| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09332844B2 |
Electrically controlled recliner with independent rocker-limiting mechanism
A recliner has a chassis relative to which a seat, a backrest and a leg rest are supported. Electrically controlled recliner and leg rest mechanisms displace the backrest and leg rest between sitting and reclining states. The chassis is supported via a rocker mechanism on a base so as to allow rocking of the chassis relative to the base from a neutral position alternately towards a forward-tipped position and a rearward-tipped position. An electrically controlled rocker-limiting mechanism is deployed such that progressive actuation of the rocker-limiting mechanism deploys from a neutral state in which the chassis is free to rock through an intermediate state in which the chassis is free to rock within only a limited range to a final state in which the chassis is forced into a rearward-tipped position. |
| US09332838B1 |
Shelf unit
A shelf unit has a modular, interlocking design and eliminates the need for hardware components. The shelf unit includes first and second side pieces each including first and second rails and first, second, and third rungs extending between the first and second rails. First and second shelf-supporting connectors attach with the first rungs of the first and second side pieces and the second rungs of the first and second side pieces, respectively, via interlocking slots. A first shelf is positioned atop the first shelf-supporting connector and a second shelf is positioned atop the second shelf-supporting connector. |
| US09332835B2 |
Portable desk
A portable desk includes a main body having a generally planar top surface, and a plurality of sides. A generally T-shaped engagement member extends linearly from the front side of the main body and is selectively engageable with a pair of parallel rods on a rolling suitcase. The portable desk also includes a cup holder and a hinge for folding the device for storage. The portable desk also includes a second body section positioned beneath the main body. The second body section is resilient and forms a pocket area between the main body and the second body section. |
| US09332833B2 |
Portable configurable furniture
The present invention relates to lightweight collapsible portable and configurable furniture. In one embodiment, a table includes a collapsible top with optional slat(s), a collapsible top support frame, a collapsible leg frame and leg extenders. The top support frame provides tension to the top. The leg frame is coupled to top support frame. The leg extenders extend independently from the leg frame to provide stability. In another embodiment, a cot includes collapsible top(s), corresponding pair(s) of support bars and legs. The legs are coupled to the support bar pairs to provide support and tension to the top(s). |
| US09332832B2 |
Decorative kitchen sink storage device
A dish cloth holder, which includes decorative covers to use as a display for the room while the dish cloth and other sink items are able to dry more effectively within. |
| US09332831B2 |
Cleaning apparatus
A cleaner assembly includes a main body having a first end with a handle portion and a second end with a removable cleaner head; a motor contained with in said main body; an actuator operatively associated with said motor; a rotational shaft operatively associated with said motor and with a rotational cleaner head support; and a cleaner head removably attached to said rotational shaft. |
| US09332830B1 |
Toothpaste dispensing toothbrush and mouthwash dispenser
The toothbrush assembly includes a housing that may be gripped by a user. A toothpaste reservoir is positioned within an interior of the housing. the toothpaste reservoir contains a toothpaste. A plunger is movably coupled to the toothpaste reservoir. The plunger urges the toothpaste outwardly from the toothpaste reservoir. A toothbrush is coupled to the housing. A tube is coupled between the toothpaste reservoir and the toothbrush. The toothpaste is dispensed from the toothbrush. |
| US09332828B2 |
Brush head for an electric toothbrush
A brush head for an electric toothbrush having a support structure rotatably oscillated by a motor in the handle of the toothbrush. A plurality of bristle tufts are mounted on the support structure in three ring-like series concentrically about a center point of the support structure. The bristle tufts are arranged in a unique arrangement whereby no more than two of the bristle tufts in the intermediate series and innermost series lie on a diameter line passing through the center point. The outermost and intermediate series of bristle tufts may be arranged in oval-shaped rings and the bristle tufts of the inner series may have a circular arrangement. All of the tufts preferably have the same height and diameter. |
| US09332826B2 |
Cleaning device
A cleaning device comprises a body that defines an opening. The device includes a fluid reservoir disposed within the body, an outlet in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and a plurality of flexible elements disposed about the perimeter of the opening and projecting inwardly. In some embodiments, the outlet is located on an inner perimeter of the device, where the inner perimeter defines the opening. In some embodiments, the outlet is located on an outer perimeter of the device. The device may include a compressible member in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the outlet. In some embodiments, the plurality of flexible elements, or protrusions, include ribbing or ridges. |
| US09332821B2 |
Load carrying system
The invention relates to a load carrying system (1) to carry a load on the back of a human user, wherein the load carrying system (1) comprises a load carrier (10) for the load, two shoulder straps (17) connected with the load carrier (10) that go over the shoulders of the human user, a belt (3) to be secured around the abdomen just above the hips of the human user, and one elongated support (60) that connects the load support (10) with the belt (3), wherein the elongated support (60) has a width that is smaller than the width of the load support (10) and projects freely downwards from the load support (10) to form the sole weight transferring connection between the load support (10) and the belt (3) behind the back of the human user, wherein the elongated support (60) comprises a first bending section that allows displacement of the load support (10) with respect to the belt (3). |
| US09332820B2 |
Hair extension holder
A hair extension holder is provided. The hair extension holder includes a wheeled base having a base portion and legs extending therefrom. The distal end of each leg has a wheel mounted thereon configured to allow the wheeled base to roll on a floor. The base portion further includes a centrally located flange configured to telescopically receive an upstanding telescopic pole. The telescopic pole is pivotally connected to a holder attachment configured to hold strands of hair extensions. The holder attachment includes opposing face panels and at least one sidewall that connects the opposing face panels along their edges. The opposing face panels include a plurality of fasteners that are aligned in rows, wherein each fastener is configured to hold a separate strand of hair extension. |
| US09332814B2 |
Compact organizer for cosmetics
A compact, modular, cosmetic organizer that provides portability and ease of use and access to the cosmetics. The cosmetic organizer includes a housing, a tray, a plurality of foldable modular boxes, and a foldable mirror. The modular boxes and mirror are collapsible for storage within the housing. When in use, the modular boxes rest within the tray to allow easy access to the cosmetics. |
| US09332813B2 |
Protection case for electronic device
A protection case includes a receiving portion for receiving an electronic device and a cover portion connected to one side of the receiving portion for supporting or covering the receiving portion. The cover portion includes a first reinforcing member, a second reinforcing member adjacent to the first reinforcing member, two third reinforcing members symmetrically located at two opposite sides of the first reinforcing member, and two fourth reinforcing members symmetrically located at two opposite ends of the cover portion. The first, second, third and fourth reinforcing members are connected flexibly to each other. The first reinforcing member is folded toward and absorbed on the second reinforcing member. Each of the two third reinforcing members together with the adjacent fourth reinforcing member forms a supporting portion to abut against the back of the receiving portion. |
| US09332812B2 |
Illuminable bracelet
An illuminable bracelet generally includes a buckle, a band having a first end and a second end, a closure member disposed at the second end, a light source, and at least one logo disposed along an inner surface of the band. The band may be formed of a polymeric material that allows light from the light source in the buckle to permeate through the band, illuminating the band and the at least one logo of the band. The band may form a closed-loop when a closure member is used to secure the second end of the band to the buckle. Further, the buckle may have a switch that allows a user to control the light source. |
| US09332810B2 |
Buckle
A buckle (1) for fixing at least one band (2), the buckle (1) having at least one buckle main part (3) and at least one clamping web (5) which is mounted on the buckle main part (3) in a movable manner in at least one movement direction (4) in order to clamp the band (2) that is guided around the clamping web (5). The clamping web (5) has at least one clamping web main part (6) that is mounted on the buckle main part (3) in a movable manner and a clamping leg (7) that projects beyond the clamping web main part (6) in order to contact the band (2) that is guided around the clamping web (5). |
| US09332799B1 |
Protective apparatus and method for dissipating force
An apparatus (50) that dissipates a force (44). The apparatus (50) can be implemented in a wearable embodiment (31) such as a helmet (50) as well as non-wearable embodiments (32). As a helmet (50), the apparatus (30) can protect the user (40) from concussions that would otherwise result from an application of force (44) impacting the head (42) of the user (40) by dissipating the impacting force (44). A variety of components of the helmet (50) can assist in the dispersion process, including but not limited to the use of elastic structures (210) within the apparatus (30). |
| US09332797B2 |
Full-brimmed hat capable of accommodating a headset
A system for a full-brimmed hat capable of accommodating a headset includes a full-brimmed hat and a headset. The full-brimmed hat allows users to simultaneously wear the headset and obtain full protection from harmful sun rays while also providing shielding from the sunlight. The full-brim is designed with brim joints which are adjusted by fasteners. The brim joints open the holes on the sides of the full-brimmed hat, and the earpieces of the headset are placed in the holes. The frame of the headset rests on top of the full-brimmed hat, which accommodates both a large headset and a small headset. |
| US09332789B2 |
Adjustable breast support garment
A breast support garment is configured with adjustable straps, cups, and/or other components in order to facilitate modification of the appearance of the bust. Modifying the length of certain straps causes the cups to move upwards/downwards and/or inwards/outwards with respect to the center of the breast support garment. Shoulder straps or other portions of the breast support garment may pass through guide loops and/or couple to the breast cups or garment shell to permit adjustment. The location of each breast cup may be independently adjusted. |
| US09332784B2 |
Method for preparing fuel element for smoking article
The invention provides a method for making a fuel element for a smoking article including the steps of mixing a metal-containing catalyst precursor with a filler material or graphite or a combination thereof to form a pre-treated fuel element component; optionally calcining the pre-treated fuel element component in order to convert the catalyst precursor to a catalytic metal compound; after the optional calcining step, combining the pre-treated fuel element component with a carbonaceous material and a binder to produce a fuel element composition; and forming the fuel element composition into a fuel element adapted for use in a smoking article. Examples of metal-containing catalyst precursors include iron nitrate, copper nitrate, cerium nitrate, cerium ammonium nitrate, manganese nitrate, magnesium nitrate, and zinc nitrate. Fuel elements treated according to the invention, and smoking articles including such fuel elements, are also provided. |
| US09332777B2 |
Carotenoid compositions containing modified gum acacia
Compositions containing modified gum acacia, less than 40% oil and carotenoids, where the gum acacia has been subjected to a heat-treatment at a temperature between 100° C. and 115° C. for 1 to 38 hours. These compositions allow preparation of emulsions having a very high color intensity and color stability and useful for the enrichment, fortification and/or coloration of food beverages, animal feed, cosmetics or pharmaceutical compositions. |
| US09332775B2 |
Spinach hybrid 51-326
The present invention relates to the development of a spinach plant that expresses a new resistance pattern against downy mildew (Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae) strains Pf1-Pf13, methods and compositions relating to plants, progeny, seeds and derivatives thereof and plants, progeny, seeds and derivatives thereof having all the morphological, physiological and/or genetic characteristics thereof. |
| US09332772B2 |
Method and device for drying goods
By means of the invention, a method and an apparatus (1) for the drying of goods, in particular for the convection drying of pastas, which are introduced from a first treatment zone (2) into a second treatment zone (3), are to be improved to the effect that the drying process has a lower energy consumption than conventional dryers and the surroundings of the dryer (1) are polluted only slightly by waste heat. Furthermore, the dryer (1) is to be designed in a structurally simple and cost-effective way. This object is achieved by means of a method for the drying of goods, in which the temperature in the first treatment zone (2) is on average lower than in the second treatment zone (3), and in which the energy obtained from the exhaust air of the first and/or the second treatment zone (2, 3) in at least one heat exchanger (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is introduced into the first treatment zone (2). |
| US09332767B2 |
Microwaveable batter
A microwaveable cookable or reheatable foodstuff coating composition comprising an aqueous mixture including: a) starch b) a flour component comprising gluten free flour and maize flour c) a gelling agent d) an enzyme additive comprising alpha amylase; and e) optional further ingredients. |
| US09332764B2 |
Aqueous composition for inactivating sporulated and/or non-sporulated coccidian parasites
The invention relates to an aqueous composition for inactivating sporulated and/or non-sporulated Coccidia parasites comprising 15 to 115 ppm chlorine dioxide and 0.01 to 1 wt-% of an anionic surfactant having one or more C6 to C18 alkyl groups and one or more aryl groups. The invention further relates to a method for preparing the composition and to a method for inactivating sporulated and/or non-sporulated Coccidia by applying the composition. |
| US09332763B2 |
Aqueous adjuvant concentrates with improved spray drift properties
Aqueous adjuvant concentrate with improved spray drift properties and method for its preparation comprising the steps of: i) dissolving from 15 to 30% by weight, on the weight of the final concentrate, of ammonium sulfate in water; ii) adding to the solution from 1 to 10% by weight, on the weight of the final concentrate, of anionic esters of alkyl polyglycosides; iii) dispersing in the solution from 2 to 10% by weight, on the weight of the final concentrate, of hydroxypropyl guar or hydroxypropyl guar acetate; iiii) adding ammonium sulfate to the dispersion to reach an ammonium sulfate final concentration comprised between 33 and 40% by weight. |
| US09332762B2 |
Method for preparing amicarbazone
The present invention relates to a method for preparing amicarbazone by using amino-triazolinone, which is an intermediate compound, and relates to a method for preparing amicarbazone, comprising the steps of: obtaining hydrazine carboxylic acid represented by 5 chemical formula (V) by reacting acylhydrazide represented by chemical formula (II) and a carbamating agent represented by chemical formula (III) or (IV); reacting the obtained hydrazine carboxylic acid represented by chemical formula (V) and hydrazine hydrate in the presence of a base catalyst; and reacting the obtained compound represented by chemical formula (I) 10 and an alkyl isocyanate represented by chemical formula (IV) in the presence of a base catalyst. Amino-triazolinone and amicarbazone would be stably produced by the present invention without safety gear and safety facilities for the leakage of phosgene, which has been conventionally used as a reactant. |
| US09332756B2 |
Liquid formulations of carboxamide arthropodicides
Disclosed are suspension concentrate compositions comprising by weight based on the total weight of the composition, about 0.1 to about 40% of at least one carboxamide arthropodicide; 0 to about 20% of at least one other biologically active agent; about 30 to about 95% of at least one water-immiscible liquid carrier; about 2 to about 50% of at least one emulsifier; about 0.01 to about 10% of a silica thickener; about 0.1 to about 10% of at least one protic solvent selected from water, a C1-C12 alkanol and a C2-C3 glycol; and about 0.001 to about 5% of at least one water-soluble carboxylic acid. A method for controlling an arthropod pest comprising diluting said suspension concentrate composition with water, and optionally adding an adjuvant to form a diluted composition, and contacting the arthropod pest or its environment with an effective amount of said diluted composition is also disclosed. |
| US09332753B2 |
Plant volatiles based on R-curcumene
The invention provides a method for controlling whiteflies which comprises the steps of: providing a composition comprising or consisting of R-curcumene and optionally further beta-myrcene, para-cymene, gamma-terpinene, alpha-terpinene, alpha-phellandrene zingiberene and/or 7-epi-zingiberene; and adding said composition one or more times to a plurality of crop plants. The method can be combined with the use of attractant compositions comprising beta-phellandrene, limonene and/or 2-carene, and optionally adding said composition one or more times to one or more trap plants and/or trap materials. |
| US09332745B2 |
Knot tying tool
Tools and methods are discussed for tying a knot. A knot tying tool can include an elongated housing and an insert member. The housing can have first and second body portions having different outer cross-sections. A first chamber can extend within the housing with a slit that opens into the chamber. The insert member can also have a slit opening into a second chamber. The insert member can have an inner cylinder rotatable and movable within the first chamber. Rotation of the inner cylinder within the first chamber can move the knot tying tool between a locked and an unlocked position, the first and second slits being aligned in the unlocked position to allow a line to pass through the first and second slits into the second chamber. |
| US09332740B2 |
Fish tank for allowing aquarium fish to be viewed clearly from the top
Hitherto, when viewing from above, it has been impossible to view aquarium fish clearly due to disturbances on the water surface. Provided is an improvement method, including a manufacturing method, that makes it possible to view aquarium fish clearly from above. Adopting a structure in which overflowing water flows into an upper gutter makes it possible to view aquarium fish clearly from above for long periods of time. |
| US09332736B2 |
Deodorizing, sterilizing and moisture reduction system for animal waste and litter
A portable system for recycling used animal litter, such as chicken litter, in place which one can use to accommodate a succession of animals, such as flocks, in the same commercial chicken house, with the same bedding material. The system comprises a litter pulverizer mounted within a hood-like housing, a high output ozone generator, fluidly connected thereto, which, in use, discharges ozone into a flux of pulverized animal litter and pathogen-laden dust particulates, killing pathogens and neutralizing ammonia odors in the process, and an ultraviolet light source for further sterilizing pulverized litter and for destroying excess ozone discharged with it from the hood-like housing's base. Enhancing the system's pathogen-killing capacity are at least one hot air blower also fluidly connected to the hood-like housing and a moisture detector. The latter measures, in real time, the dryness of ozone-treated litter being discharged from the hood-like housing onto the chicken house floor. |
| US09332734B1 |
Pet calming harness and coat
A pet calming harness is designed to ease and alleviate an animal's fear and tension due to fright inducing and excitable activities such as thunder, lightning, etc. The therapeutic harness includes a combination neck collar and body strap which converge at an X-strap location above the scruff or nape of the animal's neck to provide gentle, but not binding, pressure on the animal in order to calm the animal. |
| US09332733B1 |
Animal training and control device
A dog collar includes a first end for positioning under a dog's jaw bone and a second end that rests on the dog's upper chest. The first and second ends are connected by substantially arched sections that extend up along each side of the dog's neck and continue down between the dog's shoulders such that second end 22 rests on the dog's upper chest such that the collar does not overlie the dog's trachea. |
| US09332732B2 |
System for hands-free pet waste receptacle
A hands-free method for handling animal waste entails securing a support structure to an animal, preferably a dog. The support structure includes a first latching mechanism which is used to secure a disposable waste receptacle. The disposable waste receptacle is handled via a manipulating tool and corresponding second latching mechanism, with the manipulating tool being operated by means of a user interface. The manipulating tool is used to couple the disposable waste receptacle to the first latching mechanism. After the disposable waste receptacle accumulates excrement, the manipulating tool is used to decouple the disposable waste receptacle from the support structure and discard the disposable waste receptacle in a separate trash receptacle. |
| US09332731B2 |
Pet diaper
A pet diaper is equipped with a front surface layer, a back surface layer, and an absorbent layer disposed between the front surface layer and the back surface layer. The pet diaper has a back portion, an abdominal portion, and a crotch portion disposed between the back portion and the abdominal portion. The pet diaper is further equipped with: a first cut portion that is provided on the back portion and that is formed as a convex curve rounding towards the end portion of the back portion; a second cut portion that is provided closer to the crotch portion than the first cut portion and that is formed as a convex curve rounding towards the end portion of the back portion; and a first perforated portion that is formed so as to extend from the second cut portion towards the first cut portion. |
| US09332730B2 |
Livestock oiling and scratching device
A livestock oiling and scratching device facilitates dispensing of oil and insecticide onto livestock as the livestock rubs against the device. The device includes a base and a pole coupled to the base. A reservoir for holding a fluid is coupled to the pole proximate an upper end of the pole. A cable is coupled to and extends between the pole and the base. A top section of the cable is in fluid communication with the reservoir wherein the cable is impregnated by the fluid. The cable extends through each of a plurality of tubes and discs. Each of the discs is positioned between an associated adjacent pair of the tubes. A circumferential edge of each disc is positioned in outwardly spaced relationship to the associated adjacent pair of the tubes. |
| US09332729B1 |
Pet proximity opened food dish device
A pet proximity opened food dish device opens a pet food dish for a specific pet. The device includes a bowl having an interior space configured for holding pet food. A lid is positionable between an open position providing access to the interior space and a closed position wherein the lid inhibits access to the interior space. An actuator is coupled to the bowl and the lid. The actuator selectively positions the lid in the closed position and the open position. A remote transmitter is coupled to a pet and a sensor is coupled to the bowl. The sensor detects when the remote transmitter is within a threshold distance from the bowl. The actuator is communicatively coupled to the sensor wherein the actuator positions the lid in the open position when the remote transmitter is within the threshold distance from the bowl. |
| US09332727B2 |
Animal bedding and associated methods for preparing and using the same
Animal bedding having one or more solvents and a lignocellulosic fiber, wherein the lignocellulosic fiber has been processed by ruminant digestion and anaerobic digestion. A method for preparing pelletized animal bedding is also disclosed including the steps of providing excrement from a cow which has undergone ruminant digestion, introducing the cow excrement into an anaerobic digester, modifying the cow excrement to a first wet product, drying the first wet product to generate a first dry product, and densifying the first dry product to, in turn, generate pelletized animal bedding. |
| US09332725B2 |
Lettuce variety ‘red mist’
A new lettuce variety designated ‘Red Mist’ is described. ‘Red Mist’ is a cutting lettuce variety exhibiting stability and uniformity. |
| US09332723B2 |
Method of creating a spring Brassica napus
Crossing a winter B. napus line with a rapid-cycle B. rapa line has been discovered to provide an unexpectedly simple and efficient way to create a modified B. napus with a spring flowering habit. In one implementation, such a modified B. napus or its progeny is crossed with a second winter B. napus line to produce at plant having a winter flowering habit. This allows one to significantly shorten the development cycle for winter-flowering B. napus lines by conducting part of the breeding program with spring-flowering time cycles, then migrating the resultant germplasm back into a winter-flowering line. |
| US09332721B1 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV063168
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV063168. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV063168, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV063168 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 CV063168 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 CV063168. |
| US09332719B1 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV044291
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV044291. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV044291, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV044291 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 CV044291 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 CV044291. |
| US09332718B1 |
Soybean cultivar OW1212626
The present invention is in the field of soybean variety OW1212626 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety OW1212626 and its progeny, and methods of making OW1212626. |
| US09332712B2 |
Soybean variety XB28T13
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated XB28T13. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety XB28T13. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety XB28T13 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety XB28T13 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09332710B2 |
Soybean variety XB22A13
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated XB22A13. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety XB22A13. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety XB22A13 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety XB22A13 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09332709B2 |
Soybean variety XB21Z13
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated XB21Z13. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety XB21Z13. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety XB21Z13 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety XB21Z13 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09332705B2 |
Variety corn line GAB2601
The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated GAB2601, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line GAB2601 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line GAB2601, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line GAB2601, and plants produced according to these methods. |
| US09332702B1 |
Maize hybrid X85D227
A novel maize variety designated X85D227 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X85D227 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X85D227 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X85D227, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X85D227. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X85D227. |
| US09332700B2 |
Variety corn line FF6224
The present invention provides an inbred corn line designated FF6224, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line FF6224 with plants of another corn plant. The invention further encompasses all parts of inbred corn line FF6224, including culturable cells. Additionally provided herein are methods for introducing transgenes into inbred corn line FF6224, and plants produced according to these methods. |
| US09332699B2 |
Broccoli type adapted for ease of harvest
A broccoli plant characterized in having an exerted head having a crown higher than the leaf canopy and a harvestable head of at least about 200 grams when planted at a density of 40,000 plants per hectare, where the harvestable head comprises the top 25 centimeters of said stalk. |
| US09332697B2 |
Near reverse breeding
Provided is a method for producing a homozygous non-human organism from a heterozygous non-human organism, which homozygous organism can be crossed to obtain a hybrid, comprising providing a heterozygous starting organism; allowing the organism to produce SDR-0 cells through meiosis, which cells originate from second division restitution; regenerating SDR-0 organisms from the SDR-0 cells; and producing the homozygous organism from the SDR-0 organisms thus obtained. Further provided is a method for producing a hybrid, comprising crossing a first homozygous organism that is produced according to the above method with a second homozygous organism. Also provided is a homozygous non-human organism and hybrid non-human organisms obtainable by these methods. In a preferred embodiment, the organisms are plants. |
| US09332694B2 |
Blower apparatus
A blower apparatus has a drive motor and a blower device operatively connected to the drive motor. A blower tube is connected to the blower device and has an outlet opening remote from the blower device. A blower air stream conveyed by the blower device passes through the blower tube in the direction of a longitudinal center axis of the blower tube and exits through the outlet opening in an outflow direction. A pivoting device that pivots the blower tube is provided. A nozzle is supported to be freely pivotable on the blower tube about at least one pivot axis, wherein the outlet opening is formed on the nozzle. The nozzle forms the pivot device for pivoting the blower tube and utilizes a transverse force that is generated by the blower air stream in the nozzle for pivoting the blower tube. |
| US09332693B1 |
Agricultural combine harvester with harvesting and winnowing optimization control system
An agricultural combine has a threshing assembly for threshing a crop to produce chaff and grain, a cleaning assembly for removing the chaff from the grain, and a control system. The threshing assembly and the cleaning assembly operate at threshing and cleaning settings, respectively, for tending to produce a balance between a threshing load applied across the threshing assembly and a cleaning load applied across the cleaning assembly that tends to have a favorable influence on grain loss. The control system is for sensing an imbalance between the threshing load and the cleaning load tending to have an unfavorable influence on grain loss, and for concurrently adjusting the threshing and cleaning settings of the threshing and cleaning assemblies, respectively, for tending to convert the imbalance between the threshing and cleaning loads to a balance between the threshing and cleaning loads tending to have a favorable influence on grain loss. |
| US09332692B2 |
Vehicle network, device and method for the coordination thereof
A device for coordinating a first vehicle with a transfer device and a second vehicle with a loading chamber that is filled by the transfer device includes a monitoring device for monitoring the transfer from the first vehicle to the second vehicle and a control unit. The control unit relies on the monitoring device to detect a position of an impact point of a load crop stream discharged from a transfer device of the first vehicle to the second vehicle and, in the event the detected position deviates from a target position, the control device sets the ground-speed differential to be different from zero until the detected position matches the target position. |
| US09332690B2 |
Method for interplanting energy crops
Methods for interplanting a primary crop and an energy crop include preparing a plantation site for planting the energy crop. Plantation sites may include a primary crop planted in a first row and in a second row, the first row being separated by an intermediate area. The intermediate area is divided into a center portion and two side portions (a first side portion and a second side portion). Methods include lifting a soil and plantation debris mixture from the intermediate area, and redepositing a soil component of the soil and plantation debris mixture primarily in the intermediate area. |
| US09332689B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for multi-row agriculturalimplement control and monitoring
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring and controlling an agricultural implement, including seed planting implements. Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for detecting seeds being conveyed by seed conveyor. |
| US09338936B2 |
Workbench for manufacturing or checking electrical wiring harnesses
A workbench and an assistance method for manufacturing or checking electrical wiring harnesses. The workbench comprises: an assembly board; image projection devices on the assembly board; optical sensors arranged on the assembly board to provide information about its position; cameras arranged to capture gestures of the technician in charge of the workbench; a computer with a set of computer programs adapted to provide, through the image projection devices images in 1:1 scale of templates of the electrical wiring harness being manufactured or checked projected onto the assembly board and, superimposed on them, complementary images of aid requested by the technician, acting on virtual menus and/or buttons projected onto the assembly board. |
| US09338933B2 |
Flexible, total coverage electromagnetic wave shielding system
The present invention relates to a shielding system for conductor cables as well as to a method for producing said shielding system. The system is characterized in that it comprises a corrugated tube (20) coated with one or more thin films of high electrical conductivity material (30) which are reversibly adhered to the surface of said corrugated tube (20) so that said coating can be uncoupled from the corrugated tube due to high bending values of the tube itself. The shielding system according to the present invention therefore combines the excellent shielding efficacy values of a system having thin metal films with the excellent flexibility properties of a corrugated plastic tube. |
| US09338932B2 |
Magnetoplumbite-type hexagonal ferrite
An object of the present invention is to provide, in order to deal with a high frequency band in which radio waves are expected to be increasingly used hereafter, a magnetoplumbite-type hexagonal ferrite material having significantly improved high-frequency property of magnetic permeability. Specifically, a magnetoplumbite-type hexagonal ferrite is represented by a composition formula: A(1-X)BxCx(D1yD2y)Fe(12-x-2y)O19 (where x: 0.1 to 0.3, y:0.1 to 0.5), wherein A is any one of Ba2+, Sr2+ and Ca2+, B is any one of La3+ and Nd3+, C and D1 are any one or more of Co2+, Mn2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and Ni2+, and D2 is any one of Ti4+ and Zr4+. |
| US09338931B2 |
Electronic card, an electronic device including such a card, and a method of protecting an electronics card
An electronics card comprising a stack of printed circuit layers, each comprising an electrically insulating support having at least one conductive track extending thereon, and two electromagnetic shields extending respectively over a top face and over a bottom face of the stack, each shield comprising a grid and a plate that are superposed and electrically conductive, each extending over an electrically insulating support, and the conductive tracks being obtained by solid copper type etching. The invention also provides a device including such a card, and a method of protecting such a card of such a device against a lightning strike and against electromagnetic radiation. |
| US09338929B2 |
Junction box for vehicle
A junction box for a vehicle is provided. The junction box includes at least one printed circuit board having a metal core and a heat transfer member formed at an edge of the printed circuit board. In addition, the junction box includes a case in which at least one printed circuit board is disposed. Further, the heat transfer member contacts the inner surface of the case. |
| US09338928B2 |
Optimizing free cooling of data centers through weather-based intelligent control
Optimizing free cooling of data centers through weather-based intelligent control, including: receiving predictive weather information for the data center's location, wherein the predictive weather information includes information describing expected future weather conditions at the data center's location; receiving a predetermined target inlet air flow temperature for computing components in the data center; receiving excursion information describing acceptable temporary operating conditions during which the predetermined target inlet air flow temperature for computing components in the data center is higher than the sustainable inlet air flow temperature for computing components in the data center; and determining a free air cooling schedule in dependence upon the predictive weather information and the excursion information, the free air cooling schedule specifying periods of time during which cooling is provided with free air. |
| US09338926B2 |
Cooling structure for electronic circuit component and inverter apparatus using the same
A cooling structure for a shunt resistor has a semiconductor switching element mounted on a component side of a circuit board, a shunt resistor surface-mounted a solder side of the circuit board, a radiator for releasing heat generated from the semiconductor switching element and the shunt resistor, and an insulating material interposed between the shunt resistor and the radiator and having a high thermal conductivity. |
| US09338920B2 |
Mounting device for attaching mechanical, electrical and/or electronic modules
A mounting device is provided for attaching a mechanical, electrical and/or electronic module to the vehicle window pane. The mounting device includes, but is not limited to a front side and a rear side and at least one laterally springy pin opening. The pin opening can receive a pin element that is designed to attach the mounting device with its front side to the vehicle window pane. |
| US09338917B2 |
Arrangement having a first peripheral device and a second peripheral device
An arrangement having a first peripheral device and a second peripheral device that each include basic modules that are provided with process connections and that accommodate electronic modules, where a redundancy adapter unit is provided for redundantly connecting a field device to one of the basic modules of each of the two peripheral devices such that the redundancy connection of assemblies, which are arranged in spatially separate peripheral devices, is suitable simplified. |
| US09338913B2 |
Electric ceramic component with electric shielding
The electric ceramic component has a main part (9) made of a dielectric material, an active region (3) being disposed in said main part. At least one outer contact (1, 1′) is arranged on the main part. A feed line region (2, 2′) connects the outer contact to the active region. An electrode (4, 4′, 5, 5′, 6, 6′) is arranged in the main part so as to adjoin the feed line region and is connected to the outer contact in an electrically conductive manner but not to the active region. |
| US09338904B2 |
Motor control center units including auxiliary power interlock circuits and methods of operating same
A motor control center (MCC) unit for installation in a compartment of an MCC includes a frame, a bus contact assembly supported by the frame and comprising at least one moveable bus contact configured to releasably engage at least one power bus of the MCC, an auxiliary power input supported by the frame and configured to be connected to an external power source, and a control circuit supported by the frame. The MCC unit further includes an interlock circuit configured to selectively couple the control circuit to the at least one bus contact and the auxiliary power input responsive to positioning of the at least one bus contact. The interlock circuit may be configured to prevent power flow between the control circuit and the auxiliary power input when the at least one bus contact is engaged with the power bus. |
| US09338903B1 |
Mobile device cradle
A cradle securely supports a mobile device with the display screen at an optimal viewing angle, while leaving virtually the entire front sides and back areas of the device open and exposed to ambient air for maximum heat dissipation. Structurally, the cradle can be carved out of a standard disposable coffee container, so that it can be inexpensively fabricated from a modified coffee container mold. The cradle material can be a light-weight plastic, such as styrofoam. |
| US09338899B2 |
Method of manufacturing a rigid-flexible printed circuit board
A method of manufacturing a rigid-flexible printed circuit board includes providing a base substrate in which coverlays are respectively formed on two sides of a flexible copper foil laminate on both sides of which inner circuit patterns and a first window are respectively formed; layering insulation layers and copper foil layers on portions of coverlays which are to be a rigid region of the base substrate; forming a via hole in the rigid region, and, simultaneously, forming a via hole to correspond to the first window in a flexible region; forming outer circuit patterns including areas adjacent to the first window; and applying solder resists in the rigid region to expose portions of external circuit patterns. The region adjacent to the via holes in the flexible region includes additional plating portions for covering the coverlays. |
| US09338894B2 |
Method and apparatus for assembling electric components on a flexible substrate as well as assembly of an electric component with a flexible substrate
A method is presented for assembling a component (30) with a flexible substrate (10), the component having electric contacts (31). The method comprises the steps of placing the component (30) on a first main side (11) of the substrate, applying a machine vision step to estimate a position of the electric contacts, depositing one or more layers (32) of an electrically conductive material or a precursor thereof, said layer extending over an area of the substrate defined by the component to laterally beyond said area, calculating partitioning lines depending on the estimated position of the electric contacts, partitioning the layer into mutually insulated areas (32d) by locally removing material from said layer along said partitioning lines. Also an apparatus is presented that is suitable for carrying out the method.In addition an assembly is present that can be obtained by the method and the apparatus according to the invention. |
| US09338893B2 |
Flexible electronic device
A flexible electronic device includes a flexible film, an electronic element layer, and a protecting film, wherein the electronic element layer is disposed on a top surface of the flexible film, and the protecting film is disposed on the top surface of the flexible film and covers the electronic element layer. The protecting film has at least one side wall connected to the top surface of the flexible film to form an included angle between the side wall and the flexible film, wherein the included angle is an acute angle. |
| US09338892B2 |
Screen printer and component mounting line
A screen printer includes: a mask with a pattern hole; a substrate holder that clamps and holds a substrate at sides of the substrate by a pair of clamping members below the mask; a substrate holder elevation mechanism that moves the substrate holder up and down to contact the substrate with a lower surface of the mask; a paste filling unit that fills the pattern hole with a paste; a mask contact member that is provided in the clamp member and that contacts with the mask in a state in which the substrate contacts with the mask; and an urging portion that is provided in the clamp member and that includes an urging unit that urges the mask contact member upward. |
| US09338890B2 |
Semiconductor device, and image forming apparatus and image reading apparatus using the same
A semiconductor device includes: a printed wiring board; plural semiconductor array elements mounted on the printed wiring board in a row with an adhesive, each of the semiconductor array elements including plural semiconductor elements arranged in a row, the semiconductor array elements including a first semiconductor array element and a second semiconductor array element adjacent to the first semiconductor array element, the first semiconductor array element having a first facing surface, the second semiconductor array element having a second facing surface facing the first facing surface; a first contact prevention member that is made of organic material and disposed to project from the first facing surface; and a second contact prevention member that is made of organic material and disposed to project from the second facing surface. The first and second contact prevention members are disposed to abut each other or face each other with a gap therebetween. |
| US09338885B2 |
Ball grid array rework
Embodiments of the invention relates to a method and apparatus for rework of a BGA package. Memory shape material is placed adjacent to a plurality of solder joints of the package. Stimulation is applied to the material, with the stimulation causing the material to change from a non-stimulated shape to a stimulated shape. This stimulation causes an expansion of the material. As the material expands, it exerts a tensile force on the BGA package and an adjacently positioned carrier, causing a separation of the two components, while mitigating collateral heat of adjacently positioned components. |
| US09338882B2 |
Broadside coupled differential transmission lines having alternating wide and narrow portions
A broadside coupled differential design is described herein. The design may include a differential pair. Each trace of the differential pair includes a wide portion and a narrow portion. The wide portion of the first trace of the differential pair is to be aligned with a narrow portion of the second trace of the differential pair. Additionally, the wide portion of the second trace of the differential pair is to be aligned with a narrow portion of the first trace of the differential pair, such that the wide and narrow portions of the traces of the differential pair are staggered. |
| US09338881B2 |
Manufacturing a printed circuit board with reduced dielectric loss
In a particular embodiment, a method of manufacturing a printed circuit board (‘PCB’) with reduced dielectric loss includes fabricating conductive traces disposed upon layers of dielectric material; and fabricating the layers of dielectric material, including core layers and prepreg layers, with one or more of the layers of dielectric material including pockets of air that reduce an overall relative dielectric constant of the PCB. In the particular embodiment, the conductive traces are disposed upon layers of the dielectric material orthogonally with respect to one another and the pockets of air are aligned at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the conductive traces. |
| US09338878B2 |
Touch panel
Provided is a touch panel that has excellent visibility without being dependent on positional accuracy of bonding between substrates on which electrodes are formed, and without being affected by the substrates. A touch panel 100 includes a first planar body 1 including, on one surface of a first substrate 11, a plurality of first electrodes 12a mutually extending in a substantially identical direction, and a second planar body 2 including, on one surface of a second substrate 21, a plurality of second electrodes 22a mutually extending in a substantially identical direction which is different from the direction in which the first electrodes 12a extend, the first planar body and the second planar body being arranged in a vertical direction, wherein each of the first electrodes 12a and each of the second electrodes 22a are bent-line-shaped electrode wires having a plurality of bend points. |
| US09338876B2 |
Automation device having a heatsink
An automation device configured for an automation environment and for automating an industrial process includes a first printed circuit board, a second printed circuit board, a first electronic component arranged on the first printed circuit board and a second electronic component arranged on the second printed circuit board, a heatsink arranged on the first printed circuit board, wherein the first electronic component is arranged between the first printed circuit board and the heatsink, the heatsink has a cuboid shape and rests on the first electronic component with a first cooling contact surface incorporated in a first lateral surface of the cuboid and a second cooling contact surface incorporated in a second lateral surface of the heatsink rests on the second electronic component, and the second printed circuit board is arranged essentially vertically with respect to the first printed circuit board. |
| US09338875B2 |
Interlaced multi-energy betatron with adjustable pulse repetition frequency
Variable pulse frequency during an output session of a betatron device and adjustable energy from pulse to pulse are provided. A different bias magnetic field may be used for different cycles of an output session, thereby providing different pulse energies. In one example, the bias field can be switched from a positive value to zero, with energy stored in a storage device when the bias field is zero. The bias field can also be used to expand electrons from a stable orbit when the bias field is decreased. For variable pulse frequency, when a current in the swing coils decreases to zero, the swing coils can be disengaged from a storage device for an adjustable time before re-engaging for a next cycle, thereby adjusting the frequency. In addition, radiation dose output can be adjusted by varying a length of time for the injection of electrons into a betatron. |
| US09338873B1 |
Mesh screen assembly and shield cup for a gas shielded electric arc torch
A gas diffusion screen assembly is adapted for residing in a torch cup of a gas shielded electric arc torch. The gas diffusion screen assembly comprises a first concave mesh screen, a second convex mesh screen, and an electrode collar. The collar interconnects the first and second mesh screens, and defines an opening for receiving an electrode of the electric arc torch. |
| US09338872B2 |
Apparatus and method of aligning and securing components of a liquid cooled plasma arc torch
An arc torch assembly or sub assembly having improved replacement and centering characteristics, where certain components of the torch head have particular characteristics which improve the operation, use and replaceability of the various components. |
| US09338870B2 |
Extreme ultraviolet light source
A first remaining plasma that at least partially coincides with a target region is formed; a target including target material in a first spatial distribution to the target region is provided, the target material including material that emits EUV light when converted to plasma; the first remaining plasma and the initial target interact, the interaction rearranging the target material from the first spatial distribution to a shaped target distribution to form a shaped target in the target region, the shaped target including the target material arranged in the shaped spatial distribution; an amplified light beam is directed toward the target region to convert at least some of the target material in the shaped target to a plasma that emits EUV light; and a second remaining plasma is formed in the target region. |
| US09338868B2 |
Radiographic equipment
A filament current that is to be supplied to a filament of an x-ray tube under imaging conditions, from the imaging conditions of the tube current and the tube voltage that is to be supplied to the x-ray tube at the time of radiographic imaging, are stored as a filament current setting value in a storing portion, and the difference between an anticipated value for the tube current when x-ray emission is performed at a given filament current and a measured value for the tube current when x-ray emission is actually performed at that filament current is measured over time as a tube current value difference, and when the mean value for the tube current value difference over a specific time interval exceeds a setting value that has been set in advance, the filament current setting value that is stored in the storing portion is corrected. |
| US09338862B2 |
Techniques for remote communication with a photocontrol device
Disclosed are various embodiments for remote lighting control by a processor of photocontrol device for a light fixture. The photocontrol receives, via a wireless network interface, a request to establish a communication session with a remote device using the wireless network interface. The request includes an authentication credential. A command is received, via the communication session with the remote device, to control light output produced from the light fixture. The photocontrol initiates performance of the command for the light fixture, where the command supersedes any other command from ambient light sensing logic of the photocontrol device. The photocontrol device indicates a result of the performance of the command. |
| US09338861B2 |
Methods and apparatus for operating a lighting network according to energy demand and energy supply
Methods and apparatus related to operation of a plurality of lighting units of a lighting network according to energy demand and/or energy supply. |
| US09338846B2 |
Dimming device and illumination system using same
A dimming device includes a control unit, a first setting section and a second setting section. The control unit is configured to receive a control signal transmitted by a multiplexing transmission method and to control a dimming level of an illumination load in response to the control signal. The illumination load includes light-emitting diodes. The first setting section is configured to set a lower limit of the dimming level of the illumination load, the lower limit being adjustable in a first range. The second setting section is configured to set an upper limit of the dimming level of the illumination load, the upper limit being adjustable in a second range. A minimum value in the second range is greater than a maximum value in the first range. |
| US09338844B2 |
LED lighting apparatus
An LED lighting apparatus includes (i) a series circuit connected to both ends of the DC power source and including an LED, an inductor L1, a switching element Q1, and a current detecting resistor R1, (ii) a regenerative diode D1 connected in parallel with a series circuit of the LED and inductor L1, and (iii) a PWM control circuit 11 carrying out ON/OFF control of the switching element. The capacitor C2 is charged and discharged according to a differential current between a current of the switching element when the switching element is ON and a predetermined constant current, and the PWM control circuit 11 carries out PWM control based on a voltage of the capacitor C2 to keep a current average value in each ON period of the switching element to control a constant current of the LED. |
| US09338842B2 |
Pulse switched resistor driver
Pulse switching controller for the LED lighting of the LED drive module for lamps in automobile applications provided with light sources having LED diodes and a drive module for the LED function and excitation, where the drive module (3) comprises at minimum one resistance regulator (38) working in pulse switching duty, which is connected by its input to the last cathode of the corresponding branch (33) of LED diodes and by its output to the input electrode of a switching element (37), which is connected by its output electrode to ground, while the controlling electrode of the switching element (37) is connected to the output of a pulse generator (36) with a set duty cycle in dependence on the input voltage, which is connected both by a sensor input to the input voltage from the input circuit (31) and by an external input (35). |
| US09338841B2 |
LED driver
Lighting systems are disclosed, including a multi-die LED array; and LED driver electronics, which include voltage regulating electronics which regulate rectified low voltage AC. The voltage regulating electronics include: booster electronics that sense rectified low voltage AC and boost the LVAC to a predetermined voltage for powering the multi-die LED; power factor correcting electronics that sense the AC current and AC voltage in the driver and control the booster electronics to further regulate the voltage, thereby providing power factor correction; and constant current electronics which sense one or both of current and voltage through the driver and control the booster electronics to further regulate the voltage, thereby providing substantially constant current to the multi-die LED array. |
| US09338836B2 |
Multiple display-units LED light device has special light effects
The Multiple Display-units LED light device has special light effects which means the more than one of display-unit can be assembly into one viewing product install within the base by certain strength or assembly means which has the prong means or other unlimited power source mans to supply the electric signal to the said LEDs to make the eye-catching light effects. The display unit may have the build-in input-end or separated input-end to allow to match the said receptacle means of the base. The base with LED related circuit, prong means and other control means, IC means may disposed into the base or incorporated with sealed-unit to make the light beam to be seen by viewer though the viewing area for dedicated art, word, signal, data, design, motion liquid, 3 dimensional, geometric design, art, digital data, liquid crystal screen, LCD and colored image with color change LEDs for illumination. |
| US09338834B2 |
Systems and methods for microwave-radiation annealing
Systems and methods are provided for annealing a semiconductor structure using microwave radiation. A semiconductor structure is provided. One or more energy-converting materials capable of increasing the semiconductor structure's absorption of microwave radiation are provided. Microwave radiation is applied to the energy-converting materials and the semiconductor structure to anneal the semiconductor structure for fabricating semiconductor devices. First local temperatures associated with one or more first zones of the semiconductor structure are detected. The microwave radiation applied to the energy-converting materials and the semiconductor structure is adjusted based at least in part on the detected first local temperatures. |
| US09338832B2 |
Induction activated thermal bonding
The described embodiment relates generally to the field of inductive heating. More specifically an inductive heater designed for use in assembling electronics is disclosed. A number of methods for shaping a radio-frequency (RF) receiver structure are disclosed for the purpose of completing an inductive bonding process without causing harm to adjacent electrical components. |
| US09338831B2 |
Heat generating element
A heat generating element for an electrical heating device of a motor vehicle includes a positional frame which forms a receptacle in which a PTC element is accommodated, and two contact plates abutting on oppositely situated sides of the PTC element. A heat generating element has a sheet metal cover that is connected to the positional frame. Also provided are a frame, which has oppositely situated side openings for the passage of a medium to be heated, and a layer structure, which is arranged in the frame and which comprises layers of corrugated-rib and heat generating elements, such that the heat generating element has at least one PTC element arranged between two parallel contact plates. The electrical heating device is protected against EMC via sheet metal covers that are arranged on both sides of the heat generating element and between the corrugated-rib elements and the contact plates. |
| US09338825B2 |
Combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna
A combination automobile seat heater and occupant sensor antenna is provided having a flexible substrate with the seat heater applied on one side of the substrate and the occupant sensor antenna applied on the other side of the substrate. Structure is provided to minimize interference in the performance of the antenna by operation of the seat heater, which can include advantageous positioning of the layers and/or the use of a layer defining air gaps between the seat heater and occupant sensor. |
| US09338823B2 |
Radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) chip(s) for providing distributed antenna system functionalities, and related components, systems, and methods
Radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuit (RFIC) chip(s) allow for the integration of multiple electronic circuits on a chip to provide distributed antenna system functionalities. RFIC chips are employed in central unit and remote unit components, reducing component cost and size, increasing performance and reliability, while reducing power consumption. The components are also easier to manufacture. The RFIC chip(s) can be employed in distributed antenna systems and components that support RF communications services and/or digital data services. |
| US09338821B2 |
Content transmission terminal, service providing device, communication system, communication method, and computer-readable recording device for recording program
A content transmission terminal, a service providing device, a communication system, a method of communicating and a computer-readable recording device for recording a program that more reliably detect a communication partner, and suppress an influence on communication performed by another device connected to a specific network are provided. A response request message for requesting a response from a service providing device is transmitted from the first communication unit through first communication via a first network including an access point and wireless second communication via a second network without the first network. When a response message is received in both of the first and second communication units from the service providing device that provides a desired service, content is wirelessly transmitted from the second communication unit to the service providing device. |
| US09338816B2 |
Predictive and nomadic roaming of wireless clients across different network subnets
Wireless access points detect neighboring wireless access points in different subnets. Upon connecting with a wireless client, a wireless access point determines predictive roaming information for the wireless client. Predictive roaming information identifies the wireless client; its home network subnet; and includes connection information associated with the wireless client. The wireless access point forwards the predictive roaming information associated with a wireless client to neighboring wireless access points while the wireless client is still connected with the wireless access point. Neighboring wireless access points store received predictive roaming information. Upon connecting with a wireless client, a neighboring wireless access point determines if the wireless client matches the stored predictive roaming information. If so, the neighboring wireless access point uses the predictive roaming information to quickly connect with the wireless client and to establish a tunnel to redirect network traffic associated with the wireless client through to its home subnet. |
| US09338814B2 |
Radio communication method, radio communication system, and radio station
A radio communication method including: transmitting first information from a first radio station to a second radio station before determining an activation of a second logical processing entity that is to be activated in a first processing layer of the second radio station in association with a first logical processing entity that has been activated in the first processing layer of the second radio station, the first information relating to the activation of the second logical processing entity, the first information being transmitted using a first control signal in a higher layer of the first processing layer, transmitting, when determining the activation of the second logical processing entity, second information for instructing the activation from the first radio station to the second radio station, the second information being transmitted using a second control signal in the first processing layer. |
| US09338809B2 |
System for coupling mobile device to host computer of automobile and method thereof
A method for coupling a mobile device with a host computer of a vehicle includes establishing a connection relationship between the mobile device and the host computer, sending an invitation to the mobile device according to the established connection relationship, and coupling the mobile device to the host computer after accepting the invitation. The invitation is sent by the host computer automatically after the host computer is turned on. The mobile device couples to the host computer automatically through a corresponding coupling mechanism after accepting the invitation. |
| US09338807B2 |
System and method for direct mobile communications power control
A method for transmitting to a direct mobile communications (DMC) device by a user equipment operating in both a cellular mode and a DMC mode includes estimating a first pathloss of a first channel from the user equipment to a base station according to a difference between a known base station transmit power level and a received base station power level, and estimating a second pathloss of a second channel from the user equipment to the DMC device according to a difference between a known DMC device transmit power level and a received DMC device power level. The method also includes setting a transmit power level for transmission to the DMC device according to the first pathloss and the second pathloss, and transmitting a signal to the DMC device at the transmit power level. |
| US09338805B2 |
Method and apparatus for standby with a dual-standby modem and establishing single connection for one subscriber identity card
A method of PS path selection is provided. A single SIM card with dual standby feature UE is equipped with a first modem operated in a first RAT for both PS and CS services, and a second modem operated in a second RAT for PS only service. The UE camps on a cell using the first modem in a mobile communication network. The UE attaches to the network for PS service using the second modem. The UE also selects the second modem to form a PS path for routing PS data via the second modem. The UE then triggers CS service via the first modem. The UE switches the PS path from the second modem to the first modem upon triggering the CS service if the first modem allows simultaneous PS and CS service. After the CS service is terminated, the UE optionally triggers the second modem recovery mechanism. |
| US09338804B2 |
Method for notifying a network domain and access point
A method for notifying a network domain and an Access Point (AP) are disclosed to overcome the problem that User Equipment (UE) entering the AP cell is notified but a UE leaving the AP cell is not notified. The method includes: the AP receiving a service request message sent by UE; and inserting a preset voice data packet into a user plane before a conversation to indicate the user of the UE a network domain that covers the UE currently, if it is determined that a current signaling connection is a Circuit Switched (CS) connection according to the service request message. |
| US09338802B2 |
Method for accelerating the activation of a MBMS service
The invention relates to a method for accelerating the activation of a MBMS service distributed by a service provider to a plurality of user equipments UEs in the form of MBMS data packets, MBMS data packet, comprising each, compressed header information and a payload, characterized by: —creating a specific MBMS service data flow containing only header information, —transmitting said specific MBMS service data flow to the UE separately from said MBMS data packets. |
| US09338801B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing an uplink random access procedure
Performing a random access procedure from a mobile terminal to communicate with a wireless communication network includes providing a first and second group of available random access radio resources. The first and second group comprises a plurality of random access radio resources assigned to the mobile terminal for sending a random access preamble to the wireless communication network. A sliding resource window is provided to the mobile terminal, the resource window comprising a plurality of consecutive available random access radio resources from at least one of the two groups. The mobile terminal may randomly select, from the resource window, one of the available random access radio resources assigned to the mobile terminal for sending the random access preamble, and a start of the sliding resource window depends on an available random access radio resource, which is currently valid for uplink random access to the cell of the wireless communication network. |
| US09338800B2 |
Method of performing random access procedure in wireless communication system
A method of performing contention resolution associated with a random access procedure. The method according to one embodiment includes transmitting, by the mobile communication terminal, an uplink message containing a cell-radio network temporary identity (C-RNTI) and starting a contention resolution timer; receiving, by the mobile communication terminal, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) transmission; and considering, by the mobile communication terminal, a contention resolution successful and stopping the contention resolution timer if a specific condition is satisfied. The mobile communication terminal considers the contention resolution successful and stops the contention resolution timer if the PDCCH transmission is addressed to the C-RNTI and the random access procedure is initiated by a downlink (DL) data arrival. The mobile communication terminal considers the contention resolution successful and stops the contention resolution timer if the PDCCH transmission is addressed to the C-RNTI and contains an uplink (UL) grant. |
| US09338796B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting M2M ranging information in a wireless communication system
A method for transmitting Machine to Machine (M2M) ranging information in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method includes transmitting an M2M ranging allocation UL MAP extended Information Element (IE) including M2M ranging region information. When the M2M ranging allocation UL MAP extended IE is transmitted, an UL MAP IE with the same region as the M2M ranging allocation UL MAP extended IE is transmitted and an Uplink Interval Usage Code of the UL MAP IE is 12. |
| US09338792B2 |
Configuration of control channels in a mobile communication system
The invention relates to a method, apparatus and system for configuring control channels in a mobile communication network and a mobile station. In order to suggest another improved scheme for configuring control channels, in particular control channels related to the transmission of user data the invention suggests aligning the size of the control channel information of different formats to an equal number of coded control channel information bits and/or modulation symbols for each control channel. The control channels may comprise scheduling related control information. According to another aspect of the invention, the size of the control channel information is aligned by means of modulation and/or coding, however the control channel information is aligned to one out of a set of numbers of coded control channel information bits and/or modulation symbols for each control channel. |
| US09338791B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving transmission reliability in wireless communications network
There is provided a method and apparatus for allocating transmission resources in a wireless network in which some of the terminals communicate with the base station by exchanging communication frames that are compatible with a first communication protocol while other terminals receive communications from the base station that are compatible with a second communication protocol by using non-standardized communication frames or communication frames that are compatible with another standardized protocol. The base station transmits a plurality of frames, some of which are compatible with the first communication protocol while others—with the second communication protocol. The terminals that are operative to receive frames of the second communication protocol are capable of decoding frames that are compatible with both communication protocols, whereas terminals that are operative to receive frames of the first communication protocol are capable of decoding only standardized communication frames of the first communication protocol. |
| US09338790B2 |
System and method for random access wireless communication
A system and method for wireless communication that schedules a connection time of a terminal based on a delay time is provided. A base station of the system for wireless communication may include a delay time determiner to determine a delay time of a terminal, based on preamble information for a plurality of terminal groups based on location information of the terminal, and a scheduler to schedule a connection time for the terminal to connect to the base station, using the delay time. |
| US09338789B2 |
Multi-user parallel channel access in WLAN systems
A method and apparatus may provide multi-user parallel channel access (MU-PCA) and/or single-user parallel channel access (SU-PCA) using transmit and/or receive with symmetrical bandwidth, in the downlink (DL), uplink (UL), or combined DL and UL. SU-PCA and MU-PCA may support unequal modulation and coding schemes (MCS) and unequal transmit power. Medium access control (MAC) layer, Physical layer (PHY), and mixed and PHY layer methods and procedures may support UL, DL and combined UL and DL SU-PCA and MU-PCA using transmit and/or receive with symmetrical bandwidth. MU-PCA and/or SU-PCA may also be supported by MAC and PHY layer designs and procedures for downlink, uplink and combined uplink and downlink using transmit/receive with asymmetrical bandwidth. |
| US09338785B2 |
System performance
A technique for improving system performance, including sending from a first access node to one more other access nodes neighboring said first access node a communication about a change in configuration for at least one set radio resources between a plurality of configurations including a first configuration accessible to a first category of communication devices and a second configuration accessible to both said first category and a second category of communication devices. |
| US09338780B2 |
System, method and computer readable medium for DECT ULE paging and broadcast
An ultra low energy (ULE) digital enhanced cordless telecommunication (DECT) base station that includes a scheduler that is arranged to dynamically determine a schedule of transmissions of broadcast messages and of paging messages to be received by DECT ULE devices; a dummy bearer generator arranged to generate dummy bearers in response to the schedule; wherein each dummy bearer comprises a multiple usage field and a usage indicative field; wherein the usage indicative field is indicative of a selected usage of the multiple usage field; wherein the selected usage purpose is selected out of at least a conveyance of a broadcast message and a conveyance of a paging message; a configuration module that is arranged to generate location information indicative of a location of at least one bit allocated within at least one dummy bearer for indicating, when flagged, of a presence of a paging message or a broadcast message aimed to at least one of the DECT ULE devices; and a transmitter that is arranged to transmit to the DECT ULE devices the dummy bearers and the location information. |
| US09338779B2 |
Apparatus and methods for transmission and reception of data in multi-antenna systems
Methods and apparatus adapted to address asymmetric conditions in a multi-antenna system. In one embodiment, the multi-antenna system comprises a wireless (e.g., 3G cellular) multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) system, and the methods and apparatus efficiently utilize transmitter and receiver resources based at least in part on a detected asymmetric condition. If an asymmetric condition is detected by the transmitter on any given data stream, the transmitter can decide to utilize only a subset of the available resources for that stream. Accordingly, the signal processing resources for that data stream are adapted to mirror the reduction in resources that are necessary for transmission. The transmitter signals the receiver that it will only be using a subset of the resources available, and the receiver adapts its operation according to the signaling data it receives. The multi-antenna system can therefore reduce power consumption as well as increasing spectral efficiency on the network. |
| US09338772B2 |
Configuring component carriers in carrier aggregation
A system and method for configuring component carriers in carrier aggregation is disclosed. The method comprises communicating a carrier aggregation capability for a selected UE to an enhanced Node B (eNode B) configured to provide service for a plurality of UEs. A plurality of component carriers at the eNode B can be configured for the selected UE based on the carrier aggregation capability of the selected UE. A component carrier configuration message is broadcast from the eNode B containing component carrier configuration information that is common to the plurality of UEs. Specific configuration information that is specific to the selected UE is communicated using dedicated communication signaling. Selected configured component carriers are then activated by the eNode B for the selected UE. Activation can be based on the UE's quality of service needs, bandwidth needs, and strength of signal for the component carriers. |
| US09338768B2 |
Uplink power control for physical uplink control channel
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe devices, methods, computer-readable media and systems configurations for uplink transmit power control for transmitting periodic channel state information. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09338766B2 |
Apparatus and method for performing safe communication in wireless communication system
A base station, a wireless terminal and a communication method of a wireless communication system are provided. The base station includes a receiver for receiving a signal from a wireless terminal or another base station, a transmitter for transmitting a signal to the wireless terminal or the another base station, and a controller for generating resource scheduling or control information for communication of the wireless terminal in a cell including at least two base stations included in a moving path of the wireless terminal and for transmitting the generated resource scheduling or control information to the wireless terminal and at least one of the base stations included in the cell. |
| US09338764B2 |
Radio communication system, mobile station and radio communication method
A mobile station transmits an appropriate reference signal to substantialize appropriate AAS control. A mobile station 100 according to the present invention includes a transmission and reception unit 110 configured to perform a radio communication with a base station 1 and a control unit 130 configured to, by using a reference signal region of an uplink communication channel in the same frequency band as a downlink communication channel assigned to the mobile station itself in assignment information of a communication channel from the base station 1 received by the transmission and reception unit 110, transmit a reference signal from the transmission and reception unit to the base station. |
| US09338755B2 |
Apparatus and method for radiosonde power control based on position estimation
Provided is an apparatus and method for radiosonde power control based on position estimation, including a radiosonde system including a radiosonde that may collect weather information, receive Global Positioning System (GPS) information, and transmit a signal including the collected weather information, and a receiver that may receive the signal, and the radiosonde may also recognize a current position based on the GPS information and control a transmission power based on a distance between the current position and a position of the receiver. |
| US09338752B2 |
Radio communication system, communication apparatus, radio communication network system and method therefor
A radio communication system provided with a communication device and a radio communication network system is characterized by comprising a transmission delay estimate information transmitting means for transmitting transmission delay estimate information to the radio communication network system when the transmission condition of the transmission delay estimate information is met. |
| US09338751B2 |
Method and device for controlling a transmit power in a user equipment
A device includes a first adjustment unit which is configured to adjust a power of a first carrier signal, and a second adjustment unit configured to adjust a power of a second carrier signal. The first adjustment unit is configured to adjust the first carrier signal power based on a maximum allowable imbalance between the first carrier signal power and the second carrier signal power. A method for controlling a transmit power in a user equipment of a radio communications system includes calculating in the user equipment first carrier signal power and a second carrier signal power. The method further includes adjusting in the user equipment the calculated transmit power for at least one out of the first carrier signal and the second carrier signal based on the maximum allowable power imbalance between the first carrier signal power and the second carrier signal power. |
| US09338747B1 |
Wireless coverage assist
Approaches in accordance with various embodiments can utilize loss of service and call drop information to anticipate connection events between a computing device and a cellular or data network. The utilize loss of service and call drop information is compiled from past connection events from many devices and is utilizes by the computing device to determine areas historically associated with greater connection reliability (or strength of connectivity) upon at least detecting a condition indicative of a connection event. Accordingly, a user can be notified upon entering or moving toward an area associated with poor connection reliability. The user can further be directed to an area associated with greater connection reliability to ensure sufficient network coverage to carry out a phone call. |
| US09338746B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring system signal
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring a signal. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a signal measuring method may comprise the steps of: determining whether or not a current subframe corresponds to a measurement period; measuring a serving cell signal when the current subframe corresponds to the measurement period; determining whether a current measurement mode is a normal scan mode or a short scan mode in which a serving cell signal is more frequently measured than in the normal scan mode; determining whether or not the measured serving cell signal is less than a preset low signal threshold value when the current measurement mode is the normal scan mode; and changing the current measurement mode to the short scan mode when the measured serving cell signal is less than the low signal threshold value. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system signal measuring method and apparatus which can quickly reflect the surrounding environment while efficiently using power is provided. |
| US09338741B2 |
Security system device power management
Methods, systems, and apparatus are provided for power management. The methods include detecting a triggering event at a sensor device of a security system; activating a wireless transmitter/receiver from a low power mode; detecting a broadcast beacon frame from an access point device; transmitting a probe request frame that includes triggering event data; and returning the wireless transmitter/receiver to a low power mode. |
| US09338737B2 |
Traffic steering across cell-types
Concepts and technologies are described herein for traffic steering across cell-types. According to one aspect disclosed herein, a mobile device enables radio access network (“RAN”) selection across multiple cell-types, including, but not limited to, macro cells, metro cells, femto cells, pico cells, and the like, based upon network conditions, local device information, and/or other information such as policies and user profiles. The local device information can include, but is not limited to, mobility state information, performance measurement information, battery utilization information, channel quality information, and user overrides. |
| US09338734B2 |
Method for discovering neighbor cells in a radio cellular network
The present invention relates to a method for discovering neighbor cells (NC) in a radio cellular network (NTW) comprising cells, each served by a controller (eNB), the method comprising, with respect to a controller (eNB) serving a cell (C): (a): selecting a frequency (f) in a frequency list, each frequency being associated with a priority (Prio), a target value (TV) and a counter (Count), and wherein said frequency (f) is selected in the frequency list according to its priority (Prio); (b): selecting a terminal (UE) located in the cell (C) and connected with the controller (eNB); (c): sending a control message to the selected terminal (UE), said control message comprising a request to perform radio measurements relating to neighbor cells (NC) of the cell (C), for the selected frequency (f); (d): incrementing the counter (Count) associated with the frequency (f); (e): if the counter (Count) is equal to the target value (TV) for the selected frequency (f), then deleting the selected frequency (f) from the frequency list; repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) during a predetermined time (Tc) or until the frequency list if empty. |
| US09338733B1 |
Method and apparatus for determining the availability of a first device in a wireless network to provide a service to a second device within the wireless network
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with determining the availability of a first device in a wireless network to provide a service to a second device within the wireless network are described. According to one embodiment, a method includes periodically transmitting a discovery packet, in accordance with a broadcast communication protocol, within a network. The discovery packet comprises a request to reply with a corresponding name of the responding device. The corresponding name of each responding device is received and stored in memory. When a request to identify devices in the network is received, a confirmation packet comprising a request to confirm availability is respectively transmitted, in accordance with a point-to-point protocol, to devices having a corresponding name stored in the memory. A response confirming availability is received from responding devices. Only the names of the responding devices that confirmed availability are provided in response to the request. |
| US09338728B2 |
UE, ANDSF, mobile communication system, PGW, and communication method
UE receives a mobile operator policy including flow identification information, access system identification information, and a degree of compulsion from an ANDSF, and in a case where the degree of compulsion included in the mobile operator policy is a degree of compulsion that compels the UE to perform switching, transmits a request to forcibly switch a communication path used flow communication corresponding to the flow identification information to an access system corresponding to the access system identification information included in the mobile operator policy. As a result, by transmitting an MO policy from the ANDSF to the UE while the UE connected to a first access system is performing data communication, the UE changes a UE policy to the MO policy, thereby providing a mobile communication system or the like that is capable of avoiding concentration of traffic in the first access system. |
| US09338727B2 |
Slot-based transmission synchronization mechanism in wireless mesh networks
Methods, apparatuses and systems directed to synchronizing transmissions among parent and child routing nodes in a hierarchical wireless mesh network. In one implementation, the present invention employs a time slot scheduling algorithm to coordinate communications between wireless nodes of a hierarchical tree. In one implementation, the present invention provides a wireless mesh network where slot scheduling information propagates throughout the mesh, while individual nodes in the mesh compute their respective time slot schedules based on this information and the current state of the network. In one such implementation, a parent routing node computes its slot schedule and transmits certain parameters to its child nodes (as opposed to the schedule itself). The child node(s) then iterates the same scheduling function based on the parameters passed to it to determine the slots with which it should communicate to its parent node and its child nodes. |
| US09338724B2 |
User equipment with improved tune-away performance during measurement
Operating a user equipment (UE) which comprises a first radio that is configured to operate according to a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT. The UE may receive a request to perform a tune away operation for the second RAT while performing measurement for the first RAT (e.g., intra-cell measurement, inter-cell measurement, and/or inter-RAT measurement). Instead of waiting to complete the measurement of the first RAT, the UE may tune the radio to a frequency of the second RAT to perform the tune away operation (e.g., page decoding) for the second RAT. After completing the tune away operation of the second RAT, the UE may tune the radio back to a frequency corresponding to the first RAT in order to continue the measurement operations of the first RAT. |
| US09338722B2 |
Mobile communication method
A mobile communication method is applied to a mobile communication system including a general base station and a specific base station. A distance between an edge closest to the general base station among edges of a coverage area of the specific cell and the general base station is a distance LMIN. A distance between an edge most distant from the general base station among the edges of the coverage area of the specific cell and the general base station is a distance LMAX. The mobile communication method comprises: a step A of instructing, by the general base station, a general mobile terminal, located in a belt-like annular area indicating a range from the distance LMIN to the distance LMAX in a connected state in the general cell, to perform handover to a frequency different from a frequency used in the specific cell. |
| US09338721B2 |
MIMO wireless communication system
In a LTE-based wireless communication system having neighboring first and second cells a first user in the first cell may experience significant interference from downlink transmissions in the second cell. Such interference can be reduced by selecting a precoder for downlink transmission to a second user in the first cell which will result in reduced interference to the first user after the first user is handed-over to be served by the second cell. The method involves selecting, among a plurality of users in the first cell, the second user to receive the precoded downlink transmissions using the selected precoder. The second user is chosen so as to satisfy a measure of suitability using the selected interference-reducing precoder. Taken together, the choice in the first cell of precoder and second user (UEA) result in reduced inter-cell interference. |
| US09338711B2 |
Method of handling handover for network of wireless communication system and communication device thereof
A method of handling handover for a network of a wireless communication system, wherein a user equipment (UE) is connected to at least one first cell of a master base station and at least one second cell of a secondary base station of the network, includes when the master base station decides to hand over the UE to a target master base station of the network, transmitting, by the master base station, a first message to the secondary base station to instruct the secondary base station to release the at least one second cell. |
| US09338710B2 |
Data forwarding during handover in a self-backhauled cell
A method is implemented in an anchor eNodeB of a network, where the anchor eNodeB communicates with a self-backhauled eNodeB via a radio interface and where the network further includes another eNodeB. The method includes determining whether a user equipment (UE) is being handed off from the first self-backhauled eNodeB to the other eNodeB. The determining is based on: receiving (820) a message from the self-backhauled eNodeB via the radio interface instructing the anchor eNodeB to stop delivering packets that are destined for the UE, or sniffing (1 105, 1 1 10, 1 1 15) into one or more messages sent from the self-backhauled eNodeB to the other eNodeB to identify that the UE is being handed off from the self-backhauled eNodeB to the other eNodeB. The method further includes storing (1 120), based on the determination of whether the UE is being handed off, received packets intended for the UE: and forwarding (1 120) the stored packets to the other eNodeB via a transport network for delivery to the UE. |
| US09338709B2 |
Method and apparatus for handover from wireless local area network to wireless wide area network
A method for handover from a wireless local area network to a wireless wide area network and an apparatus supporting the method are provided. When channel interference becomes severe during communication with a wireless local area network, the method enables the apparatus to automatically perform handover to a wireless wide area network. The method includes checking integrity of data received from a wireless local area network, determining, if the received data lacks integrity, whether the received data was received within a threshold time, retrieving, if the received data was received within the preset threshold time, an integrity failure count and a retransmission count for the data from a storage unit, and performing, if the integrity failure count exceeds a maximum allowed number of failures and if the retransmission count exceeds a maximum allowed number of retransmissions, handover from the wireless local area network to a wireless wide area network. |
| US09338708B2 |
Method and apparatus of communication
A method for parameter management in a wireless cellular communications system, which includes a first base station and a second base station equipped for communications in the communications system, records one or more paging area parameters broadcast by a base station serving a neighbor cell of a cell served by the first base station. The paging area parameters form part of a relation of the first base station and are maintained by the first base station. The method further includes transferring the recorded paging area parameters from the first base station to the second base station. |
| US09338705B2 |
Handover performed in consideration of uplink/downlink component carrier setup
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system which supports carrier aggregation. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for enabling a user equipment to perform a handover in a wireless communication system which supports carrier aggregation. The method for performing a handover comprises the steps of: transmitting a measurement report on a target cell to a serving cell; receiving, from the serving cell, a message containing a signature route sequence index, cyclic shift parameters, and information related to the component carrier of the target cell; confirming contention-based signatures generated on the basis of the signature route sequence index and cyclic shift parameters; and transmitting one of said contention-based signatures to the target cell for random access, via one or more component carriers, on the basis of said information related to the component carrier. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for the method. |
| US09338704B2 |
Methods and systems for intelligent selection of devices for handins
A dynamic spectrum arbitrage (DSA) system includes a dynamic spectrum policy controller (DPC) and a dynamic spectrum controller (DSC) that together dynamically manage the allocation and use of resources across different networks. The DSC component may be configured to intelligently select the wireless devices for handin, such as by identifying an eNodeB that has a coverage area that is inside a geographic boundary of a bid area, receiving a list of eligible active wireless devices from the identified eNodeB, receiving a measurement report and position information for the wireless devices in the received list of eligible active wireless devices, determining the signal strengths of a target eNodeB based on the received measurement reports, and selecting for handin wireless devices from the received list of eligible active devices based on the determined signal strengths of the target eNodeB and locations of the wireless devices with respect to the geographical boundary. |
| US09338701B2 |
Method and apparatus for efficient signaling and usage of resources for wireless communications supporting circuit switched and packet switched sessions
Method and apparatus efficiently signal and use resources for wireless communications supporting circuit switched (CS) and packet switched sessions (PS). Signaling and interaction between the wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), and various network entities, such as the Mobility Management Entity (MME), the Visitor Location Register (VLR), and Base Stations (BS), are used to implement circuit switched fall back (CSFB) in a PS system. |
| US09338699B2 |
Scheme of retaining LTE connection during circuit switch fall back
The present solution enables a packet switched connection to be temporarily released at the wireless terminal for supporting voice calls over a Circuit-Switched (CS) Fallback. The packet switched connection of the LTE core network retained for a pre-defined period of time during the CSFB session allowing the user to quickly switch back to the packet switched connection when the CSFB session is shorter than the predefined period or when the voice call CSFB attempt fails. This is accomplished by the introduction of a timed buffer to control the length of time the LTE core network connection and wireless context information will be retained. |
| US09338694B2 |
Wireless communication system with SIPTO continuity
A communication system network element includes a Local Gateway co-located with a Home eNodeB. The Local Gateway has an open flow switch and a flow table, and provides service continuity of active SIPTO (selective IP traffic offload) sessions using open flow/software defined networking. An operator-controlled Open flow controller manages sessions at the Local Gateway. A flow modification feature is used to modify an existing flow in the flow table, which provides a means for interception and handover from a source Home eNodeB to a target Home eNodeB. |
| US09338691B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding transport block
A method for encoding a transport block in a wireless communication system, and a wireless apparatus therefore are discussed. The method according to one embodiment includes determining a size of the transport block; attaching a first cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code to the transport block having the determined size to produce a first CRC-attached transport block; segmenting the first CRC-attached transport block into a plurality of code blocks when a size of the first CRC-attached transport block is larger than a maximum code block size; attaching a second CRC code to each of the plurality of code blocks to produce a plurality of second CRC-attached code blocks; and encoding the second CRC-attached code blocks by a turbo-encoder. The size of the transport block is determined from among a plurality of first predetermined transport block sizes and a plurality of second predetermined transport block sizes. |
| US09338685B2 |
Evolved node B resource management based on interest indicators
A server device may store information identifying that one or more first user devices, currently connected to a network device via a particular band, should continue to communicate via the particular band when a connection threshold, associated with the particular band, has been exceeded. The particular band may be associated with a multicast service that provides multicast content to the one or more first user devices via the particular band. The server device may determine that the connection threshold has been exceeded; identify a second user device, currently connected to the network device via the particular band, that should no longer communicate via the particular band when the connection threshold has been exceeded disconnected; and prevent the second user device from communicating via the particular band based on determining that the connection threshold has been exceeded and identifying the second user device. |
| US09338681B2 |
Method for reporting minimization drive test measurement data
A method for performing minimization of drive tests measurement data is disclosed. The network assigns a preamble dedicated to the reporting of the logged MDT measurement data, and configures multiple UE to report the logged MDT measurement data by using the paging message. The UEs perform the first random access procedure with the network to obtain the uplink resource and a dedicate indicator for performing the second random access procedure. The UEs perform the second random access procedure for transmitting the request message. The network transmits the response message with a scheduling plan according to the request message(s). The UE transmits the logged MDT measurement data according to the scheduling plan. |
| US09338680B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring a femto base station of user equipment registered to femto base station in mobile communication system
An apparatus and a method for measuring a signal from a femto Base Station (BS) of a User Equipment (UE) registered to the femto BS in a mobile communication system are provided. An operating method of a femto BS for measuring the signal from the femto BS of a UE registered to the femto BS in a mobile communication system where the femto BS and a macro BS coexist, includes, when the UE registered to the femto BS is located in a service coverage area of the macro BS, generating a paging message informing of the existence of the femto BS, and sending the generated paging message to the UE. The UE measures the signal from the femto BS based on the paging message, generates a measurement report message including a measurement result, and sends the generated measurement report message to the macro BS. |
| US09338679B1 |
Systems and methods for analyzing radio frequency exposure compliance
Systems and methods for evaluating a proposed site for an RF transmitting structure are described. The system receives information relating to the proposed structure, and gathers additional data related to the inputs. The system calculates a conservative estimate of the spatially-averaged power density levels (in mW/cm2) a 6-foot human would be exposed to from electromagnetic fields produced by the RF transmitting structure at both the surface level and axis level for service antennas, and at the axis level for donor antennas. The system determines the total percentage of the maximum MPE limit that a 6-foot human would be exposed to at both the surface level and axis level for service antennas, and at the axis level for donor antennas. The system recommends compliance mitigation actions. The system generates a compliance record that includes an indication of whether the proposed site is approved, conditionally approved, or not approved, based in part on the percentages. |
| US09338678B2 |
Performance monitoring of control and provisioning of wireless access points (CAPWAP) control channels
A method and system for enabling collection of end to end performance information for a control and provisioning of wireless access points, CAPWAP, bi-directional control channel established between first and second CAPWAP nodes are disclosed. According to one aspect, the system provides a first CAPWAP channel endpoint in the first CAPWAP node configured to provide a first plurality of sequence numbers in request messages on the CAPWAP bi-directional control channel. A second CAPWAP channel endpoint in the second CAPWAP node is configured to send a second plurality of sequence numbers in CAPWAP response messages on the CAPWAP bi-directional control channel, in response to the request messages. The first and second plurality of sequence numbers enable determination of a first set of one-way performance data for each direction of the CAPWAP bi-directional control channel. |
| US09338676B2 |
Method and apparatus and network node for applying conditional CQI reporting
A method for limiting Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) reporting from a User Equipment to a network node is provided where a User Equipment can transmit CQI reports to a network node, such as e.g. a base station, when the User Equipment is operating in low transmission and/or low reception activity mode. A limited CQI reporting is obtained by triggering the reporting according to one or more predefined rules, which to at least some extent depend on CQI specific information provided to the User Equipment from the network node. A User Equipment and a network node adapted to operate in accordance with the suggested method are also provided. |
| US09338675B1 |
Priority message management
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems for priority message management. In one embodiment, users are associated with one or more identified networks, wherein the users connect to the one or more identified networks using one or more mobile devices. Embodiments of the present invention can detect the presence or absence of an associated user, and responsive to detecting a user's absence, can increase an amount of priority of a user's communications to a mobile device of a different user having an enabled screening feature. Increasing the amount of priority of users that have been identified as absent from the identified network can ensure important messages are delivered. |
| US09338671B2 |
Method and apparatus for handling primary scrambling codes
The present disclosure presents a method and apparatus for handling primary scrambling codes (PSC) in a wireless network. For example, the disclosure presents a method for detecting, by a user equipment (UE) of a plurality of UEs, a PSC in search windows with different timing offsets, wherein the different timing offsets correspond to a plurality of small cells sharing the PSC in a coverage area of a macro cell, and transmitting, by the UE, a plurality of measurement reports corresponding to the different timing offsets. As such, primary scrambling codes (PSC) are handled in a wireless network. |
| US09338669B2 |
Method and apparatus for adjusting layer 3 filter coefficients
A UE configured to adjust a L3 filter coefficient, comprises initializing a first filter coefficient of a first filter and a second filter coefficient of a second filter based on a primary filter coefficient of a primary filter received from an associated wireless network entity; adjusting the primary filter coefficient by one of: setting the primary filter coefficient to the first filter coefficient if a first difference between a measurement result of the primary filter and a first measurement result of the first filter is less than a first coefficient threshold and setting the primary filter coefficient to the second filter coefficient if a second difference between the measurement result of the primary filter and a second measurement result of the second filter is less than a second coefficient threshold; and applying the adjusted primary filter coefficient to measurements of one or more cells in an active cell set. |
| US09338667B2 |
Drilling technology utilizing high temperature and low temperature discharges
A drilling apparatus (100) includes a drill bit (200), a heating assembly, a cooling assembly, and a digging assembly. The heating assembly is configured to rapidly heat a material to be drilled at a target location. The heating assembly includes one or more first discharge structures (520) configured to discharge a high-temperature substance at the target location of the material. The cooling assembly includes one or more second discharge structures (440) configured to discharge a low-temperature substance at the target location of the material. The digging assembly is configured to remove substrate from the material at the target location. |
| US09338664B2 |
Wireless communication unit, integrated circuit and method therefor
A wireless communication unit is described that includes a transceiver; at least one antenna port operably coupled to the transceiver via at least one antenna switch; a radio frequency part of the transceiver that includes at least one tuneable radio frequency (RF) component; and a test signal generator for generating an RF test signal for receiver calibration. The radio frequency part includes a coupler located between the at least one tuneable RF component and the at least one antenna switch for coupling the RF test signal to or from the radio frequency part for calibration. |
| US09338661B2 |
Spatial routing among microwave backhaul transceivers
A first microwave backhaul transceiver may comprise a plurality of antenna elements. The transceiver may determine atmospheric conditions between it and one or more potential link partners, and adjust a radiation pattern of the plurality of antenna elements based on the determined atmospheric conditions. A first radiation pattern of the plurality of antenna elements may correspond to a first microwave backhaul link between the first microwave transceiver and a second microwave backhaul transceiver. A second radiation pattern of the plurality of antenna elements may correspond to a second microwave backhaul link between the first microwave transceiver and a third microwave backhaul transceiver. The transceiver may adjust the radiation pattern based on characteristics of data to be transmitted, and based on a routing table it maintains. |
| US09338657B2 |
System and method for correlating security events with subscriber information in a mobile network environment
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving a subscriber accounting start packet for a subscriber device in a mobile network environment. The method also includes extracting, from the subscriber accounting start packet, subscriber device information and a network address of the subscriber device. The method further includes mapping the network address to the subscriber device information, and then correlating the subscriber device information and a security event when the security event is detected in subscriber data network traffic associated with the subscriber device. In a specific embodiment, the subscriber device information includes at least one of an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN), and an access point name (APN). In further embodiments, an identification of the security event and one or more items of the subscriber device information are provided to a user. |
| US09338654B2 |
Controlling access to communication services
A method and corresponding apparatus and system of controlling access to communication services by a roaming wireless device are described. The method includes receiving a request for roaming wireless device service information related to a roaming user and determining which services the user has access to for the requesting system, if the user is determined to have access to the requesting system. The method also includes transmitting user service information concerning the services to which the user has access. The apparatus includes a memory, a communication system, and a processor. The memory stores: (1) user information including a class of service (COS) identifier and (2) COS restriction information. The processing system, coupled with the communication system and the memory, generates a reply message based on comparing information in a service request message received by the communication system with the stored information in the memory. |
| US09338643B2 |
Telecommunications device localization and alarm
A system for bringing a portable telecommunications device into compliance with local telecommunications requirements is described. Systems on the portable telecommunication device scan the local environment to determine if the operating characteristics of the portable telecommunication device are like those in the vicinity of the device or are different from those in the device's vicinity. If the communications characteristics of the portable telecommunication device are different from those in its immediate vicinity, then the portable telecommunications device undertakes one or more remedial actions to bring its operations into compliance with local telecommunications requirements. |
| US09338639B2 |
Systems and methods for interacting with portable electronic devices
Systems and methods for interacting with a portable electronic device are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes: a cover sized and shaped for removable attachment to an exterior of the portable electronic device; a first antenna disposed on the cover; and a first wireless controller coupled to the first antenna and disposed on the cover and configured for transmitting a first data from the cover to the portable electronic device via the first antenna to identify the cover to the portable electronic device. |
| US09338637B2 |
Providing routing information in a communication system
A method for providing routing information for establishing connections over a communication system comprising a plurality of communication networks is described. The method comprises storing location dependent routing information in a data storage, providing a terminal with location dependent routing information stored in the data storage and establishing connection between the terminal and at least one other terminal using location dependent routing information provided by the data storage. At least one of the terminals is a mobile terminal and information for routing the connection between the terminals is selected based on the location of the at least one mobile terminal. |
| US09338633B2 |
Wi-Fi service method and system for Wi-Fi devices
A Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi) service method and system are provided. A beacon message and probe response message may contain a service information field storing device information. Wi-Fi devices can exchange information on supported functions with each other and one Wi-Fi device may identify functions supported by another Wi-Fi device. Hence, a Wi-Fi connection can be set up through automatic provisioning. The method includes receiving, by a first Wi-Fi device in non-Access Point (AP) mode, messages from nearby Wi-Fi devices operating in AP mode, analyzing a service information field of each received message, determining a second Wi-Fi device that is manufactured by the same manufacturer as the first Wi-Fi device and is capable of supporting a requested service, establishing a connection with the second Wi-Fi device through Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) based on automatic provision, and sending data associated with the requested service to the second Wi-Fi device for a Wi-Fi service. |
| US09338632B2 |
Method and system of wireless device discovery in a wireless network employing directional antennas
A wireless device (100) communicates in a wireless network, and executes a wireless device discovery process to discover other wireless devices (100) in the wireless network. In the wireless device discovery process, the wireless device (100) sets its antenna pattern to have an omnidirectional antenna pattern (202), and transmits a first packet (300) using the omnidirectional antenna pattern (202). The first packet (300) comprises a packet preamble sequence (310) formed by repeating each sample of a synchronization sequence N times (N>1). The remainder (320) of the first packet (300) is formed by spreading each sample thereof with a spreading factor P (P>1). For normal data communications, the wireless device (100) sets the antenna pattern to have a directional antenna pattern (204), and transmits a second packet using the directional antenna pattern (204). |
| US09338631B2 |
Method and apparatus for online charging in an IP multimedia subsystem
A method is provided for online charging within an IP Multimedia Subsystem, IMS. A first credit control request message is received (S-A) at an IMS charging node (30) from an IMS service network node (20) over a service charging interface (22) provided between the IMS service node (20) and the IMS charging node (30). In response to receipt of the first credit control message, it is determined (S-B) at the IMS charging node (30), with reference to one or more triggering conditions, that a replenishment of credit is to be offered for a user associated with the first credit control request message. Following such a determination, a credit replenishment service is initiated in the IMS service node (20) by sending (S-D) a replenishment request in a first credit control answer message over the service charging interface (22) from the IMS charging node (30) to the IMS service node (20), the first credit control answer message being in response to the first credit control request message. Alternatively, a credit replenishment service is initiated (S-E) in the IMS charging node (30). In this alternative, a second credit control request message associated with the user is received (S-F) from a transport network node (40) over a bearer charging interface (42) provided between the transport node (40) and the IMS charging node (30); and, in response to receipt of the second credit control request message and as part of the replenishment service, a replenishment request is sent (S-G) in a second credit control answer message over the bearer charging interface (42) to the transport node (40), the second credit control answer message being in response to the second credit control request message. |
| US09338628B2 |
Emergency notification system
An emergency notification system and method that is operable to provide a technique for a user to transmit an emergency signal request wherein the emergency signal request is transmitted to a 911 operations center, registered EMS providers, and at least one named contact identified by the user transmitting the emergency signal request simultaneously. The emergency notification system includes a server database having control software and further includes a software application for mobile devices. The emergency notification system is operable to receive and store relevant medical data for each of the registered users of the system wherein the medical data is transmitted to emergency medical service providers during the transmission of the emergency signal request. A customized notification message is additionally sent to a predefined list of contacts during the emergency signal request. The customized notification message further includes the geographic coordinates of the user transmitting the emergency signal request. |
| US09338626B1 |
Determining an accuracy of a location determination
The accuracy of a location determination mechanism may be determined as compared to another location determination mechanism. Dialing 9-1-1 on a mobile communication device may trigger location determination of the device via a GPS-based mechanism. The location information may be time stamped. The location and time information may be provided to a network. The network may determine the location of the device via network infrastructure. The network may time stamp this second set of locations. The determination of the locations of the device via GPS and via the network infrastructure may occur approximately during the same time frame. The first set of locations and the second set of locations may be time aligned, and the differences between the two sets may be utilized to determine the accuracy of network-infrastructure-based location determination mechanism as compared to the GPS-based location determination mechanism. |
| US09338624B2 |
Cellular telephone and computer program comprising means for generating and sending an alarm message
The present disclosure relates to a cellular telephone comprising a processor generating and sending an alarm message destined for at least one predefined recipient, in response to an action for the automatic generation of an alert message by a portable telephone to one or more predetermined recipients, the process or being activated by a unique action by the user, and a computer program for detecting as a background task a change of state of at least one man-machine interface of the telephone corresponding to the unique activation action, the change of state being specific to a panic situation associated with pre-recorded parameters, and in case of detection of the change of state, the dispatching of a message for interruption of the processor and for calling of a routine triggering an application ordering the sending of a message containing pre-recorded parameters. |
| US09338616B1 |
Message routing using a multi-entity destination identifier
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for routing messages having destination identifiers associated with multiple entities. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving a message from a communication device directed to the message routing system, wherein a destination identifier associated with a plurality of entities indicates the message routing system. The method further provides identifying an entity of the plurality of entities associated with a key indicator within content of the message and routing the message based on the entity. |
| US09338608B2 |
Method and system for providing enhanced location based information for wireless handsets
Methods, devices and systems for generating enhanced location information on or about a mobile device may include hybrid lateration and trilateration solutions in which the mobile device performs location determination calculations with the aid of network components or global positioning systems (GPS). Mobile devices may automatically form groups based on proximity and/or may be grouped together via a network server. Mobile devices in a group may share computed location information and/or information collected from internal sensors with other grouped mobile devices. Information shared between grouped mobile devices may be used to enhance the location information computed on each mobile device. For example, each mobile device may supplement and/or augment previously computed location information based on the received location information and/or relative positions of other mobile devices in the same group. Each mobile device may also utilize local sensors to further enhance their location information. |
| US09338603B2 |
Location based brand detection
Techniques for determining brand information and refining a position of a mobile device are described herein. An example of a method for displaying branding information on a mobile device includes receiving a reference image feature data table based on a rough location of the mobile device, such that the reference image feature data table includes a collection of entity records and wherein each entity record includes a plurality of logo image feature fields, obtaining an image including a displayed logo, utilizing an image recognition process and the reference image feature data table on the image to determine a recognized logo, and displaying brand information based on the recognized logo. |
| US09338601B2 |
System and method for automated location-based widgets
Systems and methods relating to location-based applications, such as widgets, are disclosed. In general, in one embodiment, location-based application service obtains a current location of a mobile device and determines whether the current location of the mobile device is associated with one of a plurality of non-adjacent geographic locations associated with an establishment. An application identifier associated with the plurality of non-adjacent geographic locations associated with the establishment is provided based on the determination, where the application identifier at least one of identifies an application for the mobile device to activate and references a remote source for the mobile device to obtain the application. |
| US09338599B1 |
Location-based mobile object management in a distributed cloud for enhancing access and performance
A method for location-based service migration is provided. The method may include monitoring, by a processor, a location of a mobile device. The method may also include checking the location against a geo-location profile, whereby the geo-location profile includes at least one of a service, a plurality of migration rules, a plurality of data, an application, a security, and a plurality of access frequency criteria. The method may further include transferring the at least one service and a plurality of data objects used by the at least one service from a first server with a server location outside a bounds for the location to a second server within a bounds for the location in response to detecting a service in the geo-location profile meets a migration criteria. |
| US09338597B2 |
Alert broadcasting to unconfigured communications devices
Methods and systems for communicating alert messages to target communications devices in a target physical location are disclosed. The target devices may not be preconfigured to be discovered or to receive the alert message. Network sources are queried to identify accessible logical locations, which are associated with physical locations in a database. The logical locations include an intelligent network source which, having received the alert message, detects nearby devices in the target physical location. The system prepares and communicates the alert message to the target device. The intelligent network source may be configured to prepare and communicate the alert message without any intermediate system step of formulating a list of recipients. Auto-discovery and message delivery methods employ protocol packet injection, network and access point spoofing, and Bluetooth signaling. Auto-discovery and unconfigured delivery methods can be used to reveal the presence of devices in an area. |
| US09338593B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing service
A mobile device and a method performed by the mobile device for receiving a service from a service providing apparatus are provided. The method includes receiving a signal which is emitted from the beacon apparatus, wherein the mobile device is located within vicinity of the beacon apparatus; determining an intensity of the received signal; requesting the service providing apparatus for a service based on the determined intensity; and receiving the service from the service providing apparatus. |
| US09338592B1 |
Reducing crowdsourcing network traffic
A system for reducing crowdsourcing network traffic has a server that aggregates data from a plurality of devices within a particular area. The devices determine their locations using, for example, a location engine (e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS)) to learn its geographic coordinates. As part of the crowdsourcing exercise, the device opportunistically scans for nearby communication nodes, such as Wi-Fi access points and the like. When a communication node is found, the electronic device associates the device's location coordinates with the detected communication nodes to create data that is tagged with the identity of the communication nodes. The tagged data may be stored locally on the electronic device and periodically uploaded to the server. When the server has sufficient information on the communication nodes in the area, the server sends a notification to the devices to refrain from additionally scanning for and/or sending additional tagged data, thereby curbing the amount of network traffic. |
| US09338591B1 |
Systems and methods for managing a location based service on a wireless device in a multi-band communication network
Systems and methods are described for determining an inter-frequency handover condition for a wireless device. A serving frequency for a location based service (LBS) operating on a wireless device at a first location may be determined. A controller node may determine a path for the wireless device. The path may begin at the first location and continue through a plurality of access node clusters. Each access node cluster may comprise a positioning reference signal (PRS) frequency. The PRS frequency of the access node clusters may be different from the serving frequency. A set of criteria for performing a handover from the serving frequency to the PRS frequency of the access node cluster may be determined. One of the criteria may be performing a periodicity scan of the LBS. An inter-frequency handover of the wireless device from the serving frequency to the PRS frequency of the access node cluster may be requested. |
| US09338584B2 |
Electronic data sharing device and method of use
An electronic data sharing device for sharing user related information with users of other functionally similar electronic data sharing devices, the electronic data sharing device configured to: generate a temporary, non-unique, identification tag to identify the electronic data sharing device, transmit from the electronic data sharing device the generated identification tag via a wireless medium, receive at the electronic data sharing device a further identification tag generated by a further electronic data sharing device, and generate an alert on the electronic data sharing device when the transmission and reception of the identification tags coincide to indicate that the further electronic data sharing device is in the vicinity. |
| US09338583B2 |
Method for energy efficient body sensor network discovery
When monitoring a patient in a healthcare environment, a location of a battery-powered mobile aggregator (MA) sensor (22), which is mounted on a patient with one or more other patient-mounted sensors (12, S1, S2, S3), is monitored. The MA (22) maintains a personal area network (PAN) (24) for the sensors (12, S1, S2, S3) and wirelessly transmits signals from patient mounted sensors (12, S1, S2, S3) to a wired network (18). When the MA (22) comes within range of a mains-powered fixed aggregator (FA) (16), the MA (22) is informed of the availability of the FA (16), transfers patient data communication duties to the FA (16), and shuts down its PAN to conserve battery power. If the patient moves out of range of the FA (16), then the MA (22) regenerates the PAN (24) and resumes wireless patient data transmission. |
| US09338581B2 |
System and method for connecting, configuring and testing new wireless devices and applications
A system, apparatus, and method are provided for connecting, configuring and testing new wireless devices and applications. For example, one embodiment of a computer-implemented method for enabling a trial wireless device comprises: automatically pre-provisioning one or more trial SIM cards for operation on a particular wireless cellular network on behalf of a prospective customer; automatically pre-configuring a trial wireless machine-to-machine (“M2M”) device on behalf of the prospective customer; wherein the trial M2M device includes testing and monitoring program code which, when the trial M2M device is connected to a computer system, performs the operations of: automatically connecting to the wireless cellular network execute a plurality of test operations for testing the SIM card and the trial M2M device, the test operations including determining whether the SIM card is correctly provisioned for the wireless network; determining whether the trial M2M wireless device is operating properly; and determining the existence of wireless data connectivity. |
| US09338575B2 |
Image steered microphone array
A system includes a microphone array having a plurality of microphones. The system further includes a camera configured to capture stream video and a processing device configured to steer the microphone array based at least in part on the video acquired by the camera. A method includes receiving video captured by a camera, processing the video, and steering a microphone array using signal processing where the steering direction is defined by the processed video. |
| US09338572B2 |
Method for practical implementation of sound field reproduction based on surface integrals in three dimensions
A method for 3D sound field reproduction from a first audio input signal using a plurality of loudspeakers distributed over a loudspeaker surface aiming at synthesizing a 3D sound field within a listening area in which none of the loudspeakers are located with the sound field radiating from a virtual source, includes the steps of calculating positioning filters using virtual source description data and loudspeaker description data according to a sound field reproduction technique derived from a surface integral, applying positioning filter coefficients to filter the first audio input signal to form second audio input signals. Loudspeakers are positioned for a sampling of the loudspeaker surface into second loudspeaker surfaces for which the loudspeaker spacing is smaller for loudspeakers located in the horizontal plane than for elevated loudspeakers. |
| US09338570B2 |
Method and apparatus for an integrated headset switch with reduced crosstalk noise
An integrated audio signal processing circuit is described for reducing crosstalk noise in an integrated headset switch for a headset having two speakers, a microphone sharing a common ground. The audio signal processing circuit includes two audio amplifiers and also has two terminals configured to be either a microphone connection terminal or a headset ground connection terminal, respectively, depending on the type of the headset. An audio amplifier reference node is coupled to inputs of the audio amplifiers. The audio signal processing circuit has a first switch device responsive to a headset ground selection signal and configured to connect the audio amplifier reference node to the detected headset ground connection terminal. The audio signal processing circuit also has a second switch device responsive to the headset ground selection signal and configured to couple the detected headset ground connection terminal to a ground terminal of the audio processing circuit. |
| US09338568B2 |
Inflatable ear piece and a method of its manufacture
An inflatable ear piece is used in a hearing aid. The inflatable ear piece defines an inflatable part, which defines an inflatable cavity. The inflatable cavity, when inflated, defines an inflated state in which the inflatable part abuts an inner wall of an auditory canal when provided therein, and, when deflated to a deflated state, allows for insertion and/or retraction of the ear piece from the auditory canal. The inflatable ear piece comprises one or more biasing means that are arranged to bias the inflatable part away from a totally collapsed state and into the deflated state. The biasing means is secured to an inner wall of the inflatable cavity. |
| US09338567B2 |
Auditory signal processing
Methods, systems, and devices for processing an auditory signal to generate auditory prosthesis electrode stimuli in response to an incoming acoustic signal are disclosed. An example method includes dividing the incoming acoustic signal into one or more frequency envelopes. The example method also includes determining which auditory prosthesis electrodes to stimulate. The example method additionally includes determining a temporal reference point to which auditory prosthesis electrode stimuli are referenced. The example method further includes determining a delay for each of the auditory prosthesis electrode stimuli from the temporal reference point. The example method yet further includes determining amplitudes of the auditory prosthesis electrode stimuli. The example method also includes determining a wait period length before each successive temporal reference point. |
| US09338557B2 |
Acoustic generator, acoustic generation device, and electronic device
An acoustic generator according to an embodiment at least includes an exciter, a vibrating plate, and a frame body. The exciter is caused to vibrate by an electrical signal. The exciter is mounted on the vibrating plate, and the vibrating plate is caused to vibrate together with the exciter by the vibration of the exciter. The frame body is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the vibrating plate. The frame body includes two frame members having different thicknesses or widths, and the two frame members nip the vibrating plate to support the vibrating plate. |
| US09338553B2 |
Spectral shaping for audio mixing
Techniques are described herein that are capable of spectrally shaping audio signal(s) for audio mixing. Spectrally shaping an audio signal means modifying a frequency spectrum of the audio signal. A frequency spectrum of an audio signal is a representation of the audio signal in the frequency domain. For instance, a frequency spectrum may be represented using multiple frequency bands. The frequency spectrum may be modified by modifying characteristic(s) (e.g., magnitude, phase, etc.) one or more of the frequency bands. |
| US09338551B2 |
Multi-microphone source tracking and noise suppression
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for improved multi-microphone source tracking and noise suppression. In multi-microphone devices and systems, frequency domain acoustic echo cancellation is performed on each microphone input, and microphone levels and sensitivity are normalized. Methods, systems, and apparatuses are also described for improved acoustic scene analysis and source tracking using steered null error transforms, on-line adaptive acoustic scene modeling, and speaker-dependent information. Switched super-directive beamforming reinforces desired audio sources and closed-form blocking matrices suppress desired audio sources based on spatial information derived from microphone pairings. Underlying statistics are tracked and used to updated filters and models. Automatic detection of single-user and multi-user scenarios, and single-channel suppression using spatial information, non-spatial information, and residual echo are also described. |
| US09338536B2 |
Modular headrest-based audio system
An automobile audio system includes a signal processor configured to receive and process audio signals from a source and provide processed audio signals to an amplifier, a first headrest including a headrest speaker and coupled to a driver's seat, a first fixed speaker positioned near a left corner of the vehicle's cabin forward of the headrest, a second fixed speaker positioned near a right corner of the vehicle's cabin forward of the headrest, and a headrest accessory port located in a passenger's seat. The port is configured to connect the audio system to a second headrest speaker. The processor uses a first set of parameters for processing the received audio signals when the first headrest speaker is connected and the second headrest speaker is not connected, and a second set of parameters for processing the received audio signals when both the first and second headrest speaker are connected. |
| US09338534B2 |
Miniature speaker
A miniature speaker includes a frame having a sidewall including a first upper thinner portion and a first lower thicker portion, a magnetic circuit unit, a voice coil having a lead wire, and a diaphragm driven by the voice coil. The magnetic circuit unit has a yoke, a magnet mounted on the yoke, a pole plate attached to the magnet, and a magnetic gap. The yoke further includes a lower plate and a side extending from the lower plate, the side including a second thinner portion and a second lower thicker portion. A recess is accordingly formed by the thinner portions and the thicker portions for accommodating the lead wire of the voice coil. The recess defines a bottom formed by the thicker portions and an opening formed by the thinner portions thereby providing an enlarged space to the lead wire. |
| US09338533B2 |
Drivers and methods of driving transducers
A transducer has an input and produces a mechanical output, wherein the magnitude of the mechanical output of the transducer is dependent on the frequency and magnitude of current at the input. A driver for the transducer includes a device having a transfer function associated with the device, the device having a device input and a device output, the device output being connectable to the input of the transducer and the device input being connectable to a power source. The device attenuates the current output at a frequency that causes a peak in the magnitude of the mechanical output of the transducer. |
| US09338532B2 |
Suspension and speaker using same
Disclosed is a speaker having a suspension. The suspension includes a vibrating arm having at least a pair of layer structures and an insulating layer sandwiched between the two layer structures. Each layer structure has a foil signal transmission layer, a hardness reinforcement layer and a glue layer for connecting the foil signal transmission layer with the hardness reinforcement layer and a conductive portion for electrically connecting the foil signal transmission layers of each of layer structures. The suspension of the disclosure can prevent the signal layer from being broken. The suspension disclosed has at least two layer structures, which makes the signal transmitted in each layer structures at the same time, even if one of the layer structures is broken, the rest of the layer structures can still be working. |
| US09338531B2 |
Input-controllable dynamic cross-connect
A multiplexer capable of automatically and dynamically selecting a correct or the best input out of a pre-configurable set of alternative inputs, based on the current status of the alternative inputs. An input status-sensitive, dynamic, M-by-M digital cross-connect can be formed out of an arrangement of M (an integer) instances of such input-controllable dynamic M:1 multiplexers. An application is an SDH/SONET cross-connect system that is able to perform a protection-switch for any number, up to all, of its output paths, simultaneously, if necessary, thereby enabling a short and deterministic latency for individual-path-granular protection-switch process for cross-connects of unlimited capacity. Another application is an SDH/SONET path that can be dynamically shared, even at a single time-slot granularity, among multiple path sources. Such a multi-source-bus configuration of an SDH/SONET path enables allocating network resources dynamically based on the real-time capacity demand patterns, thereby maximizing the network throughput for bursty data traffic. |
| US09338529B2 |
Routing and bandwidth assignment for flexible grid wavelength switched optical networks
Routing and bandwidth assignment of new paths of different bandwidths, occupying different numbers of adjacent frequency slots in a wavelength switched optical network, involves selecting a route, and assigning a set of adjacent frequency slots. The assignment can place wider bandwidth ones of the new paths at an opposite end of a spectrum of the available frequency slots, to an end where narrower bandwidth ones are placed. A size of sets of available adjacent slots remaining after the assignment is likely to be increased, compared to a conventional first fit assignment. A wider subsequent new path can sometimes be accommodated along all or some of the route and thus the blocking probability can be lowered. The selecting of which of the possible routes to use can be made dependent on which has more sets of available adjacent frequency slots, or which has a wider gap between occupied slots. |
| US09338528B2 |
Optimal positioning of reflecting optical devices
Reflecting optical devices are optimally positioned by an all optical switch in an optically-connected system by transmitting optical power readings taken from an optimal monitoring module that are transmitted to the all optical switch for optimal positioning of a reflecting optical device in order to produce maximum optical output power. |
| US09338525B2 |
Methods of automatically recording patching changes at passive patch panels and network equipment
Methods of executing patching connection changes in a patching field are provided in which an electronic work order is received on a display located at the patching field, the electronic work order specifying the patching connection change. A technician may perform the patching connection change. Then, an electronic message may be sent from the patching field indicating that the patching change has been completed. |
| US09338522B2 |
Integration of untrusted framework components with a secure operating system environment
A set top box or like device incorporating an untrusted software framework as a client of a secure operating system kernel. The software framework may comprise, for example, an Android framework supported by an underlying Linux operating system environment having a secure kernel. The software framework can be executed using a variety of process isolation techniques depending on performance and isolation requirements. A secure access client/server interface may also be provided to support interactions between the untrusted software framework (and applications utilizing the untrusted software framework) and secure or trusted portions of the device. The secure access interface can be configured to perform operations such as handle validation, heap pointer validation, non-pointer parameter validation, heap isolation, and resource release relating to terminated processes. In further embodiments, a software framework aggregator is used to support a plurality of additional software frameworks for use in the set top box. |
| US09338520B2 |
System and method for applying a database to video multimedia
A system and method for applying a database to video multimedia is disclosed. Certain embodiments provide media content owners the capability to exploit video processing capabilities using rich, interactive and compelling visual content on a network. Mechanisms of associating video with commerce offerings are provided. Video server and search server technologies are integrated with ad serving personalization agents to make the final presentations of content and advertising. Algorithms utilized by the system use a variety of techniques for making the final presentation decisions of which ads, with which content, are served to which user. |
| US09338519B2 |
Method for multicast video delivery for 4G cellular networks
A method for video multicast delivery for 4g wireless networks includes collecting client feedback and obtaining supportable modulation and coding scheme MCS for each client over a base station of wireless network, prioritizing video packets for said clients and setting a utility for each of the video packets; performing a radio resource allocation for determining a utility optimization for transmitted frames of the video packets; and assigning an MCS to each transmitted frame of the video packets, responsive to step performing a radio resource allocation. |
| US09338518B2 |
System for managing media services
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device that includes a processor and a memory that stores executable instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including receiving an identifier of a communication device that has established communications with a media processor by way a personal area network. An association between the communication device and the media processor is determined and the communication device is authenticates according to the identifier. Information is provided to the media processor to facilitate management of media services by the communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09338505B2 |
Digital television signal, digital television receiver, and method of processing digital television signal
A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal in a DTV receiver, the method including receiving a plurality of extended text table (ETT) instances appearing in transport stream packets with common PID values, the ETT instances having common table ID values, each ETT instance comprising a section header and a message body, the message body containing an extended text message (ETM) which provides detailed descriptions of a virtual channel or an event associated with each ETT instance, wherein the section header containing a table identification (ID) extension field that serves to establish uniqueness of each ETT instance, and the message body includes an ETM identifier to identify the ETM, the ETM identifier having source identification information specifying a programming source of a virtual channel associated with the each ETT instance, demodulating the digital television signal, and identifying at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances. |
| US09338504B2 |
Digital television signal, digital television receiver, and method of processing digital television signal
A method of processing a digital television (DTV) signal in a DTV receiver, the method includes receiving a digital television signal including a plurality of extended text table (ETT) instances that appear in transport stream packets with common PID values, the ETT instances having common table ID values, each ETT instance comprising a section header and a message body, the section header containing a table identification (ID) extension field that serves to establish uniqueness of each ETT instance, the message body containing an extended text message (ETM) which provides detailed descriptions of a virtual channel or an event associated with each ETT instance, wherein the section header further contains a protocol version field indicating a protocol version, wherein the ETT instance further contains a CRC 32 field, demodulating the digital television signal, and identifying at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances. |
| US09338500B2 |
Interactive product placement system and method therefor
A method for presenting advertisements for commercial products in video productions, whereby the commercial product is placed in the video production as an element of the video production. A viewer is enabled to interact with the video production to select the product. Information is then displayed about the selected product; and the viewer is enabled to purchase the selected product. |
| US09338490B2 |
System and method to provide a unified video signal for diverse receiving platforms
A method includes receiving a request for media content at a residential gateway from a device coupled to the residential gateway and sending a media content request to a server based on the request. The method includes receiving a video data stream of the media content at the residential gateway. Data packets of the video data stream enable generation of the media content at a first resolution. A first subset of the data packets include tags that enable identification of particular data packets usable to generate the media content at a second resolution that is lower than the first resolution. The method also includes determining a display characteristic of a display device coupled to the device and sending the particular data packets to the device when the display characteristic indicates that the device is to receive the media content at the second resolution. |
| US09338487B2 |
System for addressing on-demand TV program content on TV services platform of a digital TV services provider
Video content is uploaded via the Internet to a video-on-demand (VOD) server identified by a title and a hierarchical address of categories and subcategories for categorizing the title. The VOD server converts and stores the video content at a storage address in a video content database linked to the title. The title is listed in a location of an electronic program guide (EPG) using the same categories and subcategories as in its hierarchical address. Any TV subscriber can access the EPG and navigate through its categories and subcategories to find a title for viewing on the TV. This can enable many, new blogging or podcasting-like programs by popular “Hosts” to be self-published on the Internet and readily navigated for display on TV. The EPG can also store TV program addresses as bookmarks and allow them to be shared with other subscribers or with friends and contacts online by sending to their email addresses. |
| US09338481B2 |
Communication apparatus that performs streaming distribution, method of controlling communication apparatus, reproduction apparatus, method of controlling reproduction apparatus, and storage medium
A communication apparatus capable of switching between videos to be each displayed on a reproduction apparatus based on video data subjected to streaming distribution, on a distributor side. A camera registers management information of a plurality of cameras capable of distributing images to a PC by streaming distribution in a camera management table. Selection of a camera that is to distribute images to the PC is received from a user on a camera selection screen of the camera. The camera management table is updated so as to distribute images from the selected camera to the PC. Upon receipt of a playlist acquisition request from the PC, the camera generates a playlist based on the updated camera management table, and sends the generated playlist to the PC as a response. |
| US09338480B2 |
Systems and methods to compensate for the effects of transmission delay
According to some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus and means are provided to determine an amount of a delay when transmitting a signal from a remote broadcast location to a studio location over a transmission link, operate a delay engine to insert the amount of the delay in a studio audio/video feed, and operate a switch to switch from the studio audio/video feed to a remote audio/video feed, the delay in the studio audio/video feed inserted prior to the switch. |
| US09338477B2 |
Recovering a pruned version of a picture in a video sequence for example-based data pruning using intra-frame patch similarity
Method and apparatus for recovering a pruned version of a picture in a video sequence are disclosed. The apparatus includes a divider for dividing the pruned version of the picture into a plurality of non-overlapping blocks. The apparatus also includes a metadata decoder for decoding metadata for use in recovering the pruned version of the picture. The apparatus further includes a patch library creator for creating a patch library from a reconstructed version of the picture. The patch library includes a plurality of high resolution replacement patches for replacing the one or more pruned blocks during a recovery of the pruned version of the picture. The apparatus additionally includes a search and replacement device for performing a searching process using the metadata to find a corresponding patch for a respective one of the one or more pruned blocks from among the plurality of non-overlapping blocks and replace the respective one of the one or more pruned blocks with the corresponding patch. The signature is respectively created for each of the one or more pruned blocks, and the pruned version of the picture is recovered by comparing respective distance metrics from signatures for each of the plurality of high resolution patches to signatures for each of the one or more pruned blocks, sorting the respective distance metrics to obtain a rank list for each of the one or more pruned blocks, wherein a rank number in the rank list for a particular one of the one or more pruned blocks is used to retrieve a corresponding one of the plurality of high resolution patches in the patch library to be used to replace the particular one of the one or more pruned blocks. A patch dependency graph having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges is used to recover the pruned version of the picture. Each of the plurality of nodes represents a respective one of the plurality of overlapping blocks, and each of the plurality of edges represents a respective dependency of at least the respective one of the plurality of overlapping blocks. |
| US09338473B2 |
Video coding
A method of performing a rate-distortion optimization process comprising, for each of a plurality of target image portions to be encoded in each of a plurality of frames, selecting a preferred one of a set of encoding modes by optimizing a function comprising an estimate of distortion for the target image portion and a measure of bit rate required to encode the target image portion, wherein the estimate of distortion is based on source coding distortion and an estimate of a distortion that would be experienced due to possible loss over the channel; encoding the target image portion into the encoded video stream using the selected encoding mode; and transmitting the encoded video stream over the channel. The rate-distortion optimization process for a current one of the frames is performed in dependence on feedback received from the receiving terminal based on an earlier one of the frames. |
| US09338471B2 |
Method and apparatus for decoding video according to individual parsing or decoding in data unit level, and method and apparatus for encoding video for individual parsing or decoding in data unit level
A video decoding method including: extracting, from a bitstream of an encoded video, at least one of information indicating independent parsing of a data unit and information indicating independent decoding of a data unit; extracting encoded video data and information about a coded depth and an encoding mode according to maximum coding units by parsing the bitstream based on the information indicating independent parsing of the data unit; and decoding at least one coding unit according to a coded depth of each maximum coding unit of the encoded video data, based on the information indicating independent decoding in the data unit and the information about the coded depth and the encoding mode according to maximum coding units. |
| US09338470B2 |
Guided color transient improvement filtering in video coding
An encoder receives a target image in a standard dynamic range and a guide image in a high dynamic range, wherein both the target image and the guide image represent the same scene. A color transient improvement (CTI) filter is selected to predict a chroma component of a decoded version of the target image based on both the luma and chroma components of the target image and the guide image. The filtering coefficients for the CTI filter are computed by minimizing an error measurement (e.g., MSE) between pixel values of the decoded image and the guide image. The computed set of filtering coefficients is signaled to a receiver (e.g., as metadata). A decoder receives the coded image and the metadata, and applies the same CTI filter to the decoded image to generate an output image. |
| US09338468B2 |
Latency aware priority based multi-channel decoding
Various methods and systems are provided for latency aware priority based decoding. In one embodiment, among others, a method includes providing coded frames of a first input stream to a multiple channel (multi-channel) decoder for decoding. A second input stream is obtained and a latency priority associated with the second input stream is determined. Coded frames from the first and second input streams are provided to the multi-channel decoder for decoding in an order based upon the latency priorities associated with the first and second input streams. In another embodiment, a multi-channel decoding system includes a multi-channel decoder configured to decode coded frames and a decoder input scheduler configured to provide coded frames from a plurality of input streams to the multi-channel decoder for decoding. The coded frames are provided to the multi-channel decoder in an order based at least in part upon latency priorities associated with the input streams. |
| US09338467B1 |
Parallel video transcoding
A system and method provides transcoding a video in parallel by multiple transcoders based on a measure of video coding complexity (VCC). The system has a video pre-processing module, a master transcoder, a transcoding controller and multiple transcoders. The video pre-processing module transcodes a source video into an intermediate video. The master transcoder partitions the intermediate video into multiple transcoding units, where a transcoding unit identifies a portion of data of the intermediate video for transcoding. The master transcoder further generates a transcoding request for each transcoding unit. The transcoding controller distributes the transcoding units to the multiple transcoders, which transcode the data of the transcoding units in parallel into transcoded data. |
| US09338461B2 |
Method and system for encoding collections of images and videos
An input segment of an input video is encoded by first extracting and storing, for each segment of previously encoded videos, a set of reference features. The set of input features are matched with each set of the reference features to produce a set of scores. The reference segments having largest scores are selected to produce a first reduced set of reference segments. A rate-distortion cost for each reference segment in the first reduced set of reference segments is estimated. The reference segments in the first reduced set of reference segments is selected to produce a second reduced set of reference segments. Then, the input segment are encoded based on second reduced set of reference segments. |
| US09338460B2 |
Method of constructing merge list
Provided is a method checks availability of spatial merge candidates and a temporal merge candidate, constructs a merge candidate list using available spatial and temporal merge candidates, and adds one or more candidates if the number of available spatial and temporal merge candidates is smaller than a predetermined number. The spatial merge candidate is motion information of a spatial merge candidate block, the spatial merge candidate block is a left block, an above block, an above-right block, a left-below block or an above-left block of the current block, and if the current block is a second prediction unit partitioned by asymmetric partitioning, the spatial merge candidate corresponding to a first prediction unit partitioned by the asymmetric partitioning is set as unavailable. Therefore, the coding efficiency of motion information is improved by removing unavailable merge candidates and adding new merge candidates from the merge list. |
| US09338458B2 |
Video decoding apparatus and method for selectively bypassing processing of residual values and/or buffering of processed residual values
An exemplary video decoding apparatus includes a first decoding unit configured for decoding a first encoded block to generate first residual values, a first detecting unit configured for detecting whether all of the first residual values have a same first value, a first processing circuit configured for processing the first residual values to generate first processed residual values, and a second processing circuit configured for generating a decoded block corresponding to the first encoded block. When all of the first residual values have the same first value, the first detecting unit controls the second processing circuit to generate the decoded block without referring to the first processed residual values. |
| US09338454B2 |
Method and apparatus for obtaining size of transform block
The present disclosure provides a method for obtaining a size of a transform block, where the method includes: obtaining a dividing manner of an image block; and obtaining size information of a post-dividing transform block according to the dividing manner of the image block and a width and a height of a pre-dividing transform block. By using the method for obtaining a size of a transform block provided in this embodiment of the present disclosure, a size of a transform block may be coded according to a dividing manner of an image block or a height and a width of a pre-dividing transform block, thereby effectively improving coding efficiency. |
| US09338453B2 |
Method and device for encoding/decoding video signals using base layer
The present invention relates to encoding and decoding a video signal by motion compensated temporal filtering. In one embodiment, a first sequence of frames are decoded by inverse motion compensated temporal filtering by selectively adding to a first image block in the first sequence image information, the image information being based on at least one of (1) a second image block from the first sequence and (2) a third image block from an auxiliary sequence of frames. |
| US09338451B2 |
Common spatial candidate blocks for parallel motion estimation
In one example, an apparatus for coding video data comprises a video coder configured to, for a parallel motion estimation (PME) region comprising a plurality of blocks of video data within the PME region, identify a common set of spatial candidate blocks outside of and adjacent to the PME region, each of the common set of spatial candidate blocks at a respective, predefined location relative to the PME region and, for each of the blocks within the PME region for which motion information prediction is performed, generate a respective motion information candidate list, wherein, for at least some of the blocks within the PME region for which motion information prediction is performed, generating the motion information candidate list comprises evaluating motion information of at least one of the common set of spatial candidate blocks for inclusion in the motion information candidate list for the block. |
| US09338449B2 |
Harmonized scan order for coding transform coefficients in video coding
This disclosure describes techniques for coding transform coefficients associated with a block of residual video data in a video coding process. Aspects of this disclosure include the selection of a scan order for both significance map coding and level coding, as well as the selection of contexts for entropy coding consistent with the selected scan order. This disclosure proposes a harmonization of the scan order to code both the significance map of the transform coefficients as well as to code the levels of the transform coefficient. It is proposed that the scan order for the significance map should be in the inverse direction (i.e., from the higher frequencies to the lower frequencies). This disclosure also proposes that transform coefficients be scanned in sub-sets as opposed to fixed sub-blocks. In particular, transform coefficients are scanned in a sub-set consisting of a number of consecutive coefficients according to the scan order. |
| US09338447B1 |
Calibrating devices by selecting images having a target having fiducial features
Devices and techniques are described for automatically calibrating a device such as a camera, projector, or both using a video stream. The device undergoing calibration is coupled to a computing device and configured to acquire video comprising a plurality of images. These images, at least some of the time, include targets having known characteristics present in an environment. From these acquired images calibration data comprising parameters such as intrinsic parameters, extrinsic parameters, or both, may be determined. The calibration data may be embedded or otherwise associated with the video stream as calibration matrix metadata. |
| US09338441B2 |
3D display device and methods thereof
A display device configured to display a selected image type, the image type including a first image and a second image, according to an image source signal, the display device including: a display unit, the display unit including a first group pixel and a second group pixel; and an image processor, the image processor: arranging image signals for each frame of the display device according to a display sequence of the first image and the second image in the first group pixel and the second group pixel, changing the image type displayed during a remaining period for each frame unit of the image source signal. |
| US09338435B2 |
Grid modulated single lens 3-D camera
A camera includes a single lens configured to receive an optical image as two images from two viewing angles. The two images from respective viewing angles are converted into two orthogonally modulated images, each of the orthogonally modulated images corresponding to a different one of the two viewing angles. An image detector is configured to distinguishably detect the two orthogonally modulated images in a single frame. An image processor is configured to decode the two orthogonally modulated images in the single frame into two video signals corresponding to the two viewing angles. A method of imaging includes receiving an optical image from two viewing angles; converting the optical image into two orthogonally modulated images, each of the orthogonally modulated images corresponding to a different one of the viewing angles; distinguishably detecting in an image detector the two orthogonally modulated images in a single frame; and decoding in an image processor the two orthogonally modulated images in the single frame into two video output signals corresponding to the two viewing angles. |
| US09338434B2 |
Parallax calculation method and parallax calculation device
A disparity calculation apparatus for a stereo camera implements ranging of an object that includes consecutive similar patterns. In stereo matching, if a plurality of corresponding point candidates are present in a sum of absolute differences or similar evaluation value distribution for a target point, an evaluation value map is generated by superimposing an evaluation value distribution of a target point, for which a plurality of corresponding points are determined to be present, and an evaluation value distribution of each other target point present in a peripheral area of that target point. The shape of an object is represented in real space around a target point for which a plurality of corresponding points are determined to be present. The true distance of a railing that extends in a straight line is determined by extracting a line segment with the strongest linearity in the evaluation value map. |
| US09338433B2 |
Method and electronic device for displaying a 3D image using 2D image
A method and apparatus are provided for displaying a 3D image using a 2D image in an electronic device. Information related to an inclination of the electronic device is detected from a motion of the electronic device. The 3D image is generated by moving each of a plurality of image layers, which are derived from the 2D image, based on the detected information and motion parallax corresponding to the detected information. The 3D image is displayed. |
| US09338426B2 |
Three-dimensional image processing apparatus, three-dimensional imaging apparatus, and three-dimensional image processing method
A three-dimensional image processing apparatus which processes a captured image of a scene using distance information indicating a distance of the scene from a camera, and includes: a distance designation unit which receives input of a designated distance that is a target distance in which a stereoscopic effect is to be emphasized; a distance conversion unit which converts the distance indicated in the distance information into a stereoscopic distance for generating three-dimensional images, to emphasize the stereoscopic effect of the scene in the designated distance; and an emphasized image generation unit which, by processing the captured image based on the stereoscopic distance, generates an emphasized image representing the stereoscopic effect to be emphasized in the designated distance. |
| US09338421B2 |
Imaging apparatus and control method for the same, shooting control apparatus, and shooting control method
An imaging apparatus includes a shooting rate setting unit configured to set a shooting rate, a shooting unit configured to shoot a moving image at the shooting rate set by the shooting rate setting unit, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a shooting duration time from a start of shooting, a calculation unit configured to calculate a playback time based on a playback rate in a case of playing back the moving image shot by the shooting unit, and a display control unit configured to display the shooting duration time acquired by the acquisition unit and the playback time calculated by the calculation unit together on a display unit while the shooting is conducted by the shooting unit. |
| US09338417B2 |
Image projecting system, master apparatus, image projecting apparatus, and image projecting method
An image projecting system includes a master apparatus and an image projecting apparatus connected through a network. The master apparatus generates a correction parameter for correcting distortion caused in captured calibration image data of the image projecting apparatus, using the captured calibration image data and characteristic information of the image projecting apparatus. The image projecting apparatus corrects distortion using the correction parameter generated by the master apparatus to project a corrected projection image on the projection surface. |
| US09338416B2 |
Discharge lamp driving device, light source device, projector, and discharge lamp driving method
A discharge lamp driving device includes: a discharge lamp driving unit that supplies a driving current to the discharge lamp; and a control unit that controls the discharge lamp driving unit. The driving current having driving periods is supplied, the driving period including: a mixing period which alternately has an AC period in which an alternating current is supplied and a first DC period in which a direct current is supplied, a second DC period which is provided immediately after the mixing period and in which a direct current having a polarity which is the same as that of the direct current in the first DC period is supplied, and a third DC period which is provided immediately after the second DC period and in which a direct current having a polarity opposite to that of the direct current in the second DC period is supplied. |
| US09338415B2 |
Projector and image display apparatus
A projector (1) which projects a guide image (Pg). A first region above the center of the guide image (Pg) shows a perspective view (D) representing the projector (1) and a supporting device (2) supporting the projector (1). A second region on the upper right of the guide image (Pg), shows six illustrations (G1-G6) affixed with numbers 1 to 6. The six illustrations (G1-G6) respectively correspond to six adjustment items related to a supporting state of the projector (1). The six illustrations (G1-G6) indicate how a projected image changes when the adjustment items are adjusted. The perspective view (D) is an explanatory diagram for clearly showing the positions of adjustment operation units that adjust the six adjustment items of the supporting device (2). In the perspective view (D), the numbers 1 to 6 are affixed near the respective adjustment operation units in balloons. |
| US09338411B2 |
System and method for remote utility meter reading
The system and method for remote utility meter reading are include a camera positioned adjacent the face of a utility meter for generating an analog optical image signal representative of a the utility meter having a visual identifier associated with the utility meter. The visual identifier may be a label, a bar code or the like for identifying the location of the particular utility meter. An analog-to-digital converter is in communication with the camera for receiving the analog optical image signal and generating an associated digital image signal. The original analog optical image signal is preserved, so that a transmitter in communication with the camera may transmit both the analog optical image signal and the digital image signal to a remote host associated with the utility company for remote reading of the utility meter. |
| US09338408B2 |
Image obtaining apparatus, image obtaining method, and image obtaining program
An image obtaining apparatus includes: a light source configured to irradiate a biological sample having a fluorescent label with excitation light, the excitation light exciting the fluorescent label; an optical system including an objective lens, the objective lens being configured to magnify an imaging target of the biological sample; an image sensor configured to form an image of the imaging target magnified by the objective lens; a movement controller configured to move a focus position of the optical system in an imaging range including at least a range corresponding to the thickness of the imaging target; and a data processing unit configured to exposure the image sensor to light while moving the focus position in the imaging range and obtain a fluorescent image of the biological sample, to thereby calculate distribution information of the fluorescent label in a thickness direction of the imaging target based on the fluorescent image. |
| US09338404B1 |
Communication in a virtual reality environment
A device may provide information for a virtual reality environment to a virtual reality device. The virtual reality device may be operated by a first party. The device may determine that the first party of the virtual reality device is placing a call to a second party from within the virtual reality environment. The device may determine connection information associated with the first party and the second party. The device may cause the call to be established between the virtual reality device and a second party device associated with the second party via a telephone network using the connection information and without the second party device connecting to the virtual reality environment. The telephone network may be located external to the virtual reality environment. The second party device may connect to the telephone network without connecting to the virtual reality environment. |
| US09338403B2 |
Persistent conversations
Systems, methods and computer readable media for persistent conversations are described. In some implementations, a method can include receiving a communication message sent from a first user to at least one other user, and generating a persistent conversation object having a conversation content section and conversation state information. The method can also include storing the communication message in the conversation content section of the persistent conversation object, and forwarding the communication message to the at least one other user. The method can further include updating the conversation state information to reflect the receiving, storing and forwarding of the communication message. |
| US09338400B1 |
Systems and methods for using equivalence classes to identify and manage participants and resources in a conference room
Equivalence classes are used to determine how groups of call participants are distributed among remotely situated conference rooms. A roster of conference call participants is distributed for display by communication devices the participants bring to a conference room. The distributed roster contains at least one indicium by which the possession of an attribute, by any conference call participant in a room can be confirmed by other conference call participant(s) using a communication device. After entering a room, at least some participants use a communication device to access the roster and indicate, to a server, that at least one other participant on the roster possesses an attribute of significance to conduct of the call. Participants are assigned to groups and the groups are merged based on the presence of participants possessing an attribute or set of linked attributes. The server assigns the participants to respective groups for selective treatment. |
| US09338399B1 |
Configuring output controls on a per-online identity and/or a per-online resource basis
A process includes receiving, from a user identity, instructions for output characteristics including one or more of audio characteristics for rendering or capturing audio data or visual characteristics for rendering or capturing visual data. The process also includes determining, in response to the received instructions, output controls which effect the one or more of audio characteristics or visual characteristics, and associating the output controls with an online identity or resource. The process further includes storing the associated output controls and detecting an interaction with the online identity or resource. Moreover, the process includes accessing, in response to the detection of the interaction, the stored output controls, and enabling an effect, based on the output controls, of one or more of the audio characteristics or the visual characteristics with respect to interaction with the online identity or resource. |
| US09338390B2 |
Method and apparatus for synchronizing data streams containing audio, video and/or other data
Several data streams contain video, audio and/or other data. Some of the data streams are pre-recorded in a multiplex on a storage medium while other data streams are located out of the data stream multiplex on the storage medium. The data streams are synchronized using a navigation file (List_of_PlayItems), which comprises descriptors (PlayItems, SubPlayItems) pointing to parts of said data streams, wherein said descriptors define the arrangement in time for said data streams by means of data sub stream paths. |
| US09338386B2 |
Method and apparatus to provide broadcasting program information on screen of broadcast receiver
Disclosed is a method of providing broadcasting program information, the method including obtaining electronic program guide (EPG) information, extracting first program information from the obtained EPG information, the first program information being program information with respect to all channels, generating second program information based on the first program information, the second program information being information regarding first programs currently being broadcast and second programs to be displayed next in each of the channels, and displaying the generated second program information and a vertical line or a horizontal line indicating a current time on a screen. |
| US09338383B2 |
Method for driving solid-state imaging device including starting/ending a reset operation on pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array
Provided is a method for driving a solid-state imaging device. The solid-state imaging device including pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array of m columns in a horizontal scanning direction and n rows in a vertical scanning direction (n is an integer no less than 2 and m is a natural number). The method including ending a reset operation on pixels in an i-th row among the pixels when (i) a reset operation on pixels in an (i+1)-th row among the pixels is in progress or (ii) time elapsed from when the reset operation on the pixels in the (i+1)-th row is ended is less than one-frame capturing time, where i is an integer no less than 1 and no greater than (n−1). |
| US09338381B2 |
Solid-state image-pickup device, image-pickup device, and signal reading method
A solid-state image pickup device according to one aspect of the present invention includes, but is not limited to: first and second substrates on which circuit elements constituting a pixel; a coupler electrically coupling the first and second substrates; a first photoelectric conversion element on the first substrate; a first amplifier circuit on the first substrate; a first storing unit on the second substrate; and an output circuit on the second substrate. The first photoelectric conversion element performs photoelectric conversion on a first incident light to generate a first signal. The first amplifier circuit is coupled in series to the first photoelectric conversion element. The first amplifier circuit amplifies the first signal to generate a first amplified signal and output the first amplified signal to the coupler. The first storing unit stores the first amplified signal. The output circuit sequentially outputs the first amplified signal stored. |
| US09338380B2 |
Image processing methods for image sensors with phase detection pixels
An image sensor may include a pixel array having image pixels for capturing image data and phase detection pixels for gathering phase information during automatic focusing operations. Phase detection pixels may form phase detection pixel pairs having first and second pixels with different angular responses. The first and second pixels may have color filters of the same color or may have color filters of different colors. The phase detection pixel pairs may be isolated from other phase detection pixel pairs in the array or may be arranged consecutively in a line. The phase detection pixels may, for example, be provided with color filters to match the color filter pattern of the pixel array. Processing circuitry may adjust red and green pixel signals from a phase detection pixel pair having a red and green color filter and may subsequently determine a phase difference using the adjusted pixel signals. |
| US09338378B2 |
Solid-state imaging device having plural reset devices for resetting signal lines
To remove reset noise in pixels while the circuit configuration is kept in low power consumption, a device includes pixels arranged in row and column directions, in which each of the pixels includes a charge-voltage conversion terminal for voltage-converting signal charges transferred from a photoelectric conversion element, and a first reset means for resetting a voltage at the charge-voltage conversion terminal; first signal lines, each of which is connected to the pixels in each column; a scanning means for selecting one row among others; and a second reset means for resetting voltages at the signal lines. In the device, on each selected row, by voltage signals at the charge-voltage conversion terminals and the converted voltage signals from the transferred signal charges are read out to and stored in the signal lines in a floating potential state, and then are output. |
| US09338376B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and technique of improving signal output characteristics from a light receiving element
As a reset transistor is turned on, an FD (Floating Diffusion) is reset to VDD and then stores charges transferred from a light receiving element. By a source-follower circuit formed by an amplifying transistor, a selection transistor and a current source, a voltage in accordance with a potential of FD is output to a data line. A second output circuit generates an output voltage VOUT in accordance with the potential of FD at an output node. Output transistors in output circuit are configured to generate a potential difference equivalent to the potential difference between FD and data line caused by the amplifying transistor and selection transistor, between data line and output node. |
| US09338373B2 |
Image sensor data compression and DSP decompression
An image sensor compresses image data prior to transmitting the image data to a DSP. The image sensor captures light representing an image, for instance via a camera's aperture. A focal plane array converts the captured light into pixel data. The pixel data is sorted into categories, and is compressed in parallel by a compression engine. The compressed pixel data is then sent to a DSP, which may be located off-chip. The DSP then decompresses the compressed pixel data, performs image signal processing operations on the compressed pixel data, and then compresses the processed pixel data into a digital image format. The image sensor may buffer the pixel data for one or more images to accommodate for slowdown by the compression engine. The pixel data may be sorted by row and column of a pixel array. Alternatively, the pixel data may be sorted by color from a Bayer color filter. |
| US09338371B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging unit photographs an object, and obtains a visible light signal and an invisible light signal. A visible light luminance extraction unit extracts a visible light luminance signal. An invisible light luminance extraction unit extracts an invisible light luminance signal. A color signal extraction unit extracts color signals from the visible light signal and corrects the color signals. An image synthesis unit uses the visible light luminance signal and the invisible light luminance signal to synthesize a luminance signal and generates a color image using the synthesized luminance signal and the corrected color signals. In accordance with the value of the visible light luminance signal, the control unit controls a synthesis ratio between the visible and invisible light luminance signals, a gain for the color signals to be corrected in the color signal extraction unit, and color noise removal to be performed in the color signal extraction unit. |
| US09338367B2 |
Processing method of scene image of device with shooting function, device with shooting function and storage medium
One or more embodiments of the present application provide a processing method of a scene image of a device with a shooting function, the device with the shooting function and a storage medium. The method includes: determining first and second combined regions in a pre-shot image of a shot scene according to gray values of pixels in the pre-shot image; determining first and second exposures according to the determined first and second combined regions respectively; adjusting respectively gray values of pixels in a first image region corresponding to the first combined region in a first image shot at the first exposure, and gray values of pixels in a second image region corresponding to the second combined region in a second image shot at the second exposure; and splicing the two adjusted image regions together to obtain the scene image. |
| US09338362B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, image capturing control method and storage medium for capturing a subject to be recorded with intended timing
An image capturing apparatus (1) includes an image capturing unit (2), a display control unit (71), an overlap determination unit (72), and a recording control unit (74). The image capturing unit (22) sequentially captures an image of a subject. The display control unit (71) controls the image containing the subject image sequentially captured by the image capturing unit (22) and an indicator image for instructing recording of the subject image to be displayed on a display unit in such a way that the indicator image is superimposed on the image containing the subject image. The overlap determination unit (72) determines whether the indicator image and the subject image have overlapped. The recording control unit (74) controls the image containing the subject image to be recorded in a storage medium, when the overlap determination unit (72) determines that the indicator image and the subject image have overlapped. |
| US09338356B2 |
Method and apparatus to correct digital video to counteract effect of camera shake
The effect of camera shake in digital video is corrected using signal processing techniques. The digital video is a sequence of digital images. When the sequence of digital images are being captured, movement of the imaging device causes the images to shift on the image sensor of the imaging device and affects the quality of the eventual video. Movement of the imaging device is detected while the video is being captured, and a motion information representing the motion is recorded. A processor determines a correcting filter based on the motion information and user input. The processor modifies the sequence of images captured according to the correcting filter and obtains a final corrected video. Corrected video is displayed in a viewfinder. |
| US09338354B2 |
Motion blur estimation and restoration using light trails
A method for processing a blurred image (16) that includes a captured light trail (24) includes the steps of: (i) displaying the blurred image (16) on an image display (36); (ii) manually identifying an image patch (25) that includes the captured light trail (24) in the displayed blurred image (16); (iii) calculating a point spread function for the captured light trail (24) with a control system (28); and (iv) deblurring at least a portion of the blurred image (16) with the control system (28) utilizing the calculated point spread function. |
| US09338349B2 |
Generation of ghost-free high dynamic range images
Apparatuses and methods for reading a set of images to merge together into a high dynamic range (HDR) output image are described. Images have a respective HDR weight and a respective ghost-free weight. Images are merged together using the weighted average of the set of input images using the ghost-free weight. A difference image is determined based on a difference between each pixel within a HDR output image and each respective pixel within a reference image used to create the HDR output image. |
| US09338346B2 |
Focus detection apparatus, control method therefor, and image capture apparatus
A plurality of image signals for focus detection are generated from combined signals obtained by combining output signals of a pixel in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion areas obtained by dividing are arranged in a predetermined direction, in units of the photoelectric conversion areas, and the defocus amount is detected based on a correlation amount between the plurality of image signals. The combined signals are generated for each pixel block, for a plurality of pixel block lines in which pixel blocks each having a predetermined size are arranged in the predetermined direction. The pixel data amount for focus detection can be effectively reduced by, in the combining, making combining central points of signals, in the plurality of pixel block lines, shifted relative to each other or phases of positions of the pixel blocks different from each other. |
| US09338344B2 |
Focusing apparatus and method for controlling the same, and image pickup apparatus
The defocus amount of an imaging optical system is detected based on a pair of image signals that are obtained from an image sensor and are used for phase-difference detection automatic focusing. In a first mode, the drive of a focusing lens is controlled so that the focusing lens is driven at a first speed if the reliability of the pair of image signal is at a first level, and at a second speed lower than the first speed if the reliability of the pair of image signals is at a second level higher than the first level. |
| US09338340B2 |
Launching a camera of a wireless device from a wearable device
A system includes a wearable device (102) such as a smartwatch and a wireless device (104) such as a smartphone. A user provides to the wearable device a user input indicating a user desire to launch a camera of the wireless device. The wearable device is separate from the wireless device but communicates wirelessly with the wireless device. The user input can take various forms such as a particular gesture (e.g., the user shaking his or her wrist back and forth twice). In response to the user input, an indication is sent to the wireless device to launch the camera of the wireless device. In response to receipt of the indication from the wearable device, the wireless device launches the camera of the wireless device. |
| US09338339B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image pickup apparatus
The image processing apparatus includes an area dividing part that divides an input image produced by an image pickup system into plural image areas whose evaluation values are mutually different. The evaluation value is obtained by using a response function of the image pickup system. The apparatus further includes a processing part that performs image processing to produce an output image whose definition is higher than that of the input image by using the response functions different for the respective image areas. |
| US09338338B2 |
Electronic device and method of camera control
An electronic device includes two cameras each with a light sensor. The electronic device uses the light sensor of one of the two cameras which is operational to detect an ambient luminance, and determines if the detected ambient luminance is less than a preset shading value. In response to the detected ambient luminance being less than the preset shading value, the electronic device interchanges the cameras to work. That is, the electronic device powers down the one of the two cameras which is operational and activating the other one of the two cameras. |
| US09338336B2 |
Image pickup apparatus
The image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system to cause light rays from an object plane to image on an image side conjugate plane with respect to the object plane, an image sensor including pixels and to photoelectrically convert the optical image, and an optical element array including optical element cells each of which conjugates the image side conjugate plane with the image sensor and which are arranged so as to cause light rays from a same point on the object plane to enter mutually different pixels depending on positions on a pupil plane of the imaging optical system through which the light rays pass. An arrangement pitch of the optical element cells in the optical element array is 25 times or less of an arrangement pitch of the pixels in the image sensor. |
| US09338333B2 |
Image collector device having a sealed sensor space, and method of sealing a sensor space in an image collector device
An image collector device comprising a sensor arranged on a circuit board, a lens, and a lens holder. The lens is mounted in the lens holder. A sensor space, in which the sensor is arranged, is formed between the lens and the circuit board. The image collector device further comprises a sealing device comprising a first end and a second end. A resilient circumferential wall portion extends between the ends. An end wall is arranged at the first end, an opening being formed in the end wall. An end wall portion surrounding the opening is flexible. The sealing device is arranged in the sensor space, the circumferential wall portion being arranged around the sensor and sealing the sensor space. The circumferential wall portion is compressed in a direction along said sensor space between the lens and the circuit board, and the opening in the end wall encloses the lens. |
| US09338322B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus including an illuminating unit and an aligning portion for positioning an original
An image reading device includes a platen on which an original is to be placed, an illuminating unit configured to illuminate the original, a linear sensor configured to receive light from the original, an optical unit configured to guide the light from the original to the linear sensor, and an aligning portion configured to determine a position of the original in a long-side direction of the linear sensor. The illuminating unit includes a light-guiding member extending in the long-side direction of the linear sensor, and a light source provided only at one long-side end of the light-guiding member. The aligning portion is provided on a side opposite to the light source in the long-side direction of the light-guiding member. |
| US09338316B2 |
Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a conveyor. The conveyor includes a first roller, a second roller, and a contact portion. The first roller is configured to rotate on a first axis. One of the second roller and the contact portion is disposed on an upstream side of the first axis along a conveyance path, and the other of the second roller and the contact portion is disposed on a downstream side of the first axis along the conveyance path. A first distance between a surface of the first roller and a surface of the second roller and a second distance between a surface of the first roller and a surface of the contact portion is fixed. |
| US09338315B2 |
Image communication apparatus, method, and storage medium for performing image communication and voice communication
A present image communication apparatus performs voice communication with an external apparatus via a network, acquires image communication information indicating an image communication capability of the external apparatus, displays an operation screen that is related to image communication and includes at least information indicating whether or not voice communication can be continued when performing image communication based on the acquired image communication information, and controls image communication in accordance with user input that has been made via the operation screen. |
| US09338314B2 |
User terminal apparatus and method of control thereof
A user terminal apparatus is provided, which connects to an image forming apparatus, which is driven by an operating system (O/S, and which includes a storage to store the image forming apparatus and a metro application to perform a job. A display displays a background screen of the including a user interface (UI) area corresponding to a job option, a controller implements the metro application, if the UI area is selected, and a communication interface transmits a command to perform the job to the image forming apparatus according to the job option corresponding to the UI area, by using the metro application. |
| US09338312B2 |
Portable handheld device with multi-core image processor
A portable handheld device includes an image sensor for capturing an image; an image sensor interface for receiving data from the image sensor; a DRAM for storing the data received by the image sensor interface; an image processor for storing the image the DRAM, the image processor including a plurality of micro-coded processing units; a central processor for instructing the image processor; and an orientation sensor for sensing a rotation of the protable handheld device at a time of sensing the image. The central processor is configured to load the plurality of micro-coded processing units of the image processor with micro-code for performing an affine transform of the data in the DRAM to rotate the data in the DRAM by a rotation corresponding to the rotation sensed by the orientation sensor. |
| US09338308B1 |
Personalized product package recommendation engine
Systems and methods discussed herein relate to a personalized recommendation engine. The personalized recommendation engine makes recommendations for packages of components sold and/or supported by a telecommunications service provider such as electronic devices, accessories, subscription plans, services, and applications. These package recommendations are based upon user input, telecommunications service provider input, and customer feedback from customers who made previous purchases using the personalized recommendation engine. Each component from a pool of components is ranked based upon this input, package components are selected and bundled, and the packages are recommended to the user based upon the overall package score which is determined by user input, telecommunications service provider input, and in some cases customer feedback. |
| US09338306B2 |
Processing usage information for machine-to-machine communication
An M2M service provider (41) is a provider of a plurality of services (31-33). A method of processing charging information for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication between at least one M2M device (10) and an M2M service provider (41) comprises creating (102) a charging record (90) for recording usage information of the plurality of services (31-33) of the service provider (41). For each of the plurality of services (31-33) of the service provider (41), per-service usage information (94) is accumulated (105). Usage of the service by the at least one M2M device (10) is aggregated. The per-service usage information (94) is stored (108) in the charging record (90). The charging record can include at least one volume-based limit or time-based limit for publishing the charging record. |
| US09338305B2 |
Calling back a device that made a call
A device may receive a first call associated with a virtual phone number associated with a first user device and a second user device. The device may determine, and may store information indicating, that the first call was made using the first user device. The device may receive a second call directed to the virtual phone number and may determine whether the second call comprises a call back associated with the first call. The device may selectively send the second call to the first user device or to the first and second user devices based on determining whether the second call comprises the call back. The second call may be sent to the first and second user devices when the second call does not comprise the call back and may be sent to the first user device when the second call comprises the call back. |
| US09338302B2 |
Phone call playback with intelligent notification
Notifying a participant in a teleconference while the teleconference is in progress. The telecommunication device receives audio data representing natural language spoken during a teleconference in progress. The telecommunication device determines if information associated with a participant in the teleconference in progress is in the natural language audio data. Responsive to determining that information associated with the participant in the teleconference in progress is in the natural language audio data, notifying, by the telecommunication device, the participant. |
| US09338296B2 |
System and method for driving a virtual view of agents in a contact center
A system for driving a virtual view of agents of a contact center is provided. The system includes a monitoring module for monitoring and detecting a breach in threshold associated with at least one key performance indicator of at least one agent from a plurality of agents. The system further includes a ranking module for calculating a rank of at least one agent among the plurality of agents based on predefined rules. The system further includes a driving module for driving a display of the virtual view of the plurality of agents based on the calculated rank of the at least one agent. |
| US09338293B2 |
Communication device and communication method thereof
A communication device provides a face detection module and a face recognition module. The face detection module detects faces in a photo input by a user. The face recognition module searches the detected faces in a storage system of the communication device. If the detected faces do not exist in the storage system, the communication device prompts the user to edit communication information of the detected faces. If the user wants to dial a phone number, the communication device searches the storage system for the phone number of a selected face in a photo and dials the phone number. If a phone number is calling in, the communication device displays a photo corresponding to the phone number, and highlights a face corresponding to the phone number. |
| US09338289B1 |
Automatic determination of caller identification data in outgoing calls
Automatic determination of caller identification information and encoding of such information in outgoing data requests, such a API calls to a call management component, are disclosed herein. The caller identification information may be determined by analyzing information associated with a call target to determine if the target has a custom outbound telephone number assigned, was contacted through a specific campaign, has local geographic data, is being called from a specific entity, or is being made from a call originator with a specific outbound number set. The system may execute machine learning on previous calling data in order to update caller identification selection models used for other outgoing calls. |
| US09338288B2 |
Data extraction from a call
A network component comprising a communications portion and a processor portion is disclosed. The communications portion may be configured to detect a signal indicative of a call associated with a mobile device. The processor portion may be configured to detect at least one record cue in the signal. The processor portion may be also be configured to respectively capture at least one portion of the call upon the at least one record cue being detected. The processor portion may also be configured to respectively associate at least one identifier with the at least one captured portion of the call. The identifier may respectively identify the at least one captured portion of the call. |
| US09338284B1 |
Reduction in network congestion
A system, method and non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when read by a processor perform receiving a telephony connection request at a location in a telephony network, the location separated from an intended recipient of the telephony connection request by a target telephony network, determining addressing information regarding the intended recipient, the addressing information including at least routing information or a phone number, determining a status characteristic of the intended recipient based on the addressing information, based on the status characteristic, and determining whether the intended recipient would successfully receive the telephony connection request if the telephony connection request was forwarded to the intended recipient. |
| US09338274B2 |
Method of interacting with electronic devices in a locked state and handheld electronic device configured to permit interaction when in a locked state
A method of interacting with electronic devices in a locked state, and a handheld electronic device configured to permit interaction when in a locked state are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a handheld electronic device, comprising: a controller; a display screen connected to the controller; an input device connected to the controller; a communication subsystem connected to the controller for communication over a wireless network; a notification element connected to the controller; wherein the controller is configured for: initiating a locked state on the device in response to detection of a trigger condition; monitoring for one or more predetermined inputs via the input device when the device is in the locked state; and generating a notification via the notification element in response to detection of a predetermined input when the device is in the locked state. |
| US09338261B2 |
Method for rapid PMA alignment in 100GBASE-KP4
Methods, apparatus and systems for implementing Physical Media Attachment (PMA) alignment and rapid transition from a link training mode to a data mode for next-generation high-speed Ethernet links including a 100 Gbps Ethernet link. Training frames are transmitted between first and second Ethernet interfaces on opposing ends of the link in a pair-wise manner, with a first training frame being sent from a first Ethernet interface and a second training frame being returned from the second Ethernet interface. The training frames have a length that is different that the length of Physical Media Attachment (PMA) frames, and the returned training frames include receiver readiness status indicia identifying a readiness status of a local receiver port, frame alignment offset data identifying a relative offset between a training frame and a predetermined location in a PMA frame, and countdown data. |
| US09338254B2 |
Service migration across cluster boundaries
Embodiments provide migration of services across different clusters to balance utilization and meet customer demands. Different service migration options may be performed with or without downtime. The artifacts of the service are moved to a new destination cluster. The service is created on the new destination cluster and staged so that the service is almost ready to start. In one embodiment, the service is stopped on the old cluster and started on the new cluster. After stopping the service, DNS is updated to point to the service on the new cluster. In another embodiment, the service is stopped on the old cluster and started on the new cluster with the same IP address to avoid DNS reprogramming and associated delays. In a further embodiment, the migration is performed without downtime by moving the service part by part from one cluster to another. |
| US09338251B2 |
Social-mobile-local (SML) networking with intelligent semantic processing
A social-mobile-local (SML) system and environment includes user mobile devices, a distributed communications network over which the devices communicate, a means of sensing proximity between pairs of mobile devices, and one or more SML databases and programs resident on the user mobile devices, on remote computers, or both. Challenges addressed include prevention of “alert flooding,” privacy protection, credential verification, entering detailed data on mobile devices, power-saving, and improved quality in both the choice and the content of notifications. Solutions include the aggregation of online information about a user to create an aggregate profile, enabling the user to create multiple personas by selecting what information from the profile or from other sources to reveal to other users under which circumstances, enabling the user to broadcast “wants” and preview what is available in the vicinity, linguistic analysis detecting nuanced correspondences between terms entered for wants and filtering out purely incidental word-matches, and adaptive algorithms to make the best use of battery power and other resources in dynamic surroundings. |
| US09338250B2 |
Associating received contact information with user profiles stored by a social networking system
A social networking system receives contact information from a social networking system user. The received contact information is stored and associated with a user profile in the social networking system including information matching at least a portion of the stored content information. This increases the information associated with the user profile. Subsequently received content information is compared to user profiles and stored contact information associated with one or more user profiles. User profiles including information matching at least a portion of the subsequently received content information or associated with stored contact information matching at least a portion of the subsequently received content information are identified as potential connections for the user providing the subsequently received contact information. |
| US09338249B2 |
Distributed user profile
A reasoning apparatus (101) is arranged to determine device locations for user profile elements of a distributed user profile. A user profile processor (201) receives a user profile which comprises a plurality of user profile elements. Each user profile element furthermore comprises associated metadata. The apparatus (101) also comprises a device profile receiver (203) that receives device profiles for a plurality of devices. A device location processor (205) proceeds to determine device locations for the user profile elements in response to the associated metadata and the device profiles. Specifically, a user profile element may be assigned to a specific device if the device profile for that device matches the metadata for the user profile element. The reasoning apparatus (101) may furthermore comprise a user profile element synchronizer (207) which synchronizes the user profile elements with the appropriate devices. |
| US09338243B2 |
Tracking contacts across multiple communications services
A method for tracking at least recent contacts and favorite contacts across multiple communications services may include collecting, by a processor, information associated with a plurality of contact interactions of a user from each of a set of different communications services utilized by the user. The method may also include storing, by a storage device, the information associated with each of the plurality of contact interactions. The method may additionally include analyzing the information associated with each of the plurality of contact interactions. The method may further include determining at least one of a list of most recent contacts and a list of favorite contacts from analyzing the information associated with each of the plurality of contact interactions. |
| US09338241B2 |
Tracking contacts across multiple communications services
A method for tracking at least recent contacts and favorite contacts across multiple communications services may include collecting, by a processor, information associated with a plurality of contact interactions of a user from each of a set of different communications services utilized by the user. The method may also include storing, by a storage device, the information associated with each of the plurality of contact interactions. The method may additionally include analyzing the information associated with each of the plurality of contact interactions. The method may further include determining at least one of a list of most recent contacts and a list of favorite contacts from analyzing the information associated with each of the plurality of contact interactions. |
| US09338238B2 |
Operation scheduler for a building automation system
A computer-implemented method for managing and controlling multiple automation components coupled via a building automation network. The computer implemented method includes receiving, via the building automation network, a first operational schedule from a first automation device where the first operational schedule is formatted according to a first protocol, receiving, via the building automation network, a second operational schedule from a second automation device where the second operational schedule is formatted according to a second protocol, converting the received second operational schedule from the second protocol to the first protocol, generating a unified schedule that includes the first operational schedule and the converted second operational schedule, and displaying the unified schedule in a user accessible manner. |
| US09338237B2 |
Onboard apparatus, communication system and communication method
An onboard apparatus according to the present invention is an onboard apparatus which is installed in each of a plurality of vehicles so as to perform communication between vehicles and communication with a wireless station, comprising: a receiver that receives from neighboring onboard apparatuses, surround information that indicates the presence of onboard apparatuses in a communication area communicable with the wireless station; and, a processor that, upon receiving communication data, transmits the communication data addressed to the wireless station in accordance with the surround information. |
| US09338233B2 |
Distributing content by generating and preloading queues of content
Embodiments of methods, systems and apparatuses for distributing content by generating and preloading queues of content, are disclosed. One content distribution system includes at least one network content server coupled over one or more communication networks to a plurality of user devices, and a one or more storage elements associated with the plurality of user devices, wherein each of the plurality of user devices is associated with at least one of the one or more storage elements. The at least one network content server includes at least one processor configured to generate a queue of content for each of the plurality of user devices based on parameters of a plurality of available content, and based on storage capabilities of the at least one of the one or more storage elements associated with each of the plurality of user devices, and assist preloading at of least a portion of the queue of content of each of the plurality of user devices to the at least one of the one or more storage elements associated with the user device. |
| US09338224B2 |
Integrated nodes, computer readable media and program products, and computer-implemented methods for providing an integrated node for data acquisition and recovery, and for remote subsystem control
Integrated nodes, such as programmable logic controllers, computer program products, computer readable media, and computer implemented methods are provided for process automation and subsystem communications, allowing a remote host to interface with a plurality of remote and in-plant subsystems and services using a wired or wireless network interface and having a database server and a protocol translator or translation server to convert and manipulate various industrial interfaces and protocols. Embodiments of the integrated node time-synchronize the plurality of remote subsystems, acquire and archive time-stamped process data, report exceptions therein to the remote host, and extract and transmit time-stamped process data to the remote host. |
| US09338222B2 |
Method and apparatus for aggregating user data and providing recommendations
A method and system for aggregating user data and providing recommendations for digital content or in conjunction with a social network is disclosed. |
| US09338221B2 |
Systems and methods for distributed conferencing
Distributed conferencing systems and methods provide local meeting contents to remote participants. In accordance with various example embodiments, a plurality of authorized source units generate media content responsive to and representative of respective content for a meeting. In response to the generated media content, one or more data streams are developed at each authorized source, each stream being a separately-decodable real-time representation of at least a portion of the media content generated at the respective authorized source. The separate data streams are transmitted by each authorized source to a common multicast IP group address for retrieval/access by remote participants. |
| US09338216B2 |
Method, system and network device for implementing HTTP-based streaming service
A method for implementing a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP)-based streaming service is disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. The method includes: a server receives a request from a client, and returns, to the client according to a request for a media presentation description file, a response that carries the media presentation description file; the server sets up a time synchronization relationship with the client; and the server receives a uniform resource locator from the client, obtains a corresponding media fragment file, and returns the media fragment file to the client for playing on the client, where the uniform resource locator is a uniform resource locator of a media fragment that is determined by the client and is required to be played, and is used for the client to request the media fragment file from the server. |
| US09338211B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing streaming content
A method and apparatus for an adaptive Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) streaming service using metadata of content are provided. The metadata may include one or more BaseURL elements. Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) of segments forming media may be generated based on the BaseURL elements. Additionally, a URL of a segment may be generated by mapping a BaseURL element among the BaseURL elements to a sourceURL attribute of the segment. Segments indicated by generated URLs may be identical to each other. |
| US09338208B2 |
Common event-based multidevice media playback
A system for event-based synchronized multimedia playback, comprising a media source device and a plurality of destination devices, each destination device comprising a local clock, and a synchronization module on one of the devices. The synchronization module transmits common events, En, each with a unique event number, to each of the plurality of destination devices. Each destination device records time Dxn when event En is received and transmits an acknowledgement message back to the synchronization module comprising time Dxn and event number n. The synchronization module determines phase and frequency differences between clocks of respective destination devices; computes a frequency adjustment to compensate for phase and rate differences; and directs each respective destination device to adjust its clock phase and frequency accordingly. Each destination device adjusts its local clock as directed or may perform a sample rate conversion on sample data in order to enable synchronized media playback. |
| US09338206B2 |
Method and apparatus for playing live content
A method for providing a client with a playlist of content segments accessible in a live streaming service provided in a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) adaptive streaming format is provided. A live content processing method for a broadcast system includes transmitting and updating content-related information sent from a server to a client, checking, at the client, content segments accessible in real time and saving a previous content-related information, retrieving the content segments playable by referencing the previous content-related information, determining, at the client, whether the content requested for playback can be playable using a playlist, and notifying the user of the playback result. |
| US09338204B2 |
Prioritized side channel delivery for download and store media
Techniques and mechanisms described herein facilitate the delivery of prioritized side channel data to a client machine. According to various embodiments, base layer data may be transmitted to the client machine. The base layer data may include a plurality of base layer data segments. The base layer data segments may be capable of being used to present a media content item at a first quality level. Side channel data may be transmitted to the client machine. The side channel data may include a plurality of side channel data segments. Each side channel data segment may correspond with a base layer data segment. The side channel data segments may be capable of being combined with the corresponding base layer data segments to present the media content item at second quality level. The second quality level may be being greater than the first quality level. |
| US09338201B2 |
Presentation delay feedback in a web conferencing session
Embodiments disclosed herein provide methods and systems for providing presentation delay feedback to a presenter in a web conferencing session. In a particular embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a presenter client, a request to initiate a web conferencing session. The method further includes establishing the web conferencing session between the presenter client and at least one viewing client. During the web conferencing session, the method includes determining delays in presenting a view of the web conferencing session at each of the at least one viewing clients and providing an indication of the delays to a user at the presenter client. |
| US09338200B2 |
Metaverse client terminal and method for providing metaverse space capable of enabling interaction between users
Disclosed herein are a metaverse client terminal and method for providing a metaverse space capable of enabling interaction between users. The metaverse client terminal includes a sensing data collection unit, a motion state determination unit, a server interface unit, and a metaverse space provision unit. The sensing data collection unit collects sensing data regarding a motion of a first user. The motion state determination unit determines a motion state of the first user, and generates state information data of the first user. The server interface unit transmits the state information data of the first user to a metaverse server, and receives metaverse information data and state information data of a second user. The metaverse space provision unit generates a metaverse space, generates a first avatar and a second avatar, incorporates the first and second avatars into the metaverse space, and provides the metaverse to the first user. |
| US09338198B2 |
Information processing system, storing medium, information processing device, and display method
An example system includes: a first memory in which a plurality of first objects each corresponding to a content included in a plurality of contents is stored; a second memory in which a plurality of second objects each corresponding to a user is stored; an association unit that associates a content with a second object; a first display controller that displays one or more first objects each corresponding to a content selected from the plurality of contents; and a second display controller that displays a second object adjacent to a first object corresponding to a content associated with the second object. |
| US09338197B2 |
Social circles in social networks
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for transmitting contact data for displaying graphical representations of contacts for display to a user, the contacts being contacts of the user within a computer-implemented social networking service, generating a first social circle of the user, the first social circle comprising a first subset of contacts of the user within the social networking service and defining a first distribution for digital content, generating a second social circle of the user, the second social circle comprising a second subset of contacts of the user within the social networking service and defining a second distribution for digital content, and, in response to user input, providing the first social circle and the second social circle for selection by the user to define a distribution of digital content, the distribution comprising at least one of the first distribution and the second distribution. |
| US09338195B2 |
Systems and methods for communicating a stream of data packets via multiple communications channels
Systems and methods of preventing an Internet service provider from identifying a stream of data packets as carrying a voice over Internet protocol telephony communication can make use of encryption techniques to prevent the Internet service provider from examining the content of the data packets. Also, multiple communications channels may be established between a telephony device and elements of an IP telephony system. A stream of data packets bearing the media of an IP telephony communication is then separated into sub-streams, and each sub-stream is sent through a different one of the communications channels. This prevents an Internet service provider from identifying a stream of data packets as bearing the media of an IP telephony communication based on a pattern in the data traffic. |
| US09338194B2 |
Video conference service
A system is configured to receive a request to set up a first video conference and another request to set up a second video conference, where the request is received from a client device and where the other request is received from another client device; obtain first information associated with an enterprise with which the client device is associated and second information associated with another, different enterprise with which the other client device is associated; determine whether the first information permits the client device to set up the first video conference and whether the second information permits the other client device to set up the second video conference; establish the first video conference when the first information permits the client device to set up the first video conference; and establish the second video conference when the second information permits the other client device to set up the second video conference. |
| US09338191B2 |
Session initiation protocol (SIP) message incorporating a number of predetermined address headers having predetermined address information
A Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message adapted for communication between a plurality of network elements located on a multi-media services provider system to form a multi-media communication path between at least a first communication device and at least a second communication device of a plurality of communication devices. The SIP message includes a header region and a plurality of header fields located on the header region. The plurality of header fields include predetermined address information associated with at least one network element of the plurality of network elements located on the multi-media services provider system. |
| US09338186B2 |
Systems and methods for implementing custom privacy settings
A social network aggregation platform collects user generated content from multiple disparate social network platforms. The platform includes methods and systems for maintaining and applying user-selected and/or platform-specific privacy settings to the content when distributed or published. User privacy settings are compiled across platforms and used as a filter list against user-generated content. As a content stream is ingested into a platform, the source(s) of the invention content items are checked and the appropriate privacy settings are applied. |
| US09338183B2 |
Session hopping
Method for communicating in a computer network from a first node (101, 102, 103) in the network to a second node (136, 138), not in the network. A virtual identity is selected for the first node. The virtual identity is comprised of one or more session identity parameters used for representing the first node during a static communication session with the second node. The session identity parameters used during the static communication session are excluded from a coordinated variation of identity parameters for nodes within the network. In response to determining an occurrence of at least one communication security threat with respect to the static communication session, the method further involves adaptively modifying the virtual identity assigned to the first node by changing at least one of the session identity parameters. |
| US09338179B2 |
Message flooding prevention in messaging networks
A message flooding prevention system (1) has multiple interceptors (2, 3, 4), each with an interceptor unit linked with an RCS server, and SMSC, or an MMSC. The interceptors (2, 3, 4) are connected to flood detect nodes (10) for receiving messages at a point in a communications network, extracting data from a message, generating at least one code from extracted data, and comparing the code or codes with one or more previous codes. The flood detect nodes (10) determine according to the comparison if the received message is suspected to be a flooding message and if so, performs code generation including hashing. The flood detect nodes (10) save the code to one of a set of database buckets (21), each bucket being associated with a code, and select a bucket according to the generated code, and increment a fill parameter of the selected bucket. |
| US09338178B2 |
Method and system for performing scanning and killing on browser bookmarks
The present invention discloses a method and a system for performing scanning and killing on browser bookmarks, the method comprising: receiving, by a browser background server, a synchronization request that includes a user account and bookmark web addresses from a browser client; storing, by the browser background server, the bookmark web addresses correspondingly to the user account; and receiving a cloud scanning and killing instruction that includes the user account from the browser client, performing risk scanning and killing on the bookmark web addresses which the user account corresponds to, determining a risky web address, and feeding back a scanning and killing result that includes the risky web address to the browser client, by the browser background server. The solutions of the present invention can improve security of the browser bookmarks, and save storage spaces of a terminal device where the browser client resides. |
| US09338171B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling access to resources
An approach is provided for controlling access to resources according to social connections and/or characteristics of the resources. An access control platform determines one or more resources associated with at least one user, at least one device associated with the at least one user, or a combination thereof. The access control platform further processes and/or facilitates a processing of social networking information associated with the at least one user, the at least one device, or a combination thereof to determine one or more social networking groups. The access control platform also causes, at least in part, a controlling of access to the one or more resources for one or more other users, one or more other devices associated with the one or more other users, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on membership in the one or more social networking groups. |
| US09338168B2 |
Method and device for controlling digital living network alliance contents
The present document provides a method and apparatus for controlling digital living network alliance contents. One Media Access Control (MAC) recording unit is extended at the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) device side for recording which MAC addresses are permitted to access or use the service of the DLNA device or prohibited from accessing or using the service of the DLNA device; one service control program is extended at the DLNA device side, and when there is another DLNA device transmitting a request to the DLNA device, the MAC address of the DLNA device is compared with the MAC address recorded by the MAC recording unit; and if the MAC address of the DLNA device is in the permission list or the MAC address of the DLNA device is not in the prohibition list, then the request will be permitted; otherwise the request will be rejected. |
| US09338166B2 |
System and method for a single request and single response authentication protocol
Various embodiments of a system and method for a single request and single response authentication protocol are described. A client may send to an authentication server a request to authenticate the identity of a user attempting to access an electronic document protected by a rights management policy. The single request may be generated according to rights management configuration information included within the document. Such rights management information may include one or more parameters for requesting authentication from an authentication server. In response to the request, an authentication server may send a single response to the client. The single response may include information indicating that the identity is authenticated (e.g., a license to access the document, or an encryption key to decrypt the document). The client system may be configured to, in response to the single response, provide access to the document according to the rights management policy. |
| US09338164B1 |
Two-way authentication using two-dimensional codes
A system for two-way authentication using two-dimensional codes is provided herein. The system includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is to receive a request from a remote device to access a web resource and to generate a two-dimensional code to be sent from the remote device to an authentication service to authenticate the web resource. The two-dimensional code includes an authentication request identifier. The processor is further to receive an authentication credential from the remote device, the authentication credential being obtained from the authentication service, and to authenticate the user of the remote device to the web resource using the authentication credential. |
| US09338163B2 |
Method using a single authentication device to authenticate a user to a service provider among a plurality of service providers and device for performing such a method
A method for authenticating a user to a provider, among a plurality of providers. The method uses an authentication device comprising, for each of provider, a record comprising a pairing key and first data, both as shared data. Provider authentication data comprises a first cryptogram obtained by encrypting said first data with said pairing key. Authenticating provider authentication data is performed at the authentication device by the steps of decrypting said first cryptogram by means of the pairing key stored in one of said records, then comparing the result of this decryption with first data resulting from pairing data stored in said record, if the comparison does not indicate a match, then processing again the previous decryption and comparison steps by using the pairing key of another record until each of said records stored in the authentication device has been processed. |
| US09338161B2 |
System and method for biometric protocol standards
An initial certificate is provided that enables an initial two-way secured communication session between a user computing device and a trusted server. An initial secured communication session is established by the trusted server with the user computing device after receiving the one-time certificate. The trusted server receives identification information associated with the user of the user computing device, wherein the identification information includes a representation of the user's identity that has been confirmed as a function of biometrics and further includes a representation of the user computing device. Moreover, a replacement certificate is generated that is unique to the combination of the user and the user computing device, and transmits the replacement certificate to the user computing device. Thereafter, a two-way secured communication session is established, by the trusted server. |
| US09338160B2 |
Certificate checkin service
A method and system for a content provider to enable the consumption of content by properly entitled consumers (e.g., end-users, clients, customers) within a cloud provider network. A first certificate checkin service (CCS) executed by a processing device deployed in the cloud provider network receives a first set of usage data relating to content of a content provider consumed by a client of the cloud provider network. The first CCS provides the usage data to a communicatively coupled parent CCS. The first CCS provides the parent CCS with a request for entitlement data relating to the cloud provider, and stores the entitlement data received from the parent CCS. The entitlement data may be used by the first CCS to determine if the client is entitled to consume the content. |
| US09338157B1 |
Credential technology
In one implementation, a server system receives, from a device of a user, a request to add a credential issued by an organization and authentication information that has been authorized, independently of the server system, by the organization that issued the credential. The server system identifies the organization related to the request to add the credential and identifies communication information established for the organization. The server system provides, using the communication information and to a system operated by the organization, the authentication information and receives, using the communication information and from the system operated by the organization, credential information for the user. The server system adds one or more credentials to an account of the user based on the received credential information. |
| US09338154B2 |
Authentication apparatus, authentication method, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program
An authentication apparatus includes a detection unit that detects whether or not communication with a portable storage medium storing identification information for identifying a user is able to be performed, a reading unit that reads identification information stored in the storage medium when the detection unit detects that the communication is able to be performed, a time counting unit that counts an elapsed time, a determination unit that determines whether or not the elapsed time counted by the time counting unit matches a predefined time for the identification information read by the reading unit, and an authentication unit that authenticates the storage medium with which the detection unit detects that the communication is able to he performed when the determination unit determines that the elapsed time counted by the time counting unit matches the predefined time. |
| US09338149B2 |
DLNA/DTCP stream conversion for secure media playback
A process for converting a DTCP-IP transport stream into HLS format, comprising receiving an encrypted DTCP-IP transport stream comprising DTCP frames at a secondary device from a source device, with each of the plurality of DTCP frames comprising encrypted 16-byte portions, forming chunks from the DTCP frames by grouping encrypted 16-byte portions into a chunk, adding HLS padding bytes to the end of each chunk and encrypting the HLS padding bytes to form an encrypted chunk, loading each of the encrypted chunks and a playlist to a media proxy server at the secondary device, loading a DTCP key onto a security proxy server, and providing the playlist, each of the encrypted chunks, and the DTCP key to a native media player on the secondary device, such that the native media player follows the playlist to decrypt the encrypted chunks using the DTCP key and plays back the chunks. |
| US09338146B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring transmission characteristics in a network
A method for monitoring transmission characteristics in a network including a media client, a media server, and a data processor, the method including establishing a connection with the data processor; establishing an end-to-end encrypted channel between the media client and the data processor for exchanging streaming media content over the connection; sending a probing message to the data processor over the channel, the probing message carrying a first timestamp indicating the sending time of the probing message; receiving a response to all of the probing message from the data processor, the response carrying a second timestamp indicating the arrival time of the probing message at the data processor; and deriving latency information, including an upstream latency between the media client and the data processor, from a difference between the second timestamp and the first timestamp. |
| US09338140B2 |
Secure data parser method and system
A secure data parser is provided that may be integrated into any suitable system for securely storing and communicating data. The secure data parser parses data and then splits the data into multiple portions that are stored or communicated distinctly. Encryption of the original data, the portions of data, or both may be employed for additional security. The secure data parser may be used to protect data in motion by splitting original data into portions of data that may be communicated using multiple communications paths. |
| US09338135B2 |
Device, system and method of maintaining connectivity over a virtual private network (VPN)
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of maintaining connectivity over a Virtual-Private-Network (VPN). For example, a system may include a server to communicate with at least one computing device via a VPN tunnel, to receive from the computing device a mode indication indicating that the computing device is in a standby mode, to receive from at least one application server one or more packets intended for the computing device when the computing device is in the standby mode, based on at least one filtering criterion, to detect at least one targeted packet to be provided to the computing device, and to transfer the targeted packet to the computing device via the VPN tunnel. |
| US09338133B1 |
Locating optimum security gateway
A method, system, and medium are provided for locating an optimal security gateway. A default gateway receives a request to access a macrocell. The default security gateway obtains a current location for each macrocell in response to a security gateway discovery function. Based on the response, routes to a best security gateway for each macrocell are determined. A best security gateway is identified based on factors that include the distance from a picocell connected to the default security gateway having backhaul traffic to offload to the appropriate macrocells connected to the best security gateway. |
| US09338132B2 |
Providing notification of spam avatars
Provided are approaches for monitoring activities, movements, and other behavior patterns necessary to determine whether an avatar is a spam advertisement. A storing mechanism stores a “black list” and a black list score consisting of a list of spam avatar identifications (UUIDs) matching avatars that have been flagged as confirmed or suspected spam advertisers. Another mechanism allows the owner to redraw or otherwise re-render a distinguishing mark when an avatar has been detected as being a spam advertiser. Yet another mechanism signals to the owner of an offending avatar that they have been added to the black list or had a report filed against them. Another mechanism allows for a black listed avatar to be removed from the black list, and scores to be decreased and for the virtual universe and users to utilize the black list and score. |
| US09338131B2 |
Information processing apparatus, control method for information processing apparatus, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus including a network controller which controls communication with an apparatus on a network includes a storage unit configured to store reference information to determine whether the network controller is a usable network controller, a determination unit configured to determine whether the network controller is a usable network controller based on the reference information and identification information for identifying the network controller, an acquisition unit configured to acquire update information for updating the reference information from an external apparatus in a case where the determination unit determines that the network controller is not a usable network controller, and an update unit configured to update the reference information stored in the storage unit based on the update information acquired by the acquisition unit. |
| US09338129B2 |
Remote user computer control and monitoring
A computer-implemented monitoring method includes electronically determining destination naming conventions of packets passing out of a first computing device for transmission on an electronic communication network, and electronically determining if each destination naming convention is that same as the naming convention of a second computing device. When at least one destination naming convention is not the same as the naming convention of the second computing device, the second computing device is electronically notified. |
| US09338126B2 |
System and method for communicating in a telecommunication network via independent key routing and data locality tables
A combination of an independent key routing (IKR) method and a data locality table (DLT) method may be used to route communication messages in a telecommunication network to achieve improved data locality and reduce secondary key lookups. A processor a multiprocessor computing system may receive a first communication message that includes subscriber identifiers that uniquely identify a subscriber, generate a plurality of keys for a plurality of message types based on the subscriber identifiers, identify a first logical scalable unit that includes a first database memory that stores a first type of data relating to the subscriber by using a first key of the plurality of keys to query a data locality table, identify a first application processor in the multiprocessor computing system that is part of the first logical scalable unit, and send the first communication message and the plurality of keys to the first application processor. |
| US09338122B2 |
Methods and apparatus for integrating social network metrics and reputation data
A method for a computer system includes determining a first social distance for a first user with respect to a second user, determining a second social distance for a third user with respect to the second user, determining a first qualitative rating associated with the first user, determining a second qualitative rating associated with the second user, determining a first trust-metric for the first user in response to the first social distance and the first qualitative rating, determining a second trust-metric for the third user in response to the second social distance and the second qualitative rating, and prioritizing a first listing from the first user over a second listing from the third user for the second user, in response to the first trust-metric and the second trust-metric. |
| US09338119B2 |
Direct electronic mail
Techniques for enabling improved electronic mail handling in communication networks include a method of handling an electronic mail message in an electronic mail system. The method includes establishing a secure connection between a client of a message sender and a server of a message recipient in the electronic mail system. The method also includes participating in an authentication exchange to verify the identity of the message sender. The method further includes the message sender depositing an electronic mail message with the server of the message recipient upon successful verification of the identity of the client of the message sender. |
| US09338118B2 |
Apparatus and method for transmitting push notification message
Provided is an apparatus and method for transmitting a push notification message. To this end, connection is performed with a mobile terminal, and if a push notification message is received from a push notification service providing server, the received push notification message is transmitted to the mobile terminal, and when disconnected from the mobile terminal, a push notification message received after the disconnection is stored, such that transmission of the push notification message can be guaranteed. |
| US09338115B2 |
Content based message delivery
Provided herein are systems, methods, and software for facilitating message sessions. In one implementation, a notification is received relating to a message submitted for delivery on behalf of a sender to a recipient. The message includes several components. At least one delivery policy is identified based on the content identified in at least one of the components. Delivery of the message is initiated according to the delivery policy. |
| US09338114B2 |
Automatic conversation techniques
Automatic conversation techniques are described. An apparatus may comprise a computing device having an incoming message module operative to receive an incoming message, a conversation identification module communicatively coupled to the incoming message module, the conversation identification module operative to determine the incoming message is part of a conversation thread, and associate the incoming message with the conversation thread by setting a conversation identifier property of the incoming message to a conversation identifier for the conversation thread, and a conversation manager module communicatively coupled to the conversation identification module, the conversation manager module operative to determine a conversation rule is associated with the conversation thread, and apply the conversation rule to the incoming message. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09338111B2 |
Electronic message recipient handling system and method with media component and header information separation
An electronic messaging system and method with reduced traceability. Separate displays are provided at a recipient user device for separately displaying via the user device header information of an electronic message and message content including a media component. The message content and the header information are correlated with a unique identifier. The header information is displayed in a message list via a first display. The message content including a media component is displayed via a second display. The display of the header information via the first display does not include a display of the media component. Methods, systems, and computer readable media with separation of the display of media component and header information in various implementations may provide for reduced traceability of an electronic message. |
| US09338106B2 |
Integrating and searching electronic communications received from a plurality of different communication platforms
Embodiments described herein provide approaches for integrating and searching electronic communications received from a plurality of different communication platforms. Specifically, a consolidated communication/messaging platform integrates and consolidates bi-directional communications/messages from individuals, groups, or other entities from various channels (e.g., text messaging, instant messaging, social networking platforms, e-mail, and the like), and enables end users to search and locate content or substance of a specific communication via a user interface and locally stored repository. |
| US09338104B2 |
System and method for logging traffic flow
The disclosed embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product for tracking conformance of user traffic with a bandwidth profile. For example, in one embodiment, throughput is measured during an observance window and an average for offered throughput is determined based on the measured throughput. A determination is made as to whether the average exceeds a bandwidth profile in response to a determination that packets are being discarded. An alarm is sent in response to a determination that the average exceeds the bandwidth profile. |
| US09338102B2 |
Scheduling method and apparatus based on physical layer network coding for bidirectional traffic
A scheduling method and a scheduling apparatus based on physical layer network coding for bidirectional traffic are provided. The method includes setting up paths passing through a node to perform the physical layer network coding of the bidirectional traffic of sessions that pass through the node. The method further includes requesting, from neighboring nodes of the node, information to be used to schedule the sessions for the physical layer network coding. The method further includes scheduling the sessions for the physical layer network coding based on a queue differential of each session that is calculated based on the information, and a rate of each link of each session. |
| US09338098B2 |
Dynamic flow management at a firewall based on error messages
A method and system are provided for blocking data packets that are not desired or capable of being received. One or more data packets are received from a data server. The data packets that are addressed to a wireless device are transmitted via a gateway server. The error messages generated by either the wireless device or the gateway server are forwarded to the data server and their number also counted. When the number of error messages meets a predetermined criterion, additional data packets from the data server that are addressed to the wireless device are blocked, for example, preventing tolling the user account of the wireless device for data packets sent by the data server when the device is not available or the user no longer wants to receive the data. |
| US09338097B2 |
Method and system for load balancing at a data network
A method of load balancing implemented at a data network is disclosed. The data network contains a number of data plane nodes and a number of clusters of a control node. The method starts with deriving a graph from a topology of the data plane nodes, where the graph contains vertices, each representing one of the data plane nodes, and edges, each representing a connection between a pair of data plane nodes. The method continues with partitioning the graph into a number of sub-graphs, where the partition aims at minimizing connectivity among the number of sub-graphs, and where the number of sub-graphs equal to the number of clusters. The control node then assigns each cluster to one of the data plane nodes, where each cluster is assigned to one or more data plane node partitioned into the same sub-graph. |
| US09338096B2 |
Multicast tree packing for multi-party video conferencing under SDN environment
Method, device and apparatus for delivering video telephony by using a media controller and a software defined networking (SDN) controller to enable multicasting for multi-party video conferencing. A media controller generates a video sending rate for each of the plurality of client devices based on a received video conference request and received network information. The media controller determines and independently constructs a maximum-rate delay-bounded multicast tree for each of the plurality of client devices that supports the largest possible multicast rate. The media controller determines a common congested link in the multicast trees, re-routes the multicast tree with the common congested link for the client device with the lowest weight of utility divided by its video sending rate and creating two subtrees, and iteratively re-routes the multicast trees until an aggregate video sending rate of the multicast trees sharing the common congested link meets a link capacity of the common congested link. |
| US09338094B2 |
System and method for context aware network
A system and method for handling context aware network includes a managing server including a control unit, a memory coupled to the control unit, one or more virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) tables stored in the memory, and one or more ports coupled to the control unit and configured to couple the managing server to a network. The managing server is configured to store VRF information in the one or more VRF tables, receive a request packet including a context from a first edge switch, determine the context included in the request packet, examine the one or more VRF tables to identify a VRF-ID associated with the context, and forward a VRF configuration flow control message to the first edge switch. The managing server is further configured to forward one or more additional VRF configuration flow control messages to one or more second edge switches. |
| US09338093B2 |
Mobile phone docking station VPNs
A device includes a memory that stores multiple different types of applications and a data table, and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to receive configuration data that sets up multiple network interfaces on the device, and assigns one of multiple different network addresses to each of the multiple network interfaces, store the configuration data in the data table, execute a first type of application of the multiple different types of applications, receive one or more first packets from executing the first type of application of the multiple different types of applications, retrieve a first Virtual Private Network (VPN) identifier associated with a first VPN from the data table based on the first type of application of the multiple different types of applications, and send the one or more first packets via the first VPN identified by the first VPN identifier. |
| US09338090B2 |
Terminal, control device, communication method, communication system, communication module, program, and information processing device
A terminal communicating with a network including a forwarding device for forwarding a packet and a control device for controlling the forwarding device in accordance with a request from the forwarding device, includes: a communication unit that receives a processing rule specifying a method of processing the packet, which is determined by the control device, from the control device, a storage unit that stores the received processing rule, and a processing unit that in a case of communicating with the network, processes the packet in accordance with the processing rule that corresponds to the packet by referring to the processing rule stored in the storage unit. |
| US09338088B2 |
Communication protocol for multiplexing data streams over UDP
Aspects of the subject technology relate to a method for identifying a data stream. In some implementations, the method can include steps for generating a first globally-unique identifier (GUID), associating the first GUID with a first data stream comprising a first plurality of data packets and sending each of the first plurality of data packets to a remote device. In certain aspects, the method can also include steps for receiving a second plurality of data packets from the remote device, wherein each of the second plurality of data packets comprises a second GUID and comparing the second GUID with the first GUID to determine if the second plurality of data packets is associated with the first data stream. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided. |
| US09338086B2 |
Hierarchal label distribution and route installation in a loop-free routing topology using routing arcs at multiple hierarchal levels for ring topologies
In one embodiment, a method comprises creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination network node, each routing arc comprising a first network node as a first end of the routing arc, a second network node as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network node configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination node via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc, at least one of the first, second, or third network nodes are implemented as a ring-based network having a prescribed ring topology; and establishing loop-free label switched paths for reaching the destination network node via the routing arcs of the loop-free routing topology, the label switched paths independent and distinct from any attribute of the prescribed ring topology. |
| US09338083B2 |
ECMP path tracing in an MPLS enabled network
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to a network tracing engine for tracing and depicting a topology (i.e. a network configuration) of a network using, for example, a network diagram. The network tracing engine preferably queries/telnets to interfaces of routers associated with one or more source-to-destination paths in a network concurrently and independently to ensure proper configuration of the routers and/or to generate a true depiction of a routing configuration without redundantly querying routers. |
| US09338074B2 |
Method and apparatus for wireless network performance diagnostics via user equipment
A method, computer readable medium for diagnosing wireless network performance via a customer endpoint device are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request to perform a wireless network performance diagnostic test that is initiated by a customer endpoint device, establishes a session with the customer endpoint device, performs the wireless network performance diagnostic test in response to the request via the session using a packet generated by the customer endpoint device and provides diagnostic test data gathered from the wireless network performance diagnostic test to the customer endpoint device. |
| US09338071B2 |
Locale profile for a fabric network
Methods and systems for conveying locale information for an electronic device includes receiving, from a remote device and via a network interface of at least one network interfaces, a request for active or available locales for the electronic device. Conveying the locale information also includes sending, to the remote device and via the network interface, a message in a locale profile format including a list of available locales. The message includes a version field that indicates a version of schema used to transmit the list of available locales, an active local field that indicates a locale currently being used by the electronic device, and an available locales field that indicates which locales are available for use by the electronic device. |
| US09338067B2 |
Network resource deployment for cloud-based services
Techniques are described which simplify and/or automate many of the tasks associated with the configuration, deployment, and management of network resources to support cloud-based services. |
| US09338062B2 |
Information displaying method and apparatus
A method of displaying information relating to one or more entities, the method including, in an electronic processing device, generating a network representation, the representation including a number of nodes, each node being indicative of a corresponding entity, and a number of connections between nodes, the connections being indicative of relationships between the entities. The method further includes causing the network representation to be displayed to a user, in response to user input commands, determining at least one user selected node corresponding to a user selected entity, determining at least one search to be performed in respective of the corresponding entity associated with the at least one user selected node, performing the at least one search to thereby determine additional information regarding the entity and causing any additional information to be presented to the user. |
| US09338059B1 |
System and methods for managing networks
Method and system for configuring a plurality of virtual networks using a plurality of physical resources of a network device is provided. A hierarchical data structure having a plurality of layers for representing an instance of the network device is generated. A first layer represents the plurality of virtual networks; a second layer represents a plurality of virtual network protocols that are used by the plurality of networks; and a third layer represent the physical resources that are used by the plurality of virtual networks for communicating with other devices. The plurality of virtual networks is validated by using the data structure to check if there is any conflict in using the selected physical resources. |
| US09338056B2 |
Network administration systems and methods
Network administration systems and methods are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, a method of administering a computer network may include listening to inter-switch communication at a server computer in the computer network. The method may also include parsing the inter-switch communication. The method may also include extracting data about the network from the inter-switch communication for display to a user at the server computer. |
| US09338055B2 |
Virtual router upgrade via graceful restart
Embodiments herein generally provide techniques for upgrading a virtual router (VR) comprising first and second physical routers used to route data between network devices. Before upgrade the first physical router, one or more ports of the router are disabled which causes data paths previously flowing through the first router to flow through the second router. After performing the upgrade, the first router is rebooted and uses a unique router ID to discover the network topology of an external network coupled to the VR. Once the network topology is identified, the first router activates a routing application (e.g., a BGP routing application) which enables the router to process control plane traffic received from the second router. Once routing information is gathered, the first router is able to assume the responsibility of forwarding data packets in the network, thereby freeing the second router to be upgraded. |
| US09338051B2 |
Methods and systems for automatically tracking the rerouting of logical circuit data in a data network
An example method involves providing, with a network management module of a network management system, current reroute statistics in a data structure based on the rerouting of the data from a logical circuit that has failed to a logical failover circuit in the network. The current reroute statistics include a committed information rate corresponding to the logical circuit in the network. The logical circuit is identified by a first logical circuit identifier. The logical failover circuit is identified by a second logical circuit identifier. The first and second logical circuit identifiers are renamed until the logical circuit has been restored from failure. Updated reroute statistics are provided, with the network management module, based on a change in a status of the logical circuit resulting from the committed information rate having been exceeded. |
| US09338049B2 |
Server device, annotation system, annotation method, and computer program product
According to an embodiment, a server device includes a first registering unit, a second registering unit, and a providing unit. The first registering unit is configured to acquire first action information regarding an action performed by a first user from a client device, and register the first action information in an action information storage unit in which pieces of action information of users are stored in association with labels of the respective pieces of action information. The second registering unit is configured to specify at least one piece of action information similar to the first action information among the pieces of action information, and register the label associated with the specified piece of action information in the action information storage unit in association with the first action information. The providing unit is configured to provide the label associated with the first action information to the client device. |
| US09338048B2 |
Mobile communications terminal for use in several wireless local networks and method for operating
The invention relates to a mobile communications terminal for use in a plurality of wireless local networks. Said terminal comprises a log on memory, in which an access address that is designed to be used for a new log on process is stored. According to the invention, information concerning the access addresses that were received by the mobile communications terminal in previous log on operations and the network among the plurality of wireless local networks that was used, is stored in an allocation memory. The terminal is configured in such a way that when a new access request is received for a sought network among the plurality of wireless local networks, it searches for a previous access address that was allocated for the sought network and is also configured in such a way that when said previous access address for the sought network has been found, it writes the address to the log on memory and permits the log on operation. The invention also relates to a method for managing log on information that is designed for the mobile communications terminal. |
| US09338045B2 |
System and method for fragment level dynamic content regeneration
A system and method for provisioning dynamically generated content. One embodiment can interface a content delivery system and a content management system at the fragment level. Depending upon how a page is organized, a fragment may refer to a block within the page, a portion of the page, or a content item presented on the page. When a content item is updated and published onto the content management system, one embodiment can operate to track dependencies of managed pages and invalidate/validate fragment(s) affected by the change(s) accordingly. The updated fragment(s) may then be dynamically assembled on-the-fly or on-demand. The updated fragment(s) may or may not be cached. In this way, changes made to a piece of content can be reflected in all pages which utilize this content almost simultaneously with the changes to the content itself. |
| US09338044B2 |
Method and apparatus to track gain variation in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems
Gain variations during a packet can lead to significant performance degradation in communications systems that use high order quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). A method and the associated apparatus track such variations in an OFDM system and completely eliminate any performance degradation. Gain estimation and compensation is employed with the use of pilot subcarriers in the payload of an OFDM data packet. Estimated pilot magnitude ratios are averaged, throughout the processing life of a packet, to yield accurate gain estimations. A gain compensation factor is used to adjust data carriers. An exclusion method is also employed to eliminate pilot carriers which contribute to noise. |
| US09338041B1 |
Extracting carrier signals from modulated signals
Methods, systems, and apparatus for detecting a center frequency of an input signal, the input signal including a carrier signal modulated with a modulation signal. Detecting a frequency of a second signal. Determining a difference signal between the center frequency of the input signal and the frequency of the second signal. Modifying the frequency of the second signal based on the difference signal to provide the carrier signal. And, outputting the carrier signal. |
| US09338039B1 |
Efficient signal classification in digital pre-distortion systems
In an example, an apparatus for signal classification in a digital pre-distortion (DPD) system includes a positive frequency path including a first half-band low pass filter (LPF) operable to filter samples of an input digital samples after positive frequency translation; a negative frequency path including a second half-band LPF operable to filter the samples of the input digital samples after negative frequency translation; a power estimation circuit coupled to the positive frequency path and the negative frequency path, the power estimation circuit operable to determine a first average power based on output of the first half-band LPF, a second average power based on output of the second half-band LPF, and a total average power of the input digital samples; and a controller operable to determine a frequency content metric from the first average power and the second average power, and to select a set of filter coefficients for the DPD system based on the frequency content metric and the total average power. |
| US09338032B2 |
Device and method for channel estimation and signal demodulation
A device includes an input configured to receive a signal, wherein the signal includes at least one data block and a plurality of signal parts known to the device, a first signal part at the beginning of the data block and a second signal part at the end of the data block. The device further includes an equalizer and a pre-equalizer coupled between the input and the equalizer, wherein the pre-equalizer is configured to estimate a phase shift between the plurality of signal parts. |
| US09338030B2 |
Method and apparatus for configuring IP multimedia subsystem network elements
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving initial filter criteria from a home subscriber server, transmitting information obtained from the initial filter criteria to a domain name system, receiving a multicast IP address from the domain name system, and transmitting a message to a plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements according to the multicast IP address. The message can be used for configuring the plurality of IP multimedia subsystem network elements. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09338025B2 |
Communication control device, message transmission method, and message transmission program
As described above, when a communication control device receives a message transmitted from a user terminal, the communication control device specifies a destination of the message from contents of the message, specifies a type of communication service available by a user of the specified destination, and creates a message suitable for the specified type of service. Then, the communication control device transmits the created message to the specified destination. |
| US09338022B2 |
Method of processing action, method of controlling controlled device, controlled device, and control point
A method of processing an action executes an action requested by a control point for controlling a controlled device through a network, stores a result of executing the action as a pending result of the action when a network connection between the controlled device and the control point is terminated, and transmits the stored pending result of the action to the control point when the network connection between the controlled device and the control point is resumed. |
| US09338021B2 |
Network traffic redirection in bi-planar networks
An electronic communication network includes a connectivity subsystem. The connectivity subsystem registers a control subsystem with the connectivity subsystem. The control subsystem requests that network traffic be redirected from the connectivity subsystem to the control subsystem. In response to the request, the connectivity subsystem redirects network traffic from the connectivity subsystem to the control subsystem. |
| US09338019B2 |
Scalable transport method for multicast replication
Embodiments disclosed herein provide advantageous methods and systems that use multicast communications via unreliable datagrams sent on a protected traffic class. These methods and systems provide effectively reliable multicast delivery while avoiding the overhead associated with point-to-point protocols. Rather than an exponential scaling of point-to-point connections (with expensive setup and teardown of the connections), the traffic from one server is bounded by linear scaling of multicast groups. In addition, the multicast rendezvous disclosed herein creates an edge-managed flow control that accounts for the dynamic state of the storage servers in the cluster, without needing centralized control, management or maintenance of state. This traffic shaping avoids the loss of data due to congestion during sustained oversubscription. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed. |
| US09338018B2 |
System and method for pricing communication of a telecommunication platform
A system and method that include receiving a communication pricing query; mapping the communication pricing query to a billable item; resolving a price of a billable item within a set of hierarchically defined pricing models with sparse overrides, wherein each pricing model is defined for a set of billable items; and returning the price of the billable item in a response to the communication pricing query. |
| US09338016B2 |
Method and apparatus for exchanging messages
A method and an apparatus for communicating with a second apparatus. The apparatus includes a controller and a transceiver for exchanging a predetermined number of data fields between the apparatuses by transmitting and receiving frames having one or more data fields and including in each frame a field indicating which data fields the apparatus has not yet received successfully. |
| US09338015B2 |
Real time power monitor and management system
A power monitor and management system includes an automatic modulation device, a monitoring device, multiple modules and an LAN (local area network) connected to the monitoring device and the modules to enable the monitoring device to communicate with the modules. The automatic modulation device determines a dominating module in according to registration sequences of the modules and subordinating modules and to modulate power of the dominating module and the subordinating modules as well as the overall power output in accordance with number of the modules. |
| US09338014B2 |
Network system, certificate management method, and certificate management program
A network system includes a management apparatus and multiple apparatuses. The management apparatus includes a preparation instruction unit to transmit an instruction to prepare a certificate request to the apparatuses; a collection unit to collect the certificate requests; a request unit to request issuance of certificates to a certificate authority; a resetting instruction unit to transmit the issued certificates to the apparatuses and to instruct resetting of certificates. The apparatus includes a storing unit including an operation area for storing a first certificate and a provisional operation area; a provisionally operating unit to transfer the first certificate to the provisional operation area, and to generate a certificate request, and to transmit the certificate request to the management apparatus; a setting unit to store a second certificate, issued by the certificate authority, in the operation area, and to instruct a communication unit to conduct the communication by switching a certificate. |
| US09338013B2 |
Verifiable redactable audit log
A verifiable, redactable log, which, in some embodiments, may contain multiple hash values per entry in order to sever confidentiality of a log from verifiability. Logs may be verified using recalculation of hashes and verification of trusted digital signatures. In some embodiments, the log may be divided into segments, each signed by a time server or self-signed using a system of ephemeral keys. In some embodiments, log messages regarding specific objects or events may be nested within the log to prevent reporting omission. The logging system may receive events or messages to enter into the log. |
| US09338010B2 |
Systems, methods and apparatuses for secure time management
The systems, methods and apparatuses described herein provide a computing environment that includes secure time management. An apparatus according to the present disclosure may comprise a non-volatile storage to store a synchronization time and a processor. The processor may be configured to generate a request for a current time, transmit the request to a trusted timekeeper, receive a digitally signed response containing a current, real-world time from the trusted timekeeper, verify the digital signature of the response, verify that the response is received within a predefined time, compare a nonce in the request to a nonce in the response, determine that the current, real-world time received from the trusted timekeeper is within a range of a current time calculated at the apparatus and update the synchronization time with the current, real-world time in the response. |
| US09338009B2 |
Method and system for preventing revocation denial of service attacks
Methods and systems for preventing revocation denial of service attacks are disclosed and may include receiving and decrypting a command for revoking a secure key utilizing a hidden key, and revoking the secure key upon successful verification of a signature. The command may comprise a key ID that is unique to a specific set-top box. A key corresponding to the command for revoking the secure key may be stored in a one-time programmable memory, compared to a reference, and the security key may be revoked based on the comparison. The command for revoking the secure key may be parsed from a transport stream utilizing a hardware parser. The method and system may also comprise generating a command for revoking a secure key. The command may be encrypted and signed utilizing a hidden key and may comprise a key ID that is unique to a specific set-top box. |
| US09338007B1 |
Secure delegated authentication for applications
A system for secure delegated authentication for applications may include one or more processors and a memory. The one or more processors perform operations including receiving a request from an application to retrieve a user authorization associated with a service provider. The operations also include authenticating the application in response to the request, the application being assigned a first identifier to associate the request with the application. The operations also include communicating the request to the service provider upon the application being authenticated. The operations also include receiving a response from the service provider, the response identifying a particular application associated with the service provider. The operations also include comparing the first identifier with at least a portion of the response to determine a match. The operations further include forwarding the received response to the application if a match is determined. |
| US09338006B2 |
Multi-channel multi-factor authentication
Systems and methods for authenticating electronic transactions are provided. The authentication methods employ a combination of security features and communication channels. These security features can be based, for example, on unique knowledge of the person being authenticated, a unique thing that the person has, unique personal features and attributes of the person, the ability of the person to respond, and to do so in a fashion that a machine cannot, and so forth. Methods for enrolling the person prior to authentication are also provided, as well as systems for enrollment and authentication. |
| US09337995B2 |
GNSS reception using distributed time synchronization
A GNSS receiver communicates with any connectivity device, such as a WiFi device that is, in turn, in communication with a wired network having access to the DTI timing. Such connectivity devices may set their timing and frame synchronization to the DTI and thus serve as Geopositioning beacons, thereby enabling the GNSS receiver to accurately determine its position. The GNSS receiver may also use the DTI timing supplied by such a network to perform relatively long integration time so as to achieve substantially improved sensitivity that is necessary for indoor Geopositioning applications. Furthermore, the GNSS data, such as satellite orbital information, may also be propagated by such devices at high speed. By providing this data to the GNSS receivers via such connectivity devices in a rapid fashion, the GNSS receivers are enabled to receive the transmitted data associated with the satellite without waiting for the GNSS transmission from the satellites. |
| US09337994B2 |
Method, receiver and system for signal synchronization
In a method for time domain joint synchronization in downlink, a sequence to be analyzed is obtained from a received time domain signal; the sequence to be analyzed is down-sampled by a factor of α to obtain a down-sampled sequence; an initial timing estimation is performed based on the down-sampled sequence; a frequency offset compensation is applied to the sequence to be analyzed based on an Integral Frequency Offset (IFO) estimation value {circumflex over (ε)} obtained by the initial timing estimation; a Fractional Frequency Offset (FFO) estimation value {circumflex over (ε)}f is obtained; a frequency offset compensation is applied to the sequence to be analyzed based on the IFO estimation value {circumflex over (ε)} and the FFO estimation value {circumflex over (ε)}f; and a further timing estimation is performed based on a position interval estimated using an initial timing position and a Primary Synchronization Sequence (PSS) to obtain a fine timing position. |
| US09337990B2 |
Front-end circuit and impedance adjustment method
A front-end circuit includes an RFIC, an antenna, N duplexers, N variable impedance adjustment circuits, a switch for selecting any two of the N variable impedance adjustment circuits, and a control unit which receives a control signal from the RFIC, where 2≦N. The control unit executes switching operations of the N variable impedance adjustment circuits and the switch in accordance with control information. The control signal indicates to 1) control the switch to select two variable impedance adjustment circuits corresponding to a p-th frequency band and a q-th frequency band respectively, 2) control a variable impedance adjustment circuit corresponding to the p-th frequency band to increase input impedance in the q-th frequency band as viewed from the antenna side and 3) control a variable impedance adjustment circuit corresponding to the q-th frequency band to increase input impedance in the p-th frequency band as viewed from the side. |
| US09337985B2 |
Method and apparatus for differential encoding of CQI in cooperative multipoint communication systems
A method includes receiving in a mobile communication terminal signals from multiple cells that coordinate transmission of the signals with one another in a Cooperative Multipoint (CoMP) scheme. At least first and second Channel Quality Indicators (CQIs), for respective communication channels over which the signals are received, are calculated in the terminal based on the received signals. The second CQI is differentially encoded relative to the first CQI. Feedback information, including the first CQI and the differentially-encoded second CQI, is transmitted from the terminal. |
| US09337984B2 |
Method for transmitting uplink control information, user equipment, method for receiving uplink control information, and base station
In the present invention, a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource, which is used for transmitting acknowledgement/negative ACK (ACK/NACK) information related to downlink control information, is determined on the basis of n(1)PUCCH=f(nCCE,N(1)PUCCH,X), when the format of the downlink control information that is transmitted/received through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is in accordance with a transmission mode of a user equipment, wherein n(1)PUCCH is a PUCCH resource index, N(1)PUCCH is a value which is received from the base station, nCCE is a first control channel element (CCE) index in the PDCCH, X is a parameter which is not the nCCE and the N(1)PUCCH, and wherein ƒ is a function having the nCCE, N(1)PUCCH, and the X as a factor. |
| US09337979B2 |
Feedback capability enhancement using reference symbol radio resource selection
Feedback information is conveyed between a wireless device and a base station in a cellular communications network via selection and detection of radio resources utilized for an uplink reference signal transmitted from a wireless device to a base station. In this manner, additional feedback information may be sent from the wireless device to the base station without sacrificing any bandwidth available for data transfer between the wireless device and the base station. The radio resources utilized for the uplink reference signal may include cyclic shift and/or time and frequency resources. The uplink reference signal may be an uplink sounding reference signal for a long term evolution network (LTE), or its evolution, such as LTE-Advanced. |
| US09337978B2 |
Sequence derivation for reference signal patterns
A reference signal, RS, is generated in a wireless communication system based on a starting position, in the frequency domain, of the RS and a transmission channel bandwidth of the RS. At least one of the starting position of the RS and the bandwidth allocated to a transmission channel for the RS is/are ascertained. A base sequence index, BSI, is then derived by mapping at least one ascertained of the RS starting position and transmission channel bandwidth (12) according to a predefined mapping rule (14) to the BSI (16). The RS is determined based on the derived BSI. |
| US09337977B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data including a plurality of data streams in a broadcasting/communication system
A method and apparatus for transmitting data comprising a plurality of data streams in a broadcasting system are provided. The method includes dividing a frame into a plurality of physical layer zones; allocating the plurality of data streams to at least one of the plurality of physical layer zones; allocating signaling information associated with the plurality of physical layers to at least one of the plurality of physical layer zones; and transmitting the frame to which the signaling information is allocated. |
| US09337976B2 |
Dedicated reference signal design for network MIMO
Aspects describe utilizing a dedicated reference signal for supporting Network MIMO, distributed MIMO, Coordinated MultiPoint, and the like. A data modulation symbol is transmitting in the same direction as a pilot modulation symbol is transmitted. Two or more wireless devices can coordinate communications such that transmission of the same pilot modulation symbol and the same data modulation symbol are transmitted to a device in different directions, each direction associated with a wireless device and intended for a particular mobile device. Cluster-specific scrambling and/or user-group specific scrambling can be employed and a scrambling code can be communicated prior to transmission of the pilot modulation symbols and data modulation symbols. |
| US09337975B2 |
Radio communication system, radio communication method, radio base station apparatus and user terminal
The present invention is designed to effectively apply carrier aggregation and Coordinated Multiple Point (CoMP) transmission/reception in a system band that is formed with a plurality of fundamental frequency blocks. A radio communication system where carrier aggregation is applicable in the same frequency band, and, this radio communication system includes the first radio base station apparatus and a second radio base station apparatus that perform coordinated multiple point transmission to a user terminal using cells having the same frequency band, and the first radio base station apparatus and the second radio base station apparatus perform retransmission control for uplink signals from the user terminal on a shared basis, and perform mapping of downlink signals to radio resources separately. |
| US09337972B2 |
Method for instructing user terminal to alleviate interference in a base station
The present invention proposes a method for assisting a mobile terminal to alleviate inter-cell interference in a base station, comprising the step of: sending to the user terminal an identification of a major interfering cell in a radio resource control signaling. With the solution of the present invention, it is possible to assist the user terminal in more effective interference alleviation by signaling to the user terminal from the base station. |
| US09337963B2 |
Transmission method and apparatus for multi-antenna retransmission
A transmission method for multi-antenna retransmission is provided, comprising steps of: generating the bits to be transmitted by respective antennas; mapping the bits to be transmitted by the respective antennas into symbols; and multiplying by a constant the vector constituted by the mapped symbols transmitted by multiple antennas, wherein the resulting vector is orthogonal to the matrix constituted by the symbols previously transmitted by multiple antennas, and transmitting the orthogonal symbols. According to the method of the present invention, the remapped symbols transmitted by the respective antennas and the symbols previously transmitted by the respective antennas constitute a matrix that has an orthogonal property. The orthogonal property can be used to effectively detect signals. In addition, the method has a reception algorithm with low complexity and brings about significant performance gains over conventional methods. |
| US09337959B2 |
Defect propagation of multiple signals of various rates when mapped into a combined signal
Systems and methods for detecting defect propagation in a networked environment comprising a defect detection component to detect defects in an aggregate signal and/or in individual signals; and a replacement signal component to generate a maintenance signal to replace defective signals detected by the defect detection component. The maintenance signal can be a uniform signal type regardless of a type associated with a defective signal. The maintenance signal can replace a defective signal during aggregation, by an aggregation component. In another aspect, the maintenance signal can replace the defective signal during de-aggregation |
| US09337957B2 |
Method and device for interleaving processing in a WLAN system
The present invention provides a method and a device for interleaving processing in a WLAN system, and relates to the field of communications technologies. The method includes: obtaining, by a WLAN device, a predetermined number of identifiers of valid positions from any sub-interleaving processing contained in an interleaving processing; determining valid input positions of the interleaving processing according to the identifiers of the valid positions; transmitting data bits to be transmitted in the valid input positions, and transmitting bit 0 and/or bit 1 or no data bit in other non-valid input positions of the interleaving processing other than the valid input positions; modulating data bits transmitted in interleaving processing output positions to obtain modulation signals and mapping the modulation signals onto the corresponding data sub-carriers respectively. The present invention can be applied in interleaving processing of data bits to be transmitted. |
| US09337956B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
A method and an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals thereof are disclosed. The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, the apparatus comprises an input formatter for input formatting each data stream divided into a plurality of data transmission path, a generator for generating each of first signaling data and second signaling data, wherein the first signaling data and the second signaling data are processed respectively, wherein the first signaling data includes first information for the second signaling data and the second signaling data includes second information for at least one the data transmission path, wherein the second signaling data includes a static data and a dynamic data, an encoder for encoding, wherein the encoder processing: first encoding service data corresponding to each of the plurality of data transmission path, wherein each of the data transmission path carries at least one service component, second encoding the first signaling data and third encoding the second signaling data, a frame builder for building signal frames, wherein each of signal frames includes the encoded service data and the encoded first signaling data and the encoded second signaling data, a modulator for modulating the signal frames by an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) scheme and a transmitter for transmitting the broadcast signals carrying the modulated signal frames. |
| US09337951B2 |
Device and method for limiting an extent of a wireless network service
A device for limiting an extent of a wireless network service is provided. The device includes a directional antenna disposed at or near an intended boundary of the wireless network service, and a signal generator configured to drive the directional antenna to transmit a jamming signal in a direction substantially parallel to or away from a closest portion of the intended boundary of the wireless network service. The jamming signal degrades the quality of a wireless network signal, and has a signal strength equal to or larger than that of the wireless network signal at a preselected location at or near the intended boundary of the wireless network service. |
| US09337949B2 |
Control system for an aerially moved payload
A system for transmitting data, images, and audio to and from an aerially moved payload, the system having one or more media converters for converting coax signals to fiber signals and at least two wave division multiplexers, one for combining two or more distinct fiber signals into a single fiber signal and one for splitting the two or more combined fiber signals back into two distinct fiber signals. The system also includes at least one line along which one or more of data, images, and audio may be transmitted to and from the aerially moved payload. |
| US09337945B2 |
Receiving apparatus and receiving method for receiving broadcasting waves of different frequency bands
A first high frequency processing unit detects a first broadcasting wave transmitted using a first frequency band, and extracts a first high frequency signal. Further, a second high frequency processing unit detects a second broadcasting wave transmitted using a second frequency band different from the first frequency band, and extracts a second high frequency signal. Furthermore, at least one local oscillator generates a local oscillation signal used in the first high frequency processing unit and the second high frequency processing unit. |
| US09337942B2 |
Propagation path estimation method and program and apparatus using the same
A propagation path estimation method using an imaging method according to the invention includes a step of, in a case where a reflectarray which causes reflection and scattering in a different direction (θ−η)° from a specular reflection direction θ° exists on a propagation path from a transmission point to a reception point RX of the radio wave, calculating a virtual reception point VRX by rotating the reception point RX about a rotation center point O, and estimating the propagation path by using the virtual reception point VRX. |
| US09337941B2 |
Antenna systems and methods for over-the-air transmitter signal measurement
A system adapted for use with an electromagnetic transmitter and receiver system is provided comprising an electromagnetic transmitter and receiver system comprising an antenna, wherein the electromagnetic transmitter and receiver system is adapted to produce a transmitted signal for antenna pattern measurement which is transmitted through the antenna; a case located in proximity to the electromagnetic transmitter; at least one measurement probe disposed inside the case without changing the antenna's emission pattern, wherein the case, with the probe dispose therein, is placed no closer to the antenna than a limitation on the transmitter and receiver system component comprising a dynamic range associated with radio frequency energy received by the probe from the antenna; and an output section adapted to send results from the antenna pattern measurement received by the probe to a remote location away from the transmitter and receiver system for recording and analysis, the analysis comprising producing an antenna pattern measurement for the transmitter and receiver system. |
| US09337940B2 |
Second-order intermodulation distortion calibration apparatus, system and method
A second-order intermodulation distortion calibration apparatus is provided. The calibration apparatus is applied to a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver, which includes a transmitter for providing an RF signal, and a receiver that is at the same time a target to be calibrated. The calibration apparatus includes a calibrator. The calibrator utilizes a logic circuit in the transmitter to generate two modulation signals having different frequencies, and utilizes two transmission paths to up-convert and combine the two modulation signals to an RF transmission signal. The calibrator further channels the RF transmission signal to the receiver to accordingly adjust second-order non-linear behaviors of the receiver and to detect a signal strength of a second-order crossover component caused by the receiver due to the second-order non-linearity. After the calibration process, the calibrator provides a control signal to minimize the signal strength of the second-order crossover component. |
| US09337934B1 |
Coherent transceiver architecture
A coherent receiver comprises an ingress signal path having an ingress line-side interface, and an ingress host-side interface. The ingress signal path is configured to receive an analog signal vector at the ingress line-side interface, to demodulate the analog signal vector, and to output a digital data signal at the ingress host-side interface. The coherent receiver also comprises clock and timing circuitry configured to receive a single reference clock signal and to provide a plurality of modified ingress path clock signals to different components of the ingress signal path, the plurality of modified ingress path clock signals derived from the single reference clock signal and the plurality of modified ingress path clock signals having different clock rates. The receiver, transmitter, or transceiver can operate in a plurality of programmable operating modes to accommodate different modulation/de-modulation schemes, error correction code schemes, framing/mapping protocols, or other programmable features. |
| US09337930B2 |
Compact small form-factor pluggable transceiver
An apparatus, in accordance with particular embodiments, includes an interface configured to establish connections within a copper network. The apparatus also includes a receptacle configured to receive a conventional small form-factor pluggable (SFP) module or a compact SFP module and to direct the SFP modules to a first connector. The first connector connects either of the SFP modules to the node. A pin of the first connector is configured to receive a module detection signal and to transmit data to the compact SFP module. The apparatus also includes a low pass filter coupled to the pin of the first connector that passes the module detection signal to the node. The apparatus is further configured to establish two duplex connections with an optical fiber network if the compact SFP module is connected and to establish one duplex connection with the optical fiber network if the conventional SFP module is connected. |
| US09337928B2 |
Time-domain based composite modulation for spectrally efficient optical networks
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for time-based composite modulation of an optical carrier signal are provided. Time-based composite modulation includes determining a plurality of fixed time slots for the optical carrier signal, wherein the plurality of fixed time slots comprise a time-division-multiplexing frame. Determining a modulation format for each fixed time slot of the time-division-multiplexing frame, wherein a transport spectral efficiency of the modulation format determined for a first fixed time slot is different from a transport spectral efficiency of the modulation format determined for a second fixed time slot, and determining a number of binary bits for each fixed time slot of the time-division-multiplexing frame, wherein the number of binary bits for a fixed time slot is based on the modulation format determined for the fixed time slot. |
| US09337925B2 |
Apparatus and methods for optical control of lighting devices
A lighting apparatus includes at least one light emitting device configured to receive an optical signal from a source external to the lighting apparatus and a control circuit coupled to the at least one light emitting device and configured to adjust a light output of the at least one light emitting device responsive to the received optical signal. The at least one light-emitting device may include at least one light-emitting diode (LED) configured to receive the optical signal, and the control circuit may include a detector circuit coupled to the at least one LED and configured to detect the received optical signal. |
| US09337923B2 |
Optical spectral shaping for nonlinearity enhancement in high speed digital coherent optical transmissions
A method includes evaluating an optical signal spectrum for estimated filtering parameters of an optical spectral filtering device for shaping optical signal spectrum, determining a feedback for fine tuning the optical spectral filtering device for nonlinearity tolerance enhancement in the optical transmission system, responsive to received optical signal quality in the optical signal spectrum; and using the feedback to adjust said optical spectral filtering device for predetermined shaping and predetermined fiber nonlinearity tolerance in the optical transmission system. |
| US09337922B2 |
Waveform reconstruction device, waveform reconstruction system, and waveform reconstruction method
A waveform reconstruction device (140) includes: a phase-spectrum calculation unit (143) which (i) simulates, for each intensity of an input optical signal assumed to have a given phase spectrum, propagation of the input optical signal through an optical transmission medium, to calculate a power spectrum of an output optical signal, and (ii) performs iterations of simulating the propagation while changing the given phase spectrum to reduce differences between calculated power spectra and measured power spectra of the input optical signal having the intensities, to search for a phase spectrum of the input optical signal; and a waveform reconstruction unit (144) which reconstructs a time waveform of the input optical signal using the phase spectrum found through the search, wherein the phase-spectrum calculation unit (143) changes the given phase spectrum or simulates the propagation, based on a nonlinear optical effect or a dispersion effect. |
| US09337913B2 |
Repeater for enhancing performance of a wireless LAN network
System and method for enhancing performance of a wireless communication system, including communicating between an access point and at least one close client over a first RF channel, and communicating between an access point and at least one remote client via a repeater. The communication between the access point and the at least one remote client via the repeater includes communicating between an access point and the repeater over the first RF channel and communicating between the repeater and the at least one remote client over a second RF channel. The communication between the access point and the at least one close client over the first RF channel is substantially contemporaneous with the communication between the repeater and the at least one remote client over the second RF channel. |
| US09337907B2 |
Radio communication system, radio base station apparatus, user terminal and radio communication method
To enable a user terminal to determine a cell of a downlink signal also in a heterogeneous environment using the same cell identification information, and thereby enable reception accuracy to be maintained, a radio communication method of the invention is characterized in that a radio base station apparatus generates a reference signal sequence by using a pseudo random sequence including user specific information, and transmits the reference signal sequence to a user terminal, and that the user terminal performs signal processing using the reference signal sequence transmitted from the radio base station apparatus. |
| US09337906B2 |
Feedback and scheduling for coordinated multi-point (CoMP) joint transmission (JT) in orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)
A method implemented in a user equipment (UE) used in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) wireless communications system supporting coordinated multi-point (CoMP) joint transmission (JT) is disclosed. The method includes measuring reference signal received power (RSRP), transmitting, to a network, first feedback on the RSRP, receiving, from the network, a CoMP measurement set, conducting pre-scheduling CoMP UE fallback according to the CoMP measurement set, computing channel quality and direction information according to a UE category, and transmitting, to the network, second feedback on the channel quality and direction information. Other methods, apparatuses, and systems also are disclosed. |
| US09337903B2 |
Antenna solution for wireless power transfer-near field communication enabled communication device
Various configurations and arrangements of various communication devices and antenna solutions are disclosed. Antenna solutions disclosed herein include a single inductive coupling element configured to resonate at a variety of resonant frequencies suitable for WPT and/or NFC communications. Resonant circuits can be provided for tuning the inductive coupling element to resonant at specific resonant frequency. The antenna solutions can be employed in WPT/NFC enabled communication devices capable of WPT and NFC communication. |
| US09337902B2 |
System and method for providing wireless power transfer functionality to an electrical device
An electrical device includes a host charger power management integrated circuit wired to a battery, a wired power input comprising a first VOUT and GND pair of power connectors wired to a first pair of charging inputs of the host charger power management integrated circuit, a wireless power port for conductively connecting with a retrofittable wireless power receiver, said wireless power port comprising a second VOUT and GND pair of power connectors wired to a second pair of charging inputs of the host charger power management integrated circuit; and a power DISABLE connector for communicating a DISABLE signal to disable charging. |
| US09337894B2 |
Electromagnetic wave transmission medium and electromagnetic wave transmission system
The disclosed electromagnetic wave transmission medium prevents electromagnetic leakage during high-power electromagnetic wave transmission. The sheet-form electromagnetic wave transmission medium is configured from a first mesh conductor used in transmission of electromagnetic waves having a first power; and a second mesh conductor used in transmission of electromagnetic waves having a second power. By using two mesh conductors, when said sheet-form electromagnetic wave transmission medium is used, the conduction density of the surface region where electromagnetic waves are extracted to be used for power supply assumes a coarser state than that of the other surface region. |
| US09337893B2 |
Crosstalk analysis methods using superposition
System, methods and apparatus are described that facilitate communications circuit design. A first response of a channel to a first signal transmitted through the channel and a second response of the channel to a second signal transmitted through a neighboring channel are determined and a first signal analysis based on the first response and the second response is calculated. A modified second response is determined after modifying the magnitude or timing of the second response to simulate a change in a characteristic of the second signal. A second signal analysis performed using the first response and the modified second response may identify differences in the effects of the second signal and the modified second signal on the first signal. A physical relationship between a pair of connectors of a circuit may be modified based on the magnitude of a scaling factor or phase difference used to obtain the second response. |
| US09337892B2 |
Method and system for switching main board and standby board
A method and system for switching a main board and a standby board are disclosed. The method comprises: determining one MCU of the plurality of MCUs in the main board as a first main MCU and remaining MCUs as auxiliary MCUs, and determining one MCU of the plurality of MCUs in the standby board as a second main MCU and remaining MCUs as auxiliary MCUs; determining, by the first main MCU, a fault grade of the main board according to faults in the auxiliary MCUs of the main board and faults in the first main MCU; determining, by the first main MCU, a fault grade of the standby board according to faults in the auxiliary MCUs of the standby board and faults in the second main MCU reported by the second main MCU; switching the main board and the standby board according to the fault grade of the standby board and the fault grade of the main board. The switching of the main board and the standby board that comprise respectively a plurality of MCUs is simplified according to the invention. |
| US09337890B2 |
Antenna selection with frequency-hopped sounding reference signals
A transceiver has a first antenna and a second antenna for transmitting alternatively a frequency-hopped sounding reference signal (SRS) over a sub-band of a bandwidth at a time. The transceiver includes a determination unit for determining whether a number of sub-bands in the bandwidth is odd or even, a transmitter for transmitting the SRS continuously from the first antenna, if the number of sub-bands is even, and a receiver for receiving a response to the transmitting. |
| US09337886B1 |
Digital pre-distortion with shared observation path receiver
A system for digital pre-distortion includes: a transmitter configured to transmit at least one transmission data signal; a receiver configured to receive at least one receive data signal and to receive the at least one transmission data signal; and at least one amplifier, associated with the transmitter, configured to receive at least one pre-distortion control signal sent from the receiver; wherein the at least one pre-distortion control signal is related to the at least one transmission data signal. |
| US09337884B2 |
Medium access control method in single channel wireless network environment
Disclosed herein is a medium access control method in a single channel wireless network environment, which is a medium access control method of a receiving side terminal capable of communicating in a full-duplex communication scheme. The medium access control method includes: receiving a frame header of a data frame; and transmitting an ACK frame in response to the frame header. |
| US09337882B2 |
Mobile terminal
A mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a case defining an appearance of a terminal body of the mobile terminal, the case including a mounting groove recessed from one surface of the case, a frame coupled to the case at the mounting groove, the frame being arranged to cover at least one side surface of the terminal body and at least one signal input module coupled to the frame, the signal input module being configured to generate a signal in response to a user input. |
| US09337880B2 |
Method and apparatus for overriding a PTT switch to activate a microphone
A method and apparatus for operating a bypass switch (124, 202) for bypassing a PTT switch (120) when a two-way radio device system (100) is to be operated in a hands-free mode responsive to a voltage applied to a microphone input line (114) in a pre-selected range. |
| US09337873B2 |
Miscorrection detection for error correcting codes using bit reliabilities
Miscorrection detection for error correction codes using bit reliabilities includes receiving a plurality of reliabilities corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of read values, receiving one or more proposed corrections corresponding to one or more of the plurality of read values, and determining a miscorrection metric based at least in part on one or more of the plurality of reliabilities corresponding to the one or more of the plurality of read values. |
| US09337866B2 |
Apparatus for processing signals carrying modulation-encoded parity bits
A receiver configured for use in a communication system, such as a magnetic recording channel, and having a soft-output channel detector provided with a soft-input/soft-output (SISO) modulation codec for parity bits of a block error-correction code. A transmitter of the communication system is configured to encode data by applying a modulation code to the parity bits that have been generated using the block error-correction code. The SISO modulation codec provides an interface between the soft-output channel detector and a parity-check decoder that enables decoding iterations between them in a manner that takes into account inter-bit correlations imposed by the modulation code. In some embodiments, the soft-output channel detector is configured to operate at a fractional rate and to process an input signal carrying non-binary symbols, and the parity-check decoder is configured to apply parity-check-based decoding that is based on a non-binary low-density parity-check code. |
| US09337862B2 |
VLSI efficient Huffman encoding apparatus and method
A compression algorithm based on Huffman coding is disclosed that is adapted to be readily implemented using VLSI design. A data file may be processed to replace duplicate data with a copy commands including an offset and length, such as according to the LV algorithm. A Huffman code may then be generated for parts of the file. The Huffman code may be generated according to a novel method that generates Huffman code lengths for literals in a data file without first sorting the literal statistics. The Huffman code lengths may be constrained to be no longer than a maximum length and the Huffman code may be modified to provide an acceptable overflow probability and be in canonical order. Literals, offsets, and lengths may be separately encoded. The different values for these data sets may be assigned to a limited number of bins for purpose of generating usage statistics used for generating Huffman codes. |
| US09337859B2 |
Method and system for asynchronous successive approximation analog-to-digital convertor (ADC) architecture
Methods and systems are provided for controlling signal processing outputs. In signal processing circuitry, searching through a plurality of quantization levels for a quantization level that matches an analog input, and when the search fails within a particular amount of time, adjusting at least a portion of an output of the signal processing circuitry. The adjusting comprises setting the at least portion of the output to a predefined value. Setting the output, or portions thereof, may comprise selecting between output of a normal processing path and output of a code generation path configured for handling search failures. Timing information may be generated for use in controlling generating of the output of the signal processing circuitry. The timing information may be used in measuring per-cycle operation time during the search through the plurality of quantization levels. |
| US09337856B1 |
Calibration for a single ramp multi slope analog-to-digital converter
Methods and Systems for calibrating a Single Ramp Multiple Slope Analog to Digital Converter (SRMS ADC), the ADC including a counter and a plurality N of charge and discharge elements of different time constant i.e. slope, wherein the relationships between slopes is defined as a function of the shallowest slope SN such that S1=K1·SN, S2=K2·SN, . . . SN-1=KN-1·SN-1 where the K values are integers, and the code count for conversion is C=K1·C1+K2·C2+ . . . KN-1·CN-1+CN where each Ci represents an observed counts per each slope for a conversion, including; sampling for a first calibration pass a voltage with the ADC, discharging the voltage on the steepest slope for a number of counter counts C11, charging and discharging on the remaining slopes up to K2 to KN-1 for a number of counts per slope, Ci1 e.g. C21 to CN-1,1, discharging the remaining voltage residue on the shallowest slope and note the count, CN,1, sampling the same voltage on the ADC for a second calibration pass, discharging the voltage on the steepest slope for a modified number of counter counts C12=C11+/−X, modifying the number of charge/discharge counts time Ci2 for the slopes K2 to KN-1 to adjust for the change expected from the modified steep slope discharge to reach the shallowest slope with the same expected residue as for the first calibration pass, discharging the remaining voltage residue on the shallowest slope and note the actual count, CN,2, adjusting K1 to K1a based on the difference between CN,1 and CN,2, and; using C=K1a·C1+K2·C2+ . . . KN-1·CN-1+CN as the count code for conversion. |
| US09337854B1 |
Methods and systems for addressing component mismatch in digital-to-analog converters
Present disclosure describes an improved mechanism for addressing component mismatch in a DAC. The mechanism is based on carefully selecting the first DAC unit of an ordered sequence of DAC units that are switched on to convert a particular digital value to an analog value. The mechanism benefits from recognition that selecting the first DAC based on a value of a band-limited dither signal, where the band of the dither signal is selected to be sufficiently removed from the band of the signal of interest, allows shifting effects of DAC units mismatch away from the signal of interest in a manner that is easy to implement and control. Because dither signal is not added to the signal of interest, but is only used to control which DAC units are turned on, drawbacks of a traditional dithering method can be avoided while benefiting from the use of dither. |
| US09337852B2 |
Removing deterministic phase errors from fractional-N PLLs
Methods and devices for phase adjustment include a phase detector that is configured to compare a reference clock and a feedback clock and to generate two output signals. A difference in time between pulse widths of the two output signals corresponds to a phase difference between the reference clock and the feedback clock. A programmable delay line is configured to delay an earlier output signal in accordance with a predicted deterministic phase error. An oscillator is configured to generate a feedback signal in accordance with the delayed output signal. A divider is configured to divide a frequency of the oscillator output by an integer N. The integer N is varied to achieve an average fractional divide ratio and the predicted deterministic phase error is based on the average divide ratio and an instantaneous divide ratio. |
| US09337850B2 |
All-digital phase-locked loop (ADPLL) with reduced settling time
Settling time may be reduced or eliminated for a phase-locked loop (ADPLL). An oscillator model provides proper settings that are applied to compensate both the frequency response and the phase response. A hardware device may include a Digital Controlled Oscillator (DCO); and a DCO model device with a processor, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a frequency for the DCO by searching for the frequency based upon operational parameters of the DCO, compare the calculated frequency to a measured frequency, and compensate, based upon the comparison, an ADPLL to decrease a settling time. |
| US09337849B2 |
Phase detector, phase-frequency detector, and digital phase locked loop
A phase detector includes a phase comparing circuit configured to detect and output a phase difference between a first clock signal and a second clock signal, a latch circuit configured to latch an output signal of the phase comparing circuit and output a phase detection signal, and an initial voltage control circuit configured to control an initial voltage of an input terminal of the latch circuit according to a control signal. |
| US09337847B2 |
Oscillator
An oscillator used in RF system. The oscillator includes a pair of transistors to which source terminals are interconnected and to which drain and gate terminals are coupled by a positive feedback loop comprising an oscillator tank, wherein the source terminals of the transistors are connected to a current source configured to control physical parameters of the oscillator. |
| US09337844B1 |
Generalized parallel counter structures in logic devices
Generalized parallel counter circuitry is configured from logic elements—e.g., on a programmable integrated circuit device. Each logic element includes a logic stage, an adder and an output stage. The logic stage includes logic units, and a logic stage selector for selectively outputting to an input of the adder at least one of (a) outputs of the logic units, and (b) a first logic unit output of another one of the logic elements, and for selectively outputting to the output stage one of (a) an output of the logic units, and (b) a first output of the adder. The output stage includes at least two outputs, an output selector for selectively outputting, to the at least two outputs, at least one of (a) a second output of the adder, and (b) an output of the logic stage selector. |
| US09337843B2 |
Programmable logic device and semiconductor device
Provided is a programmable logic device that includes logic elements arranged in a plurality of columns. Wirings connecting logic elements are arranged between the plurality of columns. Switch circuits that control electrical connections between the wirings and the logic elements are also arranged between the plurality of columns. Each of the switch circuit selects an electrical connection between one of the wirings and an input terminal of one of the logic elements in accordance with configuration data. |
| US09337842B1 |
Low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) driving circuit
An LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling) driving circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a first resistor, a second resistor, and a bias driver. The first transistor is coupled between a supply voltage and a first node. The second transistor is coupled between the supply voltage and a second node. The third transistor is coupled between the first node and a ground voltage. The fourth transistor is coupled between the second node and the ground voltage. The first resistor is coupled between the first node and a third node. The second resistor is coupled between the second node and the third node. The bias driver generates bias signals for controlling the first, second, third, and fourth transistors according to a data signal. |
| US09337838B2 |
Programmable circuit device and configuration information restoration method
In a device including a programmable circuit, the programmable circuit is connected to a non-volatile memory in which configuration information is stored, and another memory having a faster reading speed than the non-volatile memory, and the programmable circuit includes a configuration memory control circuit, and a signal line group for performing reading with respect to the other memory such as a volatile memory and an embedded memory from the non-volatile memory by the configuration memory control circuit, and copies a part of circuit configuration information which is required to be subjected to fast restoration from failure into the other memory. |
| US09337835B2 |
Controlling a flash device having time-multiplexed, on-die-terminated signaling interface
An IC die transmits command signals, address signals and data signals to a flash memory device at respective times via a time-multiplexed external signaling line, the data signals representing data to be stored within an array of non-volatile storage elements of the flash memory device. The IC die additionally transmits a control signal to the flash memory device via one or more external control signal lines, the control signal directing the flash memory device to switchably couple an on-die termination element to the time-multiplexed signaling line. |
| US09337831B2 |
Capacitive wire sensing for furniture
A system and method for incorporating presence-sensing technology into furniture is provided. More particularly, the invention relates to incorporating a conductive medium into the periphery of a furniture item, such as an adjustable bed, for detecting the presence of a user or other body. The bed includes a mattress with a covering material and a tape edge surrounding the perimeter of the mattress. A capacitive wire is coupled the tape edge, and is adapted to have a voltage based on proximity of an object to the capacitive wire. The bed also includes a processor coupled to the capacitive wire. The processor receives information provided by the capacitive wire, determines when a change in voltage satisfies a threshold, and indicates whether presence is detected. Based on a determination of presence, or lack of presence, a variety of corresponding features of the adjustable bed may be activated. |
| US09337830B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing virtual world
A virtual world processing apparatus and method. Information on sensor capability is converted to binary data and then transmitted, or converted to eXtensible Markup Language (XML) data, or the XML data is further converted to binary data and then transmitted. Accordingly, data transmission rate may be increased and a low bandwidth may be used. In a data-receiving adaptation real world to virtual world (RV) engine, complexity of the adaptation RV engine may be reduced by omitting an XML parser. |
| US09337827B2 |
Electronic circuit with a reverse-conducting IGBT and gate driver circuit
An electronic circuit includes a reverse-conducting IGBT and a driver circuit. A first diode emitter efficiency of the reverse-conducting IGBT at a first off-state gate voltage differs from a second diode emitter efficiency at a second off-state gate voltage. A driver terminal of the driver circuit is electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the reverse-conducting IGBT. In a first state the driver circuit supplies an on-state gate voltage at the driver terminal. In a second state the driver circuit supplies the first off-state gate voltage, and in a third state the driver circuit supplies the second off-state gate voltage at the driver terminal. The reverse-conducting IGBT may be operated in different modes such that, for example, overall losses may be reduced. |
| US09337825B2 |
Power switch acceleration scheme for fast wakeup
A method an apparatus for a power switch acceleration scheme during wakeup is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes at least one power gated circuit block. The power gated circuit block includes a virtual voltage node from which a voltage is provided to the circuitry of the block when active. Power switches are coupled between the virtual voltage node and a corresponding global voltage node. When the power gated circuit block is powered on, power switches are activated sequentially. The rate at which power switches are activated is increased as the voltage on the virtual voltage node increases. Sequentially activating the power switches may prevent an excess of current inrush into the power gated circuit block. The increase in the rate at which power switches are activated when the voltage on the virtual voltage node is at least at a certain level may allow for a faster wakeup. |
| US09337823B2 |
Switching circuit and semiconductor integrated circuit device
Provided is a switching circuit capable of transmitting a signal with large amplitude and large current while suppressing deterioration when a small-amplitude signal is transmitted. The switching circuit 100 includes a first terminal a, a second terminal b, a first switch 1, a second switch 2, a first separation switch 3a, and a second separation switch 3b. The first switch 1 connects the first terminal a and the second terminal b according to a control signal. The second switch 2 has a first node n1 and a second node n2, and connects between the nodes in synchronization with the first switch 1. The first separation switch 3a transmits a signal of the first node n1 to the second node n2 when an electric potential of the first node n1 is higher than that of the second node n2 by more than a predetermined electric potential. The second separation switch 3b transmits a signal of the first node n1 to the second terminal b when an electric potential of the first node n1 is higher than an electric potential of the second node n2 by more than a predetermined electric potential. |
| US09337820B1 |
Pulse width recovery in clock dividers
A duty cycle adjustment apparatus includes a duty cycle adjustment determination module configured to determine an adjustment to a duty cycle of a clock signal, and includes a clock delay module configured to receive the clock signal, to delay the clock signal through first and second delay stage modules (with a first and a second plurality of delay paths, respectively) based on the duty cycle adjustment determined by the duty cycle adjustment determination module, and to output the delayed clock signal. The second plurality of delay paths have a greater delay difference between each of the corresponding delay paths than the first plurality of delay paths. The apparatus further includes a duty cycle adjustment module configured to receive the clock signal and the delayed clock signal, to adjust the duty cycle of the clock signal based on the delayed clock signal, and to output a duty cycle adjusted clock signal. |
| US09337811B1 |
Asymmetric hysteretic controllers
An asymmetric hysteretic controller comprises an analog comparator coupled with a fast slew rate DAC, or a digital comparator coupled with an ADC plus some digital control logic. The comparator, analog or digital, operates as a sequential windowed comparator having high and low limits. The sense parameter is compared to a high or a low limit and when the sense parameter reaches the selected high or low limit, the controlled device is turned off or on, respectively. When the hysteretic controller state comparison reversal occurs: (a) the comparator output may be blanked by the control logic, (b) the comparator polarity may be reversed by the control logic, (c) the control logic may command the other process limit to be selected for comparison with the sense parameter, and (d) then the comparator output may be re-enabled. |
| US09337809B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit, information processing device and image forming apparatus
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes an identification information storage, an intermediate clock generator and an operating clock generator. The identification information storage stores identification information of the semiconductor integrated circuit. The intermediate clock generator generates an intermediate clock having a frequency higher than that of a reference clock using the reference clock input to the semiconductor integrated circuit from the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit. The operating clock generator generates the operating clock having a frequency higher than that of the reference clock and lower than that of the intermediate clock in synchronization with a timing allotted according to the identification information stored in the identification information storage, using the intermediate clock. |
| US09337807B2 |
Output driver circuit with auto-equalization based on drive strength calibration
Systems and methods for equalizing an output driver circuit based on information from calibration of the output impedance of the driver circuit are disclosed. Settings that result from the calibration are referred to as calibration codes. The output driver circuit includes multiple pull-up elements that are enabled or disabled to produce a desired output impedance when the output is high and multiple pull-down elements that are enabled or disabled to produce the desired output impedance when the output is low. The number of pull-up elements that are enabled and the number of pull-down elements that are enabled is set by calibration. The results of the calibration (i.e., the number of enabled elements for the pull-up and the number of enabled elements for the pull-down) are used to set controls for an amount of pre-emphasis and/or to set controls for output slew rates. |
| US09337803B2 |
Piezoelectric device and electronic apparatus
A piezoelectric device includes a vibrator, a piezoelectric drive unit, and a first piezoelectric detector. The vibrator includes a first surface, a first groove formed along a first axis direction, and a second groove formed to be parallel to the first groove. The piezoelectric drive unit includes a first electrode pair provided in the first groove and opposed to each other in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction and parallel to the first surface, and a first piezoelectric body provided between the first electrode pair, and is capable of vibrating the vibrator. The first piezoelectric detector includes a second electrode pair provided in the second groove and opposed to each other in the second axis direction, and a second piezoelectric body provided between the second electrode pair, and is capable of detecting a vibration of the vibrator. |
| US09337802B2 |
Resonator filter having a recess in insulating material of a multi-layered coupling structure
A resonator filter includes a substrate, a bottom electrode formed on the substrate, a multi-layered coupling structure formed on the bottom electrode, a top electrode formed on the multi-layered coupling structure, a first piezoelectric layer sandwiched in between the bottom electrode and the multi-layered coupling structure, and a second piezoelectric layer sandwiched in between the multi-layered coupling structure and the top electrode. The multi-layered coupling structure includes at least an insulating material. |
| US09337801B2 |
Vibration element, vibrator, oscillator, electronic apparatus, and moving object
A vibration element includes a piezoelectric substrate including a vibrating section and a thick section having a thickness larger than that of the vibrating section. The thick section includes a first thick section provided along a first outer edge of the vibrating section, a second thick section provided along a second outer edge thereof, and a third thick section provided along a third outer edge thereof. When a maximum size of the second thick section in the vibration direction is Lmax and a minimum size thereof is Lmin, an average size expressed by (Lmax+Lmin)/2 is 100 μm or smaller. |
| US09337799B2 |
Selective tuning of acoustic devices
This disclosure provides implementations of methods, apparatus and systems for producing acoustic wave devices and for selectively modifying one or more acoustic or electromechanical characteristics of such devices. In one aspect, a method includes depositing a structural layer over a substrate. The structural layer includes a plurality of structural portions, each being positioned over a corresponding device region. The method also includes arranging a mask layer over the structural layer. The mask layer includes a plurality of mask portions, each including a number of mask openings that expose a corresponding region of the structural portion. The method also includes accelerating dopant particles toward the mask layer. The accelerated dopant particles that proceed through the mask openings are impacted into the corresponding structural portion. The impacted dopant particles modify material properties in the structural portion, which then effect a change in the acoustic or electromechanical characteristics of the acoustic wave device. |
| US09337798B2 |
Impedance matching device, power reception-side device, and control method
In an impedance matching device, a storage unit stores a control value representing a load value and a value equivalent to input impedance in advance. The control value identifies inductance and capacitance values matching a predetermined impedance value by use of either a first or second matching circuit. An impedance estimation unit estimates input impedance of the power transmission antenna. The load value estimation unit estimates load value of a circuit connected to a power reception antenna and consuming transmitted electric power. A circuit selection unit electrically connects the first matching circuit, the second matching circuit, or a through circuit per the load value and the input impedance equivalent value. A control value output unit reads out the control value stored in the storage unit based on the load value and the input impedance equivalent value, and outputs the control value to the circuit selected by the circuit selection unit. |
| US09337794B2 |
Array microphone device and gain control method
The array microphone device has a microphone array composed of a plurality of microphone units, having a signal input section for inputting a signal from the microphone units to be corrected as a signal to be corrected; a reference signal input section; a gain variable section for making the levels of the signal to be corrected and the reference signal equal; and a gain control section. The gain control section includes a high-speed gain update section for changing the gain with a first amount of change per unit time upon time elapsed since the array microphone device is starting-up being below a predetermined period of time; and a low-speed gain update section for changing the gain with a second amount of change per unit time upon the elapsed time being above the predetermined period of time, the second amount of change being smaller than the first amount of change. |
| US09337793B2 |
Orthogonal ergonomic speaker
A system and method for an audio system with two or more speakers, drivers, sources and the like is presented. An audio system includes a first speaker that reproduces sounds in a first frequency range and a second speaker that reproduces sounds in second frequency range. A crossover frequency is formed between the first frequency range and the second frequency range. The first speaker and the second speaker are physically separated by more than one wavelength of the crossover frequency and the first speaker is arranged horizontal with respect to the second speaker. |
| US09337792B1 |
Trimming gain and CMMR in difference amplifier
A multistage amplifier may include a multistage amplifier circuit and a resistive voltage divider network. The multistage amplifier circuit may have multiple transconductance input stages, each of which may have differential inputs and an adjustable tail current input that controls the amount of the transconductance of the input stage. The resistive voltage divider network may control the closed loop gain of the multistage amplifier circuit and include multiple resistors that provide different voltage divider ratios at different points. Each point may be connected to one of the transconductance input stages. Adjustment of tail currents at the tail current inputs may control the degree to which each point affects the closed loop gain of the multistage amplifier. |
| US09337787B2 |
Power amplifier with improved low bias mode linearity
Power amplifier circuitry includes a power amplifier including an input node and an output node, biasing circuitry, a selectable impedance network, and an input capacitor. The input capacitor is coupled to the input node of the power amplifier. The biasing circuitry is coupled to the input node of the power amplifier through the selectable impedance network. The power amplifier is operable in a low power operating mode and a high power operating mode. In the low power operating mode, the biasing circuitry delivers a first biasing current to the input node of the power amplifier, and a first impedance level of the selectable impedance is selected. In the high power operating mode, the biasing circuitry delivers a second biasing current to the input node of the power amplifier, and a second impedance level of the selectable impedance is selected. |
| US09337786B1 |
Multi-layer decoupling capacitor for a tube amplifier assembly
Tube amplifier assembly including a tube assembly having a support frame and a vacuum tube secured to the support frame. The support frame includes a ground wall that is electrically conductive and configured to be coupled to ground. The tube amplifier assembly also includes a supply cable electrically coupled to the vacuum tube. The tube amplifier assembly also includes a multi-layer decoupling capacitor having a first insulation layer, a power electrode, a second insulation layer, and a ground plate. The first insulation layer is interleaved between the ground wall and the power electrode, and the second insulation layer is interleaved between the power electrode and the ground plate. The supply cable is electrically coupled to the power electrode, and the ground plate is mounted to and electrically coupled to the ground wall of the support frame. |
| US09337783B2 |
Distortion compensation apparatus and distortion compensation method
A distortion compensation apparatus includes: a storage unit that stores a distortion compensation coefficient; a distortion-compensation-coefficient selecting unit that takes a logarithm of power of an input signal and exponentiates a value obtained by taking the logarithm, and that selects a distortion compensation coefficient that is stored in the storage unit according to a value obtained by the exponentiating; a distortion-compensation processing unit that acquires the selected distortion compensation coefficient from the storage unit, and that performs distortion compensation processing on the input signal to the distortion-compensation-coefficient selecting unit using the acquired distortion compensation coefficient; an amplifier that amplifies the signal subjected to the distortion compensation processing; and a distortion-compensation-coefficient updating unit that updates the distortion compensation coefficient stored in the storage unit based on the amplified signal and the input signal to the distortion-compensation-coefficient selecting unit. |
| US09337780B2 |
Amplifier with sample and hold output and low drive stage
An amplifier (50) for voice or audio signals, and particularly for headset applications, uses a low gm amplifier (54) for initially charging an output node (OUT) at the beginning of a power-on phase. After charging the output node, a main amplifier (56) is enabled to amplify the voice or audio signal. At power-down, a sample-and-hold circuit (58) drives an output transistor to discharge an AC coupling capacitor (20). Thus, spikes at the output node are eliminated and an external filtering capacitor is not needed. |
| US09337779B2 |
Operational transconductance amplifier, reconfigurable fully differential voltage sensing amplifier and reconfigurable fully differential capacitive sensing amplifier
An operational transconductance amplifier includes a cascode differential-pair amplifying circuit, a bias driving circuit, and a common mode feedback circuit. The cascode differential-pair amplifying circuit is configured for receiving a differential input voltage and for providing a differential output voltage. The bias driving circuit is configured for providing a first bias current to drive the cascode differential-pair amplifying circuit and for adjusting the transconductance of the transconductance amplifier. The bias driving circuit includes a first floating-gate transistor. The first floating-gate transistor is configured for adjusting the first bias current. The common mode feedback circuit is configured for adjusting a second bias current of the cascode differential-pair amplifying circuit according to the differential output voltage so that the differential output voltage is stabilized. A reconfigurable fully differential voltage sensing amplifier and a reconfigurable fully differential capacitive sensing amplifier are disclosed herein as well. |
| US09337778B2 |
Adaptive bias circuit and power amplifier
A bias circuit may include an envelope detecting unit detecting an envelope of an input signal, a source voltage generating unit generating a source voltage using a power supply voltage, and an envelope amplifying unit receiving the power supply voltage and the source voltage as a driving voltage and amplifying an envelope signal detected by the envelope detecting unit to generate a first bias voltage. |
| US09337775B1 |
System and method for a low noise amplifier module
In accordance with an embodiment, a circuit includes a low noise amplifier transistor disposed on a first integrated circuit, a single pole multi throw (SPMT) switch disposed on a second integrated circuit, and a bypass switch coupled between a control node of the low noise amplifier transistor and an output node of the low noise amplifier transistor. The SPMT switch couples a plurality of module input terminals to a control node of the low noise amplifier transistor, and the bypass switch including a first switch coupled between the control node of the low noise amplifier transistor and an intermediate node, a second switch coupled between the intermediate node and the output node of the low noise amplifier transistor, and a third switch coupled between the intermediate node and a first reference node. The first integrated circuit and the second integrated circuit are disposed on a substrate. |
| US09337774B2 |
Packaged RF amplifier devices and methods of manufacture thereof
An embodiment of a packaged radio frequency (RF) device includes a device substrate with a voltage reference plane, a first input lead coupled to the device substrate, a first output lead coupled to the device substrate, a first transistor die coupled to a top surface of the device substrate with a solder bond, a second die coupled to the top surface of the device substrate with a conductive epoxy that electrically couples at least one component of the second die to the voltage reference plane, and non-conductive molding compound over the top surface of the device substrate and encompassing the first transistor die, the second die, a portion of the first input lead, and a portion of the first output lead. |
| US09337773B2 |
Oscillation device and electronic apparatus
An oscillation device (electro-acoustic transducer (100)) includes an oscillation element (110) that has a vibrating member (120) and a piezoelectric element (111) that is attached to one surface of the vibrating member (120). The oscillation device includes a sheet-shaped waterproof member (140) that is constituted by a waterproof material. The oscillation device includes a frame-shaped supporting member (130) that holds an outer peripheral portion of the vibrating member (120) and an outer peripheral portion of the waterproof member (140) so that the waterproof member (140) and the oscillation element (110) face each other. The oscillation device includes a connection member (150) that partially connects mutual opposed surfaces of the oscillation element (110) and the waterproof member (140). |
| US09337767B2 |
Single bus star connected reluctance drive and method
A system and methods for operating a switched reluctance machine includes a controller, an inverter connected to the controller and to the switched reluctance machine, a hysteresis control connected to the controller and to the inverter, a set of sensors connected to the switched reluctance machine and to the controller, the switched reluctance machine further including a set of phases the controller further comprising a processor and a memory connected to the processor, wherein the processor programmed to execute a control process and a generation process. |
| US09337766B2 |
Method and drive apparatus for driving an electromagnetic actuator
A method of activating an electromagnetic actuator having at least one coil and a movable armature. The method includes the step in which the electromagnetic actuator is demagnetized by passing a sequence of electric current pulses with a current flow direction which alternates from one current pulse to the next and with a current size which decreases from one current pulse to the next, through the at least one coil, in order to reduce or eliminate any residual magnetic flux density in the electromagnetic actuator. The method also includes a step in which a position of the movable armature is determined, after the demagnetization step, by passing a measurement current pulse through the at least one coil. |
| US09337762B1 |
System and method for magnetizing a transformer in an electrical system prior to energizing the electrical system
An electrical system includes a transformer structured to be selectively coupled to an AC source that provides a main AC voltage, the transformer having a number of sets of primary windings and a number of sets of secondary windings, and a charging module structured to generate a magnetizing AC voltage. The charging module is structured to selectively provide the magnetizing AC voltage to: (i) one of the number of sets primary windings, or (ii) one of the number of sets secondary windings. The magnetizing AC voltage is such that responsive to the magnetizing AC voltage being provided to one of the number of sets of primary windings or one of the number of sets of secondary windings, one or more of the number of sets of primary windings will be magnetized in a manner wherein a flux of the one or more of the number of primary windings is in phase with the main AC voltage provided from the AC source. |
| US09337759B2 |
Circuit for activating an electric motor in a hand guided work apparatus
A circuit for activating an electric motor in a work apparatus includes a main circuit having an electric motor, a rechargeable-battery pack, and an operating switch for activating the motor, and also a parallel branch to the battery pack and the operating switch. A capacitor is arranged in the parallel branch. To lower the electrical contact load on the operating switch, provision is made to arrange an electronic switch, which is connected in series with the capacitor, in the parallel branch. The series circuit which includes the capacitor and the electronic switch has a first and a second end. The ends form the only electrical power connection of the capacitor to the main circuit. The electronic switch in the series circuit will apply a supply voltage, which is provided by the battery pack, to the capacitor only after a period of time following closing of the operating switch has elapsed. |
| US09337755B2 |
Motor control apparatus
A motor control apparatus has an inverter circuit having a plurality of pairs of upper and lower arms provided so as to correspond to the number of phases, and switching elements provided on each of the upper arms and the lower arms of each phase that drive a motor on the basis of ON or OFF operations of the respective switching elements, a single current detector that detects a current of the motor flowing through the inverter circuit, and a duty calculator that calculates duties of a PWM signals for turning the switching elements ON or OFF on the basis of a deviation between a current value of the current detected by the current detector and a target current value. |
| US09337752B2 |
Interacting complex electric fields and static electric fields to effect motion
Systems and methods of interacting complex electric fields and static electric fields to effect motion are disclosed. An example method includes producing an action force having a reaction force perpendicular to the action force by interacting a relative velocity electric field based on charge of a moving first charged object and a static charge on a second charged object in a different inertial frame of reference. Another example method includes producing an action force having a reaction force perpendicular to the action force by interacting an acceleration generated electric field based on acceleration of a first charged object and a static charge on a second charged object in a different inertial frame of reference. Another example method includes producing an action force having a reaction force perpendicular to the action force by interacting a scalar electric potential and static electric field. |
| US09337746B2 |
Multilevel inverter
A multilevel inverter having an efficient structure is provided, the multilevel inverter including a modularized phase-shift transformer including a plurality of modules to provide a phase shifted voltage by receiving a 3-phase input voltage, a plurality of first group unit power cells configured to provide an output voltage of predetermined phase, a plurality of second group unit power cells configured to provide an output voltage of predetermined phase, a plurality of third group unit power cells configured to provide an output voltage of predetermined phase. One of the first group unit power cells, one of the second group unit power cells and one of the third group unit power cells are paired to provide an output voltage of same phase. |
| US09337743B2 |
Apparatus and method for multiple primary bridge resonant converters
A converter comprises an input stage coupled to a power source, wherein the input stage comprises a plurality of power switches, a first resonant tank coupled to the input stage, wherein the first resonant tank is of a first Q value, a second resonant tank coupled to the input stage, wherein the second resonant tank is of a second Q value, a transformer coupled to the input stage through the first resonant tank and the second resonant tank and an output stage coupled to the transformer. |
| US09337727B2 |
Circuitry to control a switching regulator
In one aspect, a circuit includes a switching regulator configured to provide power to a load, a current regulator circuit coupled to the load and a response circuit configured to provide a control signal to the switching regulator in response to electrical changes of the current regulator circuit. The control signal changes non-linearly with respect to the electrical changes at the current regulator circuit. In another aspect, a circuit includes an adaptive regulation voltage circuit configured to provide a regulation voltage to a first input of an amplifier to maintain operability of a current regulator circuit. The adaptive regulation voltage circuit replicates electrical characteristics of the current regulator circuit. |
| US09337725B2 |
Output current control in a boundary conduction mode buck converter
A switching power converter has an input voltage source. An output load is coupled to the input voltage source. An inductive element is coupled to the load. A switch is coupled to the inductive element. A control circuit is coupled to the switch and the inductive element for activating and deactivating the switch, the control circuit activating and deactivating the switch based on a negative voltage drop across a resistive element of the control circuit. |
| US09337724B2 |
Load sensing voltage charge pump system
A load-sensing voltage charge pump system may include a plurality of reference voltage inputs including a target voltage input. The system may also include a plurality of voltage charge pump segments equal in number to the plurality of reference voltage inputs. A voltage charge pump segment may include: a regulator that receives a reference voltage, and a voltage charge pump that outputs a current to a load at a sensed voltage. The regulator may enable each of the voltage charge pump segments, when the sensed voltage is less than or equal to the one of the reference voltages and the target voltage. The system may include a boosted line connected in parallel to an output of each of the voltage charge pump segments. The boosted line may receive the current at the sensed voltage from each of the voltage charge pump segments that is enabled. |
| US09337721B2 |
Correction circuit limiting inrush current
Provided is a power factor correction circuit correcting a power factor of AC voltage. The power factor correction circuit includes: a rectifying unit stopping rectifying the AC voltage in a transient state and generating an rectified voltage by rectifying the AC voltage in a steady state; a power factor correction unit generating a power-factor-corrected voltage by correcting the rectified voltage; a smoothing unit generating a smoothed voltage by smoothing the power-factor-corrected voltage; and an inrush current limiting unit providing a limited current by limiting an inrush current generated by the AC voltage in the transient state and stopping providing a current to the smoothing unit. |
| US09337720B2 |
Switching power supply startup circuit having normally on emitter-switched current source
A power converter startup circuit establishes an operating voltage for control circuitry during startup and is then disabled to reduce no-load power dissipation. The startup circuit has a normally on characteristic to automatically provide startup charging current for a startup capacitor. The control circuitry begins operating as the startup capacitor voltage reaches an operating value, and it generates an inhibitory signal that disables the startup circuit to stop the startup charging current and reduce power dissipation. The normally on characteristic is achieved by an emitter switched current source employing a normally on device such as a depletion-mode J-FET. A resistor divider network provides both biasing for the startup current source and a point of monitoring the power supply input voltage during steady state operation. |
| US09337715B2 |
Boost converter with first and second modes based upon the input voltage
There is provided a power supply, including, a boost converter unit including a first boost converter having a first inductor, a first diode, and a first switching element, and a second boost converter having a second inductor, a second diode and a second switching element, an input voltage sensing unit sensing an input voltage applied to the boost converter unit, a control unit selecting one of a first boost mode in which current is divided between the first inductor and the second inductor, based on the input voltage, and a second boost mode in which current flows through the first inductor and the second inductor in this order, based on the input voltage, and a switching unit selecting one of the first boost mode and the second boost mode, based on the selection of the control unit. |
| US09337705B2 |
Systems and methods of harvesting energy in a wellbore
A downhole assembly including a turbine to be disposed within a wellbore and a rotating array. The rotating array includes magnetic material and is coupled to the turbine. The downhole assembly also includes a magnetostrictive material coupled to the rotating array to strain the magnetostrictive material to induce an electric current in a conductor coupled to the magnetostrictive material. |
| US09337704B1 |
System for electricity generation by utilizing flared gas
The embodiments herein provide a system for collecting flare gas and using the same for electricity generation. A flare gas collector assembly is attached inline with a flare stack pipeline. An electric generator comprises a combustion engine and at-least alternator. An intake valve of the combustion engine is connected to a collector tank through an intake pipeline. The at-least one alternator is connected to an output shaft of the combustion engine through a transmission mechanism. The divider circuit is connected to an output node of the alternator. The battery back is connected to the at-least one alternator through the divider circuit followed a filter circuit. The primary pump is connected to the output node of the at-least one alternator through the divider circuit for pumping water from ground to a primary reservoir. The centrifuge receives water from the primary reservoir through wherein the centrifuge separates a water from undissolved solids. |
| US09337703B2 |
Thrust bearing assembly
A thrust bearing assembly for supporting an end surface against an axial load, includes a first part with a chamber; a second part disposed in the chamber and having a load surface facing the end surface; and a third part fixed with the first part and spaced from the second part. A reservoir for storing lubricant is formed in the chamber between the second part and third part. A narrow passage communicates the reservoir with the load surface to allow the lubricant to flow from the reservoir to the load surface to lubricate the interface between the load surface and the end surface when the axial load rotates. |
| US09337691B2 |
Wireless charging set
Provided is a wireless recharging set. A source unit including a source resonator may transmit power wirelessly in all directions, and a device may receive the transmitted wireless power regardless of location. |
| US09337690B2 |
UPS systems and methods using mode-dependent grounding
A UPS system includes an inverter circuit having an input coupled to a DC link and an output configured to be coupled to a load and a gang switch (e.g., a contactor) configured to couple and decouple the DC link to and from a DC power source and to couple and decouple a neutral point of the inverter circuit to and from a ground node. The gang switch may be configured to couple the neutral point to the ground node when the DC link is coupled to the DC power source and to decouple the neutral point from the ground node when the DC link is decoupled from the DC power source. |
| US09337682B2 |
Charging control device, solar power generation system and charging control method
The present disclosure relates to a charging control device, a solar power generation system and a charging control method which allow more efficient charging. The charging control device includes: a charging converter which takes electric power out of a solar panel and converts the electric power to a voltage required for charging a storage battery; and a controlling CPU which adjusts an output voltage that is outputted from the charging converter. The charging converter takes electric power out of the solar panel at two operation points where the electric power can be taken out of the solar panel with a certain output voltage, and charges the storage battery. The controlling CPU adjusts the output voltage in accordance with a voltage difference between input voltages respectively corresponding to the two operation points. The present technique is applicable, for example, to the charging control device of the solar power generation system. |
| US09337681B2 |
Power source system, vehicle including same, and method for controlling power source system
A first opening/closing device is connected between a power storage device and a first pair of power lines. A second opening/closing device is connected between the power storage device and a second pair of power lines. A third opening/closing device opens and closes an electric conduction path between the power storage device and each of the first opening/closing device and the second opening/closing device. When starting to externally supply electric power, a control device charges a first capacitor connected between the first pair of power lines by closing the first opening/closing device and the third opening/closing device, and thereafter charges a second capacitor connected between the second pair of power lines by closing the second opening/closing device and opening the third opening/closing device. |
| US09337678B2 |
Battery block, and power source system
A battery block for use in a power source system including battery blocks is provided with: a secondary battery; a communication circuit which outputs voltage information outside, the voltage information relating to a terminal voltage Vt of the secondary battery; a communication circuit which acquires the voltage information output from another battery block as other voltage information; and a discharge controller which discharges the secondary battery in a host battery block when a host voltage, which is the terminal voltage Vt of the secondary battery in the host battery block, is higher than a terminal voltage indicated by the other voltage information. |
| US09337675B2 |
Inductive charger for hand held appliances
An inductive charger for charging a hand-held appliance is disclosed. The inductive charger includes a charger coil surrounding a magnetic core, the magnetic core forming at least a part of a charger projection, wherein the charger projection is surrounded by the charger coil which is adapted to be inserted, together with the charger projection of the magnetic core, into a charging recess of the hand-held appliance. |
| US09337671B2 |
Protective element, protective element fabrication method, and battery module in which protective element is embedded
A protective element including a substrate having a first insulating member and a concave portion formed thereon, a heating body layered on the concave portion of the substrate, a second insulating member layered on the substrate so as to cover at least covering the heating body, first and second electrodes layered on a surface of the substrate on which the second insulating member is layered, a heating body electrode layered on the second insulating member so as to be superimposed with the heating body, and electrically connected to a current path between the first and the second electrodes as well as onto and the heating body, and a low-melting point metal layered from the heating body electrode toward the first and the second electrodes configured to cause a blowout of the current path between the first and the second electrodes by heating. |
| US09337668B2 |
Viral distribution of battery management parameters
A carrier, such as a battery, that queries a memory of a charger or charging circuit, or the memory of equipment or discharging circuit powered by the battery, to determine the relative date or version of data, operating parameters and/or software on both the battery and the equipment, and either provides updated data, operating parameters and/or software to the equipment, or retrieves later dated data, operating parameters and/or software from the equipment to update the memory of the battery and/or further distribute the updated data, operating parameters and/or software to other batteries or equipment. |
| US09337662B2 |
Parallel computation of dynamic state estimation for power system
Techniques are disclosed for performing the estimation and/or prediction of the dynamic system state of large power system networks, using a multi-processor approach. More particularly, a large power system network is divided into smaller sub-systems, each sub-system having associated dynamic state variables. Each sub-system is assigned to one or more of a plurality of processing elements, and dynamic state variables for each sub-system are estimated or predicted independently, using the processing elements and sensor measurements. In several embodiments, the dynamic state of each sub-system is computed through the construction of a set of dedicated observers, such as linear parameter-varying (LPV) observers, which are designed to reduce the effects of other sub-systems on the state estimation problem. |
| US09337653B2 |
Static MEMS switch for ESD protection
An integrated circuit with either a normally open MEMS ESD protection switch coupled between a bond pad and an internal circuit or a normally closed MEMS ESD protection switch coupled between the bond pad and a common reference of the integrated circuit. At least one of a control bond pad and an enable logic circuit is coupled to a control terminal of the MEMS ESD protection switch. |
| US09337651B2 |
Electrostatic discharge protection circuit
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit includes a first n-type transistor, a discharge acceleration circuit and a discharge time circuit. The first n-type transistor has a first terminal coupled to a supply voltage, a second terminal coupled to a reference voltage, and a gate, wherein the first n-type transistor couples the supply voltage to the reference voltage during an ESD event at an I/O pad. The discharge acceleration circuit is coupled to the gate of the first n-type transistor to the I/O pad during the ESD event and coupled to the gate of the first n-type transistor to the reference voltage when there is no ESD event. The discharge time circuit, coupled to the discharge acceleration circuit and the supply voltage, controls a discharge time of the first n-type transistor of coupling the supply voltage to the reference voltage during the ESD event at the I/O pad. |
| US09337645B2 |
Method and controller for protecting a voltage source converter
A method in a controller for protection of a voltage source converter including one or more phases, each phase including one or more series-connected converter cells. Each converter cell has a by-pass switch for enabling by-pass thereof. The method includes the steps of detecting an over-voltage condition, and controlling simultaneously the by-pass switches of each converter cell, so as to bypass the converter cells upon detection of such over-voltage condition. The invention also encompasses a controller, computer programs and computer program products. |
| US09337643B2 |
Arc fault detector, electrical device having the arc fault detector, and method of controlling the electrical device
An arc fault detector, an electrical device having the arc fault detector, and a method of controlling the electrical device. The arc fault detector includes a current detector to detect current flowing through a plurality of loads in an electrical device, a filter unit to pass current having a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined cut-off frequency from the frequency of the detected current, a comparison unit to compare a voltage of the passed current with a predetermined threshold voltage and output a comparison signal based on a comparison result, and a controller to determine whether an arc fault has been generated by comparing the comparison signal with a predetermined reference arc fault signal, determine a load having the arc fault from among the plurality of loads, and control cut-off of power to the determined load. |
| US09337639B2 |
Shield grounding device
A shield grounding device includes: a grounding angle steel (1); a flat iron (9) mounted on a top portion of the shield grounding device; and a laminated board (5) connected to overground wires; wherein two shield connection boards (2) vertical to each other are respectively connected to two external surfaces of an top end of the grounding angle steel, the shield connection boards are vertically mounted on each other by a locating supporter (3), fixing holes (4) are drilled on the shield connection boards for connecting the flat iron and the laminated board. The device solves problems of conventional grounding devices that a grounding resistance is increased and a grounding effect is poor caused by unstable welding quality of grounding electrodes and the flat iron. Besides, site operation difficulty is sufficiently lowered, labor intensity is decreased, and labor efficiency is increased, in such a manner that a cost is lowered. |
| US09337633B2 |
Water draining structure for electric wire protection member
A water draining structure for an electric wire cover (11) includes: a wall (53) for covering the surroundings of an electric wire to be routed; a pair of slit openings (63) penetrating through the wall (53); and a water guiding protrusion (61) rising from each of adjacent opening edges (55) of the pair of slit openings (63) and protruding from an inner surface (59) of the wall (53) so as to have an apex part (57) of curved surface shape. |
| US09337631B2 |
Illuminated cable pulling and retrieval device
A cable pulling and retrieval device includes an elongated generally hollow and transparent wand that is interposed between a handle and a hole saw. The handle includes a generally hollow portion for receiving and storing one or more batteries, and also houses a light producing device that generates a focused beam of light and directs the same into the wand. A cable attachment unit is secured to the base end of the handle, and one or more generally resilient arms extend diagonally from the wand. |
| US09337627B2 |
Method of applying a coating to a spark plug insulator
A method of applying a coating to a spark plug insulator comprises the steps of forming a slurry solution and applying the slurry solution as a first coating to an insulative sleeve configured for use in a spark plug. The method further includes the step of heat treating the insulative sleeve to a temperature of between about 500 degrees Celsius and about 1000 degrees Celsius for between about 10 minutes and about 2 hour(s). Still further, the method includes the step of applying a second coating overlying at least a portion of the first coating, wherein the second coating comprises an organic binder. |
| US09337626B2 |
Corona discharge assembly, ion mobility spectrometer, computer program and computer readable storage medium
The present invention discloses a corona discharge assembly, an ion mobility spectrometer, an computer program and an computer readable storage medium. The corona discharge assembly includes: an ionization discharge chamber, wherein the ionization discharge chamber includes a metal corona cylinder, and the metal corona cylinder is provided with an inlet of a gas to be analyzed and a trumpet-shaped front port which is conductive to forming a gathered electric field; multiple corona pins, in which on-off of a high voltage can be independently controlled, are installed at the center of the metal corona cylinder in an insulating manner. The present invention further discloses an ion mobility spectrometer using the above-mentioned corona discharge assembly. The present invention can be used to prolong the service life of the integral corona discharge assembly; the discharge voltage of the ion source can be reduced and the discharge stability thereof can be improved; in comparison with the suspended installation of a pin-shaped electrode, since the multiple corona pins are fixed on the PCB, during installation, the position of the electrode can be accurate and stable, thus mass manufacture is easier to achieve. |
| US09337623B2 |
High density laser optics
Apparatuses and methods for high density laser optics are provided. An example, of a laser optics apparatus includes a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) in a monolithically integrated array, a high contrast grating (HCG) integrated with an aperture of a vertical cavity of each of the plurality of the VCSELs to enable emission of a single lasing wavelength of a plurality of lasing wavelengths, and a plurality of single mode waveguides, each integrated with a grating coupler, that are connected to each of the plurality of the integrated VCSELs and the HCGs, where each of the grating couplers is aligned to an integrated VCSEL and HCG. |
| US09337621B2 |
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser and atomic oscillator
A vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes: a substrate; a first mirror layer; an active layer; a second mirror layer; a current constriction layer; a first area connected to the first mirror layer and including a plurality of oxide layers; and a second area connected to the second mirror layer and including a plurality of oxide layers. The first mirror layer, the active layer, the second mirror layer, the current constriction layer, the first area, and the second area configure a laminated body. The laminated body includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion. When a width of the oxide area is W1 and a width of an upper surface of the first portion is W2, W2/W1≦3.3. |
| US09337620B2 |
Optical device and manufacturing method therefor
An optical device including a substrate and a light emitting layer formed on the front surface of the substrate. Both the front surface and the back surface of the substrate are parallel to each other and have substantially the same rectangular shape. The substrate has four side surfaces connecting the front surface and the back surface of the substrate. Of the four side surfaces, each of the two side surfaces adjacent to each other has a convex sectional shape between the front surface and the back surface of the substrate, and each of the other two side surfaces adjacent to each other has a concave sectional shape between the front surface and the back surface of the substrate. |
| US09337619B2 |
Swept frequency laser for FD OCT with intracavity element and method of operation
A frequency swept laser source that generates an optical signal that is tuned over a spectral scan band at single discrete wavelengths associated with longitudinal modes of the swept laser source. Laser hopping over discrete single cavity modes allows long laser coherence length even under dynamic very high speed tuning conditions. A ramp drive to the laser is used to linearize laser frequency tuning. A beam splitter is used to divide the optical signal between a reference arm leading to a reference reflector and a sample arm leading to a sample. A detector system detects the optical signal from the reference arm and the sample arm for generating depth profiles and images of the sample. |
| US09337618B2 |
Wavelength sweepable laser source
Wavelength sweepable laser source is disclosed, wherein the laser source is a semiconductor laser source adapted for generating laser light at a lasing wavelength. The laser source comprises a substrate, a first reflector, and a second reflector. The first and second reflector together defines an optical cavity, and are arranged to support light oscillation in the optical cavity along an optical path in a direction normal to the substrate. The optical cavity comprises a void in the optical path. The second reflector is resiliently suspended by a suspension in a distance from the first reflector and having a rest position, the second reflector and suspension together defining a microelectromechanical MEMS oscillator. The MEMS oscillator has a resonance frequency and is adapted for oscillating the second reflector on either side of the rest position. The laser source further comprises electrical connections adapted for applying an electric field to the MEMS oscillator. Furthermore, a laser source system and a method of use of the laser source are disclosed. |
| US09337612B2 |
Laser component and method for its production
A laser component includes a housing and a laser chip arranged in the housing, wherein the housing includes a first soldering contact and a second soldering contact at a first outer surface, and a third soldering contact and a fourth soldering contact at a second outer surface, the first soldering contact connects to the third soldering contact in an electrically conductive manner and the second soldering contact connects to the fourth soldering contact in an electrically conductive manner, the housing includes a carrier substrate and a cover, a bottom side of the laser chip is arranged on the carrier substrate, the cover includes an encapsulation material, the laser chip is covered by the encapsulation material, and a beam direction of the laser chip is oriented in parallel to the bottom side of the laser chip. |
| US09337607B2 |
Laser
A laser includes a total reflective mirror, an output mirror, a discharge lamp, and an active laser medium. The total reflective mirror, the output mirror, and the discharge lamp define a resonant cavity. The active laser medium is filled in the resonant cavity. The total reflective mirror includes a body, a metal film, and at least one microstructure. The at least one microstructure has a height and a lateral size, and both the height and the lateral size are in a range from about 0.5λ to about 2λ, while λ is a working wavelength of the laser. |
| US09337606B2 |
Spectral-temporal multiplexer for pulsed fiber scaling
A pulsed fiber laser amplifier system including a plurality of optical seed beam sources each generating a seed pulse beam at a different point in time and at a different wavelength than the other seed beam sources. The system further includes an optical coupler responsive to each of the seed pulse beams that outputs the pulse beams on a common optical path as a pulsed envelope beam. The system also includes a plurality of fiber amplifier stages responsive to the pulse envelope beam from the optical coupler that amplifies each pulse in the pulse envelope beam. The system further includes a spectral-temporal beam combiner that provides a separate delay for each of the amplified pulses in the pulse envelope beam so as to output a single output beam pulse that is in overlap of all of the individual amplified pulses in the pulse envelope beam. |
| US09337605B2 |
Optical amplification component and fiber laser device
An optical amplification component 1 includes a heat dissipation plate 10 and an amplification optical fiber 20 arranged on the heat dissipation plate 10. A first fiber portion 20A extending from a reference position RP between a first end E1 and a second end E2 of the amplification optical fiber 20 toward the first end E1 and a second fiber portion 20B extending from the reference position RP toward the second end E2 are wound in a spiral around the reference position RP so as to be along each other as well as not to overlap with each other, and the distance between the first fiber portion 20A and the second fiber portion 20B increases toward the ends thereof. |
| US09337604B2 |
Carbon dioxide gas laser oscillator which can estimate composition ratio of laser gas
A laser gas estimation device includes a laser oscillator including a ventilator which circulates a laser gas, a discharge tube, a ventilator power unit which supplies power to the ventilator, and a discharge tube power unit which supplies power to the discharge tube, a detection unit which detects gas pressure of the laser gas, ventilator voltage applied to the ventilator, ventilator current supplied to the ventilator, discharge tube voltage applied to the discharge tube, and discharge tube current supplied to the discharge tube, and a composition ratio estimation unit which estimates the composition ratio of the laser gas based on a detected value detected by the detection unit. |
| US09337602B2 |
Clamp device for coaxial connector
A clamp device for axial connector includes a clamp unit which has two clamp members connected to the first end thereof, and the two clamp members are located corresponding to each other. Each clamp member has a clamp portion and each clamp portion has a slot. The clamp unit has two arms pivotably connected to each other in a cross form. The clamp members clamp the axial connector and the protrusions on the axial connector are engaged with the slots of the clamp members. |
| US09337600B2 |
Rotatable connector device with two parts engaged with each other at two opposite positions
An engaging member moved upward by an urging force of a spring member built in a bottom part of a rotatable-side member has a fitting groove for allowing a top end of the spring member to be fit thereto; and engaging parts of the engaging member and engageable parts of a fixed-side member, which are engaged with each other to provisionally fix the rotatable-side member, are formed at one neutral position and at an opposite position opposite thereto. |
| US09337598B1 |
Lighting device and system
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to lighting devices and, more particularly, to elongate lighting devices having components adapted for interconnection, as well as lighting systems including such lighting devices. In one embodiment, the invention provides a lighting device comprising: an elongate housing; at least one light-emitting device within the housing; and a first connection device at a first end of the elongate housing, the first connection device being electrically connected to the at least one light-emitting device. |
| US09337596B2 |
Systems and methods for aligning a ground stab
A motor control center system is provided. The system includes an electrical enclosure configured to house one or more compartments. The electrical enclosure includes a vertical ground bus adjacent to the one or more compartments. The component unit is removably disposed within a compartment of the electrical enclosure. The system also includes a ground stab system disposed on an exterior surface of the component unit. The ground stab system is configured to operatively couple with the vertical ground bus when the component unit is inserted into the compartment of the electrical enclosure, and the ground stab system includes an alignment bracket configured to align the ground stab system with the vertical ground bus. |
| US09337594B2 |
Hermaphroditic electrical connector device with additional contact elements
An electrical connector device (1), which extends along a longitudinal axis (X) and having an interface part (2) comprising a first set (3) of electrical contact elements (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) arranged along a first line (L1), which is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (X). The connector device (1) comprises mechanical engagement elements (17, 18, 19) being shaped such that the electrical connector device (1) can be electrically and mechanically connected with an identical connector device (1) when they are aligned along the longitudinal axis (X) and one of them rotated 180 degrees about a transversal axis (Y) parallel with the first line (L1). The interface part (2) comprises a second set (4) of electrical contact elements (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) and a third set (5) of electrical contact elements (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d). The second and third sets (4, 5) are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the first line (L1) in a first plane (P1) through the first line (L1), such that for each contact element (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the second set (4) there is a corresponding contact element (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) of the third set (5), which is arranged with equal distance to the first line (L1). Each contact element (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) of the second (4) set is electrically connected to its corresponding contact element (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) of the third set (5). |
| US09337593B2 |
Plug and receptacle assembly
According to some embodiments, an assembly includes at least one of a plug or a receptacle. The plug includes a first electrical insulator that isolates a plurality of first electrical contacts. The first electrical insulator includes two separable halves. The receptacle includes a second electrical insulator that isolates a plurality of second electrical contacts. The second electrical insulator may also include two separable halves. The plurality of first electrical contacts are engageable with the plurality of second electrical contacts to electrically couple the plug and receptacle. |
| US09337591B2 |
Apparatus for transmission testing of a telecommunications jack
Apparatus (10) for transmission testing of a telecommunications jack (100) having a plurality of insulation displacement contacts (IDCs) (103), the apparatus (10) including: a base (30); a plurality of transmission test probes (31) associated with the base (30); and a jack holder (20) for removably coupling the jack (100) to the base (30) such that IDCs (103) of the jack (100) are in electrical communication with corresponding test probes (31); wherein the jack holder (20) is fixed relative to the base (30) during testing, such that the jack (100) remains stationary with respect to the probes (31). |
| US09337589B2 |
Electrical connector with metal plate
An electrical connector comprises an insulative housing having a base portion with a rear room depressed thereof, a top and a lower tongue portions extending forwardly, a plurality of contacts retained to the insulative housing, a spacer received in the rear room, and a metal shell having two side walls covering two sides of the insulative housing. The spacer has a base, a front portion and a rear portion extending upwardly from the base, and a groove depressed between the front and the rear portion. A metal plate received in the groove. The metal plate has a pair of cantilever arms extending downwardly from two side edges of the main portion. The pair cantilever arms are mirror and coplanar to each other, each of the cantilever arm having a protruding portion protruding beyond a side of the insulative housing to abut against the side wall of the metal shell. |
| US09337588B2 |
Universal serial bus connector
A universal serial bus connector includes a shielding case, an insulating main body, a first terminal group, a second terminal group and a grounding sheet. The insulating main body is accommodated and installed in the shielding case. The first terminal group is accommodated in the insulating main body. The second terminal group is accommodated in the insulating main body. The grounding sheet is fixed on the insulating main body. A surface of the shielding case has at least one bump. The bump is recessed inwards from the surface, such that the bump is electrically connected with the grounding sheet. |
| US09337586B2 |
Apparatus and methods for electrically grounding a load-supporting surface
Apparatus for electrically connecting and grounding at least two mechanically interconnectable, planar mats in a reusable load-supporting surface includes at least one removable, electrically-conductive cover configured to be engaged with each mat and extend at least partially across the top and/or bottom face thereof. Each cover includes at least one conductive interface configured to electrically connect its associated mat with at least one other mat in the load-supporting surface. |
| US09337582B2 |
Connector unit
A connector unit has a male connector that includes a cylindrical proximal portion in which a female terminal is accommodated, and a female connector that includes a tubular proximal portion in which a male terminal is held. The cylindrical proximal portion has a cylinder side marking portion including a flat surface formed on a part of an outer circumferential surface thereof, and a cylinder side rotation restricting portion including a groove portion or a projecting portion formed on the outer circumferential surface thereof. The tubular proximal portion has a tube side marking portion including a flat surface formed on an inner surface circumferential surface of the tubular proximal portion, and a tube side rotation restricting portion including a projecting portion projected from the inner circumferential surface or a groove portion formed in the inner circumferential surface. |
| US09337581B1 |
HDMI connector with anti-misinsertion structure
A HDMI connector with anti-misinsertion structure includes a metallic case, a U-shaped plate, and a terminal base. The U-shaped plate is disposed on the upper surface of the metallic case, its front ends at which two push resilient plates and a block are disposed, respectively, its rear ends which extend to form two front arm potions connected to the push resilient plates and the block, and extends backward to form two rear arm portions and two base portions. The terminal base is installed thereon a terminal set. The anti-misinsertion structure is integrally formed with the metallic case to reduce manufacturing costs and boost linking-up and stopping strength of the anti-misinsertion structure, thereby preventing the non-HDMI plug from being inserted into the HDMI connector. |