, a first pulling-down circuit for selectively coupling the output terminal to a low voltage, and a pair of first switches for selectively enabling/disabling the first pulling-up circuit and the first pulling-down circuit. The second driving unit includes a second pulling-up circuit for selectively coupling the output terminal to the high voltage, a second pulling-down circuit for selectively coupling the output terminal to the low voltage, and a pair of second switches for selectively enabling/disabling the second pulling-up circuit and the second pulling-down circuit. Driving capabilities of the first and second pulling-up circuits are not all equal, and/or driving capabilities of the first and second pulling-down circuits are not all equal. |
| US09306549B2 |
High voltage switching circuitry for a cross-point array
Circuitry for generating voltage levels operative to perform data operations on non-volatile re-writeable memory arrays are disclosed. In some embodiments an integrated circuit includes a substrate and a base layer formed on the substrate to include active devices configured to operate within a first voltage range. Further, the integrated circuit can include a cross-point memory array formed above the base layer and including re-writable two-terminal memory cells that are configured to operate, for example, within a second voltage range that is greater than the first voltage range. Conductive array lines in the cross-point memory array are electrically coupled with the active devices in the base layer. The integrated circuit also can include X-line decoders and Y-line decoders that include devices that operate in the first voltage range. The active devices can include other active circuitry such as sense amps for reading data from the memory cells, for example. |
| US09306546B2 |
Integrated power supply for fiber optic communication devices and subsystems
An example embodiment includes a fiber optic integrated circuit (IC). The fiber optic IC includes an integrated power supply. The integrated power supply includes a filter, an active switch, and a pulse width modulator (“PWM”). The filter is configured to convert a signal to an output signal of the integrated power supply. The active switch is configured to control introduction of the signal to the filter. The PWM is configured to generate a PWM output signal that triggers the active switch. |
| US09306540B2 |
IF-noise-shaping transistorized current-mode lowpass filter utilizing cross coupled transistors
An IF-noise-shaping transistorized current-mode lowpass filter is applied to quadrature in a balanced circuit. A first pair of transistors receiving current inputs from a mixer are connected so that each of the first pair of transistors has its gate cross coupled to the output of the other of the first pair of transistors. A second pair of transistors are connected in series with respected outputs of respective ones of the first pair of transistors and having gates connected to a first common voltage node, and a capacitance is used to connect the current inputs of one of the first and second pairs of transistors. An active inductive load is connected between the current inputs of one of the first and second pairs of transistors. |
| US09306539B2 |
Resonator, filter, and duplexer
A resonator includes: a first comb-shaped electrode including a first bus bar, first electrode fingers coupled to the first bus bar and extending in an extension direction, and first dummy electrode fingers coupled to the first bus bar; and a second comb-shaped electrode including a second bus bar, second electrode fingers coupled to the second bus bar, extending in the extension direction, and facing the first dummy electrode fingers through first gaps, and second dummy electrode fingers coupled to the second bus bar and facing the first electrode fingers through second gaps, wherein 0.5λ≦ΔD where ΔD represents a distance in the extension direction between at least two gaps that are at least adjoining two of the first gaps or/and at least adjoining two of the second gaps, and λ represents pitches of the first electrode finger and the second electrode finger. |
| US09306538B2 |
Composite electronic component
A composite electronic component includes: a circuit board; a package that includes an acoustic wave filter and is located on a top surface of the circuit board; a dummy package that is located on the top surface of the circuit board; and a lid that is located above the package and the dummy package. |
| US09306534B2 |
Impedance matching apparatus and impedance matching method
Disclosed are an impedance matching apparatus and an impedance matching method thereof. The impedance matching apparatus performs impedance matching between a front end module and an antenna. The impedance matching apparatus includes a switching unit to selectively select multiple-band RF input signals, a power amplifying unit to amplify the RF input signal selected from the switching unit, a reflected power measuring unit to measure a reflection coefficient for the RF input signal, a matching unit to adjust a variable device so that the reflection coefficient is minimized, and a controller to provide a variable device value allowing the minimum reflection coefficient based on the amplified RF input signal and the reflection coefficient. |
| US09306532B2 |
Filter circuit
A filter circuit includes: a filter element having a first terminal connected to an antenna, a second terminal connected to a receiving circuit, and a third terminal connected to a transmission circuit; a first inductor, a second inductor, and a third inductor connected in series between the first terminal and the third terminal of the filter element; a fourth inductor that has one end connected to a connecting node connecting the first inductor and the second inductor and that has the other end grounded; and a fifth inductor that has one end connected to a connecting node connecting the second inductor and the third inductor and that has the other end grounded. |
| US09306531B2 |
Exponential ROM table tuning using trim for frequency agile analog filters
A tunable and trimmable analog filter may include a tunable analog filter and a trimming circuit. The tunable analog filter may set the frequency of a characteristic of the tunable analog filter based on a digital tuning signal that is indicative of a desired frequency of the characteristic. However, the tunable analog filter may contain components having values that deviate from specified values due to var during manufacture of the tunable analog filter. The value deviations can cause the frequency of the characteristic not to precisely match the frequency indicated by the digital tuning signal. The trimming circuit may include a non-volatile memory that contains data. The trimming circuit may receive tuning information indicative of a desired frequency for the characteristic of the tunable analog filter. The trimming circuit may generate the digital tuning signal by trimming the tuning information to compensate for the deviations in component value and by using the data contained within the non-volatile digital memory. |
| US09306530B2 |
Multipath mitigation circuit for home network
A filter circuit is provided having multipath interference mitigation. The filter includes a signal path extending from an input to an output. The signal path includes a conductive path and a ground. A pass band filter is disposed along the signal path between the input and the output. The pass band filter passes a first frequency spectrum in a provider bandwidth, and attenuates a second frequency spectrum in a home network bandwidth. The filter circuit further includes a multipath interference mitigation leg operatively branched from the signal path. The multipath interference mitigation leg increases a return loss of the home network bandwidth. A frequency response of the filter circuit is characterized by an insertion loss characteristic between the input and the output being less than 3 dB in the provider bandwidth, and more than 20 dB in the home network bandwidth. |
| US09306526B2 |
Low-loss high-isolation switching architecture
Disclosed are switching circuits and methods that enable a device to switch between two wireless protocols with antenna sharing. In some implementations, the device may use two different wireless protocols concurrently and with high isolation. In some implementations, the device can be provided with insertion loss matched transmission diversity for one of the wireless protocols. In some embodiments, various signal paths and related switches that allow such functionalities can be implemented on a single die such as a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) die. |
| US09306521B2 |
Vehicular audio processing unit and communication system including same
A vehicular audio processing unit includes a receiver that receives voice data by wirelessly communicating with audio equipment, an audio processor that applies predetermined audio processing to the voice data received by the receiver, a transmitter that transmits the voice data to which the audio processor applies the predetermined audio processing by wirelessly communicating with an audio output device that can output a sound, and a sensor that detects an operational status of a vehicle with which the unit is provided. The audio processor automatically modifies the predetermined audio processing based on the operational status detected by the operational status detector to the voice data received by the receive, thereby the user is not required to perform any operation for varying the voice output according to an operational status of the vehicle. |
| US09306515B2 |
Hybrid class operation power amplifier
A power amplifier is provided. The power amplifier comprises a plurality of power amplifier units and a bias unit. The power amplifier units are connected in parallel with each other to receive a differential input signal. The power amplifier units perform a power amplifying so as to output a differential output signal. The bias unit is coupled to the power amplifier units and supplies a plurality of bias signals to the power amplifier units respectively. At least two of the power amplifier units are enable to operate in different class regions in according with the corresponding bias signals. |
| US09306511B2 |
Power amplifier and distributed filter
A system comprises a power amplifier configured to amplify an input signal, a splitter configured to split the amplified input signal into a plurality of output signals, a plurality of filters configured to filter the plurality of output signals, respectively, to produce a plurality of filtered output signals, and a combiner configured to combine the filtered output signals to produce a combined output signal. |
| US09306509B2 |
Receiver having a wide common mode input range
In one embodiment, a differential amplifier is provided. Gates of a first differential pair of transistors, of a first conductivity type, and a second pair or transistors, of a second conductivity type are coupled to first and second input terminals of the differential amplifier. A first pair of adjustable current sources are configured to adjust respective tail currents of the first differential pair of transistors in response to a first bias current control signal. A second pair of adjustable current sources are configured to adjust respective tail currents of the second differential pair of transistors in response to the first bias current control signal. A third pair of adjustable current sources are configured to adjust respective currents through the second differential pair of transistors in response to a second bias current control signal. |
| US09306507B2 |
Controller and method for controlling a signal processor
A controller for controlling a signal processor includes a transformation unit and a control unit. The transformation unit is configured to generate at least one amplitude-modulation-to-phase-modulation-distortion within a signal, output by using the signal processor according to a signal processing, based on generated at least one amplitude-modulation-to-amplitude-modulation-distortion of the signal. The control unit is configured to adjust the signal processing of the signal processor so as to minimize the at least one amplitude-modulation-to-phase-modulation-distortion. |
| US09306506B1 |
Apparatus and methods for dual loop power amplifier digital pre-distortion systems
Apparatus and methods for dual loop power amplifier digital pre-distortion systems are disclosed. In certain implementations, a dual DPD system includes a first digital pre-distorter (DPD) and a second DPD. A digital IF upconverter electrically coupled between the first and second DPDs separates the DPD system into independently controlled fine and coarse sections. The adaptive adjustment processor can be used to modify or pre-distort input signals in order to compensate for the power amplifier nonlinearity. It also controls the fine DPD section to correct an RF output signal single-band adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR), while it controls the coarse DPD section to correct an RF output signal dual band intermodulation distortion (IMD). |
| US09306503B2 |
Systems and methods for combining power through a transformer
A system for combining power includes a plurality of branches and a secondary winding. The plurality of branches are configured to provide branch power. Each of the branches contribute to the branch power at non-peak power. The secondary winding is configured to combine the branch power from the plurality of branches into an output power. |
| US09306494B2 |
Oscillation device, scanning-type scanner device, information terminal, phase-shift amount adjustment device, and phase-shift amount adjustment method
An oscillation device includes an oscillator, an oscillation detection unit that detects oscillation of the oscillator and outputs an oscillation detection signal, and a drive unit that generates a drive signal in keeping with the oscillation detection signal and outputs the drive signal to the oscillator. The drive unit includes a phase shift unit that shifts the phase to provide the drive signal as positive feedback to the oscillator. The phase shift unit includes a disturbance generating unit that outputs the periodic signal, a fluctuation unit that causes the amount of phase shift to fluctuate based on the periodic signal, a drive amplitude detection unit that detects the amplitude of the drive signal and outputs a drive amplitude signal, a product detection unit that outputs a detection signal after performing product detection on the drive amplitude signal based on the periodic signal, and an adjustment unit that adjusts the phase-shift amount based on the detection signal. |
| US09306487B2 |
Motor drive device having function of detecting contact fusion in electromagnetic contactor
A motor drive device driven by a three-phase AC, which drives a motor by an AC/DC converter and DC/AC converter controlled by a controller, and which has an electromagnetic contractor without an auxiliary contact in an input power circuit, which motor control device is provided at the controller with an off circuit of the electromagnetic contactor and a partial controller of the three-phase bridge circuit at the AC/DC converter, turns on an upper arm of a predetermined phase of the three-phase bridge circuit and turns on the lower arms of other phases in the state where the electromagnetic contactor is turned off, judges the presence of current in this state by the current detector, and, when the current detector detects current, uses a contact fusion detector to detecte contact fusion in the electromagnetic contactor and thereby can detect fusion of a contact in the electromagnetic contactor without an additional circuit. |
| US09306483B2 |
Motor control device
A motor control device controls a speed of a motor. The motor control device includes: a target speed generating unit that generates a target speed; a speed detecting unit that detects a current speed of the motor; a speed comparing unit that compares the target speed with the current speed to calculate a speed error; an error amplifying unit that amplifies the speed error and outputs a control value; and a motor driving unit that drives the motor in accordance with the control value. The error amplifying unit has proportional integral characteristics by which the speed error is amplified with a proportional gain and integration is performed in a lower frequency range than an integral corner frequency, increases the proportional gain as the current speed is higher, and shifts the integral corner frequency to a lower frequency as the current speed is higher. |
| US09306482B2 |
Control device and method for establishing the rotor angle of a synchronous machine
A method and a device for establishing the rotor angle of a synchronous machine. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of feeding at least one initial voltage pulse of predefinable pulse length and pulse height into the stator of the synchronous machine, detecting the respective current response to the at least one initial voltage pulse, determining the respective phase difference on the basis of the respective detected current response, establishing at least one first estimated value by comparing the current response with a current response characteristic curve of the synchronous machine, establishing at least one second estimated value by comparing the phase difference with a phase difference characteristic curve of the synchronous machine, forming a multiplicity of differences between each of the first estimated values and each of the second estimated values, and determining an initial estimated value for the rotor angle of the synchronous machine on the basis of the determined difference having the lowest value. |
| US09306479B2 |
Variable speed fan motor
A variable speed fan motor, including: a variable speed motor and a motor controller. The motor controller includes a microprocessor, an inverter circuit, a gear detection circuit, and a power supply unit. The gear detection circuit includes a plurality of Hall current sensing units. Each second power input line is connected with a first input end of each of the Hall current sensing units. Second input ends of the Hall current sensing units are connected in parallel, and are connected with a second AC input end of the power supply unit. An output end of the Hall current sensing unit is connected with an input end of the microprocessor. The microprocessor selects operating parameters according to an energized signal of the second power input lines and controls the variable speed motor to operate in accordance with the selected operating parameters. |
| US09306474B2 |
Power conversion system and method of operating the same
A power conversion system mainly includes an input capacitor bank, a first conversion circuit, a second conversion circuit, and a control circuit. The input capacitor bank has a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The first capacitor and the second capacitor are connected to a neutral point and receive a DC input voltage. The first conversion circuit is connected in parallel to the input capacitor bank, and has a first branch, a second branch, and a first auxiliary branch. The second conversion circuit is connected in parallel to the input capacitor bank, and has a third branch, a fourth branch, and a second auxiliary branch. The control circuit produces a plurality of control signals to correspondingly control the first conversion circuit and the second conversion circuit so as to reduce leakage current caused by parasitic capacitance voltage. |
| US09306473B2 |
Variable rotor speed wind turbine, wind park, method of transmitting electric power and method of servicing or inspecting a variable rotor speed wind turbine
The invention relates to a variable rotor speed wind turbine transmitting AC electric power to a utility grid. The wind turbine includes at least one AC generator and at least two power electronic converter units. Further, it includes means for transforming at least one nominal output value of the generator to at least one different nominal input value of the at least two power electronic converter units. The invention also relates to a wind park and a method of transmitting AC electric power to a utility grid from a variable rotor speed wind turbine as well as a method of servicing or inspecting a variable rotor speed wind turbine. |
| US09306472B2 |
Power supply device operating switching elements of first and second switching legs to charge first and second capacitors to a voltage higher than a voltage crest value of an AC power supply and method of operating the power supply device
A power supply device of the invention includes a first switching leg including first and second switching elements between DC terminals; a second switching leg including third and fourth switching elements between the DC terminals; a first capacitor leg including first and second capacitors between the DC terminals; a second capacitor leg including third and fourth capacitors between AC terminals; a first inductor between a connection of the first and second switching elements and one of the AC terminals; a second inductor between a connection of the third and fourth switching elements and another of the AC terminals; a controller; an AC power supply connected to the AC terminals and the connection of the third and fourth capacitors; and a DC power supply between the DC terminals, wherein the controller charges the first and second capacitors to a voltage higher than a voltage crest of the AC power supply. |
| US09306471B2 |
Micro inverter of solar power system and method of operating the same
A method of operating a micro inverter of a solar power system includes following steps: First, an output power value of a solar photovoltaic module is acquired. Afterward, it is to judge whether the micro inverter executes a power boosting mode. If the power boosting mode is executed, a maximum output power of the micro inverter is boosted from a rated output power value to a maximum output power value. Finally, it is to judge whether the output power value of the solar photovoltaic module is greater than the maximum output power value. If YES, the maximum output power value is outputted from the micro inverter. |
| US09306466B2 |
Power supply apparatus and image forming apparatus
The power supply apparatus includes a switch element for turning ON and OFF supply of electric power to a primary winding of a transformer; a determining unit connected to an auxiliary winding of the transformer, for determining an ON-time of the switch element; and a switching unit for switching the ON-time determined by the determining unit. |
| US09306458B2 |
Adaptive boost driver charging circuit
A power circuit combination includes a series capacitor buck converter including a first half-bridge including a first high side power switch (HSA), first low side power switch (LSA) and a second half-bridge. A transfer capacitor (Ct) is connected in series with HSA and LSA, and between the first and second half-bridges. An adaptive HS driver circuit has an output coupled to a gate of HSA and includes a power supply circuit including a summing circuitry that dynamically outputs a variable power supply level (VGX) based on a fixed voltage and a voltage across Ct, a buffer driver, and a boost capacitor (CA) across the buffer driver. VGX is coupled to a positive terminal of CA. The power supply circuit is configured so that as a voltage across Ct varies, VGX adjusts so that a voltage across CA is changed less than a change in voltage across Ct. |
| US09306457B2 |
Instantaneous load current monitoring
A method and apparatus for monitoring instantaneous load current is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a voltage regulator and at least one functional unit implemented thereon. The voltage regulator includes a supply circuit configured to provide a voltage to the functional unit, and a sense circuit configured to determine an amount of current provided to the functional unit by the supply circuit. The sense circuit may determine the instantaneous load current being provided to the functional unit. An indication circuit is configured to provide, to the functional unit, an indication of the amount of current supplied thereto by the supply circuit. |
| US09306455B2 |
Hysteretic power converter with switch gate current sense
A driver circuit for a switched-mode power converter is configured to perform hysteretic control of a switched-mode power converter. The switched-mode power converter comprises an inductor configured to store energy during a first state of the switch and to release energy towards a load of the switched-mode power converter during a second state of the switch. The driver circuit comprises a filter unit which is configured to determine a command signal based on a gate control signal applied to a gate of the switch. The command signal is indicative of a current through the inductor. The driver circuit comprises hysteretic control circuitry configured to generate the gate control signal based on the command signal; wherein the switch alternates between the first and second state when being subjected to the gate control signal. |
| US09306449B2 |
Adjustable biasing circuits for MEMS capacitive microphones
An adjustable charge pump system. The system includes a voltage regulator, a clock circuit, a voltage adjustment circuit, and a charge pump. The voltage regulator is configured to receive an input voltage and output a regulated voltage. The clock circuit is coupled to the voltage regulator and receives the regulated voltage. The voltage adjustment circuit is coupled to the voltage regulator and is configured to receive the regulated voltage and to output a driver voltage. The charge pump includes a plurality of stages. The output of the adjustable charge pump system is adjusted by disabling one or more stages of the first stage and the plurality of subsequent stages. |
| US09306448B2 |
Amplifier circuit and methods of operation thereof
A signal amplifying circuit and associated methods and apparatuses, the circuit comprising: a signal path extending from an input terminal to an output terminal, a gain controller arranged to control the gain applied along the signal path in response to a control signal; an output stage within the signal path for generating the output signal, the output stage having a gain that is substantially independent of its supply voltage, and a variable voltage power supply comprising a charge pump for providing positive and negative output voltages, the charge pump comprising a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of the states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage. |
| US09306446B2 |
Fault protection and correction of line and load faults
A fault protection and correction circuit for the control of a power converter is disclosed. An example circuit generates a waveform that drives a switch on or off and controls the power converter. The controller circuit in addition to power factor correction (PFC) circuitry includes a first and a second shut down mode modules, both of them cause the switching to stop. The circuit includes a module for receiving fault events. When a fault occurs, the controller enters the second shut down mode. The controller stays in the second shut down mode if the required current for this mode can be provided by the outside circuitry. Otherwise, the controller enters the first shut down mode that requires less current and subsequently restarts the controller. By modifying the outside circuitry the controller can respond differently to fault events. |
| US09306445B2 |
Power conversion apparatus
The power conversion apparatus includes a power module constituting a switching circuit, a capacitor electrically connected to the power module, and a pair of DC bus bars for transferring electric power to and from the pair of the DC bus bars. The pair of the DC bus bars includes a bus bar extension section which is located along a surface of the capacitor at least at part of a portion thereof constituting a current path between the power module and the capacitor. |
| US09306444B2 |
Harmonic neutralized frequency changer (HFNC) control system and a HFNC including the same
A control system for a harmonic neutralized frequency changer. The control system includes a processor, a narrow band harmonic controller and a fundamental current controller. The narrow band harmonic controller is communicably connected to the processor and is configured to reduce a positive sequence component, a negative sequence component and a zero sequence component of a harmonic generated by a cycloconverter of the harmonic neutralized frequency changer. The fundamental current controller is communicably connected to the processor and is configured to reduce a fundamental frequency component of current flowing in a neutralization inverter of the harmonic neutralized frequency changer. |
| US09306439B2 |
Inchworm motion linear motor based on electromagnetic clamping mechanism
An inchworm motion linear motor based on an electromagnetic clamping device in a technical field of electromagnetic motors includes more than two electromagnetic clamping mechanisms which are arranged in pairs and mutually symmetrically connected. The electromagnetic clamping mechanism includes magnetic field generation devices, rolling bodies, an output shaft and a shell body, wherein the magnetic field generation devices are fixedly arranged outside the shell body; and the shell body and the rolling bodies are sleeved outside the output shaft in sequence. The inchworm motion linear motor based on the electromagnetic clamping device can be manufactured into an electric control super-large clamping force device by sensitively controlling mechanical rigid locking and releasing states with electromagnetically. The clamping device can be manufactured into a driving device or the linear motor with super-large load and precise movement. |
| US09306437B2 |
Method for producing a stator
A method for producing a stator for an electrical machine as an internal rotor, in particular an electric motor. This method involves providing a multiplicity of separate pole teeth, which are wound. The ends of the winding wire of the pole teeth are connected to one another to create a flexible annular pole tooth assembly, and the flexible assembly is inserted into an injection mold and centered. The assembly located in the mold is encapsulated or sealed in a molding compound. In this way, a dimensionally stable stator with particularly good insulating properties can be produced. |
| US09306433B2 |
Drive module with spray cooling of electric motor
A drive module with a housing, an electric motor, a coolant sump, an inlet pipe and a transmission and differential assembly that is driven by the electric motor to drive a pair of output members. The electric motor is coupled to the housing and has a stator, which is fixedly coupled to the housing, and a rotor that is rotatable within the stator. The rotor has a coolant passage, which extends parallel to a rotational axis of the rotor, and a nozzle passage that intersects the coolant passage and extends radially outwardly therefrom. The coolant sump is configured to hold a coolant fluid. The inlet pipe is in fluid communication with the coolant sump and is received into the coolant passage. The inlet pipe is configured to feed the coolant fluid from the coolant sump into the coolant passage. The coolant fluid is gravity fed into the inlet pipe. |
| US09306426B2 |
Rotor of rotating electrical machine, and rotating electrical machine provided with same
A rotor of a rotating electric machine is configured in such a way that a conductor wire 40 is wound around a bobbin 50 having first and second latching sections 60 and 61 provided in such a way as to extend radially outward from first and second flange sections 51 and 52, respectively, provided respective axis-direction ends of a winding section 59, and includes a magnetic-field coil 15 in which a winding-end section 41 of the conductor wire 40 is wound and latched around the second latching section 61 and in which a lead wire 42 drawn from the winding-end section 41 of the conductor wire 40 by way of the second latching section 61 is wound and latched around the first latching section 60; the radial-direction length of the second latching section 61 is shorter than the radial-direction length of the first latching section 60. |
| US09306425B2 |
Spring motor
A spring motor, comprising a housing, a stator core, a rotor core, a rotation shaft, a rotor coil, an insulated coil connection wire, a torsion spring, a connection shaft, a cylindrical spiral spring, a round funnel-shaped rubber sealing element, a battery and a spring fixing connection sleeve; the rotor coil of the motor is connected to the terminal of a motor end cover after the insulated coil connection wire winds around the periphery of the rotation shaft continuously several times; the connection shaft is fixed on the rotation shaft, and the cylindrical spiral spring is sleeved on the periphery of the opened end of the connection shaft; the round funnel-shaped waterproof rubber sealing element is sleeved on the rotation shaft; the battery is placed in a rectangular battery holder, three side frames of the battery holder are each a fixed structure, and one side frame of the battery holder is a moveable structure; the spring fixing connection sleeve is sleeved on the rotation shaft, the rear end of the torsion spring is placed on one side of the spring fixing connection sleeve, and the spring fixing connection jacket, the torsion spring and the rotation shaft are fixed and connected with screws. |