Document Document Title
US09655743B2 Expandable interbody fusion device
An apparatus and method is provided for interbody fusion including distracting, in a given direction, and supporting opposing vertebral bodies. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted between the vertebral bodies to create a column of wafers. The column of wafers is oriented between the vertebral bodies so as to expand in the given direction as the wafers are consecutively added to the column.
US09655741B2 Prosthetic disc for intervertebral insertion
A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces, upper and lower plates, and peripheral restraining structure on at least one of the upper plate, the lower plate and the core. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and an inner curved surface which slides over the curved surface of the core. The peripheral restraining structure serves to hold the core against a curved surface of at least one of the plates during sliding movement of the plates over the core.
US09655736B2 System and method for installing an annular repair rivet through a vertebral body port
A two part annulus repair rivet for repairing a defect in the annulus of an intervertebral disc includes a first part delivered through a port and adapted to be positioned at an internal surface of an annulus adjacent a defect and a second part adapted to be positioned on an external surface of the annulus adjacent the defect. The first and second parts are secured together, repairing the defect.
US09655734B2 Prosthetic ankle components
A first prosthetic ankle component (10) comprising: a first bearing surface (12) configured to engage a second bearing surface (22) of a second prosthetic ankle component (20); and a protrusion (16) or slot (26) on the first bearing surface, the protrusion or slot being configured to engage a respective slot (26) or protrusion (16) in the second bearing surface of the second prosthetic ankle component, wherein the protrusion or slot is further configured such that the interaction with the respective slot or protrusion permits the first and second prosthetic ankle components to slide with respect to one another in an interface plane defined by the interface between the first and second bearing surfaces, and wherein the protrusion or slot is further configured to restrict the first and second prosthetic ankle components moving away from one another in a direction with a component perpendicular to the interface plane.
US09655729B2 Tibial bearing component for a knee prosthesis with improved articular characteristics
An orthopedic knee prosthesis includes a tibial bearing component with articular features which operate to protect adjacent soft tissues of the natural knee, promote and/or accommodate desired articulation with an abutting femoral component, and facilitate expedient and effective implantation by a surgeon.
US09655728B2 Tibial bearing component for a knee prosthesis with improved articular characteristics
An orthopedic knee prosthesis includes a tibial bearing component with articular features which operate to protect adjacent soft tissues of the natural knee, promote and/or accommodate desired articulation with an abutting femoral component, and facilitate expedient and effective implantation by a surgeon.
US09655727B2 Extended patellofemoral
Disclosed herein are knee replacement systems for replacing the articular surface of a distal femur. The systems include one or more unicompartmental components, namely patellofemoral, lateral condylar and medial condylar components. The components are configured such that when engaged to the femur the peripheries thereof do not cross specific locations and/or regions of the femur, namely the intercondylar notch and condylopatellar notch. The patellofemoral components described herein preferably have an extension portion extending posteriorly from a posterior periphery thereof towards an intercondylar notch or the femur without contacting the intercondylar notch of the femur when the patellofemoral component is engaged to the femur. The extension portion preferably extends posteriorly from a posterior periphery of the patellofemoral component towards the condylopatellar notch of the femur without contacting the notch.
US09655726B2 Radial-capitellar implant
A radial-capitellar implant for surgical replacement of the capitellum of the humerus and, optionally, the head of the radius. The radial-capitellar implant includes a capitellar implant or surface replacement arthroplasty of the capitellum and a radial prosthesis for replacement of the head of the radius. In one embodiment the radial prosthesis includes an articular head which moveable articulates with a stem implantable in the radius.
US09655720B2 Polymeric heart valve
A polymeric valve which may include a heart valve, and also may include a trileaflet heart valve includes a stent having a base and a plurality of outwardly extending posts from the base and equidistant from each other. A plurality of leaflets each connected to a corresponding one of the posts at one end, and each of the leaflets connected to the base. Each of the leaflets having an operative end opposite the end connected to the post, and the operative ends of the leaflets being biased in a closed position such that the operative ends abut each other. The operative ends are configured to rhythmically open and close in relation to each other, and the leaflets include multiple cross sectional thicknesses at different portions of the leaflets.
US09655711B2 Thoracic aorta stent graft with access region
A stent graft (2) for placement in the thoracic arch of a patient has a first tubular body portion (6) with a first lumen therein for placement in the ascending aorta of a patient and a second tubular body portion (8) to extend along the thoracic arch and down the descending aorta. The second tubular body portion is of a lesser diameter than the first tubular body portion. There is a step portion (10) between the first body portion and the second body portion. The step portion is joined to and continuous with the first portion and the second portion. A first side of each of the first body portion, the step portion and the second body portion are substantially aligned so that there is a step (18) defined on a second side opposite to the first side of the body portion. There is an aperture (30) in the step portion and an internal tube (32) extending from the aperture towards the first body portion. The internal tube is divided along part of its length into at least two smaller internal tubes (34, 36) with the smaller internal tubes opening into the first lumen.
US09655709B2 Mesh deployment devices and kits
A mesh deployment device having separate mesh deployment and actuation units is provided. A mesh deployment device includes an actuation unit and a mesh deployment unit configured to be releasably secured to the actuation unit. When the mesh deployment unit is secured to the actuation unit, a first actuation of the actuation unit moves the mesh deployment unit from an expanded condition to a collapsed condition and a second actuation of the actuation unit moves the mesh deployment unit from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition. The mesh deployment device may further include a mesh releasably secured to the mesh deployment unit. A third actuation of the actuation unit may release the mesh from the mesh deployment unit. Also provided is a kit including multiple mesh deployment units.
US09655701B2 Dental accessory
A prophylaxis angle that is configured to be attached to and operated by a powered dental handpiece. The prophylaxis angle includes a cup having a first end and a second end. The first end is couplable to the dental handpiece and at least one projection is at the second end of the cup.
US09655699B2 Artificial teethridge and fang
An artificial teethridge has an arched top and an arched bottom. The top and the bottom of the artificial teethridge are curved toward the same direction. The thickness of the artificial teethridge is relatively thicker at central part and gradually becomes thinner toward two lateral sides. A fang is formed integrally on the top of the artificial teethridge. The artificial teethridge, the fang and a prosthesis are an integral structure, whereby the artificial teethridge, the fang and the prosthesis form a mechanical conduction structure. The bottom surface of the artificial teethridge has a complementary structure which can be tightly matched and fixed on each point of the top surface of the alveolar bone without any gap. A dental neck is formed integrally between the artificial teethridge and prosthesis, which is formed in a waisted shape that is narrower at middle section and gradually becomes wider toward to two terminal sections.
US09655696B2 Kit and method for taking dental impressions and forming dental models
A first assembly is provided for forming the dental impression and a second assembly for forming the dental model, wherein the first assembly includes an impression post; a first coupler for coupling the impression post with a dental implant affixed within the mouth; and an impression cap for positioning on the impression post. The second assembly includes: a model post; a second coupler for coupling the model post with a dental analog; and the impression cap. The impression cap has a first and second securing means, both for selectively securing the impression cap to the impression post and to the model post.
US09655689B2 Forceps for molar extraction
A dental forceps for removal of rear molars having first and second handles which are pivotally connected. Forward distal ends of the handles terminate, respectively, in a first handle support with an end most pad exhibiting a three dimensional and rounded surface profile extending laterally to one side, as well as a second handle terminating in a correspondingly angled beak. The arrangement of the pad and beak are such that, upon setting in position at the desired molar by placing the rounded and width extending pad support upon the gum of the patient between the molar and the cheek and concurrently placing the pointed beak on the lingual side of the molar, an outward rotating force is then exerted on the handles to roll (or rotate) the pad and beak such that the molar is forcibly extracted.
US09655686B2 Automated stereotactic apparatus
The present invention presents an apparatus and methods to stereotactically guide and automatically insert an invasive tubular device to a tissue object of a living body. The apparatus comprises a stereotactic positioning assembly and a powered propulsion assembly that controllably drives an invasive tubular device in and out of a tissue object. The stereotactic positioning assembly encloses an ultrasound transducer to visualize and aim at the tissue object, and adjusts an insertion angle of the invasive tubular device coupled with the powered propulsion assembly.
US09655683B2 Systems and methods for guiding an instrument using haptic object with collapsing geometry
A computer-implemented method for guiding an instrument, comprises determining, by a processor associated with a computer, a current orientation angle of an instrument axis relative to a target axis. The method also comprises establishing, by the processor, a haptic boundary associated with the instrument based on the determined orientation angle of the instrument axis relative to the target axis. The haptic boundary is configured to constrain the instrument axis from being moved to an angle substantially greater than the current orientation angle.
US09655682B2 Visualization guided ACL localization system
A computerized system provides assistance for placement of localization markers for medical operations such as ACL repair procedures. The system displays, on a graphical user interface, an image of an anatomical structure and allows identification, via an input device on the graphical user interface, of a set of landmark locations identifying respective anatomical positions within the displayed image of the anatomical structure. The system displays a graphical overlay over the image of the anatomical structure. Placement of the graphical overlay is based on the set of landmark locations. The system displays at least one localization marker within the graphical overlay. The localization marker(s) identify a location for performing a surgical operation associated with the anatomical structure, such as ACL repair surgical operations.
US09655679B2 Actuated steerable probe and systems and methods of using same
A steerable probe having high-power-density actuators positioned at joints along the length of the probe. The actuators are moveable about and between a straight position and a curved position in response to selective actuation.
US09655675B2 Vessel sealer and divider
An endoscopic bipolar forceps includes a housing and a shaft, the shaft having an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof, which includes two jaw members for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source, enabling them to affect a tissue seal to tissue held therebetween. A drive assembly is included within the housing for moving the jaw members. A movable handle is also included, such that movement of the handle actuates the drive assembly to move the jaw members relative to each other. A knife channel is included within the end effector configured to allow reciprocation of a knife blade within the knife channel. The knife blade includes a proximal edge adapted to engage a proximal edge of the end effector to impede translation of the knife blade when the jaw members are in an open configuration and the knife blade is retracted within the end effector assembly.
US09655669B2 Optimizing treatment using TTFields by changing the frequency during the course of long term tumor treatment
Tumors can be treated with an alternating electric field. The size of cells in the tumor is determined prior to the start of treatment by, for example, biopsy or by inverse electric impedance tomography. A treatment frequency is chosen based on the determined cell size. The cell size can be determined during the course of treatment and the treatment frequency is adjusted to reflect changes in the cell size. A suitable apparatus for this purpose includes a device for measuring the tumor impedance, an AC signal generator with a controllable output frequency, a processor for estimating the size of tumor cells and setting the frequency of the AC signal generator based thereon, and at least one pair of electrodes operatively connected to the AC signal generator such that an alternating electric field is applied to the tumor.
US09655668B2 Apparatus and method for chilling cryo-ablation coolant and resulting cryo-ablation system
Apparatus and methods for cooling liquid coolant, such as nitrous oxide, to be delivered to a cryo-ablation device such as a balloon catheter. A hose or conduit in fluid communication with the ablation device includes an outer member and inner tubes. A first inner tube disposed within a lumen of the outer member carries liquid coolant to the ablation device. Another inner tube also disposed within the lumen carries liquid coolant and terminates within the lumen such that gaseous coolant derived from liquid coolant flowing through the second inner tube flows within the lumen to cool or chill the first inner tube and liquid coolant carried by the first inner tube to the ablation device.
US09655666B2 Catheter with coronary sinus ostium anchor
A method of treating cardiac tissue is provided, including positioning a first chamber of a medical device adjacent an atrial wall; directing a cryogenic coolant into the first chamber; anchoring the first chamber to the atrial wall through cryoadhesion; directing a distal portion of the medical device into the coronary sinus; and positioning a cardiac lead through at least a portion of the coronary sinus with the distal portion. The method may include measuring a temperature of the first chamber; removing the first chamber from the atrial wall once a predetermined threshold temperature of the first chamber is reached; anchoring a second chamber of the medical device to a portion of the coronary sinus; and/or perfusing blood flow through at least a portion of the second chamber.
US09655665B2 Bone plate systems
Bone plate systems for surgical implants and bone repair are provided. The bone plate is multi-tiered for receiving bone anchors for securing a plurality of bones or bone fragments in a desired relationship. The plate members include throughbores for receiving a pivot base therein, with head ends of the bone anchors being secured within the pivot bases. The throughbores may permit and define a translation path for the pivot base and the bone anchor secured therein relative to the plate. The configuration of the pivot base and the throughbore facilitate pivoting and optional translation of the pivot base relative to the plate. With the bone anchor seated within the pivot base, an apparatus for inhibiting bone anchor back out is employed.
US09655663B2 Multi-port delivery system
A device for delivering material to multiple surgical target locations includes a pressure reservoir selectably coupled to two or more outlets. Coupling the pressure reservoir to a given one of the outlets and pressurizing the pressure reservoir causes flowable material (e.g., bone filler material) to be dispensed from that outlet. A diverter for selectably coupling the pressure reservoir one of the outlets can be configured to trigger a pressure release valve for the pressure reservoir upon switching, thereby preventing unexpected or uncontrolled material delivery from the new outlet in response to sudden high pressure exposure.
US09655662B2 Dynamic bone plate compression device and method
A dynamic bone plate and method of bone compression are disclosed. The dynamic bone plate comprises a first bone plate component including at least one hole for receiving screws for attachment to a first bone segment and a male component and a second bone plate component including at least one hole for receiving screws for attachment to a second bone segment and a female component for mating with the male component. The male component is adjustable after mating with the female component to adjust a position of the first bone plate component with respect to the second bone plate component and the male component is locked into place with respect to the female component by at least one screw inserted through the at least one hole of the second bone plate component causing compression between the first and second bone segments to form a corrective construct.
US09655661B1 Cannulated orthopedic screw and method of reducing and fixing a fracture of the lateral malleolus
An orthopedic screw that includes a screw shaft having a predetermined length with a cannula extending through the length of the shaft. The shaft includes a first, relatively large outside diameter proximal segment; and a second, relatively small outside diameter threaded distal segment adjacent the proximal segment.
US09655659B2 Anchor tower
Anchor towers useful in the alteration of a position of an item connected to an anchor are described. An anchor tower includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve disposed over and operably connected to the inner sleeve such that movement of the outer sleeve results in movement of the inner sleeve. A groove is disposed on the inner sleeve and an inwardly-extending projection is disposed on the outer sleeve. Relative movement between the inner and outer sleeves results in movement of the projection within the groove. This movement can produce desired movement of a portion of the inner sleeve, such as a distal arm, based on a structural configuration of the groove.
US09655656B2 Modular pedicle screw assembly with a snap tulip
A modular head pedicle screw assembly has a bone screw, a tulip, a locking split ring and a saddle. The locking split ring is internal of the tulip positioned in a recess of an inner surface of the tulip. The saddle has a proximal end for engaging a rod and a distal end for receiving the bone screw. The saddle has an exterior surface positioned between the ends. The outer surface is sized to move axially inside the tulip. The saddle expands the locking split ring in an initial pre-loaded position and upon insertion of the tulip over the bone screw, the saddle moves proximally disengaging the locking split ring simultaneously causing the locking split ring to relax to an unexpanded condition while providing tactile and audible feedback to the surgeon and locking the bone screw into the tulip.
US09655655B2 Two step locking screw assembly
A two step locking screw assembly includes a receiving member for receiving a fixation member and an anchor having an enlarged portion and a shank. The enlarged portion of the anchor may be seated in the receiving member. An insert may also extend inside the receiving member. An outer fastener may be positioned in the receiving member. The outer fastener may include a central opening and a pair of ramped flanges. An inner fastener may be disposed inside the central opening of the outer fastener.
US09655653B2 Vertebral column-stabilizing system and surgical fastening element for a vertebral column-stabilizing system
A surgical fastening element for a spinal column stabilization system includes at least two fastening elements and at least one connecting element, the surgical fastening element including a fastening section, a holding section with a connecting element receptacle, and a fixing element fixable on the holding section for fixing the connecting element in the connecting element receptacle. The fixing element carries a holding down element for holding the connecting element down in the connecting element receptacle.
US09655651B2 Dynamic spine stabilizer
A dynamic spine stabilizer moves under the control of spinal motion providing increased mechanical support within a central zone corresponding substantially to the neutral zone of the injured spine. The dynamic spine stabilizer includes a support assembly and a resistance assembly associated with the support assembly. The resistance assembly generates greater increase in mechanical force during movement within the central zone and lesser increase in mechanical force during movement beyond the central zone. A method for using the stabilizer is also disclosed.
US09655649B2 Spinal fusion using rods of shape memory material
A system and method for performing spinal fusion using vertebral connecting rods constructed of a shape memory material, such as shape memory alloy. The connecting rod is cooled below its phase transition temperature, which is chosen to be just below body temperature, and is inserted through a curved guide tube previously inserted into the back of the patient. The guide tube is located so as to deliver the connecting rod at its desired location between the preinserted pedicle screw heads. The rod, being in its flexible state below the transition temperature, negotiates the curve and exits the guide tube in a straight form and parallel to the patient's spine. As it heats up to body temperature, it regains its original straight shape and its original rigidity, and is ready for connecting its associated vertebrae to each other.
US09655645B2 Assembly for percutaneously inserting an implantable medical device, steering the device to a target location and deploying the device
An assembly for implanting a medical device such as an electrode array. The assembly includes a sheath that is disposed over the medical device and a core that supports the device. The sheath and core are connected to, respectively, first and second slides in a handpiece. An single actuator first moves one slide, typically the slide to which the sheath is attached. Once the first slide at least partially displaced both slides are moved to simultaneously retract the sheath and core away from the implantable medical device. The assembly includes a steering assembly for steering the sheath and implantable medical device. Some of the components forming the steering assembly are disposed on at least one of the slides. Tensioners prevent the steering cables of the steering assembly from being exposed to excessive force.
US09655642B2 Fluid ejection device
A fluid ejection device includes a fluid container having a fluid accommodation portion that has formed therein a fluid outlet and accommodates a fluid. A fluid pressing unit presses the fluid accommodation portion to cause the fluid to flow out of the fluid outlet. Connection piping has an end that is connected to the fluid outlet. A fluid ejection unit has a fluid intake port connected to the other end of the connection piping, and ejects in a pulsed manner the fluid received from the fluid intake port. A pressure detection unit detects pressure of the fluid accommodation portion when the fluid pressing unit presses the fluid accommodation portion, and outputs a level of a detection signal corresponding to the pressure. A press control unit stops the fluid pressing unit from pressing the fluid accommodation portion when the pressure indicated by the detection signal is a predetermined value or higher.
US09655641B2 Ultrasonic surgical instrument with cooling system
A method of treating tissue includes ultrasonically treating tissue by oscillating a blade of an ultrasonic surgical instrument in contact with tissue and activating a fluid control system to pump cooling fluid through a blade conduit of the blade to cool the blade.
US09655640B2 Arthroscopic cutting blade
A dual function arthroscopic blade provides multiple cutting surfaces of differing cut aggressiveness for selective engagement of the desired cutting blade without retracting the instrument for changing cutting members to apply a different set of cutting edges, or blade. An inner rotating member within a stationary outer cutting member provide cutting edges defined by cutting windows on the inner and outer cutting members, and a rotational drive applies an oscillating rotation such that one of the cutting windows, corresponding to one of the sets of cutting edges, engages an extraction region such as tissue or bone. The use of different sized cutting windows allows variance in the aggressiveness of the cut, and allows selection of another cutting window by rotating the cutting member to align the selected cutting edges without requiring extraction and reinsertion in order to attach a different blade with a different cut aggressiveness.
US09655636B2 Medical instrument
A medical instrument with a handle arranged at the proximal end, with a shank arranged on the handle, and with a tool arranged at the distal end of the shank. The medical instrument can provide several functionalities, for example the rotation about the longitudinal axis of the medical instrument, the pivoting of the tool relative to the longitudinal axis of the medical instrument and/or the actuation of the tool, for example the opening or closing of scissors. Some of these functionalities are activated with the aid of a single common actuation element. By moving the actuation element between several switch positions, different functionalities are selected, and these are activated, e.g. by rotation of the actuation element.
US09655629B2 Cutting instrument
Provided is a cutting instrument including: an elongated member including a tubular portion 105 and a shaft-like portion 101 inserted in the tubular portion 105; a blade 201 including two edges, the blade 201 being provided at an end of the elongated member and being pivotable between a housed position and a projected position; and a motion mechanism that converts a relative movement of the tubular portion 105 and the shaft-like portion 101 resulting from an operation of an operation portion 102 to 104 into pivoting of the blade between the housed position and the projected position, wherein the cutting instrument moves toward the operation portion while rotating in its entirety with the two edges of the blade 201 projected on opposite sides of the tubular portion 105, thereby drilling a hole with a diameter larger than an outer diameter of the tubular portion 105.
US09655628B2 Reduced invasivity fixation system for trackers in computer assisted surgery
The invention relates to a surgical navigation device, for the purpose of adjusting a cutting plane to a desired position with respect to a bone of a patient, the device comprising:a fixed part (7) rigidly attached to the bone (18, 19), the fixed part comprising fixation means to rigidly attach a tracker thereto;a mobile part (5) adjustable with respect to the fixed part (7), including fixation means to rigidly attach a tracker thereto, and including a cutting slot (6) in which a saw blade can be inserted to perform cut;a fixed tracker (9) rigidly attached to the fixed part (7);a mobile tracker (1) attached to the mobile part (5).The invention also concerns a method for adjusting a cutting plane of a surgical device to a desired position with respect to a bone of a patient.
US09655624B2 Surgical stapling device with a curved end effector
In various embodiments, an end effector for cutting and stapling tissue is disclosed. The end effector comprises a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein one of the first jaw and the second jaw comprises a plurality of staple cavities arranged in a plurality of curved staple cavity rows, wherein the second jaw is moveable relative to the first jaw between an open orientation and a closed orientation, and wherein the second jaw tilts and pivots toward the first jaw when the second jaw moves between the open orientation and the closed orientation. The end effector further comprises a plurality of staples removably positioned in the plurality of staple cavities.
US09655621B2 Surgical instrument for dispensing tacks and solution
A surgical tack applier comprising a handle assembly, an inner tube, a plurality of fasteners and a solution is disclosed. The handle assembly includes an actuator associated therewith. The inner tube extends distally from the handle assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The inner tube is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The plurality of fasteners are disposed at least partially within the inner tube and are selectively ejectable therefrom. The solution is disposed within the inner tube and is dispensable through a distal opening of the inner tube.
US09655618B2 Surgical method utilizing a true multiple-fire surgical stapler
An exemplary surgical method of treating tissue within the body of a patient may include having an endocutter having an end effector; inserting the end effector into the body of a patient through an opening; engaging tissue with the end effector; stapling tissue along two staple lines with the end effector; cutting tissue between the staple lines with the end effector; releasing the tissue from the end effector; and repeating the engaging, stapling, cutting and releasing within the body of the patient on tissue at a different location within the body of the patient while maintaining the end effector within the body of the patient. Another exemplary surgical method of treating a plurality of discrete tissue structures within the body of a patient in which an incision has been made may include having an endocutter that holds a plurality of staples; inserting the distal end of the endocutter through the incision in the patient; and transecting a plurality of the discrete tissue structures with the distal end of the endocutter, without withdrawing the distal end of the endocutter through the incision in the patient and without inserting additional staples into the endocutter.
US09655616B2 Apparatus for endoscopic procedures
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly, and an end effector selectively detachable from the shaft assembly. The end effector includes a first jaw member and a second jaw member. The first jaw member supports a lever that is pivotally movable relative to the first jaw member between an extended position and a retracted position. The lever is in contact with a leaf spring to spring bias the lever to the extended position. The second jaw member supports a drive beam that is selectively engagable with the lever to facilitate a pivotal movement of the second jaw member relative to the first jaw member between an unapproximated state and an approximated state.
US09655614B2 Robotically-controlled motorized surgical instrument with an end effector
A surgical tool configured for operation in connection with a robotic system. The surgical tool includes a shaft and an end effector extending distally from the shaft. The end effector comprises a first jaw member and a second jaw member movable relative to the first jaw member from a closed position to an open position in response to at least one axial motion. In addition, the surgical tool includes a motor configured to generate at least one rotational motion and a motion conversion assembly operably coupled to the motor and the second jaw member, wherein the motion conversion assembly is configured to convert the at least one rotational motion to the at least one axial motion.
US09655610B2 Methods and systems for medializing a turbinate
Methods and systems for medializing a turbinate. Exemplary embodiments comprise methods and systems for repositioning a turbinate proximal to a septum. Certain embodiments comprise an implant and a flexible member coupled to the implant. Embodiments may also comprise an insertion device to install the implant in a desired location.
US09655608B2 System and method for retracting body tissue
Retractor systems and methods for retracting body tissue during surgery. The retractor system includes a rail having two opposed widened rail portions separated by a narrowed portion, each widened portion engageable by a separate clamp. The clamps are configured to support the rail to a fixed surface, or to support a surgical device. Each clamp may independently be positioned or slid along the rail to a desired location without interference with a clamp on an opposing widened rail portion. A device clamp is formed of spherical mating portions which enable alignment of a surgical device along six degrees of freedom, and tightenable by securing a single fastener. A retractor blade mount enables an angular and tilting disposition of a retractor blade, as well as remote manipulation of the retractor blade.
US09655607B2 Trocar cannula assembly and method of manufacture
A cannula assembly having a retention member and a method of manufacture of the cannula assembly is provided. The cannula assembly includes a cannula and a sleeve disposed around the cannula from a proximal end to a distal end. The sleeve can be pre-formed by a stretch blow molding process then advanced over the cannula. The sleeve includes an inflatable balloon and an annular ring distal the inflatable balloon. The cannula includes an annular recess. The annular ring is sized to have an interference fit with the annular recess.
US09655605B2 Surgical instruments, systems and methods of use
A surgical instrument includes a mount body, a joint member, an arm, and a working end. The mount body has a top portion, a distal end, a proximal end and a bottom portion. The joint member is pivotally mounted at a distal end portion of the mount body, to allow positioning of a proximal portion of an arm extending distally from the joint member. The joint member is also configured to at least partially constrain movement of the proximal portion of the arm to a plane. The working end is mounted to a distal end portion of the arm. The surgical instrument can be configured as a heart stabilizer or a heart positioner. The joint member may further be configured as a slotted ball, a disk member, or a combination thereof.
US09655602B2 Vascular plug having composite construction
This invention relates to apparatus and methods used to seal a vascular puncture site, particularly sites of punctures that are the result of catheterization or other interventional procedures. The sealing device includes a sealing member and a tether. The sealing member occupies a space in an incision, puncture, or other wound and sealing the space that it occupies, to prevent further blood flow. The tether is attached to the sealing member, and provides the user with the ability to withdraw the sealing member if necessary. The sealing device further includes a restraining member associated with the sealing member. The restraining member provides the ability to more securely restrain the sealing member to prevent it from migrating from the deployment location within a tissue tract. The restraining member also provides an additional capability of manipulating the sealing member after deployment.
US09655601B2 Ergonomic handpiece for laparoscopic and open surgery
A surgical tool having an elongate shaft, with a directional operative element at its distal end, is provided with a mechanism to rotate the shaft and the operative element about a longitudinal axis shaft. This allows the operative element to be aligned with an element of tissue without excessive hand movement by the user. In a preferred version, the mechanism is electrically powered and is regulated to produce smooth, controlled, accurate motion between selected rotational positions. The mechanism may include a linear magnetic motor drive to move a drive element longitudinally along the tool. This drive element is engaged with a helical formation on a drive shaft, such that longitudinal motion of the drive element is converted to rotational motion of the drive shaft, and of the shaft and operative element, to which the shaft is mounted.
US09655599B2 Biopsy apparatus having integrated thumbwheel mechanism for manual rotation of biopsy cannula
A biopsy apparatus includes a driver assembly and biopsy probe mechanism drivably coupled to the driver assembly. The biopsy probe mechanism includes a biopsy cannula having a cylindrical side wall that defines a lumen and has a side port located near a distal end that extends through the side wall to the lumen. A thumbwheel mechanism includes a thumbwheel mounted to the driver assembly to rotate about a first rotational axis, the first rotational axis being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. A first gear is mounted to the thumbwheel for coaxial rotation with the thumbwheel about the first rotational axis. A second gear is mounted to the biopsy cannula for coaxial rotation with the biopsy cannula about the longitudinal axis, the second gear being located to be drivably engaged by the first gear. The housing is grasped and the thumbwheel rotated with a single hand.
US09655595B2 System, method and device for prostate diagnosis and intervention
Methods, systems, and devices for assisting or performing an image-guided prostate procedure are disclosed. A needle assembly includes a needle guide, a needle device, a position sensor and additional features. The position sensor allows for the tracking of the needle assembly. A method for performing image-guided prostate procedures includes pre-operative procedures and intra-operative procedures. The pre-operative procedures include imaging studies to model the prostate and identify targets. The pre-operative procedures models are used during a prostate procedure to track the target and the devices used for the procedure. A system for performing image-guided procedures includes the needle assembly and other components.
US09655590B2 Apparatus, system and method for multi-modal volumetric ultrasound imaging and biopsy of a single breast
An apparatus for volumetric ultrasound imaging of a breast using different modes, including transmission, reflection and the speed of sound, which apparatus comprises a negatively pressurized breast imaging cup with integrated ultrasound transducers and an ultrasound coupling mechanism; an ultrasound system comprising the apparatus; and a method of imaging a breast in three dimensions without moving the ultrasound transducers.
US09655586B2 Radiation imaging apparatus and radiation imaging system
Provided is a radiation imaging apparatus, including: a first conversion element arranged to convert a radiation ray into electric charge in order to obtain a radiographic image; a first amplifier arranged to output a voltage corresponding to the electric charge of the first conversion element; a second conversion element arranged to convert the radiation ray into electric charge in order to detect radiation irradiation; a second amplifier arranged to output a voltage corresponding to the electric charge of the second conversion element; and a control circuit configured to control the first amplifier and the second amplifier, in which the control circuit is capable of controlling the second amplifier independently of control that is exerted over the first amplifier.
US09655584B2 Computed tomography apparatus and method of controlling X-ray by using the same
A method of controlling an X-ray in a computed tomography (CT) apparatus includes: acquiring scout images of an object; setting an imaging region of the object in the acquired scout images; determining an outline of transverse axes lengths of the imaging region based on the transverse axes lengths of the imaging region; controlling X-rays emitted toward the object by adjusting a distance between elements of a transverse collimator of the CT apparatus according to the determined outline; and reconstructing a cross-sectional X-ray image of the object based on X-ray projection data generated by detecting the controlled X-rays.
US09655581B2 Medical image diagnostic apparatus
Provided is a medical image diagnostic apparatus, including: a collection unit for collecting data by performing irradiation of X-rays to a body part of a subject who is moving a joint; a processing unit for processing the collected data to form a plurality of internal images indicating the body part of the subject; an input unit for inputting occurrence information indicating a biological reaction that accompanies movement of the joint; a display control unit for displaying information on a display unit; and a control unit for controlling at least one of the collection unit, the processing unit, and the display control unit based on the input occurrence information.
US09655576B2 X-ray phase-shift contrast imaging method and system thereof
An X-ray phase-shift contrast imaging method and the system thereof are provided. The X-ray phase-shift contrast imaging method utilizes characteristic X-rays of high throughput irradiating at the target from different positions or with different focal positions so as to form different X-ray images. The X-ray images are compared to define the voxels and combined to obtain a 3-D X-ray image. By using X-ray phase-shift contrast for imaging the soft tissue, the level of the image contrast may be enhanced several orders of magnitude and the linear energy transfer of the high energy photon beam is greatly reduced. Hence, the radiation dose absorbed by the tissue may be greatly reduced.
US09655575B2 X-ray imaging apparatus, method of controlling the same, and X-ray imaging system
An x-ray imaging apparatus and a method of controlling the x-ray imaging apparatus are provided. The x-ray imaging apparatus includes x-ray detectors configured to store detector identification data of the x-ray detectors, and a controller configured to receive the detector identification data from the x-ray detectors, and search for detector pairing data of usable x-ray detectors that match with the received detector identification data.
US09655573B2 ViRPET—combination of virtual reality and PET brain imaging
Various methods, systems and apparatus are provided for brain imaging during virtual reality stimulation. In one example, among others, a system for virtual ambulatory environment brain imaging includes a mobile brain imager configured to obtain positron emission tomography (PET) scans of a subject in motion, and a virtual reality (VR) system configured to provide one or more stimuli to the subject during the PET scans. In another example, a method for virtual ambulatory environment brain imaging includes providing stimulation to a subject through a virtual reality (VR) system; and obtaining a positron emission tomography (PET) scan of the subject while moving in response to the stimulation from the VR system. The mobile brain imager can be positioned on the subject with an array of imaging photodetector modules distributed about the head of the subject.
US09655570B2 Radiological image processing apparatus and radiological image processing program
A radiological image processing apparatus of this invention includes a separating device, an adjusting device and a removing device. Since a corrected image is generated using the radiological image taken through an object under examination, each image can be acquired by one radiographic operation without acquiring data for grid correction beforehand. The radiological image taken through the object is separated into a grid image and a non-grid image, and a corrected image is generated by adjusting intensity of the grid image on real space based on the non-grid image. Thus a high-precision correcting process is realized by one radiographic operation.
US09655569B2 Medical imaging device with a gripping module
A medical imaging device includes a gripping module having at least a first holding grip and a second holding grip. The first holding grip and the second holding grip are configured for holding by a patient during an image recording. A control unit is arranged on the medical imaging device. The control unit is configured to control an automatic movement of the holding grips. As a result, manual operation of the holding grips by medical operators may be avoided, thereby simplifying and accelerating the process of recording images.
US09655568B2 Method for recording a complete projection data set in the central layer for CT reconstruction using a C-arm X-ray apparatus with a limited rotation range
A method for recording a scan from a series of 2D X-ray projections using a C-arm X-ray apparatus allows an analytical volume reconstruction of a disk-shaped region of interest. The C-arm X-ray apparatus has a coherent, flat focus trajectory comprising three sections on which the focus of the X-ray source is moved with recording of X-ray projection views. The X-ray source emits a cone beam in the direction of an imaging X-ray detector, such as in particular a flat panel detector FPD. In some implementations, the cone beam is configured as a fan beam with a fan angle in the plane of the focus trajectory, which contains the ROI with the virtual scan center in its center, wherein the central ray of the fan beam is located on the bisector of the fan angle, and stands vertically on the ray inlet window. Before the beginning of the scan, the C-arm is positioned in the orbital movement axis in a first extreme position in which the holder engages at one end of the C-arm with the X-ray source, and the adjustable holder of the C-arm is positioned in such a manner that the ROI is located outside of the circle segment formed by the C-arm and the central ray, and a first limiting beam of the fan beam, which starts from the focus point and which is located on the side of the central ray facing away from the C-arm, is tangential to the ROI. During the recording of the scan, the plane of the C-arm remains fixed in space.
US09655563B2 Early therapy response assessment of lesions
For therapy response assessment, texture features are input for machine learning a classifier and for using a machine learnt classifier. Rather than or in addition to using formula-based texture features, data driven texture features are derived from training images. Such data driven texture features are independent analysis features, such as features from independent subspace analysis. The texture features may be used to predict the outcome of therapy based on a few number of or even one scan of the patient.
US09655559B2 Automated sleep staging using wearable sensors
A method and system for automated sleep staging are disclosed. The method comprises determining at least one physiological signal during a predetermined time period, extracting at least one feature from the at least one physiological signal, and classifying the at least one feature using a machine learning classifier to output at least one sleep stage. The system includes a sensor to determine at least one physiological signal during a predetermined time period, a processor coupled to the sensor, and a memory device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory device includes an application that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to extract at least one feature from the at least one physiological signal and to classify the at least one feature using a machine learning classifier unit to output at least one sleep stage.
US09655557B2 Methods and systems for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity
Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient's uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO2) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.
US09655554B2 Device and method for monitoring movement and orientation of the device
The present invention relates to a device and method for monitoring movement and orientation of the device, comprising an imaging unit (10) for obtaining images over time, a holding means (12, 13) for holding said imaging unit to obtain images from the surroundings of the device, and a processing unit (14) for detecting movement and orientation of the device by detecting changes in subsequently obtained images.
US09655551B2 Device for performing at least one medical function
A device for performing at least one medical function on a user is proposed. The device has at least one medical functional element that is designed to perform the medical function. The medical function is selected from a diagnostic, a therapeutic and a surgical function. The device has at least one evaluation and control part that comprises at least one actuation component for controlling the medical function. The evaluation and control part has at least one casing and at least one battery receptacle. The battery receptacle comprises at least one electrical energy reservoir, more particularly at least one battery. The battery receptacle is designed to be opened irreversibly by the user for removing the energy reservoir.
US09655549B2 Flexible capacitive pressure sensor and respiration monitor using the same
A capacitive pressure sensor includes first and second of mutually displaceable elastic members each having a respective electrically conductive surface separated by a thin elastic dielectric. Variations in area of pressure-induced contact between the first and second members are used to vary capacitance of the sensor that allows determination of differential pressure between the two elastic members. Both of the elastic members have respective projections, the projections of the first elastic member being disposed in interlocking relationship with the projections of the second elastic member and configured so that as the elastic members are pressed toward each other their respective projections progressively engage and create increasing areas of contact.
US09655545B2 Apparatus for measuring in-vivo mechanical properties of biological tissues
An apparatus and method for measuring mechanical properties of tissue has a stereo optical surgical microscope with at least one objective lens and at least two digital cameras such that paired images obtained from the digital cameras form stereo pairs, and a digital image processing system adapted to determine surface topography of tissue from the stereo pairs of images and a resulting surface displacement map as a result from indentation. The apparatus has an one indenter; and mechanical modeling routines stored in memory of the image processing system, the mechanical modeling routines capable of constructing computer models of mechanical properties of tissue, and fitting parameters of the computer model to observed surface displacement maps generated by coregistering surface topography of tissue with and without the indenter positioned on the tissue. In an embodiment, fitted parameters of the computer model are displayed and used to adjust a surgical plan. An apparatus and method for measuring mechanical properties of tissue has a stereo optical surgical microscope with at least one objective lens and at least two digital cameras such that paired images obtained from the digital cameras form stereo pairs, and a digital image processing system adapted to determine surface topography of tissue from the stereo pairs of images and a resulting surface displacement map as a result from indentation. The apparatus has an one indenter; and mechanical modeling routines stored in memory of the image processing system, the mechanical modeling routines capable of constructing computer models of mechanical properties of tissue, and fitting parameters of the computer model to observed surface displacement maps generated by coregistering surface topography of tissue with and without the indenter positioned on the tissue. In an embodiment, fitted parameters of the computer model are displayed and used to adjust a surgical plan.
US09655542B2 MRI with magnet assembly adapted for convenient scanning of laboratory animals with automated RF tuning unit
An animal handling system (AMS), for positioning an immobilized animal in a predefined configuration therein, comprising an automated tuning unit, including: a proximal portion, held outside a medical device including: at least one inner shaft, and at least one outer shaft, the at least one inner is telescopically maneuverable within the at least one outer shaft providing a variable telescopic mechanism; and a distal portion including: a configurable encapsuable life support system (ELSS), the ELSS is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the at least outer shaft and the at least inner shaft and translationally moveable parallel to the longitudinal axis by means of the maneuverable telescopic mechanism.
US09655535B2 System and method for targeting heart rhythm disorders using shaped ablation
A system and method to target a biological rhythm disorder, such as a heart rhythm disorder include processing cardiac signals via a computing device to determine a shape in a region of tissue defined by a source associated with the biological rhythm disorder that migrates spatially on or within the shape, and identifying at least one portion of the tissue proximate to the shape to enable selective modification of the at least one portion of tissue in order to terminate or alter the heart rhythm disorder.
US09655533B2 System and method for low power sampling of plethysmograph signals
A method for generating a sampled plethysmograph data, includes measuring a plethysmograph waveform indicative of a first cardiac cycle and a second cardiac cycle, each cycle including a systolic waveform and a diastolic waveform. The method further includes estimating a first start time and a first duration for the systolic waveform of the first cardiac cycle and computing a plurality of amplitudes at a plurality of time instants for the first duration. The method further includes determining a second start time and a second duration of the systolic waveform of the second cardiac cycle. The method also includes assigning the second cardiac cycle, the second start time, and the second duration to the first cardiac cycle, the first start time, and the first duration respectively. The method further includes iteratively performing the steps of measuring, estimating, computing, determining and assigning for the plurality of cardiac cycles acquired sequentially in time.
US09655531B2 Connection structures for intravascular devices and associated systems and methods
Intravascular devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of assembling an intravascular device is provided that includes positioning a first tubular member around a plurality of conductors and a core member; advancing a first of the plurality of conductors through an opening of the first tubular member; positioning a first conductive member around the first tubular member; and electrically coupling the first of the plurality of conductors to the first conductive member. In some embodiments, an intravascular device is provided that includes an insulating member positioned around a plurality of conductors and a core member and a conductive member positioned around the insulating member, wherein at least one of the plurality of conductors extends through an opening in the insulating member and is electrically coupled to the first conductive member.
US09655530B2 Apparatus and methods for non-invasively measuring physiologic parameters of one or more subjects
Improved apparatus and methods for non-invasively assessing one or more physiologic (e.g., hemodynamic) parameters associated with a living organism. In one embodiment, the invention comprises an apparatus adapted to automatically and accurately place and maintain a sensor (e.g., tonometric pressure sensor) with respect to the anatomy of the subject. The apparatus is comprised of a sensor device removably coupled to a host device which is used to position the sensor during measurements. Methods for positioning the alignment apparatus and sensor, and operating the apparatus, are also disclosed.
US09655529B2 Left atrial pressure measurement method and left atrial pressure measurement device
A left atrial pressure measurement device includes: a measurement section that measures a first index value that indicates performance of a right ventricle, and a second index value that indicates performance of a left ventricle; and a calculation section that calculates a left atrial pressure using the first index value, the second index value, and a measured right atrial pressure.
US09655528B2 Systems and methods for detecting cerebrospinal-fluid pulsation using an implantable electrical stimulation device
An electrical stimulation lead assembly includes a lead body having a distal end portion, a proximal end portion, and a longitudinal length. Electrodes are disposed along the distal end portion of the lead body; terminals disposed along the proximal end portion of the lead body; and stimulation conductors couple the terminals to the electrodes. A cerebrospinal-fluid-pulsation detection assembly includes a sensor disposed along the distal end portion of the lead body. The sensor detects pulses of cerebrospinal fluid within a subarachnoid space of a patient and transforms the detected cerebrospinal-fluid pulses into sensor signals. A sensor processor receives the sensor signals from the sensor, processes the received sensor signals to cerebrospinal-fluid pulsation data (“CSF-pulsation data”), and estimates a patient blood-flow condition based on the CSF-pulsation data. A sensor control pathway couples the sensor to the sensor processor.
US09655526B2 Vital signs fiber optic sensor systems and methods
An intensity-based, micro-bending optical fiber sensor is disclosed herein, which is configured to acquire clean, stable, and reliable vital sign signals. Related systems and methods for vital sign monitoring are also provided herein. The sensor of various embodiments includes a multi-mode optical fiber, an LED light source, an LED driver, a receiver, and a single layer deformer structure. In various embodiments, the optical fiber and single layer deformer structure of the sensor are selected to meet specific parameters necessary to achieve a level of reliability and sensitivity needed to successfully monitor vital signs. In some embodiments, a specific sizing relationship exists between the optical fiber and the single layer deformer structure. In sonic embodiments, the sensor is configured to acquire ballistocardiograph waveforms.
US09655522B2 Method and system for “push-button” comprehensive cardiac MR examination using continuous self-gated 3D radial imaging
The present invention teaches systems and methods for a simple cardiac MRI approach that (1) continuously acquires data; (2) covers the entire heart with high isotropic resolution within a few minutes; and (3) requires no physiological gating and minimal user intervention. Applications of the inventive systems and methods include, but are in no way limited to cardiac cine, myocardial perfusion, coronary MRA, delayed enhancement imaging, myocardial T1-weighted imaging for fibrosis imaging, and myocardial T2-weighted imaging for edema imaging.
US09655520B2 Decongestive therapy titration for heart failure patients using implantable sensor
Assessing decongestive therapy delivered to a heart failure patient involves use of an implantable sensor configured to sense a physiologic parameter indicative of the patient's diuresis status and a processor coupled to the implantable sensor. The sensor may comprise a thoracic fluid sensor, a heart sounds sensor, a cardiac chamber or arterial pressure sensor, a respiration sensor, or a blood chemistry sensor, for example. The processor is configured to determine if a target level of patient diuresis has been achieved based on a relationship between the sensed physiologic parameter and a threshold developed for the patient, and to produce an output in response to determining that the target level of patient diuresis has been achieved. The processor may be disposed in an implantable housing, in a patient-external housing, or in a network server system.
US09655518B2 Ambulatory and centralized processing of a physiological signal
A machine-implemented method including obtaining physiological signal data for a living being and performing a first analysis of the physiological signal data at a processing device local to the living being and remote from a central processing device. The method further includes transmitting from the processing device data associated with the analysis to the central processing device and performing at the central processing device a second analysis of the data associated with the first analysis. The method further includes displaying the data associated with the second analysis. The method can also include interaction between the processing device local to the living being and the central processing device. The method can also include distributing monitoring and analysis between an ambulatory and a centralized subsystem.
US09655516B2 Compact mobile dilation table
A dilation tower providing a darkened space for performing a dilated fundus examination (DFE) in bright environments (e.g., stores, shopping malls, shopping centers, medical offices, etc.) is provided. In order to reach more patients in need of DFEs, the dilation tower provided may be configured to be mobile. A method of administering a DFE on a patient comprising the steps of positioning said patient in a patient area of a dilation tower, enclosing said patient and said patient area with a patient area cloak, and performing said DFE on said patient is also provided.
US09655512B2 Methods and systems to measure corneal epithelial thickness and power, stromal thickness, subepithelial corneal power and topography for disease diagnosis
This invention discloses methods and systems for measuring corneal epithelial thickness and power, stromal thickness, subepitheila corneal power and topography. The systems and methods disclosed herein are non-invasive, non-contact and automated imaging methods which preferably makes use of Fourier-domain optical tomography. Also disclosed herein are scanning patterns and image analysis methods for utilizing and analyzing Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography images to obtain information about conical epithelial and stromal properties as well as parameters useful for evaluating the properties. The methods and systems described herein are useful as eye disease diagnostic tools and eye surgery planning tools.
US09655509B2 System and method for objective chromatic perimetry analysis using pupillometer
The present invention relates to a system, device and a method for objective visual field testing and in particular, to such a system and method in which provides objective chromatic perimetry test or color vision test using a pupillometer.
US09655507B2 Corneal imaging device
A corneal imaging device provided with an optical system for photographing a corneal portion of an eye, the optical system including an illumination optical system configured to irradiate illumination light toward a cornea and a light receiving optical system placed in a position inclined with respect to an optical axis of the illumination optical system configured to receive reflection light from the cornea by a photodetector, wherein the corneal imaging device includes light-limiting means provided in an optical path of the optical system for photographing the corneal portion of the eye and configured to limit light asymmetrically with respect to an optical axis.
US09655505B1 Systems and methods for performing neurophysiologic monitoring during spine surgery
A surgical access system comprising a tissue retraction assembly equipped with two or more electrodes for use in monitoring the status of nearby neural structures, including the localized depth of neural structures relative to one or more components of the tissue retraction assembly. Additional neurological testing may be performed to monitor the health and status of the neural structures during the portions of the surgical procedure in which the tissue retraction assembly is used to maintain the operative corridor.
US09655500B2 Receiving device
A receiving device includes a receiving unit that receives, via a receiving antenna, an image signal including an in-vivo image of a subject that is captured by an in-vivo-image acquiring device introduced into the subject; a transmitting unit that wirelessly transmits the image signal to a real-time display device that displays the in-vivo image in real time; a detecting unit that detects a non-receiving period in which the receiving unit does not receive the image signal; and a control unit that performs a control to wirelessly transmit the image signal to the real-time display device during the non-receiving period immediately after receipt of the image signal by the receiving unit.
US09655493B2 Dishwasher with permanent storage compartment
A dishwasher, including a chamber for washing dishes and a chamber for storing dishes is provided. A mechanism is also provided allowing the dish racks to move the dishes from the washing chamber to the storage chamber of the dishwasher once the wash is completed.
US09655492B2 Center-handled large debris dust pan
The present invention relates to a dust pan with a handle generally centrally located within the footprint of the dust pan. The handle extends toward the center of gravity of the dust pan to better distribute the weight of the payload during transportation between loading and unloading locations. The dust pan may also incorporate side handles on the upper surface of opposing side walls to provide for enhanced two-handed carrying of heavy loads.
US09655486B2 Surface cleaning head including removable rotatable driven agitator
A surface cleaning head includes a removable rotatable driven agitator, such as a brush roll, which is driven by a drive mechanism that axially engages the driven end. The removable rotatable driven agitator may be located in an openable agitator chamber for purposes of removing debris and/or removing the agitator. The openable agitator chamber may be covered by an external cover that is movable between an open position and a closed position. The removable agitator may be secured in the agitator chamber by the external cover. Different removable agitators with different characteristics may be used interchangeably in the surface cleaning head. The surface cleaning head may also include one or more transparent regions (e.g., on the openable cover) to allow visual inspection of the agitator during use.
US09655485B2 Vacuum cleaner suction nozzle with height adjustment and bleed valve
A vacuum cleaner nozzle assembly having an inlet opening, a height adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vertical position of the inlet opening relative to a surface to be cleaned, a suction passage fluidly connected to the inlet opening, a bypass opening fluidly connected to the suction passage, and a bleed valve. The bleed valve has a closed position in which the bleed valve blocks the bypass opening, and an open position in which the bleed valve does not block the bypass opening to allow a flow of air through the bypass opening and into the suction passage. The bleed valve is configured to move from the closed position to the open position in response to an adjustment of the height adjustment mechanism.
US09655479B2 Two-liquid dispensing systems, refills and two-liquid pumps
Exemplary embodiments of dispensing systems for dispensing mixtures of multiple liquids, refill units and pumps for such refill units and dispensers are disclosed herein. One refill unit includes a first container and a second container. The refill unit includes a first pump chamber that is associated with the first container and a second pump chamber that is associated with the second container. The first and second pump chambers include a liquid inlet valve and a liquid outlet valve. Expanding the first and second pump chambers draws liquid into the first and second pump chambers through the liquid inlet valves and compressing the first and second pump chambers forces liquid through the liquid outlet valves into a mixing chamber located downstream of the liquid outlet valves. The mixing chamber is formed at least in part by a flexible membrane. The refill unit also includes an outlet nozzle for dispensing the mixture.
US09655477B1 Bather for infants and toddlers
A super deluxe bather for infants and toddlers for a comfortable, relaxed and safe bath. The super deluxe bather includes a soft mesh placed on a seat of the super deluxe bather and a frame that adjusts for sitting position and lying position of a child. Further, the super deluxe bather includes a headrest that is adjustable based on the size of the child. Furthermore, the super deluxe bather includes a plurality of armrests to support the arms of the child and a base portion. Moreover, the super deluxe bather includes folds and locks of the super deluxe bather for easy convenient storage.
US09655473B2 Cover assembly for cooking vessel
A cover assembly for a cooking vessel including a seal member, a lid, and a food support assembly. The seal member has a clip portion with a lid receiving channel and an overflow channel. The lid has a top end and a sidewall defining an internal lid space. A lower end of the sidewall is receivable in the lid receiving channel of the seal member. The food support assembly is connected to the sidewall and is operable between a raised position wherein a food item may be supported within the internal lid space and a lowered position wherein the food item may be supported below the seal member in the cooking vessel.
US09655470B2 Injection unit having a resilient suspension device for the group head of a so-called espresso coffee machine
The invention relates to an injection unit (1) for an espresso coffee machine including a stationary mechanical upper block (2) having a central projection (4) which forms a hot-water dispenser (7) and to which a removable portion, referred to as the group head (8), is attached, the inner surface of the group head having a cavity (22) in which the portafilter (9) is mounted, said portafilter comprising an operating handle (10) and a recess for holding a basket (11) containing the coffee grounds for preparing espresso coffee, characterized in that the group head (8) is attached to the mechanical block (2) of the injection unit (1) via a linking device having a resilient effect, and in that the seal (23) surrounding the dispenser (7) engages with the inner periphery of the basket (11). The invention is useful for manufacturers of espresso coffee machines.
US09655468B2 Apparatus and process for rapidly cooking food
An apparatus for rapidly cooking food includes a housing having a reservoir, a heating element, a binary distributor, and a container. In a method of using the apparatus for rapidly cooking food, food is placed into the container and water is poured into the reservoir. The heating element heats the water in the reservoir, and the resulting steam travels into the binary distributor. Pressurized steam then exits the binary distributor to uniformally cook the top of the food. Condensed steam gathers at the bottom of the container and is kept at a temperature capable of cooking the food. In such a way, food in the container is rapidly cooked. In one embodiment, the food to be cooked is a single serving of ramen brick style noodles.
US09655467B1 Pasta-cooking device
The pasta cooking device is a kitchen appliance that automates the cooking of pasta. Specifically, the pasta cooking device allows users to store all the ingredients for their meals in the pasta cooking device. This allows users to cook the pasta without further intervention.
US09655462B2 Apparatus for universal stemware storage
An apparatus for securing one or more items of stemware includes a base plate, one or more posts, a retainer, and one or more feet. The feet and base plate cooperatively secure a base portion of the item of stemware, and the retainer includes arms defining a stem receiving space that secures a stem of the item of stemware. The feet are coupled to the arms. The arms are flexible so as to accommodate different sizes of stems and bases in stemware with a single rack.
US09655459B1 Collapsible oar collection device
A collapsible oar collection device is used for collecting a first collapsible section and a second collapsible section of a collapsible oar. The first collapsible section and the second collapsible section are detachably connected with each other to form the collapsible oar. The collection device comprises a first collection member and a second connection member. Since the fourth buckling element is buckled the second rod of the collapsible section so as to moved up and down, the collection device of the present invention may be applied to the collapsible oar with various diameters and aligned with the bottom ends of the first collapsible section and the second collapsible section with different lengths for housing in. Besides, the suspending rod is used for providing the display card to be detachably suspended and displayed. Therefore, the collapsible oar may be suspended and convenient to display simultaneously.
US09655455B2 Chair
A chair comprising a seat assembly and a support assembly is disclosed. The seat assembly has a deflectable body disposed about an axis that provides resilient convex seating surface. The support assembly retains the seat assembly and allows the seat assembly to rotate about its axis and additionally allows the seat assembly to rotate to cause limited tilt displacement of the axis from a neutral alignment. The support assembly includes biasing means that serve to urge the seat assembly towards the neutral alignment when the seat assembly is displaced from the neutral alignment.
US09655451B2 Restricted rocker spring assembly
A furniture member rocker spring assembly includes first and second bracket members arranged in mirror image configuration. First and second springs are positioned between and in direct contact with each of the first and second bracket members. A restrictor bolt assembly is positioned intermediately between the first and second springs. The restrictor bolt assembly includes at least one sleeve member received in an aperture of the first and second bracket members and a fastener that extends through a sleeve bore in the sleeve member. The sleeve member is arranged in sliding contact with at least one of the first and second bracket members.
US09655448B2 Shelf for roll container, a roll container containing such a shelf and a method of retrofitting such a shelf to a roll container
An accessory shelf for a roll container. The shelf includes a pivoting mechanism provided to the first end of the shelf for pivoting the shelf relative to to a frame profile of a first wall of the roll container between a horizontal load carrying configuration and a vertical folding configuration. Included in the shelf is a locking mechanism provided to the second end of the shelf to rest the shelf in a load carrying orientation against a second wall of the roll container. The locking mechanism is configured to engage a horizontal element of the first wall to suspend the shelf from the horizontal element when the shelf is in the vertical folding configuration. The pivoting mechanism includes two slide members that oppose each other at the first end and are shaped to at least partly envelop a vertical section of a frame profile of the first wall of the roll container to slide along corresponding opposing vertical sections of the frame profile The pivoting mechanism also includes an axle connected to at least one slide member extending towards the other hinge member to create an axis of revolution for the shelf. The pivoting mechanism further includes a limiter connected to the axle and rotatable about the axis of revolution relative to at least one slide member and to engage with a horizontal element of the first wall.
US09655446B2 Display tray
A display tray with multiple side panels attached to one another to form tray sides. The display tray includes a tray surface having an area defined by the first, second, third, and fourth four side panels. Additionally, the display tray includes multiple corner columns, with a corner column located in each corner of the tray. Each corner column upwardly extends from the tray surface and is sturdy enough to support the stacking of another design tray on top.
US09655444B2 Convertible wall hanging table
A convertible art table configured to be hung as wall art and to convert to an art topped table comprises a frame having one or more members defining an inner volume. A digital display configured to display one or more pieces of artwork is located within the inner volume. One or more legs are rotatably coupled to the frame. The legs are selectively rotatable from a collapsed position to a deployed position. In the collapsed position, the legs are flush with the frame such that the frame can be hung on a wall. In the deployed position, the legs support the frame such that the artwork defines a longitudinal surface usable as a table or desk.
US09655441B2 Fold-out cabinet assembly
A fold-out cabinet includes a folding back panel that is pivotably attached to side panels so that the back panel can be sandwiched at least partially between the side panels when in a folded configuration. When unfolded, top and bottom panels are attached to complete the cabinet structure. The fold-out cabinet can be rapidly assembled and takes up a minimal footprint when packaged for storage, shipping or merchandising. Optional accessories may be included with the cabinet, including a workbench type top surface, one or more shelves, one or more drawers, and one or more doors. When assembled, the cabinet is structurally stable and functional, but requires little time for complete assembly.
US09655438B1 Ergonomic two-tier work station with height-adjustable work platforms
An ergonomic work station has upper and lower work platforms disposed one above the other. These are supported on electrically actuated telescoping pedestals to allow the user to select and adjust the elevation of the work platforms individually. Position sensors within each of the pedestals sense the elevation of the upper end of the respective pedestal and provide an output to logic and motor control circuitry. This is configured to maintain the lower work platform level when the height of the lower work platform is being adjusted and to prevent the upper and lower work platforms from colliding, by maintaining at least a predetermined minimum vertical distance between the two work platforms when the lower work platform is being raised or when the upper work platform is being lowered.
US09655437B2 Multipurpose portable table
Disclosed is a portable table assembly having a table top, a hollow cylindrical stem that receives the table top, and a removable securing end cap that secures the table top to the cylindrical stem. The portable table assembly is easily assembled and adaptable for a wide variety of uses including, but not limited to, patio/porch use, outdoor/lawn gaming, parks and general recreation, outdoor sporting and concert events, tailgate parties, camping, gardening, beach use (with or without a beach umbrella), and boating.
US09655432B2 Microdermabrasion treatment heads
An abrasive tip is used to exfoliate skin and tissue through abrasive materials integrated in the tip. The tip also delivers fluid to the skin and vacuums the fluid and abraded tissue during treatment. Treated skin will look younger and healthier in appearance. In an implementation, the tip is replaceable and disposable.
US09655430B2 Double colored nail applique having an ultraviolet cured layer, method of making and using
A double colored nail appliqué, method of manufacturing and using, the appliqué having two different decorations sequentially via the user removing the top coat of a second colored enamel layer to expose an underlying base coat with a different, first colored enamel layer. The base coat is covered by a UV adhesive layer that protects it during the removal of the top coat. The nail appliqué may further comprise a metallic foil layer directly above or below the UV layer; a design imprinted on the top or bottom coat of enamel; and, a clear coat of enamel covering the top coat. Removal of the top coat(s) by the user does not damage the underlying coats/layers. Therefore, one nail appliqué can be used to offer two different appearing manicures without having to apply a new nail appliqué.
US09655429B2 Metallic foil nail appliqués
A multi-layered foil appliqué for decorating nails is cut from a laminated sheet having the following layers: a first adhesive layer residing on a releasable substrate; a base coat residing on the first adhesive layer; a UV-curable adhesive layer residing on the base coat; a foil layer residing on the UV-curable adhesive layer; and a top coat residing on the foil layer. The foil is applied to the UV-curable adhesive layer by contact between the metallic side of a metallized plastic sheet and the adhesive before the adhesive is cured. The bottom coat and top coat are formed from organic solvent-based nail enamels. Sufficient solvent remains in the appliqué to keep it stretchable before use. Residual solvent evaporates after the appliqué is applied to a user's nail.
US09655428B2 Epilating device having open configuration
An epilating device (1) has a housing (2) defining a handle (4) and first and second shoulder portions (6, 8) forming an open jaw (10). A tweezer portion (12) is mounted in the jaw (10) for rotation about its axis such that an opening (20) is formed through the device (1) from a front side (22) of the housing (2) to a rear side (24) of the housing (2), the opening (20) being bounded by the handle (4), the shoulder portions (6,8) and the tweezer portion (12). A drive mechanism (36) located within the housing (2) is arranged to apply rotational motion to rotate the tweezer portion (12) about the axis. By providing an opening (20) through the housing (2) of the epilator (1) from the front (22) to the rear side (24), collection of hair and debris beneath the tweezer portion (12) is avoided.
US09655425B2 Strap and electronic device
A strap is connected to an electronic device and used when the electronic device is held by a user with a user's hand. The strap comprises a loop portion formed of a band member in a loop-like shape, a connecting portion joined to the loop portion and connected to the electronic device, and a protecting member formed to cover a joining portion and a portion of a predetermined region in a bifurcation portion in the band member forming the loop portion, the joining portion being a portion where the connecting portion is connected to the band member and the bifurcation portion bifurcating and extending out from the joining portion, thereby protecting the user's hand.
US09655423B1 Contact lens package
A contact lens package comprising a top plate, a receiving portion located at a first end of the top plate, and a holding portion located at a second end of the top plate opposite to the first end. The holding portion protrudes downward from the top plate. A holding surface is defined at an intersection of the holding portion and the top plate. The holding surface is an arc surface depressed from the intersection of the holding portion and the top plate.
US09655412B2 Side release buckle
A side release buckle includes: a plug; and a socket, the plug including: a base; a pair of legs; and engaging portions, the socket including: a body; an insertion opening; a housing space; engaged portions; and a pair of guide surfaces. The guide surfaces, which are formed on an inner surface of the housing space and extend in an insertion direction of the legs while being opposed to each other, each include: a squeezing portion formed continuously with corresponding one of the engaged portions; and a guiding portion formed between the squeezing portion and the insertion opening. An interval between the guiding portions-near the engaged portions is wider than an interval between the squeezing portions near the engaged portions. An inclination angle of each guiding portion to an insertion direction of the plug is smaller than an inclination angle of each of the squeezing portion to the insertion direction.
US09655411B2 Buckle for connector, and method for assembling same
A buckle for a connector having a small simple structure and a favorable productivity, and a method for assembling the same. A buckle for connector of the present invention for supporting a tongue engageably/disengageably includes a base member, a latch member, an unlocking member, a latch spring, an ejector, an ejector spring, and cover members housing these members. The base member includes first and second plates. The ejector includes: two arms; a body section between the arms that includes a pushing/moving surface for the tongue to be pushed/moved by the tongue, a support section to support the latch member, and a pushing surface to be pushed by the ejector spring; and claws formed at ends of the arms and locked with an aperture at a terminal end of the base member, the terminal end being opposite to a starting end from which the tongue is inserted.
US09655404B2 Contoured insoles for footwear
An insole assembly for use in footwear is provided. The insole assembly generally includes a full-length insole base made of a flexible and resilient material (e.g., resiliently compressible foam), and a heel cap made of a generally rigid material (e.g., a carbon fiber reinforced polymer) which is attached to the insole base and mimics the contours thereof to provide proper biomechanical support of the heel and arch areas of a foot in a particularly lightweight and sleek form factor.
US09655401B2 Polymer shoe
An elastomeric shoe is provided that comprises a curved sole, an upper portion thereof having a vamp and curved top line. The upper portion and curved sole are molded from an elastomeric material, allowing the curved top line to stretch in tension, enabling the shoe's sole to achieve a substantially planar orientation when placed upon a wearer's foot to both enhance user comfort and provide better adherence to a wearer's foot without the need for an unsightly, elasticized, gathered topline.
US09655396B1 Wind and water hat
A wind and water hat includes a hat body, a hat brim carried by the hat body and at least one generally flexible brim wire provided in the hat brim. The hat brim ratchets with respect to the brim wire or wires responsive to force applied to the hat brim.
US09655393B2 Layered structural fire glove
A flexible, multi-layer glove, including a liner, a glove shell having at least one of a knitted fabric or a flame-treated leather; and/or a floating barrier layer, that includes a plurality of attachment tabs, disposed between the glove shell and the liner, wherein the plurality of attachment tabs attach the barrier layer to the liner and to the glove shell and/or a floating insulation layer is disclosed.
US09655391B2 Pantleg holding mechanism for knee pads
A knee pad holding mechanism for holding a knee pad over the knee region of a pantleg having a first length of fabric material and a second length of fabric material operatively secured together to form a pocket, the pocket being sized and shaped to receive a knee pad and having at least one opening located along each of the outside edges of the pocket for receiving a strap associated with the knee pad. In one embodiment, the first length of fabric material can be secured directly to the knee region of a pantleg wherein the pantleg forms the second length of fabric material. Other embodiments include using a loop, eyelet, slits or an additional section of fabric having a slit associated therewith for receiving a strap associated with the knee pad. The present mechanism is also adaptable for use to receive an elbow pad.
US09655389B2 Article of apparel
An article of apparel with grasp-resistant panels includes a multilayer textile having a first fabric layer possessing a first elongation value bonded to a second fabric layer possessing a second elongation value, where the second elongation value is less than the first elongation value. In an embodiment, the first fabric layer is a stretch knit and the second fabric layer is a non-stretch woven. The second fabric layer is discontinuous, defining a plurality of panels spaced along the first fabric layer. The article of apparel selectively stretches, expanding along non-paneled areas. With this configuration, the article of apparel fits onto multiple body types, providing full range of motion while inhibiting the grasping and holding of the apparel by a non-wearer.
US09655388B2 Article of clothing with wicking portion
Articles of clothing that incorporate fabrics or chemicals having wicking, antibacterial/antifungal and low coefficients of friction either overall or in specific areas of the apparel that will minimize the development of irritation, bacterial and fungal infections of the skin. The invention also includes methods for producing this wicking, antibacterial/antifungal and low coefficient of friction apparel.
US09655387B2 Breast support for a garment or garment part
A breast support (12a, 12b) for a garment or garment part is disclosed as including a first piece of elongate resilient material formed by a piece of substantially straight resilient material (16a, 16b) with a first planar major surface, and a second piece of elongate resilient material formed by a piece of arcuate resilient material (14a, 14b) with a second planar major surface (18), an inner arcuate edge (13a, 13b) and an outer arcuate edge (15a, 15b), the first piece of elongate resilient material (16a, 16b) being fixedly engaged and in contact with the second piece of elongate resilient material (14a, 14b) along the whole length of the first piece of elongate resilient material (16a, 16b).
US09655386B2 Nursing garments
Garments, including nursing garments configured as pull-over bras and camisoles, are disclosed. Nursing garments include a frontal portion configured to provide under-breast support connected to a first breast pocket and a second breast pocket, which are each configured to cover the breasts and may provide additional breast support. At least one of the first and second breast pockets is configured to cover at least one of the wearer's breasts when the breast pocket is in a first position, and to uncover and expose at least one of the wearer's breasts when in a second position. The frontal portion, the first breast pocket and the second breast pocket are also connected to a back portion, which provides back support for the wearer whether one or both of the first or second breast pockets are in the first position or in the second position.
US09655382B2 Responsible cigarette holder
A cigarette holder has an elongate tubular member, and includes a mouthpiece at a proximate end and a cylindrical receptacle at a distal end that is dimensioned to receive one end of a cigarette. A plurality of filters are axially spaced from each other along an intermediate portion of the holder to form air spaces between adjacent filters. Adjustable discs or rings are provided on the tubular member and are movable relative to a reference marking, one disc bearing time periods or intervals and the other disc bearing a maximum number of cigarettes that can be smoked in one time period, The discs or rings can provide cigarette reduction reminders each time period of the target number of cigarettes that can be smoked in each time period or interval.
US09655381B2 Method and apparatus for preparing a finished tobacco product including special form casings and sheet configurations
A finished tobacco product is formed by a set of pre-rolled sheets. In one embodiment a form casing is used which includes at least two portions—a non-smokable portion along with a container portion which includes tobacco filler material.
US09655379B2 Tomato ketchup
A tomato ketchup containing the following components (A) to (C): (A) saccharidefrom 12 to 31 mass %, (B) potassiumfrom 0.6 to 1.9 mass %, and (C) sodiumfrom 0.1 to 1.55 mass %.
US09655378B2 Apparatus for preparing popcorn
A heated air popcorn popper and related methods of popping popcorn in which unpopped kernels are retained in a heating zone and are prevented from being expelled before they have been exposed to a heated air stream for sufficient time to result in popping of the kernels. The popcorn popper can have a popping portion including a retention mechanism capable of moving in response to physical contact with popped kernels that experience a dramatic volumetric increase in size following popping. As the number of popped kernels within the popping portion increases, the level of the popped kernels rises until they physically contact the retention mechanism, whereby the retention mechanism is forced to transition from a covering disposition to an open disposition in which popped kernels are allowed to exit the heating zone.
US09655377B2 Methods of controlling fructan synthesis in plants
The present invention relates to plants with increased levels of water soluble carbohydrates, particularly fructan, in the stem and leaf sheath. The present invention also provides methods of identifying and/or producing these plants. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel class of polypeptides designated MYB13 which upregulate the expression of enzymes involved in fructan synthesis. The present invention further relates to a novel promoter element that can be used to express genes predominantly in the stem and leaf sheath during the early reproductive stage of a plant.
US09655376B2 Process for preparing an oleogel
A continuous process for preparing an oleogel from ethylcellulose and an oily feed material, wherein the process comprises: (a) feeding ethylcellulose to the feed zone of an extruder, the extruder having a plurality of oil feed ports along its length; (b) feeding at least one oily feed material into at least one of the oil feed ports; (c) mixing the oily feed material with the ethylcellulose to form a substantially homogeneous mixture; (d) cooling the mixture to form an oleogel.
US09655374B1 Process for making a chocolate food product
A chocolate food product that is low in fat, dairy free, soy and lecithin free, free of added sugar or ingredients that increase sugar content, starch-free, Isomaltooligosaccharide-free, oligosaccharide-free, maltitol-free, sorbitol-free, xylitol-free, erythritol-free, and isomalt-free. The chocolate food product may comprise: a cocoa butter, an unsweetened cocoa powder, a glycerin, a coconut cream, an almond milk, a pectin, a salt, a monk fruit blend, and a coconut flour.
US09655372B2 Cellulose-based food casing and method of manufacture
The invention relates to a cellulose-based food casing comprising alkenyl succinic anhydride and a method for the manufacture of said cellulose-based food casing.
US09655369B2 Pesticidal composition comprising sulphur, acaricide and an agrochemical excipient
The present invention relates to a pesticidal composition comprising an effective amount of sulphur, an effective amount of at least one acaricide selected from the group consisting of bifenazate, fenpyroximate, fenazaquin, hexythiazox, spirodiclofen, spiromesifen and their salts thereof and at least one agrochemically acceptable excipient.
US09655367B2 Disinfecting composition and wipes with reduced contact time
A composition having a short disinfecting contact time is disclosed. The composition contains a biguanide or guanide, a quaternary ammonium compound and a basic compound in a specific weight ratio to one another. Compositions having less than a two minute disinfection time are disclosed.
US09655362B2 Fungicidal composition and method for controlling plant diseases
A fungicidal composition containing, as active ingredients, (a) a benzoylpyridine derivative represented by the following formula or its salt: wherein X is a halogen atom, a nitro group, a substitutable hydrocarbon group, a substitutable alkoxy group, a substitutable aryloxy group, a substitutable cycloalkoxy group, a hydroxyl group, a substitutable alkylthio group, a cyano group, a carboxyl group which may be esterified or amidated, or a substitutable amino group, n is 1, 2, 3 or 4; R1 is a substitutable alkyl group, R2′ is a substitutable alkyl group, a substitutable alkoxy group, a substitutable aryloxy group, a substitutable cycloalkoxy group or a hydroxyl group, p is 1, 2 or 3, and R2″ is a substitutable alkoxy group or a hydroxyl group, provided that at least two of R2′ and R2″ optionally form a condensed ring containing an oxygen atom and (b) at least one other fungicide.
US09655360B2 Nematicidal compositions and methods of using them
There is disclosed method of killing nematodes comprising the step of applying an effective amount of a nematicidal composition comprising a terpene component and compositions suitable for use in the method. The terpene component is preferably in association with water, either as a solution or a suspension. An excipient may also be included, which is suitably hollow glucan particles which encapsulate the terpene component.
US09655356B1 Selective herbicide and responsible pesticide allocation apparatus and system
A lawn treatment apparatus, system and method employs a scanning apparatus to detect the presence of an area to be selectively treated with an herbicide, pesticide or fungicide. The apparatus includes a multicompartmental cartridge that holds different chemicals and selectively applies the chemicals to the area of the lawn requiring treatment.
US09655354B2 Techniques for maintaining palatability of a bait material in a pest control device
A termite control bait container includes an upper end portion opposite a lower end portion. The bait container includes a chamber containing a termite bait. The lower end portion includes an air-trapping pocket below at least a portion of the bait to reduce intrusion of water through the lower end portion when installed in a selected orientation at least partially below ground.
US09655353B1 Multi-section fishing device
A device for use during fishing configured to be connected to the user's fishing line to attract fish. The device is shaped to be moved through the water and generally include a head and a tail. A channel extends through at least a portion of the device and is sized to receive the fishing line. The device is constructed from multiple sections. The sections are selectively positionable between a closed configuration with the sections connected together to connect the device to the fishing line, and an open configuration with the sections being separated to remove the device from the fishing line.
US09655350B2 Fish display and water circulation apparatus having individually removable live fish containers
A fish display apparatus continuously circulating water through a plurality of removable live fish containers, whereby a large number of individual containers containing one or more fish may be easily displayed to customers and whereby any single container may be removed by the customer for purchase of the fish contained therein without stopping or interfering with the flow of water passing through the remaining containers.
US09655349B2 Bioreactor system for aquarium and septic tank
An aeration and microbial reactor system for use in decontaminating water including a housing adapted to float and/or submerged within the medium such that a top portion thereof remains adjacent a top surface of the contaminated water while the bioreactor containing inoculated carrier media is attached below. Beneficial microbial populations thrive and spread throughout the liquid medium, and consume or fix the contaminant such that the contaminant is removed from the water.
US09655347B2 Automated open ocean fish farm structures and systems for open ocean fish farming
An autonomous open-ocean fish-farming structure has a submersible cage enclosure tethered to a topside buoy. The topside buoy stores feed, is equipped with radio telemetry to communicate positioning signals transmitted from external sources, and generates electrical power using, for example, a hybrid solar OTEC heat engine. The structure is navigated and maintained in a geostationary position within the ocean environment by means of position-correction technology and is propelled by thrusters attached to the cage enclosure and, optionally, to the underside of the topside buoy. The self-positioning, self-powered fish-farming structure enables unmanned, extended marine deployment in deeper ocean waters without the need for tethering or anchoring to the ocean floor. Multiple structures can be maintained in a spaced apart configuration to comprise a flotilla of fish farming structures attended by a tender ship that is autonomous, easily serviced and conveniently relocated.
US09655343B2 Unmanned feed wagon
An unmanned feed wagon including a ground-supported chassis, an electric drive for driving the chassis along a predetermined path of movement and a power supply for the electric drive, wherein the power supply includes a power rail following the predetermined path of movement and having a sliding contact which is connected to the electric drive.
US09655340B2 Lettuce variety 79-619 RZ
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-619 RZ, which may exhibit a combination of traits including resistance to downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) races Bl:1 to Bl:31 and Ca-I to Ca-VIII, resistance to currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri), as well as an extraordinary high number of substantially equally sized red colored leaves, which are moderately blistered and have a slightly undulated apical leaf margin. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-619 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-619 RZ.
US09655335B1 Soybean cultivar S140146
A soybean cultivar designated S140146 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S140146, to the plants of soybean cultivar S140146, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S140146, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S140146. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140146. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S140146, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S140146 with another soybean cultivar.
US09655325B2 Soybean variety 01050591
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01050591. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01050591. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01050591 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01050591 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09655324B2 Soybean variety 01051871
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01051871. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01051871. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01051871 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01051871 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09655323B2 Soybean variety 01050561
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01050561. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01050561. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01050561 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01050561 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09655319B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH157674
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH157674. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH157674, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH157674 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 CH157674.
US09655315B2 Cotton variety ST 5289GLT
The cotton variety ST 5289GLT is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by repeatedly crossing plants of variety ST 5289GLT with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of ST 5289GLT and to plants of ST 5289GLT reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from ST 5289GLT.
US09655314B2 Cotton variety FM 2334GLT
The cotton variety FM 2334GLT is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by repeatedly crossing plants of variety FM 2334GLT with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of FM 2334GLT and to plants of FM 2334GLT reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from FM 2334GLT.
US09655312B1 Agile irrigation controller
An agile irrigation controller enables any number of programs to be added, limited only by available memory, and is similarly adaptable to control any number of valves or similar irrigation devices in a network. Stored programs within the memory include pointers to next programs in memory, linking the programs together. The memory further stores groups of valves, with links to additional groups of valves.
US09655311B1 Absorbent rain sensor with retention basin
A rain sensor can be configured to shut off one or more irrigation devices during and/or after a period of rainfall. The rain sensor can include a moisture basin mounted therein. The moisture basin houses an absorbent element configured to expand in at least one direction when wetted. Expansion of the absorbent element can activate a signal actuator to generate a shut off signal to one or more irrigation devices. The moisture basin can retain excess moisture when the absorbent element is fully saturated.
US09655310B1 Installation tool and method for irrigation drip line couplers
A tool, which may have an integral body, serves several functions in installing drip tubes to main drip lines with a coupler. The tool has a needle which punctures holes in the main drip line for insertion of one end of the coupler. The tool has a slotted head which grasps the coupler facilitating the insertion of the coupler into the hole in the main line. Embodiments of the tool may also have apertures in the tool which fit around the coupler for facilitating the insertion of an end of the coupler into the open end of the drip tube.
US09655308B2 Wall planting system
A modular wall mounted agricultural system that includes a mounting structure having a first end, a second end, a fluid conduit extending longitudinally between the first end and the second end, and at least one longitudinally extending channel. The system further includes at least one planter box that is adapted to mount within the at least one channel of the mounting structure, and wherein the at least one planter box includes a plurality of sidewalls and a bottom wall that cooperate to form a compartment adapted to receive plant matter therein, the plurality of sidewalls cooperating to form an upwardly opening aperture adapted to receive a fluid from the conduit.
US09655307B2 Detachable and collapsable planter box being of a pallet box assembly
Pallet box assembly configured as planter box or workman's utility box is disclosed. The pallet box assembly includes a pallet base, two side panels, a front panel, and a rear panel, which are collapsible and reusable. Pallet base has tenon joint parts with locking mechanisms that extend out. Pallet base has an opening extending therethrough for ease of handling by pallet jack or hand truck. The side panels include grooves. Front and rear panels include tenon joint part with locking mechanism. The side panels are identical and interchangeable, the front panel is identical and interchangeable with the rear panel. Each locking mechanism includes a winged bolt threadedly inserted and engaged into the tenon joint part, and a wing which is rotated by about 45 to 135 degrees to engageably and securely attach the corresponding tenon joint part in the corresponding groove, so that the pallet box assembly is securely installed.
US09655306B2 Tree limb cutting device
A tree limb cutting device for trimming tree limbs includes a cutting head that comprises a housing that has a hook coupled to and extending from a top. A blade is positioned in pair of opposing channels positioned in an internal wall of the housing. The blade has a cutting edge and an impact end. An actuator, coupled to and positioned in the housing, is operationally coupled a driver that comprises a shaft which has a striking end and a stopping end. A blade return is operationally coupled to the blade and the driver. A driver return is coupled to the stopping end and the actuator. An extension rod has a first end a second end. The first end is coupled to the housing. A power module, operationally coupled to the actuator through a power line, is coupled to the second end.
US09655304B2 Plant cultivation container
A plant cultivation container is provided which does not need a feed-water tube made of a porous material or the like but the plant cultivation bed material can be made permeated in a relatively short time period. For this purpose, a water reservoir portion for pooling plant cultivation water is provided, the water reservoir portion having a bed material accommodation part for placing a water-absorbing plant cultivation bed material. In the plant cultivation container, the water reservoir portion is provided with a surrounding feed-water channel that surrounds an entire circumference of the bed material accommodation part, and a feed-discharge channel for supplying the plant cultivation water from outside to the water reservoir portion and for discharging the plant cultivation water in the water reservoir portion to outside is provided in communication with the surrounding feed-water channel.
US09661794B1 Method of manufacturing package structure
A method of manufacturing a package structure includes at least the following steps. A wafer is provided. A flux layer is applied onto at least part of the wafer. A stencil is provided over the wafer. The stencil includes a plurality of apertures exposing the flux layer. A dispenser is provided over the stencil. A plurality of SMDs are fed over the stencil with the dispenser. The dispenser is moved to drive the SMDs into the apertures of the stencil. The stencil is removed and the flux layer is reflowed.
US09661785B2 Power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus includes an electrical circuit including a heat source, a heat pipe cooler in which a refrigerant is enclosed, the heat pipe cooler configured to cool the heat source, a freeze determiner configured to determine whether the refrigerant is frozen, and an output limiter configured to limit output when the freeze determiner determines that the refrigerant is frozen.
US09661783B2 Magnetic component cooling structure and power converter having the same
Provided is a cool air flow space in which cool air, that is generated by an inner fan disposed inside a housing, flows in the housing. An attachment member mounts a magnetic component on a bottom portion of the housing at a position within the cool air flow space. The attachment member includes a top plate and a pair of legs that extends downward from the top plate and that is fixed to the bottom portion.
US09661782B2 Data center cooling arrangements
A rack system for mounting at least one data processing unit includes a shelf operable for moving from a position internally of the rack system to a position externally of the rack system. The shelf has an aperture and a fluid mover for moving fluid through the aperture in the shelf when the shelf is located in its external position.
US09661778B1 Deployable barrier for data center
Deployable barriers are reversibly deployed in a data center hall to partition the data center. The hall is partitioned into an operational area, where rack computer systems are installed, a non-operational area, and a staging area where support infrastructure is at least partially installed. A barrier can be collapsed to incorporate the staging area into the operational area, thereby expanding the operational area, when rack computer systems are to be installed in the staging area. A barrier deployed in the non-operational area establishes another staging area. A barrier includes a deployment mechanism which extends through a space in the data center to enable a partition to be extended to partition the hall. The barrier can be mounted and deployed on support infrastructure, so that the deployed barrier and a side portion of the support infrastructure collectively partition the hall.
US09661777B2 Systems and methods for coupling AC power to a rack-level power infrastructure
In accordance with the present disclosure, a detachable power cable interface box (PCIB) for coupling AC power to a rack-level power infrastructure is described. The detachable PCIB includes a body section and a terminal disposed within the body section. The terminal may be coupled to an AC power source. A wiring block may also be disposed within the body, and the modular wiring block may be coupled to the terminal. The wiring block may arrange power input from the AC power source into a pre-determined output configuration corresponding to a detachable interface. The system may also include the detachable interface, and the detachable interface may be configured to couple with an integrated connector of the rack-level power infrastructure. The detachable interface may be common to all types of AC power sources.
US09661775B2 Wiring device for wiring an electronic apparatus
A wiring device for wiring an electronic apparatus including an interface, a conductor track and a component fitting island that is connected to the interface via the conductor track that is set up to carry an electronic component and to make electrical contact with the interface via the electrical conductor track, wherein the component fitting island is free of a web element that is set up to hold the component fitting island on a support element during a housing process housing the component fitting island.
US09661773B2 Electrical assembly for a motor vehicle
An electrical assembly for a motor vehicle includes a housing and two groups of electronic components that are installed in the housing and are encased using a thermosetting potting compound. Furthermore, the assembly includes two groups of connecting contacts. One of the connecting contacts is allocated respectively to one of the two groups of the electronic components. The connecting contacts are guided through the housing so as to electrically contact the respective electronic component. At least one of the groups of connecting contacts is surrounded on the inner side of the housing by a sealing collar that protrudes from the housing. The sealing collar is embedded during the process of assembling the assembly entirely or in part in the potting compound prior to the curing of the thermosetting potting compound.
US09661771B2 Electronic device and electronic device included in a cover
An electronic device that can be attached to a cover and an electronic device attached to a cover are provided. The electronic device includes an electronic device body, a recess formed in an outer surface of the electronic device body, a movable member placed in the recess, an elastic member placed in the recess and supporting the movable member, and a retaining member placed in the recess and disposed around the movable member. The elastic member and the movable member are disposed to elastically bias the movable member from an inside of the recess to the outer surface of the electronic device body.
US09661769B2 Lockable pressure casing
A housing for an electric or electronic apparatus includes an access hood, or access lid which can be fixed on the housing for closing the housing or a housing opening by a locking mechanism operable from outside the housing. The locking mechanism includes at least one lock/slide held on the housing or on the access hood/access lid so as to be longitudinally displaceable and is provided with a ramp and an undercut or detent lug spaced therefrom. The access hood/access lid or the housing is provided with at least one protrusion which is formed and/or arranged for defining two engagement means in such a manner that depending on the current sliding position of the lock/slide, it alternately comes into operative engagement with the associated detent lug for pulling the access hood/access lid toward the housing, or with the ramp for pushing it away from the housing.
US09661768B2 Interchangeable electrically powered modules and receptacle therefor
A plurality of interchangeable, electrically powered, modules and receptacles for use therewith are provided. The interchangeable electrically powered modules are configured and capable of providing a variety of electrical and electronic devices. Each receptacle is configured to be secured to and supported by an otherwise conventional electric back box. The receptacles preferably utilize a bayonet mount receptacle which is standardized for the entire system and which accommodates each and every module in a twist-lock mounting system. Each module includes a cooperating bayonet mount attachment for use with the receptacle bayonet mounts. The use of a bayonet mount attachment for the modules to the receptacle provides a standardized power coupling for the module devices which may be connected by a simple insert and partial turn locking action.
US09661765B2 Electronic control device
The invention provides an electronic control device having a high-grade heat sink that: does not require tight control at the time of manufacturing; does not restrict the range of electronic components that can be used; is structurally simple; can be produced at a higher production rate; and is cost-effective. In this device, when a circuit board 14 having an electronic component 13 thereon is placed in a non-metal (resin) housing having: a housing base 11 integrally comprising via a partition wall 11a a connector inserting section 18 used for electrical connection with an external mating connector (not illustrated); and a housing cover 12 attached to the housing base 11, part of the board 14 is inserted into an insertion hole provided in the partition wall 11a so that it is exposed inside the connector inserting section 16. A pair of elastic metal parts 15, a heat sink, is provided in the housing, connected to the circuit board 14 at particular positions on its top and bottom surfaces with the use of a connecting material 17 (solder or adhesive), and has an arch-shaped cross section as viewed from a lateral direction. The heat of the component 13 is transferred to the housing to dissipate it to the outside by the board 14 being supported from the top and bottom sides in the housing.
US09661762B2 Printed wiring board
A printed wiring board includes a core substrate including a resin insulating layer and multiple conductor layers, a first wiring structure formed on a first surface of the core substrate and including a conductor layer and a resin insulating layer, and a second wiring structure formed on a second surface of the core substrate and including a conductor layer and a resin insulating layer. The core substrate is interposed between the first wiring structure and the second wiring structure such that the resin insulating layers and conductor layers in the core substrate, first wiring structure and second wiring structure are alternately laminated, the resin insulating layer in the first wiring structure has a vol % of resin which is larger than a vol % of resin in the resin insulating layer in the second wiring structure such that a difference in the vol % of resin in the first and second wiring structures is in the range of from 0.5% to 5.0%.
US09661760B2 Printed circuit board and manufacturing method thereof
A printed circuit board includes a first substrate, two first circuits formed on a surface of the first substrate, and a thick copper circuit. The thickness of each first circuit is smaller than the thickness of the first substrate, and the first substrate and one of the first circuits cooperatively define a circuit trench. The thick copper circuit is arranged in the circuit trench and is integrally connected to the first circuit, which is corresponding to the groove. The thick copper circuit and the connected first circuit are defined as a thick circuit, and another first circuit is defined as a thin circuit. The length of the thick copper circuit connected to the corresponding first circuit is identical to or greater than 10% of the length of the thick circuit. Additionally, the instant disclosure also provides a method for manufacturing a printed circuit board.
US09661759B2 Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a printed circuit board, including: a core substrate including an internal circuit pattern on an upper surface or a lower surface; electronic devices which are formed to pass through the core substrate; an external insulating layer which covers the internal circuit pattern and the electronic devices; and an external circuit pattern which is formed on an upper surface of the external insulating layer, wherein a lower surface of the electronic devices protrudes from the lower surface of the core substrate to a lower part. Accordingly, in the embedded printed circuit board in which the electronic devices are embedded, when the electronic devices are mounted, because the insulating layer is formed regardless of a thickness of the electronic devices, the printed circuit board having a desired thickness regardless of the thickness of the electronic devices can be formed.
US09661758B2 Methods of segmented through hole formation using dual diameter through hole edge trimming
Cost effective and efficient methods to maximize printed circuit board (PCB) utilization with minimized signal degradation are provided. The methods include electrically isolating a segmented via structure by controlling the formation of a conductive material within a plated via structure by utilizing different diameter drills within a via structure for trimming the conductive material at the via shoulder (i.e., the rim of a drilled two diameter hole boundary). The trimmed portion may be voided in the via structure for allowing electrically isolated plated through-hole (PTH) segments. One or more areas of trimmed rims within the via structure are used to form multiple stair like diameter holes to create one or more voids in the via structure. As a result, the formation of conductive material within the via structure may be limited to those areas necessary for the transmission of electrical signals.
US09661757B2 Connecting power leads to circuit board
An assembler receives a circuit board. The circuit board includes at least a first node and a second node that are adjacent but electrically isolated from each other. There is a gap between the first node and the second node. The first node is electrically isolated from other components on the circuit board. The second node is electrically coupled to circuitry residing on the circuit board. The assembler initiates positioning of a conductive lead of a battery in a vicinity of the first node. The gap between the first node and second node initially prevents the live conductive lead from being in electrical contact with the second node. Eventually, the assembler bridges the gap to provide an electrical connection between at least the conductive lead and the second node to electrically couple the conductive lead to the second node and thus the circuitry residing on the circuit board.
US09661755B2 System and a method for solder mask inspection
A system and a method for inspection aided printing, the method may include printing, by a printing unit of a system, a pattern on an area of a substrate, during a printing process; inspecting, by an inspection unit of the system, the area to provide inspection results; searching, by a processor of the system, for a defect, based upon the inspection results; and wherein if a defect is found—determining whether to (a) repair the substrate, (b) perform a corrective measure for improving the printing process, or (c) perform no corrective measure in response to the defect.
US09661753B1 Coaxial to planar strain relief appliance and method
Microclip appliance formed from a single conductive planar metal sheet includes portions defined along an elongated length including a pin receiver, a solder paddle and a bridge. The pin receiver includes first and second planar rings, and a spring bar extending from a periphery of the first ring to a periphery of the second ring. The solder paddle is comprised of a portion of the conductive metal sheet distal from the pin receiver and the bridge extends from a peripheral portion of the solder paddle to the second ring. Lateral bends are disposed along a length of the conductive planar metal sheet to facilitate the various portions of the microclip.
US09661751B2 Power semiconductor module arrangement
A power semiconductor module arrangement includes a semiconductor module having a controllable power semiconductor component, a first printed circuit board (PCB) arranged outside the semiconductor module, and a control unit arranged outside the semiconductor module and having a second PCB. The control unit is configured to control the controllable power semiconductor component. The controllable power semiconductor component has a first load terminal and a second load terminal between which a load path of the power semiconductor component is formed, and also a control terminal for controlling the load path. The first PCB has a conductor track connected in series with the load path. The first and second PCBs are spaced apart from one another and electrically connected to one another by a pin.
US09661749B2 Metal-clad laminate and printed wiring board
A metal-clad laminate according to the present embodiment includes an insulating layer, and a metal layer present on at least one surface side of the insulating layer. The insulating layer is a laminate of at least three layers of a center layer, a first resin layer present on one surface side of the center layer, and a second resin layer present on the other surface side of the center layer. The center layer, the first resin layer and the second resin layer each contain a cured product of a resin composition. Coefficients of thermal expansion of the cured products of the resin compositions contained in the first resin layer and the second resin layer are smaller than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the cured product of the resin composition contained in the center layer.
US09661748B2 Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
A printed circuit board includes, an insulating substrate, a metal conductor which is formed on the insulating substrate, a solder resist coating a part of the metal conductor, a scooped-out portion of the metal conductor formed in the vicinity of an end of the solder resist, and a metal layer coating the scooped-out portion.
US09661747B1 Tamper-respondent assemblies with enclosure-to-board protection
Tamper-respondent assemblies and fabrication methods are provided which incorporate enclosure to circuit board protection. The tamper-respondent assemblies include a circuit board, and an electronic enclosure mounted to the circuit board and facilitating enclosing at least one electronic component within a secure volume. A tamper-respondent electronic circuit structure facilitates defining the secure volume, and the tamper-respondent electronic circuit structure includes a tamper-respondent circuit. An adhesive is provided to secure, in part, the electronic enclosure to the circuit board. The adhesive contacts, at least in part, the tamper-respondent circuit so that an attempted separation of the electronic enclosure from the circuit board causes the adhesive to break the tamper-respondent circuit, facilitating detection of the separation by a monitor circuit of the tamper-respondent electronic circuit structure.
US09661745B1 Vacuum lamination of depth-sensing camera module PCB to stiffener using built-in vacuum channels
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for vacuum lamination of a depth-sensing camera module PCB to a stiffener using built-in vacuum channels. For instance, there is disclosed in accordance with one embodiment means for assembling an electronics module, in which such means include at least affixing a plurality of top-side components to a top side of a printed circuit board; affixing a plurality of bottom-side components to the bottom side of the printed circuit board; sealing a stiffener plate to the bottom side of the printed circuit board, in which the stiffener plate includes a plurality of cavities to accommodate the plurality of bottom-side components affixed to the bottom side of the printed circuit board, and further in which the plurality of cavities are interconnected via one or more channels; applying a vacuum to the stiffener plate via a vacuum port of the stiffener plate to pull the printed circuit board onto the stiffener plate; and bonding the stiffener plate to the bottom side of the printed circuit board while the printed circuit board is held to the stiffener plate via the vacuum. Other related embodiments are disclosed.
US09661744B2 Touch panel having a sensing electrode and a printing electrode
Provided is a touch panel including a cover substrate including an active area and an unactive area, and a printing layer on the unactive area. The printing layer has surface roughness in a range of 0.4 μm to 0.6 μm. The printing layer has straightness in a range of ±0.1 μm to ±10 μm.
US09661737B2 Non-scaling fixed field alternating gradient permanent magnet cancer therapy accelerator
A non-scaling fixed field alternating gradient accelerator includes a racetrack shape including a first straight section connected to a first arc section, the first arc section connected to a second straight section, the second straight section connected to a second arc section, and the second arc section connected to the first straight section; an matching cells configured to match particle orbits between the first straight section, the first arc section, the second straight section, and the second arc section. The accelerator includes the matching cells and an associated matching procedure enabling the particle orbits at varying energies between an arc section and a straight section in the racetrack shape.
US09661736B2 Scanning system for a particle therapy system
An example particle therapy system includes: a particle accelerator to output a beam of charged particles; and a scanning system to scan the beam across at least part of an irradiation target. An example scanning system includes: a scanning magnet to move the beam during scanning; and a control system (i) to control the scanning magnet to produce uninterrupted movement of the beam over at least part of a depth-wise layer of the irradiation target so as to deliver doses of charged particles to the irradiation target; and (ii) to determine, in synchronism with delivery of a dose, information identifying the dose actually delivered at different positions along the depth-wise layer.
US09661735B2 Synchrotron injector system, and synchrotron system operation method
A synchrotron injector system comprising a first ion source which generates a first ion, a second ion source which generates a second ion having a smaller charge-to-mass ratio than a charge-to-mass ratio of the first ion, a pre-accelerator having the capability to enable to accelerate both the first ion and the second ion, a low-energy beam transport line which is constituted in such a way to inject either the first ion or the second ion into the pre-accelerator, and a self-focusing type post-accelerator which accelerates only the first ion after acceleration which is emitted from the pre-accelerator.
US09661729B2 Radiation imaging system, method for controlling the system, and computer-readable medium storing program therefor
A radiation imaging system for applying radiation photography to a patient based on contents of an examination request includes: an image capturing method storage unit configured to prestore at least one image capturing method; a patient information input unit configured to input patient information of the patient subjected to an examination based on the examination request; an extraction unit configured to extract an applicable image capturing method from the image capturing method storage unit based on information accompanying the patient information and examination information; a list display unit configured to display an image capturing method extracted by the extraction unit in list form; and a registration unit configured to, by specifying an image capturing method displayed in the list display unit, register the specified image capturing method as imaging information.
US09661728B2 Radiographic image photographing system
The radiographic image photographing system includes an information acquisition member which acquires information on the radiographic image photographing device from an information presentation member of the radiographic image photographing device in a non-contact manner. When the information acquisition member makes the notification of the acquired information on the radiographic image photographing device, the management apparatus notifies the wireless communication member of the radiographic image photographing device of an identifier dedicated to an access point correlated with the information acquisition member. The wireless communication member of the radiographic image photographing device conducts wireless communication with the access point using a general-purpose identifier in a default state, and using the identifier dedicated to the access point after receiving the notification of the identifier dedicated to the access point from the management apparatus.
US09661727B2 Wire electrode cleaning in ionizing blowers
Methods and apparatus for cleaning contaminant byproducts off of ionizing wire electrodes in ionizing blowers are disclosed. Disclosed apparatus include a housing with a gas-flow channel, an stationary ionizing wire, and a rotatable frame with supports for resiliently supporting the stationary ionizing wire within the channel. The ionizing wire produces charge carriers and has a surface that develops a layer of contaminant byproducts when an ionizing signal is applied thereto. The frame is rotatably mounted such that the supports clean the layer of contaminant byproducts off of the surface of the ionizing wire when the frame is rotated. Disclosed methods include providing an ionizing signal to the ionizing wire to thereby produce charge carriers and rotating the frame relative to the housing to thereby clean contaminant byproducts off of the ionizing wire.
US09661724B2 Light-emitting device, method of controlling light-emitting device, and program
There is provided a light-emitting device including a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with another device, a light-emitting unit that emits light, and a control unit that performs control by switching between a mode in which the light emission of the light-emitting unit is controlled in accordance with a timing at which a signal is received by the wireless communication unit and a mode in which the light emission of the light-emitting unit is controlled in accordance with an internal timer based on a light emission timing included in a signal received from the other device by the wireless communication unit.
US09661723B2 Method for controlling lighting element and associated system
A method for controlling at least one lighting element includes: setting a dimming speed; determining a dimming level according to the dimming speed; and using the dimming level to perform a stepped dimming operation to brighten or dim the lighting element.
US09661722B2 System and method for managing lighting systems
This invention discloses a method and system for managing artificial lighting sources to provide acceptable quality of lighting while reducing cost of operation of the artificial lighting sources. In one aspect of the invention, at least one color characteristic of the artificial light source is adjusted based on an illuminance of a natural light source and the at least one color characteristic of the artificial light source.
US09661721B2 Light source apparatus, method for controlling light source apparatus, and display apparatus
A light source apparatus according to the present invention, includes: a light source substrate on which one or more emission units are located; an optical sheet configured to reflect light from the emission unit; and a detection unit configured to detect reflected light reflected by the optical sheet, wherein the detection unit is located in a position where an amount of change in a detected value due to deflection of the optical sheet when one emission unit is turned ON is a predetermined value or less.
US09661717B2 Multi-colored display illumination control for e-reading
A computing device that includes a programmatically controlled front light. The front light cast light onto a display surface and/or other region of the computing device, for purpose of providing illumination and/or lighting effect.
US09661713B2 Intelligent LED bulb and vent method, apparatus and system
Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with an intelligent LED light apparatus are disclosed herein. In embodiments, an intelligent LED light apparatus may include a communication interface, a processor, a body that encases at least the communication interface and the processor, and a plurality of sensors of a plurality of sensor types disposed on the body. The processor may be configured to receive sensor data from the sensors, and transmit the sensor data or results from processing the sensor data to an external recipient. Further, for some embodiments, the intelligent LED bulb apparatus may further comprise LED lights, and the body further encases the LED lights. In other embodiments, the body may include a male connector to mate with a bulb receptor, and a female connector to mate with a LED bulb. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
US09661711B2 Multi-function pin for light emitting diode (LED) driver
Techniques are described for a multi-function pin of a light emitting diode (LED) driver. The techniques utilize this multi-function pin for switching current that flows through one or more LEDs, as well as for charging the power supply of the LED driver. The techniques further utilize this multi-function pin to determine whether the voltage at an external transistor is beginning to oscillate, and utilize this multi-function pin to determine whether the current through the one or more LEDs has fully dissipated to an amplitude of zero.
US09661707B2 Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using tilted ion implantation processes, semiconductor device and integrated circuit
A semiconductor device includes first and second field effect transistors (FETs) formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. The first FET includes first source and drain contact grooves, each running in a first direction parallel to the first main surface, each formed in the first main surface. First source regions are electrically connected to a conductive material in the first source contact groove. First drain regions are electrically connected to a conductive material in the first drain contact groove. The second FET includes second source and drain contact grooves, each running in a second direction parallel to the first main surface, each formed in the first main surface. Second source regions are electrically connected to a conductive material in the second source contact groove, and second drain regions are electrically connected to a conductive material in the second drain contact groove.
US09661704B2 Semiconductor light source drive device
A semiconductor light source drive device includes a semiconductor light source; a switching element that controls a current flowing through the semiconductor light source by being on/off-controlled by a PWM signal provided to the control end; a current detection element that detects a current flowing through the semiconductor light source; a switching power source that supplies power supply voltage to a series connection of the semiconductor light source, the switching element, and the current detection element; a PWM supply circuit supplies the PWM signal and its on-time ratio information; a target value setting part converts the on-time ratio information to a target average current value and outputs the target average current value; and a comparator compares the target average current value with an average current value detected by the current detection element and outputs comparison output to the switching power source as a signal for control.
US09661700B2 Primary control LED driver with additional power output and control method thereof
A primary control LED driver includes: a switching converter having a main switch and a first winding, and configured to provide an LED driving current; a second winding magnetically coupled to the first winding and configured to provide a power supply voltage at a first terminal; a first sensing resistor with a first terminal coupled to the main switch; a second sensing resistor with a first terminal coupled to the second terminals of the first sensing resistor and the second winding; an output current calculator calculating an equivalent value of the LED driving current based on the voltage at the first terminal of the first sensing resistor; an error amplifier configured to generate a compensation signal based on the equivalent value and a reference voltage; and a control circuit generating a control signal to control the main switch based on the compensation signal.
US09661696B1 AC LED lighting systems and control methods efficiently providing operating voltage
A LED lighting system efficiently provides an operating voltage powering integrated circuits. A LED string has LEDs segregated into LED groups connected in series. A LED controller has channel nodes connected to the cathodes of the LED groups respectively, and an output node connected to a capacitor providing the operating voltage. The LED controller drains a channel current from a selected channel node among the channel node. The LED controller regulates the channel current to a channel target value corresponding to the selected channel node, and provides a portion of the channel current as a charging current to power and regulate the operating voltage.
US09661694B2 Organic EL device having a convex portion, method of manufacturing organic EL device having a convex portion, and electronic apparatus having an organic EL device having a convex portion
The organic EL device includes a base material as a substrate, a plurality of organic EL elements disposed on the based materials, a seal layer covering the plurality of organic EL elements to seal, color layers of at least red, green, and blue corresponding to a plurality of organic EL elements and formed on the seal layer, and a convex portion which is formed by dividing each of colored layers with different colors on the seal layer, and whose height is lower than the height of a colored layer of at least red, green, blue on the seal layer. The convex portion has a property of optical transparency, and is formed using a photosensitive resin material which is a main material of the colored layers, for example.
US09661693B2 Organic EL device having a convex portion, method of manufacturing organic EL device having a convex portion, and electronic apparatus having an organic EL device having a convex portion
The organic EL device includes a base material as a substrate, a plurality of organic EL elements disposed on the based materials, a seal layer covering the plurality of organic EL elements to seal, color layers of at least red, green, and blue corresponding to a plurality of organic EL elements and formed on the seal layer, and a convex portion which is formed by dividing each of colored layers with different colors on the seal layer, and whose height is lower than the height of a colored layer of at least red, green, blue on the seal layer. The convex portion has a property of optical transparency, and is formed using a photosensitive resin material which is a main material of the colored layers, for example.
US09661691B2 System and method for induction heating a helical rotor using a coil
Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for induction heating a helical rotor of a progressing cavity pump in order to reduce the surface roughness of the rotor. In order to heat the rotor most evenly, it is desired to space the coil as closely around the rotor as possible. The invention provides a mechanism for threading the helical rotor through an induction coil having an interior diameter which is less than the major diameter of the rotor. The induction coil may include one loop and overlapping ends. The rotor to be heated is rotated about its longitudinal axis and advanced axially through the coil as it rotates. The axial speed and rotational speed are synchronized so that the rotor moves one pitch through the coil for each complete rotation.
US09661688B2 Cooling and retaining body for heating elements, heating appliance and method for producing a cooling and retaining body
A cooling and retaining body for holding heating elements, in particular PTC heating elements, having a heating-element holder, in which the heating elements are mounted. The heating element holder has a plurality of circumferentially distributed accommodating regions, in each of which at least one heating element is arranged, wherein the accommodating regions are formed between an outer part and an inner part, which is arranged in the outer part, and at least the outer part has a polygonal profile with a number of corners connected by sides, wherein the accommodating regions are arranged in the corners of the polygonal profile, and the sides of the polygonal profile are deformed elastically in order to generate a clamping force which acts on the respective heating elements.
US09661679B2 Display apparatus and control method of the same
Disclosed is a communication apparatus including: a first communicator configured to connect with an external device by a first communication mode; a second communicator configured to connect with the external device by a second communication mode different from the first communication mode; and a controller configured to control the first communicator to connect with the external device by the first communication mode, control the first communicator to obtain connection information of the second communication mode from the external device, control the second communicator to be connected to the external device by the second communication mode based on the connection information, and control at least one of the first communicator and the second communicator to transmit data to the external device.
US09661678B2 Method of enhanced connection recovery and cell selection
An enhanced connection recovery upon lost RRC connection due to radio link failure (RLF) or handover failure (HOF) is proposed. A UE first establishes an RRC connection in a source cell in a mobile communication network. Later on, the UE detects a failure event and starts an RRC reestablishment procedure in a target cell to restore the RRC connection. In a first novel aspect, a fast RLF process is applied to reduce the outage time in the serving cell. In a second novel aspect, an enhanced cell selection mechanism based on cell prioritization information is applied to reduce the outage time in the target cell. In one embodiment, multi-RAT registration is used to steer cell selection.
US09661677B2 Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication method, and computer-readable storage medium
A wireless communication apparatus is for communicating with an access point through a first communication and communicating with another communication apparatus through a second communication via a network including an access point. The wireless communication apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a status of the first communication; and a reconnection unit configured to reconnect the first communication and then reconnect the second communication by using connection information of a corresponding network layer of the wireless communication apparatus acquired through the first communication when disconnection of the first communication is detected by the detection unit.
US09661676B2 Method and apparatus for restricting UE session management procedure retry after network rejection
A method of operating a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communications network includes sending, from the UE to a first network element, a first packet service session management request message indicating a request of a first session management service type for at least one of establishing a new packet data session or modifying an existing packet data session, the first packet service session management request message being sent towards a first access point name (APN); receiving, at the UE, a rejection message, the rejection message indicating the request of the first session management service type has been rejected; and performing a retry operation after receiving the rejection message, the retry operation including sending, from the UE, a second packet service session management request message of the first session management service type towards the first APN, the retry operation being prevented by the UE such that the retry operation is not performed by the UE until after at least one of, an expiration of a retry timer of the UE, or detection, at the UE, of a retry trigger event.
US09661675B2 Method and device for reinitiating session management process of EPS system
The present invention discloses a method and device for re-initiating EPS session management procedure. The application of technical solution proposed through embodiment of this invention can enable PGW to determine whether handover operation on MME side is completed through timing by timer and/or instruction message on MME side; if it is completed, re-initiate session management process of corresponding EPS system, thus enabling PGW to timely re-initiate EPS session management procedure, reducing the time for unnecessary waiting, and avoiding resource waste caused by repeated rejection of EPS session management procedure re-initiated when handover procedure is not completed, so as to improve reconnection efficiency of session management process of EPS system and reduce waste of communication resource.
US09661673B2 Device to-device D2D communication method and D2D communication device
The present invention provides a D2D communication method and a D2D communication device. The method includes: determining a second time slot for transmitting D2D data according to a first time slot for transmitting D2D signaling to a D2D receiver and a synchronous transmission relationship between the D2D signaling and the D2D data, the second time slot being after the first time slot; determining a third time slot for transmitting uplink control information in cellular communication according to the second time slot, the uplink control information being used for indicating an uplink radio resource in the second time slot, and the third time slot being before the second time slot; demodulating the uplink control information in the third time slot to acquire the uplink radio resource in the second time slot; multiplexing the uplink radio resource in the second time slot to perform D2D communication with the D2D receiver.
US09661671B2 Transmission devices, receiving devices and methods of sharing data
A transmission device, a receiving device and a method of sharing data are provided. The transmission device includes a touch-display module which includes one or a plurality of display areas, wherein each of the display areas displays a respective display result corresponding to the same or different applications; a link module which is configured to establish a touch link with one or a plurality of receiving devices through the touch-display module; a judgment module which is configured to determine the display area which the receiving device is in physical proximity to, to generate the judgment information; a management module which is configured to generate application information according to the judgment information; and a sending module, configured to transmit the application information to the receiving device through the touch-display module.
US09661669B2 Mobile communication system, base station, processor, and user terminal
A mobile communication system comprises: a base station, a first user terminal that establishes a connection with the base station, and a second user terminal that performs communication with the first user terminal via the base station, the mobile communication system supporting D2D communication that is direct device to device communication, wherein when it is determined that the D2D communication by the first user terminal and the second user terminal is possible, the base station transmits, to the first user terminal, an instruction for having a signal for discovery transmitted, the signal for discovery being used in discovery of a communication partner terminal in the D2D communication.
US09661668B2 Method of device to device communication and apparatus thereof
A method of device-to-device (D2D) communication and apparatus thereof are provided. A communication method performed in a second device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising: receiving first configuration information for receiving reference signal and second configuration information for transmitting channel state information from a base station; receiving the reference signal based on the first configuration information from the first device; generating the channel state information on a communication link between the first device and the second device based on the reference signal; and transmitting the channel state information based on the second configuration information to the base station. Accordingly, the D2D communication may be performed effectively.
US09661665B2 Network connectivity protocol for real-time applications
Apparatus and methods to evaluate connectivity between a primary device and a secondary device to support a connection for a real-time application to a remote device are disclosed. The primary device receives a connection request from the remote device and sends invitations to one or more secondary devices to connect with the remote device, the invitations sent through a first communication path. A secondary device that receives the invitation sends a connectivity evaluation packet to the primary device through a second communication path. When a connectivity response is received from the primary device through the second communication path and a user accepts the invitation, the secondary device sends an invitation response to the primary device and subsequently establishes a connection to the primary device through the second communication path. In some embodiments, the first communication path includes a cloud-based server that provides a guaranteed delivery message service.
US09661662B2 Method for performing random access procedure in wireless communication system
There is provided a method for enabling a user equipment to perform a random access procedure in a wireless communication system. The method includes transmitting a random access preamble and receiving a random access response as a response to the random access preamble. The random access response is addressed by a random access identifier. The random access identifier is mapped to radio resources used for transmitting the random access preamble. The user equipment can immediately confirm its random access response and perform further efficient random access procedure.
US09661653B2 Device to-device (D2D) communications
Technology for performing device-to-device (D2D) communications is disclosed. A user equipment (UE) can identify D2D data to be transmitted from the UE. The D2D data can be identified when the UE is in a radio resource control (RRC) idle. The UE can be limited to using a defined resource allocation mode to transmit the D2D data from the UE. A service request procedure can be initiated at the UE. The service request procedure can trigger the UE to perform an RRC connection establishment procedure with an evolved node B (eNB) to switch the UE from the RRC idle mode to an RRC connected mode. The UE can receive an uplink (UL) grant from the eNB for communicating the D2D data from the UE. The UE can send the D2D data using the UL grant provided by the eNB.
US09661651B2 Forwarding a buffer status report for dual connectivity
The present invention relates to method for forwarding a buffer status report (BSR) for dual connectivity and devices therefor. In these schemes, the UE is simultaneously connected to a first eNB and a second eNB. The UE may transmit information on the amount of data to be transmitted to the first eNB to a second eNB. The second eNB may figured out that the received information is for the first eNB and/or second eNB.
US09661644B2 Wireless communication system
There is provided a wireless communication system that is capable of preventing interference with a primary use system caused by a CPE emitting radio waves at a frequency which is not a transmittable frequency before acquiring a list of transmittable frequencies based on its position information. In a wireless communication system that uses white space, a BS 10 and a CPE 22 store a specific frequency which is guaranteed to not interfere with a primary user. The BS 10 regularly switches between a first period when communication is performed at an operating frequency that uses white space and a second period when communication is performed at the specific frequency. In a case where whether the operating frequency is a transmittable frequency of the CPE 22 is not known, the CPE 22 performs communication with the base station at the specific frequency in the second period, and in a case where the operating frequency is recognized as the transmittable frequency, the CPE 22 performs communication at the operating frequency in the first period, and performs communication at the specific frequency in the second period.
US09661643B2 Cognitive interference management in wireless networks with relays, macro cells, micro cells, pico cells and femto cells
Cognitive interference management in Cellular wireless network with relays and micro/pico/femto cells operated in distributed scheduling mode. A cellular system may use RS to improve capacity or for coverage extension. ARS relays the signals between BS 104 and MS by using wireless links between BS-RS and RS-MS during both downlink and uplink transmissions. Embodiments herein disclose a mechanism to explicitly indicate to the MS whether the MAC management messages sent by the BS to the MS are to inform it to perform scanning for interference measurement. Also, disclosed herein is a mechanism to explicitly indicate to the BS whether the message sent by the MS is related to interference measurement.
US09661642B2 Method and appratus for avoiding inteference in terminal with plural heterogeneous communication modules in wireless communication system
A method for avoiding mutual interference when heterogeneous communication modules such as LTE, wireless LAN, Bluetooth, and GPS coexist in a terminal in a wireless communication system is provided. The terminal may reduce mutual interference when a plurality of communication modules simultaneously operate to efficiently communicate therewith.
US09661637B2 Radio communication system, high-power base station, low-power base station, and communication control method
A radio communication system (1) includes a pico-cell base station (PeNB) which is located in the communication area of a macro-cell base station (MeNB) and the transmission power of which is lower than that of the macro-cell base station (MeNB). For radio resources that can be used as PDSCH, a resource division ratio that is a ratio between unusable PDSCH resources, which cannot be used by the macro-cell base station (MeNB), and usable PDSCH resources, which can be used by the macro-cell base station (MeNB), is decided, and a radio resource is allocated, out of the usable PDSCH resources defined in accordance with the decided resource division ratio, to a radio terminal that is to connect to the macro-cell base station (MeNB). The resource division ratio is decided based on the traffic load of each base station.
US09661632B2 Wireless transmission device, power control method and program
A transmission power adjustment value acquisition unit references a transmission power/adjustment value table to output a transmission power adjustment value for transmission power. A transmission frequency correction value acquisition unit references a transmission frequency/correction value table to output a transmission power correction value, from a center frequency of the position of an RB that is sent from a used transmission frequency calculation unit and that will actually be used. An adjustment value addition unit adds the adjustment value for the obtained transmission power and the transmission power correction value for the center value of the position of the RB that will actually be used, and calculates the transmission power setting. Since the transmission power correction value is obtained from the center frequency of the position of the RB actually transmitted, misalignment between the transmission power setting and the actual transmission power is reduced.
US09661630B2 Resource allocation
A method of signalling resource allocation data in a communication system which uses a plurality of sub-carriers arranged in a sequence of chunks. An allocation of the sub-carriers for each of a plurality of user devices is received. The received allocations are processed to determine, for each user device, data identifying a start chunk and an end chunk within the sequence of chunks, which depend upon the sub-carriers allocated to the user device. Different resource allocation data is generated for each of the user devices using a predetermined mapping which relates the data identifying the corresponding start chunk and end chunk determined by the processing step to resource allocation data comprising a unique value. The respective resource allocation data is signaled to each of the plurality of user devices.
US09661628B2 Method and apparatus for receiving timing information from a cell or network in a less active mode
A method including receiving timing information associated with a transmission of reference information from a first cell or first network node when in a less active mode; and using the timing information to control when transmissions from the first cell or first network node are monitored for the reference information.
US09661625B2 Method and apparatus for transreceiving downlink signal by considering antenna port relationship in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically, disclosed are a method and an apparatus for transmitting or receiving a downlink signal by considering an antenna port relationship. A method for user equipment receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) signal in the wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: determining a start symbol index of the PDSCH from the downlink subframe; and receiving the PDSCH signal based on the start symbol index. When the DCI is comprised according to DCI format 1A, and the downlink subframe is a multicast broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe, the start symbol index can be determined depending on a PDSCH start symbol value which is included in a PDSCH resource element mapping and Quasi co-location indicator (PQI) that is established by an upper layer.
US09661622B2 Method and device for E-PDCCH transmission and blind detection
The present invention relates to the field of communications, and provides a method and a device for enhanced-physical downlink control channel (E-PDCCH) transmission and blind detection. The method is: a network side carrying out corresponding E-PDCCH transmission resource configuration for allocation of each sub-frame; and a terminal respectively adopting different modes to perform E-PDCCH blind detection in each frame, so that better link adaptation of the E-PDCCH transmission can be implemented. Therefore, the balance of E-PDCCH transmission in the sub-frames is ensured, the effect of E-PDCCH blind detection of the terminal is further improved, and the E-PDCCH demodulation performance is further promoted.
US09661621B2 Method and device for obtaining control information in a wireless communication system
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for obtaining control information on terminals in a wireless communication system. The method includes performing blind decoding on at least one of a first and a second area of a sub-frame. The first area includes a plurality of sets of one or more resource blocks that are not adjacent to the sub-frame and are continuous. The second area includes one or more continuous resource blocks on the sub-frame.
US09661620B2 Mobile terminal and method using short identifier for resource scheduling
A mobile terminal for use in a mobile communications network includes a wireless access interface that provides a shared communications channel for communicating data to/from the mobile communications network, the shared channel divided in time into units of communications resource. The mobile terminal is configured to receive control information with a short identification number in association with an identification number allocated to the mobile terminal by the mobile communications network, the short identification number allocated to the mobile terminal by the mobile communications network for one super-frame including plural of the units of communications resource of the shared channel, the short identification number allocated to the mobile terminal as one member of a group of mobile terminals, and to receive a resource allocation message including the short identification number to identify the mobile terminal and to allocate units of the communications resource to the mobile terminal in one super-frame.
US09661612B2 Methods and apparatus for uplink control channel multiplexing in beamformed cellular systems
Methods and apparatus of a base station (BS) or a user equipment (UE) that communicate with each other via one or more directional beams. The BS sends and the UE receives a timing advance (TA). The BS receives information sent by the UE via a receive beam of the one or more directional beams of the BS and via an uplink (UL) control region of an UL control channel. The UL control region of the UL control channel identified via the TA and the receive beam.
US09661610B2 Communication method based on automatic serving cell management in wireless communication system, and device for supporting same
Disclosed is a communication method performed by a terminal in a wireless communication system. The method comprises: determining whether a serving cell management condition is satisfied; and managing a cell set including at least one serving cell for the terminal according to the satisfied serving cell management condition.
US09661607B2 Paging area control apparatus, paging area control method, transfer apparatus, mobile communication system, mobile station, and computer readable medium
A transfer node (310) receives downlink data addressed to a mobile station (100). A paging area control apparatus (300) determines a paging area of the mobile station (100) based on an attribute of the downlink data. A paging apparatus (200) sends a paging signal into the paging area determined by the paging area control apparatus (300), in order to page the mobile station (100). As a result, a technology for contributing to determining a proper paging area corresponding to downlink traffic is provided.
US09661606B2 Service implementation method, apparatus, and system
A service implementation method, apparatus, and system are disclosed. The service implementation method includes: receiving, by a serving gateway, a data packet of a terminal device sent by a packet data network gateway; if the data packet is a data packet with a serving priority and the serving gateway has sent a paging trigger message with a serving priority to a mobility management element, skipping, by the serving gateway, sending a paging trigger message to the mobility management element; or if the data packet is a data packet with a serving priority and the serving gateway has sent no paging trigger message with a serving priority to a mobility management element, sending, by the serving gateway, a paging trigger message to the mobility management element; wherein the paging trigger message is used to enable the mobility management element to page the terminal device.
US09661605B2 Posting-status notification system, information communication terminal, posting-status notification method, and program
A posting-status notification system includes: a determination unit that determines whether or not a posting status of posting information being associated with a content satisfies a predetermined notification condition, the posting information being posting information posted on a network; and an instruction unit that instructs an output unit to output the posting status in a case where the determination unit determines that the posting status satisfies the notification condition.
US09661604B1 Determining emitter locations
First information corresponding to a radio signal received at a first sensing device from a candidate location is obtained. Second information corresponding to a radio signal received at a second sensing device from the candidate location is obtained. A first relationship between the first sensing device and the candidate location and a second relationship between the second sensing device and the candidate location are determined. A first inverse and a second inverse of respectively the first and second relationships are obtained. A first estimate of the radio signal at the first sensing device is determined from the first information and the first inverse. A second estimate of the radio signal at the second sensing device is determined from the second information and the second inverse. Energy emitted from the candidate location is measured based on the first estimate and the second estimate.
US09661603B2 Passive positioning utilizing beacon neighbor reports
Techniques for providing neighbor reports for use in passive positioning of a client station are disclosed. An example method for broadcasting network neighbor reports according to the disclosure includes generating a beacon transmission, determining a neighbor report count value, if the neighbor report count value is greater than zero, then broadcasting the beacon transmission including at least a beacon frame and the neighbor report count value, and decrementing the neighbor report count value; if the neighbor report count value is equal to zero, then broadcasting the beacon transmission including at least a beacon frame and a neighbor report, and resetting the neighbor count value.
US09661602B2 System and method for determining device location in an IP-based wireless telecommunications network
A system and method determines a geographic position of a mobile device in communication with an IP-based wireless telecommunications network. A wireless connection between the mobile device and the IP-based wireless telecommunications network is established when the mobile device registers with a network controller (NC) through an access point (AP). When a geographical position is needed for the mobile device (e.g., a 911 call), messages are exchanged between the NC and the SMLC where the SMLC retrieves information from a database that is used to identify the geographic position of the mobile device. The database can store a variety of information related to mobile devices such as: last known position, IP address, MAC address, device or subscriber identifier, last CGI, etc. The geographical position is communicated back to the NC, which can then forward the position information to a switch for processing such as for 911 calls.
US09661601B2 Crowdsourcing information in a communication network using small cells
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for using a small cell as a reliable crowd-sourcing agent are presented. In some embodiments, a small cell installed at a known location may observe one or more wireless signals at the known location, wherein the small cell comprises a built-in network listen receiver for observing cellular downlink signals. Subsequently, the small cell may provide, to at least one crowdsourcing server, information that identifies the location and describes one or more detected properties of the one or more observed wireless signals. In at least one arrangement, the information provided to at least one crowdsourcing server is a Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) configuration based on an observed LTE downlink signals. In at least one arrangement, the information provided to at least one crowdsourcing server is configured to be used by the at least one crowdsourcing server in providing position assistance information.
US09661599B2 Digitally signing access point measurements for robust location determination
In an example embodiment, a wireless client sends a probe request frame and waits for responses to the probe frame. The responses to the probe request from comprise encrypted data representative of the signal strength of the client as measured by the respondent that are digitally signed by the respondent's certificate. The client aggregates the responses and forwards them to a location based server.
US09661596B2 Oversampling digital receiver for radio-frequency signals
A system and method for receiving a radio frequency signal, comprising a device for digitizing, without prior alteration of frequency, an analog radio frequency representation of each of a plurality of radio frequency signals to produce a respective plurality of digital radio frequency signals having a respective associated radio frequency digital clock, the plurality of digital radio frequency signals having a sufficiently high respective associated clock rate to preserve an information content of an information communication present in the analog radio frequency representation; a switch matrix adapted to concurrently switch the plurality of digital radio frequency signals and associated digital radio frequency clock to ones of a plurality of digital signal processors; and a control adapted to selectively automatically control the concurrent switching of a plurality of digital signals and associated digital clock to the respective plurality of digital signal processors; wherein the digital signal processors produce processed representations of information contained in respective analog radio frequency representations.
US09661594B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting data between wireless devices in wireless communication system
A method for transmitting data between wireless devices in a wireless communication system is provided. A first wireless device acquires downlink reception timing with a base station. The first wireless device determines transmission timing for direct communication with a second wireless device based on the downlink reception timing with the base station. The first wireless device transmits data for the direct communication to the second wireless device at the transmission timing for the direct communication.
US09661593B2 Power control for communications systems utilizing high speed shared channels
A method and apparatus are described for controlling transmitter power in a wireless communication system in which both dedicated and shared channels are utilized. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may receive a first channel (e.g., downlink shared channel), power commands for a second channel (e.g., dedicated channel) and power commands for a third channel (e.g., uplink shared channel). The WTRU may transmit in a transmission time interval at least one of the second channel and the third channel. Acknowledgments and negative acknowledgements to signals received over the first channel may be sent on the third channel. The WTRU may determine a transmission power level of the second channel in response to the second channel power commands and not the third channel power commands. The WTRU may determine a transmission power level of the third channel in response to the third channel power commands and not the second channel power commands.
US09661592B2 Uplink power control method and apparatus in a beam-forming based wireless communication system
A method for operating a Mobile Station (MS) for uplink (UL) power control in a wireless communication system. The method includes: determining an UL Transmit (Tx) power value compensated for a gain difference value between a downlink (DL) Tx beam and an UL Receive (Rx) beam of a Base Station (BS); and transmitting an UL signal based on the determined UL Tx power value.
US09661580B2 Method and apparatus for power control and parameter configuration
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and an apparatus for power control. In one embodiment, a current serving node is a first base station. A first switching time at which the second base station switches from transmission of a non-ABS subframe to transmission of an ABS subframe is determined according to an ABS pattern parameter of a second base station. At the first switching time, a target SINR value is adjusted before current switching to obtain a target SINR value of the first switching time.
US09661575B2 Methods and apparatuses for discovering central nodes in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a mobile device of a wireless communication system when discovering a central node is provided. The method for operating of a terminal for discovering at least one central node in a wireless communication system includes: generating a probe request signal and transmitting the probe request signal to at least one central node; after transmitting the probe request signal, switching from a normal mode to a low power mode and driving the terminal in the low power mode; in response to a mode switch instruction signal being received from the central node, switching the terminal from the low power mode to the normal mode; and receiving a probe response signal to the probe request signal from the central node in the normal mode.
US09661574B2 Method and system for providing sleep state of network-accessible terminal
Provided are a method and system for providing a sleep state in a device accessible to a wired or wireless network. Provided are a method and a system, which dynamically determine the optimal parameter in a sleep state depending on a network characteristic in providing the sleep state to a network-accessible terminal, and thus reduce the period of an active state of the network-accessible terminal, thereby considerably decreasing power consumption. Provided are a method and a system, which do not unnecessarily use a clock in an active state by selecting the optimal clock according to a purpose of transiting from the sleep state to the active state, and thus reduce the period of the active state of the network-accessible terminal, thereby considerably decreasing power consumption.
US09661572B2 Methods and apparatuses for efficient battery utilization during content delivery in telecommunication networks
Apparatuses and methods for controlling a manner of delivering content to a content user in a mobile telecommunication network are provided. The content is sent to the content user using first a first transmission rate when the content user is in a first radio state and uses a first battery power, and then using a second transmission rate that is lower than the first transmission rate, when the content user is in a second radio state and uses a second battery power that is smaller than the first battery power. The sending is performed such as, (A) while delivering the content, an amount of the content already received by the content user to exceed an amount of the content used by the content user, and (B) to minimize an energy used by the content user during delivery.
US09661562B2 Access method and apparatus in heterogeneous network
Embodiments of the present invention provide an access method and apparatus in a heterogeneous network. The access method in a heterogeneous network include broadcasting a system message to a user equipment. The system message includes configuration information of a cell access port and configuration information of at least one group of hot spot access port, so that the user equipment accesses the cell access port or a hot spot access port according to the system information. The heterogeneous network includes at least one hot spot access port, the at least one hot spot access port is grouped into at least one group, and each group of hot spot access port includes at least one hot spot access port.
US09661561B2 Wireless network discovery method and apparatus
In a wireless network discovery operation, before a WiFi station sends a network probe request in a WiFi network to request for network information it needs to connect to an access point, it first listens to communications on a current channel of the WiFi network for a preset period of time. When the WiFi station receives on the current channel a network probe request message sent by another WiFi station, it further delays sending the first network probe request by a second time period, in anticipation of some signals from the access point. If during the second time period a network discovery message from the access point, such as a probe response or a beacon message, is detected and that message contains the network information needed, the WiFi station cancels the sending of its probe request. Otherwise, the WiFi station sends its probe request after the second time period expires.
US09661560B2 Scanning method and apparatus in wireless LAN
A scanning method and apparatus in wireless LAN is disclosed. The method comprises determining, by an access point (AP), whether to accommodate a station (STA) conducting an initial link setup and transmitting, by the AP, a frame to the STA, the frame including scanning redirection information for the STA to switch other channel, other band, or a neighbor AP when the AP determines not to accommodate the STA. The scanning redirection information includes a band field and a channel field. The band field indicating a band in which the STA conducts the initial link setup when the STA conducts the initial link setup from current band to the other band. The channel field indicating a channel in which the STA conducts the initial link setup when the STA conducts the initial link setup from current channel to the other channel.
US09661558B2 Service constraint advertisement and discovery
Various embodiments for service constraint advertisement and discovery are provided. Each wireless device in a group of wireless devices can multicast a service advertisement frame to advertise a service provided, a discovery request frame to request for a service, a discovery response frame in response of a discovery request frame if the wireless device can provide the requested service, or a discovery proxy response frame in response of a discovery request frame if another wireless device can provide the requested service. The frames include information related to one or more services and capabilities, availability schedule, frequency band in use, and other information. This allows a new device joining the group to accomplish device discovery and service discovery at the same time. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09661556B2 Communication apparatus, method for controlling communication apparatus, and storage medium
A communication apparatus includes a recognition unit configured to recognize a transmission interval of a predetermined beacon transmitted by a base station configured to transmit data addressed to a plurality of apparatuses when the predetermined beacon is transmitted, and a control unit configured to perform control to change the transmission interval based on the recognized transmission interval.
US09661552B2 Association in line-of-sight communication networks
Various of the disclosed embodiments relate to line-of-sight (LOS), e.g., optical, based networks. Systems and methods are provided for connecting nodes based on their topological position in a line-of-sight communication network. Some embodiments may represent each node by a “backbone” and a “subnetwork” rank. The determination of a node's rank can prevent the formation of isolated “islands” of nodes, cut off from the backbone. The ranking can also provide a total ordering of nodes relative to the “fiberpop” node which can be used for healing and routing behaviors.
US09661550B2 Communication apparatus, communication method, and communication system
Disclosed is a communication apparatus capable of performing communications with another communication apparatus. The communication apparatus includes a plurality of communication interfaces using different communication paths, an information acquisition part configured to acquire information associated with the communication paths available to the communication apparatus and the other communication apparatus, a controller configured to select one of the communication interfaces for use in the communications with the other communication apparatus based on the information associated with the communication paths acquired from the information acquisition part, and a switcher configured to switch the communication interface used by the communication apparatus to the communication interface selected by the controller.
US09661549B2 Node of an improved multihop ad-hoc radio network and associated method
This node, applying an information broadcasting service of the flooding type, includes a controller for accessing the radio resource able to perform dynamic containment for accessing the radio resource. It is characterized in that it includes a network coder allowing generation of the data packets so that each packet includes, in the payload portion, a message (M) resulting from the combination of a plurality of pieces of information (Info_idi) to be broadcast, and in the header portion, a list (L) of the identifiers (Idk) of the pieces of information combined in the message.
US09661547B1 Method and system for handover with pre-configuration of timing advance
A method and system for pre-configuring a UE with timing advance for use in communication with a handover target. When a UE is being served by a handover source, the handover source transmits to a handover target a measurement request that specifies an uplink reference signal that the UE will provide, and the handover target evaluates that uplink reference signal to determine a timing advance for the UE and reports the timing advance in a response to the handover source. As the handover source then directs the UE to hand over to the handover target, the handover source provides the UE with an indication of the timing advance provided by the handover target. The UE may then transition to be served by the handover target and to make use of the indicated timing advance.
US09661546B2 Dynamic offload selection in mobile communication systems
A method of offload selection for a UE to select between 3GPP RAT and WLAN cell is provided. The UE receives configuration information that applies to selecting WLAN or 3GPP radio access technology (RAT). The UE determines if the UE may perform WLAN offload by evaluating 3GPP radio access network (RAN) conditions where at least one RAN condition is related to a radio signal strength or a radio signal quality in 3GPP RAT. The UE then determines if there is at least one suitable WLAN cell by evaluating WLAN conditions. The UE also determines if there is candidate traffic for WLAN offload. Finally, the UE steers the determined traffic to WLAN if the UE may perform WLAN offload and if there is at least one suitable WLAN cell. Otherwise, the UE steers the determined traffic to 3GPP RAT.
US09661545B2 Method and apparatus for handover of device to mitigate uplink interference in femtocell deployments
Methods and apparatuses are provided for determining whether to handover a device to mitigate uplink interference while achieving acceptable uplink service quality in a wireless network. One or more parameters related to a device can be evaluated to determine whether to handover the device, such as a number of transmission power reports received from the device over a period of time, a frame error rate, setpoint, or power control commands related to the uplink of the device, a received pilot signal strength at the device, an uplink throughput or buffer size at the device, etc., from which transmit power information of the device can be inferred for determining whether the device potentially interferes with access points or devices. Based on the one or more parameters, an access point can determine whether handing over the device may mitigate such uplink interference while ensuring uplink service quality, and accordingly handover the device.
US09661544B2 Method and system for offloading handover of wireless connections from a LTE network to a Wi-Fi network
The various embodiments herein provide a method and system for providing network offloading in a wireless communication. The method comprising includes obtaining an Access Technology Selection Policy (ATSP) from at least one of Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF), pre-configuration and Mobile Management Entity (MME), wherein the ATSP comprises of a plurality of radio access network selection criteria assistance default threshold values; modifying the ANDSF ATSP threshold values based on at least one of the radio characteristics and load conditions of the Radio Access Network (RAN) node by the RAN node; sending the modified ATSP threshold values to the UE; updating the ANDSF policy with the modified ATSP threshold values by the UE and determining offloading of the UE from a first radio access network to a second radio access network by the UE.
US09661541B2 Networking switching method, system, and network side device
Embodiments of the present invention apply to the technical field of communications, and disclosed are a network switching method, system, and network side device. In the embodiment of the invention, within coverage of network side devices on one signaling plane, when a current network side device bearing data plane information of a terminal device determines that handover from the current network side device to a target network side device is required, the current network side device performs handover confirmation with the target network side device, so that the target network side device enables a data plane information communication function with the terminal device and completes switching the bearer of the data plane information.
US09661540B2 Media gateway selection at inter-MSC handover
The invention relates to a method for handing over a mobile entity related call from a first call control node to a second call control node, wherein identification information of a switching point seized by the first call control node is contained in a handover request message, the second call control node selecting a switching point for the call to be handed over based on the identification information contained in the handover request message.
US09661539B2 Method, apparatus and system for key derivation
A method, an apparatus and a system for key derivation are disclosed. The method includes the following steps: a target base station) receives multiple keys derived by a source base station, where the keys correspond to cells of the target base station; the target base station selects a key corresponding to the target cell after knowing a target cell that a user equipment (UE) wants to access. An apparatus for key derivation and a communications system are also provided.
US09661538B2 Method and apparatus for determining handover of user equipments attached to mobile relay node in wireless communication system
A method for determining handover of user equipments (UEs) attached to the mobile relay node, which performs a handover procedure from a source donor eNodeB (DeNB) to a target DeNB, in a wireless communication system is provided. A mobile relay node (RN) receives an indication including information on assignable resources for the RN, and determines whether to accept or reject the handover of each UE using the received indication and contexts of the UEs stored in the mobile relay node.
US09661534B2 Operation of a serving node in a network
The invention provides a system and method for repairing corrupt security information. At a serving node in a telecommunications network, security capabilities of a terminal are received when the terminal registers with the serving node. The received security capabilities are stored. A path switch request message is received from a target base station following an X2 handover request sent from a source base station to the target base station for handover of the terminal, the path switch request including the security capabilities of the terminal. The serving node determines whether the security capabilities of the terminal stored in the storage medium should be sent to the target base station. If so, the serving node sends the stored security capabilities of the terminal to the target base station for use in reselecting security algorithms to be used in communications between the target base station and terminal following the handover.
US09661524B2 Method for QoS guarantees in a multilayer structure
A method in which a user equipment processes data in a wireless mobile communication system is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a first data block from an upper layer, transferring a second data block including the first data block to a lower layer at a particular protocol layer, discarding the first and second data blocks present in the particular protocol layer if a certain period of time has passed, and transferring information associated with the discard of the second data block to the lower layer.
US09661522B2 System and method associated with a service flow router
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes configuring a network element for subscriber-specific service chaining and traffic steering, where the configuring includes programming a selected service flow router user plane element with a subscriber context corresponding to a subscriber's session at a subscriber termination function. The subscriber context comprises instructions to steer subscriber traffic through a plurality of services in a network environment.
US09661515B2 Cloud-based management platform for heterogeneous wireless devices
A method of managing heterogeneous wireless devices in three or more different types of networks is disclosed. Each type of network uses a different type of radio access technology. The method includes receiving measurement data from a plurality of heterogeneous wireless devices via a control interface, wherein a heterogeneous wireless device provides connections to client devices via one or more of the three or more radio access technologies. The method includes searching, using a processor, for optimized adjustments to one or more parameters associated with one or more of the plurality of heterogeneous wireless devices based at least in part on a set of network optimization goals and the measurement data received from the plurality of heterogeneous wireless devices. The method includes transmitting at least some of the optimized adjustments of the one or more parameters to the one or more of the plurality of heterogeneous wireless devices.
US09661499B2 Access control authentication based on impedance measurements
A computing device may be configured to authenticate a user for access control, and may include at least one ground electrode configured for contact with a user, an impedance sensor coupled to the least one ground electrode, where the impedance sensor may be configured to perform a measurement based on a touch input from the user, a memory which stores instructions, and a processor, coupled the impedance sensor and the memory, where the processor may be configured to execute the instructions. The instructions may cause the processor to: receive the touch input from the user, receive an impedance value based on the touch input measured by the impedance sensor, and determine whether the received impedance value corresponds to at least one stored impedance value associated with a user profile.
US09661497B2 Control and enhancement of direct wireless service communications
An access point is configured to control peer-to-peer wireless transmission in an area around the access point. The access point receives a message from a service providing device advertising a service. The access point receives another message from a service using device requesting the service. The access point determines whether the service using device or the service is prohibited in the area controlled by the access point. Responsive to a determination that the service using device is prohibited, the access point blocks the service using device from receiving the service. Responsive to a determination that the service is prohibited, the access point blocks the service providing device from providing the service.
US09661496B2 ID management device, program, user terminal, and ID management system
The present invention enables a user terminal to perform communication while maintaining anonymity of a user. An ID management device of the present invention includes a storage unit configured to store use status of identification information for communication of an application service provided within a predetermined area, an issuing unit configured to issue unused identification information to a user terminal provided with the application service, and an updating unit configured to, when unused identification information is issued, update the use status to indicate that the unused identification information is in use, and, when a use end condition for issued identification information is satisfied, update the use status to indicate that the issued identification information is unused.
US09661495B2 Device activation method and system
A method of activating a first device is disclosed. The method includes: the first device pairing with a second device; receiving a connection request from a second device; connecting to the second device; opening a communication channel to the second device; transmitting an activation package to the second device; receiving an activation payload from the second device; and performing an activation using information from the activation payload.
US09661494B2 Control apparatus, control method, communication system and program
A control apparatus includes: a determination unit that determines whether identification information for identifying a mobile communication terminal in a second mobile communication network can be changed from first identification information assigned in the first mobile communication network to a second identification information assigned in the second mobile communication network, when the mobile communication terminal in which the first identification information is stored is situated in a region in which the second mobile communication network can be used and the mobile communication terminal uses the first mobile communication network via a second mobile communication network; and a notification unit that transmits a notification of a change of the identification information to a request apparatus that is connected to the second mobile communication network and is configured to request the mobile communication terminal to change the identification information, if it is determined that the identification information can be changed.
US09661489B2 Method and apparatus for controlling issuance of packet data protocol context
A method and an apparatus for controlling issuance of a PDP context. The method includes: receiving a GPRS location updating request of a user sent by an SGSN; acquiring, according to the GPRS location updating request, an issuance control condition of a PDP context to which the user has subscribed; and determining, according to the issuance control condition, whether to send the PDP context to the SGSN. According to the method and the apparatus for controlling issuance of a PDP context in the embodiments of the present disclosure, issuance of a PDP context is controlled based on an issuance control condition of the PDP context, which can avoid generation of unnecessary traffic, improve service experience of a user, and reduce the customer service workload of an operator, thereby lowering the operating cost of the operator.
US09661487B2 Method of generating discovery code for network entity and network entity using the same
A method of generating discovery code for a network entity and a network entity using the same method are provided. In one of the exemplary embodiments, this disclosure is directed to a generating method that is applicable to a network entity and includes at least but not limited to selecting a first substring in a ProSe application code of an announcing UE and a second substring in a ProSe application code of a monitoring UE for a D2D discovery, generating a matching string and a non-matching string according to the first substring and the second substring, and generating a ProSe application mask according to the matching string and the non-matching string.
US09661486B2 Method for avoiding collisions between open discovery and cellular resource
A device is configured to perform a method of wireless communication in a wireless communication network. The method includes receiving, from a communications controller, a device-to-device (D2D) subframe configuration to communicate with one or more second wireless devices, the subframe configuration indicating one or more subframes in which to transmit a D2D signal or receive one or more D2D signals. The method also includes receiving, from the communications controller, scheduling information to transmit a first signal to the communications controller on a subframe indicated by the D2D subframe configuration. The method further includes prioritizing the transmission of the first signal over a transmission of the D2D signal or a reception of the one or more D2D signals, and transmitting the first signal.
US09661484B2 Method of conveying a location information representing a physical location of a communication device, a computer program product for executing the method, and the communication device for conveying the location information
A method of conveying a location information representing a physical location of a communication device to another communication device comprises acquiring by the communication device a first location information and a second location information, the second location information being acquired subsequently to the acquiring of the first location information and detecting by the communication device a deviation of the second location information from the first location information representing a change of the physical location of the communication device. The method further comprises, triggered by the detected change of the physical location of the communication device, conveying the most recently acquired physical location of the communication device to the other communication device by sending a signaling message by the communication device to the other communication device, the signaling message comprising either the second location information or the deviation of the second location information on the first location information.
US09661480B2 Triggering application action using non-standard controls
A lock button of a mobile device with an iOS operating system, to be used by a user to effect an action when the mobile device is in the locked state, is enabled for other functions by executing an application on the mobile device. When the mobile device is in a locked state, the application is in a dormant mode. The OS of the mobile device monitors for a change of location of the device and/or for the receipt of a short range wireless data signal. Upon detecting either, the operating system communicates this to the application which in response enters a background mode and monitors the on/off state of a screen of the mobile device. If the screen state changes at least twice within a predetermined period of time, the application effects an action, such as sending a panic signal.
US09661477B1 Collaborative robotic device work group
A method for enabling communication and collaboration between robotic device. Robotic devices exchange wireless signals to connect to one another and enter an authentication phase. After authenticating, robotic devices add new devices to a network containing all authenticated robotic devices. Robotic devices within a network may send or receive information or instructions to and from other robotic devices in the network. Robotic devices that are out of direct signal range of other robotic devices may communicate them via other robotic devices within the network that form a bridge to forward the signals to the intended target.
US09661475B2 Distributed access point for IP based communications
An apparatus for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network includes a network interface, a controller, and memory. The interface receives a series of multicast data packets. The controller identifies one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network requesting data corresponding to the series of multicast data packets and determines that the effective unicast rate for one or more unicast data packets exceeds a minimum data rate of the series of multicast data packets using an 802.x protocol. The memory stores instructions that may be executable by a processor. Upon execution of the instructions by a processor, the received series of multicast data packets is converted into one or more unicast packets, the execution and conversion occurring in response to instructions received from the controller. A system for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network implements such an apparatus in the context of an access point.
US09661472B2 Methods and systems for scheduling the transmission of localization signals and operating self-localizing apparatus
Localization systems and methods for transmitting timestampable localization signals from anchors according to one or more transmission schedules. The transmission schedules may be generated and updated to achieve desired positioning performance. For example, one or more anchors may transmit localization signals at a different rate than other anchors, the anchor transmission order can be changed, and the signals can partially overlap. In addition, different transmission parameters may be used to transmit two localization signals at the same time without interference. A self-localizing apparatus is able to receive the localization signals and determine its position. The self-localizing apparatus may have a configurable receiver that can select to receive one of multiple available localization signals. The self-localizing apparatuses may have a pair of receivers able to receive two localization signals at the same time. A bridge anchor may be provided to enable a self-localizing apparatus to seamlessly transition between two localization systems.
US09661469B2 Safety of a mobile communications device
Systems and methods for improving safety of a multi-function portable personal communications device can include determining a first position of the personal communications device, after a predetermined time interval, determining a second position of the personal communications device, determining the distance between the first position and the second position, determining the time interval in which the personal communications device moved from the first position and the second position, calculating an average velocity of the personal communications device based on the first position, the second position and the time interval and, if the average velocity of the personal communication device exceeds a predetermined value, sending an alert or inhibiting a function of the personal communications device. Other systems and methods that improve safety are also disclosed.
US09661464B2 Matching multiple devices to identify joint movement of the mobile devices
Location data and/or acceleration data of a mobile device may be received. The data may include timestamps. The timestamped data of the mobile device may be compared to timestamped data of another mobile device. Upon determining the timestamped data of the mobile device matches the timestamped data of the other mobile device, joint movement of the mobile devices may be signaled.
US09661462B2 Location-based digital media platform
A digital media platform that enables content to be mapped to the context of location. The platform can allow users to create, view and share packages of multimedia content (drops) that are posted to points on a digital map. It enables the aggregation and re-publishing of open source content to fixed points on the map, for easier discovery and sharing. The platform can also provide a relevance engine that takes account of actions related to the creation and consumption of digital multimedia packages on a map, and can provide an ad serving system that takes advantage of behavioral and location-specific data to rank associations between consumers, content and places on the map.
US09661458B2 Method for associating wireless sensors to physical locations
Mapping the physical location of each sensor of a network of wireless sensors in a configured environment, each sensor being in communication with a server and its database, is achieved by attaching RFID tags to objects in the environment which contain both object-relevant information and the MAC address of sensors proximate to those objects. The locations of the tags on the objects are proxies for the locations of the sensors identified on those tags. By reading the tags and up-loading the read tag information to the database, the association of the sensor and the object is known to the server and can be matched with the configuration of the environment to infer the location of each wireless sensor.
US09661457B2 Interactive advisory system
A method for providing information to a plurality of vendors located remotely from a broadcast network. A plurality of user-defined parameters are received by a user input database with at least one of the user-defined parameters including a user profile. Each of the user profiles includes a user identifier code identifying a communicator device associated with a particular user. Real-time data indicative of the spatial locations of the communicator devices is received by a communicator location database. Search information is received independently from a plurality of vendors and a data set is generated for each vendor.
US09661456B2 Low-power wireless vehicle locating unit
Methods of, systems for, and articles of manufacture for wireless communication between a vehicle locating unit and peripheral devices that are disposed on or in the same object, the method including the steps of adapting the peripheral devices to generate transmission signals to be received by the vehicle locating unit; generating transmission signals by at least one of the peripheral devices; adapting the vehicle locating unit to listen for the transmission signals for a first period of time during a second period of time that is longer than the first period of time; acknowledging detected transmission signals from any of the peripheral devices; upon acknowledgement, establishing a communication link between the vehicle locating unit and a corresponding source of the detected transmission signals; and communicating data between the vehicle locating unit and the corresponding source of the detected transmission signals in accordance with discrete timing information.
US09661452B2 Apparatus, system and method of estimating a location of a mobile device
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of estimating allocation of a mobile device. For example, an apparatus may include a location estimator to receive at a mobile device location assistance information from a server and to estimate a location of the mobile device using the location assistance information, the location estimator is to send to the server a request for mapping assistance information, the request including one or more parameters defining a geographical region, the location estimator is to receive from the server a response including the mapping assistance information according to the parameters, wherein the location estimator is to map the estimated location of the mobile device to the geographical region based on the mapping assistance information.
US09661451B2 Method and apparatus for providing an interface for triggering device action
An approach is provided for causing, at least in part, an identification of one or more triggering devices. A processor may then cause, at least in part, an association of the one or more actions with the one or more triggering devices based, at least in part, on the identification wherein the one or more actions are initiated based, at least in part, on a detection of the one or more triggering devices.
US09661449B2 Information processing system and communication method
An information processing system includes a mobile terminal including an electric wave receiving unit configured to receive an electric wave that includes belonging information of an electronic apparatus sent by a short range wireless communication, and an electronic apparatus display unit configured to receive a selection of the belonging information from a user, and request the information processing apparatus to perform a use start of the at least one electronic apparatus, the information processing apparatus including an information administration unit configured to read the information from a memory unit, which stores the belonging information and the at least one electronic apparatus, in response to the request from the mobile terminal to send the information, and return the read information to the mobile terminal, and an apparatus connection administration unit configured to request the at least one electronic apparatus to start a preparation of the use start.
US09661440B2 Methods and systems for triggering efficient application synchronization
An example method of synchronizing application data between a mobile device and a remote computing device includes for each network of one or more networks, collecting network data regarding a mobile device's current connectivity state to the respective network. The mobile device includes one or more mobile applications including application data. The method also includes detecting, at the mobile device, a current connection to a current network. The method further includes comparing one or more opportunity scores for synchronizing application data. The one or more opportunity scores includes an opportunity score for the current network. Each opportunity score is associated with a particular network. The method also includes determining, based on the comparing, whether the current network is a good opportunity network for syncing mobile application data.
US09661439B2 Function control apparatus and program
An electronic device includes processing circuitry configured to produce an audio sound from a virtual sound source position. The circuitry also acquires from a user-input a sound position information of a perceived sound source position, and then controls an enable or disable of a function of the electronic device based on a relationship between the virtual sound source position and the perceived sound source position.
US09661438B1 Low latency limiter
A limiter for an audio system prevents loud audio signals that exceed a threshold from being output. Output of the audio signals are delayed. When a loud signal exceeds the threshold, the gain applied to the delayed signals is gradually reduced so that by the time the loud signal reaches the output, the gain is at a level that reduces the loud audio signal to be within the threshold. Thereafter the gain is gradually restored to normal over a longer period of time than the audio signals are delayed.
US09661436B2 Audio signal playback device, method, and recording medium
An audio signal playback device includes a conversion unit that performs discrete Fourier transform on each of 2 channel audio signals obtained from a multi-channel input audio signal, a correlation signal extraction unit that, disregarding a direct current component, extracts a correlation signal from the 2 channel audio signals that result from the discrete Fourier transform, and additionally pulls a correlation signal in a lower frequency than a predetermined frequency flow out of the correlation signal, and an output unit that allocates the pulled-out correlation signal to a virtual sound source in such a manner that a time difference in a sound output between adjacent speakers falls within a range of 2Δx/c (where, Δx is a distance between the adjacent speakers, and c is the speed of sound), and outputs a result of the allocation from one portion or all portions of the speaker group.
US09661434B2 Microphone biasing circuitry and method thereof
A host device for use with a removable peripheral apparatus having a microphone, and to the biasing circuitry for said microphone. The host device may have a device connector for forming a mating connection with a respective peripheral connector. A source of bias is arranged to supply an electrical bias to a device microphone contact of the device connector via a biasing path. A capacitor is connected between a reference voltage node and a capacitor node of the biasing path. A first switch is located between the capacitor node and the device microphone contact. Detection circuitry detects disconnection of the peripheral connector and device connector; and control circuitry controls the switch to disable the biasing path.
US09661433B2 Electrical testing and feedthrough cancellation for an acoustic sensor
A method and circuit for testing an acoustic sensor are disclosed. In a first aspect, the method comprises using electro-mechanical features of the acoustic sensor to measure characteristic of the acoustic sensor. In a second aspect, the method comprises utilizing an actuation signal to evaluate mechanical characteristics of the acoustic sensor. In a third aspect, the method comprises using a feedthrough cancellation system to measure a capacitance of the acoustic sensor. In the fourth aspect, the circuit comprises a mechanism for driving an electrical signal into a signal path of the acoustic sensor to cancel an electrical feedthrough signal provided to the signal path, wherein any of the electrical signal and the electrical feedthrough signal are within or above an audio range.
US09661427B2 Hearing aid with inductively coupled electromagnetic resonator antenna
A hearing aid includes an antenna for wireless communication with another device. The antenna includes a primary element connected to the circuit of the hearing aid and one or more secondary elements parasitically coupled to the primary element. This antenna configuration substantially increases radiation efficiency when compared to an antenna with the primary element alone, without substantially increasing the size, power consumption, and complexity of the hearing aid.
US09661426B2 Hearing aid having combined antennas
A hearing aid having a hearing aid housing, includes: a microphone; a processing unit configured to process an audio signal for compensating a hearing loss of a user; a battery provided closer to a second end of the hearing aid housing than to a first end of the hearing aid housing; one or more wireless communication units for wireless communication; at least a part of a first antenna for electromagnetic field emission and/or electromagnetic field reception, the at least a part of the first antenna being interconnected with one of the one or more wireless communication units; and a second antenna for electromagnetic field emission and/or electromagnetic field reception, the second antenna being interconnected with one of the one or more wireless communication units; wherein the second antenna is between a center axis of the battery and the second end of the hearing aid.
US09661424B1 Laser-based device and optical microphone having increased bandwidth
Laser-based device and optical microphone having increased bandwidth. The system includes a laser microphone to transmit a laser beam towards a human speaker; to receive an optical feedback signal reflected back from the human speaker; and to perform self-mixing interferometry. An optical feedback signal bandwidth enhancer improves the bandwidth of the optical feedback signal, to improve the quality of remote speech detection that is based on the optical feedback signal. The bandwidth enhancement utilizes takes into account one or more of: the identity of the face-region hit by the laser beam; the skin color or shade; obstruction of the skin by hair or by accessories; ability to allocate increased processing resources for processing of the optical feedback signal; ability to modify modulation frequency of the optical feedback signal; Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) estimation; bandwidth estimation; acoustic-optical transmission channel estimation; or other suitable parameters.
US09661423B2 Transparent parametric emitter
A transparent ultrasonic emitter includes a first transparent conductive layer; a second transparent conductive layer; and a plurality of transparent spacers disposed between the first and second transparent layers conductive of the ultrasonic audio speaker, the transparent spacers having a thickness and being arranged to define an open area between the first and second transparent layers.
US09661422B2 Electroacousitic loudspeaker system for use in a partial enclosure
This disclosure relates to loudspeakers that use one or more stacks of electrically actuated cards that pump air through vents to produce sound waves in response to an acoustic signal. Each stack can include several electrostatic actuator cards that are stacked on top of each other and collectively operate to pump air through a vent to produce a sound wave. Each card may include an electrically conductive membrane that is pushed/pulled between two electrically conductive stators. As the membrane is pushed and pulled along a first axis, air is pumped through vents in a direction orthogonal to the first axis. In one embodiment, stacks of cards can be arranged in series to increase sound pressure generated by the loud speaker. In another embodiment, a single stack of cards can be driven with relatively high electric field strength to increase the sound pressure generated by the loud speaker.
US09661414B2 Flat-panel acoustic apparatus
In an acoustic apparatus, an acoustic transducer is arranged in a substrate. Multiple acoustic pathways in the substrate have predetermined lengths, wherein a proximal end of each pathway forms an opening in a front surface of the substrate, and a distal end terminates at the acoustic transducer. The predetermined lengths of the acoustic pathways are designed to form an acoustic spatial filter that selectively passes acoustic signals from or to different locations. The transducer can convert electric energy to acoustic energy when the apparatus operates as a speaker, or the the transducer can convert acoustic energy to electric energy and operate as a microphone.
US09661413B2 Acoustic layer in media device providing enhanced audio performance
An acoustic layer is added to a laptop-type personal computing device, comprising: enclosing walls, optionally—one or more microphones, a signal processing device, at least one audio transducer, and an acoustic waveguide. The acoustic layer adjoins one or more internal areas of a laptop-type device. The signal processing device receives an internal signal from a laptop-type device. The signal processing device provides a directive sound enhancement of the audio input signals based on room acoustics, such as reverberation, echo, noise, delay, frequency response, and/or speaker-positional information that is determined by the signal processing device. The audio transducer device generates an audible audio output in response to an audio signal output from the signal processing device. The acoustic waveguide receives the audible audio output and generates an enhanced bass audio output from the acoustic waveguide.
US09661412B2 Apparatus for providing passive stereo amplification for a portable device
An apparatus comprising: a first substantially horn shaped structure configured to couple and amplify sound from a first speaker of a further apparatus; and a second substantially horn shaped structure configured to couple and amplify sound from a second speaker of the further apparatus, wherein the first and second substantially horn shaped structure each comprise a mouth portion with a physical separation dimension greater than a physical separation dimension of the first and second speaker acoustic outlet of the further apparatus.
US09661410B1 Electronic device with washable waterproof film protecting audio component
An electronic device includes a first housing component including a first surface facing a first side and a second surface facing a second side, the first housing component including a first through-hole connecting the first surface and the second surface, a waterproof film located to cover the first through-hole, an audio component located on the first side of the waterproof film, and a second housing component attached removably to the second side of the first housing component. The first through-hole has such a shape that the waterproof film is directly visible when the first side is seen from the second side without the second housing component attached to the first housing component. The first housing component and the second housing component are combined together to form a passage leading from an end of the first through-hole on the second surface side to a first opening.
US09661407B2 Reduction of wavelength selective switch (WSS) filter-based impairment using multi-channel forward error correction averaging via interleaving
A method may include interleaving, by an optical device, a set of bits of a first channel with a set of bits of a second channel. The first channel may include first forward error correction (FEC) data associated with the set of bits of the first channel and the second channel may include second FEC data associated with the set of bits of the second channel. The method may further include transmitting first information via the first channel and second information via the second channel. The first information may include a portion of the set of bits of the first channel, a portion of the set of bits of the second channel, and the first FEC data. The second information may include another portion of the set of bits of the first channel, another portion of the set of bits of the second channel, and the second FEC data.
US09661401B2 Locating a backscatter-based transponder
A method and apparatus for locating a transponder is provided. A carrier signal is transmitted by a base station and a transponder transmits a locating signal that is generated through phase modulation and backscattering of the carrier signal sent by the base station when the transponder is within a transmission range of the base station, whereby the transponder is located on the basis of the locating signal.
US09661399B2 Methods and apparatus for presenting a still-image feedback response to user command for remote audio/video content viewing
A method for presenting feedback to a user when a command is received is provided. The method receives, at a content retransmitter, a command for navigating audio/video content selections for retransmission to a user device; transmits the received command to a set-top box for execution, wherein execution of the command at the set-top box produces a result; while gradually receiving the result at the content retransmitter, creates a period of latency when the result is only partially available for retransmission; during the period of latency, retrieves a still-image frame associated with execution of the command; and transmits the still-image frame to the user device for presentation until the result is completely available for retransmission.
US09661397B2 Broadcast service transmitting method, broadcast service receiving method and broadcast service receiving apparatus
A method of receiving a broadcast service is provided. The method includes receiving uncompressed audio or video content, obtaining information regarding a channel of the uncompressed audio or video content on the basis of a part of the uncompressed audio or video content, and obtaining content and trigger information for the broadcast service by using the obtained information.
US09661395B2 Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
The present invention provides an apparatus of transmitting broadcast signals, the apparatus including, an encoder for encoding service data, a frame builder for building at least one signal frame by mapping the encoded service data, a modulator for modulating data in the built at least one signal frame by an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM, scheme and a transmitter for transmitting the broadcast signals having the modulated data.
US09661394B2 Apparatus and method for broadcasting services in digital video broadcasting system
An apparatus and method for providing signaling information using inband transmission in a digital video broadcasting system where a frame for transmitting broadcasting data according to a ground-wave broadcasting service and broadcasting data according to a mobile broadcasting service is generated, and the generated frame is transmitted with an additional area for recording recognition information that indicates whether signaling information to be transmitted in the generated frame or the frame to be transmitted next time has been changed is allocated to a signaling information field of the generated frame.
US09661393B2 Using scene-change transitions to output an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up video-broadcast system
In one aspect, an example method for outputting an alert indicating a functional state of a back-up video-broadcast system involves: a computing device receiving a first video-stream that represents first video-content; the computing device generating a first signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of scene-change transitions included within the first video-content; the computing device receiving a second video-stream that represents second video-content; the computing device generating a second signature based, at least in part, upon an extent of scene-change transitions included within the second video-content; the computing device making a determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack a threshold extent of similarity; and responsive to the determination that the generated first-signature and the generated second-signature lack the threshold extent of similarity, the computing device outputting an alert.
US09661391B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting media content
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may perform operations including, for example, receiving a plurality of user-generated comments associated with media content where the plurality of user-generated comments are temporally associated with a portion of the media content during a presentation of the media content at a group of communication devices, and identifying from the plurality of user-generated comments a cluster of comments associated with a segment of the media content based on a frequency of the user-generated comments. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09661377B2 Digital data processing apparatus and method
There is provided an apparatus and a method for the receipt and processing of data signals carried in a plurality of predefined frequency bands and allowing a frequency band required at an instant of time to be selected from the predefined frequency bands from which data is to be retrieved. Passing the data signals from the wanted band to a transmitter and/or receiver including first and second mixing means to process the data signals, typically using in-phase and quadrative data feeds to create a predefined representation of the wanted frequency band, to provide an output for receipt by at least one broadcast data receiver and at least the transmitter and/or receiver is provided as part of an integrated circuit rather than as separate connected components.
US09661371B2 Method for transmitting a broadcast service, apparatus for receiving same, and method for processing an additional service using the apparatus for receiving same
According to the present invention, a method for receiving a broadcast service comprises the steps of: selecting a non-real time service object; receiving service signaling data corresponding to the selected non-real time service object; determining a consumption model of the non-real time service object on the basis of the service signaling data; acquiring, if the consumption model is a predetermined consumption model, first content item reception information contained in the non-real time service object from the service signaling data; receiving a first content item on the basis of the first content item reception information; and executing the first content item in response to a request for execution from the selected non-real time service object.
US09661368B1 System and method for extending a breakout in a broadcasting environment
Disclosed herein is a system and method for extending a breakout in a broadcasting environment. In one example, a method involves: (i) receiving a traffic log including traffic log entries, each corresponding to a VC and a start time; (ii) operating in a traffic log mode comprising; (iii) receiving a breakout-mode request; (iv) responsive to receiving the breakout-mode request, (a) terminating operation of the traffic log mode, (b) generating a simulation log, and (c) operating in a first breakout mode; (v) receiving a breakout-extension request; (vi) responsive to receiving the breakout-extension request, terminating operation of the first breakout-mode, and operating in a custom log mode; and (vii) responsive to all the VCs indicated in the generated custom log being sent to the air-chain system, terminating operation of the custom log mode, and operating in a second breakout mode.
US09661359B2 Method of distributing sports entertainment
A method for distributing sports entertainment includes the step of providing a plurality of video cameras positioned on vehicles or athletes that are participating in sporting events, transmitters for transmitting information from the plurality of cameras to a processing station, retransmission equipment for directing the camera feed from each of the plurality of cameras to separate channels for distribution and remote viewing at viewers' locations, and channel selectors that permit viewers to select from among the various channels, thereby allowing the viewers to select from the plurality of camera feeds. The cameras are simultaneously operated during the sporting event so as to generate a plurality of camera feeds during the event, each feed reflecting the perspective of an individual participant. The plurality of feeds is received by the retransmission equipment and retransmitted to selectable channels, each channel being associated with a respective camera feed. A viewer is thus allowed to select from the plurality of channels to thus enable his or her viewing of the sports event through the perspective of the participant of greatest interest to the viewer.
US09661358B2 System and method of providing video content
A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including sending a primary multicast video stream and a secondary multicast video stream to a media device. The secondary multicast video stream is limited to intra-coded frames (I-frames) extracted from the primary multicast video stream. Transmission of each intra-coded frame (I-frame) of the secondary multicast video stream is delayed with respect to transmission of a corresponding I-frame of the primary multicast video stream. The delay is based on an amount of writing time to satisfy a buffer threshold of a video content buffer at the media device to prevent a noticeable time shift of video displayed by the media device when the media device switches from outputting the secondary multicast video stream to outputting the primary multicast video stream.
US09661353B2 Variable length coding method and variable length decoding method
The present invention is a variable length coding method for coding coefficients in each block which are obtained by performing frequency transformation on picture data of a moving picture per block having a predetermined size, and comprises: a coefficient scanning step of scanning the coefficients in the block in a predetermined order; and a coding step of coding the coefficients scanned in the coefficient scanning step into variable length codes in a predetermined order by switching a plurality of tables to be used for coding. Here, a direction of switching between the tables may be one-directional. Also, the coding may be non-arithmetic coding.
US09661349B2 Method and system for video error correction
In real-time video applications, where unreliable networks are commonplace, corrupted video packets can affect adversely the visual quality. In this patent application, we present an improved method and system for video error correction based on maximum likelihood. Rather than discarding corrupted video packets, the method estimates the likeliest syntactically valid video slice content based on these packets. We present two embodiments, which permits solving the problem at the slice-level, and a simplified solution operating at the syntax element-level. The performance of the method is evaluated using the H.264 baseline profile. Unlike existing video error concealment methods, we correct errors in the bitstream instead of reconstructing missing pixels. Simulation results show that the proposed method yields improved visual quality, and is also computationally simpler than existing state-of-the-art error concealment methods. A corresponding system for video error correction is also provided.
US09661348B2 Method and system for generating side information at a video encoder to differentiate packet data
A system and method for generating, by a video encoder, side information associated with a plurality of blocks of pixel data, the side information providing for each block of pixel data an indication of a video quality impact in an instance the block of pixel data is lost in the network.
US09661342B2 Moving picture coding device, moving picture coding method, and moving picture coding program, and moving picture decoding device, moving picture decoding method, and moving picture decoding program
In a moving picture coding device that codes moving pictures in units of a block by partitioning a first block, which is obtained by partitioning each picture of the moving pictures into predetermined sizes, into one or a plurality of second blocks, a quantization parameter calculation unit calculates a quantization parameter of the second block. A predictive quantization parameter deriving unit derives a predictive quantization parameter of the second block using quantization parameters of a third block adjacent to the left of the second block and a fourth block adjacent to the top of the second block. A differential quantization parameter generation unit generates a differential quantization parameter of the second block from a difference between the quantization parameter of the second block and the predictive quantization parameter. A first bitstream generation unit codes the differential quantization parameter of the second block.
US09661332B2 Intra prediction in image processing
An intra prediction method and a device using the intra prediction method are provided. The intra prediction method includes the steps of: deriving a current prediction mode as a prediction mode of a current block; constructing neighboring samples of the current block with available reference samples; filtering the available reference samples; and generating predicted samples of the current block on the basis of the filtered available reference samples. The filtering step includes performing the filtering using the available reference sample located in the prediction direction of the current prediction mode and a predetermined number of available reference samples neighboring to the prediction direction of the current prediction mode.
US09661329B2 Constant quality video coding
Techniques related to constant quality video coding are discussed. Such techniques may include determining a quantization parameter for a frame of a video sequence, modifying the quantization parameter based on a spatial complexity or a temporal complexity associated with the video frame, and generating a block level quantization parameter for a block of the video frame based on the modified frame level quantization parameter, a complexity of the block, and a complexity of the video frame.
US09661328B2 Method of bit allocation for image and video compression using perceptual guidance
A video processing system is provided to create quantization data parameters based on human eye attraction to provide to an encoder to enable the encoder to compress data taking into account the human perceptual guidance. The system includes a perceptual video processor (PVP) to generate a perceptual significance pixel map for data to be input to the encoder. Companding is provided to reduce the pixel values to values ranging from zero to one, and decimation is performed to match the pixel values to a spatial resolution of quantization parameter values (QP) values in a look up table (LUT). The LUT table values then provide the metadata to provide to the encoder to enable compression of the original picture to be performed by the encoder in a manner so that bits are allocated to pixels in a macroblock according to the predictions of eye tracking.
US09661327B2 Encoding video captured in low light
Apparatus comprising an encoder configured to encode a video signal captured from a camera, and a low-light enhancement module configured to apply a low-light enhancement to the video signal. The low-light enhancement is performed in a color space comprising two color channels representing color, and an achromatic channel representing light level. The enhancement comprises: detecting at least a first classification indicative of disturbance in the video signal due to capture in low light; and in response to detecting this classification, applying a low-light processing operation to at least one of the color channels to reduce a number of bits incurred by color in the encoding, such that an increased number of bits is spent on the achromatic channel when encoded by the encoder.
US09661324B2 Method for signaling image information, and method for decoding image information using same
The present invention relates to a method offor signaling information on a prediction mode and to a method of for decoding image information using same. According to the present invention, the method offor signaling prediction mode information, serving according to the present invention, as a method offor signaling image information, includes performing prediction on a current block and signaling the prediction-type information applied to the current block. The signaling of the information includes joint-coding and components of signaling information components constituting the prediction-type information. According to the present invention, overhead may be reduced when information on a prediction is signaled.
US09661323B2 Method of encoding picture and picture encoding device
A buffering delay can be reduced and moving picture encoding in low delay is performed while deterioration of picture quality is minimized.A quantization step of performing quantization of input information based on a value of a quantization parameter and decreasing an amount of information; an entropy encoding step of performing entropy encoding processing with respect to an output of the quantization step, and outputting a code generated as a result of the processing and information of a code amount generated as a result of the processing; and a rate control step of determining a value of a quantization parameter based on a result of the information of a generated code amount are provided, and the rate control step makes, for each section smaller than one picture, the value of a quantization parameter large when bit allocation in the section is expected to exceed a predetermined value, and makes the value of a quantization parameter small when the bit allocation in the section is expected to fall below the predetermined value.
US09661322B2 Histogram segmentation based local adaptive filter for video encoding and decoding
Reconstructed picture quality for a video codec system may be improved by categorizing reconstructed pixels into different histogram bins with histogram segmentation and then applying different filters on different bins. Histogram segmentation may be performed by averagely dividing the histogram into M bins or adaptively dividing the histogram into N bins based on the histogram characteristics. Here M and N may be a predefined, fixed, non-negative integer value or an adaptively generated value at encoder side and may be sent to decoder through the coded bitstream.
US09661321B2 Remote viewing of large image files
In general, the subject matter described in this disclosure can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for sending image data to a client device. The computing system sends first image data from which a computing device is able to generate an initial display of an image. The initial display is a reduced-resolution version of the image that is reduced in resolution in comparison to a full resolution of the image. The computing system sends second image data from which the computing device is able to generate a subsequent display of the image. The subsequent display of the image is an intermediate-resolution version of the image that has a resolution that is higher than a resolution of the reduced-resolution version of the image and that is lower than the full resolution of the image.
US09661320B2 Encoding device, decoding device, playback device, encoding method, and decoding method
An encoding device that, when encoding frame image groups which represent scenes respectively viewed from plurality of viewpoints over predetermined time period, generates base-view video stream by encoding frame image group of standard viewpoint without using, as reference image, any frame image of other viewpoints, generates first-type dependent-view video stream by encoding frame image group of first-type viewpoint by using, as reference image, frame image of same time of base-view video stream or of another first-type dependent-view video stream, first-type viewpoint being positioned such that at least one viewpoint is present between first-type viewpoint and standard viewpoint, and generates second-type dependent-view video stream by encoding frame image group of second-type viewpoint by using, as reference images, frame images of same time of two viewpoints sandwiching second-type viewpoint, second-type viewpoint being neither standard viewpoint nor first-type viewpoint.
US09661318B2 Method and apparatus for inspecting flat panel display
In a method and apparatus for optically inspecting an FPD in a reduced time, the apparatus for inspecting the flat panel display (FPD) comprises a lighting device separated from a top surface of an object and emitting light toward the top surface of the object, a photographing device separated from the top surface of the object and photographing an image using light emitted from the lighting device and then reflected by the top surface of the object, a controller controlling the lighting device and the photographing device to move in a plane separated from and parallel to the top surface of the object, and an image processor connected to the photographing device and processing the photographed image, wherein the image processor samples some of pixels included in the photographed image and converts the sampled pixels to binary form.
US09661316B2 Multi-layer image display device
A multi-layered image display device for realizing a multi-layered image with a depth by overlapping a plurality of two-dimensional images includes: a display which can be selectively transparent and produce a first two-dimensional image through a combination of a plurality of pixels, a screen which is disposed behind the display so as to be overlapped in a forward-backward direction with the display; and a projector which is disposed behind the screen so as to project a second two-dimensional image on the screen. By adopting a screen and a projector instead of a rear display and a backlight unit, the cross stripes of the rear display can be removed so as to prevent the occurrence of the interference pattern (Moire phenomenon) due to the interference of different pixel patterns, and an additional diffuse layer can be omitted so that an assembling process of the multi-layer image display device can be simplified.
US09661313B1 MRI-compatible 3D television and display system
A display system compatible with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus disposed in a magnet room for producing video images to a patient in an MRI magnet tunnel, the images having a three-dimensional (3D) effect. An MRI-compatible 3D display includes a display panel configured to generate optical images having 3D content, and RF and electromagnetic interference filtering. A Faraday cage encloses the display panel, and includes an optically transparent window panel having an electrically conductive mesh and a layer of transparent optically isotropic material.
US09661312B2 Synthesizing second eye viewport using interleaving
A client device and method are provided for use in synthesizing a second eye viewport using interleaving in order to reduce bandwidth costs. The client device may comprise a user input device that receives a stream of user input, a stereoscopic display device, a processor, and a storage device holding instructions for a client application program, executable by the processor to obtain, at a view interpolation module of the client application program, a current rendered rendering surface representing a current view of a scene for a first eye of a user and a previously rendered rendering surface representing a past view of the scene for a second eye of the user, synthesize and display a current second eye viewport representing a current view of the scene for the second eye of the user based on the current rendered rendering surface and the previously rendered rendering surface.
US09661307B1 Depth map generation using motion cues for conversion of monoscopic visual content to stereoscopic 3D
An image converter identifies a subset of frames in a two-dimensional video and determines a global camera motion value for the subset of frames. The image converter also determines a dense motion value for a plurality of pixels in the subset of frames and compares the global camera motion value and the dense motion value to calculate a rough depth map for the subset of frames. The image converter further interpolates, based on the rough depth map, a depth value for each of the plurality of pixels in the subset of frames and renders a three-dimensional video from the subset of frames using the depth value for each of the plurality of pixels.
US09661305B2 Image capture device, depth generating device and method thereof
An image capture device, a depth generating device and a method thereof are disclosed. The present disclosure is characterized in that a depth calculation technology with a structure light projection and a pictorial depth calculation technology are combined to better both of resolution and accuracy of the calculated image depth. In addition, the utilization of a modified flashlight enables the combination of the two technologies to be applied to a hand-held capture device.
US09661294B2 Video data processing method and device for display adaptive video playback
A video data processing method and/device for display adaptive video playback are disclosed. The video data processing method includes receiving video data and dynamic range mastering information including dynamic range related information of the video data from a source device via an interface, and playing the received video data back. The dynamic range mastering information includes electro optical transfer function, EOTF, type information for identifying an EOTF used for the video data.
US09661287B2 Wave based light beam delivery system
A device for projecting images from a video generating device such as a computer, television receiver, or similar device onto a screen or other surface is described in this invention. The device uses a rotating disk containing numerous lenses to direct a light beam from a laser or other light source towards the screen. In one embodiment, a pulsed laser light from red, green, and blue lasers are combined into a single light pulse that is transmitted through the rotating disk that transmit each light pulse to a specific location on the screen.
US09661282B2 Providing local expert sessions
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing local expert sessions. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request to initiate a local expert session from a user; identifying available local experts in response to the request, wherein a local expert is a user who has registered to offer local expert sessions in a geographic location relevant to the physical location of the user; selecting an available local expert; and initiating a local expert session between the user and the selected local expert, wherein initiating the local expert session comprises providing video captured by a session accessory worn by the user to a user device for presentation to the selected local expert and establishing communication between the user and the selected local expert.
US09661281B2 Camera device for refrigerator and refrigerator comprising same
A camera device for use in a storage unit includes a case configured to be detachably installable inside the storage unit to a holder unit configured to hold the case inside the storage unit, an image capturing element provided inside the case and configured to capture an image inside the storage unit where the case is installed, an image capture window provided on a first surface portion of the case and configured for capturing the image inside the storage unit by the image capturing element, and a preventing element configured to prevent the case from being attached to the holder unit in an orientation other than a predetermined orientation. The image capture window is configured for capturing image inside the storage unit by the image capturing element. The holder unit holds the case inside the storage unit. The image capturing element captures the image inside the storage unit with the case being installed in the predetermined orientation.
US09661280B2 Rearview obstruction camera system and associated method
A rearview obstruction camera system provides rearward view if visibility to a driver as a result of cargo impacts a view directly out the rear windshield. Likewise, an occupant(s) sitting in the rear seats can obstruct the view of the driver out the rear the vehicle. In both instances the rearward view is potentially compromised. By using a sensor(s), the rearview obstruction camera system can detect if the line of sight of the driver out the rear of the vehicle is obstructed. If obstructed, the rearview camera captures a live feed of traffic behind a vehicle and the image is displayed in front of the driver (e.g. on the rearview mirror, navigation display, or the like).
US09661279B2 Refrigerator
Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a main body having a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment, in which food is stored, a first door configured to open the first storage compartment via pivotal rotation thereof, a second door configured to be moved forward of the second storage compartment to open the second storage compartment, a receptacle configured to be moved along with the second door and received in the second storage compartment, the receptacle serving to store food therein, and a camera installed to the main body to take a picture of the receptacle. The refrigerator further includes a control unit configured to combine a plurality of pictures taken by the camera as the second door is moved and configured to correct the images into an image showing the receptacle.
US09661278B2 Imaging device, imaging system, and imaging method
An imaging device includes an imaging unit configured take a plurality of images, the imaging unit including a plurality of imaging parts each configured to acquire an imaging data item relevant to one of the plurality of images taken, and a wiring part configured to transmit a plurality of the imaging data items acquired by the plurality of imaging parts. The wiring part includes an external part forming an outline of the wiring part, and a cable part disposed inside the external part. The plurality of imaging parts are disposed along a longitudinal direction of the wiring part, and the imaging unit is configured to acquire the plurality of the imaging data items corresponding to a plurality of imaging positions, and transmit the plurality of the imaging data items by using the cable part.
US09661274B2 Information processing system, information processing method, and program
Provided is an information processing system including a position management unit configured to manage positions of avatars operated by users in a virtual space, a schedule management unit configured to manage a schedule of communication of the users, and a control unit configured to cause communication between terminals used by the users who are scheduled to have the communication to be established when the avatars of the users who are scheduled to have the communication gather in a predefined place in the virtual space and to cause at least one of an image and a voice to be transmitted and received.
US09661273B2 Video conference display method and device
A video conference display method includes: an MCU obtaining a stereoscopic video source of a conference site where a first terminal device in a video conference is located; and the MCU sending the stereoscopic video source to one or more other terminal devices, except the first terminal device, in the video conference, wherein the stereoscopic video source is used by one or more other terminal devices for non-screen displaying of the conference site where the first terminal device is located in one or more conference sites where the one or more other terminal devices are located. The scheme solves the problem of poor user experience of video conferencing, improves the sense of being present at the video conference, has no other differences from an on-site conference except that the entities cannot be touched, improves the user experience, and is an important step towards widely popularizing the video system.
US09661271B1 Multiple display planes for participant collaboration
Multiple display planes for participant collaboration are provided. An end of a first physical display is arranged adjacent to an end of a second physical display to define an angle. An example method includes detecting the angle, establishing, based on detecting the angle, a first physical display plane on the first physical display, a second physical display plane on the second physical display, and a plurality of virtual display planes on the first physical display and the second physical display, and presenting a different video feed of several video feeds in each of the first physical display plane, second physical display plane, and one or more virtual display planes of the plurality of virtual display planes.
US09661270B2 Multiparty communications systems and methods that optimize communications based on mode and available bandwidth
Improved methods, systems, and devices for managing communications are provided. A user device may display all ongoing communications so that a user can visualize the communications network or some subset thereof (e.g., a subgroup or group of users). A system may maintain the user device in an instant ready-on mode of communication with the other user devices. A user may then initiate communications with a subgroup (e.g., a pair) or group without initiating a new connection. Accordingly, a user can simultaneously and fluidly communicate at the subgroup level, at the group level, or at the inter-group level. Moreover, users can function as independent actors that can freely form and leave subgroups as well as groups.
US09661269B2 System for enabling communications and conferencing between dissimilar computing devices including mobile computing devices
In one general embodiment, a system for enabling communications and conferencing between dissimilar computing devices including mobile computing devices. In another embodiment a method for enabling communications and conferencing between dissimilar computing devices including mobile computing devices. In a further embodiment, a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions to cause one or more processors to enable communications and conferencing between dissimilar computing devices including mobile computing devices.
US09661267B2 Videoconferencing system discovery
System and method for discovering videoconferencing systems. A first videoconferencing system may contact a known second videoconferencing system. The first videoconferencing system may receive contact information of one or more other videoconferencing systems from the second videoconferencing system. The first videoconferencing system may send a request signal to a third videoconferencing system of the one or more other videoconferencing systems. The request signal may use the contact, wherein the first videoconferencing system sending the request signal uses the contact information of the third videoconferencing system. The first videoconferencing system may receive a response from the third videoconferencing system, and the response may include information regarding the third videoconferencing system.
US09661259B2 Playback device, control method, and program
In a case where a first access request from a playback controller (131) is a request for requesting reading or writing in a local storage area (111), a data access controller (135) causes a virtual-package-data file system processor (122) to perform reading or writing of virtual package data in the local storage area (111) with priority over the reading or writing of application data in an application data area (112) by a file system processor (123).
US09661256B2 System and method for providing and interacting with coordinated presentations
A system and method for providing uninterrupted video content in a portion of a display while simultaneously providing other content. A coordinated presentation is provided that comprises a content unit and a plurality of controllable display units. The content unit plays video content, a first controllable display unit plays first interactive video content and a second controllable display unit plays second interactive video content. Information regarding a selection event that occurred in the first controllable display unit is received, and a representation of the coordinated presentation is generated. The representation of the coordinated presentation is provided in a third controllable display unit without interrupting the playing of the video content. The first interactive video content is provided in the content unit, wherein the first interactive video content replaces the video content and without interrupting the playing of the first interactive video.
US09661255B2 Display apparatus and control system and method for same
Disclosed is a display apparatus which performs wireless communication with a target control device and a peripheral display apparatus. The display apparatus may include communication circuitry which transmits to the peripheral display apparatus a request message requesting a determination of whether an operation command of the target control device is received when the target control device is operated; and a controller configured to perform a function corresponding to the operation command of the target control device based on a response message to the request message. In the display apparatus and a control system and method for the same, the display apparatus is able to be controlled through a control device paired with a different display apparatus, and since a re-pairing process is not performed, an additional operation in which a user performs the re-pairing process may be removed, and thus user convenience may be improved.
US09661250B2 Image sensor and operating method thereof, motion sensor including the same
There is provided an operating method of an image sensor including: storing a first charge from an optoelectronic element to a pixel buffer circuit within a first exposure period; transferring the first charge from the pixel buffer circuit to a first storage circuit within a second exposure period; storing a second charge from the optoelectronic element to the pixel buffer circuit within the second exposure period after the first charge is transferred; transferring the second charge from the pixel buffer circuit to a second storage circuit; and comparing charges stored in the first storage circuit and in the second storage circuit to output an analog image signal.
US09661246B2 Solid state image pickup device having a capacitor structure made up of a plurality of capacitors
A solid state image pickup device is provided that includes a pixel array unit having a plurality of pixels and a signal processing circuit that has a capacitor operatively configured to process a respective signal output from each of the plurality of pixels. The capacitor is operatively configured as a stacked capacitor or a trench capacitor.
US09661245B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes a processing unit configured to perform predetermined detection processing on image data captured with use of an imaging unit for wide-angle imaging, a determination unit configured to determine whether to transmit geometrically converted image data generated by performing a geometric conversion on the captured image data to a reception apparatus, or to transmit the captured image data, without the geometric conversion, to the reception apparatus, and a control unit configured to perform control for performing the geometric conversion on a result of the predetermined detection processing performed on the captured image data without the geometric conversion, in a case where it is determined that the geometrically converted captured image data is to be transmitted to the reception apparatus.
US09661243B2 CMOS image sensor with column-wise selective charge-domain binning
An imaging device and method for operating the imaging device. Some embodiments comprise a pixel array configured as rows and columns of binning pixel units, each binning pixel unit including a plurality of photosensors that generate respective charge signals in response to incident light. Each binning pixel unit is configured to selectively bin the charge from at least two of the photosensors. The pixel array may be readout in a binning-pixel-unit row by binning-pixel-unit row basis. During readout of each binning pixel unit row, each binning pixel unit in the row is operable to selectively bin at least two of the charge signals therein based on a respective one of control signals provided to each of the binning pixel units in the row. In reading out a binning pixel unit row for a given image frame, a first binning pixel unit may perform in-pixel charge domain binning while a second binning pixel unit in the row may not bin the charge from the different photosensors therein. The respective control signals may be provided as a reset control signal coupled to the binning pixel units via respective vertical reset control lines, each of which is coupled to all of the binning pixel units in a respective column of binning pixel units, each reset control signal being operable to cause potential level resetting of a charge storage region in the binning pixel cell.
US09661240B2 Radiation imaging apparatus comprising a pixel including a conversion element and radiation imaging system
A pixel includes a conversion element detecting radiation, and a switch between the element and a signal line. A readout unit reads out a signal on the signal line. The readout unit includes a reset unit that resets a potential of the signal line. A period during which the readout unit reads out a signal on the signal line includes a first period during which the signal line is reset, and a signal on the signal line in a state that the switch is not turned on is read out, and a second period during which the signal line is reset, and a signal on the signal line due to the switch being turned on is read out. The processing unit calculates a difference between the signals read out in the second and first periods.
US09661239B2 System and method for online processing of video images in real time
The invention is directed to real-time processing of video data. In some examples at least one image of the video data is processed utilizing reference data comprising reference image data of background within a region of interest and clutter image data indicative thereof, to determine a pixel deviation level of each pixel in the at least one image and generate pixel-deviation image data indicative thereof. The pixel-deviation image data is processed to enhance its tonal pixel distribution and generating enhanced image data, which is processed to determine a threshold level based on the tonal pixel distribution. A binary image map is then generated using the determined threshold level, the binary image map being indicative of the background and foreground components of the at least one image.
US09661238B2 Reproducing apparatus and reproducing method
To more flexibly reproduce moving image data obtained by capturing a plurality of frames within the period of a single frame of display output while changing the exposure condition. For example, moving image data, which has been obtained by capturing a plurality of frames within the period of a single frame of display output while changing the exposure condition, is stored in a recording portion. When the moving image data is reproduced from the recording portion, a single frame is selected and output by a reproduced frame selecting portion for each period of a single frame of display output. If a user operation instructing to make the displayed image darker, in response to this user operation, a frame having an exposure condition of underexposure is selected and output from the moving image data to be reproduced from the recording portion for each period of a single frame of display output.
US09661237B2 Image capturing apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium
An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image capturing unit configured to capture a plurality of images with different exposure amounts; an image compositing unit configured to composite the plurality of images and generate a composited image; and a display control unit configured to display the composited image generated by the image compositing unit on a display unit; wherein the display control unit performs control so that, in accordance with an instruction for magnifying a portion of the composited image displayed on the display unit, a magnified image of an image from among the plurality of images captured by the image capturing unit is displayed on the display unit instead of the composited image.
US09661234B2 Image processing method and image processing system assigning different gains to different sections
The present invention discloses an image processing method and an image processing system adopting the same. The method includes the steps of: (a) obtaining a pixel array representing an image; (b) segmenting the pixel array into two or more non-overlapping regions; (c) identifying a capacitor discharging rate of each of the regions; (d) generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal when a voltage level dropping of a capacitor exceeds a predetermined threshold; and (e) applying exposure parameters to the regions according to the capacitor discharging rate of the regions, respectively, wherein the exposure parameter applied to one of the regions is different from the exposure parameter applied to at least another one of the regions.
US09661231B2 Imaging device attachable to a display device
An imaging device includes a communication circuit that transmits an image data to an external display device, and an image sensor. The imaging device also includes an outer case in which the image sensor is disposed, and a coupling a coupling portion disposed at a rear side of the imaging device, where the rear side is opposite side from an light incident side of the image sensor. A large-diameter portion and an inclined portion are provided in the outer case, in a manner that the diameter of the inclined portion is reduced according to approach from the large-diameter portion to the rear side, and an image taking button is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion.
US09661228B1 Robust image feature based video stabilization and smoothing
A method of removing unwanted camera motion from a video sequence is provided. The method matches a group of feature points between each pair of consecutive video frames in the video sequence. The method calculates the motion of each matched feature point between the corresponding pair of consecutive video frames. The method calculates a set of historical metrics for each feature point. The method, for each pair of consecutive video frames, identifies a homography that defines a dominant motion between the pair of consecutive frames. The homography is identified by performing a geometrically biased historically weighted RANSAC on the calculated motion of the feature points. The geometrically biased historically weighted RANSAC gives a weight to the calculated motion of each feature point based on the historical metrics calculated for the feature point. The method removes the unwanted camera motion from the video sequence by using the identified homographies.
US09661225B2 Image capturing apparatus and method thereof
The present disclosure provides an image capturing apparatus for operatively capturing images of an object. The apparatus includes an image capturing module, a shutter, an aperture, setting module, a control module, and a storage module. The setting module determines a threshold value of the image capturing apparatus based on an aperture setting value of the aperture and a shutter setting value of the shutter. The control module drives an accelerometer to detect at least one acceleration value of the image capturing apparatus in a predefined detection period that is initiated when the image capturing apparatus executes an image capturing operation. When an acceleration value detected is determined to be smaller than the threshold value, the control module causes the image capturing module to capture an image of the object.
US09661223B2 Method and device for photographing including camera shake
The present disclosure relates to a method for photographing by a photographing device and the photographing device thereof. The method includes: determining whether camera shake is present in response to an operation of pressing a shutter of the photographing device; determining a target configuration parameter according to a current processing mode of the photographing device if camera shake is present; and adjusting the target configuration parameter. During photographing, according to the methods and devices provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is determined whether camera shake is present, a target configuration parameter is determined according to a current processing mode of a photographing device if camera shake is present, and the target configuration parameter is adjusted. This prevents image blurring of photos due to camera shake, thereby improves image quality, and increases photographing success rate of the photographing device.
US09661222B2 Electronic apparatus and method for controlling the same
Disclosed herein is a digital photographing apparatus which identifies a registered user and applies digital photographing apparatus setting information corresponding to the identified user and a method of controlling the same. The apparatus includes an input unit that receives user identification information; an identifying unit that identifies a user registered to the digital photographing apparatus based on received user identification information; a storage unit that stores setting information regarding the digital photographing apparatus corresponding to a user registered to the digital photographing apparatus; and a control unit that confirms setting information regarding the digital photographing apparatus corresponding to the identified user and applies a setting corresponding to the confirmed setting information to the digital photographing apparatus.
US09661213B2 Camera module
A camera module is disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention comprises: a printed circuit board provided with an image sensor; a lens unit mounted at the upper side of the printed circuit board and arranged at a position corresponding with the image sensor; and an actuator unit for fixing the lens unit and adjusting the focus of an image, wherein a lens barrel has a groove formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof.
US09661212B2 Image acquisition device and focusing method for image acquisition device
In an image acquisition device, an optical path difference generating member can form an optical path length difference of a second light image without splitting light in a second optical path. This can suppress the quantity of light required for the second optical path to obtain information of the focal position, whereby a quantity of light can be secured for a first imaging device to capture an image. The image acquisition device synchronizes the movement of a predetermined part of a sample within a field of an objective lens with rolling readout such that each pixel column of a second imaging device is exposed to a light image of the predetermined part in the sample.
US09661209B2 Remote controlled studio camera system
A system for remotely controlling a camera is disclosed. The system includes five major subsystems; a first subsystem collocated with the camera; a second subsystem which serves as a gateway between the camera and the third subsystem; a third subsystem to remotely monitor the studio and control the camera; a fourth subsystem located at the destination of the video stream; and a fifth subsystem to receive and re-transmit a video control stream. This system allows the camera to be monitored and controlled by one location, while the primary video stream is transmitted to a different location. In some embodiments, the control video stream is a lower bandwidth signal than the primary video stream. Furthermore, the fifth subsystem is capable of receiving and re-transmitting control video streams from a plurality of cameras simultaneously. The second subsystem allows remote access to the first subsystem, such as via the third subsystem, based on approved credentials.
US09661208B1 Enhancing video conferences
Implementations generally relate to enhancing video conferences. In some implementations, a method includes determining one or more characteristics of a video stream provided by a first camera. The method further includes determining one or more functions of the first camera based on the one or more characteristics. The method further includes enabling a browser to control the one or more functions of the first camera, and wherein the browser is remote relative to the first camera.
US09661202B2 Terminal case, mobile terminal, and mobile terminal assembly including the terminal case and the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal assembly is provided. The mobile terminal assembly includes: a terminal case; and a mobile terminal detachable from the terminal case, wherein the terminal case comprises: a case body; and a lens cover openably disposed in the case body, wherein the mobile terminal comprises: a display unit; a camera module including a camera lens disposed at a position corresponding to the lens cover; a lens cover sensing unit sensing whether the lens cover is opened or closed; and a control unit configured to execute a camera application on the basis of whether the lens cover is opened or closed.
US09661196B2 Camera module
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a camera module configured to prevent a warp of an optical axis of a lens holder, the camera module including a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a base, a first lens holder arranged at an upper surface of the base and including at least one or more lens modules therein, a second lens holder forming an outer cover of the first lens holder, and an actuator concentrically arranged with an optical axis of the lens module for adjusting a focus of an image captured by the image sensor.
US09661195B2 Automatic microphone selection in a sports camera based on wet microphone determination
An audio capture system for a sports camera includes at least one “enhanced” microphone and at least one “reference” microphone. The enhanced microphone includes a drainage enhancement feature to enable water to drain from the microphone more quickly than the reference microphone. A microphone selection controller selects between the microphones based on a microphone selection algorithm to enable high quality in conditions where the sports camera transitions in and out of water during activities such as surfing, water skiing, swimming, or other wet environments.
US09661193B2 Imaging apparatus and analyzing apparatus
An imaging apparatus includes a lens optical system including a lens, a stop, and first through nth divided optical elements in which first through nth optical regions are defined, respectively, along a plane perpendicular to an optical axis and positioned to be point-symmetric with respect to the optical axis, an image sensor, and a microlens array guiding light that has passed through the first through nth optical regions to the first through nth pixels of the image sensor, respectively. At least three of s1, . . . , and Sn are mutually different and a relation of si≧si+1 is satisfied, where s1, . . . , and sn represent mean luminances of images obtained from the first through nth pixels, respectively. The first optical region and the nth optical region are positioned not to be point-symmetric to each other with respect to the optical axis.
US09661191B2 Image capture apparatus having function of generating frame synchronization signal at constant cycle
An image capture apparatus including a timing generator that generates a frame synchronization signal with a constant cycle receives a reference signal generated at a predetermined interval based on a predetermined reference cycle, compares generation timing of the reference signal received with generation timing of the frame synchronization signal generated by the timing generator, and adjusts a generation cycle of the frame synchronization signal generated by the timing generator based on a result of the comparison.
US09661189B2 Method and apparatus for adaptive rate-based image data transmission and reception
A method of transmitting data, including obtaining luma element values and chroma element values of respective pixels included in a pixel block having a predetermined size; obtaining a plurality of partitions in which the luma element values and the chroma element values are based on a spatial position of the pixels in the pixel block; and selectively transmitting the plurality of partitions according to a data rate of the image data.
US09661183B2 Image correction apparatus and method
The present disclosure relates an image correction apparatus and method. The image correction apparatus includes a printing unit for printing an image; a scratch detecting unit which detects a scratch region from a scan image scanned per line; and a restoration processing unit which performs the restoration of the scratch region by interpolation if the width of the scratch region detected by the scratch detecting unit is less than a predetermined value and, if the width thereof is not less than the predetermined value, does not perform a restoration of the scratch region but provides the printing unit with the scan image, thereby correcting an image distortion by easily detecting an image distortion due to foreign matter.
US09661181B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus has a data acquisition unit that acquires first multi-valued data for a first ink that is not black ink and second multi-valued data for a second ink that is black ink; a threshold value acquisition unit that acquires a threshold value from a threshold value matrix; an offsetting unit that offsets at least one of the threshold value and the second multi-valued data; and a generating unit that generates first quantized data for the first ink by comparing the first multi-valued data and the threshold value, and generate second quantized data for the second ink by comparing the second multi-valued data and the threshold value with offset by the offsetting unit. Dispersibility of dots printed at positions corresponding to threshold values from a minimum value to a predetermined value is higher than that corresponding to threshold values except from the minimum value to the predetermined value.
US09661179B2 Image processing device, information processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium
In an information processing device, a reading unit reads in a filled-in document. A recognition unit recognizes a standard document type and an information structure of the document. A storage unit stores content filled in on the document. If the read-in document is not a most recent version, a comparing unit compares the information structure of the most recent version of a preregistered standard document type corresponding to the recognized standard document type to the recognized information structure. A generation unit generates a differential document of the modified information structure, according to a result of the comparison. An output unit outputs the generated differential document. If a filled-in differential document is read in, a merge unit merges filled-in content on the differential document with filled-in content on the stored document, and the storage unit replaces the already-stored content with the merged content.
US09661178B2 Biased document backing
A document backing extending in a plane is resiliently biased in a direction substantially parallel to the plane.
US09661176B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and image formation control method
Illustration image data drawn correspondingly to reading of an adjustment chart are memorized in a memory section, an adjustment chart is formed in a image mode in an image forming section, adjustment image data produced by reading the adjustment chart in an image reading section are analyzed, illustration image data corresponding to an analysis result of the adjustment image data are selected at the time of adjusting the image forming section based on the analysis result, and display data of the illustration image data are produced.
US09661168B2 Image forming apparatus, method for setting apparatus, and computer-readable medium
An image forming apparatus includes: a memory configured to store identification information identifying an information terminal device and mode information indicating a mode corresponding to the information terminal device in association with each other; a communication interface configured to receive from the information terminal device a wireless signal including identification information that is stored in the information terminal device and identifies the information terminal device, and determine an intensity of the received wireless signal; and a controller configured to, when determining that the determined intensity of the received wireless signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined intensity, read from the memory the mode information corresponding to the identification information included in the received wireless signal, and set the image forming apparatus to the mode indicated by the read mode information.
US09661162B2 Information providing device, image forming device, and transmission system for providing image data to a transmission terminal that performs video communication
An information providing device is capable of communicating with an image forming device, a data managing device, and a transmission terminal. The information providing device includes a storage unit; a communication unit that transmits a forming instruction to instruct the image forming device to perform image forming, and receives, from the image forming device, storage location information indicating the data managing device that stores data obtained by image forming by the image forming device and indicating a storage location in the data managing device; and a storage location managing unit that generates, in the storage unit, management information in which identification information of the image data is associated with the storage location information. The communication unit receives the data saved in the storage location indicated by the storage location information from the data managing device and transmits the received data to the transmission terminal.
US09661161B2 Roaming printing by assigning ID informaton of a user to print job data and transmitting the assigned ID information to printing devices on a network by multi-casting
A method of printing a document is described. The method comprises a workstation generating and storing print job data for a document, the workstation assigning ID information to the print job data, the user inputting the assigned ID information at a chosen printing device, the printing device transmitting a print job data request signal to the workstation, and the workstation transmitting the print job data to the printing device.
US09661160B2 System and method for providing cloud printing service
Provided is an image forming system operable to provide a cloud printing service, the image forming system comprising: a transmitting device operable to transmit content by designating a target phone number; a cloud printing server operable to receive the target phone number and the content from the transmitting device; a receiving device assigned with the target phone number and operable to receive an upload notification of the content with respect to the target phone number from the cloud printing server; and an image forming device operable to print the content by receiving the content from the cloud printing server, wherein the cloud printing server transmits the content to the image forming device registered in the target phone number when the cloud printing service is requested for the content to the target phone number.
US09661158B2 Image forming apparatus that delivers image data displayed on digital signage devices and computer-readable non-transitory recording medium with image forming apparatus control program recorded thereon
An image forming apparatus includes an image reading section, a storage section, a communication section, an acceptance section, and an operation control section. The storage section has a plurality of storage regions at least one of which is associated one-to-one with one or more digital signage devices. The operation control section is configured to, when the acceptance section accepts a delivery instruction, allow the image reading section to read an original document and generate image data from the read original document, allow the storage section to store the image data generated by the image reading section in the one or more respective storage regions associated with the one or more digital signage devices designated in the delivery instruction, and allow the communication section to send the image data stored in the one or more associated storage regions to the one or more respective digital signage devices.
US09661156B2 Error assistance using heads-up display
According to one embodiment, a system for providing error assistance for a device is disclosed. The error assistance is provided to an optical head-mounted display (OHMD) of a user. The system includes a server configured to receive an input, including one or more identifiers for the device, from the OHMD of the user or a mobile device of the user. The identifiers may include at least one of a serial number of the device, an identifier scanned from a tag of the device, and an error code identifying the device error. The server identifies the device and device error based on the identifiers. The server determines instructions for fixing the device error and generates an augmented display to provide on the OHMD of the user. The augmented display includes an image, icon, text, audio, or video, representative of a part of the device or an instruction for repairing the device.
US09661154B1 Ink model derivation mechanism using Weibull distribution function
A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes a printer controller to receive optical density (OD) measurement data corresponding to application of a halftone pattern using ink on a medium in a printing system and calculate a predicted OD versus normalized ink coverage relationship for the printing system based on the received OD measurement data.
US09661145B2 Method for carrying out an audio conference, audio conference device, and method for switching between encoders
A method and an audio conference device for carrying out an audio conference are disclosed, whereby classification information associated with a respective audio date flow is recorded for supplied audio data flows. According to a result of an evaluation of the classification information, the audio data flows are associated with at least three groups which are homogeneous with regard to the results. The individual audio data flows are processed uniformly in each group in terms of the signals thereof, and said audio data flows processed in this way are superimposed in order to form audio conference data flows to be transmitted to the communication terminals.
US09661133B2 Electronic device and method for extracting incoming/outgoing information and managing contacts
A method and electronic device for extracting incoming/outgoing information and managing contacts are provided. The method includes determining whether a communicating electronic device which has been or is in communication with the electronic device is included as a contact in a first contact list; extracting incoming/outgoing information based on at least one of metadata and contents of the communication with the communicating electronic device when the communicating electronic device is not included as a contact in the first contact list; and displaying the extracted incoming/outgoing information on a touchscreen of the electronic device.
US09661132B2 Method, apparatus, and storage medium for displaying a conversation interface
A method, an apparatus, and storage medium for displaying a conversation interface. In the method: the terminal displays a caller identification display interface when a call request is received from a calling party. The terminal obtains a dynamic image associated with the calling party while displaying the caller identification display interface. The terminal displays the dynamic image in the caller identification display interface. The calling party in the conversation is indicated by using one or more dynamic images so that the display effect is diversified and visualized.
US09661131B2 Billing policy management for multi-number phones
A computer-implemented method for managing a billing policy for mobile phone associated with a first phone number corresponding to a first account and a second phone number corresponding to a second account is described herein. The billing policy defines actions performed by the mobile phone to be charged to the first account, and defines actions performed by the mobile phone to be charged to the second account. Charges are allocated to one of the first account and second account based on the billing policy. A user can configured to phone to operate in a private mode, in response to which actions are charged to a default account of the two accounts, and information about the action is not provided to an external entity.
US09661130B2 Systems and methods for managing, analyzing, and providing visualizations of multi-party dialogs
Systems and methods are provided for managing and analyzing multi-party dialogs (e.g., call) between communication devices. A digital connection is established with each of a plurality of communication devices. The connection is switched between the communication devices from a POTS connection to digital connections, enabling the communication devices to communicate with each other via the computing device over the digital connections. Audio signals are part of a multi-party dialog between users of the plurality of communication devices. The received audio signals are split into corresponding first signals and second signals. The first signals are transmitted to the plurality of communication devices and are analyzed to produce measurements of features of the second signals. Feedback data is transmitted to at least one of the plurality of communication devices.
US09661123B1 Secure remote actuation system with data connection port
A secure remote actuation system may comprise a remote input receptor and a network. The remote input receptor may comprise a user interface for receiving user inputs from a user and one or more data connection ports. The network may comprise a combination of computer systems interconnected by telecommunications equipment or cables allowing information to be exchanged. The network may also comprise a network device for obtaining the user inputs from the remote input receptor. One or more acceptable inputs may be stored on the network. In the present invention, the network device obtains the user inputs from the remote input receptor while the user is using the user interface and then the network compares the user inputs to the acceptable inputs.
US09661117B2 Wearable devices for headset status and control
One embodiment features a wearable device having computer-readable media and comprising: an output device; a receiver configured to communicate over a wireless link with a phone; and a processor configured to cause the output device to indicate a status of a headset, the headset being in wireless communication with the phone, responsive to the receiver receiving, over the wireless link, an indication of the status of the headset. Another embodiment features a wearable device having associated computer-readable media and comprising: an output device; a receiver configured to communicate over a wireless link with a headset; and a processor configured to cause the output device to indicate a status of a headset responsive to the receiver receiving, over the wireless link, an indication of the status of the headset.
US09661114B2 Foldable, flexible display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A foldable, flexible display apparatus includes a flexible display panel which displays an image and includes a display side on which the image is displayed and of which portions thereof face each other in a folded state of the flexible display apparatus; a cover window on the display side of the flexible display panel and including: a window film comprising a transparent plastic film having a modulus of elasticity of about 6.3 gigapascals or more; and a coating layer on the window film, and configured to be transparent and to protect the window film from physical damage thereto; and an adhesive layer between the window film and the display side of the flexible display panel, and configured to have elasticity and bond the window film and the flexible display panel to each other.
US09661111B2 Method and system for serialization and deserialization (SERDES) for inter-system communications
An integrated circuit may comprise a tuner operable to digitize a band of frequencies comprising a plurality of television channels, a crossbar operable to select one or more of the plurality of television channels output by the tuner, a plurality of demodulators operable to receive the selected one or more television channels from the crossbar and demodulate the selected one or more television channels to recover a plurality of transport streams, a transport module operable to multiplex the plurality of transport streams into a single packet stream, and a framer operable to: encapsulate packets of the plurality of transport streams into transport stream frames of a serial datastream, and insert filler frames into the serial datastream after every Nth transport stream frame of the serial datastream, where N is an integer.
US09661110B2 System and method for enabling channel access enhancements in existing communication networks
Described herein is a system and method for enhanced channel access in existing communication networks. The system comprising: a first enhanced node comprising a first processor, the first processor configured to: transmit a legacy frame header of a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU), the legacy frame header comprising an indicator indicating that sub-PPDUs will be transmitted during a duration associated with transmission of a legacy PPDU; a second enhanced node comprising a second processor configured to receive the legacy frame header; and a third enhanced node comprising a third processor configured to receive the legacy frame header.
US09661108B2 Per-request control of DNS behavior
In various embodiments, a user or subscriber of a domain name system (DNS) service that provides various DNS resolution options or features, such as misspelling redirection, parental filters, domain blocking, or phishing protection through the DNS process, can influence how requests for domain name (DNS) information are handled on a per-request basis. The user or subscriber may configure the DNS client software of their personal computer or configure their broadband router to provide control information to a DNS server with DNS resolution options that enables the DNS server to resolve DNS queries with the DNS resolution options on a per-request basis. As a result, the user can mitigate exposure to pop-ups, pop-unders, banner ads, fraudulent offers, malware, viruses, or the like, from websites using the domain name system.
US09661103B2 Mobile device having improved polling characteristics for background applications
A method for managing applications configured for execution on a mobile device is provided. The method includes receiving one or more network access requests from one or more applications executing on the mobile device, determining that the mobile device is operating in a background mode, suppressing transmission to a network of the one or more network access requests based on the determination, and transmitting a subset of the one or more network access requests upon transition out of the background mode.
US09661102B2 System and method for sharing data
A data sharing system includes at least one first client device, at least one second client device, and a hub equipment. The at least one first client device provides data. The at least one second client device receives data. The hub equipment receives data from the first client device using a first transmission protocol, and transmits the received data to the second client device using a second transmission protocol.
US09661099B2 Resource arbitration in a converged multi-media environment
A data communication system, comprising an access control agent arranged on a network to allocate network resources on one or more UE (user equipment) devices on the network according to one or more parameters, the access control agent being remote from the UE.
US09661098B2 Communication method of node overhearing content in content centric network and node
A communication method of a node in a content centric network, includes overhearing a content transmitted from another node, caching the overheard content, and providing the cached content in response to receiving a packet requesting the cached content.
US09661089B2 Customized presentation of event guest lists in a social networking system
A user creates an event in a social networking system specifying a location, a time, and a guest list of other users invited to the event. The social networking system generates a page associated with the event that provides information about the event and identifies whether users have responded to invitations to the event. The content of the page may be customized for the user viewing the page to encourage the viewing user to attend the event. For example, the viewing user's relationship to and/or similar characteristics with other users on the guest list is determined and used by the social networking system to identify the users whose responses to invitations are shown to the viewing user via the page. Additionally, a notification method more prominently distributes acceptances of invitations to other users to encourage attendance.
US09661072B2 Content-acquisition source selection and management
A plurality of sources storing portions of a digital content item that includes a plurality of pieces is identified. The plurality of sources includes one or more peer computers of a peer-to-peer network. For each piece of the plurality of pieces of the digital content item, that piece is acquired from a source.
US09661070B2 Controlling the operation of server computers
A plurality of server computers in a network that includes load balancing processes to enhance performance employs a non-performance related variable, such as power consumption, and modifies the load balancing processes in response to the reading of the non-performance variable. Such variables do not affect the response and performance as perceived by a browsing client but do provide other advantages with in the environment as a whole. The non-performance related variable is employed such that one or more of said server computers are de-activated to reduce power consumption, and the load balancing processes balance load across the remaining active server computers.
US09661060B2 Method, server and system for converging desktop application and web application
A method, Web server and computer system for converging a desktop application and a Web application. The method includes: in response to a request from a client user for using a target desktop application, starting a desktop application initialization process on the Web server and determining an appropriate corresponding hosting server for the user; preparing and provisioning desktop application environment on the corresponding hosting server and starting the target desktop application; transmitting the corresponding hosting server's address to the client to make desktop application interaction between the client and the corresponding hosting server; and in response to the completion of the desktop application interaction, stopping and exiting the target desktop application on the corresponding hosting server. The client user is provided with a unified Web console for accessing desktop applications and Web applications and Web files can be shared between the desktop applications and the Web applications.
US09661059B2 System and method for zero latency browsing
A system replicates Internet websites on a large number of user computers having browsers. The system includes a gateway platform having a gateway server and a cache. In the broadcast mode, the gateway server periodically or continuously images broadcast data (e.g., popular websites), compresses the website images, and stores the compressed website images in the gateway cache. The gateway server then broadcasts all of the compressed broadcast data to all (millions) of the user computers over a broadcast device (such as a satellite), for subsequent display by the user in the browser. In the unicast mode, the user requests unicast data (e.g., less-popular websites or websites having highly user-customized information) at the browser. The gateway server images that one web page, compresses the unicast data, and transmits the compressed unicast data over the broadcast device substantially in real time to the one requesting user computer.
US09661056B2 Modification free extension of web based applications
A system is described for creating a customized modification free extension of a software application. The software application can be an application configured to be executed in a runtime framework on a web browser. When the web browser launches the custom application, the base application can be identified and retrieved. Once retrieved, the web browser can merge the custom application and the base application and execute the resulting merged application.
US09661055B2 Method and system for redirecting a client
A method and a system for redirecting a client are disclosed, the method including: sending by the client a request message to a redirect agent; returning by the redirect agent a first response message to the client, an identification of a second realm being carried in the first response message; sending by the client the request message to a second server in the second realm. The data are maintained and modified only on the redirect agent, so that the redirection service between different realms may be realized without upgrading or maintaining the client. In addition, because the number of redirect agents is much smaller than the number of clients, the operation and maintenance costs may be reduced greatly.
US09661052B1 Reconfiguring a streaming application to reduce latency mismatches
A latency reconfiguration mechanism in a streams manager detects latency mismatches in a streaming application that affect the performance of the streaming application, and reconfigures the streaming application to minimize the latency mismatches. The reconfiguration can include fusing adjacent processing elements into a single processing element, co-locating adjacent processing elements on the same machine, moving processing elements and/or network links, adding parallel processing elements, and rearranging processing elements and/or network links to create more consistent latency paths. By minimizing latency mismatches and providing more consistent latency paths, the performance of a streaming application is increased by not having to perform significant reordering of data tuples.
US09661051B2 Streamloading content, such as video content for example, by both downloading enhancement layers of the content and streaming a base layer of the content
Video streaming applications are a major contributor to the recent dramatic rise of data traffic in cellular networks. Mobile users in a cellular network often experience fluctuating data rates, which might affect the quality of video they view in a streaming service. Although replacing such video streaming services with video downloading/renting services could potentially allow such mobile users to enjoy consistently higher quality videos, such services typically cost a lot more than video streaming services because of legal copyright pricing and management issues. By downloading enhancement layers but streaming base layers of the content, mobile users can enjoy download-quality videos with a service (legally) classified as a streaming service.
US09661050B2 Systems and methods for segmentation of content playlist and dynamic content insertion
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and computer-readable media related to segmenting media content playlist for dynamic insertion of non-entertainment content during a streaming session.A request for media content associated with a streaming session in a network may be received from one or more client devices. In response to the received request, a media content playlist may be identified. In response to the received request, a non-entertainment playlist may be identified, where the non-entertainment playlist comprises one or more references pointing to one or more non-entertainment content, the one or more references including at least a first reference pointing to a first non-entertainment content and a second reference pointing to a second non-entertainment content. the media content playlist may be segmented into one or more segments including at least a first segment and a second segment. the first reference may be appended to the first segment and the second reference may be appended to the second segment. the first segment and the appended first reference may be transmitted for consumption by the one or more client devices. based at least in part on a received indication, it may be determined to update the second non-entertainment content with a third non-entertainment content using the second reference. the second non-entertainment content may be updated with the third non-entertainment content.
US09661048B2 Asset streaming and delivery
Asset streaming and delivery including intercepting, at an asset streaming client, a request to exploit an asset virtualized on the asset streaming client. The asset is identified and an asset snapshot of the asset is obtained. Portions of the asset needed to exploit the asset according to the intercepted request exploit the asset are determined from an asset snapshot of the asset. The portions of the asset needed to exploit the asset according to the intercepted request are obtained and the asset is exploited according to the intercepted request using the portions of the asset.
US09661045B2 System and methods for dynamic transcoder rate adaption for adaptive bit rate streaming
A system and methods for providing dynamic transcoder rate adaption for an adaptive bit streaming function is described. In a first embodiment, a client may select from all available bit rates during the encoding session, wherein the bit rates are provided to the client via a manifest file from a media gateway. In a second embodiment, a subset of the bit rates are provided to the client, from which a client chooses a selected bit rate. The encoding session continues until a request for a new bit rate is received from the client, at which time a new subset of bit rates are generated. This new subset of bit rates is presented to the client, and this loop continues until the termination of the encoding session.
US09661040B2 Collaboration processing apparatus, collaboration processing system, and program
A collaboration processing apparatus that is connected to plural electronic apparatuses, receives a request from an application installed in the collaboration processing apparatus, and controls the electronic devices based on the received request to perform a collaboration process by causing the application and the electronic devices to collaborate, includes a capability information providing unit which receives an acquisition request for information related to capability of the electronic device via a previously defined interface and provides the information related to the capability of the electronic devices in response to the received acquisition request; and an execution controlling unit which receives the execution request based on the information of the capability from the application, to which the information related to the capability is provided by the capability information providing unit, via the previously defined interface, and controls the electronic devices based on the received execution request.
US09661039B2 Recommending resources to members of a social network
Systems and methods for presenting recommendations for resources to be used by members in learning about and/or acquiring a skill are described. In some example embodiments, the systems and methods receive information associated with a skill from a member of a social network, identify members of the social network that are associated with the skill, receive information from the identified members of the social network that identifies one or more resources associated with the skill, and generate a list of recommended resources that is based on the information received from the identified members of the social network.
US09661037B2 Method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for transferring a collaboration session
A method for transferring a collaboration session from a handheld device to a multimedia endpoint by encoding session data for the collaboration session and/or instructions into an optically machine-readable representation of data, displaying the data on a display of the handheld device, and optically providing the data to a multimedia endpoint the collaboration session is to be transferred to. The multimedia endpoint may send a message to a server upon detecting the data, causing the server to transfer the collaboration session, based on the session data in the message. Alternatively, the multimedia endpoint establishes a session with another multimedia endpoint based on the instructions and/or session data.
US09661032B2 Client and a method in a client in a communication network for providing a service
A client and a method in a client in a communication network comprising a core network, for providing a communication service, is provided. The method comprises receiving a session setup request from an originating party, requesting a session with a destination party. The setup request comprises a capability indication associated with the originating party and a session type indication. The method further comprises determining capabilities of devices in a first communication context associated with the destination party and comparing the capabilities of the devices in the first communication context to the capability indication and to the session type indication in the received request Still further, the method comprises determining a level of correspondence between the capability indication and the session type indication, and the capabilities of devices in the first communication context, and indicating a device in the first communication context having a suitable level of correspondence to the capability indication associated with the originating party and the session type indication.
US09661027B2 Informational enrichment for interactive systems
Interactive services are enhanced by intercepting a session initiation protocol message used to initiate a bidirectional communication and in transit to a networked recipient computer that provides interactive services for the bidirectional communication to be initiated. Supplemental information is obtained based on information in the session initiation protocol message in order to provide to the networked recipient computer of the bidirectional communication to be initiated. A computer processor of an intermediary computer is used to insert the supplemental information into the session initiation protocol message. The session initiation protocol message is routed with the supplemental information inserted to the networked recipient computer that provides the interactive services for the bidirectional communication to be initiated.
US09661026B2 Applying security policy to an application session
Applying a security policy to an application session, includes recognizing the application session between a network and an application via a security gateway, determining by the security gateway a user identity of the application session using information about the application session, obtaining by the security gateway the security policy comprising network parameters mapped to the user identity, and applying the security policy to the application session by the security gateway. The user identity may be a network user identity or an application user identity recognized from packets of the application session. The security policy may comprise a network traffic policy mapped and/or a document access policy mapped to the user identity, where the network traffic policy is applied to the application session. The security gateway may further generate a security report concerning the application of the security policy to the application session.
US09661024B2 Configuring applications and policies in non-cooperative environments
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for configuring applications and policies in non-cooperative environments. Embodiments of the invention provide the ability to configure non-cooperative applications and operating systems to comply with a policy. For example, applications and operating systems at a user's (e.g., an information worker's) personal device (e.g., smartphone) can be appropriately configured to provide more secure access to a corporate IT infrastructure. An IT worker can programmatically repackage an application to comply with a policy, deploy it to a user's personal device, and adjust the application's behavior during execution to comply with the policy. Adjusted behavior can include injecting custom user interfaces into an application to support various scenarios. Injecting a custom user interface can be facilitated by tracking visual context for an application across one or more displays and switching between the application's visual context and the custom user interface.
US09661023B1 Systems and methods for automatic endpoint protection and policy management
A computer-implemented method for dynamically adjusting server settings is described. In one embodiment, at least one parameter of a status of a server that diverges from a corresponding baseline setting of a policy maintained by the server may be identified. An adjustment to the baseline setting of the policy may be calculated based at least in part on the divergent parameter. The baseline setting of the policy may be adjusted according to the calculated adjustment. A command may be issued to send data representative of the adjusted baseline setting of the policy from the server to a client to update a user profile.
US09661022B2 System and method for authorizing devices joining a network fabric
A control unit that is configured to instruct a device to implement a limitation on a port and broadcast a controller address. The control unit is further configured to receive first identification information associated with a second device connected to the port from the device, the first identification information being addressed to the controller address. Additionally, the control unit is configured to establish a communication link with the second device through the device and the port, receive second identification information associated with the second device over the communication link, determine whether the second device is authorized based on a policy, determine whether the first identification information and second identification information match, and instruct the first device to remove the limitation on the port in response to determining that the second device is authorized and that the first identification information matches the second identification information.
US09661016B2 Data center infrastructure management system incorporating security for managed infrastructure devices
A system is disclosed for enhancing detection of a security threat to a managed infrastructure device operating within a data center. The system may have a data center infrastructure management (DCIM) system for monitoring operation of the managed infrastructure device. The DCIM system may include a remote access appliance for communicating with the managed infrastructure device. The managed infrastructure device may include an on-board computer. The remote access appliance may include an engine configured to detect if information to be communicated to the on-board computer poses a security threat to the managed infrastructure device.
US09661012B2 Systems and methods for identifying information related to payment card breaches
Approaches for determining a potential merchant breach are described. A system can acquire card transaction data from one or more sources such as merchants or financial institutions, in some instances at a predetermined time interval. Cards associated with the card transaction data can be analyzed to determine the health of a particular card, including the likelihood that the particular card has been compromised. A set of cards are accumulated, and their associated health data is stored. Based on the information obtained from a source, and the health associated with a set of cards, a potential date where a merchant was breached can be determined and fraudulent purchases can be prevented.
US09661006B2 Method for protection of automotive components in intravehicle communication system
Methods and systems for mitigating cyber attacks on components of an automotive communication system are disclosed. These methods and systems comprise elements of hardware and software for receiving a frame; determining whether the frame potentially affects correct operation of an automotive component; and, taking protective action.
US09661004B1 Systems and methods for using reputation information to evaluate the trustworthiness of files obtained via torrent transactions
A computer-implemented method for using reputation information to evaluate the trustworthiness of files obtained via torrent transactions may include (1) identifying a torrent file that includes metadata for facilitating a torrent transaction for obtaining a target file via a peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol, (2) identifying at least one entity involved in the torrent transaction, (3) obtaining reputation information associated with the entity involved in the torrent transaction, wherein the reputation information identifies a community's opinion on the trustworthiness of the entity, (4) determining, based at least in part on the reputation information associated with the entity involved in the torrent transaction, that the target file represents a potential security risk, and then (5) performing a security action on the target file. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09661001B2 User interface for selection of multiple accounts and connection points
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a user interface that enables a user to more easily identify servers that may be used to set access permissions for content items. The method and system described herein includes receiving user credentials that are associated with a user. In response to receiving the user credentials, one or more servers associated with the user credentials are displayed. The one or more servers are configured to manage information rights for a content item created by the user. Upon receiving a selection of one of the one or more servers, a list of one or more templates supported by the selected server is displayed to the user. The one or more templates identify information rights that may be applied to the content item.
US09660999B2 Discovery and connection to a service controller
The claimed subject matter includes techniques for discovering to and connecting to a service controller. The claimed subject matter may disclose a processor and a memory of a service controller to store connection information, an access credential, and an access credential hash. A beacon broadcaster to broadcast the connection information and the access credential hash to a client device, may also be disclosed. The present disclosure may also include an access credential director to send the access credential to an out-of-band communicator. The present disclosure may also include a client connector to receive a connection request from the client device and allow access to a client device based on the client device's use of the connection information.
US09660997B2 Access permissions entitlement review
A system for operating an enterprise computer network including multiple network objects, said system comprising monitoring and collection functionality for obtaining continuously updated information regarding at least one of access permissions and actual usage of said network objects, and entitlement review by owner functionality operative to present to at least one owner of at least one network object a visually sensible indication of authorization status including a specific indication of users which were not yet authorized by said at least one owner of said at least one network object.
US09660990B2 Temporarily providing higher privileges for computing system to user identifier
A root user identifier of a computing system is disabled. Thereafter, and in response to determining that a problem with the computing system requires root privileges to the computing system to solve, a code patch for installation on the computing system is received from a third party. The code patch is installed on the computing system, resulting in a user identifier temporarily having the root privileges to the computing system. The user identifier is different than the root user identifier is. A password for the user identifier is provided to the third party to permit the third party to solve the problem with the computing system using the root privileges, via the user identifier temporarily having the root privileges to the computing system. The code patch is computer code installable on the computing system.
US09660989B1 Internet-wide identity management widget
Internet-wide identity management is described, including providing a user interface associated with a service provider; receiving, by an identity provider, a request to login a user associated with the service provider, the service provider being different from the identity provider; providing, by the identity provider to the service provider, a login status indicating that the user is authenticated, wherein, based on the login status, the user is authorized by the service provider to access a service provided by the service provider; and providing a widget associated with the login status, the widget being configured to present one or more settings associated with the user, including a first setting and a second setting, wherein the first setting is used by the service provider and the second setting is used by another service provider and not used by the service provider, and the another service provider is different from the identity provider.
US09660986B2 Secure access method and secure access device for an application program
A secure access method for an application (app) program is to be implemented by a secure access device, which includes first authentication data and a first control regulation. The secure access method includes the steps of making a determination as to whether a to-be-authenticated app program, which is executed in an operating system, is provided with the first authentication data and the first control regulation; and, when a result of the determination is negative, identifying the to-be-authenticated app program as an unauthenticated illegitimate app program, and disallowing the illegitimate app program to access a to-be-accessed device.
US09660982B2 Reset and recovery of managed security credentials
Disclosed are various embodiments for management functions relating to security credentials. Account data, which includes multiple security credentials for multiple network sites for a user, is stored in an encrypted form. A request to temporarily change the account data is obtained from a client. The request specifies a master security credential for accessing the account data. In response to the request, the multiple security credentials for the account data are changed to a single temporary security credential, as specified by a user. After an expiration period expires, the multiple security credentials are automatically reset to a plurality of different security credentials.
US09660975B2 Method and apparatus for identity federation gateway
Techniques for an ID federation gateway include determining whether a user associated with a request for a particular network resource is to be identified by the provider of the particular service or by a different party. The service also comprises causing the different party to provide identification data that indicates an identity for the user, if the user is to be identified by the different party. The method further comprises causing user credentials data, based on the identification data, to be sent to an authentication process of the provider for a set of one or more network resources that includes the particular network resource requested by the user, if the data indicates that the user is successfully identified.
US09660970B1 Cryptographic key distribution
An HSM management hub coordinates the distribution and synchronization of cryptographic material across a fleet of connected hardware security modules (“HSMs”). Cryptographic material is exchanged between HSMs in the fleet in a cryptographically protected format. In some examples, the cryptographic material is encrypted using a common fleet key maintained by the HSMs in the fleet. In other examples, the cryptographic material is protected using asymmetric cryptographic keys that are associated with the members of the HSM fleet. The HSM management hub may be used to divide the HSM fleet into subdomains by providing domain keys to subsets of HSMs within the HSM fleet. Cryptographic information that is encrypted with particular domain keys can be distributed across the entire HSM fleet, and restricted to use by authorized HSMs that are in possession of the particular domain keys.
US09660967B1 Big data markers for stream labeling, identification and decoding
Embodiments are directed towards a big data marker (BDM) model that provides label support, seeking, and decoding of arbitrary positions within small or large data streams. The features of the BDM model may be provided by a library having an easy-to-use application programming interface. The library may be considered an extension to existing data optimization and/or data encryption codecs that provides additional labeling and random access capabilities for encoding and decoding. The library enables labeling and seeking of single or multiple labels associated with various positions in a data stream, and allows encoding and decoding of full or partial streams. The library may be used with applications that already manage big data sets for archiving, logging, or backups. The library can also extend the capabilities of existing codecs by enabling the inclusion of labels and random access encoding/decoding via a common programming interface.
US09660963B2 Adaptive encryption optimization
Adaptive encryption optimization is disclosed. A first secure tunnel is established between a device and a node. It is determined that a second secure tunnel between an application on the device and a server has been established. The second secure tunnel is established at least in part using the first secure tunnel. The first secure tunnel is removed based at least in part on the determination that the second secure tunnel has been established.
US09660962B2 Network-attached storage gateway validation
An indication to validate operation of a network-attached storage gateway is received. The network-attached storage gateway communicatively couples a client and an object store. a virtual namespace is generated based, at least in part, on a network-based file system implemented by the network-attached storage gateway. A first file system entity is selected from the virtual namespace. A first identifier of the first object in the object store is determined. The first object corresponds to the first file system entity. The first object is retrieved from the object store based, at least in part, on the first identifier. The first object is retrieved by bypassing the network-attached storage gateway. It is determined whether the first object matches the first file system entity.
US09660957B2 Information processing apparatus and recording medium
An information processing apparatus includes plural network interfaces, a specifying unit, a setting unit, and an assigning unit. The plural network interfaces include a first network interface for connection of the apparatus to a network, and a second network interface for direct wireless connection of another device to the apparatus. The specifying unit specifies a subnet by way of which data transmitted from the first network interface pass. The setting unit sets a network address that belongs to a subnet that is different from the specified subnet to the second network interface. The assigning unit assigns a network address that belongs to a subnet that is the same as the network address set to the second network interface to the other device.
US09660951B1 Content sharing based on social graphing
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes generating a data structure that links users based on social relationships and permits a first user to target content to other users that are linked to the first user via a social relationship.
US09660950B2 Sharing television and video programming through social networking
In particular embodiments, one or more computer systems of a social-networking system determine identities of one or more users in proximity to a display device and query a social graph of the social-networking system for social content associated with the determined identities. The social graph includes nodes and edges connecting the nodes. The nodes include user nodes that are each associated with a particular user of the social-networking system. The one or more computer systems of the social-networking system identify, using the social content, recommended media content for the one or more users in proximity to the display device and provide a playlist for display on the display device. The playlist includes the recommended media content for the one or more users in proximity to the display device.
US09660948B2 Rule-based rate limiting
Methods, devices, and machine-readable media are provided to perform rule-based rate limiting. As provided in this disclosure, this may include receiving a message en route to a destination, determining one or more parameters of the message, and determining whether the parameters of the message match parameters of a rule that specifies taking a first action when more than some number of messages having those parameters are received within a specific amount of time. When the one or more parameters of the message match the one or more parameters of the first restriction rule, a sliding window counter that indicates a total number of corresponding messages received within the amount of time may be incremented. When the first sliding window counter exceeds the first number of messages, the specified action may be taken.
US09660946B2 System and method for managing files to be attached to or detached from an electronic mail
A system and method for identifying specific locations where to attach or detach e-mail attachments based on e-mail storage locations is disclosed. The method allows to search in a mail-attachment connection table all the attachment locations that are in relation to the e-mail where the attachment is to be attached to or to be detached from and to present to a user all attachment locations that have a relevance for the attach/detach operation.
US09660945B2 Messaging system and method
A method of cross-platform messaging including receiving, by a messaging system, at least one initial message having a message format, an initial message layout and data indicative of at least one user associated with the at least one initial message, and before delivery to a destination communication device associated with the at least one user, converting, by the messaging system, an initial message into an adapted message, and facilitating, by the messaging system, delivery of the adapted message to the destination communication device. The adapted message is characterized by, at least, an adapted message layout, and the adapted message layout differs from the initial message layout in a characteristic associated with respective message layout such as number of media objects, a graphical image of a media object, a size of a placeholder related to a media object, and a location of a media object within a respective message layout.
US09660944B1 Agent-assisted and directed web-channel customer care apparatus, method, and computer program
An agent-assisted and directed web-channel customer care apparatus, method, and computer program is provided to receive, from a first device, an inbound message via an inbound messaging channel and create a web session utilizing a web session server. Session identification is received from the web session server and a unique identifier is transmitted to the first device in order for a second device to connect to an agent device via a web session. Communications is simultaneously maintained with the first and second device via the inbound messaging channel and the web session.
US09660943B2 Messaging based signaling for communications sessions
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for providing call signaling services to client devices transmits a start channel message on a service topic from a first client device to a service instance. The system publishes from the service instance to the client devices a channel message including a channel topic. The service instance subscribes to the service topic and an associated channel topic. Each client device subscribes to a corresponding client topic. The system transfers signaling information between the client devices and the service instance by publishing signaling information to a channel topic and client topics to establish a communication channel between the client devices. The system communicates between the client devices by publishing information over the communication channel. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for providing call signaling services in substantially the same manners described above.
US09660942B2 Automatic buffer sizing for optimal network-on-chip design
The present disclosure relates to automatic sizing of NoC channel buffers of one or more virtual channels to optimize NoC design, SoC design, and to meet defined performance objectives. The present disclosure further relates to a NoC element such as a router or a bridge having input ports associated with input virtual channels, and output ports associated with output virtual channels, wherein, aspects of the present disclosure enable sizing of any or a combination of the width of the input virtual channel(s), width of the output virtual channel(s), buffer(s) associated with input virtual channels, and buffer(s) associated with output virtual channels. In another aspect, the sizing can be performed based on one or a combination of defined performance objectives, throughputs of the input virtual channels, and throughputs of the output virtual channels, load characteristics, bandwidth characteristics of each input/output channel, among other like parameters.
US09660941B2 Techniques for scalable and foolproof virtual machine move handling with virtual port channels
Techniques are provided for managing movements of virtual machines in a network. At a first switch, a virtual machine (VM) is detected. The VM is hosted by a physical server coupled to the first switch. A message is sent to other switches and it indicates that the VM is hosted by the physical server. When the first switch is paired with a second switch as a virtual port channel (vPC) pair, the message includes a switch identifier that identifies the second switch. A receiving switch receives the message from a source switch in the network comprising a route update associated with the VM. A routing table of the receiving switch is evaluated to determine whether the host route is associated with a server facing the physical port. The message is examined to determine it contains the switch identifier.
US09660939B2 Protection switching over a virtual link aggregation
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch comprises one or more ports and a link management module. The link management module operates a first aggregate link group as an active aggregate link group of a protected virtual link aggregation. This protected virtual link aggregation operates as a single logical channel. An aggregate link group comprises a plurality of logically aggregated links. The first aggregate link group, which represents the logical channel, comprises at least a first port of the one or more ports of the switch. The link management module also operates a second aggregate link group of the protected virtual link aggregation as a standby for the first aggregate link group. The second aggregate link group comprises at least a second port of the one or more ports of the switch. Forwarding is enabled via the first port and disabled via the second port.
US09660936B2 Method and apparatus for supporting reprogramming or reconfiguring
A method includes setting a first indicator to a first value, which causes an apparatus to stop receiving traffic from a traffic source. At least one register is accessed to read or write at least one new value, and a second indicator is set indicating that accessing of the at least one register has completed. The first indicator is set to a second value. When the first indicator has the second value and the second indicator is set, the apparatus is again allowed to receive traffic from the traffic source.
US09660934B2 Method and system for handling subscribers' network traffic
A method for handling subscribers' network traffic between a CPE (customer premises equipment) and a broadband access network includes establishing a subscriber session between the CPE and a BNG (broadband network gateway, an entity within the broadband access network), to set up a network route between the CPE and the BNG. Data transmitted within the subscriber session are encapsulated into protocol frames. A NCE (network control entity) acquires a state of the subscriber session and updates network policies in at least one network entity on the network route based on the state of the subscriber session. A DEM (dynamic encapsulation module) decides, based on a DEM configuration, whether data sent to the broadband access network are encapsulated data within the subscriber session or are non-encapsulated data outside the subscriber session. The data are transmitted on a part of the network route and are handled according to the network policies.
US09660931B2 Method and apparatus for receiving or transmitting radio frequency (RF) signal
A method and apparatus for receiving or transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal are disclosed. A method for receiving a downlink signal by a user equipment (UE) in a Time Division Duplex (TDD) wireless communication system supporting Coordinated Multi-point transmission and reception (CoMP) includes: acquiring information of a time-resource region to which a downlink signal for the CoMP is transmitted, for at least one cell, and receiving a downlink signal for the CoMP signal for the CoMP on the basis of the acquired information, wherein the time-resource region information includes a length of a time region contained in a specific subframe to which the downlink signal for the CoMP is transmitted.
US09660930B2 Dynamic data server nodes
A system of dynamically-instantiated data server components provides access to a data repository. Different data server components are assigned to different data collections in the repository. A distribution component receives messages and, based on data collection identifiers associated with the messages, routes the messages to corresponding data server components. Based on the messages, the data server components perform data operations with respect to their corresponding data collections. Data server components may be terminated when their assigned data collections are not in use. When an incoming message is associated with a data collection for which no data server component exists, the distribution component dynamically instantiates a new data server component for the data collection. In an embodiment, data server components make working copies of their respectively assigned data collections in a high-speed memory. By terminating inactive data server components, the system makes room in the memory for active data collections.
US09660924B2 Determining a maximal size of packets
Packets from a first network entity to a second network entity are received. A maximal size of packets from the second network entity to the first network entity is determined based on information in the received packets.
US09660922B2 Network assisted rate shifting for adaptive bit rate streaming
Techniques are provided for adjusting or modifying content request messages in a video streaming environment. An aggregation device is configured to receive a content request message from a client device. The content request message has a request for a first content file of a video stream of a content file type with a first bit rate. The aggregation device determines the first bit rate. The aggregation device then accesses a database that stores a plurality of content files of the content file type at a corresponding plurality of bit rates and determines all available bit rates of the content file type. Network conditions are analyzed for client devices to determine whether the content request message should be adjusted to request a second content file with a second bit rate that is lower than the first bit rate.
US09660920B2 Switched data transmission system that may be used in particular in avionics applications
This switched data transmission system, particularly for use in avionics applications, of the type comprising a plurality of electronic devices and equipment units adapted for transmitting discrete messages over a transmission network, and in which each of the devices and equipment units is connected to a network switch, the switches being connected to each other by means of data transmission links so as to form a physical topology of a loop network, each message being associated with information regarding data flow priority in the network comprising of functional priority information, is characterized in that each message is also associated with information regarding temporal priority of data flow in the network.
US09660917B2 System and method for remotely controlling network operators
A system and method for controlling communications networks. Network performance information is gathered from a first communications network using performance information packet data packets. A network operator of the first communications network is controlled from a secondary communications network using the performance information packet data packets. Changes to the network operator are implemented based on instructions included in the performance information packet data packets.
US09660916B1 Unfusing operators from a streaming processing element to avoid congestion
A streams manager determines when congestion is happening or is predicted to happen in a streaming application, and in response, unfuses one or more operators in the streaming application from its processing element. The selection of which operators to unfuse in which processing elements is made using suitable unfuse criteria, which may include selecting operators that do not maintain state, selecting operators that have a threaded port or queue preceding the operator, selecting operators at natural boundaries, and inserting queues before operators to be unfused. Once one or more operators are unfused, the streams manager can take action to enhance performance of the unfused operator(s). For example, the streams manager can allocate additional resources to the unfused operators, can create clones of unfused operators that process tuples in parallel, can move one or more unfused operators to a public cloud, etc.
US09660915B2 Congestion control for tunneled real-time communications
A system performs congestion control functionality for real-time communications (“RTC”). The system establishes a tunnel by a tunneling server with a tunneling client of a user equipment (“UE”). The system receives a request from the UE to enable the congestion control functionality for an inner socket of the tunnel. The system sends a response back to the UE to indicate that the congestion control functionality is enabled for the inner socket. The system then monitors congestion conditions at an outer transport layer of the tunnel and executes the congestion control functionality at an inner transport layer of the tunnel based on the congestion conditions at the outer transport layer of the tunnel.
US09660914B1 System and method for providing congestion notification in layer 3 networks
A system and method is provided for sending congestion notification messages through L3 networks and implementation of QCN in L3 switches. For example, according to this system and method, an L3 switch receives one or more data packets, and determines, based on the received one or more data packets, whether the L3 switch is congested. If the L3 switch is congested, it generates a congestion notification message, the congestion notification message including an Internet Protocol (IP) header, the IP header identifying a source of the one or more received data packets as its destination. The L3 switch sends the congestion notification message to the source of the one or more received data packets using information in the IP header.
US09660911B2 Method for sending an acknowledgement to an ingress mesh point in a mesh network and a medium access control frame format
The present invention relates to a method for confirming the delivery of a data packet in a mesh network by sending an acknowledgement (ACK) to an ingress mesh point (IMP). A mesh network comprises a plurality of mesh points that are wirelessly linked together. A data packet sent by a station (STA) is received by an IMP. A MAC frame is generated for transmission of the data packet and the frame is forwarded to an egress mesh point (EMP) in order to provide a service by the mesh network. The MAC frame includes a field comprising an IMP address and an EMP address. When the EMP, (or optionally an intermediate mesh point), receives a data packet successfully, the EMP or the intermediate mesh point sends an ACK to the IMP or preceding mesh point.
US09660908B2 Method and apparatus for processing UDP data packets
A method and apparatus for processing a plurality of data packets. A data packet is received. A determination is made as to whether a portion of the data packet follows a selected digital recorder standard protocol based on a header of the data packet. Raw data in the data packet is converted into human-readable information in response to a determination that the portion of the data packet follows the selected digital recorder standard protocol.
US09660907B2 System and method for transmitting an alert using a network virtualization using generic routing encapsulation (NVGRE) tunneling mechanism
A data packet comprising a header, the header having a format associated with a Network Virtualization Using Generic Routing Encapsulation (NVGRE) technology is generated at an originating tunnel end point device in a network. A predetermined bit in a reserved portion of the header is set to a predetermined value. In one embodiment, the reserved portion comprises a Reserved0 portion of the data packet. The data packet is then transmitted.
US09660903B2 Method and system for inserting an openflow flow entry into a flow table using openflow protocol
A method for inserting an OpenFlow flow entry into a flow table is disclosed. In the embodiment, the method involves receiving a flow mod message at an OpenFlow-enabled switch, the flow mod message including a cookie field, decoding an OpenFlow flow entry from the flow mod message, identifying a flow table from the cookie field, and inserting the decoded flow entry into the flow table.
US09660899B2 End-to-end multipathing through network having switching devices compatible with different protocols
A first cluster includes first switching devices that are compatible with a software-defined networking (SDN) protocol. A second cluster includes second switching devices within or partially overlapping the first cluster. Each second switching device is compatible with a protocol for an open systems interconnection (OSI) model layer. The first switching devices include one or more border switching devices located at a boundary between the first cluster and the second cluster. Each border switching device is also compatible with the protocol for the OSI model layer. The first switching devices effect first multipathing through the network except through the second cluster, and the second switching devices effect second multipathing just through the second cluster of the network. As such, the first switching devices and the second switching devices together effect end-to-end multipathing through both the first cluster and the second cluster of the network.
US09660897B1 BGP link-state extensions for segment routing
Mechanisms are described by which link state “path” information can be collected from networks and shared with external components, such as routers or centralized controllers or path computation elements, using an exterior gateway protocol, such as the Border Gateway Protocol. That is, the link state information for multiple interior gateway protocol (IGP) routing domains is shared between external components using the exterior gateway protocol, such as BGP. As such, the techniques described herein allow link state information to be shared across different routing domains, such as routing and reachability information shared between different autonomous systems. The extensions described herein allow an exterior gateway protocol to be used to signal explicit path segments within IPG routing domains so as to set up an overall path that spans the multiple IPG routing domains.
US09660896B2 System and method for loopback and network loop detection and analysis
A method of determining the presence of a loopback in one or more networks comprises storing information related to a test instance; sending a loopback detection beacon (LPDB) containing information related to the test instance from a port on an originating device; monitoring the port for a predetermined time period to detect LPDBs arriving at the port during the predetermined time period; and determining whether a detected LPDB contains information corresponding to the stored information, to detect the presence of a loopback. The method may determine whether a detected loopback is a port loopback, a tunnel loopback or a service loopback. The stored information related to the test instance may be deleted if an LPDB arriving at the port and containing information corresponding to the stored information is not detected within the predetermined time period.
US09660894B2 Network analysis assistance device, network assessment device, network analysis assistance method, network assessment method, network analysis assistance program and network assessment program
A first electronic message collector collects electronic messages travelling on a first network and stores the electronic messages in a first storage. A second electronic message collector collects electronic messages travelling on a second network and stores the electronic messages in a second storage. An electronic message associator retains a mapping table in which the correlation, or similar, between electronic messages travelling from the first network to a gateway device and electronic messages travelling from the gateway device the second network are defined. The electronic message associator references the mapping table and associates the electronic messages stored in the second storage with the electronic messages stored in the first storage. From the result of the above-mentioned association, a status analyzer determines whether or not receipt of electronic message between the first network and the second network is accomplished normally.
US09660892B2 System for selectively unifying overlapping networks to coordinate communication channel usage
A system including first and second network nodes that communicate with additional nodes in first and second networks, respectively, using a shared communication channel. In response to detecting presence of the first network node, the second network node transmits a first signal to the first network node including a predetermined sequence known to both the first and second network nodes. The first network node measures a strength of the transmitted signal based on knowledge of the predetermined sequence and calculates a throughput metric (throughput referring to amount of information transmitted per second) based on the measured strength. In response to the throughput metric being less than a unification threshold, the first network node selectively transmits a unification request to the second network node. The unification request invites the second network node to coordinate operation with the first network node to reduce interference between the first network and the second network.
US09660888B2 Edge analytics query for distributed content network
A system and method for accelerating web page delivery is disclosed in one embodiment. Web content requests are made to an edge server of a first point of presence (POP) of a content delivery network (CDN). The web content has embedded resource links. The first POP can rewrite the embedded resource links to route requests for the embedded resource links to any POP in the CDN or even the origin server. In some embodiments, the first POP can decide if the first POP and/or another POP referenced in a rewritten embedded resource link should cache and/or accelerate the resource referenced in the embedded resource link.
US09660887B1 Adaptive audio stream with latency compensation cross reference to other applications
A latency compensating adaptive jitter buffer method is implemented. In response to a queuing delay event being detected, the size of the jitter buffer is temporarily increased to receive all incoming audio packets up to a certain refill level. The method then produces audio playback using accelerated playback to reduce the jitter buffer size back to the nominal size.
US09660886B1 Scalable network route analysis
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing a network verification system (NVS) to analyze and detect anomalies and errors within a network. The NVS requests forwarding tables from each of the switches within the network being analyzed, and generates directed forwarding graphs for each subnet within the network. Certain graph properties of the directed forwarding graphs are analyzed to detect anomalies or errors in the subnets represented by the directed forwarding graphs. In some implementations, the NVS can execute the generation of the directed forwarding graphs in parallel. In some implementations, the NVS can be implemented on a MapReduce system.
US09660882B2 Selective convolution encoding of data transmitted over degraded links
In one embodiment, a system includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to cause the processor to determine that a link configured to transmit data between two end points in a networking system has become degraded, encode data prior to transmitting the data across the degraded link, and transmit the encoded data across the degraded link provided that data transmitted across a normal link is not encoded. In another embodiment, a method for selectively overcoming a degraded link in a networking system includes determining that a link configured to transmit data between two end points has become degraded, encoding data prior to transmitting the data across the degraded link, and transmitting the encoded data across the degraded link.
US09660881B2 Method and system for determining signal penetration of one or more neighbor base stations
A method and system for determining signal penetration of one or more neighbor base stations is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving one or more measurement reports from one or more UEs associated with a serving base station, wherein the one or more measurement reports comprise signal strength values of the one or more neighbor base stations; identifying a location of each of the one or more UEs based on the one or more measurement reports; determining a distance between one or more pairs of UEs based on the location of the each UE; defining one or more penetration areas based on the one or more distances between the one or more pairs of UEs; and determining signal penetration in the one or more penetration areas based on the one or more pairs of UEs associated with each of the penetration areas.
US09660880B2 Non-committal visitor stitching
Techniques are provided for transforming information about unique visits to a website or interactions with a mobile application by a single individual on different devices into unified analytical data representing these visits. One or more visitor stitching models can be used to quantify unique visits as belonging to the same person with a certain level of confidence. In addition to maintaining separate records for each unique visit, a unified record is generated, which represents a combination of the unique visits by the same person. Various analytics can then be performed on the unique and unified records. The unified records are favored over the separate data records wherever the stitching model corresponding to the unified record provides a certainty that meets or exceeds a user-specified confidence level. The visitor stitching model used for the analytics is considered non-committal because different models can be employed or none at all, depending on user preferences.
US09660879B1 Flow deduplication across a cluster of network monitoring devices
Embodiments are directed to monitoring flows of packets over a network. If a network monitoring computer (NMC) in a cluster of NMCs observes a new network flow, the NMC may perform a variety of actions to determine the NMC that is responsible for monitoring the new network flow. Network traffic associated with the new network flow may be buffered in a non-transitory processor readable media. The new network flow may be registered with the plurality of NMCs, providing an identifier that corresponds to one NMC. Registering may include, assigning the NMC a responsibility to monitor the new network flow. If the identifier corresponds to the NMC that observed the new network flow, the network traffic associated with the new network flow is processed using that NMC. If the identifier corresponds to another NMC, the buffered network traffic is forwarded to the other NMC.
US09660874B2 Devices and methods supporting content delivery with delivery services having dynamically configurable log information
A device supporting content delivery is configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services. The plurality of CD services include delivery services with dynamically configurable log information.
US09660872B2 Scalable performance management system
A performance management system, having a peer-to-peer architecture, enables performance transparency in computer information systems, providing granular performance data and scalability. Peer appliances in a computer information system collect performance data. When a user requests a performance report, an originating peer appliance may determine which peer appliances contain the data required for the report and what data processing, if any, is required. The originating peer appliance may send requests indicating what data and what data manipulation processing is required. Each of the receiving peer appliances (including the originating peer appliance) may perform its own portion of the data processing. The originating peer appliance may receive resultant data from the peer appliances (including itself) and combine the resultant data into the requested report for the user. The performance management system distributes significant data processing across the peer appliances, avoids bottlenecks, and increases system scalability.
US09660870B1 Systems and methods of soft patching security vulnerabilities
A method and apparatus for soft patching security vulnerabilities is provided. A method comprises: receiving, from a first researcher computer, a report of a security vulnerability that was identified in a computer program application that the first researcher computer accessed via a first web browser, the report comprising a record of actions performed by the first researcher computer and Document Object Model (DOM) events that the application outputted when the record of actions was generated; automatically generating a detection script comprising a set of requests associated with the security vulnerability from the record of actions, wherein the detection script, when executed by an intermediary computer that is between a network and a second researcher computer, causes the intermediary computer to detect that the second researcher computer is performing actions that are recorded in the record of actions in the application accessed via the first web browser, and, in response, causing the intermediary computer to drop at least some network traffic that is forwarded in the network toward the second researcher computer; sending the detection script to the intermediary computer.
US09660862B2 Localizing faults in wireless communication networks
Various embodiments manage service issues within a wireless communication network. In one embodiment, a one or more call detail records associated with a set of wireless communication devices of a wireless communication network is received. A set of information within each of the one or more call detail records is compared to a baseline statistical model. The baseline statistical model identifies a normal operating state of the wireless communication network. At least one outlier call detail record in the one or more call detail records is identified based on the comparison. The at least one outlier call detail record indicates that at least one wireless communication device associated with the at least one outlier call detail record experienced one or more service issues.
US09660859B1 Methods and systems for quantum ready computations on the cloud
The present disclosure provides methods, systems, and media for allowing access to quantum computers in a distributed computing environment (e.g., the cloud). Such methods and systems may provide optimization and computational services on the cloud. Methods and systems of the present disclosure may enable quantum computing to be relatively and readily scaled across various types of quantum computers and users at various locations, in some cases without the need for users to have a deep understanding of the resources, implementation or the knowledge that may be required for solving optimization problems using a quantum computer. Systems provided herein may include user interfaces that enable users to perform data analysis in a distributed computing environment while taking advantage of quantum technology in the backend.
US09660858B2 Maintaining consistent globally unique identifiers via an asynchronous interface
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for maintaining consistent globally unique identifiers (GUIDs) for content items accessible via an asynchronous interface in a multi-user network-based content management environment (storage environment). The example content management system can make a content item within a data storage available to an authorized user via the asynchronous interface, and receive, from a client device, content item change information derived from data generated by an operating system function at the client device. Then the content management system can analyze the content item change information to determine a corresponding action at the content management system, and implement the corresponding action on the server side. The content management system can optionally provide a confirmation of the corresponding action to the client device.
US09660850B2 Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals
A method and an apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals thereof are disclosed. The apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals comprises an encoder for encoding service data, a mapper for mapping the encoded service data into a plurality of OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) symbols to build at least one signal frame, a frequency interleaver for frequency interleaving data in the at least one signal frame by using a different interleaving-seed which is used for every OFDM symbol pair comprised of two sequential OFDM symbols, a modulator for modulating the frequency interleaved data by an OFDM scheme and a transmitter for transmitting the broadcast signals having the modulated data.
US09660849B2 Demodulating frequency shift keying modulated input signal
A method of demodulating an FSK modulated input signal whose frequency varies between first and second frequencies. The input signal is delayed by a plurality of cycles, providing a second signal. A succession of phase reference signals having respective incrementally greater phase delays relative to the input signal are provided. Samples of the phase reference signals are taken at intervals determined by the second signal. A transition between the first and second frequencies is detected when the relative values of the samples of the phase reference signals remain constant during a plurality of intervals after varying. A high speed clock is not required to perform the demodulation.
US09660848B2 Methods and structures to generate on/off keyed carrier signals for signal isolators
An oscillator for a signal isolator system includes a capacitor and an inductor connected in parallel, two pairs of cross-coupled switches and a control switch. The capacitor, the inductor and the cross-coupled switches form an oscillator. The control switch controls operation of the oscillator between an ON state and an OFF state in response to a data signal to be communicated across an isolation barrier. The inductor may be formed from a winding of an isolation transformer, which reduces component count as compared to a system that provides a separate inductor. Other embodiments may include a current-supplying kickstart circuit and a shorting transistor that can speed transition between the ON and OFF states.
US09660846B2 High-speed serial data signal receiver circuitry
Circuitry for receiving a high-speed serial data signal (e.g., having a bit rate in the range of about 10 Gpbs and higher) includes a two-stage, continuous-time, linear equalizer having only two serially connected stages. Phase detector circuitry may be provided for receiving the serial output of the equalizer and for converting successive pairs of bits in that output to successive parallel-form bit pairs. Further demultiplexing circuitry may be provided to demultiplex successive groups of the parallel-form bit pairs to final groups of parallel bits, which can be quite large in terms of number of bits (e.g., 64 parallel bits). Another aspect of the invention relates to multiplexer circuitry for efficiently going in the opposite direction from such relatively large groups of parallel data bits to a high-speed serial data output signal.
US09660844B2 Decision feedback equalizer
A decision-feedback equalizer (DFE) samples an analog input signal against M references during the same symbol time to produce M speculative samples. Select logic in the DFE then decodes N bits resolved previously for previous symbol times to select one of the M speculative samples as the present resolved bit. The present resolved bit is then stored as the most recent previously resolved bit in preparation for the next symbol time. The select logic can be can be programmable to accommodate process, environmental, and systematic variations.
US09660838B2 Device and method for adaptive channel estimation
A method to be performed at a station configured to connect to a Long Term Evolution radio access network (LTE-RAN) to utilize enhanced Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services using a Multicast-Broadcast Single-Frequency Network (MBSFN). The method including receiving a MBSFN subframe having a MBSFN subframe structure including a plurality of Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, a first one of the OFDM symbols having a first reference symbol inserted therein, a second one of the OFDM symbols having a second reference symbol inserted therein, determining a rate of change of channel conditions being experienced by the station and performing a non-destaggered channel estimation when the rate of change of channel conditions is greater than a predetermined threshold, the non-destaggered channel estimation using a first Channel Impulse Response (CIR) at the first OFDM symbol and a second CIR at the second OFDM symbol.
US09660835B2 Bidirectional packet transfer fail-over switch for serial communication
Disclosed is a bidirectional packet transfer fail-over switch for serial communication. The bidirectional packet transfer fail-over switch for serial communication includes a memory configured to divide packet data, which is transmitted or received for bidirectional communication between a plurality of communication devices, in units of certain data, and store the divided data, and a control unit configured to receive a trigger signal, indicating whether the packet data is received, from the memory, determine a priority according to an order where the packet data is received, and transmit the packet data to another communication device.
US09660827B2 System and method of switching from multicast to unicast calls
Described is a communication device which includes a receiver receiving a multicast communication including audio data and identification data identifying an initiator of the multicast communication, a memory, an audio output, a processor processing the multicast communication, sending the processed audio data to the audio output to be played to a user, sending the identification data to the memory to be stored and initiating a unicast communication with the initiator based on the identification data and a transmitter transmitting the unicast communication to the initiator.
US09660826B2 Supporting low latency applications at the edge of wireless communication networks
Various embodiments manage data flow between at least one wireless communication device and at least one application executing at an edge of the wireless communication network. In one embodiment, a first flow regenerator disposed within the network generates a replicated set of data packets. The replicated set of data packets are a copy of a set of data packets being transmitted between an application disposed on a first node at an edge of the network and a wireless communication device. The first flow regenerator sends the replicated set of data packets to a second flow regenerator disposed in the network. The replicated set of data packets are sent to the second flow regenerator through at least a second node disposed between the first flow regenerator and the second flow regenerator. The second node is configured to perform one or more book-keeping operations on the replicated set of data packets.
US09660824B2 Renewing an in-process meeting without interruption in a network environment
A method is provided in one example and includes establishing a connection with each of a first set of endpoints associated with meeting attendees, and establishing a first online meeting between the first set of endpoints associated with meeting attendees in which the first online meeting has a meeting identifier associated therewith. The method further includes receiving first context information associated with the first online meeting from at least one of the first set of endpoints associated with meeting attendees, and establishing a second online meeting between a second set of endpoints associated with meeting attendees without disconnecting at least one of the first set of endpoints associated with meeting attendees in which the second online meeting has the same meeting identifier as the first online meeting associated therewith. The method still further includes maintaining the first context information within the second online meeting.
US09660822B1 Revealing connections for persons in a social graph
An on-line system utilizing a social graph allows users to establish an account with the system and establish connections to nodes in the system. The social graph uses system-provided nodes that are created and maintained by the system, so that users cannot edit the system-provided nodes. The system aggregates and analyzes the social graph to present information in ways useful to its users. For example, the system reveals connections between persons in the system, with a corresponding strength of each connection.
US09660818B2 Advanced service-aware policy and charging control methods, network nodes, and computer programs
In a method carried out in a telecommunication network, a policy decision function provides an instruction to a policy enforcement function and/or a traffic detection function. Within the instruction, some service instances of a service are identified by the order according to which the service instances are started. The instruction also indicates: (i) a service instance level reporting rule according to which the policy enforcement function and/or traffic detection function should report, or should not report, information to the policy decision function after occurrence of an event relating to any one of the identified service instances; and/or (ii) a service instance level enforcement rule that the policy enforcement function and/or traffic detection function should enforce on a received packet relating to any one of the identified service instances. The invention also relates to network nodes and computer programs.
US09660816B2 System and method for secure provisioning of an information handling system
Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with provisioning of information handling systems, including without limitation those associated with bare metal provisioning of information handling systems, are disclosed. A system may include a processor, and a memory and an access controller each communicatively coupled to the processor. The access controller may store an enterprise public key associated with an enterprise private key and a platform private key associated with the system. The access controller may be configured to: (i) authenticate communications received from a provisioning server communicatively coupled to the access controller based at least on an enterprise public certificate associated with the provisioning server and (ii) establish an asymmetrically cryptographic communications channel between the access controller and the provisioning server based at least on a platform public key associated with the platform private key, the platform private key, the enterprise public key, and the enterprise private key.
US09660815B2 Securing a computing device accessory
Various embodiments are disclosed that relate to security of a computer accessory device. For example, one non-limiting embodiment provides a host computing device configured to conduct an initial portion of a mutual authentication session with an accessory device, and send information regarding the host computing device and the accessory device to a remote pairing service via a computer network. The host computing device is further configured to, in response, receive a pairing certificate from the remote pairing service, the pairing certificate being encrypted via a private key of the remote pairing service, and complete the mutual authentication with the accessory device using the pairing certificate from the remote pairing service.
US09660814B2 Providing digital certificates
Systems, methods and devices for providing digital certificates are disclosed. In a method conducted at a remotely accessible server, a request, including an identifier, for a digital certificate is received. A communication address of a mobile device, having a certificate store module in communication therewith, associated with the identifier is then obtained. A request for a digital certificate is transmitted to the certificate store module via the mobile device and the certificate store module is configured to prompt a user thereof, via the mobile device, for a passcode before releasing the certificate. The digital certificate is received from the certificate store module via the mobile device in response to entry of a passcode into the certificate store module which corresponds to an offset stored in the certificate store module. The digital certificate is then transmitted to a communication device for use in digitally signing or encrypting a data message.
US09660813B1 Dynamic privacy management for communications of clients in privacy-preserving groups
A server is configured to communicate with a group of clients over a network in one embodiment. The server maps the group of clients into a plurality of subgroups of bounded size, communicates to a given one of the clients information identifying the particular subgroup to which that client belongs as well as the other clients in that subgroup. The given client utilizes the communicated information to generate a ring signature over the corresponding subgroup of clients based on the communicated information. The subgroup size may be bounded to a minimum size and a maximum size in accordance with a variable privacy parameter. The server can increase or decrease the value of the parameter in order to provide respective increased or decreased privacy to the clients, by making it respectively more or less difficult to determine which client in a corresponding one of the subgroups produced the received ring signature.
US09660809B2 Cross-site request forgery defense
An HTML document includes a JavaScript element that manages CSRF token use. When the HTML document is rendered, the JavaScript element asynchronously requests a CSRF token from the server. In response, the server generates a JWT using a keyed HMAC algorithm. The resulting JWT, which functions as a CSRF token, is returned to the user where it is stored in a protected variable inside the JavaScript element. The CSRF token is therefore stateless and isn't stored in a server-side repository. When the user later requests access to a server resource, the CSRF token is included in such request. This may be accomplished by adding a hidden input field that includes the CSRF token to the submission that's transmitted to the server. If the server cannot validate the received token using the HMAC key that was originally used to generate the token, the request is considered unauthorized and is not processed.