Document Document Title
US09456930B2 Topical vacuum-press surgical incisional dressings, surgical adjuncts, hybrids and composites
A negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressing includes a wick configured for placement over an incision. A transfer assembly includes a compressible, porous core with a permeable cover placed over the core. The transfer assembly is positioned on the wick in fluidic contact and is covered by a dressing cover, which is configured for adhesive attachment to the patient around the incision. A drain slip including a proximal end configured for placement in the incision extends through the wick and the transfer assembly and is configured for connection to a negative pressure source. A NPWT method includes steps of draining a closed incision using negative pressure applied to a drain slip.
US09456928B2 Wound dressing with vacuum reservoir
A wound dressing apparatus includes a wound dressing member dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed. The wound dressing member including an internal vacuum reservoir and has a port in communication with the vacuum reservoir for applying subatmospheric pressure to the vacuum reservoir to facilitate removal of fluid from the wound bed. The wound dressing member includes a visual pressure indicator associated therewith for indicating a level of pressure within the vacuum reservoir. The visual pressure indicator includes color indicia having a plurality of colors corresponding to a condition of the pressure within the vacuum reservoir. The wound dressing member includes a lower absorbent member positionable adjacent the wound bed and an upper member which at least partially defines the vacuum reservoir. At least one of the top member and the lower absorbent member has the visual pressure indicator mounted thereto.
US09456927B2 Image processor for intra-surgical optical coherence tomographic imaging of laser cataract procedures
A cataract surgical system includes a laser source to generate a first set of laser pulses; a guiding optic to guide the first set of laser pulses to a cataract target region in an eye; a laser controller to generate an electronic representation of a target scan pattern, and to control the guiding optic to scan the first set of laser pulses according to a portion of the target scan pattern to create a first photo-disrupted region in the cataract target region; and a Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomographic (SS-OCT) imaging system to generate an image of a portion of the first photo-disrupted region. The laser controller can generate an electronic representation of a modified scan pattern in relation to the image generated by the SS-OCT imaging system, and control the guiding optic to scan a second set of laser pulses according the modified scan pattern.
US09456917B2 Endoscopic transoral duodenal sleeve applier
A duodenal sleeve assembly comprises a sleeve, an expandable sealing member, a tether, and an expandable anchor. The sleeve is secured to the sealing member. The tether couples the anchor with the sealing member. A deployment instrument comprises a shaft assembly, a first retention member, and a second retention member. The first retention member selectively secures the sealing member to the shaft assembly. The second retention member selectively secures the anchor to the shaft assembly. When the first retention member is released, the sealing member expands outwardly to seal the proximal end of the sleeve against the mucosa of the patient's duodenum. When the second retention member is released, the anchor expands outwardly within the stomach to anchor the sleeve assembly relative to the stomach. The tether traverses the pylorus. The sleeve isolates chyme from enzymes in the duodenum; and the mucosa of the duodenum from nutrients in the chyme.
US09456916B2 Device for selectively reducing absorption of unhealthy food
This invention is a device and method for selectively and automatically reducing absorption of unhealthy food in a person's gastrointestinal tract, while allowing normal absorption of healthy food. In an example, such a device can comprise: a food-identifying sensor; an absorption-reducing substance; an implanted reservoir; and a release-control mechanism that selectively and automatically releases the substance into the person's gastrointestinal tract when the sensor detects that the person is consuming unhealthy food.
US09456915B2 Methods, devices, and systems for obesity treatment
Upon filling multiple inflatable chambers of a gastric balloon structure in a patient's stomach, the gastric balloon structure assumes a natural three-dimensional kidney shape of the gastric cavity. A flexible central spine may span a gap between two inflatable chambers and may include lumens for inflation of one or both chambers. The plurality of compartments, when in an inflated state, may form a cavity therebetween through which food may pass and may leave in a stomach a residual volume of 10 ml to 100 ml.
US09456914B2 Delivery device and method of delivery
A delivery device can include several different features including, at least: a shuttle and trigger retraction of an outer sheath; an interlock device to prevent actuation of the trigger; a retraction override switch and lock; and an inner shaft adjuster to ensure correct alignment of the inner shaft and the outer sheath prior to device deployment. The inner shaft adjuster may include, at least: a proximal portion of the handle housing having slots therethrough: pins operatively fixed to the inner shaft and extending through and slidable within the slots: and a cap having an inner helical groove that mates with the pins. Rotation of the cap may push the pins and the inner shaft in a proximal-distal direction. The cap may have a distal lip configured to accept a proximal extension of the interlock and retain it in a locked position until the inner shaft has been adjusted or moved.
US09456905B2 Continuous phase composite for musculoskeletal repair
A composite material for positioning in the anatomy to form a selected function therein. The composite may be resorbable over a selected period of time. The composite may allow for selected bone ingrowth as absorption of the composite occurs.
US09456901B2 Laser-produced porous structure
The present invention disclosed a method of producing a three-dimensional porous tissue in-growth structure. The method includes the steps of depositing a first layer of metal powder and scanning the first layer of metal powder with a laser beam to form a portion of a plurality of predetermined unit cells. Depositing at least one additional layer of metal powder onto a previous layer and repeating the step of scanning a laser beam for at least one of the additional layers in order to continuing forming the predetermined unit cells. The method further includes continuing the depositing and scanning steps to form a medical implant.
US09456900B2 Method and apparatus for harvesting cartilage for treatment of a cartilage defect
A method for treating a cartilage defect can include identifying an area of excessive boney growth on at least one of a femoral head and a femoral neck of a patient where the excessive boney growth area is covered with articular cartilage. A portion of the articular cartilage can be harvested from the identified area of excessive boney growth and an area of cartilage damage in an acetabulum of the patient can be identified. The harvested portion of the articular cartilage can be implanted into the identified area of cartilage damage in the acetabulum.
US09456899B2 Transcatheter prosthetic heart valve post-dilatation remodeling devices and methods
A system and method for restoring (e.g., replacing) a defective heart valve of a patient. A delivery system is manipulated to percutaneously deliver and implant a stented prosthetic heart valve to a native heart valve. A post-dilatation balloon is percutaneously delivered to the implantation site, and a compliant segment thereof is arranged within a region of the implanted prosthesis. The balloon is inflated such that the compliant segment expands and contacts the prosthesis, expanding a remodeling region of the prosthesis to a remodeled state. With these and related techniques, remodeling of an implanted, stented prosthetic heart valve to better match the native valve shape is possible, providing many benefits such as reducing the risk of paravalvular leaks.
US09456893B2 Engineered tissue implants and methods of use thereof
A engineered tissue implant comprising a perfusion chamber formed with a biocompatible flexible tubular member having a wall defining an internal fluid flow passage and a porous scaffold within the fluid flow passage of the tubular member, the porous scaffold arranged such that, in a presence of a perfusion fluid, the perfusion fluid will flow through the porous scaffold and be inhibited from flow between the porous scaffold and the wall of the tubular member. The engineered tissue implant may be understood as a transplantable cell construct or as an implantable bioreactor for cell growth both in vitro and/or in vivo. A method to provide tissue for reconstruction may comprise forming the engineered tissue implant containing a scaffold, introducing and seeding cells to the scaffold, introducing a perfusion fluid to the scaffold which flows through the fluid flow passage and scaffold, proliferating the cells within the scaffold and forming blood vessels within the scaffold. This may be followed by transplanting the engineered tissue implant in vivo where nutrition and oxygen are provided to support the preloaded cells.
US09456890B2 Scaffold for bone and tissue repair in mammals
A mammalian tissue scaffold and method for making a tissue scaffold including a rigid scaffold body of biocompatible glass fibers bonded together and in special alignment to define open channels within the scaffold to allow fluid flow into and within the scaffold.
US09456887B1 Inflatable hernia patch
A patch for repairing an intra-abdominal defect is disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including a mesh layer providing a grid of material perforated by apertures through the mesh. This mesh is used to reinforce an area around an intra-abdominal defect. A containment layer is secured proximate an edge of the mesh layer. A filler is distributed across the apertures of the mesh to contain a fluid from passing through the mesh. The mesh layer, containment layer, and filler are connected to form a chamber to selectively expand upon receipt of a quantity of fluid between the containment layer and the filler.
US09456885B2 Ergonomic semi-automatic rotatable toothbrush apparatus
Embodiments include a toothbrush apparatus including an ergonomic handle portion having an axis. The apparatus also includes semi-automatic rotatable bristles disposed in a removable brush block. The apparatus further includes a brush block disposed at a proximal end of a brush block arm and a rotatable brush block arm disposed in a proximal end of a coupling joint. An axis of the brush block arm is angled between 90° to 120° with respect to the axis of the ergonomic handle portion. The coupling joint is coupled at a distal end to a rotor portion configured for rotation about the axis of the ergonomic handle portion. The coupling joint is configured as a double Cardan joint.
US09456884B2 Device for the generative manufacturing of three-dimensional components
The invention relates to a device for producing products having individual geometries, comprising a substrate carrier device, a material application device for applying material, preferably above the substrate carrier device, which material application device can be moved relative to the substrate carrier device, and a control device which is coupled to the material application device for signaling. According to the invention, the material application device is coupled to an input interface for signaling and for selection of a first or a second application mode, the control device and the application device being designed such as to produce, in the first application mode, a three-dimensional product on the surface of a substrate plate by way of an additive production method, said substrate plate being connected to the substrate carrier device. According to the additive production method, a curable material is applied in consecutive layers, one or more predetermined regions are selectively cured after or during each application of a layer, the predetermined regions being bonded to one or more regions of the underlying layer. The predetermined region(s) is/are predetermined by a cross-section geometry of the product in the respective layer and is/are stored in the control device, and the curable material is applied in a plurality of consecutive layers to produce the three-dimensional product. The control device and the application device are further designed such that in the second mode of application one or more colors are applied to predetermined regions of a print substrate material connected to the substrate carrier device to produce a monochrome or polychrome print.
US09456882B2 Impressionless dental modeling systems and methods
Dental systems and methods related to impressionless dental modeling. A dental modeling system includes a dental model base and a mounting plate. The dental model base includes a plate support surface and a plurality of pin receiving apertures formed in the support surface. The mounting plate includes a plate portion positioned on the plate support surface and a plurality of pins extending into the pin receiving apertures to provide removable attachment of the mounting plate to the dental model base. The plate portion includes a model support surface configured to support a model of a person's teeth. The model may be formed directly on the model support surface using an impressionless technique. The model may be formed separately using an impressionless technique and then bonded to the model support surface.
US09456881B1 Dental attachment assembly
A dental attachment assembly has an abutment portion at the proximal end of a one-piece dental implant (an “abutment portion”), or is an abutment for attachment to a dental implant or to a bar joining two or more dental implants, and a two-part assembly including a metal cap for placement in/attachment to a dental appliance. The cap includes a flanged skirt that projects from the top surface of the cap. A second part, a plastic insert, snaps firmly inside the cap.
US09456876B2 Device for connecting conventional or laparoscopic instruments to a robot
To connect conventional or laparoscopic instruments to a robot that can be used for medical applications, there can be a device that has a first and a second circular cylinder segment having a continuous center bore is connected with the angled first segment affixed to the free end of a robot arm. This connection can be by way of an articulated joint that can be rotated by 180°. On one end surface of the second segment, there can be a third segment in the form of a flange, having a bore that is coaxial with the continuous center bore in the second segment. There is also a rolling joint which can be used to allow the device to rotate. Around the bore of the flange, there can be supply technology and data technology connection elements and a locking mechanism for coupling end effectors on and off.
US09456874B2 Grid patterned alignment plate for imaging apparatus and method of providing implant placement
A computer implemented system for adjusting the placement of an implant in a patient through the use of a dimensioned grid template placed relative to patient anatomy on a fluoroscopic machine and a method to digitally quantify alignment parameters is provided. This system can be used for determining: 1) leg length, offset, and cup position during arthroplasty replacement surgery; 2) fracture reduction/correction position during trauma procedures and 3) an apparatus to be used for deformity correction planning is provided; 4) placement and positioning of instruments and implants relative to bone and anatomical architecture; 5) bone anatomy boundary parameter identification relative to reaming and cutting landmarks of bone.
US09456873B2 System and method for performing surgical procedures with a reusable instrument module
A surgical instrument includes an outer housing shell defining a cavity. The outer housing shell defines an upper outer housing half and a lower outer housing half. The upper outer housing half defines a longitudinal axis. An instrument module is selectively insertable into the cavity of the outer housing shell. The instrument module includes an inner housing shell, at least one motor disposed within the inner housing shell, a control board being in electrical communication with the at least one motor, and an energy source being in electrical communication with the at least one motor and the control board. The instrument module is inserted into the cavity of the outer housing shell in such a manner that the operative axis of the at least one motor is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the upper outer housing half.
US09456869B2 Methods for bilateral renal neuromodulation
Methods and apparatus are provided for bilateral renal neuromodulation, e.g., via a pulsed electric field, via a stimulation electric field, via localized drug delivery, via high frequency ultrasound, via thermal techniques, etc. Such neuromodulation may effectuate irreversible electroporation or electrofusion, necrosis and/or inducement of apoptosis, alteration of gene expression, action potential attenuation or blockade, changes in cytokine up-regulation and other conditions in target neural fibers. In some embodiments, neuromodulation is applied to neural fibers that contribute to renal function. In some embodiments, such neuromodulation is performed in a bilateral fashion. Bilateral renal neuromodulation may provide enhanced therapeutic effect in some patients as compared to renal neuromodulation performed unilaterally, i.e., as compared to renal neuromodulation performed on neural tissue innervating a single kidney.
US09456863B2 Surgical instrument with switch activation control
A surgical instrument includes a housing and an elongated shaft operably coupled to an actuating mechanism moveable between an actuated position and an unactuated position. An end effector includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members and is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy. A switch is moveable between an activated position to initiate delivery of electrosurgical energy to the end effector and a deactivated position to terminate delivery of electrosurgical energy to the end effector. A switch activation member is configured to move the switch between an activated position and a deactivated position. A switch control member is configured to maintain the switch in the activated position during at least partial movement of the actuating mechanism from the actuated position to the unactuated position.
US09456858B2 Bone plates, screws and instruments
Systems for trauma and/or joint fusion implants and instruments include transarticular screw and intra-articular washer, polyaxial screw and plate, single- and multi-level polyaxial bone clamps, and minimally invasive adaptations.
US09456856B2 Intrabody osteotomy implant and methods of use
An intrabody implant disclosed and methods of use are disclosed. The implant has an inclined surface, forming a wedge shape having an acute angle adapted to be placed between at least 2 separated portions of a single bony structure (such as a vertebral body). In some embodiments, the implant may be used to support portions of a vertebral body that have been separated surgically as part of a pedicle subtraction osteotomy and to orient the portions at a more predictable lordotic angle.
US09456855B2 Method of placing an implant between bone portions
Devices and methods for placing an implant between two bone portions are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method comprises disposing a portion of a flexible member through a first bone portion, through an aperture in a trial implant, and through a second bone portion. The trial implant can be withdrawn to enable an implant to be coupled to the flexible member. The method includes applying tension to the flexible member to urge the implant into the space between two bone portions. In some embodiments, the two bone portions are facets.
US09456850B2 Spinal implant locking member with improved guidance, tactile and visual feedback
An implant having a receiver that is adapted to receive a polyaxial screw in the bore and either an internal or external cap. The cap can be an external or internal cap and the implant further has at least one locking aid in the form of at least one of a tactile feedback, a visual feedback or an enhanced fixation between the cap and a rod that is received in the receiver.
US09456848B2 External fixators
A resilient external fixator between first and second bone portions includes a spring 11 of axis 12, a body 14, elements 15 for mounting the body to co-operate with the spring, a pin 16 fastened to the first bone and passing through the spring, a second body 22 including a base 122 and a projecting portion 44 that is secured to the base, one end 47 of the helical spring being mounted in co-operation about the projecting portion, and elements 24 for connecting the body with the bone portion O2 and the helical spring. The projecting portion presents a section that increases in continuous manner from its free end 48 until it reaches its end 46, the end 47 of the spring having an inside section that is greater than the section of the free end 48 and less than the cross-section of the end 46.
US09456843B2 Tissue-removing catheter including angular displacement sensor
A tissue-removing catheter for removing tissue from a body lumen includes a tissue-removing element. The tissue-removing element may be coupled to a first longitudinal portion of the catheter body. An angular-displacement sensor may be coupled to the catheter body for detecting an angular displacement of at least the first longitudinal portion of the catheter body relative to the rotational axis when the first longitudinal body portion is rotated about the rotational axis. The tissue-removing element may be rotatable about a rotational axis to adjust an angular tissue-removing position of the tissue-removing element relative to the body lumen when the catheter body is inserted in the body lumen. An angular-displacement sensor may be generally adjacent the tissue-removing element for detecting an angular displacement of the tissue-removing element relative to the body lumen when the tissue-removing element is rotated about the rotational axis.
US09456842B2 Wire-guided recanalization system
A recanalization catheter assembly for recanalization of an occluded blood vessel is disclosed. The recanalization catheter assembly includes an elongate shaft having a tubular portion, a guide member, and a rotary ablation tool. The tubular portion includes a distal opening, from where the rotary ablation tool extends distally. The guide member extends distal of the distal opening and includes a guidewire lumen to receive a guidewire therethrough. The guide member is configured to advance over the guidewire in a subintimal space between a first tissue layer and a second tissue layer of a wall of the blood vessel, while the rotary ablation tool is advanced in a true lumen of the blood vessel.
US09456839B2 Scissor bias for direct pull surgical instrument
A surgical end effector includes a clevis having a first end to be supported by an elongated tube-like member and two jaws, each having a pivot portion and a working portion. The pivot portions are rotatably coupled to the clevis by two spaced apart pivots. The working portions may include a cutting edge that provide a shearing action as the first and second jaws rotate about their respective pivots. The pivot portion and the working portion of each jaw may be on opposite sides of a bisecting plane. A flexible cable or wire may be coupled to each jaw and extend through a guide way in the other jaw, between the first and second pivots, and through the first end of the clevis. One or more springs may urge the working portions together. A rocking pin pivotally supported by the clevis may constrain the jaws to have opposite motions.
US09456837B1 Device and method for minimally invasive tendon sheath release using device with retractable blade and hemi-cannula
A device and method for minimally invasive tendon sheath release is presented herein. The device and method enables a surgeon to cut (“open”) a pulley that is obstructing a nodule and keeping a tendon from sliding smoothly. A guide probe of the device is inserted through a small incision and is used to find the edge of the pulley. Once found, the probe is guided to an end of the pulley. Proper placement of the device may be confirmed through the use of ultrasound. After proper position is assured, a hemi-cannula may be moved over the guide probe to isolate the pulley from the surrounding tissue. A retractable cutting shaft is then used to sever the pulley. A dilation device may be inserted prior to the insertion of the spherical tipped guide probe to dilate the area.
US09456829B2 Powered tissue modification devices and methods
A device for modifying tissue in a spine may include: a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion having dimensions which allow it to be passed into an epidural space of the spine and between target and non-target tissues; at least one distal force application member extending from the distal portion of the shaft and configured to facilitate application of at least one of anchoring force and tensioning force to the shaft; at least one movable tissue modifying member coupled with the shaft at or near its distal portion; at least one drive member coupled with the at least one tissue modifying member to activate the at least one tissue modifying member; and at least one power transmission member coupled with the at least one drive member to deliver power to the at least one drive member.
US09456819B2 Biodegradable apparatus and method for closure of trocar defects
A biodegradable device for providing scaffolding for a trocar defect to promote healing. The device consists of an upper and lower scaffold, offset by a connector. The device is arranged so the distance between the lower surface of the upper scaffolding and upper surface of the lower scaffolding holds the fascia around the trocar defect while promoting tissue growth. The surfaces of the scaffolding in contact with the trocar defect are textured to maximize adherence to tissue.
US09456817B2 Methods and devices for spinal correction
An expandable trial can include an inferior portion, a superior portion, and a middle expanding portion as well as load cells for monitoring the load on the trial. The trial may also include recesses on its lateral sides to provide spacing to accommodate a disc removal tool so tissue can be cleared monitoring load. In addition, neural foramen spacing can be monitoring to provide information about how much neural release has been achieved as the disc is cleaned and the spine is positioned and repositioned.
US09456816B2 Closure device, deployment apparatus, and method of deploying a closure device
The present invention relates a closure device implant for sealing an opening formed through biological tissue including a plug, a rigid wire including a plastically deformable portion configurable between an unrestrained position and a restrained position relative to the plug, wherein a distal end of the wire is substantially spherically shaped, and a footplate attached to the wire, wherein the footplate comprises an elongated plate portion including a wire channel. The present invention also relates to a closure device deployment device including an elongated housing, a sheath assembly connected to the housing, and at least two sliding members slidably connected to the housing.
US09456814B2 Closure devices, systems, and methods
An anchor assembly configured to locate and anchor body tissue surrounding an opening in the body tissue. The anchor assembly can include a plurality of anchor elements. Each anchor element can include an elongate portion and an anchor portion extending from the elongate portion. The elongate portion can be configured to be manipulated by a user. The anchor portion can have a contracted configuration capable of passing through the opening in the body tissue and can have an expanded configuration capable of anchoring the body tissue surrounding the opening. The anchor portion and the elongate portion can be integrally formed from a single wire.
US09456811B2 Vascular closure methods and apparatuses
A vascular closure device comprised of a sheath-delivered cincture or noose-like device or knot comprised of suture, wire, or other suitable materials, that is placed on the external surface of a puncture wound, and closed. The vascular closure cincture is delivered by a sheath, and after closing is left resident on the external surface of a tissue puncture wound.
US09456809B2 Tissue sample flushing system for biopsy device
A method for operating a biopsy device to acquire at least one tissue sample from a body of a living being, including retracting a sample-receiving device through a hollow needle to a sample removal position, a tissue sample being simultaneously transported to the sample removal position by the sample-receiving device; operatively connecting a liquid supply unit to a cavity of the sample-receiving device when the sample-receiving device is at the sample removal position; and delivering a lateral flow of a flushing liquid from the liquid supply unit to the cavity of the sample-receiving device to facilitate a lateral tissue sample ejection from the cavity.
US09456805B2 System and method for acquiring optoacoustic data and producing parametric maps using interframe persistent artifact removal
The quality of a parametric map is improved based upon information contained in optoacoustic images. Frames are acquired by a multi-wavelength optoacoustic imaging system. A first sub-set including uncorrelated frames from a first wavelength is generated. A first interframe artifact estimate is generated. The first artifact estimate is applied to a frame from a first wavelength to mitigate the interframe persistent artifact in the frame, creating a first processed frame. A second sub-set including uncorrelated frames from a second wavelength is generated. A second interframe artifact estimate is generated. The second artifact estimate is applied to a frame from the second wavelength to mitigate the artifact in the frame from the second wavelength, creating a second processed frame. A parametric map is generated from information in the first processed frame and information in the second processed frame.
US09456803B2 Ultrasonic probe and ultrasonic inspection apparatus
An ultrasonic probe includes a substrate, a diaphragm, a thin-film piezoelectric element, a communication passage, and an air hole. The substrate has first and second cavities thereon. The diaphragm is configured at the first cavity. The thin-film piezoelectric element is configured to the diaphragms. The communicating passage is configured in the substrate and extending from the first cavity to the second cavity. The air hole extends between the communicating passage to an outside of the substrate.
US09456801B2 Biological testing device
An ultrasonic probe includes an ultrasonic transducer, a liquid filled section filled with a liquid, a contact section, and a flexible section. The contact section includes a deformable resin material, is positioned outside the ultrasonic transducer, and forms a portion of the liquid filled section. The flexible section includes the deformable resin material and forms a portion of the liquid filled section. The ultrasonic transducer is configured to transmit ultrasonic waves through the contact section.
US09456798B2 Methods and apparatus for individually optimizing uniform contrast enhancements in computed tomography imaging
A method is provided for optimizing a contrast injection function for CT imaging. The method includes injecting, with an injector pump, a test bolus of a contrast agent into a subject. The method also includes computing, on a processor, an impulse enhancement function. The method also includes determining, on a processor, a target enhancement function for a region of interest. The method also includes determining, with a processor, a plurality of parameters for a functional form for a contrast injection function in a time domain. The method also includes determining for the contrast injection function a constraint. The method also includes determining, with a processor, particular values for the plurality of parameters, which satisfy the constraint and minimize a difference between a value of an enhancement function and the target enhancement function computed in the time domain at discrete time periods without use of a Fourier transform.
US09456796B2 X-ray imaging apparatus and method of controlling the same
Disclosed herein are an X-ray imaging apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generator configured to radiate first-energy X-rays toward an object, an X-ray detector configured to detect the first-energy X-rays which propagate through the object, an image processor configured to generate a first object image which correspond to the detected first-energy X-rays and to estimate a second object image which corresponds to second-energy X-rays based on the generated first object image, and a controller configured to control the image processor to repeatedly estimate the second object image by controlling the X-ray generator to repeatedly radiate the first-energy X-rays toward the object.
US09456788B2 Image processing device, method and non-transitory storage medium
At least one of the common regions in time-sequence images is specified. Then, the time-sequence images are adjusted such that the position of that common region in at least one image among the time-sequence images is adjusted to the position of that common region in a different image. Then, the new adjusted time-sequence images are subjected to video compression processing.
US09456784B2 Method and apparatus for providing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to a patient
Apparatus for applying Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to a patient, the apparatus including a head mount for disposition on the head of a patient; and a plurality of magnet assemblies for releasable mounting on the head mount, wherein each of the magnet assemblies includes a magnet for selectively providing a rapidly changing magnetic field capable of inducing weak electric currents in the brain of a patient so as to modify the natural electrical activity of the brain of the patient; wherein the number of magnet assemblies mounted on the head mount, their individual positioning on the head mount, and their selective provision of a rapidly changing magnetic field is selected so as to allow the spatial, strength and temporal characteristics of the magnetic field to be custom tailored for each patient, whereby to provide patient-specific TMS therapy, to assist in diagnosis or to map out brain function in neuroscience research.
US09456781B2 Action detection and activity classification
Activities, actions and events during user performance of physical activity may be detected using various algorithms and templates. Templates may include an arrangement of one or more states that may identify particular event types and timing between events. Templates may be specific to a particular type of activity (e.g., types of sports, drills, events, etc.), user, terrain, time of day and the like.
US09456780B2 Dynamic therapy delivery system
Systems for delivery of therapeutic agents and related methods are disclosed. A sensing system is configured to detect a chemical in the vicinity of a patient and transmit a signal to a controller upon detection. A controller is configured to release a therapeutic agent which is transported to the site of interest. The controller communicates with an electronic medical records database, an alarm and a nurse call system.
US09456778B2 Method of detecting signal clipping in a wearable ambulatory medical device
A wearable medical device and method of detecting clipping of ECG signals is disclosed. In one embodiment, the wearable medical device comprises a plurality of ECG sensing electrodes configured to sense an ECG of a patient and an ECG acquisition circuit electrically coupled to a pair of the plurality of ECG sensing electrodes and configured to provide an amplified and conditioned analog ECG signal, a programmable attenuation/gain stage electrically coupled between a first gain stage and a second gain stage, an ADC electrically coupled to the ECG acquisition circuit to receive and digitize the amplified and conditioned analog ECG signal and provide a digitized ECG signal, and a signal conditioning and control unit electrically coupled to the ECG acquisition circuit and the ADC to receive and monitor the digitized ECG signal and to detect clipping of the amplified and conditioned analog ECG signal based upon the digitized ECG signal.
US09456777B2 Systems, methods, and devices for assessing microbiota of skin
Devices, systems, and methods for assessing microbiota of skin are described which include: a skin-covering material with an inner surface conforming in shape to a topography of a skin surface and including a plurality of specific microbe-binding elements; an image capture device to capture an image of the inner surface of the skin-covering material and to transform the image into a digital output including information associated with at least one property and a spatial distribution of at least one type of microbe bound to the specific microbe-binding elements; and a computing device including circuitry configured to receive the digital output from the image-capture device, compare the at least one property of the at least one type of microbe bound to the specific microbe-binding elements with a database of reference microbe properties, and generate a digital profile including the at least one property and the spatial distribution of the at least one type of microbe bound to the specific microbe-binding elements.
US09456776B2 Detection method of life activity, measuring device of life activity, transmission method of life activity detection signal, or service based on life activity information
According to a measuring method or a control method of life activity, a life object is illuminated with an electromagnetic wave including a wavelength in a designated waveband, and a characteristic in a local area of the life object is detected, or a life activity thereof is controlled. The “designated waveband” is defined based on phenomena used for detecting or controlling an activity state of the life object or a change of the state. This “local area” is an area constituted by one or more cells.
US09456775B2 Passive safety I.V. blood collection catheter
Apparatus and methods for a single, handheld device that provides for both insertion of a catheter and collection of a fluid. Some embodiments further include a needle that assists in the insertion of the catheter into a blood vessel, and which includes a retraction feature that protects the user from an accidental needle stick when the device is ready for disposal. Still further embodiments include a protective cover that prevents a user from accidentally being stuck by a second needle used for the introduction of the patient's blood into a collection device.
US09456773B2 Method for spectrophotometric blood oxygenation monitoring
According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for non-invasively determining the blood oxygen saturation level within a subject's tissue is provided. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing a spectrophotometric sensor operable to transmit light into the subject's tissue, and to sense the light; b) detecting light after passage through the subject's tissue using the sensor, and producing initial signal data from the light sensed; c) calibrating the sensor to that particular subject using the initial signal data, thereby accounting for the specific physical characteristics of the particular subject's tissue being sensed; and d) using the calibrated sensor to determine the blood oxygen parameter value within the subject's tissue.
US09456772B2 Non-invasive ocular analyte sensing system
A noninvasive method and apparatus for determining analyte concentration (e.g., glucose) in a subject that includes measuring light refraction from at least a portion one or more structures. One example of such structure is the subject's iris.
US09456770B2 Device for determining biological state during driving and computer program
A device determining a biological state of a driver more accurately, including a hypnagogic symptom phenomenon detecting mechanism, an imminent sleep phenomenon detecting mechanism, a subjective sleepiness/low consciousness traveling state detecting mechanism, and a homeostasis function level determining mechanism, which are configured to function in parallel. Therefore, detection of a hypnagogic symptom phenomenon or an imminent sleep phenomenon, or detection of a period resisting a light sleepiness mild sleepiness or a strong sleepiness which occurs consciously, or the case where a low consciousness traveling state due to a decrease in consciousness level momentarily occurs or the case where it occurs longer continuously, or the like, can be determined/detected, and the driver's biological state can be accurately determined.
US09456766B2 Apparatus for use with needle insertion guidance system
A guidance system for assisting with the insertion of a needle into a patient body is disclosed. The guidance system utilizes ultrasound imaging or other suitable imaging technology. In one embodiment, the guidance system comprises an imaging device including a probe for producing an image of an internal body portion target, such as a vessel. One or more sensors are included with the probe. The sensors sense a detectable characteristic related to the needle, such as a magnetic field of a magnet included with the needle. The system includes a processor that uses data relating to the sensed characteristic to determine a 3-D position of the needle. The system includes a display for depicting the position of the needle. The needle can include a donut-shaped magnet disposed about the needle cannula, or a removable stylet with a magnetic element and a strain gauge for detection of the needle distal tip.
US09456765B2 Systems and methods for measuring parameters in joint replacement surgery
A computer-assisted surgery system includes a display, an input device configured to receive data input by a user, and a processor, coupled to the input device and the display. The processor is configured to establish a first position of a pre-operative center of rotation of a joint in a first coordinate space of a first bone and a second coordinate space of a second bone and establish a second position of the pre-operative center of rotation of the joint in the first coordinate space, wherein the second position is a projection into the first coordinate space of the position of the pre-operative center of rotation maintained in a constant position in the second coordinate space. The processor is further configured to determine a change in a parameter associated with the joint based on the first and second positions and output a result indicating the determined change to the display.
US09456763B2 Apparatus and method for simultaneous capture of biopotential and tissue impedance signals
A medical device and associated method acquire a biopotential signal from a pair of electrodes at a first sampling rate and a bioimpedance signal from the pair of electrodes at a second sampling rate. An onset and/or offset of the drive signal delivered to the pair of electrodes for acquiring the bioimpedance signal is synchronized to the first sampling rate.
US09456756B2 System for detection of blood pressure using a pressure sensing guide wire
A guide wire has a distal end incorporating a coil and a capacitive element that form a resonance circuit with a resonance frequency that is responsive to the pressure of blood external to the guide wire. The resonance frequency can be detected wirelessly, or through two contacts at the proximal wire end, or through one brush contact located inside an insertion sheath and a ground electrode. Wireless detection can be implemented via a second resonance circuit, and electronics for determining the frequency when the first and second circuits are in resonance with each other.
US09456752B2 Full-field three-dimensional surface measurement
Embodiments of the present invention may be used to perform measurement of surfaces, such as external and internal surfaces of the human body, in full-field and in 3-D. Embodiments of the present invention may include an electromagnetic radiation source, which may be configured to project electromagnetic radiation onto a surface. The electromagnetic radiation source may be configured to project the electromagnetic radiation in a pattern corresponding to a spatial signal modulation algorithm. The electromagnetic radiation source may also be configured to project the electromagnetic radiation at a frequency suitable for transmission through the media in which the radiation is projected. An image sensor may be configured to capture image data representing the projected pattern. An image-processing module may be configured to receive the captured image data from the image sensor and to calculate a full-field, 3-D representation of the surface using the captured image data and the spatial signal modulation algorithm. A display device may be configured to display the full-field, 3-D representation of the surface.
US09456751B2 System and method for voice control of medical devices
A diagnostic system includes a sensor configured to generate signals associated with physiological parameters, a proximity sensor, a positioning sensor, and a software application configured to operate on a control system adapted to receive and process physiological information including a touch-screen, a mechanical system having actuators, and a wireless transmitter to transmit data over a wireless link to a host. The software application is operable to generate the physiological information using the signals from the sensor. The control system receives voice and manually entered input signals. The host generates status information from the date and includes a memory storage device for recording the status information and a communication device for communicating the status information over a communication link to one or more display output devices located remotely from the host.
US09456745B2 Fundus observation apparatus and fundus image analyzing apparatus
In a fundus observation apparatus, an optical system detects interference light generated by superposing signal light having traveled by way of an eye fundus and reference light having traveled by way of a reference optical path. An image forming part forms a cross sectional image based on detection results of the interference light. A specifying part analyzes the cross sectional image to specify an abnormal region located in the vicinity of central fovea of the eye fundus. The association information generating part calculates the distance between the central fovea and the abnormal region and generates association information in which the direction of the abnormal region relative to the central fovea and the distance are associated with each other. The evaluation information generating part generates evaluation information for evaluating the state of the eye fundus based on the association information.
US09456744B2 Apparatus for eye tracking
An eye tracker having a waveguide for propagating illumination light towards an eye and propagating image light reflected from at least one surface of an eye, a light source optically coupled to the waveguide, and a detector optically coupled to the waveguide. Disposed in the waveguide is at least one grating lamina for deflecting the illumination light towards the eye along a first waveguide path and deflecting the image light towards the detector along a second waveguide path.
US09456743B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method
An image processing apparatus configured to process a tomographic image indicating the polarization state of a subject, includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of the tomographic images imaged at different times, an extraction unit configured to extract each depolarized area from the plurality of the tomographic images, and a display control unit configured to display information about each depolarized area on a display unit with the information associated with each other.
US09456742B2 Ophthalmologic apparatus
In order to take a good tomographic image without a complicated position adjustment operation by an inspector, an ophthalmologic apparatus is provided which acquires a fundus tomographic image by optical coherence tomography utilizing interference by low coherence light. The ophthalmologic apparatus includes a tomographic image acquiring unit for acquiring a tomographic image of an eye to be inspected, a tilt calculation unit for calculating a tilt of the tomographic image, and a relative position changing unit for changing a relative position between the tomographic image acquiring unit and the eye to be inspected based on the tilt of the tomographic image. An evaluation index may be devised that indicates a problem with the tomographic image or an anterior ocular image and the relative position changing means may change the relative position according to this evaluation index. The evaluation index is linked to the tilt of the tomographic image.
US09456741B2 Method for rapid calculation of tear film lipid and aqueous layer thickness and ocular surface refractive index from interferometry spectra
A method for determining optical properties of a corneal region. The method includes the steps of obtaining a combined tear film aqueous layer plus lipid layer thickness; obtaining a tear film lipid layer thickness; subtracting the tear film lipid layer thickness from the combined tear film aqueous layer plus lipid layer thickness to obtain a tear film aqueous layer thickness; and determining a corneal layer refractive index based on the tear film lipid layer thickness and the tear film aqueous layer thickness.
US09456734B2 Scanner for an endoscope
A scanner for an endoscope comprising: a scanning mechanism comprising a light transmitter and arranged to move the light transmitter to perform a scan; a lens system arranged to optically couple the light transmitter to a target during a scan; a first housing which houses at least a first portion of the lens system; a second housing which houses at least the fiber scanning mechanism; and a bendable joint joining the first and second housings such that in a scanning configuration the bendable joint joins the first and second housings so that optical elements in the first and second housings are aligned at a working separation, the bendable joint arranged to bend in response to insertion forces applied to the scanner during insertion of the scanner and revert to the scanning configuration in the absence of insertion forces.
US09456733B2 Endoscopic instrument having a deflectable distal tool
Embodiments of the disclosure may include a medical device comprising a flexible elongate member including a longitudinal axis and a tool connected to the elongate member at a pivot axis, wherein the tool may be configured to conduct electricity and deliver a fluid, and wherein the tool may be configured to pivot towards either side of the longitudinal axis relative to the elongate member at the pivot axis.
US09456732B2 Image processing device and image processing method
There is provided an image processing device including a detection unit configured to detect a mask from an acquired image, a determination unit configured to determine whether there is a change in the mask detected by the detection unit, and an output unit configured to output a parameter when the determination unit determines that there is a change in the mask, the parameter being related to the mask detected by the detection unit before it is determined that there is a change in the mask.
US09456731B2 Dishwasher having a turbidity sensor
A dishwasher includes an input element configured to select a first wash cycle from a plurality of wash cycles, a controller configured to control a cycle parameter, a turbidity sensor configured to measure a soil level of a wash liquid, and a display device configured to at least temporarily display the soil level measured by the turbidity sensor.
US09456727B2 Drivable floor cleaning machine and method for operating a floor cleaning machine
A drivable floor cleaning machine is provided, including a chassis, at least one cleaning head, and a holding device capable of holding the cleaning head on the chassis and lifting it relative to the chassis, the holding device including a first rod device rotatably held by a first bearing device on the chassis, a second rod device rotatably held on the chassis by means of a second bearing device, a third bearing device rotatably holding the cleaning head on the first rod device, and including a fourth bearing device rotatably holding the cleaning head on the second rod device, wherein the cleaning head is supported on a stop when a specific lifting position of the cleaning head relative to the chassis is reached, and on which stop the cleaning head can be rotated.
US09456724B2 Separating apparatus in a vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner having a vac-motor and a dust separator for separating out dust particles entrained in an airflow drawn through the separator by the vac-motor. The separator is a multi-stage separator incorporating a cyclonic primary separation stage, a non-cyclonic secondary separation stage which is downstream of the primary separation stage and a cyclonic tertiary stage which is downstream of the secondary stage. In accordance with the invention, the secondary stage includes a flow bend for changing the direction of the airflow thereby to separate out dust particles entrained in the airflow. The vacuum cleaner also includes a primary dust collector for collecting dust particles separated out by the primary separation stage, a secondary dust collector for collecting the dust particles separated out by the flow bend and a tertiary dust collector for collecting dust separated out by the tertiary separation stage.
US09456717B2 Dispenser
A dispenser including a housing and a door pivotally attached to the housing via a substantially vertically arranged hinge. The housing includes a hinge wall, an upper end wall, a substantially vertical wall and a lower end wall. The walls define an edge delimiting a lateral charge opening. The housing is provided with a dispensing opening at the lower end wall. The door includes an essentially vertical portion, a free end opposite the hinge and a door rim at lest partly adjacent the edge of the housing when the door is in a closed position. The edge of the housing has a free edge portion extending along the upper end wall, the substantially vertical wall and the lower end wall. The free edge portion includes a guiding element for co-operation with a region of the door rim during pivoting of the door towards the closed position and for vertically positioning the free end of the door.
US09456714B2 Kettle with lid damping mechanism
A vessel has a hinged lid. The hinged lid is biased into an open position by a spring. The lid is mechanically coupled to a damping mechanism, preferably concealed within the body or lid of the vessel. The lid is held in a closed position by a latch.
US09456710B2 Drink containers and cap assemblies
Drink containers include a liquid container and a cap assembly removably coupled to the liquid container. Cap assemblies include a body that defines a drink outlet for dispensing drink liquid, and an operational assembly that is operatively coupled to the body and that has at least an open configuration permitting drink liquid to be dispensed and a closed configuration restricting drink liquid from being dispensed. In some embodiments, the operational assembly also has a cleaning configuration in which portions of the operational assembly are spaced away from the body of the cap assembly for cleaning. In some embodiments, the operational assembly is positioned predominantly on the exterior of the body of the cap assembly.
US09456709B2 Insulated cup
The use of embossed paper material allows for inexpensive production of a re-useable, recyclable, and consumer safe hot beverage container. The beverage container may consist of a bio-degradable polymer coating on the inside lining of the cup, and a petrol based chemical coating on the outside of the cup. In a preferred embodiment, the use of embossed paper material allows for inexpensive production of a re-useable, recyclable, and consumer safe hot beverage container.
US09456707B2 Merchandiser with power generation using air diffuser
A refrigerated merchandiser including a case that defines a product display area. The case has an air inlet located adjacent the product display area, an air outlet to discharge an airflow into the product display area, and a passageway fluidly connecting the air inlet to the air outlet to direct a conditioned airflow from the air outlet across the product display area and generally toward the air inlet. The merchandiser also includes an electrical component and a power generation system that has a power generation device in communication with the airflow to convert kinetic energy of the airflow into electrical energy to power the electrical component based on movement of the airflow.
US09456703B2 System for determining optimal mattress characteristics for individuals
The present invention is related to a system for determining an optimal mattress type for an individual, the system comprising a body shape measurement assembly and an optimal mattress type determination means. The body shape measurement assembly comprising a plurality of reference measurement lines (110) and a camera (112) facing the plurality of reference measurement lines to measure the body shape of an individual in a receiving area in the system, by scanning a front image and side image of the individual, and analyzing the scanned images relative to the plurality of reference measurement lines so as to determine a front profile and a side profile of the individual. Thereafter, the profiles are used to construct a three dimensional model of the individual and in conjunction with the sleeping habits of the individual, the system categorizes the individual one of a predetermined set of different individual types and selects an optimal mattress type from a predetermined set of different mattress types based on the individual type.
US09456702B2 Seat with ventilative property
In a seat with ventilation property, at least one three-dimensional network cushion element is provided in a foam padding(s) of the seat at at least one point on which at least one body portion of a seat occupant is to be substantially contacted. The three-dimensional network cushion element is formed by a plurality of fibers, each being composed of a core portion and a sheath portion covering the core portion, such that all the fibers are bonded with one another at the respective sheath portions thereof. Preferably, each of the fibers may be an helical fiber of eccentric core type wherein the core portion is eccentrically positioned in the sheath portion. Further, the three-dimensional network cushion element(s) may be arranged in the foam padding so as to prevent intensive exertion of a load from the seat occupant's body portion(s) upon the three-dimensional network cushion element(s).
US09456696B2 Foam furniture molded around a core with a lumbar support protrusion
A foam seating article includes an outer foam layer molded around an inner core of molded foam or expanded polystyrene that includes a lumbar support protrusion. The lumbar support protrusion has a convex outer surface disposed inside the seat back area of the outer foam layer and that is not visible on the outer contour of the seat back area. The inner core is made from polyurethane polyol and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and has a hardness greater than 25 Shore A and a density less than two pounds per cubic foot. The polymer material of the inner core has a hardness greater than that of the outer foam. The outer layer of molded foam is high density (HD) foam, memory foam or latex foam. A fabric covering encloses the inner core and molded outer foam layer. The foam seating article can be a chair, sofa, chaise lounge or bench.
US09456692B2 Multi-piece shelf brackets and methods of assembling the same
This disclosure provides a multi-piece shelf bracket including a support arm that receives a connector having a support portion and at least one hook portion, and a method of assembling the multi-piece shelf bracket.
US09456691B2 Structure to prevent drawer from falling off
A structure to prevent a drawer from falling off may include a rail and a stopping unit. The rail has an elongated side board, one side of the rail is extending to form a bottom board with an equal length as the side board. The bottom board has at least one through connecting opening. The stopping unit has a head portion, and one end of head portion has two pressing pieces, and a space formed between the two pressing pieces. When the pressing pieces move towards the space, the head portion is elastically deformed and plugged into the connecting opening of the rail. The stopping unit is configured to prevent the drawer from falling off if excessive force is applied thereon.
US09456688B2 Modular storage and work station
A modular storage of modular storage units defined by plural hollow elongate support members having longitudinal ends including apertures into which vertical connection members can be inserted to connect adjacent modules. The inserts may be of a predetermined length to connect two horizontally adjacent modules or a length twice the predetermined length to connect two horizontally adjacent modules. For vertically and horizontally connected modules, double-headed dowel pins can be inserted in a U-shaped channel of the connection members that rigidly and securely retain the modules connected to each other so as to enable the configuration to present a stable work surface. A second type of connection member can be used to provide for an end connection at a top or bottom of the configuration, enabling a hook to hold onto the adjacent hollow tubular member and/or to provide for insertion of a caster.
US09456687B2 Personal control apparatus and method for sharing information in a collaborative workspace
A video source control assembly for use with at least a first display screen and a plurality of video source devices, the control assembly including a deck member forming a top surface and at least one cable passing opening, a switching device, a plurality of control cables, each control cable including first and second ends, each first end linkable to at least one source device and the second end linked to the switching device to provide video content thereto and a separate housing mounted to an intermediate portion of each of the control cables so that flexible portions of the associated control cable extend from the housing to each of the first and second ends, a separate selection button mounted in each of the housings that provides a control signal to the switching device causing the switching device to modify the content presented on the display screen, wherein, the portion of each cable between the housing and the second end passes through the cable passing opening and the housing has dimensions such that the housing is blocked from passing through the cable passing opening.
US09456685B2 Table
A table (1) capable of accommodating place settings for a plurality of people is provided. The table (1) comprising a first table top (2) and a second table top (3), both of which are capable of accommodating place settings for one or more people. The place settings on the first table top (2) being alignable with the second table top (3) place settings so that at least two people at the table (1) are face to face. The first and second table tops are moveable relative to one another so that the alignment of the first table top place settings and the second table top place settings can be varied.
US09456680B2 Toothbrush with angled bristles
A toothbrush having a first set of bristle tufts arranged along a first row, the first set of bristle tufts attached to a head and oriented in a vertical position. The toothbrush has a second set of bristle tufts arranged along a second row, the second set of bristle tufts attached to the head and oriented at an angle that is between 4 and 10 degrees to the left of the vertical position. The toothbrush has a third set of bristle tufts arranged along a third row, the third set of bristle tufts attached to the head and oriented in the vertical position. The toothbrush has a fourth set of bristle tufts arranged along a fourth row, the fourth set of bristle tufts attached to the head and oriented at an angle that is between 4 and 10 degrees to the right of the vertical position.
US09456674B2 Case supporting electronic device
A case includes a first plate, a second plate, a first sidewall protruding from the first plate, a second sidewall protruding from the second plate and a cover. The second plate is attached to the first plate and is rotatable around the first plate to obtain different angles between the first plate and the second plate. The second sidewall, the first sidewall, the first plate and the second plate define a receiving space when the angle is 180 degrees. The cover is attached to the second sidewall and is rotatable around the second sidewall to position an end of the cover in front of the first plate. A length of the cover between the end and the second sidewall can be variable corresponding to the different angles. The end of the cover is rotatable to abut against the first sidewall holding the first plate at different angles.
US09456673B2 Fluid sealable protective case for portable electronic devices
The present application is directed to a protective case for a portable electronic device, including a back cover and a front cover for housing a portable electronic device therein, wherein the back cover and the front cover include one or more mating surfaces operationally configured to fluidly seal the perimeter of the protective case.
US09456664B2 Method for forming stopper
The method for forming a stopper includes injection molding a stopper molding comprising a molding body portion which embeds an end portion of an element row, and a thin fin portion which extends outward from a periphery portion of the molding body portion on at least one end portion side of the element row, and forming a high frequency wave adhesion portion by adhering the fin portion of the stopper molding by a high frequency wave. By this, a fixing strength of the stopper can be increased, and the high frequency wave adhesion portion can be configured to bend easily by making a thickness of the high frequency wave adhesion portion thin, thereby stably forming the stopper which is difficult to detach for a long period of time.
US09456661B2 Steaming bag for footwear customization
A footwear customization kit is disclosed. The kit comprises a container including an article of footwear, a stand, a steaming bag and a set of instructions. The article of footwear includes a customizable portion that can be deformed when heated. The stand and the steaming bag can be used to heat the article of footwear in a steam environment. The steaming bag includes a central portion and a peripheral portion. The central portion of the steaming bag defines an interior cavity for receiving the article of footwear. The peripheral portion can include grasping holes for grabbing the steaming bag in the steam environment. The steaming bag can expand from a flattened configuration when filled with the article of footwear in the steam environment.
US09456660B1 Odor impregnated shoe insert assembly
An odor impregnated shoe insert assembly includes a panel that has a size and shape to conform to and cover an insole of a shoe. The panel has an upper surface, a lower surface and a perimeter edge. A covering is mounted on completely covers the upper surface of the panel. The covering is impregnated with a scent. The panel is positioned within the shoe and the shoe placed on a foot to transfer the scent to the foot.
US09456655B2 Systems and methods for stabilization of a phylon article
A manufacturing method, within a modularized manufacturing environment for stabilizing a phylon article that is produced utilizing a heat press, is provided. Initially, the method includes immersing a phylon article in a first tank, with a fluid disposed therein, and withdrawing the phylon article from exposure with the fluid. Typically, the midsole is heated from its production with the heat press when it is placed into the first tank. The immersion in the first tank acts to cool the phylon article, thereby stabilizing the heated phylon. The phylon article may be next placed in a second tank, with a fluid disposed therein, and withdrawn from exposure with the fluid. The fluid of the first tank may reside at a temperature comparable to or higher than the temperature of the fluid of the second tank. Recursively exposing the heated phylon article to the fluid of the tanks incrementally decreases the volume of the article.
US09456651B2 Holding assembly with locking systems for articles
A holding assembly for holding articles in place for printing includes features for locking an article in place. The holding assembly can include an adjustable heel assembly. The holding assembly can include a lace locking member. The adjustable heel assembly and the lace locking member can be used to keep the article in a temporarily fixed position on the holding assembly.
US09456649B2 Protective helmet
A helmet includes a shell, a support element mounted on the shell, on the outer side thereof and above the facial opening, and at least a first visor mounted pivoting in relation to the shell around a pivot axis, between a lowered use position and a high retracted position. An articulating means is provided between the support element and the shell, to allow said support element to pivot in relation to the shell around a transverse axis situated in the vicinity of the back edge of the support element, between a lowered use position, in which said support element covers a portion of the shell, and a raised position. A locking means is also provided for locking the support element in the lowered position.
US09456646B2 Systems and methods for eyelash extensions
Embodiments disclosed herein describe systems and methods for applying branched eyelash extensions, wherein two types of eyelash extensions are coupled to the user's natural eyelash. In embodiments, an eyelash extension of a first type may be coupled to a user's natural lash in a first direction, and an eyelash extension of a second type may be coupled to the user's natural lash in a second direction.
US09456641B1 Yoga article of clothing and method of use thereof
Yoga apparel for assisting the wearer in performing and holding certain poses during the performance of Yoga exercise. The apparel has grips or strips of a friction-enhancing material, such as a rubber or textured surface material. The grips or strips are selectively provided in positions where a retention of body contact with a limb is desired. The grips or strips preferably have enhanced friction against both skin and normal apparel fabric, in both a dry and moistened state.
US09456638B2 Bra cup with modesty panel
A breast cup for a brassiere, a brassiere, and a method of making the breast cup. The breast cup includes a molded body having an inner surface, an outer surface and an apex. A layer of flock is adhered to the molded body at a location corresponding with the apex in order to provide increased modesty for the breast cup.
US09456635B2 Electronic cigarette
An electronic smoking article includes an outer tube extending in a longitudinal direction, an inner tube within the outer tube and including a pair of opposing slots, a liquid supply comprising a liquid material, a coil heater, a wick and a mouth end insert. The coil heater is located in the inner tube. The coil heater is formed of an iron-free, nickel-chromium alloy and has substantially uniformly spaced windings. The wick is surrounded by the coil heater such that the wick delivers liquid material to the coil heater and the coil heater heats the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol in the inner tube.
US09456627B2 Process for isolating sialic acid containing oligosaccharides, and the compositions containing sialic acid containing oligosaccharides obtainable thereby
The invention relates to a process for isolating sialic acid containing oligosaccharides and in particular sialyllactose from a milk stream and especially from a whey stream. The process yields a product having a high content of sialyllactose and a low content of phosphorus compounds. This product is highly suitable to be included in infant foods.
US09456626B2 Highly soluble rebaudioside D
The invention relates to a process for producing highly soluble compositions containing purified steviol glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant extract, more particularly Rebaudioside D. Obtained highly soluble compositions are useful as non-caloric sweeteners or in combination with sugar or high intensity sweeteners in edible and chewable compositions such as beverages, confectionaries, bakery products, chewing gums and the like.
US09456620B2 Bake-stable creamy food filling base
Lipid-based, creamy food fillings are disclosed that are bake-stable up to a temperature of at least about 125° C. The creamy food fillings are particularly suitable for use in products that require the filling to be added prior to baking. In one aspect, the fillings are a solid-in-liquid dispersion having a dispersed solid phase including a hydrophilic powder and a high-melting lipid, as well as a continuous lipid phase including a low-melting lipid in which the hydrophilic powder and high-melting lipid are dispersed. Preferably, the fillings have a low water activity of about 0.5 or lower and are formed in the absence of additional humectants, thickening agents, or gelling agents.
US09456617B2 Deveining system and device
A deveining device efficiently removes veins from shrimp while preserving the meat of the shrimp in both appearance and quantity. The deveining device comprises a channel having a blade extending along a section of the channel for cutting the back of the shrimp as it rolls through the channel to expose a vein. A downstream vein remover severs the exposed vein from the shrimp body. Nozzles spray fluid into the channel to propel the shrimp through the channel.
US09456616B2 Method and composition for the prevention or retarding of staling of bakery products
The present invention is related to a method for the prevention or retarding of staling during the baking process of bakery products which comprises the step of adding a sufficiently effective amount of at least one intermediate thermostable and/or thermostable serine protease in the bakery products. The present invention further relates to an improver for the prevention or retarding of staling during the baking process of bakery products, which comprises at least one intermediate thermostable and/or thermostable serine protease.
US09456615B2 Apparatus, system and method for an adaptive kneading technology for a food preparation appliance
The present invention presents a kneading mechanism for a food preparation appliance. The kneading mechanism has a kneading container, a blade assembly and a kneading base. The kneading container has an open bottom face and the kneading base has a textured surface. An adaptive kneading technology which resides in a processor is used to form an optimal viscoelastic dough ball. Since there is variation in the gluten content and the amount of water used makes the dough ball have a viscoelastic nature this technology due to its self-learning mechanism optimizes the kneading of single dough balls using adaptive kneading technology.
US09456614B1 Cake decorating assembly, kit, and method of use
A cake decorating assembly, kit, and method of use comprising a mount which includes a longitudinally extending member. The assembly further comprises a top blade subassembly, a lateral blade subassembly, a gauge subassembly, and a cutting subassembly, all of which may be removably attached to the longitudinally extending member. All of the top blade subassembly, the lateral blade subassembly, the gauge subassembly, and the cutting subassembly may be vertically adjusted relative to the longitudinally extending member, while the gauge subassembly may also be horizontally adjusted relative to the longitudinally extending member. The cake decorating assembly provides for, e.g., the efficient decoration of a cake and further assists, e.g., in the even distribution of frosting on a cake.
US09456613B2 Method for forming dough pieces
A method and device for forming dough in a U or annular shape includes a gripper carrier, at least one retaining jaw attached to the gripper carrier and first and second pivot carriers. The pivot carriers are each supported about a respective pivot axis in the gripper carrier and perform an opposite pivot motion. The second pivot carrier is supported by a shaft that extends into and engages the gripper carrier, such that a pivotal motion of the second pivot carrier engages the shaft with the gripper carrier to simultaneously pivot and lift the second pivot carrier so to lift one end of the dough piece in relation to another end of the dough piece. Shaping jaws are attached to the first and second pivot carriers and can be brought into contact with the respective dough piece on an opposite second side.
US09456608B2 Plant disease resistance-inducing gene from soil metagenome and uses thereof
The present invention relates to a recombinant vector containing a plant disease resistance-related 1B8-4-D7 gene from the soil metagenome, a host cell transformed with the recombinant vector, a recombinant protein produced by the transformed host cell, a plant disease resistance enhancer including the transformed host cell or the recombinant protein as an effective component, a method of enhancing resistance against plant pathogens including eliciting induced resistance by treating a plant with a composition including the transformed host cell or the recombinant protein, and a preparation for controlling plant disease including the transformed host cell or the recombinant protein.
US09456600B2 Agricultural chemical-spreading agent composition
The present invention provides the agricultural chemical-spreading agent composition, containing: (A) a polysaccharide in an amount of 5 to 30% by weight; (B) a polyoxyalkylene sorbitan fatty acid ester in an amount of 5 to 40% by weight; and (C) at least one nonionic surfactant selected from polyoxyalkylene alkyl ethers, sorbitan fatty acid esters, and silicone surfactants in an amount of 5 to 40% by weight, wherein the component (A) has a viscosity of not less than 5000 mPa·s in the form of a 5% by weight aqueous solution at 25° C., and a weight ratio of contents of the component (A) to the sum of components (B) and (C), (A)/[(B)+(C)], is 10/90 to 40/60.
US09456599B2 Adjuvants
This invention relates to a composition comprising an agrochemical and a compound of formula (I) wherein each A is independently selected from C1-10 alkanediyl; n is an integer selected from 0 to 45 inclusive; and m is an integer selected from 1, 2, 3 and 4; R is a branched or linear C1-C24 hydrocarbon either fully saturated or comprising up to three double bonds or is phenyl or is benzyl or is a C3-C8 fully saturated cyclic group; and R is substituted 1, 2, 3 or 4 times as defined by the value of m; and when m is 1 and n is not zero, R may also be hydrogen; and Q is a branched or linear C1-C24 hydrocarbon either fully saturated or comprising up to three double bonds or is phenyl or is benzyl or is a C3-C8 fully saturated cyclic group; provided that when m is 1 and n is zero, Q and R are not both selected from a branched or linear C1-C24 hydrocarbon either fully saturated or comprising up to three double bonds to methods of making and using the compositions; and to the use of the compounds as adjuvants for agrochemical use. In particular the present invention relates to compositions selected from an emulsion concentrate (EC), an emulsion in water (EW), a suspension of particles in water (SC), a soluble liquid (SL), a microcapsule formulation (CS), a suspension of particles with an emulsion (SE), a dispersion concentrate (DC), an oil suspension (OD), a water dispersible granule (WG), a soluble granule (SG) and a wettable powder (WP).
US09456598B1 Mobile hunting platform
A mobile hunting platform is provided for supporting a user in a tree. The mobile hunting platform includes a pair of wheels removably secured to an axle, a first platform comprising a first platform frame, a first jaw secured to the first platform for engaging the trunk of the tree, and a floor structure for supporting feet of the user, the floor structure shaped to receive at least one of the pair of wheels such that the at least one wheel forms a portion of the floor structure, and a second platform comprising a second platform frame, a second jaw secured to the second platform for engaging a trunk of the tree. The platform is reconfigurable from a first configuration as a cart, to a second configuration such that the mobile hunting platform is engaged with the trunk of the tree.
US09456595B2 Fishing reel
Provided is a fishing reel including a level wind device including a fishing line guide body (60) through which the fishing line (S) unreeled from the spool is threaded. The fishing line guide body (60) includes a fishing line threading section (60A) that forms an elongated opening (65) of which a height in a vertical direction is larger than a width in a left and right direction. The body (60) is rotated forward and the section (60A) stands up in the vertical direction during the unwinding of the fishing line. The body is rotated rearward and the section (60A) falls down during the winding of the fishing line, so that a fishing line guide section (70) comes into contact with the fishing line (S) threaded through the fishing line threading section (60A).
US09456593B2 Fishing lure with a built-in, spring-loaded, adjustable diving and release apparatus
A fishing lure with a spring-loaded, adjustable diving and release apparatus built in to the diving bill that allows the elimination of the diving plane when certain release events occur that would cause a disengagement of the apparatus built into the diving bill. The events that would cause this release to occur would be, but are limited to, 1) the fisherman jerking the line to cause the release in order to retrieve the fishing lure with relative ease while trolling said fishing lure behind a moving boat, 2) a fish strike that would then create a direct line to fish connection, eliminating any pressure points the diving bill might create allowing the fish to work itself free of the hooks, and 3) striking an obstruction on the bottom of the water column that might otherwise cause the fishing lure to snag or entangle in the obstruction.
US09456592B1 Snag-resistant fishing lure
A combination jig and snag guard includes a jig having a jig body having a back and opposite sides and a fishhook extending away from the back of the jig body, the snag guard assembly having a pair of guard filaments, the guard filaments extending from opposite sides of the jig body to a connector configured to be tied to a fishing line, each guard filament having an end adjacent the respective side of the jig body, the jig body having limited or no free rotation with respect to the snag guard assembly about an axis of rotation defined by the ends of the guard filaments.
US09456588B2 Transgenic mouse having a genome comprising a homozygous disruption of the endogenous MFN2 gene expression in the dopaminergic neurons
An animal model for Parkinson's disease has a disrupted Mfn2 gene in dopaminergic neurons. The Mfn2 gene disruption results in severe movement disorder attributed to progressive degeneration of the nigrostriatal circuit as found in Parkinson's disease. The animal model having exogenous suppression of the Mfn2 gene in dopaminergic neurons is a suitable animal model for studying Parkinson's disease.
US09456585B1 Pet feces receiving and carrying device
A pet feces receiving and carrying device includes a rod, a pivotal joint seat mounted to an end of the rod, a rotary seat is pivotally coupled to the pivotal joint seat, a ring member attached to the rotary seat, and an arrestor module for selectively releasing and fixing the pivotal joint seat and the rotary seat at multiple relative angular positions so that the ring can be set on the pivotal joint seat at any desired angular position by means of the arrestor module.
US09456583B2 Calf wet-nurse
Calf wet-nurse (10) comprising a container (11) provided with at least one supply opening (12) for on one hand dry powder and on the other hand liquid as well as a delivery duct (13) for the distribution of ready-mixed nutrient solution, wherein the container (11) is provided with at least one mixing duct (181, 182) connected to the container (11), at least one medium passage (191, 192, 193, 194) being arranged between the mixing duct (182, 183) and the container (11). The invention also concerns a method for a calf wet-nurse.
US09456582B2 Automatic self-cleaning, self-filling pet water bowl apparatus, methods and systems
An automatic self-cleaning and self-filling outdoor fluid feeding system for an animal, including for example a pet, includes a sink; a fluid transport system; a housing supporting the sink and containing the fluid transport system; and a control assembly configured to control the automatic self-cleaning and self-filling operations of the system.
US09456580B2 Foldable bag frame and pet bag using same
A foldable bag frame and a pet bag using same are presented. The foldable bag frame includes four top support bars connected end-to-end in sequence, four bottom support bars connected end-to-end in sequence, and connecting rods. Each of the connecting rods consists of two hingedly-connected short-segment connecting rods. The foldable bag frame further includes a sleeve slidable along the connecting rod, and a spring fixedly connected to one end of the sleeve and sleeved over an outer side of the connecting rod, the other end of the spring being connected to the non-fixed end of a short-segment connecting rod. When the spring is in an initial state, the sleeve connected thereto covers the hinged portion of the connecting rod. By controlling foldability of the connecting rods, folding of the frame is conveniently achieved, making it possible to use a strong rigid material for the frame to meet stability during use.
US09456578B2 Spinach hybrid 51-330
The present invention relates to the development of a spinach plant exhibiting a combination of traits which may include resistance against downy mildew (Peronospora farinosa f. sp. Spinaciae) strains Pf1-Pf13, and arrow-shaped prime market stage leaves, methods and compositions relating to plants, progeny, seeds and derivatives thereof and plants, progeny, seeds and derivatives thereof having all the morphological, physiological and/or genetic characteristics thereof.
US09456577B1 Soybean variety 01051789
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01051789. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01051789. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01051789 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01051789 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09456576B1 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH106414
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH106414. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH106414, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH106414 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH106414.
US09456574B1 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH164586
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH164586. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH164586, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH164586 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH164586.
US09456570B1 Maize hybrid X13F381
A novel maize variety designated X13F381 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X13F381 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13F381 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13F381, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13F381. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13F381.
US09456569B1 Maize inbred PH1TVW
A novel maize variety designated PH1TVW and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1TVW with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1TVW 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 PH1TVW or a locus conversion of PH1TVW with another maize variety.
US09456566B1 Maize hybrid X08D453
A novel maize variety designated X08D453 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08D453 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08D453 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08D453, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08D453. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08D453.
US09456565B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH099375
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH099375. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH099375, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH099375 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH099375.
US09456562B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH432018
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH432018. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH432018, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH432018 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH432018.
US09456559B2 Airborne vegetation trimming apparatus
An airborne vegetation trimming apparatus includes an apparatus housing, an elongated saw boom extending from the apparatus housing, a plurality of rotatable saw blades carried by the saw boom, a saw blade operating system drivingly engaging the saw blades, a rotatable tubing coupling carried by the apparatus housing and a tubing coupling rotation motor drivingly engaging the tubing coupling.
US09456555B2 Agent for treating grape vine wood
The invention relates to the use of neutral anolyte for decontaminating grape vine wood.
US09456550B2 Threshing and separating device and combine harvester having the same
A threshing and separating device comprises a first threshing and separating mechanism, a second threshing and separating mechanism, and an intermediate feeding mechanism therebetween. The first threshing and separating mechanism comprises a first cylinder in a form of a toothed rod and a first concave in a form of a wire-grate, and a surface of the first concave facing the first cylinder is provided with no part protruding into a tip circle of threshing teeth of the first cylinder; the second threshing and separating mechanism comprises a second cylinder in a form of a toothed rod and a second concave in a form of a wire-grate, and a surface of the second concave facing the second cylinder is provided with no part protruding into a tip circle of threshing teeth of the second cylinder; the second cylinder comprises a forced feeding portion located at front end thereof and comprising a truncated cone and helical blades on the truncated cone; and a toothed-rod cylinder portion located behind the forced feeding portion and comprising a plurality of second rods parallel to the rotation axis of the second cylinder and uniformly arranged in a circumferential direction thereof, and each second rod is provided with a plurality of second threshing teeth.
US09456547B2 Sugarcane cleaning deflector arrangements
A cleaning arrangement for a sugarcane harvester with a cleaning chamber includes a deflector body with at least one deflection surface at least partly facing a feed stream of cane billets and other material from a feed train of a sugarcane harvester. The deflector body may be fixed to the sugarcane harvester such that the at least one deflection surface extends at least partly within the cleaning chamber. As the feed train moves the feed stream to the cleaning chamber, the at least one deflection surface may deflect at least a portion of the feed stream within the cleaning chamber.
US09456546B2 Transmission device for self-propelled equipment and self-propelled equipment fitted with such a transmission
Transmission device for self-propelled equipment, includes a housing having a driving input shaft transmitting movement to an output shaft, the input shaft bearing a receiving pulley around which pulley a belt transmission is wrapped. The input shaft also bears a component that rotates as one with the shaft and a member for controlling the movement of the pulley along the input shaft in terms of the pulley movement towards or away from the component so that the pulley, which is mounted with freedom to rotate on the input shaft, can be moved from a disengaged position when it is away from the component, into an engaged position when it is close to the component, the pulley having a groove of constant predetermined width for accepting the belt so that when the belt is taut inside the groove, the belt tension is maintained as the pulley moves along the input shaft.
US09456540B2 Power take off coupling etc
A power take off coupling for connecting an engine (20, 21) to a site accessory (16, 14, 17), comprises a resilient power transmission component (3) within the coupling; a latching device (8, 46, 9) to mechanically latch the accessory to the engine (20, 21), with a manually operable release handle (13) to effect unlatching. A power output shaft of the engine (20, 21) carries one half (5) of a dog clutch with the other half (7) carried by the accessory (16, 14, 17). An alignment arrangement comprises a first annulus ring (18) attached coaxially to an output shaft assembly of the engine (20, 21), and a second annulus ring (19) attached coaxially to an input shaft assembly of the accessory, with the two rings (18, 19) being of different diameters, such that one ring is adapted to be engaged coaxially within the other ring with close tolerances, such that the external periphery of the smaller ring (18) engages at least parts of the internal periphery of the larger ring (19) to provide for accurate coaxial alignment of the power output shaft of the engine (20, 21) and the power input shaft of the accessory.
US09456539B2 Apparatus and method for no-till inter-row simultaneous application of herbicide and fertilizer, soil preparation, and seeding of a cover crop in a standing crop
A no-till apparatus for application of herbicide and fertilizer, soil preparation, and seeding of a cover crop in a standing crop has inter-row assemblies configured to pass along inter-row areas between adjacent row lines of standing crop plants. Each assembly includes a fertilizer applicator, a no-till soil preparation element, a cover crop seed applicator, and a post-seeding element. The apparatus may include movable auxiliary seeding units such that the apparatus may operate as a grain drill.
US09462735B2 LC module for installation in a motor vehicle control device
An LC module for installation in a housing of a motor vehicle control device, a method for producing an LC module and a corresponding motor vehicle control device having an LC module. The LC module has a support plate, at least one electrolytic capacitor and a coil. The electrolytic capacitor and the coil are disposed in chambers of the LC module and are at least partially surrounded by casting compound. Furthermore, the support plate has a connecting part between the two chambers, the support plate being form-fittingly or frictionally connectable to the housing of the control device at least in the region of the connecting part.
US09462734B2 Rail systems and methods for installation and operation of photovoltaic arrays
Rail system and method for a photovoltaic array. The system includes at least one modular rail in a first direction. The modular rail includes a first vehicle support surface along the first direction and a first mounting surface along the first direction. The first vehicle support surface is configured to support at least a first vehicle moving in the first direction, and the first mounting surface is configured to support one or more photovoltaic modules mounted on the first mounting surface.
US09462731B2 Cover structure for electronic circuit module
A cover structure for an electronic circuit module includes a circuit board and a box-shaped cover integrated to each other. An electronic component is mounted on the circuit board. The cover has at least one open side. The cover includes a top plate and a mounting leg. The top plate is disposed so as to oppose the circuit board. The mounting leg is joined to the circuit board. The mounting leg is bent and extends from an outer periphery of the top plate. The top plate includes a bend portion and a cutaway portion. The bend portion is connected to the mounting leg. The cutaway portion is provided near the bend portion.
US09462719B2 Plug-in mechanism, subrack including plug-in mechanism, and finished board
A plug-in mechanism, a subrack and a finished board are provided. The plug-in mechanism implements fast and reliable plug-in and plug-out by using a lever assistance effect and a gearing effect of a gear. The plug-in mechanism is configured to be disposed between a sub-carrier frame and a parent carrier frame to implement plug-in and plug-out of the sub-carrier frame in the parent carrier frame, and the plug-in mechanism includes a driving part and a gearing part, where the driving part includes an ejector lever, the gearing part includes at least one gear that is engaged successively, a gear at one end is connected to the ejector lever, each of the at least one gear is fastened onto the sub-carrier frame by using a rotating shaft, and the at least one gear is connected to the parent carrier frame by using a linkage structure.
US09462715B2 Waterproof control unit
A waterproof control unit is provided in which: connector housing is fixedly positioned onto circuit board that is mounted onto base; a first seal gap G1 formed of the connector housing and a cover, a second seal gap G2 formed of the connector housing and the base and a third seal gap G3 formed of the base and the cover are included; the first seal gap G1 is formed of a terrace slope portion gap G1b and an outer step flat portion gap G1a and an inner step flat portion gap G1c that are in communication with the terrace slope portion gap G1b; a gap setting protrusion for limiting the gap width is provided at least in the first seal gap G1; and, between the connector housing and the cover, a horizontal movement limitation member are provided for limiting the relative positional relationship between the connector housing and the cover.
US09462714B2 Hinge unit capable of preventing rotation from exceeding fully-open position and electronic apparatus equipped with hinge unit
A hinge unit which can be positively prevented from rotating in an opening direction from a fully open position, without being increased in size. The hinge unit includes a fixed member fixed to a camera body, a rotational shaft rotatably held by the fixed member, a holding member fixed to the rotational shaft in a state holding the image display section, and a clamping member having a pair of clamping portions for diametrically clamping the rotational shaft and configured to rotate in unison with the rotational shaft. In a case where the holding member rotates in the opening direction to a fully open position, one of the clamping portions is brought into abutment with the fixed member to thereby prevent the holding member from rotating in the opening direction from the fully open position.
US09462713B2 Transmission device applied to pivot shaft mechanism
A transmission device applied to a pivot shaft mechanism provides a security system and is easy to assemble. The transmission device includes at least one rotary shaft, a drive section movable with the rotation of the rotary shaft, a driver (transversely) reciprocally movable and a turning unit having a first end connected with the driver and a second end assembled with a carrier body. The driver includes an arm section provided with an elastic body and a hand section connected with the arm section. When the driver is transversely moved, the turning unit is swung, whereby the second end of the turning unit drives the carrier body for lifting or lowering a substrate body or a frame in accordance with the operation mode of an electronic apparatus.
US09462712B2 Portable electronic device case
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flexible boot for at least partially encompassing an electronic device. In one embodiment, the boot includes a rear panel and a sidewall extending from the real panel. The sidewall includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of compressible hollow regions positioned between the inner surface and the outer surface. The rear panel and the inner surface of the sidewall at least partially define a cavity configured to receive the device. Other embodiments of the present disclosure provide a case for housing an electronic device. In one embodiment, the case includes an elastomeric boot and a rigid posterior portion defining an opening therethrough through which a portion of the boot extends. The boot includes a sidewall and is configured to receive the device such that the sidewall at least partially surrounds a plurality of lateral sides of the device.
US09462711B2 Display device mounted in housing with elastic body
A recessed portion is formed in a side face of a display device. An elastic body is provided in a recessed portion. The elastic body is elastically deformed to fix the display device to a housing when the display device is mounted in a predetermined-shaped space of the housing.
US09462710B2 Pressure relief system for switchgear
A compartment of an arc resistant enclosure for an electrical component includes a plurality of wall structures defining an interior space for housing an electrical component. One of the wall structures has aperture structure for permitting pressure and gases to flow there-from and vent from the compartment. A stop structure is associated with the aperture structure. Flap structure is associated with the aperture structure and is movable from a closed position covering the aperture structure to an opened position extending outwardly of the compartment permitting pressure and gas to exit the compartment through the aperture structure. In the closed position, a portion of the flap structure engages the stop structure to prevent the flap structure from collapsing into the interior space of the compartment.
US09462709B2 Element housing package and mounting structure body
An element housing package includes a substrate, a frame body, and an input-output terminal. The input-output terminal has a wiring conductor formed in a stacked body consisting of dielectric layers and ground layers which are alternately laminated, to extend through an inside of the stacked body, and a lead terminal connected to the wiring conductor. A non-formation region is provided in the ground layers around the wiring conductor, which passes through the inside of the input-output terminal in a vertical direction of the stacked body. The non-formation region has, in order from an upper side toward a lower side, a first non-formation section, a second non-formation section having an area smaller than that of the first non-formation section, and a third non-formation section having an area larger than that of the second non-formation section.
US09462708B2 Power semiconductor device
A power semiconductor device comprising: a body, a substrate and power semiconductor components arranged on and connected to the substrate. The device has electrically conductive load connection elements and an integrally formed housing which runs laterally around the components. The body has a main outer surface which runs laterally around the components and which is at least partially covered by an elastic, electrically nonconductive, integrally formed, structured sealing element which runs laterally around the components. A section of the sealing element is arranged between the housing and the main outer surface of the body. The housing and the main outer surface of the body are pressed against the sealing element, which seals off the housing from the main outer surface of the body. The invention provides a compact device whose load connection elements are reliably electrically insulated from the body and whose housing is reliably sealed off from the body.
US09462707B2 Power distribution module form factor
A modular form factor power module system with monitoring and control functions is disclosed. The power module system is configured to power, monitor and/or control telecommunications equipment at the circuit level.
US09462705B2 USB device with preassembled lid
A USB memory assembly, and methods of forming same, are disclosed. The USB memory assembly includes a USB memory device within a carrier. The carrier may in turn be received within a connector shell and lid.
US09462703B2 Solder void reduction between electronic packages and printed circuit boards
A method includes fabricating a printed circuit board. The fabricating includes forming at least one conductive layer on top a first dielectric layer, wherein the at least one conductive layer comprises at least one of a ground plane and a power plane. The fabricating includes forming a second dielectric layer on top of the at least one conductive layer. The fabricating includes forming a thermal pad on top of the second dielectric layer. The fabricating includes forming at least one plated through hole for electrically coupling the thermal pad to the at least one conductive layer. The fabricating includes backdrilling the at least one plated through hole to remove a portion of the conductive material, wherein subsequent to the backdrilling the conductive material remaining in the at least one plated through hole electrically couples one or more of the at least one conductive layer to the thermal pad.
US09462697B2 Electronic component embedded substrate and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to an electronic component embedded substrate including: a first insulating layer including a cavity; an electronic component inserted in the cavity; a first metal pattern formed on a lower surface of the first insulating layer to mount the electronic component thereon and including at least one guide hole for exposing a portion of the external electrode; a second insulating layer formed on the lower surface of the first insulating layer to cover the first metal pattern; a first circuit pattern formed on a lower surface of the second insulating layer; and a first via for electrically connecting the first external electrode exposed through the guide hole and the first circuit pattern, and can improve electrical connectivity between the external electrode and the via even when the size of the external electrode of the electronic component is reduced than before.
US09462691B1 Enhanced ball grid array
A two-dimensional array of bonding pads is formed on a first major surface of a substrate. At least some of the pads are connected to conductors that extend across or into the substrate. The pads can be classified in two groups. A first group is conventional, each pad providing a continuous electrically conductive surface on which a solder ball or solder bump may be formed. In the second group, each pad has a plurality of isolated electrically conductive regions that are connected to different conductors that extend across or into the substrate. Solder balls or solder bumps having a first height are mounted on some of the pads. Multi-terminal devices that have a height that is no more than that of the first height are mounted on at least some of the second group of pads; and their terminals are connected to different electrically conductive regions.
US09462683B2 Appliance using colored material for appearance of desired color light on user interface
The present invention provides a cooktop appliance with features for correcting the color of light passing through the cooking surface such that the light appears a desired to a user of the cooktop appliance. More specifically, a colored translucent ink may be applied to a light transmissive layer of a user interface assembly such that light passing through the ink and the cooking surface appears a desired color to the user.
US09462682B2 Conductive structure and method for manufacturing same
The disclosure provides a conductive structure body including a substrate; a conductive layer; and a darkening layer, and a method of manufacturing the same. The conductive structure body prevents reflection by a conductive layer without affecting conductivity of the conductive layer, and improves a concealing property of the conductive layer by improving absorbance. Accordingly, a display panel having improved visibility is developed by using the conductive structure body.
US09462681B2 Conductive film with networked nano-material
A conductive film includes a base film, a primer layer formed on the base film, the primer layer having voids, and a conductive layer formed on the primer layer. The conductive layer includes a conductor that contains a nano-material forming a network structure.
US09462676B2 Multi-layer circuit member with reference circuit
A multi-layer circuit member includes first and second electrically connected reference regions. At least a portion of a signal conductor is in proximity to the first region and a circuit component is in proximity to the second region. An area of increased impedance exists between the first and second electrically connected regions.
US09462675B2 Method of improving isolation between circuits on a printed circuit board
A method of improving electrical isolation between a first circuit and a second circuit sharing a common substrate having an effective dielectric constant greater than that of air. The first and second circuits are spaced apart and separated from one another by an intermediate portion of the substrate. The method includes removing a portion of the intermediate portion to replace the portion removed with air thereby reducing the effective dielectric constant of the intermediate portion. By reducing the effective dielectric constant of the intermediate portion, electrical isolation between the first and second circuits is improved thereby reducing crosstalk between the first and second circuits. In particular implementations, the method may be used to reduce alien crosstalk between adjacent communication outlets in a patch panel.
US09462663B2 Interactive user interface functionality for lighting devices or system
An example of a lighting system includes intelligent lighting devices, each of which includes a light source, a communication interface and a processor coupled to control the light source. In such a system, at least one of the lighting devices includes a user input sensor to detect user activity related to user inputs without requiring physical contact of the user; and at least one of the lighting devices includes an output component to provide information output to the user. One or more of the processors in the intelligent lighting devices are further configured to process user inputs detected by the user input sensor, control lighting and control output to a user via the output component so as to implement an interactive user interface for the system, for example, to facilitate user control of lighting operations of the system and/or to act as a user interface portal for other services.
US09462660B2 Controlling an electronic dimming ballast during low temperature or low mercury conditions
An electronic dimming ballast or light emitting diode (LED) driver for driving a gas discharge lamp or LED lamp may be operable to control the lamp to avoid flickering and flashing of the lamp during low temperature or low mercury conditions. Such a ballast or driver may include a control circuit that is operable to adjust the intensity of the lamp. Adjusting the intensity of the lamp may include decreasing the intensity of the lamp. The control circuit may be operable to stop adjustment of the intensity of the lamp if a magnitude of the lamp voltage across the lamp is greater than an upper threshold, and subsequently begin to adjust the intensity of the lamp when the lamp voltage across the lamp is less than a lower threshold. Subsequently beginning to adjust the intensity of the lamp may include subsequently decreasing the intensity of the lamp.
US09462659B2 Dimming drive method, device and dimmable light
A method for driving light adjustments, a device therefor and a light adjustable lamp thereof are disclosed. The method includes: connecting a light source driving circuit which supplies a light source and an MCU with electricity and then the light source driving circuit driving the light source to vary brightness; after disconnecting the light source driving circuit, a temporary power supplying circuit continuing to power the MCU; when the light source is varying brightness and at an instant of disconnecting the light source driving circuit, the MCU obtaining a brightness state of the light source and storing information about the brightness state; after the temporary power supplying circuit is drained, the information vanishing; if the light source driving circuit is connected before the vanishing, the light source working constantly according to the information; and if the light source driving circuit is connected after the vanishing, the light source varying brightness.
US09462658B1 LED lighting device
The present invention provides an LED lighting device, which can be directly connected to a socket for a fluorescent lamp without revising the socket to a dedicated LED Light circuit. The LED lighting device may be prevented from being damaged by the overvoltage generated in the stabilizer and introduced into the driving circuit, and this device is reactivated when a normal voltage is introduced. For this purpose, the LED lighting device includes first and second power input units, first and second rectification units, a smoothing unit, an overvoltage protection unit, and a driving voltage generation unit.
US09462656B2 Lamp base having integral semiconductor transient protection device
A lamp base including a neutral contact and a line contact, a semiconductor transient protection device having three terminals. The semiconductor transient protection device being an integral portion of the lamp base. A first terminal of the semiconductor transient protection device in mechanical and electrical contact with the neutral contact, a second terminal in mechanical and electrical contact with the line contact, and a third terminal in electrical contact with a lead-in wire. The semiconductor transient protection device configured to isolate the line contact from the neutral contact during a first line voltage input, and to provide a low-resistance shunt path between the line contact and the neutral contact during a second line voltage input.
US09462652B2 Device for LED operation
The invention relates to a method for operating LEDs (13), comprising a driver module (10) and an LED module (11) having at least one LED (13), which LED module (11) is controlled by the driver module (10), wherein the driver module (10) has a first connection (1), which is designed to feed the LED module (11) with a current, and has a second connection (2) is present as earth connection (GND), wherein the LED module (11) is fed with a current by the driver module (10) via a first connection (1) and a second connection (2) is present as earth connection (GND), characterized in that the driver module (10) temporarily lowers the voltage at the first connection (1) and monitors the voltage at the first connection (1) and is designed to evaluate a change in the voltage at said connection as a transfer of information from the LED module (11).
US09462651B2 Three-way solid-state light bulb
A three-way solid-state light bulb is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide power supply circuitry that allows a solid-state lamp or light bulb to work in a manner similar to that of a common three-way incandescent light bulb. The power supply can selectively receive the input voltage, usually AC line voltage, on first and second input terminals. In some embodiments, a control circuit is operable to influence a feedback loop by diverting current and/or in some cases alter a current sense resistance in accordance with the selective presence of the voltage at the first and second inputs. The light output of the solid-state emitter or solid-state emitters in the bulb is set in accordance with a selective presence of the input voltage.
US09462649B2 Systems and methods for heater control by current level step detection
An airfield lighting system can comprise a control system, a constant current regulator, and a plurality of light fixtures. The control system can command the constant current regulator to output a current level transition sequence. One or more light fixtures of the plurality of light fixtures can detect the current level transition sequence and execute a command at the light fixture, such as actuating a heating element or adjusting the intensity of light emitted by a light source.
US09462647B2 Lighting device, head light and vehicle
A lighting device includes first to third output terminals, a power converter, a bypass switch, and a controller. A first light source is connected between the first and third output terminals. A second light source is connected between the second and third output terminals. The bypass switch is connected between the second and third output terminals. The controller switches the bypass switch between ON-state and OFF-state. The controller controls the power converter to adjust an output current. The controller includes a voltage meter for measuring a voltage corresponding to an output voltage of the power converter. The controller compares a measured voltage of the voltage meter with a first threshold voltage while keeping the bypass switch in OFF-state. The controller compares the measured voltage with a second threshold voltage while keeping the bypass switch in ON-state. The second threshold voltage is smaller than the first threshold voltage.
US09462643B2 Alternating current (AC)-direct current (DC) power booster and AC-DC power control module for AC and DC illuminations
The AC-DC power booster includes an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter circuit that is included to convert alternating current (AC) power from among applied AC power and direct current (DC) power, to DC power to be output; a power factor correction (PFC) circuit that is connected to the EMI filter circuit and stabilizes an output voltage; and a switching mode power supply (SMPS) circuit that is connected to the PFC circuit and is capable of generating AC and DC power at the same time; a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) circuit that applies the voltage output from the SMPS circuit between a drain and a source of a switching device; a battery that is charged by receiving power from a solar light energy source connected to the MPPT circuit; and an inverter that operates an AC home appliance with the power received in the battery.
US09462642B2 Returned power for microwave applications
Devices and methods that use returned power (RP) measurements during microwave energy delivery to perform one or more functions. For example, such microwave devices and systems can include one or more features to measure the returned microwave power. One or more measurements of the returned microwave power may be used to obtain information about one or more of: antenna shape, system status and system performance. One or more measurements of the returned microwave power shaping elements may also be used to obtain information about one or more properties of the target material. Devices and methods for delivering microwave energy to a variety of target materials to achieve a variety of desired microwave effects.
US09462641B2 Transverse flux strip heating with DC edge saturation
Induction heating apparatus and methods are disclosed for selective workpiece heating such as strip heating, in which DC windings around one or more laminations proximate to a workpiece edge are selectively energized using DC electrical power for controlled partial or full saturation of the one laminations to control edge overheating in a transverse flux induction heating system, in which certain implementations further employ a copper shield between the induction heating coil and the strip workpiece proximate the edge of the workpiece to control the edge heating effect.
US09462639B2 Induction heating cooker
An induction heating cooker includes an inverter for supplying a current to a heating coil, a control portion for driving the inverter, an electrostatic capacitance detecting portion for measuring electrostatic capacitance of a plurality of electrodes, and a boiling over detecting portion. The boiling over detecting portion reduces an output of the inverter from a first set value to a second set value after a sensed value of the electrostatic capacitance is within a first variation range (ΔV1) or more, and returns the output of the inverter to the first set value when a sensed value during a boiling over establishing period (T2) performed after the sensed value has reached the first variation range or more and falls within a second variation range (ΔV2).
US09462638B2 Induction heating cooker and control method thereof
An induction heating cooker having an oil temperature control function by of the amount of change of an operating frequency, and a control method thereof, the induction heating cooker including a heating coil, an inverter unit, a driving unit, a detection unit to detect a value of a current that flows at the heating coil, and a control unit to calculate an operating frequency of the driving unit according to the value of the current, to vary the operating frequency so that the heating coil maintains a constant output that corresponds to an output level, and to determine whether oil accommodated in a container placed on the heating coil is overheated, by use of an amount of change of the operating frequency, and the maintenance or the control of the temperature of oil may be achieved.
US09462635B2 Device and method for heating using RF energy
An apparatus for applying EM energy to a load may include at least one processor configured to receive information indicative of dissipated energy for each of a plurality of modulation space elements and group a number of the plurality of modulations space elements into at least two subsets based on the information received indicative of dissipated energy. The processor may also be configured to associate a power delivery protocol with each of the at least two subsets wherein the power delivery protocol differs between subsets and regulate energy applied to the load in accordance with each power delivery protocol.
US09462629B2 Reduction of packet retransmissions in dual connectivity systems
Technology for reducing packet transmissions is disclosed. A master evolved node B (MeNB) configured for dual connectivity can receive one or more acknowledgements (ACKs) from a user equipment (UE) indicating packets that were successfully received at the UE from a secondary evolved node B (SeNB). The MeNB can receive, from the SeNB, packet delivery information for the SeNB. The MeNB can receive an indication from the SeNB of an air-interface connection loss between the SeNB and the UE. The MeNB can identify remaining packets that were not sent from the SeNB to the UE based, in part, on the ACKs received from the UE and the packet delivery information received from the SeNB, wherein the remaining packets are not sent to the UE due to the connection loss between the SeNB and the UE. The MeNB can send the remaining packets from the MeNB to the UE.
US09462628B2 Apparatus and method for maintaining a circuit-switched voice call in a multi-RAB wireless communication system in an area of weak coverage
An apparatus and a method are provided for improving user experience in a multi-radio access bearer (multi-RAB) wireless communication system. After a user equipment establishes a circuit-switched communication link and a packet-switched communication link with a core network, it may receive an indication of an error associated with the packet-switched communication link. Here, if the value of a timer such as the RAB re-establishment timer T314 has a predetermined value (e.g., 0), the user equipment may release the packet-switched communication link, and maintain the circuit-switched communication link. The packet-switched communication link may then be re-established. In this fashion, errors that may occur on the data call need not interrupt a voice call.
US09462624B2 Authenticated session establishment
Methods, devices, and machine-readable media are provided to provide secure communications between entities. As provided in this disclosure, this may include receiving a request to begin a new communication session, determining one or more desired parameters of the session, and determining whether the desired parameters of the message match proposed parameters provided by the entity requesting the new communication session. When the one or more proposed parameters match the one or more desired parameters, a secure communication session is established between the entities.
US09462623B2 Method and system for optimized bluetooth low energy communications using dynamic broadcasting schedule
This concerns a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) device, or system, or method of operating a BLE device and a respective computer program. The BLE device comprises a transceiver to broadcast the at least one advertising packet, a processor connected to the transceiver to generate the advertising packet and/or to trigger broadcasting thereof according to a broadcasting schedule. The device further comprises a verification element connected to the processor and being capable of ascertaining if a predefined condition is met, at least one of the verification element and the processor is capable of modifying the broadcasting schedule based on the predefined condition's ascertainment.
US09462622B2 Method for requesting device-to-device communication in wireless access system and apparatus for same
Disclosed are a method for requesting device-to-device communication in a wireless access system that supports device-to-device communication and an apparatus for the method. More particularly, the method comprises the steps of: receiving, from a first device, request information for requesting device-to-device communication with a second device; transmitting, to the second device, check information to inquire whether to accept device-to-device communication with the first device; receiving, from the second device, response information indicating that device-to-device communication is accepted; and, if the second device has accepted the device-to-device, transmitting resource allocation information for device-to-device communication to the first device and the second device.
US09462621B2 Mobile communication system and band control method for flexibly accommodating the positional bias of radio terminals
The value of communication bands required for each transmission line between a line consolidation section that consolidates lines from a plurality of radio base stations and the radio base stations are calculated and assigned based on the distribution of a number of terminals that is based on positional information of each radio terminal.
US09462604B2 Methods and apparatus related to selecting a request group for a request report
Methods and apparatus related to reporting transmission backlog information are described. A wireless communications device maintains and updates transmission backlog information corresponding to a plurality of different transmission request groups. Different request groups may correspond to different uplink traffic queues. For a request reporting opportunity, the communications device selects a request group from among the plurality of different transmission request groups as a function of: request group changes in backlog with respect to previously reported requests, the changes taking into consideration base station allocation of transmission resources; and request group priority information. A request report is generated conveying backlog information corresponding to the selected request group, and the generated report is transmitted over a wireless communications link.
US09462598B2 Method and apparatus for controlling resource
A method for requesting resource allocation includes receiving a target quality of a video transmitted from a server, from the server, determining whether a ratio between a quality of a transmitted video and the target quality is less than a predetermined ratio threshold value, based on a Peak signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) or frame-rate in a predetermined time section, and requesting allocation of additional resources for the video to the server when the ratio of between the quality of the transmitted video and the target quality is less than the ratio threshold value. Other embodiments including an apparatus for requesting resource allocation are also disclosed.
US09462597B2 Method and apparatus for providing uplink control signalling in a multi-radio access environment
Various methods for providing control signaling in a multi-radio access environment are provided. One example method includes implementing radio resource management and a general link layer jointly across at least two radio access technology modules, and selecting one of the radio access technology modules to perform control signaling in a multi-radio environment. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.
US09462596B2 Channel selection rules for sub-1-GHz basic service sets
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for the coexistence of 1 MHz and 2 MHz operation modes within a wireless communication system in accordance with IEEE 802.11ah, for example. One example method generally includes scanning a plurality of channel pairs, wherein each of the channel pairs comprises a first channel having a first channel designation and a second channel having a second channel designation; determining, based on the scan, a set of open channels from the plurality of channel pairs in which no other apparatus is operating; selecting a primary channel based on the determination; and transmitting using the selected primary channel. The selection of the primary channel involves channel selection rules disclosed herein.
US09462590B2 Method of data transmission in multiple antenna system
A method of data transmission includes determining the number of layers, generating mapping symbols by mapping modulation symbols for a first codeword and modulation symbols for a second codeword to each layer, and transmitting the mapping symbols through a plurality of antennas. At least one of the first codeword and the second codeword is mapped to at least 3 layers and the number of layers is larger than 3.
US09462589B2 Directed wireless communication
In an implementation of directed wireless communication, a multi-beam directed signal system coordinates directed wireless communication with client devices. A transmit beam-forming network routes data communication transmissions to the client devices via directed communication beams that are emanated from an antenna assembly, and a receive beam-forming network receives data communication receptions from the client devices via the directed communication beams.
US09462582B2 Enhanced PDCCH overlapping with the PDCCH region
The present invention relates to configuring search spaces of at least two coexisting control channels in a communication system. In particular, the control channels are defined in at least partially overlapping regions, wherein the overlapping is in the time and/or frequency domain. This configuration enables coexistence of the at least two channels in the same resource grid and better utilization of the resources. Furthermore, it enables sharing of the reference signals.
US09462579B2 User-initiated quality of service modification in a mobile device
A system and method that facilitates mobile device selection among available qualities of service is described herein. A telecommunications network sends a notification to a mobile device when a change in quality of service is available to the mobile device. The mobile device then enables selection of an upgrade or downgrade to the current quality of service. In response to a selection, the mobile device transmits to the telecommunications network the change in quality of service. The telecommunications network then adjusts the quality of service in accordance with the request.
US09462578B2 Method for payload part transmission on contention channels
A method for generating an uplink transmission burst includes using one or more symbols to define the uplink transmission burst, and forming a preamble portion and a payload portion for the uplink transmission burst. The preamble portion is formed using at least a portion of one or more of the symbols, such that the preamble portion includes a signature that is defined in a predetermined signature set. The payload portion is formed using at least a portion of one or more of the symbols. Typically, at least a portion of the preamble portion and at least a portion of the payload portion are formed using the same symbol.
US09462567B2 Network-level device proximity detection
A technology for network-level device proximity detection is disclosed. In an example, core network (CN) device can include computer circuitry configured to: Store user equipment (UE) information; calculate proximity between two UEs; and assist the two UEs with direct device discovery based on the calculated proximity. The core network device can include a proximity services (ProSe) server, a gateway mobile location center (GMLC), an evolved serving mobile location center (E-SMLC), or a mobility management entity (MME).
US09462564B2 Apparatus, method and computer program product providing uplink synchronization through use of dedicated uplink resource assignment
An assignment of an uplink resource on which to send an uplink synchronization signal is transmitted to a user equipment. The user equipment sends on the uplink resource an uplink synchronization signal. From the uplink synchronization signal is determined a timing advance for the user equipment. Various indications are used to indicate to the user equipment that the assignment of uplink resources is for the purpose of sending its synchronization signal, such as expiration of its timing advance timer, a field in the allocation table that assigns the uplink resources, or explicit signaling from the network. Methods, devices, and computer program products are detailed for both network and user equipment embodiments.
US09462558B2 Managing power consumption of transmission circuitry in a wireless communication device
Methods, apparatuses and computer readable media are described that manage transmit power levels for a wireless device connected to a network access system of a wireless network. Processing circuitry in the wireless device obtains a target average transmit power level. Based on estimates of an actual average transmit power level for a sliding window of a past time period and the target average transmit power level, the processing circuitry determines a target transmit power level, a duty cycle percentage, and a transmit pattern of transmit on frames and transmit off frames for a future time period. The processing circuitry sends to the access network system signaling messages indicating non-zero valued buffer status reports for the transmit on frames and zero valued buffer status reports for the transmit off frames. Non-zero values correspond to actual amounts of pending uplink data, while zero values are sent irrespective of actual uplink buffer status.
US09462555B2 Systems and methods for low power consumption in wireless communication systems
Methods, systems, and devices for low power consumption in wireless communication systems are disclosed herein. An evolved node B (eNodeB) is configured to provide a connection reconfiguration message to user equipment (UE) connected to the eNodeB, the connection reconfiguration message configuring the UE to indicate a power preference. The eNodeB receives assistance information from the UE. The assistance information includes a low power preference indication and a timer length, wherein the timer length indicates a preferred duration for a low power mode. The eNodeB provides, in response to receiving the assistance information, a connection release message to the UE. The connection release message includes paging discontinuous reception (DRX) information that includes the timer length.
US09462550B2 Target wakeup time (TWT) grouping modification
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for modifications to operation of a group of devices utilizing target wakeup times (TWTs).
US09462549B2 Systems and methods for optimizing power consumption associated with processing group addressed messages
Certain embodiments herein relate to optimizing power consumption associated with processing group addressed messages. For example, a station may receive a group addressed message (e.g., a broadcast or multicast message) from the access point. An expected time at which such group addressed messages may be received may be determined such that the group addressed messages may be processed without processing beacon frames, thereby consuming less battery power, and as a result, optimizing power consumption at wireless stations.
US09462547B2 Method for transmitting data using tail time in cellular network
A method for transmitting data using a tail time in a cellular network comprising steps of: receiving a data transmission request from a mobile terminal, and inserting the data transmission request into a real-time request queue or a delay-tolerant request queue according to a type of the data transmission request; determining a tail time according to a state of a RRC state machine and a throughput of the mobile terminal; and obtaining the data transmission request to be transmitted from the real-time request queue or the delay-tolerant request queue, and transmitting the real-time data transmission request directly as there are real-time data transmission requests in the real-time request queue, and transmitting the delay-tolerant data transmission request using the tail time when the tail time is available for transmitting data or transmitting the delay-tolerant data transmission request directly when a deadline of the delay-tolerant data transmission request is approached.
US09462546B2 Mobile station, base station, wireless communication system, and wireless communication method
A mobile station that performs wireless communication by using a plurality of wireless carriers, the mobile station includes a transmission managing unit that detects a transmission timing of communication data of a predetermined wireless carrier, and a state managing unit that makes the predetermined wireless carrier an activated state when the transmission managing unit detects the transmission timing of the communication data, and makes the predetermined wireless carrier a deactivated state after the communication data is transmitted and received.
US09462545B2 Method and apparatus for a battery saver utilizing a sleep and vacation strategy
A cellular communication module utilized within a battery-powered vehicle comprising a processor configured to activate an extended power mode, wherein the extended power mode allows the cellular communication module to establish a data session with a cellular communication network for a first time period. The process if further configured to activate a low power mode, wherein the low power mode allows the cellular communication module to maintain a registered cellular connection with the cellular communication network for a second time period, and activate a sleep mode, wherein the sleep mode maintains a registered cellular connection with the cellular communication network during a reoccurring wake-up cycle or is disconnected from the cellular communication network for a third time period.
US09462539B2 Radio network node, user equipment and methods for enabling access to a radio network
Embodiments herein relate to a method in a radio network node (1) for enabling a user equipment (10) to access a radio communications network. The user equipment (10) is located in an area of the radio communications network. The radio network node (1) retrieves a system signature. The system signature is indicating a set of system information to be used by the user equipment (10) to access the radio network node (1). The radio network node (1) then transmits the system signature within the area. This enables the user equipment (10) to access the radio communications network.
US09462527B2 Handover mechanism in wireless networks
A first base station in a network initiates handover of a wireless device in connected mode to a second base station. The first base station initiates a handover employing a first criterion, if the wireless device is in an active call from a first call category with the first base station. The first base station initiates a handover using a second criterion, if the wireless device is not in an active call from a first call category with the first base station.
US09462526B2 Supporting enhanced uplink transmission during soft handover
An enhanced uplink user equipment is in soft handover. A radio network controller selects a primary Node-B out of a plurality of Node-Bs supporting the soft handover. The radio network controller receiving successfully received enhanced uplink data packets from the plurality of Node-Bs. The radio network controller reordered the successfully received enhanced uplink data packets for in-sequence deliver. The primary Node-B sends specified scheduling information to the user equipment that the other Node-Bs does not transmit. At least the primary Node-B transmits acknowledgements and negative acknowledgements to the user equipment.
US09462519B2 Network elements, cellular communication system and methods therefor
A method and apparatus is provided for facilitating identification of a cell in a cellular communication system and particularly a system which incorporates different radio access technologies. A network element such as a Radio Network Controller (RNC) includes a store containing a neighbor cell list, the neighbor cell list containing parameters relating to neighbor cells wherein parameters of cells in the neighbor cell list which have a common area of coverage and which support radio access technologies different from one another are linked together. A signal processor correlates measurement reports received by the RNC from a user equipment with the neighbor cell list to determine the identity of a cell in the cellular communication system. The invention has particular applicability to resolving the problem of Primary Scrambling Code confusion where a repeating pattern of small cells lies underneath a macrocell.
US09462514B2 Configuration of HS-DSCH serving cell change improvements
The present solution relates to a method in a user equipment for configuring a cell change procedure to be used for handover in a wireless communication network. The user equipment is situated in a serving cell and comprises an active set of cells. The active set of cells comprises a list of cells to which the user equipment can move from the serving cell. The user equipment sends a request to a network controller comprised in the wireless communication network to add at least one further cell to the active set. The user equipment then receives the requested active set update from the network controller. The received active set update comprises the at least one further cell to be added to the active set and a list of cells to which a modified cell change procedure shall be used for handover. A neighbor cell which is stronger than a current serving cell is detected. This detected stronger neighbor cell is matching with the received list of modified cell change procedure cells, and the modified cell change procedure for the handover to the stronger neighbor cell is applied if the stronger neighbor cell is found matching a cell on the list.
US09462513B2 Node and method for providing an interface between base station
Example embodiments are directed towards establishing a base station (401A) to base station (401B) interface for receiving and sending communications on the interface for providing bearer management functions for bearers associated with a user equipment (101) in multiple connectivity with at least two base stations.
US09462511B2 Method and apparatus for setting up call in mobile communication system
The time required to set up a voice call in an exemplary embodiment, in which Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) is used, is reduced to provide a voice call service to a User Equipment (UE) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system. If a voice call occurs in a UE while the UE accesses the LTE system, the UE using CSFB switches to a 2G/3G legacy system, recycles system information for a 2G/3G cell that the UE has accessed before, and immediately proceeds with voice call setup without receiving system information unnecessary for a CSFB process.
US09462509B2 Communication system, mobile station, and control device
A communication system includes: a base station configured to perform radio communication with a mobile station; and a control device configured to control a rate of transferring data to the base station based on a radio quality between the mobile station and the base station. A control device includes: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: obtain a radio quality between a mobile station and a base station that performs radio communication with the mobile station; and control a rate of transferring data to the base station based on the radio quality.
US09462508B2 Method and system for establishing a queuing system inside a mesh network
Wireless mobile communication (WMC) devices located in operating proximity of each other may be enabled to form a mesh (ad hoc wireless) network. WMC devices in a mesh network may form a queuing system wherein each WMC device may store data forwarded to and/or from other WMC devices in the mesh network. Each WMC device in the mesh network may have different queuing capability based on a plurality of factors that may comprise internal factors such as processing, storage, power, and/or connectivity. The mesh network may comprise an internal addressing scheme that may enable utilization of the queuing system whether or not WMC devices in the mesh network are communicatively coupled to external networks.
US09462507B2 Load balancing method and system for multi-band network
A load balancing method and system is provided. When a terminal enters an idle, access or service state, and a base station determines that the terminal is in a multi-band covering section, load conditions of the bands in the section are recorded; and when determining that a preset idle or access or service state condition is met based on the recorded load conditions of the bands in the section, the base station performs load balancing control on the terminal. For the terminal in the idle, access or service state, load balancing for a multi-band network can be implemented.
US09462505B2 MAC header compression in long-range wireless local area networks
A wireless network interface device receives a packet, wherein the packet includes (i) a set of one or more flag bits, and (ii) a medium access control (MAC) header, and the MAC header contains at least (i) a first address field specifying a receiver address, and (ii) a second address field specifying a transmitter address. The wireless network interface device processes the packet to determine whether the packet is a multicast packet. When it is determined that the packet is a multicast packet, the wireless network interface device processes a third address field in the MAC header to determine a MAC multicast address for the packet.
US09462499B2 Methods and apparatus for network entity collision detection
Methods and apparatus for communication at a network entity comprise sending a measurement configuration message to a user equipment (UE) to configure the UE to perform one or more measurements during a specified measurement period. Additionally, the methods and apparatus comprise suspending, at the network entity, transmission of at least one configuration parameter to the UE during the specified measurement period, wherein the network entity is the serving network entity. Moreover, the methods and apparatus comprise receiving at least one measurement report message from the UE after the specified measurement period.
US09462496B2 Automated communications device field testing, performance management, and resource allocation
Field testing, performance monitoring, and resource management are performed via a communications device, automatically and autonomously, without user intervention. Abnormal conditions are automatically detected while the communications device is performing a service and adjustments are automatically made to network resources in order to improve service performance. Upon initiation of a request for service (e.g., IM, MMS, SMS, etc.), the communications device automatically begins to monitor the performance of the service session (e.g., send time, receive time, etc.). During or after the service session, the communications device stores the performance data associated with the performance of the service. The performance data is analyzed in accordance with a subscriber's user profile information, to detect any problems with the service. If problems are detected, necessary adjustments and/or reallocation of resources are made automatically and autonomously, without user intervention.
US09462493B2 Base station apparatus, base station control method, and base station control system determining increases/decreases and replacement of functional blocks
A base station apparatus includes plural functional blocks made up of hardware and formed according to function; and a processor that that is configured to determine based on an input/output state of a control signal and of user data performed by the functional blocks and a state of data processing, an increase/decrease or a replacement of the functional blocks and output a determination result to an external destination.
US09462488B2 System and method for optimizing signal quality in a WiFi network
A system and method are provided for a WiFi network including multiple access points, each access point including an antenna having a plurality of modes corresponding to a plurality of radiation patterns, respectively, or an antenna system including a plurality of antennas having a plurality of modes corresponding to a plurality of radiation patterns, respectively, and a processor implemented with an algorithm. The algorithm is a computer program having instructions for performing steps to optimize signal quality for multiple devices linked to the WiFi network.
US09462484B2 Reconfiguration of active component carrier set in multi-carrier wireless systems
In a multi-carrier wireless system, potential problems from reconfiguring mobile station resources to accommodate changes in component-carrier configuration are mitigated by inserting a guard period each time the configuration of component carriers changes, so that transceiver reconfiguration can be carried out without interfering with ongoing transmission. A base station is configured to transmit data to a mobile station according to a first configuration of two or more component carriers, to determine that a change of configuration to a second component-carrier configuration is required, and to signal the change of configuration to the mobile station, using the first configuration of component carriers. The base station then refrains from transmitting data to the mobile station during a pre-determined guard interval of at least one transmission-time interval subsequent to the signaling of the change of configuration. After the guard interval, data is transmitted to the mobile station according to the second component-carrier configuration.
US09462482B2 Geo-location in a wireless communication network
A method for geo-location of a wireless communication unit (410) is provided. The communication unit (410) communicates with a wireless communication network (430) of a wireless communication system (400). A probability density function is derived for the location of the wireless communication unit (410), from measured information and/or information about the wireless communication network (430). The probability density function is sampled to provide spatial and probability information about each of at least two possible locations for the wireless communication unit (410). A wireless communication system (400) and a method of selecting enhancements to a wireless communication system (400) are also provided.
US09462480B2 Method and apparatus of supporting wireless femtocell clusters
A method of operating a femtocell network cluster is disclosed. One example method of operating the femtocell network cluster may include certain operations, such as, selecting a master femtocell access point among various femtocell access points operating on the femtocell network cluster and updating a master table to include the master femtocell access point in the master table neighbor list. Other operations may include transmitting the master table to each of the femtocell access points informing them of the identity of the master femtocell access point. The tables may be maintained by all of the femtocell access points operating on the network.
US09462479B2 Cognitive use of multiple regulatory domains
A wireless communication system that concurrently communicates information in multiple regulatory domains to facilitate audio/video media streaming and other high bandwidth operations. One domain may be licensed and the other may be unlicensed. Transmission in the licensed domain may occur in white space in the domain, and the amount of information transmitted in that domain may be limited by regulations. The amount of information conveyed in the licensed domain may also depend on channel conditions in either or both of the domains. As a result, the relative amount of information transmitted in each domain may vary dynamically. The system includes a transmitter that dynamically determines weighting coefficients applied to each of a plurality of channels to set power levels in both domains to achieve a desired metric for the overall communication. A corresponding receiver assembles the substreams into a stream that can then be displayed or otherwise processed.
US09462476B1 Identifying unsubscribed tethering in a wireless network
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for identifying and managing wireless devices that are performing tethering services are described. The system may include a database and server. The database stores records of services subscribed by wireless devices in a wireless network. The server may poll the database to generate a list of wireless devices that are not subscribed to a tethering service. In turn, the server receives notification messages from each wireless device that is tethering at least one other network element. The wireless devices are identified as unauthorized by the server when the notification message indicates existence of a configured network address translation table at the wireless device and the wireless device is located on the list of wireless devices that are not subscribed to the tethering service.
US09462474B2 Method of unlocking mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal
An unlock method for conveniently releasing a lock mode of a mobile terminal includes tracking a trajectory corresponding to a touch-and-drag operation of touching the touch screen and then dragging when the mobile terminal is in a lock mode, determining whether one or more intersections occur on the trajectory, and releasing the lock mode if one or more intersections occur on the trajectory. Accordingly, a touch input pattern for unlocking a lock mode is unlimited in terms of size, location, and pattern so that a user can freely touch the touch screen to release the lock mode.
US09462472B2 System and method for establishing security in network devices capable of operating in multiple frequency bands
A Network device including a security module to establish, in response to the network device being capable of operating in multiple frequency bands, and in response to the network device operating in a first frequency band, security for the frequency band and a second frequency band by performing a single authentication in the first frequency band prior to the network device switching operation form the first frequency band to the second frequency band. A session transfer module to transfer, subsequent to the network device switching operation from the first frequency band to the second frequency band, a communication session of the network device from the first frequency band to the second frequency band. The communication session resumes in the second frequency band using the security established for the second frequency band during the operation of the network device in the first frequency band.
US09462470B2 Dual interface device for access control and a method therefor
The invention provides a low-cost access control device for identification and authentication in both the “digital” and “physical” worlds by contact-bound respectively contact-less interfaces and where individual users of the device can securely update access control credentials and cryptographic keys from a remote system without the need for any additional hardware or specialized software. The access control credentials and the at least one cryptographic key shall be readable by an access control system via the contact-less interface of the device, thereby enabling or denying the holder of the device access.
US09462466B2 Gateway router supporting session hand-off and content sharing among clients of a local area network
A gateway router is positioned at a boundary of a local area network and a wide area network. The gateway router supports hand-off among client device and/or user accounts for network communications sessions with a network device of the wide area network. The gateway router further supports content sharing among client devices and/or user accounts via the gateway router over the local area network. Data resources in the form of account information, files, applications, session state information, etc. may be stored at the gateway router to facilitate hand-off and/or content sharing among the clients of the local area network.
US09462465B2 Apparatus and methods for separated security implementations in wireless communications
Systems, methods, and devices for communicating MPDUs having a plurality of types are described herein. One aspect of the disclosure provides a method of processing a media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) in a wireless system. The method includes receiving the MAC protocol data unit, the MAC protocol data unit comprising an indication of a communication in accordance with a protocol version. The method further includes selecting a replay counter from one of a first and second sets of replay counters based at least in part on the indication. The method further includes processing the received MAC protocol data unit in accordance with the selected replay counter.
US09462464B2 Secure and simplified procedure for joining a social Wi-Fi mesh network
Methods, systems, and devices are described for communications via a mesh network. To join an existing mesh network, a wireless communication device may identify a member device from a plurality of member devices of an existing mesh network. The wireless communication device may communicate with the identified member device to participate in a single authentication procedure. Upon successfully completing the single authentication procedure, the wireless communication device may join the existing mesh network without needing any additional authentication procedures with another member device of the plurality of member devices to join the existing mesh network. This approach may be used for any mesh network, such as a social Wi-Fi mesh network.
US09462461B2 Correlating mobile device locations
Systems and methods related to the provision of location based services via a mobile communications device. In some cases, a plurality of mobile communication devices can be tracked, based on a user's preferences, and data regarding the locations of that plurality of mobile communication devices can be sent to the user's device. In a particular aspect, for example, the user's device might display a map showing the locations of some or all of the plurality of mobile communication devices.
US09462457B2 Subscription transfer method, apparatus, and system
A subscription transfer method, apparatus, and system are provided. The method includes receiving a subscription transfer request message sent by a first user equipment (UE) or a second UE, where the first UE is a target UE to which an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) subscription is transferred, and the second UE is a source UE from which the eUICC subscription is transferred; and transferring the eUICC subscription from the second UE to the first UE according to the subscription transfer request message, so that the first UE accesses an operator network according to transferred eUICC subscription data. The technical solution of the present invention can implement transfer of an eUICC subscription between UEs that use an eUICC, making it more flexible and convenient for a user to change a UE.
US09462454B2 Contact management and dialing using conditional flow logic
A tool for contacts management and automated calling. The tool displays, by one or more computer processors, a contact page for adding a contact, wherein the contact page includes at least one conditional flow statement field. The tool program prompts, by one more computer processors, to configure the at least one conditional flow statement field. The tool saves, by one or more computer processors, the contact based on the at least one control flow statement field. The tool initiates, by one or more computer processors, an automated call to the contact based, on the at least one conditional flow statement field. The tool applies, by one or more computer processors, the at least one conditional flow statement field to the automated call to the contact.
US09462452B2 Smart card initial personalization
An exemplary technique is provided for an initial personalization of a smart card coupled with a communication device of a user. The smart card is configured to send a first request to a home location register that authenticates the user by means of a temporary international identity and a temporary authentication key. The smart card is configured to send a second request for smart card personalization to an application server. The smart card is configured to receive a response from the application server that contains a personalization command, an admin code, an initial international identity and an initial authentication key. The smart card is configured to interpret the personalization command to delete the temporary international identity and the temporary authentication key, and to replace them with the initial international identity and the initial authentication key when the admin code is valid.
US09462447B2 Methods and systems for allocating resources from component carriers to a public-safety mobile radio
Disclosed herein are methods and systems for allocating resources from component carriers to a public-safety mobile radio. An embodiment takes the form of a process that is carried out by carried out by a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Evolved Node B (eNodeB). The eNodeB makes a first determination to allocate resources to a given mobile radio. The eNodeB makes a second determination that the given mobile radio is a public-safety mobile radio. In response to making the first and second determinations, the eNodeB selects, based on one or more public-safety-communication criteria, a component carrier from among a plurality of component carriers managed by the eNodeB. The eNodeB allocates resources on the selected eNodeB component carrier to the given mobile radio.
US09462446B2 Collecting external accessory data at a mobile data collection platform that obtains raw observables from an internal chipset
External accessory data is collected at a mobile data collection platform (MDCP) provided by an external accessory of the MDCP. An image that includes a point of interest is captured using an image capturing device integral to the MDCP. Raw observables are obtained from a GNSS chipset internal to the MDCP. An position fix of the MDCP defines the location of an antenna and is determined based on the raw observables. An entrance pupil location is calculated as an offset off the antenna location. Orientation information comprising a tilt angle and an azimuth angle is determined. The position fix and orientation information are associated with a three dimensional location that the MDCP is at when the image was captured. External accessory data is received from an accessory external to the MDCP. The image, position fix, orientation information and external accessory data are stored in hardware memory of the MDCP.
US09462445B2 Mobile communication terminal, and system and method for safety service using same
A mobile communication terminal and a system and a method for safety service using the terminal for checking the user's location and a situation of the surroundings of the user at the time of an emergency such as kidnapping, accident, and so on, are provided. The mobile communication terminal includes a camera, an angle-of-view changing unit which changes angle-of-view of the camera, and a controller which controls the angle-of-view changing unit to change the angle-of-view of the camera and controls the camera to capture the surroundings corresponding to the angle-of-view at the time of emergency mode.
US09462439B2 Delivering specialized services to users of phones
An aspect of the present invention enables users to avail specialized services using missed calls. In one embodiment, a missed call server on receiving an indication that a missed call has been placed by a user to a phone number, determines the specialized service corresponding to the phone number, and then sends a data to the service provider offering the determined service. The service provider then delivers the specialized service (sought to be availed) to the user. One of the specialized services is the delivery of content to the user. Thus, a user is enabled to access different contents by placing missed calls to the appropriate phone numbers.
US09462434B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing apparatus including: a search unit that searches for an apparatus, which is suitable for providing event notification, when event generation is detected; and a supply unit that supplies notification content to the apparatus which is found by the search unit. The search unit is configured to issue a response request for responding to a search target apparatus in an event a third condition, which includes a first condition relevant to display of a privacy information and a second condition relevant to whether or not a user notices the notification, is satisfied.
US09462433B2 Context-related arrangements
In one arrangement, a first device presents a display that is based on context data, derived from one or more of its sensors. This display is imaged by a camera in a second device. The second device uses context data from its own sensors to assess the information in the captured imagery, and makes a determination about the first device. In another arrangement, social network friend requests are automatically issued, or accepted, based on contextual similarity. In yet another arrangement, delivery of a message is triggered by a contextual circumstance other than (or in addition to) location. In still another arrangement, two or more devices automatically establish an ad hoc network (e.g., Bluetooth pairing) based on contextual parallels. In still another arrangement, historical context information is archived and used in transactions with other devices, e.g., in challenge-response authentication. A great number of other features and arrangements—many involving head-mounted displays—are also detailed.
US09462430B2 System and method for managing messages
A system, method, and computer program product for managing different types of messages, such as, but not limited to, voicemails and text messages, is presented. For example, in one embodiment, the method includes identifying a sender associated with a message for a recipient; and grouping all messages from the sender under a directory associated with the sender, wherein the directory includes different types of messages received from the sender.
US09462429B2 Missed call notification by notifying contacts of the called party
Users can be alerted of important missed calls while away from their mobile device by sending missed call notifications to contacts of the user, which may include friends, family, colleagues, or other people/entities associated with the called party. The missed call notifications may include text or automated voicemail messages, email messages, and/or messages sent via a social networking site or service to name a few, and can specify information pertaining to the missed call and/or the calling party. Missed call notifications can be triggered when one or more predefined conditions are met, such as when the mobile device is deemed not to be in the possession of the user and/or the missed call is deemed to be important. Missed call notifications can originate from the mobile device or a network device.
US09462424B2 Indoor positioning method and apparatus
The invention discloses an indoor positioning method and apparatus. The method includes: acquiring current cell signal strength information of a terminal located indoors; determining, according to 3D indoor positioning matching information, horizontal position information and height information of an indoor grid that are corresponding to the current cell signal strength information, where the 3D indoor positioning matching information includes a correspondence between cell signal strength information of the indoor grid and the horizontal position information and the height information of the indoor grid; and determining, according to the horizontal position information and the height information of the indoor grid, a horizontal position at which the terminal is located indoors and a height at which the terminal is located. In this way, high-accuracy 3D indoor positioning can be implemented.
US09462418B2 Augmentation of call data information to determine a location of a wireless communication device
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for augmenting call data information to determine a location of a wireless communication device. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving wireless signals transmitted from a plurality of base stations and determining signal strengths for at least some of the wireless signals. The method further provides identifying at least three geographically diverse ones of the base stations having signal strengths that satisfy a location-determination strength threshold. The method further provides transmitting base station identifiers and associated signal strengths for the geographically diverse base stations.
US09462412B1 Providing content based on previously determined device locations
This specification describes technologies relating to content presentation. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving, at a first time, a device identifier in association with a first network identifier that corresponds to a first network to which the device is connected, processing the first network identifier to determine a first location, associating the device identifier with the first location and the first time, receiving a content request from the device, determining that the device has been connected to the first network within a defined chronological proximity of receiving the content request, selecting one or more content items based on at least the first location, and providing the one or more content items to the device. Other embodiments of the various aspects include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.
US09462411B2 Mobile device mode enablement responsive to a proximity criterion
A system (10) and method (30) comprises a detector that is configured to enable a mode of a first device (14) and/or to enable a mode of a second device (15) responsive to a detection that a proximity criterion is satisfied between the first device and an entity (Entity 1) and responsive to at least one of a position, velocity and a Time-of-Day and where the second device is not the entity and is not associated with the entity, and where the entity is not involved in providing a communications service to the first and/or second device.
US09462405B2 Apparatus and method for generating panoramic sound
An apparatus and method for generating a panoramic sound are provided. The panoramic sound generation apparatus may include a panning coefficient calculation unit to calculate a panning coefficient that represents directivity of a sound source using an input signal, a masker determination unit to determine a direction masker that extracts a sound source of a desired direction based on the panning coefficient, and a channel separation unit to separate to be used as an output signal, output to a sound output device, using the direction masker.
US09462401B2 Method for operating a public address system
The invention relates to a method for operating a public address system with a control center to which loudspeakers are connected via a two-wire loop system that is routed via isolator modules. A fault can be located on the loop system if the control center measures the impedance of the loop system successively from isolator module to isolator module and the impedance of the entire loop system, inputs the measured values as target values into an impedance table, periodically measures the impedance of the entire loop system during operation, compares said impedance with the corresponding target value from the impedance table, generates a fault message upon determining a deviation, ascertains the fault location by comparing the measured value with the individual target values in the impedance table, and displays said fault location.
US09462394B2 Splicing type electret loudspeaker
The present invention discloses a splicing type electret loudspeaker. The splicing type electret loudspeaker may comprise a plurality of electret loudspeaker units. Each electret loudspeaker unit may comprise a plurality of connection ports, and these connection ports may be disposed around the edge of each electret loudspeaker unit. In particular, the connection ports of each electret loudspeaker unit can respectively connect to one of the connection ports of another electret loudspeaker unit; in this way, these electret loudspeaker units can connect to each other in parallel, such that the power input signal and the audio input signal can be transmitted to all electret loudspeaker units to drive them.
US09462390B2 Diaphragm for speaker, method of manufacturing same, and speaker
Provided is a diaphragm for use in a speaker that is configured to include a nanoweb that is formed by electrospinning a polymer material and accumulating nanofibers, so as to have a plurality of pores through which air can pass. The diaphragm can be made thin, have excellent flexibility, have sufficient strength to endure sound pressure, and enhance sound quality of low pitched bands.
US09462386B2 Wired, wireless, infrared, and powerline audio entertainment systems
A method and system for communicating audio signals between an input device and an output device via a network. The output device can include loudspeakers and headphones. In some embodiments an output device, for example a center channel speaker, transmits audio signals to other output devices. In some embodiments, the output device is coupled to, or combined with, a speaker stand or speaker bracket. The network can be wireless, wired, infrared, RF, and powerline.
US09462380B2 Microphone array system and a method for sound acquisition
A microphone array system for sound acquisition from multiple sound sources in a reception space surrounding a microphone array that is interfaced with a beamformer module is disclosed. The microphone array includes microphone transducers that are arranged relative to each other in N-fold rotationally symmetry, and the beamformer includes beamformer weights that are associated with one of a plurality of spatial reception sectors corresponding to the N-fold rotational symmetry of the microphone array. Microphone indexes of the microphone transducers are arithmetically displaceable angularly about the vertical axis during a process cycle, so that a same set of beamformer weights is used selectively for calculating a beamformer output signal associated with any one of the spatial reception sectors. A sound source location module is also disclosed that includes a modified steered power response sound source location method. A post filter module for a microphone array system is also disclosed.
US09462378B2 Apparatus and method for deriving a directional information and computer program product
An apparatus for deriving a directional information from a plurality of microphone signals or from a plurality of components of a microphone signal, wherein different effective microphone look directions are associated with the microphone signals or components, has a combiner configured to obtain a magnitude value from a microphone signal or a component of the microphone signal. The combiner is further configured to combine direction information items describing the effective microphone look directions, such that a direction information item describing a given effective microphone look direction is weighted in dependence on the magnitude value of the microphone signal, or of the component of the microphone signal, associated with the given effective microphone look direction, to derive the directional information.
US09462377B2 Systems and methods for optimizing an audio communication system
Methods and systems for optimizing and audio communication system, including detecting a surrounding noise profile, determining one or more states of one or more noise-related conditions corresponding to the surrounding noise profile, and associating the one or more states of the one or more noise-related conditions to the surrounding noise profile.
US09462375B2 Feedback delay reduction in force feedback devices
A feedback circuit provides a feedback signal to a transducer. The feedback circuit includes an ADC that generates digital representations of a feedback signal, digital controller that identifies adjustments for the feedback, and DAC that generates an analog output of the adjusted feedback signal. The digital controller performs speculative computation to identify adjustments for the feedback signal output for each output value from the ADC prior to receiving the output from the ADC. The ADC and DAC include sigma-delta modulators that operate with a zero clock cycle delay in a forward path. The ADC, digital controller, and DAC generate adjustments to the feedback output signal with reduced delay that reduce phase lag and improve phase margin to maintain stability in the transducer.
US09462374B2 Vibration pickup device, vibration measurement device, measurement system, and measurement method
A vibration pickup device for measuring an electronic device that transmits sound to a user via vibration transmission by pressing a vibrating body held in a housing against a human ear includes a plate-shaped vibration transmission member and a vibration pickup joined to a portion of the vibration transmission member. The vibration transmission member is mountable on a peripheral portion of an artificial external ear canal, formed in an ear model unit modeled after a human ear, and includes a hole in communication with the artificial external ear canal.
US09462371B2 Earphone and implementation method of vibratile earphone
The present invention provides an earphone and an implementation method of vibratile earphone. The earphone comprises: a low-frequency detection control circuit and a vibratile terminal connected to the low-frequency detection control circuit; the low-frequency detection control circuit is for sending a control signal to the vibratile terminal when detecting a signal of low-frequency below a specified frequency from earphone signals; the vibratile terminal produces vibration when receiving the control signal sent from the low-frequency detection control circuit. The solution of the invention can make the earphone produce vibration when the earphone signals contain low frequency signals and thus improve people's sense of shock when they are listening to voices or playing games with the earphone.
US09462370B2 Muting device
In order to enable noises entering the ear from random directions to be muted without wearing headphones, this muting device is provided with: a super-directional microphone that detects noises in spot areas around the ear at pinpoints; and an ultrasonic speaker that modulates and outputs a carrier signal supplied by a transmitter according to noise signals detected by the super-directional microphone. Furthermore, an adaptive filter is provided, and the adaptive filter supplies noise signals with the opposite phase to noises detected by the super-direction microphone, and transmits an ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic speaker toward the eardrum of a human.
US09462369B2 Ambient and audio earphone system
An ambient and audio earphone system having a right-side earbud and a left-side earbud operatively connected to a detachable electronic clasp that is in communication with an electronic pendant for controlling the operation of the ambient and audio earphone system.
US09462364B2 Capacitance type sensor, acoustic sensor, and microphone
A capacitance type sensor has a substrate, a vibration electrode plate formed over the substrate, a back plate formed over the substrate so as to cover the vibration electrode plate, and a fixed electrode plate provided on the back plate so as to be opposite to the vibration electrode plate. At least one of the vibration electrode plate and the fixed electrode plate is separated into a plurality of regions, each of the plurality of regions being formed with a sensing section including the vibration electrode plate and the fixed electrode plate. A barrier electrode is provided between respective sensing sections of at least one adjacent pair of regions of the plurality of regions to prevent signal interference between the respective sensing sections.
US09462359B2 System and method for photonic switching
In one embodiment, optical node includes an input port configured to receive an input optical frame and a first optical switch coupled to the input port, where the first optical switch is configured to remove the input optical frame to produce a removed input optical frame when an address of the input optical frame is a node address of the optical node and to pass the input optical frame to a second optical switch when an address of the input optical frame differs from the address of the optical node. The optical node also includes the second optical switch coupled to the first optical switch, where the second optical switch is configured to output the input optical frame to an output port when the address of the input optical frame is not the node address of the optical node and the address of the input optical frame is not an empty address.
US09462357B2 Automated asset tracking system and method
A system and method is provided for automatically tracking the presence or absence of multiple assets within a stationary or mobile location and differentiating among groups of assets or individual assets belonging to one or more parties within a single stationary or mobile location using multiple data correction and filtering techniques to provide accurate information to a plurality of users and/or service providers.
US09462355B2 System and method for automatically authoring interactive television content
A system and method is provided to automatically generate content for ITV products and services by processing primary media sources. In one embodiment of the invention, keywords are automatically extracted from the primary media sources using one or more of a variety of techniques directed to video, audio and/or textual content of the multimodal source. In some embodiments, keywords are then processed according to one or more disclosed algorithms to narrow the quantity of downstream processing that is necessary to associate secondary sources (reference items) with the primary video source. Embodiments of the invention also provide automatic searching methods for the identification of reference items based on the processed keywords in order to maximize the value added by the association of reference items to the video source.
US09462349B2 Method and system for content recording and indexing
The present invention relates to a method for a control point of initiating actions on a device in a communication network comprising at least two control points both adapted to control said device. Further, the present invention relates to a method for a device of initiating actions on said device in a communication network comprising at least two control points both adapted to control said device. Further, the present invention relates to a control point of initiating actions on a device in a communication network comprising at least two control point both adapted to control said device. Further, the present invention relates to a device in a communication network comprising at least two control points both adapted to control said device based on action requests received from a control point along with control point identification.
US09462340B1 Voice/manual activated and integrated audio/video multi-media, multi-interface system
An enhanced form of edited interactive audio and video content delivered through a subscriber based network system and accessed by several unique multimedia interface devices. These unique multimedia interface devices can also create and edit both user generated audio and video content into this enhanced form of edited interactive audio and video content. The present invention will incorporate both voice and manual activation as an embedded technology into all multi-media and user generated audio/video content.
US09462338B2 Set top box for performing diagnostic functions
Examples of the disclosure enable a set top box to be installed. In some examples, a remote control device, a computing device, and a set top box are provided. The computing device downloads configuration information for a location and receives input from an installer at the location. The set top box includes a remote control interface that receives commands from the remote control device, a local communications channel that transmits data to the computing device, an emulator that emulates the receipt of the commands by injecting remote control keypresses into the remote control interface to issue the commands, and a diagnostic feature activatable over the local communications channel by the computing device after the computing device receives the input to perform verification tests and to return results of the verification tests to the computing device to confirm to the installer that the set top box has been installed correctly.
US09462337B2 Peer-to-peer video on demand techniques
Techniques for delivering video-on-demand content via peer-to-peer connections are provided. A video-on-demand distribution service maintains associations of viewer devices that have specific video-on-demand content. As new viewer devices, which lack the specific video-on-demand content, make requests for the specific video-on-demand content from the video-on-demand distribution system, the video-on-demand distribution system identifies a peer-to-peer viewer device from which the specific video-on-demand content may be acquired via a peer-to-peer transaction. Video-on-demand content sources are identified by comparing distances between the geographical location of the requestor device and geographical locations of devices of the plurality of viewer devices to a distance threshold. A first portion of a first item of video on demand content is obtained from source viewer device and a second portion of the first item of video on demand content is obtained from the video distribution system. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09462335B2 Efficiently identifying television stations in a user friendly environment
An entertainment unit is configured to receive broadcast signals for a plurality of television stations may display folders. Each folder may comprise one or more as the folder. Furthermore, the entertainment unit may display one or more indications associated with one or more television stations based on content-based input from the viewer. Upon the viewer selecting a particular indication, the television station associated with that indication may be displayed.
US09462333B2 Method for processing multimedia streams
A method, machine readable medium, system, and device are disclosed. In one embodiment the method comprises determining whether one or more components that comprise a multimedia stream require real-time processing, if at least one of the one or more components require real-time processing, assigning the one or more components that require real-time processing to one or more real-time processes, and assigning any remaining components to one or more non-real-time processes.
US09462332B2 Method and apparatus for controlling a media device
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting a communication network, broadcasting a query message by way of the communication network, receiving a response message from the communication network, detecting from the response message that a media device is communicatively coupled to the communication network, receiving a key from a remote server to enable communications with the media device, detecting an event requiring use of the media device, generating a command responsive to the event, transmitting to the media device the command to direct the media device to request information from a web server executed by the processor, receiving from the media device a request for information to be provided by the web server, and transmitting to the media device by way of the web server the information requested. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09462331B2 Display apparatus, video signal transmission method for display apparatus, transmitting apparatus, and transmission method of video signal
Provided is a display apparatus including a first signal receiving unit that receives a non-compressed video signal from an external device via a first transmission path through a plurality of channels by means of a differential signal, an image display unit that displays images by processing the video signal received by the first signal receiving unit, a second signal receiving unit that receives a compressed video signal of a same video source as the non-compressed video signal by using a bi-directional communication path configured by predetermined lines of the first transmission path, and a signal transmitting unit that transmits a compressed video signal corresponding to the compressed video signal received by the second signal receiving unit to another external device different from the external device.
US09462329B2 Method and apparatus for frame rate control in transmitter of wireless communications system
A method for frame rate control in a transmitter of a wireless communications system comprises generating a frame and a first information corresponding to a first expiration time of the frame by a frame generating module; handling the frame according to the first expiration time by a driver module; and informing the frame generating module an adjusting information according to a first pre-determined rule by the driver module.
US09462317B2 Systems and methods for providing storage of data on servers in an on-demand media delivery system
A system and method may be provided that allows users to store, retrieve, and manipulate on-demand media content and data stored on a remote server network in an on-demand media delivery system. More particularly, the system may allow a user to access his or her on-demand media account from user equipment in different locations as long as the current user equipment can communicate with a remote server that stores user-specific information. The system upon user selection may freeze the delivery of on-demand media at a particular point and allow the user to resume the media at a later time from some other network location in system. Users may upload personal images or files to an on-demand delivery server for later retrieval and display. Users may be permitted to assign access rights to the uploaded files.
US09462308B2 Audiovisual distribution network
An audiovisual (AV) distribution network communicates via Internet Protocol and is implemented as a framework of local area networks (LANs). Transmitters and receivers in the AV distribution network leverage multicast transmission technology and pre-authentication to switch quickly and seamlessly between sources transmitting audiovisual data protected by a security protocol scheme.
US09462307B2 ABR live to VOD system and method
The disclosed embodiments include a method, apparatus, and computer program product for simplifying the process of creating a video-on-demand system. For example, in one embodiment, a method for creating a video-on-demand (VOD) system is disclosed that includes dynamically capturing segments of an adaptive bit rate (ABR) live stream of the program at time of broadcasting and storing the captured segments of the ABR live stream of the program as a VOD file. In some cases, a particular bit rate of the program can be selected for playback on a client device, based on the type of the client device.
US09462305B2 Layered multicast and fair bandwidth allocation and packet prioritization
Embodiments include an overlay multicast network. The overlay multicast network may provide a set of features to ensure reliable and timely arrival of multicast data. The embodiments include a congestion control system that may prioritize designated layers of data within a data stream over other layers of the same data stream. Each data stream transmitted over the network may be given an equal share of the bandwidth. Addressing in routing tables maintained by routers may utilize summarized addressing based on the difference in location of the router and destination address. Summarization levels may be adjusted to minimize travel distances for packets in the network. Data from high priority data stream layers may also be retransmitted upon request from a destination machine to ensure reliable delivery of data.
US09462304B2 Controlling networked media capture device
Disclosed embodiments allow media players and other electronic devices that operate under a first protocol to control the media capture devices that operate with a second protocol which may not be configurable to communicate with the first protocol. In one embodiment of the disclosure, a network device may store and/or render content within a Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) network and/or assist in content delivery for a DLNA device on a network. In another embodiment of the disclosure, a media capture device uses the Internet Protocol.
US09462302B2 Efficient delineation and distribution of media segments
Media such as live media streams can be efficiently delineated and distributed to a variety of devices using a number of different mechanisms. A particular media sequence can be identified by a device user to allow a content server or fragment server to generate a media segment that can be shared or distributed using mechanisms such as social networks. A device user may provide marker indicators, time frames, event triggers, etc., that indicate to a content server where a media segment can be delineated. A link to the media segment may be provided along with pre-roll and post-roll targeted or content-specific advertising to a variety of other users.
US09462301B2 Generating videos with multiple viewpoints
Videos of an event may be captured by camera (e.g., camera devices). The videos may be processed to generated virtual videos that provide different viewpoints of the event. The videos and virtual videos may be analyzed to identify panning points in the videos. A user may pause the video at the identified panning points and may be allowed to pan around the event and/or event location during the identified panning points in the videos and/or virtual videos. The pan around view may be provided by a pan around video generated based on the videos and/or the virtual videos. A user may resume viewing one of the videos and/or virtual videos after pausing playback of the pan around video. A user may also pan around an event and/or event location while the videos and/or virtual videos are playing during the panning points.
US09462297B2 Image processing device and image processing method
Provided is an image processing device including a rearrangement processing unit configured to rearrange compressed image data, which is compressed by performing a wavelet transform, quantization in a predetermined unit that is based on a reference unit, and variable length encoding on image data, in wavelet levels in a frame unit.
US09462295B2 Manipulating sub-pictures of a compressed video signal
The invention relates to manipulation of sub-pictures (303) in a picture such as a mosaic screen (301). An apparatus comprises a sub-picture generator (105) connected to a mosaic screen generator (107), which generates the mosaic screen (301) from the sub-pictures. The mosaic screen (301) is by a video compressor (111) divided into uncompressed picture blocks such that each block only comprise video data from one sub-picture. The picture blocks are compressed using a block compression scheme such as MPEG-2. The apparatus further comprises a video manipulation processor (113), which manipulates the sub-pictures by manipulating the association between control data in the video signal and the compressed picture blocks. The video data of the compressed picture blocks are not affected whereby de-compression and new compression is avoided.
US09462294B2 Image processing device and method to enable generation of a prediction image
The present invention relates to an image processing device and method that enable generation of a highly precise prediction image using a small amount of control information.A motion compensation circuit 51 specifies a macroblock corresponding to a prediction image in part of reference frames using a motion vector supplied from a prediction mode determination circuit 41, reads an image thereof from a frame memory 19, and extracts it as a motion compensation image. A motion prediction circuit 52 reads, from a frame memory 122, at least one or more of the remaining reference frames, performs motion prediction of the motion compensation image MC0 supplied from the motion compensation circuit 51 in each frame, reads an image of a macroblock that matches or is similar to the motion compensation image MC0 from the frame memory 122, and extracts it as a motion compensation image. The present invention can be applied to, for example, an encoding device and a decoding device.
US09462292B1 Method and apparatus for video encoding/decoding using improved merge
A video decoding method includes: extracting a merge flag and a merge index from a bitstream; when the merge flag indicates a merge mode, checking for whether predetermined candidate adding conditions are satisfied, and adding into a merge candidate set including the merge candidates corresponding to neighboring blocks of a current block, a combined bi-predictive motion parameter, the combined bi-predictive motion parameter generated by combining a list 0 motion parameter of a first available candidate block and a list 1 motion parameter of a second available candidate block, when the predetermined candidate adding conditions are satisfied; and generating a predicted block of the current block by using a motion parameter corresponding to a merge candidate selected from the merge candidate set, the merge candidate selected by the extracted merge index.
US09462288B2 Video encoding method using offset adjustments according to pixel classification and apparatus therefor, video decoding method and apparatus therefor
A video encoding method and apparatus and video decoding method and apparatus generate a restored image having a minimum error with respect to an original image based on offset merge information indicating whether offset parameters of a current block and at least one neighboring block from among blocks of video are identical.
US09462287B2 Implicit signaling of scalability dimension identifier information in a parameter set
A system for decoding a video bitstream includes receiving a frame of the video that includes at least one slice and at least one tile and where each of the at least one slice and the at least one tile are not all aligned with one another.
US09462285B2 Video transmission system having reduced memory requirements
An encoder and method for using the same to encode a video stream is disclosed. The encoder includes an input port that receives a video stream that includes a plurality of frames. A first compression sub-system generates a plurality of compressed reference frames using a lossy compression method. The compressed reference frames are communicated to a remote device. A reference frame storage sub-system stores one of the compressed reference frames in a compressed format for use in compressing a subsequent frame in the video stream using a lossy compression method. A second compression sub-system encodes a second plurality of frames using the compressed reference frame stored in the reference frame storage sub-system as a reference, the second compression sub-system generating a compressed video frame. Each compressed video frame that is not a reference frame is coded directly from one of the reference frames.
US09462277B2 Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding image using variable sized macroblocks
A method performed by an apparatus of decoding a video in the unit of blocks, includes: decoding information on a block size from a bitstream; determining a maximum block size to be used for decoding an encoded image, based on the information on the block size; and reconstructing an image by decoding the encoded image using the determined maximum block size, wherein the information on the block size includes a first information on a minimum block size and a second information on a difference between the minimum block size and the maximum block size.
US09462275B2 Residual quad tree (RQT) coding for video coding
A video decoding device receives an array of transform coefficients for a chroma component of video data. The video decoding device receives entropy encoded data representing the value of a split flag associated with the chroma component. The value of the split flag indicates whether the array of transform coefficients is divided into smaller transform blocks. The video decoding device determines a context for the entropy encoded data representing the split flag. The context is based on the value of a split flag associated with another component of video data. The video decoding device entropy decodes the data representing the value of the split flag based on the determined context using context adaptive binary arithmetic coding (CABAC). The luma and chroma components have independent residual quadtree (RQT) structures.
US09462274B2 Transformation mode encoding and decoding method and apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a transformation mode encoding and decoding method and apparatus. A correlation between the prediction mode and the transformation mode is used, and an optimal transformation mode candidate set is simplified, thereby saving resources when an index of an optimal transformation mode is encoded in encoding header information. In addition, encoding efficiency is higher when an encoding end elects a transformation mode.
US09462267B2 Moving picture coding method, and moving picture decoding method
A moving picture coding apparatus for performing inter-picture predictive coding for pictures constituting a moving picture is provided with a coding unit for performing predictive error coding for image data; a decoding unit for performing predictive error decoding for an output from the coding unit; a reference picture memory for holding output data from the decoding unit; and a motion vector detection unit for detecting motion vectors on the basis of the decoded image data stored in the memory. When coding a B picture as a target picture, information indicating whether or not the target picture should be used as a reference picture when coding another picture is added as header information. Therefore, in a decoding apparatus for decoding a bit stream Bs outputted from the moving picture coding apparatus, management of a memory for holding the reference picture can be facilitated on the basis of the header information.
US09462266B2 Display apparatus, display apparatus fault analysis system and display apparatus fault analysis method
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a display apparatus, a display apparatus fault analysis system and a display apparatus fault analysis method. The display apparatus fault analysis system comprises a display apparatus and a server. The display apparatus comprises: a display chip configured to generate a target video or a target image according to a display instruction; an image capturer configured to capture the target image; a detection unit configured to, upon receipt of a fault detection instruction, send the display instruction to the display chip, compare the target image frame or the target image with a predetermined reference image to obtain a difference between the target image frame or the target image and the predetermined reference image, and generate a fault code based on the difference; and a communication module configured to transmit the fault code to a server.
US09462257B2 Method and apparatus for two-dimensional to three-dimensional image conversion
A method and apparatus provide two-dimensional to three-dimensional image conversion. The apparatus can include an input configured to receive a first image. The apparatus can include a controller configured to segment the first image into a plurality of regions, configured to perform a Fast Fourier Transform on at least one of the regions, and configured to determine a relative horizontal displacement distance between a first frame and a second frame of at least one region based on performing the Fast Fourier Transform.
US09462255B1 Projection and camera system for augmented reality environment
A device includes a projection and camera system to create an augmented reality environment in which images are projected onto a scene and user movement within the scene is captured. The projection and camera system have a camera to image scattered IR light from the scene and compute time of flight values used in depth mapping of objects in the room. The system also has a projector to project the images onto the scene. The projected images and scattered IR light use a common optical path through the same lens. Additionally, an illumination system used to illuminate the scene with the IR light may also use the common optical path through the same lens. In one implementation, the projection and camera system are mounted in a movable head of a table lamp.
US09462254B2 Light field image capture device and image sensor
An image sensor 2 includes: a photoelectric conversion layer 1d including a plurality of photosensitive cells; a reflective layer 1c that reflects light that has been transmitted through the photoelectric conversion layer 1d; a micro lens layer 1a that includes a plurality of micro lenses that are arranged between the photoelectric conversion layer 1d and the reflective layer 1c; and a transmitted light controlling layer 1b that is arranged between the photoelectric conversion layer 1d and the reflective layer 1c and that is able to change optical transmittance in accordance with an instruction given by a controller. The micro lens layer 1a is arranged so that light that has been transmitted through one of the photosensitive cells and then reflected from the reflective layer 1c is incident on the same photosensitive cell again.
US09462253B2 Optical modules that reduce speckle contrast and diffraction artifacts
An optical module, for use in a depth camera, includes a plurality of laser emitting elements, each of which emits a corresponding laser beam, and a micro-lens array (MLA) that includes a plurality of lenslets. Laser beams emitted by adjacent laser emitting elements at least partially overlap one another prior to being incident on the MLA For each lenslet of at least a majority of the lenslets of the MLA, the lenslet is at least partially filled by light corresponding to laser beams emitted by at least two of the laser emitting elements. The inclusion of the plurality of laser emitting elements is used to reduce speckle contrast. The overlap of the laser beams, and the at least partially filling of the lenslets of the MLA with light corresponding to laser beams emitted by multiple laser emitting elements, is used to reduce diffraction artifacts.
US09462252B2 Single-eye stereoscopic imaging device, imaging method and recording medium
After AE/AF/AWB operation, a subject distance is calculated for each pixel, and a histogram which shows the distance distribution is created based thereon. The class with the highest frequency which is the peak at the side nearer than the focus distance is searched based on the histogram and a rectangular area Ln which includes pixels which have a subject distance within the searched range is set. The average parallax amount Pn which is included in the rectangular area Ln is calculated and it is confirmed whether Pn is within a range of parallax amounts a and a−t1. In a case where Pn is not within a range of parallax amounts a and a−t1 which is set in advance, the aperture value is adjusted such that Pn is within the range of the parallax amounts a and a−t1.
US09462251B2 Depth map aligning method and system
A depth map aligning method and a system are provided. The depth map aligning method includes the following steps. A view warping is performed to a left-view image and a right-view image of a real-view image according to a corresponding depth map to obtain a right-virtual view image, a left hole information, and a right hole information thereof. A residual difference of pixel, which is not a hole, is obtained by pixel to pixel. If the residual difference of the pixel is larger than a first threshold value, a reverse warping is performed to obtain a coordinate of the pixel. The depth value of the pixel is aligned according to the depth value of one or more pixels in a vicinity of the obtained coordinate.
US09462246B2 Transmission apparatus, method of transmitting image data in high dynamic range, reception apparatus, method of receiving image data in high dynamic range, and program
A transmission apparatus (synchronized apparatus) transmits HDR image data to a reception apparatus (source apparatus) over a transmission path. At that time, the transmission apparatus transmits information on a transmission method for and/or information on gamma correction for the HDR image data to the reception apparatus over the transmission path. The reception apparatus performs processing (decoding processing, gamma correction processing, and the like) on the received HDR image data, based on the information on the transmission method and/or the information on the gamma correction that are received. For example, the transmission apparatus receives from the reception apparatus the pieces of information on the transmission method and/or the gamma correction that the reception apparatus can support, selects the method that the reception apparatus can support, and thus uses the selected method.
US09462245B2 Image correction method and image projection apparatus using the same
A method for image correction and image projection apparatus using the same are provided, where the image projection apparatus scans a projection light beam on a projection plane to form an image. The image correction method includes the following steps. A plurality of projection points of the projection light beam on the projection plane are sampled to define a projection coordinate system. An image projection area is defined on the projection coordinate system. The projection light beam is moved to scan on the projection plane and projected to the projection points sequentially. Whether the projection point is located in the image projection area is determined. When the projection point is located in the image projection area, a corrected image information is provided to the projection point.
US09462242B2 Smartphone and external micro projector thereof
An external micro projector comprises a micro projector body. A magnetic block is disposed in the micro projector body. The magnetic block is used for magnetically adhering with a magnetic adhesion device in a smartphone. A Pogo Pin connector is disposed on the micro projector body. The Pogo Pin connector is used for being electrically connected to the smartphone.
US09462238B1 Remote agent capture and monitoring
Methods and systems for monitoring a remote agent. An agent's workstation may be provided with an application that receives a trigger condition at an agent workstation during a communication between the remote agent and a caller. During the communication, it may be determined if video imagery of the remote agent is required. If so, video imagery capture may be triggered. The video imagery may be associated with activities of the remote agent during the capture, and the video imagery stored at a recorder for later playback.
US09462233B2 Methods of and arrangements for processing an encoded bit stream
In a method for extracting information from an encoded bit stream, the extracted information may be used for improving bit stream quality assessment, or for adapting a decoding sub-system. From an encoded bit stream, received from a bit stream source, complexity related information that is indicative of the complexity of the encoding of said bit stream is extracted. On the basis of said extracted complexity related information one or more data settings are then selected, after which the data settings may be used as an input for improving bit stream quality assessment at a decoding device or a network node, or for adapting a bit stream decoding sub-system at a decoding device.
US09462232B2 System and method of managing protected video content
A method includes inspecting a packet stream sent from a set-top box device via a network. The packet stream includes video content that is divided into a plurality of subsections. The method includes generating a plurality of signatures by applying a wavelet transform to each of the plurality of subsections, and determining a match between the video content and protected video content based at least in part on a comparison of the plurality of signatures to one or more stored signatures generated based on the protected video content.
US09462229B2 Method for extending participants of multiparty video conference service
Provided is a method of extending participants of a multilateral video conference service. The method includes: receiving, by a multipoint conference unit (MCU) gateway connected with an MCU through at least one physical port and connected with a plurality of terminals in a wired or wireless manner, information on a signal level of sound sensed by microphones provided in plurality of terminal devices from plurality of terminal devices, respectively, selecting, by MCU gateway, one terminal device among plurality of terminal devices as a speaking terminal device based on the received signal level, requesting, by MCU gateway, speaking terminal device to transmit speaking contents input into speaking terminal device and transmitting, by the MCU gateway, speaking contents received from speaking terminal device in response to transmission request to the MCU through at least one physical port.
US09462217B2 Apparatus, systems and methods for storing program events in an enhanced history buffer
Enhanced history buffer systems and methods are operable to temporarily store program content for program events. An exemplary embodiment receives program content corresponding to each of the plurality of program events, generates a unique discrete program content file in the enhanced history buffer for each of the plurality of program events, and stores the received program content for each of the plurality of program events in the associated one of the discrete program content files. Each discrete program content file begins at a known starting location in the enhanced history buffer and ends at a known ending location in the enhanced history buffer.
US09462216B2 Recording apparatus, image capture apparatus, and recording method for recording position information in one time interval irrespective of position information in another time interval
A recording apparatus includes a connection unit to connect the recording apparatus to an image capture apparatus that performs an image capture operation to capture an image, based on a capture instruction. An acquisition unit acquires a plurality of pieces of position information, at a first time interval. A recording control unit records, in one file, a plurality of pieces of position information, each corresponding to a second time interval that is longer than the first time interval. When a capturing instruction to request the image capture apparatus to capture an image is generated, the recording control unit records, in the one file, position information that corresponds to a generation timing of the capturing instruction of the plurality of pieces of position information acquired at the first time interval, irrespective of whether the plurality of pieces of position information corresponds to the second time interval.
US09462214B2 Image display device
An image display device includes: a projection port that projects image display light generated based on an image signal; and a combiner that presents a virtual image by reflecting the image display light projected from the projection port. With respect to a specific direction along a reflection surface of the combiner, the curvature of the combiner in the specific direction becomes smaller as a distance from the projection port becomes larger. The reflection surface of the combiner may be formed by a biconic surface.
US09462213B2 Video display device
A video display device includes a video display panel that displays video, a case that encloses an outer periphery of the video display panel, an audio device that is arranged in proximity to the outer periphery of the video display panel, the audio device being configured to linearly arrange a plurality of speakers, and a sound emitting hole that corresponds to an opening of the audio device, the sound emitting hole being provided to the case and emitting sound generated by the audio device.
US09462210B2 Method and system for user interface for interactive devices using a mobile device
A software application and system that enables point-and-click interaction with a TV screen. The application determines geocode positioning information for a handheld device, and uses that data to create a virtual pointer for a television display or interactive device. Some embodiments utilize motion sensing and touchscreen input for gesture recognition interacting with video content or interactive device. Motion sensing can be coupled with positioning or localization techniques the user to calibrate the location of the interactive devices and the user location to establish and maintain virtual pointer connection relationships. The system may utilize wireless network infrastructure and cloud-based calculation and storage of position and orientation values to enable the handheld device in the TV viewing area to replace or surpass the functionality of the traditional TV remote control, and also interface directly with visual feedback on the TV screen.
US09462207B2 Read-out circuitry for an image sensor
An array of image sensing elements is arranged in rows and columns. A readout circuit for each column includes a circuit configured to receive a column select signal. A memory stores data indicative of a voltage of an image sensing element which is being read. An analog to digital conversion circuit provides an output to the memory to control the storing of data. The output is dependent on the voltage of the image sensing element. Power control circuitry operates to disable, at least partially, the analog to digital conversion circuit when the column has not been selected.
US09462206B2 Integrated multi-channel analog front end and digitizer for high speed imaging applications
A module for high speed image processing includes an image sensor for generating a plurality of analog outputs representing an image and a plurality of HDDs for concurrently processing the plurality of analog outputs. Each HDD is an integrated circuit configured to process in parallel a predetermined set of the analog outputs. Each channel of the HDD can include an AFE for conditioning a signal representing one sensor analog output, an ADC for converting a conditioned signal into a digital signal, and a data formatting block for calibrations and formatting the digital signal for transport to an off-chip device. The HDDs and drive electronics are combined with the image sensor into one package to optimize signal integrity and high dynamic range, and to achieve high data rates through use of synchronized HDD channels. Combining multiple modules results in a highly scalable imaging subsystem optimized for inspection and metrology applications.
US09462198B2 Image acquisition method and system
A method of acquiring an image of a scene illuminated by a first beam, by means of a sensor including at least two pixels, including the steps of: a) for each pixel, reading a first output value of the pixel representative of the intensity of the radiation received by the pixel during a first integration period during which the sensor is illuminated by a second beam coherent with the first beam; and b) for each pixel, reading a second output value of the pixel representative of the intensity of the radiation received by the pixel during a second integration period during which the sensor is not illuminated by the second beam, wherein steps a) and b) are repeated a plurality of times by changing, between two successive iterations, the angle of incidence or a phase parameter of the second beam.
US09462196B1 Systems and methods for causing a stunt switcher to run a bug-overlay DVE with absolute timing restrictions
In one aspect, a computer-readable medium includes a set of program instructions that when executed cause performance of a set of functions involving (i) selecting a first log-entry from a traffic log, wherein the first log-entry corresponds to a bug-overlay digital video effect (DVE) stored in a stunt switcher, and to a first start-time; (ii) selecting a second log-entry from the traffic log, wherein the second log-entry corresponds to a video component (VC) and to a second start-time, wherein the second start-time is later than the first start-time; (iii) causing the VC to start being channeled through the stunt switcher proximate the second start-time; (iv) determining a target time to run the bug-overlay DVE; and (v) causing the stunt switcher to run the stored bug-overlay DVE proximate the determined target time such that a bug is overlayed on the VC as the VC is being channeled through the stunt switcher.
US09462194B2 Apparatus and method for calculating flicker-evaluation value
An apparatus and a method for calculating a flicker-evaluation value through a wide dynamic range (WDR) system. The apparatus includes: a first calculator configured to calculate a first difference between a pixel value of a long exposure image of a current frame and a pixel value of a long exposure image of a previous frame; an average calculator configured to calculate an average of the pixel value of the long exposure image of the current frame and the pixel value of the long exposure image of the previous frame; a second calculator configured to calculate a second difference between a pixel value of a short exposure image of the current frame and the average calculated by the average calculator; and a flicker-evaluation value calculator configured to calculate a flicker-evaluation value which indicates a flicker strength using the first difference and the second difference.
US09462186B2 Initial camera mode management system
A camera detects devices, such as other cameras, smart devices, and access points, with which the camera may communicate. The camera may alternate between operating as a wireless station and a wireless access point. The camera may connect to and receive credentials from a device for another device to which it is not connected. In one embodiment, the camera is configured to operate as a wireless access point, and is configured to receive credentials from a smart device operating as a wireless station. The camera may then transfer the credentials to additional cameras, each configured to operate as wireless stations. The camera and additional cameras may connect to a smart device directly or indirectly (for instance, through an access point), and the smart device may change the camera mode of the cameras. The initial modes of the cameras may be preserved and restored by the smart device upon disconnection.
US09462184B2 Capturing panoramic or semi-panoramic 3D scenes
A provision of high quality panoramic or semi-panoramic 3D scenes is achieved at reasonable efforts by arranging the plurality of camera pairs, each of which is associated with a respective one of mirror plane surfaces of a pyramid or clipped-pyramid shaped mirror in that same is directed towards the respective associated mirror plane surface, such that for each camera pair the virtual positions of pivot points of the cameras of the respective camera pair are offset from each other along a straight baseline which, in turn, is offset from the axis of the mirror, and a distance between virtual points of a left-hand channel camera of a first camera pair associated with a first mirror plane surface and a right-hand channel camera of a second camera pair associated with a second mirror plane surface positioned neighboring the first mirror plane surface, deviates from a length of the baselines of the camera pairs by less than 10% of the length of the baselines.
US09462183B2 Trigger for blade imaging based on a controller
A rotating rotor in a turbine has blades attached. At least one blade is a reference blade of which a reference position is determined by a Once-Per-Rotation sensor. A camera positioned at a viewing port takes a sequence of images of all the blades during a rotation at a trigger moment determined by a controller. The controller receives a signal indicating that the reference blade passes its reference point. The controller is provided with data about the number of blades, the position of the camera and a desired dwell of an image related to the blade. The controller calculates the trigger moments and generates trigger signals to the camera. The trigger moment is adjusted for changing rotor speed by extracting a blade feature from blade images. The camera records images that are labeled and stored as image data on a storage device.
US09462180B2 Detecting facial expressions in digital images
A method and system for detecting facial expressions in digital images and applications therefore are disclosed. Analysis of a digital image determines whether or not a smile and/or blink is present on a person's face. Face recognition, and/or a pose or illumination condition determination, permits application of a specific, relatively small classifier cascade.
US09462178B2 Imaging apparatus
A focus detection apparatus includes the following: a viewing field mask disposed more on a photoelectric conversion element side than an expected imaging plane of an imaging lens and configured to determine contours of optical images formed on a detection plane, a sensor including a photoelectric conversion element disposed extending outside the optical images and including a plurality of pairs of focus detection regions in each of which the optical images are detected, a memory configured to store, as adjustment values, pieces of data indicating positions of effective ranges in the pairs of focus detection regions, in a plurality of storage areas in a way that each of the pieces of data is stored in a corresponding one of the storage areas, and a control unit configured to obtain the adjustment value data from the memory and perform focus detection for the imaging lens to control focus adjustment operation.
US09462170B2 Lighting methods and apparatus
Illumination methods and apparatus are described. In some embodiments a lighting device includes one or more lighting modules. At least some but not necessarily all lighting modules include a light source, e.g., LED or bulb, a collimating lens positioned in front of said light source for generating a beam of light from light output by said light source and a beam flattening lens for flattening the beam of light in at least a first direction as it passes through the first beam flattening lens. In some but not necessarily all embodiments lighting modules are controlled based on which portion of a scene is being captured at a point in time thereby avoiding the need to illuminate the entire scene for the full duration of an image capture period. The lighting device may be used in combination with a rolling shutter and a sensor used to capture one or more images.
US09462169B2 Shooting method, apparatus, and terminal
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a shooting method, an apparatus, and a terminal. The method includes: after it is detected that a camera is started, instructing a display screen facing a shooting person to display a preview image; obtaining a preset lighting parameter; controlling a display screen facing a shot target to provide lighting by using the preset lighting parameter; and shooting an image according to a shooting instruction. In the embodiments of the present invention, a display screen may be used as an auxiliary light source, and the display screen is controlled to provide lighting by using a preset lighting parameter, so that the quality of an image shot by a camera in a low light condition is improved.
US09462167B2 Image capturing device with multiple lenses
An image capture device includes a base, a zoom module, a wide-angle module, and a telemeter module. The wide-angle module captures a background image. The telemeter module detects a distance between a target to be captured and the image capture device. The zoom module is rotatably disposed on the base, and the wide-angle module and the telemeter module are rotatably disposed on the zoom module. The zoom module adjusts focus to capture the target according to the distance and captures a main image. The image capture device combines the main images captured by the zoom module and the background images captured by the wide-angle module to form a series of combination images.
US09462157B2 Image forming apparatus communicable with at least one registered mobile terminal registered in advance
In an operation panel of an image forming apparatus, a display section that displays an operation status and a near field communication section that obtains an operation instruction from a registered terminal by near field communication are arranged. In the image forming system, the registered terminal functions as an operation section of the image forming apparatus.
US09462155B2 Method, device, and program product for dot area extraction based on periodicity of different numbers on pixels in crossing directions
Provided is a dot area extraction method including extracting a first dot area in binary data based on periodicity of pixels for every first range by dividing the binary data in a first direction or a second direction in the first range which includes a first number of pixels in the first direction and a second number of pixels in the second direction, and extracting a second dot area in the binary data based on the periodicity of the pixels for every second range by dividing the binary data in the first direction or the second direction in the second range which includes a third number of pixels in the first direction and a fourth number of pixels in the second direction.
US09462153B2 Image processing apparatus, image reading apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes an extracting unit that extracts identification information items from image information items of a document group that includes plural individual documents, each of the identification information items being included in a corresponding one of the individual documents, a corresponding information generating unit that generates corresponding information items that indicate corresponding relationships between the identification information items and the image information items of the individual documents, and an electronic document generating unit that rearranges an order of the identification information items on the basis of contents of the identification information items and generates an electronic document that includes the image information items of the document group, the corresponding information items, and the identification information items that have been sorted.
US09462152B2 System and method for hiding reversible information
A reversible information hiding apparatus, comprises: an image compressing unit that encodes an original image file to output a compressed image file by applying a preset compression format; an information hiding processing unit that divides a bit stream of the compressed image file into a plurality of bit blocks each having a preset length, allocates, to the plurality of the bit blocks, a plurality of hiding information bits obtained from dividing preset hiding information data into preset length units, and converts bit values of the bit blocks based on values of the allocated hiding information bits; and an information-hidden image providing unit that provides a reversible information extracting apparatus with the information-hidden image file comprising the bit blocks, of which the bit values have been converted.
US09462151B2 Image reading device and image forming apparatus including the same
An image reading device includes a contact image sensor that extends in a main scanning direction at a rear surface side of a document table glass and optically reads an image of a document placed on the document table glass, a carriage that holds the contact image sensor, a rail member that extends in a sub-scanning direction and supports the carriage so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction, and a driving unit that drives the carriage along the rail member. The image reading device includes a shaft arranged at the rear surface side of the document table glass, having a shaft line vertical to the document table glass, and being rotatable around the shaft line, and an eccentric cam eccentrically connected to the shaft and having a peripheral surface abutting an intermediate part of the rail member in the sub-scanning direction.
US09462149B2 Controlling an image forming apparatus according to parameters determined based on paper type history
Provided is a parameter setting system, including a storage unit that memorizes a history of parameter values in an image forming apparatus in association with a type of paper, an acquiring unit that acquires a trend of parameter values in plural image forming apparatuses of the same type with the image forming apparatus with respect to each type of plural other paper sheets in which the number of types of switched paper and the number of histories are greater than or equal to a threshold value, and a calculating unit that calculates a parameter value to be set with respect to the type of switched paper based on the trend of parameter values acquired with respect to the type of switched paper and each type of the plural other paper sheets, and the history corresponding to each type of the plural other paper sheets.
US09462148B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a first detector to detect the image forming apparatus being driven by an AC adapter, a second detector to detect the image forming apparatus being driven by a battery, a third detector to detect an occurrence of power failure, and a first device to shut down a power supply of the image forming apparatus in a case of the power failure.
US09462146B2 Sheet conveying device capable of discharging sheet from conveying path at startup
A sheet conveying device includes: a conveying unit; a nonvolatile memory; and a controller. The conveying unit is configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path. The controller is configured to control the conveying unit to convey the sheet, store position data in the nonvolatile memory during conveyance of the sheet, determine whether or not the sheet conveying device is started, and drive the conveying unit for an amount determined by the position data if the sheet conveying device is started. The conveying path is divided into a plurality of segments. The position data identifies a segment in which the sheet stays. The more downstream the segment identified by the position data is in the conveying path, the smaller the amount determined by the position data is.
US09462143B2 Non-transitory computer-readable medium storing programs for information processing apparatus, information processing apparatus, and information processing method
A medium stores computer-executable programs. The programs cause an information processing apparatus including a communication unit communicable with a scanner to perform: displaying a first window including a first icon which causes the scanner to execute a scanning process; judging whether a selection operation to the first icon is performed; transmitting a scan command to the scanner in a case that the information processing apparatus judges that the selection operation to the first icon is performed; receiving scan data from the scanner via the communication unit as a response to the scan instruction; and displaying a second window, on a display unit, which displays an image based on the scan data received from the scanner.
US09462140B2 Scanner and non-transitory storage medium storing instructions executable by the scanner
A scanner includes: a communication device communicable with an information processing device; and a controller. The controller is configured to cause the scanner to execute: a determination processing in which the scanner determines whether a reading request which is a request for reading a pseudo image file is received from the information processing device; a scan executing processing in which the scanner executes a scan processing when the reading request for reading the pseudo image file is received in the determination processing; and a scan-data writing processing in which the scanner writes scan data created in the scan executing processing, into the pseudo image file.
US09462137B2 System and method for data usage management in an electronic device
A system and method for data usage management in an electronic device is provided. The method includes tracking an estimated cost of a download in a currency set by a user, determining the estimated cost of the download in the currency set by the user, displaying the estimated cost of the download, determining application data usage, implementing notifications of the data usage, and displaying the data usage, wherein a widget or an application is used to display the data usage.
US09462132B2 One-tap conference calling on devices
Methods and systems for creating mobile conference rooms for conference calls between client devices and one or more contacts are described herein. A server receives, from the client device, a request to create a mobile conference room. The server creates the mobile conference room by assigning a phone number to the mobile conference room. After notifying the client device, the server receives data regarding one or more contacts to add to the mobile conference room. The server receives, from the client device, a request to initiate a conference call with a subset of contacts. A call is received, from the server, concurrently by each of the subset of contacts. The server bridges the client device and the contacts that have answered the call on the conference call.
US09462131B2 Voice messaging method and system, and converged messaging server and client
A voice messaging method, comprising: a sender converged messaging client initiates a session invitation and has a media negotiation with a converged messaging server, wherein the session invitation carries voice message recipient information and indicates this session for voice messaging; the sender converged messaging client transmits voice data to the converged messaging server on the basis of the media negotiation result; the converged messaging server encapsulates the received voice data as a voice message and stores the voice message in message storage server; the recipient converged messaging client retrieves the voice message from the message storage server. A voice messaging system, the converged messaging server and a client are products respectively corresponding to the above-described method or certain steps therein.
US09462127B2 Matching using agent/caller sensitivity to performance
A method, system and program product, the method comprising: obtaining for each call in one set of calls a respective pattern representing multiple different respective data fields; obtaining performance data for the respective patterns of the calls; obtaining performance data for the respective agents; determining agent performance sensitivity to call pattern performance for agents in a set of agents comprising the agent performance data correlated to call performance data for the calls the agent handles; and matching a respective one of the agents from the set of agents to one of the calls based at least in part on the performance data for the respective pattern of the one call and on the agent sensitivity to call performance for the respective one agent of the set of agents.
US09462126B2 Tracking individuals using voice verification
A method for tracking the location of an individual can include selecting a first audio clip from a plurality of audio clips, wherein each audio clip comprises a different question for the individual and wherein a correct answer corresponds to each audio clip. The method can further include initiating a telephone call to a telephone of the individual at a desired location and playing the first audio clip for the individual via the telephone call. The method can further include receiving an oral response to the first audio clip from the individual via the telephone call and executing a speech recognition process upon the oral response. The method can further include comparing the oral response to a voice print of the individual and storing a record indicating that the individual is compliant if the oral response matches the correct answer and the oral response matches the voice print.
US09462125B1 Identification of public safety answering platform next generation 911 media support
A method, system, and medium are provided for generating a profile for public safety answering platforms. The profile identifies media formats supported by the PSAPs at various cell sector locations maintained by a network provider. A network server selects a cell sector and generates a test emergency services call. The test emergency services call is transmitted to a PSAP. The PSAP generates a response that indicates whether the PSAP supports a media format identified in the test emergency services call. The PSAP transmits the response to the network server for storage in the profile.
US09462124B2 Managing early media for communication sessions established via the session initiation protocol (SIP)
A communications device sends an invite to a communication session to multiple target devices and receives first and second media streams from first and second target devices prior to receiving a signaling indication that any of the multiple target devices accepts the invite. The communications device selects between the first and second media streams based upon (i) information contained in a first packet of the first or second media streams and/or (ii) signaling information that indicates a forking context for the communication session. The communication device plays the selected media stream prior to receipt of the signaling indication. In another embodiment, after sending the invite, the communications device detects a network address and port information from (i) a media stream from a target device, and (ii) from a signaling message. The communication device sends media to the target device based on the detected information.
US09462122B1 Selective call routing and blocking
Managing an outgoing telephone call includes receiving a request for a telephone call to a first call participant from a second call participant. A list that is specified by the second call participant is accessed. The list specifies users of an electronic communications system for which contact information is maintained. Whether the first call participant is included in the list of users is determined. A group of one or more of the users included in the list of users with which the first call participant is associated is identified when the first call participant is included in the list of users. A rule associated with the identified group that indicates a manner in which electronic communications of the first or second call participants should be handled is accessed, and a manner in which the call should be handled that is in accordance with the accessed rule is identified.
US09462120B2 Caller ID memo system
A user of the system of the invention is given the option of recording a memo on the calls he or she has received through a prompt on a telecommunication device. The user can choose to record a voice memo or text memo after each call. The memos are saved in connection with caller id information pertaining to the number from which the call was placed. When a user of the system receives a call from a number that has a memo saved in relation thereto, the user will be prompted to hear, and may listen to, the voice memo before answering the call. If the memo is in text form, the user can configure the system to provide various processing options.
US09462114B2 Inconspicuous mode for mobile devices
A communication device is configured to switch from a normal mode of operation to an inconspicuous mode of operation in which a reduced set of information is presented on a home screen of a display of the device in comparison to a set of information presented on the home screen in the normal mode of operation. In addition, other display properties such as contrast and brightness may be adjusted to make them less conspicuous. The home screen in the inconspicuous mode of operation is less obtrusive or conspicuous to individuals than in the normal mode of operation. The device may enter the inconspicuous mode upon user request or by detecting at least one environmental condition using a sensor available to the mobile communication device. The environmental condition may be anything that the device can detect or sense in its surrounding environment such as ambient light or sound. The device may return to the normal mode of operation by user request or when the environmental condition is no longer present.
US09462112B2 Use of a digital assistant in communications
A digital assistant operating on a device is configured to be engaged as an active participant in communications between local and remote parties by listening to voice and video calls and participating in messaging sessions. The digital assistant typically can be initiated by voice using a key word or phrase and then be requested to perform tasks, provide information and services, etc. using voice or gestures. The digital assistant can respond to the request and take appropriate actions. In voice and video calls, the interactions with the digital assistant (i.e., the request, response, and actions) can be heard by both parties to the call as if the digital assistant was a third party on the call. In a messaging session, messages are generated and displayed to each participant so that they can see the interactions with the digital assistant as if it was a participant.
US09462108B2 Mobile terminal and method for controlling the mobile terminal
A method for controlling a mobile terminal, and which includes establishing communication connections, via a communication unit of the mobile terminal, with a plurality of reference devices, for a location-based service to calculate a current location of the mobile terminal; displaying a list of controllable devices on a display unit of the mobile terminal based on the calculated current location of the mobile terminal; receiving, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a selection of a specific device from displayed list of controllable devices; storing location information about the selected device in an internal or external memory of the mobile terminal; and displaying a first graphic image for controlling a first device corresponding to the calculated current location and a direction of the mobile terminal.
US09462101B2 Methods and apparatus to electronically tag a circuit pair
Methods and apparatus to electronically tag a circuit pair are disclosed herein. Example methods include generating circuit identifying information to be included in a tag, transmitting the circuit identifying information to a first network element and to a portable circuit probe, and electronically tagging the circuit pair by applying a tone to the circuit pair at the first network element. In some examples, the tone is encoded to include the tag. Example methods additionally include notifying the portable circuit probe that the circuit pair has been electronically tagged. In some examples, the tag is transmitted to the first network element via the circuit pair and, if the first network element fails to acknowledge receipt of the circuit identifying information, via an out-of-band network.
US09462099B2 Mobile device case
A protective case for housing a mobile device is provided. The protective case comprises a top shell that seals against a top surface of a device and a bottom shell that cradles the back of the device. The top shell provides a downward extension along its perimeter that fits within a pocket formed around at least a portion of the perimeter of the bottom shell. At least the top shell forms an outward extending protrusion that is gripped by one or more backing elements that slide over the exterior of the bottom shell and extend up around the protrusion to grip the top shell and secure it to the bottom shell. Where upper and lower backing elements are used that meet at a parting line along the outer (exterior) surface of the bottom shell, a locking mechanism may be used to pull the backing elements together and hold them in place.
US09462098B2 Portable terminal housing
A portable terminal housing includes a first housing body, a second housing body engaged with the first housing body, a middle frame, and a ring cushion coiled around the middle frame. The first housing body and second housing body can cooperatively form a receiving cavity. The middle frame and ring cushion are positioned in the receiving cavity. The middle frame resists against the inner surface of the first housing body and second housing body by the ring cushion. The middle frame covers a joint of the first housing body and second housing body.
US09462096B2 Wireless communication device with an antenna adjacent to an edge of the device
A wireless communication device comprising a housing comprising a plurality of edges and configured to serve as an external surface for the wireless communication device, and an antenna adjacent to at least a first edge of the housing, wherein the antenna comprises at least a conductive strip and at least one slot and wherein the antenna is configured to receive and transmit wireless signals, wherein the first edge of the housing is one of an edge of the housing nearest an ear piece and an edge of the housing that is opposite the edge of the housing nearest the ear piece, and wherein the conductive strip and the slot are adjacent to at least the first edge of the housing.
US09462094B2 Device housing and portable electronic device using same
A housing for a portable electronic device is provided. The housing includes a first section made of metal and a second section made of dielectric ceramic. The second section is coupled to the first section to cooperatively define an accommodating space. When an antenna is coupled to an inner surface of the second section facing the accommodating space, the antenna can transmit and receive signals through the second section. A portable electronic device incorporating the housing is also provided.
US09462091B2 Information processing apparatus, communication method and storage medium
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a plurality of communication units connected to one another in a ring shape by a bus, each of the plurality of communication units being connected to one of processing units, each of which executes a predetermined process, and transmitting data processed by the one of the processing units to the bus as a packet, the information processing apparatus transferring data between the processing units and processing the data in a predetermined order. Among the plurality of communication units, in at least one communication unit, a packet including a value indicative of suspension of the process is generated when the connected processing unit has suspended a process, and information showing whether or not the generation unit has generated the packet including the value indicative of suspension of the process is stored.
US09462084B2 Parallel processing of service functions in service function chains
Technologies for identifying service functions that may be performed in parallel in a service function chain include a computing device for running one or more virtual machines for each of a plurality of service functions based on a preferred service function chain being selected. To identify which service functions may be performed in parallel, the computing device may determine which service functions are not required to be performed on a critical path of the service function chain and/or which service functions are not required to be performed in real-time. Additionally, selecting the preferred service function chain may be based on selection criteria.
US09462081B2 Cloud based virtual environment validation
Techniques for providing on-demand validation services for wager-based virtual machines deployed in a cloud based virtual environment. In some implementations, data sources store master deployment sets containing virtual machines. The master deployment sets may be deployed to component servers to provide a gaming related software services to remote client machines. The on-demand service takes snapshots of the virtual machines in the deployment and the virtual machines in the master deployment set. The snapshots are compared to ensure that important files in the master deployment set have not been improperly modified in the deployment. In some implementations, a secure hashing algorithm creates signatures for the snapshots prior to the comparison and the signatures are compared. The validation result may be sent to a remote client that requested the validation.
US09462080B2 Management service to manage a file
A method to manage a file is provided herein. The method includes use of a management service that receives the file from a peripheral device. The management service determines at least one file destination associated with a web-based service for the file. The management service transmits the file to at least one file destination with an application programming interface associated with the web-based service and an authorization stored on the management service.
US09462079B2 System and method for processing computational elements allocation
A unit (16), computer readable medium and method for automatically providing processing elements allocation in a network (14) for a droplet of a user (10) based on a request (30) of the user (10). The method includes receiving at the unit (10) of the network (14) the request (30) that includes at least a required condition or a preference related to the droplet; processing at the unit (16) the request (30), based on various known characteristics of the network (14); and automatically mapping processing elements (82) of the network (14) to the droplet such that an output of the processing step includes the processing elements allocation for the droplet and complies with the request.
US09462075B2 Encrypted cached content system
An encrypted cached content system includes a user IHS, a content provider IHS, and a caching IHS. The caching IHS includes a caching engine that is configured to receive a content request from the user IHS. The caching engine generates a user-side key using content identifying information in the content request, and forwards the content request to the content provider IHS over a network as a content partial information request. In response to receiving a content partial information response from the content provider IHS over a network, the caching engine generates a content-provider-side key using header information in the content partial information response. The caching engine performs a hashing operation on the content request using a combination of the user-side key and the content-provider-side key to produce a hashed content request, and uses the hashed content request to retrieve content from the cache.
US09462068B2 Cross-domain inactivity tracking for integrated web applications
In a cloud computing environment, a user authenticates to multiple cloud services concurrently. A master service has knowledge of or tracks the cloud service(s) to which a user is authenticated. Each cloud service may enforce its own inactivity period, and the inactivity period of at least first and second cloud services may be distinct from one another. When the master service receives an indication that the authenticated user is attempting to take an action at a first cloud service despite an activity timeout there, the master service issues a status request to at least the second cloud service to determine whether the user is still active at the second cloud service (despite its different inactivity period). If the user is still active at the second cloud service, the master service provides a response, selectively overriding (re-setting) the activity timeout at the first cloud service to permit the action.
US09462062B2 Portable terminal for displaying local service based on context awareness technology, and operation method of the portable terminal
Provided are a portable terminal for displaying a local service based on context awareness technology, and an operation method of the portable terminal. The portable terminal may discover a plurality of local services available at a current position, verify a current context of a user, apply a predetermined weight to one or more local services corresponding to the verified current context among the plurality of local services, and thereby display the one or more local services based on the weight.
US09462048B2 System and method for program and resource allocation within a data-intensive computer
A system and method for operating a data-intensive computer is provided. The data-intensive computer includes a processing sub-system formed by a plurality of processing node servers and a database sub-system formed by a plurality of database servers configured to form a collective database in excess of a petabyte of storage. The data-intensive computer also includes an operating system sub-system formed by a plurality of operating system servers that extend a unifying operating system environment across the processing sub-system, the database sub-system, and the operating system sub-system to act as components in a single data-intensive computer. The operating system sub-system is configured to coordinate execution of a single application as distributed processes having at least one of the distributed processes executed on the processing sub-system and at least one of the distributed processes executed on the database sub-system.
US09462047B2 Network interface controller supporting network virtualization
A network interface device includes a host interface for connection to a host processor having a memory. A network interface is configured to transmit and receive data packets over a data network, which supports multiple tenant networks overlaid on the data network. Processing circuitry is configured to receive, via the host interface, a work item submitted by a virtual machine running on the host processor, and to identify, responsively to the work item, a tenant network over which the virtual machine is authorized to communicate, wherein the work item specifies a message to be sent to a tenant destination address. The processing circuitry generates, in response to the work item, a data packet containing an encapsulation header that is associated with the tenant network, and to transmit the data packet over the data network to at least one data network address corresponding to the specified tenant destination address.
US09462041B1 Distributed control scheme for remote control and monitoring of devices through a data network
A device automation system for providing automatic control of one or more devices in an environment includes a hub in communication with the one or more devices and with a data network where the hub is configured to issue commands to the devices and receive data from the devices; and a central server in communication with the hub through the data network where the central server is configured to install one or more automation applications in the hub or on the central server for handling events generated at the devices. Each of the automation applications responds to an event and issuing an action in response. The central server is configured to determine that a first set of the events is to be handled at the hub while a second set of events is to be handled at the central server.
US09462038B2 Methods for seamlessly providing content to a client system and devices thereof
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and device that includes requesting a client system to perform one or more operations in response to a request for content. Determining when the client system has completed performing the requested operations. Determining a current content transfer rate of the client system is calculated based on an amount of time taken by the client system to perform the requested operations. One of two or more bands of content transfer rate is assigned based on the determined content transfer rate. One or more of a type or version of browser, content implementation application, or operating system on the client system is determined. The requested content is provided in a format based on two or more of the assigned band of content transfer rate and/or the determined one or more of the type or version of the browser, the content execution application, and the operating system.
US09462035B2 System and method for using image data in connection with configuring a universal controlling device
Data indicative of topography of an object of interest is received at a recognition system having an associated database in which is stored topography data for a plurality of reference objects each of which is cross-referenced to configuration information for a universal controlling device. The reference system uses the received data and the topography data for the plurality of reference objects to discern one or more reference objects as being a match for the object of interest. At least a subset of the configuration information that has been cross-referenced to the one or more reference objects discerned by the recognition system as being a match for the object of interest is then used to configure the universal controlling device to enable the universal controlling device to communicate commands to one or more target appliances.
US09462034B2 Automated bibliography generation
A request may be obtained to electronically access a first network site. A selection indicator associated with selection of a dialog display for bibliography collection may be displayed, and an indication of a device user selection of the selection indicator may be received. A recordation of accessible entities that a user device accesses may be initiated, the accessible entities including one or more second network sites, in response to receiving the indication of the selection of the selection indicator. Representations of the recorded accessible entities may be displayed, and data representing at least a portion of the recorded accessible entity accesses may be transmitted to a device that is associated with the first network site.
US09462033B2 Proofing electronic publications on portable devices
A user can proof (e.g., view, review) an electronic publication on a portable device. When the user finds errors in the electronic publication on the portable device, the user can edit the electronic publication on the editing device. The changes can be automatically synchronized with the portable device and displayed so that the user can review the changes and continue proofing the electronic publication on the portable device. In some implementations, an editing device can monitor files associated with an electronic publication for changes to the files and, when changes are detected, the files can be automatically synchronized to a portable device coupled to the editing device.
US09462031B2 Method, system and device for audio communication modulation mode self-adaptation and electronic signature token
A method and system for audio communication modulation mode self-adaptation, an apparatus for audio communication modulation mode self-adaptation in a mobile terminal and an electronic signature token are provided. The method includes modulating first audio data to generate first audio data frame streams; modulating second audio data to generate second audio data frame streams; demodulating the second audio data stream to obtain modulation modes correctly received by the first device and supported by the second device and modulation modes correctly received by the second device and supported by the first device; selecting an optimal modulation mode used in the second device from the modulation modes correctly received by the second device and supported by the first device, and selecting an optimal modulation mode used in the first device from the modulation modes correctly received by the first device and supported by the second device, according to a predetermined rule.
US09462025B2 Increasing link throughput to enable admission without exceeding latency variation limits
Methods and systems for admitting streaming sessions while controlling links capacities, including the steps of: receiving a request to establish a new streaming session in presence of an existing streaming session; wherein the paths of the session and the new session pass through a link, which is currently set to have a first capacity. Estimating a first end-to-end latency variation of the existing streaming session, supposing that the new streaming session is established over the new path. Determining that the first end-to-end latency variation exceeds a maximum allowable end-to-end latency variation of the existing session. Estimating a second end-to-end latency variation of the existing streaming session, supposing that the link is set to have a second capacity higher than the first capacity. Determining that the second end-to-end latency variation does not exceed the limit. Setting the link to have the second capacity. And admitting the request.
US09462021B2 Methods and devices for efficient adaptive bitrate streaming
Methods and systems for a content server to select sets of video streams having different encoding parameters for transmitting the sets of video streams to a media device are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method for transmitting video streams for a media program from a server to a media device includes: selecting, by the server, first encoding parameters including a first bitrate for a first set of video streams for the media program based on a first estimated bandwidth capacity for a network linking the server and the media device, transmitting the first set of video streams from the server to the media device, determining, by the server, second encoding parameters including a second bitrate for a second set of video streams for the media program, and transmitting the second set of video streams from the server to the media device.
US09462020B2 Intelligent client: multiple channel switching over a digital broadcast network
A digital broadcast network is disclosed that can divide an application into multiple channels to be distributed to receiving devices. A receiving device can selectively accept one or more of the multiple channels depending on various criteria including selection parameters and device capability. The selective choice of at least a subset of the application can provide an acceptable depth and delivery of data to improve the user experience. Text and standard data experiences can be combined with an audio counterpart, with pre-loaded client-side media files, and/or with pre-loaded client-side media files and a live audio stream, which can enrich a user experience.
US09462019B1 Adjusting network operations based on user feedback
A system comprising a broadcast facility, one or more players, and an analytic service center. The broadcast facility may be configured to provide a plurality of streams. The one or more players may be configured to receive at least one of the plurality of streams and provide feedback on a user experience. The analytic service center may be configured to receive the feedback from the one or more players.
US09462018B2 Multiway peer-to-peer media streaming
Multiway peer-to-peer media streaming is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method comprises defining a first portion of a peer-to-peer network. The method then recites defining a second portion of the peer-to-peer network. The present method then utilizes the first portion of the peer-to-peer network to generate an aggregated media stream, wherein the aggregated media stream is comprised of a plurality of media streams. The present method then delivers the aggregated media stream from the first portion of the peer-to-peer network to the second portion of the peer-to-peer network.
US09462016B2 Viewing shared documents in a sharing session
In a sharing session between a presenter and several attendees, the presenter can share any type of document quickly and without substantial prior preparation. The presenter's device identifies an active document-sharing window within the desktop sharing environment, and detects if there is a shared document in the active window. The presenter's device creates a framework for any detected shared document that is transmitted to each of the attendee devices. The framework contains information about the pages in the shared document, such that an attendee device can request a specific page in the shared document. At least the first page of the shared document is rendered to a page image and transmitted to the attendee devices. Upon request from an attendee device, page images of any of the remaining pages may be sent to the attendee device, allowing each attendee to view a different page than the presenter.
US09462012B2 Notification for reassembly-free file scanning
Techniques for notification of reassembly-free file scanning are described herein. According to one embodiment, a first request for accessing a document provided by a remote node is received from a client. In response to the first request, it is determined whether a second request previously for accessing the document of the remote node indicates that the requested document from the remote node contains offensive data. If the requested document contains offensive data, a message is returned to the client, without accessing the requested document of the remote node, indicating that the requested document is not delivered to the client.
US09462011B2 Determining trustworthiness of API requests based on source computer applications' responses to attack messages
A method includes receiving an application programming interface (API) request from a source computer application that is directed to a destination computer application. An attack response message that is configured to trigger operation of a defined action by the source computer application is sent to the source computer application. Deliverability of the API request to the destination computer application is controlled based on whether the attack response message triggered operation of the defined action. Related operations by API request risk assessment systems are disclosed.
US09462010B1 Threat assessment level determination and remediation for a cloud-based multi-layer security architecture
A device may obtain information regarding a security situation of a set of computing resources associated with a cloud-based platform. The information may be related to an ongoing security threat or a potential security threat. The information may be obtained utilizing one or more internet security resources. The device may determine a threat assessment level, of a set of threat assessment levels, for the security situation based on the information regarding the security situation. The information regarding the security situation may satisfy a set of threshold criteria for the threat assessment level. The device may perform one or more response actions associated with the threat assessment level based on the security situation. The one or more response actions may include providing an alert notification regarding the security situation that identifies the threat assessment level.
US09462008B2 Identifying threats based on hierarchical classification
A system and a method are disclosed for identifying network threats based on hierarchical classification. The system receives packet flows from a data network and determines flow features for the received packet flows based on data from the packet flows. The system also classifies each packet flow into a flow class based on flow features of the packet flow. Based on a criterion, the system selects packet flows from the received packet flows and places the selected packet flows into an event set that represents an event on the network. The system determines event set features for the event set based on the flow features of the selected packet flows. The system then classifies the event set into a set class based on the determined event set features. Based on the set class, the computer system may report a threat incident on an internetworking device that originated the selected packet flows.
US09462007B2 Human user verification of high-risk network access
Systems and methods for performing a human user test when a high-risk network access is captured by an intermediary security device are provided. According to one embodiment, network security application includes a network traffic control module, a human user test engine and a risk management module. The network traffic control module identifies a high-risk network access initiated by a device associated with a private network protected by the network security appliance. The human user test engine (i) sends a human user test message to the human user of the device to verify that the high-risk network access was initiated by or is otherwise authorized by the human user of the device; receives a response to the human user test message; and (iii) determines whether the response is a correct response to the human user test message. The risk management module allows the high-risk network access when the response is correct.
US09462006B2 Network-layer application-specific trust model
A data verification system facilitates verifying whether a CCN Content Object is authentic or trustworthy on behalf of an application. During operation, the system can obtain a stack requirement for a custom transport stack, which specifies at least a description for a verifier stack component that verifies a Content Object using a key identifier (KeyID) associated with a publisher. The system instantiates the verifier stack component in the custom stack, and can use the custom stack to obtain a verified Content Object. While using the custom stack, the system can push, to the custom stack, an Interest that includes a name for a piece of content and includes a KeyID associated with a content producer. The system then receives, from the custom stack, a Content Object which the verifier stack component has verified is signed by the content producer associated with the KeyID.
US09462003B2 Bidirectional authorization system, client and method
Disclosed is a bidirectional authorization system, including a first service provision subsystem configured to acquire a first temporary credential of the first service provision subsystem and a second temporary credential of a second service provision subsystem, respectively, send the second and the first temporary credential to the user terminal and the second service provision subsystem, respectively, send the second authorization credential returned by the user terminal to the second service provision subsystem to exchange for a second access token and acquire the second service resources; a second service provision subsystem configured to modify the first temporary credential and send it to the user terminal, send the first authorization credential returned by the user terminal to the first service provision subsystem to exchange for a first access token, and acquire the first service resources; and a user terminal configured to authorize the received second and first temporary credentials, respectively, and return the second and first authorization credentials to the first and second service provision subsystems, respectively. A bidirectional authorization client and a method are also disclosed. The present disclosure can be used to enable clients on both sides to simultaneously access resources of the opposite side.
US09462002B2 System, method, and computer program product for sharing files based on user profile visibility
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for sharing files based on user profile visibility. These mechanisms and methods for sharing files based on user profile visibility can enable community network systems to provide functionality restricting access to files based on the profile to which the file is posted. In particular, a file posted to a profile of one member of a community may be made accessible to other members of the community that are permitted to access that profile.
US09461998B2 Techniques for call-based user verification
Techniques for call-based user verification are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a processor circuit and a storage component. The apparatus may further comprise a session component, an identification (ID) component, a mapping component, and a verification component. The session component may be operative on the processor circuit and configured to receive session data from a client device and store the session data in the storage component. The ID component may be operative on the processor circuit and configured to request ID data from a server, receive ID data from the server, and send the ID data to the client device. The mapping component may be operative on the processor circuit and configured to map the session data with the ID data. The verification component may be operative on the processor circuit and configured to receive a confirmation from the client device, request verification from the server, and upon receiving verification from the server, verify the client device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09461997B2 Secure authorization of modules running on virtualized hardware
A method is described that includes securing authorization for a control module to conduct a test using a plurality of test modules running on a plurality of virtual machines. The method further includes registering the plurality of test modules with the control module to conduct the test. Authorization of the control module is extended to the test modules by securely communicating authorization and instructions to a first set of the registered test modules to send test stimulus to a device under test. Similarly, the authorization is extended to the test modules by securely communicating authorization to and receiving test result data from a second set of the registered test modules, wherein the test result data is responsive to the test stimulus sent to the device under test. The first and second sets of registered test modules can overlap or be the same test modules.
US09461995B2 Terminal, network locking and network unlocking method for same, and storage medium
The present invention discloses a terminal, a network locking and network unlocking method for same, and a storage medium, said network locking method comprising: writing network-locking parameters in a first memory unit of the terminal; obtaining, in accordance with terminal hardware unique identification information and the network-locking parameters, network-locking parameter authentication information and an unlock code; storing the obtained network-locking parameter authentication information in a second memory unit of the terminal, and saving the unlock code.
US09461992B2 Smartphone based identification, access control, testing, and evaluation
A suite of testing and evaluation tools that run in conjunction with a smartphone that can be used to both enroll, and for subsequent enrollees, to gain secure access so that the program may measure, track and report on tests, including activities, that may indicate general health and wellness status. Here, the word “smartphone” includes any handheld or mobile device containing at least one processor. The smartphone can be used as the platform for this suite of tools that can include applications that run independently on the smartphone device, but can also include sensors and other data acquisition tools that can be peripheral to the smartphone and connected by wire or wirelessly.
US09461989B2 Integrating operating systems with content offered by web based entities
Example embodiments are provided for integrating operating systems with content offered by internet based entities.
US09461987B2 Audio authentication system
According to one embodiment, an apparatus is provided that comprises a memory, an interface, and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and to the interface. The memory can store a conversion rule. The interface can receive an audio signal and receive a file. The file indicates a start time, an end time, a key, and a password. The processor can clip the audio signal from the start time to the end time to produce a portion of the audio signal. The processor can convert, based at least in part upon the conversion rule, the portion of the audio signal using the key to form a converted portion of the audio signal. The processor can determine that the converted portion of the audio signal matches the password. The interface can communicate a response indicating that the converted portion of the audio signal matches the password.
US09461986B2 Single sign-on for disparate servers
A system includes authentication of a user with a first server, reception of a request from the user to authenticate the user with a second server, requesting, from the first server, in response to receiving the request, user credentials to access the second server, reception of the user credentials from the first server, and transmission of the user credentials to the second server.
US09461984B1 Systems and methods for blocking flanking attacks on computing systems
A computer-implemented method for blocking flanking attacks on computing systems may include (1) detecting a denial-of-service attack targeting a computing network, (2) inferring, based at least in part on detecting the denial-of-service attack, a secondary attack targeting at least one computing resource within the computing network, (3) determining that the computing resource is subject to additional protection based on inferring the secondary attack targeting the computing resource, and (4) protecting the computing resource against the secondary attack by adding an authentication requirement for accessing the computing resource. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09461980B1 Predictive prefetching of attribute information
In one example, a method includes predicting, by a network access control (NAC) device based on a device identifier in a request from a client device and a device usage history of the client device, a user associated with the client device, prior to completing a user authentication process, requesting, by the NAC device and from a directory server, session attributes for the predicted user, receiving, by the NAC device and from an authentication server, an indication of whether a user associated with the client device was successfully authenticated. The method includes determining, based on an identifier of the user, whether the predicted user is the user associated with the client device, and responsive to determining that the predicted user is the user associated with the client device, establishing, by the NAC and using the session attributes for the predicted user, a session between the client device and the network.
US09461979B2 Method and system for including network security information in a frame
A method and apparatus for including network security information in a frame is disclosed. Network security information is included in a secure portion of overhead of a frame. The network security information is configured to facilitate network security. A network device configured to process a frame is also disclosed. The frame includes frame security information and network security information. The frame security information is configured to facilitate securing a portion of overhead of the frame, and the network security information is located in the secure portion of the overhead of the frame and is configured to facilitate network security.
US09461978B2 System and method for managing role based access controls of users
A method and system for role based access control for a plurality of users in a heterogeneous enterprise environment, comprising: establishing a functional relationship between a plurality of provisioning unit using a provision unit module. The users are mapped with the provisioning unit based on attributes of the users. Events are captured via the provision unit module. The users needed to be re-mapped are determined upon the event completion. Application role defined in context of an application embedded in an application registry module is mapped with the provisioning unit. Call back service is executed for the re-mapped users having entitlement associated with each of the application stored in a roles registry module. An application role is determined and defined for a new user for the plurality of the application enabling managing of the role based access control.
US09461975B2 Method and system for traffic engineering in secured networks
Aspects of a method and system for traffic engineering in an IPSec secured network are provided. In this regard, a node in a network may be authenticated as a trusted third party and that trusted third party may be enabled to acquire security information shared between or among a plurality of network entities. In this manner, the trusted third party may parse, access and operate on IPSec encrypted traffic communicated between or among the plurality of network entities. Shared security information may comprise one or more session keys utilized for encrypting and/or decrypting the IPSec secured traffic. The node may parse IPSec traffic and identify a flow associated with the IPsec traffic. In this manner, the node may generate and/or communicate statistics pertaining to said IPSec secured traffic based on the flow with which the traffic is associated.
US09461974B2 System and method to merge encrypted signals in distributed communication system
In a computer implemented method for data privacy in a distributed communication system, the method includes: storing a plurality of secret keys, each secret key for a respective one of a plurality of client terminals; identifying a mixer key; generating a plurality of key switch hints for the client terminals, each of the key switch hints generated for a respective client terminal of the client terminals, using the mixer key and a respective secret key for each respective client terminal; sending the key switch hints to a mixer; switching a first encrypted data stream received from a first client terminal of the client terminals to an encrypted output data stream using the key switch hints; and sending the encrypted output data stream to a receiving client terminal of the client terminals to be decrypted by the receiving client terminal.
US09461971B1 Optional compression of secure network traffic
A system includes a shore based security proxy to transmit and receive encrypted network traffic on behalf of users who opt in. The shore-based security proxy includes an Internet interface and a data compander. The system further includes a compander on a mobile vessel comprising a satellite interface and a local area network (LAN) interface, and logic to exchange uncompressed, unencrypted traffic over the LAN interface between user devices on the mobile vessel and the compander on the mobile vessel; and logic for the shore based compander to exchange compressed, encrypted data with the compander on the mobile vessel over the satellite interface.
US09461968B2 Zone-based firewall policy model for a virtualized data center
Techniques are provided for implementing a zone-based firewall policy. At a virtual network device, information is defined and stored that represents a security management zone for a virtual firewall policy comprising one or more common attributes of applications associated with the security zone. Information representing a firewall rule for the security zone is defined and comprises first conditions for matching common attributes of applications associated with the security zone and an action to be performed on application traffic. Parameters associated with the application traffic are received that are associated with properly provisioned virtual machines. A determination is made whether the application traffic parameters satisfy the conditions of the firewall rule and in response to determining that the conditions are satisfied, the action is performed.
US09461965B2 Redirecting of network traffic for application of stateful services
Techniques are presented herein for redirection between any number of network devices that are distributed to any number of sites. A first message of a flow is received from a network endpoint at a first network device. A relationship between the endpoint and the first network device is registered in a directory that maps endpoints for network devices. A state for the flow is stored at the first network device. A second message is received for the flow which is indicative of the first endpoint at a second network device. It is determined that the second network device does not store the flow state for the flow. Querying is performed to receive information indicative of the relationship between the endpoint and the first network device. The received information is stored in a cache at the second network device. Services are applied to the second message according to the stored information.
US09461960B2 Logical L3 daemon
For a network controller for managing hosts in a network, a method for configuring a host to resolve network addresses is described. The method configures an address resolution module in a host to resolve a network address. The method configures a managed forwarding element in the host to (1) avoid sending a request to resolve the network address to another host by using the address resolution module to resolve the network address and (2) forward packets using the resolved network address.
US09461956B2 Adaptive guidance for managing a communications repository
A tool for analyzing accessible data to provide recommendations to a user for how to manage communications. The tool receives a request to provide a recommendation for how to manage a specific communication. The tool requests accessible data for the specific communication. The tool determines a recommendation for how to manage the specific communication. The tool presents the recommendation for how to manage the specific communication.
US09461953B2 Message notification device, control method, and recording medium storing control program
An agent server determines a posting timing of a message on a family message board on the basis of urgency associated with situation information based on which a message is generated and a posting state, which is obtained by the posting state obtaining section, on the family message board.
US09461949B2 Managing links and invitations to shared content
A sharer account of a content management system may share a link to a non-synchronized (i.e., read-only) version of a content item, with a recipient that already has access to a synchronized (i.e., read-write) version of the content item. This can possibly be due to the sharer forgetting that the recipient already has access to the synchronized version, the sharer finding it more convenient to share the link, and/or due to various other reasons. The present disclosure can determine that the recipient, with whom the link is shared, already has access to the synchronized version of the shared content item. The recipient can be notified that he already has access to the synchronized version and can be provided with an option to access the synchronized version (which can be stored locally at the recipient's device and/or stored online at the recipient's account with the content management system).
US09461948B2 System having a gateway for providing email based on interest in subscriber profile
A gateway for distributing content receives a subscriber profile from a subscriber device. The subscriber profile indicates content in which a user associated with the subscriber device is interested. Content is received by the gateway in an electronic mail message addressed to the gateway. The received content is parsed to determine whether the received content contains the content in which the subscriber profile indicates an interest. If the received content is determined to contain the content in which the subscriber profile indicates an interest, the received content is provided to the subscriber device.
US09461947B1 Collecting messages from a group chat window that mention a specific user
Collecting online group chat messages. The method may include receiving a message associated with an online group chat session between chat participants. The method may also include determining the received message satisfies at least one message collection rule. The method may further include recording the received message to at least one message table based on each chat participant mentioned in the received message. The method may also include determining a first chat participant chooses to open a private chat session with at least one second chat participant. The method may further include identifying recorded messages within the message tables associated with the at least one second chat participant. The method may also include displaying the identified recorded messages in a private chat session sub-window.
US09461943B2 Network assisted virtual machine mobility
A first addressing message is received at a first switch in a network fabric indicating that a first virtual machine has undergone migration from connection to a first virtual switch at a first server to connection to a second virtual switch at a second server. A route advertisement message is then transmitted from the first switch to at least a second switch in the network fabric. This route advertisement is configured to cause the second switch to transmit a second addressing message to a second virtual machine connected to the first virtual switch. The second addressing message provides the second virtual machine with updated addressing information for the first virtual machine. A third addressing message is also transmitted from the first switch to the first virtual machine to provide the first virtual machine with updated addressing information for the second virtual machine.
US09461941B2 128 Gigabit fibre channel physical architecture
The PCS and FEC layers are combined into a single layer and the number of lanes is set at four lanes. The combination allows removal of many modules as compared to a serial arrangement of a PCS layer and an FEC layer. The reduction in the number of lanes, as compared to 100 Gbps Ethernet, provides a further simplification or cost reduction by further reducing the needed gates of an ASIC to perform the functions. Changing the lanes in the FEC layer necessitates changing the alignment marker structure. In the preferred embodiment a lane zero marker is used as the first alignment marker in each lane to allow rapid sync. A second alignment marker indicating the particular lane follows the first alignment marker.
US09461937B2 Method and device for a serial data transmission with additionally inserted data
A method and a device is provided to allow additional data to be transmitted between at least two users of a bus system. The transmitted data frames have a logic structure according to the CAN standard ISO 11898-1, and at least two additional short bits are inserted within a temporal bit length of at least some of the CAN bits such that at least for one of the two possible values of the current CAN bit, the first one of the additional bits inserted into this CAN bit is transmitted using a bus level that is the opposite of this value.
US09461931B1 Methods and apparatus for preventing head of line blocking for RTP over TCP
Methods and apparatus for processing and using TCP packets to communicate RTP packets are described. Head of line blocking is avoided by operating a TCP packet processing module to output RTP packet data to an application irrespective of whether or not a preceding TCP packet was received. Since output of packet data to an application using RTP packets is not delayed when there is a missing TCP packet, head of line blocking is avoided. RTP packet data is subjected to pattern matching in order to identify and process RTP packets in the case where RTP header information such as packet length information is missing due to the failure to receive a TCP packet. The methods are particularly well suited for the communication of audio and/or video by devices operating behind firewalls which block UDP or other types of packets other than TCP packets.
US09461929B2 Handling large frames in a virtualized fibre channel over ethernet (FCoE) data forwarder
A switch unit has one frame buffer pool for storing received frames and another frame buffer pool for storing large frames. The frame size in the large frame buffer pool may be optimized to the largest amount of data the switch unit that an FCoE switching is running on can support (i.e., a limitation of zone entries). Should free space be unavailable in the large frame buffer pool, or if a sequence grows bigger than can be supported, the switch unit may still continue to send response frames back to the sender. While the switch unit may store header information of the frame, the switch unit does not store the data of subsequent frames any longer. Once the sequence has been received completely, a rejection message is sent back with an appropriate error or reason code. The rejection message enables the sender to attempt a retransmission or cancel the current request altogether.
US09461924B2 Maintaining end-to-end quality of service
Methods, systems, and computer readable media can be operable to facilitate transportation of a communication while providing consistent quality of service treatment of the communication throughout the transport of the communication from a client device to an upstream wide-area network, as well as for communications transported from a wide-area network to a client device. In embodiments, quality of service information associated with a communication can be translated at one or more various customer premise equipment devices and/or network components into a format that is compatible with an interface that is to be used to output the communication.
US09461920B2 Mobile device and method for switching communication sessions between alternative network resources
Systems, methods and a mobile device for using policy defined by the operator to control the interfaces on which data is sent and received by the device are provided. The policy can be dynamically updated by the operator, by pushing new policy to the device for implementation. The policy can define that the device should switch certain data between two or more available interfaces at certain times, or when certain data may be sent or received over a particular interface. The device may receive new policy from the operator in order to help with the operator's own operational objectives, such as traffic shaping or other traffic limitation to ease congestion or enforce service agreements. A policy implementing corresponding traffic limitation or shaping on the air interface between the mobile device and network base stations can be sent to the mobile device so as to reduce signaling congestion on the air-interface.
US09461915B1 System and method for reducing consumption of hardware resources using weighted cost multi-path flow distribution
The present technology considers network devices that include forwarding tables having a number of next-hop entries (e.g., egress ports) where it is possible that the egress port utilization can be load balanced using WCMP groups. To implement a WCMP group, its members are assigned weights representing an amount of data flow to distribute over a plurality of links for a given destination. The members may be replicated in a forwarding table proportionally to their assigned weights. This disclosure provides systems and methods to reduce the number of forwarding table entries required when implementing a WCMP group.
US09461908B2 Method of route convergence, routing device, and main control board in routing device
A method of route convergence, a routing device, and a main control board in the routing device are provided herein. The method includes receiving route information from multiple neighbor routing devices; selecting a route among the received route information, and applying the selected route to update an FIB of the main control board; and delivering the selected route to an interface board after confirming that the route information from the multiple neighbor routing devices is received and the route selection is completed.
US09461904B2 Selective enablement of operating modes or features via host transfer rate detection
Examples of selective enablement of operating modes or features of a storage system via host transfer rate detection are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a storage device includes an interface configured to couple the storage device to a computing host indirectly via an intermediate fabric; and a storage controller configured to determine whether a nominal data transfer rate of the interface across the intermediate fabric is at or above a predetermined threshold, and selectively enable coalescing of status information that is to be returned to the computing host via status combining across multiple host requests responsive to it being determined that the nominal data transfer rate is at or above the predetermined threshold.
US09461900B2 Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method thereof
A signal processing apparatus which processes a voice packet is provided. The signal processing apparatus includes: a network jitter measurer which estimates network jitter using a weighting of a network jitter variance according to a network state, a compression and output unit which compresses or outputs a voice frame based on the estimated network jitter, and a loss concealer which divides a voice packet loss into short-term loss concealment and long-term loss concealment, and performs loss concealment in a different way depending on whether the voice packet loss is the short-term loss concealment or the long-term loss concealment.
US09461899B2 Communication control device, program, and communication control method
There is provided a communication control device including an acquisition unit configured to acquire a reception timing at which a second radio communication device receives a downlink signal from a base station performing radio communication with a first radio communication device or the second radio communication device, and a decision unit configured to decide a transmission timing at which the second radio communication device transmits a signal to the first radio communication device through inter-device communication based on the reception timing. The decided transmission timing is a timing later than a timing at which the second radio communication device transmits an uplink signal.
US09461898B2 Determining duration of idleness or abandonment of resources and property
The present disclosure provides methods and systems for determining the duration of time that has passed since temporarily idle or abandoned resources or property were last in use or possessed. The methods and systems provide for determining the point in time at which resources or property become idle or abandoned and for registering the cessation of use or abandonment event. Thereafter, the methods and systems provide for receiving and responding to queries concerning the temporarily idle or abandoned property and for detecting and registering resumption of use or reclamation events.
US09461897B1 Monitoring and analysis of social network traffic
A method of monitoring network traffic includes providing a processor and obtaining a list including a plurality of words. Each word having at least one metric associated therewith. The method also includes querying network traffic to obtain a set of messages including one or more of the plurality of words. The method further includes scoring, using the processor, the messages in the set of messages and displaying the messages, ranked by score, in a user interface.
US09461894B2 Packet processing method, deep packet inspection request network element and deep packet inspection device
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a packet processing method, a DPI network element and a DPI device. The method includes: determining, according to a packet feature of a first packet of a service flow, that a first deep packet inspection DPI device is used for performing DPI on the first packet, where DPI needs to be performed on the first packet; sending a first DPI request to the first DPI device, wherein the first DPI request includes all or part of contents of the first packet; and receiving a first DPI response that is sent by the first DPI device according to the first DPI request, wherein the first DPI response includes DPI result. The packet processing method, the DPI network element and the DPI device of the embodiments of the present disclosure can realize support for a network environment deployed with multiple DPI devices.
US09461888B2 Policy processing method and network device
A policy processing method and network device. The method includes: performing a mixed orchestration on all service rules corresponding to multiple services, so as to construct multiple condition sets; performing, according to the constructed multiple condition sets, unified condition matching on packet feature information of a received network packet, and outputting a condition matching result set; and calling, a service application to execute a policy action corresponding to each condition identifier in the condition matching result set. In solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, by performing a mixed orchestration on multiple service rules, all service rules are organized in a unified manner, information required by all services is extracted in one packet scanning process, and only one matching and rule verification process is required. Thereby, redundant operations between multiple services are reduced, and device integration and performance are improved.
US09461885B2 Constructing and verifying switch fabric cabling schemes
A distributed network switch includes multiple switch modules connected by one or more physical cables. One switch module may determine which connector port of a remote switch module is connected by physical cable based on information received from the remote switch module, including link identifiers, and further based on a physical topology predetermined about the type of remote switch module.
US09461884B2 Information management device and computer-readable medium recorded therein information management program
An object is to integrate pieces of information related to mutually the same target, though the pieces of information do not contain, in common, an attribute unique to one target. To achieve the object, from a generated condition storage unit storing generated integration conditions each specifying one or more attributes contained, in duplicate, in pieces of information related to mutually the same target, one of the generated integration conditions specifying one or more attributes being the same as one or more attributes contained in integration target information is obtained as a generated integration condition corresponding to the integration target information. A CI 200b containing the attributes specified by the obtained generated integration condition and in which the values of the attributes specified are identical to the values of the attributes contained is determined as a CI related to the same target as the integration target information is related to.
US09461883B2 Coupling device for a data transmission network and data transmission network
A coupling device for connection of one of two servers at a time to a data transmission network as well as to a data transmission network having a coupling device. The device has a first and second terminal for connecting a first and second server and a third terminal for connection to the data transmission network. A switch device is provided having a first switching state where the third terminal is connected to the first terminal and disconnected from the second terminal, and a second switching state, where the third terminal is connected to the second terminal and disconnected from the first terminal. The switch device is adapted to assume a switching state, when it is provided with the energy signal by the power supply, and to assume another switching state, when it is not provided with the energy signal by the power supply.
US09461882B1 Gesture-based network configuration
Embodiments of a gesture-based network configuration system are disclosed, wherein the system is configured to update a configuration setting on a networking device. The system pairs a computing device to the networking device which is operating a local area network (LAN). A first touch gesture indicating a target uniform resource locator (URL) is received on a touch screen of the computing device. In response to the first touch gesture, a configuration message including a command associated with the first touch gesture and the target URL is transmitted to the networking device. In one embodiment, receiving the configuration message causes the networking device to modify the configuration setting based at least partly on the command and the target URL. In one embodiment, modifying the configuration setting modifies the packet processing behavior of the networking device for data packets associated with the LAN.
US09461878B1 Blocking download of content
At least initially blocking client download of certain content and injecting a user verification step for such downloads is disclosed. In some embodiments, client download of a response from a server to a client request is blocked, and instead a notification page with options to accept or decline the server response is provided to the client.
US09461877B1 Aggregating network resource allocation information and network resource configuration information
A network device is described that receives information from separate database systems including a physical network inventory system that stores first topology data specifying resources and links within a network and a traffic engineering system that stores second topology data specifying the resources and links that are deployed within the network and data specifying traffic engineered paths configured to forward network traffic through the network. The network device aggregates the received information into a topology resource management system that stores third topology data specifying at least a current role of each of the resources and links. The network device determines a modification to at least one of the traffic engineered paths based on the third topology data, including an adjustment to the current role of at least one of the resources to change the forwarding of the network traffic. The network device outputs provisioning information based on the modification.
US09461868B2 System and apparatus for router advertisement options for configuring networks to support IPv6 to IPv4 multicast translation
A network element (NE) comprising a processor configured to cause the NE to act as a default router for an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) to Multicast Listener Discovery (MLD) translation entity, and configure the IGMP to MLD translation entity with a multicast translation prefix by including the multicast translation prefix in a router advertisement (RA) message sent to the IGMP to MLD translation entity. Also disclosed is a method comprising configuring an IGMP to MLD translation entity by transmitting a RA message to the IGMP to MLD translation entity, wherein the RA message comprises at least one multicast translation prefix.
US09461865B2 Apparatus and method for demodulating hybrid modulation symbol in wireless communication system using hybrid modulation scheme
The present disclosure relates to a pre-5th-Generation (5G) or 5G communication system for supporting higher data rates than 4th-Generation (4G) communication systems, such as Long Term Evolution. An apparatus and method for demodulating a hybrid modulation symbol is provided for use in a wireless communication using the hybrid modulation scheme. The apparatus includes a control channel receiver configured to acquire a hybrid modulation scheme change information from a control information received through a control channel, a constellation re-configurer configured to reconfigure a constellation diagram for use in demodulation with the hybrid modulation scheme change information provided by the control channel receiver, and a demodulator configured to demodulate a hybrid modulation symbol and a modified hybrid modulation symbol input when a reconfigured constellation diagram is received from the constellation re-configurer based on the reconfigured constellation diagram.
US09461860B2 Pilot signal transmitting method, and channel estimation method, apparatus, and system
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a pilot signal transmitting method, and a channel estimation method, an apparatus, and a system. The method includes: within a transmission time interval (TTI), transmitting a first pilot signal (CPICH1) on a first antenna, and transmitting a second pilot signal (CPICH2) on a second antenna; when no first-type terminal is scheduled within coverage of a MIMO system within the TTI, transmitting a third pilot signal (CPICH3) on a third antenna, and transmitting a fourth pilot signal (CPICH4) on a fourth antenna; and when a first-type terminal is scheduled within the coverage of the MIMO system within the TTI, transmitting the CPICH3 and a fifth pilot signal (CPICH5) on the third antenna, and transmitting the CPICH4 and a sixth pilot signal (CPICH6) on the fourth antenna. By using the method, interference of a pilot signal to a legacy terminal can be greatly reduced.
US09461858B1 Methods and apparatus for transmission of data at different modulation and/or coding rates
In a method implemented in a communication device configured to transmit PHY data units via a communication channel, first data and second data is received. The first data is modulated according to a first constellation having a first number of constellation points, and the second data is modulated according to a second constellation having a second number of constellation points higher than the first number of constellation points. The first data and the second data is parsed to a plurality of spatial streams such that a first subset of the spatial streams includes at least some of the modulated first data but none of the modulated second data, and a second subset of the spatial streams includes at least some of the modulated second data but none of the modulated first data. A single PHY data unit that includes the plurality of spatial streams is generated.
US09461856B2 Device and method for transmitting downlink control information in a wireless communication system
A Downlink Control Information (DCI) processing device and method for a wireless communication system that encodes/decodes downlink control information based on a payload size of DCI format. The method includes determining a payload size of a first DCI format; and determining a payload size of a second DCI format by appending padding bits to the second DCI format until the payload size of the second DCI format is not an ambiguous size and is not equal to the payload size of the first DCI format.
US09461850B2 Parallel data processing
Various embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for parallel data processing. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for parallel data processing, comprising: receiving baseband data corresponding to multiple antennas from uplink data; converting the baseband data from time-domain signals to frequency-domain signals; processing the frequency-domain signals at least partially in parallel by multiple processing units in a general-purpose processor so as to restore transmitted code blocks; and constructing transmission block (TB) based on the transmitted code blocks. In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for parallel data processing. By means of the method and apparatus of the present invention, the parallel data processing capacity of a general-purpose data processor may be used to process, in parallel as much as possible, data in uplink data transmission and further improve the receiver operation efficiency.
US09461848B2 Gateway device, mobile communication system, mobile terminal, packet transfer control method, control method of mobile terminal, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A pass-through packet determination unit (112) of an anchor GW 100A controls whether or not to transfer a Layer 3 packet arriving from an external network (20) to a downlink channel set up with a mobile terminal (700) based on a transfer policy. Further, a transfer policy control unit (111) changes the transfer policy to enable transfer of a multicast packet or a broadcast packet to the mobile terminal (700) by the downlink channel in response to receiving from the mobile terminal (700) a Layer 3 packet preliminarily specified as a trigger to start transfer of a multicast packet or a broadcast packet to the mobile terminal (700) by the downlink channel.
US09461847B2 IPTV service provision method and system for fixed and mobile devices
An Internet Protocol (IP) TeleVision (IPTV) service provision method and system is provided for providing both fixed and mobile device users with IPTV services. The IPTV service provision method of the present invention includes establishing, when a Mobile-IPTV terminal function (M-ITF) including a first Open IPTV Terminal Function (OITF) having a plurality of functional entities and an embedded gateway having a plurality gateway functions detects a gateway function of an IPTV Terminal Function (ITF) including a second OITF having a plurality of functional entities and a plurality of gateways, a link with the gateway function of the ITF; disabling the embedded gateway; requesting a service provider network for an IPTV service via the gateway function of the ITF; and establishing a service link with the service provider network to received the IPTV service.
US09461837B2 Central alignment circutry for high-speed serial receiver circuits
The implementation of serial transmission protocols typically involves the transmission of data in form of serial data streams over multiple serial communication links in parallel. Upon reception, the serial data streams are aggregated to implement a behavior equivalent to the transmission of the data over a single serial communication link. A high-speed serial communication receiver with a central alignment control circuit is provided that performs the identification of word boundaries within each serial data stream, the alignment of all the serial data streams, and the arrangement of the serial communication links in a given order. Using a single central alignment control circuit reduces the circuit area required for performing these operations, facilitates a reduced latency, and can easily control a simplified switching network.
US09461833B1 Coalesced notifications for social groups
A method for generating coalesced notification data includes receiving first message data that is configured to be processed to display a first message. The method includes receiving second message data, which is configured to be processed to display a second message. The method further includes determining whether the first message data and the second message data are associated with a social group and merging the first message data and the second message data to generate coalesced notification data, which is processed to display a coalesced notification at the client device. The coalesced notification provides controls to display an interface that includes a first portion of the first message and a second portion of the second message in a unified list.
US09461831B2 Packet forwarding system, control apparatus, packet forwarding method, and program
A packet forwarding system includes: first relay apparatuses that are connected to each other; a second relay apparatus that includes ports and that is connected to first relay apparatuses; and a control apparatus that configures a trunk serving as virtual logical link by using physical links among first and second relay apparatuses. The control apparatus determines a designated port from ports of first relay apparatuses included in the trunk. When a relay apparatus included in the first relay apparatuses receives a predetermined control target packet, the control apparatus controls the first relay apparatuses to transmit a received control target packet via relay apparatus having the designated port.
US09461828B2 Signature-efficient real time credentials for OCSP and distributed OCSP
Providing information about digital certificate validity includes ascertaining digital certificate validity status for each of a plurality of digital certificates in a set of digital certificates, generating a plurality of artificially pre-computed messages about the validity status of at least a subset of the set of digital certificate of the plurality of digital certificates, where at least one of the messages indicates validity status of more than one digital certificate and digitally signing the artificially pre-computed messages to provide OCSP format responses that respond to OCSP queries about specific digital certificates in the set of digital certificates, where at least one digital signature is used in connection with an OCSP format response for more than one digital certificate. Generating and digitally signing may occur prior to any OCSP queries that are answered by any of the OCSP format responses. Ascertaining digital certificate validity status may include obtaining authenticated information about digital certificates.
US09461826B2 Tamper-protected hardware and method for using same
One of the various aspects of the invention is related to suggesting various techniques for improving the tamper-resistibility of hardware. The tamper-resistant hardware may be advantageously used in a transaction system that provides the off-line transaction protocol. Amongst these techniques for improving the tamper-resistibility are trusted bootstrapping by means of secure software entity modules, a new use of hardware providing a Physical Unclonable Function, and the use of a configuration fingerprint of a FPGA used within the tamper-resistant hardware.
US09461824B2 Transmitting a document
A method of transmitting a document from a computing device to a printing device using a document server comprising, at the server, receiving user credentials from a user of an authorized computing device, receiving encrypted data defining the document from the authorized computing device, receiving information indicating the intended recipients of the data, receiving user credentials from an authorized printing device, and delivering the encrypted data to an authorized recipient.
US09461818B2 Method for encrypting a program for subsequent execution by a microprocessor configured to decrypt and execute the encrypted program
A method for encrypting a program for subsequent execution by a microprocessor configured to decrypt and execute the encrypted program includes receiving an object file specifying an unencrypted program that includes conventional branch instructions whose target address may be determined pre-run time. The method also includes analyzing the program to obtain chunk information that divides the program into a sequence of chunks each comprising a sequence of instructions and that includes encryption key data associated with each of the chunks. The encryption key data associated with each of the chunks is distinct. The method also includes replacing each of the conventional branch instructions that specifies a target address that is within a different chunk than the chunk in which the conventional branch instruction resides with a branch and switch key instruction. The method also includes encrypting the program based on the chunk information.
US09461812B2 Increased bandwidth encoding scheme
Embodiments of various methods, devices and systems are described herein that correspond to an encoding scheme that can be used with various communication protocols for increased bandwidth over a single wire bus or a wireless single transmission channel. For example, a method of encoding a series of data bits to increase bandwidth may comprise selecting a data bit in the series of data bits, generating an inverted version of the selected data bit, positioning the inverted version of the selected data bit in a consecutive fashion with respect to the selected data bit to signify an edge of a clock signal, and transmitting the inverted version of the selected data bit and the series of data bits with each bit being transmitted in a single unique time slot.
US09461810B2 Multi-drop channels including reflection enhancement
A clock channel to couple a transmitter to a plurality of receivers, the clock channel including: a transmission line to be coupled to an input of at least one receiver from among a plurality of receivers, the transmission line including: a reflection portion to reflect a clock signal propagating through the clock channel according to a clock frequency.
US09461808B2 Method of transmitting data packets, and corresponding stations and computer program
A method and device are provided for transmitting data packets to an access network with sharing of a multiband channel among stations. A first band is referred to as a “transmission” band, and a second band is referred to as a “signaling” band. A station accesses the channel for transmitting data of a stream after using a counter to decrement a backoff value. The method includes: receiving backoff counts sent successively over the signaling channel by the various stations relating to their various streams; comparing the backoff counts with one another in order to detect identical values; and in the event of there being identical values between a plurality of stations, determining at least one new backoff count value that is different from all the others.
US09461806B2 Providing different transmit and/or receive modes in different sectors of a wireless base station
A wireless base station simultaneously transmits or receives wireless communications in different modes in different sectors of the wireless base station. The different modes may comprise a Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode and a non-TDD mode, and/or different air interfaces. Related methods and systems are described.
US09461804B2 Link aggregation management system, link aggregation management device, link aggregation management method and computer-readable medium
A first apparatus 101 and a second apparatus 102 carry out wireless data communication using a wireless transmission path that uses a plurality of physical links in parallel. In each of the apparatuses, input/output ports 111 to 113 input and output data. A plurality of wireless signal processing means 141 to 143 respectively control different ones of the physical links. The wireless signal processing means 141 to 143 respectively measure reception signal levels of the physical links, and notify a counterpart apparatus about the reception signal levels. Link aggregation control means 130 determines a priority for each of the physical links based on the signal level for each of the physical links. The packet transfer processing means 141 to 143 select, out of the physical links structuring the wireless transmission path, the physical link having a usable band of a prescribed capacity and high priority as the data recipient.
US09461795B2 Systems and methods for scheduling multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) pilot channels
Transitioning from basic higher order MIMO channel estimation to enhanced higher order MIMO channel estimation (and vice-versa) can be accomplished through the signaling of high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) shared control channel (HS-SCCH) orders to next-generation user equipments (UEs). A base station can be configured to send an HS-SCCH order indicating activation of scheduled pilot channels, and then begin transmitting the scheduled pilot channels after receiving an ACK message from at least one next-generation UE. A base station can also be configured to send an HS-SCCH order indicating de-activation of scheduled pilot channels to next-generation UEs scheduled for downlink transmission, and then stop transmitting the scheduled pilot channels after receiving ACK messages from each next-generation UE. Alternatively, scheduled pilot channels may be activated/de-activated without receiving an ACK message from some or all of the next-generation UEs scheduled for downlink transmission.
US09461793B2 Method for determining the transmission of a sounding reference signal in a wireless communication system, and terminal therefor
The invention relates to a method for determining the transmission of a sounding reference signal (SRS) by a terminal in a wireless communication system, which can include a step of determining whether a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) in a first timing advance (TA) group, or an SRS in a second TA group in the same subframe, is to be transmitted when the transmission timing of the PUCCH or the PUSCH in a cell of the first TA group and the transmission timing of the SRS in a cell of the second TA group overlap each other in the same subframe.
US09461792B2 Signaling and procedure design for cellular cluster contending on license-exempt bands
The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software related product (e.g., computer readable memory) for implementing a device-to-device communication of cellular, e.g., LTE, wireless devices on a shared band (e.g., ISM 2.4 GHz band), including the signaling and procedure design for contending or coordinating with the already existing radio systems (e.g., WLAN systems).
US09461771B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving downlink control information
The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving DCI for supporting 256QAM. Particularly, the method for receiving DCI by a user equipment, may include: transmitting, to a base station, channel state information including information obtained by measuring a channel quality state; receiving, from the base station, the DCI including an MCS index value selected based on the channel state information in a predetermined MCS index table including an MCS index value corresponding to a 256QAM modulation method; and identifying modulation information on downlink data on the basis of the selected MCS index value.
US09461770B2 Method and system for floating grid transceiver
A multi-channel transceiver using a floating frequency grid for multi-channel, optical communication is presented. Transmitter frequencies are permitted to drift, and a receiver is tuned to compensate for drifts in the transmitter frequencies.
US09461767B2 Code generating apparatus, reference signal generating apparatus, and methods thereof
A code generating apparatus, demodulation reference signal generating apparatus, and methods thereof. The demodulation reference signal generator includes generating a non-correlation sequence for RS of a first resource block; spreading spectrums of elements in the non-correlation sequence for RS to be mapped to a first frequency resource of the first resource block, by using a first group of codes; second spreading spectrums of elements in the non-correlation sequence for RS to be mapped to a second frequency resource of the first resource block, by using a second group of Codes; the first and second frequency resources are adjacent frequency resources in frequency resource elements used for RS transmission in the first resource block, and the first and second groups of Codes are mirrors in column to each other; and mapping the spectrum-spread elements to the first and second frequency resources, respectively.
US09461766B2 Method and apparatus for setting reference signal
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for setting a reference signal. A wireless apparatus receives a primary synchronization signal (PSS) transmitted by a first orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) from a second OFDM symbol, and can search information for setting a reference signal on the basis of symbol numbers of the first OFDM symbol and the second OFDM symbol. Inter-cell interference can be reduced by means of a variety of methods for setting a reference signal.
US09461765B2 Method and system for providing scrambled coded multiple access (SCMA)
A multiple access scheme is described. A first bit stream is scrambled from a first terminal according to a first scrambling signature. A second bit stream is scrambled from a second terminal according to a second scrambling signature, wherein the first bit stream and the second bit stream are encoded using a low rate code. The first scrambling signature and the second scrambling signature are assigned, respectively, to the first terminal and the second terminal to provide a multiple access scheme.
US09461763B2 Method and apparatus for reformatting and retiming digital telecommunications data for reliable retransmission via USB
A method for retiming digital telecommunications data received by a digital logger from a plurality of T-carrier type telephone lines respectively having differing clock sources ensures efficient transmission of received digital audio data to a host computer via a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) interface. Also the digital logger includes volatile memory for temporarily storing digital audio data received from the plurality of T-carrier type telephone lines for: 1. ensuring that the host computer receives digital audio data correctly via the USB interface; 2. buffering the digital audio data within the digital logger during interruptions in transmission of digital audio data from the digital logger via the USB interface; and 3. reducing audible latency of speech communications.
US09461762B2 Method and system for compensating for a time discrepancy
A method and system for compensating for a time discrepancy. A first and a second vehicle-to-X communication system resort to an external time base. The first vehicle-to-X communication system determines a first internal time base from the external time base and the second vehicle-to-X communication system determines a second internal time base from the external time base. The first vehicle-to-X communication system sends vehicle-to-X data and the second vehicle-to-X communication system receives vehicle-to-X data. The vehicle-to-X data to be sent include a time stamp generated from the first internal time base and captured ambient sensor data include a first time stamp generated from the second internal time base. Alignment of the captured ambient sensor data with the received vehicle-to-X data is used to determine the time discrepancy between the first internal time base and the second internal time base and to compensate for it using a correction value.
US09461760B2 Remediation of television signals using a network back-channel
A method for remediating broadcast digital television signals is disclosed. A television signal is buffered by a multimedia client, and analyzed for errors. If errors are detected, replacement data for the corrupted data are requested from a service provider using a network back-channel. The replacement data are obtained from the broadcasting entity and sent back to the multimedia client. The replacement data are used to generate and display a faultless version of the digital television signal.
US09461759B2 Identification of changed broadcast media items
Small changes in a broadcast version of a base media item can be identified by performing a multi-level comparison of digital fingerprints. A fingerprint of a base media item is compared to a fingerprint of a media broadcast to determine whether a media item embedded in a broadcast is likely, to a first level of certainty, to be the base media item. A second, more stringent, match between the fingerprint of the base media item and loosely matched items can be used to identify potentially-altered versions of the base media item. Potentially-altered versions can be compared against each other, and resulting matches are flagged as altered base media items, which can be fingerprinted and tested against broadcast fingerprints in the same manner as the base media item.
US09461756B2 Calibration apparatus and method of terminal in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for calibrating a terminal is provided. The apparatus includes a modem; a transmission chain configured to process a signal input from the modem and transmit the processed signal via an antenna; a reception chain configured to process a signal received via the antenna and transmit the processed signal to the modem; and a connector configured to connect an output of the transmission chain and an output of the reception chain via an envelope detector and a switch configured to turn on/off the envelope detector, calibrate a DC offset voltage and I and Q signals of the transmission chain by inputting a one-tone signal of 1 MHz into the transmission channel via the modem in a state where the envelope detector is turned on, and calibrate a second order input intercept point (IIP2) characteristic value by adjusting the signal input into the modem via the reception channel.
US09461754B2 Optical receiving apparatus, optical transmitter and receiver module, and optical transmitting and receiving apparatus
A housing accommodates an optical waveguide substrate, plural signal light receiving elements, and a signal-light-level monitoring light receiving element. Signal light and locally oscillated light are input into optical waveguides in the optical waveguide substrate from a first end face of the optical waveguide substrate. The plural signal light receiving elements are disposed aligned on a side of a second end face opposite to a side of the first end face of the optical waveguide substrate. The signal-light-level monitoring light receiving element is disposed on a side of a third end face or a fourth end face between the first end face and the second end face of the optical waveguide substrate and at a position closer to the first end face than to the second end face.
US09461752B2 Methods and arrangements for generating a waveform for frequency shift keying communications
Embodiments may provide a way of communicating via an electromagnetic radiator, or light source, that can be amplitude modulated such as light emitting diode (LED) lighting and receivers or detectors that can determine data from light received from the amplitude modulated electromagnetic radiator. Some embodiments may provide a waveform in the form of chips at a chipping clock frequency that switch a light source between on and off states to communicate via light sources that can be amplitude modulated such as LED lighting. Some embodiments may provide a method of transmitting the waveform via modulated LED lighting. Some embodiments are intended for indoor navigation via photogrammetry (i.e., image processing) using self-identifying LED light anchors. In many embodiments, the data signal may be communicated via the light source at amplitude modulating frequencies such that the resulting flicker is not perceivable to the human eye.
US09461749B2 Optical line terminal transmitting device for next generation optical access networks
An Optical Line Terminal (OLT) transmitting device is provided, the device comprising an IQ modulator having a first input, a second input and an output, a first digital analog converter (DAC) directly coupled to the first input of the IQ modulator, a second digital analog converter (DAC) directly coupled to the second input of the IQ modulator; an optical filter directly coupled to the output of the IQ modulator.
US09461748B2 LED light fixture
An LED light fixture includes one or more optical transceivers that have a light support having a plurality of light emitting diodes and one or more photodetectors attached thereto, and a processor in communication with the light emitting diodes and the one or more photodetectors. The processor is constructed and arranged to generate a communication or data transfer signal.
US09461741B2 Signal transmission method and apparatus
Provided are a signal transmission method and apparatus. In the signal transmission method, a terminal device obtains a signal to be sent; and the terminal device sends the signal through a visible light medium, wherein after being demodulated, the signal sent through the visible light medium is carried on a power line for transmission. By virtue of the solution, the problem in related technologies regarding the integration of the visible light communication as a wireless access manner with the power line communication technology is solved, the construction of the communication network can be more convenient and faster, and the advantages of the visible light communication and the power line communication technology are fully utilized.
US09461737B2 Method for detecting fiber jumper connection and apparatus for detecting fiber jumper connection
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for detecting a fiber jumper connection. The method includes: receiving first configuration information delivered by a management system, where the first configuration information includes port identities of at least one pair of ports that are supposed to be connected on a fiber distribution device; receiving second configuration information reported by the fiber distribution device; and matching the ports that are supposed to be connected indicated by the first configuration information and the connected ports indicated by the second configuration information to obtain a matching result, where the matching result includes port identities of connected ports and unconnected ports that do not match the ports that are supposed to be connected, thereby improving efficiency of detecting a fiber jumper connection.
US09461729B2 Software-defined network infrastructure having virtual range extenders
An embodiment method includes selecting, by a network infrastructure manager, a first user equipment (UE) as a destination UE and selecting a second UE as a relay UE for the destination UE. The method further includes negotiating installation of a virtual range extender (vREX) UE on the destination UE, and negotiating installation of a vREX forwarding agent (FA) on the relay UE. The vREX FA is configured to act as a FA for the vREX UE.
US09461719B2 Distributed antenna system for MIMO technologies
A method and system for supporting M1MO technologies which can require the transport of multiple spatial streams on a traditional Distributed Antenna System (DAS). According to the invention, at one end of the DAS, each spatial stream is shifted in frequency to a pre-assigned band (such as a band at a frequency lower than the native frequency) that does not overlap the band assigned to other spatial streams (or the band of any other services being carried by the DAS). Each of the spatial streams can be combined and transmitted as a combined signal over a common coaxial cable. At the other “end” of the DAS, the different streams are shifted back to their original (overlapping) frequencies but retain their individual “identities” by being radiated through physically separate antenna elements.
US09461712B2 Power transmission device, power transmission method, and power transmission system
A power transmission device includes a communication unit that transmits a power capability information transmission request via a communication channel and receives power capability information in response to the power capability information transmission request. The power transmission device also includes a processing unit that sets a parameter based on the power capability information. Further, the power transmission device includes a power transmission unit that wirelessly transmits power using the parameter. The communication unit transmits the power capability information transmission request before the power transmission unit wirelessly transmits the power.
US09461710B2 Method of performing operation related to other device via near field communication and apparatus therefor
A method of performing an operation related to a second device, performed by a first device, via near field wireless communication, and an apparatus therefore. When a signal for wireless communication is received from the second device, the method includes calibrating the strength of the received signal; comparing the strength of the calibrated signal with operation signal information that is a result of calibrating a range of strengths of signals which are for the wireless communication and which are received from the second device moving between a plurality of points set to be within a predetermined distance from the first device; and as a result of the comparison, selectively performing the operation related to the second device.
US09461709B2 Methods and systems for server power line communication
A server system includes a common power bus, a power supply to provide direct current (DC) power through the common power bus, at least one node including a processor to receive the DC power through the common power bus, a transmitter capacitive coupled to the common power bus to transmit a power information signal from the power supply through the common power bus, and at least one receiver capacitive coupled to the common power bus to receive the power information signal transmitted by the transmitter and to provide the received power information signal to the at least one node. A plurality of buffers respectively coupled between the common power bus and each of the power supply and the at least one node provide path separation for high frequency and low frequency currents.
US09461707B1 Power-line network with multi-scheme communication
In various embodiments, a power-line communication apparatus provides data over a power-line communication network by transmitting data symbols to endpoint circuits over a power line. The power-line communication apparatus includes a signal-processing circuit configured to combine a plurality of different data streams, each of the plurality of different data streams respectively formatted according to different communication schemes, to form a signal that represents a combination of the different data streams and corresponding communication schemes. Further, the power-line communication apparatus includes a pulse-modulation circuit configured to convert the signals, as combined, as a pulse-width modulated or a pulse-density modulated signal, the pulse-modulation circuit configured to switch at a frequency higher than frequencies of the different communication schemes. An output circuit can be configured to filter the switching frequency and to couple the data symbols to an injector transformer for presentation to the endpoint circuits.
US09461696B1 Method and converged communication device for enhancing broadband and narrowband communication
A converged communication device and a method of providing broadband communication and narrowband communication with the converged communication device. The method includes determining a data rate at a broadband transceiver of the converged communication device. The method also includes determining a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at a narrowband transceiver of the converged communication device. The method further includes assigning a first communication state to the converged communication device when the data rate is greater than a threshold data rate and the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is greater than a threshold signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio. The method also includes transmitting, at the broadband transceiver, the broadband communication when the converged communication device is in the first communication state. The method further includes transmitting, at the narrowband transceiver, the narrowband communication when the converged communication device is in the first communication state.
US09461695B2 Semiconductor device including spiral-shape inductor and horseshoe-shape inductor
A wireless transceiver includes a semiconductor device configured to perform a transmission process and a reception process using a radio wave, the semiconductor device including a transmission unit and a reception unit. The wireless transceiver further includes an antenna configured to transmit an output signal from the transmission unit and provide a received input signal to the reception unit, and a baseband circuit configured to receive an output signal from the reception unit and output the output signal to the transmission unit.
US09461693B1 Systems and methods for frequency and bandwidth optimization with a single-wire multiswitch device
This disclosure relates to a devices and methods related to satellite information broadcasting. Example embodiments may include frequency shifting an intermediate frequency (IF) signal down-conversion from the microwave-band. As an example, down-conversion involving local oscillators may lead to frequency drift due to varying temperature and/or humidity conditions. Correcting for the frequency drift may provide an opportunity to remove or filter excess bandwidth. Further embodiments may include receiving, in a tuning request, information about a transponder type. A frequency translation module may be adjusted based, at least in part, on the transponder type related to the IF signal being input into the frequency translation module. Such frequency-shifting and transponder-specific filtering may allow Single-Wire Multiswitch (SWM) devices to provide output signals with narrower bandwidth, which may improve signal quality, cable run length, reduce power demands, etc.
US09461689B2 Power efficient communications
A method, system, and device provide power-efficient communications within the context of available power. Transmission and receipt data rates are scalable in accordance with output power available from a power source. Data is transmitted at a data rate determined, at least in part, by the available output power.
US09461682B2 Method and system for filtering out adjacent frequency band interference
Provided are a method and a system for filtering out adjacent frequency band interference. The method includes that an RF MEMS switch control module receives a first transmitted coupling signal from a first frequency band RF module and a second received coupling signal from a second frequency band RF module; the RF MEMS switch control module determines whether interference exists between a first frequency band and a second frequency band according to the first transmitted coupling signal and the second received coupling signal; if interference exists, the RF MEMS switch control module filters out the interference by instructing a first frequency band RF MEMS radio frequency reconfigurable antenna working in the first frequency band to change a first antenna structure and/or by instructing a second frequency band RF MEMS radio frequency reconfigurable antenna working in the second frequency band to change a second antenna structure. By means of the disclosure, adjacent frequency bands can co-exist on hardware and mutual interference is effectively avoided.
US09461680B1 Wireless receiver
A system includes a first filter circuitry and one or more second filter circuitry. The first filter circuitry can operate at a frequency of a wireless signal to filter the wireless signal to attenuate undesired feedthrough components and pass through a desired component. The system can also include a multi-phase mixer to convert the frequency of the wireless signal to a lower frequency and divide the wireless signal into at least four phase shifted baseband signal components. The second filter circuitry can operate at the lower frequency to filter the phase shifted baseband signal components to attenuate undesired feedthrough components and pass through a desired component. The system can also include a matrix to combine the baseband signal components to form an output signal.
US09461676B2 Energy efficient distributed estimation using nonlinear amplifiers
Some embodiments include a distributed estimation system. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.
US09461673B2 Computing device with configurable antenna
A computing device with a configurable antenna. The antenna is configured through a switching circuit operating under software control. Operating characteristics of the antenna are configured based on connections between conducting segments established by the switching circuit, allowing the nominal frequency, bandwidth or other characteristics of the antenna to be configured. Because the switching is software controlled, the configurable antenna may be integrated with a software defined radio. The radio and antenna can be reconfigured to support communication according to different wireless technologies at different times or to interleave packets according to different wireless technologies to support concurrent sessions using different wireless technologies.
US09461672B2 Signal quality evaluation apparatus, signal quality evaluation method, and reproducing device
Provided is a signal quality evaluation apparatus, including an error pattern detection unit to which binarized data obtained by performing a PRML decoding process on a reproduced signal of bit information by partial response equalization and maximum likelihood decoding is input, the error pattern detection unit configured to detect at least one specific error pattern that is a bit pattern that is longer than a constraint length of the PRML decoding process, a metric difference calculation unit configured to calculate a metric difference of the at least one specific error pattern that has been detected by the error pattern detection unit, and an index value generation unit configured to generate an index value of a reproduced signal quality by using a distribution of the metric difference obtained by the metric difference calculation unit.
US09461668B2 Decomposition of decimal floating point data
A decimal floating point finite number in a decimal floating point format is composed from the number in a different format. A decimal floating point format includes fields to hold information relating to the sign, exponent and significand of the decimal floating point finite number. Other decimal floating point data, including infinities and NaNs (not a number), are also composed. Decimal floating point data are also decomposed from the decimal floating point format to a different format.
US09461667B2 Rounding injection scheme for floating-point to integer conversion
According to one general aspect, an apparatus may include a memory, a normalization engine, a lookup table, and an adder. The memory may be configured to store a floating-point number formatted in a floating-point format. The normalization engine may be configured to normalize at least a portion of the floating-point number to create a normalized number. The lookup table may be configured to generate an injection constant based upon a predefined set of rounding values specifically for converting a floating-point number to an integer number. The adder may be configured to create an integer result by adding the normalized number and the injection constant.
US09461665B1 Successive approximated register analog-to-digital converter and conversion method thereof
A Successive Approximated Register Analog-to-Digital Converter (“SARADC”) is provided that includes: a bootstrapping unit that receives and samples analog signals; and an Analog-to-Digital Conversion Unit (“ADCU”) that converts the analog signals into digital signals and outputs the digital signals. ADCU has a resolution increasing in response to an intentionally injected offset voltage. In this case, ADCU includes Capacitor Arrays (“CAs”) having: a differential structure each including reference voltage application capacitors having different capacitances and an Offset Voltage Injection Capacitor (“OVIC”); a delay cell that operates CAs in an asynchronous mode; Reference Transfer Switch Units (“RTSUs”) that apply a reference voltage to CAs; a comparator that compares output voltages of CAs; and Successive Approximated Register Logics (“SARLs”). SARLs control operations of RTSUs in response to an output signal of the comparator and perform control so that a reference voltage is applied to OVICs when the output of the comparator is abnormal.
US09461663B2 Semiconductor device and electronic control device
To suppress detection accuracy of a measurement resistance from decreasing by an on-resistance of a selector switch. The selector switch is provided between a first node coupled to a first voltage through a reference resistance and multiple second nodes coupled to the second voltage through measurement resistances, and selects the second node to be coupled to the first node with the selector switch. A correction circuit generates a voltage obtained by adding the second voltage to a voltage between the second node and the first node as a correction voltage. A double integral ADC finds a first integral time elapsed when a difference voltage of the correction voltage to a voltage of the first node is integrated to the first voltage and a second integral time elapsed when the difference voltage of the first voltage to the voltage of the first node is integrated to the correction voltage.
US09461660B2 Digitally-corrected analog-to-digital converters
A method and apparatus for a digitally-corrected analog-to-digital converter (ADC) are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a nonlinearity generator that generates one or more nonlinear characteristics of a time varying input signal and that causes unwanted signal components at frequencies other than a frequency of the time varying input signal, a frequency response modifier coupled to the nonlinearity generator that modifies the unwanted signal components by altering an amplitude of the unwanted signal components, a frequency response compensator coupled to the frequency response modifier, wherein the frequency response compensator compensates for the modification introduced by the frequency response modifier to provide a filtered digital signal, and an inverse nonlinearity generator coupled to the frequency response compensator for receiving the filtered digital signal, wherein the inverse nonlinearity generator compensates for the one or more nonlinear characteristics.
US09461659B2 Micro-machined vapor cell
The invention concerns a micro-machined vapor cell comprising a central silicon element forming a cavity containing vapor cell reactants such as alkali metal or alkali metal azide, buffer gas(es), and/or anti relaxation coating(s); a first and a second glass caps sealing the cavity; and a solenoid arranged to provide a homogeneous magnetic field to said vapor cell. The solenoid is coiled directly on the central silicon element of the vapor cell. This invention is an improvement for the highly miniaturized atomic clocks developments.
US09461656B2 Injection-locked phase locked loop circuits using delay locked loops
An injection-locked phase-locked loop (ILPLL) circuit includes a delay-locked loop (DLL) and an ILPLL. The DLL is configured to generate a DLL clock by performing a delay-locked operation on a reference clock. The ILPLL includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), and is configured to generate an output clock by performing an injection synchronous phase-locked operation on the reference clock. The DLL clock is injected into the VCO as an injection clock of the VCO.
US09461654B1 Timing recovery for digital receiver with interleaved analog-to-digital converters
A receiver having analog to digital converters with phase adjustable sampling clocks. A first analog to digital converter converts an analog signal into first digital samples under control of a first sampling clock. A first clock generator adjusts a phase of the first sampling clock based on at least one first phase control signal. A second analog to digital converter converts the analog signal into second digital samples under control of a second sampling clock. A second clock generator adjusts the phase of the second sampling clock based on at least one second phase control signal. A data decision circuit recovers data based on the first and second samples. Feedback circuitry receives the recovered data and generates at least one first phase control signal for the first clock generator and generates at least one second phase control signal for the second clock generator based on the first phase control signal.
US09461652B2 Transformer-based CMOS oscillators
Techniques for providing transformer-based CMOS oscillators capable of operation with low voltage power supplies. In an exemplary embodiment, an LC tank is provided at the drains of a transistor pair, and the inductance of the LC tank is mutually magnetically coupled to an inductance between the gates of the transistor pair. A separate complementary transistor pair is also coupled to the LC tank. A further exemplary embodiment provides an LC tank at the gates of a transistor pair, as well as for three-way coupling amongst a tank inductance, an inductance between the gates of the transistor pair, and an inductance between the gates of a complementary transistor pair.
US09461648B1 Power control device
A power control is disclosed, which relates to a technology for stably performing a power ramp-up operation during a power-up operation of an integrated circuit (IC) having heterogeneous power. The power control device includes: an amplifier configured to perform level shifting of a second power-supply voltage level to a first power-supply voltage level according to an input signal during an initial power-up operation section, and output the level-shifted output signal; an initialization unit configured to set an output signal level of the amplifier to the first power-supply voltage level according to a control signal during the initial power-up operation section, and output the first power-supply voltage level; and a latch unit configured to latch an output signal of the initialization unit according to the second power-supply voltage level during the initial power-up operation section.
US09461643B2 High freuency semiconductor switch and wireless device
A high frequency semiconductor switch has a first terminal, second terminals, a first through FET group, second through FET groups and a shunt FET group. The first through FET group has first field effect transistors connected serially with each other. One end of the first through FET group is connected to the first terminal. Each of the second through FET groups has second field effect transistors connected serially with each other. One end of each of the second through FET groups is connected to each of the second terminals. The other end of each of the second through FET groups is commonly connected to the other end of the first through FET group. The shunt FET group has third field effect transistors connected serially with each other between the second terminal and a ground terminal.
US09461642B1 Radiation-tolerant high-speed high-voltage pulser
A high-speed high-voltage pulser especially designed to operate in high radiation environments. The pulser uses a primary side driver and switches in front of an isolation gate transformer. The primary side driver and switches provide amplified and fast complementary pulse signals to the transformer. The transformer has top and bottom secondary windings, which respectively receive the complementary signals, and deliver them to secondary side drivers and switches. The switches are implemented with series-connected FETs.
US09461641B2 Method and device for management of an electrical power-up of a sector of an electronic circuit
A chain of switches is connected between a first power supply line coupled to a first voltage and a second power supply line coupled to the sector. These switches are controllable by a control signal. The control signal is propagated from a first end of the first chain towards a second end of the first chain without control of the switches during this first propagation. The control signal is then propagated in the reverse direction from the second end towards the first end with a control of the switches during this second propagation starting from a group of at least one switch situated at the second end. There is a detection of the arrival of the control signal at the first end of the chain at the end of its propagation in the reverse direction.
US09461639B2 Semiconductor device and power circuit including a sense transistor for current sensing
A semiconductor device comprises a power transistor and a sense transistor. The power transistor conducts a power transistor current. The sense transistor conducts a sense transistor current substantially proportional to of the power transistor current. The power transistor and the sense transistor have drain source and a gate terminals, of which those of the sense transistor are arranged to be biased to those of the power transistor, respectively. The power transistor and the sense transistor each comprise: an inner region of type P−; an N-type buried layer; an N-type isolating barrier surrounding the inner region partially; an N-type source region in the inner region; an N-type drain region in the inner region. A barrier-to-drain connector connects the isolating barrier to the drain region, the one of the sense transistor has an electrical resistance which is higher than the resistance of the barrier-to-drain connector of the power transistor.
US09461635B2 Signal processing circuit
In an integration mode, since a switch becomes OFF, a positive feedback path from an output terminal of an operational amplifier to a positive input terminal is blocked. Therefore, oscillation can be prevented even when a voltage of a signal line connected to a reference voltage supply point varies due to an impedance of the reference voltage supply point not being 0. In the integration mode, a resistor and a capacitor function as a noise filter. Further, in a reset mode, a switch becomes ON, and charge is accumulated in the capacitor depending on a reference voltage of the reference voltage supply point.
US09461625B1 Switched-capacitor network with input-output common mode decoupling
Various embodiments of the invention provide for cancellation of unwanted signals in switched-capacitor circuits. In certain embodiments cancellation this is accomplished by performing a multi-phase CDS technique. The technique comprises resetting capacitive elements in the feedback path of an operational amplifier during a reset interval, maintaining a decoupled condition during a sampling interval in which the unwanted signals are sampled, and cancelling unwanted signals in a sensing interval.
US09461623B2 Method and circuit for temperature dependence reduction of a RC clock circuit
A method and a circuit for generating a clock signal from a clock integrated circuit are introduced herein. A compensation voltage is generated according to a temperature coefficient of a resistor and a clock period of a clock circuit, where the compensation voltage is resistor-corner independent. The clock period of the clock circuit is determined by the resistor and at least one capacitor of the clock circuit. The temperature dependence of the clock period of the clock circuit is reduced according to the compensation voltage.
US09461620B2 Elastic wave splitter having a resonant circuit between an antenna terminal and ground
An elastic wave splitter includes an antenna terminal, a transmission terminal and reception terminals. A transmission filter is connected between the antenna terminal and the transmission terminal. A reception filter is connected between the antenna terminal and the reception terminals. The transmission filter and the reception filter are each defined by an elastic wave filter. A resonant circuit is connected between the antenna terminal and a ground potential. The resonant circuit includes a surface acoustic wave resonator and a capacitor connected in series with the surface acoustic wave resonator. A resonant frequency of the resonant circuit is positioned in a frequency band of an interference wave that causes intermodulation distortion to be generated.
US09461619B2 High-frequency module
A high-frequency module includes a multilayer substrate, a switch IC, a SAW duplexer and a matching circuit. The matching circuit includes a wiring line and first and second inner layer ground electrodes. The matching circuit performs impedance matching between the switch IC and the SAW duplexer in a pass band of the SAW duplexer. The wiring line is an inner layer electrode of the multilayer substrate that is connected between the switch IC and the SAW duplexer. The first and second inner layer ground electrodes face the wiring line in a stacking direction with only dielectric layers of the multilayer substrate therebetween.
US09461618B2 Coupled acoustic devices
In one aspect of the invention, an acoustic device has a first coupled resonator filter (CRF) and a second CRF electrically coupled to one another in series. Each CRF has an input port, an output port, a bottom film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR), an acoustic decoupler formed on the bottom FBAR, and a top FBAR formed on the acoustic decoupler. Each FBAR has a bottom electrode, a piezoelectric layer formed on the bottom electrode, and a top electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer. The decoupling layer capacitance arising between the two electrodes enclosing the acoustic decoupler in a CRF is configured to achieve targeted filter response. A compensating capacitance is introduced to improve the amplitude and phase imbalance performance of an unbalanced to balanced CRF by eliminating the existence of asymmetric port-to-ground or feedback capacitance at the balanced output port produced by the decoupling layer capacitance.
US09461606B2 Systems and methods for automatic signal attenuation
The systems, devices, and methods provided herein can be used with an audio source to automatically attenuate a signal from the audio source in response to information about a local environment. In an example, an attenuation network circuit can be used to provide automatic or “hands-free” adjustment of a headphone or headset volume level to compensate for changing background sound or noise levels. In relatively noisy environments, the attenuation network can provide little or no attenuation of an audio source signal, and in less noisy environments, the attenuation network can provide greater attenuation of the audio source signal.
US09461601B2 Multichannel digital audio interface
A multichannel input device with automatic number-of-channels detection includes an automatic channel and bit depth detector, a digital audio interface (DAI), an analog device, and a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupling the DAI to the analog device. The automatic number-of-channels and bit depth detector has a BCLK input, a LRCLK input, a number of channels NCHAN output, and a bit depth B output. The DAI has a data DIN input, the BCLK input, the LRCLK input, an NCHAN input and a B input and has an output including data associated with an assigned channel.
US09461599B2 Dynamic bias current adjustment for power amplifiers
In one embodiment, a circuit comprises a power amplifier. The circuit further comprises a memory that stores bias current values corresponding to a plurality of frequencies across a frequency band for setting the bias of a power amplifier based on selected frequencies, and a controller configured to provide at least one bias current value corresponding to a selected frequency from the memory to the power amplifier in response to a frequency selection signal. The bias current value at each frequency may be selected to maximize power efficiency or minimize adjacent channel leakage-power ratio of the power amplifier at said frequency. In one embodiment, the memory further stores bias current values corresponding to the plurality of frequencies across the frequency band at a plurality of temperatures for setting the bias of a power amplifier based on a temperature of the power amplifier and on selected frequencies.
US09461596B1 Doherty power amplifier with integrated pre-distortion
The present invention implements a series of analog gain and phase correction circuits in each leg of the N-way Doherty to significantly reduce amplitude modulation to amplitude modulation (AM-AM) and amplitude modulation to phase modulation (AM-PM), distortion. The correction blocks comprise gain and phase corrections and optionally an additional gain block. The phase corrections include at least a phase offset and may include an optional non-linear element such as a diode pre-distorter. The pre-distortion circuitry is intended to reduce the necessary complexity of the DPD and reduce the DPD cost and power consumption. The gain and phase corrections can be calculated from computational optimization to minimize the AM-AM and AM-PM distortion. The gain and phase corrections can also be calculated from the AM-AM and AM-PM data which can be output from common DPD systems and laboratory characterization equipment.
US09461594B2 Power amplifier module
Consumption current may be reduced in a power amplifier module in which a power supply voltage supplied to a power amplification transistor is controlled according to the level of output power. The power amplifier module includes an amplification transistor supplied with the power supply voltage according to the level of output power to amplify a radio-frequency signal, a bias control circuit for generating a bias voltage according to the power supply voltage, and a bias circuit for supplying a bias current according to the bias voltage to the amplification transistor, wherein current flowing through the amplification transistor when the radio-frequency signal is not input is varied according to the level of output power.
US09461593B1 Current-mode folding amplifier
The current-mode folding amplifier is a current-mode saw-tooth folding amplifier having a minimal number of current mirrors in the signal path from input to output. This minimizes the delays imposed by current mirrors on the speed of the amplifier. The amplifier has a full scale delay of 5.9 ns. The operation of the amplifier is verified in simulation using LFoundry 150 nm process in Cadence Tools.
US09461590B2 Envelope tracking in connection with simultaneous transmission in one or more frequency bands
Envelope tracking (ET) is enabled in connection with single-band or multi-band transmission. One example system includes two or more power amplification components associated with distinct frequency bands, with at least one including a first power amplifier (PA) configured to operate in an ET mode, and at least one including a second PA configured to operate in an average power tracking (APT) mode of operation. A first DC-to-DC converter is configured to provide a first supply voltage according to the ET mode to each first PA, and a second DC-to-DC converter is configured to provide a second supply voltage according to the APT mode to each second PA. A control component is configured to determine a present transmission mode and to select on that basis one or more PAs, wherein the control component selects at most one of the first PAs and at most one of the second PAs.
US09461587B2 FM receiver that receives fm signal and method for receiving FM signal
A quadrature detector quadrature-detects an FM signal. An FM detector generates a detection signal by FM detecting an FM signal that has been quadrature-detected. An AFC unit generates a control signal for controlling a frequency of a local oscillation signal used for quadrature detection on the basis of the generated detection signal, and feeds back the control signal to a local oscillator that should output the local oscillation signal. A difference calculator generates a difference signal representing a difference from a reference value on the basis of the generated detection signal. An addition unit adds the generated difference signal and the generated detection signal.
US09461578B2 Motor control device and motor control method
A motor control device of a vehicle includes a motor and a lock mechanism for locking the rotation of vehicle wheels. The motor control device includes a detection device for detecting release of the lock mechanism, a damping control device for suppressing torsional vibration of a drive shaft, and a current control device for controlling current flowing to the motor on the basis of a motor torque command value set by the damping control device. The current control device channels an excitation current for generating a magnetic flux in the motor on the basis of the detection result of the detection device.
US09461569B2 Motor control device, robot hand, robot, and motor control method
A motor control device controls a motor using an angle data signal and a rotational speed signal output from a rotation detector detecting a rotation state of a rotating shaft of the motor. The motor control device includes a speed control unit that outputs a torque instruction signal corresponding to a difference between the rotational speed of the rotating shaft and a speed instruction using the speed instruction of the rotating shaft and the rotational speed signal, a limit value setting unit that sets a torque limit value indicating the maximum value of the torque applied to the rotating shaft, and a torque limit control unit that limits the torque of the rotating shaft driven by the torque instruction signal to the torque limit value or less.
US09461565B2 Systems, apparatus, and methods for soft starting large AC motors with a variable frequency drive
A system for soft starting a large AC motor may include a variable frequency drive (VFD) having a much lower voltage rating than the rated voltage of the AC motor. The VFD's voltage rating may be in a range of about 33% to about 67% of the AC motor's rated voltage. The AC motor may be coupled to a utility power source via conventional connections to leads of the AC motor's windings. The VFD may be connected to the AC motor via tapped connections within the windings of the AC motor such that the tap voltages are much less than the AC motor's rated voltage. A less expensive VFD may therefore be used to soft start the AC motor instead of a VFD having the same rated voltage as the AC motor. Methods of starting large AC motors with a VFD are also provided, as are other aspects.
US09461562B1 Low voltage detector
An apparatus includes a voltage monitoring device to generate a brownout indication signal in response to a change in a power supply voltage. The apparatus also includes a mode control device to control a temporal response of the voltage monitoring device to the change in the power supply voltage based, at least in part, on a voltage level of the power supply voltage.