| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09655789B2 |
Absorbent article with containment barrier
An absorbent article to be worn about the lower torso, the absorbent article comprising a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet, an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, and a pair of longitudinal barrier cuffs attached to the chassis. Each longitudinal cuff is formed of a web of material, the web of material having first and second opposing surfaces. The web of material comprises a nonwoven component layer comprising fibers having a number-average diameter of less than about 1 micron, a mass-average diameter of less than about 1.5 microns, and a ratio of the mass-average diameter to the number-average diameter less than about 2. The absorbent article further comprises a hydrophobic coating disposed on at least one surface of the web of material such that a coated web of material is formed, the hydrophobic surface coating comprising a solventless, multicomponent silicone composition including at least two silicone polymers and being substantially free of aminosilicones. |
| US09655787B2 |
Stacked moisture sensing device
A stacked moisture sensing device and urinary continence monitoring system are disclosed. The stacked moisture sensing device has at least a first media-sensor arrangement adjacent to a second media-sensor arrangement. In one embodiment, each of the media-sensor arrangements has a media layer with a first face, a second face and a side edge that extends between the faces wherein the media layers have differing hydrophilicities. Embedded in each media layer is a moisture sensor which can be a wired type tensor or a wireless RFID type sensor. The stacked moisture sensing device can be used in a variety of applications, such as for use in urinary continence monitoring and for use in shipping containers. In urinary continence monitoring applications, a data collection unit can be provided to acquire data from the sensors, which are located in an absorbent undergarment. Methods for locating the sensors within the absorbent undergarment are also disclosed. |
| US09655786B2 |
Sealing system
An ultrasonic sealing system in a machine for making composite webs in the production of absorbent sanitary articles includes a contact roller having an axis of rotation and including a central portion and a peripheral portion which is supported by the central portion and includes an outer surface forming the outer surface of the contact roller itself. The contact roller includes a sealing pattern on the outer surface of the peripheral portion and also includes springs acting between the central portion and the peripheral portion, which is supported by the peripheral portion by means of the springs. |
| US09655784B2 |
Cold weather welding mask having heated forced air means
A cold climate welding mask is provided for combatting interior fogging, condensation, and frost development within the welding mask interior. The device comprises a welding mask structure, a forced air means, a heating means, and a power supply for injecting a heated air stream through the mask interior to remove the user's breath therefrom and to warm the mask interior for comfort purposes. Also provided is a welding mask lens having internal heating elements therein for direct fog prevention. The device may comprises an attachable, auxiliary unit that is attachable to a traditional welding mask, or preferably the device comprises a defined welding mask structure having the elements embedded therein for cold climate and cold environmental welding use. Ideally the device is provided for use by welding operators working in extremely cold or outdoor climates where a user's breath can create internal fogging, condensation, and frost within the mask interior. |
| US09655780B2 |
Enhancement of aqueous flow
Drainage of body fluid from an area of undesirably high pressure can be accomplished by interconnecting an artificial non-blood fluid conduit with the vascular system. For example, an artificial non-blood fluid conduit can be inserted into the eye to fluidly interconnect the anterior chamber with a location of lower pressure. The conduit can have a growth factor for stimulating growth of new blood vessels in the location of lower pressure to connect the new blood vessels with the non-blood fluid conduit. |
| US09655777B2 |
System and method for diagphragm pumping using heating element
Systems and methods for treating an ocular condition includes a heating chamber comprising a material expandable when heated and comprising a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet. A heating element is arranged and disposed to introduce heat in the heating chamber. A flexible diaphragm separates the heating chamber from the flow passage, and is moveable between a first position and a second position to change a volume of one of the pump chamber and flow passages in response to a temperature change in the heating chamber. |
| US09655776B2 |
Infusion pressure control using blood pressure
Methods, systems, and software for controlling infusion pressure, such as during a medical procedure, using systemic blood pressure are described. Systemic blood pressure, such as brachial arm blood pressure or radial artery blood pressure, may be used to estimate central retinal artery blood pressure to estimate critical closing pressure. Further, the disclosure relates to controlling infusion pressure to prevent an increase in intraocular pressure above the estimated critical closing pressure when such is not desired, and, when such is desired, using systemic blood pressure and infusion pressure to control an intentional increase in intraocular pressure above the estimated critical closing pressure to stop intraocular bleeding. |
| US09655774B2 |
Small molecule transport device for drug delivery or waste removal
A medical device having a permeable bag connected by a non-permeable cannula to a discharge sac is described along with a manufacturing process and surgical implantation method. The permeable portions of the device have pores that are sized to be permeable to a predetermined class of small molecules, such as oxygen, nitrous oxide, or other therapeutic agents. Once absorbed inside the device, the small molecules are then passively transported, by a concentration gradient of the small molecules, to the discharge sac to be disbursed. A metal tube or other strip can be included in the cannula to assist a surgeon in orienting the device within the body. |
| US09655773B2 |
Device for injecting an intraocular lens into an eye
An injection assembly for a flexible intraocular lens, includes an injector body (1) accommodating a sliding push member (2), and a compaction and ejection chamber (3) rigidly connected to the injector body. The injection assembly includes a cartridge (6) receiving an intraocular lens (7) in a non-stressed state, the cartridge (6) being stored separately in a sterile container (32), and the compaction and injection chamber (3) is pivotably connected to the distal end of the injector body so as to be capable of occupying two positions, namely: a cartridge-loading position, in which the chamber is folded along the injector body, and an injection position, in which the chamber is aligned with the injector body. A tab (4) makes it possible to release the push member (2) when the tab is placed in a position for locking the compaction and injection chamber in a closed position on the injector body. |
| US09655771B1 |
Stretchable heated wrap system
A wrapper has an inner edge and an outer edge separated by a length. The wrapper has a first side edge and a second side edge separated by a width. The wrapper has an interior sheet and an exterior sheet. The interior sheet and the exterior sheet are fabricated from yarn with stretchable and elastic characteristics. Hook and loop fasteners couple the interior sheet adjacent to the outer edge to the exterior sheet. A plurality of pockets are formed between the interior sheet and the exterior sheet by rows of stitching between the first side edge and the second side edge. A quantity of temperature retentive material is within the pockets. Optional components include an electrical wire to facilitate heating and a container to facilitate heating and/or cooling. |
| US09655767B1 |
Device and method for correcting obstructive sleep apnea
An orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device is provided that includes a hyoid bone attachment element disposed to attach a ferric element to a hyoid bone, where the ferric element is disposed to face along a treatment vector from the hyoid bone, and the treatment vector is oriented relative to a sagittal plane of a human. The orthotic obstructive sleep apnea treatment device further includes an external orthotic neck device having a contoured housing with a shape disposed to conform about a neck of the human subject, where the housing includes a force delivery element disposed at an exterior-front neck region of the human subject and is disposed to provide an attractive force to the ferric element along the treatment vector. A force sensor is disposed to measure a force exerted on the hyoid bone, a skin contact pressure, tissue compression between the ferric element and the force delivery element. |
| US09655766B2 |
Sleep-apnea-treatment system that changes the treatment pressure over a period that begins or ends at a settable time
A system includes an apparatus and a controller, according to an embodiment. The apparatus is configured to maintain an airway of a subject open while the subject is sleeping by applying to the airway a pressure having a magnitude, and the controller is configured to cause the apparatus to change the magnitude of the pressure over a period that begins at a settable start time. For example, the system can be configured to treat a subject's sleep apnea with positive or negative pressure, and to function as an alarm clock by beginning to change the pressure magnitude at a settable start time, and to continue changing the pressure over a period with a settable duration (or settable stop time) to gently awaken the subject by the end of the period. |
| US09655764B2 |
Surgical foot support with handles
A surgical boot includes a shell shaped to receive a patient's foot. The shell has a plurality of handles molded integrally with a main body. The handles are sized and arranged for gripping by a surgeon during surgery to reposition the foot. |
| US09655761B2 |
Orthopedic back brace
Orthopedic braces and associated methods are described for treatment of lower back injuries and chronic back pain. An orthopedic brace may include a pair of back panels, a pair of front panels, and a closure system. A lateral end of each front panel is releasably coupleable to a lateral end of each back panel at a desired angle. A ventral end of each front panel includes an attachment provision configured to allow one of the front panels to releasably attach to the other of the front panels generally over an abdomen of a wearer. The brace also includes a pocket on the ventral end of at least one of the front panels, the pocket configured to temporarily receive a hand of the wearer to aid in donning the orthopedic brace. |
| US09655760B2 |
Knee support
Provided is a knee support capable of correcting/alleviating an inner rotation or outer rotation of a knee joint.A knee support comprising a support main body for covering a knee joint, and a strap to be wound around and attached on an outer surface of the support main body helically while being pulled in the direction opposite to an inner rotation direction of the joint, wherein a projection to be contacted with an inner side of a shinbone below the knee when wearing is provided on the inner surface of the support main body or the inner surface of the strap. |
| US09655759B2 |
Protective braces for joints and associated methods
A brace for use in supporting a joint of a body of a subject is configured to provide the joint with a normal range of motion or a substantially normal range of motion while preventing abnormal and/or pathologic motion that might damage the joint or a connective band (e.g., a ligament, tendon, fascia, etc.) associated with the joint. The brace may include one or more engagement elements that engage a body part or body parts adjacent to the joint and one or more straps that are attached to the engagement element(s) at a location or locations that approximate the location(s) of one or more connective bands associated with the joint. The present invention also includes articles of clothing into which a brace is incorporated, as well as methods for supporting a joint. |
| US09655758B2 |
Devices and methods facilitating sleeve gastrectomy procedures
A gastrectomy device includes an elongated member defining a centerline that extends through proximal and distal ends thereof. A shape modification member coupled to the elongated member is movable relative to the centerline of the elongated member. The shape modification member is movable between a first state, adjacent to the elongated member, and a second state, spaced from the elongated member. The shape modification member conforms to a portion of a patient's stomach in the second state. |
| US09655754B2 |
Systems and methods for guidewire crossover for bifurcated prostheses
An endovascular delivery system includes a bifurcated prosthesis including a main tubular body having an open end and opposed ipsilateral and contralateral legs and a delivery catheter for deployment of the prosthesis. The delivery catheter includes an elongate outer tubular sheath, an elongate inner tubular member releasably disposed within the elongate outer tubular sheath and an elongate crossover guidewire slidably disposed within the elongate outer tubular sheath and extending through the ipsilateral and contralateral legs. |
| US09655746B2 |
Intervertebral spinal implant
An intervertebral implant for implantation in a treated area of an intervertebral space between vertebral bodies of a spine is provided. The upper surface and the lower surface of the implant each have a contact area capable of engaging with anatomy in the treated area, and the upper and lower surfaces define a through-hole having an inner surface extending through the spacer body. A first and second sidewalls extend from a front end and a back end, wherein the first and second sidewalls are configured with engagement portions positioned in close proximity to the front end and the back end. The front end and the back end are configured with a threaded hole for receiving an instrument for inserting the intervertebral implant into the intervertebral disc space. |
| US09655744B1 |
Expandable spinal fusion implants and related methods
A system and methods for promoting fusion across an intervertebral disc space, the system including an expandable system of spinal fusion implants wherein the system of implants is inserted into an intervertebral disc space in a smaller profile, collapsed insertion state, and then expanded anteriorly to an expanded state. |
| US09655742B2 |
Spinal intervertebral implant
An intervertebral spinal implant, for insertion between two consecutive vertebral bodies, includes a volume, inclined first and second through-holes formed in the volume, and elongated first and second fastening elements for securing the volume. The first and second through-holes have respective ends that open onto a front face and onto lower and upper faces of the volume, respectively. The first fastening element extends through the first through-hole and is implanted in the vertebral body adjacent to the lower face. The second fastening element extends through the second through-hole and is implanted in the vertebral body adjacent to the upper face. The through-holes intersect such that one of the fastening elements secures the other fastening element, once the fastening elements are respectively in place in the through-holes. |
| US09655737B2 |
Expandable interbody spacer
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices and methods for treating one or more damaged, diseased, or traumatized portions of the spine, including intervertebral discs, to reduce or eliminate associated back pain. In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an expandable interbody spacer. The expandable interbody spacer may comprise a first jointed arm comprising a plurality of links pivotally coupled end to end. The expandable interbody spacer further may comprise a second jointed arm comprising a plurality of links pivotally coupled end to end. The first jointed arm and the second jointed arm may be interconnected at a proximal end of the expandable interbody spacer. The first jointed arm and the second jointed arm may be interconnected at a distal end of the expandable interbody spacer. |
| US09655735B2 |
Spinal disc prosthesis
A spinal implant for insertion between adjacent vertebrae to function as a disc prosthesis. The prosthesis is formed from two plates fastened to adjacent vertebrae facing each other. The facing sides of the plates have a donut shaped cushioning coupler to replicate the displaced disc material. Stabilizing links are positioned along the edge of the plates to prevent over compression of the shaped cushioning coupler in a bending moment. Adjustable mounting brackets are used to secure the implant to the spine. |
| US09655733B2 |
System and method for modifying talocalcaneal relationship in a foot
A system for modifying a talocalcaneal spatial relationship in a foot in a body, including a subtalar spacer having an articulating surface and implanted in the sinus tarsi of the foot and a fastener that fastens the subtalar spacer to a bone surface in the foot, in which the articulating surface of the subtalar spacer directs relative movement between the calcaneus and the talus of the foot. |
| US09655723B2 |
One-way heart assist valve
A medical device used in patients with inefficient heart function to improve the efficiency of the pumping action of the heart. This device adds one or more one-way valves in the blood vessels and/or arteries, very near, but not in, the heart, thereby increasing the efficiency of the native heart. The device includes one or more one-way heart valves designed to go in arteries/veins that are connected to the heart, and which arteries and/or veins are the conduits for taking blood into/out of the heart. The one-way heart valve allows blood flow in only one direction. An optional sleeve (stent) may be placed outside the arteries/veins where the valve(s) are located to add support to the walls. An optional sleeve (stent) may also be used on the inside of the artery to insure the artery does not collapse during a vacuum phase of the beating. |
| US09655722B2 |
Prosthetic heart valve devices, prosthetic mitral valves and associated systems and methods
Prosthetic heart valve devices for percutaneous replacement of native heart valves and associated systems and method are disclosed herein. A prosthetic heart valve device configured in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present technology can include an anchoring member having an upstream portion configured to engage with tissue on or near the annulus of the native heart valve and to deform in a non-circular shape to conform to the tissue. The device can also include a mechanically isolated valve support coupled to the anchoring member and configured to support a prosthetic valve. The device can further include an atrial extension member extending radially outward from the upstream portion of the anchoring member and which is deformable without substantially deforming the anchoring member. In some embodiments, the upstream portion of the anchoring member and the extension member may be deformed while the valve support remains sufficiently stable. |
| US09655721B2 |
Implantable device for use in the human and/or animal body to replace an organ valve
The invention relates to an implantable device for use in the human and/or animal body to replace an organ valve, comprising a main body having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second each have an opening to provide a fluid connection through the main body between the first end and the second end; a first membrane element arranged inside or at one end of the main body, wherein the membrane element is formed in such a manner that it allows the fluid connection through the main body in a first flow direction and blocks the same in a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction; wherein the main body has a large ratio of length to transverse expansion along the longitudinal axis of the main body in a first operating state (primary form) and a smaller ratio of length to transverse expansion along the longitudinal axis of the main body in a second operating state (secondary form); and wherein the main body can be reversibly transferred from the secondary form to the primary form counter to elastic material forces by the application of a force; and wherein the main body is formed from a single wire-like element or from a plurality of wire-like elements connected to each other by means interlocking winding and/or twisting and/or weaving in the manner of a woven and/or layered fabric and/or net. |
| US09655715B2 |
Absorbable implants for plastic surgery
Absorbable implants for breast surgery that conform to the breast parenchyma and surrounding chest wall have been developed. These implants support newly lifted breast parenchyma, and/or a breast implant. The implants have mechanical properties sufficient to support a reconstructed breast, and allow the in-growth of tissue into the implant as it degrades. The implants have a strength retention profile allowing the support of the breast to be transitioned from the implant to regenerated host tissue, without significant loss of support. Three-dimensional implants for use in minimally invasive mastopexy/breast reconstruction procedures are also described, that confer shape to a patient's breast. These implants are self-reinforced, can be temporarily deformed, implanted in a suitably dissected tissue plane, and resume their preformed three-dimensional shape. The implants are preferably made from poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) and copolymers thereof. The implants have suture pullout strengths that can resist the mechanical loads exerted on the reconstructed breast. |
| US09655712B2 |
Vascular repair devices
A vascular repair device includes a tubular graft body and a structural framework having at least two stents. A first stent of the stents is connected to the tubular graft body along an entirety of the first stent and a second of the stents includes a periodically changing shape that defines proximal apices having a first radii of curvature and distal apices having a second radii of curvature that is less than the first radii of curvature. The second stent is connected to the tubular graft body at the distal apices. |
| US09655710B2 |
Process of making a stent
A stent or other prosthesis may be formed by coating a single continuous wire scaffold with a polymer coating. The polymer coating may consist of layers of electrospun polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Electrospun PTFE of certain porosities may permit endothelial cell growth within the prosthesis. |
| US09655706B2 |
Reinforced mesh for retropubic implants
Disclosed are reinforced meshes for retropubic implants for treatment of urinary incontinence and/or pelvic floor disorders and related uses, devices, and methods. In certain embodiments, implants have various resilient strengthening members added to a retropubic support mesh. |
| US09655703B2 |
Dental pick container and dispenser
A container for separating, storing, and dispensing dental picks includes a container to receive a sheet of dental picks, wherein the sheet of dental picks includes multiple interconnected dental picks, a separating device to separate the sheet of dental picks into singular dental picks, and a dispensing device to dispense the singular dental picks, one at a time. A method for separating and dispensing dental picks includes obtaining a sheet of dental picks, wherein the sheet of dental picks includes multiple interconnected dental picks, loading the sheet of dental picks into a container, separating the sheet of dental picks into singular dental picks, and dispensing the singular dental picks one at a time. |
| US09655702B2 |
Non-pressurized system for creating liquid droplets in a dental cleaning appliance
The appliance (10, FIG. 1) includes a body portion (27) and a nozzle portion (30) through which a spray of liquid droplets exits from a distal end thereof for cleaning of dental regions. The nozzle includes an orifice (36) at a proximal end thereof adjacent the body portion, as well as a pump (38) for moving liquid into an area of the nozzle just forward of the orifice. A mechanical system (12, 13, 14) is provided for moving a plunger or piston element (16) first away from the orifice under tension, such as a compression spring (24), and then controllably releasing the plunger or piston toward the orifice, the plunger/piston moving with sufficient force that atmospheric air which has been drawn into the appliance between the plunger or piston is forced through the orifice at a sufficiently high rate of speed to produce a spray of fluid droplets for dental cleaning when the moving air comes into contact with the liquid in the nozzle. |
| US09655700B2 |
Method of making a denture with natural bite and wear properties and denture
The present invention is directed to a method of denture manufacture that incorporates CAM-formed occlusal inserts made of zirconia, resulting in a natural lit, feel, and wear essentially equivalent to the wear properties of natural teeth. |
| US09655697B2 |
Universal digital dental implant scanning code and method
A universal digital implant scanning code (UDDISC) is provided on a dental implant body and/or any device attached to the dental implant body (e.g., the dental implant carrier). Implant bodies and platforms are available in many different types of sizes and configurations from many different companies. The UDDISC allows for an immediate digital scan of the dental implant in relationship to the patient's dentition. |
| US09655690B2 |
Pedodontic/veterinary dental crown system
A dental crown consisting essentially of stabilized zirconia. The dental crown is particularly suited for pedodontic and veterinary applications and most preferably for pedodontic applications. The zirconia crown may be formed by one of several manufacturing processes. The formed crown exterior can be polished and fine polished and can be covered, preferably only partially, with a porcelain glaze to produce an aesthetic outer surface mimicking a natural tooth. Also disclosed is a method for providing and placing a dental crown upon a natural tooth. |
| US09655688B2 |
Dental instrument
A dental instrument device includes a middle body with two ends, a pair of removable instrument tips, a pair of securing collets, and a pair of removable end caps. Each end of the middle body terminates in a middle body/instrument tip connection interface that receives a right-handed instrument tip only in a first orientation and a left-handed instrument tip only in a second orientation differing from the first orientation. The removable instrument tips have a similar middle body/instrument tip connection interface, and a working instrument end with a right-handed or a left-handed orientation. A right-handed instrument tip is releasably connected to the first middle body/instrument tip connection interface, and a left-handed instrument tip is releasably connected to the second middle body/instrument tip connection interface, with the right-handed and left-handed orientations being visually distinguishable one from the other by casual observation of an ordinary observer. |
| US09655685B2 |
Rod contouring apparatus for percutaneous pedicle screw extension
Anatomic points within the body are projected outside the body through the use of extenders (180, 182, 188). The projected points may then be used for measurement, or to facilitate the selection or configuration of an implant that is positioned proximate the anatomic points using a slotted cannula (143). Such an implant may be a rod (270) for a posterior spinal fusion system. Pedicle screws (140, 142, 148) may be implanted into pedicles of the spine, and may then serve as anchors for the extenders. The extenders (180, 182, 188) may have rod interfaces (214, 216, 218) that receive the rod (270) in a manner that mimics the geometry of the pedicle screws (140, 142, 148) so that the selected or configured contoured rod (270) will properly fit into engagement with the pedicle screws (140, 142, 148). |
| US09655684B2 |
Catheter guidance system
A catheter guidance system and method for guiding a catheter through the bloodstream of the patient's cardiovascular system in a medical procedure. The catheter has a front tip with a heating element for slightly heating a media surrounding the front tip in a blood vessel of the patient's cardiovascular system, and two temperature measuring elements located adjacent to and in front and behind the heating element respectively for measuring temperatures in the media at their respective locations. A guidance device is coupled to the catheter for converting the heating power and temperature measurement signals to digital signals, processing the digital signals, and displaying guidance information indicative of the location of the front tip of the catheter relative to the blood vessel wall of the patient's cardiovascular system. The guidance information may be shown by an intuitive traffic light type display. |
| US09655681B2 |
Surgical robot, instrument manipulator, combination of an operating table and a surgical robot, and master-slave operating system
The present invention relates to a surgical robot for performing surgery of the minimally invasive type, comprising an instrument manipulator having a manipulator front end, which is provided with an instrument receiver for receiving therein a surgical instrument, and manipulating means for, at least in use, manipulating the manipulator front end with respect to a patient body. The manipulator front end further comprises a container for receiving therein the surgical instrument. The invention further relates to an instrument manipulator, a combination of an operating table and a surgical robot, and a master-slave operating system. |
| US09655680B2 |
Master devices for surgical robots and control methods thereof
A master device for surgical robots may comprise: handle units, each of which includes at least one multi-joint robot finger configured to control a robotic surgical instrument on a robot arm of a slave device; and/or a micro motion generation unit configured to generate a control signal to control an end of the at least one multi-joint robot finger so as to move along a virtual trajectory. A master device for surgical robots may comprise: a first unit that comprises at least one multi-joint robot finger on a robot arm of a slave device; and/or a second unit configured to generate a first control signal to control the at least one multi-joint robot finger so as to move along a virtual trajectory. |
| US09655678B2 |
Methods for the minimally invasive treatment of urinary stones
Methods for treating urinary (kidney) stones in patients using a small outer diameter ureteroscope may help overcome problems associated with conventional methods for removing kidney stones and may minimize patient discomfort, avoid hospitalization and reduce costs associated with more conventional surgical treatments of kidney stones. The methods can be carried out in an outpatient environment such as a urologists' office without requiring general anesthesia. |
| US09655677B2 |
Ablation catheters including a balloon and electrodes
Cardiac tissue ablation catheters including an inflatable and flexible toroidal or spherically shaped balloon disposed at a distal region of an elongate member, a flexible circuit carried by an outer surface of the balloon, the flexible circuit including, a plurality of flexible branches conforming to the radially outer surface of the balloon, each of the plurality of flexible branches including a substrate, a conductive trace carried by the substrate, and an ablation electrode carried by the substrate, the ablation electrode in electrical communication with the conductive trace, and an elongate shaft comprising a guidewire lumen extending in the elongate member and extending from a proximal region of the inflatable balloon to distal region of the inflatable balloon and being disposed within the inflatable balloon, wherein a distal region of the elongate shaft is secured directly or indirectly to the distal region of the inflatable balloon. |
| US09655676B2 |
Method of percutaneous localized or focal treatment of prostate lesions using radio frequency
The present invention is related to a method of realizing percutaneous (transperineal) ablation of prostate tumor regions, using a radio frequency based coiled device. A bipolar electrode assembly comprising an outer helical electrode and an inner electrode arranged concentric with the outer helical electrode, wherein prior to applying radio frequency energy, at least the outer helical electrode is inserted percutaneously into the prostate. An image of the prostate and of the outer helical electrode as inserted is acquired, such that the outer helical electrode is visualized on the image. A graphical representation of a target position of the bipolar electrode assembly is superposed on the image. |
| US09655672B2 |
Vessel sealing instrument
A bipolar electrosurgical instrument includes first and second shafts each having a jaw member extending from its distal end. Each jaw member is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the jaw members are capable of selectively conducting energy through tissue held therebetween. A knife channel is configured to reciprocate a cutting mechanism therealong. An actuator selectively advances the cutting mechanism. A switch is disposed on the first shaft and is configured to be depressed between a first position and at least one subsequent position upon biasing engagement with a mechanical interface disposed on the second shaft. The first position of the switch relays information to the user corresponding to a desired pressure on tissue and the at least one subsequent position is configured to activate the source of electrosurgical energy to supply electrosurgical energy to the jaw members. |
| US09655667B2 |
Cryo-ablation refrigerant distribution catheter
Described herein are methods and devices for performing ablation via a cryoablation catheter. An ablation catheter having a cyroablation chamber at its distal end can be used to achieve a uniform ablation band in or around the pulmonary veins. The cyrochamber can house a dispersion member in fluid communication with a refrigerant supply and can function to evenly distribute received refrigerant over some portion of the inner wall of the cryochamber. As a result of this even distribution of refrigerant within the cyrochamber, uniform ablation of the targeted tissue of the patient can be achieved. |
| US09655664B2 |
Rod reduction device and method of use
Provided is a novel rod reducing device including a screw jack mechanism that is moveably engaged with an elongated grasping fork assembly, the screw jack mechanism having an elongated threaded portion, the elongated threaded portion being connected at its most distal end to a rod contact member, which is positioned in sliding circumferential contact with each of the two opposing elongated grasping members and the most proximal end of the elongated threaded portion terminating in a controlling member, which can be activated in a measured and controlled manner. A method of using the device is also provided. |
| US09655660B2 |
Methods for percutaneously extending an existing spinal construct
Apparatus and devices for adding an additional spinal construct in a patient are disclosed. In one arrangement the additional spinal construct extends an existing spinal construct ipsilaterally with an inline rod connector in a minimally invasive or preferably, percutaneous procedure. In another arrangement, the ipsilateral extension of an existing spinal construct uses an offset rod connector for receiving an additional spinal rod that may be placed interiorly or exteriorly of the existing spinal construct. |
| US09655658B2 |
Deformable device for minimally invasive fixation
The present teachings provide one or more surgical implements for repairing damaged tissue, such as through a fixation procedure. A system for a percutaneous procedure is provided. The system can include a bone fastener including a receiver. The system can include a device having a first end, a second end and a middle portion. The first end, middle portion and second end can be disposed along a longitudinal axis, and the second end can be connected to the receiver. The middle portion can have a pair of deformable leg members extending between the first and second ends. The leg members can define a channel having a width. The leg members can be selectively movable between a retracted state and an expanded state with the width of the channel greater in the expanded state than in the retracted state. |
| US09655654B2 |
Spinal rod support structure with clamp
The present application discloses an implantable device for spinal treatment or stabilization. The device includes a spinal rod support and gripping jaws. The gripping jaws operate between an opened position and a closed position to grip and release a first spinal rod implanted into a patient. The spinal rod support includes a perimeter structure having an interior cavity and passage to connect a second spinal rod to the device to operably connect the first and second spinal rods through the implantable device to form a spinal stabilization structure. |
| US09655646B2 |
Vaginal surgical apparatus
This invention relates generally to a medical device, and more specifically, to a vaginal surgical apparatus. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes, but is not limited to, an elongated handle portion; a vaginal manipulator probe that is at least partly insertable into a vagina, the vaginal manipulator probe extending from the elongated handle portion and including an arcuate end portion, the arcuate end portion including an aperture for accommodating a cervix; and a disk that is movable along at least a portion of a length of the vaginal manipulator probe, the disk including a locking mechanism to releasably secure the disk in position to limit vaginal insertion depth of the vaginal manipulator probe. |
| US09655643B2 |
Bladeless optical obturator
The invention is directed to a bladeless trocar obturator to separate or divaricate body tissue during insertion through a body wall. In one aspect, the obturator of the invention includes a shaft extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end; and a bladeless tip disposed at the distal end of the shaft and having a generally tapered configuration with an outer surface, the outer surface extending distally to a blunt point with a pair of side sections having a common shape and being separated by at least one intermediate section, wherein each of the side sections extends from the blunt point radially outwardly with progressive positions proximally along the axis, and the shaft is sized and configured to receive an optical instrument having a distal end to receive an image of the body tissue. With this aspect, the tapered configuration facilitates separation of different layers of the body tissue and provides proper alignment of the tip between the layers. The side sections include a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion of the side sections being twisted radially with respect to the proximal portion of the side sections. The intermediate section includes a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion of the intermediate section being twisted in a first radial direction and the proximal portion of the intermediate section being twisted in a second radial direction opposite the first radial direction. |
| US09655638B2 |
Twin forceps for single access laparoscopy
The patent is relative to a new instrument for single access laparoscopy that tries to overcome the limits of the present instrumentation used in this technique, that usually allows to use only one forceps, which does not allow to keep the tissues tenses to work with the surgical instrument. To overcome this limitation, the proposed instrument presents two arms, arranged in parallel presenting a diameter equal to half of the main body in the opening direction of the same, while in the direction perpendicular to this these arms can have an higher diameter, provided its shape be entirely circumscribed by the external dimension of the initial body, and each bearing at the tip a forceps, which may be mounted directly on the arms or on two auxiliary arms. The internal mechanism allows opening the two arms, not necessarily in the plane of rotation of the control rings, while the forceps bend toward the inside, keeping their configuration, being all this controlled by a single command. Two additional commands allow then to open and close the forceps individually, and each command can be locked in any position. The forceps can be opened in any direction relative to the plane of the arms, which can also be adjustable in a particular version, as well as it is possible that one or both of the forceps are replaced by a tool of a different type. The instrument can also be made with curvature of the body opposite to that of the arms, the latter being also controlled with a further command. Finally, there are versions of different pliers with robotic motion control and implementation. |
| US09655637B2 |
Collet based locking mechanism
A surgical instrument includes a housing supporting first and second actuators, an elongated shaft extending distally from the housing, and an end effector supported by a distal portion of the elongated shaft. A tensile member extending through the elongated shaft is coupled to the first actuator and the end effector such that first actuator may be manipulated to induce motion of the end effector. A locking mechanism associated with the tensile member selectively impedes motion of the end effector. The locking mechanism includes a collet disposed about the tensile member and a collet clamp for receiving the collet. Receipt of the collet into the collet clamp induces radial compression of the collet to impede the motion of the tensile member therethrough. An actuation member extending through the elongated shaft induces insertion and withdrawal of the collet from the collet clamp. |
| US09655631B2 |
Mill head for a bone mill, the mill head having one or more containment rings that prevent unwanted discharge of the contents of the bone mill
A mill head for replaceable attachment to a base so as to collectively form a bone mill. The mill head includes: a first opening in which bone stock is introduced into the head; a cutting device that converts the bone stock into bone chips; a second opening through which the bone chips are discharged; and a third opening through which a motor integral with the base is attached to the cutting device. Internal to the mill head are containment rings. The containment rings prevent the discharge of material through the third opening. The containment rings are services the internal component of the mill head on which the cutting device rests. |
| US09655630B2 |
Methods and devices for forming holes in bone to stimulate bone growth
Methods and devices are provided for forming holes in bone to stimulate bone growth. In one exemplary embodiment, a surgical instrument set can include a driver having a first mating element, and a bone pick have a second mating element configured to releasably mate with the first mating element at any of a plurality of angular orientations. When releasably mated together, the driver and the bone pick can be configured to be adjustably positioned relative to one another with three degrees of freedom, e.g., pitch, yaw, and roll. The bone pick can include a piercing tip configured to form a hole in a bone, such as in microfracture. When the driver and the bone pick are releasably mated together, the driver can be configured to be struck, impacted, or otherwise manipulated to drive the piercing tip into the bone. |
| US09655627B2 |
Anti-embolic device and method
A device for use in preventing stroke is provided. The device may include an expandable member that expands from a non-expanded configuration to an expanded configuration. The expandable member is located at a neck of a patient. An associated method is provided. |
| US09655623B2 |
System for closing a wound
A system for wound closure has at least two closure elements. One closure element is detachably tethered to another closure element. Each closure element includes: a base member with an integral strap hingably connected to the base member, and a lock member slidably disposed on the strap and being lockable on the strap. Alternatively, the base member defines a plane and the strap being affixed to the base member at an angle to the plane. The system may further include a wound covering disposed between the straps and the wound. The wound covering may be a laminate having at least two layers; a first layer is a moisture impervious layer adapted to contain body heat, and a second hydrophilic layer is adapted to retain moisture. |
| US09655622B2 |
Adhesive-containing wound closure device and method
A tissue bonding article includes a flexible material, an adhesive substance applied over at least a portion of a bottom side of the flexible material, and a polymerizable adhesive composition permeated throughout at least a portion of the flexible material. |
| US09655617B2 |
Surgical instrument
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a body, a tool assembly and an articulation assembly. The articulation mechanism includes a receptacle, and a main shaft. A lower clutch is fixedly positioned within the receptacle and has a serrated portion including a plurality of serrations. An upper clutch includes at least one projection positioned to engage the serrations of the lower clutch to releasably retain the main shaft at a rotatably fixed position. An angle between a first pair of adjacent serrations is defined as a first angle, an angle between a second pair of adjacent serrations is defined as a second angle, and an angle between a third pair of adjacent serrations is defined as a third angle. The first angle, the second angle, and the third angle are each different from one another. |
| US09655613B2 |
Beltless staple chain for cartridge and cartridgeless surgical staplers
A surgical stapling device is configured for use in open and/or laparoscopic surgical procedures. The device includes a staple holder with a first support element and a second support element for supporting a beltless continuous staple chain. Each staple of the staple chain is configured to be frangibly separated from the staple chain to pierce and secure a target tissue when each staple is deployed. The device also includes a plurality of standoff members wherein each of the plurality of standoff members is configured to support one of each staple of the staple chain when the one of each staple is being deployed. The surgical stapling device may be a cartridge-based or a cartridge-less based staple device. |
| US09655606B2 |
Large bore introducer with improved seal
An introducer includes a housing and a flexible seal. The housing includes a hub, a cap, and a lumen. The flexible seal is positioned across the lumen and retained between the hub and the cap. The seal includes a top surface and a bottom surface, a bottom slit formed in the bottom surface, and a top slit formed in the top surface. The top slit crosses the bottom slit. The seal member is biased by an interface between the hub and the cap to at least partially close the top slit and at least partially open the bottom slit. |
| US09655604B2 |
Blocking sleeve for bioadhesive delivery device and methods
A closure assembly includes an insertion sheath insertable into a tissue puncture and a tissue puncture closure device insertable through the insertion sheath and into the tissue puncture. The tissue puncture closure device includes a dual lumen delivery tube, a first sealing sleeve, and a second sealing sleeve. The dual lumen delivery tube has a first lumen configured to deliver a volume of sealing material to the tissue puncture, and a second lumen sized for insertion of a balloon location device. The first sealing sleeve is positioned between an outer surface of the dual lumen delivery tube and an inner surface of the insertion sheath to limit backflow of the sealing material into the insertion sheath. The second sealing sleeve is positioned between an outer surface of the balloon location device and an inner surface of the second lumen to limit backflow of the sealing material into the second lumen. |
| US09655600B2 |
Methods and devices for endometrial cell and tissue sampling
The present invention comprises methods and devices comprising a scraping element used to contact circumferentially and longitudinally the surface walls of the uterine cavity to provide for broad contact of the intended surface with the device, resulting in attainment of a sufficient volume and comprehensive tissue sample for analysis as an endometrial biopsy or screening uterine cancer. The device may provide for a reservoir for the obtained sample to be contained when removing from the uterine cavity, cervical canal, and vagina. The device may be comprised of a detachable means or be of a material that allows the user to cut the sampling head of the device for placement in collection means to maximize the amount of tissue or cells being sent to the laboratory for analysis. |
| US09655589B2 |
Subject information acquisition apparatus
Viscoelastic characteristics in a subject are imaged by a simple method.A viscoelasticity measurement reference layer whose elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient are known is included between an ultrasonic wave transmitting/receiving probe and the subject and distributions of elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient inside the subject are calculated from a change over time of strain generated in the viscoelasticity measurement reference layer and the subject according to a pressure applied to the subject which changes over time and known elastic modulus and viscosity coefficient of the viscoelasticity measurement reference layer. |
| US09655587B2 |
Handheld X-ray system interface with tracking feature
In one embodiment, an X-ray system includes a handheld X-ray interface device. The handheld X-ray interface device includes a wireless interface for communicating with an imaging system and a tracking device configured to provide a location and/or to track movement of the handheld X-ray interface device relative to the imaging system, wherein the location or tracked movement of the handheld X-ray interface device is communicated to the imaging system as an input for at least one control function of the imaging system. |
| US09655585B2 |
X-ray diagnostic apparatus and dose distribution generation method
An X-ray diagnostic apparatus includes a first support mechanism supporting a first X-ray tube which irradiates an object with first X-rays along a first direction, a second support mechanism supporting a second X-ray tube which irradiates the object with second X-rays along a second direction different from the first direction, a dose distribution generation unit generates a first and second dose distribution corresponding to the first and second X-rays respectively, a specifying unit specifying position states of the first and second support mechanism and operation states of the first and second X-ray tube, a display unit simultaneously displaying, with at least two different viewpoints in accordance with the position states and the operation states, a model on which the first and second dose distribution are superimposed. |
| US09655582B2 |
Radiographic apparatus
A mobile X-ray radiographic device has an extended operable time by employing a regenerative energy system and assembly. A regenerative brake circuit acts to provide a braking force for a rear wheel set during a circumstance and an adaptive use wherein a driving force is cut off to the rear wheels, and a second battery system charges with the generated electric power for adaptive use. The regenerative brake circuit further acts to provide the braking force for a rotary anode under the circumstance in which the driving force is cut off to the rotary anode and also the second battery charges with the generated electric power. |
| US09655579B2 |
Image-based diagnosis assistance apparatus, method and program
A morphology image representing the morphology of a specific organ including a tubular structure in the inside thereof and a function image representing a function level at each position in the organ are obtained. A structure region representing a structure dominating the organ is extracted from the morphology image. A specific partial region in the extracted structure region and a dominated region in the organ are determined, and the dominated region being dominated by a structure in the partial region. In that case, at least one of the partial region determination step and the dominated region determination step is performed by using the function image. |
| US09655574B2 |
Methods and systems for controlling movement of detectors having multiple detector heads
Methods and systems for controlling movement of detectors having multiple detector heads are provided. One system includes a gantry, a patient support structure supporting a patient table thereon, and a plurality of detector units. At least some of the detector units are rotatable to position the detector units at different angles relative to the patient table. The imaging system further includes a detector position controller configured to control the position of the rotatable detector units, wherein at least some of the rotatable detector units positioned adjacent to each other have an angle of rotation to allow movement of the rotatable detector units a distance greater than a gap between adjacent rotatable detector units. The detector position controller is configured to calculate at least one of field of view avoidance information or collision avoidance information to determine an amount of movement for one or more of the rotatable detector units. |
| US09655571B2 |
X-ray shield
An X-ray shield for a horizontal X-ray procedure table, the X-ray shield comprising a horizontal support bar comprising at least one substantially vertically aligned slot, in combination with an X-ray opaque top shield comprising at least one downwardly projecting pin, the at least one pin being arranged so as to be disposable within the at least one slot from above in order to engage the top shield with the horizontal support bar, the X-ray shield further comprising a latch engagable to prevent the separation of the top shield from the support bar when the top shield is engaged with the support bar, and wherein the latch can be unengaged to permit the removal of the top shield from the support bar by withdrawing the as least one pin from the at least one slot. |
| US09655566B2 |
Biological information measurement and display apparatus
A biological information measurement and display apparatus includes: a measuring unit measuring biological information; a first processor operating on a first operating system, and arithmetically processing the biological information measured by the measuring unit, to produce a calculation process signal; a second processor operating on a second operating system, being communicable with the first processor, and editing and processing the calculation process signal transmitted from the first processor, to produce an edition process signal; and an output controller receiving the calculation process signal produced by the first processor, and the edition process signal produced by the second processor, and outputting the received calculation process signal and the received edition process signal, the calculation process signal and the edition process signal output from the output controller being displayed in real time on a displaying unit. |
| US09655560B2 |
Catheter balloon having stretchable integrated circuitry and sensor array
A system, device and method are presented for utilizing stretchable active integrated circuits with inflatable bodies. The invention allows for such operative features to come into direct contact with body structures, such as the inner wall of a lumen. Such direct contact increases accuracy of measurement and delivery of therapy. |
| US09655550B2 |
Latent fingerprint detection method, heating evaporation device for detecting latent fingerprint, latent fingerprint detection apparatus, and composition for detecting latent fingerprint
The present invention provides a latent fingerprint detection method that is easy to handle and is capable of clearly detecting a latent fingerprint and a heating evaporation device for detecting a latent fingerprint and a latent fingerprint detection apparatus which are capable of detecting a clear latent fingerprint by a one-time operation by heating a chemical agent at high temperatures in a short time, as well as a composition for detecting a latent fingerprint. This latent fingerprint detection method includes a heating step of heating a chemical agent to be gasified by heating so as to attach to a latent fingerprint on a specimen, and an exposure step of exposing the specimen having the latent fingerprint attached thereto to the atmosphere of the gasified chemical agent. The chemical agent is a mixture of a 2-cyanoacrylic acid ester polymer and a dye. |
| US09655548B2 |
Biometric monitoring device with immersion sensor and swim stroke detection and related methods
Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques for utilizing gyroscopes in biometric monitoring devices are provided. Such techniques may, in some implementations, involve obtaining swimming metrics regarding swim stroke count, lap count, and stroke type. A biometric monitoring device for obtaining such metrics may include an immersions sensor. |
| US09655544B2 |
System and method for determination of transpulmonary pressure in a patient connected to a breathing apparatus
A breathing apparatus (1) is disclosed that is adapted to determine a transpulmonary pressure in a patient (125) when connected to said breathing apparatus. A control unit (105) is operable to set a first mode of operation for ventilating said patient with a first Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) level; set a second mode of operation for ventilating said patient with a second PEEP level starting from said first PEEP level; and determine said transpulmonary pressure (Ptp) based on a change in end-expiratory lung volume (ΔEELV) and a difference between said first PEEP level and said second PEEP level (ΔPEEP). Furthermore, a method and computer program are disclosed. |
| US09655543B2 |
Respiratory waveform analyzer
A respiratory waveform analyzer, operable to analyze a respiratory waveform, which is generated based on a temporal change of a concentration of a component in respiratory gas of a subject, includes: a respiratory gas concentration generator which generates a concentration signal based on an output signal from a sensor that is placed to measure the concentration of the component; a flatness calculator which calculates a flatness indicative of flat degree of the respiratory waveform based on a temporal change of the concentration signal; and a reliability calculator which calculates a reliability of the respiratory waveform based on the flatness and the concentration signal. |
| US09655537B2 |
Wearable electrocardiography and physiology monitoring ensemble
A wearable electrocardiography monitoring ensemble is provided, which includes a garment made of a compressible and elastomeric material. The garment is wearable about an upper region of the torso and further includes an internal structure forming a compressive bias circumferential to the torso. The ensemble also includes an electrode assembly provided on an inside surface of the garment on an underside of the internal structure. The electrode assembly has a pair of electrocardiography electrodes, a pair of terminated electrical connections that are each coupled to one of the electrocardiography electrodes, and a backing to which the electrocardiography electrodes are affixed. The wearable monitoring ensemble creates a more natural experience for wearers and can be used to produce an expanded dataset for diagnosis because the ensemble can collect data during activities of daily living and can capture cardiovascular events outside of clinical observation, which is otherwise not practicable, especially for athletes. |
| US09655536B2 |
Non-invasive method and system for characterizing cardiovascular systems
The present disclosure uses physiological data, ECG signals as an example, to evaluate cardiac structure and function in mammals. Two approaches are presented, e.g., a model-based analysis and a space-time analysis. The first method uses a modified Matching Pursuit (MMP) algorithm to find a noiseless model of the ECG data that is sparse and does not assume periodicity of the signal. After the model is derived, various metrics and subspaces are extracted to image and characterize cardiovascular tissues using complex-sub-harmonic-frequencies (CSF) quasi-periodic and other mathematical methods. In the second method, space-time domain is divided into a number of regions, the density of the ECG signal is computed in each region and inputted into a learning algorithm to image and characterize the tissues. |
| US09655527B2 |
Quantification of optical absorption coefficients using acoustic spectra in photoacoustic tomography
Accurately quantifying optical absorption coefficient using acoustic spectra of photoacoustic signals. Optical absorption is closely associated with many physiological parameters, such as the concentration and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, and it can be used to quantify the concentrations of non-fluorescent molecules. A sample is illuminated by, for example, a pulsed laser and following the absorption of optical energy, a photoacoustic pressure is generated via thermo-elastic expansion. The acoustic waves then propagate and are detected by a transducer. The optical absorption coefficient of the sample is quantified from spectra of the measured photoacoustic signals. Factors, such as system bandwidth and acoustic attenuation, may affect the quantification but are canceled by dividing the acoustic spectra measured at multiple optical wavelengths. |
| US09655523B2 |
Optical imaging or spectroscopy systems and methods
Optical imaging or spectroscopy described can use laminar optical tomography (LOT), diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS), or the like. An incident beam is scanned across a target. An orthogonal or oblique optical response can be obtained, such as concurrently at different distances from the incident beam. The optical response from multiple incident wavelengths can be concurrently obtained by dispersing the response wavelengths in a direction orthogonal to the response distances from the incident beam. Temporal correlation can be measured, from which flow and other parameters can be computed. An optical conduit can enable endoscopic or laparoscopic imaging or spectroscopy of internal target locations. An articulating arm can communicate the light for performing the LOT, DCS, or the like. The imaging can find use for skin cancer diagnosis, such as distinguishing lentigo maligna (LM) from lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM). |
| US09655521B2 |
Combined reflectance confocal microscopy-optical coherence tomography system for imaging of biological tissue
A dual-modality apparatus for imaging of biological tissue includes a reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) imaging apparatus and an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging apparatus. A first optical component reflects a first beam of light provided by a RCM imaging apparatus towards a sample and passes a second beam of light provided by an OCT imaging apparatus towards the sample, such that the first and second beam of lights share at least a portion of an imaging path. |
| US09655519B2 |
Systems and methods for performing an imaging test under constrained conditions
An imaging system collects a plurality of images of an extremity of a subject, each collected at a unique spectral band. A physiologic arterial parameter of the extremity is determined from the plurality of images upon image registration. A record of the physiological arterial parameter is recorded in an electronic data store and an indication of the parameter is outputted. The method is performed by a medical professional associated with a temporal clinical expenditure cost in an epoch, for an entity. The product of the (i) epoch and the (ii) temporal clinical expenditure cost is less than a difference between (a) an average or absolute reimbursement associated with the current procedural terminology code by the entity and (b) incidental expenditures associated with the performance of the method. |
| US09655515B2 |
Method of precision eye-tracking through use of iris edge based landmarks in eye geometry
In the field of eye tracking, greater accuracy or resolution in monitoring movement of the eye can be gained by digitizing the eye, and tracking the movement of a landmark with fixed size and a fixed location relative to the eye's local coordinate system. The edge of the iris can be used as such a fixed landmark. Through the location and or establishment of at least a portion of the outer edge of the iris and/or an iris center point, both large and small scale eye movements, including but not limited to micro-tremors, can be traced with a higher degree of accuracy. This will aid in the diagnosis of diseases, assessing state of consciousness, and defining brainstem death. |
| US09655514B2 |
Optical instrument for biomechanical diagnosis of eye disease
A method and system for performing biomechanical diagnosis of eye disease may include a Brillouin light source to generate a Brillouin sample beam, and a second harmonic generation (SHG) light source to generate an SHG sample beam. Both the Brillouin sample beam and the SHG sample beam may be coincidentally directed to a biological tissue sample in a confocal manner to a focus position. Brillouin scattering resulting from the Brillouin sample beam may be detected to determine an elastomechanical property and a viscoelastic property of the sample. SHG scattering resulting from the SHG sample beam may be detected to determine an indication of a morphological structure of the sample. The sample may be an in vivo human cornea. |
| US09655513B2 |
Wavefront measurement pre-smoothing systems and methods
Embodiments of the present invention encompass systems and methods for generating a vision treatment target for an eye of a patient. Exemplary techniques can involve obtaining a wavefront measurement for the eye of the patient, processing the wavefront measurement, using a low pass filter, to obtain an ocular wavefront, and generating the vision treatment target based on the ocular wavefront. In some cases, the wavefront is processed by applying a Fourier transform to the wavefront measurement to obtain a Fourier spectrum of the wavefront, convolving, in the Fourier domain, the Fourier spectrum of the wavefront and the low pass filter to obtain a Fourier spectrum convolution result, and applying an inverse transform to the convolution result to obtain the ocular wavefront. The ocular wavefront can represent a low pass filtered version of the wavefront measurement, such that high spatial frequency features present in the wavefront measurement are not present in the ocular wavefront. |
| US09655510B2 |
System and method for improving the peripheral vision of a subject
Systems and methods for improving the peripheral vision of a subject are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure includes a method, which may be embodied on a system, for improving peripheral vision of a subject using a visual marker on a display screen, the method includes, displaying a peripheral target on the display screen, the peripheral target having a visually discernible characteristic and determining whether the subject is able to correctly identify the peripheral target displayed on the display screen using the peripheral vision. The visual marker is intended for viewing using central vision of the subject and the peripheral target is intended for identification using the peripheral vision of the subject. |
| US09655504B1 |
Autoclavable intraoral mirror with an integrated camera, and applications thereof
Disclosed embodiments integrate a camera into an intraoral mirror. Integrating a camera into an intraoral mirror provides an efficient way to record and display what is visible to the healthcare provider in the mirror. |
| US09655503B2 |
Dual surface dental device for use in intraoral photography
The present invention describes a dual sided dental instrument for use in intraoral photography. Each side of the dental instrument forms a different surface providing the user the capability to use a single device for differing functions. In a preferred embodiment, the dual sided dental instrument for use in intraoral photography preferably contains a first surface having reflective materials. Use of reflective materials provides a mechanism for the dentist or dental hygienist to photograph the inner portions of the patient's upper or lower teeth. The opposing side contains a surface which is adapted to provide background for intraoral images. |
| US09655502B2 |
Removable tip endoscope
There is provided herein, an endoscope comprising an elongated shaft terminating with a tip section wherein said tip section comprises a permanent section connected to the elongated shaft and a removable section securely connectable to the permanent section, wherein the removable section comprises at least one capture device and at least one light source. |
| US09655497B2 |
Dishwasher
A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation comprises a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a chassis supporting the tub and defining a space below the tub a junction box located within the space. The junction box includes a base and a cover configured to receive an electrical connection for the dishwasher. |
| US09655496B2 |
Dishwasher with sprayer
A dishwasher for treating dishes according to at least one automatic cycle of operation and including a tub having a bottom wall for at least partially defining a treating chamber in which dishes may be received for treatment, at least one sprayer provided on the bottom wall, and having at least one opening through which liquid is emitted into the treating chamber, and a recirculation circuit fluidly coupling the treating chamber to the at least one sprayer such that liquid emitted into the treating chamber may be directed back to the sprayer for recirculation. |
| US09655495B2 |
Dishwasher including an inclined grate for filtration
A foreign object protection system for a dishwasher for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation includes a tub, a sump,a recirculation pump;and a foreign object protection system comprising a grate, wherein liquid in the tub collects in the sump and is recirculated by the recirculation pump such that the liquid is drawn through the foreign object grate. |
| US09655494B2 |
Dishwasher filtration system
A liquid filtration system includes a sump screen, a filter, and a cap. The sump screen mounts to a tub bottom wall and includes a plate and a filter aperture edge mounted through the plate. The plate includes a sump mesh having a sump mesh size of less than approximately 0.1 inches. The filter mounts to the filter aperture edge and includes a sidewall and a plurality of posts mounted to extend up from the sidewall. The sidewall includes a filter mesh having a filter mesh size of less than approximately 0.1 inches. At least a portion of each post extends above the filter aperture edge when the filter is mounted to the filter aperture edge. The cap mounts above the plurality of posts. The plurality of posts and the cap form a conduit sized to allow material that cannot pass through the sump mesh to flow through the conduit. |
| US09655490B2 |
High efficiency disposable cellulosic wiper for cleaning residue from a surface
A disposable cellulosic wiper includes a percentage by weight of pulp-derived papermaking fibers, and from about 10% to about 75% by weight of fibrillated regenerated independent cellulosic microfibers having a number average diameter of less than about 2 microns and a characteristic Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) value of less than 175 ml. |
| US09655489B2 |
Vacuum cleaner
Provided is a vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner body including a suction motor for generating a suction force, a suction part communicating with the cleaner body to suction air and dusts, a battery disposed in the cleaner body or suction part to supply a power to the suction motor, and a cleaner connector disposed on the cleaner body or the suction part, a charger including a charger connector separably connected to the cleaner connector to charge the battery, and a disconnection member disposed on the cleaner body or the suction part to selectively connect or disconnect the cleaner connector to or from the battery. |
| US09655488B2 |
Catch device for a vacuum cleaner suction pipe
A catch device (1) for connecting a handle to a vacuum cleaner suction pipe (2), the catch device (1) being mountable on one end region of a vacuum cleaner suction pipe (2), and having at least one sleeve (3), at least one lever button (4) and at least one reset spring (7), the lever button (4) having a catch projection (8) and a pivot axle (9) for the lever button. The catch device (1) reduces the effort for mounting on a vacuum cleaner suction pipe (2) the provision of a clamp element (11) that is positively connected to the sleeve (3), the pivot axle (9) being pivotally held between the clamp element (11) and the sleeve (3). |
| US09655484B2 |
Autonomous planar surface cleaning robot
Autonomous planar surface cleaning robots are disclosed. The robot includes a main body having a bottom portion defining an outer portion defining a surface area about a perimeter thereof and an inner portion defining a cavity formed within the outer portion. The main body supports a driving mechanism, a vacuum source, a vacuum sensor, and a control unit. The vacuum source, cavity, and vacuum sensor are in fluid communication. The control unit is electrically coupled to the driving mechanism, the vacuum source, and the vacuum sensor, and is configured to control the robot to turn direction when the control unit receives a signal from the vacuum sensor indicating that a degree of vacuum pressure within the cavity is below a predetermined vacuum pressure. Also disclosed is robot that includes multiple vacuum sources. Also disclosed is an apparatus that includes a connector pole. |
| US09655475B2 |
Tool for cutting food into pieces
Provided is a tool for cutting food into pieces, that includes at least one cutting element adjacent to a bearing surface. The cutting element has at least one vertical member forming a longitudinal cutting member provided for slicing the food to be cut longways, and a transverse wall having, on either side of the vertical member, two transverse cutting members provided for separating the food pieces that were sliced longways, so as to provide two channels for cut food. The vertical member has a front notch. A retaining member, which is rigidly connected to the bearing surface, can be inserted into the front notch. Also provided is an accessory for preparing food and to an appliance for preparing food having the above-described tool for cutting food into pieces. |
| US09655474B2 |
Food processing device with an externally operated adjustment mechanism
A food processor includes a base and a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a cutting assembly driven by a motor. The cutting assembly is adjustable to vary the thickness of the cut food items. An adjustment assembly positioned in the base is operable to adjust the cutting thickness of the cutting assembly while the cutting assembly is driven by the motor. |
| US09655472B1 |
Optionally fueled portable cooking device
An optionally fueled portable cooking device having a hollow cylindrical body having an open top end and a perforated bottom end, a pair of opposed doors selectively disposed and movably meeting immediately adjacent the hollow cylindrical body, a disk-shaped base, an above-base ring having a plurality of spaced apart legs supporting the above-base ring, the above-base ring removably receiving the perforated bottom end, an ash pan removably disposed between the legs and upon the disc-shaped base, a grease pan for the grease tube, an electric plate removably disposed upon than L-shaped lip vertically disposed from the open top end, the electric plate having a power control and a plate grease drain, a gas fueled insert removably disposed within the hollow cylindrical body, and a perforated vent plate rotationally disposed below the perforated bottom end. |
| US09655465B2 |
Perimeter track lazy susan
A lazy Susan platform has a major diameter and a minor diameter, at least one curved platform portion with a first width at or about the radius of curvature, at least one straight platform portion with a second width, and a ratio of the widths of the first platform portion to the second platform portion that is greater than one. |
| US09655463B2 |
Insulated beverage-container holder
An insulating beverage-can holder including: a can-receiving cup; a primary lid that is secured to the upper edge of the cup and has (a) a main portion defining a drinking hole aligned with the can opening, (b) a disk of resiliently-deformable material on the underside of the main portion to form a seal about the can opening and having an aperture aligned with the drinking hole, and (c) a circumferential rim disposed to form a seal around the edge of the cup; and a secondary lid which is hinged to the primary lid at opposite sides of the main portion and is movable between a first position exposing the drinking hole and a second position closing the drinking hole and covering an area of the primary lid. |
| US09655461B2 |
Pressware paperboard plate with wide brim and greater strength
A paperboard plate can include a bottom panel, a frustoconical sidewall extending upward and outward from the bottom panel, and four arcuate portions which have radius of curvatures R1, R2, R3, and R4. The plate can also include an inner brim section adjacent the frustoconical sidewall and having a width (W), an outer frustoconical brim section extending downward and out from the inner brim section, an outer perimeter section extending outward from the outer frustoconical brim section, the plate having an overall diameter (D). The radius of curvature (R3) can be less than 0.20 inches, a ratio of W/D can be 0.041 to 0.050, a ratio of R3/D can be 0.010 to 0.017, and the outer frustoconical brim section can extend downward and outward at an angle (A3) of 65° to 75° with respect to a vertical that is substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel. |
| US09655460B1 |
Dual purpose plate with removable beverage container
A plate with an aperture or opening located within the perimeter of the plate is adapted to receive a beverage container thereby allowing a user to hold both a plate and a beverage in one hand. A raised exterior perimeter wall and a raised interior retaining wall are configured to contain food or other articles on the plate and to avoid spills and leakages while being held by a user. A plurality of raised interior segmenting walls allow a user to separate articles of food, condiments, or other items located on the surface of the plate. |
| US09655458B2 |
Powered chairs for public venues, assemblies for use in powered chairs, and components for use in assemblies for use in powered chairs
Powered recliner chairs, assemblies for use in the chairs, and components for use in the assemblies are provided. Control systems and methods for operating powered recliner chairs are also provided. Any given chair may be locally and/or remotely controlled. |
| US09655457B2 |
Patient support systems and methods of use
A patient support system includes a patient support apparatus and a support surface mounted on the patient support apparatus. The patient support apparatus is reconfigurable among a plurality of different configurations for supporting a patient on the support surface in a plurality of positions. The support surface is mounted on the patient support apparatus to move in response to reconfiguration of the patient support apparatus. |
| US09655454B2 |
System usable in articles to facilitate relative movement between parts thereof
A system that makes up at least a portion of a utilitarian article and having: a first body; a second body; and a first linkage assembly acting between the first and second bodies and configured to allow the first and second bodies to be relatively positioned to thereby reconfigure the article into which the system is incorporated. The first linkage assembly has first and second linkage parts. The first linkage assembly is configured so that: a) the first linkage part is movable relative to the first body around a first axis; b) the second linkage part is movable relative to the first linkage part around a second axis; and c) the second linkage part is movable relative to the second body around a third axis. At least one of the first, second, and third axes is non-parallel to the other two of the first, second, and third axes. |
| US09655453B2 |
Director's chair
A director's chair includes two sides each having a pair of legs, a rail connecting the upper ends of the pair of legs and, together with an opposing rail, engaging a first canvas that provides a seat, an armrest coupled to a stile, which, together with an opposing stile, engages a canvas that provides a back, a T-shaped strut having a shorter arm rotatably coupled to the lower ends of the pair of legs and a larger arm having at one end a slider slidably engaged in a groove defined in the support rod of an opposing armrest, and a blocking member that prevents an upward movement of the slider within the groove when the director's chair is in open configuration and that can be removably disengaged by the user to bring the director's chair in closed configuration. |
| US09655452B2 |
Furniture and methods of assembling the same
A furniture piece is provided. The furniture piece includes a back assembly having a plurality of horizontal supports and a plurality of vertical supports coupled to the plurality of horizontal support. The plurality of vertical supports includes a first indicia shape. An arm assembly is coupled to the plurality of horizontal supports and includes a plurality of arm supports, wherein the plurality of arm supports includes a second indicia shape. The furniture piece includes a leg assembly coupled to the plurality of vertical supports and to the plurality of arm supports. The leg assembly includes a plurality of leg supports, wherein the plurality of leg supports includes a third indicia shape. A seat assembly is coupled to the plurality of vertical supports and the plurality of leg supports. The first indicia shape, the second indicia shape and the third indicia shape include at least one of a profile, silhouette, pattern and scheme of a firearm. |
| US09655447B2 |
Drive device for a movable furniture part
A drive device for a movable furniture part has a lockable ejection device for ejecting the movable furniture part from a closed position into an open position. The ejection device can be unlocked by pressing the movable furniture part into an over-pressed position situated behind the closed position in the closing direction. A blocking element is provided which has a blocking position in which the blocking element prevents the unlocking of the ejection device upon reaching the pressed-over position, and which has a release position in which the ejection device can be unlocked upon reaching the pressed-over position. |
| US09655445B2 |
Table benching apparatus and methods of using the same
This disclosure provides apparatus that includes kits and systems for connecting together a plurality of tables, having a plurality of elongated foot members that include a plurality of table leg connectors that are connectable to the lower ends of legs of a plurality of tables. |
| US09655443B2 |
Adjustable shelf support system for medicine cabinets
An adjustable locking shelf support system for use in a medicine cabinet or other cabinet. The adjustable shelf support members have set-off lugs which are inserted and locked into slots in a recessed race located in the vertical walls of the cabinet. The front portion of the adjustable locking shelf support member protrudes into the cabinet toward the front has a channel that, together with the cooperating adjustable locking shelf support member located on the opposite side vertical wall of the cabinet, accepts a shelf made of glass or other material. The adjustable shelf support members can be removed and replaced throughout the cabinet in other slots evenly spaced in a vertical orientation in the recessed race of the vertical walls of the cabinet. |
| US09655436B2 |
Oral care implement
An oral care implement comprising tooth cleaning elements and a tissue cleanser. In one aspect, the invention can be an oral care implement comprising: a head and a handle; a plurality of tooth cleaning elements extending from a first face of the head; a receiving cavity formed into a second face of the head opposite the first face; and a soft tissue cleanser formed of an elastomeric material positioned within the receiving cavity, the soft tissue cleanser comprising a base surface that is flush with the second face of the head and a plurality of projections extending beyond the second face of the head. |
| US09655434B2 |
Holder for mobile computing device
A holder for a mobile computing device, such as a tablet computer or the like, can include a handle that is positioned laterally from a device space in which the mobile computing device is held within the holder. The handle can be angled relative to the mobile computing device and can have a fixed angle or adjustable angles. The holder can include two or more portions that are connectable in two or more different positions to hold the mobile computing device in at least two orientations, such as landscape and portrait orientations, and/or to accommodate devices of different sizes. In some configurations, the holder can incorporate a peripheral device. |
| US09655431B2 |
Cosmetic container
Provided is a cosmetics container. The cosmetics container (100) according to this embodiment includes a first container (120) configured to discharge a predetermined amount of cosmetics by a pressing motion, a second container (130) configured to discharge a predetermined amount of coolant by a pressing motion, a container (110) including the first container (120) and the second container (130) therein, a cooler (140), which includes a cooling pipe (141) connected to the first container (120) and allows the cosmetics to move therein and a cooling channel (143) formed to surround the cooling pipe (141) and connected to the second container (130) so that the coolant in the cooling channel (143) is evaporated while moving along an outer surface of the cooling pipe (141) to cool the cosmetics, and a pushing member (150) provided at one side of the container (110), wherein when the pushing member (150) is pressed to a predetermined depth (T), the coolant discharges from the second container (130) and moves to the cooling channel (143), and when the pushing member (150) is pressed over the predetermined depth (T), the cosmetics discharges from the first container (120) and moves to the cooling pipe (141), wherein the cooling pipe (141) and the cooling channel (143) extend on a plane perpendicular to a vertical direction of the container (110). |
| US09655422B2 |
Holder for consumer products, flap portion for such a holder, and combination of such a holder and a panel element
A holder for consumer products, including an at least substantially rectangular, flat storage portion having a first and a second at least substantially flat wall, the walls defining between them at least one flat compartment provided with an opening for accommodating the consumer products therein, and an at least substantially flat flap portion having an at least substantially rectangular plate-shaped wall element, wherein a first elongate connecting element is provided at the location of a first longitudinal edge of the wall element is designed for being accommodated in a first passage that is provided in the first wall for interconnecting the wall element and the storage portion. |
| US09655418B2 |
Suitcase with removable walking-stick extensible rod
A suitcase with a removable walking-stick extensible rod includes a suitcase body having a receiving chamber and a mouth, with the mouth disposed at the top of the suitcase body to communicate with the receiving chamber; a fastening and releasing element fixedly disposed in the receiving chamber; and a walking-stick extensible rod having an extensible rod body and a handle, with the extensible rod body received in the receiving chamber and disposed at the fastening and releasing element, and the handle connected to an end of the extensible rod body and disposed at the mouth. |
| US09655417B1 |
Sunshade umbrella
An umbrella includes a canopy, a stand body, a supporting pole, a rope device for opening and closing the umbrella, and a spring member. The stand body includes a plurality long umbrella ribs, a plurality short umbrella ribs, an upper canopy and a bottom canopy. Each of the long umbrella rib and the short umbrella rib have a first end and a second end. The first end of the long umbrella rib is rotatably connected with the upper canopy and the second end of the long rib is hinged at the second end of the short rib, while the first end of the short rib is rotatably connected with the bottom canopy. The upper canopy is placed in the middle of a vertical pole within the stand body. The bottom canopy is sheathed on the vertical pole and can move up and down. The spring member is placed above the upper canopy. |
| US09655416B1 |
Crank handle positioning assembly for an umbrella
A crank handle positioning assembly structured to selectively position a mast mounted canopy of an umbrella into and between open and closed orientations. A gear housing is disposed within the interior of the mast in at least partially enclosing relation to a gear assembly and in driving relation to at least one elongated drive gear. A crank handle is disposed on an exterior of the mast and extends there-through into rotationally driving relation to the gear assembly. A rider member is interconnected in driving relation to the canopy assembly and is reciprocally movable along the length of the drive gear upon rotational, driving engagement of the crank handle with the gear assembly. Concurrent, cooperative directions of linear movement of the rider member and a rotational movement of the crank handle is determinative of the positioning of the canopy assembly in either the open or closed orientations. |
| US09655410B2 |
Combination hidden necktie restraint and buttoning-assist device
A device that serves both for retaining a necktie against free displacement and also for assisting buttoning of a garment comprises first and second loop elements and a flexible link element, attached at its opposite ends to the link elements. Each loop element defines a compound aperture having a larger end section, through which a button may pass, a smaller end section by which an element fastening the button may be engaged and secured by shifting of the loop element relative thereto, and a constricting neck section formed at the intersection of said larger and smaller end sections of said loop elements for maintaining the fastening element the button against unintentional release from the smaller end section of the loop element. |
| US09655406B2 |
Article of footwear having an adjustable heel system
An article of footwear having a heel system is disclosed. The heel system may include a medial heel member and a lateral heel member. The medial heel member and the lateral heel member may be disposed on a sole structure. The medial heel member may have a first rigidity and the lateral heel member may have a second rigidity that is different from the first rigidity. The difference in rigidity may provide different levels of support to a wearer's heel region. The medial heel member may extend from a medial edge of the sole structure to a rearward edge of the sole structure. The lateral heel member may extend from a lateral edge of the sole structure to the rearward edge of the sole structure. |
| US09655405B2 |
Insoles for tracking, data transfer systems and methods involving the insoles, and methods of manufacture
A multilayer insole for removable placement in an article of footwear, the multilayer insole including a bottom insole layer having a top side, a top insole layer having an underside, an intermediate layer that is (a) an insole material layer, (b) a flexible circuit layer or (c) a bonding region for joining the bottom insole layer with the top insole layer, a location data receiving means for receiving an input signal relating to a location of the insole, and a location data transmitting means for transmitting an output signal relating to the location of the insole, wherein the location data receiving means and the location data transmitting means are both integrally associated with the multilayer insole. Also provided are a unitary insole, data transfer systems and methods of using them involving the different insoles and methods of manufacturing the different insoles. |
| US09655403B2 |
Outsole with stepped projections for article of footwear
An article of footwear includes an outsole having a base with an upper surface that faces the upper and a lower surface that faces away from the upper surface. The outsole also includes a first stepped projection that projects in a plurality of first steps from the lower surface. The plurality of first steps is defined by a plurality of first tread surfaces and a plurality of first riser surfaces. The outsole additionally includes a second stepped projection that projects in a plurality of second steps from the lower surface. The plurality of second steps is defined by a plurality of second tread surfaces and a plurality of second riser surfaces. The second stepped projection is spaced away from the first stepped projection relative to the lateral axis of the article of footwear. |
| US09655402B2 |
Electronically controlled bladder assembly
An electronically controlled bladder assembly includes an adjustable pressure bladder and a constant pressure reservoir connected by an electronically controlled valve. The electronically controlled valve is operated in a manner that inflates the adjustable bladder when the current pressure is below a target pressure and in a manner that deflates the adjustable bladder when the current pressure is above the target pressure. The inflation and deflation of the adjustable bladder are achieved in an iterative manner by controlling the flow of fluid between the constant pressure reservoir and the adjustable bladder over several cycles of heel strikes. |
| US09655399B1 |
Earplug connector for multi-signal and multi-power receiving helmets
An earplug connector for simultaneously providing an audio signal from a vehicle or an extra-vehicular source to a pilot while providing power to a noise reduction device while operating the vehicle. The earplug connector has a multi-pin connector for receiving audio signal and power from a pilot interface assembly connected to the vehicle. A ground, power, and audio signal connector transfers power to a noise reduction device worn by a pilot. An audio output continuously transfers audio signals from the multi-pin connector to earplugs and a multi-pin signal separator is in electrical and audio communication between the multi-pin connector and the ground, power, and audio signal connector. The audio output receives audio signals from the multi-pin connector and selectively passes the audio signals to the earplugs while transferring power to a noise reduction device while accepting a plurality of pin configurations. |
| US09655398B2 |
Helmet with removable chin guard
The present invention relates to a protective helmet (1) comprising a chin guard (11) removable from an operating position, for protecting the chin, characterized in that the shell (21) of the helmet (1) is provided with a portion (31) for coupling with the chin guard (11) when removed. |
| US09655397B2 |
Headwear having size adjustment device
Headwear having an opening and a size adjustment device that are formed in a head receiving portion is provided, wherein the size adjustment device includes a first size adjustment unit that is disposed at a lower part of the opening and that can adjust a minute size, and a second size adjustment unit that is connected to the first size adjustment unit to adjust a size to a constant gap. Thereby, headwear that can adjust a minute size and that can satisfy various head sizes without an oppressive feeling can be provided. |
| US09655394B2 |
Two piece butterfly bow tie
A hand tied, bow of novel two piece construction is disclosed. A first piece is an adjustable neck strap. A second piece is a folded (by hand or button) butterfly bow. Forming the finished bow tie, a user places the neck strap around the neck of the folded bow, then ties a knot which gives the bow tie an appearance of a tie-it-yourself bow tie. The finished article is then placed around the user's neck. |
| US09655390B2 |
Wearable pedestrian safety radar system
A wearable pedestrian safety radar system including a harness with a pocket and a portable radar speed detection and display device to be worn on the front and back of the harness by a pedestrian while on a roadway. The device includes a radar system, LED lights, a microcontroller, a proximity sensor, a camera, a strobe light, an audible alert unit and a vibration unit. The device detects a speed of an on-coming motor vehicle. If the vehicle is exceeding a predetermined speed limit, the speed is displayed on the device. If the vehicle does not slow down below the speed limit within a distance detected by the proximity sensor, the camera records the vehicle while the strobe light blinks to warn the driver of the recording. The audible alert unit and vibration unit alert the pedestrian. The system may be used to relay data to a law enforcement agency. |
| US09655373B2 |
Method and apparatus for the sterilization of ground meat using supercritical CO2
A method for sterilizing a ground meat product through the application supercritical CO2 during the processing of the meat by introducing supercritical CO2 into an extruder as the meat passes through the extruder while controlling the pressure and speed at which the meat passes through the extruder to maintain the meat in contact with the supercritical CO2 for a time sufficient to achieve a log reduction in colony forming units of microbial contaminants. |
| US09655370B2 |
Process for manufacturing dies for pasta, the dies themselves, and their use in the production of pasta
A process for manufacturing a die for pasta, having, inside a body (1) of metal alloy, at least one dough extrusion passage (13) provided with an input section (ta) and an output section (tp) that are concentrically and consecutively arranged in the extrusion direction and are joined in a connection transversal cross-section, has a step of manufacturing the input section (ta) with a material having a low coefficient of friction and the output section (tp), which is cylindrically shaped, with a metal alloy so that the input section (ta) has transversal cross-sections with an area larger than the transversal cross-section area of the output section (tp). The dies themselves, and their use in the production of pasta, are described. |
| US09655368B2 |
Low pH disinfectant composition
The invention provides for a low pH disinfectant composition that includes a relatively low amount of alcohol. Also provided is an article of manufacture that includes a textile and the composition, as well as methods of using the composition and article of manufacture (e.g., for reducing the number of microbes located upon a substrate, for killing or inhibiting a broad spectrum of microorganisms, for killing or inhibiting spore forming bacteria, and/or for disinfecting a substrate). The composition can optionally include a stable residual antimicrobial compound, thereby providing a combination of high-level disinfection and long-lasting residual effect. |
| US09655363B2 |
Microbiocides
Compounds of formula (I) wherein the other substituents MBG, HetAr, R1, R2, R and R4 are as defined in claim 1, and their use in compositions and methods for the control and/or prevention of microbial infection, particularly fungal infection, in plants and to processes for the preparation of these compounds. |
| US09655357B2 |
Vacuum trap
A vacuum trap has a vacuum chamber and a conduit having at least one first opening open to atmosphere and a second opening connected to the vacuum chamber. A valve connects the conduit to the vacuum chamber and seals the vacuum chamber. A vacuum source maintains a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber immediately prior to the valve opening, the vacuum being sufficient to draw a vermin through an opening of the conduit. A detector detects the presence of vermin, the valve opening in response to a signal from the detector when vermin are detected. |
| US09655351B2 |
Production of fertile XY female animals from XY ES cells
Methods and compositions are described for making phenotypically female fertile animals from XY donor cells and suitable host embryos. Culture media and methods are provided for maintaining XY donor cells in culture that after introduction into a host embryo and gestation in a suitable host will result in fertile XY female animals. Methods and compositions are described for making fertile female animals in an F0 generation from a donor XY cell and a host embryo, as are methods for making F1 progeny that are homozygous for a modification from a heterozygous F0 fertile male and a heterozygous F0 fertile female sibling. |
| US09655348B2 |
Fish display and water circulation apparatus with 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. |
| US09655346B2 |
Forced air pesticide vaporizer
Disclosed is a chemical vaporizer device for the purposes of vaporizing and controllably dispensing a pesticide material into a bee hive to kill varroa mites and other predatory pests that threaten honey bees. The device comprises an elongated cylinder having a proximal and distal end, a compressed air inlet, air pressure controller and heating element. The distal end of the device comprises a diffuser outlet and a coiled heating element, which is adapted to rapidly vaporize granular pesticide material in the cylinder while the compressed air discharges the vapor in a constant manner and in higher busts on demand. The user supports the body of the device while controlling the outgoing vapor pesticide by modulating the compressed air controller, which actuates an air valve in the controller. Material is fed into the device proximal end, vaporized and forcibly discharged through the distal end and into a bee hive. |
| US09655342B2 |
Game feeder
A game feeder having a recessed game feed spinner plate, which discharges game feed through a relatively narrow opening. The spinner plate is rotated by an electric motor, which is housed in a protective enclosure within the game feeder, along with the battery and timer, and protected from animals. The narrow discharge opening minimizes feed loss by animals accessing the spinner plate. The game feeder may sit on the ground, or may be mounted on a support such as a pole or tree with mounting hooks and a bracket, and when mounted is especially resistant to feed loss or feeder damage by bears, feral hogs and the like. |
| US09655337B1 |
Maize inbred PH2G4Y
A novel maize variety designated PH2G4Y and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant comprise crossing maize variety PH2G4Y with another maize plant are provided. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH2G4Y through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby are provided. Hybrid maize seed, plants or plant parts are produced by crossing the variety PH2G4Y or a locus conversion of PH2G4Y with another maize variety. |
| US09655336B1 |
Soybean cultivar 58150703
A soybean cultivar designated 58150703 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 58150703, to the plants of soybean cultivar 58150703, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 58150703, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 58150703. 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 58150703. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 58150703, 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 58150703 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09655333B1 |
Soybean cultivar 45343736
A soybean cultivar designated 45343736 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 45343736, to the plants of soybean cultivar 45343736, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 45343736, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 45343736. 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 45343736. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 45343736, 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 45343736 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09655332B1 |
Soybean cultivar 43433651
A soybean cultivar designated 43433651 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 43433651, to the plants of soybean cultivar 43433651, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 43433651, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 43433651. 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 43433651. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 43433651, 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 43433651 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09655330B1 |
Inbred corn line SLB05
An inbred corn line, designated SLB05, the plants and seeds of the inbred corn line SLB05, methods for producing a corn plant, either inbred or hybrid, produced by crossing the inbred corn line SLB05 with itself or with another corn plant, and hybrid corn seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line SLB05 with another corn line or plant and to methods for producing a corn plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic corn plants produced by that method. This invention also relates to inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line SLB05, to methods for producing other inbred corn lines derived from inbred corn line SLB05 and to the inbred corn lines derived by the use of those methods. |
| US09655329B1 |
Hybrid corn variety 373279
The invention provides seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated 373279. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety 373279, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety 373279 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 373279. |
| US09655327B2 |
Soybean variety 01051842
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01051842. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01051842. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01051842 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01051842 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09655326B2 |
Soybean variety 01051843
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01051843. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01051843. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01051843 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01051843 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09655322B2 |
Soybean variety 01051603
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01051603. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01051603. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01051603 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01051603 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09655321B2 |
Soybean variety 01051585
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01051585. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01051585. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01051585 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01051585 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09655316B2 |
Cotton variety ST 5032GLT
The cotton variety ST 5032GLT 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 5032GLT with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of ST 5032GLT and to plants of ST 5032GLT reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from ST 5032GLT. |
| US09655313B1 |
Maize inbred PH1KKG
A novel maize variety designated PH1KKG and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1KKG with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1KKG through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1KKG or a locus conversion of PH1KKG with another maize variety. |
| US09655305B2 |
Cutting tool with a variable pivot system
A hand operated cutting tool includes a first handle coupled to a first cutting member, wherein the first handle has a first set of projections. The hand operated cutting tool also includes a second handle coupled to a second cutting member, wherein the second handle has a second set of projections. The handles are movable between a full open position and a full closed position, wherein during a first region of travel proximate the full open position the first and second gear projections are at least partly engaged, and wherein during a second region of travel proximate the full closed position the first and second gear projections are disengaged. |
| US09655303B2 |
Method for containing a bale of compressible material
A method for containing a bale of compressed material without straps or wires in a bag the bale having recessed regions therein, includes receiving the bale of compressed material in a conveyor having a mobile portion and a load carriage. The bag has reinforced regions. The load carriage has multiple tines for supporting the bale of compressed material. The tines engage the bale at at least some of the recessed regions. The bale is transferred into a bagger configured to receive the bale and move the bale from an entrance to a discharge and bagging mandrel. The bale is introduced into the bag such that at least some of the reinforced regions of the bag correspond to the recessed regions of the bale. A reinforced bag for containing a bale of compressed material without straps or wires is also disclosed. |
| US09655302B2 |
Feeder assembly for an agricultural implement
A feeder assembly pivotally attached to an implement having a pickup reel wherein the feeder assembly has a continuous belt having a plurality of teeth that is mounted about a pair of rollers. The feeder is angled such that is picks up a windrow of stover from the ground and transports the stover to a raised pickup reel. |
| US09655300B2 |
Systems and methods for collecting biomass
A system for collecting biomass for the production of ethanol is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for collecting biomass. The method comprising: harvesting biomass with a combine, wherein a first portion of the biomass is substantially forced against the ground and a second portion of the biomass passes through the combine and forming bales comprising the second portion of the biomass. According to an aspect, the bales comprise a majority of the second portion of the biomass and a small part of the first portion of the biomass. |
| US09655297B2 |
Scraper with wings for disc furrow opener
A scraper body adapted to be attached to a furrow opener assembly with a disc rotatably mounted on an arm and oriented at a horizontal angle to create a disc furrow. The scraper body has an attachment body portion adapted to be attached to the furrow opener assembly such that a forward scraping edge of the scraper body scrapes soil from the disc face. A wing member extends from a lower rear portion of the scraper body, and has a top wing member edge oriented in alignment with the disc furrow and with the operating travel direction. Right and left wings extending downward and outward from the top wing member edge to bottom wing edges located above a bottom edge of the disc such that in operation the wings push soil to corresponding right and left sides of the disc furrow to create right and left wing furrows. |
| US09655296B2 |
Biased diagonal implement brace
A diagonal brace apparatus for an implement frame includes a bias element connected to a front location on a front portion of the implement frame and connected to a rear location on a rear portion of the implement frame laterally offset from the front location. The bias element is operative to exert a bias force resisting rearward movement of an outer end of the implement frame with respect to an inner end of the implement frame. Conveniently the bias element is provided by a hydraulic cylinder which exerts a bias force and can extend to allow the frame to flex to reduce shock loading on the implement when excessive forces are exerted on the frame. |
| US09661792B2 |
Protector and wire harness
A protector and a wire harness that have piercing resistance, give shielding capability to the protector, enable reducing the number of man-hours in human labor, and are low cost. In the protector, foaming urethane layers that have a predetermined thickness and contain a high magnetic permeability metal powder are respectively formed on a recessed surface portion of a protector main body and an inner surface portion of a cover portion, and foil films are respectively formed on an outer surface portion of the protector main body and an outer surface portion of the cover portion. The wire harness is formed by using the cover portion to close the opening portion of the recessed surface portion of the protector main body in which a group of electrical lines is inserted and accommodated. Pieces of adhesive tape are wrapped around the protector main body and the cover portion to fasten them. |
| US09661791B2 |
RF interference suppressor
An RF interference suppressor for satellite receivers and more specifically those that employ the MOCA standard is provided. The RF interference suppressor shields the connection point of the center conductor of the F-connector to the PC board from spurious signals emanating from the high speed digital portions of the receiver. In addition, the RF interference suppressor shield includes a tab portion that encompasses the threaded portion of the F-connector and operates to shield the path for RF interference resulting from the gap between the F-connector body and the inner shield wall of the receiver. |
| US09661789B2 |
Cooling air routing for electronics heat removal
An alternator includes a housing body, and an electronics chassis electrically in common with output voltage (B+) of the alternator, conductively isolated from heat of the housing body, and having cooling fins. An air router intermediate the housing body and the chassis directs cooling air from air intake openings to the cooling fins. An electric machine includes a housing with air intake openings, an electronics chassis having rectifier electronics mounted thereon and having axially-extending cooling fins, and an air router secured intermediate the housing body and the electronics chassis, for routing the cooling air from the air intake openings directly to the cooling fins. An alternator includes a housing, an electronics chassis electrically in common with (B+), air intake openings, and an air router secured intermediate the housing body and the electronics chassis, the air router structured for routing air from the air intake openings directly to the electronics chassis. |
| US09661779B2 |
Container data center
A container data center includes a cabinet and a function module. The cabinet includes a plurality of sides and a bottom. A first one of the sides defines a plurality of spaced openings. At least one door is rotatably attached to the side beside each opening. A support member is rotatably attached to the sides near a bottom edge of each opening. The door and the support members are rotated to open each opening and the support members are aligned with the bottom to allow the function modules to slide on the bottom and the support members. |
| US09661767B2 |
Multiple position mount with retaining mechanism
A mount for holding a display device includes a main support, a plurality of arms, and a locking assembly. The main support includes a front surface and a rear surface. The plurality of arms extends from a periphery of the main support. The main support and the plurality of arms are configured to retain the display device. The locking assembly is connected to the rear surface of the main support, and is configured to secure the display device. The locking assembly includes a locking arm and a locking mechanism. The locking arm is translatable relative to the main support, and is configured to support the display device in a secured position. The locking mechanism is connected to the locking arm. The locking mechanism includes a lever connected to the locking arm for releasing the locking mechanism. |
| US09661766B2 |
Electronic device package box
An electronic device package box is mounted with multiple coil components, is mounted on a circuit board, and includes a box unit, and multiple outer and inner connecting pins. The box unit includes inner and outer surrounding walls, a surrounding base wall connected between the inner and outer surrounding walls, and a surrounding space for receiving the coil components therein. The outer connecting pins are mounted to the outer surrounding wall, and each is connected to a corresponding one of the coil components and the circuit board. The inner connecting pins are mounted to the inner surrounding wall, and each is connected to a corresponding one of the coil components and the circuit board. |
| US09661763B2 |
Structure containing conductor circuit, method for manufacturing same, and heat-curable resin composition
A method for manufacturing a structure containing a conductor circuit according to the present invention can provide openings in various shapes by patterning a first photosensitive resin layer in a first patterning process according to shapes of openings formed in a heat-curable resin layer. Further, in the method for manufacturing a structure containing a conductor circuit, a plurality of openings can be formed at the same time and a residue of the resin around the opening can be reduced, unlike a case in which openings are formed with a laser. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently efficiently manufacture the structure having excellent reliability even when the number of pins of a semiconductor element increases and it is necessary to provide a great number of fine openings. |
| US09661761B2 |
Carrier substrate and manufacturing method thereof
A carrier substrate includes an insulation layer, conductive towers and a circuit structure layer. A diameter of each of the conductive towers is increased gradually from a top surface to a bottom surface, and the conductive towers include first conductive towers and second conductive towers surrounding the first conductive towers. The circuit structure layer is disposed on the insulation layer and includes at least one dielectric layer, at least two circuit layers and first conductive vias. Each of the second conductive towers correspondingly connects to at least two of the first conductive vias, and each of the first conductive towers correspondingly connects to one of the first conductive vias. An interface exists between the first conductive vias and the first and the second conductive towers. |
| US09661752B2 |
Circuit arrangement with shunt resistor
A circuit arrangement has a populated circuit carrier and includes a flat insulation carrier having a top side and a patterned metallization layer on the top side and a first power semiconductor chip arranged on a first section of the metallization layer. The first power semiconductor chip has a first lower chip load terminal electrically conductively connected to the first section. A shunt resistor is arranged on a second section of the metallization layer. The shunt resistor has a lower main terminal electrically conductively connected to the second section. An electrically conductive connection is provided between the first section and the second section. The electrically conductive connection includes a constriction between the first section and the second section so that a current which flows between the first lower chip load terminal and the lower main terminal during operation of the circuit arrangement must pass through the constriction. |
| US09661750B2 |
Printed circuit board and method of manufacturing the same
Provided is a printed circuit board, including: a circuit pattern or a base pattern formed on an insulating layer; and a plurality of metal layers formed on the circuit pattern or the base pattern, wherein the metal layers includes: a silver metal layer formed of a metal material including silver; a first palladium metal layer formed at a lower part of the silver metal layer; and a second palladium metal layer formed at an upper part of the silver metal layer. |
| US09661746B2 |
Patterned substrates with darkened multilayered conductor traces
The present disclosure provides an article having a substrate having opposing first and second surfaces. A conductor micropattern disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The conductor micropattern has a plurality of traces defining a plurality of cells. The conductor micropattern has an open area fraction greater than 80% and a uniform distribution of trace orientation. Each of the traces has a trace width from 0.5 to 10 micrometer. The conductor micropattern is a tri-layer material comprising in sequence a semi-reflective metal, a transparent layer, and a reflective layer disposed on the transparent layer. The articles are useful in devices such as displays, in particular, touch screen displays useful for mobile hand held devices, tablets and computers. They also find use in antennas and for EMI shields. |
| US09661741B2 |
Printed wiring board
A printed wiring board includes conductive layers, resin insulation layers, a through-hole conductor penetrating through one or more insulation layers and having a first-surface-side and second-surface-side lands, a first-surface-side signal line formed on one of the insulation layers and connecting the first-surface-side land and a conductive layer on the insulation layer, and a second-surface-side signal line formed on one of the insulation layers and connecting the second-surface-side land and a conductive layer on the insulation layer. The conductive layers include a first-surface-side conductive layer formed over the first-surface-side land such that the first-surface-side conductive layer has a solid pattern having an opening corresponding to the first-surface-side land and formed concentric with the first-surface-side land, and a second-surface-side conductive layer formed over the second-surface-side land such that the second-surface-side conductive layer has a solid pattern having an opening corresponding to the second-surface-side land and formed concentric with the second-surface-side land. |
| US09661740B2 |
Arrangement with a power semiconductor module, having a DC-voltage busbar and a capacitor
An arrangement comprising a power semiconductor module, a capacitor, a DC-voltage busbar and a connection device. The module has two flat DC-voltage connection conductors each having a contact section. The DC-voltage connection conductors are arranged closely adjacent to one another on and close to the respective contact sections in the normal direction. The capacitor has two flat capacitor connection conductors each having a contact section. The DC-voltage busbar has two partial busbars each having a contact section. The connection device has a yoke with a die and a bearing. The respective contact sections of the DC-voltage connection conductors are clamped flat above one another between the die and the bearing. The contact sections, of the capacitor or the DC-voltage busbar, are arranged closely adjacent to one another on and close to the respective contact sections in the normal direction, and are thus force-fittingly and electrically conductively connected to one another. |
| US09661739B2 |
Electronic modules having grounded electromagnetic shields
In one embodiment, a meta-module having circuitry for two or more modules is formed on a substrate, which is preferably a laminated substrate. The circuitry for the different modules is initially formed on the single meta-module. Each module will have one or more component areas in which the circuitry is formed. A metallic structure is formed on or in the substrate for each component area to be shielded. A single body, such as an overmold body, is then formed over all of the modules on the meta-module. At least a portion of the metallic structure for each component area to be shielded is then exposed through the body by a cutting, drilling, or like operation. Next, an electromagnetic shield material is applied to the exterior surface of the body of each of the component areas to be shielded and in contact with the exposed portion of the metallic structures. |
| US09661732B2 |
Plasma generation apparatus
A plasma generation apparatus includes a flow path tube through which a liquid flows and which includes a concave portion and/or a convex portion on an internal wall surface thereof, a liquid feed device, a first electrode, a second electrode, a power source, and a control circuit which controls the liquid feed device and the power source. The concave portion and/or the convex portion causes, when the liquid flows therethrough, a pressure difference to be generated between at least part of the inside of the flow path tube and the external space, allowing a gas to be introduced into the liquid from the external space through a gas introduction path. The power source applies a predetermined voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode in a state in which a bubble containing the gas is generated in the liquid. |
| US09661731B2 |
Cooling tube for a plasma arc torch and spacer
The invention relates to a cooling pipe for a plasma arc torch, comprising a hollow cylindrical electrode body having a central internal core, at the front end of which an electrode core holder having an electrode core inserted therein is arranged, and a hollow cylindrical cooling pipe which is inserted into the internal bore in a sealing manner and which features an internal bore that form a cooling channel as a feed and, in the intermediate space between the outer circumference of the internal bore and the inner circumference of the electrode body, forms a cooling channel formed as a return, wherein the cooling pipe has, on the inner side thereof that is facing the electrode core holder, space-maintaining means (e.g. a spacer washer or wires or rods), which are suitable to rest on the front end of the electrode core holder. |
| US09661719B2 |
Foldable display device
A foldable display device adapted to minimize waviness caused by being folded and then unfolded is discussed. The foldable display device according to an embodiment includes a display panel, a flexible film and an adhesion layer interposed between the display panel and the flexible film. The adhesion layer is partially removed from a fold area of the foldable display device. |
| US09661718B2 |
Method for producing organic EL panel and device for sealing organic EL panel
A method for producing an organic EL panel includes an application step of applying a filler, a desiccant, a sealant and a fixing agent to positions on a encapsulation substrate opposing the position of an element, a positioning step of positioning an element substrate and the encapsulation substrate, a heating step of heating the encapsulation substrate, a defoaming step of removing gases incorporated within the filler and the like, a sticking substrates step of sticking the element substrate and the encapsulation substrate using a pair of surface plates, a gas introduction step of returning the periphery around the pressure welded element substrate and encapsulation substrate to an atmospheric pressure environment, a provisional fixing step of irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the fixing agent, and a seal curing step of irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the sealant, thereby curing the sealant. |
| US09661716B2 |
Full color LED module having integrated driver transistors
LED modules are disclosed having a control MOSFET, or other transistor, in series with an LED. In one embodiment, a MOSFET wafer is bonded to an LED wafer and singulated to form thousands of active 3-terminal LED modules with the same footprint as a single LED. Despite the different forward voltages of red, green, and blue LEDs, RGB modules may be connected in parallel and their control voltages staggered at 60 Hz or greater to generate a single perceived color, such as white. The RGB modules may be connected in a panel for general illumination or for a color display. A single dielectric layer in a panel may encapsulate all the RGB modules to form a compact and inexpensive panel. Various addressing techniques are described for both a color display and a lighting panel. Various circuits are described for reducing the sensitivity of the LED to variations in input voltage. |
| US09661715B2 |
Solid state light emitting devices including adjustable melatonin suppression effects
Solid state light emitting devices include multiple LED components providing adjustable melatonin suppression effects. Multiple LED components may be operated simultaneously according to different operating modes according to which their combined output provides the same or similar chromaticity, but provides melatonin suppressing effects that differ by at least a predetermined threshold amount between the different operating modes. Switching between operating modes may be triggered by user input elements, timers/clocks, or sensors (e.g., photosensors). Chromaticity of combined output of multiple LED components may also be adjusted, together with providing adjustable melatonin suppression effects at each selected combined output chromaticity. |
| US09661714B2 |
Systems, apparatus, and methods for converting a bi-level lighting system to a dimmable lighting system
A dimmable lighting system may replace a bi-level lighting system without having to modify or supplement the existing wiring between a bi-level control unit and one or more light fixtures. The dimmable lighting system may include a dimming controller that may be configured to replace a bi-level control unit in situ (i.e., e.g., in a wall-mounted dual-gang switch box). The dimmable lighting system may also include a dimming driver that may be coupled to the dimming controller via the existing wiring of the bi-level lighting system. The dimming controller may output to the dimming driver a 0-10 volt DC dimming signal referenced to an AC utility voltage. In response, a dimmable lighting device coupled to the dimming driver may output light over a wide range of dimming light levels. Methods of replacing a bi-level lighting system with a dimmable lighting system are also provided, as are other aspects. |
| US09661710B1 |
Dimmer holding current control circuit for phase cut dimming power supply
The Invention discloses and provides a kind of dimmer holding current control circuit for phase cut dimming power supply, which comprises phase cut dimming power supply circuit and LED lamp (1) and dimmer holding current control circuit (2). The dimmer holding current control circuit (2) is composed of rectifier diode I (D1), rectifier diode II (D2), field-effect transistor (Q1), triode (Q2), current-limiting resistance I (R1), current-limiting resistance II (R2), sampling resistance I (R4), sampling resistance II (R5), diode (D3), capacitance (C1) and resistance (R3). The anodes of the rectifier diode I (D1) and the rectifier diode II (D2) are respectively connected to L terminal and N terminal of main supply input. The Invention makes the current small and stable through current limitation. The Invention can be widely used in the field of phase cut dimming power supply. |
| US09661706B2 |
Low intensity dimming circuit for an LED lamp and method of controlling an LED
A driver is connectable to an external power supply and configured to output a variable driving current for one or more loads, such as LEDs. A low intensity dimming module is operable to divert some or all of the driving current away from the LEDs when a user selects a very low level of light intensity so that the driver has a constant minimum load. The low intensity dimming module prevents performance issues that commonly affect drivers under light load conditions. |
| US09661701B2 |
Driving apparatus for a light emitting device and method for the same
A driving apparatus configured to drive a light emitting device includes a driving current source module operable to supply current to the light emitting device via a node during operation. A protection module coupled to the node and the driving current source module selectively injects current to the node during operation. The driving current source module is controlled based on a detection result of a voltage on the node. |
| US09661697B2 |
Digital dimmable driver
A digital dimmable driver system includes an alternating current input, a dimmer operable to perform a phase cut operation on a waveform from the alternating current input, a driver circuit operable to switch from a dimming mode to a universal voltage input mode based on a phase angle of the dimmer, and a power output operable to power a light. |
| US09661695B1 |
Low-headroom constant current source for high-current applications
A low-headroom current driver does not use an op amp or resistor. A sensing transistor having its source connected to a drain of an output transistor senses variations in an output current. The gate, source, and drain voltages of the sensing transistor are mirrored to a sense mirror transistor to control a sense current. The sense current is mirrored to a reference source transistor to generate a mirrored sense current. An error between the mirrored sense current and a fixed reference current is stored as charge on an error-storing capacitor. The stored error charge creates a negative-feedback compensation current that adjusts a gate voltage generated by a feedback-driving transistor. The adjusted gate voltage controls the gate of the output transistor to compensate for the sensed variation in output current. The sensing current is also compensated using a sense-mirror tail transistor connected to the sense mirror transistor. |
| US09661690B2 |
Forming insulated conductors using a final reduction step after heat treating
A method for forming an insulated conductor heater includes placing an insulation layer over at least part of an elongated, cylindrical inner electrical conductor, placing an elongated, cylindrical outer electrical conductor over at least part of the insulation layer to form the insulated conductor heater; and performing one or more cold working/heat treating steps on the insulated conductor heater, reducing the cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater by at most about 20% to a final cross-sectional area. The cold working/heat treating steps include cold working the insulated conductor heater to reduce a cross-sectional area of the insulated conductor heater; and heat treating the insulated conductor heater at a temperature of at least about 870° C. The insulation layer includes one or more blocks of insulation. |
| US09661687B2 |
Coaxial cable interface to outdoor broadband unit
A network device within an outdoor broadband unit receives, via Ethernet over coaxial cable signals, Internet Protocol (IP) data traffic originating from a device within a local area network (LAN). The IP data traffic is buffered in a memory within the outdoor broadband unit. A forwarding plane module of the network device sends the IP data traffic toward a destination via an air interface for a wide area network (WAN). The network device receives, via different Ethernet over coaxial cable signals, IP control traffic originating from the device within the LAN. A control plane module of the network device implements the instructions in the IP control traffic to initiate a test function for the network device. |
| US09661684B2 |
Method of sharing a UE receiver between D2D and cellular operations based on activity
Systems and methods are disclosed for utilizing non-overlapping time periods within one or more Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycles configured for a Device-to-Device (D2D) capable wireless device for different types of operations. In some embodiments, these different types of operations are cellular and D2D operations such that the D2D capable wireless device performs cellular and D2D operations (e.g., reception of cellular and D2D signals) during non-overlapping time periods during one or more DRX cycles. In this manner, a D2D capable wireless device that, for example, can only receive one type of signal at a time is enabled to receive both cellular and D2D signals. |
| US09661674B2 |
Dual-SIM network selection techniques
Techniques are disclosed relating to operating multi-SIM mobile devices. In some embodiments, a UE comprises at least first and second SIMs where the first SIM is configured to communications via a home network or one or roaming networks and the second SIM is configurable for communications via local networks other than the home network. In these embodiments, the UE is configured to execute a first protocol stack for communications using the first SIM via a home network or a roaming network. In these embodiments, the UE is further configured to search for available networks for the second SIM using the first protocol stack and select an available local network for the second SIM using the first protocol stack. This may reduce power consumption and/or improve communication quality during the search, in some embodiments. |
| US09661670B2 |
Idle mode load balancing
A base station may establish a wireless connection with a mobile device. The base station may determine an index value for each of a plurality of carriers that may be used for the wireless connection. The index value for a respective carrier may be determined based on a quantity of idle mode devices using the respective carrier in an idle mode. The base station may generate a carrier order that indicates a priority for each of the plurality of frequencies. The carrier order may be generated based on sorting the plurality of carriers based on the index values for the plurality of carriers. The base station may send order information indicating the carrier order to the mobile device via the wireless connection. |
| US09661667B2 |
Communication device
A communication device may establish both of first and second types of connections which are according to a particular protocol defined in an NFC standard. The first type of connection may be a connection in which the communication device operates as a server and an external device operates as a client. The second type of connection may be a connection in which the communication device operates as a client and the external device operates as a server. The communication device may receive, in accordance with a particular command of the particular protocol, first target data from the external device by using one connection of the first and second types of connections, and then sending, in accordance with the particular command of the particular protocol, second target data to the external device by using the other connection of the first type and the second type of connections. |
| US09661664B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for placing emergency calls from a vehicle
A system, apparatus, and method are provided for placing emergency calls from a vehicle to a Public Safety Answering Point. An emergency call apparatus is configured to detect a trigger condition and, if the trigger condition is detected, send a telephone dial command through a vehicle communication network to a telecommunication apparatus to establish voice communication with the Public Safety Answering Point. A method is provided of retrofitting a vehicle with embedded telecommunication apparatus to enable single button access to emergency services without the need for a fee based subscription. |
| US09661663B1 |
Network access of a wireless device to a communications network
A communications network is being accessed by a wireless device associated with a coverage class selected from a set of coverage classes. The wireless device performs a method comprising initiating network access to the communications network by transmitting a preamble sequence for random access on a physical random access channel during a starting opportunity defined by the coverage class of the wireless device. Each coverage class may be associated with a unique number of repetitions of the preamble sequence transmission. |
| US09661658B2 |
Multi-access scheme and signal structure for D2D communications
A signal structure for use in D2D communications is described. In one embodiment, a preamble for automatic gain control at the receiver end is included in the transmitted signal. Techniques for scheduling of D2D transmissions using carrier sensing multiple access (CSMA) and a power control schemes for interference management are also described. |
| US09661656B2 |
Enhanced channel access mechanism for improving performance in dense WiFi environments
Disclosed in some examples are methods, devices (e.g., STAs and APs), and machine readable mediums which utilize a Simultaneous Channel Access (SCA) to allow transmissions of a first wireless network to take place while transmissions are already ongoing in a second wireless network (the Principal Channel Access (PCA)). The SCA allows devices which support SCA to transmit frames even when other nearby devices on other networks have already accessed the medium and are engaged in frame transmission. |
| US09661649B2 |
Determining a transmit parameter for wireless communication
A wireless media access control supports asynchronous communication and overlapping transmissions. Here, a wireless node may determine whether to request or schedule a transmission based on control messages it receives from neighboring nodes. In some implementations a scheduled transmission may be divided up into several segments so that a transmitting node may receive and transmit control messages between segments. In some implementations a monitoring period is defined after a scheduled transmission period to enable the transmitting node to acquire control information that may otherwise have been transmitted during the scheduled transmission period. In some implementations data and control information are transmitted over different frequency division multiplexed channels to enable concurrent transmission of the data and control information. |
| US09661648B2 |
Method and apparatus for response scheduling in a downlink multiple-user multiple input multiple output network
Embodiment and methods and apparatus for scheduling one or more responses for multiple stations (STAs) in a downlink multiple-user multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) network transmission are provided. |
| US09661647B2 |
Transmission protection for wireless communications
Systems and technique for wireless communication are described. A describe technique includes transmitting, from a first device, a request to send (RTS) to the second devices to protect a wireless communication neighborhood of the first device and wireless communication neighborhood of the second devices for transmission of a multi-user frame; receiving clear to send (CTS) responses from the second devices; determining a bandwidth width for the multi-user frame based on a bandwidth availability among the second devices as indicated by the CTS responses and bandwidth indications included in the CTS responses, the multi-user frame comprising spatially steered data frames that are respectively intended for the second devices and are in accordance with the determined bandwidth width; and transmitting the multi-user frame to the identified devices in accordance with the determined bandwidth width. |
| US09661646B2 |
Techniques to train a personal area network component
Techniques to train a personal area network component may include obtaining a packet error rate from a personal area network component. It may be determined that the packet error rate is greater than a packet error rate threshold after a time period. A reservation may be requested from a wide area network component based a first transmit pattern from the personal area network component. A second or adjusted transmit pattern from the wide area network component may be received. Personal area network signals may be transmitted based on the second transmit pattern. The time period may be adjusted based on a personal area network packet error rate of the second transmit pattern. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09661641B2 |
Physical cell identifier configuration method, logic root sequence index configuration method, and base station device
The present invention discloses a physical cell identifier configuration method, a logic root sequence index configuration method, and a base station, so as to decrease a false random access alarm. |
| US09661640B2 |
Technique for processing spectral emission information in a communication device with multiple radio interfaces
A technique of processing spectral emission information in a communication device (10) having a first radio interface (12) and a second radio interface (14) is presented. The spectral emission information is indicative of an emission level associated with the first radio interface (12). A method implementation of the technique comprises the following steps performed for the first radio interface (12). First, a transmission via the first radio interface (12) is performed. From the second radio interface (14) a measurement report for the transmission is received in a next step. The spectral emission information is adapted based on the measurement report. |
| US09661638B2 |
Methods and apparatus for signaling user allocations in multi-user wireless communication networks
A method for high efficiency wireless communication is provided. In one aspect, a method of high efficiency wireless communication includes generating, at an access point, a message for transmission over at least one channel. The message includes a first signal field indicative of a length of the first message after the first signal field. The message further includes a second signal field indicative of at least one channel assignment. The second signal field has a length based on a minimum allocation size. The method further includes transmitting the message to one or more wireless devices. |
| US09661636B1 |
Actively dropping data packets during voLTE communication sessions
A wireless access node to facilitate voice over long term evolution (VoLTE) communication sessions comprises a wireless communication transceiver and a processing system. The wireless communication transceiver is configured to exchange VoLTE packets with a wireless communication device during a VoLTE communication session. The processing system is configured to monitor a number of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) retries requested by the wireless communication device during the VoLTE communication session and compare the number of HARQ retries to a threshold value. The processing system is further configured to, if the number of HARQ retries falls below the threshold value, drop a percentage of the VoLTE packets to achieve an overall percentage of packet loss for the VoLTE communication session based on the number of HARQ retries. |
| US09661633B2 |
Wireless communication devices
A telecommunication network is described in which information relating to access to resources such as the world wide web, may be transferred between wireless communication terminals at least one of which is a client of a server connected to the network and providing access to the resources. A method of transfer and a terminal suitable therefor are described. |
| US09661627B2 |
Method for setting search region for downlink control channel in wireless communication system, and apparatus therefor
A method is provided for receiving an Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel (EPDCCH) from a base station by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. An EPDCCH is received for a first carrier by monitoring first EPDCCH candidates for the first carrier in a specific physical resource block (PRB) pair set. An EPDCCH is received for a second carrier by monitoring second EPDCCH candidates for the second carrier in the specific PRB pair set. The first EPDCCH between each of the first EPDCCH candidates at a specific aggregation level. The second EPDCCH candidates have an offset smaller than the interval from the first EPDCCH candidates. |
| US09661624B2 |
Resource allocation signalling
A mobile telecommunications system is described in which a base station uses enhanced allocation techniques to reduce fragmentation of resource allocations within a sub-frame due to the presence of control data within resources used for carrying user data. Different solutions are described including provision of supplemental information to supplement existing resource allocation data, use of overloading such that DCI formats may have different interpretations and the provision of new DCI formats. |
| US09661618B2 |
Method for processing NDI in random access procedure and a method for transmitting and receiving a signal using the same
A method for a user equipment (UE) to receive a downlink signal. The UE receives a first downlink assignment including a first new data indicator (NDI) from a base station. The UE compares the first NDI to a second NDI and, based on a result of the comparison, determines whether the first NDI has been toggled. The UE receives the downlink signal and processes the received downlink signal based on whether the first NDI has been determined to be toggled. Furthermore, the second NDI is included in a second downlink assignment that was previously received from the base station and was not identified by a temporary cell identifier. |
| US09661615B2 |
Method and apparatus for managing trunking operations in an ad-hoc network
A control unit is selected from a plurality of narrowband mobile stations also forming an ad-hoc network. The control unit is configured to control and manage a narrowband trunking operation via the ad-hoc network. The control unit receives a call request over a narrowband control channel from a first mobile station, assigns a pair of narrowband traffic channels for a call associated with the call request, chooses two mobile stations from the plurality of mobile stations to act as a narrowband repeater for the call, the pair including a respective receiver mobile station and a respective transmitter mobile station, informs the repeater mobile stations of the assignment and of the assigned traffic channels for the call, and grants the call request over the narrowband control channel. The grant includes an indication of the assigned traffic channels on which the repeater mobile stations can be located for the call. |
| US09661614B2 |
Determining transmission parameters for transmitting beacon frames
A method includes dynamically determining transmission parameters for transmission of beacon frames corresponding to a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) supported by an access point. The transmission parameters being based on zero or more client devices connected to the WLAN or monitored data indicative of a load at the access point. |
| US09661613B2 |
Communication control device, communication control method, terminal device, and program
There is provided a communication control device including a decision unit configured to decide radio resources available for inter-device communication within a cell, and a notification unit configured to notify a terminal device located within the cell of the radio resources. When the radio resources are modified, the notification unit gives notification of modification of the radio resources through paging. When the radio resources are modified, the radio resources before the modification refrain from being used for the inter-device communication after a predetermined timing and the radio resources after the modification are used for the inter-device communication after the predetermined timing. |
| US09661611B2 |
Method and apparatus for user equipment directed radio resource control in a UMTS network
A method and apparatus for improved battery performance of user equipment in a wireless network having multiple radio resource control (RRC) states, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring, at the user equipment, application data exchange; determining when no application on the user equipment is expected to exchange data; and initiating, from the user equipment, a transition to a less battery demanding radio resource control state or mode. |
| US09661609B2 |
Radio communication device and method for operating a radio communication device
According to an aspect of this disclosure, a radio communication device is provided including a first transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals in accordance with a Cellular Wide Area radio communication technology; a second transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals in accordance with a Short Range radio communication technology; a first processor configured to control the first transceiver to receive and transmit data packets in accordance with a first data transmission frame; a second processor configured to control the second transceiver to receive and transmit data packets in accordance with a second data transmission frame; wherein the first processor is further configured to control the first transceiver such that the first transceiver does not transmit a data packet during at least a time period provided for a first transmission of a respective data packet transmitted by the second transceiver in accordance with the second data transmission frame. |
| US09661608B2 |
Broadcast service resource allocation method, resource management center and MME
Provided in an embodiment of the present invention are a broadcast service resource allocation method, a resource management center and an MME, the method includes: a network side receiving a tracking area update (TAU) request message reported by a user equipment (UE) after the UE moves, and determining according to the TAU request message that a first multimedia broadcast multicast service over a single frequency network (MBSFN) to which the UE belongs before the UE moves is different from a second MBSFN to which the UE belongs after the UE moves; the network side adjusting broadcasts within the first MBSFN and the second MBSFN respectively according to a service subscribed or being received by the UE. |
| US09661600B2 |
Location measuring method and apparatus using access point for wireless local area network service and method for estimating location coordinate of access point
A method and apparatus for measuring a location of a communication terminal using an access point is provided. Information of nearby access points from the communication terminal is received. A predetermined number of nearby access points among the nearby access points is selected based on the received information. Location coordinates of the selected predetermined number of nearby access points are extracted. A barycentric coordinate is calculated using the extracted location coordinates. The calculated barycentric coordinate is determined as a final location of the communication terminal. |
| US09661598B2 |
System and method for reducing interference between multiple terminals
A method for communicating a signal from a transmitting terminal to a receiving terminal determines a distance between the receiving terminal and an interfering terminal, commands the interfering terminal to stop its transmission when the distance is less than a threshold and transmits the signal to the receiving terminal. |
| US09661595B2 |
Communication network nodes and methods performed therein
A synchronization module is associated with a network node of a communication network which includes at least one Synchronization Master entity. The synchronization module has knowledge of a plurality of Synchronization Master references. Endpoints of paths of the plurality of Synchronization Master references are obtained. Each of the paths extends between one Synchronization Master entity and the first or the second access network node. The paths are obtained from a synchronization report module based on the obtained endpoints. For each of the Synchronization Master references, a first path and a second path of the obtained paths are selected. A time synchronization inaccuracy value between the first and the second access network node is calculated based on the selected paths. A Synchronization Master reference is selected based on the calculated time synchronization inaccuracy values, and the first and the second access network nodes are notified which Synchronization Master reference was selected. |
| US09661591B2 |
Method for reducing transmission power for sounding reference signal and terminal therefor
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for transmitting a signal in a terminal. The method for transmitting a signal in a terminal comprises the steps of: setting a maximum power reduction (MPR) value for signal transmission power, wherein the maximum power reduction value is independently set for a sounding reference signal (SRS), and the maximum power reduction value which is set for the SRS is different from a maximum power reduction value which is set for another signal; and transmitting the SRS with transmission power which is set according to the set maximum power reduction value. |
| US09661589B2 |
Terminal, communication method, and integrated circuit
Provided are a terminal, a communication method, and an integrated circuit, enabling a base station and a terminal to efficiently communicate with each other in a communication system in which the base station and the terminal communicate with each other. A terminal performs communication with at least one base station, and includes means for performing first power correction on the transmit power of a sounding reference signal (SRS) on the basis of a first transmission power control (TPC) command, and means for performing second power correction on the transmit power of the SRS on the basis of a second TPC command. |
| US09661588B2 |
Wireless communication terminal device and power allocation method
Provided are a wireless communication terminal device and a power allocation method, wherein transmission channel quality information, regarding a Pcell having a high probability that UCI is multiplied therein, can be accurately estimated by an SRS having high priority in power allocation, and an eNB can instruct appropriate transmission power to an UL channel which transmits the subsequent UCI. A power scaling detection unit (108) detects whether or not a total transmission power value of the UL channels transmitted by the plurality of CC exceeds the maximum transmission power specific to the UE. When a plurality of SRS are simultaneously transmitted using a Pcell and a Scell, and power scaling occurs, a power scaling control unit (109) performs power allocation so that transmission power of the SRS of the Pcell has the higher priority than that of the SRS of the Scell. |
| US09661587B2 |
Transmission power control method, communication device and program
There is provided a method for controlling a transmission power in a second communication service making secondary usage of a spectrum assigned to a first communication service, with use of any node of one or more secondary usage node that transmits a radio signal of the second communication service, comprising the steps of: acquiring an acceptable interference power allocated to the second communication service; calculating a total sum of interference power levels on the first communication service based on transmission powers respectively required for the one or more secondary usage node; and excluding any secondary usage node of the one or more secondary usage node from allocation of the transmission power when the calculated total sum of interference power levels is larger than the acceptable interference power. |
| US09661586B2 |
Power control method and device for device to device (D2D) transmission
Disclosed are a power control method and device for D2D transmission. The method includes determining an upper limit value of interference power corresponding to a terminal. The upper limit value of the interference power is the maximum interference value which is allowed by a base station and generated by D2D transmission to cellular transmission. The base station sending the upper limit value of the interference power to the terminal the terminal determines the upper limit value of D2D transmission power by using the upper limit value of the interference power. The terminal determines the upper limit value of the D2D transmission power, and determines the D2D transmission power, the D2D transmission power of the terminal device can be controlled, transmitting power of the D2D transmission is controlled to make the interference generated by same to the cellular transmission to a controlled range, and the interference of a D2D signal to a cellular signal is controlled. |
| US09661585B2 |
Inter-network assisted power control for interference mitigation of D2D communications
According to some embodiments, a first network node manages a transmit power of a first wireless device capable of device-to-device, D2D, communication. The first network node receives at least one measurement report from at least one of the first wireless device and a second wireless device in D2D communication with the first wireless device. The measurement report indicates a received signal measurement or path loss with respect to the other of the first wireless device and the second wireless device and/or a received signal measurement or path loss with respect to a victim node. The first network node sends the first wireless device instructions to make an adjustment of the transmit power that the first wireless device uses in the D2D communication. The adjustment is at least partially based on the received measurement report. |
| US09661578B2 |
Method for establishing a strategy for saving the energy of mobile terminal batteries
A battery sharing method to increase the service life of the batteries of PMR terminals having important uses, such as the terminal of the head of a group such as the police, firefighters, or the like, is disclosed. The technique is based on the detection of neighboring networks and/or neighboring nodes. The detection is facilitated by reiterating a selection (or reselection) of cells and a handover (HO)/vertical handover (VHO) procedure, while relaying and coordinating transmission and reception. The aim of the techniques is to improve communications as well as the duration thereof, in order to enable improved management of the battery of each terminal and to broaden coverage in areas that are not served by a network. |
| US09661577B2 |
Power management module and method therefor
A power management module comprising a client monitoring component arranged to monitor idle periods for a client component, and derive at least one idle period characteristic value for the client component based at least partly on the monitoring of the idle periods therefore. The power management module further comprises a power mode control component arranged to receive an indication of the client component entering an idle state, cause the client component to be put into a reduced power mode upon expiry of a first period of time, and cause the client component to be brought out of the reduced power mode upon expiry of a second period of time. At least one of the first and second periods of time is configured based at least partly on the idle period characteristic value(s) derived by the client monitoring component for the client component. |
| US09661573B2 |
Multiple MAC addresses in a device
Multiple virtual MAC addresses may be added to WGA devices that may have different traffic streams to another device that requires different services, thus creating distinct MAC and device level implications. Beamforming training can be done at the device level for all virtual MAC addresses. Wakeup, doze, and ATIM power save can be done at the device level depending on the frames received. Authentication, deauthentication, association, and deassociation can be done variously at both levels. Further MSDUs can be aggregated for the multiple MAC addresses. |
| US09661571B2 |
Method of determining expiration period of timer, network node, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A network node (300) determines an expiration period of a timer (101) based on a predetermined parameter. The timer (101) is used to determine a transition from a CONNECTED state to an IDLE state of a mobile terminal (200) connected to a core network (20) through a radio access network (10). The predetermined parameter includes at least one of (a) a parameter regarding a frequency of connection of the mobile terminal (200) to the core network (20), (b) a parameter regarding a load on control signal processing by a mobility management node (300) arranged in the core network (20), (c) a parameter regarding a frequency of movement of the mobile terminal (200) between base stations (100), and (d) a parameter regarding software installed in the mobile terminal (200). |
| US09661570B2 |
Network node and a method therein for controlling uplink power control
A Network Node and a method therein for controlling uplink power control are provided. The method comprises collecting (210) measurement reports from UEs. The method comprises creating (220) clusters of low power RBS(s) and macro RBS(s), wherein each cluster comprises one low power RBS and at least one macro RBS; and identifying (230) the macro RBS with the lowest pathloss for those UEs connected to the low power RBS and the level of the pathloss. The method comprises determining (240) an interference level in the low power RBS caused by UEs connected to the macro RBS for those UEs connected to the macro RBS. Further, the method comprises selecting (250) uplink power control setting for the low power RBS based on the size of the pathloss associated with the identified macro RBS and the interference level in the low power RBS caused by UEs being connected to the macro RBS. |
| US09661569B2 |
Wireless network control system to perform on-off control for small cell
A wireless network control system includes a macrocell base station configured to form a macrocell, at least one small cell base station configured to form a small cell disposed within the macrocell, and a control apparatus including a controller configured to execute a process of acquiring a first value indicating a traffic state of a wireless terminal using the macrocell and a second value indicating a traffic state of a wireless terminal using the small cell, and a process of setting OFF the small cell when an added value of the first value and the second value falls within a predetermined range related to the macrocell. |
| US09661568B2 |
Method and power adaptation device arranged to adjust power consumption in a network node
A method is presented for adjusting power consumption in a network node of a cellular communication system. The method is performed in a power adaption device and comprises the steps of aggregating bitrates for all traffic flows associated with a power amplifier of the network node to an aggregated bitrate, determining when to adjust power consumption by determining whether power consumption of the power amplifier can be reduced with acceptable effect on the traffic flows associated with the power amplifier, and adjusting power consumption by reducing power consumption of the power amplifier when it is determined that the power consumption of the power amplifier can be reduced with acceptable effect on the traffic flows associated with the power amplifier. A corresponding power adaptation device is also presented. |
| US09661566B2 |
RAN controlled wi-fi selection
Methods and apparatus are provided for operating a network entity in a communications network. The communications network includes a radio access network including a base station serving a user equipment, and a wireless network including wireless access points. A set of available wireless access points are selected from the wireless access points based on network information associated with radio access network resources, core network part resources, and/or wireless network resources. Wireless access point information associated with the characteristics of the set of available wireless access points is generated for use by the user equipment to access the available wireless access points. The network entity transmits the wireless access point information via base station to the user equipment. The wireless access point information may include rules or conditions for use by the user equipment in determining an available wireless access point to access. |
| US09661564B2 |
Method and apparatus for selected internet protocol traffic offload
A method and apparatus of performing selective internet protocol (IP) selective offload (SIPTO) or local IP access (LIPA) is disclosed. A wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) receives a broadcast message from a Node-B. Then the WTRU receives a message from the Node-B that SIPTO service, or LIPA service is available for that WTRU. The WTRU then communicates using the SIPTO or LIPA service. A method an apparatus for receiving a paging message for SIPTO or LIPA services is also disclosed. The paging message includes an indicator that indicates that the message is for SIPTO or LIPA communications. The indicator may be a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI) assigned by the network specifically for SITPO or LIPA communications. The indicator may also be a single bit designated to indicate that a paging message is a for SIPTO or LIPA traffic. |
| US09661563B1 |
Efficient searching for communications networks
Systems and methods are provided for adaptive control of scanning by a communications device, such as a mobile handset, for an available communication network based on a status of the communications device, user behavior, and signal status. A new time interval used for scanning for communications networks and access points is calculated responsive to a detected change in condition. |
| US09661559B2 |
Method and apparatus for selecting wireless access using application identification information in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and, more specifically, to a method and an apparatus for processing a non-access stratum (NAS) signaling request. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method for enabling a terminal to perform the NAS signaling process in a wireless communication system comprises the steps of: receiving a first message comprising information for indicating network failure from a network node of a first network; starting a timer related to network selection; and selecting a second network among the network candidates except for the first network when the timer related to network selection is operated. |
| US09661548B2 |
Method and terminal for executing measurement
A disclosure of the present specification presents a method for executing measurement including: measuring a first and a second logical cell of a base station and measuring a cell of a neighboring base station; and executing cell reselection according to a result of the measuring or transmitting a measurement report including the result of the measuring to the base station. In the method, since the base station operates the first logical cell in a first sub-frame set within a wireless frame and operates the second logical cell in a second sub-frame set within the wireless frame to which power backoff is applied, the measuring of the first logical cell by the base station may be executed in the first sub-frame set and the measuring of the second logical cell by the base station may be executed in the second sub-frame set to which the power-back off is applied. |
| US09661543B2 |
Cell change notification control for CSG cells
Systems and methods are provided for controlling whether a mobile station is permitted to perform a reselection to a CSG cell, and if reselection is allowed, whether a notification of cell change is required in advance. This control is based on CCN notifications for different radio access technologies. |
| US09661542B2 |
Optimized LTE MIB/SIB collection logic after LTE handover
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus performs a handover from a source cell to a target cell. The apparatus determines a decoding timer value based on network conditions. The apparatus attempts to decode a MIB or a SIB from the target cell within a time after the handover corresponding to the decoding timer value. The apparatus triggers a radio link failure (RLF) when the MIB or the SIB is not decoded within the time corresponding to the decoding timer value. |
| US09661537B2 |
Method and arrangement in a communication network
Method and arrangement in a network control node, for performing access control of a mobile node in a handover from a source cell to a target subscriber group cell. The method comprises obtaining a network based allowed subscriber group list, receiving a target subscriber group identification, checking if the target subscriber group identification is comprised in the obtained network based allowed subscriber group list. If it is, information from a target network control node is obtained, verifying that the received subscriber group identification corresponds to the target subscriber group cell. Still further, the method comprises granting the mobile node access to the target subscriber group cell.Also, a method and arrangement in a target network control node, for assisting a network control node in performing access control for a mobile node in a handover from a source cell to a target subscriber group cell is provided. |
| US09661536B2 |
Method for an improved measurement handling by a user equipment in a multi-RAT and/or multi-frequency and/or single-frequency radio environment of a public land mobile network, public land mobile network
A method for improved measurement handling by a user equipment in a multi-Radio Access Technology (RAT) and/or multi-frequency and/or single-frequency radio environment of a public land mobile network includes: transmitting a measurement activation/deactivation information from a serving cell base station to the user equipment, the measurement activation/deactivation information being related to future inter-frequency and/or inter-RAT and/or intra-frequency measurements towards a neighbor cell base station entity to be either activated or set to a non-permanent state. |
| US09661535B2 |
Self configuration and optimization of cell neighbors in wireless telecommunications
The present invention aims to reduce the cost of planning and maintaining neighbor cell sets by requiring mobile terminals to make an additional effort to identify uniquely neighboring cells in the radio network. |
| US09661533B2 |
Handover with carrier aggregation
A handover with carrier aggregation is provided. A method of assisting handover of a user equipment from a source wireless access node to a target wireless access node, for use in a wireless access network having a plurality of carrier frequencies and a plurality of cells in which a cell and a carrier frequency may be configured as a component carrier, and in which at least two component carriers may be aggregated for communication between the user equipment and the source wireless access node, the aggregated component carriers comprising a primary component carrier and at least one secondary component carrier comprises the step of selecting, at the source wireless access node, a first carrier frequency to be configured as a primary component carrier for communication with the target wireless access node after handover, and selecting, at the target wireless access node, a second carrier frequency to be configured as a secondary component carrier for communication with the target wireless access node after handover. |
| US09661528B2 |
Apparatus for transmitting and receiving data to provide high-speed data communication and method thereof
In the present invention, data generated from a source unit are distributed to at least one bandwidth; the data distributed to the respective bandwidths are encoded in order to perform an error correction; the encoded data are distributed to at least one antenna; a subcarrier is allocated to the data distributed to the respective antennas, and an inverse Fourier transform is performed; a short preamble and a first long preamble corresponding to the subcarrier are generated; a signal symbol is generated according to a data transmit mode; and a frame is generated by adding a second long preamble between the signal symbol and a data field for the purpose of estimating a channel of a subcarrier which is not used. |
| US09661525B2 |
Granular network access control and methods thereof
A method and system that enhances the existing access barring mechanism as specified in the current 3GPP specification is disclosed. The method disclosed provides enhancing the access barring mechanism to accommodate application level barring between the User equipment (UE) and the network. The method disclosed individually restricts or permits access of network to every requesting application on the UE, based on granular category of the application and priority levels of the application within the granular category. The method disclosed also specifies handling of back-off timers; reject cause values and Access Point Name (APN) configuration by Access Stratum (AS) and Non Access Stratum (NAS) layer to support application level barring of UEs using the enhanced access barring mechanism. The enhanced access barring mechanism enables providing service to applications independent of other barred applications or priorities. The method disclosed provides a mechanism for access control for connected mode UEs. |
| US09661521B2 |
Interrupt handling system for cellular communication network
A system for merging first and second interrupts includes first and second queue modules, first and second status modules, and first and second merger modules. The first and second queue modules receive first and second en-queue signals corresponding to the first and second interrupts, first and second de-queue signals, and generate first and second status signals. The first and second status modules receive first and second status signals, and first and second output signals, and generate first and second merge signals. The first and second merger modules receive the first and second merge signals, and generate the first and second output signals. One of the first and second output signals is indicative of the first and second en-queue signals, thereby merging the first and second interrupts into at least one of the first and second output signals. |
| US09661519B2 |
Efficient reporting of information in a wireless communication system
Techniques for efficiently sending reports in a wireless communication system are described. Reports may be sent repetitively in accordance with a reporting format. A terminal receives an assignment of a control channel used to send reports and determines a reporting format to use based on the assignment. The reporting format indicates a specific sequence of reports sent in specific locations of a control channel frame. The terminal generates a set of reports for each reporting interval and arranges the set of reports in accordance with the reporting format. The terminal repetitively sends a plurality of sets of reports in a plurality of reporting intervals. Reports may also be sent adaptively based on operating conditions. An appropriate reporting format may be selected based on the operating conditions of the terminal, which may be characterized by environment (e.g., mobility), capabilities, QoS, and/or other factors. |
| US09661518B2 |
Load estimation and load management in a cellular communications network
A cellular communications network 10 comprises a plurality of basestations 12, 14, 16 and 18 connected to each other through an interface and to a core network through another interface. Each basestation has a coverage area referred to as a cell k. There are provided methods for estimating the load imparted on a cell in the cellular communications network by user equipments in the cell. The methods make it possible to estimate any potential increase in the load that may impact onto a target cell due to the handover of a UE from a serving cell. |
| US09661513B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enhanced channel control element (CCE) decoding in LTE networks
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for enhanced channel control element (CCE) decoding are disclosed. According to one method that occurs in a multi-UE simulator, the method includes receiving physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) data from an evolved node B (eNode B) under test and decoding, using CCE avoidance information for avoiding at least a first CCE successfully identified as being associated with at least a first UE simulated by the multi-UE simulator, a second CCE associated with a second UE simulated by the multi-UE simulator. |
| US09661511B2 |
Joint channel correction method, joint channel correction unit and base station
Embodiments of the present invention provide a joint channel correction method, a joint channel correction unit and a base station. The joint channel correction method can implement joint channel correction between base stations in a base station set. At least one base station in the base station set is connected to the joint channel correction unit, so that all base stations in the base station set share a common reference transmit end and a common reference receive end. |
| US09661510B2 |
Failure event report extension for inter-RAT radio link failure
A method of inter-RAT failure event report is proposed. A UE detects a failure event in a first cell served by a first base station, and the first cell belongs to a first RAT. The failure event may include a radio link failure or a handover failure. The UE then performs an RRC establishment procedure with a second cell served by a second base station, and the second cell belongs to a second RAT. After the RRC establishment, the UE transmits a failure event report to the wireless network. The failure event can be a radio link failure, or be associated with a mobility command such as a handover command. By providing more reliable information in the failure event report than a network solution could provide, inter-RAT mobility performance can be improved. |
| US09661508B2 |
Methods and apparatus for determining a signal estimate by scaling
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for estimating a signal by a wireless device in a wireless communication system. The wireless device obtains a scaling factor that describes a relation between signal estimates for first and second signals of a first type. The wireless device further obtains a reference signal estimate that comprises a signal estimate for a first signal of a second type. The wireless device then selectively determines at the wireless device a signal estimate for a second signal of the second type by scaling the reference signal estimate by the scaling factor. The first signals of the first and second type are associated with a first radio network node. The second signals of the first and second type are associated with a second radio network node. |
| US09661504B1 |
Use of customer impact to prioritize network efforts
A method of prioritizing network efforts using customer impact. The method comprises calculating a total revenue of each of the plurality of cell towers by summing up each revenue of a cell tower as a top cell tower for a mobile communication device, ranking the plurality of cell towers based on their total revenues, categorizing the cell towers based on the revenue ranking, and categorizing top cell towers of a retail store of a wireless carrier that maintains the cell towers as category one cell towers, whereby category one cell towers have the highest priority in the categorization system, whereby maintenance, spare parts, expansions, and upgrades are promoted based on the categorization of cell towers. |
| US09661493B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing a wireless communication in a portable terminal
An apparatus for providing a wireless communication in a portable terminal includes a wireless communication unit and a controller which verifies basic service set identifications (BSSIDs) of access points when roaming between access points is completed, verifies whether an internet protocol (IP) address is assigned based on a wireless communication network list and the verified BSSIDs, and performs a wireless communication by using an IP address which is in use according to a verification result, wherein the wireless communication network list is a list which classifies a plurality of access points according to the same dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) by using BSSIDs of the plurality of access points connected to the portable terminal. |
| US09661488B2 |
Methods and apparatus for identifying and categorizing distributed devices
Systems for identifying and categorizing distributed devices, e.g., lighting fixtures and thermostats, is disclosed. In an embodiment, a user (200) sends a low power discovery message to devices (201) using a portable programming tool (100). The devices (201) within range respond with identification information. The portable programming tool (100) organizes the responses by proximity and sends a “flash” message to the device with the closest perceived proximity. That device responds with a visual or audible signal (202), allowing the user (200) to determine whether that device is the one intended for selection. If so, the user initiates a store routine in which identification information, including category information, is stored in one or more locations, such as, the selected device (201), the portable programming tool (100), and/or a central or local controller (1100). The identification and categorization can, for example, be used to automate load shedding and to reduce energy consumption. |
| US09661483B2 |
Multi-function emergency assistance request, tracking, and communication system
A multi-function emergency assistance request, tracking, and communication system is defined by a Hub and Spoke concept of portable units able to communicate one to each other using satellite with global earth coverage by sending GPS coordinates and text, by which the user can create its own private network inside the satellite network. A central Server manages the private network to decide which Spoke(s) are referred to specific hub(s). Functionalities include tracking without internet access (only through satellite link), system for rapid evacuation where the spoke(s) call in the Hub and receives back the confirmation of message received and read from the hub and Command and Control center from the server where the user can track all private networks and can communicate with each device through text. |
| US09661482B2 |
Mobile communication method, radio base station and mobility management node
To improve probability of successfully performing transmission processing by a priority terminal and transmission processing of an emergency call even during congestion. A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps of: causing a radio base station eNB to transmit “UE Context Release Request” regarding a predetermined mobile station UE to a mobility management node MME, the “UE Context Release Request” containing identification information of multiple target mobile stations UE; causing the mobility management node MME to release an access bearer of the predetermined mobile station UE in response to the “UE Context Release Request”, and transmit “UE Context Release Command” regarding the predetermined mobile station UE to the radio base station eNB, and causing the radio base station eNB to transmit “RRC Connection Release” to the plurality of target mobile stations UE. |
| US09661479B2 |
Communication device, program, and communication method
A communication device includes: processing circuitry configured to execute a short-range radio communication with another device; control the short-range radio communication; fragment a message so as to have a predetermined size; sequentially transmit a plurality of message fragments obtained from the fragmented message, the plurality of message fragments including a sequence of one or more first message fragments and a final message fragment; and transmit a termination message, which replaces at least the final message fragment and is used to terminate the message fragments being transmitted due to a disconnection of the short-range radio communication, before another message when the another message is transmitted during the transmission of the plurality of message fragments. |
| US09661474B2 |
Identifying topic experts among participants in a conference call
A computing device determines one or more skills associated with one or more participants in a conference call. The computing device identifies one or more topics associated with a first time period of the conference call. The computing device designates a first set of participants as experts for at least one of the one or more topics associated with the first time period. |
| US09661461B1 |
Method for searching electronic device and electronic device
A method for searching an electronic device and an electronic device are provided. The method includes following steps. A request packet that is broadcasted by another electronic device according to a wireless communication protocol is received. It is determined whether the electronic device matches a target device indicated by the request packet according to target identification information in the request packet. If the electronic device does not match the target device indicated by the request packet, another request packet is generated and broadcasted according to the wireless communication protocol. If the electronic device matches the target device, indication for indicating location information of the electronic device is supplied. |
| US09661460B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing user plane or control plane position services
A dual SIM mobile terminal, such as a Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) mobile terminal, connects to a network and performs a user plane or control plane positioning session through the network. When the positioning session is originated by the mobile terminal, either SIM card may be used to connect to its associated network. When the positioning session is originated by another entity in the network, either SIM card may be used for the positioning session. When the mobile terminal connects to a network for an emergency call using either SIM card and an emergency positioning session is performed through the network, the emergency positioning session is permitted only during the emergency call and an emergency callback period and permitted only on a subscription on which the emergency call originated, and no non-emergency positioning sessions with either SIM card is permitted during the emergency positioning session or emergency call. |
| US09661459B2 |
Communication of mobile device locations
Method, apparatus, and system for communicating location of a mobile device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of communicating location of a mobile device includes determining information, at the mobile device, from a radio frequency tag associated with an object, generating a location request in accordance with the determined information, comprising processing the information from the radio frequency tag to determine encoded data and generating a SET initiated location request in accordance with the encoded data, and communicating location information in response to the location request generated. |
| US09661448B2 |
Method for managing information communication between a NFC controller and a secure element within an apparatus, and corresponding apparatus and NFC controller
A method is for managing information communication between an NFC controller coupled to an antenna for a contactless communication with an object, a device host, and a secure element. The method may include routing the information through the NFC controller, and communicating first information to be communicated between the secure element and the device host through a first communication link between the NFC controller and the device host, and through a second communication link between the NFC controller and the secure element. The method may include communicating second information with the antenna through a third communication link between the NFC controller and the secure element, the first and second communication links having bandwidths greater than a bandwidth of the third communication link. |
| US09661447B2 |
Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal including a display configured to display information; a short range communication module configured to exchange a signal with an external control device; and a controller configured to receive the signal from the external control device, determine a context at a timing point of receiving the signal, and control an operation corresponding to the signal to be performed in the determined context. Further, the operation includes at least one of activation/deactivation of the display, an activation/deactivation of a lock mode of the mobile terminal, a volume operation and a camera operation. |
| US09661445B2 |
Methods and apparatus for integrating bluetooth devices into neighbor aware networks
Methods and apparatus for integrating Bluetooth devices into neighbor aware networks are described herein. In some aspects, a method for wireless communication may comprise receiving at least one parameter indicating availability of a service associated with a first wireless protocol from a first wireless device configured to communicate according to the first wireless protocol. The method may further comprise encapsulating the at least one parameter into a service discovery frame associated with a second wireless protocol. The method may further comprise transmitting the service discovery frame to a second wireless device configured to communicate according to the second wireless protocol. The first wireless network comprises a Bluetooth protocol and the second wireless network comprises a WiFi protocol. |
| US09661443B2 |
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for data distribution in wireless networks
Method, apparatus, and computer program product example embodiments enable wireless communication devices to advertise wireless communication connections in an improved manner. In example embodiments, a method is disclosed for creating, at an apparatus, operating parameters for a wireless data channel connection and descriptive information regarding content available on the wireless data channel connection; transmitting, by the apparatus, one or more non-connectable undirected wireless advertising channel messages indicating presence of the wireless data channel connection, the operating parameters associated with the wireless data channel connection, and the descriptive information regarding the content available on the wireless data channel connection; and transmitting, by the apparatus, information on the wireless data channel connection according to the operating parameters, including the content. |
| US09661441B2 |
System and method to reduce radio resource management (RRM) related signaling in machine-to-machine (M2M) communications
System and method for reducing signaling overhead related to scheduling of uplink and downlink radio resources to wireless devices (e.g., sensors or Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices) that are primarily stationary in a cellular network. Because these wireless devices are non-moving, time-frequency channel conditions have a much lower variance for them as compared to other mobile devices in the network. Hence, the (semi)stationary channel can be estimated over time with the help of statistical methods and machine learning techniques, and stationary devices can be then instructed to stop reporting uplink and/or downlink channel condition related information to the network until further notice. When performance degradation is noticed by the base station, the scheduler may instruct the device to resume its channel condition reporting. As a byproduct of this solution, the energy consumed within such stationary terminals is reduced due to significant reductions in the number of channel measurements, their processing, and reporting. |
| US09661432B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring a plurality of loudspeakers and microphone array
An apparatus for measuring a plurality of loudspeakers arranged at different positions includes a generator of a test signal for a loudspeaker; a microphone device configured for receiving a plurality of different sound signals in response to one or more loudspeaker signals emitted by one of the loudspeakers in response to the test signal; a controller for controlling emissions of the loudspeaker signals by the loudspeakers and for handling the different sound signals so that a set of sound signals recorded by the microphone device is associated with each loudspeaker in response to the test signal; and an evaluator for evaluating the set of sound signals for each loudspeaker to determine at least one loudspeaker characteristic for each loudspeaker and for indicating a loudspeaker state using the at least one loudspeaker characteristic. This scheme allows automatic, efficient and accurate measurement of loudspeakers arranged in a three-dimensional configuration. |
| US09661431B2 |
Audio device and method of recognizing position of audio device
An audio device and a position recognition method of the audio device are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, an audio device includes at least one infrared (IR) transceiver and a controller configured to recognize whether the audio device is positioned to a left or right of another audio device in response to a signal received by the at least one IR transceiver. |
| US09661430B2 |
Method of identifying passive radiator parameters
Methods for modeling a loudspeaker having a passive radiator include applying a stimulus signal to a speaker within the cabinet, wherein the stimulus is applied over a frequency range. The sound pressure level (SPL) in the cabinet is measured as a function of frequency during application of the stimulus signal. At least one coefficient based on the measured SPL is derived, wherein at least one passive radiator parameter is a function of the at least one coefficient. |
| US09661429B2 |
System and method for modular on-demand audio processing, amplification and distribution
A system and method for processing, amplification and distribution of audio signals. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving at least one digital audio input signal from one or more audio sources via wireless or wired communications. In an embodiment, address information accompanying the at least one digital audio input signal is identified to determine to which modular processor/amplifier unit the audio signal is to be directed. In dependence upon identification of one or more modular processor/amplifier units, the identified one or more modular processor/amplifier units are awakened, and the processed/amplified audio signals is directed to one or more audio listening zones. |
| US09661421B2 |
Microphone package with molded spacer
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone package including a MEMS microphone die configured to sense acoustic pressure and to generate a signal based on the acoustic pressure. An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) electrically connects to the MEMS microphone die. The MEMS microphone package includes a molded package spacer that connects to a conductive lid and to a substrate. The molded package spacer forms side walls of the MEMS microphone package and is adapted to route electrical connections from the MEMS microphone die and the ASIC to the substrate. |
| US09661418B2 |
Method and system for large scale audio system
Audio loudspeaker 300 can be arranged in various vertical arrays, such as 302. Each loudspeaker 300 is identical in construction and includes a housing 310 generally in the shape of a rectangular cuboid. A pair of ultra low-frequency transducers 300 are positioned in the housing 310. Each of the ultra low-frequency transducers is individually powered and controlled by a separate DSP channel, thereby to directionally steer the transducer output. |
| US09661417B2 |
System, method, and computer program product for voice decibel monitoring on electronic computing devices
The present invention in general relates to a voice decibel application and a method for a phone and in particularly relates to the application and the method for a phone to measure the voice decibel during a phone call. The application incorporated into the user's phone is configured to measure the voice decibel during a phone call and send a signal to the user in case the voice decibel exceeds or goes below a preset voice decibel threshold level. The present invention is advantageous because it will help the users to recognize their talking habits and assist them in improving their talking habits. |
| US09661416B2 |
Techniques for optimizing the polarities of audio input channels
In one embodiment, a polarity optimizer determines optimal polarities of audio input channels. In operation, the polarity optimizer generates multiple polarity combinations, where each polarity combination specifies a different combination of polarities of the audio input channels. For each of these polarity combinations, the polarity optimizer combines inverted and/or non-inverted samples of the audio input channels to generate a corresponding audio mix. For each of the audio mixes, the polarity optimizer calculates the value of a pre-determined signal characteristic. The polarity optimizer then compares these values and sets the optimized polarities in accordance with the polarity combination corresponding to the audio mix with the optimal value. Because the polarity optimizer operates in a concurrent and deterministic fashion on candidate audio mixes, the polarity optimizer enables the production of an optimized listening experience without exposing the audience to multiple, inferior, “trial-and-error” audio mixes during the optimization process. |
| US09661408B2 |
Packages and methods for packaging
A three-dimensional printing technique can be used to form a microphone package. The microphone package can include a housing having a first side and a second side opposite the first side. A first electrical lead can be formed on an outer surface on the first side of the housing. A second electrical lead can be formed on an outer surface on the second side of the housing. The first electrical lead and the second electrical lead may be electrically shorted to one another. Further, vertical and horizontal conductors can be monolithically integrated within the housing. |
| US09661405B2 |
System and method for photonic switching
In one embodiment, method of photonic packet switching includes receiving, by a photonic switching fabric from a first top-of-rack (TOR) switch, a destination port request corresponding to a first photonic packet and a first period of time, where the destination port request includes a first output port and determining whether the first output port is available during the first period of time. The method also includes receiving, by the photonic switching fabric from the first TOR switch, the first photonic packet and routing the first photonic packet to the first output port when the first output port is available during the first period of time. Additionally, the method includes routing the first photonic packet to an alternative output port when the first output port is not available. |
| US09661403B2 |
Meters and upgraded meter cover with sensor
Meters and meter covers comprising: a removable cover housing configured to accommodate the upper portion of the internal components of an existing meter, the cover housing engageable with the housing base of the existing meter to cover and enclose the internal components of the existing meter; a sensor affixed to the cover housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio affixed to the cover housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; and a power unit affixed to the cover housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio. |
| US09661402B2 |
Embedding information in generated acoustic signals
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture (e.g., physical storage media) to embed information in generated acoustic signals are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein to embed information in an acoustic signal output from an electric vehicle include obtaining a first audio signal to be used to generate the acoustic signal. Such example also include combining a second signal with the first audio signal, the second signal to convey first digital information that, when detected, indicates a presence of the electric vehicle. Such example methods further include providing the first audio signal with the second signal to an audio circuit that is to output the acoustic signal from the electric vehicle. |
| US09661400B2 |
Method for receiving a broadcast signal and broadcast receiver
A method of receiving a broadcast signal including a Non-Real-Time (NRT) service and a broadcast receiver are disclosed herein. A method of receiving a broadcast signal including an NRT service, method comprises receiving a broadcast signal including first signaling information and second signaling information, identifying the NRT service based on the first signaling information, identifying an Internet Protocol (IP) address of an NRT service signaling data based on the first signaling information and the second signaling information, receiving the NRT service signaling data by accessing the IP address, and downloading a desired NRT service based on the NRT service signaling data. |
| US09661398B2 |
Broadcaster apparatus, content operator apparatus, and receiving terminal for augmented broadcasting service, and augmented broadcasting service method
A broadcaster apparatus, content operator apparatus, and receiving terminal for augmented broadcasting service, and an augmented broadcasting service method. A service user may select a predetermined content operator among content operators that provide augmented content in an environment for providing an augmented broadcasting service according to an exemplary embodiment. |
| US09661396B2 |
Digital TV and method for controlling same
Disclosed are a digital TV and a method for controlling same. The method for controlling a digital TV according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: displaying a user interface (UI) capable of selecting the standby mode for a power-off operation; and disconnecting the power source for a display panel so as to enter the standby mode when the standby mode is set through the UI in the power-off operation, and a power-off command is received. The standby mode includes a lower standby mode based on the operation of the digital TV and a network function, and the digital TV in the standby mode stops AV channel communication and performs SI channel communication. |
| US09661392B2 |
Systems and methods for using an interactive media guidance application on mobile user equipment
An interactive media guidance application implemented on mobile user equipment may utilize location-based services to retrieve program listings information based on a user's present location. The program listings may be retrieved in response to detecting a change in the user's location or detecting a change in the program listings information. |
| US09661390B2 |
Method, server, and user terminal for sharing video information
A method for a server to share video information, includes: receiving descriptive information regarding a video from a first user terminal; and sending the descriptive information to a second user terminal, for the second user terminal to play the video according to the descriptive information, wherein a first user of the first user terminal has a preset relationship with a second user of the second user terminal. |
| US09661388B2 |
Rules-based content management
Techniques for rules-based content management are provided. Video on demand content is collected from a variety of sources. Business rules embedded within metadata can be retrieved where the business rules control processing and delivery of the video on demand content. The video on demand content may be selectively packaged in response to the business rules and the metadata to generate packaged video on demand content. A server can distribute the packaged video on demand content to devices. A priority for processing the packaged video on demand content can be based on a quality of service parameter and based on the metadata, the business rules, and a license embedded within the metadata where the license describes the priority. Other embodiments are disclosed. |
| US09661384B1 |
Trick play user activity reconstruction
A system and method for reconstructing trick play user activity are provided and include analyzing playback information of a recorded program during a playback session to identify trick play actions believed to occur during the playback session. The playback information includes a first sequence of separate video offset events associated with different points of time during the playback session at spaced intervals. For each adjacent pair of video offset events separated by one of the spaced intervals, a change of video offset is compared relative to a change of time to determine a type of trick play action occurring between the adjacent pair of video offset events. A sequence of trick play actions is reconstructed from the trick play actions identified. The method may include analyzing additional playback information and merging such information with the reconstructed sequence of trick play actions to further refine the reconstructed sequence. |
| US09661382B2 |
Commercial advertising platform
A method includes receiving over the top streaming video content, wherein the over the top streaming video content is provided by a content provider to end users and determining at least one theme associated with the over the top streaming video content. The method also includes receiving at least one commercial advertising video clip associated with at least one commercial advertiser and mapping the at least one commercial advertising video clip to the over the top streaming video content. The method includes inserting at least one break into the over the top streaming content, and presenting the at least one commercial advertising video clip at the at least one break. |
| US09661376B2 |
Video error concealment method
Disclosed herein is a system and method for reconstruction video information lost as a result of transmission errors. The system and method have four aspects, including: (1) changing the bit and/or packet rate; (2) inserting redundant information into the video bitstream; (3) providing automatic refresh of certain regions of the video on a periodic basis; and (4) interleaving coded macroblocks into diversity groups for transmission to spatially spread the effect of lost packets. The image reconstruction may then take advantage of these three aspects to provide an enhanced result in the presence of transmission losses. |
| US09661375B2 |
Display apparatus and method of controlling content output of display apparatus
A display apparatus and a method of controlling a content output of the display apparatus are disclosed. For example, there are provided a display apparatus and a method of controlling a content output of the display apparatus for separately reproducing received content and an advertisement when content including the advertisement is received. Also, there are provided a display apparatus and a method of controlling a content output of the display apparatus for outputting content on a screen of the display apparatus when content including an advertisement is received and transmitting the advertisement to a portable apparatus connected to the display apparatus to enable the advertisement to be reproduced. |
| US09661373B2 |
Internet-based video delivery system
A system and method for delivering content over the Internet from a content source to a destination is disclosed which includes the use of an overlay network, built on an underlying IP network. Additionally, error correction capability is added to the overlay network to allow the destination to reconstitute packets lost during the transmission over the Internet. In one embodiment, an overlay network is created using a plurality of overlay nodes, which may be geographically distributed, either throughout the country or throughout the world. Each respective content source or destination is also a part of the overlay network. Overhead, capable of providing error correction capability, is added to the content flow as it enters the overlay network. As the content flow leaves the overlay network, this overhead is removed from the content flow. In the case of transmission errors across the overlay network, the overhead information is used to reconstitute lost or corrupted packets. |
| US09661372B2 |
Display apparatus and control method thereof
An apparatus includes: a communication interface configured to communicate with an external device which is configured to provide video data; a user interface configured to control based on a user input; a processor configured to process the video data, which is received in the communication interface, to be displayed as an image on the display; a controller configured to perform control to extract a text for a plurality of respective processing regions which are set up to have a plurality of same coordinates as a designated region with regard to each video frame based on the processed video data after a point of time in response to a partial region being designated by the user interface within a displayed video frame on the display, and apply a preset process to the extracted text in sync with each video frame. |
| US09661370B2 |
Method and system for switching subscriber content
Embodiments of the present invention provide that a content provider itself provide subscription content to a device of a second type, rather than to a device of a first type. For example, the device of the second type may be a mobile telephone or the like, while the device of the first type may be a set-top box. By providing the content itself the content provider can keep track as to when it is providing content to the device of the second type, and further, in some embodiments, take action to prevent reproduction of the content at the device of the first type, such that while the user is viewing the subscriber content on the device of the second type, another user is not able to view the same content on the device of the first type. In order to provide such an arrangement, the content provider is preferably provided with suitable content encoding and streaming server apparatus, which is able to encode the content in a format appropriate for transmission to the device of the second type (such as, for example, transmission to a mobile device). |
| US09661369B1 |
Clip scheduling with conflict alert
An example method involves: accessing a first list including ordered clip identifiers C1 . . . Cn; accessing a second list including ordered player identifiers P1 . . . Px; determining that an identifier Cm of the identifiers C1 . . . Cn is restricted to being assigned an identifier P, from the identifiers P1 . . . Px; making a first determination that an identifier Cp is a next one of the identifiers C1 . . . Cn after the identifier Cm to have a player-identifier assignment-restriction; responsive to making the first determination, (i) determining that the identifier Cp is restricted to being assigned an identifier Py from the identifiers P1 . . . Px, and (ii) matching with each identifier Cm+1 . . . Cp in reverse order a respective one of the identifiers P1 . . . Px selected in a reverse ordered and looping fashion starting with the identifier Py; making a second determination that the identifier Cm+1 has been matched with the player identifier Pz; and responsive to making the second determination, causing an alert to be output. |
| US09661365B2 |
Systems and methods for automated media programming (AMP)
Automated media programming (AMP) systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment of an AMP system, a computer server is communicatively coupled to the Internet and provides a website for enabling uploading of media content, sorting the media content, and downloading the media content. Independent users are permitted to submit, edit, rate, and consume media content over a broadcast media channel or network. In some embodiments of the AMP system, content on the Internet is automatically searched and topics from the searched content are automatically identified. The topics are preferably indicative of currently relevant news or events and are indicative of a type of media content that will be requested for uploading from producers. The AMP system publishes the topics to the producers, receives and stores media content uploaded from the producers that relate to the respective topics, and enable users to select and download the media content. |
| US09661363B2 |
Receiver set, information apparatus and receiving system
An information apparatus connectable with plural external apparatuses including an audio visual data outputting portion, a command input portion which inputs a command from an external apparatus for requesting audio visual data, an information managing portion which manages a number of external apparatuses to audio visual data can be distributed to be simultaneously viewed or recorded and a controller portion which controls distribution of the data to the external apparatus which sent the command depending upon a distributing condition. The controller portion makes a decision on whether the number of external apparatuses to which data can be distributed is equal to or smaller than a limited number, and controls the distribution of data to the external apparatus based on a result of the decision. |
| US09661362B1 |
Testing set top appliance boxes
Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium for testing set-top boxes. A method includes: receiving an application for testing in a set-top box environment; identifying a set-top box for testing the application; executing the application on the set-top box, including commanding the set-top box to display a plurality of interfaces and initiating commands to transition the set-top box from a first presentation state to a second presentation state; capturing video output associated with the first presentation state; capturing video output associated with the set-top box after the transition to the second presentation state; monitoring and recording network traffic output by the set-top box; and providing an output associated with the monitoring and the captured video output to enable correlation between commands executed as part of the application execution, on screen output and network traffic of the set-top box. |
| US09661361B2 |
Systems and methods for live media content matching
Systems and methods for matching live media content are disclosed. At a server, obtaining first media content from a client device, herein the first media content corresponds to a portion of media content being played on the client device, and the first media content is associated with a predefined expiration time; obtaining second media content from one or more content feeds, wherein the second media content also corresponds to a portion of the media content being played on the client device; in accordance with a determination that the second media content corresponds to a portion of the media content that has been played on the client device: before the predefined expiration time, obtaining third media content corresponding to the media content being played on the client device, from the one or more content feeds; and comparing the first media content with the third media content. |
| US09661360B2 |
Systems and methods for evaluating online videos
Systems and methods for evaluating online videos. One method includes receiving a URL; determining a URL type; detecting whether the URL includes one or more videos; determining at least one of a size of the video, a position of the video on a web page of the web page URL, whether the video is set to autoplay, and whether the video is set to mute; computing a score based on one or more of the size of the video, the position of the video on the web page of the web page URL, whether the video is set to autoplay, and whether the video is set to mute; obtaining at least two frames of at least part of the video, wherein each frame is obtained at one or more predetermined intervals during playback of the video; and classifying each detected video based on the at least two frames. |
| US09661357B2 |
Method and system to locally cache and inform users of partial video segments and data objects
A user device may send a request for a data file to an access point. The user device may then receive, from the access point, data indicating that a segment of the data file has been previously cached in a local cache at the access point. In response to receiving the data, the user device may display an indicator configured to indicate that the segment of the data file is cached in the local cache. |
| US09661355B2 |
Virtual immersion via streamed content adaptation
A method comprises obtaining information characterizing multiple content streams comprising respective portions of content received from respective ones of a plurality of sources, obtaining positional information for the sources wherein the positional information indicates for each of the sources its current position in a set of possible positions relative to other ones of the sources, generating an additional content stream comprising selected portions of particular ones of the multiple content streams based at least in part on the positional information and a mapping between the content streams and the sources, and presenting the additional content stream to a user. The additional content stream may be generated so as to provide the user with a dynamic vantage point within a live event by switching between the selected portions of the particular ones of the multiple content streams, possibly as a function of input received from user equipment operated by the user. |
| US09661354B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding image
A method for decoding an image, according to the present invention, comprises the steps of: receiving image information that corresponds to a block to be decoded; performing entropy-decoding with respect to the image information that is received; deciding a transform skip mode of the block to be decoded from a plurality of transform skip mode candidates, based on the image information that is entropy-decoded; and reverse-transforming the block to be decoded based on the transform skip mode that is decided. |
| US09661350B2 |
Methods and apparatus for error rate estimation
Methods and apparatus for estimating received error rates. In one embodiment, the estimation of received error rates is conducted in relation to a bus interface such as a high-speed High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) interface, and the method utilizes corrupted symbols that violate TMDS symbol rules, the corrupted symbols being easily detected and counted. In one exemplary implementation, a symbol error rate (SER) can be estimated from the number of detected invalid symbols. The SER can be used to diagnose the performance of the HDMI interface, and optionally as a basis for selecting or implementing corrective action(s). |
| US09661347B2 |
Video encoding method and apparatus using transformation unit of variable tree structure, and video decoding method and apparatus
A video decoding apparatus for performing video decoding, in which a maximum split level of a transformation unit is determined based on maximum split information for an intra mode when information about the prediction mode indicates that a coding unit is predicted according to the intra mode. Accordingly, the information about the prediction mode indicates that the coding unit is predicted according to the intra mode, rather than according to any prediction modes. |
| US09661345B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing intra-prediction using adaptive filter
Provided is a method and apparatus for performing intra-prediction using an adaptive filter. The method for performing intra-prediction includes the steps of: determining whether or not to apply a first filter for a reference pixel value on the basis of information of a neighboring block of a current block; applying the first filter for the reference pixel value when it is determined to apply the first filter; performing intra-prediction on the current block on the basis of the reference pixel value; determining whether or not to apply a second filter for a prediction value according to each prediction mode of the current block, which is predicted by the intra-prediction performance on the basis of the information of the neighboring block; and applying the second filter for the prediction value according to each prediction mode of the current block when it is determined to apply the second filter. |
| US09661343B2 |
Moving picture coding device, moving picture coding method, moving picture coding program, transmitting device, transmission method and transmission program, and moving picture decoding device, moving picture decoding method, moving picture decoding program, receiving device, reception method and reception program
A motion vector predictor candidate constructing unit performs prediction based on a motion vector of one of coded blocks neighboring a coding target block in the same picture as the coding target block, constructs a plurality of motion vector predictor candidates, and adds the motion vector predictor candidates to a motion vector predictor candidate list. A motion vector predictor candidate number limiting unit limits the number of motion vector predictor candidates added to the motion vector predictor candidate list to a maximum candidate number according to a size of a prediction block. A motion vector predictor selecting unit selects a motion vector predictor from the motion vector predictor candidate list. A coding unit codes information representing an index of the selected motion vector predictor in the motion vector predictor candidate list. |
| US09661341B2 |
Syntax and semantics for buffering information to simplify video splicing
Innovations in syntax and semantics of coded picture buffer removal delay (“CPBRD”) values potentially simplify splicing operations. For example, a video encoder sets a CPBRD value for a current picture that indicates an increment value relative to a nominal coded picture buffer removal time of a preceding picture in decoding order, regardless of whether the preceding picture has a buffering period SEI message. The encoder can signal the CPBRD value according to a single-value approach in which a flag indicates how to interpret the CPBRD value, according to a two-value approach in which another CPBRD value (having a different interpretation) is also signaled, or according to a two-value approach that uses a flag and a delta value. A corresponding video decoder receives and parses the CPBRD value for the current picture. A splicing tool can perform simple concatenation operations to splice bitstreams using the CPBRD value for the current picture. |
| US09661340B2 |
Band separation filtering / inverse filtering for frame packing / unpacking higher resolution chroma sampling formats
When packing a video frame of a higher-resolution chroma sampling format such as YUV 4:4:4 into frames of a lower-resolution chroma sampling format such as YUV 4:2:0, a computing device performs wavelet decomposition (or other band separation filtering) on sample values of chroma components of the higher-resolution frame, producing sample values of multiple bands. The device assigns the sample values of the bands to parts of the lower-resolution frames. During corresponding unpacking operations, a computing device assigns parts of the frames of the lower-resolution chroma sampling format to sample values of multiple bands. The device performs wavelet reconstruction (or other inverse band separation filtering) on the sample values of the bands, producing sample values of chroma components of the frame of the higher-resolution chroma sampling format. Band separation filtering can help improve quality of reconstruction when distortion has been introduced during encoding of the chroma components packed into low-resolution frames. |
| US09661339B2 |
Multi-core architecture for low latency video decoder
An apparatus having first, second and third processors of a multi-core processor is disclosed. The first processor is configured to perform one or more first operations in a decoding of a plurality of macroblocks of video in a bitstream. The second processor (i) operates as a slave to the first processor and (ii) is configured to perform one or more second operations in the decoding of the macroblocks. The third processor (i) operates as a slave to the second processor and (ii) is configured to perform one or more third operations in the decoding of the macroblocks. |
| US09661337B2 |
Image intra prediction method and apparatus
An apparatus and method for intra-predicting an image are provided. The method includes: obtaining, based on restored neighboring pixels of a chrominance block and restored neighboring pixels of a luminance pixel corresponding to the chrominance block, parameters representing a correlation between the chrominance block that is to be intra-predicted and a luminance block; and predicting, using the parameters, the chrominance block from the luminance block, wherein the obtaining the parameters includes performing a predetermined operation on the restored neighboring pixels of the chrominance block and the restored neighboring pixels of the luminance block, and wherein the predetermined operation comprises an adaptive scaling process of changing bit depths of the parameters to reduce a size of a look-up table and prevent an occurrence of overflow. |
| US09661334B2 |
Method and apparatus for constructing an epitome from an image
A method for constructing an epitome from an image divided into non overlapping blocks is disclosed. The method comprises: determining, for each block, similar patches in the image, a similar patch being a patch with similar content; constructing at least one epitome chart for the picture from the similar patches; wherein determining, for each block, similar patches in the image comprises: a) determining, for each current block, similar blocks in the image, a similar block being a block with content similar to the content of the current block; b) determining, for one current block and for the similar blocks determined for the current block, similar patches in the image, a similar patch being a patch with content similar to the content of the current block; c) repeating step b) for a next current block for which no similar patch is determined until at least one similar patch is determined for each block in the image. |
| US09661333B2 |
Image processor for code amount control
An image processor includes an encoder that performs encoding including quantization on an image signal and a controller that controls a quantization parameter for quantization. The controller determines a quantization parameter of a currently target macroblock as an increase or decrease from a reference value, and determines the increase or decrease based on a difference between a target amount of code for a predetermined number of macroblocks fewer than a total number of macroblocks within one frame and a generated amount of code of the predetermined number of macroblocks processed immediately before. The controller can further determine the increase or decrease, based on pixel information of the currently target macroblock such as an activity evaluation value. |
| US09661331B2 |
Method and apparatus for signal encoding realizing optimal fidelity
Methods of optimal encoding of signals to be compatible with characteristics of target receivers while meeting constraints pertinent to sizes of encoded signals or capacities of paths communicating signals to the target receivers are disclosed. The methods are based on analytical modeling of the encoding process guided by experimental data relating measured performance indicators of encoded signals of diverse classifications to respective encoding parameters. A computationally-efficient technique is devised to determine optimal encoding parameters based on pre-processed data derived from the analytical models. The methods may be implemented at an encoder of original signals or a transcoder of pre-encoded signals. |
| US09661330B2 |
Image coding method, image decoding method, image coding apparatus, image decoding apparatus, and image coding and decoding apparatus
An image coding method of coding an image on a per coding unit basis, the method comprising: applying a frequency transform to luminance data and chrominance data of transform units in the coding unit including predetermined blocks each corresponding to one or more of the transform units; and coding the luminance data and the chrominance data to which the frequency transform has been applied to generate a bitstream in which the luminance data and the chrominance data are grouped on a per predetermined block basis. |
| US09661317B2 |
Method of displaying a stereoscopic image and display device
A method of displaying a stereoscopic image and a display device are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes first providing a first portion of left eye image data to a plurality of pixel rows during a first non-emission period of a first frame period, wherein the first frame period includes a first emission period having a first emission transition period and a first compensation period. The method also includes second providing a second portion of the left eye image data to the pixel rows during the first emission transition period while sequentially providing the left eye image data to the pixel rows during the first emission period. The method further includes third providing the second portion of the left eye image data to the pixel rows during the first compensation period and driving the pixel rows to concurrently emit light during the first emission period. |
| US09661311B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating 3D images using a plurality of mobile devices
A technique for generating a three-dimensional (3D) image using a plurality of terminals is provided. The technique includes performing calibration of a distance between lenses in a plurality of terminals by using view images of a two-dimensional (2D) object acquired by the plurality of terminals, acquiring view images of a 3D object while maintaining a lens distance between the plurality of terminals which is determined based on the result of the calibration, and processing the acquired view images of the 3D object in order to generate a 3D image of the 3D object. The 3D image allows a user to experience the same sense of depth as viewing the object in the real world. |
| US09661310B2 |
Image depth recovering method and stereo image fetching device thereof
By utilizing at least one pair of cameras having a user-configurable displacement, it will be more precise to determine a depth map of a resulting 3D image and smoothening the 3D image, without the expense of using expensive depth cameras. |
| US09661308B1 |
Increasing tolerance of sensor-scanner misalignment of the 3D camera with epipolar line laser point scanning
Using the same image sensor to capture a two-dimensional (2D) image and three-dimensional (3D) depth measurements for a 3D object. A laser point-scans the surface of the object with light spots, which are detected by a pixel array in the image sensor to generate the 3D depth profile of the object using triangulation. Each row of pixels in the pixel array forms an epipolar line of the corresponding laser scan line. Timestamping provides a correspondence between the pixel location of a captured light spot and the respective scan angle of the laser to remove any ambiguity in triangulation. An Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) in the image sensor operates as a Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) to generate timestamps. When the epipolar line is misaligned or curved, multiple TDC arrays acquire timestamps of multiple pixels (in multiple rows) substantially simultaneously. Multiple timestamp values are reconciled to obtain a single timestamp value for a light spot. |
| US09661306B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and camera system
A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array section in which a plurality of color pixels are arranged in a matrix form in a first direction and a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction; and a multi-lens array in which multi-lenses which allow light to be incident on the plurality of color pixels are arranged, wherein in the respective color pixels of the pixel array section, color pixels adjacent in at least one direction of the first direction and the second direction are allocated to a pixel for L in stereo and a pixel for R in stereo, and wherein the multi-lens array is disposed so that at least part of the multi-lens array allows the light to be incident on the adjacent color pixels which are different in color in the first direction. |
| US09661303B2 |
Multi-camera stereoscopic imaging apparatus for reducing the effects of aberration
According to an illustrative embodiment, an imaging system is provided. The system includes a first imaging unit; a second imaging unit; and an objective optical system optically coupled to the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit, wherein the objective optical system has a first direction along which light is refracted and a second direction along which light is refracted differently. |
| US09661302B2 |
Depth information acquisition apparatus, imaging apparatus, depth information acquisition method and program
A depth information acquisition apparatus acquires depth information of a subject by using two real space images, each having a different blur value, that are obtained by capturing a subject with different imaging parameters. A processor and a memory store instructions that cause the processor to perform converting the two real space images into two frequency space images, each having a frequency including at least one frequency ingredient and an amplitude. A frequency space phase image is generated for each of the frequency space images by dividing each frequency ingredient by the amplitude of each respective frequency space image using a frequency. Frequency space correlation value information representing a correlation value for each frequency between the frequencies of the two frequency space phase images is calculated. The frequency space correlation value information is converted into real space correlation value information having a peak maximum value. |
| US09661301B2 |
Image processing device and image processing method
The present technique relates to an image processing device and an image processing method for realizing accurate depth image warping operations on the receiving end when depth images with reduced resolutions are transmitted. A partial resolution converting unit reduces resolutions of parallax images of auxiliary images. A partial conversion information generating unit generates partial conversion information. The parallax images having the resolutions reduced by the partial resolution converting unit and the partial conversion information generated by the partial conversion information generating unit are transmitted to a decoding device. The present technique can be applied to encoding devices that encode glasses-free 3D images, for example. |
| US09661299B2 |
Outlier detection for colour mapping
A method and an arrangement for an improved outlier detection for color mapping. Spatial neighborhoods of feature points are used for outlier detection. For this purpose, Geometric Feature Correspondence neighborhoods of an initial color-corrected test-image and a reference image are compared in a neighborhood comparator. |
| US09661295B2 |
Triangulation scanner and camera for augmented reality
A method of combining 2D images into a 3D image includes providing a coordinate measurement device and a triangulation scanner having an integral camera associated therewith, the scanner being separate from the coordinate measurement device. In a first instance, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the scanner and the integral camera captures a first 2D image. In a second instance, the scanner is moved, the coordinate measurement device determines the position and orientation of the scanner, and the integral camera captures a second 2D image. A cardinal point common to the first and second images is found and is used, together with the first and second images and the positions and orientations of the scanner in the first and second instances, to create the 3D image. |
| US09661293B1 |
System and method for presenting virtual reality content to a user
This disclosure describes a system configured to present primary and secondary, tertiary, etc., virtual reality content to a user. Primary virtual reality content may be displayed to a user, and, responsive to the user turning his view away from the primary virtual reality content, a sensory cue is provided to the user that indicates to the user that his view is no longer directed toward the primary virtual reality content, and secondary, tertiary, etc., virtual reality content may be displayed to the user. Primary virtual reality content may resume when the user returns his view to the primary virtual reality content. Primary virtual reality content may be adjusted based on a user's interaction with the secondary, tertiary, etc., virtual reality content. Secondary, tertiary, etc., virtual reality content may be adjusted based on a user's progression through the primary virtual reality content, or interaction with the primary virtual reality content. |
| US09661291B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and image capturing method
In a high speed image capturing state, a camera signal processing circuit is not needed to perform a signal process at a high screen rate, but at a regular screen rate. In the high speed image capturing mode, raw data of 240 fps received from an image sensor 101 are recorded on a recording device 111 through a conversion processing section 201 and a recording device controlling circuit 210. Raw data that have been decimated and size-converted are supplied to a camera signal processing circuit 203 through a pre-processing circuit 202 and an image being captured is displayed on a display section 112 with a signal for which a camera process has been performed. In a reproducing state, raw data are read from the recording device 111 at a low screen rate according to a display performance of the display section 112 and the raw data that have been read are processed are processed by the pre-processing circuit 202 and the camera signal processing circuit 203 and a reproduced image is displayed by the display section 112. |
| US09661290B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method
An image processing method includes: receiving a captured image, determining block statistics which indicates image characteristics of each of a plurality of blocks by using the plurality of blocks obtained by dividing the captured image determining a shading estimation coefficient to be applied to the captured image by using the determined block statistics and an amount of infrared light included in a light source, and correcting shading of the captured image by using the determined shading estimation coefficient. |
| US09661289B2 |
Monitor and video signal display method
An RGB video signal is generated by illuminating an object with light from a first monitor and capturing an image of the object with a camera. The second monitor holds a profile representing the correspondence relationship between R, G, andB values generated by displaying an image including values of R, G, and B on a reference monitor and capturing an image of the displayed image with the camera and X, Y, and Z values which are measurements of tristimulus values of the displayed image in the XYZ color space. The second monitor converts the first R, G, and B values of the video signal to first X, Y, and Z values based on the profile, and converts the first X, Y, and Z values to second R, G, and B values appropriate for the second monitor to display an image of the object on a display unit. |
| US09661284B2 |
Solid state imaging apparatus and imaging method
A solid-state imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that images a subject to generate a plurality of pieces of image data having information corresponding to different types of color components at same pixel positions, an operation mode setting unit that sets an operation mode of the imaging unit, a thinning rate setting unit that sets a thinning rate relative to each of the plurality of pieces of image data of the different types of color components in accordance with the operation mode, a thinning processor that performs thinning processing relative to each of the plurality of pieces of image data of the different types of color components generated by the imaging unit in accordance with the thinning rate, and a transmission unit that transmits the plurality of pieces of image data of different types of color components subjected to the thinning processing. |
| US09661268B2 |
System and method for distributing video conference data over an internet protocol television system
A system is disclose including but not limited to a processor in data communication with a non-transitory computer readable medium; a computer program stored in the computer readable medium, the computer program including but not limited to instructions to send from a first client device to a server, data indicating a first list designating a first group of video conference participants' end user devices' addresses; and instructions to send from the client device to the server, a first video conference data, the first video conference data to be sent from the server over a single video conference channel in the video system to first group of video conference participants' end user devices addresses, wherein each of a plurality of groups of end user devices receives a different one of a plurality of video conferences data over a single video conference channel. |
| US09661263B2 |
Uninterruptible power/CATV signal coupler
An uninterruptible power/CATV signal coupler includes a base, a cover, and a bridge connection device. The base forms an accommodation chamber. A cover is detachably connected to the base, and includes a circuit board and two sleeves. The sleeves are connected to one surface of the circuit board. The bridge connection device is contained inside the accommodation chamber and includes a first housing, a second housing, two conductive terminals inserted into the two sleeves respectively, two press elements pressed by the circuit board, a bridge connection element disposed between the first housing and the second housing, and two seesaw elements contact with the bridge connection element. The two seesaw elements are pivotally connected to the second housing. When the bridge connection element are elastically pressed by the press elements respectively, the bridge connection element is disconnected from the conductive terminals and contacts the base. |
| US09661261B2 |
Video pictures pattern detection
Some embodiments of the invention provide a media-editing application that performs frame rate conversion detection on a video. For a video that has been converted from one frame rate and format to another frame rate and format, the application detects the conversion method that has been used in the conversion of the video. Some embodiments perform this frame rate conversion detection by detecting patterns of repeating fields and/or frames in a video sequence created by the different conversion processes.Some embodiments compute (i) a frame difference value for each consecutive frames, (ii) a correlation score for the first and second fields of each frame, and (iii) a correlation score for the second field of each frame and the first field of a succeeding frame. Frame difference values are compared with each other to detect repeated frames and correlation scores are compared with each other to detect repeated fields. |
| US09661257B2 |
Projection system, image processing device, and projection method
A projection system for projecting an image onto a projection body by a plurality of projection devices, includes an image preparation unit configured to prepare a plurality of imaging images for calibration, a grid point extraction unit configured to extract a set of grid points that indicates a distortion of a projection image for at least one projection device from each of the plurality of imaging images for calibration, a grid point transformation unit configured to execute a transformation between a plurality of images that are imaged in different imaging ranges on the plurality of imaging images for calibration in such a manner that each set of the grid points that are commonly extracted for a subject projection device is provided in a common coordinate system, a grid point synthesis unit configured to produce a set of the grid points that are synthesized for a subject projection device based on a plurality of sets of the grid points in the common coordinate system, and a correction coefficient calculation unit configured to calculate a correction coefficient for a subject projection device based on a set of the synthesized grid points. |
| US09661254B2 |
Video viewing system with video fragment location
Systems and methods for personalized video display include providing a graphical user interface on a touch device, including a video display window as part of the graphical user interface, and sending information representing the graphical user interface to a television. Additionally, the touch device can communicate messages to a remote platform, and the messages can indicate specific fragment locations within a given selection of media being delivered to the touch device as an adaptive bitrate stream. |
| US09661251B1 |
Adaptive gain control using sample-and-hold circuit for analog CDS
An image processing circuit includes a first sample-and-hold circuit that samples a first data from a pixel, a second sample-and-hold circuit that samples a second data from the pixel, a voltage-to-current circuit that includes a resistor and a current source and receives the first and second data to output a difference data, an adaptive gain control determination circuit that determines whether a rate of change of a signal from the pixel exceeds a threshold based on an output of the second sample-and-hold circuit, and a current-mode ADC that converts the difference data from an analog form to a digital form. |
| US09661249B2 |
Image capturing apparatus and image capturing system with variable gain
An image capturing apparatus includes: plural pixels arranged in matrix, each outputting a signal from a photoelectric conversion element; and plural readout circuits each provided for a corresponding column of the pixels, signals from the pixels being input to the readout circuits. The readout circuit includes an amplifier unit configured to amplify the signal from the pixel, and have a variable gain, and a hold capacitance connected to an output terminal of the amplifier unit via a sampling switch, and having a variable capacitance value. When the variable gain of the amplifier unit is set to be a first gain, the variable capacitance value of the hold capacitance is set to be a first capacitance value. When the variable gain is set to be a second gain larger than the first gain, the variable capacitance value is set to be a second capacitance value smaller than the first capacitance value. |
| US09661248B2 |
Integrated circuit having flexible reference
The present invention relates to an integrated circuit having a flexible reference. In an example, the integrated circuit includes a reference generator, and the reference generator can generate a flexible reference signal in response to a control signal. The flexible reference signal can be changed freely by adjusting the control signal. By providing the flexible reference, the present invention can enhance the capability of verification and characterization for an integrated circuit design and reduce the physical layout area of the integrated circuit design. The present invention also relates to a method of operating the integrated circuit with a flexible reference signal. |
| US09661244B2 |
Image sensing apparatus
An object of this invention is to obtain a high-quality image free from any variation between image sensing regions. To achieve this object, an image sensing apparatus according to this invention includes an image sensing element which is formed on a semiconductor substrate on which at least one of a semiconductor layer, a color filter layer, and a microlens layer is formed by a plurality of divisional exposure operations, and a correction device which corrects variations in a signal output from the image sensing element between a plurality of partial image sensing regions formed by the plurality of divisional exposure operations. |
| US09661242B2 |
Solid state imaging apparatus, signal reading method, and electronic apparatus
There is provided a solid state imaging apparatus including a pixel array in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged two-dimensionally. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element, a transfer transistor which transfers a charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to floating diffusion, a reset transistor which resets the charge of the floating diffusion, and an output transistor which outputs the charge of the floating diffusion. The floating diffusion of at least one of the plurality of unit pixels is electrically connected via the output transistor. |
| US09661236B2 |
Motion picture scanning system
Described herein is a film scanner, such as scanner for scanning motion picture film, the film scanner comprising one or more imaging devices configured to collect an image of an imaging area; and a transit system for producing relative motion of the film and the imaging device. Advantageously, at least one of the imaging devices comprises a digital single lens reflex (SLR) camera. |
| US09661235B2 |
Camera having a separate image capture module and a method of assembling the camera
A camera including an image capture module, and at least one other module. The image capture module is a sealed module and includes: a housing; at least one image sensor to convert light into electrical signals; an optical system associated with the image sensor and arranged to transmit light through the housing to the at least one image sensor; the image capture module and the at least one other module being directly or indirectly mounted to each other, and interoperable with each other to capture images. An image capture module and method of construction of a camera are also described. |
| US09661229B2 |
Method for capturing a picture in a portable terminal by outputting a notification of an object being in a capturing position
A method for capturing a picture in a portable terminal is provided, in which a capturing position is set on a preview screen in a capturing mode, it is determined whether an object is inside the capturing position, then a user is notified when the object is inside and of the picture is taken when a predetermined condition is satisfied. |
| US09661227B2 |
Method, circuit and system for stabilizing digital image
A method of stabilizing a three-dimensional (3D) digital video image sequence includes generating a depth map for each stereoscopic pair of images using each of the image frames in a first-perspective (e.g., left) group and each of the image frames in a second-perspective group (e.g., right) and determining the background regions of each of the depth maps, defining the background regions in each of the image frames in one group among the first-perspective and second-perspective groups using the determined background regions, and calculating first global motion vectors between the consecutive image frames in the one group using only pixels of the defined second background regions. |
| US09661226B2 |
Real time assessment of picture quality
A computerized method for computing the photo quality of a captured image in a device image acquisition system, comprising on-board combining of a plurality of quality indicators computed from said captured image and its previous image frames quality indicators and a confidence level for at least one of said quality indicators, and using a processor to determine, based on said combining, whether photo quality is acceptable and taking differential action depending on whether quality is or is not acceptable. |
| US09661224B2 |
Image shake correcting apparatus and control method therefor, optical apparatus, and image pickup apparatus
This image pickup apparatus detects a shake and performs feedback control. A LPF and a subtracting unit divide a detection signal into low-frequency components and high-frequency components. An output of the LPF for integrating the high-frequency components and the LPF for integrating the low-frequency components are combined in an adding unit to output the result as the target position of the correcting lens. A HPF removes the low-pass components of the shake amount applied to the image pickup apparatus. A control switching determination unit switches a first control mode for performing an image shake correction by a signal produced by frequency dividing a signal after processing signal with the HPF, and a second control mode for performing the image shake correction by a signal that is generated by subtracting a fixed offset amount calculated with the HPF based on the shake signal and dividing the result into the frequency components. |
| US09661220B2 |
Portable terminal device and method for controlling power of portable terminal device
A portable terminal device comprising: a control section that controls power supplied to a display section; and an acceleration detection section including a comparator that outputs a signal when the power is supplied to the display section even in a power-off state and acceleration equal to or greater than a predetermined value is detected, wherein the control section starts supplying the power to the display section, if there is no vibration during a predetermined time, after detecting the acceleration equal to or greater than the predetermined value with the acceleration detection section. |
| US09661218B2 |
Using captured high and low resolution images
A method produces an improved high resolution image. This method includes capturing low resolution images and a high resolution image and combining the low resolution images to provide an aggregate low resolution image. The method further includes reducing the resolution of the high resolution image to provide an image representative of a low resolution image at a low resolution setting of the image capture device; interpolating the representative low resolution image to provide an interpolated high resolution image; and calculating a residual image from the high resolution image and the interpolated high resolution image. The method also includes combining the representative low resolution image and the aggregate low resolution image to provide a final low resolution image and using the final low resolution image and the residual image to provide the improved high resolution image. |
| US09661216B2 |
Automatic image capture
An improved automatic image capture system for an intelligent mobile device having a camera guides a user to position the camera so only a single image needs to be automatically captured. Syntactic features, using a view finder on a display of the intelligent mobile device, are used to guide a user to maximize the occupancy of the view finder with the document so that the document is maximized within the view finder based upon detected corners of the document. When occupancy is maximized, the camera automatically captures the image of the document for post-processing using semantic knowledge of the document. A confidence level is computed based on the semantic knowledge to qualify an image with greater accuracy, and without user intervention, prior to transmission to a remote site. |
| US09661214B2 |
Depth determination using camera focus
A computing device can capture a plurality of images using a camera of the device, each image being captured with a different focus setting of the camera. In some embodiments, the capturing the plurality of images can be performed during an autofocus process of the camera. The device can determine depth information, such as a position of relative depth, for each of the plurality of images based on the state of the camera when each image was captured. Depth information for any object(s) in focus in a respective one of the plurality of images can be determined to correspond to the depth information for the respective image. |
| US09661206B2 |
Synchronous photographing system that controls synchronous photographing by plurality of image capture apparatus
A synchronous photographing system includes an operation terminal that performs a photographing operation; and a plurality of image capture apparatuses that performs synchronous photographing in response to an instruction from the operation terminal, in which, among the plurality of image capture apparatuses, one of a plurality of image capture apparatuses participating in synchronous photographing is set as a main image capture apparatus and other image capture apparatuses are set as sub image capture apparatuses, the main image capture apparatus performs control to perform synchronization of a photographing timing among the plurality of image capture apparatuses participating in synchronous photographing, and the operation terminal performs control to instruct the plurality of image capture apparatuses to perform instruction contents from a user. |
| US09661205B2 |
Method and apparatus for imaging
Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for imaging. Specific embodiments can incorporate an imaging module having at least one first imager, where each first imager images a corresponding at least one first portion of a θ° field of view about a reference point, such that the at least one first imager images the θ° field of view. In a specific embodiment θ is at least 90°. The imaging module can also incorporate at least one second imager, where each second imager images a corresponding at least one second portion of the θ° field of view about the reference point, and one or more of the at least one first imager has a different magnification than one or more of the at least one second imager. Embodiments can allow imaging of a θ° field of view about a reference point with imagers having at least two different magnifications. |
| US09661201B2 |
Image monitoring apparatus
An image monitoring apparatus includes a casing, a camera module in the casing, and a lighting module disposed on the casing and located above or under the camera module on a plane corresponding to a vertical angle of view of the camera module. A horizontal light-emitting plane of a LED of the lighting module is perpendicular to the plane corresponding to the vertical angle of view. A lens of the lighting module covers the LED and has a convex light-exit surface, a bottom surface, and a concave light-entrance surface. A long axis of the convex light-exit surface is located at the horizontal light-emitting plane. A section thickness of the lens from the concave light-entrance surface to the convex light-exit surface along the long axis is greater than a section thickness of the lens from the concave light-entrance surface to the convex light-exit surface along a normal of the bottom surface. |
| US09661198B2 |
Voice coil motor displacement sensor and controller
A voice coil motor displacement sensor and a voice coil motor controller that uses said sensor. The sensor configured to apply an alternating measurement signal at a predetermined frequency to a voice coil motor, the sensor configured to use a measure of a voltage across and a current through the voice coil motor to determine its impedance at the predetermined frequency and determine an estimated displacement of said voice coil motor using said impedance and a predetermined displacement-impedance function. |
| US09661194B2 |
Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method thereof, camera, and electronic device
A solid-state imaging device is provided, which includes a photodiode having a first conductivity type semiconductor area that is dividedly formed for each pixel; a first conductivity type transfer gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate via a gate insulating layer in an area neighboring the photodiode, and transmitting signal charges generated and accumulated in the photodiode; a signal reading unit reading a voltage which corresponds to the signal charge or the signal charge; and an inversion layer induction electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate via the gate insulating layer in an area covering a portion or the whole of the photodiode, and composed of a conductor or a semiconductor having a work function. An inversion layer is induced, which is formed by accumulating a second conductivity type carrier on a surface of the inversion layer induction electrode side of the semiconductor area through the inversion layer induction electrode. |
| US09661192B2 |
Video signal transmission apparatus
The video signal transmission apparatus according to the present disclosure transmits a pixel clock, signals, and image data which all are supplied from a video signal source. The signals include a vertical synchronizing signal, a horizontal synchronizing signal, a data enable signal, and a field signal. Each of the signals and the image data are in synchronization with the pixel clock. The video signal transmission apparatus includes a first format data processor and a transmitter. The first format data processor generates a plurality of data expressing a format of an image screen, based on the pixel clock and the signals, and for outputting the plurality of the data sequentially as serial data. The transmitter transmits, to a receiver by serial transmission, the image data, the vertical synchronizing signal, the pixel clock, and the serial data obtained from the first format data processor. |
| US09661190B2 |
Low latency and low complexity phase shift network
A high performance, low complexity phase shift network may be created with one or more non-first-order all-pass recursive filters that are built on top of a plurality of first-order and/or second-order all-pass recursive filters and/or delay lines. A target time delay, whether large or small, may be specified as a constraint for a non-first-order all-pass recursive filter. A target phase response may be determined for the non-first-order all-pass recursive filter. Phase errors between the target phase response and a calculated phase response with filter coefficients of the non-first-order all-pass recursive filter may be minimized to yield a set of optimized values for the filter coefficients of the non-first-order all-pass recursive filter. |
| US09661182B2 |
Image processing device and image processing apparatus
An image processing device includes a first and a second image processing module including an image processing unit, and a connection module that is connected to the first and second image processing modules, and moves an image data from one image processing module to the other image processing module. At least one of the image processing modules includes a weighted average processing unit that calculates, based on a weighting coefficient included in an attribute value, a weighted average of a pixel value of the input image data and a image processed pixel value, and an output unit which outputs at least one of the image processed pixel value and the weighted-averaged pixel value. |
| US09661180B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and computer-readable recording medium
An approach is provided for processing pattern data which corresponds to a type of visual effect that is obtained by applying a transparent material to a recording medium to which colored material is applied according to image data. Arrangement information indicating, for example, an area of the image data relative to the recording medium is employed when calculating a magnification to be applied to a size of the pattern data. Further, the image data is converted in accordance with the calculated magnification, and an image is formed on the recording medium by using the converted image data and the magnified (reduced or enlarged) pattern data. |
| US09661175B2 |
Adaptive scanning device
An adaptive scanning device, used to meet requirements for scanning and recognizing different scanned media and to save time and scanning costs. The adaptive scanning device in an embodiment of the present invention includes: a left side plate, a right side plate, an extension spring, an upper floating channel assembly, an image scanning tube B, a lower channel plate, a card information reading assembly, a document information reading assembly, friction wheels and a shaft sleeve. The upper floating channel assembly specifically includes: an image scanning tube A, an upper channel plate, an upper channel fixed shaft and fixed bearings. |
| US09661174B2 |
Image reading apparatus that ensures condensation removal at low cost, condensation removal method, and recording medium
An image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit, a condensation determination circuit, a condensation removal unit, a time measurement circuit, and a shortest determination circuit. The condensation removal unit executes a condensation removal in accordance with a specific condensation removal pattern among a plurality of condensation removal patterns for heating the condensation occurrence target portion when an occurrence of condensation is determined. The time measurement circuit measures a condensation removal time taken to complete the condensation removal of the specific condensation removal pattern. The shortest determination circuit determines the condensation removal pattern having a shortest of the condensation removal time among the plurality of the condensation removal patterns as a shortest pattern, and causes the condensation removal unit to execute the condensation removal in accordance with the shortest pattern when the condensation determination circuit determines that a condensation occurs after the determination of the shortest pattern. |
| US09661173B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium
An image forming apparatus comprises: a receiver which receives facsimile or print data file in a page description language, from an information processing apparatus; a spooler which stores the facsimile or print data file received therefrom, on the spooler itself; a converter which converts the facsimile or print data file stored on the spooler, to an image data format; a job generator which generates a job based on the obtained image data file; a facsimile transmitter; a printer; and a job controller which instructs the facsimile transmitter or the printer to perform facsimile transmission or printing according to the generated job, respectively. And the converter selects the facsimile or print data file among those stored on the spooler, based on the state of the printer and the state of the facsimile transmitter, before converting the facsimile or print data file to an image data format. |
| US09661157B2 |
Apparatus, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An apparatus includes an association unit and a transmission controller. The association unit associates an image among one or more images with at least one piece of transmission information among one or more pieces of transmission information on a display in accordance with a user operation. The one or more pieces of transmission information are information on the one or more images and each include a transmission method and a transmission destination. The transmission controller causes transmission of the image in accordance with the at least one piece of transmission information associated with the image. |
| US09661155B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an error detector detecting an error occurring in the image forming apparatus; a storage storing pieces of error handling information and test modes in association with each other, each of the pieces of error handling information indicating a method of error handling for each of errors occurring in the image forming apparatus, the test modes to be executed during the error handling; and an error controller reads, from the storage, the piece of error handling information and one or more of the test modes corresponding to an error detected by the error detector, generates an error handling screen including the read piece of error handling information and a transition button for transition to a test mode list screen for displaying a list of the read one or more of the test modes, and displays the generated error handling screen on a display. |
| US09661153B2 |
Base station that confirm the intention of a user to continue a call
A radio communication control device accepts a call-up from a radio communication terminal and includes a unit configured to detect the degree of jamming in a cell, a unit configured to confirm the intention of a user of a terminal concerned as to whether the call-up is continued regardless of addition of an extra to the user's telephone call charge when the call-up has been made from a radio communication terminal in the cell concerned in a specific jammed state, a unit configured to block the call-up concerned in accordance with the confirmed intention of the user of the terminal concerned and a unit configured to change charge setting so as to add an extra to the user's telephone call charge when the call-up has not been blocked in the specific jammed state. |
| US09661151B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for determining policy and charging rule function entity
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for determining a policy and charging rule function entity. The method includes: receiving, by a first PCRF, a first request message transmitted by a first routing agent device, where the first request message carries an IP address of a user; inquiring a pre-stored corresponding relationship between the IP address of the user and an identity of a PCRF currently serving the user according to the IP address of the user, and determining an identity of a second PCRF currently serving the user; and transmitting a message carrying the identity of the second PCRF to the first routing agent device. The method realizes that session information of the same user can be routed to the same PCRF when a biplane DRA is under a multi-PCRF networking, and provides reliable DRA signaling network networking. |
| US09661150B2 |
Verification of network activity/usage data
There is provided verification of network activity/usage data between a user equipment and a service provider server. The verification is performed in the service provider server. A first set of network activity/usage data for a user account is acquired from a user equipment. A second set of network activity/usage data for the user account is acquired from a subscription account of the user account. It is determined if a second post in the second set of network activity/usage data is related to a first post in the first set of network activity/usage data. If so, first data of the first post is compared to second data of the second post. The second post is updated with the first data in a case the first data does not match the second data. |
| US09661148B2 |
Methods and apparatus to dynamically select a peered voice over internet protocol (VoIP) border element
Methods and apparatus to select a dynamically peered voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) border element are disclosed. An example method comprises collecting data representative of a dynamic performance of a voice over Internet protocol network, prioritizing a selection of a peered border element based on the collected data, and modifying a telephone number mapping (ENUM) database based on the prioritized selection. |
| US09661146B2 |
Communication systems and methods of operating communication devices assigned individual and group unique identifiers
Described are systems and methods for operating a plurality of communication devices configured to be associated with a user group. Each communication device of the plurality of communication devices may be configured to communicate with one or more servers both as an individual communication device with an individual unique identifier assigned thereto and as the user group with a group unique identifier assigned thereto. |
| US09661143B1 |
Multi-tenant service
A multi-tenant management service (MTMS) can be configured to receive a plurality of requests for a multi-tenant service from a plurality of tenants. A given and another of the plurality of tenants can have a resource object (RO) with the same dialable number (DN) assigned thereto. The MTMS can also be configured to generate a federated dial plan for each of the plurality of tenants. Each federated dial plan can include a system identifier (ID) and a corresponding DN for each RO associated a respective tenant. The MTMS can further be configured to provide a federated DN corresponding to the multi-tenant service to each of the plurality of tenants. |
| US09661139B2 |
Conversation detection in an ambient telephony system
A method of controlling a conversation in an ambient telephone environment having a plurality of spaces includes providing a plurality of devices distributed in the plurality of spaces used by one or more users, at least one of the plurality of devices is connected to a telecommunications network for enabling communication between the environment and one or more remote terminals; and obtaining signals communicating a conversation between at least one remote terminal and at least one of the plurality of devices and audio from the one or more users. The method further includes identifying a user of the at least one device used in the obtained conversation by detecting interaction of a type corresponding to conversational turn-taking; and tracking movements of the user in the environment to determine its presence in a first of the plurality of spaces. |
| US09661138B2 |
System and method for automatic intention evaluation and communication routing
A communication system and method for routing communications can include a communication device that is configured to route a communication connection based on empirical data relating to an attempted communication. For instance, in some embodiments the device of a communication system can be configured to utilize stored and classified empirical data for automatically determining a subject of an attempted communication made by a user via the user's communication terminal and dependencies the user for that attempted communication may have on a callee for use in establishing a connection for the caller based on the determined dependencies and determined subject of the attempted communication. Information regarding the determined subject of the communication attempt can be based on the stored empirical data. The attempted communication can also be rerouted to another user based on the empirical communication data if that attempted communication is not established within a pre-selected time period. |
| US09661137B2 |
System and method for automatic communication distribution local assignment
A system and method are presented for automatic communication distribution local assignment. An on-premises device, in a contact center environment using a cloud-based solution, communicates with the solution to determine if there is a service interruption. When an interruption is determined, the on-premises device steps in to perform local assignment of communications for the solution until communication has been restored with the cloud-based solution. The on-premises device comprises a module that monitors all ACD communication flows. The module may also manage the logic of when to intervene and how to assign communications in queue to available agents during outages. |
| US09661135B1 |
Adaptive communication handling
A method can include accessing, from memory, sensor data in response to detecting an incoming communication to a given communication endpoint. The sensor data represents at least one of a condition of the given communication endpoint or a condition of an operating environment associated with the endpoint. The method can also include analyzing the sensor data to determine endpoint condition data corresponding to at least one of a willingness or availability of a user to answer the incoming communication at the given communications endpoint. The method can also include adapting a duration that the incoming communication is offered to the given communication endpoint based on the endpoint condition data. |
| US09661128B2 |
Multifunction wireless device
A communication device and system are disclosed for providing communication and data services to residents of a controlled facility. The device can be restricted to communicating only using an internet protocol so as to restrict the device communication to an internal intranet. Wireless access points may be disposed throughout the environment to route calls and data between the device and a central processing center. By converting a protocol of the communications received from the device to a protocol used by the central processing center, minimal modifications to the central processing center are needed to support a wireless communication infrastructure. Many restrictions and safeguards may be implemented within the phone and system in order to prevent improper use. |
| US09661125B2 |
Mode changing of a mobile communication device and vehicle settings when the mobile communications device is in proximity to a vehicle
A driver of a vehicle is identified and a command is sent to a mobile communications device that is associated with the identified driver and that is in proximity of the vehicle to force the mobile communications device to change modes such as to enter a hands-free or other suitable mode. The driver may be identified through one or more techniques including biometric sensing, key detection, switch controls, and so forth. Additionally, the driver and/or feature settings preferred by the current driver may be identified by receiving data from the mobile communications device. The data may identify the driver ID with preferred feature settings, the mobile communications device which has an association to a driver ID with preferred feature settings, or the data may specify the preferred feature settings. |
| US09661122B1 |
Secure remote actuation system with low power function
A secure remote actuation system with a low power function is described herein. The 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 firmware having stored thereon instruction for executing a low power function. 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. |
| US09661119B2 |
Method and device for the wireless control of a medical device
A device and a method for the wireless control of a medical device (30) by means of a remote control (10, 60, 70, 80), in which via at least one first input unit (12) provided via a touchscreen of the remote control (10, 60, 70, 80) at least one control information for activating and/or deactivating a control function for controlling the device (30) is input. At least one release information is input via a second input unit (18, 84) of the remote control (10, 60, 70, 80) which is independent of the first input unit (12). When the control information is input, the control function is only activated and/or deactivated when the release information is input via the second input unit. |
| US09661118B1 |
Wi-key electronic monitoring device and method of use
A Wi-Key electronic monitoring device, and method of use, to receive the identification number and sensor data (e.g. weight, temperature) of a compatible apparatus (e.g. kitchen utensils, toys). The Wi-Key device then wirelessly transmits the processed raw sensor data to a user's device (i.e. a smartphone) to be analyzed and stored, but only if the apparatus's identification number is valid. The user's mobile device may also comprise software to assist in monitoring conditions within and around the apparatus, or to transmit commands to the Wi-Key device to control the apparatus's operation. The Wi-Key device comprises three units: a flash drive like, pluggable Wi-Key unit; and a connector unit affixed to an ID PCB unit that both are embedded within the apparatus. One Wi-Key pluggable unit may be used with a wide variety of types of compatible apparatuses, and/or receive sensor data simultaneously from multiple sensors within or near an apparatus. |
| US09661115B2 |
Device arrangement
A device arrangement may include an inner casing. The inner casing may include an inner casing base and an inner casing cover defining a cavity therebetween. The cavity may receive an electronic device. The inner casing base may have a first viewing window. A window pane may be composed of a transparent material and be attached to at least one of the electronic device and the inner casing. The window pane may at least partially seal the first viewing window. An outer casing may at least partially encase the inner casing. The inner casing may be mounted on the outer casing via a suspension/damping device. |
| US09661113B2 |
Wireless communication system and method for continuously performing data communication while the folder type wireless communication device in the closed state
A wireless communication terminal transmitting/receiving data with a folder closed and a method thereof are disclosed. The wireless communication terminal includes: a wireless transceiver for transmitting and receiving data through a wireless communication network; a storage for storing the transmitted data and the received data; a detector for detecting a state of the folder of the wireless communication terminal in order to determine whether the folder is opened or closed; an outputting unit for indicating a result of the data transmission/reception; and a controller for analyzing the transmitted/received data to detect the last packet of the data, and continuing to perform the data transmission/reception without regard to the detected state of the folder until the last packet of the data has been detected. |
| US09661109B2 |
Systems and methods for data migration
Systems and methods are provided for data migration. For example, a data packet of a first platform is acquired; the data packet is parsed to obtain one or more data structure fields of the data packet; the data structure fields of the data packet are matched with a predetermined first field mapping table; in response to the data structure fields of the data packet being matched with the predetermined first field mapping table, the data packet is associated with a second platform based at least in part on one or more predetermined association rules; the data packet is converted based at least in part on the association of the data packet and the second platform; and the converted data packet is migrated to the second platform. |
| US09661105B2 |
Virtual assistant system to enable actionable messaging
A virtual assistant system includes a mobile device to receive an input command corresponding to a function to be performed at one or more external services, to translate the input command into a semantic atom representing the command, and to transmit the semantic atom, and an assistant server configured to receive the transmitted semantic atom, the assistant server including a plurality of plugins, each plugin corresponding to a respective one of the external services and configured to generate a proprietary language command corresponding to the received semantic atom for each external service in which the function is to be performed. |
| US09661101B2 |
Content delivery system, delivery server, receiving terminal, and content delivery method
A transmitting terminal can transmit a content held by itself to a specific receiving terminal having no email software as if using a mailer. The transmitting terminal (10) and the receiving terminal (20) are connected to a delivery server (30) via a network (4). The delivery server (30) comprises: a database (36) for registering the device ID that specifies the receiving terminal (20); a content storage (39) for temporarily storing a content transmitted from the transmitting terminal (10); and table (33, 37) for managing contents separately on a per device ID basis of the receiving terminal. The delivery server (30), when receiving a request from the receiving terminal (20), refers to the tables (33, 27) and transmits to the receiving terminal (20) a content, the transmission destination of which corresponds to the device ID of the receiving terminal (20). |
| US09661097B2 |
System and method for caching content at an end user'S customer premises equipment
A caching method and device for reducing non-local network traffic by caching content at equipment at the premises of one or more end users. The caching device may be connected to a non-local network of a data distribution network that may include the non-local network, a headend connected to the non-local network, a content delivery server connected to the headend and a content source connected to the headend. The premises equipment may include a caching device including a controller and storage medium. The caching device at an end user premises may receive content, which may be sent to a plurality of end user premises as part of a multicast, over a non-local network. The end user may access the received content at local network speeds without having to send an individual request for the content over the non-local network. |
| US09661096B2 |
Method and apparatus for accessing an enterprise resource planning system via a mobile device
A method and apparatus for accessing an enterprise resource planning system via a mobile device is described. In one embodiment, the method includes parsing data from a host application access application into at least one object in an application-specific format, converting the data into an intermediate format that is compatible with a mobile device and communicating the converted data to the mobile device. |
| US09661095B2 |
Content management system, content management apparatus, content management method, and program
A content management system, in which a server apparatus communicates with a plurality of client apparatuses via a network, includes a first client apparatus including a selection unit for selecting content to be uploaded, an editing unit for editing the content, a storage unit for associating and storing the content and editing information about the content, and an upload unit for uploading the content and the editing information to the server apparatus. The server apparatus includes a content receiving unit for receiving the content from the first client apparatus, an acquisition unit for acquiring the editing information from the apparatus, and a transmission unit for transmitting information about the content and the editing information to a second client apparatus. The second client apparatus includes a display unit for displaying the information about the content and for selectively displaying predetermined information based on the editing information. |
| US09661086B2 |
Incorporation of content from an external followed user within a social networking system
A following user follows a followed user on a third-party application. The followed user may additionally approve the inclusion of content posted by the followed user on the third-party application within an account of any following users on the social networking system. Subsequent postings by the followed user on the third-party application cause the third-party application to notify the social networking system of the posting. The social networking system in turn incorporates the posting of the followed user on the third-party application into a user interface that it displays to the following user. |
| US09661085B2 |
Federated management of intelligent service modules
Intelligent services are provided in a storage network using intelligent service modules that can be cabled to a switch external to the switch chassis and yet be managed as part of the switch's logical domain. Data and management communications between the intelligent service module and the core switch are provided through a “soft-backplane” implemented using in-band communications through cabling attached between the switch and the intelligent service module rather than through a hardwired backplane within the chassis. Management communications from management software is directed to the switch, which handles the management functions relating to the intelligent service module or forwards the management requests to the intelligent service module for processing. |
| US09661084B2 |
Method and system for sampling online communication networks
A representative sample of an online social network is formed by performing a deterministic process that coalesces to indicate success. A random value is selected for seeding the process. Based on the random value, the process is executed and once the process coalesces, a proper sampling of the online social network results. |
| US09661081B2 |
Wireless image transfer system and wireless image transfer method
A wireless image transfer system includes an image quality judgement unit configured to judge reception states of a first image transmitted in a first frequency band by a first image wireless block and a second image transmitted in a second frequency band by a second image wireless block and image qualities of the received images; and a second control unit configured to sort the reception states into a good state, a bad state, and an intermediate state, select a first image signal in the good state, steadily operate the second image wireless block and periodically operate the first image wireless block in the bad state, and select an image with a better quality from the first image signal and a second image signal and output the selected image in the intermediate state. |
| US09661078B1 |
Federated namespace management
Described are techniques for managing a federated namespace of a data storage system federation. A node identifier is assigned to a node. The node identifier uniquely identifies the node in the data storage system federation and is included in a federated node identifier namespace. A portion of a federated target port identifier namespace may be associated with the node identifier. The portion may include target port identifiers reserved from the federated target port identifier namespace for the node. Data storage management information for the data storage system federation may be updated to indicate that the node identifier is allocated from the federated node identifier namespace and that the portion of the federated target port identifier namespace is assigned to the node identifier. |
| US09661075B2 |
Defragmenting slices in dispersed storage network memory
A method begins by a dispersed storage (DS) processing module receiving access requests, processing data set requests and issuing access responses. The method continues by monitoring slice access requests to generate access records by either storing time stamped access records indicating identities of slices requested by a timestamp or by commonality of slice names. The method continues with determining a correlation of two or more slice access based on the access records when a correlation is greater than a correlation threshold and identifying two or more slices for co-location. The method continues when the two or more slices are not co-located by selecting one or more of the two or more slices for migration to a common memory device. |
| US09661073B2 |
Web browser synchronization with multiple simultaneous profiles
Computer-implemented methods for synchronizing a personalized web browsing experience on multiple devices by logging into a web browser on each device using a pre-existing profile are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request to open a first instance of a web browser, and receiving, in the first instance of the web browser, log in information for a pre-existing profile created independently of the web browser. The method also includes providing web browser personalization information for the pre-existing profile in response to the receipt of the log in information for the pre-existing profile. Systems, web browsers, and machine-readable media are also provided. |
| US09661069B2 |
Virtual world subgroup determination and segmentation for performance scalability
A system and method of decreasing server loads and, more particularly, to decrease server load by automatically determining subgroups based on object interactions and computational expenditures. The system includes a plurality of servers; a subgroup optimization module configured to segment a plurality of objects into optimal subgroups; and a server transfer module configured to apportion one or more of the optimal subgroups between the plurality of servers based on a load of each of the plurality of servers. The method includes determining a relationship amongst a plurality of objects; segmenting the objects into optimized subgroups based on the relationships; and apportioning the optimized subgroups amongst a plurality of servers based on server load. |
| US09661067B2 |
Systems and methods for facilitating dialogue mining
The disclosure is related to mining of text to derive information from the text that is useful for a variety of purposes. The text mining process can be implemented in a service oriented industry such as a call center, where a customer and an agent engage in a dialog, e.g., to discuss product/service related issues. The messages in dialogues between the customers and the agents are tagged with features that describe an aspect of the conversation. The text mining process can mine various dialogues and identify a set of features and messages based on prediction algorithms. The identified set of features and messages can be used to infer an intent of a particular customer for contacting the agent, and to generate a recommendation based on the determined intent. |
| US09661065B2 |
Determination of data object exposure in cloud computing environments
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media for indicating data object exposure in a cloud computing environment. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving information about a data object from the cloud computing environment. The method further provides analyzing the information to determine a plurality of exposure characteristics for the data object. The method further includes determining an indication of exposure of the data object based on the plurality of exposure characteristics. |
| US09661064B2 |
Systems and methods for deploying legacy software in the cloud
A system, method, apparatus and computer program product is described to provide a plurality of connectors, the connectors configured to support one or more applications in at least one configuration selected from a group of configurations including: i) a non-tenant, and non-tenant aware, application, ii) a non-tenant, but tenant aware, application, iii) a many tenant application, iv) a multi-tenant application, and v) a native multi-tenant application. Also provided are one or more application programming interfaces (APIs) to the connectors, the one or more APIs providing a substantially uniform interface to applications supported by the connectors. In one embodiment, a governance layer provides the APIs, and the governance layer communicates with the connectors, so that an application's tenancy support is obfuscated. |
| US09661058B2 |
Grouping of network devices
The present disclosure relates to granting of network access to a new network device. Specifically, various techniques and systems are provided for connecting a new network device to a network and limiting access of the network device while authenticating the new network device. More specifically, exemplary embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems for receiving information associated with one or more capabilities of the network devices on the network, analyzing the information associated with the one or more capabilities of the network devices on the network, wherein analyzing includes determining one or more capabilities common to the network devices, and generating a grouping of network devices, wherein the grouping includes network devices that share a common capability. |
| US09661054B2 |
Systems and methods to configure applications
At least one server receives at least one signal representing a request for an initiation of the server for the installation and configuration of an application. The server connects with client(s) after receiving the signal and transmits at least one display image to the client such that the client can render the display image via a web interface, wherein the display image provides information regarding the server. The server receives an application installer, wherein the client is can use the web interface to facilitate transmission of the application installer. The server installs and configures the application based on at least one input received from the client, wherein the client is enabled to use the web interface to facilitate transmitting the input to the server. The server generates an image based on the application configuration and transmits the image to a data management system for storage until deployment. |
| US09661053B2 |
Generating a plurality of streams
A device can include a stream builder configured to encode media data at a plurality of different coding rates and to generate a plurality of streams encapsulating the encoded media data. Each of the plurality of streams can have an associated protection level that corresponds to an ability of packet reconstruction and a bandwidth cost. The system can also include a stream replicator configured to transmit each of the plurality of streams to a content receiver via N number of networks. The system can further include an adapter configured to control the coding rate and the protection level of each of the plurality of streams based on a feedback signal transmitted from the content receiver. The feedback signal can characterize a packet loss rate of each of the plurality of streams. |
| US09661049B2 |
Systems and methods of providing interspersed manifest file specifications for adaptive streaming video
Techniques for serving a manifest file of an adaptive streaming video include receiving a request for the manifest file from a user device. The video is encoded at different reference bitrates and each encoded reference bitrate is divided into segments to generate video segment files. The manifest file includes an ordered list of universal resource locators (URLs) that reference a set of video segment files encoded at a particular reference bitrate. A source manifest file that indicates the set of video segment files is identified based on the request. An issued manifest file that includes a first URL and a second URL is generated based on the source manifest file. The first URL references a first domain and the second URL references a second domain that is different from the first domain. The issued manifest file is transmitted to the user device as a response to the request. |
| US09661046B2 |
Devices and methods supporting content delivery with adaptation services
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 adaptation services. |
| US09661044B2 |
Systems and methods for delivery of localized media assets
Systems and methods for delivery of localized media assets to a content playback device are disclosed. A file server stores a base file and localized file associated with a localized media content. The base file and localized file each include one or more fragments. A web server delivers base file fragments and localized file fragments from the file server to the content playback device. Playback logic contained in one or more playlists determines an order of streaming each of the plurality of base file fragments and each of the plurality of localized file fragments for playback of the localized media content. |
| US09661035B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing call flow information to terminal devices
Methods and apparatus for providing call flow information to devices associated with call flow destinations are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for providing call flow information to a terminal device comprises receiving a communication specifying an initial destination from a calling party, and at least one of assigning the received communication to a terminal device associated with the initial destination and an alternate destination, forwarding the received communication from a terminal device associated with the initial destination to a terminal device associated with the alternate destination, or re-assigning the received communication to a terminal device associated with the alternate destination rather than with the initial destination responsive to a call set up failure. A call flow indicator is generated and transmitted to the terminal device associated with the alternate destination, the call flow indicator including an identifier of the initial destination and an identifier of the alternate destination. |
| US09661033B2 |
Identifying intended communication partners in electronic communications
An apparatus, computer program product, and method for assisting communication with an intended communication partner. The apparatus may include a user interface and at least one computer processor. The computer processor initiates a communication session with a first contact. The processor identifies at least one second contact that has a potential to be confused with the first contact and highlights at least one difference between the first contact and the second contact in the user interface. |
| US09661031B1 |
Method and apparatus to establish communication for layer 2 switched packets with network address translation (NAT)
Methods and systems according to one or more embodiments establish communication across separate IP domains that are on the same layer 2 bridged domain. In an embodiment, a method includes receiving a configuration of a first IP address of a first node on a first side of a switch and a second IP address of a second node on a second side of the switch, wherein the first and second IP addresses are of different domains and are to be translated in each direction with respect to the switch, wherein the switch further comprises an integrated block adapted to do translation at line rate. Based on the configuration, the method also includes modifying, by the switch, packets of an applicable protocol in each direction so that the first and second IP addresses are changed for each domain such that either side of the switch acts as if an opposite side is on the same domain so that layer 2 communication is established. |
| US09661030B2 |
Building and switching IP multimedia sessions
Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and systems of building an IP multimedia session without the use of a central server and switching IP multimedia session among devices. The method of building an IP multimedia session includes receiving a registering request from a plurality of IP multimedia session participant devices, electing a service device from the plurality of participant devices, and building IP multimedia session among the plurality of participant devices by using the elected service device. |
| US09661029B2 |
Wireless peer-to-peer network topology
A method and apparatus for generating a topology for wireless peer-to-peer (P2P) networks. A network architecture comprises a traffic optimization service including a traffic optimization server and an adaptor to effect bi-directional translation of a request-response protocol of the traffic optimization service and a signaling protocol of a multimedia network. The traffic optimization server stores information related to wireless communication systems comprising user/location id information including cache proxies, media gateways, and network peers of multiple access networks and cost metric information including maximum bit rate, guaranteed bit rate, storage capacity, CPU capabilities, number of clients serving, battery capabilities, reliability of path, and supported video/audio codec. |
| US09661021B2 |
System and method for anti-phishing authentication
A method and system for providing security against phishing attacks. The method can include receiving a login ID from a client, and providing an encrypted commitment to the client. The method can also include receiving a one-time password (OTP) from the client, and validating the OTP. The method can also include sending a commitment key, to be authenticated by the client, receiving a static password from the client and authenticating the client. Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system for providing security against phishing attacks. The system can include one or more servers configured to receive a login ID from a client, and provide an encrypted commitment to the client. The processors can be configured to receive a one-time password (OTP) from the client, validate the OTP, send a commitment key, to be authenticated by the client, receive a static password from the client and authenticate the client. |
| US09661020B2 |
Mitigating a denial-of-service attack in a cloud-based proxy service
A proxy server in a cloud-based proxy service receives a message that indicates that a domain, whose traffic passes through the proxy server, may be under a denial-of-service (DoS) attack. The proxy server enables a rule for the domain that specifies that future requests for resources at that domain are subject to at least initially passing a set of one or more challenges. In response to receiving a request for a resource of that domain from a visitor, the proxy server presents the set of challenges that, if not passed, are an indication that that the visitor is part of the DoS attack. If the set of challenges are passed, the request may be processed. If the set of challenges are not passed, the request may be dropped. |
| US09661015B2 |
Randomizing countermeasures for fault attacks
A device may include countermeasure circuitry that provides a countermeasure check that protects device logic. The device may also include enforcement circuitry that non-deterministically enforces the countermeasure check on the device logic so that the device logic is not always protected by a countermeasure action within the countermeasure check. The device may non-deterministically enforce the countermeasure check according to an enforcement rate, and the device may adjust the enforcement rate depending on a priority of the device logic or device logic portion protected by a particular countermeasure check. |
| US09661014B2 |
Leveraging persistent identities in website testing
A system and method for dynamically scanning one or more features on a Website. The system allows detecting of stored scripting errors, where an attack or injection occurs on a page or feature that results in executing malicious code by another page or feature. The system uses stored test identities and allows testing reuse. |
| US09661013B2 |
Manipulating API requests to indicate source computer application trustworthiness
Methods of operating an application programming interface (API) request risk assessment system include receiving an API request from a source computer application that is directed to a destination computer application. A risk assessment score is generated based on a characteristic of the API request. The risk assessment score indicates a level of trustworthiness of the source computer application. Deliverability of the API request to the destination computer application is controlled based on the risk assessment score. Related methods of operating a source computer and related operations by API request risk assessment systems and source computers are disclosed. |
| US09661010B2 |
Security log mining devices, methods, and systems
Devices, methods, and systems for security log mining are described herein. One method includes combining, using a data fusion unit of an access control system, features of structured and non-structured data associated with system access events for a number of users into a combined data set, generating, using an anomaly detection engine of the access control system, a model of behavior for the number of users based on the combined data set, and comparing, using the anomaly detection engine of the access control system, real time behavior for the number of users to the model for the number of users to determine whether the real time behavior for the number of users is anomalous behavior for the number of users. |
| US09661007B2 |
Network interface devices with remote storage control
Network interface devices with remote storage control. In some embodiments, a network interface device may include receiver circuitry and remote storage device control circuitry. The remote storage device control circuitry may be coupled to the receiver circuitry and may share a physical support with the receiver circuitry. The remote storage device control circuitry may be configured to control writing of data from the receiver circuitry to a remote storage device that does not share a physical support with the remote storage device control circuitry. |
| US09661000B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication system, method of controlling communication apparatus, and storage medium
A communication apparatus comprises an obtainment unit configured to obtain authentication information from each of a first other communication apparatus and a second other communication apparatus; an authentication unit configured to, based on the authentication information obtained by the obtainment unit, perform authentication processing; and a provision unit configured to provide, based on a result of the authentication processing, information of a third other communication apparatus associated with the first other communication apparatus to a fourth other communication apparatus associated with the second other communication apparatus. |
| US09660996B2 |
Point-of-cyber-access cyber system
The system and system components of the present disclosure may be configured to provide individuals with both a safe and a secure cyber environment. Within this safe and secure cyber environment, each individual and each cyber device may be properly identified for all cyber interactions with others, and for all cyber interactions with the cyber devices of others. The system may also be configured to provide individuals with privacy for the individual's private cyber activities and cyber assets. Furthermore, the system may be configured to provide for environment-wide, interoperable use of any cyber device, cyber programming, and cyber content. |
| US09660995B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for combating device theft with user notarization
The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for combating mobile device theft with user notarization. One method includes providing a supplicant video notarization system application executable on a supplicant device for initiating an interactive video call between a supplicant and a notary as a condition to the supplicant accessing a protected electronic resource. The method further includes providing a notary video notarization system application executable on a notary device through which the notary receives the interactive video call and interacts with the supplicant via the interactive video call to confirm the identity of the supplicant and that video of the supplicant provided in the call is live. |
| US09660992B1 |
User-ID information propagation among appliances
Enforcing a policy is described. A mapping between an IP address of a device and a user identity is identified at a first appliance, at least in part by correlating event information. The mapping is transmitted to a second appliance. A policy is applied by the second appliance to the device based at least in part on the user identity. |
| US09660988B2 |
Identifying protected media files
A user can have media files associated with a user account in a shared resource environment, enabling the user to access those files from multiple devices and locations. Instead of uploading each file, a process can scan the files to determine corresponding copies already stored to the shared resource environment, which can be associated with the user account without uploading another copy. In cases where encryption or other protection prevents the content of a file from being verified, a fingerprint of unencrypted records of the file can be generated and compared against an index of fingerprints for previously encountered files. If the fingerprint matches information stored for a media file, and the fingerprint meets at least one validity criterion, a copy of the media file can be associated with the user account even though the user's copy cannot be read, or potentially even played, by a component of the environment. |
| US09660984B2 |
Method of automatically unlocking an electronic device via a wearable device
Methods and systems for automatically unlocking an electronic device via a wearable device may include a first device authenticating a user of a wearable device in response to the user closing a clasp of the wearable device and entering a personal authentication password on the first device; a second device requesting a rolling one-time password (OTP) via a wireless connection to the wearable device in response to the second device detecting that the wearable device is within a predefined physical range, and a user pressing an input key; unlocking the second device in response to the second device receiving the OTP from the wearable device; monitoring a status of the clasp, wherein the status comprises a closed or an open state; and deleting OTP or password key information from the wearable device in response to the processor of the wearable device detecting that the clasp is in an open state. |
| US09660983B2 |
Counter sets for copies of one time password tokens
One time password (OTP) technology enables a plurality of OTP software token instances (or copies) to be used simultaneously on a plurality of computing devices of a user. OTP software instances may be counter based. An authentication server comprising authentication software assigns a set of counters for each OTP software instance. An OTP software instance may be provided along with the assigned set of counters to each computing device. A range of counters may be partitioned by the authentication server into mutually exclusive sets of counters. An OTP software instance executed by a computing device uses one of the counters in the assigned set of counters to provide an OTP. The authentication server attempts authentication by using each counter in the assigned set of counters to provide a calculated OTP that is compared to the received OTP. The authentication server verifies authenticity when a calculated OTP matches a received OTP. |
| US09660980B1 |
Methods and systems of authenticating a password
A method of creating a password for a user account may include receiving, by a computing device, one or more authentication rules that each correspond to a password. Each authentication rule may describe a feature a password is to possess. The method may include receiving, by the computing device, a content and a corresponding action rule for the password, where the action rule specifies an action that is be performed if the password includes the received content, associating the authentication rules, the content, and the action rule with one or more credentials of the user for the user account, and storing the password type, the authentication rules, the content, and the action rule in a database. |
| US09660979B2 |
Information processing system, information processing apparatus, and method
An information processing system and an information processing apparatus and method for transmitting image data from a portable terminal apparatus, to a different apparatus through a network so that the image data may be managed by the different apparatus. A camcorder image station has a folder for each user of a camcorder and has, in each of the folders, 10 sub folders of album 1 to album 10 to each of which a name is applied in advance. The user of the camcorder transmits images picked up by the user to the camcorder image station so that the images are registered into a predetermined album. The camcorder has an album list of 10 albums of album 1 to album 10 in advance and selects an album of one of the names from within the list to designate an album into which image data should be uploaded. |
| US09660978B1 |
Using a digital certificate with multiple cryptosystems
In a general aspect, a digital certificate can be used with multiple cryptography systems (“cryptosystems”). In some cases, the digital certificate includes a public key field, which contains a first public key of an entity. The first public key of the entity is associated with a first cryptosystem. The digital certificate includes a signature value field, which contains a first digital signature of a certificate authority. The first digital signature is associated with the first cryptosystem. The digital certificate includes an extension. The extension contains a second public key of the entity, a second digital signature of the certificate authority or both. The second public key is associated with a second cryptosystem, and the second digital signature is associated with the second cryptosystem. |
| US09660973B2 |
Security migration in a business intelligence environment
In various implementations, local identifiers associated with users may be utilized to enable access one or more functions in a Business Intelligence (BI) Environment. A mapping may be generated to associate local identifiers and users. The mapping may be utilized to enable access in the BI environment by retrieving the local identifier from a mapping and enabling access in the BI environment based on the local identifier. In various implementations, a user may access the system as another user. |
| US09660971B1 |
Generating event recommendations based upon media consumption
Disclosed are various embodiments for generating event recommendations. Embodiments of the disclosure obtain media consumption events corresponding to media consumption in a media player user interface. A pattern of media consumption for the user is identified. An artist recommendation is generated based upon the media consumption. An event recommendation is generated corresponding to the artist. |
| US09660969B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing key management for data encryption for cloud-based big data environments
An approach is provided for key management for data encryption. A key management platform receives a request from at least one client for one or more private keys for decrypting one or more datasets. The one or more private keys are encrypted in at least one key repository associated with at least one server. The key management platform also causes, at least in part, an authentication of the request using one or more secure credentials of the at least one client, the at least one server, or a combination thereof. The key management platform further causes, at least in part, an authorization of the at least one client to determine whether the at least one client is authorized to access the one or more private keys based on the authentication. The key management platform further causes, at least in part, a decryption of the one or more private keys using at least one master key based on the authorization. |
| US09660968B2 |
Methods and apparatus for conveying a nonce via a human body communication conduit
In a method for enabling devices to communicate securely, a first device dynamically generates a human body nonce (HBN) and then sends that HBN to a second device via a human body communication conduit (HBCC). After sending the HBN from the first device to the second device, the first device uses the HBN to establish security for an over-the-air (OTA) communication session between the first device and the second device. For instance, the first device may derive a key, based at least in part on the HBN, and the first device may use the key to encrypt communications to be sent OTA between the first device and the second device. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09660966B1 |
Multilevel secure communication systems with encryption based separation
Multilevel secure communication systems and methods for providing multilevel security to such communication systems are disclosed. More specifically, communication systems and methods configured in accordance with the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be utilized to provide support for N levels of secure communications using processors (may also be referred to as nodes) that may only have (N−M) levels of security separation (where N and M are integers and M is strictly less than N). In other words, processors that have less than N levels of security separation may be configured to form a communication system that is capable of supporting N levels of secure communication. |
| US09660964B2 |
Communications router
Communications router for anonymously routing messages between a source communication device (200) and respondent communication devices (213,214,215,2116,217,218). A source storage means (203) is provided for storing the communication identifiers for the source communication device (200) and a predetermined subject identifier for designating messages associated therewith. A respondent storage means (203) is provided for storing the communication identifiers for each respondent communication device (213,214,215,2116,217,218), along with a unique tag identifier assigned thereto. A first message handler (202,204,205,206) selects received messages from the respondent communication devices (213,214,215,2116,217,218), attaches the appropriate tag identifier, and transmits the message to the source communication device (200). A second message handler (202,201) receives messages from the source communication device (200) and transmits them to the appropriate respondent communication devices (213,214,215,2116,217,218) based on the predetermined subject identifier and the tag identifier contained in the message. |
| US09660959B2 |
Network traffic analysis to enhance rule-based network security
A method of interpreting a rule and a rule-interpreting apparatus for rule-based security apparatus, and an apparatus implementing the method. The method includes the following steps: designating a suspicious timeslot; if any packet does not present in the designated timeslot, capturing current incoming packets or capturing other incoming packets in the designated timeslot next time; automatically associating the packets in the designated timeslot to form at least one traffic flow corresponding to a connection or call; analyzing the at least one traffic flow to select at least one suspicious target traffic flow; and outputting the at least one selected suspicious target flow. |
| US09660955B1 |
Group signaling using synthetic media access control addresses
Methods, systems and computer program products to communicate using a synthetic Media Access Control (synMAC) addresses are provided. The method includes the step of receiving and storing a first message assigning a first synMAC address. The first synMAC address is distinct from a unique stored Media Access Control (MAC) address. A second message including a second synMAC address is received. The first synMAC address is compared to the stored second synMAC address. The second message is accepted and processed if the first synMAC address is equal to the second synMAC address. In another example, a first device assigns a common synthetic Media Access Control (synMAC) address to multiple devices. The first device then broadcasts a message including the common synMAC address to each of the devices. |
| US09660953B2 |
System for providing continuous viewable indicia for reminders and for inducing viewer actions
A system for providing patients with dementia or other cognitive impairment with instructions and reminders of tasks to enable them to live with minimum third party oversight. The system provides for a continuous display of viewable indicia of at least one of text or images to provide the patient messages. The messages may be generated by a remote third party or software running on a computer. Employing the system, a remote user such as the child of a patient can provide instruction and reminders to the patient allowing them to live with minimal supervision. |
| US09660949B2 |
Distributed geomessaging architecture
Methods and systems for providing geomessaging clients mobility between different geomessaging servers are discussed with relation to the interaction of nodes in either an IMS or a non-IMS based network. |
| US09660938B2 |
Two-stage port-channel resolution in a multistage fabric switch
In some embodiments, a data packet may be received at a leaf switch. A port-channel associated with a destination port for the data packet may be identified, and the data packet may be transmitted to the destination port via the identified port-channel. |
| US09660937B2 |
Techniques for simplifying stacking trunk creation and management
Techniques for simplifying stacking trunk creation and management are provided. In one embodiment, a switch in a stacking system can receive first and second control packets from one or more other switches in the stacking system, where the first and second control packets are received on first and second stacking ports of the switch respectively. The switch can then determine, based on the first and second control packets, whether the first and second stacking ports can be configured as a single stacking trunk. |
| US09660933B2 |
Allocating and accessing hosting server resources via continuous resource availability updates
Systems and methods are provided for dynamically allocating and accessing hosting server resources to users of hosting services. The system may include one or more servers that provide multiple levels of access to the hosting server resources, and an administration server configured with one or more migration paths that allow the user to migrate the account between two levels while the account remains accessible to all entities authorized to access the account. The hosting server resources may be divided according to virtual partitions that are resizable by the administration server. The system may include a migration interface stored on and accessible to the user from the administration server. The migration interface provides the user with options to migrate the account between the levels of access. The system may include an application programming interface that provides access to the administration server for changing the account's level of access. |
| US09660932B2 |
Scheduling for flows in a point-to-multipoint communications network
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes allocating by a scheduler a transmission opportunity to each of one or more flows listed in a tracking table associated with the a scheduler; and, for each of the one or more flows, sending a bandwidth allocation message to a network element associated with the flow in accordance with a schedule maintained by the scheduler, wherein the bandwidth allocation request is unsolicited by the network element; and determining whether the flow optimized use of the transmission opportunity in accordance with an allocation policy implemented by the scheduler. The method further includes adjusting the schedule in accordance with results of the determining for each of the one or more flows. In certain embodiments, the allocating may comprise allocating an equal transmission opportunity to each of the one or more flows. |
| US09660927B2 |
Preemptive packet transmission
Disclosed herein is technology to reduce latency of frames through a network device supporting various priorities. In an implementation, a method comprises configuring one or more priorities with a preemptive right over other one or more of said plurality of priorities; receiving frames in a sequence, each of the frames having a frame priority comprising of one of said plurality of priorities; queuing the received frames in a predetermined order based on a frame arrival time and the frame priority; transmitting a current frame based on a current frame priority and current frame arrival time; stopping transmission of the current frame when a later frame in the sequence is received that has a later frame priority with preemptive right over the current frame priority; transmitting an invalid frame check sequence; transmitting the later frame; and restarting the transmission of the current frame after transmitting the later frame. |
| US09660926B2 |
Multi-stream scheduling and requests
An embodiment of a method of requesting a plurality of media streams can include, as performed by a computing device, receiving a control input to control a playback function of at least one of the plurality of media streams, determining a download bandwidth between the computing device and a media source on a network, classifying the at least one of the plurality of media streams based on the control input and total download bandwidth, and sending a plurality of requests for the plurality media streams over a single connection to the media source, wherein at least one of an order or a content of the requests is based on the classification. The sending of the media stream requests can utilize at least one of a server-side protocol for multiplexing media streams over a single connection or one or more of HTTP pipelining or HTTP range requests over a single connection. |
| US09660923B2 |
Schedule and location responsive agreement compliance controlled information throttle
Controls electronic devices and/or throttles electronic devices and/or information for electronic devices based on agreements or events and/or based on schedule, location, time, or any combination thereof. An agreement includes condition(s) to satisfy the agreement, such as task(s) or activities to be performed by an agreement performer, for example based on a schedule and/or location, at a particular time, or time period, or, or events that may be detected, and actions performed to enforce or assert the agreement. Actions may include controlling the electronic device and/or at least partially enabling/disabling or otherwise limiting, reducing or increasing the amount or type of information allowed with respect to any or all electronic devices associated with the agreement performer. Embodiments may reduce or block information from particular sources during a scheduled school class to limit web surfing for information related to that class based on a schedule and/or location of the electronic device. |
| US09660921B2 |
Robust content-based solution for dynamically optimizing multi-user wireless multimedia transmission
A method for congestion control in a communications network supporting a plurality of streaming video traffics, said method comprising a learning step to associate appropriate congestion control policies, respectively, with estimated video categories from a plurality of training streaming video traffics; an estimating step of the video category of an ongoing streaming video traffic; an application step of the congestion control policy associated with the estimated video category of the ongoing streaming video traffic to the said ongoing streaming video traffic. |
| US09660909B2 |
Network service header metadata for load balancing
A method for load balancing based on metadata in a network service header. The method includes receiving a packet or frame of a traffic flow, wherein the packet or frame has a payload and the network service header including metadata and service path information for the traffic flow identifying the service path, and the metadata comprises classification information of the packet or frame, extracting, by a service header processor of the load balancer, the classification information of the metadata from the packet or frame, and applying, by a load balancing function of the load balancer, a load balancing policy on the packet or frame based on the classification information of the metadata. |
| US09660906B2 |
Method for acquiring packet, device and recording medium
A method for acquiring a packet of a monitoring target, the method includes, forming, by a control unit, a mirror path for arriving a mirror packet, of which a origin or a destination of a transmission is a virtual machine for the monitoring target, at a monitoring device which monitors the mirror packet through one or more relay devices, detecting, by the control unit, an occupation when a packet except the packet, of which the origin or the destination of a transmission is the virtual machine for the monitoring target, does not pass based on history information of the packet which passes the relay device, accumulating, by the monitoring device, the mirror packet which passes the relay device, and extracting, by the monitoring device, the mirror packet which arrived at in the occupation as the packet for the monitoring target. |
| US09660900B2 |
Architected data transfer
Techniques for architected data transfer are described. A controller maintains a network information database representing overarching knowledge of the network, such as the underlying communication infrastructure, resource consumption limits, and segment locations. The controller uses the information stored in the network information database to direct transmitters to transfer data segments to receivers in a manner that ensures relatively predictable resource consumption. In one approach, the controller receives a request to transfer data to a receiver. The controller, based on the information contained in the network information database, computes an optimal set of transmitters to participate in the transfer. The controller sends each transmitter in the optimal set an instruction assigning that transmitter to transfer one or more segments of the data to the receiver. Each transmitter, upon receiving the instructions, sends their respectively assigned data segments to the receiver. |
| US09660895B1 |
Geolocation routing and simulation of network conditions
Methods and systems for geolocation routing and simulation of network conditions are disclosed. A network traffic profile is determined for a client device. A network access server selects an endpoint server based on the location of the selected endpoint server. The network access server routes traffic from the client device to an external server through the selected endpoint server. The network traffic from the client device to the external server appears to originate from a network address of the selected endpoint server. Network conditions for the network traffic are simulated based on the network traffic profile. |
| US09660891B2 |
Methods and systems for computer monitoring
Methods and systems for deriving metrics for service and/or computer (e.g., server) utilization and stability from instrumentation of applications showing Poisson characteristics are disclosed. Such methods and systems may be further applied to automatically act upon the conditions indicated by the derived metrics, for example, to provision additional virtual server resource(s) in a cloud-based system. |
| US09660890B2 |
Service provider optimization of content management
A system and method for monitoring the performance associated with fulfilling resource requests and determining optimizations for improving such performance are provided. A processing device obtains and processes performance metric information associated with processing a request for an original resource and any embedded resource. The processing device uses the processed performance metric information to determine a set of service providers for alternatively hosting, processing, and/or transmitting at least a portion of the original resource and/or any embedded resources. In some embodiments, in making such a determination, the processing device assesses performance metric information collected and associated with subsequent resource requests for the original resource and any embedded resources using each of a variety of alternative set(s) of service providers. Aspects of systems and methods for generating recommendations associated with monitoring the operation and performance of service providers with respect to specific resource requests are also provided. |
| US09660885B2 |
Method and system for obtaining availability status for multiple SIP users
Systems and methods for obtaining availability status in respect of a plurality of user identifiers are provided. For each user identifier, a respective SIP cluster identifier is obtained. The user identifiers are then grouped according to SIP cluster identifier, each such group of user identifiers containing at least one user identifier for which the same SIP cluster identifier was obtained. For each SIP cluster identifier for which there is a group of user identifiers, a request is sent for availability status information in a single message to a SIP cluster associated with the SIP cluster identifier, the request containing the user identifiers of the group of user identifiers. A response to each single message is received in a single message containing availability status information for the user identifiers belonging to the group of user identifiers. |
| US09660884B2 |
Providing a monitoring service in a cloud-based computing environment
Technologies are described herein for providing a monitoring service in a cloud-based computing environment. A request is received from a user to subscribe to the monitoring service. The monitor workflow may correspond to the monitoring service. A first call to a finder application is executed over a communications network to retrieve data points according to the monitor workflow. A second call to an analyzer application is executed over the communications network to identify a relevant data point in the data points. A third call to a notifier application is executed over the communications network to notify the user of the relevant data point. |
| US09660876B2 |
Collector mechanisms in a content delivery network
A computer-implemented method operable in a content delivery service (CDN), includes, by a collector system: receiving multiple event streams of event data, said multiple event streams comprising event data from a plurality of CD services in said CDN, each event of said event streams comprising: (i) a timestamp for said event, (ii) information relating to said event; and producing state data relating to information represented in said event data of said multiple event streams while being able to asynchronously respond to queries relating to said state data. |
| US09660873B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing remote access service
A remote access service is provided by receiving remote access transport agent (RATA) capability information of a home remote access server (RAS) and a remote RAS from the home RAS and the remote RAS, respectively, generating a RATA profile based on the RATA capability information, supported by the home RAS and the remote RAS, and transmitting the generated RATA profile to the home RAS and the remote RAS, respectively. |
| US09660867B2 |
Communication management program and client apparatus
A client apparatus according to an embodiment includes a communication mode setup device, a communication pattern determination device, and a communication execution device. The communication mode setup device sets up an operation mode for executing the communication process in accordance with the individual process or a test mode for executing the substitute process. The communication pattern determination device determines a predetermined communication pattern name representative of a local pattern if the test mode is set up. The communication execution device acquires from the communication pattern management device communication component names and an order associated with the determined communication pattern name, and executes communication components in order. |
| US09660865B2 |
System and method for incremental implementation of new service capabilities
A system for gradually implementing network services to end users includes substantially redundant first and second control networks, connectable to the end users through a routable communications network. The first control network provides a first service capability to all the end users. The second control network provides a second service capability to a first portion of the end users, the second service capability replacing the first service capability of the first portion of the end users. The second control network subsequently provides the second service capability to a second portion of the end users, while continuing to provide the second service capability to the first portion, the second service capability replacing the first service capability of the second portion of the end users. The second service capability provided to the second portion of the end users may include revisions based on feedback from the first portion of end users. |
| US09660864B2 |
Staged port initiation of inter switch links
A fabric having switches interconnected with multiple parallel interswitch links can be configured using staged port bring up. Only one of the multiple parallel interswitch links between any two switches and the corresponding switch ports can be selected and initialized. The fabric can be configured with the selected ISLs. Once the fabric has stabilized, unselected ISLs and the corresponding switch ports can be incrementally initialized. The number of unselected ISLs to be initialized can be determined based on the available computing resources of the fabric switches. |
| US09660863B2 |
Network connecting method and electronic device
A first electronic device transmits first configuration information of the first electronic device collected by a tamper-resistant chip mounted thereon and approved by a third-party device to a second electronic device over a short-distance network. The second electronic device transmits second configuration information of the second electronic device collected by a tamper-resistant chip mounted thereon and approved by the third-party device to the first electronic device over the short-distance network. The first electronic device transmits the first configuration information and the second configuration information to the second electronic device over a network. The second electronic device controls connection between the first electronic device and the second electronic device over the network based on the first configuration information and the second configuration information received from the first electronic device. |
| US09660860B1 |
Path computation delay timer in multi-protocol label switched networks
In general, techniques are described for a path computation delay timer for multi-protocol label switched networks. As an example, an ingress network device configured to act as an ingress for a label switched path (LSP) may perform the techniques. The ingress network device comprises an interface and a processor. The interface may receive a message indicating an error along the LSP. The processor may delay an operation performed to configure a replacement LSP to be used in place of the LSP in order to provide time during which a cause of the error along the LSP is able to be determined. When the cause of the error is determined to be a failure of a network device supporting operation of the LSP, the processor may further perform the operation to configure the replacement LSP with the ingress network device such that the replacement LSP avoids the failed network device. |
| US09660856B2 |
Distortion compensation circuit
A method and system of compensating for distortion in a baseband in-phase (I) and a corresponding baseband quadrature (Q) signal. The circuit includes an in-phase I attenuator configured to attenuate the baseband in-phase I signal and an in-phase Q attenuator configured to attenuate the baseband Q signal. There are one or more circuits that are configured to receive the attenuated in-phase I signal and the attenuated baseband Q signal. Each circuit performs a different calculation based on predetermined equations configured to determine the IM2, HD2@0°, HD2@90°, IM3@0°, IM3@90°, HD3@0°, and HD3@90°. The distortion compensation circuit is configured to use the result of at least one of the calculation circuits to generate I and Q distortion compensation signals. |
| US09660854B2 |
Multi-user mimo receiver and method for receiving data units over a wideband channel
A multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) receiver includes circuitry to receive a MIMO transmission through a plurality of antennas over a channel comprising two or more 20 MHz portions of bandwidth. The MIMO transmission comprises a plurality of streams, each transmitted over a corresponding spatial channel and configured for reception by multiple user stations. The MIMO receiver also includes circuitry to simultaneously accumulate signal information within at least two or more of the 20 MHz portions of bandwidth. Each 20 MHz portion comprises a plurality of OFDM subcarriers. The MIMO receiver also includes circuitry to demodulate at least one of the steams using receive beamforming techniques. In this way, multi-user protocol data units can be received. |
| US09660852B2 |
Communication method and apparatus in a wireless communication system supporting multiple OFDM parameter sets
Communication methods and apparatuses in a wireless communication system are provided. Information relating to Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) parameter sets supported by a Base Station (BS), from among a plurality of OFDM parameter sets, is transmitted to at least one Mobile Station (MS), from the BS, using a default OFDM parameter set. The BS selects at least one OFDM parameter set for the at least one MS, from among the OFDM parameter sets supported by the BS, based on one of a channel state and a mobility of the at least one MS. The BS performs data communication with the at least one MS through the at least one selected OFDM parameter set. Each of the plurality of OFDM parameter sets comprises parameter values representing a Cyclic Prefix (CP) length, a subcarrier spacing, and at least one of an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) size and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) size. The default OFDM parameter set is determined based on subcarrier spacings of the plurality of OFDM parameter sets. |
| US09660847B2 |
Equalized multi-signaling mode driver
A transmit circuit can be configured to output two-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-2) or four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4). In the PAM-2 mode, pre-tap feed-forward equalization (FFE) and post-tap FFE can be applied to the PAM-2 signal by pre-taps and post-taps, respectively. In the PAM-4 mode, at least one post-tap is repurposed to generate, along with the main tap, the main PAM-4 signaling levels. At least one PAM-2 FFE tap is repurposed to apply FFE in the PAM-4 mode. |
| US09660845B2 |
System and method for state reduction in trellis equalizers using bounded state enumeration
Embodiment reduced-state trellis equalization techniques compute accumulated path metrics (APMs) for a subset of candidate states for at least some stages in the trellis based on a neighborhood map of an ML state. This reduces the number of APMs that are computed and stored during trellis equalization. Other embodiments select a subset of candidate states for which APMs are transported to the next stage of the trellis based on the neighborhood map. This eliminates the need to sort the remaining APMs during reduced state trellis equalization. The neighborhood map identifies a subset of the highest probability neighbors for an ML state. The subset of candidate states identified as highest probability neighbors may be saved in a look-up table. The look-up table may be generated offline and/or generated/updated dynamically during run-time operation. |
| US09660843B2 |
Apparatus for processing a serial data stream
A system includes a decision feedback equalizer (DFE). The DFE includes a first summing node, a first synchronization latch, a second synchronization latch, a first feedback latch, and a first feedback shift register. The first summing node is coupled to a data input of the DFE. The first synchronization latch receives data from the first summing node. The second synchronization latch and the first feedback latch receive data from the first synchronization latch. The first feedback shift register is coupled to an output of the second synchronization latch or the first feedback latch. The first feedback shift register includes sequentially coupled shift latches. A first of the shift latches data received from the second synchronization latch or the first feedback latch and provides data to the first summing node. First alternate ones of the shift latches are configured to provide feedback data to the first summing node. |
| US09660836B2 |
Network topology discovery
Embodiments relate to identifying a topology of a network based on information identifying adjacent devices from each of the devices in the network. In one embodiment, each device identifies one or more adjacent devices within one hop and stores information identifying the one or more adjacent devices. A requesting device aggregates information identifying one or more adjacent devices of each device and identifies the topology of the network based on the aggregated information. By each device storing and transmitting information identifying adjacent devices connected within one hop, amount of information stored in each device and bandwidth of information exchanged can be reduced. |
| US09660834B2 |
Bursting cloud resources to affect state change performance
Systems, methods, and computer program products to perform an operation, by, responsive to a request specifying to transition a state of a virtual machine in a cloud computing environment from a first state to a second state, allocating one or more system resources to the virtual machine during the transition from the first state to the second state, and, upon completion of the transition, releasing a portion of the allocated one or more system resources to a pool of available resources, so that the virtual machine is left with a remaining portion of the allocated one or more resources sufficient for operation during the second state. |
| US09660831B2 |
Method of packaging and displaying an E-mail
A method of packaging and displaying an email, comprising the steps of creating an email having at least a first independent digital object and a corresponding first tag, and at least a first dependent digital object associated with the first independent digital object through said first tag; processing the email for extraction of said first dependent digital object for matching with the associated first independent digital object, thereby forming a first processed content; and displaying the email such that the first independent digital object and the first dependent digital object of the first processed content are presented simultaneously. According to the present invention both the sender composing the message, having at least an independent digital object and at least an associated dependent object, and the recipient to whom the message is presented, are faced with a user-friendly interface. |
| US09660829B2 |
Secure VLANs
A VLAN is implemented with a logical hub and spoke topology that obviates local switching. Member devices are connected to a hub device such as a router via intermediate devices such as Layer 2 switches that support individual IP subnets within the VLAN. The Layer 2 switch does not allow bridging, so there is no IP subnet broadcast domain. Further, the Layer 2 switch implements only a single logical broadcast uplink port which is connected to the router. The Layer 2 switch also implements only point-to-point downlink ports, i.e., to individual member devices. Consequently, all traffic is forced to flow through the router, e.g., broadcast traffic, multicast traffic and traffic of unknown destination received by the Layer 2 switch from a member device is only flooded to the router, and the router performs intra-subnet routing in addition to routing between subnets and between VLANs. The router subjects all traffic to security measures and provide services including packet inspection, firewall, policing, metering, accounting, anti-virus, marking, filtering and encryption, and thereby reduce or eliminate the drawbacks associated with local switching. |
| US09660812B2 |
Providing independent verification of information in a public forum
A social networking site host includes, in a user's profile, information that has been attested to and verified by both the user and an independent verifier. The independent verifier is an accepted authority with direct knowledge of the information. Both the user and verifier attest to the information by digitally signing the information and including the digital signature with the information. The host or visitors to the social networking site can authenticate the information by using both digital signatures. By authenticating the information, visitors and users viewing information on the social networking site can assume that the information is trusted and accurate. |
| US09660810B2 |
Method and apparatus for providing secret delegation
A method for providing secret delegation may comprise receiving a credential secret applied to an algorithm associated with a distributed application in a trusted execution environment, causing delegation of the credential secret from one communication device to at least one other communication device, and modifying the credential secret prior to transfer of a modified version of the credential secret to the at least one other communication device in a manner that enables a generation of the credential secret to be determined. An apparatus and computer program product corresponding to the method are also provided. |
| US09660807B2 |
System and method for verifying changes to UEFI authenticated variables
A mechanism for certifying that an operating system-based application has authorization to change a UEFI authenticated variable held in the system firmware is discussed. Embodiments of the present invention receive with the system firmware a request from an operating system-based application to change a UEFI authenticated variable. The request includes an authentication descriptor header with a timestamp and pre-determined GUID. The request also includes a hash calculated using a password known to the firmware. The system firmware certifies that the caller has authorization to change an authenticated variable by first verifying the information in the header and then creating a new hash using the password. The new hash is compared to the received hash and must match in order for the system firmware to allow the alteration of the UEFI authenticated variable. In one embodiment, the password is the system firmware password. |
| US09660804B2 |
Methods and apparatus for generating keys in device-to-device communications
Methods and apparatus are provided for securing device-to-device communications. A method can comprise: at an access network apparatus, obtaining from a core network apparatus and storing a first key shared between a first user equipment and the core network apparatus for device-to-device communications of the first user equipment; receiving from a second user equipment, a request for generating a second key for a device-to-device communication between the first user equipment and the second user equipment; in response to the request, generating the second key based on the first key and security parameters; and sending the second key to the second user equipment. |
| US09660800B2 |
Fast data acquisition in digital communication
Method for data communication involves receiving with a radio receiver a data signal containing a plurality of data symbols. An analog to digital converter obtain a sample of the data signal at periodic intervals to define a sampling rate which is N times a symbol rate. Thereafter, at least one processing device allocates each sample obtained to a respective one of N sampled data streams in accordance with an allocation sequence, and repeats the allocation sequence after every N samples so that each of the N sampled data streams has a data stream symbol rate equal to the symbol rate. Thereafter, a plurality of data stream data sets defined by the N sampled data streams are validated. Once the validation is completed, a plurality of groups are determined, each comprised of two or more of the stream data sets which have been validated and are identical. |
| US09660792B2 |
Multi-carrier transmission
A multi-carrier transmission system configured to enable variable modulation order reception is contemplated. The system may be configured to facilitate delivery of high-speed data (HSD) over frequency division duplexing (FDD) and/or time division duplexing (TDD) infrastructures to a plurality of receiving devices. Signaling used to facilitate delivery of the HSD may be selectively and dynamically modulated according to performance capabilities of the receiving devices for a given transmission interval. |
| US09660782B2 |
Method and apparatus for transceiving downlink control information in a wireless access system
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transceiving downlink control information (DCI) in a wireless access system. More particularly, the method comprises: a step of mapping a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to a common search space (CSS) defined within a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) region in a frequency first mapping manner; and a step of transmitting DCI to a terminal through the mapped PDCCH. |
| US09660780B2 |
Method for feeding back channel state information in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
The present invention relates to a method for receiving a reference CSI configuration information and a following CSI configuration information which is configured to report a same RI (Rank Indicator) as the reference CSI configuration information, receiving a first CSI-RS (Channel State Information-Resource Signal) configuration information associated with the reference CSI configuration and a second CSI-RS configuration information associated with the following CSI configuration, number of CSI-RS antenna ports according to the second CSI-RS configuration information is same as number of CSI-RS antenna ports according to the first CSI-RS configuration information; and transmitting CSI determined based on at least one of the first CSI-RS configuration information and the second CSI-RS configuration information. |
| US09660778B2 |
System and method for allocating transmission resources
A method for wirelessly transmitting data and control information using a plurality of transmission layers includes determining a number of bits in user data codewords to be transmitted during a subframe and calculating a number of control vector symbols to allocate to control information during the subframe. The number of control vector symbols is calculated based on the number of bits in the user data codewords to be transmitted during the subframe and an estimate of the number of vector symbols onto which the user data codewords will be mapped. The estimate of the number of vector symbols depends on the number of control vector symbols to be allocated to control information. The control codewords may be mapped to the calculated number of control vector symbols and transmitting vector symbols carrying the user data codewords and the control codewords over the plurality of transmission layers during the subframe. |
| US09660772B2 |
Detecting and processing weak signals using an array of antennas
A method for detecting and processing signals may include receiving a weak radio frequency (RF) signal by an array of antennas. The method may also include digitally sampling the weak RF signal from each antenna of the array of antennas and storing the digital samples of the weak RF signal from each antenna. The method may additionally include detecting a presence of the weak RF signal. Detecting the presence of the weak RF signal may include determining a correlation between the weak RF signal received by each of the antennas of the array of antennas using the digital samples of the weak RF signal from each antenna. |
| US09660770B2 |
Framing scheme and method for digital communication overhead and latency reduction
A data communication framing scheme of a bit stream that is divided among a plurality of discrete physical frames, each physical frame is of a definite number of symbols in duration, each symbol is associated with at least one sub-carrier in a plurality of sub-carriers, the physical frame is partitioned in time into at least an uplink zone and a downlink zone, the data framing scheme comprising a logical frame having a logical frame start position that is offset by a rational number of said symbols from a reference symbol, said reference symbol is selected from said definite number of symbols, wherein said logical frame extends in time to coincide with at least part of the duration of said physical frame and at least part of the duration of another physical frame in said plurality of discrete physical frames. |
| US09660767B2 |
Communication control apparatus, communication control method, and computer-readable non-transitory recording medium
A communication control apparatus is provided for controlling recovery of data loss during data communication from a first communication device to a second communication device, which includes an obtaining section configured to obtain a temporal change in a communication load between the first communication device and the second communication device. The communication control apparatus also includes a change section configured to dynamically change a permitted time and an interval between transmissions on the basis of the temporal change in the communication load, the permitted time being a time that is permitted to be used by the second communication device for recovery of data loss and the interval between transmissions being an interval between transmissions of a retransmission request message. The communication control apparatus further includes a retransmission control section configured to control transmission of the retransmission request message in accordance with the interval between transmissions. |
| US09660762B2 |
System and method for transmitting optical signal over multiple channels
A method for transmitting optical signals over multiple channels is provided, the method including: coding tributaries of data to be transmitted; firstly rearranging the coded tributaries, thereby scrambling the data among the coded tributaries and outputting rearranged coded tributaries; modulating optical carriers with data from one of the coded tributaries, creating modulated optical signals; transmitting the modulated optical signals; spatially multiplexing the modulated optical signals into spatially multiplexed channels; converting the spatially multiplexed optical signals into individual optical signals; receiving the individual optical signals through the multiple channels; demodulating the individual optical signals into electrical signals; decoding the electrical signals into decoded tributaries; and secondly rearranging the decoded of tributaries to recover the tributaries of data before step, wherein, a number of tributaries of data is equal to or more than two and is less than or equal to a number of the multiple channels. |
| US09660761B2 |
System and method for monitoring a connection of an end-user device to a network
A method of monitoring the connection of a first end-user device to a network includes determining the amount of bandwidth present, tracking the amount of bandwidth in use by different classes of traffic, and tracking performance of the connection to detect when a threshold crossing has been reached. The method also includes transmitting a query to the first end-user device in response to the determined reaching of the threshold, the query requesting from a user of the first end-user device a communication action to perform based on the threshold being reached. The method further includes changing the communications session between the first end-user device and the network in accordance with the received communication action. |
| US09660759B2 |
Adaptive cyclic channel coding for orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) systems
A method and apparatus for an orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) communication system for communication in the presence of cyclostationary noise is provided. A receiver receives from a medium a channel measurement packet of a communication channel. The channel measurement packet has a measured transmission characteristic. The measured transmission characteristic of the received channel measurement packet is compared to a defined transmission characteristic to provide a comparison. A modulation coding scheme (MCS) map referenced to a phase of a cyclostationary noise period of the medium is generated based upon the comparison. The MCS map is sent to a transmitter via the medium. Signals including packets that have been mapped to subcarriers based on the MCS map are received from the medium. Subcarriers of the signals received from the medium are demapped using the MCS map referenced to the phase of the cyclostationary noise period of the medium. |
| US09660758B2 |
Method for providing protection in an optical communication network against connection failures
The invention relates to an optical communication network (1) comprising a plurality of nodes (2) connected to each other by means of optical fibers (3) in a ring structure, wherein optical signals are transported at working wavelengths (λw) in a first direction in said ring structure and wherein optical signals are transported at protection wavelengths (λp) in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction in said ring structure, wherein for each node (2) at least one wavelength assignment table (WAT) is provided, wherein to each working wavelength (λw) a corresponding protection wavelength (λp) is assigned, wherein in case of a detected connection failure in said ring structure each node (2) which loses at least one connection performs for all working wavelengths (λw) affected by said connection failure a lookup in its wavelength assignment table (WAT) to determine the respective protection wavelength (λp) and tunes lasers of transceiver units to the determined protection wavelengths (λp). |
| US09660755B2 |
Automated node level fibre audit
A method of automated testing and evaluation of a node of a communications network, the method comprising: a management computer interacting with the node to discover fiber trails within the node that can be safely tested; and the management computer interacting with the node to test at least continuity of each identified fiber trail that can be safely tested. |
| US09660754B2 |
Method and devices for automatic tuning in WDM-PON
A system and method in a wavelength division multiplexing passive optical network is provided. A multiplexed optical downstream signal is transmitted from an optical line terminal to a passive distribution node. The signal is demultiplexed into a plurality of optical sub-signals. A sub-signal is transferred to an optical network termination. The received at least one sub-signal is identified. An optical wavelength of an upstream optical signal is set as a function of a predefined relationship between an optical wavelength of the received at least one sub-signal and the optical wavelength of the upstream signal. The upstream signal is transmitted to the optical line terminal via the passive distribution node. |
| US09660748B2 |
Algorithm for physical cell identifier allocation
Methods, apparatus, and computer programs for automatically allocating physical layer cell identifiers A modulo 3 grouping and a modulo 30 grouping are provided for physical layer cell identifiers in a cellular communication system. The modulo 3 grouping is associated with first synchronization signal assignments and the modulo 30 grouping is associated with second synchronization signal assignments. A combination of first and second synchronization signals determines a physical layer cell identifier of a cell. A modulo 3 group is allocated to each of multiple cells of the system. After the allocation of the modulo 3 groups, a modulo 30 group is allocated to each of the multiple cells. The allocation of the modulo 30 groups incorporates the allocated modulo 3 group as a precondition for the modulo 30 grouping. To each cell, first and second synchronization signals are allocated on the basis of said allocation of the modulo 30 group. |
| US09660745B2 |
Geocast-based file transfer
Geocast-based file transfer may be implemented via use of a Geocast File Transfer (GFT) protocol. A sending device may parse a file into multiple chunks. Respective multiple geocast packets comprising the chunks may be geocast. The sending device may geocast all packets sequentially. Upon geocasting all packets, the sending device may wait a predetermined amount of time. During the period of time, any receiving device that did not receive a chunk of the file may geocast a request for the missing chunk. Receiving devices also may wait various respective amounts of time before geocasting requests. Other receiving devices that may have missed a chunk may hear that the chunk it missed is being requested. And that device need not make a request for the chunk. Rather, that device may wait for the sending device to retransmit a geocast packet that contains the missing chunk. |
| US09660743B1 |
Channel estimation by searching over channel response candidates having dominant components
A method in a receiver includes receiving a signal that traversed a multipath channel having a channel response, so as to produce a received sequence of samples that are indicative of the channel response. Using a predefined similarity measure, multiple metrics between the received sequence of samples and multiple respective candidate sequences of samples are calculated by the receiver. Each candidate sequence includes a combination of one or more dominant signal components having respective sample delays, and each candidate sequence corresponds to a channel multipath candidate that has one or more channel paths at the respective sample delays. The channel response is estimated by the receiver, by selecting the candidate sequence that best matches the received sequence, the selecting being based on the similarity measure. |
| US09660740B2 |
Signal strength distribution establishing method and wireless positioning system
A signal strength distribution establishing method includes establishing a plurality of distribution functions corresponding to a plurality of base stations; measuring a plurality of signal strengths from the plurality of base stations on at least a measuring location in an area to obtain a plurality of signal strengths measured values; adjusting the plurality of distribution functions according to the plurality of signal strengths on the at least a measuring location; computing a plurality of signal strength estimated values corresponding to a plurality of locations within the area according to the plurality of adjusted distribution functions; and establishing a signal strength distribution map corresponding to the area according to the plurality of signal strength measured values and the plurality of signal strength estimated values. |
| US09660732B2 |
Power adjustment of in-phase and quadrature components at a coherent optical receiver
It is disclosed an optical coherent receiver for an optical communication network. The optical coherent receiver is configured to receive a modulated optical signal and to process it for generating an in-phase component and a quadrature component. The optical coherent receiver comprises a power adjuster in turn comprising a multiplying unit and a retroactively connected digital circuit. The multiplying unit is configured to multiply the in-phase and quadrature components by in-phase and quadrature gains, respectively, thereby providing power-adjusted in-phase and quadrature components. The digital circuit is configured to compute: a common gain indicative of a sum of the powers of the power-adjusted in-phase and quadrature components; a differential gain indicative of a difference between the powers of the power-adjusted in-phase and quadrature components; and the in-phase and quadrature gains as a product and a ratio, respectively, between the common gain and the differential gain. |
| US09660729B2 |
Cable communication system optical nodes having selectable attenuation values to mitigate distortion of upstream information
An HFC cable communication system comprising: a CMTS having a first attenuator to attenuate one or more upstream signals applied to the CMTS; an optical link having a dynamic range and comprising an optical receiver having a second attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s) and an optical transmitter having a third attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s); a coaxial RF link comprising one or more RF amplifiers having a fourth attenuator to attenuate the upstream signal(s); and one or more subscriber modems to generate the upstream signal(s) at respective transmit RF signal levels. The CMTS implements a long loop ALC to set the transmit RF signal level(s) based on received RF signal levels of the upstream signal(s) at the CMTS. Respective values for the first, second, third and fourth attenuators are selected based on the dynamic range of the optical link so as to facilitate implementation of the long loop ALC and effective transmission of upstream information carried by the upstream signal(s). |
| US09660728B2 |
Communication system for analog and digital communication services
A first and a second interconnection unit comprising a respective first and a second communication interface, a first and a second electro-optical converter, and a multiplexing unit, is disclosed. The first interconnection unit is adapted to receive electrically transmitted analog and digital information, convert said information into electrically transmitted information, and to multiplex the information so as to enable transmission over a bidirectional link. The second interconnection unit is adapted to receive and de-multiplex the transmitted analog and digital information, to convert it back into electrically transmitted analog and digital information, and to output said information. A system comprising the first and second interconnection units is also disclosed. The system is adapted for supplying both analog services and digital services with communication information over the bidirectional link. |
| US09660723B2 |
Wavelength selective switch and method for controlling spatial phase modulator in wavelengths
The present invention discloses a wavelength selective switch and a method for controlling a spatial phase modulator in a wavelength selective switch. The wavelength selective switch includes: a first demultiplexing/multiplexing component, configured to split, an input multi-wavelength optical signal into multiple single-wavelength optical signals; a spatial phase modulator, configured to change a transmission direction of each single-wavelength optical signal included in the multiple single-wavelength optical signals, where the spatial phase modulator is further configured to split a first single-wavelength optical signal in the multiple single-wavelength optical signals into a first light beam and a second light beam, where the first light beam is incident on an output port, and the second light beam is incident on a monitoring port; a photoelectric detector, configured to receive the second light beam; and a performance monitoring component, configured to perform performance monitoring on the received second light beam. |
| US09660718B2 |
Ground terminal and UAV beam pointing in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for network access
Systems and methods for detecting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Network access (for example, to the Internet) may be provided by detecting a UAV and fixing one or more beams from one or more ground terminals to the UAV. In one embodiment, the detection of a UAV includes forming and pointing beams from a ground terminal and ground gateways toward the UAV. The ground terminal may be configured to autonomously steer its antenna beam during initial installation to detect the reference signal from a UAV. In one variant, the ground terminals are steered to more finely track the position of the UAV based on a signal quality metric such as received signal strength and the UAV real-time position location coordinates. In one embodiment, the ground terminal antenna is initially manually pointed toward the UAV, and thereafter allowed to automatically steer to track the position of the UAV. In another embodiment the UAV antenna is steered toward a ground terminal using signal quality received from the ground terminal and real-time position coordinates and orientation of the UAV. |
| US09660714B2 |
Two-way relay apparatus and method thereof
One or more embodiments provide an apparatus and a method to estimate channel information even when channel information is not accurately known and design a relay filter based on the estimated information in a two-way relay system where a terminal having a single antenna and a relay exist. A relay apparatus of a two-way relay system includes a receiver, a controller, and a transmitter. The receiver receives a signal from at least one terminal. The controller estimates a channel between the terminals based on the received signal, and calculates a receiver matrix and a precoder. The transmitter transmits a signal precoded by the precoder. |
| US09660712B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting downlink data on basis of beam restricted sub-frame
The method comprises: a step in which the base station transmits to a terminal configuration information related to the beam restricted sub-frame; and a step in which the base station transmits downlink data to the terminal via a sub-frame. The sub-frame includes the beam restricted sub-frame and a normal sub-frame, setting information includes information indicating a sub-frame set as the beam restricted sub-frame among multiple sub-frames, the beam restricted sub-frame is a sub-frame transmitted only based on a first beam subset, the normal sub-frame is a sub-frame transmitted based on the first beam subset and a second beam subset, the first beam subset is the set of beams generated based on a first precoding matrix set, and the second beam subset is the set of beams generated based on a second precoding matrix set including the first precoding matrix set. |
| US09660710B2 |
Identifying coverage holes using inter-rat handover measurements
Embodiments of systems and techniques for identifying coverage holes in a radio access technology (RAT) are described. In some embodiments, a network management (NM) apparatus may receive a first report, including one or more measurements taken by a first user equipment (UE), in response to an event related to a handover of the first UE between a first radio access technology (RAT) and a second RAT different from the first RAT. The NM apparatus may receive a second report including one or more measurements taken by a second UE in response to an event related to a handover of the second UE between the first RAT and a third RAT different from the first RAT. The NM apparatus may identify a hole in a coverage area of the first RAT based at least in part on the first and second reports. Other embodiments may be described and claimed. |
| US09660708B1 |
Method and apparatus for beamforming with coupled antennas
A method and apparatus provide beamforming with coupled antennas. A first channel matrix can be transformed into a transformed second channel matrix. The first channel matrix can be a channel from a transmitter array of antennas of the transmitting device to at least one receiver antenna of a receiving device. A precoding matrix can be determined that maximizes the capacity for the transformed second channel matrix subject to a power constraint of the precoding matrix. The channel capacity maximizing precoding matrix for the transformed second channel matrix can be converted into an optimal precoding matrix for the first channel matrix. A signal can be received for transmission. The optimal precoding matrix can be applied to the signal to generate a precoded signal for transmission over a physical channel. The precoded signal can then be transmitted. |
| US09660707B2 |
Precoding method, base station and user equipment
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a precoding method, a base station and a user equipment. The precoding method comprises: a base station acquires predetermined parameter(s) of at least one user equipment; calculates the acquired predetermined parameter(s) to obtain a calculation performance index; selects a target precoding solution according to the calculation performance index; precodes data information of all the user equipment(s) according to the target precoding solution; if the target precoding solution is a nonlinear precoding solution, sends the data information and indication signaling indicating information of the nonlinear precoding solution to each user equipment; and the user equipment receives the data information and the indication signaling which are sent by the base station; selects a receiver according to a receiver type obtained according to the indication signaling; and detects the received data information using the selected receiver. |
| US09660706B1 |
Increasing MIMO order to help offset reduction in quantity of serving carriers
When a base station encounters a trigger to reduce the number of carriers on which the base station serves a wireless commination device (WCD), the base station will responsively reduce the number of carriers but will also responsively increase the number of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) layers on which the base station serves the WCD, to help offset for the reduction in number of serving carriers. |
| US09660705B2 |
On-board unit, communication method, and recording medium
An on-board unit includes a first antenna and a second antenna, a traffic data service communicating section corresponding to a traffic data service; a billing service communicating section corresponding to a billing service, a switch which switches a connection relation between each of the first antenna and the second antenna and the traffic data service communicating section and the billing service communicating section, a control section which controls the switch. When the operation mode is switched from the traffic data service mode to the billing service mode, the on-board unit is set to a switching communication mode in which one of the first antenna and the second antenna is connected with the traffic data service communicating section and the other is connected with the billing service communicating section. |
| US09660700B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for automatically linking customizable and/or personalized digital content to an object
A method, system and apparatus for automatically linking customizable and personalized information to a near field communication (NFC) tag comprises programming and/or encoding the NFC tag with a personalized message and then attaching the NFC tag body to an object such as a greeting card, event invitation, candle or gift basket. When the object is then received by the recipient, the recipient only needs to tap the NFC tag with a NFC enabled device in order to automatically access the personalized message. In some embodiments, the personalized message comprises a greeting, pictures, and/or other customizable digital content. |
| US09660698B2 |
Leaky cable communication
The present invention relates to a wireless communication arrangement comprising a node and a leaky cable running between a first and second converter arrangement. The first converter arrangement connects a first downlink signal and a second downlink signal to the cable, and converts the second downlink signal from a first frequency to a second frequency. The cable's other end is connected to the second converter arrangement which converts the second downlink signal from the second frequency to the first frequency. The second converter arrangement also converts a first uplink signal from a third frequency to a fourth frequency. The first converter arrangement receives the converted first uplink signal from the second converter arrangement and converts it from the fourth frequency to the third frequency. The first frequency is separated from the second frequency, and the third frequency is separated from the fourth frequency. |
| US09660697B2 |
Electrical installation with improved gateway module
A gateway module for an electrical power grid, the gateway module configured to receive a power signal including a modulated component for conveying information from an electrical module producing electricity, and to process the power signal to provide a compatible signal to the electrical power grid. The gateway module includes a main unit including a control circuit controlling an interface to manage information from the modulated component of the power signal and a filtering circuit for filtering the modulated component. |
| US09660696B2 |
Power line communication AC/DC adaptor
A power line communication (PLC) AC/DC adaptor includes a filter, a rectifier, a power factor correction circuitry, and a PLC module. The filter includes a differential mode choke and a common mode choke. The differential mode choke is coupled to AC. The common mode choke is coupled to the differential mode choke. The rectifier is coupled to the common mode choke. The power factor correction circuitry is coupled to the rectifier. The PLC module is coupled to AC to process a PLC signal from AC and output a control signal. |