| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09439729B2 |
System and method for monitoring thermal ablation using radiofrequency echoes
Radiofrequency energy emitted from and reflected back toward a thermal ablation probe may be used to detect a gradual dissolution of a reflective interface between a tumor and surrounding healthy tissue as the ablation zone passes through this interface providing a real-time guidance with respect to the progress of ablation. |
| US09439728B2 |
Systems for creating arteriovenous (AV) fistulas
A system for creating an arteriovenous (AV) fistula comprises a vessel access sheath having a hollow interior and an exit port, a side access needle catheter configured to fit within the hollow interior of the sheath, a needle configured to be inserted into a blood vessel through the side access needle catheter, a toggle delivery catheter configured to fit within the hollow interior of the sheath, and a toggle apparatus configured to be delivered into a vessel through the toggle delivery catheter. The toggle apparatus comprises a shaft and a toggle member pivotably attached to a distal end of the shaft. A source of RF energy or resistive heat energy may be provided for application to the toggle member and/or to a heater insert in the toggle delivery catheter, for the purpose of creating the fistula. |
| US09439725B2 |
Ablation catheter with balloon
A balloon ablation catheter achieves reduction in diameter of the balloon upon balloon contraction and increased reliability of the thermocouple temperature sensor, which balloon ablation catheter is less likely to be influenced by the heating liquid discharged into the balloon and able to control the balloon surface temperature with high accuracy. The balloon ablation catheter includes a shaft wherein a lumen is formed; a balloon wherein the lumen communicates with the inside thereof; and a high-frequency-current-applying electrode formed by coiling a high-frequency-power-supplying lead wire around the shaft while sandwiching a temperature sensor lead wire between the high-frequency-power-supplying lead wire and the shaft such that the temperature sensor lead wire is fixed along the longitudinal direction of the shaft; wherein a thermocouple thermosensor is formed at the point where the high-frequency-power-supplying lead wire and the temperature sensor lead wire constituting the high-frequency-current-applying electrode contact with each other for the first time as seen from the posterior end side in the longitudinal direction. |
| US09439721B2 |
Bi-modal linear and loop ablation catheter, and method
Medical devices, systems, and methods for treating patients with tissue ablation include catheter systems having bi-modal steering mechanisms, which are capable of both linear and loop ablation. In other words, the catheter system may have two different steering modes: two-dimensional and three-dimensional. In the first and second steering modes, the steering actuator may cause one or more portions of the catheter shaft to bend in different planes. A steerable ablation catheter may include treatment elements such as electrodes at its distal end and along the catheter shaft, each of which may map, pace, and ablate. Optional features include a series of thermocouples for monitoring local temperatures. |
| US09439718B2 |
Reciprocating cooling member for an energized surgical instrument
A surgical instrument comprises: an elongated sheath, an energy probe, an elongated energy conductor, and an elongated cooling member. The energy probe is connected to the distal end portion of the sheath. The elongated energy conductor is contained within the sheath and arranged to transmit distally to the energy probe energy from an energy source. The elongated cooling member is reciprocally movable within the sheath and thermally coupled at its proximal portion to a cooler. The cooling member is movable between a proximal, non-cooling position and a distal, cooling position. In the non-cooling position, a distal end of the cooling member is displaced proximally from the energy probe so as to impede thermal conduction therebetween; in the cooling position, the distal end of the cooling member thermally contacts the energy probe so as to facilitate thermal conduction therebetween. |
| US09439711B2 |
Medical devices for thermally treating tissue
A medical device for treating tissue includes a tissue-contacting surface and a solid state heating element that is thermally coupled to the tissue-contacting surface. The solid state heating element is configured to generate heat to thermally treat tissue. |
| US09439710B2 |
Intravascular arterial to venous anastomosis and tissue welding catheter
A device for creating an arteriovenous (AV) fistula includes a proximal base having a distal tapered end surface and a distal tip connected to the proximal base and movable relative to the proximal base. The distal tip has a proximal tapered end surface. A first heating assembly, including an energized heating element, is disposed on at least one of the distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface. A second heating assembly, comprising a passive non-energized heat spreader, is disposed on the other one of the distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface. The distal tapered end surface and the proximal tapered end surface are adapted to contact opposing sides of a tissue portion to create the fistula. The taper of the proximal tapered end surface matches the taper of the distal tapered end surface, so that the two surfaces match one another. |
| US09439702B2 |
Bone fracture reduction system and methods of using the same
A method of treating a fracture includes creating an access path to a fracture site in a bone and inserting a guidewire through the access path into the fracture site is provided. The method includes the steps of positioning a cannulated drill bit having a distal end including helical flutes configured for drilling through bone over the guidewire into the fracture site, and advancing the drill bit to create a passageway in the bone configured to receive a screw. Positioning a cannulated inflatable bone tamp over the guidewire and inflating the inflatable bone tamp to compress at least a portion of the bone in or near the fracture site so as to create a void. Delivering a bone void filler into the void through the access path to fill the void. Systems and kits are disclosed. |
| US09439701B2 |
Shaping tool for shaping an acetabulum
A shaping tool shapes a smooth bone cement surface, in particular for implantation of an artificial acetabulum. The shaping tool has a curvature, whereby the shaping tool has a curved base body and at least two layers, whereby a first layer covers the curvature of the base body at least in part and is connected to the base body in a detachable manner, and a second layer covers the first layer at least in part and is connected to the first layer in a detachable manner. The shaping tool is usable to pre-shape a bone cement for insertion of an artificial acetabulum. |
| US09439700B2 |
Bone anchor with locking cap and method of spinal fixation
A bone anchor (100) for attaching a rod (108) to a bone has an anchor member (106) for attachment to the bone and an anchor head (104) having a U-shaped opening for receiving the rod. The bone anchor also includes a locking cap (102) that has a main body (900) and a set screw (1000). Advantageously, in one embodiment the locking cap preferably is designed such that a single tool can be used to lock the locking cap in place on the anchor body preferably with a 90° turn and preferably then drive the set screw to clamp the rod. The locking cap also preferably non-threadingly engages the anchor body. The anchor body preferably has an inclined surface on its top surface which elastically deflects extending tabs on the main body to secure the locking cap to the anchor body. A method of implantation and assembly of the bone anchor are also described. |
| US09439698B2 |
Cable fixation device
Various forms of a cable fixation device, instrumentation, kit, and methods useful for repairing the skeletal system are introduced. The system utilizes a clamp housing fixing a butt end of a surgical cable therein. In an operative configuration the cable is looped around a damaged bone segment and reentered through a lock aperture in the clamp housing then through a collet and lock cap residing within the lock aperture. The cable loop and each aforementioned component comprise a central axis aligned within a single plane. A sliding interface situated between the lock cap and collet prevent twisting of the surgical cable. The locking mechanism is non-destructive to the cable despite repeated unlocking and relocking of the fixation device. The axis for tensioning of the cable is coincident with the locking axis. A counter torque instrument has a torsional input shaft generally perpendicular to the elongated axis of the instrument. |
| US09439696B2 |
Implant to stress bone to alter morphology
An implant operable to alter morphology of a long bone can comprise a first longitudinal member, a second longitudinal member, and an adjusting member. The first longitudinal member can have a bone attachment end and a first connecting end. The second longitudinal member can have a second bone attachment end and a second connecting end. The adjusting member can connect to both of the first and second connecting ends. The adjusting member can be selectively moveable from a first implanted position where the first and second connecting ends are fixed to respective ends of the long bone and spaced apart a first distance to a second implanted position where the first and second connecting ends are fixed to the respective ends of the long bone and spaced apart a second distance. The second distance is less than the first distance causing a long bone to be compressed between the first and second bone attachment ends. |
| US09439688B2 |
System and method for multiple level facet joint arthroplasty and fusion
Facet joint replacement implants may be designed for use on multiple adjacent vertebral levels. Each superior implant may have a substantially semispherical concave surface, and each inferior implant may have a cooperating semispherical convex surface that is deformable to enable it to be pressed into the superior implant concave surface to fix the relative orientations of the superior and inferior implants. Thus, the inferior implant may be attached to the same pedicle as the superior implant, but may also be oriented independently of the superior implant and then fixed in position. Similar mounting structures may be used to attach one or more fusion implants to a level adjacent to that of a facet joint replacement implant. |
| US09439687B2 |
Modular occipital plate
A system and associated method are provided for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine. A plate is provided to contact a region of a skull and be secured thereto. A spinal rod is configured to extend from a location adjacent the plate to a location adjacent at least one vertebra. An adjustable housing is provided to secure the rod to the plate, and has a first position wherein the relative position of the rod to the plate can be adjusted and a second position wherein the relative position of the rod to the plate is secured. |
| US09439683B2 |
Dynamic stabilization member with molded connection
A dynamic fixation medical implant having at least two bone anchors includes a longitudinal connecting member assembly having at least one transition portion and cooperating outer sleeve, both the transition portion and sleeve being disposed between the two bone anchors. The transition portion includes a rigid length or rod having apertures therein and a molded plastic length that extends through the apertures, thus attaching the plastic length to the rigid length. The sleeve surrounds the transition portion and extends between the pair of bone anchors, the sleeve being compressible in a longitudinal direction between the bone anchors. |
| US09439681B2 |
Polyaxial bone fixation element
The present disclosure includes a polyaxial bone fixation element for use in spinal fixation to interconnect a longitudinal spinal rod with a patient's vertebra. The polyaxial bone fixation element preferably includes a bone anchor, a collet, a body, and a locking cap. The polyaxial bone fixation element preferably enables in-situ assembly. That is, the polyaxial bone fixation element is preferably configured so that in use, the bone anchor may be secured to the patient's vertebra prior to being received within the body. Accordingly, the polyaxial bone fixation element enables a surgeon to implant the bone anchor without the body to maximize visibility and access around the anchoring site. Once the bone anchor has been secured to the patient's vertebra, the body can be snapped-onto the bone anchor. The bone anchor preferably also includes a second tool interface so that a surgical instrument can be directly coupled to the bone anchor. |
| US09439680B2 |
Coupling assembly for coupling a rod to a bone anchoring element, kit of such a coupling assembly different rod receiving elements and bone anchoring device
A coupling assembly for coupling a rod to a bone anchoring element includes a receiving part having a recess for receiving the rod and an accommodation space with an opening for inserting and accommodating a head of the bone anchoring element, a pressure element having a first end surface and a flexible portion to clamp the head, and a rod receiving element configured to be assembled to the pressure element, the rod receiving element having a first end and a second end defining an opening, and a channel for receiving the rod. The channel has a bottom near the second end of the rod receiving element, and the opening of the rod receiving element opens into the channel. The first end surface of the pressure element can extend through the opening of the rod receiving element and past the bottom of the channel to contact the rod. |
| US09439673B2 |
Method and apparatus for skin resurfacing
Exemplary embodiments of method and apparatus are provided for resurfacing of skin that includes formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm, using a mechanical apparatus, thus avoiding generation of thermal damage as occurs with conventional laser resurfacing procedures and devices. The holes formed can be well-tolerated by the skin, and can exhibit shorter healing times and less swelling than conventional resurfacing procedures. The apparatus includes one or more needles adapted to remove a small portion of tissue when inserted into and withdrawn from the skin. The fractional surface coverage of the holes can be between about 0.1 and 0.7, or between about 0.2 and 0.5. The exemplary method and apparatus can produce cosmetic effects such as increases in collagen content, epidermal thickness, and dermal/epidermal junction undulations in the skin. |
| US09439672B2 |
Surgical instrument handle with adjustable actuator position
A surgical instrument handle operates a microsurgical instrument on a surgical instrument head by manipulation of the instrument handle. The instrument handle has an elongate center rod with a ring mounted on the rod for reciprocating movement. The ring is operatively associated with the surgical instrument head for operation of the microsurgical instrument of the head. A plurality of resilient arms extend along the length of the rod and engage against a sliding surface of the ring. The inward and outward movement of the plurality of arms reciprocates the ring on the handle rod to cause operation of the surgical instrument head. |
| US09439670B2 |
Curved clamp arm for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments
The present invention relates to ultrasonic surgical clamping instruments and, more particularly, to a curved clamp arm for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments that have an ultrasonically actuated blade that, in one case, is ultrasonically actuated to have motion in substantially a single plane. The curved clamp arm opens and closes with respect to the blade and also has a plane of curvature that is parallel to the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp arm is in the closed position, and not parallel to the plane of motion of the blade when the clamp arm is in the open position. |
| US09439668B2 |
Switch arrangements for ultrasonic surgical instruments
Switch assemblies for handheld ultrasonic surgical instruments. The switch assemblies may include a first switch arrangement that is operably supported on a forward portion of a handle housing of the surgical instrument and is selectively movable relative to at least one first switch contact. The switch assembles may further include a second switch arrangement that comprises at least one of a right switch button that is movably supported on a right side of the handle housing relative to at least one right contact and a left switch button that is movably supported on a left side of the handle housing that is selectively movable relative to at least one left contact. |
| US09439667B2 |
Apparatus and methods to install, support and/or monitor performance of intraosseous devices
Various types of supporting structures, supporting devices, attachment mechanisms and attachment techniques may be provided to support and/or stabilize an intraosseous device installed at a target site in a patient. Various methods and procedures may also be provided to releasably engage a supporting structure or supporting device proximate a target site. Apparatus and methods may be provided to monitor performance of an intraosseous device during communication of drugs, medications and/or fluids with an intraosseous space. |
| US09439660B2 |
Method of arthroplasty on a knee joint and apparatus for use in same
A method of, and apparatus for, arthroplasty of a knee joint comprising obtaining a desired spacing of the femur from the tibia by inserting a spacer into the knee joint between the femur and the tibia. The spacer is used as a reference for securing a guide jig in position about the knee joint for guiding resection of one or both of the femur and tibia for fitting of tibial and/or femoral prostheses. A method of resecting the femur while moving the tibia through an arc of motion to remove bone to the desired depth, a method of determining the position of the guide jig, the guide jog, an alignment device and the spacer are also described. |
| US09439656B2 |
System for positioning a cutting guide in knee surgery
A system is provided for positioning a cutting guide on a femur of a knee to make a cut along a distal end of the femur during knee surgery. The system may generally include an adjustable femoral attachment member configured to attach to a cut distal end of the femur, a cutting guide removably attachable to the femoral attachment member and configured to guide a surgical saw to make an additional cut on the distal end of the femur, and a force sensor for positioning between the femoral attachment member and a proximal end of a tibia of the knee. The force sensor may include a medial portion for sensing a medial force in the knee and a lateral portion for sensing a lateral force in the knee. |
| US09439652B2 |
Implantation device with handle and method of use thereof
An instrument for deploying an implantable medical device into a body lumen is disclosed. The instrument comprises a base member having a base handle and a deployment extension, a first tubular member having a first tubular body and a first handle, and a second tubular member having a second tubular body and a second handle. The first tubular member fits over the deployment extension and is longitudinally slidable over the deployment extension, and the second tubular member fits over the first tubular member and is longitudinally slidable over the first tubular member. The distal ends of the deployment extension, the first tubular body, and the second tubular body are adapted to hold and deploy the implantable medical device. |
| US09439651B2 |
Methods for cryptographic identification of interchangeable parts for surgical instruments
A method for encrypted authentication of interchangeable parts of a surgical instrument includes providing a surgical end effector at a distal end of a handle of the surgical instrument and electrically connecting an authentication controller within the handle to a receiving portion of the end effector. An interchangeable part is removably placed at the receiving portion. The interchangeable part is authenticated with the authentication controller when the interchangeable part is seated in the end effector. |
| US09439647B1 |
Suture passing instruments and methods
An apparatus for passing one or more sutures in tissue repair and/or other surgical procedures. The apparatus includes a pair of jaws mounted on a distal end of a shaft, a hand assembly mounted on a proximal end of the shaft, and a curved needle mounted on the hand assembly and through a shaft. The curved needle remains within the jaw assembly and can be actuated out of the jaw assembly without deformation of the needle and by linear advancement of a needle linkage. |
| US09439638B2 |
Exposure apparatus for paraspinal muscle clearance approach with posteriorspinal small incision
An exposure apparatus for a paraspinal muscle clearance approach with a posterior spinal small incision includes a spinous process side vertebral plate retractor and a cooperating vertebral arch outer side retractor is provided. The apparatus can be used to separate a clearance between a multifidus muscle and a longissimus muscle under direct view, easily and atraumatically reach a screw fixation position on a vertebral arch pedicle, expose a facet joint, bluntly separate the multifidus muscle from the vertebral arch, accurately place the retractors, and thereafter locally form a surgical operation tunnel space that externally extends 10 degrees to 15 degrees. A design of angles and structures of retractors effectively protects local soft tissues and prevents a tissue damage while executing traction on local muscles and ensuring an adequate surgical space. |
| US09439636B2 |
Wound plugs
A medical device for wound closure, including an elongate body with a plurality of portions and a perforated region disposed therebetween. The medical device may also include an alignment member. The wound plug may also have a first position for insertion, the portions being mechanically coupled to each other, and a second position where one or more of the portions are spatially separated. |
| US09439633B2 |
Device and a method for facilitating monitoring the cross-section of a gastric sleeve during formation thereof
A device (1) for monitoring the transverse cross-section of a gastric sleeve (3) as the gastric sleeve (3) is being formed in a stomach (4) during a sleeve gastrectomy procedure comprises a catheter (15) with a primary balloon (19) located thereon towards a distal end (17). The primary balloon (19) is located in the stomach, and the portion of the stomach which is to form the gastric sleeve (3) is stretched around the primary balloon (19) when the primary balloon (19) has been inflated to a diameter approximating to the diameter to which the sleeve (3) is to be formed. As the stomach (4) is being sutured to form the sleeve (3) the pressure within the primary balloon (19) is monitored to avoid excessive stretching of the stomach around the primary balloon (19). The diameter of the primary balloon (19) is also monitored to avoid necking of the sleeve (3) during suturing of the stomach (4). |
| US09439632B2 |
Self-contained handheld biopsy needle
A method of operating a biopsy device includes inserting a sampling probe having a first component and a second component into a biological tissue mass, the first component having a sample chamber and a side port that opens to the sample chamber, and the second component having a side opening; generating a vacuum in the sample chamber during a first drive interval; rotating at least one of the first component and the second component of the sampling probe during a second drive interval until the side port of the first component and the side opening of the second component are in radial alignment; and rotating at least one of the first component and the second component of the sampling probe during a third drive interval to sever tissue drawn by vacuum into the sample chamber to deposit a tissue sample in the sample chamber. |
| US09439630B2 |
Non-visible detectable marking for medical diagnostics
Sample media for the analysis of analytes in a fluid test sample includes a carrier, at least one test field on the surface of the carrier including at least one reagent reactive with the analytes and capable of providing a detectable response. A non-visible bar code formed by at least two distinct non-visible marker fields is located on the carrier. The marker fields are configured to reflect electro-magnetic (EM) radiation within one or more ranges of non-visible wavelengths to form a coded sequence of reflectances correlated to identification of the sample media. |
| US09439625B2 |
Delta delay approach for ultrasound beamforming on an ASIC
Systems are disclosed for ultrasound beamforming on an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In certain embodiments, the system includes an ultrasound probe that includes a plurality of transducer elements electrically coupled to an ASIC. The ASIC includes a plurality of waveform generators electrically coupled to a plurality of delay units. Each delay unit receives a waveform from a waveform generator or an adjacent delay unit, applies a delay to the waveform, and outputs the waveform to adjacent delay units, one or more of the plurality of transducer elements, or both. The delays that are provided to waveforms before being output to a transducer element determine the beamforming characteristics of the ultrasonic pulses generated by the ultrasound probe. |
| US09439624B2 |
Three dimensional mapping display system for diagnostic ultrasound machines and method
An apparatus, system, and method where the ultrasound transducer position registration is automated, calculates the position of each pixel in the ultrasound image in reference to the predetermined anatomical reference points (AR) and can store the information on demand. The graphic interface associated with the ultrasound image allows for the instant display of selected targets position coordinates relative to anatomical reference points, in the ultrasound images. This system would significantly reduce the ultrasound examination time, by eliminating the time consuming manual labeling of images and speeding up the target finding at subsequent examinations, enhance correlation capability with other diagnostic imaging modalities like CT scans, MRI, mammograms, decrease human errors and fatigue, provide an easy, uniform, method of communicating the target position among healthcare providers. |
| US09439623B2 |
Surgical planning system and navigation system
The present disclosure is directed to a planning and navigation system. The planning system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of images and a controller configured to render the plurality of images in three dimensions, automatically segment the plurality of images to demarcate a target area, and automatically determine a treatment plan based on the target area. The navigation system includes an ultrasound device having a fiducial pattern that obtains an ultrasound image, a surgical device having a image capture device that captures an image of the fiducial pattern, and a controller that receives the ultrasound image and the fiducial image. The controller determines a position of the surgical device based on the fiducial image. The planning and navigation system also includes a controller that receives data from the planning system and the navigation system and a display configured to display the received information. |
| US09439615B2 |
System for non-invasive classification of different types of micro-calcifications in human tissue
A non-invasive method distinguishes between two types of micro-calcification by x-ray imaging in mammography. Two major types of micro-calcifications are found and confirmed by histopathology and they are correlated to benign and malignant breast lesions. Distinguishing between them non-invasively will significantly improve early breast cancer diagnosis. This is based on the fact that these two types of micro-calcifications show opposite absorption and small-angle scattering signals in x-ray imaging. The imaging system, which can record these two signals of the breast tissue simultaneously for instance, an x-ray grating interferometer, can be used to uniquely determine the micro-calcification type. This is expected to be used in mammography to improve early breast cancer diagnosis, increase diagnosis accuracy and decrease the biopsy rate. |
| US09439613B2 |
System and method for phase-contrast X-ray imaging
A differential phase contrast X-ray imaging system includes an X-ray illumination system, a beam splitter arranged in a radiation path of the X-ray illumination system, and a detection system arranged in a radiation path to detect X-rays after passing through the beam splitter. |
| US09439607B2 |
Detector arm systems and assemblies
A detector arm assembly is provided that includes a stator, a detector head, a radial motion motor, and a detector head belt. The stator is configured to be fixedly coupled to a gantry having a bore. The detector head includes a carrier section that is slidably coupled to the stator and configured to be movable in a radial direction in the bore relative to the stator. The radial motion motor is operably coupled to at least one of the detector head or the stator. The detector head belt is operably coupled to the radial motion motor and the carrier section. Rotation of the radial motion motor causes movement of the detector head in the radial direction. |
| US09439604B2 |
Electronic fetal monitoring applications and display
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for displaying on a user display device alarm-triggering events detected by the medical device based on the location of the user display device. The method comprises receiving alarm-triggering patient data from a medical device and determining the physical location of first and second user display devices. The method further comprises determining that the physical location of the first user display device is designated to have an alarm displayed, and that the physical location of the second user display device is not designated to have an alarm displayed. In response to these determinations, the content of the alarm is displayed on the first user display device. |
| US09439600B2 |
Treating heart tissue
Some embodiments of a system or method for treating heart tissue can include a catheter device that provides a user with the ability to perform a number of heart treatment tasks (before, during, and after a cardiac surgery or a percutaneous coronary intervention). In particular embodiments, the catheter device can be used to (i) precondition heart muscle tissue before the heart is isolated from the circulatory system, (ii) deliver cardioplegia into the coronary sinus during the cardiac surgery when the heart is isolated from the circulatory system, and (iii) control the blood flow through the heart after the heart is reconnected with the circulatory system. In some embodiments, the catheter device can perform some or all of: (i) intermittently occluding the coronary sinus, (ii) delivering a treatment fluid into the coronary sinus, and (iii) monitoring a flow rate of blood passing from the coronary sinus to the right atrium. |
| US09439598B2 |
Mapping and ablation of nerves within arteries and tissues
Method and systems for ablating nerves including measurement of physiological parameters and/or electrical conduction. The method may include ablating nerves within an artery of a patient such as the renal artery and may include advancing a catheter into the artery, measuring a physiological parameter, emitting an electrical pulse into a wall of the artery, measuring the physiological parameter during or after the step of emitting the electrical pulse, ablating the artery wall, then repeating the steps of measuring the physiological parameter, emitting an electrical pulse, and measuring the physiological parameter during or after the step of emitting the electrical pulse. The change in the physiological parameter caused by the electrical pulse before ablation may be compared to the change in the physiological parameter caused by the electrical pulse after ablation to determine the degree of nerve ablation achieved and whether or not to perform further ablation. |
| US09439596B2 |
Method and apparatus for detecting seizures
A method and apparatus for detecting seizures with motor manifestations including detecting EMG signals, isolating from the EMG signals spectral data for a plurality of frequency bands, and calculating a T-squared value there from. The T-squared values may be detected in real time, such as in a patient's home environment, and the T-squared data may be compared to a threshold T-squared value to determine whether an alarm is sent. |
| US09439594B2 |
Work capacities testing apparatus and method
A portable work capacities testing apparatus comprising a portable computer, a hub releaseably interconnected with the portable computer, a dynamic strength and lifting device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a hand grip strength device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a finger pinch strength device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a forearm/wrist strength device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a handling/proprioception device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a finger flexion device releaseably interconnected with the hub, a whole body coordination device releaseably interconnected with the hub, and a strength push/pull/lift device releaseably interconnected with the hub. |
| US09439593B2 |
System and method for data anomaly detection process in assessments
A method, computer program product, and computer system for identifying at least one attribute of a user. An attention level of the user is determined with the identified at least one attribute. The attention level of the user is analyzed. An action of the user is classified as an attention deficiency event using the analyzed attention level of the user. |
| US09439591B2 |
Analysis system and method for determining an analyte in a body fluid
A system for determining an analyte in a body fluid includes a magazine comprising two partial magazines, one including chambers containing analysis elements having a sample contact zone and a reagent system containing a reagent, whose reaction with the body fluid results in a change of a variable, and another including chambers containing puncturing elements having a tip having a capillary channel, which forms a fluid connection between the tip and a sample transfer zone of the puncturing element. The system may also include an analysis instrument having a puncturing drive for driving a puncturing element on a movement path, a mounting for receiving the magazine such that one chamber of the magazine at a time is located in a functional position, in which a puncturing element in the chamber can be moved by the puncturing drive, and a measuring and evaluation apparatus for measuring the change of the variable. |
| US09439588B2 |
Arrangement and devices configured for carrying out optical absorption spectroscopy
An implantable fluorescent concentrator is configured to be inserted in vivo as a subcutaneous light source for optical absorption spectroscopy of surface-near tissue layers. As a result, certain and reliable results of the optical absorption spectroscopy are achievable. Furthermore, various analytes with different absorption properties are certainly and reliably quantifiable. |
| US09439586B2 |
Assessing measures of glycemic variability
Methods, devices and systems for receiving an instruction to determine a glycemic variation level, retrieving a stored metric for determining the glycemic variation level, retrieving one or more parameters associated with the retrieved metric analysis, determining the glycemic variation level based on the retrieved one or more parameters for the retrieved metric analysis, and outputting the determined glycemic variation level when it is determined that the retrieved one or more parameters associated with the retrieved metric analysis meets a predetermined condition are disclosed. |
| US09439585B2 |
Semiconductor based analyte sensors and methods
An analyte sensor is provided that comprises a substrate which includes a semiconductor material. Embodiments may include a core of a conductive material, and a cladding of a semiconductor material, in which the cladding may form at least a portion of a conducting path for a working electrode of the analyte sensor. Method of manufacturing and using the analyte sensor are described, as are numerous other aspects. |
| US09439567B2 |
Updating firmware to customize the performance of a wearable sensor device for a particular use
The present invention is directed to providing customized versions of firmware to a wearable sensor device. The customized versions of the firmware can allow one or more sensors in the wearable sensor device to perform in a manner that is most optimal for a particular user or the particular manner in which the wearable sensor device is used. In some cases, the customizations can include causing the sensors to use a sampling rate that is optimal for one or more activities that the particular user intends to perform while wearing the wearable sensor device. |
| US09439563B2 |
Measurement method and system
Methods and systems for determining an individual gaze value are disclosed herein. An exemplary method involves: (a) receiving gaze data for a first wearable computing device, wherein the gaze data is indicative of a wearer-view associated with the first wearable computing device, and wherein the first wearable computing device is associated with a first user-account; (b) analyzing the gaze data from the first wearable computing device to detect one or more occurrences of one or more advertisement spaces in the gaze data; (c) based at least in part on the one or more detected advertisement-space occurrences, determining an individual gaze value for the first user-account; and (d) sending a gaze-value indication, wherein the gaze-value indication indicates the individual gaze value for the first user-account. |
| US09439562B2 |
Diagnosis support apparatus and method
A diagnosis support apparatus comprises an acquiring unit that acquires a plurality of examination data items having different examination dates, a setting unit that sets an extraction condition for examination data items, an extracting unit that extracts, from the plurality of acquired examination data items, examination data items corresponding to the set extraction condition, and a displaying unit that arranges and displays the extracted examination data items, wherein the setting unit sets the extraction condition based on an interval between examination dates of examination data items. |
| US09439561B2 |
Accommodation compensation systems and methods
Methods and systems for obtaining an ocular aberration measurement of an eye of a patient are provided. Exemplary techniques involve obtaining a first induced metric for the eye that corresponds to a first accommodation state of the eye, obtaining a second induced metric for the eye that corresponds to a second accommodation state of the eye, and determining a natural metric of the eye based on the first and second induced metrics. An induced metric may include a pupil size or a spherical aberration. Techniques can also include determining a target metric for the eye base on the natural metric, determining whether an actual metric of the eye meets the target metric, obtaining an ocular aberration measurement of the eye if the actual metric meets the target metric, and determining a treatment for the eye based on the ocular aberration measurement. |
| US09439555B2 |
Liner for endoscope working channel
A flexible endoscope insertion tube having at least one working channel extending in the axial direction of the flexible tube. One or more liners are in coaxial alignment with the distal end working channel of the tube. At least one ceramic tip liner may be disposed on the interior distal end of the endoscope working channel which protects the working channel from operational wear and tear. |
| US09439553B1 |
Portable washing and drying apparatus
A portable washing and drying apparatus useful for washing and drying baby bottle components and other baby-feeding accessories in limited spaces. The apparatus has a flexible membrane to place baby-feeding accessories so that the apparatus can lie in sink basins that have a variety of sizes and shapes. The membrane has a plurality of interspersed holes and a plurality of projections to hold accessories. The membrane may have vertical partitions that separate the flexible membrane into drying and washing regions. The membrane is supported by at least two frame members secured to opposing sides of the membrane and can be spatially adjusted from each other. In one configuration, the frame members have hooks that extend therefrom and attach to an external support, such as a towel bar. In another configuration, the frame members are connected by a chain and hook, so that the apparatus can hang from a shower rod. |
| US09439552B2 |
Apparatus for improving door robustness in a dishwasher
A dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub having an open face, a door selectively moveable to open and close the open face, and comprising spaced interior and exterior panels having peripheral edges that are coupled along at least a portion of the peripheral edges by a peripheral wall to collectively define a door interior, and a controller mounting bracket located within the door interior. |
| US09439550B2 |
One-piece foam construct
The invention relates to a one-piece foam construct reversibly assembled by at least one binder, as well as the methods of making and assembling said one-piece foam construct. The construct is meant for use as a cleaning implement. |
| US09439549B2 |
Dispersible nonwoven wipe material
A dispersible, nonwoven multistrata wipe material that is stable in a wetting liquid and flushable in use is provided. More particularly, the materials are layered structures including, but not limited to, one, two, three, or four layers to form the dispersible nonwoven wipe material. The layers contain cellulosic fibers and a binder or additive. |
| US09439548B2 |
Battery removal for a vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner includes a vacuum component defining an aperture, and a hand vacuum including a removable battery. The hand vacuum is in removable engagement with the vacuum component, and the battery is removable from the hand vacuum through the aperture while the hand vacuum remains in engagement with the vacuum component. |
| US09439547B2 |
Cyclonic separator assembly for a vacuum cleaner
A cyclonic separator assembly for use with a vacuum cleaner includes a body having an inlet, an outlet, and an inner surface. The cyclonic separator assembly also includes a cyclone unit positioned within the body between the inlet and the outlet. The cyclone unit has an outer perimeter that is spaced apart from the inner surface of the body to define an inlet space therebetween. The cyclone unit includes a plurality of first cyclones in communication with the inlet space and arranged along an outer circle adjacent the outer perimeter. The cyclone unit also includes a plurality of second cyclones in communication with the inlet space and arranged along an inner circle that is spaced apart from the outer circle such that each second cyclone is nested between two adjacent first cyclones. The plurality of first cyclones and the plurality of second cyclones are arranged in parallel. |
| US09439544B1 |
Toilet stool table assembly
A toilet stool table assembly provides a table for a user seated on a toilet seat. The assembly includes a toilet having a base and a toilet bowl being attached to and positioned on the base. The toilet bowl has an upper edge, a front side, a rear side, a first side and a second side. The first and second sides are coupled to and extend between the front and rear sides. A first arm is coupled to the first side of the toilet bowl and extends along the first side of the toilet bowl. The first arm has a first end spaced from a second end. Each of the first and second ends of the first arm is coupled to the first side of the toilet bowl. A panel is coupled to the first arm. |
| US09439543B1 |
Portable aviation lavatory service apparatus
A compact, self-contained servicing apparatus for onboard lavatories on private aircraft and other vehicles comprises a reservoir container with a lid coupled to a flexible hose bearing a standard lavatory clean-out coupling on its opposite end. The coupling mates with a clean-out port beneath the lavatory of the vehicle. The hose permits contents of the onboard lavatory to flow under gravity into the container. The device includes a rinse bucket for pouring rinse water through the lavatory and for refilling the lavatory with disinfect and fluid. The device also optionally contains gloves, goggles, towels and other supplies used in the self-service process, and a second lid seals the container for transporting lavatory effluent to a disposal area. In one embodiment, the components of the apparatus nest within the container to form a service kit that stores onboard the vehicle when it is not in use. |
| US09439539B2 |
Dicing tool for domestic food processing device
A food processing device includes a dicing kit adapted to be received in a bowl which is coupled to a base. The dicing kit includes a dicing grid disposed within a frame which is coupled to a cover member having a rotating slicing tool disposed there between. The slicing tool is positively captured between the dicing grid frame and the cover member and is further adapted to rotate as powered by a motor disposed in the base portion of the food processor. |
| US09439537B2 |
Fully automated, twin-chamber, continuous hot oil filtration system
An apparatus and process of continuous, filtration of cooking oil during food processing to reduce and control free-fatty-acids and undesirable coloration in the cooking oil, including the movement of oil from a vessel to a flat-bed pressure chamber, where the oil is filtered through a stainless steel mesh screen under pressure. Differential pressure in the chamber causes the system to run the oil to a sister filter chamber which takes over the filter function while the first chamber cleans its filter. The filters are cleaned by inducing a high pressure inert gas into the filter chamber that dries the sediment, and then a mechanical sweep removes the sediment to a waste container. The resulting alternating process of filtering and filter cleaning between two chambers is fully automated and provides filtering that considerably extends oil life. |
| US09439531B1 |
Method of using a portable beverage brewing machine
Shown is a portable beverage apparatus. Also shown is a portable single serve beverage brewing apparatus designed to be used in conjunction with various single serve brewing apparatus or by itself. |
| US09439530B2 |
Intelligent cooking apparatuses and methods
Intelligent cooking apparatuses incorporate wireless communication technology to carryout cooking procedures. More specifically, stoves, ovens, and cookware may send and receive data wirelessly to carryout cooking procedures. An application may guide persons through recipes and automate many of the cooking procedures. Cookware may send batch information to an application for processing, display, and analysis. Cookware may use hardware for automated cooking actions, such as a magnetic stirrer and driver for stirring the contents in cookware, all monitored by various sensors located in the cookware. |
| US09439527B2 |
Hanger
A hanger for hanging an article from a supporting surface is described. The hanger comprises a base body which includes a vertical axis which, when the base body is disposed on the supporting surface, extends substantially perpendicular to the supporting surface; a catch configured to catch a portion of a handbag for hanging therefrom; an arm connected at one end to the base body and at the other end to the catch, the arm operatively connected to the base body so as to swing about the vertical axis between a stowed position wherein the catch is disposed adjacent a perimeter of the base, and a deployed position wherein the catch is spaced from the base so that it hangs downwardly from the base to support the handbag below the supporting surface. |
| US09439525B1 |
Stackable cup with plate cut-out
A cup includes two compartments in a unitary structure: an upper compartment that holds the liquid drink and a lower compartment that has a configured slot to slide onto the edge of a plate. The upper compartment has an open top-end and a closed bottom-end just like any other cup. The open top-end is larger than the closed bottom-end so as to permit stacking multiple cups together. The lower compartment is connected below the closed bottom-end of the first compartment. The second compartment defines a configured slot or cut-out that is shaped to receive the edge of a plate and contact the bottom of the plate. The cut-out starts with a wide slot at the wall of the cup that transitions to a narrow slot within the cup. The narrow slot is intended for the edge of the plate. The wider slot contacts the bottom of the plate. |
| US09439524B2 |
Anti-spray drinking bottle
An anti-spray drinking bottle has a body, a lid, at least one check valve, a dividing mount and a guiding element. The body has a storage recess and a screwing section. The lid is detachably connected to the body and has a threaded segment connected to the screwing section, a buffering segment connected to the threaded segment and a buffering space formed in the buffering segment. The at least one check valve is mounted on the lid. The dividing board is connected to the lid, is mounted in the body and has a dividing board, a sidewall, an outlet pipe and an abutting segment. The guiding element is connected to the dividing mount, is mounted in the body and has an elongate straw tube connected to the outlet pipe. |
| US09439523B2 |
Closure for a container, beverage container and a method of operating a closure
A closure is for a container, for example a beverage container. In some examples the closure comprises an outer portion connectable to an opening of the container, an axially actuatable inner portion having a sealing member for restricting fluid flow through the closure with the inner portion in a first position and allowing fluid flow through the closure with the inner portion in a second position axially displaced relative to the outer portion, and an annular membrane connecting the outer and inner portions and configured to provide a returning force to resiliently bias the inner portion towards the first position. A beverage container comprises a closure. A method is for operating a closure. |
| US09439522B2 |
Bands with buckles and methods and apparatus for displaying band and buckle components
In a personalized band closed by a side release buckle comprising a hook fixedly attached to each end of the band and a double-sided catch for receiving and securing the hooks. A display panel for separately displaying band straps and personalized catches. |
| US09439521B2 |
Angled hook and locking connector for peg and slat board
A connector having a plurality of prongs at each end. The prongs can be inserted into portals, such as those of slat board. The connector can be locked in place by angling the prongs into the portals and connecting two parts of the connector to each other, such as by a male and female connector, which lock and affix in place, requiring a tool to remove. A connector arm can also be attached to the connector, extending outwards, such as at an acute angle, to the connector. On this arm, an extension arm can be further attached. Either the connecting arm or extension arm can have portals for a hook or an integrated hook from which merchandise can be hung. Each of the connecting arm, connector, and extension arm can be reversibly or removably attached one to the other by way of a depressible button on one device extending through a portal of another. |
| US09439518B2 |
Cutlery dispenser
A cutlery dispenser comprising a front cover, a housing, and a pushing assembly. The front cover further includes an opening and at least stop. The at least one stop is configured to cause a utensil, such as a knife, fork, spork, or spoon, to fan through the opening for retrieval by a user. The pushing assembly urges the utensils forward in the dispenser toward the stop and toward the opening. |
| US09439516B2 |
Ergonomic twin baby carrier
A child carrier for carrying two children of different sizes has a first and second child carrier portions including first and second carrier pouches, respectively, each pouch attached at its bottom to a waist support, and shoulder straps. The first and second child carrier portions are configured to be secured between the shoulder straps and directly opposite one another. At least one of the child carrier pouches is configured to extend behind the shoulder straps, such that a heavy weight in the opposite child carrier pouch that presses the shoulder straps tightly against a wearer does not compress a child therein against the wearer. Each of the child carrier pouches is curved towards a wearer to prevent a child inserted therein from facing away from the wearer and is configured to hold a child in a seated straddle position. |
| US09439511B2 |
Hangable artist's easel and accessories
A space saving, door or wall-mountable artist's easel with a framework adapted to receive and hold an artist's canvas, art panel, clipboard, or some other item that would normally be affixed to an easel with a mounting bracket attached to the frame so the entire device may be hung on a door or wall. The easel can be used while mounted. In one example, a front pivoting frame enables the mounted piece to be extended outward from a back stationary frame. A height adjustment mechanism allows the mounted piece to be raised or lowered to a desired position, enabling the artist to stand or sit. The compactness of the easel enables an art piece being worked on to be left mounted to the easel for drying or viewing, and the door can still be opened and closed normally with the easel mounted to it. |
| US09439510B2 |
Retrofit shower corner shelf assembly
Disclosed is a retrofit shower corner shelf assembly kit including a shelf adapted for retrofitting into an existing shower corner; an adhesive composition for securing the shelf into the existing shower corner; and optionally a decorative composition for concealing edges of the shelf directly adjacent to the existing shower corner. Disclosed is a shelf adapted for retrofitting into an existing shower corner, the shelf includes two flat edges configured for securing the shelf directly on top of a surface and a third flat, free edge, wherein the shelf includes an upper layer, a middle layer attached to the upper layer, a lower layer attached to the middle layer, and the third flat, free edges conceals middle and lower layers of the shelf. |
| US09439504B1 |
Job site workstation
A mobile workstation includes a body that defines an open interior. A lid is movably connected to the body. The lid is movable between an open position and a closed position. A bracket is secured to the body and at least partially disposed within the open interior. The bracket is movable with respect to the body such that the bracket moves from a storage configuration when the bracket is positioned within the open interior and an active configuration in which at least a portion of the bracket extends outwardly from the open interior when the lid is in the opened position. A graphical display is configured to be removably coupled to the front face of the bracket. The bracket is configured to removably receive the graphical display. The graphical display moves in conjunction with the bracket between the storage configuration and the active configuration. |
| US09439503B2 |
Short wavelength visible light-emitting toothbrush with an electronic signal interlock control
A short wavelength visible light-emitting toothbrush with an electronic interlock control device preventing operation when the toothbrush is removed from the user's mouth. The electronic interlock control over operation is necessary to prevent accidental eye exposure to the high intensity light source with a wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 500 nm. The light-emitting toothbrush activates upon formation of an electrical circuit between the brush handle in contact with the users hand and the brush head or brush bristles in contact with moisture contained in a human mouth such as saliva or water mixed with toothpaste but deactivates immediately when removed from the mouth, thus protecting the user's eyes from direct exposure to the high power light source contained in the brush-head. |
| US09439493B2 |
Hair dryer and smoother
Apparatus (10) for drying and smoothing hair is provided. The apparatus (10) generally comprises a hair-treatment device (16), a vacuum assembly (20) and a blower assembly (22). The hair-treatment device (16) includes a passage (64) for directing a drying-air stream (66) generated by the blower assembly (22) toward the hair of a subject, and a passageway (76) for directing a return-air stream (74) away from the subject's hair under a motive force supplied by the vacuum assembly (20). The device (16) further includes a smoothing element (42) having a surface (52) against which the hair may be contacted to achieve smoothing of the hair. |
| US09439492B2 |
Wrap-n-dry towel
The Wrap-n-Dry Towel has a hook strip on one side of the towel and a loop strip on the opposite side of the towel. When the towel is wrapped around a person's head to the forehead and the hook and loop are pressed together it provides a strong wrap. The towel is never twisted into a knot and is loose on the hair and allows the hair and towel to drape down the back side of the person allowing faster drying of the hair and preventing tangling of the hair for a healthier strand of hair and ease of brushing the hair out. |
| US09439490B2 |
Paperboard packaging containers and related methods of use
A method for mixing substances for the treatment of keratinous substrates may comprise separating a paperboard packaging container into at least two portions. The method may also comprise removing at least two containers containing differing substances from the paperboard packaging container and mixing the at least two substances together in one of the at least two separated portions of the paperboard packaging container so as to form a mixture of the at least two substances for the treatment of keratinous substrates. The method may further comprise applying the mixture to a keratinous substrate. |
| US09439476B2 |
Decorative ornament
A decorative ornament has a disc shaped plate member which is configured to fit into the top slit pocket opening of a “penny loafer” type shoe or an accessory with a similar opening. An extendable clasp is secured to the plate member. One or more decorative charms, each having a ring shaped section, are positioned around the crosspiece and extension member of the clasp. The decorative section of the charm hangs down from the clasp and extends over the upper surface of the shoe or accessory. |
| US09439474B2 |
Outsole
An outsole, in which in the heel and ball regions several elements protrude downward with respect to a stop surface which surrounds the outsole on all sides. The elements can be deformed vertically and/or horizontally to all sides by the forces acting thereon during walking until they are aligned with the stop surface. At least two groups of elements are provided. With respect to the elements of a first group a force that is at least 10 N higher is required than with respect to the elements of a second group in order to bring the elements into alignment with the stop surface by vertical deformation. With respect to the elements of the first group force that is at least 5 N lower is required than with respect to the elements of the second group in order to bring the elements into alignment with the stop surface by horizontal deformation. |
| US09439473B2 |
For a shoe, in particular for a sports shoe
A shoe including a sole having specific characteristics, namely a width, a length, a thickness and a front/rear profile, where the sole is made with materials having a certain type of deformation and lateral reinforcements emerging from the sole and surrounding the upper that are suitable for significantly increasing both performance, such as speed and reduced fatigue, and user comfort, such as reduced impact on knees, back, leg muscles, of the shoe, which are particularly suited for use when jogging or walking on uneven outdoor surfaces, as well as for jogging or walking on roads. Furthermore, the characteristics of the sole, such as the spike surface and deformation when contacting the ground, improve safety for a user by providing enhanced grip on sloping terrain as well as on snow-covered or wet terrain. |
| US09439472B2 |
Comfort headgear with moisture-draining and absorption mechanism
This application relates to a headgear that provides a moisture wicking mechanism. In various embodiments, a headgear may include a crown with a top, a bottom, a front, a rear, and two sides. In various embodiments, the top, front, rear and two sides may enclose an interior space, open at the bottom. In various embodiments, the bottom may include a perimeter, and the crown may include an outer surface and an inner surface, with the inner surface facing the interior space. In some embodiments, the crown may include multiple sections joined at seams, and the seams may form a convergence at the top of the crown. In some embodiments, a dome comprised of wicking material may at least partially cover the top of the crown, may have a wicking element comprised of wicking material, and may extend through the convergence of seams into the interior space of the crown. |
| US09439467B2 |
Accessory structures for connection between straps and related methods
Accessory structures for connection to straps of user-wearable accessories include a module, a first strap engagement structure disposed on a first side of the module, and a second strap engagement structure disposed on a second side of the module. The module may comprise at least one of an integral accessory device and an attachment feature configured for attachment to a separate accessory device. The strap engagement structures are configured for connection to straps of a user-wearable accessory. User-wearable accessory systems include such an accessory structure and a user-wearable accessory to which the accessory structure may be connected. Methods include the formation of such an accessory structure. Additional methods include the connection of such an accessory structure to a user-wearable accessory. |
| US09439463B1 |
Combination pillow/blanket/poncho travel accessory
A system for a travel accessory being a combination blanket/poncho/pillow that includes a blanket having a hood storable in a pocket on the back thereof and having arm slits/straps so that the blanket can be placed about the shoulders of a user and used either as substantially a blanket or substantially a poncho with the hood being placed over the head of the user. Also included is an accessory pack organizer for storing items therein along with a pillow having carrying handles and back straps wherein the combination system can be carried about by the user. Also shown is a feature wherein a decorative item can be placed on the upper front portion of the hood so that the decorative item can be prominently displayed on the top of the head of the user. |
| US09439462B2 |
Protective apparel and support apparatus and method of use
A protective apparel support (100) system is disclosed comprising a support frame configured to rest on the shoulders of a wearer, the support having a first shoulder member (104a), a second shoulder member (104b) and a shield (202) engagement portion. A shield (202) is selectively coupleable to the support and protective apparel (302) is coupled to the shield. |
| US09439459B2 |
Athletic shirt
An athletic shirt includes at least one chest portion adapted to dress the user chest. The chest portion has a front face dressing the user torso and a rear face, opposite to the front face, which dresses the back of the user. The front face of the chest portion has an upper portion which covers the pectoral muscles of the user and a lower portion which covers the user's abdomen. The chest portion comprises adherence means for adhering the upper portion to the pectoral muscles of the user so that to limit or completely avoid the rubbing of the upper portion itself against the user's nipples. The adherence means includes an elastic portion. |
| US09439456B2 |
Electronic cigarette device, electronic cigarette and atomizing device thereof
The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette atomizing device. An atomizer includes an atomizing rod and an electric heating filament wrapped around the atomizing rod, wherein the atomizing rod has a hollow tubular structure made of a non-glass fiber material and a high temperature insulating material. A middle of the atomizing rod is equipped with a liquid guiding rope made of a non-glass fiber material. Multiple liquid guiding holes are radially formed on and penetrate side walls of the atomizing rod in such a manner that a cigarette liquid of the liquid guiding rope is capable of flowing through the liquid guiding holes to the electric heating filament for being atomized. A liquid guiding part of the atomizer is made of a non glass fiber material so as to prevent people from inhaling harmful glass fiber particles. |
| US09439454B2 |
Electrically heated aerosol generating system and method
An electrically heated aerosol generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one heating element for heating the substrate to form the aerosol and a power supply for supplying power to the at least one heating element. The power supply includes a voltage source, two or more supercapacitors, and switches between the voltage source and the two or more supercapacitors. The switches are arranged so that, during a charging mode, the supercapacitors are connected so as to be charged by the voltage source and, during a heating mode, the supercapacitors are connected so as to discharge through the at least one heating element. |
| US09439451B2 |
Paper filled with tobacco particles
What is presented is a paper for mixing into the smokeable material of a smoking article, particularly into the tobacco rod of a cigarette, wherein the paper contains a share of fibers, which comprises pulp fibers and tobacco particles. |
| US09439448B2 |
Nutritional composition to promote healthy development and growth
A nutritional composition for improving the immunological function of a subject, including a lipid or fat; a protein source; about 5 to about 100 mg/100 kcal of a source of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which comprises docosahexanoic acid; and about 0.1 to about 1 mg/100 kcal of a prebiotic composition, wherein the prebiotic composition comprises at least 20% of an oligosaccharide which has a fermentation rate which is demonstrably slower than that of galacto-oligosaccharide. |
| US09439447B2 |
Production of high quality durum wheat having increased amylose content
The present invention provides compositions and methods of altering/improving Durum wheat phenotypes. Furthermore, methods of breeding Durum wheat and/or other closely related species to produce plants having altered or improved phenotypes are provided. |
| US09439446B2 |
Dispensing apparatus
Individual portions of ice cream are dispensed from a bulk container. A motor drives a lead screw, to expand a scissor linkage and drive a dispensing head against the bulk container. Pressure applied to the container causes it to collapse and discharge ice cream from an outlet. The lead screw is orthogonal with the movement of the dispensing head and the axis of collapse of the container. The container, motor and lead screw are carried on a drawer which is slidably mounted in a refrigerated housing. Pressure is monitored to regulate operation of the motor. An encoder controls the motor for a specific portion size. |
| US09439443B2 |
Apparatus and process for the production with an interleaver
An apparatus for formation of products comprising an edible material and an interleaver, the apparatus including a drum with mould cavities, each with a bottom and a sidewall, in which the edible material is formed. The apparatus including an interleaver storage having one or more interleavers, and a transportation means configured to transport the one or more interleavers from the interleaver storage to a circumference of the drum where the edible material is placed on the interleaver. The bottom and/or the sidewall is made from a porous material and pressurized gas is forced through the porous material to eject the edible material from the mould cavities. After ejection, the products are stacked such that one interleaver is between two edible materials. |
| US09439438B2 |
Methods and compositions for reducing Shiga toxin induced toxicity in mammals
Manganese compositions effective in reducing Shiga toxin-induced toxicity in mammals infected with Shiga toxin-producing bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7 are described. Manganese compositions described herein can be combined with antibiotic therapy as manganese can block the toxic effects of Shiga toxin released from dying bacteria. |
| US09439437B2 |
Antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric materials
The invention provides an antimicrobial and antiviral polymeric material, having microscopic particles of ionic copper encapsulated therein and protruding from surfaces thereof. |
| US09439435B2 |
Method for controlling weeds using formulations containing fluthiacet-methyl and HPPD herbicides
Methods for controlling weeds in a crop by applying to weeds having an average height ranging from about 4 inches to about 8 inches a herbicidally effective amount of a composition that includes (a) fluthiacet-methyl and (b) a p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor are presented. |
| US09439433B2 |
Compositions and methods comprising a biocidal polyamine
Compounds, compositions, and methods comprising a polyamine compound are described, which may be used to kill, disperse, treat, or reduce biofilms, or to inhibit or substantially prevent biofilm formation. In certain aspects, the present invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods comprising polyamine compounds that have antimicrobial or dispersing activity against a variety of bacterial strains capable of forming biofilms. |
| US09439430B2 |
Method of controlling resistant harmful plants
A method for controlling harmful plants resistant to active compounds from the group of the inhibitors of acetolactate synthase, acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, photosynthesis at photosystem II, microtubuli arrangement, cell division or 5-enolpyrovylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, in particular acetolactate synthase, is described. |
| US09439428B2 |
Herbicidal compounds
The present invention relates to novel herbicidal compounds of Formula (I), or an agronomically acceptable salt of said compound wherein R1, R2, A1, Ra, Rb, Rc and Rd are as defined herein. The invention further relates to compositions which comprise the herbicidal compounds, and to their use for controlling weeds, in particular in crops of useful plants. |
| US09439427B2 |
Pesticidal pyrazole compounds
The present invention relates to novel pyrazoles of formula I wherein the variables are as defined in the description, a method for controlling invertebrate pests, a method for protecting plant propagation material and/or the plants which grow therefrom, to plant propagation material, comprising at least one compound according to the present invention, and to an agricultural composition. |
| US09439425B2 |
Plant disease control composition and plant disease control method
A composition containing a compound represented by formula (I) and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of pyriofenone, metrafenone, cyflufenamid, quinoxyfen, and proquinazid The composition has excellent control effect against plant diseases. |
| US09439422B2 |
Use of macrocyclic picolinamides as fungicides
The invention relates to macrocyclic picolinamides of Formula I and their use as fungicides. |
| US09439421B2 |
Permanent attachment of ammonium and guanidine-based antimicrobials to surfaces containing -OH functionality
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to compounds, methods of making compositions (used as a linker or a linker moiety), structures having the compound covalently bonded to the surface of the structure, methods of attaching the compound to the surface of the structure having —OH functionality (e.g., Calkyl—OH), methods of decreasing the amount of microorganisms formed on a structure, and the like. |
| US09439419B2 |
Compositions of dibromomalonamide and their use as biocides
A biocidal composition comprising 2,2-dibromomalonamide and an electrophile containing biocide, and its use for the control of microorganisms in aqueous and water-containing systems. |
| US09439412B2 |
Motion activated non-lethal animal trap
Disclosed is a non-lethal animal trap that comprises a housing, a mechanically actuated trap door, a motion sensor, and a microprocessor controlled tripping mechanism. The trap includes a pathway having a first and second entrance and a first and second trap door. The pathway includes animal bait therein, whereabove a motion sensor detects objects and motion within the pathway such that the entrances to the pathway are closed by the trap doors. The motion sensor sends signals to the microprocessor, which in turn activates an electrical latch mechanism that releases the trap door mechanism from its set position to its closed position. Once closed, each trap door includes a brace that prevents the animal from forcibly opening the door. The animal is then trapped for later disposal or relocation. A plurality of indicator lights provides notification of the device operational state, including device standby, triggered, and trapped animal notification. |
| US09439411B2 |
Fishing statistics display
Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for displaying fishing statistics. The method may include displaying a path traveled by a fisherman or marine vessel. The path may be recorded using a positioning system. The method may include displaying fishing statistics along the path. |
| US09439409B2 |
Fishing reel housing with adjustable line retainer assembly
A fishing reel housing for attachment to a rod along a longitudinal rod axis. The housing has a shaft for accepting a central bore of a line dispensing spool and an adjustment mechanism for selectively adjusting the shaft in position transversely away from the rod axis while maintaining its position along the rod axis. The fishing reel housing includes an adjustable line retainer assembly which moves a line retainer radially outwardly from the shaft as the adjustment mechanism is selectively adjusted. A fishing reel comprises the adjustable line retainer and reel housing with a spool with a central bore mounted thereon. |
| US09439408B2 |
Dual-bearing reel
A dual-bearing reel includes a reel unit, a spool, a spool shaft, a handle, and an attachment-detachment operating part, a lock member. The reel unit includes a frame having a first side plate and a second side plate. The attachment-detachment operating part has a protruding portion protruding towards the first side plate from a position away from an axis of the spool shaft. The first side cover is attachable to and detachable from the first side plate when the attachment-detachment operating part is at a first position. The first side cover is non-attachable to and non-detachable from the first side plate when the attachment-detachment operating part is at a second position. The lock member has an engaging groove. The engaging groove is allowed to be engaged with the protruding portion. |
| US09439407B2 |
Fishing lure with action
A fishing lure for attracting fish species, the fishing lure comprising a body, a first pivot on the body, a second pivot on the body and spaced from the first pivot. A bridge is between the first pivot and the second pivot, the bridge resiliently deformable from a neutral position to a forward position. A pivot arm extends from the first pivot and is operably coupled to the bridge so that deformation of the bridge towards the forward position causes the pivot arm to rotate in a first direction and resilient recovery of the bridge towards the neutral position causes the pivot arm to rotate in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, providing a simulated action of a limb. The body maybe formed to represent a bait species such as a frog, fish, bug, insect, crab, turtle, lizard, fly, cicada, dragonfly, squid, cuttlefish or imaginary creature. Preferably the fishing lure has a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm both operably coupled to the bridge and extended beyond the first pivot and second pivot respectively, to give simultaneous bilateral action. |
| US09439405B2 |
Mouse λ light chain locus
The present invention provides in a first aspect a mouse in which the λ (lambda) light chain locus has been functionally silenced. In one embodiment, the mouse λ light chain locus was functional silenced by deletion of acne segments coding for the λ light chain locus. In a further aspect, a mouse containing functionally silenced λ and κ (kappa) L chain loci was produced. The invention is useful for the production of antibodies, for example heterologous antibodies, including heavy chain only antibodies. |
| US09439403B2 |
Aquaponic method and apparatus for use in arid environments
An aquaponic method and apparatus used to raise fish in fish rearing tanks is combined with hydroponic channels for growing crops, in which fertilizer nutrients from the aquaculture effluent are utilized as fertilizer. The aquaponic method and apparatus produce a first water circulation system during the day in which water is repeatedly cycled from a sump, bypassing fish rearing tanks, to a clarifier for removing solids, a degasifier for removing volatile compound, then to the hydroponic channels, and then, back from the hydroponic channels to the sump. The aquaponic method and apparatus also produce a second circulation system during the night in which water is repeatedly cycled from the sump to the fish rearing tanks, from the fish rearing tanks to the clarifier, then from the clarifier to the hydroponic channels and then back from the hydroponic channels to the sump. |
| US09439402B2 |
Aquaculture net and flotation structure
An exemplary embodiment of an aquaculture cage of the invention has a buoyant structure configured to float on a water surface, an aquaculture net portion made of a material that is corrodible by salt water and attached to the buoyant structure for positioning a top of the aquaculture net portion at a distance below the water surface, where the aquaculture net portion encloses an interior of the cage from the top of the aquaculture net portion to a bottom of the aquaculture net portion to retain marine life, and an upper enclosure portion enclosing space above the aquaculture net portion for preventing the marine life from escaping over the top of the aquaculture net portion, where the upper enclosure portion comprises a material that is substantially non-corrodible by salt water. |
| US09439400B2 |
Device for rolling up and unrolling a leash
A device (10, 36, 39) for rolling up and unrolling a leash, especially for leading an animal, includes a leash roller (11) and a blocking device (22), which has an actuating element (37) and a locking element (26). The leash roller (11) can be actuated by the blocking device (22) for blocking an unrolling motion of the leash roller (11). The actuating element (37) can be actuated by an actuation motion. A locking motion of the locking element (26) can be triggered for blocking the unrolling motion of the leash roller (11) based on the actuation motion of the actuating element (37). Generation of a disturbing noise, with the blocking device, is avoided by the actuation motion of the device (10, 36, 39) being transferred by a transfer device (23) into a locking motion of the locking element (26) that is greater than the actuation motion. |
| US09439387B2 |
Lepidium plant named ‘DLEPMBEAD’
A new and distinct Lepidium ruderale plant named ‘DLEPEMBEAD’ characterized by upright growth habit. Foliage is distinctively pinnatisect, crispate and durable; colored near RHS Green 137B. Plant height commonly averages 90 cm, and foliage produced is an average length of 8 cm long. |
| US09439385B2 |
Alfalfa plants having improved fast recovery after harvest and methods for producing same
The invention provides alfalfa plants having improved standability and/or fast recovery after spring green-up or after harvest and methods for producing such plants. Such alfalfa plants provide increased annual yield of high quality forage. |
| US09439380B1 |
Maize inbred PH24F2
A novel maize variety designated PH24F2 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH24F2 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH24F2 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH24F2 or a locus conversion of PH24F2 with another maize variety. |
| US09439379B2 |
Buglossoides‘MALIN ’
A new and distinct Buglossoides arvensis plant named ‘MALIN’ characterized by vigorous plant growth and abundant side shoot development. Plants flower early in May and June and do not require vernalization. Seed germination rate is typically 80%. Seeds of the plant are used in the production of the oil commercially known Ahiflower oil. |
| US09439368B2 |
Apparatus and system for irrigation water
An apparatus for directing apportion of a flow of water in an irrigated field having a pre-formed irrigation wheel track comprising a first trough capable of receiving a wheel of a mobile irrigation system, the first trough having an elevation. Further provided is an irrigation track system for directing a water flow having a pre-formed irrigation track comprised of (1) a first trough having an elevation and the first trough capable of receiving a wheel of a mobile irrigation system, (2) an irrigation reservoir having an elevation and (3) an irrigation canal having an elevation and connecting the first trough and the irrigation reservoir, the elevation of the first trough is higher than the elevation of the first irrigation reservoir and the elevation of the irrigation canal is higher than the elevation of the irrigation reservoir. |
| US09439367B2 |
Network enabled gardening with a remotely controllable positioning extension
A watering apparatus and associated methods and systems to enable networked gardening with a remotely controllable positioning extension are disclosed. In one embodiment, the watering apparatus includes a weather-resistant housing to encompass a micro-processor and a communications circuitry. In addition, the watering apparatus includes a weather-resistant camera communicatively coupled with the weather resistant housing through the communications circuitry. An input connector directs water through a partitioned channel from the weather-resistant housing responsive to a signal from the microprocessor through a pressure regulated valve. The watering apparatus is connected to a flexible extension coupled with the weather-resistant housing to automatically transport the water through the partitioned channel to a desired location within a central view of a focused angle of the weather-resistant camera. Further, the watering apparatus may be accessed through a mobile device through a network based on an access control policy configured by a user of the watering apparatus. |
| US09439366B2 |
Dripper for drip irrigation, and drip-irrigation device provided with same
A dripper for drip irrigation according to the present invention comprises a first member and a second member that are formed integrally from a resin material, and includes an inter-member flow passage formed between the members. The first member is provided with a first plate and a pipe that guides an irrigation liquid, which flows in from an inflow part, to the inter-member flow passage. The second member is provided with a second plate and a discharge port. The first member is further provided with a flow regulation valve that regulates the flow of the irrigation liquid, and the second member is provided with a flow-volume control valve that controls the flow volume of the irrigation liquid. |
| US09439362B2 |
System and method for growing plants
This invention concerns apparatus for growing plants comprising a column (100) of pots (102) stacked one above the other to define an enclosure for housing plants. Each pot (102) defines a chamber (104) for holding a plant. Separators for separating pots of the column are provided and the separators define an enclosed headspace around a top of at least two of the pots where plants project from the chamber. The chamber comprises a passageway (106) that provides a continuous flow path for air through the column (100) without requiring the air to flow through the chamber (104). This flow path includes the headspaces above the at least two of the pots (102). |
| US09439361B2 |
Robotic plantlet handling system
There is provided apparatus including: a workstation having an operator work portion, a material source portion, a material delivery portion and a robot arm. A housing is located at the material source portion and contains plantlet holders, the housing being closable by a lid mechanically and sealingly engaging a peripheral lip of the housing. An empty housing is located at the material delivery portion to receive the plantlet holders. A tool assembly on the robot arm includes a plantlet holder manipulator for movement of a plantlet holder between the material source portion, the operator work portion, and the material delivery portion; and an integral closure manipulator operable to engage a lid for removal from and attachment to the housing. |
| US09439360B2 |
Bale shredder
A bale shredder apparatus may comprise a frame and a bale hopper mounted on the frame and defining an interior bale chamber for receiving a bale to be shredded with a bale feed opening. A bale shredding assembly may be in communication with the bale chamber through the opening to shred a bale in the bale chamber. A side wall of the hopper may be movable away from the primary side wall to permit removal of a bale from the bale chamber. A primary bale movement assembly may move a bale in a lateral direction toward the opening and a secondary bale movement assembly may move the bale in a direction substantially transverse to the lateral direction. A shredding rotor of the shredding assembly may include at least one brace including at least one leg extending outwardly from the outer surface of the rotor. |
| US09439358B2 |
Baler and an ejection arrangement for a baler
A rectangular baler comprising a bale chamber; a compacting plunger moveable between a retracted position and an extended position; an ejection arrangement provided in a wall comprising a shuttle assembly with at least one dog mounted for protruding from said wall when the shuttle assembly is moving from a rest position in the forward direction to move one or more bales forward; wherein at least one end dog is located in the rest position of the shuttle assembly in a zone near of the plunger in the extended position thereof, such that when the shuttle assembly moves in the forward direction, said at least one end dog is engageable behind a bale adjacent the inlet of the bale chamber. |
| US09439353B2 |
Pull-type cotton harvester and baler
A cotton harvester and baler (20) to be towed by a vehicle (24), carries at least one mechanized cotton picking unit (30), a mechanized cotton baler (32) having packing apparatus (76) for compacting the picked cotton into bales (84) which are successively discharged. Cotton conveying apparatus (34) extends between the picking unit or units (30) and the baler (32), for receiving the picked cotton and conveying it to a baling chamber (72) of the baler (32) for compaction by the packing apparatus (76). The conveying apparatus (34) can comprise all mechanical, all pneumatic, or a combination of mechanical and pneumatic apparatus. The picking unit or units (30) can be removed to allow picking up and baling material such as straw or hay. |
| US09439352B2 |
Handle height adjuster for walk behind mower
A lawn mower may include a blade housing configured to house at least one blade, an engine supported at least in part by the blade housing to selectively rotate the at least one blade, a handle assembly comprising at least one handle member for guiding operation of the lawn mower by an operator walking substantially behind the lawn mower, and a handle height adjustment assembly. The handle height adjustment assembly enables the handle member to be fixed in at least a first operating position or a second operating position each of which defines different handle heights for the handle member responsive to the handle height adjustment assembly being in a locked state, and enables the handle member to be rotated between the first operating position, the second operating position, and a folded position responsive to the handle height adjustment assembly being in an unlocked state. |
| US09439350B2 |
Pointed sickle blade for use in a sickle cutter system with increased ground speed
In a sickle cutting system, it has been found that a significant increase in ground speed while maintaining an acceptable level of cutting efficiency as measured by the average stubble length can be obtained by a combination of one or more of the features where the cutting stroke is reduced from the conventional length of 3.0 inches to a value of the order of 2.0 inches; the length of the cutting edge of each knife blade is increased to a length greater than 2.2 inches; the width at the rear of the ledger surface of each guard is increased to greater than 1.0 inches; and the front edge of the blade is formed with an apex to shed crop material to one or other side of the apex. |
| US09439349B2 |
Auto configuration of electrically powered reel cutting units on a reel mower
A gang reel mower comprises a frame that carries a plurality of variable speed, electrically powered reel cutting units. Cutting units having different reel diameters may be installed on the frame. Upon system power up, a mower controller on the frame automatically acquires information identifying the reel size of the cutting units then installed on the frame and uses the acquired reel size information to properly set the speed of the electric motors driving the cutting units to a desired value, such as that needed to maintain a desired clip. Thus, the cutting units can be changed in size with the mower controller automatically recognizing the change in a plug and play manner. |
| US09439348B2 |
Autonomous working device
An autonomous working device, in particular an autonomous lawn mower, comprising a computing unit. The autonomous working device is configured to cover a surface to be treated in strips. The computing unit is configured to adjust an overlap of the strips according to at least one parameter. |
| US09439345B1 |
Method and composition for preventing plugging in micro-irrigation systems
An agricultural micro-fertigation water includes a phosphate fertilizer, a water-soluble organic acid and a water-soluble organophosphonate, and is prepared by a method wherein the phosphate fertilizer is added to the irrigation water as a chaser to (addition with or after components of) the combination of a water-soluble organic acid and water-soluble organophosphonate to fully prevent precipitation and thus prevent plugging of a micro-irrigation system despite the addition of phosphate fertilizer in water having a precipitation factor of from 125 to 1,000 ppm, wherein said precipitation factor is a combined level of total alkalinity (as CaCO3) in ppm and total hardness (as CaCO3) in ppm. |
| US09439344B2 |
Mirrored inductor segment pairs of an inductor box of an agricultural implement
An agricultural product delivery system for an agricultural implement includes an inductor box with an agricultural product inlet configured to receive an agricultural product, an air inlet configured to receive an airflow, a plurality of mixing chambers, and a plurality of air bypass channels. Each mixing chamber is configured to mix the agricultural product and a respective first portion of the airflow. The plurality of air bypass channels is configured to guide a respective second portion of the airflow from the air inlet to a respective mixing chamber of the plurality of mixing chambers. The plurality of bypass channels includes inside air bypass channels that contact adjacent inside air bypass channels, and outside air bypass channels that are arranged adjacent to an exterior inductor box wall. |
| US09439339B2 |
Tillage device for agricultural machinery or implements to reduce compaction caused by wheels in a field
An attachment for agricultural implements which tills soil compacted by the wheels of the agricultural implement it is attached to. In one arrangement the power and force used to till the soil is gained from the torque of the machine pulling the agricultural implement it is attached to, alternatively the tilling device is independently powered. This arrangement reduces compaction caused by the wheels of row-crop planters through the use of a shank or rolling tines. The tilling device is mounted directly behind wheels of the agricultural implement. The tilling device has the ability to raise and lower into the soil with the engaging and disengaging of the implement. In addition, in its current form it can independently be disengaged from use by raising and locking it up out of the soil, even if the implement remains engaged. |
| US09445536B1 |
Crystal oscillator fabrication methods using dual-deposition of mounting cement and dual-curing techniques
A crystal oscillator fabrication method includes depositing mounting cement onto first and second mounting pads on a substrate to thereby define first and second electrode adhesion bumps. First and second electrodes of a crystal oscillator are electrically connected to the first and second mounting pads by contacting the first and second electrodes to the first and second electrode adhesion bumps and then curing the adhesion bumps. Next, mounting cement is deposited onto the first electrode and onto a portion of the first electrode adhesion bump to thereby define a top electrode adhesion extension. The top electrode adhesion extension is then cured. |
| US09445533B2 |
Electronic component case for vehicle
An electronic component case for a vehicle is provided. The electronic component case includes a case body having a first space in which electronic components are disposed and a second space, which has an opening that is opened to the outside, defined adjacent to the first space to receive heat generated from the electronic components, wherein a coolant for cooling the electronic components is introduced into and discharged from the second space, and a cover disposed on the case body to seal the opening of the second space. The cover includes a first cover sealing the opening and a second cover sealing the opening and having one surface on which a first cooling part for increasing a surface area of the second cover is disposed. The first cover and the second cover are compatible with each other. |
| US09445521B2 |
Electronic card connection device and electronic device
The present disclosure relates to an electronic card connection device and an electronic device. The electronic card connection device comprises a connector, an electronic card tray and a switch. The connector comprises a terminal housing and a shell, the shell and the terminal housing define a mating space. The electronic card tray being inserted in the mating space, the electronic card tray may comprise an electronic card receiving recess, a mounting block positioned in front of the electronic card receiving recess and an operating handle pivotally connected to the mounting block. The switch may be positioned alongside a rotation range of the operating handle, and partially protrudes into the rotation range allowing rotation of the operating handle to switch the state of the switch. |
| US09445518B2 |
Display device and apparatus for side surface sealing of display panel
Disclosed is a display device and an apparatus for side surface sealing of display panel, which enable to realize thin profile and good exterior appearance in device, wherein the display device includes a display panel including a first substrate with pad regions, a second substrate bonded to remaining portions of the first substrate except the pad regions, and an upper polarizing film attached to an entire upper surface of the second substrate; a panel support member joined to an edge of a lower surface of the display panel; a panel driving part including a flexible circuit film attached to the pad regions; and a side surface sealing member for covering each side surface of the display panel, the flexible circuit film, the plurality of pad regions, and each side surface of the upper polarizing film. |
| US09445516B2 |
Weatherproof corner box
An electrical box may include a housing body, enclosing a cavity, which includes an access opening extending across a first plane of the housing body, and which includes a plurality of mounting outlets configured to enable electrical devices to be mounted to the housing body to face a plurality of different directions. The electrical box may further include one or more mounting brackets attached to the housing body and a cover plate shaped to match and cover the access opening of the housing body. The housing body may include a first side wall and second side wall aligned to form an inside corner of the housing body, wherein the inside corner of the housing body is configured to align with an outside corner of a building or a structure, and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are perpendicular to the first plane. |
| US09445513B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a first display part having a first screen; a second display part having a second screen; a casing which accommodates the first and second display parts, therein. A first display part area accommodates the first display part and a second display part area accommodates the second display part, which are formed in the casing. The movement mechanism includes a first in-plane direction rail which allows the first display part to move in the X-direction; and a second vertical direction rail, which allows the second display part to move in the Z-direction. The first in-plane direction rail allows the first display part area to move between the first display part and a neighboring area which is disposed adjacent to the first display part. The second vertical direction rail allows the second display part to move between the second display part and the first display part areas. |
| US09445512B2 |
Holder having adjustable clamping orientation
The present invention is to provide a holder having an adjustable clamping orientation, which includes a clamping assembly having a first clamping plate extended forwardly from a front end thereof and movably connected with a second clamping plate to form a clamping head for clamping a plate, a support assembly having a front end pivoted to a rear end of the clamping assembly and a side edge pivoted to a support arm extended therefrom so that a free end of the support arm is rotatable in a direction of away from or close to the clamping assembly, and a holding seat having a front end rotatably fastened with a rear end of the support assembly and a positioning member disposed at a rear end thereof, so that a mobile electronic device can be firmly positioned at the positioning member and adjusted to an expected orientation with respect to the plate. |
| US09445509B2 |
Three-dimensional backplane
An objective of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional backplane to solve the problem that the number of layers of a printed circuit board for producing a backplane increases linearly along with the number of connectors. The three-dimensional backplane includes: a first group of connectors, a second group of connectors, a first group of printed circuit boards, and a second group of printed circuit boards. Any printed circuit board in the first group of printed circuit boards is connected to any printed circuit board in the second group of printed circuit boards. Any connector in the second group of connectors is connected to any connector in the first group of connectors. With the foregoing solution, the number of wires on each printed circuit board is reduced, so that the number of layers of a printed circuit board for producing a backplane is reduced. |
| US09445508B2 |
Solder alloy, solder paste, and electronic circuit board
A solder alloy is a tin-silver-copper solder alloy, and contains tin, silver, copper, bismuth, nickel, and cobalt. Relative to the total amount of the solder alloy, the silver content is 2 mass % or more and 4 mass % or less, the nickel content is 0.01 mass % or more and 0.15 mass % or less, and the cobalt content is 0.001 mass % or more and 0.008 mass % or less. |
| US09445507B2 |
Packaging for eight-socket one-hop SMP topology
A mechanism is provided for packaging a multiple socket, one-hop symmetric multiprocessor topology. The mechanism connects each of a first plurality of processor modules to a first multiple-socket planar via a respective one of a first plurality of land grid array (LGA) connectors. The mechanism connects the first multiple-socket planar to a first side of a redistribution card via a second plurality of LGA connectors. The mechanism connects each of a second plurality of processor modules to a second multiple-socket planar via a respective one of a third plurality of LGA connectors. The mechanism connects the second multiple-socket planar to a second side of the redistribution card via a fourth plurality of LGA connectors. |
| US09445503B2 |
Carrier device, electrical device having a carrier device and method for producing same
A carrier device for an electrical component includes a carrier, which includes an electrically insulating layer, and an electrical contact layer on the electrically insulating layer The electrical contact layer includes at least one bridge-shaped contact region At least one recess in the electrically insulating layer is arranged at least on one side surface of the bridge-shaped contact region and/or the bridge-shaped contact region includes a bridge width reducing toward the insulating layer. |
| US09445501B2 |
Electrically conductive composition, electrically conductive film using the composition and a method of producing the same
An electrically conductive composition, containing an electrically conductive polymer, and an onium salt compound as a dopant to the electrically conductive polymer, an electrically conductive film formed by shaping the composition and a method of producing the electrically conductive film. |
| US09445498B2 |
Epoxy resin composition and printed circuit board
The epoxy resin composition according to one embodiment of the present invention contains an epoxy compound, a curing agent, and an inorganic filler, wherein the inorganic filler contains alumina (Al2O3) and boron nitride (BN). |
| US09445497B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first ceramic substrate, a second ceramic substrate, an inter-ceramic metal having an intermediate portion interposed between an upper surface of the first ceramic substrate and a lower surface of the second ceramic substrate, a first surmounting portion formed on an upper surface of the second ceramic substrate, a second surmounting portion formed on the upper surface of the second ceramic substrate, a first connection portion abutting on an outer edge of the second ceramic substrate and connecting the intermediate portion and the first surmounting portion, and a second connection portion abutting on an outer edge of the second ceramic substrate and connecting the intermediate portion and the second surmounting portion, a circuit pattern formed on the second ceramic substrate, and a semiconductor element provided on the circuit pattern. |
| US09445494B2 |
Wiring substrate and display panel comprising same
A display panel (100) of an embodiment of the present invention includes a wiring board (100a), a counter substrate (100b) which is provided on a viewer side of the wiring board (100a), and a display medium layer (32) which is provided between the wiring board (100a) and the counter substrate (100b), wherein the wiring board (100a) includes a substrate (11) and a plurality of metal wires (GB, SB, CSB, etc.) provided on the counter substrate (100b) side of the substrate (11), and at least part of the plurality of metal wires has a moth-eye structure or inverted moth-eye structure (12M) in its surface. |
| US09445491B2 |
Overpass grounding spring and integrated component protection
The described embodiments relate generally to use of an electrically conductive member, such as a grounding spring, used to electrically ground components on a printed circuit board as well as provide mechanical protection to the components. More particularly, a method and apparatus for attaching a grounding spring to multiple locations on the printed circuit board are disclosed. In one embodiment, the grounding spring can act as both a ground and a mechanical protection element for other surface mounted components disposed on the printed circuit board. |
| US09445488B2 |
Plasma whirl reactor apparatus and methods of use
A plasma system includes a plasma arc torch, a cylindrical tube and an eductor. The plasma arc torch includes a cylindrical vessel having a first end and a second end, a first tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the first end, a second tangential inlet/outlet connected to or proximate to the second end, an electrode housing connected to the first end such that a first electrode is (a) aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical vessel, and (b) extends into the cylindrical vessel, and a hollow electrode nozzle connected to the second end of the cylindrical vessel. The cylindrical tube is attached to the hollow electrode nozzle and aligned with the longitudinal axis, the cylindrical tube having a side inlet and a radio frequency coil disposed around or embedded within the cylindrical tube. The eductor is attached to the cylindrical tube and aligned with the longitudinal axis. |
| US09445482B2 |
Light bulb and method and system for use in configuring same
An intelligent light bulb is provided as well as a method, devices and computer program product of configuring such an intelligent light bulb. The intelligent light bulb comprises an LED lighting element and a programmable controller. The programmable controller comprises firmware storing instructions for controlling operations of the LED lighting element, where the firmware includes a passive memory component having a near field communication memory (NFC memory). The firmware is responsive to a signal carrying firmware update information received over a wireless communication link from a device external to the intelligent light bulb for causing a firmware update process to be performed to modify the instructions of the firmware based on the update information carried by the signal. The programmable controller also includes a processing unit in communication with the firmware for operating the LED lighting element at least in part in accordance with the instructions of the firmware. Advantageously, the proposed intelligent light bulb can be configured using the signal carrying the firmware update information. In some embodiments, this may allow modifications of certain operating characteristic of the intelligent light bulb to be performed after manufacturing, including modifications pertaining to light color emitted and/or manner of operating the light bulb. |
| US09445478B2 |
Light-emitting element lighting device, light-emitting module, illuminating apparatus, and light-emitting element lighting method
A light-emitting element lighting device includes: a step-down chopper circuit which outputs a current that flows to a light-emitting element; a current command circuit which selects between a rated mode for passing a rated current for turning ON the light-emitting element and a detection mode for passing an abnormality detection current, which is smaller than the rated current, for detecting an abnormality in the light-emitting element; a voltage detection circuit which detects a voltage across both ends of the light-emitting element; and a control circuit which causes the step-down chopper circuit to stop outputting the current to the light-emitting element, when the voltage across both ends detected by the voltage detection circuit in the detection mode is lower than or equal to an abnormality detection threshold voltage which is set lower than the rated voltage at the time when the light-emitting element is turned ON. |
| US09445476B2 |
System and method for controlling LED segments to provide lighting effects
A single board light engine includes an AC to AC step driver that selectively powers multiple LED segments by controlling tap points between the LED segments as the input voltage goes from zero crossover to maximum voltage and returns to zero crossover. The step driver may power a first LED segment, a second LED segment, both the first and second LED segments, or none of the LED segments depending upon the input voltage level. The LEDs within an LED segment may share a characteristic that differs from a characteristic shared by LEDs in another segment, which allows the LED fixture to provide a variety of lighting effects. |
| US09445473B1 |
Multi-stage LED dimming module
A multi-stage LED dimming module includes a voltage source and an LED control module having a dual-link pull switch, a substrate, a control circuit and a multiple of LED light sources, and the control circuit further includes a rectifier/filter circuit unit, a resistor array unit and a control circuit unit, and the voltage source is electrically connected to the LED control module for controlling the brightness of the LED control module, so as to achieve the effects of providing a convenient application and a stable structure. |
| US09445472B2 |
Method and circuit for driving light-emitting diodes from three-phase power source
Multiple LEDs connected in series are driven by DC voltage that is provided by a diode rectifier, the diode rectifier being connected to a three-phase power source and converting the three-phase currents from the three-phase power source into the DC voltage that is used to drive the light emitting diodes. In order to reduce ripple in the DC voltage, the series-connected light emitting diodes can be divided into a first set and a second set, and a first constant current source is provided that drives the first set, and a second constant current source is provided that drives the second set. The first and second constant current sources are both connected across the outputs of the rectifier circuit, and operate to drive the respective sets of light emitting diodes in alternation. The capability for dimming can be provided, as well as back-up single phase operation. |
| US09445471B2 |
Drive circuit for LED module
The present invention relates to a drive circuit of an light-emitting diode (LED) module, which includes: an LED array including a plurality of parallel groups connected in series; a power supply module for converting an external power supply into a 12V-75V forward voltage that drives each LED in the LED array; and a control module for controlling different gating switches to perform a conduction or cutoff operation according to a detected input voltage. The solution in accordance with the present invention can provide regular AC power for the LED array, without the need of providing an electrolytic capacitor. The present invention further overcomes design defects of a DC solution, optimizes the performance of a bulb, and reduces a manufacturing cost of the bulb. Compared with other lighting technologies, the AC solution reduces a total arrangement cost of the LED. |
| US09445470B2 |
LED control circuit with self-adaptive regulation
An LED control circuit comprises a driver, a counter, and a controller and is configured to control a plurality of light-emitting units, each of which comprises at least one LED and a switch. The driver receives an alternating-current signal to output a driving signal whereby the light-emitting units are enabled. The counter begins a count from a start number when a voltage value of the driving signal equals a base value. When the count reaches a predetermined number, the controller controls the switch of at least one of the light-emitting units, causing the LED of the light-emitting unit to receive the driving signal. When the LED of the light-emitting unit receives the driving signal, the controller detects whether the light-emitting unit is enabled and adjusts the predetermined number accordingly. |
| US09445469B2 |
Backlight driving apparatus and liquid crystal display device using the same
Disclosed is a backlight driving apparatus. The backlight driving apparatus includes a light source configured to include at least one LED, a DC-DC converter configured to generate a driving voltage according to a turn-on of a switching element and supply the driving voltage to the light source, a feedback circuit configured to generate a feedback voltage corresponding to a voltage level of the driving voltage supplied from light source, a duty controller connected to the light source, and configured to control a turn-on period of the LED according to an LED duty signal corresponding to a backlight dimming signal, and a switching controller configured to generate a PWM signal for controlling the turn-on of the switching element according to the feedback signal, generate a switching control signal corresponding to the PWM signal according to the LED duty signal, and selectively control the turn-on of the switching element. |
| US09445467B2 |
Backlight driving circuit, electronic device and backlight driving method
A backlight driving circuit includes a LED driving chip (10) for outputting a PWM signal, a power port (20), a voltage conversion unit (30), a first, a second, and a third switch unit (50, 60, 70), and a level conversion unit (40). The voltage conversion unit (30) includes a primary unit (31) and a secondary winding (32). The first switch unit (50) is connected to the power port (20) and the primary unit (31). The second switch unit (60), the secondary winding (32) and a first LED string (21) forms a first circuit loop (LP1). The first and the second switch unit (50, 60) are turned on or off when receiving the PWM signal. The third switch unit (70), the primary winding (31), and a second LED string (22) form a second circuit loop (LP2). The voltage conversion unit output a reversed PWM signal to the third switch unit (70). |
| US09445466B2 |
Lighting system with an interface having a power supply unit and at least one light source module
Various embodiments may relate to a power supply unit including an output for outputting a current, a communications line, a current-measuring device and a microcontroller including an analog-to-digital converter. The current-measuring device generates a current on the communications line which is proportional to the conductance of a current-setting resistance, the current is convertable into a digital value by the analog-to-digital converter, the power supply unit assumes various operating states based on the digital value of the measured current, and at least one light source module is connectable to the output, wherein the at least one light source module has the current-setting resistance, which is connectable to the communications line. Various embodiments may further relate to a light source module including an input, a communications line and a current-setting resistance for setting the current applied to the light source module. |
| US09445465B2 |
Adaptation circuit for coupling LED to ballast
Adaptation circuits (1) allow discharge lamps to be replaced by light circuits (45) with light emitting diodes, while keeping ballast circuits (8) designed for connection to the discharge lamps. The adaptation circuits (1) comprise conversion circuits (2) for converting input voltage and current signals coming from the ballast circuits (8) into output voltage and current signals destined for the light circuits (45). The conversion circuits (2) reduce amplitudes of the input voltage signals to values below predefined values during predefined time intervals after energy from the ballast circuits (8) has been transferred to the conversion circuits (2). The time intervals are synchronized with periods of the input voltage signals. Between first draining states for draining energy and second releasing states for releasing the energy, third states such as holding states for holding the energy have been introduced. The third states allow relevant values as experienced by the ballast circuits (8) to remain comparable to situations when the discharge lamps were powered. |
| US09445461B2 |
Method of producing a high-frequency heat treatment coil
A method is provided to produce a high-frequency heat treatment coil including a heating section for heating a heat treatment portion of an outer joint member for a constant velocity universal joint. The heating section is formed by machining in an integrated manner, and is joined to another section to complete the high-frequency heat treatment coil. |
| US09445455B2 |
Communication apparatus and communication method
A communication apparatus includes: a first communicator that communicates with another communication apparatus through a first communication path; a second communicator that communicates with the other communication apparatus through a second communication path; a communication-path monitor that monitors a condition of a communication through the first communicator; a switching-setup-packet generator that sequentially generates switching-setup packets to be transmitted through the first and second communicators, based on a determination indicating that the condition of the communication through the first communicator is bad; and a switching controller that switches between communications through the first and second communicators, based on a type of which response data for the switching-setup packets arrive from the other communication apparatus and an order in which response data for the switching setup packets arrive from the other communication apparatus. |
| US09445453B2 |
Dual-modem mobile equipment and communication method using the same
A communication method uses a dual-modem Mobile Equipment (ME) that includes a cellular modem communicable with a cellular system and a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) modem capable of WLAN communication. The method includes registering a Media Access Control (MAC) address of a Terminal Equipment (TE) connected to the cellular modem over a WLAN. The method also includes receiving data from the TE with the registered MAC address at the WLAN modem through a WLAN interface, and transferring the data to the cellular system through the cellular modem. Thus, even a TE with no cellular modem equipped can perform data communication over the cellular network and the pre-registered TE is allowed to transmit and receive data through an ME with a WLAN modem, facilitating efficient use of the limited resources, and the user is allowed to set priorities of TEs, making it possible to ensure QoS of each TE independently. |
| US09445451B2 |
Communicating arbitrary attributes using a predefined characteristic
An electronic device that communicates input messages and output messages with another electronic device using a Bluetooth Low Energy communication protocol is described. In particular, the electronic device receives input messages using a predefined characteristic to convey input information associated with a set of input attribute types. A given input message includes one or more input-command characters specifying a given input attribute type in the set of input attribute types and, optionally, an input delimiter and an input value in an input argument associated with the given input attribute type. Moreover, the electronic device provides output messages using the predefined characteristic to convey output information associated with a set of output attribute types. A given output message includes one or more output-command characters specifying a given output attribute type in the set of output attribute types. In this way, the predefined characteristic can be repurposed to convey other attribute types. |
| US09445450B2 |
Method and apparatus for preserving physical uplink control channel resources
A network configuration and process are disclosed in which a user equipment preserves its physical uplink control channel resources (PUCCH) in connected mode when so instructed by the network upon expiration of a time alignment timer. Upon re-initiation of network messaging the network passes information to the user equipment during random access signalling to re-use the physical uplink control channel resources. |
| US09445444B2 |
Wireless communication apparatus, non-transitory computer-readable medium, wireless communication method, peripheral apparatus, and central apparatus
The accuracy of a connection is improved by avoiding unnecessary communication. A peripheral obtains an address from a central and saves the address. The peripheral transmits an advertisement including an address of a central which is a connection target. The central stores a history of its own addresses. The central receives the advertisement transmitted from the peripheral. The central determines whether the received advertisement includes any address in the history. If the central determines that the advertisement includes any address in the history, the central transmits to the peripheral a connection request signal for making a connection request. |
| US09445440B2 |
Method for controlling wireless network devices and control device with wireless network function
The present invention discloses a method for controlling wireless network devices, which includes the following steps: a control device with a wireless network function is utilized to scan several access-point (AP) mode wireless network devices. One of the AP mode wireless network devices is selected as a master AP according to the scanning result. The at least one AP mode wireless network device other than the selected one is set to a client mode. The at least one wireless network device set to the client mode builds a connection to the control device with a wireless network function through the master AP. The present invention also discloses a control device with a wireless network function. |
| US09445437B2 |
Methods and procedures for high speed UE access
A terminal random access procedure is improved by allowing a mobile terminal to correctly map signature indexes onto cyclic shifted Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequences when the deployed cells support a high-speed mobility by informing a mobile terminal whether a cell supports high-speed mobility. |
| US09445435B2 |
Method for transmitting data in a wireless network, and wireless network therefor
Method for transmitting data from a resource-constrained transmitter to a receiver in a wireless network, comprising the following steps:—the resource-constrained transmitter (21a, 21b, 21c) sending a channel request message to the receiver,—in response to the request, the receiver (22) determining communication channel availability based on the result of a sensing step and broadcasting channel information,—the resource-constrained transmitter (21a, 21b, 21c) listening to the information and transmitting data on the corresponding channel, wherein the sensing step is performed by the receiver before or after receiving channel request from the transmitter. The invention also relates to a wireless network. |
| US09445434B2 |
Method and apparatus for transceiving signals in wireless communication systems
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for transmitting a signal by a terminal in a wireless communication system which comprises a step wherein, during a predetermined time period in one portion of the frequency bandwidths from among the frequency bandwidths of channels used by said terminal, a carrier wave sensing signal of another terminal is transmitted in which information on the frequency bandwidths of the channel is included. |
| US09445431B2 |
Wireless communications devices supporting WiFi and LTE communications and methods for transmission control thereof
A mobile communications device supporting operation on a first wireless technology and a second wireless technology with a wireless module and a controller module is provided. The wireless module performs wireless transceiving to and from a first base station of a first wireless technology and a second base station of a second wireless technology. The controller module transmits a control message prior to the starting of a uplink transmission period of the first wireless technology via the wireless module to occupy the uplink transmission period of the first wireless technology so as to allow transmission of signals of the second wireless technology during the uplink transmission period of the first wireless technology, wherein the first wireless technology is a long term evolution (LTE) technology and the second wireless technology is a WiFi technology. |
| US09445427B2 |
Downlink resource allocation in OFDM networks
A downlink scheduler schedules downlink transmissions to a plurality of user terminals over a shared downlink channel and allocates resources for the downlink transmissions. For making scheduling decisions, the downlink scheduler computes a resource metric to compare the available resources that are being allocated. The resource metric is based on the individual scheduling metrics of the user terminals. Allocation of the resources is performed in an iterative fashion. A first resource is selected based on the resource metric and allocated to a user terminal based on the corresponding individual scheduling metrics of the user terminals. The next resource is then selected and allocated. This allocation process continues until all RBGs are allocated, or until all user terminals are served. In one embodiment, the resource metrics for the remaining resources and individual scheduling metrics for the remaining user terminals are computed/recomputed during each iteration. |
| US09445422B2 |
Interference management for D2D system
User equipment, UEs, (306a,d) being interfered by direct D2D traffic, and UEs (306b,c) involved in D2D communication being interfered by a UE (306a,d), instead of passively reporting that they are interfered to their serving base station (305), intervene and communicate directly with the pair of D2D communicating UEs or the UE that are causing the interference without involving any of the serving base stations. |
| US09445418B2 |
Bridging wireless and wired media in a computer network
In one embodiment, a transmitting node may be configured to transmit a wireless advertisement frame over a computer network, wherein the frame includes a source address of a reachable node being advertised, a destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the transmitting node, and a receiver address of a wireless access point to which the wireless advertisement frame is to be received. Also, the wireless access point may be configured to receive the wireless advertisement frame from the network, and in response, transmit a reflected wireless advertisement frame having the source address of the reachable node, the destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the access point, and a receiver address that indicates the reflected frame is to be accepted by any appropriate receiver excluding the transmitting node. |
| US09445417B2 |
Apparatus and method of sharing a transmit chain in wireless communications
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a user equipment (UE) that can maintain active connections on multiple wireless communication networks. The UE shares a transmission resource when transmitting (TX) on a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT in a time-division manual. During TX sharing, the UE provide uplink recovery and protection to one of the RATs. |
| US09445415B2 |
Method for transceiving signals between a base station and a relay node in a multiuser multi-antenna wireless communication system, and apparatus for same
The present disclosure relates to a method in which a base station transmits signals to a relay node in a multiuser multi-antenna (MIMO) wireless communication system. More particularly, the method includes: allocating one or more antenna ports to one or more relay nodes, respectively; mapping each of a plurality of downlink grant signals for the one or more relay nodes to a preset resource domain from among resource domains corresponding to one of the allocated antenna ports; mapping uplink grant signals or data signals for the one or more relay nodes to the resource domains corresponding to the allocated antenna ports; and transmitting the mapped signals to the one or more relay nodes. |
| US09445413B2 |
Method and apparatus for receiving control information through blind decoding of an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH)
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for enabling a terminal to receive control information in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps of: determining resource units for Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel (EPDCCH) of a plurality of resource units, with respect to each of one or more resource sets; and blind-decoding the resource units for the EPDCCH with respect to each of the one or more resource sets, wherein each of the one or more resource sets is set for one of localized EPDCCH transmission or distributed EPCCH transmission. |
| US09445412B2 |
Mobile station apparatus, base station apparatus, and communication method
An EPDCCH is made up of an aggregation of one or more resources obtained by dividing one of PRB pairs. In a case where a total number of antenna ports for transmitting reference signals to be used to demodulate signals mapped to the EPDCCH is four, four resources obtained by dividing one of the PRB pairs correspond to the antenna ports of different numbers. In a case where a total number of antenna ports for transmitting reference signals to be used to demodulate signals mapped to the EPDCCH is two, two resources obtained by dividing one of the PRB pairs correspond to the antenna ports of different numbers. A mobile station apparatus includes a reception processor that demodulates, by using reference signals transmitted from the antenna ports corresponding to the resources used for the EPDCCH, signal mapped to the EPDCCH for which decoding and detection are performed. |
| US09445409B2 |
Method for search space configuration of enhanced physical downlink control channel
A method to allocate physical radio resources for both distributed and localized transmission schemes of ePDCCH and configure common and UE-specific search space for UE is provided. In one embodiment, a UE receives a first high-layer information to determine a first set of PRBs. The UE determines a first set of candidate ePDCCHs within the first set of PRBs, wherein one or more candidate ePDCCHs potentially carries DCI intended for the UE. The UE then decodes the first set of candidate ePDCCHs to obtain the DCI intended for the UE. Similar steps are performed for a second set of candidate ePDCCHs potentially carrying DCI intended for the UE. The allocated radio resources of the candidate ePDCCHs may be distributed or localized and constitute either common or UE-specific search space. Blind decoding complexity is reduced. |
| US09445407B2 |
Dynamic setting of transmission time in a contention based wireless system
In a wireless communications network, access points and connected mobile devices transmit data via a radio frequency spectrum channel. When a device has packets for transmission it must check the channel is available before it can transmit the data. Furthermore there is a Transmission Opportunity (TXOP) parameter which limits the maximum amount of time that a device can transmit packets before it must relinquish the channel so that other devices are not locked out. Each device in the network is capable of updating its own TXOP parameters in order to respond to changes in the level of interference and contention in the surrounding area. In this way devices can transmit for longer periods of time when contention is low, while responding to increased network contention by shortening the TXOP to ensure fair access for all other devices in the network. |
| US09445401B2 |
Method and device for transmitting a control channel mapped to one or more control channel elements
A method, an apparatus, and a device for transmitting a control channel are disclosed. The method includes: generating at least one eCCE, and transmitting the control channel through the at least one eCCE, where a process of generating each eCCE specifically includes: determining at least two physical resource block (PRB) pairs for transmitting the control channel, where each PRB pair of the at least two PRB pairs correspond to multiple enhanced resource element groups eREGs and the multiple eREGs have eREG attribute information that is not exactly the same; and selecting each eREG from the multiple eREGs corresponding to each PRB pair, where the selected eREGs have different eREG attribute information, and forming an eCCE with the selected eREGs. Embodiments of the present invention are applied to implement generation of an eCCE according to an eREG, so as to transmit an enhanced control channel through the eCCE. |
| US09445400B2 |
Methods and devices for performing an automatic repeat request reset in a wireless communication environment
A method and device for performing an Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) procedure in a wireless communication environment are provided. An initiation of the ARQ reset procedure is triggered by one of a transmitting device and a receiving device. A sequence number corresponding to a start of an ARQ window is determined. The sequence number is a sequence number of a first ARQ block to be transmitted by the transmitting device upon completion of the ARQ reset procedure. An ARQ reset message indicating the determined sequence number is transmitted to the receiving device. Accordingly, first and second pointer values of the ARQ window at the receiving device is set to the sequence number in the ARQ reset message. An ARQ reset acknowledgement message is sent to the transmitting device. Moreover, first and second pointer values of the ARQ window at the transmitting device is set to the determined sequence number. |
| US09445393B2 |
Paging of a user equipment (UE) within a wireless communications system
A user equipment (UE) determines to activate a data session. The UE configures a data session activation request message to include an indication of an association with communication sessions of a given type (e.g., delay-sensitive communication sessions), and then transmits the data session activation request message to an access network. The access network determines to establish an aggressive paging cycle of a downlink channel for the UE based in part upon receiving a message (e.g., which can be different than the data session activation request message) that conveys the indication of the association to the access network. The access network sends at least one instruction for facilitating an allocation of the aggressive paging cycle to the UE, and the UE receives the at least one instructions and monitors the downlink channel accordingly. |
| US09445391B2 |
Automatic detection of device type for filtering of data
Methods are provided for filtering, collecting, and analyzing location data for a plurality of devices in a wireless network. Location data for one or more devices is received, for each device the location data includes a unique identifier. Whether the devices belong to the group of devices is determined based on the unique identifier. The location data of devices determined to belong to the group of devices are stored and used in the mobility analysis and the results distributed accordingly. A relevancy analysis may be performed on the stored location data of devices determined to belong to the group of devices in which device information is generated that is associated with devices not belonging to the group of devices. The device information is fed back to determine whether the devices belong to the group of devices based on the unique identifier. |
| US09445385B2 |
System and methods for improving network registration for all SIMs of a multi-SIM device using a dynamically-determined registration order
Methods and devices are disclosed for enabling efficient network registration using a shared radio resource for at least a first and second SIM of a multi-SIM wireless communication device. An overall priority-based ranking may be calculated for each SIM of the multi-SIM device, which may be used to determine an preferred order for the SIMs to register for services in their respective networks. Calculating the overall priority-based ranking for each SIM may include determining values for a service capability priority factor, an attachment time factor, and a sleep cycle duration factor. |
| US09445379B2 |
Method and system for managing transmitting power of communications devices equipped with a plurality of antennas
A method for managing transmitting power of communications devices equipped with multiple antennas. The method enables a first antenna configuration of the plurality of antennas in accordance with a first pre-determined rule. The method transmits a first message to a peer communications device, wherein the first message comprises at least a power management profile of the communications device transmitting the first message. The method receives a second message comprising at least information pertinent to a power management profile of the peer communications device receiving the first message and signal integrity information determined by the peer communications device from the received first message. Finally, the method activates a second antenna configuration of the plurality of antennas by using the signal integrity information in accordance with a second pre-determined rule. |
| US09445376B2 |
Facilitation of self-adjusting network uplink noise balancing
Compensation is provided for foreign interference within a cell. Uplink (UL) noise on an UL channel to a first base station (BS) device is detected. Whether the UL noise includes interference is determined. Interference can include any device other than a mobile device configured to communicate with a BS device associated with a cell. The first service area of the BS device can be modified, e.g., scaled based on determining that the UL noise includes interference. Scaling can include reducing the first service area to a second service area that does not include an imbalance region in the first service area caused by the foreign interference. Scaling can be effected by reducing the amount of downlink power from the first BS device, or by adjusting a re-selection parameter associated with reducing the range of the BS device. |
| US09445375B2 |
Method and system for updating predistortion coefficient
The invention is a method and a system for updating pre-distortion coefficients, which is used to solve the problem of interference with neighbor cells due to the inferior pre-distortion coefficients. The method includes: presetting a primary table and a standby table, which store default and updated pre-distortion coefficients respectively; when a data source of a pre-distortion processor adopts the standby table, adopting the updated pre-distortion coefficients to perform parameter output processing to acquire pre-distortion parameters, and conveying the pre-distortion parameters and an input signal to the pre-distortion processor to process to acquire pre-distortion signals; conveying the pre-distortion signals through various signal processors to acquire a first signal, and determining the power data of the first signal; and based on the comparing result of the power data of the first signal and a setting range, there are different actions. |
| US09445374B2 |
Control of base station parameters based on mapping of terminal distribution
According to one embodiment, a control apparatus includes a terminal information collection unit, a map generator, a terminal information accumulation unit, a parameter calculator, and a parameter setting unit. A map generator generates a map indicating a distribution of the representative terminals. A terminal information accumulation unit accumulates the map generated by the map generator. A parameter calculator sets operating frequencies and transmission powers for the base stations by simulation, empirically estimate, based on past maps accumulated in the terminal information accumulation unit, received powers of the representative terminals generated by the operating frequencies and transmission powers sets by simulation, and determine new operating frequencies. |
| US09445371B2 |
Apparatus and methods for wideband envelope tracking systems
Apparatus and methods for wideband envelope tracking systems are disclosed herein. In certain implementations, an envelope tracker includes a DC-to-DC converter, a current digital-to-analog converter (DAC), an error amplifier, a feedback circuit, and an AC combiner. The current DAC receives a digital envelope signal, and uses the digital envelope signal to generate an envelope current. The feedback circuit is connected between an output and an inverting input of the error amplifier, and the envelope current is provided to the error amplifier's inverting input. Additionally, the AC combiner generates a power amplifier supply voltage by combining an output of the DC-to-DC converter and an output of the error amplifier. |
| US09445365B2 |
Reducing power consumption in voice over LTE terminals using semi persistent scheduling in connected discontinuous reception mode
A connection with a network that includes a base station (BS) may be established by a user device (UE) via a wireless connection, for conducting communications using semi persistent scheduling (SPS) in a connected discontinuous reception (C-DRX) mode. The SPS transmit periodicity may be adjusted with respect to the SPS activation command and the SPS interval UL (for uplink). Data may then be transmitted during the C-DRX On-Duration periods according to the determined SPS transmit periodicity. In some embodiments, the SPS transmit periodicity is adjusted such that following a first C-DRX On-Duration period when an SPS activation command is received, SPS data transmission occurs a specified number of subframes earlier during each subsequent C-DRX On-Duration period than in the first C-DRX On-Duration period. The SPS data transmission in each subsequent C-DRX On-Duration period may take place as soon as the UE device wakes up during the On-Duration period. |
| US09445364B2 |
Systems and methods for blocking excessive transmitter message signaling
The present disclosure relates to transmitting assistance information from a first node to a second node. In one embodiment, a first node includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver. In response to transmitting a preference indicator for a first configuration to a second node via the wireless transmitter or receiving a reconfiguration request associated with the preference indicator for the first configuration, the first node starts a timer set to a value that defines an amount of time before the first node is permitted to transmit a preference indicator for a second configuration to the second node. The first node then blocks transmission of the preference indicator for the second configuration to the second node until the timer has expired. In this manner, excessive signaling of preference indicators from the first node to the second node is avoided. |
| US09445362B2 |
Solving exposed terminal problems in wireless networks
Methods, apparatus and program products are disclosed for allowing wireless devices in two wireless access networks whose coverage areas overlap to communicate with their respective access nodes. Groups may be assigned to wireless devices in the access networks and the groups may be used by wireless devices in the access networks to determine whether to access a communication medium or not. Received powers may also be used by wireless devices in the access networks to determine whether or not to access a communication medium. A wireless device in a first access network can determine whether to access (e.g., compete for access to) the communication medium by comparing a measured power of transmission from a second access node with an indication of a minimum received power above which wireless devices in a second access network formed by a second access node are allowed to contend for access to the communication medium. |
| US09445360B2 |
Method and system for providing global multiline roaming
An approach is provided for global multiline roaming. A global roaming multiline platform provisions a communication device with a plurality of communication access numbers respectively associated with a plurality of communication service regions, wherein the plurality of communication access numbers are associated with a single subscriber identity module (SIM) of the communication device. The platform also selects a target communication access number from among the plurality of communication access numbers for relaying a communication session to or from the communication device based on a location of the communication device, a location of a called device, a location of a calling device, or a combination thereof with respect to the plurality of communication service regions. |
| US09445359B2 |
Method of processing received digitized signals and mobile radio communication terminal device
A mobile radio communication terminal device may include at least one circuit configured to perform a method of processing received digitized signals, the method including determining a plurality of cross-correlation coefficients for the received digitized signal. Each of the plurality of cross-correlation coefficients may be determined by cross-correlating the received digitized signal with a respective candidate mobile radio local reference signal out of a plurality of pre-stored candidate mobile radio local reference signals. The at least one circuit may be further configured to select one or more cross-correlation coefficients from the determined plurality of cross-correlation coefficients and perform a mobile radio cell scan based on one or more of the selected cross-correlation coefficients, thereby determining a mobile radio communication network to connect to. |
| US09445357B2 |
Wireless communication system, wireless communication method, mobile station device, and base station device
A wireless communication system includes a plurality of base station devices, and a mobile station device configured to communicate with the plurality of base station devices. The mobile station device includes: a necessity determining unit configured to refer to a communication state of a first base station device that is a base station device in communication with the mobile station device, and determine necessity of carrier aggregation; a cell search unit configured to, in a case that the necessity determining unit determines that carrier aggregation is necessary, search a communication available base station device from the plurality of base station devices; and a carrier aggregation requesting unit configured to, in a case that at least one communication available base station device is detected by the search, transmit a request for carrier aggregation to the first base station device, thus providing a wireless communication system that can obtain an excellent speed. |
| US09445356B2 |
Distributed mobile access point acquisition
Providing for distributed access point management for access to a mobile network is described herein. By way of example, an interface application maintained at a Femto cell base station (BS) can facilitate initial power up and/or acquisition for a Femto user terminal (UT). Upon start-up, a bootstrap process is utilized by the Femto cell to provision the UT with an SDL establishing at least one BS as high priority within a particular geographic area (GEO). Thus, when the Femto UT is within the GEO, the UT is more likely to acquire, camp on and/or handoff to the preferred BS. When outside the GEO, a serving access point can provision the Femto UT OTA with a custom SDL suited to another GEO having a different high priority access point. By implementing access point management at distributed access points, expensive network equipment can be mitigated or avoided. |
| US09445355B2 |
Multi-interface terminal, and neighbor topology discovery and cooperative communication method therefore
The present document provides a neighbor topology discovery method for a multi-interface terminal, to improve the usage rate of multiple interfaces. The method includes the following steps: after joining a network, the multi-interface terminal broadcasts a neighbor discovery request message to respective networks via each interface, and the neighbor discovery request message carries a neighbor hop value; and the multi-interface terminal in the network monitors broadcast messages of other terminals in the network where each interface is located; when detecting the neighbor discovery request message, if the neighbor hop value carried in the detected neighbor discovery request message indicates that the present terminal is the last hop, related information in the neighbor discovery request message is extracted, and neighbor information and network topology information of the present terminal is updated; and if not, the neighbor hop value is modified and the neighbor discovery request message is forwarded via all interfaces. |
| US09445350B2 |
Call control system, mobile station and call restriction method
A control system includes: a storage device configured to store a list of priority callees for a plurality of mobile stations; and a controller configured to execute a procedure, including determining, based on call restriction information for call-restricted areas in which a plurality of restricted mobile stations and priority callees included on the list for the restricted mobile stations are respectively located, an allowed calling time period in which calling is allowed to the priority callees on the list for the restricted mobile stations, the restricted mobile stations being a plurality of the mobile stations located in a call-restricted area, and transmitting information indicating the allowed calling time period to the restricted mobile stations. |
| US09445349B1 |
802.11ah duty cycle based channel access priorities
A system includes an access point and a client station. The access point is configured to control access to a communication channel of a wireless network, define a first power category and at least one second power category, each of the first power category and the at least one second power category having a respective access priority associated with access to the communication channel, and communicate a requirement for assignment to the first power category. The client station is configured to determine whether an operating characteristic of the client station meets the requirement for assignment to the first power category, and transmit, in response to a determination that the operating characteristic meets the requirements, a request to the access point to be assigned to the first power category. |
| US09445341B2 |
Apparatus, systems, and methods for providing interworking gateway
Systems and methods are provided that allow inter-working between communication networks for the delivery of service to mobile nodes. A gateway is provided that communicates with a femto cell to extend service to an area that otherwise does not receive coverage from a service provider. The femto cell is a small scale base station used to provide coverage over a small area (such as a home or business), and connect to a home or enterprise network. The femto cell provides service for a mobile node and a gateway permits communication over a broadband network. The gateway integrates the mobile nodes connecting via a femto cell into the service provider's network. The gateway also allows provisioning of services and applications, control of service levels, and provides seamless handoffs to marco base stations and other types of access technologies such as Wi-Fi. |
| US09445331B2 |
Communication management apparatus and communication management method
The communication management apparatus includes a reception index determination device configured to determine, with respect to respective neighboring cells of a serving cell of each terminal apparatus within a predetermined cell, and a reference signal reception index for the terminal apparatus according to location information of the terminal apparatus. The reference signal reception index is used for indicating signal reception situation of the terminal apparatus with respect to the neighboring cells. |
| US09445327B2 |
Cell selection techniques for femtocell measurements
User equipment (UE) includes an architecture for handling femtocell fingerprints, and searching for femtocells. The architecture may control the frequencies for which the femtocell search is performed in various manners. For example, the architecture may schedule a round-robin list of femtocell frequencies for measurement, and may reduce the search space according to the frequency bands actually in use in the region in which the UE is located, according to whether or not reselection timers are running for specific frequencies, or in other ways. |
| US09445324B2 |
Method and arrangement in a wireless communication network for determining a type of handover
The embodiments disclosed relates to a method and a network node that determines a time period between a first handover and a second handover of a user equipment. The first handover is to or from a first cell and the second handover is to or from a second cell. The network node sets a threshold value based on a difference in cell quality between the first cell and the second cell. The difference in cell quality is associated with the first or second handover. The network node then determines the type of handover, of at least one of the first and second handover, based on the time period and threshold value. |
| US09445320B2 |
Method and system for automatically creating a neighbor list
A method and system for automatically updating a neighbor list associated with a serving base station is disclosed. The method involves receiving a measurement report from a User Equipment (UE) associated with the serving base station, wherein the measurement report comprises at least one relative signal strength measurement between the UE and each of a plurality of neighboring base stations; comparing the at least one relative signal strength measurement between the UE and the plurality of neighboring base stations with a current signal strength between the UE and the serving base station; identifying at least one of the plurality of neighboring base stations having a greater relative signal strength with respect to the UE than the serving base station a predefined number of times based on the comparison; and updating the neighbor list associated with the serving base station with the identified at least one neighboring base stations. |
| US09445318B2 |
Method and apparatus of resolving PCI confusion for providing inbound mobility to closed subscriber group
Method and apparatus for providing inbound mobility to closed subscriber group (CSG) and hybrid cells are described. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) reads the cell global identity (CGI) of a neighbor cell and reports it to a network of CSG cells. The network maps the CSG cell's physical cell identity (PCI) to the CSG CGI and, if required, requests the WTRU to read the CGI at handover. |
| US09445317B2 |
Interference-protected control message transmission in a mobile communications network
For protecting transmission of a control message (60) in a mobile communications network between a first access node (10a) and a user equipment, an indication of at least one protected time-slot for transmitting the control message may be transmitted in response to a need for transmitting the control message (60). The indication is transmitted between the first access node (10a) and a second access node (10b). Transmission of the indication prompts reduction of spectral interference caused by the second access node (10b) during the at least one protected time-slot (30). |
| US09445313B2 |
Data processing method and device
A data processing method is provided for forwarding data in the case of handover between heterogeneous networks. The data processing method includes: when a user equipment (UE) is handed over from an originating network to a target network, receiving, by the originating network, a data forwarding address obtained by the target network; creating a data forwarding tunnel between an originating network gateway and a target network gateway according to the data forwarding address; and forwarding data to the target network through the data forwarding tunnel. A data processing device is also provided. The lossless data processing solution can overcome the problem of data loss in the case of handover between heterogeneous networks in the existing technology, reduces the time of user service interruption and enhances the user experience. |
| US09445302B2 |
Method and system for wireless communication with machine-to-machine devices
Approaches for managing machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless devices are disclosed. M2M wireless devices may be configured to utilize service classes in order to implement network access policy control. Packets generated by an application running on the wireless device are inspected, for example using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). Service class may be assigned based on patent contents such as payload, transport-layer criteria, or communication protocol in use. Service class assignment proceeds according to a rule set which may be remotely configurable. Packets may be buffered and their transmission may be deferred pending service class assignment. Spoofing of the intended recipient and/or the application may be performed while the packets are buffered and/or inspected. |
| US09445300B2 |
Localized congestion exposure
A method for localized congestion exposure within a local loop in a cellular network that is performed by a localized congestion exposure receiver node of the local loop. The method includes receiving downlink packets destined for a downstream user device. The downlink packets have headers that indicate a level of congestion experienced by the downlink packets. The headers also indicate a level of expected downstream congestion declared by an upstream node. The method also includes forwarding the downlink packets to the downstream user device through a wireless connection. The method further includes sending packets upstream that have feedback indicative of the level of congestion experienced by the downlink packets and any congestion experienced within the localized congestion exposure receiver node. |
| US09445298B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system for controlling terminal device
Disclosed are a method, apparatus, and system for controlling a terminal device. A method of controlling a terminal device is performed by a terminal device control unit included in the terminal device. The method may include determining whether or not to change a state of the terminal device into a terminal device control state based on range information including at least one of a control area and a control period in which the terminal device is controlled and the real-time information of the terminal device, changing the state of the terminal device into the terminal device control state based on a result of the determination, and controlling the terminal device based on the control information in the terminal device control state. |
| US09445295B2 |
Mobile communication method, radio base station and mobile station
In current LTE, different measurement cycles of a measurement process are set for respective measurement frequencies. A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes: a step A of a radio base station eNB notifying a mobile station UE of a measurement cycle for “Inter-Frequency Measurement” for each measurement frequency; and a step B of the mobile station UE performing out a measurement process in each of cells #11A and #11B having frequencies f2 and f3 different from that of a cell #11 to which the mobile station UE is currently connected, on the basis of the measurement frequency and the measurement cycle for “Inter-Frequency Measurement”. |
| US09445291B2 |
Method and apparatus for inter-frequency measurements in a communication network
In one aspect of the teachings herein, a wireless device operating in a wireless communication network determines the measurement rate to use for making inter-frequency measurements on a given frequency layer, based on a performance requirement specified for that layer. For example, the wireless device uses a higher measurement rate for a frequency layer that has a performance requirement that is higher than the performance requirement specified for another one of the layers on which it is to perform inter-frequency measurements. Correspondingly, in an example scenario, a network node sends measurement configuration information to a targeted device, where that information indicates the layers on which the device is to perform inter-frequency measurements and indicates the performance requirements corresponding to respective ones of those layers. By way of example, the network node may be a base station, a relay, or another wireless device. |
| US09445289B2 |
System and method for convergence and automatic disabling of access points in a wireless mesh network
One embodiment of the present disclosure sets forth a technique for convergence and automatic disabling of access points in a wireless mesh network. Specifically, an access point within a wireless mesh network computes one or more network metrics to determine whether the metrics are unfavorable or favorable. If the network metrics are favorable, then the access point disables the access point's network connection. An access point turns the network connection back on based on whether a routing was lost for at least a preset amount of time, utilization of one or more neighboring access points is above a preset value, or one or more network metrics have degraded by a certain percentage value. One advantage of this approach is that cost savings may be achieved when the number of access points dynamically changes to accommodate varying communications conditions. |
| US09445283B2 |
Channel sounding for frequency division duplex system
System and method embodiments are provided for channel sounding in a frequency division duplex (FDD) system. The embodiments enable a transmission point (TP) to determine channel information about a downlink channel from an uplink channel sounding signal received on the downlink channel frequency band during a time window reserved for uplink channel sounding on the downlink channel frequency band. In an embodiment, a method in a controller includes determining with the controller a schedule for an uplink sounding window in a downlink frequency band, wherein the uplink sounding window comprises a transmission window in at least a partial downlink frequency band that is reserved for uplink channel sounding, instructing a TP to signal the schedule to at least one wireless device in a coverage area of the TP, receiving a channel sounding signal in the downlink frequency band, and obtaining downlink channel state information from the channel sounding signal. |
| US09445282B2 |
Transceiver architecture for multiple antenna systems
A transceiver architecture with combined digital beamforming and analog/hybrid beamforming is proposed. Digital beamforming is used for beam training with reduced overhead (switching time). It is beneficial to estimate all UE's angle of arrival (AoA) at the same time. In addition, the pilot/training signals are transmitted in a narrow band to reduce complexity. Analog/hybrid beamforming is used for data transmission with high directive gain and low complexity. The value of beamforming weights (phase shifter values) in analog domain can be based on the estimation of AoA from beam training. By using digital beamforming for beam training, combined with analog/hybrid beamforming for data transmission, effective beamforming is achieved with reduced overhead, complexity, and cost. |
| US09445278B2 |
Classification-based adaptive transmission in unlicensed spectrum
Techniques for communication management between Radio Access Technologies (RATs) sharing operating spectrum in an unlicensed band of radio frequencies are disclosed. Interference may be mitigated by, for example, receiving signaling via a resource. A first RAT may be used to receive the signaling. Based on the received signaling, utilization of the resource associated with the first RAT may be identified. The identified utilization of the resource may be classified based on an attribute associated with the received signaling and a plurality of thresholds associated with the attribute. The plurality of thresholds may define different classes of utilization. Communication by a second RAT over the resource may be adapted based on the classified utilization of the resource. |
| US09445276B2 |
Preventing coexistence interference through smart band selection in MSMA devices
Various embodiments leverage the typical manner in which a RAT selects a supported frequency band listed in its acquisition database and the standard communications with its network indicating the supported frequency bands to avoid potential coexistence events with one or more other RATs. In particular, various embodiments include methods for avoiding band interference between RATs operating on a multi-SIM communication device by identifying the frequency bands available to each of the RATs, comparing the identified frequency bands to determine whether any RAT's frequency bands will interfere with one or more other RAT's frequency bands, and in response to determining that there is a possibility of frequency band interference, removing those interfering frequency bands from that RAT's acquisition database. As a result, during standard communications, that RAT will report to its network that it supports only non-interfering frequency bands. |
| US09445275B2 |
Methods and apparatus for mitigating interference in aggressive form factor designs
Methods and apparatus for mitigation of radio interference between two or more wireless concurrently operating interfaces in a wireless device having an aggressive form factor. In one embodiment, the interfaces are used for different tasks (e.g., WLAN for data and PAN for human interface devices), and the device includes logic configured to evaluate the priority of the tasks and adjust the operation of one or more of the interfaces accordingly. |
| US09445273B2 |
Establishing WLAN association
A method of establishing network connection between a network device and a WLAN is disclosed. The method includes: determining whether there is previous security association between the network device and the WLAN at the time of requesting for network association, and establishing a new security association between the network device and the WLAN using security data generated in the course of establishing the previous security association if there is the previous security association. |
| US09445269B2 |
Terminal identity verification and service authentication method, system and terminal
Disclosed is a method for terminal identity verification and service authentication. After initiating a service request, the terminal generates a user unique code according to user-specific information in an SIM card, and encrypts a name of the user-specific information, and then transmits the encrypted name of the user-specific information together with the user unique code to a credible cloud control center; a service provider generates a unique code according to its own specific information, and transmits an encrypted name of its own specific information together with the generated unique code to the credible cloud control center; and the credible cloud control center authenticates the terminal and the service provider according to their respective unique codes, and when determining that both of them pass the authentication, transmits a communication code to both of them so that they communicate with each other according to the communication code to complete a current service. |
| US09445268B2 |
Recording medium, mobile electronic device, and operation control method
A processor of a mobile terminal refers to an app table that stores a reference flag on a per-app basis, the flag indicating whether the operation-unlock app screen is to be displayed in the foreground window of a display. Furthermore, the processor acquires from the app table the flag that corresponds to the current app in response to a lighting-off command. Moreover, the processor determines whether the operation-unlock app screen is to be displayed in the foreground window instead of the current app screen on the basis of the acquired flag. On the basis of the result of the determination, the processor controls the changing of a screen in the foreground window. |
| US09445265B2 |
Method and device for processing SRVCC switching, and terminal
A method and device for processing Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC) switching, and a related terminal are disclosed. In a technical solution of the disclosure, two sets of authentication parameters can be stored during the process of SRVCC switching, one set of which is stored into a card and the other set is stored into a temporary data area, and specific access to the authentication parameters is controlled by a switch variable so that a user does not need to consider using which data area. It is determined, after the SRVCC switching succeeds or fails, whether authentication parameters in the temporary data area need to be written into the card. Calculated authentication parameters are directly written into the card after the SRVCC switching is started, so that update of the authentication parameters is more flexible and signalling interaction with a network can be reduced. |
| US09445263B2 |
Method for ensuring security and privacy in a wireless cognitive network
In some embodiments, authentication, confidentiality, and privacy are enhanced for a wireless network of cognitive radios by encryption of network management and control messages as well as data traffic, thereby protecting information pertaining to node identification, node location, node-sensed incumbent transmissions, CRN frequency channel selections, and such like. During initial network registration, a temporary ID can be issued to a node, and then replaced once encrypted communication has been established. This prevents association of initial, clear-text messages with later encrypted transmissions. Elliptic curve cryptography can be used for mutual authentication between subscribers and the base station. ECC-based implicit digital certificates can be embedded in co-existence beacons used by CRN nodes to coordinate use of frequency channels, thereby preventing denial of service attacks due to transmitting of falsified beacons. Similar certificates can be embedded within identity beacons used to protect certain incumbents from interference by the CRN. |
| US09445259B2 |
Service provider certified device policy management
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a policy server. The method includes: receiving a request for service, the request including an identification of user equipment; determining a user equipment type (TAC); evaluating a policy rule based on the user equipment type, the policy rule including a condition referencing at least one user equipment type; and responding to the request for service based on evaluation of the policy rule. |
| US09445255B2 |
System to provide GSM over distributed mobile networks
A system provides GSM service over distributed mobile networks. A Network Area Controller (NAC) allows Global Titles (GT) and Mobile Station Roaming Numbers (MSRN) of the GSM network to be shared within a private GSM network. A processor within the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of a mobile network transcodes voice data and maps the data to the proper bearer QoS to allow the use of Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) such as Iridium and Inmarsat. |
| US09445252B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing services to a geographic area
A method and apparatus for providing a service at an incident scene is provided herein. During operation, a device will enter a geographic area (e.g., an incident scene), join a local-area network (LAN), and determine what services are presently being offered by other devices on the LAN. From a list of services deployed on the device, a determination is then made as to what services the device will run, and those services are then offered to all devices on the LAN. |
| US09445249B2 |
Disaster response system
A disaster response system receives location data and status data from participating devices in an area affected by a disaster. The disaster response system provides data to client devices outside the affected area. The data indicate statuses of people within the affected area. Disaster response system also instructs routers to perform actions to adjust bandwidth available for a particular use during and after the disaster. |
| US09445248B2 |
Radio-agnostic message translation service
In various aspects, the disclosure provides a hub that is adapted for radio-agnostic message translation. The hub may be configured to establish a connection with a target device using a first network access technology, receive a first message from a first client device through a connection established on a second network access technology, translate the first message from a first transmission format to obtain a second message in a second transmission format, and transmit the second message to the target device and using the first network access technology. The first network technology may employ a first wireless technology having a range that is less than 100 meters. The first client device may be separated from the target device by a distance that is greater than the range of the first wireless technology. |
| US09445246B2 |
Mobility management entity having mobile switching center functionality
A Mobility Management Entity (MME) comprises at least one entity or layer having Mobile Switching Center (MSC) functionality to support a Short Messaging Service (SMS) between a network and a mobile station by employing Machine-to-Machine (M2M) or Machine Type Communication (MTC) protocols. A first state machine entity or layer that supports relay functions to perform forwarding of SMS messages to the mobile station. A second state machine entity or layer that supports connection functions with at least an HSS/HLR (Home Subscriber Server/Home Location Register), and with an SMS-SC (Short Messaging Service -Service Center) or GMSC/IWMSC (Gateway MSC/Interworking MSC). |
| US09445245B2 |
Short message service spam data analysis and detection
A method and apparatus for identifying a potential source of SMS spam are disclosed. For example, the method collects a plurality of call detail records, extracts at least one feature from each of the plurality of call detail records, and identifies the potential source of the short message service spam by analyzing the at least one feature that is extracted from each of the plurality of call detail records. |
| US09445244B1 |
Techniques to communicate messages utilizing a common telephone number
Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, method and other techniques to receive a message directed towards a common telephone number, the common telephone number to enable communications between attendee devices and organizer devices. Embodiments also include techniques to determine whether the message is received from an attendee device or an organizer device based on a telephone number associated with the message and the device that sent the message. Further, in response to determining that the message is received from an attendee device, send the message to one or more organizer devices, and in response to determining that the message is received from an organizer device, send the message to all attendee devices or a specific attendee device based on information in the message. |
| US09445243B2 |
Service continuity for group communication over LTE eMBMS
A method of supporting group communication over LTE MBMS is provided. A UE first establishes a unicast Evolved Packet Service (EPS) bearer in an LTE network for group communication. The UE belongs to a communication group having a communication group ID. The UE receives access information from the network for monitoring downlink (DL) multicast traffic of the DL group communication based on a multicast decision. The UE is then ready for monitoring a multicast Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) bearer for receiving the DL multicast traffic. In one embodiment, The UE requests to switch the DL multicast traffic from the multicast MBMS bearer to the unicast EPS bearer upon detecting that the UE is approaching an MBMS coverage boundary. In another embodiment, the UE transmits an indication of preferred target cells to the network before performing a handover and thereby maintaining multicast service continuity of the group communication. |
| US09445237B1 |
First arrival path based multipath mitigation for angle of arrival estimation
A system and method are disclosed that may provide an accurate estimate of the angle of arrival (AoA) of a wireless signal received by a device. The received wireless signal may include a plurality of signal components associated with a number of different arrival paths. The device may generate a weighted signal, including a plurality of weighted signal components, by multiplying the plurality of signal components of the received wireless signal with a set of weighting values. The device may identify one or more of the weighted signal components associated with a first arrival path to the device, determine phase information of the one or more identified weighted signal components, and then determine the angle of arrival based, at least in part, on the determined phase information. |
| US09445236B2 |
Recording and processing safety relevant observations for facilities
A mobile device has a location sensor and a data sensor for collecting data that relates to technical equipment. An area component determines that the mobile device is located in an event area with the potential of occurrence of events in categories. A detection component processes data from the data sensor that is indicative of events. The detection component is active if the mobile device is located in the event area. A recorder component records data from the data sensor in combination with the geographic location of the mobile device. The recorder component is active if a particular event that falls into at least one of the categories has been detected. |
| US09445234B2 |
Wireless-based identification of person tracks
In an implementation, techniques are provided for tracking the location of a device that transmits wireless signal. The wireless signal can be received at a set of receivers. Distances to the device are determined based on signal strength. From the distances, boundaries encompassing possible locations of the device are defined. Boundary intersections are analyzed in order to determine the location of the device. |
| US09445233B2 |
Wireless transmitter identity or positioning information partitioning
Examples disclosed herein may relate to partitioning identity and/or position information for a plurality of wireless transmitters positioned within a geographical region into a plurality of sub-partitions. |
| US09445232B2 |
Observation platform for using structured communications
Systems and methods for using structured communications in an observation platform are disclosed. A signal is received from a first communication device at a second communication device associated with a computer system wherein a first characteristic of the signal corresponds to an audible source and a second characteristic of the signal corresponds to information indicative of a geographic position of the first communication device, and wherein the second communication device is associated with a radio range. A first user associated with the first communication device is recognized at the computer system. Context information is derived for the signal at the computer system. The signal is relayed to a destination derived from the context information via a network, wherein the destination is outside of the radio range of the second communication device. |
| US09445231B2 |
Geo-fenced premium content
A method includes receiving, via a network, first location information associated with a location of a mobile user device; determining that the first location information corresponds to a first area that is within a perimeter of one or more geo-fenced locations associated with a service provider; identifying media content associated with the one or more geo-fenced locations; obtaining an identifier associated with the mobile user device; determining whether user-specific criteria is associated with the identifier; providing, by the service provider and while the mobile user device is located within the perimeter, access to the identified media content responsive to determining that no user-specific criteria is associated with the identifier; applying, responsive to determining that user-specific criteria is associated with the identifier, the user-specific criteria to the identified media content to generate personalized media content; and providing, by the service provider, access to the personalized media content while the mobile user device is present within the perimeter. |
| US09445230B1 |
Automated arrival notifications
A device's arrival at a destination location is automatically detected, and notification of such arrival is automatically generated, without any need for a user to specify the destination location in advance. A perimeter, or geofence, is continually or periodically defined around the device's current location. A timer is automatically set, with some pre-specified duration. If the device exits the geofence before the timer expires, the new location of the device is determined, a new geofence around that location is defined, and the timer is reset. If the timer expires before the device exits the geofence, the device is considered to have arrived at a destination; an “arrives” event is generated. Notification of such an event can be output at the device and/or transmitted to one or more subscribers. Various exceptions, conditions, and preferences can be taken into account so as to avoid false positives. |
| US09445226B2 |
Method for improving location accuracy in multi-channel wireless networks
The present disclosure discloses a method and network device for improving location accuracy in multi-channel wireless networks. Specifically, to coordinate with other Access Points (APs) and improve location accuracy of client devices, each access point can (a) obtain a schedule of another neighboring AP; (b) switch to the operating channel of the neighboring AP at a scheduled time for communication exchanges between the neighboring AP and the client device, (c) listen to the communication exchanges between the neighboring AP and the client device; (d) collecting signal samples, e.g., signal strength associated with messages originated from the client device; and (e) send the report to the location engine to allow the location engine collect more signal samples associated with the client device, thereby more accurately determine the location of the client device; etc. |
| US09445225B2 |
GPS based spectator and participant sport system and method
A spectator sport system and method that displays different views of a sporting event and, in particular, uses a position selected by the spectator to assist in displaying a view from the selected position. The spectator, using an internet device, can zoom, pan, tilt and change the view, as well as change the view to another position, such as a finish line, goal, or a participant position (e.g. Driver of car #3 or Tiger Wood's position). The starting position can be specified, as well as the target position or orientation from the starting position. Vital information on the sporting event or a participant can be appended to the view. In some forms, augmented reality or any geographic referenced datasets can be used and combined, such as 3D imagery or 3D renderings, to enhance the experience. |
| US09445221B2 |
Method and system for switching coordinator in a personal area network
A method, an apparatus, and a system for switching coordinators in a Personal Area Network (PAN) are provided. The method includes initiating a request for switching at least one device present in a network session to a first priority PAN coordinator, the initiated request including a count of the at least one device, transmitting the initiated request to the first priority PAN coordinator, the initiated request including a requirement for supporting the at least one device of that count, determining whether the first priority PAN coordinator is capable of supporting the at least one device, and switching, when the first priority PAN coordinator is capable of supporting the at least one device, the network session of the at least one device with the first priority PAN coordinator to facilitate establishment of the network session with the first priority PAN coordinator. |
| US09445215B2 |
MTC device bandwidth reduction
A machine type device for deployment in a wireless network includes a processing circuit operable to generate an application layer message and a request including information identifying the machine type device as capable of using a particular protocol stack. After radio resources are setup between the machine type device and the base station controller, the processing circuit is further operable to transmit the application layer message and a local wireless network alias to a base station controller, the local wireless network alias indicating the machine type device is capable of using the particular protocol stack. |
| US09445214B2 |
Maintaining a fixed sound localization point of a voice during a telephone call for a moving person
During an electronic call between a first person and a second person, a method maintains a voice of the second person to the first person at a sound localization point (SLP). The location of the SLP to the first person remains fixed while the first person moves with respect to the SLP. |
| US09445209B2 |
Mechanism and apparatus for seamless voice wake and speaker verification
Technologies are described herein that allow a user to wake up a computing device operating in a low-power state and for the user to be verified by speaking a single wake phrase. Wake phrase recognition is performed by a low-power engine. In some embodiments, the low-power engine may also perform speaker verification. In other embodiments, the mobile device wakes up after a wake phrase is recognized and a component other than the low-power engine performs speaker verification on a portion of the audio input comprising the wake phrase. More than one wake phrases may be associated with a particular user, and separate users may be associated with different wake phrases. Different wake phrases may cause the device transition from a low-power state to various active states. |
| US09445206B2 |
Hearing aid device having battery drawer
A hearing aid device has a housing with a battery drawer constituting a battery door that is movably mounted to the housing. The battery drawer has a finger engagement portion arranged at an outside surface of the battery drawer and a closing mechanism. The mechanism closes the battery door in response to force pushing the finger engagement portion in a first direction and keeps the battery door closed. The mechanism can also include a member that partly opens the battery door in response to force pushing the finger engagement portion in the same first direction. Moreover, a switch can be included that turns the hearing aid device on and off in response to force pushing the finger engagement portion. The closing mechanism can have a rotatably mounted member that is attached to a base extending from the member with a head that protrudes from the base. |
| US09445205B2 |
Dynamic hearing aid system and a method for configuring the hearing aid system
A dynamic hearing aid system and a method for configuring the hearing aid system. The dynamic hearing aid system includes a first hearing device and a second hearing device, and a controller adapted to communicate with each other. The hearing devices and the controller form a master-slave configuration wherein one of the hearing devices is the master hearing device in the master-slave configuration and the other hearing device is the slave hearing device. |
| US09445204B1 |
Method of forming a semiconductor device and structure therefor
In one embodiment, a personal amplification device may be configured to operate as a master and communicate to another personal amplification device that operates as a slave. The master may be configured to send signals to the slave device and control the slave device changing operation according to information sent in the sent signals. |
| US09445202B1 |
Electroacoustic transducer having controlled ion generation
The present disclosure relates to the field of acoustics, sound reproduction technologies, and the design principle of the loudspeaker, and more particularly, to an electroacoustic transducer having controlled ion generation. The electroacoustic transducer may include an anode having one or more discharge elements electronically connected to a first terminal of a voltage source, the one or more discharge elements of the anode having a first surface area configured to generate ions in conjunction with the connected voltage source. The electroacoustic transducer may also include a cathode having one or more discharge elements electronically connected to a second terminal of the voltage source, the one or more discharge elements of the cathode having a second surface area configured to generate ions in conjunction with the connected voltage source, wherein a ratio of the first surface area to the second surface area is greater than one. |
| US09445193B2 |
Electronic device directional audio capture
Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a housing, electronic circuitry, and an audio-visual source tracking system. The electronic circuitry is in the housing. The audio-visual source tracking system includes a first video camera and an array of microphones. The first video camera and the array of microphones are attached to the housing. The audio-visual source tracking system is configured to receive video information from the first video camera. The audio-visual source tracking system is configured to capture audio information from the array of microphones at least partially in response to the video information. The audio-visual source tracking system might include a second video camera that is attached to the housing, wherein the first and second video cameras together estimate the beam orientation of the array of microphones. |
| US09445192B2 |
Active-noise-reduction device, and active-noise-reduction system, mobile device and active-noise-reduction method which use same
A reference signal generating unit of an active-noise-reduction device of the present invention outputs a referencing signal having a correlation with a vibration to an adaptive filter unit. A filter coefficient update unit receives an input of an error signal, and successively updates a filter coefficient of the adaptive filter unit. The error signal is generated by a cancelling sound based on the output of the adaptive filter unit and noise. The detection unit detects a filter coefficient of the filter coefficient update unit, and determines a size of the output of the adaptive filter unit. Then, the amplitude of the cancelling sound is adjusted based on the size of the output of the adaptive filter unit estimated by the detection unit. |
| US09445186B2 |
Electroluminescent earphone with bending-resistance and high-brightness
An electroluminescent earphone with a bending-resistance and a high-brightness includes earphone wires having bending-resistant electroluminescent wires, earbuds, an electroluminescent wire driver and an audio inputting plug. Each bending-resistant electroluminescent wire includes: a plurality of central electrodes; a luminescent layer coated on outer surfaces of the central electrodes; a transparent conductive layer coated on an outer surface of the luminescent layer; an outer electrode made of a plurality of wires arranged on an outer surface of the transparent conductive layer; and a transparent plastic covering the outer electrode and the transparent conductive layer. The bending-resistant electroluminescent wire is parallel with an earphone audio wire or coils around an outer surface of the earphone audio wire. A colored transparent plastic covers the bending-resistant electroluminescent wire and the earphone audio wire to form the earphone wire having the bending-resistant electroluminescent wire. |
| US09445183B2 |
Sound system with ear device with improved fit and sound
A system for audio content delivery to an in-the-ear device from a local computing device. Also, a system for audio content delivery to an in-the-ear device from a content delivery network. The in-the-ear device is sized and shaped such that it universally and ergonomically fits into the human ear without slipping out and provides the user with a comfortable fit. The in-the-ear device is secured in the user's ear taking advantage of the natural curvature of the human to provide support and shift the center of gravity from outside the ear to further inside the pinna to prevent the device from slipping out while retaining a high level of comfort. |
| US09445182B2 |
Headphones with rotatable ear cup
A headset having rotatable ear cups. The headset includes a headband having a first end and a second end. An earphone unit is coupled to each end of the headband. The earphone unit includes an ear cup that is rotatable between a closed position and an open position. |
| US09445179B2 |
Earbuds conduit
The growing personal music player industry has resulted in more and more consumers using the in-ear “earbuds” to listen to their music. While the “earbud” headphone design varies slightly from one manufacturer to another the same basic characteristics are consistent. A plug is used to connect the headphones to the music player. A wire running from the plug to a point where the two “earbuds” split is referred to as the “y-junction”. From the y-junction a single wire terminates with the earbud itself. One main benefit of this type of headphone versus the conventional over-the-ear headphones is the compact design and ability to store them when not in use. However, when stored, the wires tend to become tangled and crimped, making them difficult to readily access. This invention will address the problem by placing the wire portion of the headphone in a continuous conduit that will make tangling nearly impossible. The conduit will be designed as an aftermarket product that can accommodate nearly all types of earbuds. |
| US09445163B2 |
Systems and methods for assessing viewer interest in content and advertisements
A method for assessing viewer interest in content and advertisements may include receiving an indication regarding a content playback mode change (e.g., a change from a skip or fast-forward mode to a pause or rewind mode) occurring during playing of a media content segment such as a television program or movie. The method then proceeds to associate the playback mode change with a sub-segment of the television program, such as an advertisement or commercial, and a level of interest of a user in the advertisement or commercial is determined based on the associated content playback mode change. An item, such as an advertisement or promotional offer can be selected to be presented to the user based on the determined level of interest of the user in the advertisement or commercial. Systems for assessing viewer interest in content and advertisements include devices and components configured to perform or enable such methods. |
| US09445161B2 |
Systems and methods for accessing recoverable program content
Content delivery systems and methods are operable to provide recoverable program content to a media device. An exemplary embodiment detects an occurrence of a qualifying event, wherein the qualifying event is associated with an unavailable portion of a program of interest; communicates a request to establish a backchannel between the media device and a program content device in response to detecting the occurrence of the qualifying event; communicates a request for a recoverable portion of the program of interest from the media device to the program content device over the backchannel, wherein the requested recoverable portion of the program of interest corresponds to the unavailable portion of the program of interest; and receives at the media device the recoverable portion of the program of interest from the program content device. |
| US09445156B2 |
Method, device and computer program product for outputting a transport stream
A method comprising: receiving, via a distribution channel, video data having an identifier that identifies a position within a video and an address defining a location of a stored playlist. The method also comprises obtaining from a server a playlist in response to a user input, where the playlist includes location information identifying a location of a stored transport stream. The method also comprises receiving the transport stream from the location identified in the playlist over a network, and displaying the obtained transport stream. |
| US09445155B2 |
Gesture-based content sharing
A user selects a content item that he wishes to send. He then performs a gesture to specify a direction toward which the content item is to be sent. For example, he pretends to “throw” his portable communications device toward the West. To receive the content item, potential recipients also make gestures that specify receiving directions. For example, a recipient pretends to “catch” a ball thrown from the East. If the sending and receiving directions are compatible, then the content item is sent from the sender's device to the recipient's device. Enhancements to the basic scheme described above can be made to, for example, specify a dispersion angle for the sending or receiving directions or to include other restrictions so that, for example, only intended recipients can receive the content even if other potential recipients are in the specified sending direction and make appropriate receiving gestures. |
| US09445154B2 |
Method for demonstrating interaction with a touch sensitive screen via video
First video showing content displayed on a touch sensitive screen is combined with second video from a camera showing a user's interaction with the touch sensitive screen. The second video is filtered (digitally or physically) to prevent the camera from capturing the content of the touch sensitive screen. Combining the first video with the second video creates a combined video containing both a high quality image of the graphic user interface of an application appearing on the touch sensitive screen as well as how a person operating the application is gesturing and otherwise touching the touch sensitive screen when interacting with the application. |
| US09445152B2 |
Recommender system with consistent profile application
The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a computer program product for controlling distribution and processing of content-related metadata of different content sources (101-1 to 101-n), wherein extracted metadata are transformed at from a received format of the extracted metadata into a predetermined common format used by a recommender engine. Additionally or alternatively, it is checked for an overlap between a detected classification parameter and at least one stored classification parameter, and non-overlapping metadata is enriched by adding at least one new classification parameter derived from an ontology-based processing of the non-overlapping metadata. |
| US09445146B2 |
Multimedia arrangement
The invention relates to a multimedia arrangement comprising a remote control having a keypad with only six control buttons. All functions of the multimedia device can be controlled via three menu levels, an object group being selectable in the first menu level, an object being selectable in the second menu level, and an action to be performed with the object being selectable in the third. Elements of the object groups, objects, and actions are displayed in fields on the display device in a vertical column and a horizontal line, the column and the line intersecting in a focus field. The elements of the fields can be moved by the control buttons in the fixed focus field, and can be activated there by a selection button. Selection and arrangement of the elements is done by a user database in the multimedia device depending on data determined by an identification device of the remote control. |
| US09445144B2 |
Apparatus, systems and methods for quick speed presentation of media content
Media content quick speed presentation systems and methods are operable to present selected portions of a media content stream at a quick speed presentation rate. An exemplary embodiment receives the media content stream; identifies a normal speed scene in the received media content, wherein the normal speed scene is presented at a normal speed presentation rate; and identifies a quick speed scene in the received media content, wherein the quick speed scene is presented at a quick speed presentation rate. |
| US09445143B2 |
Transferring a broadcast transmission to a remote device
An approach is described that includes determining that a remote device has moved outside of a pre-defined area associated with a digital video recorder (DVR), and transmitting program data from the DVR to the remote device while the remote device remains outside of the pre-defined area. Another approach includes a digital video recorder (DVR) having a memory and a processor. The DVR operates to: receive an incoming transmission signal; transmit a selected program to a primary display device; determine that a remote device has moved outside of a pre-defined area; and transmit program data corresponding to the selected program to the remote device while the remote device remains outside of the pre-defined area. |
| US09445142B2 |
Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
An information processing apparatus which communicates with an image capturing apparatus and reproduces video data obtained by the image capturing apparatus, comprises a unit which requests a segment list in which information of segments of video data is written; a unit which acquires the requested segment list; a unit which decides which segment, from the segments in the acquired segment list to request; a unit which requests the decided segment from the image capturing apparatus; a unit which acquires the requested segment; and a unit which calculates a delay time for segment transmission based on a number of segments in the segment list. |
| US09445138B2 |
Broadcast content via over the top delivery
Systems, methods, and receiver devices enable broadcasters with restricted content license areas (e.g., Designated Market Areas (“DMAs”) to distribute content via Over the Top (“OTT”) IP networks. Embodiments enable client reporting and authentication as well as broadcast content encryption. In an embodiment, information from the client may be reported back to the broadcasters, such as a view history/use report. In an embodiment, hand off between DMAs may be enabled. In an embodiment, local advertisement insertion in network content may be enabled. Embodiments may enable Multicast-Broadcast Single Frequency Network (“MBSFN”) operation across DMA boundaries. |
| US09445132B2 |
Two level last significant coefficient (LSC) position coding
In some examples, a video coder employs a two-level technique to code information that identifies a position within the block of transform coefficients of one of the coefficients that is a last significant coefficient (LSC) for the block according to a scanning order associated with the block of transform coefficients. For example, a video coder may code a sub-block position that identifies a position of one of the sub-blocks that includes the LSC within the block, and code a coefficient position that identifies a position of the LSC within the sub-block that includes the LSC. |
| US09445131B1 |
De-blocking and de-banding filter with adjustable filter strength for video and image processing
A novel de-blocking and de-banding filter and a related method of operation reduce and/or remove blocking and banding artifacts that originate from a low bitrate video compression. For filtering a luminance channel, the de-blocking and de-banding filter determines filtering needs and also adjusts filtering strengths based on a compression level (Qp) and a gray level of the video signal. For filtering a chrominance channel, the de-blocking and de-banding filter determines the filtering needs and adjusts the filtering strengths based on Qp alone. Preferably, the de-blocking and de-banding filter utilizes a low pass filter of adjustable strength at a border of a block perpendicular to the border or a band border. The adjustable strength of the de-blocking and de-banding filter is a function of the compression level (Qp) and/or the gray level of the video signal, but does not depend on a duration of the blocking and/or banding artifacts. |
| US09445130B2 |
Blockiness metric for large HEVC block artifacts
In one example, a method for encoding video data includes determining a first value for a line of a first plurality of lines, wherein the first plurality of lines are perpendicular to a first edge of a block of the video data; in response to determining that the value satisfies at least one threshold: determining a second value for the line of the first plurality of lines; and determining a second value for a line of a second plurality of lines, wherein the second plurality of lines are perpendicular to a second edge of the block of video data; determining, based on the second value for the line of the first plurality of lines and the second value for the line of the second plurality of lines, an average value; and determining, based on the average value, whether or not to encode one or more deblocking parameter offsets. |
| US09445124B2 |
Electronic system with frequency mechanism and method of operation thereof
An electronic system includes: a communication unit configured to provide an encoded bitstream; a storage unit, coupled to the communication unit, configured to implement a decoder including a frequency lifting module for lifting a frequency component based on a ratio; and a control unit, coupled to the storage unit, configured to generate an output coefficient for a current frame based on an output magnitude. |
| US09445123B2 |
Method and apparatus for intra prediction within display screen
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for intra prediction. The intra prediction method for a decoder, according to the present invention, comprises the steps of entropy-decoding a received bitstream, generating reference pixels to be used in the intra prediction of a prediction unit; generating a prediction block from the reference pixels on the basis of a prediction mode for the prediction unit and reconstructing an image from the prediction block and a residual block, which is obtained as a result of entropy encoding, wherein the reference pixels and/or the prediction block pixels are predicted on the basis of a base pixel, and the predicted pixel value can be the sum of the pixel value of the base pixel and the difference between the pixel values of the base pixel and the generated pixel. |
| US09445119B2 |
Method and device for processing a video sequence
The present invention relates inter alia to a method for processing an encoded video sequence, said method comprising the steps of: —reconstructing the encoded video sequence and providing a plurality of neighboring pictures; —transforming each of said neighboring pictures or at least a coherent region of each neighboring picture into the coordinate system of a reference picture based on a motion model, and thereby generating a picture stack comprising transformed pictures; —combining the pixel amplitudes of corresponding pixels of said transformed pictures using a weighting function, to form a processed pixel amplitude for at least one image pixel of the reference picture; and —generating a processed picture based on said at least one processed pixel amplitude of said image pixel. |
| US09445113B2 |
Methods and apparatus for parallel implementations of 4:4:4 coding
There are provided methods and apparatus for parallel implementations of 4:4:4 coding. A video encoder for encoding video signal data for an image block includes an encoder for encoding all color components of the image block by selecting a common block partition and a common spatial prediction mode. The common block partition and the common spatial prediction mode are selected by concurrently evaluating all of the color components in parallel. |
| US09445112B2 |
Secure transcoding of video data
A secure transcoder assembly features a secure data path where the related crypting and coding functions are secured in the secure data path. More specifically, during transcoding the ingress (received) encrypted video data is decrypted and copied from application memory (that is accessible to the application processor) to secure memory (that is inaccessible to the application processor) by security processor(s). Once in the secured memory, this video data is transcoded. The video data, now in its transcoded form, is re-encrypted by the security processor(s) during the transfer back to application memory for egress (continued transmission). The mode for the re-encrypting may be managed by the application processor via a crypto API, and the application processor may further feature an opaque handle on the data when it is passed to the secure region. |
| US09445107B2 |
Low latency rate control system and method
An encoder within a video transmission system controls the bit allocation at a sub-frame level. A frame is divided into smaller blocks, known as rate control blocks. Rate control blocks are used as the basic unit for bit allocation. This bit allocation achieves the target bit rate desired by the system as well as meet latency constraints. The encoder uses the slice partitioning capabilities to generate the rate control blocks using one or more slices of the image frame. This feature allows the decoder to decode the rate control blocks independently and ensures that the encoded data size for each rate control block is allocated. The encoder also detects the overflow condition for the buffer and performing an operation to avoid the overflow condition based on whether the image frame is an inter-frame or an intra-frame. |
| US09445101B2 |
Video decoding method using skip information
A video decoding method includes: decoding a skip information indicating whether or not a current block to be decoded is a skip block; when the skip information indicates that the current block is the skip block, decoding motion information of the current block, determining a motion vector of the current block, and reconstructing the current block directly from a predicted block, without decoding information on residual signals of the current block; and when the skip information indicates that the current block is not the skip block, decoding prediction information of the current block from the bitstream, decoding information on a quantization parameter and transform coefficients which correspond to the current block, when at least one of the transform coefficients is not zero, reconstructing residual signals from the transform coefficients and reconstructing the current block based on the prediction information and the reconstructed residual signals. |
| US09445100B2 |
Apparatus for decoding chroma image using luma quantization
Provided is a method that derives a chroma intra prediction mode of a prediction unit, determines a size of a current chroma block using luma transform size information, generates a chroma prediction block of the current chroma block using the chroma intra prediction mode, generates a chroma residual block of the current chroma block using the chroma intra prediction mode and a chroma quantization parameter, generates a chroma reconstructed block adding the chroma prediction block and the chroma residual block, and the chroma quantization parameter is generated using a luma quantization parameter and information indicating the relationship between the luma quantization parameter and the chroma quantization parameter. Therefore, the coding efficiency is improved by adjusting the chroma quantization parameter per picture. Also, the amount of bits for transmitting the luma and chroma quantization parameters is reduced by encoding the luma quantization parameter using neighboring luma quantization parameters. |
| US09445096B2 |
Methods, devices and systems for parallel video encoding and decoding
A method for decoding a video bitstream is disclosed. The method comprises: entropy decoding a first portion of a video bitstream, wherein first portion of video bitstream is associated with a video frame, thereby producing a first portion of decoded data; entropy decoding a second portion of video bitstream, wherein second portion of video bitstream is associated with video frame, thereby producing a second portion of decoded data, wherein entropy decoding second portion of video bitstream is independent of entropy decoding first portion of video bitstream; and reconstructing a first portion of video frame associated with video bitstream using first portion of decoded data and second portion of decoded data. |
| US09445095B1 |
Compression of modified data captures for packets with encrypted or non-interesting content
Various methods, systems, and apparatuses can be used to remove uninteresting data from captured data prior to transmission of the captured data for analysis. In some implementations, a compression module is operable to modify capture data by replacing encrypted content with tags, and to compress the resulting modified data using various compression algorithms. |
| US09445085B2 |
Imaging apparatus, method for controlling imaging apparatus, and system therefor
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit having a predetermined pixel array, and a generation unit configured to generate a test video signal for evaluating consistency between a video signal generated by performing predetermined processing on a video signal output from the imaging unit, and the video signal output from the imaging unit. In the test video signal, a signal value of each pixel is set so as to exhaustively cover signal values within a predetermined range in a direction in a video image of the test video signal. The test video signal has a repetition pattern in the direction in the video image of the test video signal. A signal deviating from regularity of the repetition pattern is inserted at a predetermined position in the repetition pattern. The spatially or temporally adjacent repetition patterns have different phases from each other. |
| US09445079B2 |
Calibration of a 3D camera
A method for calibrating a 3D camera includes determining an actuation of an element by a person and calibrating the 3D camera based on the determining of the actuation. |
| US09445078B2 |
Stereo-vision system
This invention concerns a measuring system for the calculation of dimensions, including area and volume, of objects in various shapes. In particular, it concerns miniature 3D measuring equipment that is perfectly suitable for 3D measurements of subcutaneous tumors in mice. The primary objective of this invention then also consists of a measuring system for 3D measurements of objects in various shapes, which includes a handheld device that has at least 1 camera, 1 projector and a measuring chamber. In another implementation, the handheld device will have 2 cameras and a projector and the 3D measurement is based on stereo-vision. Another objective is directed to ensuring that said handheld device also has a processor module, a user interface, a power supply, a data communication interface, and exchangeable measuring chambers which provide the flexibility and autonomy to speed up the measurement procedure, and significantly improve the reproducibility of the measurement. |
| US09445074B2 |
Apparatus and method for depth manipulation of stereoscopic 3D image
Provided are an apparatus and a method for manipulating depth of a stereoscopic image that enable a user to manipulate depth of a stereoscopic image easily and intuitively. The apparatus may include: a histogram analyzing unit acquiring a depth distribution chart by performing histogram analysis of a disparity map corresponding to an input image; a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) fitting unit acquiring multiple depth layers by performing GMM fitting of the depth distribution chart; a disparity adjusting unit adjusting at least one of a position and a volume of at least one of the multiple depth layers and calculating a disparity mapping function on which a result of the adjustment is reflected in response to a user request; and a disparity map recalculating unit calculating a new disparity map by optimizing the disparity mapping function. |
| US09445072B2 |
Synthesizing views based on image domain warping
Techniques are disclosed for generating autostereoscopic video content. A multiscopic video frame is received that includes a first image and a second image. The first and second images are analyzed to determine a set of image characteristics. A mapping function is determined based on the set of image characteristics. At least a third image is generated based on the mapping function and added to the multiscopic video frame. |
| US09445069B2 |
Image-processing device, image-capturing device, image-processing method, and recording medium
A restoration process using a restoration filter that is based on a point spread function for an optical system is performed for original image data acquired from an image-capturing element by an image taking of an object image using the optical system, so that recovery image data are acquired. The above restoration process is performed, in a point-image restoration processing section, for color data of the original image data in which a gradation correction has been performed by a logarithmic process. The restoration filter may be configured by a filter coefficient corresponding to the image data before the logarithmic process, or may be configured by a filter coefficient corresponding to the image data after the logarithmic process. Thus, by performing the restoration process capable of flexibly responding to various properties of the original image, it is possible to reduce the image degradation such as the ringing in the recovery image. |
| US09445067B2 |
Imaging device and image signal processor with color noise correction
Enhancing the image quality by suitable color noise correction is realized without depending on a subject, a photographing scene, and photographing conditions by determining and correcting a color noise component according to photographing conditions of a camera. The present invention is configured of an imaging device that has: an imaging unit; a signal processing unit that performs signal processing on an image signal inputted from the imaging unit and outputs a luminance signal and a chrominance signal; a camera controlling unit that controls at least one of photographing conditions of optical conditions and exposure of the photographing unit and a signal processing condition of the signal processing unit; and a color noise correction unit that extracts and corrects a color noise component from the chrominance signal inputted from the signal processing unit. The camera control unit controls the color noise correction unit using information of the photographing conditions. |
| US09445066B2 |
Projection apparatus, projection method and projection program medium that determine a roll angle at which the projection apparatus is to be turned to correct a projected image to be a rectangular image on a projection target
A CPU controls an attitude adjustment unit to change the lengths of legs of an electric leg part independently of each other so that a roll angle is changed to roll a projected image, and controls an image converter to correct the projected image to be a rectangular image on a projection target based on the changed roll angle. |
| US09445063B2 |
Fiber scanning projector
A fiber scanning projector includes a light source comprising a plurality of monochromatic light sources, a modulator providing a modulation signal according to image information to the light source, a scanner scanning a screen with a light emitted from the light source and controlled according to the modulation signal, the scanner including a fiber bundle and an actuator which 2-axis-drives the fiber bundle, and a synchronization controller synchronizing driving of the actuator and driving of the modulator. |
| US09445059B2 |
Image processing system for a vehicle
An image processing system for a vehicle includes a first unit, a second unit and a video transmission link, which couples the first and second units, in terms of signaling, for transmitting digital video data. The video transmission link transmits digital video image signals having a predefined data format for a respective pixel of a video image, the data format including three blocks, each having a predefined number of bits. The first unit ascertains an uncompressed transformed video image signal suitable for transmission via the video transmission link as a function of a respective first video image signal such that the transformed video image signal has the predefined data format of the video transmission link. The first video image signal represents respective uncompressed first video images of a sequence of first video images, which are provided at a predefined frame rate and which, in each case, have a first image resolution having a predefined number of pixels, wherein in each case four pixel values are assigned to the respective pixels of the first video image. The second unit is designed to again ascertain the first video image signal as a function of the transformed video image signal received via the transmission link. |
| US09445057B2 |
Vehicle vision system with dirt detection
A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having an image sensor and a lens. When the camera is disposed at the vehicle, the lens is exposed to the environment exterior the vehicle. The camera has an exterior field of view exterior the vehicle and is operable to capture image data representative of a scene occurring in the field of view of the camera. An image processor is operable to process multiple frames of image data captured by the camera, and wherein, responsive to processing multiple frames of captured image data, the image processor is operable to detect contaminants, such as water droplets or dirt, at the lens of the camera. Responsive to the image processor detecting contaminants at the lens of the camera, the vision system generates an alert and may trigger a function. |
| US09445056B2 |
Automatic display of messages on display screen
A method, Internet protocol television (IPTV) enabled communication device, and computer program product for automatic message services are provided. A processor executes instructions from a memory. An input and output (I/O) device is for transmitting and receiving, respectively. A client application is stored in the memory and configured to provide the automatic message service. The client application receives input of a message to be presented at an appropriate time, receives input of an action associated with the message, receives input of a recipient for the message, and presents the message for display to the recipient at the appropriate time. |
| US09445054B2 |
Information providing apparatus, transmission system, information providing method, and recording medium storing information providing program
An information providing apparatus sends an image forming instruction to an image forming apparatus to cause the image forming apparatus to form an image to generate image data and transmit the image data to the information providing apparatus, stores the image data received from the image forming apparatus in a memory area of a memory, and stores identification information that uniquely identifies the image data and information indicating the memory area to which the image data is stored in association with each other to generate management information in the memory. |
| US09445053B2 |
Layered mixing for sound field conferencing system
A conferencing server (100) receives incoming bitstreams (I1, I2, I3, I4, I5) carrying media data from respective conferencing endpoints (110, 120, 130, 140, 150); receives a mixing strategy (M) specifying properties of at least one outgoing bitstream (O1, O2, O3, O4, O5) and requiring at least one additive media mixing step; and supplies at least one outgoing bitstream by executing, in a processor (103) and a memory (102) with a plurality of memory spaces, a run list of operations selected from a predefined collection of primitives and realizing the received mixing strategy. A pre-processor (104) in the server derives said run list repeatedly and dynamically while taking into consideration determined momentary activity in each incoming bitstream. In embodiments, the run list may be derived by (a) pruning of an initial run list, (b) constrained or non-constrained minimization of a cost function, or (c) automatic code generation. |
| US09445052B2 |
Defining a layout for displaying images
Metadata associated with a first image and that specifies an alignment reference line for the first image is accessed. Based on the accessed metadata associated with the first image, a layout for concurrently displaying the first image and a second image at a location is defined that substantially aligns the alignment reference line of the first image with an aspect of the second image. |
| US09445049B2 |
Identifying and enhancing motion video in a conference call channel by detecting audio
Presented herein are techniques for detecting whether a presentation video stream in a conference call includes motion video. In an embodiment, this can be done by detecting the presence of audio. The presence of audio suggests that the presentation video stream may include motion video. If audio is not detected, then the presentation video stream is encoded at a first frame rate. If audio is detected, then the presentation video stream is encoded at a second, higher frame rate to accommodate the motion video. The higher frame rate allows for a better viewing experience by conference participants. |
| US09445046B2 |
Apparatus and method for presenting media content with telepresence
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may capture images using a camera system at a location associated with a user, transmit video content representative of the images over a network for presentation by another media processor at another location, receive at a media processor media content and second video content representative of second images that are associated with the second user, and present at a display device of the location the media content and the second video content in a telepresence configuration that simulates a presence of the other user at the location, where at least one of the media content and the video content is presented as three dimensional content. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09445041B2 |
Moving image data processing apparatus and moving image data processing method
A moving image data processing apparatus receives input of first and second image data with a first and second frame rate respectively. The apparatus includes; an input frame rate specification unit that specifies the first and the second frame rate of the moving image data; an output frame rate specification unit that specifies output frame rates of the first and second moving image data; a playback speed specification unit that specifies same playback speed for the first and second moving image data; a frame rate conversion unit that changes a frame rate of the first moving image data based on the first frame rate, the output frame rate, and the playback speed, and changes a frame rate of the second moving image data based on the second frame rate, the output frame rate, and the playback speed; and an output unit that outputs the changed moving image data. |
| US09445040B2 |
Method and system of real time delivery of aroma
The present invention is a device that provides aroma sensory information while viewing a program from a multimedia device. The aroma signals are merged in real-time with the video and sound signals into a novel encoded digital stream. The aroma scents are stored in the device and are activated by the novel digital stream broadcast signal. Once activated, the scents are dispersed into the viewing room. |
| US09445036B2 |
Methods and systems for content scheduling across multiple devices
Methods and systems for scheduling media content presentation across multiple devices are disclosed. A media planner application generates media event presentation schedules for one or more users based on user-scheduled media events and automatic media event recommendations. Media events can be scheduled for presentation on multiple user devices, including portable devices. Media event recommendations can be generated based at least in part on user preferences and habits, such as user media preferences, device availability, device usage, device connectivity, and user mood. |
| US09445032B2 |
Auto-pairing control device
A host device, such as a television, automatically pairs with target devices, such as remote controls. There may be multiple host devices, and the host devices may exchange information that specifies valid, trusted, or authorized target devices, the signal level or range of signal levels at which the host device communicated with the target device, and other information. The host devices detect when a specific target device meets a transition criterion. Responsive to the transition criterion, a new host device automatically connects to the target device, and a prior host device that previously connected to the target device no longer responds to the target device. |
| US09445031B2 |
Article of clothing
An article of clothing has at least one element of clothing wearable by a user, and a recording camera constructed to operate wirelessly associated with the element of clothing and carrying out recording processes while being associated with the element of clothing. |
| US09445030B2 |
Radiation image capturing apparatus and method of driving the same
A radiation image capturing apparatus, comprising a sensor configured to monitor an irradiating dose of radiation, a switch configured output a sensor signal from the sensor, a readout unit configured to read out the sensor signal via a signal line, and a controlling unit, wherein the controlling unit performs first control of repeatedly performing, while the sensor is irradiated, a series of operations including a first operation of setting the switch to a conductive state and a second operation of setting the switch to a non-conductive state, second control of reading out the sensor signal in the first operation as a first signal and a potential of the signal line in the second operation as a second signal, and third control of calculating the irradiating dose of radiation based on the first signal and the second signal. |
| US09445024B2 |
Solid-state image sensor and camera system
Provided is a solid-state image sensor including a pixel array portion formed from a two-dimensional array of ordinary imaging pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion as a pixel signal, and focus detection pixels for detecting focus. The focus detection pixels include at least a first focus detection pixel and a second focus detection pixel each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to transfer and output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion to an output node. The first focus detection pixel and the second focus detection pixel share the output node. The first focus detection pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion unit, and a first transfer gate for reading out an electron generated through photoelectric conversion in the first photoelectric conversion unit to the shared output node. |
| US09445022B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method, and program
An apparatus for and a method of executing noise reduction processing and defect compensation processing on an image in an RGBW arrangement are provided. In pixel value compensation processing of a color pixel that makes up image data in the RGBW arrangement that has each color pixel of R, G, and B and a white (W) pixel, the W pixel is interpolated at a position of an attention pixel that is a compensation target, and at a position of a reference pixel which has the same color as an attention pixel within a reference area, smoothing weight is calculated based on each pixel value of the interpolation W pixel, and thus a compensation pixel value of the attention pixel is calculated by executing smoothing processing to which the calculated smoothing weight is applied. Moreover, by applying the W pixel in the neighborhood of the color pixel, it is determined whether or not the color pixel is in a texture area, and only if the color pixel is not in the texture, defect compensation processing is executed. |
| US09445017B2 |
Near-infrared cut filter and solid-state imaging device
There are provided a near-infrared cut filter that effectively uses near-infrared absorbing glass and a near-infrared absorbing dye and is excellent in a near-infrared shielding property, and a high-sensitivity solid-state imaging device including the same. A near-infrared cut filter includes: a near-infrared absorbing glass substrate made of CuO-containing fluorophosphate glass or CuO-containing phosphate glass; and a near-infrared absorbing layer containing a near-infrared absorbing dye (A) and a transparent resin (B), on at least one principal surface of the near-infrared absorbing glass substrate, wherein an average value of a transmittance in a 400 nm to 550 nm wavelength range is 80% or more, and an average value of a transmittance in a 650 nm to 720 nm wavelength range is 15% or less. |
| US09445012B2 |
Camera controller device
A camera controller device of the present technique includes a switching operation unit for switching a camera to be controlled, an adjuster for adjusting adjustment elements of a camera to be controlled, and a controller for controlling the entire device. The adjuster has a start point and an end point of an adjustment range. The controller compares a setting value of the adjustment element of the camera before switching with a setting value of the adjustment element of the camera after switching, and when both the setting values do not match with each other, the controller prohibits an operation of the cameras until the setting value of the adjustment element of the camera after switching matches with a setting value set by the adjuster. |
| US09445011B2 |
Dynamic rearview mirror adaptive dimming overlay through scene brightness estimation
A vehicle imaging system includes an image capture device capturing an image exterior of a vehicle. The captured image includes at least a portion of a sky scene. A processor generates a virtual image of a virtual sky scene from the portion of the sky scene captured by the image capture device. The processor determines a brightness of the virtual sky scene from the virtual image. The processor dynamically adjusts a brightness of the captured image based the determined brightness of the virtual image. A rear view mirror display device displays the adjusted captured image. |
| US09445010B2 |
Wideband ambient light rejection
Optical apparatus includes an image sensor and objective optics, which are configured to collect and focus optical radiation over a range of wavelengths along a common optical axis toward a plane of the image sensor. A dispersive element is positioned to spread the optical radiation collected by the objective optics so that different wavelengths in the range are focused along different, respective optical axes toward the plane. |
| US09445009B2 |
Image processing apparatus capable of generating composite video image, control method therefor, and storage medium storing control program therefor
An image processing apparatus capable of obtaining a sufficient HDR effect while keeping smoothness of an appearance of a video image in an HDR composition process. A first computation unit finds a first composition ratio of frames of images that are continuously taken at mutually different exposures based on luminance of at least one of the frames of images. A second computation unit finds a second composition ratio of the frames of images based on the luminance difference between the frames of images. A third computation unit finds a third composition ratio as a final composition ratio for compositing the frames of images based on the first composition ratio, the second composition ratio, and shutter speed at a time of taking the frames of images. A composition unit generates one frame of an image by compositing the frames of images based on the third composition ratio. |
| US09445003B1 |
Systems and methods for synthesizing high resolution images using image deconvolution based on motion and depth information
Systems and methods for synthesizing high resolution images using image deconvolution and depth information in accordance embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, an array camera includes a processor and a memory, wherein an image deconvolution application configures the processor to obtain light field image data, determine motion data based on metadata contained in the light field image data, generate a depth-dependent point spread function based on the synthesized high resolution image, the depth map, and the motion data, measure the quality of the synthesized high resolution image based on the generated depth-dependent point spread function, and when the measured quality of the synthesized high resolution image is within a quality threshold, incorporate the synthesized high resolution image into the light field image data. |
| US09445002B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image capturing apparatus, control method, and recording medium
An image processing apparatus obtains an image signal, which is captured by an image capturing apparatus, and in which respective pixels correspond to light fluxes of different combinations of pupil regions, where the light fluxes have passed through in an imaging optical system of the image capturing apparatus, and incident directions. The image processing apparatus sets a focal length corresponding to an object to be focused, and generates a reconstructed image focused on the object of the set focal length from the image signal. The image processing apparatus generates a moving image by concatenating a plurality of reconstructed images generated in association with a plurality of different focal lengths, and outputs the moving image in association with the image signals. |
| US09444999B2 |
Feature detection in image capture
A feature detection process includes identifying an approximate location of a feature in a preliminary image. A gradient phase map of image pixel intensities within the approximate location is computed. A projection result is determined by applying a projection function to the gradient phase map. The projection result is analyzed to determine a state of the feature. |
| US09444995B2 |
System and method for controlling a tracking autofocus (TAF) sensor in a machine vision inspection system
A method is provided for controlling a Tracking AutoFocus (TAF) portion of a machine vision inspection system including an imaging portion, a movable workpiece stage, a control portion, and graphical user interface (GUI). The TAF portion automatically adjusts a focus position of the imaging portion to focus at a Z height corresponding to a current surface height of the workpiece. The method includes providing the TAF portion, and providing TAF enable and disable operations, wherein: the TAF disable operations comprise a first set of TAF automatic interrupt operations that are automatically triggered by user-initiated operations that include changing the Z height, and the TAF disable operations may further comprise automatic interrupt operations that are automatically triggered based on at least one respective TAF Z height surface tracking characteristic exceeding a previously set TAF disable limit for that respective TAF Z height surface tracking characteristic. |
| US09444990B2 |
System and method for setting focus of digital image based on social relationship
The present disclosure provides a system and method of setting the focus of a digital image based on social relationship. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a scene is imaged with an electronic device and a face present in the imaged scene is detected. An identity of an individual having the detected face is recognized by determining that the detected face is the face of an individual having a social relationship with the user of the electronic device. The focus of the image is set to focus on the face of the recognized individual. |
| US09444987B2 |
Interactive imaging system and remote controller applied thereto
An interactive imaging system includes an image system and a remote controller. The image system includes at least one reference beacon, a receiving unit and a host. The at least one reference beacon emits light in an emission pattern. The receiving unit is configured to receive a packet data. The host controls an enable time of the at least one reference beacon according to the packet data. The remote controller includes an image sensor and a transmission unit. The image sensor captures the light emitted from the at least one reference beacon at a sampling period. The transmission unit sends the packet data corresponding to the sampling period of the image sensor. |
| US09444985B2 |
Reduced height camera modules
Electronic devices may include camera modules. A camera module may include an anamorphic lens and an image sensor having an array of asymmetrical image pixels. The array may be a square array arranged in pixel columns and pixel rows. The square image pixel array may include more pixel columns than pixel rows and may be located completely within the image circle of the anamorphic lens. The asymmetrical image pixels may each have a width that is smaller the height of that image pixel. The asymmetrical image pixels may be rectangular image pixels or diamond-shaped image pixels. The anamorphic lens may project a distorted image onto the array of asymmetrical image pixels. The width of each asymmetrical image pixel may be smaller than the height of that image pixel by an amount that corresponds to the distortion of the image by the anamorphic lens. |
| US09444982B2 |
Surveillance camera and the housing thereof
The present invention discloses a surveillance camera, which comprises: a housing for accommodating substrate and internal components; the housing includes a base and an upper cover, the base is provided with a retaining ring at the periphery of its bottom and a plurality of bolt holes at its periphery in the circumferential direction, and the base is fixed firmly to the upper cover by bolts to form a cavity; for each of the bolt holes there is provided a guiding groove at its bottom end; each of the bolt holes is provided at one side with a gutter, which is connected with the guiding groove; the upper cover is also provided with gutter; the base is provided at its bottom with a mounting hole for installing a dehumidifying means, and at the periphery of the mounting hole there is a retainer, at the outer edge of which there is provided a guiding gutter, which is connected with the gutter of the base. The present invention enables water to be discharged from the housing via the gutter; even if some water enters the housing, it is difficult for water to enter the surveillance camera via the bolt hole. The present invention also discloses a housing of the surveillance camera. |
| US09444979B2 |
Imaging device and image processing method
An imaging device includes an image sensor to convert an optical image of a subject into an electric signal, an image processor to generate an image according to the electric signal, an image synthesizer to synthesize, pixel-by-pixel, images generated by the image processor in a same composition under a same condition, a digital clamp processor to perform a digital clamp to remove an offset component from a synthesized image obtained by the image synthesizer, and a digital clamp controller to control a digital clamp amount of the digital clamp processor on the basis of a number of images synthesized by the image synthesizer. |
| US09444977B2 |
Method and device for adaptive noise measurement of a video signal
The present invention relates to method of adaptive noise measurement of a video signal comprising a sequence of images. The proposed method comprises the steps of searching one or more spatially uniform areas within a current image, determining a spatial uniformity value of said one or more spatially uniform areas and combining said spatial uniformity values to obtain a spatial noise value representing a first measure for the amount of noise in said current image, detecting motion by comparing the current image with one or more preceding images and/or one or more succeeding images of said sequence of images by use of a motion threshold to obtain one or more motion maps indicating the amount of motion between the current image and the respective preceding or succeeding image, searching one or more static areas within said one or more motion maps, determining a temporal uniformity value for said one or more static areas by comparing image values at positions in said one or more preceding images and/or said one or more succeeding images, at which a low amount or no motion is indicated in the respective one or more motion maps, said temporal uniformity value representing a measure for the amount of noise at said positions in said current image, and combining said obtained temporal uniformity values to obtain a combined noise value representing a second measure for the amount of noise in said current image. |
| US09444968B2 |
Image forming apparatus that continues without halt to perform print job including sign where glyph is invalid data, and recording medium
An image forming apparatus includes a print device, a sign printing circuit, and a sign analyzing circuit. The print device performs a print job onto a print medium. The sign printing circuit causes the print device to print a sign where a glyph is present in a font corresponding to a code based on the code included in print data. The sign analyzing circuit analyzes whether or not the glyph is invalid data where the sign printing circuit is not able to cause the print device to print. When the sign analyzing circuit analyzes that the glyph present in the font corresponding to the code of a target sign is the invalid data, the sign printing circuit causes the print device to print a specific alternative sign as an alternative to the target sign. |
| US09444966B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image reading method
According to an embodiment of this invention, opening/closing of an ADF unit is correctly detected even under the influence of outside light. More specifically, a light source provided in a reading unit is turned on to irradiate a white board, and first data based on reflected light from the white board is obtained. Next, the light source provided in the reading unit is turned off, and second data based on reflected light from the white board is obtained. The difference between the first data and second data is compared with a predetermined threshold. It is determined based on the comparison whether the ADF unit is in an opened or closed state. |
| US09444965B2 |
Scan device
A scan device includes a main body, a transparent glass plate, a carrier, a light source, a reflecting unit, a lens and an image sensor. Light is emitted from the light source through the transparent glass plate to a document. Then, the light is reflected by the document and passes through the transparent glass plate to reach the reflecting unit. The light is reflected by the first mirror to travel to the second mirror and the third mirror and reflected by the second and third mirrors for several times, then reaches the fourth mirror and fifth mirror to passes through the lens, and forms an image on the image sensor. |
| US09444963B2 |
Non-transitory storage medium storing printer driver used by application software that generates print script from original in accordance with ability of image forming apparatus, and printing method
Provided is a non-transitory storage medium storing a printer driver and a printing method, which enable to improve print quality even if an original is extremely reduced for printing. A computer, which executes the printer driver to be used by application software for generating a print script to be printed by an MFP from the original in accordance with ability of the MFP, obtains a scale factor on the basis of a size of a recording medium to be printed by the MFP and a size of the original (S133), multiplying the scale factor obtained in S133 by an actual print resolution of the MFP so as to obtain a resolution to reply (S134), and reply the resolution to reply obtained in S134 to the application software in response to an inquiry about the ability from the application software (S135). |
| US09444961B2 |
Image forming apparatus, method for controlling image forming apparatus, and program, for reduced power consumption
An image forming apparatus including a main control unit and a communication unit includes a receiving unit configured to receive a packet via a network when the main control unit and the communication unit are in a power saving state, a first canceling unit configured to cancel the power saving state of the communication unit in response to receiving of the packet by the receiving unit, a first determination unit configured to determine whether to cancel the power saving state of the main control unit based on the packet received by the receiving unit when the first canceling unit has canceled the power saving state of the communication unit, and a second canceling unit configured to cancel the power saving state of the main control unit when the first determination unit has determined to cancel the power saving state of the main control unit. |
| US09444959B2 |
Image reading device and image forming apparatus including the same
An image reading device includes a scanner casing fixed to an upper side of a body frame of an image forming apparatus body, a document pressing member that covers an upper surface of the scanner casing, a leg part provided to be movable with respect to the scanner casing in a vertical direction, a stationary part fixed to an upper end of the leg part, a rotating part connected rotatably to the stationary part via a hinge shaft and supporting the document pressing member, a holding mechanism to hold an opening angle of the document pressing member, and cylindrical parts, passing through the scanner casing in the vertical direction, and having lower end portions fixed to the body frame. The leg part is inserted into the cylindrical part from an upper end opening of the cylindrical part and inclined to a side of the document pressing member. |
| US09444957B2 |
Portable scanning device
A portable scanning device includes a docking seat, a handheld scanner, a positioning unit, a document-feeding unit and a motor. The docking seat has a receiving groove, a feeding groove, a document inlet, and a document outlet. The positioning unit is mounted to the docking seat for retaining the handheld scanner in the receiving groove. The document-feeding unit includes a loading subunit for conveying a document from the feeding groove to the handheld scanner through the document inlet, a discharging subunit for discharging the document via the document outlet, and a regulating subunit for continuous document-feeding action when a plurality of the documents are scanned. The motor is for actuating movement of the document-feeding unit. |
| US09444956B2 |
Methods for generating and manipulating the grouped photos and apparatuses using the same
The invention introduces a method for generating and manipulating grouped photos, executed by a processing unit, which contains at least the following steps. Photos shot in a geometric region are selected from a storage unit, and shooting dates thereof are read. Time intervals between every two adjacent shooting dates are calculated, and CDFGs (Continuous Data-time Fragment Groupings) are generated accordingly. For each CDFG comprising two or more shooting dates, a total number of photos associated with each shooting date is obtained, and one or more groups are generated accordingly. Information regarding the groups is displayed in a map to help a user to search and browse photos. |
| US09444955B2 |
Method of creating a label, a printing apparatus, and a computer-readable medium
A method of creating a label to be printed on a label printing apparatus comprising: determining at least one option to be made available to a user relating to a label-creating process; displaying said at least one option on a display; and enabling a user to select said at least one option; wherein said determination of the at least one option to be made available to the user is based upon at least one parameter. |
| US09444953B2 |
Image forming apparatus configured for identifying user who left printed document in the output tray
An image forming apparatus has an image reading unit which reads an image, a photographing unit, a storing unit, a printing unit, a detecting unit, a notifying unit, an extracting unit, and a displaying unit. When the detecting unit detects untaken printed paper, the notifying unit notifies a user to promote reading of the image of the untaken printed paper by the image reading unit. The extracting unit extracts the data of the image of at least one part other than the face of the whole body of the user photographed by the photographing unit from the image of the printed paper read by the image reading unit. The displaying unit displays the image of at least one part other than the face of the whole body of the user extracted by the extracting unit. |
| US09444951B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method which determine printed matter condition based on camera-captured image
Provided is an image forming apparatus that is capable of solving a problem caused at a discharge part in quick, effective manner. The discharge part is for placing a discharged printed matter. A camera captures an image of a sheet stacking surface of the discharged printed matter. A delivery decision processing part determines, based on the image captured by the camera, a current condition of the discharged printed matter that is placed in the discharge part. Then, the delivery decision processing part takes a specified action in response to the determination result. |
| US09444946B2 |
Enhanced caller ID with recipient-selected caller information display
A method includes receiving an incoming call at a first device. The method includes determining whether second caller identification information is available at the first device based on first caller identification information received with the incoming call. The method further includes retrieving the second caller identification information in response to determining that the second caller identification information is available at the first device. The method further includes presenting a graphical display at a display device. The graphical display includes a plurality of caller information fields. The plurality of caller information fields are populated based on the first caller identification information and based on the second caller identification information. The graphical display also includes a user selectable edit option to edit the second caller identification information during the incoming call. The method further includes modifying the second caller identification information in response to selection of the user selectable edit option. |
| US09444943B2 |
Multimedia apparatus, method, and computer readable medium for providing hands-free service for vehicle
A multimedia device and method provide a hands-free service to automatically or manually perform hands-free connection according to a driver's situation. The multimedia device includes a communication unit configured to perform BLUETOOTH communication with a mobile terminal, a sensor unit including a sensor configured to sense opening and closing of a door of a vehicle and sense a change in pressure generated in seats provided in the vehicle, and a controller, when BLUETOOTH communication is connected to the mobile terminal which is performing call communication, configured to switch the call to a hands-free service upon determining whether the door is opened or closed and a change in pressure generated in a seat. |
| US09444941B2 |
Delivery of visual voice mail
Delivery of a text message and/or voice mail message may include identifying a recipient of the message, receiving a notification indicative of one of the subscriber's availability, the subscriber's presence and the subscriber's location, recording the message, selectively converting a voice mail message to a text message based on the notification, and delivering either the text message or the voice mail message to a device of the recipient based on the notification. The text message and/or voice mail message may be delivered via a map, wherein selection of a location on the map may retrieve the text message and/or voice mail message. |
| US09444937B2 |
Systems and methods to determine quality of services provided over real-time communication connections
A computing apparatus configured in the communication system to store data about advisers, including availability status of the advisers for real time communications with customers, ratings of the advisers by prior customers, compensate rates of the advisers, probability of being connected within a period of time for real time communication with customers, etc. The computing apparatus presents the advisers to customers based on the stored information and provide real time communication connections in response to selections of the presented advisers. Based on monitoring customer interaction with the system, the computing apparatus is configured to detect dissatisfactions, determine authenticity of the dissatisfactions based on user history and usage patterns of the system, and automatically provide a refund to the user without a refund request from the user and/or an explicitly user confirmation of the detected dissatisfaction. |
| US09444936B2 |
Interaction request processing according to client pre-configured schedule
An apparatus is provided and includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions that when executed from a non-transitory physical medium by the processor cause the processor to detect when a request for interaction that is configured for a scheduled processing is received or otherwise registered at a service access point associated with a contact center, identify schedule data from the request and add the schedule data along with a request identification and a location identifier to a scheduling and reporting application, consult a contact center interaction routing system in response to determining that the scheduled interaction request is to be processed, and route or cause processing of the interaction request based on the schedule data. According to one embodiment, the schedule data includes a scheduled time and date for processing the request. |
| US09444935B2 |
Method and apparatus for facilitating speech application testing
A computer-implemented method and an apparatus for facilitating speech application testing generate a plurality of test scripts. A test script is generated by initiating a voice call interaction with a speech application including a network of interaction nodes, and repeatedly performing, until a stopping condition is encountered, the steps of, executing the voice call interaction by traversing through interaction nodes until an interaction node requiring a response is encountered, selecting an utterance generation mode, determining a response to be provided corresponding to the interaction node, and providing the response to the speech application. The test script comprises instructions for traversing interaction nodes and for provisioning one or more responses during the course of the voice call interaction. One or more test scripts from among the plurality of test scripts are identified based on a pre-determined objective and provided to a user for facilitating testing of the speech application. |
| US09444934B2 |
Speech to text training method and system
An illustrative method includes receiving, at a processor of a computing device, an audio voice signal of a first call participant during a first call, where the first call is a communication across a communication network. The method further includes determining an identity of the first call participant and determining a speech to text profile associated with the identity of the first call participant, where the speech to text profile includes at least one rule for transcribing a word in the audio voice signal into text. The method further includes generating a text output, where the text output is a transcribed version of a plurality of words identified in the audio voice signal of the first call participant. At least one of the plurality of words identified is identified using the at least one rule. |
| US09444933B2 |
Communication apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
There are provided a communication apparatus capable of performing voice communication via an IP network, and performing FAX communication using a deemed voice, and a method of controlling the same. At the time of reception of an incoming call, the apparatus determines whether an incoming voice communication call or digital data has been received. If it is determined that the incoming voice communication call has been received and there is an already connected voice communication section, the SLIC superimposes a tone of a notification of the incoming call during voice communication on a voice during voice communication. When the telephone instructs to switch to the incoming call, the apparatus establishes a new session for the incoming call, and controls the selector to connect the already connected voice communication session to the digital modem to send a holding tone. |
| US09444929B2 |
Mobile device usage activity reporting system and method
A system and method for reporting mobile device usage activity. The method includes monitoring location data and/or sensor data of a particular mobile device corresponding to a particular user and monitoring usage activity occurring on the particular mobile device, the usage activity including voice communication, electronic messaging, and application usage. A processor determines whether the particular mobile device is operating in a moving vehicle based on the location data and/or the sensor data. It is further determined whether the usage activity occurs while the particular mobile device is operating in a moving vehicle. A report is generated and provided indicating whether the usage activity occurs while the particular mobile device is operating in a moving vehicle. |
| US09444928B1 |
Queueing voice assist messages during microphone use
A method includes generating a voice assist message in a device, queueing the voice assist message responsive to a state of a microphone in the device indicating an active state, and executing the queued voice assist message on the device responsive to identifying the state of the microphone in the device indicating an inactive state. A device includes a microphone, a speaker, and a processor coupled to the microphone and the speaker. The processor is to generate a voice assist message, queue the voice assist message responsive to a state of a microphone indicating an active state, and execute the queued voice assist message on the speaker responsive to identifying the state of the microphone indicating an inactive state. |
| US09444927B2 |
Methods for voice management, and related devices
Methods for voice management, and related devices are provided. First, data is detected by a proximity sensor, and data is detected by an attitude sensor. Then, it is determined whether a sound is received by a voice reception unit. It is determined whether to perform a voice recording process or a voice playback process according to the data detected by the proximity sensor, the data detected by the attitude sensor, and whether a sound is received by the voice reception unit. |
| US09444926B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method thereof
A method of controlling a mobile terminal, and which includes establishing, via a wireless communication unit of the mobile terminal, a wireless data channel to an external device; receiving, via a controller of the mobile terminal, application execution information from the external device, said application execution information indicating an application executed on the external device that is to be executed on the mobile terminal; displaying, via the controller, a lock screen corresponding to the application to be executed on the mobile terminal on a touchscreen of the mobile terminal; receiving, via the controller, a lock release signal indicating the lock screen has been released; and executing the application on the mobile terminal when the lock screen is released. |
| US09444924B2 |
Intuitive computing methods and systems
The present disclosure describes portable devices (e.g., smart phones and tablets), related methods and systems. One claim relates to a portable computing device including a device input for initiating a discovery mode. The discovery mode includes processing camera-captured video imagery or microphone-captured audio to obtain identification of an object depicted in camera-captured video imagery or to obtain identification of microphone-captured audio. The portable computing device operates to initiate a discovery mode including processing real-time video imagery captured with a camera, cause a sensor pane to be displayed on a touch screen display, in which real-time captured video imagery is displayed along with augmented reality graphics within the sensor pane, and cause user-selectable graphic icons to be displayed within a first area of the touch screen display, and cause a user-selectable graphic icon to be displayed on touch screen display to facilitate switching discovery modes from image to audio. |
| US09444923B1 |
Method of receiving and replying messages with a hands-free device
A method of receiving and replying messages with a hands-free device includes a step of application installation; a step of connection; a step of communication; a step of analyzing the notification message; and a step of voice replying. With the method, text messages sent between mobile devices can be converted into voice messages, so that the user does not have to fetch the mobile device and read the text message, which improves the driving safety when communication is conducted during driving. The user also replies with voice message, which further improves drive safety. Furthermore, the method will prompt the message sending end to install an application program when there is no application program at the message sending end, consequently all potential contacts can be ensured to install the application program. |
| US09444918B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing access to a component
An apparatus comprising an enclosure and a cover comprising a shape-memory alloy is provided. The enclosure has at least one void that facilitates access to a component of the apparatus. The cover has at least an opened shape and closed shape, wherein the cover allows access to the component via the void in the opened shape and covers at least part of the void in the closed shape, wherein the cover transitions from the closed shape to the opened shape in response to the apparatus being accessed. |
| US09444915B2 |
Method and device for modifying and forwarding message in data communication network
A method and a device for modifying and forwarding a message in a data communication network are described. The method includes: description information of a message head is extracted as message descriptor information, and message fragments except the message descriptor information are stored; a pre-stored message modification description table is searched for modification parameters used for a message modification according to the message descriptor information; a needed message modification action is determined according to the obtained modification parameters, and the message fragments with a requirement of modification are modified in groups according to the types of actions; and the message fragments are distributed and reassembled according to port numbers, the message fragments are re-spliced into a complete message, and the message is sent to an external interface in time sequence. By modifying a pre-stored message modification description table through an external interface to add, alter or delete message modification parameters, the method and the device provided herein meet the demands for different kinds of services, greatly decrease the workload of design and reduce maintenance time, cost and complexity. |
| US09444903B2 |
Proxy based network communications
The present invention is a proxy based network communication system and method that incorporates one or more proxy servers that may be non-static, dynamic proxy servers, operable to automatically identify aspects of a user's network environment and details of the servers in said network and to set-up and configure software to be utilized by a user without user input of details of the user's network environment. These operations of the present invention may be undertaken at a point of user setup and reinitiated upon recognition of a communication problem, The present invention may further be operable to allow a user to access only the part of the network to which the user requires access, and to prevent the user from accessing other parts of the network. The present invention therefore provides a secure environment by implementing changing proxy servers rather than static proxy servers and restricting user access within the network on a need-for-access basis. |
| US09444899B2 |
Use of internet information services logging to collect user information in an asynchronous manner
Techniques for collecting information about client devices utilizing IIS logging in a secure and asynchronous manner are described. A method may comprise collecting information associated with one or more programs resident on a client device. A request is generated to access a webpage associated with one or more of the client devices where a query string, including at least a portion of the collected information, is attached to the request to access the webpage. The request to access the webpage along with the query string is sent to a server supporting the webpage for storage within an IIS log. |
| US09444898B1 |
Annotated communication
Techniques for annotating communications are described. An electronic message sent from a sender messaging identity to a recipient messaging identity is received. The message is analyzed to identify third-party information related to a portion of the message. The portion of the message is annotated to enable presentation of the third-party information by the recipient messaging identity. The message including the annotated portion of the message is presented on a display device for viewing by the recipient messaging identity. |
| US09444896B2 |
Application migration between clouds
Embodiments described herein are directed to reinitiating an application on a target computing cloud and to evaluating potential target cloud computing systems. In one scenario, a computing system receives an indication that identifies a target cloud for application migration. The target cloud computing system includes a specified set of hardware and/or environment specifications, associated configuration settings and an assigned rating that indicates how well the application will perform on the target cloud computing system. The computing system determines that the application is to be reconfigured for compatibility with the target cloud computing system and reconfigures some or all of the application to comply with the hardware and/or environment specifications and configuration settings of the target cloud computing system. The computing system also identifies and transfers specified portions of the application to the target cloud, and indicates that the application is to be re-instantiated using the transferred application portions. |
| US09444890B2 |
Switch-based data tiering
Embodiments include a method, system, and computer program product for allocating data to storage in a network. A data item accessed by a server in the network is identified. A controller classifies the identified data item based on at least one of: a frequency of access requests for the data item by the server and an access time associated with providing the data item to the server once the server requests the data item. A memory of a switch in the network is selected for storing the data item based on the classification of the data item. The controller causes the data item to be stored in the memory of the switch, from which the data item is accessed by the server upon request. |
| US09444886B2 |
Data analytics for adaptive networks
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method in which first performance data and second performance data are obtained for a first virtual machine and a second virtual machine on a network, the performance data is analyzed, performance of the first virtual machine is predicted, and a performance trend for the first virtual machine is determined. Performance of the second virtual machine is predicted in accordance with analyzing of the second performance data and a potential transfer of execution of an application from the first virtual machine to the second virtual machine. Execution of the application is transferred to the second virtual machine after determining an expected improvement in execution of the application relative to the first virtual machine. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09444883B2 |
Extending server-based desktop virtual machine architecture to client machines
A server-based desktop-virtual machines architecture may be extended to a client machine. In one embodiment, a user desktop is remotely accessed from a client system. The remote desktop is generated by a first virtual machine running on a server system, which may comprise one or more server computers. During execution of the first virtual machine, writes to a corresponding virtual disk are directed to a delta disk file or redo log. A copy of the virtual disk is created on the client system. When a user decides to “check out” his or her desktop, the first virtual machine is terminated (if it is running) and a copy of the delta disk is created on the client system. Once the delta disk is present on the client system, a second virtual machine can be started on the client system using the virtual disk and delta disk to provide local access to the user's desktop at the client system. This allows the user to then access his or her desktop without being connected to a network. |
| US09444876B2 |
Content distribution system
Systems and methods for delivering digital content are disclosed herein. The system facilitates the transfer of digital content to consumers from one or more sources through recognition of an identifier that is associated with the digital content. |
| US09444872B2 |
Method, server and system for data sharing
Embodiments of the present invention provide method, server and system for data sharing, and non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the system to perform the method for data sharing. The method includes establishing, according to a first webpage request of a first terminal, a long connection of communications with the first terminal; establishing, according to a second webpage request of a second terminal, long connection of communications with the second terminal, where the first and second webpage requests carry respectively first and second webpage identities; determining, according to the first and second webpage identities, whether the first and second terminals are shared terminals; and if the first and second terminals are the shared terminals, sharing data of the first terminal to the second terminal, and sharing data of the second terminal to the first terminal. |
| US09444871B2 |
Time shifted transcoded streaming (TSTS) system and method
A method and system for transmitting multimedia content from a server to a client device includes a source multimedia retriever to retrieve source multimedia content data. A transcoded multimedia retriever retrieves transcoded multimedia content data, the transcoded multimedia content data being a transcoded version of the source multimedia content, and the transcoded multimedia content data being time shifted with respect to the source multimedia content data. A data packet formulator formulates a data packet comprising the source multimedia content data and the time shifted transcoded multimedia content data. A data packet transmitter transmits the data packet from the server to the client device. |
| US09444869B2 |
Associating unique identifiers of primary and enriching content
A unified system of unique identifiers is used to match enrichment content with primary content being delivered by subscribers, e.g. broadcasters, in different markets, market segments, etc. Songs, video, advertisements, or other content from multiple different content publishers or databases, each of which may be assigned identifiers using different identification systems, are assigned a unified, unique identifier. The unique identifiers are also mapped to content identifiers used by subscribers. When subscribers provide primary content, for example by broadcasting the content to end users, enrichment content is matched to the unified, unique identifier associated with the content, and appropriate enrichment data and content are sent to the subscriber for distribution along with the primary content. |
| US09444868B2 |
System to communicate media
A system for communicating media is disclosed. Such a system may include, for example, a media broken into a plurality of independent segment files that may represent sequential portions of the media. One of the segment files can be encoded to have a format that is different than the encoded format of another one of the segment files. The formats may be chosen to allow outputting of information in the segments at different rates. A list may include network addresses for the segment files, and a content delivery system may be deployed to distribute media content to remotely located requesting devices by sending the segment files in response to requests for the segment files. |
| US09444866B2 |
Network condition predictions for multimedia streaming
Network condition prediction and multimedia streaming consumption prediction are provided. The prediction may be based on a device's prior location, behavior, and statistics thereof. By gathering location data from users anonymously and securely, a virtual location network with millions of nodes are provided. Each virtual location, at a given time, is stored with associated network metrics gathered from various devices in a database. The database may comprise a probabilistic model and a behavioral model tracking device metrics. |
| US09444863B2 |
Manager for DASH media streaming
Client devices streaming content adhering to the Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) standard may send Quality of Experience (QoE) information to a DASH manager and request server status updates from the DASH manager. The server status updates may include information regarding one or more content servers including online status information, content availability, load, and content server recommendations. The content server recommendations may be a relative ranking of servers that the DASH manager recommends that the client device select as a source server for desired media content. Based on the server status update information, the client may select a source server. The QoE information sent to the DASH manager may be used by the DASH manager, along with server status information, to generate the relative ranking. |
| US09444855B2 |
Initiating a central server-directed communication session from an in-progress half call model communication session
A particular method includes receiving a signal to invoke a central server-directed service from a first communication device at a session initiation protocol application device. The first communication device is coupled to at least one second communication device via a pathway of a half call model communication session. The method includes sending first instructions to the first communication device via the session initiation protocol device in response to the signal. The first instructions enable the first device to access the central server-directed service. The method also includes sending second instructions to the at least one second device via the session initiation protocol device in response to the signal. The second instructions enable the at least one second communication device to access the central server-directed service. |
| US09444853B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring access of pre-read materials for a meeting
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and apparatus for monitoring access of a pre-read material for a meeting are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request to monitor access of the pre-read material for the meeting, creates a document that records an access history of the pre-read material by each one of one or more invited attendees in accordance with one or more parameters specified in the request, updates the document each time the pre-read material is accessed by one of the one or more invited attendees and provides the document to a meeting requestor. |
| US09444851B2 |
Intercepting device-to-device communication
Mobile network (MN) for mobile devices (UE1, UE2), the mobile devices being arranged for exchanging communication data via the mobile network or, by selection, via a Device-To-Device [D2D] communication channel, the mobile network comprising a base station (ENB1) and a controller (010), wherein the controller (010) is arranged for: i) receiving an interception request from a lawful intercept controller (020), the interception request being indicative of a subscriber; ii) determining whether a target device associated with the subscriber participates in the D2D communication channel (D2D) based on D2D control data; and iii) if the target device is deemed to participate in the D2D communication channel (D2D), requesting the base station (ENB1) to intercept the communication data exchanged via the D2D communication channel (D2D); and wherein the base station (ENB1) is arranged for, in response to a request from the controller, intercepting radio signals (RS) of the D2D communication channel based on the D2D control data. |
| US09444850B2 |
Seeding of mobile application management policies
A method includes performing operations as follows on a processor: monitoring use of resources in an enterprise by mobile devices, receiving metrics from the mobile devices and an enterprise server, the metrics being associated with the use of the resources in the enterprise based on monitoring the use of the resources, and automatically generating a policy that restricts use of the resources in the enterprise based on the metrics, a predicted user productivity cost associated with the policy, and a predicted security cost associated with the mobile devices when the policy is not enforced. |
| US09444849B2 |
Enforcing policy compliance on a device
Disclosed herein is a method for enforcing policy compliance on a device that includes detecting a compliance action associated with an electronic device. The compliance action initiates verification that the electronic device is in compliance with a policy. The method also includes sending configuration information for the electronic device to a compliance authenticator in response to the compliance action. The compliance authenticator verifies that the configuration information complies with a policy. Further, the method includes receiving an authentication certificate in response to the compliance authenticator verifying the configuration information complies with the policy. The authentication certificate expires after a predetermined period of time. |
| US09444848B2 |
Conditional access to services based on device claims
Providing access to one or more resources to a user device. A method includes at a user device, registering with an identity service to obtain an identity credential. The method further includes at the user device, registering with a policy management service by presenting the identity credential. The method further includes at the user device, providing an indication of current state of the user device to the policy management service. The policy management service can then indicate to the identity service the compliance level of the user device. The method further includes the user device receiving a token from the identity service based on the policy management level of the user device as compared to a policy set. |
| US09444846B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for trust computation
Embodiments of a method are disclosed for computing trust index among multiple entities associated with a resource marketplace. The method includes receiving multiple inputs including interaction attributes, attribute importance factors, references to databases, and multiple entities associated with the resource marketplace. The method also includes creating a weighted-interaction graph based on the received inputs. The weighted-interaction graph includes multiple vertices representing the entities. The method further includes performing a topology-specific analysis of the weighted-interaction graph. The method furthermore includes computing Euclidean distances for each pair of vertices in the weighted-interaction graph based on the performed analysis. The method also includes determining a trust index for a first entity in the received multiple entities based on the computed Euclidean distances. The trust index includes ranking of at least one of the multiple entities with respect to the first entity. The ranking is inversely proportional to the computed Euclidean distances. |
| US09444845B2 |
Network security apparatus and method
A network security apparatus includes a management unit, a security policies monitoring unit, a security monitoring unit, a log security check unit, and a log transmission unit. The management unit receives network security apparatus setting information, security policies and log generation policies from the outside. The security policies monitoring unit checks whether the security policies comply with a set format. If the security policies comply with the set format, the security monitoring unit monitors whether a communication node communicates in compliance with the security policies. The log security check unit generates a monitoring log based on the log generation policies, and checks whether the monitoring log complies with a log setting format. If the monitoring log complies with the log setting format, the log transmission unit transmits the security log to the outside, thereby performing the outside network security. |
| US09444842B2 |
Security mediation for dynamically programmable network
A network security policy may be implemented at network switches as a set of active packet disposition directives. In a dynamically programmable network, the network switches can be dynamically reprogrammed with new packet disposition directives. A security mediation service permits such dynamic reprogramming as long as the new directives are consistent with the then-current network security policy. The security mediation service evaluates candidate packet disposition directives for conflicts with the currently active security policy, before instantiating the candidate packet disposition directives at the network switches. |
| US09444841B2 |
Method and apparatus for application awareness in a network
A method for enforcing a network policy is described herein. In the method, a network socket event request from an application executing in a first context is intercepted by an agent prior to the request reaching a transport layer in the first context. A context refers to virtualization software, a physical computer, or a combination of virtualization software and physical computer. In response to the interception of the request, the agent requests a decision on whether to allow or deny the network socket event request to be communicated to a security server executing in a second context that is distinct from the first context. The request for a decision includes an identification of the application. The agent then receives from the security server either an allowance or a denial of the network socket event request, the allowance or denial being based at least in part on the identification of the application and a security policy. The agent blocks the network socket event from reaching the transport layer when the denial is received from the security server. In one embodiment, the method is implemented using a machine readable medium embodying software instructions executable by a computer. |
| US09444840B2 |
Method and apparatus for a distributed security service in a cloud network
Various embodiments provide a method and apparatus of providing a distributed security service that runs light instances in a number of security devices and central instances of the security services in select security devices. A received or transmitted client content segment is directed to a light instance which either applies a security policy corresponding to the client content segment if the client content segment has been previously analyzed and has a valid security policy, or else, the light instance sends the client content segment to a central instance to be analyzed. The central instance may then provide a complete security analysis on the client content segment, determine a security policy corresponding to the client content segment and push the determined security policy to one or more of the light instances. Advantageously, a distributed security service delivery may provide highly secure, network efficient and cost effective security service delivery. |
| US09444839B1 |
Method and system for uniquely identifying a user computer in real time for security violations using a plurality of processing parameters and servers
A method is provided for identifying a compromised client device from a masquerading device. The method includes capturing a plurality of attributes from a network device connecting to a web service. In a specific embodiment, each of the attributes represents a parameter, and the plurality of parameters uniquely identifying the network device from a plurality of other networks devices. The method maintains the network device substantially free from any software programs associated with the capturing of the plurality of attributes. That is, in a specific embodiment, the method does not rely on installing executable code in the network device to capture the attributes. Based on information associated with the attributes, the method can determine if the network device is compromised. |
| US09444838B2 |
Pre-processing system for minimizing application-level denial-of-service in a multi-tenant system
Denial-of-service attacks are prevented or mitigated in a cloud compute environment, such as a multi-tenant, collaborative SaaS system. This is achieved by providing a mechanism by which characterization of “legitimate” behavior is defined for tenant applications or application classes, preferably along with actions to be taken in the event a request to execute an application is anticipated to exceed defined workflow limits. A set of application profiles are generated. Typically, a profile comprises information, such as a request defined by one or more request variables, one or more “constraints,” one or more “request mappings,” and one or more “actions.” A constraint is a maximum permitted workload for the application. A request mapping maps a request variable to the constraint, either directly or indirectly. The profile information defines how a request is mapped to a workload to determine whether the request is in policy or, if not, what action to take. |
| US09444827B2 |
Multi-function, modular system for network security, secure communication, and malware protection
Representative embodiments are disclosed for providing network and system security. A representative apparatus includes an input-output connector coupleable to a data network; a network interface circuit having a communication port; a nonvolatile memory storing a configuration bit image; and a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”) coupled to the network interface circuit through the communication port, the FPGA configurable to appear solely as a communication device to the first network interface circuit, and to bidirectionally monitor all data packets transferred between the input-output connector and the first network interface circuit and any coupled host computing system. In another embodiment, the FPGA is further configurable for only a partial implementation of a communication protocol, such as a PCIe data link and/or physical layers. The FPGA may also monitor host memory and provide encryption and decryption functionality. The FPGA is not addressable within the computing system and therefore is largely undetectable by malware. |
| US09444825B2 |
Continuous user authentication
Technologies are generally described for authenticating a user account. In some examples, a method performed under control of a server may include providing a communication service to an end device; receiving, from the end device, a text input, while providing the communication service; and authenticating a user account associated with the end device, based on the received text input, while providing the communication service. |
| US09444817B2 |
Facilitating claim use by service providers
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to facilitating claim use in an identity framework. In aspects, a definition of a trust framework may be received and stored. A graphical interface may display a plurality of trust frameworks and allow an administrator to select which trust framework to instantiate. The graphical interface may also allow the administrator to define which rules of the trust framework to use in the instance of the trust framework. After receiving this information, the instance of the trust framework may be instantiated and configuration data provided to the administrator to allow the administrator to configure a Web service to invoke the instance of the trust framework to grant or deny access to the Web service. |
| US09444816B2 |
Continuous voice authentication for a mobile device
Disclosed is an apparatus, system, and method to continuously authenticate a user of a mobile device. The mobile device includes a user interface, a transceiver, a microphone, and processor. The processor continuously samples a user's voice from the microphone during a call by obtaining voice snippets on a pre-defined periodic basis or on a random basis. The processor further compares the sampled voice from the microphone to a stored voice to authenticate a valid user, wherein if the sampled voice matches the stored voice for a valid user, functionality of the mobile device continues. On the other hand, if the sampled voice does not match the stored voice for a valid user, functionality of the mobile device is locked. |
| US09444815B2 |
Method and system for accessing a service
To access a service, each user device stores one first key. The user device is connected to a first server. A terminal sends to a second server a connection request. The second server responds with first data relating to a transaction identifier and an associated challenge. The terminal determines a first result depending upon the first data and the first key. The terminal sends to the first server the first result and user device data. The first server identifies a user device based upon the user device data and sends to the device the first result. The device determines the challenge and the transaction identifier based upon the first result and the first key and sends to the second server the challenge and the transaction identifier. The second server verifies whether the data received from the device matches the first data and, if so, authorizes the terminal to connect. |
| US09444808B1 |
System and method for providing multtenant access to shared resources
In one embodiment, a method includes maintaining a domain information cache. The method further includes receiving credentials from a client system. The credentials correspond to a user of the client system. The method also includes storing the credentials in a security cookie. In addition, the method includes, based, at least in part, on the domain information cache, resolving the credentials to an authentication server associated with a domain of the user. Also, the method includes authenticating, using the credentials, an identity of the user with the authentication server. Additionally, the method includes, responsive to successful authentication, building a list of groups and users to which the user belongs. Moreover, the method includes compiling a list of authorized resources to which the user has access. In addition, the method includes providing the list of authorized resources to the client system. |
| US09444806B2 |
Method, apparatus and server for identity authentication
The disclosure relates to a method, apparatus and server for identity authentication, related to communication technique to solve system overload problem caused by invalid access ID attack. The method may include: a server receiving an API calling request from third party developer, the API calling request carrying access ID generated in advance by server and assigned to the third party developer; searching for a version character carried in the access ID; based on a version character generation rule, verifying whether the version number marked by the version character being the same as a version number of the check character generation rule used by the server; when the version character being verified successfully, searching for at least a check character carried in the access ID; and based on the check character generation rule, verifying respectively on the at least a check character. The disclosure is applied to API calling request process. |
| US09444805B1 |
Context-aware validation
An application executed on a client device displays a user interface that receives input related to outputting credential information, wherein the application is configured to manage credentials that are associated with a validation system. The application receives, through the user interface, first user input to output a representation of a first credential in a manner that enables a credential authority to validate the representation. In response to receiving the first user input, the application identifies a location of the client device. The application determines whether the location of the client device is associated with a first region where the first credential is enabled for validation. In response to determining that the location of the client device is associated with the first region where the first credential is enabled for validation, the application displays, on the user interface, the representation of the first credential. |
| US09444803B2 |
Authentication method and system oriented to heterogeneous network
An authentication method and system oriented to a heterogeneous network are disclosed. After receiving a service request sent by a virtual terminal, a unified authentication platform generates a service token according to the service request, and sends the service token to the virtual terminal and a target network; the virtual terminal submits the service token to the target network, and requests the target network to provide service data; and the target network compares the service token submitted by the virtual terminal with the service token sent to the target network by the unified authentication platform, and provides the service data to the virtual terminal when the service token submitted by the virtual terminal is consistent with the service token sent to the target network by the unified authentication platform. By a unified authentication platform, the disclosure unifies authentication systems in a ubiquitous network, reduces huge signaling overhead and service delay in a heterogeneous network due to authentication, and improves authentication efficiency in the ubiquitous network. |
| US09444801B2 |
Method, device and system for verifying communication sessions
An example technique is provided for authenticating a first communication session. The technique includes receiving an indication that a first network device has established a first communication session with a user-side device. A second network device authenticates the first communication session by establishing a second communication session via session initiation protocol (SIP) or voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) communication with the user-side device before the user-side device directs a user password to the first network device in the first communication session. Also, private identification information of the user is retrieved from a database and sent to the user-side device in the second communication session. The user-side device compares the private identification information received in the second communication session to locally stored private identification information to determine whether the received private identification information matches. |
| US09444796B2 |
Group member recovery techniques
Techniques are presented for optimizing secure communications in a network. A first router receives from a second router an encrypted packet with an unknown security association. The first router examines the packet to determine whether the counter value is in a range of predicted counter values. Additionally, a key server is configured to provision routers that are part of a virtual private network. The key server selects a counter value that is part of a security association and calculates a key value. The key server sends the key value together with the security association to enable routers to exchange encrypted packets with each other in the virtual private network using the key value and the security association. The key server increments the counter value to a value within a range of counter values capable of being predicted by the routers. |
| US09444795B1 |
Robot mitigation
Computer systems, such as a client and a server operably interconnected via a network, are subject to stress on computational resources due to an abundance of automated-user traffic. To improve resource functionalities and control the resources available to automated-agents, value information of valuable assets is encrypted such that a client must perform an algorithm for calculating a decryption key in order to view the unencrypted content. Wherein the encryption is tuned in such a way that any computational delay caused by the encryption is imperceptible to a human-user and largely perceptible to an automated-agent such that the need to determine if a user is an automated-user or a human-user is irrelevant. |
| US09444789B2 |
System and method for secure cloud service delivery with prioritized services in a network environment
An example method includes receiving a request for a cloud capability set during an Internet Key Exchange negotiation associated with a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel between a subscriber and a cloud, wherein the cloud capability set comprises one or more cloud capabilities, mapping the request to one or more cryptographic modules that can support the cloud capability set, and offloading the VPN tunnel to the one or more cryptographic modules. The request can be an Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol (ISAKMP) packet listing the one or more cloud capabilities in a private payload. The method may further include splitting the VPN tunnel between the cryptographic modules if no single cryptographic module can support substantially all the cloud capabilities in the cloud capability set. In some embodiments, the request is compared with a service catalog comprising authorized cloud capabilities. |
| US09444784B2 |
Apparatus and method of peer-to-peer communication
An apparatus and method of communication include establishing, by a first communication device, a proximity-based connection with a another communication device, transmitting a first public network address of the first communication device over the proximity-based connection, receiving a second public network address of another communication device over the proximity-based connection, and establishing a communication session over a wide area connection using the first public network address and the second public network address. |
| US09444783B2 |
Communication apparatus and control method thereof
A communication apparatus stores a first address in association with a second address of an apparatus which is targeted to permit or restrict processing of a received packet. The communication apparatus detects first and second addresses of a transmission apparatus which is a source of a packet received through a network, and if the detected first address of the transmission apparatus is stored, then the processing of the received packet is permitted or restricted. If the detected first address of the transmission apparatus is not stored in association with the second address of the transmission apparatus and the detected second address is stored, then the communication apparatus updates the stored first address with the detected first address. |
| US09444782B2 |
System and method for assigning a service flow classifier to a device
A system and method for assigning a service flow classifier to a device. A MAC address of a device is extracted from a DHCP discover message. A DHCP server constructs a key from the device MAC address and an IP address assigned by the DHCP server. The key identifies a record of attributes of the device. A configuration server uses the key to access the attribute record and to generate a boot file for the device. The boot file includes one or more service flow classifiers that determine a service flow for packets destined for the device. |
| US09444780B1 |
Content provided DNS resolution validation and use
Methods and systems for using and providing trustworthy DNS resolutions are provided. A method for using trustworthy DNS resolutions may include obtaining a DNS resolution listing for a domain name and validating the listing's plausibility using a plausible range list. The method may also include selecting a DNS resolution from the DNS resolution listing based on a requested host associated with the domain name. The method may further include initiating a connection to the host using the selected DNS resolution. A method for providing trustworthy DNS resolutions may include obtaining a plurality of potential DNS resolutions for a domain name. The method may also include generating a DNS resolution listing for a domain name and providing the DNS resolution listing. A system may include a DNS resolution selection module and a connection module. Another system may include a DNS resolution inquiry module and a DNS resolution listing provision module. |
| US09444776B2 |
Intelligent, dynamic E-mail signature
A computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for providing a dynamic, intelligent e-mail signature. In an embodiment, the method includes the steps of receiving an e-mail from a sender, storing the e-mail for later retrieval, assigning a URL representing the e-mail signature and sending the URL to the sender. Further, the method includes the steps of receiving the URL from the e-mail recipient, analyzing the e-mail and social media activities of sender and recipient, determining a signature and sending the signature to the recipient. |
| US09444775B2 |
Multipurpose internet mail extensions (“MIME”) metadata for group messaging
A user device may be configured to generate a multipart message (e.g., a multimedia messaging service (“MMS”) message). A message part of the multipart message may include conversation metadata that includes information regarding a messaging conversation between the user device and at least one other user device. The message part may include a multipart type indicator (e.g., a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (“MIME”) type indicator) that indicates that a type of the at least one part is a type associated with conversation metadata. The user device may output the multipart message to the other user device. |
| US09444773B2 |
Automatic translator identification
The technology described in this document can be embodied in a method that includes receiving information via a user interface provided on a display of a user device from a first user associated with a pre-determined user group. The information includes an identification of a) a source language and b) a target language to which translation from the source language is requested. The method also includes determining that one or more second users of the pre-determined user group is associated with the source language and associated with the target language. This can be determined based on accessing a data repository that stores language capabilities of users within the pre-determined user group, wherein the language capabilities are determined automatically based on mining a corpus of electronic documents associated with the pre-determined user group. An identification of the one or more second users can be displayed on the user interface. |
| US09444767B2 |
Method and system for associating a device with a gateway
The present invention concerns a method and system for associating a device with a gateway, said gateway being designed to communicate firstly with the device via a communication network and secondly with another device referred to as the server. The method comprises a step of sending, by the server and to the gateway, of an authorization so that a device may be associated with this gateway. |
| US09444764B2 |
Scalable and secure interconnectivity in server cluster environments
A computer implemented method may manage network resources within a server cluster. The server cluster may include any number or switches and servers connected via one or more network links. In one aspect, the method may receive a request for provisioning of an application and retrieve management data defining a network topology of the server cluster. The method may also determine a maximum network bandwidth for each network link in the server cluster, a required amount of bandwidth for the application and a resource allocation of network bandwidth for the application to accommodate the maximum network bandwidth for each network link. The method may further provision the application to a network resource within the server cluster with the resource allocation of network bandwidth. |
| US09444763B1 |
Optimizing communication among collections of computing resources
Techniques for provisioning computing resources utilize colorings of collections of resources. The collections may be networks of resources hosted by a computing resource provider that are operated under the direction of one or more customers of the resource provider. Colors may be applied to the collections of resources, such as by a customer of the resource provider. The same customer or another customer may request that resources be provisioned according to at least one relationship with one or more collections of resources having one or more colors. Resources may then be provisioned according to the request. |
| US09444762B2 |
Computer network systems to manage computer network virtualization environments
Automatic configuration management of a network is provided by determining an inventory of resources at a virtualization layer of a node of the network, assigning prioritization to members of a set of network configuration elements, allocating virtual resources among the set of network configuration elements, establishing a network configuration. The configuration is managed by determining real time performance metrics for the configuration, producing a reallocation of the virtual resources based on the performance metrics that are estimated to change the established configuration, change the performance metrics, and initiating the reallocation of the virtual resources. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement that allows a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims. |
| US09444760B2 |
Allocating instantiated resources to an IT-service
Allocating an instance of a resource to an IT-service includes: analyzing a service model specifying the structure of an IT-service and comprising nodes and resource management rules specifying the management of said node's resource. For each node, the method includes: determining a resource type indicated by said node; determining one or more resource management rules assigned to said node; evaluating the resource management rules assigned to said node on a resource instance catalog and the determined resource type for computing selection criteria; applying the selection criteria on a service provider catalog for selecting one of the one or more resource managers, the service provider catalog being indicative of one or more of the resource managers respectively being operable to provide a resource instance of a given resource type to the IT-service; creating an instance of the resource provided by the selected resource manager; and allocating said instance to the IT-service. |
| US09444759B2 |
Service provider registration by a content broker
A system, method, and computer readable medium for managing registration, by a content broker, of one or more resources with one or more service providers are provided. A content broker obtains registration information for registering the one or more resources with a service provider. The registration information may include a request to publish one or more resources to a service provider, an identification of the one or more resources, service provider selection criteria provided by the content provider or otherwise selected, and the like. The content broker transmits a service provider generation request corresponding to the registration information to the service provider. Then, the content broker manages and processes data pursuant to registration of the one or more resources with the service provider. |
| US09444756B2 |
Path aggregation group monitor
A network device monitors a path aggregation group. The network device may monitor path selection for network traffic (e.g., packets) communicated through the path aggregation group. During a monitoring period, the network device may obtain a path selection indication that a network packet has been selected for communication through the path aggregation group and specifically a first path in the path aggregation group. The network device may update a path entry associated with the first path in the path aggregation group. |
| US09444755B2 |
Packet processing method and packet processing device
To provide a packet processing device that prevents a reduction in the efficiency of data communication. A packet processing device 100 estimates a time, which is taken until an acknowledgement corresponding to a packet is received after transmitting the packet to a client 30, as the round-trip delay time of the packet, determines the size of data that is divided into packets and is continuously transmitted to the client 30, and updates the transmission rate of packets transmitted to the client 30 according to the data size and the round-trip delay time. |
| US09444754B1 |
Method for congestion control in a network interface card
Congestion detection is implemented on the ingress direction, egress direction, or both directions in a network interface controller. Congestion notification is facilitated between a source and a destination through a network interface controller. In accordance with an aspect, a NIC is configured to label ingress packets—coming from the network—in relation to the presence of congestion. In accordance with another aspect, the NIC is configured to label egress packets—going to the network—in relation to the presence of congestion. A full offload NIC is equipped to operate on the packet labels in the presence of congestion and to react appropriately if it is on the receiving end, sending end, or both. |
| US09444751B1 |
Backpressure with adaptive redundancy
Routing technologies are disclosed. A described technology includes routing packets through a network based on backpressure scheduling; when a number of packets in a transmitter queue satisfies a first threshold, retaining copies of at least a portion of the packets; and once the number of packets in the transmitter queue satisfies a second threshold, transmitting the retained copies of the packets to perform the routing. Retaining the copies can include copying a packet from the transmitter queue into a duplicate buffer when the number of packets in the transmitter queue is below the first threshold. |
| US09444750B2 |
Data communication apparatuses for communication with an external apparatus over a network, control methods of the data communication apparatuses and storage mediums
A communication apparatus communicating with an external apparatus via a relaying device is provided. The communication apparatus includes a communication unit configured to perform communication with the relaying device, and a control unit configured to reduce a communication speed of the communication unit to a lower speed if the communication apparatus is to be shifted from a first power mode to a second power mode in which power consumption is lower than that in the first power mode. The communication unit, if the communication apparatus shifts to the second power mode, transmits identification information of the communication apparatus to the relaying device using a first method, and after a predetermined time has passed, transmits the identification information to the relaying device by a second method. |
| US09444748B2 |
Scalable flow and congestion control with OpenFlow
A method of performing congestion management in a network is provided. The method includes monitoring a congestion status at a switch in the network. It is determined at the switch that the congestion status indicates that there is congestion at the switch. Based on the congestion being related to data received at the switch from a source at a first rate, a first message is transmitted from the switch to the source requesting the source to send the data at a second rate that is slower than the first rate. Based on the congestion being related to data requests received at the switch from a destination at third rate, a second message is transmitted from the switch to the destination requesting the destination to request the data at a fourth rate slower than the third rate. |
| US09444747B2 |
Service specific traffic handling
An application executing on a device communicates packet data with a server via an operating system (OS) on the device. The device receives information concerning a port mapping policy that specifies a plurality of applications. For each application, a predetermined assignable port space is defined within which an application specific port can be assigned. When the application is started, an OS specific port is assigned to the application. Additionally, an application specific port for the OS specific port is assigned in accordance with the port mapping policy. The device then translates data packets to be transmitted by the application, such that for a given OS specific source port, the device replaces the OS specific source port field of the packets to be transmitted with the assigned application specific port. The device then transmits the translated data packets with the assigned application specific source port. |
| US09444740B2 |
Router, method for controlling router, and program
A router includes a buffer selection section for receiving a flit from an adjacent router and determining whether to store the flit on an input buffer or to store the flit on a bypass buffer. The buffer selection section executes at least one of a first control of, when a bypass process was performed, changing at least one of a transmission path and a transmission flow rate of data based on a transmission state of the router; and a second control of, when a bypass control section did not execute the bypass process, changing at least one of a transmission path and a transmission flow rate of data based on a transmission state of another first router at which data not subjected to the bypass process and data subjected to the bypass process by another second router are joined together. |
| US09444739B2 |
Congestion control in caching enabled video networks
The present invention relates to a method, related system, related congestion monitoring device and related media delivery personalization devices for controlling congestion in a media delivery network that includes a media delivery server and a plurality of client devices. The media delivery server is coupled over the media delivery network to each client device of the plurality of client devices. The media delivery server delivering media to a client device over a path between the media delivery server and the client device. The related method includes the steps of monitoring congestion in the media delivery network and subsequently adapting a level of personalization of the delivering of media to the client device based on the congestion monitored. |
| US09444738B2 |
System and method for monitoring the volume of calls carried by a voice over internet protocol telephone system
A method and a system for controlling the load of calls carried by a voice over Internet protocol telephone system attempts to reduce or eliminate the overloading of individual trunk groups and/or destination gateways. The system obtains information relating to a plurality of calls in the system, and analyzes the call information to determine if certain trunk groups or destination gateways are overloaded. If so, the system issues commands so that additional calls are diverted away from the overloaded trunk group or destination gateway. |
| US09444730B1 |
Network traffic classification
A computer implemented method and system comprising receiving a data packet from a network source, extracting source and destination data from the received data packet, determining a user from the extracted source and destination data from the received data packet. If a label does not exist for the extracted source and destination data from the received data packet, creating a label for the data packet, the label comprising the extracted source data and historic source data for the determined user, calling a chaotic function with the label for the received data packet. If the chaotic function returns false, calling an alternative function for an output with the label for the received data packet. If the chaotic function returns true, capturing the output of the chaotic function, and updating the label with the output of the chaotic function or with the output of the alternative function. |
| US09444727B2 |
Duplicating traffic along local detours before path remerge to increase packet delivery
In one embodiment, a source node monitors a quality of a primary link, and forwards one or more duplicate copies of a packet in response to poor quality of the primary link. Specifically, forwarding generally comprises transmitting a first copy of the packet on the primary link with an indication of duplicate copies, and transmitting a second copy of the packet on a backup link with an indication of duplicate copies. In another embodiment, an intermediate node receives a first copy of a packet with an indication of duplicate copies, and stores an identifier of the first copy of the packet in response to the indication. Upon receiving a second copy of the packet with the indication of duplicate copies, the node determines whether the identifier of the second copy matches the stored identifier of the first copy, such that in response to a match, the second copy is dropped. |
| US09444726B2 |
Distributing communication of a data stream among multiple devices
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture for distributing communication of a data stream among multiple devices are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include sending a request to a network to establish a shared connection to distribute communication of a first data stream among a plurality of devices. The request is generated by a separate device that is different from the plurality of devices. Such example methods also include receiving, in response to the request, network addresses to be used to establish respective data connections with the plurality of devices. The respective data connections are to carry respective partial data streams forming the first data stream. Such example methods further include aggregating the respective partial data streams received from the plurality of devices via the respective data connections to form the first data stream. |
| US09444725B2 |
Adaptive network function chaining
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for dynamically applying network functions to traffic flows based on heuristics, policy conditions and client-specified conditions. A network monitors a network traffic flow to determine whether the network traffic flow meets a first criterion of a first rule. The criterion specifies that when the first criterion is met a network function be used to analyze or process the network traffic flow. When the network traffic flow is determined to meet the first criterion, the network determines a first route through the network to a network function provider that provides the network function and configures one or more routers along the first route to forward the network traffic flow to the network function provider for analysis or processing. |
| US09444724B2 |
Router, method for using cache when content server is unreachable, and program
Provided is a router to acquire a content, even when accessibility to a server is impossible due to a network failure. The router comprises: a unit for storing content data included in a content reply message transmitted from a content server; a unit for, when the content server becomes unreachable, broadcasting, to other routers, an MBC setting request message configured to set guidance information in the other routers, the guidance information being used, when a content request message which requests the content server for the content data is transmitted from a content request node, to transfer the content request message to the own router; and a unit for replying a content reply message including the stored content data, when the content request message used to request the content server for the content data is transferred in accordance with the guidance information. |
| US09444721B2 |
Two-part metric for link state routing protocols
Techniques are described for utilizing two-part metrics with link state routing protocols of computer networks. For example, link state advertisements communicated by a router convey outbound cost metrics representative of outbound costs for the router to send network traffic to a network, and inbound cost metrics representative of inbound costs to receive network traffic from the network. The techniques may be particularly useful with respect to shared access networks, including broadcast or non-broadcast multi-access networks. |
| US09444718B2 |
Distributed platform test network
A test network is provided to test updates to configurations and resources of a distributed platform and to warm servers prior to their deployment in the distributed platform. The test network tests and warms using real-time production traffic of the distributed platform in a manner that does not impact users or performance of the distributed platform. At least one distributed platform caching server passes content requests that it receives to the test network using a connectionless protocol. The test network includes a test server that is loaded with any of a configuration or resource under test or whose cache is to be loaded prior to the server's deployment into the distributed platform. The test network also includes a replay server that receives the requests from the caching server, distributes the requests to the test server, and monitors the test server responses. |
| US09444716B2 |
Secure cloud management agent
A method for providing a secure management agent for high-availability continuity for cloud systems includes receiving operating parameters and threshold settings for a plurality of computing clouds. Secure relationships are established with the plurality of computing clouds based on the operating parameters. Data is mirrored across the plurality of computing clouds. Threshold data is then monitored for the plurality of computing clouds to maintain a continuity of resources for the plurality of computing clouds. |
| US09444712B2 |
Bandwidth on-demand services in multiple layer networks
Bandwidth usage for an existing communication tunnel between a first device and second device is monitored. A determination is made that additional bandwidth is required for communication between the first network device and the second network device. A determination is made that for the addition of the additional bandwidth would exceed available bandwidth for the existing tunnel. Additional bandwidth is established between the first network device and the second network device. |
| US09444705B2 |
Bringing attention to an activity
An activity associated with a digital medium may be detected. An interest of a user may be identified responsive to detecting the activity. The interest may be stored, and one or more on-line communities monitored for the interest to find content associated with the interest. The user may be notified of the content in a scalable manner to keep the user up-to-date with the interest. |
| US09444703B1 |
Interconnecting electronic devices for reporting device status
A first electronic device can receive an identifying signal broadcast from a second electronic device located within a wireless communication range of the first electronic device, and in response, establish a first, local electronic communication path between the first and second electronic devices. The first electronic device can then receive a set of status data from the second electronic device over the local electronic communication path. The first electronic device can then establish a second, remote electronic communication path to a remote server and subsequently transmit, over the remote electronic communication path, the status data from the second electronic device along with status data from the first electronic device. |
| US09444699B2 |
Scalable network monitoring system
A scaleable network monitoring system is discussed. The network monitoring system identifies network monitoring information for the network elements being monitored. By storing only a non-redundant subset of the identified network information in memory, the network monitoring system is able to monitor a much larger group of network elements than is possible with conventional monitoring systems which are burdened by memory constraints. The scaleable network monitoring system also employs a multi-threaded architecture that dynamically spawns an array of multi-technology monitoring sub-systems. |
| US09444696B2 |
Autonomic SLA breach value estimation
A method, system and apparatus for estimating an SLA breach value. The method can include processing resource data to identify an acceptable SLA breach value; and, displaying the acceptable SLA breach value through a user interface. The processing step can include identifying a best practices SLA breach value based upon resource data for an aggregation of customers. Alternatively, the processing step can include identifying an average SLA breach value for a specific customer. As a further alternative, the identifying step can include identifying an average SLA breach value for a specific customer for a specific resource. As yet a further alternative, the processing step can include identifying an SLA breach value trend based upon past measured historical systems management data; and, predicting a future SLA breach value based upon the trend. In all cases, the acceptable SLA breach value can be increased by a fixed proportion. |
| US09444688B2 |
Receiver-based methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling TCP sender behavior in mobile communications networks with large buffer sizes
Receiver-based methods for controlling TCP sender behavior in cellular communications networks with large buffer sizes are disclosed. One method includes, at a TCP receiver, receiving packets from a TCP sender. The method further includes determining, based on the packets, a minimum round trip time and a moving average round trip time for cellular network carrying the packets between a TCP sender and a TCP receiver. The method further includes adaptably adjusting a received window size to advertise to the TCP sender based on the minimum round trip time and the moving average round trip time. The method further includes advertising the adjusted received window sizes to the TCP sender. |
| US09444686B2 |
Intelligent inter-connect and cross-connect patching system
An intelligent network patch field management system is provided that includes electronic hardware, firmware, mechanical assemblies, cables, and software that provide visible and audible cues for connecting and disconnecting patch cords in an interconnect or cross-connect patching environment. Systems of the present invention also monitor patch cord connections in a network. |
| US09444679B2 |
Wireless communication network bearer management
A method and system for configuring a service at a base station of a wireless communication network are disclosed. According to one aspect, a base station receives from a network node a service identifier that identifies a service to be provided via a plurality of bearers to a user equipment. The base station configures the plurality of bearers according to a service configuration associated with the service identifier. |
| US09444678B2 |
Automatic cloud-based disaster recovery system including modifying a copy command based on a copy time threshold
Restoration devices in a cloud storage system are paired with source containers associated with a mainframe computer, and series of commands are generated based on the pairings to cause copies of data at the source containers to be stored to the restoration devices. A point-in-time copy of the copy of the data at the source containers may be stored to some restoration devices, and a second copy of the data may be stored to other restoration devices. The restoration devices may be reallocated from inactive source containers. Execution of the commands is monitored, and the commands are modified if the execution of the commands does not satisfy one or more desired conditions. For example, a cycle time associated with copying data to a restoration device may be measured, and if the cycle time exceeds a threshold, the command may be modified. |
| US09444676B2 |
Efficient identification of Q-space in remote LFA
A method is implemented by a network device in a network having a plurality of nodes. The method computes a remote loop free alternative (RLFA) next hop as a backup for a primary path next hop. The method improves RLFA computation efficiency for a Q-Space list of nodes in a Q-space for an endpoint node by reducing calculations of the loop free condition for a path from a source node to a destination node via a tunnel between the source node and the endpoint node. The method includes adding a neighbor node to a poison list where the candidate node is in the poison list and the neighbor node is not in the candidate list, the poison list indicating that a node is not a candidate for Q-Space, and determining the Q-Space list by removing nodes from poison list from the plurality of nodes. |
| US09444673B2 |
Methods and systems for down-converting a signal using a complementary transistor structure
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for down-converting a modulate carrier signal to a demodulated baseband signal by sampling the energy of the carrier signal are described herein. Briefly stated, such methods systems, and apparatuses operate by receiving a modulated carrier signal and using pulses with apertures to control a switch so as to (a) transfer energy from the modulated carrier signal and accumulate the transferred energy in a capacitor when the switch is closed during the apertures of the pulses and (b) discharge some of the previously accumulated energy from the capacitor into load circuitry at least when the switch is open. The demodulated baseband signal is generated from (i) accumulating energy transferred to the capacitor each time the switch is closed during the apertures of the pulses, and (ii) discharging some of the previously accumulated energy into the load circuitry each time the switch is opened. |
| US09444672B2 |
Data modulation
A modulator includes a symbol mapper that is configured to map respective bits sets of a bit sequence corresponding to a burst and including data, training, tail, and guard bits into respective symbols to form a symbol sequence of data, training, tail, and guard symbols. A vector precoder is configured to apply a vector precoding transformation to the data and training symbols to form precoded symbols. These precoded symbols are combined with the tail and guard symbols in a symbol processor to form a sequence of transmit symbols. The record precoding conducted by the modulator of a transmitter enables improved link performance without the cost of increased processing complexity of the receiver algorithm. |
| US09444669B2 |
Peak to average power ratio reduction of OFDM signals
A method includes processing an input sequence of samples of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal (OFDM) to reduce a peak to average power ratio (PAPR) of the OFDM signal with given constraints of an error vector magnitude (EVM) parameter and a spectral mask parameter for the OFDM signal during a first processing iteration. The method includes performing at least one other iteration of the first processing iteration on a subsequent time domain sequence generated in the first processing iteration to reduce the PAPR of the OFDM signal below a system target PAPR threshold and below threshold limits for the EVM parameter and the spectral mask parameter. |
| US09444665B2 |
Signal processing system and signal processing method cooperating with variable gain amplifier
A signal processing system includes a variable gain amplifier, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a gain compensation module and a signal processing module. The variable gain amplifier applies a variable gain to an analog input signal to generate an amplified analog signal. The ADC converts the amplified analog signal to an amplified digital signal. The gain compensation module applies a compensation gain to the amplified digital signal to generate a compensated signal. The compensated signal has an instantaneous change lower than a predetermined threshold. The signal processing module performs a signal processing procedure on the compensated signal. |
| US09444653B2 |
UE, filtering method thereof and computer-readable recording medium
The invention provides a method filtering in a UE, comprising: estimating a channel and interference for a sub-frame from a cell-specific reference signal received from a serving cell, respectively; determining the sub-frame is a flexible sub-frame, the flexible sub-frame being configured for transmission of different directions for a serving cell and a neighboring cell respectively; and filtering the estimated channel for the flexible sub-frame with a first filtering function having at least one parameter different from that for a normal sub-frame, the normal sub-frame being configured for transmission of same directions for the serving cell and the neighboring cell. The invention also provides a UE using the above method as well as a computer readable recording medium comprising computer instructions for executing the above method. |
| US09444651B2 |
Flow generation from second level controller to first level controller to managed switching element
A network control system that includes a first set of network controllers for (i) receiving a logical control plane definition of a logical switching element that couples to both a first set of network hosts in a first domain and a second set of network hosts in a second domain, (ii) translating the logical control plane definition of the logical switching element into a first set of flow entries in a first logical forwarding plane, and (iii) translating the first set of flow entries into a second set of flow entries in a second logical forwarding plane. The network control system includes a second set of network controllers in the first domain for (i) receiving a portion of the second set of flow entries and (ii) translating the portion of the second set of flow entries into a third set of flow entries in a physical control plane. |
| US09444647B2 |
Method for predelivery verification of an intended recipient of an electronic message and dynamic generation of message content upon verification
A device sending electronic messages first verifies the intended recipient of the message by sending a message beacon (101) comprising data uniquely identifying the electronic message and the electronic address of the intended recipient of the message to a receiving device. The receiving device verifies that the intended recipient is serviced by the receiving device and then replies to the sending device returning the message beacon (102). The sending device thereafter sends the electronic message to the intended recipient (103). The receiving device may also reply to the sending device with a verification reply including data related to the intended recipient (108). Upon consideration of the data, the sending device may alter the electronic message prior to forwarding, forward the message or determine to withhold the message. |
| US09444643B2 |
IP multicast over split plane wireless LAN
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing IP multicast over split plane wireless LAN. An access tunnel (AT) is defined as an IP multicast interface at a first network device. The AT is capable of communicating with a second network device that is an Internet Protocol (IP) multicast receiver, wherein a local Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) the first device serves the second network device's mobility VLAN. The first network device sends a query to the second network device over the AT and receiving, in response to the sending the query, a report. A data structure is built defining a multicast group membership from the report, and multicast data is forwarded in accordance with the data structure. |
| US09444641B2 |
MAC flush optimizations for ethernet rings
Techniques are identified for optimizing the MAC flush in Ethernet rings for faster traffic restoration. In one embodiment, flushing of MAC addresses is performed only once on receiving a first control message. For example, when a first control message is received, a network device may switch from a first state to a second state, which may indicate that the MAC addresses are not to be flushed if additional control messages are received. In another embodiment, flushing of MAC addresses is performed on one ring port rather than on both ring ports. For example, a flag field of a control message header may be used to determine on which port to flush. In another embodiment, flushing of MAC addresses is performed on only one ring port of an interconnection node. For example, the ring port can be determined using a flag field and possibly labels associated with the ring ports. |
| US09444639B2 |
Multi-tier wireless home mesh network with a secure network discovery protocol
An apparatus and method for a multi-tier wireless home mesh network is described. The method may include formation of an infrastructure-less wireless home mesh networking environment comprising a collection of nodes that operate as a decentralized, ad hoc wireless network with multiple sub-networks or tiers that, are responsible for different functions within the network. Each node of the multi-tier network is configured to forward data to other nodes and is assigned to a particular tier based on the node's performance capabilities. A further embodiment includes identification of a wireless home mesh network. Once identified, one or more proprietary messages may be exchanged in a secure manner to establish connections with a home electronics device as either a mobile node or a stationary node of the home network. A home electronics device may wirelessly communicate to route data within one or more nodes of the wireless home mesh network. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09444631B2 |
Certificates for low-power or low-memory devices
Compact certificate formats that may be used in a fabric or network between devices. The compact format includes a serial number field tagged with a tag of 1, a signature algorithm field tagged with a tag of 2, an issuer field tagged with a tag of 3, an encoded version of a public key tagged with a tag of A, and a signature field tagged with a tag of C. Each field includes the respective tags and corresponding values encoded in a tag-length-value (TLV) format, and each tag value is represented in hexadecimal. |
| US09444630B2 |
Visualization of trust in an address bar
Described are a system and method for presenting security information about a current site or communications session. Briefly stated, a browsing software is configured to receive a certificate during a negotiation of a secure session between a local device and a remote device. The certificate includes security information about a site maintained at the remote device. The security information is displayed to a user of the browsing software in a meaningful fashion to allow the user to make a trust determination about the site. Displaying the security information may include presenting a certificate summary that includes the most relevant information about the certificate, such as the name of the owner of the site and the name of the certificating authority of the certificate. |
| US09444629B2 |
Dual layer transport security configuration
A system includes a first computer processor that receives a data transmission from a second computer processor. The data transmission includes a client certificate authentication and a user-based authentication. If the incoming information cannot be authenticated by the client certificate in a first layer of the system landscape, then there is no further data transmission to a second layer. If the first layer can authenticate the client certificate authentication, the system landscape transmits the data transmission to the second layer. If the second layer cannot authenticate the user-based authentication, the system prevents the data transmission from being processed at the second layer. If the second layer can authenticate the user-based authentication, the system processes the data transmission at the second layer. |
| US09444628B2 |
Providing differential access to a digital document
In a method for providing differential access to a digital document among workflow participants, in which at least one of the workflow participants is outside of a common secure environment (300), a first set of keys including an encryption key, a signature key, and a verification key is associated with atomic unit(s) (304). The atomic unit(s) is encrypted using the encryption key and signed using the signature key (306, 308). A level of access to the atomic unit(s) to be granted to each of the workflow participants and the keys in the first set of keys to supply to each of the workflow participants based upon the identified level of access are identified (310, 312). In addition, each of the workflow participants is supplied with the identified one or more keys (314) and the encrypted and signed atomic unit(s) is supplied to a first workflow participant (316). |
| US09444626B2 |
Password processing device
A device to process information is provided. According to an embodiment, a display unit is configured to display computer-generated objects. A processor is configured to receive selection input effective to select a particular computer-generated object from amongst the computer-generated objects. Manipulation input corresponding to detected motions is received. The particular computer-generated object is moved and rotated in its entirety in response to the manipulation input and in accordance with the detected motions. Each of the detected motions has a corresponding time period. A password is generated using the detected motions and the time periods. A user is authenticated by use of the generated password and an identified unrevealed authentication. The authentication of the user includes an indication of an authentication failure when the detected motions are different from an expected input and any of the corresponding time periods are outside of an allowable time range. |
| US09444618B1 |
Defense against attacks on ring oscillator-based physically unclonable functions
Circuits and methods are disclosed for defending against attacks on ring oscillator-based physically unclonable functions (RO PUFs). A control circuit that is coupled to the RO PUF is configured to detect out-of-tolerance operation of the RO PUF. In response to detecting out-of-tolerance operation of the RO PUF, the control circuit disables the RO PUF, and in response to detecting in-tolerance operation, the control circuit enables the RO PUF. |
| US09444617B2 |
Single-wire transmission interface and single-wire transmission method and power supply system adopting single-wire transmission method
The present invention discloses a single-wire transmission method, which includes: providing a transmission signal including alternating high and low levels through a single-wire, wherein a period of one of the high and low levels defining a reference time and a period of the other of the high and low levels defining a content time; determining a relative relationship between the reference time and the content time; when the content time is smaller than a proportion of the reference time, defining the content time to express a first meaning; and when the content time is larger than the proportion of the reference time, defining the content time to express a second meaning. |
| US09444615B2 |
Low latency digital jitter termination for repeater circuits
A circuit for reducing jitter in a digital signal is provided, comprising a clock and data recovery stage operative to receive an input data signal and generate in response thereto a recovered data signal, a recovered clock signal, and an unfiltered interpolator code; a filter stage operative to receive the unfiltered interpolator code and generate in response thereto a filtered clock signal; and a memory component operative to receive the recovered data signal, the recovered clock signal, and the filtered clock signal; sample the recovered data signal using the recovered clock signal; store the resulting sampled bits; and generate an output data signal by selecting stored bits using the filtered clock signal. |
| US09444610B2 |
Method and device for detecting primary synchronization signal
A method for detecting a primary synchronization is provided. The method includes: obtaining a time-domain signal sequence for synchronization; obtaining a correlation result corresponding to the time-domain signal sequence; normalizing the correlation result according to a received signal strength indicator corresponding to the time-domain signals; and sorting the normalized correlation result to ascertain a peak value position corresponding to the correlation result. |
| US09444609B2 |
RF front end arrangement and method for sharing first and second antennas by different frequency bands
An RF front end arrangement comprises first filtering, second filtering, third filtering, fourth filtering and a switching arrangement. The switching arrangement is configured to selectively connect the filtering to plural antennas such that at a particular time the first and third filtering is connected to a first antenna and the second and fourth filtering is connected to a second antenna. This allows filtering with different frequency response characteristics to be in use simultaneously for the same frequency band. This can reduce the insertion loss associated with a signal path. |
| US09444607B2 |
Method and apparatus for protecting a primary service in WLAN system
A method and an apparatus for protecting a primary service as an unlicensed device in a regulatory domain where a licensed device and the unlicensed device are permitted to operate are disclosed. For protecting a primary service by a station as an unlicensed device in a regulatory domain where a licensed device and the unlicensed device are permitted to operate, the unlicensed device acquires a list of identified available channels for the operation of the unlicensed device and maximum allowed transmission powers of the identified available channels from a regulatory domain database system; generates a white space map (WSM) comprising the list of identified available channels and the maximum allowed transmission powers of the identified available channels; updates the WSM when the station acquires information that a primary service signal is detected on a specific channel which is indicated as available in the WSM; and transmits the updated WSM to another station such that the another station moves to another channel if the another station is operating on the specific channel. |
| US09444602B2 |
Control signaling transmission method, control signaling processing device, and terminal
A method for transmitting control signaling, an apparatus for processing control signaling and a terminal are provided. A base station transmits evolved control signaling to an evolved terminal on M downlink subframes in a radio frame, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than N, and N is the number of the downlink subframes in the radio frame. The above technical solution enhances basic control signaling of an LTE-series standard, reduces system overhead and terminal energy consumption, meets demands for future development of the industry, solves the problem of large system overhead and high terminal energy consumption due to the wireless communication standards, and meanwhile also gives sufficient consideration to backward compatibility of the system, and better meets demands of data users rapidly developing and future development of the wireless communications industry. |
| US09444600B2 |
Method and system of communication using dynamic modulation and coding schemes on wide band HF communication channels
A method and system of communication in a wide band high frequency HF communication system is disclosed. The system includes at least n communication channels, an interleaver common to the n communication channels, a means for determining the quality of communication of each of the n communication channels. At least the following information is introduced into the structure of the frame of the data at the level of an autobaud: an item of information about the modulation employed on each of the n communication channels chn, an item of information about the interlever common to the n communication channels, the corrector code FEC employed, the number of communication channels employed (n) as well as for each one its identifier idn. The modulation is chosen on channel n, a common coding and interleaving are operated on the n channels, and the information introduced in the shared autobaud is transmitted. |
| US09444595B2 |
Hybrid waveform design combining OFDM and cyclic prefix based single carrier for millimeter-wave wireless communication
Methods, systems, and devices are described for generating a hybrid waveform for data transmission between a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device may employ an OFDM processing technique to periodically transmit known first pilot symbols mapped from a signal constellation where each signal has equal energy during a first time period and a cyclic prefix based single-carrier (CP-SC) processing technique to transmit data packets and second known pilot symbols during a second time period. Channel estimation is based on first pilot symbols, which are inserted into all subcarriers of OFDM symbol blocks within a specific period. Channel estimation tracking is based on the second pilot symbols interleaved within data packets. The receiving device may be configured to estimate CSI based in part on first pilot symbols and to track the channel estimation based in part on the second pilot symbols in order to provide reliable data detection. |
| US09444593B2 |
Systems and methods for code sequence extension over transmission in wireless communication environments
A transmitter for transmitting signals to a receiver is provided. The transmitter generates a padded code sequence including a plurality of symbols with the last symbol being a duplication of the first symbol, and transmit the padded code sequence with the symbols therein respectively corresponding to a plurality of first sub-carriers to the receiver via an air interface using a first antenna in a time period. Also, the transmitter duplicates the padded code sequence and transmits the duplicated padded code sequence with the symbols therein respectively corresponding to a plurality of second sub-carriers to the receiver via the air interface using a second antenna in the time period. |
| US09444587B2 |
Incremental redundancy relays for wireless communication
Techniques for relaying transmissions in a wireless communication network are described. In one design, a relay may receive at least one assignment for a packet, which may be sent to the relay or intercepted by the relay. The relay may receive at least one transmission of a packet sent from a transmitter to a receiver. The relay may process the at least one transmission to decode the packet and may generate at least one additional transmission of the packet after correctly decoding the packet. The relay may send the at least one additional transmission of the packet to the receiver. The transmission(s) and the additional transmission(s) may be HARQ transmissions with different redundancy information for the packet. The transmitter may send transmissions until an acknowledgement (ACK) is received from the receiver or the relay. The relay may send additional transmissions until an ACK is received from the receiver. |
| US09444586B2 |
TTI-bundling and SPS operation in LTE TDD
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus receives a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) message indicating transmission of a first packet during a first period of a first hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process, and a configuration for TTI-bundled transmission. The apparatus transmits a first TTI-bundled packet on the first resources during the first period of the first HARQ process. The apparatus identifies second resources for transmitting a second TTI-bundled packet during a second period of the first HARQ process based on the SPS message. The apparatus determines whether to offset transmission of the second TTI-bundled packet to a period of a second HARQ process when at least one of the second resources for transmitting the second TTI-bundled packet overlaps with at least one resource used for retransmitting the first TTI-bundled packet according to the first HARQ process. |
| US09444585B2 |
Hybrid automatic repeat request with feedback dependent bit selection
A multi-bit HARQ feedback is transmitted by a receiver to a transmitter. The multi-bit feedback is a function of a level of convergence reached by a decoder when the previously transmitted coded data bits were decoded. The transmitter is configured to select a set of coded data bits for a retransmission as a function of the multi-bit feedback. In some embodiments, different redundancy versions of the coded data bits may be selected as a function of the multi-bit feedback. In other embodiments, a bit puncturing or bit repetition pattern may be selected as a function of the multi-bit feedback. |
| US09444583B2 |
Transmitted precoding indicator combining method, terminal and network-side device
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a precoding indicator combining method, a terminal and a network-side device. The method includes: receiving, by a terminal and from a network-side device, an offset position of a downlink fractional dedicated physical channel F-DPCH or a downlink dedicated physical channel DPCH of at least one cell, and an offset position of a downlink fractional transmitted precoding indicator channel F-TPICH of at least one cell; and determining, by the terminal, a transmitted precoding indicator TPI combining window of the cell, so that an effective position of a TPI is located at a timeslot boundary of the first uplink dedicated physical control channel DPCCH after an end boundary of the TPI combining window, thereby enabling a UE to use a timely TPI and improving demodulation performance of the UE for sending data. |
| US09444581B2 |
Integration of Viterbi algorithm with decision feedback equalization
A modified Viterbi algorithm, that integrates decision feedback equalization (DFE), is disclosed. The modified algorithm may be used especially for rate ½ coded transmissions through additive noise channels, where the additive noise is one-tap filtered noise. Each state in the presently-disclosed trellis holds an aggregate error and an aggregate weight of the winner path terminating at that state. Each branch of the trellis carries one or more aggregate errors, where each of the aggregate errors includes a contribution from the aggregate error of the branch's source state as well as a contribution from the difference between an expected symbol of the branch and a corresponding received symbol. |
| US09444579B2 |
Broadcast transmitter and method of processing broadcast service data for transmission
A method of processing broadcast data in a broadcast transmitter. The method can include randomizing broadcast service data, first encoding the randomized broadcast service data to add parity data to the randomized broadcast service data, second encoding the first-encoded broadcast service data at a code rate of D/E (D |
| US09444578B2 |
Method and apparatus of processing digital broadcasting signal in transmitter and receiver
A method of processing a digital broadcasting signal in a transmitter is provided. The method includes performing RS (Reed-Solomon) encoding on signaling data containing cross layer information between a physical layer and a upper layer, interleaving the RS encoded signaling data by writing the RS encoded signaling data row-by-row from left-to-right and top-to-bottom in a signaling data block and outputting the signaling data in the signaling data block by reading data column-by-column from top-to-bottom and left-to-right, and transmitting the digital broadcasting signal including the mobile service data and the interleaved signaling data during slots. |
| US09444573B2 |
Transmission device and optical transmission system
A transmission device that receives an optical signal on which a frequency modulated signal is superimposed includes: an optical filter configured to filter the optical signal; a filter controller configured to control a passband of the optical filter based on a change of power of the optical signal; and a signal detection unit configured to detect the frequency modulated signal based on the change of the power of the optical signal filtered by the optical filter. |
| US09444567B2 |
Method and apparatus for time synchronisation in wireless networks
A wireless media distribution system is provided comprising an access point (6) for broadcasting media and a plurality of stations (2) for reception and playback of media. Each station is configured for receiving and decoding a timestamp in a beacon frame transmitted repeatedly from the access point. This is used to control the output signal of a station physical layer clock (12) which is then used as a clock source for an application layer time synchronisation protocol. This application layer time synchronisation protocol can then be used in the station to control an operating system clock (8) for regulating playback of media. |
| US09444564B2 |
Selectively directing media feeds to a set of target user equipments
In an embodiment, a given UE joins a local group communication session between a group of UEs, establishes itself as a director, obtains media feeds captured by media capturing UEs in the group of UEs and transmits a selected subset of the media feeds to a server for transmission to target UEs. In another embodiment, the server receives the media feeds itself and sends the media feeds to a director UE. The director UE indicates a selection of the subset of the media feeds to the server, and the server transmits the selected subset of media feeds to the target UEs. Accordingly, a local director UE can direct the subset to the target UEs by controlling which media feeds are sent to the server, or a remote director UE can direct the subset to the target UEs by controlling which media feeds the server sends to the target UEs. |
| US09444556B1 |
Underwater acoustic array, communication and location system
An underwater communication system comprises a plurality of location and messaging units for sending and receiving ultrasonic energy through water. In accordance with one aspect, each of the location and messaging units comprising an array of transducers, a transceiver adapted to generate a code element, generate a data element, generate a modulation element, and combine the code element, the data element and the modulation element into an analog wave form. The system is further adapted to transmit the analog wave form through one of the ultrasonic transducers and receive the analog wave-form generated by at least one of the location and messaging units. |
| US09444552B2 |
Optical receiver module including plurality of photo detectors
An optical receiver module includes: a circuit board; a plurality of photo detectors mounted on a first surface of the circuit board; a plurality of amplifiers mounted on the first surface; a plurality of anode wiring patterns that are respectively formed between anode terminals of the photo detectors and the amplifiers on the first surface; a plurality of cathode wiring patterns that are respectively formed between cathode terminals of the plurality of photo detectors and the plurality of amplifiers on the first surface; and an electrode formed on a second surface of the circuit board or in an inner layer of the circuit board so as to include a region in which the plurality of cathode wiring patterns are formed. The plurality of cathode wiring patterns are respectively electrically connected to the electrode. |
| US09444547B2 |
Self-identifying one-way authentication method using optical signals
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a self-identifying optical transmitter for broadcasting a one-way authentication code using light-based communication. The transmitter may include a memory for storing an identifier of the transmitter, a processor for generating a data signal including an identifier of the transmitter, a modulator for receiving the data signal and generating an electrical signal, the modular generating the electrical signal by modulating the data signal. The transmitter may also include a light source for receiving the electrical signal, converting the electrical signal into an optical signal, and continuously broadcasting the optical signal as an optical data transmission stream. The optical data transmission stream may be used to verify that a receiving mobile device is near the transmitter. The transmitter may also include an optical surface for dispersing the optical data transmission stream as the optical data transmission stream is emitted from the transmitter. |
| US09444541B2 |
Pipe inspection system with wireless data transmission
An inspection system is provided, in particular, a pipe inspection system for inspection and/or cleaning of pipes, in particular, sewage pipes, whereby the inspection system comprises an inspection unit and a control unit, whereby the inspection system comprises a transmission-/reception means for wireless transmission of control and/or measurement data between the inspection unit and the control unit. Further, an inspection unit and a transmission-/reception unit suitable for this are provided. |
| US09444536B2 |
Precoding with a codebook for a wireless system
A base station used in a wireless communications system with multiple transmission ranks is disclosed. The base station comprises a memory to store a codebook for a transmission rank, a beamforming controller to precode data with a precoding matrix selected from the codebook, and a transmitter to transmit the precoded data to a user equipment, wherein the precoding matrix is selected according to a first description and a second description, which are unique to the precoding matrix, and wherein the second description provides a finer description of the codebook than the first description. Other methods, systems, and apparatuses also are disclosed. |
| US09444534B2 |
Apparatus and method for low complexity spatial division multiple access in a millimeter wave mobile communication system
A system is configured to perform Spatial Division Multiple Access. The system includes at least one transmitter or receiver capable of polarization alignment. The transmitter includes a baseband precoder configured to precode a signal, an array of sub-array antennas and a plurality of radio frequency (RF) chains. Each RF chain is coupled to a respective antenna sub-array of the array of antennas. The transmitter is configured to perform a method that includes precoding, by a baseband precoder, a signal for spatial division multiple access (SDMA). The method also includes applying, by each of the plurality of radio frequency (RF) chains, a phase shift and beamforming weight to the signal and transmitting the phase shifted and weighted signal by an array of sub-array antennas. |
| US09444528B2 |
Mobile device assisted coordinated multipoint transmission and reception
Idle mobile devices are used as cooperating devices to support coordinated multipoint transmission and reception for uplink and downlink communications between a primary mobile device and its serving base station. For uplink communications, the cooperating mobile devices receive the uplink transmission from the primary mobile device and retransmit the received data signal to the serving base station for the primary mobile device. For downlink communications, the cooperating mobile devices receive the downlink transmission from the serving base station and retransmit the received data signal to the primary mobile device. |
| US09444527B2 |
Radio communication system, radio base station apparatus, user terminal and radio communication method
To reduce overhead of CSI feedback without decreasing throughput in applying CoMP transmission, a radio communication method of the invention is characterized by including, in a user terminal measuring quality information for each of cells to perform Coordinated Multi-Point transmission, and notifying a radio base station apparatus of the quality information, in the radio base station apparatus calculating a quality difference between the cells to perform Coordinated Multi-Point transmission, by using the quality information for each the cells from the user terminal, determining granularity of inter-cell channel state information for each of the cells based on the quality difference, and notifying the user terminal of the granularity, and, in that the user terminal generating inter-cell channel state information for each of the cells according to the granularity from the radio base station apparatus, and transmitting the inter-cell channel state information for each of the cells to radio base station apparatuses of cells to perform Coordinated Multi-Point transmission. |
| US09444514B2 |
OTFS methods of data channel characterization and uses thereof
Fiber, cable, and wireless data channels are typically impaired by reflectors and other imperfections, producing a channel state with echoes and frequency shifts in data waveforms. Here, methods of using OTFS pilot symbol waveform bursts to automatically produce a detailed 2D model of the channel state are presented. This 2D channel state can then be used to optimize data transmission. For wireless data channels, an even more detailed 2D model of channel state can be produced by using polarization and multiple antennas in the process. Once 2D channel states are known, the system turns imperfect data channels from a liability to an advantage by using channel imperfections to boost data transmission rates. The methods can be used to improve legacy data transmission modes in multiple types of media, and are particularly useful for producing new types of robust and high capacity wireless communications using non-legacy OTFS data transmission methods. |
| US09444509B2 |
Non-blocking power management for on-package input/output architectures
An on-package interface. A first set of single-ended transmitter circuits on a first die. The transmitter circuits are impedance matched and have no equalization. A first set of single-ended receiver circuits on a second die. The receiver circuits have no termination and no equalization. A plurality of conductive lines couple the first set of transmitter circuits and the first set of receiver circuits. The lengths of the plurality of conductive lines are matched. |
| US09444507B2 |
Waterproof structure for use with electronic device
A waterproof structure for use with an electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a gap. The waterproof structure includes a casing and a waterproof gasket. The casing encloses a periphery of the electronic device. The waterproof gasket is clamped between the casing and the electronic device. The waterproof gasket includes a fixing portion fixed to the casing and a first abutting portion and a second abutting portion which extend from the fixing portion. The first abutting portion and the second abutting portion abut against two opposite sides of the gap of the electronic device, respectively. Hence, the waterproof structure prevents liquid from seeping into the electronic device through the gap or even so in case of jerks or vibrations. |
| US09444506B2 |
Waterproof case
A protective case for an electronic device may include a housing, a case cover and a gasket positioned between the housing and the case cover. The housing may include a case member, having a plurality of housing snap attachment structures formed therein. The case cover may likewise include case cover snap attachment structures formed thereon that couple with the housing snap fit structures. The gasket is positioned between planar surfaces of the case member and case cover so that it is axially compressed between the case member and the case cover to provide a water and air tight seal, with the compression of the gasket being maintained by the connection of the housing snap attachment structures and the case cover snap attachment structures. |
| US09444500B2 |
Modulation circuit of digital transmitter, digital transmitter, and signal modulation method
The present invention relates to a modulation circuit of a digital transmitter, a digital transmitter, and a signal modulation method. The modulation circuit includes: a first synchronizing circuit and a digital modulator, where the first synchronizing circuit separately perform phase delay on a first local-frequency signal or a second local-frequency signal to obtain corresponding delay signals, and perform phase adjustment on a digital baseband signal by using the delay signals, to generate a first adjusted signal and a second adjusted signal; and the digital modulator modulates the first adjusted signal by using the first local-frequency signal, to generate a first radio-frequency signal, and modulates the second adjusted signal by using the second local-frequency signal, to generate a second radio-frequency signal. |
| US09444496B2 |
Correctable parity protected memory
A correctable parity-protected memory system may include a parity-protected memory configured to hold dirty data, an error correction register configured to hold data, an exclusive-OR (XOR) circuit configured to exclusive-OR dirty data that is written into and removed from the parity-protected memory with the data in the error-correction register, and a controller. The controller may be configured to cause the results of the XOR circuit to accumulate in the error-correction register each time dirty data is written into and removed from the parity-protected memory, and, in response to detection of a fault in dirty data in the parity-protected memory, correct the fault based on the data in the error-correction register and dirty data in the parity-protected memory. |
| US09444494B2 |
Systems and methods for network coding using convolutional codes
A network coding method includes receiving a plurality of input packets each having a packet length. Encoding the plurality of input packets by applying a convolutional code across symbols in corresponding positions of the plurality of input packets obtaining a number of encoded packets. The number of encoded packets obtained being more than the number of input packets. |
| US09444490B2 |
Method of operating data compression circuit and devices to perform the same
A method of operating a data compression circuit includes receiving and storing a plurality of data blocks until a cache is full and writing the data blocks that have been stored in the cache to a buffer memory when the cache is full. The method also includes performing forced literal/literal encoding on each of the data blocks regardless of repetitiveness of each data block when the cache is full. |
| US09444484B2 |
Encoder signal processing circuit
An encoder signal processing circuit is connected to encoder heads outputting an encoder signal in accordance with a relative displacement with respect to a corresponding scale in such a way that signals can be transmitted to and received from the encoder heads, and processes encoder signals from the encoder heads. The circuit includes a processing unit and a processing decision unit. The processing unit generates displacement information from the encoder signal. The processing decision unit decides at least one of content of processing for the encoder heads and content of processing on encoder signals read from the encoder heads after starting to read an encoder signal from one of the encoder heads. |
| US09444482B2 |
Analog-to-digital converter
Improvement of conversion precision in an analog-to-digital converter is realized. Therefore, a voltage of a correction signal and a voltage obtained by attenuating the voltage with a fixed attenuation rate by an attenuation circuit 21 are generated and each voltage is input to an analog-to-digital conversion unit 23. A correction unit 20a receives a digital output from the analog-to-digital conversion unit 23, searches a correction coefficient Wi of each bit of the analog-to-digital conversion unit 23, based on an adaptive control algorithm, and corrects the digital output from the analog-to-digital conversion unit 23 using the searched correction coefficient Wi. |
| US09444481B1 |
Analog to digital converter
An analog to digital converter includes an analog input and a voltage comparator coupled to the analog input for comparing a voltage at the analog input to a digitally synthesized waveform. A digital to analog converter (DAC) generates the digitally synthesized waveform. The DAC includes a plurality of capacitors selectively connected in parallel wherein the period between the selection of capacitors is less than the settling time of the voltage across the capacitors. |
| US09444480B1 |
Radiation-hardened interleaved analog-to-digital converter circuits and methods of calibrating the same
An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes at least first thru third ADC slices configured to sample input signal and transmit first thru third digitally converted values thereof, at least one reference ADC slice configured to sample input signal and transmit a digitally converted reference value, first thru third and reference registers coupled to first thru third and reference ADC slices, respectively, a delay register having an input and output, and configured to produce a sample time adjustment signal, where the sample time adjustment signal facilitates adjustment of a phase of a next time sampling of the input signal by the second ADC slice, and a plurality of computational circuit elements coupled to the input, output, and the registers, and configured to determine values of an error, an approximate time derivative of the input signal estimated from the third, second and first sampled time point, and the sample time adjustment signal. |
| US09444478B2 |
Voltage regulator with load compensation
A voltage regulation system provides a relatively stable voltage source without introducing the typical costs of a ground buffer. The disclosed voltage regulation system includes a voltage regulator that is operative to detect a change of the load current and regulate a current bypass mechanism to stabilize a total supply current. For example, the voltage regulator includes a current sensor and a current compensation circuit. The current sensor is configure to generate a current compensation signal based on the load current change, whereas the current compensation circuit is configured to adjust a bypass current in response to the current compensation signal. As a result, the bypass current dynamically compensates the load current change such that the ground voltage of a variable load becomes relatively stable over a range of load currents. |
| US09444476B2 |
Atomic oscillator and interrogation method of coherent population trapping resonance
An atomic oscillator includes an alkali-metal cell in which alkali-metal atoms are enclosed, a light source which irradiates the atoms in the alkali-metal cell with laser beams, a photodetector which detects a light amount of the laser beams passing through the alkali-metal cell to enter the photodetector, and a controller which generates sidebands including a pair of laser beams with different wavelengths by performing frequency modulation of a carrier on the light source, causes the pair of laser beams with the different wavelengths to enter the alkali-metal cell, and controls a modulation frequency according to optical absorption characteristics of the atoms by quantum interference effects of a pair of resonance laser beams, wherein the side bands include second-order or higher-order sidebands. |
| US09444467B2 |
Oscillator, electronic device and moving object
An oscillator includes an oscillation element; an oscillation circuit which causes the oscillation element to oscillate; a heat generation element which heats the oscillation element; a temperature control circuit which controls the heat generation element; and a temperature correction circuit which corrects frequency-temperature characteristics of an output signal of the oscillation circuit. |
| US09444466B2 |
Method of adjusting frequency of resonation device and method of manufacturing resonation device
A method of adjusting a frequency of a resonation device including a resonator element and a heating element includes performing the frequency adjustment of the resonator element while heating the resonator element by the heating element. |
| US09444463B2 |
Voltage level shifter
A method for voltage level shifting comprises several steps. A data signal in a first voltage domain is received by a voltage level shifter. The received data signal is shifted to a second voltage domain by the voltage level shifter, where the voltage level shifter is configured as a function of the shifted data signal. The shifted data signal is outputted. |
| US09444460B1 |
Integrated circuits with programmable overdrive capabilities
Integrated circuits are provided with circuitry such as multiplexers that can be selectively configured to route different power supply voltages to different circuit blocks on the integrated circuits. The circuit blocks may contain memory elements that are powered by the power supply voltages and that provide corresponding static output control signals at magnitudes that are determined by the power supply voltages. The control signals from the memory elements may be applied to the gates of transistors in the circuit blocks. Logic on an integrated circuit may be powered at a given power supply voltage level. The memory elements may provide their output signals at overdrive voltage levels that are elevated with respect to the given power supply voltage level during high speed operation and may provide their output signals at relatively lower voltage levels that are less than the overdrive voltage during low power operation. |
| US09444458B2 |
Semiconductor device including inverter gate circuit with connection configuration switch circuit switching real values of gate width and gate length
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes: an inverter gate circuit which inverts and outputs a logic level of an input signal, the inverter gate circuit includes a constant current source and a switch unit which are connected in series between a first power supply wiring and a second power supply wiring, and, according to the control signal, the switch unit switches real values of a gate length and a gate width of a switch transistor configured by a transistor to which a current outputted from the constant current source is applied among a plurality of transistors. |
| US09444455B2 |
Load impedance adjustment for an interface of a data storage device
A data storage device includes a signal source. A load is responsive to the signal source. A method includes adjusting an impedance of the load to reduce an impedance mismatch between the signal source and the load. |
| US09444443B2 |
Gate driver, method of driving display panel using the same and display apparatus having the same
A gate driver includes a plurality of stages respectively outputting a plurality of gate output signals. An N-th stage of the gate driver (where N is a positive integer) includes a first input part, a second input part, a pull up part, a pull down part, a holding part and a stabilizing part. The first input part transmits a first clock signal to a second node in response to a signal at a first node. The second input part transmits an input signal to the first node in response to a second clock signal. The pull up part pulls up the gate output signal in response to a signal at the second node. The pull down part pulls down the gate output signal in response to the signal at the first node. The holding part maintains the signal at the second node in response to the first clock signal. The stabilizing part stabilizes the gate output signal in response to the signal at the second node and a third clock signal. |
| US09444436B2 |
Fully differential level conversion circuit
A fully differential level conversion circuit includes a positive signal branch, a negative signal branch and a coupling branch. The negative signal branch has identical structural features with the positive signal branch, which includes a drive terminal and a load terminal, an external fully differential signal is inputted to the drive terminals of the positive signal branch and the negative signal branch correspondingly. The coupling branch includes a first group of active couplers which forms a dual structure with the drive terminal of the positive signal branch and a second group of active couplers which form another dual structure with the drive terminal of the negative signal branch, both of which are connected between the drive terminals and load terminals. The fully differential level conversion circuit realizes applications in the signal processing process which has low power consumption and high-speed, and improves duty cycle of the output signal. |
| US09444431B2 |
Ultra-low-voltage current-reuse voltage-controlled oscillator and transconductance-capacitor filter
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an ultra-low voltage current reused voltage-controlled oscillator and transconductance-capacitor filter is provided. The circuit includes a voltage-controlled oscillator stacked atop a transconductance-capacitor filter. The voltage-controlled oscillator includes a node one, a node two, a node three, a node four, an inductance, a variable capacitor, a first switched element, a second switched element, a third switched element, and a fourth switched element. The transconductance-capacitor filter includes a first resistor, a second resistor, a fifth switched element, a sixth switched element, a seventh switched element, and an eighth switched element. |
| US09444426B2 |
Accoustic resonator having integrated lateral feature and temperature compensation feature
A bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator device includes a bottom electrode on a substrate over one of a cavity and an acoustic mirror, a piezoelectric layer on the bottom electrode, a top electrode on the piezoelectric layer, and a temperature compensation feature having positive temperature coefficient for offsetting at least a portion of a negative temperature coefficient of the piezoelectric layer. At least one of the bottom electrode and the top electrode includes an integrated lateral feature configured to create at least one of a cut-off frequency mismatch and an acoustic impedance mismatch. |
| US09444424B2 |
Polar-type low pass filter and demultiplexer equipped therewith
A polar-type low pass filter includes a low pass filter portion and first, second and third ground conductors, in a laminated body. The low pass filter portion includes parallel resonant circuits including first, second, third and fourth capacitors and inductors, in a series arm, and at least capacitors in a parallel arm thereof. Pattern conductors configuring the first, second, third and fourth capacitors face the first ground conductor and so forth, in a z-axis direction. |
| US09444421B2 |
Combiner circuit for a class-E outphasing power amplifier
Lumped-element based class-E Chireix combiners are disclosed that are equivalents of a quarter-wave transmission line combiner. The proposed class-E equivalent power amplifier circuits that are used can be derived from a parallel tuned class-E implementation. The proposed low-pass equivalents can behave similarly in terms of class-E performance, but absorb the 90 degree transmission line. |
| US09444420B2 |
Doherty amplifier with efficiency optimization
An amplifier comprises a main-amplifier circuit, an auxiliary-amplifier circuit and a signal-generating device. Output terminals of the main-amplifier circuit and of the auxiliary-amplifier circuit are connected according to the Doherty principle. The signal-generating device is configured to generate directly a main-amplifier signal as an input signal of the main-amplifier circuit and an auxiliary-amplifier signal as an input signal of the auxiliary-amplifier circuit. |