| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09687441B1 |
Compositions for use with a fascia tissue treatment device to reduce cellulite
Compositions for lubricating skin during application of a fascia tissue treatment device, thereby reducing the appearance of cellulite in skin and methods of forming such compositions. |
| US09687440B2 |
CGRP compositions and uses thereof
Compositions comprising at least one ingredient that stimulates, enhances, or increases CGRP expression, and a physiologically- or cosmetically-acceptable vehicle. The ingredient may be a compound, natural ingredient, such as a plant or fungus, derivatives, analogs, mimetics, synthetics and the like that stimulates CGRP expression. The CGRP plant includes plants, plant materials, plant extracts, synthetics, or combinations thereof that stimulate CGRP expression. The disclosure is also directed to methods of using the CGRP compositions for decreasing, reducing, or inhibiting fine lines or wrinkled skin. |
| US09687435B2 |
Calcium phosphate dispersion composition
It is intended to provide a liquid oral composition and a liquid food composition in which calcium phosphate such as hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate can be stably dispersed and prevented from being precipitated or separated out even in long-term storage. Calcium phosphate mixed with xanthan gum and polyglycerin fatty acid ester can be stably dispersed even in long-term storage and prevented from being precipitated or separated out even when used in liquid oral compositions such as mouthwashes, liquid dentifrices, and oral detergents or in liquid food compositions such as milk, soy milk, yoghurt, and refreshing beverages. In addition, calcium phosphate mixed with xanthan gum and polyglycerin fatty acid ester further supplemented with an amphoteric surfactant can be more effectively prevented from being precipitated or separated out in liquid oral compositions such as mouthwashes, liquid dentifrices, and oral detergents. |
| US09687434B2 |
Cosmetic use of steviol, of a steviol glycoside derivative or of one of their isomers to stimulate, restore or regulate the metabolism of the cells of the skin and semimucus membranes
The present invention relates to the cosmetic use by external topical route of steviol, of a steviol glycoside derivative or of one of their isomers to stimulate, restore or regulate the metabolism of the cells of the skin. |
| US09687432B2 |
Antimicrobial bispyridine amine compositions and uses
Antimicrobial bispyridine amine compositions that facilitate easy application on the skin, do not penetrate the skin, are compatible with typical deodorant ingredients, and do not cause adverse effects on skin and clothing. In one aspect, the present invention relates to an antimicrobial composition including an organic acid salt of a bispyridine amine where the organic acid contains from about 4 to about 30 carbon atoms. Because the organic acid salts of bispyridine amines are large molecules, they will not easily penetrate the skin, and will stay on the surface where they were applied and where they are needed to have their effect. |
| US09687431B2 |
Use of isoleucine N-hexadecanoyl as a “volumizing” and/or “plumping” agent for human skin
The invention relates to the cosmetic use of isoleucine N-hexadecanoyl of formula (I): CH3—(CH2)14—C(═O)—NH—CH(COOH)—CH(CH3)—CH2—CH3 (I) as a “volumizing” agent and/or as a “plumping” agent for human skin. The invention also relates to a cosmetic treatment method for obtaining a “volumizing” and/or “plumping” effect of the skin of a part of the human body selected from among the breasts, face, cheeks, buttocks and eyelids. |
| US09687430B2 |
Cosmetic kit comprising effervescent tablet and skin toner
One aspect of the present invention relates to an effervescent tablet comprising a water-soluble lubricating agent, and a carbonated water cosmetic composition enabled to be used together therewith. One aspect of the present invention relates to an effervescent tablet comprising a crystalline #-hydroxy acid and a water-soluble lubricating agent, and a cosmetic composition using a skin toner for preventing the tablet from floating and allowing the tablet to rapidly form carbon dioxide gas in the cosmetic composition so as to maximize the visual effect and also the effect of carbon dioxide, thereby showing skin whitening, brightening and moisturizing effects and improving the pores. |
| US09687429B2 |
Antimicrobial compositions containing low concentrations of botanicals
The present invention relates to a preservative or antimicrobial compositions with broad spectrum antimicrobial activity comprising low concentrations of essential oil (and/or one or more component thereof) and a botanical extract in synergistic combination with a fruit acid and alkanediol, and optionally a solvent. The compositions of the invention may be used in personal care products such as creams or soap products. |
| US09687428B2 |
Hydrogel compositions for tooth whitening
A composition is provided, wherein the composition comprises a water-swellable, water insoluble polymer, a blend of a hydrophilic polymer and a complementary oligomer capable of hydrogen bonding to the hydrophilic polymer, and a whitening agent, preferably a peroxide. The composition finds utility as a tooth whitening composition and is applied to the teeth in need of whitening, and then removed when the degree of whitening has been achieved. In certain embodiments, the composition is translucent. Methods for preparing and using the compositions are also disclosed. |
| US09687427B2 |
Oral care compositions
Oral care composition comprises a stannous ion source and a thickener comprising at least 2 agents selected from the group consisting of: i) a linear sulfated polysaccharide; ii) a natural gum; iii) and a non-ionic cellulose derivative. A method for treating the oral cavity comprises administering to the oral cavity the oral care composition. |
| US09687421B2 |
Dental filing and restorative material kit
Provided is a dental filling and restorative material kit, including: a polymerizable composition (A) for a dentin restorative material for restoring a dentin portion; and a polymerizable composition (B) for an enamel restorative material to be layered on the dentin restorative material, in which the polymerizable composition (A) for a dentin restorative material and the polymerizable composition (B) for an enamel restorative material have different color tones, and in which a difference (nDa−nDb) between a refractive index nDa of a polymer of a polymerizable monomer (a) in the polymerizable composition (A) for a dentin restorative material and a refractive index nDb of a polymer of a polymerizable monomer (b) in the polymerizable composition (B) for an enamel restorative material is 0.005 or more. |
| US09687419B2 |
Assisted medication filling and management
A medication filling and management system comprises a medication storage device for assisting patients in filling and managing medication supplies. The medication storage device includes a number of electronically monitored storage compartments and a communication system to identify a medication to be provided from an adjacent medication commercial package, automatically identify to a user which compartments of the storage device are to be filled with the identified medication from the commercial package, and detect and communicate the filling and dispensing of the medication from the storage device. |
| US09687418B2 |
Medication cassette
The invention addresses the problem of providing a medication cassette, which in addition to being capable of smooth automated dispensing despite being capable of storing large amounts of medication, allows accurate ascertainment of whether the medication has run out or is jammed. This medication cassette is provided with: a cylindrical body in which the medication is stored; a first rotating body capable of reciprocating movement inside the cylindrical body in the direction of the shaft center thereof; a second rotating body disposed on the outer circumference of the cylindrical body; a conveyed medication-detecting element for detecting medication that has been conveyed by the second rotating body; and a control for moving the first rotating body upward when a medication detection signal is not output from the conveyed medication-detecting element. |
| US09687416B2 |
Neuromuscular therapy device and method
A neuromuscular therapy device and method is provided. The neuromuscular therapy device includes a top unit including a pair of square pyramidal bodies separated by a central valley. Each of the pair of square pyramidal bodies includes a top peak with vertices that are smoothly radiused. The neuromuscular therapy device may also include a base unit including a hollowed top central portion configured to provide a seat within which the top unit is secured. |
| US09687411B2 |
Walkers and methods of use
A walker having a folded position and an unfolded position, wherein the walker comprises a structural frame with a first upright portion, a second upright portion, a folding mechanism between the first upright portion and the second upright portion, ground engaging elements on each of the first upright portion and second upright portion, and a foldable basket with first and second opposed ends secured by one or more fasteners to the first upright portion and the second upright portion, respectively. In another embodiment, walker comprises a structural frame with a first end, a second end, and sides between the first end and the second end, a handle or handles on the structural frame at the first end of the structural frame, ground engaging elements at the first end and the second end of the structural frame, and a suspension system integrated with the structural frame. |
| US09687405B2 |
Chiropractic adjusting instrument system and method
A portable battery power operated chiropractic adjusting instrument, manipulator or thruster for applying a selectable adjustment energy impulse to a patient through a plunger having a resilient or cushioned head with the energy impulse applied to the plunger being supplied by a solenoid. The adjusting instrument can have annunciators or indicators for preload, readiness to operate, level of energy impulse and the like. The power source can be an internal rechargeable battery or removable rechargeable battery pack. |
| US09687398B2 |
Shower stretcher
A shower stretcher assembly including a frame which supports a platform having panels that define a back rest section, a seat section, and a foot section. The seat section is flexible and capable of conforming to the shape of a person lying thereon. |
| US09687396B2 |
Absorbent article
An absorbent article includes an absorbent core, a liquid impervious backsheet, a liquid pervious topsheet, a functional layer, an adhesive layer and a releasable film. The functional layer includes a plurality of functional particles that are made from a material selected from sodium carbonate, argireline, mineral rock crystal, porphyritic andesite, borneol, mint essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil, jasmine essential oil, far-infrared radiation particles and combinations thereof. |
| US09687395B2 |
Repositionable moisture management material that creates a barrier to skin-on-skin contact
An article of clothing can be used to reduce or prevent the occurrence of prolonged skin-on-skin contact, rashes, irritation, intertrigo, infections, discomfort, or chaffing. Such an article of clothing has a moisture management material made up of at least an outer layer, an inner layer, and a tab. The moisture management material is attached to a portion of the article of clothing via a tab of the moisture management material. The moisture management material may be of various shapes and sizes and preferably fits within a prescribed area of the article of clothing. The moisture management material may be variably positioned within the article of clothing to provide differing results such as additional support and/or moisture absorbing or moisture moving where necessary. Preferably the article of clothing is a brassiere but may be a shirt, diaper, pants, socks, panties, or other undergarments. |
| US09687393B2 |
Laminate absorbent core for use in absorbent articles
The invention relates to absorbent cores having high amounts of superabsorbent polymer material which are immobilized by adhesive. The absorbent cores have reduced peak force when subjected to the Laminate Compression Extension Test Method and also exhibit reduced delamination upon swelling of the superabsorbent polymer material. |
| US09687384B2 |
Sliding-type apparatus for thermotherapeutic treatment
The present invention relates to a sliding-type apparatus for thermo-therapeutic treatment comprising: a body (1100) on which a thermo-therapeutic treatment device (1010) is arranged; a cover (1250) which is slid, and covers said thermo-therapeutic treatment device (1010); and guide grooves which are formed to slide on said body (1100). According to the present invention, if the apparatus for thermo-therapeutic treatment is not used, a lower bed member is slid such that the lower bed member can be overlapped with the body whereby a space can be easily utilized, and if the apparatus for thermo-therapeutic treatment is used, the lower bed member is easily unfolded in a sliding manner. |
| US09687383B2 |
Incremental and/or successive adjustable mandibular advancement device for preventing and treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea
The current invention relates to an adjustable mandibular advancement device with a unique combination of resilient hinging and adjustability to prevent or reduce snoring and/or obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. The adjustability is described by means of two concepts of adjustability for the relative enlargement or diminution of the members of the device, incremental and successive advancement mechanisms, in either combination or separately. By use of thermoplastic materials the device can be used in the outmost variability of the human dentition. |
| US09687382B2 |
Support device for male genitalia
Provided is a support device for supporting male genitalia, particularly the scrotum, when a male is in a seated position, including a support member and two or more attachment members for attachment to or hanging from a user's legs. |
| US09687379B1 |
Cervical restraint padding system
A neck restraint system for surgical candidates and recovering patients has at least one or more rigid or semi-rigid members including a fabric cover for supporting a plurality of cushioning or padding elements. The cushions elements are preferably conformable fabric bags partially filled with either memory elastic foam and/or foam beads to provide conformability. The fabric cover provides for exterior cosmetic customization and secure juxtaposition of replaceable and/or exchangeable cushioning elements. The cushioning elements are disposed over and around the edges portions of the rigid or semi-rigid restraint members that would otherwise rub, chafe or abrade the skin even if padded. Periodic changes of the type of cushioning elements prevent and alleviate such skin irritation and provide greater patient comfort. |
| US09687375B2 |
Magnetic satiety-inducing system
A minimally invasive system and method for providing weight loss by inducing the feeling of satiety whereby an intragastric device is inserted into the gastric lumen via the esophagus and an external magnetic device is used as needed to magnetically attract the intragastric device towards the inner wall of the stomach and impart tactile stimulation sufficient to induce the feeling of satiety. |
| US09687372B2 |
Hand unit to release a self-expanding implant
An elongate hand unit for deploying an elongate implant from the distal end of a delivery catheter. The hand unit has a distal end and a proximal end separated by a hand unit length. The hand unit may include a pull component and a push component. The pull component may include a pull grip sliding on the push component to deploy the implant. The push component may be operatively connected to the push element and include at its proximal end a push surface to receive during deployment of the implant a force that pushes on the push element shaft to resist proximal movement of the implant during deployment. The push component may provide a guide rail that defines a guide path for the pull grip, whereby proximal movement of the pull grip along the guide path deploys the implant. |
| US09687369B2 |
Stent device delivery system with an outer sheath polymeric reinforcement layer
A stent device delivery system and method of making. The stent device delivery system includes a stent device and an outer sheath overlaying the stent device in a radially compact, delivery configuration of the stent device. The outer sheath may include a first layer of polymeric material and a reinforcement layer of polymeric material that are laminated together. |
| US09687366B2 |
Endoleak mitigator for aneurysm stent-graft
Described are various embodiments of an improved endoprosthesis with a device to mitigate or even eliminate Type I endoleaks in AAA stent-graft. |
| US09687357B2 |
Vertebral body replacement
The present invention involves a system and methods for assembling and implanting a vertebral body implant. The vertebral body implant includes, but is not necessarily limited to, an expandable core body and endplates that can be attached at both ends. Endplates of various shapes, sizes and angles are attachable to the expandable core in a plurality of positions so that a suitable vertebral body implant can be implanted between vertebrae from an anterior, anterior-lateral, lateral, posterior or posterior-lateral approach. |
| US09687355B2 |
Customized intervertebral prosthetic disc with shock absorption
A prosthesis system comprises plates that can be positioned against vertebrae and a selected resilient core that can be positioned between the plates to allow the plates to articulate. The selected resilient core can be chosen from a plurality of cores in response to patient characteristics, such as age and/or intervertebral mobility, such that the prosthesis implanted in the patient is tailored to the needs of the patient. The plurality of cores may comprise cores with different resiliencies, and one of the cores can be selected such that the upper and lower plates articulate with the desired shock absorbing resiliency and/or maximum angle of inclination when the one selected core is positioned between the plates. |
| US09687354B2 |
Posterior intervertebral disc inserter and expansion techniques
Insertion and expansion devices for use in inserting motion discs, and associated methods of use. |
| US09687351B2 |
Bone prosthesis for maintaining joint operation in complex joints
A prosthesis including a magnetic implant approximating the size of a bone to be replaced; a first magnetic bone implant securable to a first bone adjacent the bone to be replaced; and a second magnetic bone implant securable to a second bone adjacent the bone to be replaced. Each of the first and second magnetic bone implants have a magnetic relationship with the magnetic implant. A method of reconstructing a wrist includes removing a patient's scaphoid to create a void. The scaphoid has a plurality of adjacent bones, each of the adjacent bones comprising a surface generally facing the void. The surface of at least two of the adjacent bones is prepared by affixing a magnetic element thereto and a magnetic scaphoid implant is inserted into the void. A magnetic relationship exists between the magnetic elements and the magnetic scaphoid implant. |
| US09687348B2 |
Method of making a personalized bone graft
An anatomically-shaped, human bone graft may be cultivated ex vivo using a bioreactor capable of perfusing large complex porous scaffolds. Scaffolds derived from image-based modeling of a target are seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells and cultivated. A bioreactor configured to house complex three-dimensional scaffold geometries provides controlled flow for perfusion of the cells. Dense uniform cellular growth can be attained throughout the entire scaffold as a result of the medium perfusion. In an embodiment, the bioreactor has a mold into which perfusion medium is pumped under pressure and multiple ports through which the medium exits the mold. |
| US09687347B2 |
Percutaneous implant
A percutaneous implant (10) comprises a bone-fixation portion (20), a spigot portion (50) for the attachment of an external prosthesis, and a pear-shaped portion (40) having a porous outer region (44) comprising a mesh of wire mesh material around a central core. The portion (40) is disposed between the spigot portion (50) and a collar (30) which has a plurality of through holes (34) adjacent to its edge. The bone-fixation portion (20) may have extending parallel thereto a plate (72) for attachment to the side of a bone. |
| US09687337B2 |
Locking mechanism for securing the interface between stent grafts
A modular stent graft system and methods of assembly are disclosed. The stent graft assembly comprises a first stent graft having an interface region at its distal end and a first locking stent secured to an internal surface of the interface region. A second stent graft having an interface region at its proximal end is configured to at least partially overlap with the interface region at the distal end of the first stent graft. The second stent graft comprises a second locking stent secured to an external surface of the interface region. The first and second locking stents are configured to be engaged such that the second locking stent is nested between the first locking stent and an internal surface of the interface region of the first stent graft thereby interlocking the first and second stent grafts to each other. |
| US09687333B2 |
Reduced profile central venous access catheter with vena cava filter and method
A central access vena cava filter catheter having a multi-lumen catheter body with plural longitudinally extending parallel lumens within the single catheter body, a vena cava filter member disposed at a distal end of the catheter body and an outer sheath concentrically disposed about the multi-lumen catheter body and the vena cava filter member. The vena cava filter member may be removably coupled to the multi-lumen catheter for temporary placement and retrieval under recommended indications. |
| US09687324B2 |
System and method for designing post and core
A system and a computer-implemented method of designing and/or manufacturing a post and core to match a bore of a tooth, said method including the steps of: a) obtaining at least one impression of a set of teeth comprising a bore; b) scanning the impression of the set of teeth comprising the bore; c) providing a three-dimensional scan representation of the impression comprising the bore; d) transforming the three-dimensional scan representation to a three-dimensional positive working model of the set of teeth and the bore; and e) designing a post and core model from the positive working model of the bore. In particular, CAD/CAM design and/or manufacture of post and core. |
| US09687322B2 |
Dental implant positioning system
A system is disclosed for installing a dental implant in a jawbone of a patient. The system includes a threaded drive shaft rotatable about an axis and a guide for supporting the drive shaft with its axis oriented in a path along which the implant is to be installed. The guide has a threaded bore for receiving a drive shaft and an opening which extends parallel to the axis of the drive shaft and opens radially outwardly from the bore. The drive shaft can then be engaged with and disengaged from the guide by radial displacement of the shaft parallel to its axis. A drill is adapted to be releasably coupled to a leading end portion of the drive shaft and may be a self-drilling implant. Rotating the drive shaft causes the drill to penetrate the jawbone of the patient. |
| US09687318B2 |
Base for an orthodontic appliance
Base for an orthodontic appliance includes a base surface adapted to be attached to a tooth and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the base surface and extending along a first direction substantially from a first edge of the base surface to a second edge of the base surface, a second direction being defined as perpendicular to the base surface, wherein the distance between two of the protrusions in a plane substantially perpendicular to the first direction along at least a portion of the protrusions is smaller than the distance between the two protrusions at the base surface, and wherein the distance between two of the protrusions in planes substantially perpendicular to the second direction at the first edge and the second edge is larger than a distance between the two protrusions in a plane between the first and the second edge. |
| US09687316B1 |
Dental covering removal tool
A device for removing a dental covering having: (a) an engagement portion that is configured to contact a portion of the dental covering along only one of a facial side or a lingual side of the dental covering and receive a prying load applied by an operator; and (b) a load applying portion connected to the engagement portion which is adapted to rest upon an adjacent surface relative to the dental covering and be pivoted upwardly or downwardly by application of the prying load. The device may be a dental covering removal tool which may find particular use in removing dental coverings, such as temporary and permanent crowns. |
| US09687313B2 |
Package for ostomy barrier ring
A package for an ostomy barrier ring is provided. The package includes a first shell, a second shell and a hinge connecting the first and second shells. The first shell includes a first stacking wall having a first interior side and a first exterior side, a first nesting structure formed on the first stacking wall, and a first sidewall extending from and about the first stacking wall. The second shell includes a second stacking wall having a second interior side and a second exterior side, a second nesting structure formed on the second stacking wall, and a second sidewall extending from and about the second stacking wall. The hinge allows the first shell and second shell to rotate relative to one another. A plurality of packages may be stacked with the first nesting structure of one package received in the second nesting structure of an adjacent package. |
| US09687312B2 |
Detection pins to determine presence of surgical instrument and adapter on manipulator
An instrument carriage provides control of a surgical instrument coupled to the instrument carriage. The instrument carriage includes a control surface that is coupled to the surgical instrument to provide the control. A detection pin having a first proximal end that extends from the control surface is coupled to the instrument carriage. A magnet is fixed to a distal end of the detection pin. A carriage controller provides an indication that the surgical instrument is coupled to the instrument carriage when movement of the detection pin causes an output signal from a Hall effect sensor to exceed a threshold value that is stored in the carriage controller as part of a calibration procedure during the assembly of the instrument carriage. Surgical instrument removal may be indicated when detection pin movement causes the output signal to be less than an instrument removal threshold value of less than the instrument threshold value. |
| US09687306B2 |
Image-guided minimal-step placement of screw into bone
The present disclosure describes a device and methods for safely and accurately placing screws into bones with a powered driving device. By employing multiple layers of fail-safe features and image-guidance systems, the powered driving device provides safe, accurate, and efficient screw placement. That is, the powered driving device may continuously monitor a screw advancement and placement and may automatically shutdown when improper placement is detected. Monitoring placement may be conducted by a microcurrent-monitoring system, by an image-guidance system, or by any other appropriate sensory system. Additionally, upon detecting that screw insertion is complete, the powered driving device may be automatically shutdown. As screw placement is continuously simulated by image-guidance in real time, multiple redundant verification steps are eliminated, providing highly accurate screw placement while decreasing clinician error, device contamination, and surgical time, the decreased surgical time associated with decreased patient-recovery time and associated medical costs. |
| US09687304B2 |
Elongate medical part guide module
The invention concerns a module for guiding an elongate medical part along an elongation axis for a robotic system comprising: mobile apparatus mounted so as to rotate relative to a base about a rotational axis, and defining a space for receiving the elongate medical part, and comprising a rotational guiding system comprising a passage region for the elongate medical part corresponding to the location of the passage of the elongate medical part through the mobile apparatus, and a plurality of rotary guiding portions distributed about the rotational axis, an access aperture comprising an angular aperture of at least 30°. |
| US09687298B2 |
Light emitting device
A light emitting device for use as a hair removal device is provided. The light emitting device has at least one radiation source for electromagnetic radiation providing at least one operating beam during operation of the device, a housing being intransparent for the operating beam having an output opening, at least one radiation source for electromagnetic radiation providing at least one sensing beam during operation of the device, at least one detector for detecting the sensing beam, at least one sensing window having a contact boundary surface, and a controller communicating with the radiation source providing the operating beam and with a detector and being operable to influence operation of the radiation source providing the operating beam responsive to the sensing beam detected at the detector. |
| US09687296B2 |
Devices to treat nasal airways
A device is described for treating a nasal airway by modifying a property of a nasal tissue of or near a nasal valve of the airway, without using a surgical incision or an implant, to decrease airflow resistance or perceived airflow resistance in the nasal airway. Various embodiments include an elongate shaft, a bipolar radiofrequency delivery member extending from one end of the shaft, and a handle attached to the elongate shaft at an opposite end from the radiofrequency delivery member. The radiofrequency delivery member is sized to be inserted into a nose and configured to at least temporarily deform the nasal tissue and deliver radiofrequency energy. The radiofrequency delivery member includes two rows of protruding electrodes disposed on a tissue contact surface, and the device is configured to deliver radiofrequency energy from one row of electrodes to the other row of electrodes. |
| US09687294B2 |
Deployment mechanism for surgical instruments
A surgical instrument includes an end effector assembly and a deployment mechanism for deploying a proximal hub associated with an energizable member between proximal and distal positions. The deployment mechanism includes a rotatable shaft, a cord including a proximal end engaged to the rotatable shaft and a distal end engaged to the proximal hub, a biasing member positioned to bias the proximal hub towards the distal position, and a gear assembly operably coupled to the rotatable shaft. The gear assembly is configured to move the proximal hub from the distal position to the proximal position against the bias of the biasing member by rotating the rotatable shaft relative to the cord to at least partially wind-up the cord about the rotatable shaft. |
| US09687293B2 |
Deployment mechanism for surgical instruments
A surgical instrument includes a housing, an energizable member, a proximal hub, and a deployment mechanism. The energizable member is movable between a storage position and a deployed position. The proximal hub is disposed within the housing, coupled to the energizable member, and translatable relative to the housing along a translation axis to deploy the energizable member. The deployment mechanism is configured to selectively translate the proximal hub and includes an actuator movable along a surface of the housing that extends in non-parallel orientation relative to the translation axis. The actuator is operably coupled to the proximal hub and is movable along the surface of the housing in non-parallel orientation relative to the translation axis between a proximal position and a distal position to translate the proximal hub along the translation axis and move the energizable member between the storage position and the deployed position. |
| US09687284B2 |
Locking peg with extended thread
A locking peg includes a head and a shaft. The head is at the proximal end of the locking peg, and a shaft extends distally from the head to a distal end of the locking peg. The shaft has a threaded proximal portion and an unthreaded distal portion. A length of the unthreaded distal portion of the shaft is greater than a length of the threaded proximal portion of the shaft. When the locking peg is inserted into a bone through a bone plate, the threaded proximal portion of the shaft extends into the bone. This extended threading provides additional axial force to help explant the locking peg during removal of the locking peg. |
| US09687277B2 |
Implantation system for treatment of a defective curvature of the spinal column
An implantation system for treatment of a defective curvature of the spinal column comprises an elongated element, a first bone fixation element being fixedly attached to said elongated element, a second bone fixation element, and guiding structure through which the second bone fixation element is slidably and contactingly connected to the elongated element. The elongated element has bending resilience and/or torsional resilience for applying corrective force action to the spinal column. A special arrangement of the guiding structure provides automatical adjustment of the corrective force action in dependence of growth of the spinal column. The system allows for good flexibility of the spine and for a natural healthy growth of the spine, while it avoids re-operations and implant adjustments. |
| US09687276B2 |
Skin removing implement
A device for removing skin having a cartridge with a file containing a plurality of cutting edges for scraping skin, wherein the cartridge is connected to a handle such that the removed skin is collected between the cartridge and the handle, and a removable cover that may be connected to the cartridge by placing the cover over the cutting surface so as to shield the user from the cutting surface when the implement is not in use and/or to prevent removed skin from exiting the cartridge through the cutting surface. |
| US09687275B1 |
Method and apparatus for pelvic visceral manipulation by surgical robot
In one embodiment, a pelvic visceral manipulator interface for use by the graspable tip of a robotic surgical system is disclosed. This interface can be used with any robotic pelvic medical procedure that utilizes manipulation of the uterus, vagina and/or colon. In one embodiment an interface aligns a robotic grasper arm with a visceral (uterine or vaginal/colon) manipulator for robotic laparoscopic pelvic surgery or pelvic medical procedure. In another embodiment, a manipulator includes an integrated tip for direct connection with the graspable tip of a robotic surgical system. In another embodiment, a robotic surgical arm includes an integrated tip for direct connection with a manipulator. |
| US09687272B2 |
Surgical access device
Various devices are provided for allowing multiple surgical instruments to be inserted through a single surgical access device at variable angles of insertion, allowing for ease of manipulation within a patient's body while maintaining insufflation. Safety shields and release mechanisms are also provided for use with various surgical access devices. |
| US09687269B2 |
Hemodialysis double lumen needle angio catheter
An angio catheter for hemodialysis is disclosed. The angio catheter comprises a steel cylindrical element for introducing into a patient's blood vessel. The invention also includes a needle including a first lumen and a second lumen, each lumen hermetically separate from the other, wherein the needle is located within the cylindrical element. The invention further includes a first tube for supplying fluid to or from the first lumen and a second tube for supplying fluid to or from the second lumen, wherein fluid may flow within the first lumen independently from fluid flowing within the second lumen. The invention also includes a first flange extending perpendicularly from both sides of the cylindrical element and a second flange extending perpendicularly from both sides of an offset neck of the needle. |
| US09687267B2 |
Device for cutting tissue
A catheter which includes a cutting element having one or more raised elements is provided. The cutting element has a cup-shaped surface at the distal end that may be smooth and continuous except for the raised elements. The raised elements have a surface that tends to direct cut particles of material towards one or more of the axis of rotation of the cutting element, the catheter axis, or a particle collection chamber. In further aspects of the invention, a cutting element oscillates in a direction roughly parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting element. |
| US09687260B2 |
Method and apparatus for orthopedic fixation
A dual reconstructive wire system for use with an anatomy can include a first guide wire, a second guide wire, a first guide instrument, a first cannulated insertion instrument, and a second cannulated insertion instrument. The first guide wire can pass through the first cannulated insertion instrument such that a first end and a second end of the first guide wire extends beyond the first end and the second end, respectively of the first cannulated insertion instrument. The second guide wire can pass through the second cannulation insertion instrument such that a first end and a second end of the second guide wire extends beyond the first end and the second end, respectively of the second cannulated insertion instrument. |
| US09687257B2 |
Pin wire driver device
An instrument for facilitating the insertion of a pin or wire into a bone or other structure. The instrument includes a body, a first shaft and a second shaft at least partially positioned within the body, an actuator in communication with the second shaft, a first holding feature, and a second holding feature. The first shaft may include a lumen about a longitudinal axis, with the first shaft being rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The second shaft may be axially mobile and may be positioned at least partially around the first shaft. The first holding feature may be located adjacent a first position along the longitudinal axis and may be able to passively apply a first force to an elongated member received in the lumen. The second holding feature may be capable of applying a second force to the elongated member received in the lumen. |
| US09687255B2 |
Device and methods for fracture reduction
Methods of creating a curvilinear cavity within a vertebral body or other bony structure and devices that may be used to perform the steps to create the curvilinear cavity. In one embodiment, a method of forming a curvilinear void in bony structure may include the steps of accessing a bony structure with a cannula, inserting a distal end of a drill device through the cannula and into the bony structure, manipulating the distal end of the drill device to create a curvilinear void in the bony structure, enlarging the void by expansion of a balloon element mounted to the drill device, and deflating the balloon element and removing the drill device from the cannula. |
| US09687254B2 |
Method and apparatus for removing material from an intervertebral disc space and preparing end plates
Instrument and method for removing material from an intervertebral disc. The instrument includes outer and inner tubular members. The outer tubular member defines a passage and a cutting window. The inner tubular member is coaxially disposed within the passage, and defines a central lumen and a cutting tip. The cutting tip forms an open mouth having a plurality of teeth. Upon assembly, the cutting tip is exposed within the cutting window combining to define a shaving head. A manual decorticating implement is coupled to the outer tubular member and defining a scraping surface. A powered handpiece is coupled to the inner tubular member, and the shaving head is inserted into an intervertebral disc and positioned such that the cutting tip contacts targeted material (e.g., nucleus, annulus and/or end plate). The handpiece is activated to rotate the cutting tip relative to the cutting window. Contacted material is sheared between an edge of the cutting window and the teeth of the cutting tip. The manual decorticating implement is used to remove intervertebral disc material from an end plate. |
| US09687250B2 |
Bone cutting guide systems and methods
A bone cutting guide may include a support that contains a shaft movable relative to the support. The shaft may carry a guide member having one or more cut guides through which a clinician inserts a cutting member to cut bone positioned under the guide cut guides. In operation, a clinician may fixate the support of the bone cutting guide to a bone and translate the guide member until the one or more cut guides are positioned at a desired cut location. The clinician may then perform a cut through the cut guide. In some examples, the bone cutting guide includes additional components, such as bridging member or secondary cut guide, to provide additional functionality. |
| US09687244B2 |
Vascular closure device
A vascular closure device includes a frame to which there is fitted a plurality of anchor elements, spaced radially around the frame. The closure device includes a radial compression feature, which may be a memorized shape of the frame or non-sprung condition of the frame, having a small radius. The closure device is deployed in a vessel such that the anchor elements are embedded into the vessel wall. The radial compression feature causes the frame to compress radially, as a result of which the anchor elements will pull the vessel wall inwardly, thereby closing the vessel. |
| US09687242B2 |
Occlusion device
An occlusion device (30) includes at least one self-expanding frame (42, 44) and graft material (46). Occlusion occurs by constricting the graft material (46) at a substantially central point or at an end of the device. The constriction is sized such that a guide wire (34) is able to pass therethrough. A valve mechanism (50) includes a screen (52) made from a resilient material and which includes a closable opening (54). The valve mechanism (50) allows a guide wire to pass through the occlusion device (30) while an effective physical barrier is maintained after removal of the guide wire (34). |
| US09687238B2 |
Implant placement device
An implant placement device includes a longitudinal axis member having a lumen extending along a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal axis member such that the implant is disposed in a stretched state and an opening formed by communicating with the lumen, a stylet provided in the lumen, a sheath into which the longitudinal axis member is inserted,—an operating part operating the sheath so as to be rotatable around the longitudinal axis, and having a contact surface that is in contact with a part of the implant, which is pushed out of the opening of the longitudinal axis member by the stylet, in a rotational direction around the longitudinal axis in a state where the opening of the longitudinal axis member is located inside the sheath. |
| US09687236B2 |
Surgical instrument having a power control circuit
A powered surgical instrument for cutting and fastening tissue comprises an end effector having first and second jaw members that move relatively between open and closed positions. A control circuit comprises a relay, a firing switch having first and second firing switch positions, and a clamp device that can take first and second states. The clamp device takes a second state when the jaw members are in the closed position such that the clamp device activates the relay. Upon activation of the relay, the firing switch is connected to provide power from a power supply to drive a drive system of the instrument when the firing switch is in a second firing switch position. |
| US09687235B2 |
Double-row ratchet locking mechanism with single-bypass (‘arming’) functionality
The present disclosure provides a wound closure device including: (a) a first opposing member and a second opposing member disposed on opposing sides of a central axis, each resiliently moveable between a closed position and open position relative to each other, each of the opposing members having a distal edge; (b) skin penetrating means for anchoring the device; (c) a pressure bar along each distal edge; (d) releasable locking means for biasing or maintaining the device in the closed position; and optionally (e) an accessory component. |
| US09687232B2 |
Surgical staples
A surgical staple. The staple can define a seamless unitary piece. In various instances, the staple can be formed and/or stamped from a sheet of material. The staple can include a base and staple legs. A staple drive surface can be integrally formed in the base, and a sled can directly contact the staple drive surface to directly drive the staple. |
| US09687228B2 |
Coated looped suture
A suture including a reinforced loop is described herein. The suture includes an elongate body including a proximal section and a distal section, wherein the distal section includes first and second overlapping sections and a loop. A polymeric coating is positioned on at least a portion of the distal section to reinforce the loop. |
| US09687222B2 |
Knotless repair technique using tape/suture hybrid
Systems and methods for soft tissue to bone repairs, without knot tying. The soft tissue repair systems include self-cinching constructs with a fixation device, a flexible construct having a flexible strand abutting a suture tape, and a shuttle/pull device attached to the flexible strand and provided within the body of the fixation device. A splice is formed by pulling on the shuttle/pull device subsequent to the fixation device being secured into the bone, to allow the wide tape to be positioned over the tissue (for best compression and minimum tissue cut-thru) and suture for the implanted portion (for most efficient and least bone removal). |
| US09687218B2 |
System for intra-abdominally moving an organ
A surgical tissue connector system for moving a first internal body tissue to a position away from a second internal body tissue and then holding the first internal body tissue in the position. Tissue connectors are secured to cords such that the length of cord between the tissue connectors can be easily adjusted in a laparoscopic work space. |
| US09687216B2 |
Methods for sealing a vascular puncture
Apparatus and methods for sealing a puncture communicating with a blood vessel are provided that include introducing a porous carrier formed from lyophilized hydrogel or other material into the puncture. The plug may include at least one of first and second hydrogel precursors and a pH adjusting agent carried by the porous carrier in an unreactive state prior to exposure to an aqueous physiological environment. Once exposed to bodily fluids, the carrier expands as the lyophilized material hydrates to enhance and facilitate rapid hemostasis of the puncture. When the plug is placed into the puncture, the natural wetting of the plug by bodily fluids (e.g., blood) causes the first and second precursors to react and cross-link into an adhesive or “sticky” hydrogel that aids in retaining the plug in place within the puncture. |
| US09687214B2 |
Ultrasonic measuring device, program, and method of controlling ultrasonic measuring device
An ultrasonic measuring device includes an ultrasonic transducer device, and a processing device that performs processing based on a reception signal from the ultrasonic transducer device. The processing device includes a data acquisition unit that, based on the reception signal, acquires 1st to K-th (K being an integer greater than or equal to 2) A-mode waveform data groups that correspond to cases where the direction of the scanning plane relative to a measurement location surface is 1st to K-th directions; a selection unit that selects a measurement result A-mode waveform data piece based on the 1st to K-th A-mode waveform data groups; and a notification control unit that generates notification data based on the at least one of the measurement result A-mode waveform data piece and a measurement result A-mode waveform data group that corresponds to the measurement result A-mode waveform data piece, and outputs the generated notification data. |
| US09687210B2 |
High volume rate 3D ultrasonic diagnostic imaging of the heart
A 3D ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces 3D cardiac images at a 3D frame rate of display which is equal to the acquisition rate of a 3D image dataset. The volumetric cardiac region being imaged is sparsely sub-sampled by separated scanning beams. Spatial locations between the beams are filled in with interpolated values or interleaved with acquired data values from other 3D scanning intervals depending upon the existence of motion in the image field. A plurality of different beam scanning patterns are used, different ones of which have different spatial locations where beams are located and beams are omitted. A sequence of different beam scanline patterns may be continuously repeated, or the patterns of the sequence synchronized with the cardiac phases such that, over a sequence of N heartbeats, the same respective phase is scanned by N different scanline patterns. |
| US09687209B2 |
Invasive device positioning assembly
The present invention presents a positioning assembly to guide an invasive device toward a tissue object of a living body under ultrasonographic visualization. The positioning assembly is a part of an apparatus that controllably introduces an invasive device into a tissue object. The positioning assembly of the present invention is configured to improve on ultrasonographic guidance and to reduce chances of contamination of the apparatus. |
| US09687208B2 |
Method and system for recognizing physiological sound
A system for recognizing physiological sound comprises a receiving module, a feature extracting module, a classifier, and a comparing module. A method for recognizing physiological sound comprises receiving a physiological sound by the receiving module; extracting at least one feature from the physiological sound by the feature extraction module; classifying the at least one feature to identify at least one category by a classifier; and comparing the at least one category with a normal physiological sound and/or an abnormal physiological sound by the comparing module for evaluating a risk of disease. The method and system for recognizing physiological sound can precisely identify the specific physiological sound and exclude the noise. |
| US09687204B2 |
Method and system for registration of ultrasound and physiological models to X-ray fluoroscopic images
A method and system for registering ultrasound images and physiological models to x-ray fluoroscopy images is disclosed. A fluoroscopic image and an ultrasound image, such as a Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) image, are received. A 2D location of an ultrasound probe is detected in the fluoroscopic image. A 3D pose of the ultrasound probe is estimated based on the detected 2D location of the ultrasound probe in the fluoroscopic image. The ultrasound image is mapped to a 3D coordinate system of a fluoroscopic image acquisition device used to acquire the fluoroscopic image based on the estimated 3D pose of the ultrasound probe. The ultrasound image can then be projected into the fluoroscopic image using a projection matrix associated with the fluoroscopic image. A patient specific physiological model can be detected in the ultrasound image and projected into the fluoroscopic image. |
| US09687202B2 |
Medical x-ray imaging apparatus
The invention relates to a medical x-ray imaging apparatus which is specifically designed for enabling three-dimensional imaging of relatively small volumes from the area of extremities of a patient. The apparatus includes a support construction (1) supporting a substantially ring-shaped structure (2), an O-arm (2), which in turn supports imaging means (21, 22) and which O-arm (2) is arranged with an examination opening (4). The imaging means (21, 22) are arranged movable within the O-arm (2). A positioning support (8) is arranged in connection with said examination opening (4) whose location with respect to the O-arm (2) is arranged adjustable. Preferably the apparatus comprises a control system comprising a control function for moving the positioning support (8) in a first direction at a first speed within the area of the examination opening (4) and for simultaneously moving the O-arm (2) with respect to its support construction (1) substantially at said first speed in substantially opposite direction than said first direction. |
| US09687199B2 |
Medical imaging system providing disease prognosis
A medical imaging system that processes input data (imaging and/or non imaging) having high dimensionality and few samples to learn from, by using multiple ranks of machine learning modules each dealing with a separate portion of the clinical data. The outputs of the individual machine learning modules are the combined to provide a result reflective of the complete image data set. |
| US09687198B2 |
Method for data oscillator detection using frictionally damped harmonic oscillators
A system and method for time-frequency analysis in which acquired signals are modeled as frictionally damped harmonic oscillators having a friction factor that is not a free parameter are provided. The friction factor is selected as a function of the frequency value of the associated oscillator, such that an increase in both temporal and spectral resolution are provided over existing time-frequency analysis methods. The friction factor is also selected to define a spectral band, within which the given oscillator can detect data oscillations. The properly selected friction factor thereby provides the analysis over a broad spectral range that can span many orders of magnitude. |
| US09687196B2 |
Electrically conductive balloon catheter
A balloon catheter having a mesh affixed thereto. The mesh is formed having members extending longitudinally and circumferentially about the balloon into columns and rows respectively. Each member of the mesh has a resistance or impedance that changes as the member is deformed such that, when the member comprises a length (L) a measured resistance or impedance will be different than when the member comprise a length (L1) where L1 is greater than L. |
| US09687187B2 |
Method and system for assessment of cognitive function based on mobile device usage
A system and method that enables a person to unobtrusively assess their cognitive function from mobile device usage. The method records on the mobile device the occurrence and timing of user events comprising the opening and closing of applications resident on the device, the characters inputted, touch-screen gestures made, and voice inputs used on those applications, performs the step of learning a function mapping from the mobile device recordings to measurements of cognitive function that uses a loss function to determine relevant features in the recording, identifies a set of optimal weights that produce a minimum of the loss function, creates a function mapping using the optimal weights, and performs the step of applying the learned function mapping to a new recording on the mobile device to compute new cognitive function values. |
| US09687184B2 |
Safety blood collection assembly with indicator
A needle assembly is disclosed. The needle assembly includes a housing having a flash chamber, and having a distal end and a proximal end engageable with a specimen collection container. The assembly includes a cannula having a patient end, a non-patient end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining a cannula interior. The patient end of the cannula projects at least partially from the distal end of the housing, and the cannula interior is in fluid communication with the flash chamber. The assembly further includes a shield restrainably engaged with a portion of the housing and axially transitionable over the patient cannula from a retracted position in which the patient end is exposed, to an extended position in which the patient end is shielded by at least a portion of the shield, wherein at least a portion of the flash chamber is visible in the retracted position. |
| US09687183B2 |
Medical device inserters and processes of inserting and using medical devices
An apparatus for insertion of a medical device in the skin of a subject is provided, as well as methods of inserting medical devices. |
| US09687178B2 |
Micromachined fluid flow regulating device
A micromachined fluid flow regulating device is disclosed comprising a fluid flow channel, at least one flow orifice formed in the channel, defining an inlet portion of the channel upstream of the flow orifice, an outlet portion of the channel downstream of the flow orifice, the fluid having a flow direction from the inlet portion to the outlet portion of the channel. At least one piston is arranged upstream of the flow orifice, movably suspended in the channel by a spring means such that the piston is movable by the fluid in the flow direction of the fluid, towards the flow orifice, to regulate a fluid flow through the flow orifice. The disclosure further relates to the use of a micromachined flow regulating device in a breath analysis device and to a method of fabricating a flow regulating device. |
| US09687173B2 |
Coil pad, vibrator, and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
A coil pad according to one embodiment is a coil pad that is placed between a receiving coil and a subject. The receiving coil is mounted on the subject and receives a magnetic resonance signal emitted from the subject. The coil pad includes a pad opening and a vibrating portion. The pad opening is aligned with a coil opening included in the receiving coil and forms a through-hole between the coil opening and the subject. The vibrating portion vibrates with a medium that transmits vibration being filled therein. |
| US09687171B2 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a trigger generating unit, a blood flow image generating unit and a control unit. The trigger generating unit acquires blood flow information of an object and generates a trigger based on the blood flow information. The blood flow image generating unit acquires imaging data with using the trigger and generates blood flow image data. The control unit controls so as to repeatedly perform a probe sequence for acquiring the blood flow information and an imaging sequence for acquiring the imaging data alternately. |
| US09687170B2 |
System and method for performing magnetic resonance imaging scan operations from within a scan room
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes an imaging assembly located in a scan room and a controller coupled to the imaging assembly and located in a separate control room. A display is coupled to the controller and located in the scan room. The display is configured to display at least one graphical user interface relating to the set up of a patient and a scan for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exam. An input device is also located in the scan room and is coupled to the display and the controller. The input device is configured to receive data regarding the set up of a patient and a scan for the MRI exam. |
| US09687167B2 |
Medical devices for mapping cardiac tissue
Medical devices and methods for making and using medical devices are disclosed. A method of mapping electrical activity of a heart may comprise sensing a plurality of signals with a plurality of electrodes positioned within the heart. The method may further comprise separating the plurality of signals into a first group of signals and a second group of signals, and generating a data set that includes at least one known data point and one or more unknown data points. In some examples, the at least one known data point is generated based on the first group of signals. |
| US09687165B2 |
Apparatus and method for electrocardiographic monitoring
In various examples, an apparatus includes an apparatus configured for implantation within a body of a patient. The apparatus, in some examples, includes a housing. At least one antenna extends from the housing, the antenna being flexible such that the antenna conforms to the body of the patient. In some examples, the apparatus includes at least three electrodes, wherein at least a first electrode is disposed on the antenna and at least a second electrode is disposed on the housing. The at least three electrodes are disposed in a non-linear configuration, allowing for differential processing of signals recorded by the at least three electrodes. |
| US09687162B2 |
Monitoring device and method for estimating blood constituent concentration for tissues with low perfusion
The present disclosure relates to a method for estimating blood constituent concentration of a user under low perfusion conditions using a spectrophotometry-based monitoring device; the method comprising: measuring a plurality of photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals; measuring a cardio-synchronous (CV) signal; detecting an instantaneous heart rate and determining a heart rate variability from the CV signal; selecting reliable projected PPG signals; estimating a value of said blood constituent concentration from the magnitude of said reliable projected PPG signals. The disclosed method requires diminished computational load compared to conventional methods based on frequency domain approach as FFT or DCT. The disclosure also pertains to a monitoring device for estimating blood constituent concentration in tissue under low perfusion of a user. |
| US09687159B2 |
Systems and methods for determining physiological information by identifying fiducial points in a physiological signal
A patient monitoring system may generate a derivative signal from a physiological signal. The derivative signal may be filtered based on a pulse rate estimate associated with the physiological signal. A plurality of crossing points may be determined for the filtered derivative signal and translated to the derivative signal. A plurality of fiducial points may be determined for the derivative signal based on the plurality of crossing points. The plurality of fiducial points may be utilized to determine physiological information from the physiological signal. |
| US09687158B2 |
Fluorescence observation apparatus
Provided is a fluorescence observation apparatus including a light source; a section generating a fluorescence image of an object; a section generating a reference image of the object; a section generating a corrected image in which emphasized are pixels of the reference image corresponding to pixels each having luminance value equal to or more than a first threshold value in the fluorescence image; a display unit displaying the reference image or the corrected image; a bleeding state determining section determining whether or not a bleeding region of the subject detected based on the reference image is more than a predetermined range; and a section switching between displaying the reference image on the display unit if the determining section determines that the region is not more than the range, and displaying the corrected on the image display if the determining section determines that the region is more than the range. |
| US09687157B2 |
Systems and methods for endoscopic angle-resolved low coherence interferometry
A method of assessing tissue health comprises the steps of obtaining depth-resolved spectra of a selected area of in vivo tissue, and assessing the health of the selected area based on the depth-resolved structural information of the scatterers. Obtaining depth-resolved spectra of the selected area comprises directing a sample beam towards the selected area at an angle, and receiving an angle-resolved scattered sample beam. The angle-resolved scattered sample beam is cross-correlated with the reference beam to produce an angle-resolved cross-correlated signal about the selected area, which is spectrally dispersed to yield an angle-resolved, spectrally-resolved cross-correlation profile having depth-resolved information about the selected area. The angle-resolved, spectrally-resolved cross-correlation profile is processed to obtain depth-resolved information about scatterers in the selected area. |
| US09687155B2 |
System, method and application for skin health visualization and quantification
The present invention is a system, method and application for skin health visualization and quantification. The present invention is operable to process an image or video showing skin of a subject to determine characteristics of the skin through a quantitative measuring of parameters. The image or video is processed and analyzed a software application executed by a system incorporating a computer processor, data storage and display unit. A camera may further be integrated system. One or more filters applied to the image or video, to identify characteristics of the skin. A result of skin health results and overall skin health is generated. The image or video, skin health results and/or overall skin health may be displayed to a user. A visualization of amplifications or attenuations of skin health may further be displayed to a user. The invention may be wholly provided in a mobile device. |
| US09687153B2 |
Hemoglobin contrast in magneto-motive optical doppler tomography, optical coherence tomography, and ultrasound imaging methods and apparatus
Provided herein are systems, methods, and compositions for the use of optical coherence tomography for detection of cells. |
| US09687152B2 |
Apparatus and methods for multiphoton microscopy
A multiphoton microscope is provided. The microscope includes: an excitation source for providing an optical excitation beam at an excitation wavelength λ; a scanner for scanning the excitation beam on a sample; an objective for irradiating the sample with the excitation beam scanned by the scanner and for collecting an emission beam from the sample; a first detector for detecting a plurality of multiphoton signals; and an emission light path allowing transmission from the objective to the first detector a wavelength band limited to greater than or equal to λ/2 and less than λ, wherein the plurality of multiphoton signals have wavelengths within the wavelength band; wherein the plurality of multiphoton signals com-prises a first multiphoton signal and a second multiphoton signal of different types. Fast image capture rate multiphoton microscopes for in vivo imaging, as well as photothermolysis methods using the microscopes are also provided. |
| US09687148B2 |
Photographing apparatus and photographing method
The present invention provides an ophthalmological apparatus capable of displaying a plurality of fundus tomographic images. A photographing apparatus includes a fundus imaging unit adapted to capture a fundus image of a subject's eye, a scanning unit adapted to scan a desired position of the fundus of the subject's eye to capture tomographic images of the subject's eye, a measuring unit adapted to measure movement amounts of the fundus of the subject's eye by performing pattern matching between a plurality of feature points in the acquired fundus image and feature points in another fundus image newly acquired at a different time, and a control unit adapted to control the scanning unit based on the measured movement amounts. |
| US09687141B2 |
Laryngoscope with means to restrict re-use of blades
A medical device for carrying out internal examination, such as laryngoscopes, has a body including a transmitter and receiver, and a blade portion including a receiver and transmitter. The transmitters and receivers are used to provide an indication of whether or not a particular blade portion has already been attached to a body portion previously. |
| US09687139B2 |
Method and a device for controlled dosing of treating compositions in washing machines
The present invention provides a method of dispensing a plurality of treating compositions into a multistage automatic washing machine, as well as a dispensing device comprising an associated reservoir for collection of wash liquor and at least two chambers containing a treating composition. Said chambers are activated in response to an input from a sensor. |
| US09687137B2 |
Diverter for selective fluid flow in a dishwashing appliance
A diverter for a dishwasher appliance that can be used to provide more options for directing fluid among various spray arms or spray devices in a dishwasher appliance. The diverter can be used e.g., to select between fluid delivery to both the upper and lower spray arm assemblies or to both the upper and middle spray arm assemblies. |
| US09687133B2 |
Pressing spray mop
A pressing spray mop includes a mop rod, a mop head, a water tank seat, a spray mechanism installed at the water tank seat, and a water tank installed on the water tank seat. The water tank seat includes a hollow housing, and two support half casings encapsulating the spray mechanism after having been joggled and placed in the hollow housing, and forming a movement space corresponding to a water drawing member of the spray mechanism. The hollow housing includes a through connecting hole disposed correspondingly to the movement space. The mop rod includes a rod body, a penetration opening disposed on the rod body, and a pressing pin extended into the movement space via the through connecting hole. The pressing pin is driven and displaced by the mop rod in the movement space and presses the water drawing member to cause the spray mechanism to perform spraying. |
| US09687127B2 |
Self-propelled vacuum cleaner
Provided is a self-propelled vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing that has an net formed on a lower surface and an exhaust port formed at one of left and right sides at a rear part and that can be self-propelled; and a dust-catching part provided between the inlet and the exhaust port through a ventilation path, wherein the dust-catching part includes a dust box disposed at the side of the net and an electrically powered fan disposed at the side of the exhaust port, the dust box and the electrically powered fan being configured to be separable. |
| US09687124B1 |
Multi-purpose bathroom valet
A multi-purpose free standing floor rack designed to hold a plurality of items in the bathroom and consists of a vertical upright standing frame, two u-shaped openings as the base for support and are configured for conveniently storing magazines or tablets. A u-shaped opening and a wire mesh basket attached in the middle portion. A wire mesh shelf attached at the bottom and in the middle to store extra rolls of toilet paper or a cell phone. A protruding rod attached between the middle and the top portion that holds the roll of toilet paper in use. A concaved round plate attached on the top for holding a cup of coffee or other beverages. |
| US09687123B2 |
Personal hygiene devices
The present invention discloses personal hygiene device or cleaning devices and cleaning apparatuses. The cleaning devices include an elongate member, at least one housing coupled to a proximal end of the elongate member, at least one agitation mechanism movably coupled to the at least one housing, and a cleaning device removably coupled to the at least one housing. The cleaning apparatuses include a cleaning portion, a first attachment portion at a first end of the cleaning portion, and a second attachment portion at a second end of the cleaning portion. Methods of using the cleaning devices are also disclosed. |
| US09687122B2 |
Mini pump with compressible air inlet chamber for providing residual suck-back
Exemplary dispensers, pumps and refill units are disclosed herein. An exemplary refill unit includes a container and a foam pump. The foam pump includes a liquid pump chamber, a compressible air inlet chamber and a compressed air inlet. The volume of the compressible air inlet chamber is less than the volume of air used to make a dose of foam. A one-way air inlet valve is located proximate the compressed air inlet. A piston is included that is movable within the liquid pump chamber and has a liquid seal member and an air seal member. The liquid pump chamber includes a liquid outlet into a center portion of the piston. One or more openings extend through the piston wall and provide a passage from the compressible air chamber to the center portion of the piston. The pump further includes mix media and an outlet. |
| US09687117B1 |
Medicine cabinet organizer device
A medicine cabinet organizer device includes a housing that is substantially rectangularly box shaped. The housing has a front, which is open. Slits and slots are positioned in a top of the housing. The slits and slots extend from a front edge to proximate to a back edge of the top. Fasteners are coupled to a back of the housing and are configured to couple the housing to a medicine cabinet. Pegs are positioned on opposing sides of the housing and are configured for the user to hang items. Each slit is configured for insertion of a bottom end of a tube such that the tube is retained in a cap down position substantially within the housing. Each slot is configured for insertion of a handle of a toothbrush such that a head of the toothbrush is positioned above the top of the housing. |
| US09687116B1 |
Toothbrush holder and organizer
A device and method to organize a plurality of toothbrushes to promote sanitary toothbrush drying and storing. This device allows the user to insert a toothbrush into the holder after use. The user will align the bristles of the toothbrush so that the bristle portion of the brush is facing down and plumb relative the horizon to allow the toothbrush to air-dry. The holder can be configured with multiple receiver members to store multiple toothbrushes while preventing cross-contamination. One embodiment features a toothbrush holder affixed to a wall while a second embodiment features a freestanding toothbrush holder. This device may also incorporate a cup holder, or a loop portion with an aperture disposed therein. The base of the holder may take various shapes and sizes. The holder may be flush-mounted, or may feature a mounting offset between the mounted surface and the receiver plate to aid in securing the toothbrush. |
| US09687115B1 |
Representative, contaminant and temperature protective food cover set
A novel food serving and storage set including cover formed to be similar to and of realistic size, shape and color for the food in which it is covering, an accompanying complimentary receiving unit that has a vertical raised lip around its edge for the cover to fit exactly on top. The receiving unit has a flat peripheral area surrounding a depression in its center on which food may rest directly or indirectly. The food can rest on a separate removable disc which fits on top of the receiving unit in order to separate any elements in the receiving unit's depression (e.g. a cooling or warming element) from the food. Attached to the lower outer and upper inner rims of the cover and receiving unit respectively is a non-slip lining that creates an airtight seal allowing this system to store food for an extended time. |
| US09687113B2 |
Cutting board assembly
A cutting board assembly that includes a tray and a cutting board member. The tray has a reservoir area. The cutting board member is configured to be at least partially positioned inside the reservoir area. The cutting board member has a cutting surface and at least one through-hole. Liquid on the cutting surface flows therefrom through the through-hole(s) and collects in the reservoir area of the tray. The cutting board member may have one or more channels configured to channel the liquid toward the through-hole(s). Each of the one or more channels may be tapered to help direct the liquid. Together the channel(s) and the through-hole(s) may completely surround the cutting surface. The tray may include one or more pouring grooves or spouts through which the liquid in the reservoir area may be poured therefrom. |
| US09687112B2 |
Utensil with grip feature
A utensil for other use in the kitchen or similar venues configured with two side portions and a flexible middle portion formed to bend away from the adjacent side portions. The utensil includes a handle and at least one finger tab extending above and below the middle portion that allow the user to push the middle portion above or below the adjacent side portions and to lock utensil in an open position. The side and middle portions may be configured as a plurality of fork tines or the side and middle portions may be configured as substantially square (rectangular) supports resembling a spatula. Alternatively, the utensil is configured as two separate “L” shaped portions. The combination of the handle, the finger tabs and relatively movable portions allow a user of the utensil to grip food or other items with the utensil. |
| US09687111B1 |
Vacuum blender
A vacuum blender having a vessel, a motor base containing a motor having a motor drive shaft, a blade holder having a blade with a blade shaft for engaging the motor drive shaft, and a fan connected to the motor drive shaft. The blender includes a conduit system for the passage of air from the vessel to an area in proximity to the fan before passing to the outside of the motor base. The conduit system is connected to a valve system, preferably including a three way valve or Venturi valve. The fan and blade are capable of being selectively actuated using a gear or clutch system, preferably operated by firmware. The invention is capable of evacuating air from the vessel before blending of the food contents occurs. |
| US09687110B2 |
Pancake maker apparatus, methods and systems
A cooking apparatus includes first and second griddles, each having a generally planar cooking surface for cooking food. A first lifting mechanism is configured to elevate the first griddle such that a food item on the cooking surface of the first griddle is predisposed to fall onto the cooking surface of the second griddle. A first wiper is configured to sweep the cooking surface of the first griddle to facilitate detachment of any food item attached to the cooking surface of the first griddle for transfer such food item to the cooking surface of the second griddle. The first and second griddles, first lifting mechanism, and first wiper are interconnected preferably to form a portable, integrated cooking product. These components preferably are enclosed within a housing for presenting a refined consumer product for use in a home kitchen and are arranged so as to define a compact volume and footprint. |
| US09687106B2 |
Beverage makers with interchangeable components
Embodiments of the present invention provide beverage makers and their ability to be made modular, such that the beverage maker may brew beverages using interchangeable components. One embodiment relates to an espresso maker that can brew a coffee or espresso beverage using different types of modules. |
| US09687105B2 |
Insulated multifunctional portable beverage brewing device
A portable insulated beverage brewing device 10 for liquids and gravity fed method for brewing. A device 10, with lid 14 and vessel 12, may house insulation 52A and 52B, liner reservoir 50A and 50B, and filter 28 to brew hot or cold liquids and contain hot or cold liquids for controlled dispensing 26. A large capacity filter 28 secures inside the vessel 12 accepting brew mixtures for gravity fed brewing method. |
| US09687104B2 |
Circulator cooker
A sous-vide circulator cooker for home sous-vide cooking. The sous-vide circulator cooker is particularly suited for use in home kitchens and on small countertops. The sous-vide circulator cooker includes a detachable stainless steel skirt which allows for cleaning the skirt itself and cleaning of a heater and pump covered by the skirt. The provision of a stainless steel skirt can also act to ensure that no plastic components are directly wetted during use of the cooker. In at least one embodiment, the sous-vide circulator cooker's removable skirt also exposes the water pump impellers allow users to clean out food and debris. |
| US09687101B2 |
Adjustable tree collar
A tree collar includes a sleeve formed into a frusto-conical shape and having an inner facing surface, an outer facing surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, a first end and a second end. The first and second ends overlap each other to adjust a diameter of the sleeve and a length of the band at the top edge is less than a length of the band at the bottom edge. A first clasp secures a portion of the top edge of the sleeve to a different portion of the top edge of the sleeve. A second clasp secures a portion of the bottom edge of the sleeve to a different portion of the bottom edge of the sleeve. |
| US09687098B1 |
Server tray support
A server tray attachment and server tray is provided. The server tray attachment includes a base having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a first end and a second end opposite the first end. At least one suction cup is secured to the upper surface of the base. An arm support is secured to the lower surface near the first end. The arm support includes a first leg and a second leg sized to fit a user's arm therebetween. A handle is secured to the lower surface near the second end. |
| US09687096B2 |
Container
Container for drinking glasses includes a foot, in particular for sparkling wine glasses, and a base body. The base body includes a bottom and first and second side walls extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom, retaining means for retaining the feet of the drinking glasses is associated with at least one side wall, and the retaining means is embodied and arranged such that in a transport position the drinking glasses are supported by the bottom and extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container, and the bottom includes at least one folding line extending in the longitudinal direction of the bottom and the bottom is foldable along the at least one folding line such that in a presentation position the drinking glasses have a substantially upright position and are supported by the side walls. |
| US09687094B2 |
Mug stacking device
Methods and apparatus are provided for a platform adapted to fit atop a first drinking container and provide a stable surface for securely supporting a second drinking container stacked atop the first. In one exemplary embodiment the platform is a flat circular plate bounded at a perimeter edge by a first cylindrical wall on one side of the plate and a second cylindrical wall on the other side of the plate. The cylindrical walls may each include a cut-out to provide clearance for a handle on one of the drinking containers. |
| US09687089B2 |
Insulated foam panels for refrigerated display cases
An insulated foam panel for a refrigerated display case is presented. The insulated foam panel may include a polyurethane foam core, a number of polystyrene support rails surrounding the polyurethane foam core in whole or in part, and a pair of liners positioned about the polyurethane foam core. |
| US09687088B2 |
Deflector for display cases
Display cases may include deflectors and fans. The deflectors may alter air currents generated by fans to provide an air current to display portions of the display case. In some implementations, the altered air current may have a first portion with a velocity that is greater than a velocity of a second portion, where the first portion is closer to a display portion of the display case. |
| US09687083B1 |
Child transportation accessory
A child car seat accessory removably mounted to a car seat or stroller using a plurality of straps that cooperate together to serve as carrying straps and to securely envelope a child during transportation between a stroller and a child car seat, or vice versa. The accessory includes padding where a child is positioned to enhance the child's comfort and is made of a lightweight flexible material that makes it easy to store and use. The accessory can be rolled into a compact configuration to provide an ergonomic means to store and transport the present invention. |
| US09687079B1 |
Back support assembly for the back of a chair
A back support assembly for the back of a chair that rocks back and forth. The back of the chair includes a front that is spaced from and pivotally coupled to a rear. The front of the chair back is rotatable towards and away from the back of a user. A back support pushing arm within the back of the chair is pivotally coupled to the rear of the chair back and rotatable between a first position at which to apply a pushing force against the front of the chair back when the chair rocks forwards and a second position when the user leans back, the chair rocks backwards, and the front of the chair rotates towards the rear. A force generating strap within the chair back contacts and urges the back support pushing arm to rotate to the first position lying against the front of the chair back. |
| US09687071B2 |
Tufting tool and brush making machine
A tufting tool for tufting and fastening clusters of bristles in bristle holes in a contoured surface of or oblique holes in a brush body. The tufting tool has a tool head displaceable along the tufting axis between a receiving and a tufting position. The tool head has two guide jaws which are displaceable relative to each other during displacement of the tool head. To relatively displace the guide jaws, the tool has a reversing lever connected to the tool head and a deflecting guide for the reversing lever, arranged at an angle of deflection with respect to the tufting axis. The guide jaws are coupled together via the reversing lever in such a manner and the reversing lever is guided such that an adjustment of the tool head into the tufting position advances one guide jaw in the tufting direction and retracts the other guide jaw counter to the tufting direction. |
| US09687068B2 |
Handle for plastic grocery bags or the like and related system
A handle for one or more plastic grocery bags or the like includes a base and first and second arms. The base is generally planar base and extends along a longitudinal axis. The first and second arms extend from the base and each include an arcuate portion proximate the base and a flange extending from the arcuate portion. The arcuate portions of the first and second arms cooperatively define a generally circular opening for receiving at least one plastic bag handle and the flanges are spaced apart from one another proximate the first and second arms to define a gap for permitting the at least one plastic bag handle to enter the generally circular opening. |
| US09687065B2 |
Support frame
According to the support frame of the present invention, a user can simultaneously fix legs at different angles by moving up a fixing member by an operation of the user, so the support frame can be stably installed on an uneven ground. |
| US09687062B2 |
Checkpoint-friendly backpack
A checkpoint-friendly backpack for allowing a laptop computer stored in a dedicated portion thereof to provide a clear, unobstructed, and distinct image thereof when X-ray screened at an inspection station without having to remove the laptop computer from the dedicated portion. The backpack includes a dedicated compartment and a non-dedicated compartment. The non-dedicated compartment stores items other than the laptop computer. The dedicated compartment stores only the laptop computer itself, is hingedly attached to the non-dedicated compartment at a common edge, is free of metallic snaps, zippers, and buckles, is free of pockets, and has a non-screening mode where it is replaceably fastened in side-by-side relationship to the non-dedicated compartment by a non-metallic zipper so as to facilitate unfastening the dedicated compartment from the non-dedicated compartment, and a screening mode where it is unfastened from the non-dedicated compartment and unfolded therefrom to lie unobstructed, flat, and substantially coplanar with the non-dedicated compartment on the inspection station so as to allow the laptop computer stored in the dedicated compartment to provide the clear, unobstructed, and distinct image thereof when X-ray screened at the inspection station without having to remove the laptop computer from the dedicated compartment. |
| US09687058B2 |
Hand held appliance
Disclosed is a hand held appliance comprising a handle having an inner wall and an outer wall extending along and around the inner wall wherein the inner wall comprises a plurality of perforations extending at least partially along the inner wall. Perforations of the outer wall are spaced from the perforations of the inner wall. The inner wall and/or outer wall may comprise a plurality of perforations extending at least partially around the inner wall. The outer wall may comprise a plurality of perforations extending at least partially along the outer wall. The handle may comprise a first end and a second end. The inner wall may have a first end and a second end and the inner wall may extend from the first end of the handle towards the second end of the handle. Also disclosed is a hairdryer. |
| US09687056B2 |
Systems, devices and methods for styling hair
An apparatus for styling hair includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode. An electrolyte reservoir can be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and is configured to maintain a volume of an electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode. A control module is electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. The control module is operable to bias the first electrode at a first potential and the second electrode at a second potential to create an electrical potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrical potential difference is configured to produce an electrolysis zone in the electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolysis zone is configured to style hair disposed in the electrolysis zone between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US09687053B2 |
Automatic umbrella
Provided is an automatic umbrella including an umbrella shaft which includes a grip portion for allowing a user to grip, at one end according to a longitudinal direction, a plurality of main ribs pivotably coupled with the other end of the umbrella shaft and spaced apart along a circumferential direction of the umbrella shaft, an elevating body slidably installed at the umbrella shaft according to the longitudinal direction, a plurality of sub ribs with both ends pivotably coupled with the main ribs and the elevating body, an umbrella canvas coupled with the main ribs to be supported, and an operation unit which moves the elevating body to the other end of the umbrella shaft to unfold the umbrella shaft when the umbrella shaft tilts to locate the other end to be above the one end of the umbrella shaft and moves the elevating body to the one end of the umbrella shaft to fold the umbrella shaft when the umbrella shaft tilts to locate the one end to be above the other end of the umbrella shaft. |
| US09687052B2 |
Resizable ring
An adjustable ring is constructed from a first material to form at least a portion of a substantially circular shape. The first material includes two first C-shaped distal halves, and two second C-shaped proximate halves, and each of the halves arranged together to form a vertically bisected O-shape with a top portion removed defining a first arcuate void portion and a bottom portion removed defining a second arcuate void portion. The ring also includes a second material created to fit inside each of the two first and two second C-shaped halves of the first material to form a substantially circular shape defining an inner diameter for a given ring size. The second material includes at least one stress relief point and at least one size bar formed therewith. The second material is created to fit inside the first material using one or more of casting, co-casting, machining, forging, and stamping. |
| US09687051B2 |
Resin slider for slide fasteners and slide fastener provided therewith
Provided is a polyamide resin slider for a slide fastener which provides both strength and durability. The slider material is a polyamide resin composition that includes an aliphatic polyamide having a melting point of 220° C. to 310° C., an aromatic polyamide having a melting point of 230° C. to 310° C., and reinforced fiber; wherein the ratio of the aromatic polyamide present in the summed mass of the aliphatic polyamide and the aromatic polyamide is greater than or equal to 10% by weight and less than or equal to 50% by weight. |
| US09687047B1 |
Suicide prevention laces
A lace product for threading into a shoe or garment including: a plurality of single eyelet laces, a spine, stitching securing each of the plurality of single eyelet laces to the spine such that the single eyelet laces cannot be separated from the spine with a force of less than 400 lbs. |
| US09687044B2 |
Footwear with sole structure incorporating lobed fluid-filled chamber with protruding end wall portions
A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a fluid-filled chamber component having a central portion, a plurality of lobes extending outward from the central portion, and a plurality of channels formed between the plurality of lobes. The structure also includes a midsole component inter-fitted with the plurality of lobes of the fluid-filled chamber and having a plurality of projections extending through the plurality of channels of the fluid-filled chamber component. The midsole component forms a portion of a peripheral side surface of the sole structure. At least a first lobe of the plurality of lobes has an exposed distal end wall and includes a projecting portion that extends further outward from the central portion of the fluid-filled chamber component than the portion of the peripheral side surface of the sole structure formed by the midsole component. The exposed distal end wall also includes a faceted surface. |
| US09687043B2 |
Shoe sole simulating a hoof
A tread has a contour simulative of a horse hoof. A central recess is surrounded by a side wall forming the top and side edges of the tread. The side wall has in-turned ends that extend into the central recess. The in-turned ends taper in both height and width to their distal ends. A V-shaped protrusion is formed at a bottom of the tread and a curved surface transitions from the tread to the midsole. A tear drop shaped recess is formed in the V-shaped protrusion. The top of the V-shaped protrusion and top of the side wall are coplanar. |
| US09687040B2 |
Footwear with air permeable layer and air permeable portion in a lower peripheral area of the upper arrangement
A footwear (10) comprises an upper arrangement (20) and a sole (30), in which the upper arrangement (20) comprises an upper material (12) comprising in a lower peripheral area at least one air permeable portion (14), an air-permeable layer (16) arranged in a lower area of the upper arrangement (20) on the sole side above the sole (30), wherein the air-permeable layer (16) is water vapor permeable and has a three-dimensional structure that permits passage of air at least in the horizontal direction; and at least one water vapor permeable functional layer (18) arranged on an inner side of the upper material (12) and above the air-permeable layer (16). The at least one air permeable portion (14) enables the air permeable layer (16) to communicate with the outer surroundings such that air is exchanged between the outer surroundings and the air permeable layer (16), said air permeable portion (14) further enables the water vapor permeable functional layer (18) to communicate with the outer surroundings such that water vapor is transported from an inner side of the functional layer (18) to the outer surroundings. A water vapor permeable first protective layer (22) is arranged between the air permeable portion (14) and the functional layer (18) in at least an area of the air permeable portion (14) above the air-permeable layer (16), wherein the first protective layer (22) is adapted for protecting the functional layer (18) against particles penetrating through the air permeable portion (14). |
| US09687034B2 |
Heated gloves
A heated glove in which air warmed by a heat pack insert is circulated to the glove finger and thumb pockets by a pumping arrangement to warm a wearer's fingers and thumb. |
| US09687033B2 |
Leg mobility assistive garment
An assistive garment for aiding in reorientation of the lower limbs of a wearer has a pair of trouser legs, each of which is dimensioned to encompass at least a portion of a respective lower limb of the wearer. A bridge extends between the pair of trouser legs and is joined to each leg of the pair. A handle extends from the bridge. The handle is adapted to permit manipulation of the lower limbs of the wearer by way of manipulation of the handle using at least one upper limb of the wearer. |
| US09687029B2 |
Electronic cigarette with multiple atomizer assemblies
An electronic cigarette with multiple atomizing assemblies is provided. The atomizing assembly includes a first atomizing device and a second atomizing device. When the cigarette liquid is atomized by the first atomizing device, the smoke generated by the first atomizing device generally contains large particles of the cigarette liquid that have been not sufficiently. The large particles of the cigarette liquid that have been not sufficiently atomized are delivered by the smoke towards the second atomizing device. When passing through the second atomizing device, the cigarette liquid that have been not sufficiently atomized is atomized again by the second atomizing device, thereby enabling the smoke to be more soft and smooth, subtly increasing the amount of the smoke, and preventing the user from sucking in large particles of the cigarette liquid that have been not sufficiently atomized. |
| US09687028B2 |
Electronic cigarette
Disclosed is an electronic cigarette including a suction part, an atomizer structure body, a liquid storing part, a main body including a switch, and a battery. In this case, the atomizer structure body includes a flexible nonflammable metal net, an absorption part configured to absorb a condensed liquid, a returning part configured to return and supply the condensed liquid, a crucible, and a liquid charging cap. |
| US09687027B2 |
Device for vaporizing liquid for inhalation
A device atomizes or vaporizes a liquid for inhalation. A housing has a proximal exit orifice that communicates with an intake orifice. A housing encompasses a reservoir containing a liquid. A wick has a first end in contact with the liquid and a second end that is exposed at an opening in the reservoir. A heater is disposed within housing in an air passage that communicates between the intake orifice and the proximal exit orifice. An actuator responds to a user of the device by placing the heater and the second end of the wick into proximity with the heater to vaporize the liquid. |
| US09687024B2 |
Smoking article and method of manufacturing a smoking article
Smoking article and method of manufacturing a smoking article A smoking article (10), comprises a first part, and a second part movable relative to the first part. An indexing mechanism comprises a first indexing surface (18) on one of the first part or second part; and a second indexing surface (19) on the other of the first and second parts. The second indexing surface (19) is configured to engage with the first indexing surface (18) to control relative movement between the first part and second part. |
| US09687023B2 |
Moist smokeless tobacco product for oral usage having on a portion of the outer surface at least one friction reducing strip that provides texture during use
A moist smokeless tobacco product for oral use comprises a pre-portioned piece of tobacco material semi-dissolvable, a super-hydrated membrane coating comprising a soluble, non-cross-linked component and an insoluble, cross-linked component, and a texture component. The tobacco material comprises moist smokeless tobacco. The texture component reduces the slipperiness and/or increases the friction of the moist smokeless tobacco product when placed in a user's mouth. |
| US09687021B2 |
Shed for curing and drying of tobacco and development and production of seedlings
This utility model relates to a shed for the air drying and curing of tobacco and the growth and production of seedlings, comprising: (i) a plurality of columns (2) which can be positioned at spaced intervals; (ii) a structure (4) mounted on the said columns; (iii) a removable flexible roof (5) stretched over the said structure (4); (iv) removable flexible side panels (3) extending between the said columns; (v) fixing elements (8) to attach the said side panels (3) and the flexible roof (5). |
| US09687020B2 |
Method for preparing an aromatic composition including a compound containing two solids having organoleptic properties
A method for preparing an aromatic pulverulent composition having a melting point Tf, comprising: i) feeding at least two pulverulent elementary solids having organoleptic properties into a mixer, whose chamber has been preheated beforehand to a temperature T lower than Tf, such solids being separately fed into the mixer; ii) mixing the pulverulent elementary solids in the mixer, in the absence of any external liquid phase, at a temperature T lower than Tf, at least one of the pulverulent elementary solids being fed into the mixer at a temperature Ti, such that the mixing occurs under isothermal conditions at a temperature set at such temperature T; and iii) recovering the aromatic pulverulent composition. This method is particularly suitable for preparing a composition essentially including a vanillin and ethylvanillin compound. |
| US09687015B2 |
Sweet flavor modifier
The present invention includes compounds having structural formula (Ia): or salts or solvates thereof. These compounds are useful as sweet flavor modifiers. The present invention also includes compositions comprising the present compounds and methods of modulating the sweet taste of compositions. |
| US09687013B2 |
Method for the manufacture of pre-rigor sausage
A method for economically retrieving pre-rigor lean and fat for pork sausage from a butcher hog; barrow (a male pig that has been castrated) or gilt (female pig less than six months old that has never been pregnant), (a pig approximately 285 lbs live weight, 6 months old and ready for market with no abnormalities). Retrieving pre-rigor pork sausage from a butcher hog is not known currently in the industry because the perception is that it is not economically feasible. The process technology as disclosed and claimed herein is a new method for economically retrieving and processing certain sections of a butcher hog for producing ground pork sausage while maintaining the value from the primal cuts. The ground pork sausage from this process has comparable texture, color, consistency and other characteristics as compared to the pork sausage retrieved from the older sows, which are typically utilized in industry. In the present technology as disclosed and claimed herein, the process harvests certain sections from butcher hogs at 1 hour to 1 hour and 45 minutes post mortem. The process harvests certain sections of the butcher hog pre-rigor meat including the picnic, jowl, cheek meat, temple, head back, pate and trace lean. |
| US09687008B1 |
Fish descaling tool
The fish descaling tool is adapted for use with a fish. Specifically, the fish descaling tool is a hand held device that is designed to remove scales from fish. The fish descaling tool is an electrically powered device that rotates a scaling cylinder in such a manner that the scaling cylinder will remove the scales of the fish without damaging the underlying flesh of the fish. The fish descaling tool comprises a scaling cylinder, a hood, a handle, a motor, and a power source. |
| US09687003B1 |
Stunner
A catch engagable with a catch pivot ring for capturing and releasing a stunning rod moveable along a longitudinal axis in a pneumatic animal stunner for stunning an animal. The catch comprises a plurality of arcuate sections substantially forming a cylinder, each arcuate section having a forward end and a rearward end. The catch includes an inner wall toward the longitudinal axis and an outer wall away from the longitudinal axis. The catch includes a flange at the rearward end of the arcuate section extending outwardly directly from the outer wall and away from the longitudinal axis and a lip at the forward end of the arcuate section extending inwardly from the inner wall and toward the longitudinal axis. Each of the arcuate section flanges is engagable with an inner lip of the catch pivot ring allowing the arcuate sections to pivot about the catch pivot ring inner lip. |
| US09687000B2 |
Plant growth-promoting microbes and uses therefor
Microbial strains, compositions, and methods of use thereof to enhance the growth and/or yield of a plant are provided. Also provided are materials and methods for presenting, inhibiting, or treating the development of plant pathogens or phytopathogenic diseases. The disclosure also provides non-naturally occurring plant and derivatives thereof such as plants artificially infected with a microbial strain of the invention. |
| US09686999B2 |
Strain of Bacillus subtilis for combating plant diseases
The present invention relates to an isolated strain of Bacillus subtilis (IAB/BS/03) deposited at the DSM German Type Culture Collection under Access No DSM 24682, or a mutant of said strain, and also deposited at the Spanish type culture collection under Access number CECT 7254, the property of the company filing the patent, in which said strain and/or the mutant thereof exhibits antifungal and antibacterial activity, with a profile of action different from that of other strains of Bacillus subtilis and with much greater potency in terms of the capacity thereof to act as a field biological control agent. The invention also includes methods for preventing and treating fungal and bacterial diseases in plants using said bacterial strains or supernatants containing antibiotics or pure antibiotics obtained from said bacterial strains, in which said antibiotics are contained in a composition. |
| US09686994B2 |
Use of ALS inhibitor herbicides for control of unwanted vegetation in ALS inhibitor herbicide tolerant beta vulgaris plants
The present invention relates to the use of the ALS inhibitor herbicides for controlling unwanted vegetation in ALS inhibitor herbicide tolerant Beta vulgaris plants, more especially, present invention relates to the use of ALS inhibitor herbicides for control of unwanted vegetation in Beta vulgaris, preferably in sugar beet growing areas in which the Beta vulgaris, preferably sugar beet comprise mutations in the ALS gene where the tryptophan at position 569 in the encoded ALS enzyme is substituted by another amino acid (preferably by leucine), and a mutation in the ALS gene where the proline at position 188 in the encoded ALS enzyme is substituted by another amino acid (preferably by serine). |
| US09686991B2 |
Antiparasitic compounds
The present invention relates to isothiazoline compounds of formula (I). The compounds are useful for combating or controlling invertebrate pests, in particular arthropod pests and nematodes. The invention also relates to a method for controlling invertebrate pests by using these compounds and to veterinary compositions comprising said compounds. |
| US09686987B2 |
Method for inhibiting conidial germination and mycelial growth of fungi symbiotically associated with bark beetles
A method for controlling conidial germination and mycelial growth in fungi comprising contacting a fungal cell with anti-fungal small molecules in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit conidial germination and mycelial growth. A method for controlling bark beetle infestations of pine trees comprising contacting one or more fungal cells with anti-fungal small molecules in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit conidial germination and mycelial growth. The anti-fungal small molecules are 5-(p-Bromobenzylidine)-α-isopropyl-4-oxo-2-thioxo-3-thiozolidineacetic acid, 2-[5-(4-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]-3-methylbutanoic acid, 2-[5-(4-hydroxybenzylidene)-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]pentanoic acid, [5-(4-isopropylbenzylidene)-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]acetic acid or 2-[5-(2-chlorobenzylidene)-4-oxo-2-thioxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl]pentanoic acid. The species of the fungal cell is selected from a group that has an obligate symbiosis with the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) and the western pine beetle (Dendroctonus brevicomis). |
| US09686986B2 |
Herbicidal compounds
The present invention relates to a method of controlling weeds at a locus, said method comprising application to the locus of a weed controlling amount of a herbicidal composition comprising a compound of Formula (I), or an agronomically acceptable salt of said compounds wherein X, R1, R2, R4 and R5 are as defined herein. The invention further relates novel herbicidal compounds, to herbicidal compositions comprising said compounds and to their use for controlling weeds, in particular in crops of useful plants. |
| US09686984B2 |
Macrocyclic picolinamides as fungicides
This disclosure relates to macrocyclic picolinamides of Formula I and their use as fungicides. |
| US09686982B2 |
Treatment of potatoes and root vegetables during storage
The turgidity of potato tubers and other root vegetables is improved, maintained, or restored and/or the greening of potato tubers is delayed, prevented or inhibited and/or internal diseases caused by fungi and bacteria are prevented or treated by the application of one or more α,β-unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes and ketones, C3 to C14 aliphatic aldehydes and ketones, and/or C3 to C7 saturated or unsaturated primary and secondary aliphatic alcohols. |
| US09686981B2 |
Couplers for medium-chain fatty acids and disinfecting compositions
A disinfecting shower cleaner composition including a medium-chain fatty acid coupled with a nonionic surfactant providing temperature stable antimicrobial compositions. The invention specifically relates to antimicrobial compositions including fatty acid antimicrobial agents coupled with an ethoxylated amine and methods of using the antimicrobial compositions. |
| US09686980B2 |
Solid agroformulations for preparing near micro-emulsion aqueous pesticides
Disclosed are extruded pesticide granules that when mixed with water form a near micro-emulsion that is highly stable. The extruded pesticide granules include at least one pesticide active ingredient, a non-ionic surfactant, and a carrier, which is desirably urea powder or urea pearl. Processes for making the extruded pesticide granules are also disclosed. |
| US09686977B2 |
Waterfowl decoy device
A waterfowl decoy device provides remote control to raise and lower decoys attached to a moving hub such that the decoys simulate flight. The device includes a hub and a support arm coupled to the hub. The support arm is movable relative to the hub such that a distal end of the support arm relative to the hub is selectively raised and lowered relative to a position of the hub. A decoy is coupled to the distal end of the support arm wherein raising and lowering of the distal end of the support arm imparts elevation and descent motion to the decoy. The hub is further structured to rotate the support arm imparting motion to the decoy simulating flight. |
| US09686974B2 |
Injection apparatus for injecting pesticide
An injection apparatus for treating soil adjacent a structure has a handle and a manifold head attached to the handle. The manifold head has at least one inlet and at least one internal passage in fluid communication with the at least one inlet. A high pressure nozzle is in fluid communication with the at least one internal passage in the manifold head and is adapted for emitting a discharge stream of pesticide for subsurface injection of the pesticide. A low pressure nozzle is provided for applying a pesticide to the surface. The manifold head has a substantially planar contact member having a contact surface for contact with the surface beneath which the pesticide is applied. The contact member has a first opening in the contact surface in fluid communication with the high pressure nozzle and a second opening in the contact surface in fluid communication with the low pressure nozzle. |
| US09686973B2 |
Methods, apparatus and compositions for abatement of bedbugs
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for monitoring or abatement of bedbugs, comprising: a base having a mounting portion and a control portion; a heating source positioned on the mounting portion; two capture channels positioned proximate to the heating source and adjacent to the base and each comprising a sloped portion; a horizontal portion connected to the sloped portion, the horizontal portion having a width ranging from about 8 to about 15 millimeters; and a channel portion connected to the horizontal portion by a curved portion having a radius of curvature ranging from about ⅛th inch to about ½ inch; an insect attractant source positioned on the heating source; a carbon dioxide source attached to the base and capable of emitting carbon dioxide proximate to the heating source, and a control circuit mounted in the control portion and in communication with the heating source and the carbon dioxide source to control operation of the apparatus, wherein the control circuit controls emission of the carbon dioxide and wherein the control circuit controls the heating source to maintain a temperature ranging from 90 to 125° F. |
| US09686971B2 |
Methods for testing anti-thrombotic agents
The invention provides a transgenic non-human animal expressing von Willebrand Factor A1 protein containing at least one mutation selected from the group consisting of: 1263P>S, 1269N>D, 1274K>R, 1287M>R, 1302G>D, 1308H>R, 1313R>W, 1314I>V, 1326R>H, 1329L>I, 1330E>G, 1333A>D, 1344T>A, 1347I>V, 1350T>A, 1370G>S, 1379H>R, 1381T>A, 1385T>M 1391P>Q, 1394A>S, 1397L>F, 1421S>N, 1439L>V, 1442G>S, 1449R>Q, 1466A>P, 1469Q>L, 1472Q>H, 1473V>M, 1475H>Q, 1479S>G, and any combination thereof. |
| US09686965B2 |
Timed deer feeder with restricted access
An animal feed dispenser includes a feeding tube for receiving a predetermined amount of animal feed from a hopper. The feeding tube includes at least one opening through which animals may access the interior of the feeding tube. The opening may be closed by a movable closure flap so as to restrict access to the animal feed located within the feeding tube. |
| US09686964B1 |
Hay bale shredder for feeding livestock
A hay bale flaking device mountable on a wheeled vehicle such as a trailer is provided. The flaking device employs a ram to translate a hay bale on a ramp, and underneath a cutting blade which at timed intervals cuts flakes of hay from the distal end of the hay bale. The timing and thickness of the flakes may be adjustably controlled. A secondary bale of hay may be carried by the device for positioning upon the ramp subsequent to use of a previous bale to make flakes. |
| US09686963B2 |
Water absorbing material
A water absorbing material that is suitable for being discarded by being flushed down a flush toilet is provided. The water absorbing material includes only an organic substance containing no nutrients. |
| US09686955B1 |
Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH950260
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH950260. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH950260, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH950260 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 CH950260. |
| US09686953B2 |
Plants and seeds of corn variety CV075088
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV075088. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV075088, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV075088 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV075088 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV075088. |
| US09686948B1 |
Maize hybrid X08H816
A novel maize variety designated X08H816 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof are produced by crossing inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant by crossing hybrid maize variety X08H816 with another maize plant are disclosed. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08H816 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08H816, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08H816. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08H816. |
| US09686944B2 |
Wheat cultivar HV9W10-0091
The invention relates to the wheat cultivar designated HV9W10-0091. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the wheat cultivar HV9W10-0091. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the wheat cultivar HV9W10-0091 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing wheat plants by crossing the wheat cultivar HV9W10-0091 with itself or another wheat cultivar and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09686943B2 |
Wheat cultivar HV9W09-0640
The invention relates to the wheat cultivar designated HV9W09-0640. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the wheat cultivar HV9W09-0640. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the wheat cultivar HV9W09-0640 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing wheat plants by crossing the wheat cultivar HV9W09-0640 with itself or another wheat cultivar and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09686941B2 |
Wheat cultivar BZ908-418
The invention relates to the wheat cultivar designated BZ908-418. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the wheat cultivar BZ908-418. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the wheat cultivar BZ908-418 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing wheat plants by crossing the wheat cultivar BZ908-418 with itself or another wheat cultivar and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09686940B1 |
Soybean cultivar S150106
A soybean cultivar designated S150106 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S150106, to the plants of soybean cultivar S150106, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S150106, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S150106. 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 S150106. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S150106, 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 S150106 with another soybean cultivar. |
| US09686937B1 |
Wheat cultivar WB9200
The invention relates to the wheat cultivar designated WB9200. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the wheat cultivar WB9200. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the wheat cultivar WB9200 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing wheat plants by crossing the wheat cultivar WB9200 with itself or another wheat cultivar and plants produced by such methods. |
| US09686931B2 |
Hybrid alfalfa variety named HybriForce-3400
Disclosed is an alfalfa seed designated HybriForce-3400 and deposited as ATCC Accession Number PTA-123758. Also disclosed are plants, or parts thereof, grown from the seed of the cultivar, plants having the morphological and physiological characteristics of the HybriForce-3400 cultivar, and methods of using the plant or parts thereof in alfalfa breeding and alfalfa transformation. |
| US09686927B2 |
Cotton variety PX433906WRF
The disclosure relates to a cotton variety, designated PX433906WRF, the plants and seeds of the cotton variety PX433906WRF, methods for producing a cotton plant, either varietal or hybrid, produced by crossing the cotton variety PX433906WRF with itself or with another cotton plant, hybrid cotton seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety PX433906WRF with another cotton variety or plan, methods for producing a cotton plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes, and the transgenic cotton plants produced by that method. This disclosure also relates to cotton varieties derived from cotton variety PX433906WRF, to methods for producing other cotton varieties derived from cotton variety PX433906WRF, and to the varieties derived by the use of those methods. |
| US09686923B2 |
Artificial soil structure and method of forming the same
An artificial soil structure includes a water shield layer provided on a soil layer, the water shield layer includes water repellent sand processed by water repellent treatment. A water retentive layer is provided on the water shield layer, and the water retentive layer includes water retentive sand with no water repellent treatment. A water repellent soil body is provided in part of the water shield layer so as to penetrate the water shield layer and be in contact with the soil layer and the water retentive layer. The soil body includes sand processed by water repellent treatment, and the water shield layer has a water infiltration pressure higher than that of the water repellent soil body. |
| US09686920B2 |
Device for thinning out a fruit tree
The device for removing flowers from a fruit tree by pulling off from their branch is formed by a rod, a gripping and a puller. The gripper can be a handle. The puller is mounted at the end of the handle for pulling off flowers. The puller can be formed of at least one roller provided with fibers in the form of bristles, each roller being mounted articulated, freely rotating at the end of the rod, so that the transverse displacement of the rod into contact with the branch induces a rotation of each roller. |
| US09686917B2 |
Debris screen for combine harvester grain cleaning fan
A combine harvester including a frame, threshing apparatus, a grain cleaning system, and a feederhouse pivotally mounted to the frame on a transverse lift axis. The feederhouse includes a conveyor for conveying cut crop material from a fore opening to an aft opening. The feederhouse is configured to support a cutting header at its forward end. The grain cleaning system includes a transverse cross-flow fan having a debris screen protecting an air inlet channel. The debris screen is pivotally mounted along a first transverse edge to the frame and along a second transverse edge to the underside of the feederhouse. One of the first transverse edge and second transverse edge is slideably mounted to the frame or feederhouse respectively to permit the feederhouse to be raised and lowered around the lift axis. |
| US09686915B1 |
Apparatus for processing crop materials into livestock feed
A system and method for producing a feed product, and the product, are disclosed. A processor apparatus may comprise a housing and at least two generally cylindrical rolls rotatably mounted on the housing, with a gap being formed between the rolls through which the path of the crop materials passes. At least one roll may have alternating longitudinal ridges and grooves forming teeth on the surface of the roll. A rotating assembly may be configured to rotate the rolls with respect to the housing, the rotating assembly being configured to rotate the pair of rolls at different rotational speeds. A method may comprise cutting plants growing in a field, chopping the plants of the crop materials in a manner to produce pieces of the plants that have lengths of approximately 1 inch to approximately 2.5 inches long, and processing the plant pieces between the rolls rotating at a speed differential of at least 10 percent. |
| US09686906B2 |
Seeding machine with seed delivery system
A seeding machine with a seed meter and a seed delivery system for moving seed from a seed meter to a furrow formed in the soil. The delivery system has an endless member moving in a housing about pulleys to move seed from an upper opening in the housing to a lower discharge opening. In one embodiment, a loading wheel at the upper opening to the housing engages seed on a metering disk to move seed into the housing. The metering disk and housing can be arranged in planes parallel to one another. |
| US09686902B2 |
System and method for improving performance of an agricultural vehicle or implement
One agricultural system includes a hitch assembly configured to couple an agricultural vehicle with an agricultural implement. The agricultural system also includes a sensor coupled to the hitch assembly and configured to provide a signal indicative of a force applied to the hitch assembly by the agricultural vehicle and/or the agricultural implement. The agricultural system includes control circuitry configured to receive the signal from the sensor, to select a parameter associated with operation of the agricultural vehicle and/or the agricultural implement, based on the signal, to determine if performance of the agricultural vehicle and/or the agricultural implement will be improved by adjusting the parameter, and to control the parameter if performance of the agricultural vehicle and/or the agricultural implement will be improved. |
| US09686901B2 |
Down and/or up force adjustment system
An agricultural device includes a number of row units that each includes a seed furrow opener that creates a furrow in the soil for seed placement. Each row unit is mounted to a toolbar of the device by way of a four-bar linkage which allows each row unit to move vertically to adjust to the contour of the soil independently of the other row units on the same toolbar. The four-bar linkages include one or more springs which work to transfer weight from the toolbar to the row unit. An actuator varies the tension in the spring thereby adjusting the down or up force applied to the row unit. |
| US09686896B2 |
Anti-clog suction tip apparatus and methods
Various forms of anti-clog suction tips apparatus are disclosed. An exemplary anti-clog suction tip apparatus includes a suction tip assembly having a suction tip with a suction opening at a first end thereof for removing debris through suction, a hose attachment portion for attaching the suction tip assembly to a suction source, and an ejection wire channel. The apparatus further includes an ejection wire assembly having an ejection wire extending within the channel and an ejection button integral with or connected to the ejection wire. Applying a force to the ejection button advances the ejection wire through the channel such that an end portion of the ejection wire enters the suction tip and dislodges debris clogging the suction tip. The ejection wire may include an enlarged end portion such as, for example a ball tip. One or more of the components of the apparatus may be single-use and disposable. |
| US09693495B2 |
Tape feeder
A tape feeder is provided for pitch-feeding a carrier tape that holds a component in a pocket of the carrier tape and supplying the component to a pickup position for a mount head. The tape feeder includes a guide section that guides the carrier tape with an upper portion of the carrier tape covered, in a vicinity of the pickup position, and a lower receiving section that is positioned below the guide section and receives the pocket of the carrier tape from a lower surface side of the pocket. The lower receiving section includes a suction section that sucks the component from below and a leaf spring member that allows the suction section to contact a bottom of pocket from the lower surface side of the pocket. The component is sucked and held from below by the suction section through a hole section formed in the bottom of the pocket. |
| US09693491B2 |
Shielding unit
A shielding unit is formed by press-fitting a small diameter portion of a shielding shell into a shielding ring around which an end portion of a shielding member is wrapped, such that the end portion of the shielding member is sandwiched by the shielding ring and the small diameter portion. By having the end portion of the shielding member be folded over to the inside of the shielding ring when press-fitting the small diameter portion of the shielding shell into the shielding ring, even if the position of an opening is unknown, it is possible to reliably position the opening inside the shielding member, unexposed to the outside, after the press-fitting. This easily allows the end portion of the shielding member to be mounted and secured to the shielding shell so as not to be exposed to the outside. |
| US09693489B2 |
Cooling flow channel module for power conversion device and power conversion device including the same
Provided are a cooling flow channel module for a power conversion device, in which a structure of a cooling flow channel for cooling a power conversion device including an inverter or an LDC is simplified to facilitate manufacturing and assembling, and a power conversion device including the same. The cooling flow channel module includes an intake flow channel, a discharge flow channel disposed to be parallel to the intake flow channel, and a cooling pipe configured to connect the intake flow channel and the discharge flow channel and cool the heating element disposed thereabove or therebelow, wherein a plurality of cooling pipes are provided and connect a side portion of the intake flow channel and a side portion of the discharge flow channel disposed to be parallel to each other. |
| US09693488B2 |
Electronic assembly with one or more heat sinks
An electronic assembly comprises a semiconductor device that has conductive pads on a semiconductor first side and a metallic region on a semiconductor second side opposite the first side. A lead frame provides respective separate terminals that are electrically and mechanically connected to corresponding conductive pads. A first heat sink comprises a first component having a mating side. A portion of the mating side is directly bonded with the metallic region of the semiconductor device. A circuit board has an opening for receiving the semiconductor device. The lead frame extends outward toward the circuit board or a board first side of the circuit board. |
| US09693486B1 |
Air handling unit with a canopy thereover for use with a data center and method of using the same
Described herein is an air handling unit that includes canopies for compressor fans and exhaust fans located on a top thereof, which canopies provide for noise abatement and a canopy to assist in keeping precipitation out. The canopies further include louvers that can be controlled to provide for even further noise abatement and precipitation control. |
| US09693480B2 |
Electronic device with cooling by a liquid metal spreader
An electronic device with cooling of a heat dissipation source, by a liquid metals spreader, the device including at least one heat dissipation source, at least one spreader through which at least one liquid metal circulation channel passes forming a loop routed below a heat dissipation source, at least one heat sink, and at least one electromagnetic pump moving the liquid metal in the at least one channel such that the liquid metal absorbs heat dissipated by a heat dissipation source and transports the absorbed heat to be evacuated by the heat sink. Each spreader includes at least two plates made of an electrical insulating material located on each side of at least one bar made of deformable material. |
| US09693471B2 |
Display device
A display device comprises: a mold frame including a support having a quadrilateral loop shape; a display panel having edge portions of a rear surface of the display panel, the edge portions being supported by the support; and a plurality of adhesive tapes disposed between the support and the display panel. The support is disposed between the plurality of adhesive tapes and has at least one protrusion protruding toward the display panel. |
| US09693470B2 |
Electric device with surrounding protective frame
An electric device includes: a device body; and a frame guard. The device body has a plurality of surfaces for defining a three-dimensional configuration. The frame guard is configured to guard the device body. The frame guard is connected to the device body and disposed outside the device body. The plurality of surfaces is all disposed inside the frame guard. |
| US09693465B2 |
Connection method for connection wire structure of direct light bar
A method for connecting direct light bars includes: providing connection wires, each of which has two ends to each of which a copper ring is mounted; providing light bars, each of which includes a wiring board having a first exposed copper zone that has a hole to serve as a circuit connection contact; providing a circuit board that has a second exposed copper zone including a hole to serve as a circuit connection contact; and positioning the two copper rings of each connection wire on the circuit connection contacts of the first and/or second exposed copper zones to be in alignment with the holes so as to allow the two copper rings to be connected to the holes corresponding thereto to establish circuit connection between the copper rings and the corresponding first and/or second exposed copper zones of the circuit board and the wiring boards of the light bars. |
| US09693458B2 |
Printed wiring board, method for manufacturing printed wiring board and package-on-package
A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board includes forming a resin layer on an interlayer layer such that the resin layer has first openings exposing circuits in central portion and second openings exposing circuits in peripheral portion of the interlayer layer, forming solder bumps on the circuits in the first openings, forming a plating resist over the bumps and resin layer such that the resist has openings having diameters greater than the second openings and exposing the second openings, forming a seed layer on the resist, in the openings and on the circuits through the second openings, applying electrolytic plating on the resist such that electrolytic plating fills the openings and forms a plated film on the resist and metal posts in the openings, etching the plating such that the plated film is removed and recesses are formed on end surfaces of the posts, and removing the resist. |
| US09693457B2 |
Printed circuit board edge connector
A printed circuit board assembly and method of assembly is provided for a printed circuit board having a top and bottom surface with at least one edge portion having a rounded surface extending from the top surface to a point below the top surface and at least one electrical contact pad located on the top surface and extending over the edge portion rounded surface to a point below the top surface. |
| US09693454B2 |
Camera for vehicle vision system
A vehicle vision system includes at least one camera operable to capture image data, and an image processor chip operable to process image data captured by the at least one camera for detecting at least one of a vehicle and a pedestrian present in the field of view of the at least one camera. The image processor chip is surface mounted at a mounting location of a circuit board that has a plurality of solder pads established thereat that correspond to a plurality of respective solder points of the image processor chip. The plurality of solder pads include elongated solder pads having respective longitudinal axes. The mounting location includes first, second, third and fourth quadrants. The longitudinal axes of elongated solder pads disposed at the first quadrant are aligned different from the longitudinal axes of elongated solder pads disposed at the second quadrant. |
| US09693450B2 |
Printed wiring board, semiconductor device and printed circuit board
A printed wiring board includes conductive layers laminated with insulator layers interposed. A land group including a plurality of lands arranged with intervals between each other, is formed in a rectangular region on a surface layer, among the plurality of conductive layers, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the surface layer. The land group is arrayed in a triangular lattice manner. The land group is arranged so that a smallest angle, among angles formed between one side of the rectangular region and respective three sides of the triangular lattice, is 7° or more and 23° or less. |
| US09693441B2 |
Method for generating an atmospheric plasma jet and atmospheric plasma minitorch device
A method and a device for generating a plasma in atmospheric-pressure, low-temperature conditions are described herein. The device described for the generation of the plasma comprises a first pair of electrodes, each of which separated by a dielectric layer and externally positioned with respect to a tubular duct where the gas flows, and a second pair of electrodes, also in this case each of which separated by a dielectric layer and externally positioned with respect to said tubular duct where the same gas flows downstream with respect to the first pair with respect to the direction of the flow. A high-frequency excitation is applied to the first pair of electrodes while a Radio-Frequency excitation is applied to the second pair of electrodes. The plasma generated in this manner emerges from the gas flow at the outlet of the transport duct. The high-frequency excitation can be applied in pulse trains and the Radio-Frequency generator is substantially activated in said pulse trains for the purpose of limiting the thermal load on the treated substrate. Chemical precursors and reagents can be added to the plasma as vapors or aerosols by means of a central transport duct coaxial with the tubular duct for the gas. |
| US09693439B1 |
High brightness liquid droplet X-ray source for semiconductor metrology
Methods and systems for realizing a high brightness liquid metal droplet based x-ray source suitable for high throughput x-ray metrology are presented herein. A high power laser bombards a solid target material to generate liquid metal droplets. The laser generated liquid metal droplets are excited with a focused, high power excitation beam such as an electron or laser beam. The excitation beam is synchronized with the stream of liquid metal droplets stimulated by the high power laser to achieve a stable x-ray emission generated by the excited liquid metal droplets. In some embodiments, x-ray optics are designed to efficiently collect and focus radiation within a desired emission band onto a measurement target. Reliability is improved by shielding the excitation source and the x-ray optics from the region of interaction between the excitation beam and the liquid metal droplet anode by a localized curtain of shielding gas. |
| US09693438B2 |
X-ray apparatus
X-ray apparatus, with a collimator arrangement (12a, 18, 28a) positioned between the focus point (12b) and the detector (28b), mechanics (43) for enabling motion of the collimator arrangement, the detector and the x-ray source along a scan trajectory (30) in a x-z plane (83) and also along curved scan trajectory (45), which partly extents along a y-axis (35) perpendicular to the x-z plane. By using this invention better tissue coverage of objects with curved edges can be obtained. |
| US09693435B2 |
Discharge lamp driving device, projector, and discharge lamp driving method
A discharge lamp driving device includes: a discharge lamp drive unit configured to supply a drive current to a discharge lamp having two electrodes; a voltage detection unit configured to detect an inter-electrode voltage of the discharge lamp; and a control unit configured to control the discharge lamp drive unit, wherein the control unit executes first measurement drive in which a polarity of the drive current is maintained constant at a first polarity, the voltage detection unit measures the inter-electrode voltage multiple times in a first measurement period in which the first measurement drive is executed, and the control unit determines states of the electrodes of the discharge lamp based on a plurality of the inter-electrode voltages measured in the first measurement period. |
| US09693425B2 |
Wearable headlamp
A wearable headlamp is provided that may provide improved illumination control and adjustability. The wearable headlamp may include a primary light-emitting diode (LED) configured to illuminate an area in front of the headlamp and a photosensor configured to detect the level of ambient light surrounding the headlamp and adjust the luminous flux of the light emitted by the primary LED accordingly. Additionally, the headlamp may include an alternate, red LED to provide illumination where the brightness of the primary LED is not suitable. Furthermore, both the primary LED and alternate LED may be secured within a pivotable lamp housing that enables the direction of the light emitted from the LEDs to be adjusted. |
| US09693424B2 |
Metal-based particle assembly
There is provided a metal-based particle assembly comprising 30 or more metal-based particles separated from each other and disposed in two dimensions, the metal-based particles having an average particle diameter of 200 to 1600 nm, an average height of 55 to 500 nm, and an aspect ratio of 1 to 8, wherein the metal-based particle assembly has in an absorption spectrum for a visible light region a maximum wavelength of a peak at a longest side in wavelength, and the maximum wavelength shifts toward a shorter side in wavelength in a range of from 30 to 500 nm as compared with that of a prescribed reference metal-based particle assembly. The metal-based particle assembly can have in an absorption spectrum a maximum wavelength of a peak at a longest side in wavelength, and the maximum wavelength is in a range of from 350 to 550 nm. |
| US09693420B2 |
Automatic power controller
Systems and methods for operating one or more light emitting devices are disclosed. In one example, a negative temperature coefficient control parameter is applied to an amplifier to adjust a gain of the amplifier so as to provide a substantially constant level of irradiance output from one or more light emitting devices. |
| US09693419B2 |
Light source substrate, display apparatus, and light source substrate inspection method
An LED substrate (light source substrate) includes: a substrate; a plurality of LEDs (light sources) mounted on the substrate; a power supply wiring line on the substrate that can supply power to the plurality of LEDs by connecting the plurality of LEDs in series; and an inspection wiring line that is disposed on the substrate and connected to a portion of the power supply wiring line that connects adjacent LEDs included in the plurality of LEDs. |
| US09693417B2 |
LED mains voltage measurement using a current mirror
Measurement circuits which are configured to measure wide ranges of the input voltage using a sensed input voltage of the driver circuits for solid state lighting (SSL) devices are presented. The measurement circuit comprises a first resistor which is coupled at a first side to the input voltage. The measurement circuit comprises current mirror circuitry coupled at an input to a second side of the first resistor, and which translates an input current at the input of the current mirror circuitry into an output current at an output of the current mirror circuitry, such that the output current is proportional to the input current by a current mirror ratio. The measurement circuit comprises a second resistor coupled to the output of the current mirror circuitry and to provide the sensed input voltage, when the input voltage is coupled to the first side of the first resistor. |
| US09693414B2 |
LED lamp for producing biologically-adjusted light
An LED lamp for producing biologically-adjusted light output comprising a base, a housing attached to the base, a drive circuit configured to electrically couple to a power source, and a plurality of LEDs. The drive circuit is configured to operate the plurality of LEDs such that a peak blue output intensity level, in a visible spectral output range of between 380 nm and 485 nm is between 0% and 10% of a relative spectral power of any other peaks in the visible spectral output above 485 nm. |
| US09693408B2 |
Light source apparatus
A light source apparatus including a light-emitting module and a control unit is provided. The light-emitting module is configured to provide a light. The control unit makes the light emitted from the light-emitting module switched between a first light and a second light. A spectrum of the first light is different from a spectrum of the second light, and color temperatures of the first light and the second light are substantially the same as each other. |
| US09693407B2 |
LED-lighting system comprising an operational data memory
The invention relates to an LED operating circuit in which a second module (2), preferably a light management module, with an additional sub-module (C), preferably a constant flow source, supplies an LED module (F) which has one or more LED sections (8). A control unit (E) of the second module (2) is embodied such that it can access a memory (4) of the second module (2) in order to read an identification of the LED-module (F) or to read the contents stored in the memory (4). |
| US09693406B2 |
Circuit for driving AC direct lighting apparatus and method therefor
Disclosed is a circuit for driving an AC direct lighting apparatus, including a triac dimmer configured to control a brightness of an LED module, a charger configured to be charged during a turn-off period of the triac dimmer, a reference voltage generator configured to generate a reference voltage based on a voltage charged in the charger during a first turn-off period of the triac dimmer and a voltage charged in the charger during a second turn-off period, and a driving signal output unit configured to output a driving signal of the LED module in response to a voltage charged in a third turn-off period of the triac dimmer reaching the generated reference voltage. Accordingly, the driving circuit manages a driving time deviation of the LED module, removing a flicker phenomenon from the light produced by the module. |
| US09693404B1 |
Negative current sensing method for multi-channel LED driver
A multi-channel LED driver is provided with a negative current sensing method for inherent output short circuit protection, as well as protection from output misconnection. A plurality of power converters are configured to drive respective LED arrays, each power converter respectively comprising a first stage configured to provide current through a primary winding of an isolation transformer. A second stage has a capacitor coupled in parallel with a secondary winding of the isolation transformer, a current sensing resistor coupled between the secondary winding and a circuit ground for the second stage. A filtering circuit is coupled on a first end to a node between the secondary winding and the current sensing resistor, and on a second end to the circuit ground. A feedback circuit is coupled between the first stage and the filtering circuit, and configured to deliver a control signal corresponding to current through the secondary winding. |
| US09693403B2 |
Lighting arrangement
The invention describes a low-power load arrangement (1) comprising a low-power load (3); a driver (2) for the low-power load (3); connectors (300) for connecting to an electronic transformer (2) realized for converting a mains power supply (4) to a power supply for a normal-power load (5); and a reverse current generating means (LP, SB) realized to provide a reverse current (Irev_LP, Irev_SB) to sustain self-oscillation during operation of the electronic transformer (2), wherein the direction of current flow of the reverse current (Irev_LP, Irev_SB) is opposite in direction to the output current of the electronic transformer (2). The invention further describes a lighting arrangement (1) comprising an electronic transformer (2) realized for converting a mains power supply (4) to a power supply for a normal-power load; a low-power load (3) connected to the electronic transformer (2), which low-power load (3) comprises a low-power light source (30); and wherein the lighting arrangement (1) comprises a reverse current generating means (LP, SB) realized to provide a reverse current (Irev_LP, Irev_SB) to sustain transformer self-oscillation when the transformer (2) drives the low-power load (3), wherein the direction of current flow of the reverse current (Irev_LP, Irev_SB) is opposite in direction to the output current of the electronic transformer (2). The invention also describes a method of driving a low-power load (3) with an electronic transformer (2) realized for driving a normal-power load (5). |
| US09693391B2 |
Flexible display apparatus and method of controlling flexibility of the same
A flexible display apparatus includes a flexible substrate; a display layer on the flexible substrate and including a plurality of pixels; a cover layer which covers the display layer; a heating electrode layer on a surface of the flexible substrate opposite to the display layer, between the flexible substrate and the display layer, between the display layer and the cover layer, or on a surface of the cover layer opposite to the display layer; and a temperature sensing unit configured to sense an external temperature to the flexible display apparatus. |
| US09693390B2 |
Techniques to manage a mobile device based on network density
Techniques to manage a mobile device based on network density are described. An apparatus may comprise a mobile computing device having a radio module operative to receive radio signals, a resource detector operative to collect a sample for one or more wireless resources based on the received radio signals, a network density module operative to estimate a network density for an operating environment of the mobile computing device based on the sample and a probability density function, and a parameter management module operative to manage one or more operational parameters of the mobile computing device based on the estimated network density. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09693387B2 |
Compatible communication device
A compatible communication device includes an analog front end, a baseband communication unit, a wireless radio frequency module, a power line communication front end and a control unit. The analog front end is connected to each of the baseband communication unit, the wireless radio frequency module and the power line communication front end. The baseband communication unit transmits baseband signals. The analog front end performs signal conversion between digital domain and analog domain. The control unit selects, based on the channel quality for signal transmission, one or two of the power line communication front end and the wireless radio frequency module for communication. The signal receiving or transmission is performed through a power line if the power line communication front end is selected for communication. Or, the signal receiving or transmission is performed through a wireless channel if the wireless radio frequency module is selected for communication. |
| US09693383B2 |
DRX operation in a wireless communication system
Discontinuous reception (DRX) operation in a wireless communication system is disclosed. According to this, when the UE received configuration information for a long discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle and a short DRX cycle from a network, and receive a data unit comprising at least one DRX command Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) from the network, the UE starts using the long DRX cycle, if the data unit comprises two or more DRX command MAC CEs. |
| US09693381B2 |
Method and system for providing simultaneous connectivity between multiple E-NodeBs and user equipment
A method and a system for providing simultaneous transmission and reception across multiple evolved NodeBs (eNBs) from a User Equipment (UE) in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network are provided. The method includes establishing a first connection between the UE and a core network through a Serving-eNB (S-eNB), considering at least one Target-eNB (T-eNB) for at least one connection between the UE and a Packet Data Network (PDN), determining availability of the T-eNB, wherein the determining of the availability of the at least one T-eNB is triggered based on available resource in the S-eNB and the T-eNB, and establishing at least one connection between the UE and the PDN through one or more T-eNBs, at least one Serving-GateWay (S-GW), and at least one PDN gateway. |
| US09693380B2 |
Transmitting service information to a plurality of user devices used by a single user
An information processing apparatus includes: a user determination unit that determines whether or not plural user devices are used by a single user on the basis of information transmitted from the plural user devices; a storage unit that stores information of the plural user devices determined to be used by the single user as a set of user devices; a selection unit that selects a second user device to which a service is to be provided in the case where a first user device that requests the service and the second user device are both included in the same set of user devices; and a transmitting unit that transmits service information to the first and the second user device. |
| US09693376B2 |
Signal transmission method and device
Disclosed are a signal transmission method and device, which are used to realize a technical solution whereby UE find one another under the control of a mobile communication network. The signal transmission method provided in the present invention comprises: UE acquiring resource location information from a network side, which is used for indicating the UE to send an identification signal of the UE; and the UE determining a specific resource which sends the identification signal according to the resource location information, and sending the identification signal of the UE over the specific resource. |
| US09693373B1 |
Media session transfer between communication networks
In a communication system, a translation server individually associates session control servers with transfer control servers. One of the session control servers receives a registration for a User Equipment (UE) over a first network. The translation server associates the UE with the session control server in the data structure. The session control server exchanges first control signaling with the UE to establish a media session over the first network. The translation server receives a session transfer request for the UE from a second network. The translation server processes the data structure to identify the transfer control server that is associated with the session control server that is associated with the UE. The translation server transfers the session transfer request to the transfer control server. The transfer control server exchanges second control signaling with the second network to transfer the media session from the first network to the second network. |
| US09693360B2 |
Methods, computer programs, network node and transceiver device
A method of a network node of a radio access network is provided for detecting interference caused by intermodulation on a receive frequency of the network node. The method comprises determining at least one frequency of a signal which potentially gives rise to an intermodulation product on the receive frequency. The method comprises transmitting a request to a transceiver device, wherein the request includes information about the determined at least one frequency and an instruction to monitor that at least one frequency. The method comprises estimating interference level at the receive frequency at one or more time instants. The method comprises receiving a measurement report from the transceiver device, wherein the measurement report includes information about signal levels on the at least one frequency at one or more time instants. The method comprises determining whether the signal on the at least one frequency is probable to cause intermodulation interference on the receive frequency based on the estimated interference level at the receive frequency and the measurement report. Corresponding method of a transceiver device, a network node and computer programs for implementing the methods are also disclosed. |
| US09693359B2 |
Scheduling communication resources
In an example embodiment, one or more scheduler of base stations may be configured to schedule physical resource blocks in considering the respective wireless communication channel quality and neighboring co-channel interferences. |
| US09693357B2 |
Method and apparatus for allocating resource
In a cellular communication system including a plurality of cells, a resource allocation apparatus of a base station determines a resource division ratio of a present resource frame using a traffic load of a plurality of cells that are measured for an immediately preceding resource frame and marginal utility of each partition, divides a present resource frame into a plurality of partitions according to the determined resource division ratio, and allocates a plurality of partitions to a user. |
| US09693355B2 |
Methods and systems for profiling network resource usage by a mobile application
An exemplary profiling system builds a two-layer mapping model for a mobile network. The two-layer mapping model establishes a causal relationship between a plurality of application behavior indicators and network resource usage within the mobile network by defining a first mapping relationship between the plurality of application behavior indicators and a plurality of network performance indicators representative of network traffic that passes through the mobile network, and a second mapping relationship between the plurality of network performance indicators and network resource usage within the mobile network. Corresponding systems and methods are also described. |
| US09693351B2 |
Method and apparatus for rate determination in a radio frequency system
Techniques are described for determining rates and other parameters for users associated with a multiple access channel (MAC). In at least one embodiment, a rate determination tool having a GUI interface is provided. |
| US09693348B2 |
Base station resource allocation
Embodiments provide a resource allocation method, apparatus and system. The resource allocation method is used for a base station. The method includes acquiring a current resource indication of a cell, and generating a resource adjustment indication according to the current resource indication of the cell. The resource adjustment indication is used for instructing a mobility management entity MME to adjust a discovery resource allocated to the cell. The method also includes generating a resource adjustment request, where the resource adjustment request includes the resource adjustment indication. The method also includes sending the resource adjustment request, so that the MME adjusts the discovery resource of the cell according to the resource adjustment request. |
| US09693345B2 |
Flexible radio link control packet data unit length
According to an example method performed in a High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) environment, a first device generates a High Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH) data frame that includes a plurality of blocks of packet data units. A first block of the plurality of blocks includes packet data units of a first length, and a second block of the plurality of blocks includes packet data units of a different, second length. The first device transfers the HS-DSCH data frame to a second device. The HS-DSCH data frame further includes, for each block of the plurality of blocks, a first information element that indicates a length of the one or more packet data units in the each block, and a second information element that indicates a quantity of packet data units in the each block. |
| US09693342B2 |
Multi-carrier operation for wireless systems
The present disclosure generally relates to an uplink control signal design for wireless system. One example method of a subscriber station (SS) includes performing network entry in a multi-carrier wireless environment using a primary carrier, receiving timing information corresponding to the primary carrier, receiving a first control signaling via the primary carrier, the first control signaling assigning at least one secondary carrier, transmitting uplink data via the secondary carrier using an uplink transmission timing of the secondary carrier, the uplink transmission timing of the secondary carrier being assigned the same as an uplink transmission timing of the primary carrier, and determining an adjustment of the uplink transmission timing or frequency of the secondary carrier. |
| US09693340B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting uplink control information in wireless communication system
Provided are a method for transmitting uplink control information by a user equipment in a wireless communication system and a user equipment using the method. The method comprises the steps of: setting subframes for transmitting periodic channel state information (CSI); and transmitting the periodic CSI from the subframes, wherein a first resource or a second resource is used depending on a combination of acknowledgement/negative-acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) which can be transmitted from the subframes. |
| US09693336B2 |
Techniques for connectionless small data transmission
Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques for connectionless small data transmission. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a processor circuit, a configuration component for execution by the processor circuit to establish a connectionless small data transmission (CSDT) mode, and a communication component for execution by the processor circuit to send a small data preamble, receive a resource allocation message identifying an assigned resource, and send a small data item in the CSDT mode using the assigned resource. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09693335B2 |
Radio base station and method of controlling the same
A radio base station (100) transmits a Capability Request message to a radio terminal (200), which is connected to the radio base station, to transmit terminal capability information that indicates positioning capability of the radio terminal, and receives a Capability Indication message transmitted from the radio terminal (200). The radio base station (100) determines, corresponding to the received Capability Indication message, whether positional information that indicates the geographical position of the radio terminal (200) can be acquired from the radio terminal (200). |
| US09693330B1 |
Wideband high frequency based precision time transfer
Timing interrogation methods and communication devices utilizing such timing interrogation methods are disclosed. The timing interrogation method may include: sending a round-trip timing interrogation preamble from a first radio node to a second radio node via the ionosphere; receiving a round-trip timing response at the first radio node via the ionosphere from the second radio node; receiving a time of arrival record at the first radio node via the ionosphere from the second radio node, wherein the time of arrival record indicates the time of arrival of the round-trip timing interrogation preamble at the second radio node according to timing information maintained by the second radio node; calculating timing information based on the time of arrival record and a propagation time of the round-trip timing interrogation preamble and the round-trip timing response; and adjusting time information maintained by the first radio node according to the calculated timing information. |
| US09693329B2 |
Synchronization method of user equipment and user equipment
The present invention provides a synchronization method of user equipment and user equipment, where the method includes: when the user equipment accesses a millimeter-wave band network, performing first synchronization in a cellular band by using a cellular band network that covers the millimeter-wave band network; and performing second synchronization in a millimeter-wave band by using the millimeter-wave band network. In the present invention, after the first synchronization in the cellular band is performed, the second synchronization in the millimeter-wave band is performed by using the millimeter-wave band network, which avoids a case in which the user equipment acquires a PSS in a PSS synchronization window that slides in the millimeter-wave band for a long time, thereby reducing overheads, narrowing a range of the synchronization window, and accelerating detection of a PSS in the millimeter-wave band, so that the user equipment quickly and accurately performs synchronization in the millimeter-wave band. |
| US09693327B2 |
Multimedia streaming over multiple hops in WiFi mesh network
A network includes an access point Wi-Fi Direct (AP WFD) device. The AP WFD device includes access point (AP) functionality. A plurality of client WiFi Direct (WFD) devices is coupled to the AP WFD device. The client WFD devices include client functionality. The AP WFD device is configured to synchronize the client WFD devices and to stream multimedia data to the client WFD devices. |
| US09693326B2 |
Method for providing phase synchronization to non-phase synchronized cellular base stations
The method comprising at least one phase synchronized cellular base station having at least one transmit antenna for transmitting a signal to a at least one non-phase synchronized cellular base station, where it comprises transmitting by said at least one transmit antenna of said phased-synchronized cellular base station a beacon signal to said at least one non-phase synchronized cellular base station, included as part of said transmitted signal, said beacon signal comprising two orthogonal length-8 Walsh-Hadamard sequences to be broadcasted by said at least one phase synchronized cellular base station in order to provide said phase synchronization. |
| US09693325B1 |
Method and apparatus for hybrid time synchronization based on broadcast sequencing for wireless ad hoc networks
Synchronizing a plurality of sensors of a wireless sensor network includes initiating, by a first sensor, a flood broadcast of a sequence discovery packet in the wireless sensor network; creating, by the first sensor in response to receiving back the sequence discovery packet, an initial broadcast sequence, wherein the initial broadcast sequence includes a list of sensor identifications, and wherein an adjacent pair of sensor identifications in the initial broadcast sequence correspond to a pair of neighbor sensors, and wherein the pair of neighbor sensors are able to communicate directly with each other; broadcasting, by the first sensor, the initial broadcast sequence, wherein the initial broadcast sequence specifies an initial order for the plurality of sensors to broadcast synchronization information to eliminate collisions in the wireless sensor network; and broadcasting, by the first sensor, a first timestamp, using a location of the first sensor in the initial broadcast sequence. |
| US09693321B2 |
Apparatus for distributed antenna system with downlink transmission power control
A system and method for dynamically optimizing the performance of indoor distributed antenna systems communicate to user equipment is disclosed. The user equipment measures information describing the downlink signals such as the downlink data rates, the quality of the received signal, and the location of the user equipment. A service module collects this information and determines an optimized power level for each of the antenna units. The service module may optimize only one antenna unit power level or a subset of the antenna units within the distributed antenna system in a preferred embodiment. One or more of the antenna units then transmits downlink signals with the optimized power levels. The optimized power level may be less than the initial power level in a preferred embodiment. As a result, the performance of the indoor distributed antenna systems is enhanced. |
| US09693319B2 |
Methods systems, and computer program products for calibrating amplitude hardware-induced distortion in a long term evolution (LTE) communications system
Methods and systems are described for calibrating amplitude hardware-induced distortion in a long term evolution (LTE) communications system. In one aspect, a power status indication is received at a base station (BS) associated with a centralized radio access network (C-RAN) of an LTE communications system from a user equipment (UE) communicating in the LTE communications system. A downlink pathloss associated with communications to the UE is estimated based on the received power status indication. Downlink power allocation is performed at the C-RAN based on the downlink pathloss estimates of one or more UEs. |
| US09693318B1 |
Multi-protocol load control
Methods, systems, and apparatus, for wirelessly controlling electrical loads. In an aspect, a system include a wireless controller with a communication subsystem that communicates with a plurality of power control devices over a first network, communicates with a wireless smart metering device over a second network, communicates with a system controller over a third network. The system receives an event message from one or more of the wireless smart metering device over the second network or the system controller over the third network, generates one or more power commands for the power control devices, the one or more power commands configured to cause the power control devices to adjust one or more power loads in response to the event message, and transmits the one or more power commands to the power control devices over the first network. |
| US09693306B2 |
Mechanisms to support UE power preference signaling
Disclosed herein is a method at a User Equipment (UE) comprising determining that a current radio resource configuration is of a normal type, and responsive to the determining, prohibiting the UE from sending a Power Preference Indication (PPI) for a radio resource configuration of the normal type. Also disclosed is a method at a UE comprising: determining that a current radio resource configuration is of a power optimized type, and responsive to the determining, prohibiting the UE from sending a PPI for a radio resource configuration of the power optimized type. Also disclosed is a UE including a processor, the UE configured to: determine that a current radio resource configuration is of a normal type, and responsive to the determining, refrain from sending a PPI for a radio resource configuration of the normal type. |
| US09693305B2 |
Communication control device, communication control method, and recording medium
There is provided a communication control device including a prefetch controller configured to allow data corresponding to a target of processing to be prefetched through a communication based on information relating to a prefetch of data when a communication for an application being executed is performed in a connection state of being connected to an external device, the target of processing being different from the application being executed. |
| US09693299B2 |
Method and apparatus for power saving operations in wireless network elements
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method comprises determining at a base station an activity level, and selecting an availability mode based at least in part on the activity level, wherein the availability mode is one of a full-availability mode, a semi-availability mode and a minimum-availability mode. The method also comprises configuring radio resources for at least the minimum-availability mode and switching to the selected availability mode. |
| US09693297B2 |
Systems and methods for delay tolerant networking in a network of moving things, for example including a network of autonomous vehicles
Systems and methods for optimizing data communication in a network of moving things. As non-limiting examples, various aspects of this disclosure provide systems and methods for communicating delay tolerant information in a network of moving things, for example comprising any of a variety of types of vehicles (e.g., autonomous vehicles, vehicles controlled by local operators, vehicles controlled by remote operators, etc.). |
| US09693292B2 |
Method for searching network at startup, communication processor and terminal equipment
A method for searching network at startup, a Communication Processor (CP) and a terminal equipment are provided. The method includes: after the CP is powered on and initialized, determining characteristic information of networks supported by the CP; searching for available networks according to the network characteristic information, and obtaining available network information; and obtaining a network searching instruction transmitted from an Application Processor (AP), and determining a network searching result according to the available network information. The method reduces the time for searching network at startup. |
| US09693291B2 |
User terminal, radio base station and communication control method
The present invention is designed to allow more reliable small cell detection while preventing the increase of power consumption in user terminals. The communication control method of the present invention includes the steps in which a macro base station notifies a user terminal of measurement gap pattern information to represent a repetition period that is the same as the transmission cycle of a detection/measurement signal in small cells and a length of time that is the same as the transmission duration of the detection/measurement signal, and the start offset of the transmission duration, and the user terminal configures measurement gaps of the repetition period and the length of time, by using a start offset that is the same as the start offset. |
| US09693289B2 |
Moderating communications within a wireless telecommunications network based on UE power saving modes
Techniques described herein may enable a wireless telecommunications network to operate more efficiently by prohibiting communications towards User Equipment (UE) devices that are in a power saving mode. For example, a UE mode server may receive, from an information transfer server, a query regarding the availability of a particular UE to receive information. The UE mode server may determine whether the UE is currently in an active mode of operation or a power saving mode of operation. When the UE is in a power saving mode, the UE mode server may prohibit the information transfer server from having the information sent to the UE; however, when the UE is in an active mode, the UE mode server may permit the information transfer server to have the information to the UE. |
| US09693285B2 |
Communication apparatus
A communication apparatus includes a detection unit that detects a first apparatus that is able to wirelessly communicate with the communication apparatus; a first selection unit that determines a route for communication between the communication apparatus and a communication destination, the route may include an intervening apparatus that relays communication between the communication apparatus and the communication destination, and selects, if plural routes are determined, a first route where a number of the intervening apparatuses is smallest from among the determined routes; and a second selection unit that, when two or more first routes are selected by the first selection unit, calculates, for each of the first routes, a sum of squares of each of first signal strength between two apparatuses in the determined first route as a second signal strength, and selects the route having the highest second signal strength from the determined first routes. |
| US09693284B2 |
Short-range wireless networks
A wireless network of devices comprising a relay start device, an intermediate device and a relay end device, information being communicated wirelessly in use between the relay start device and the relay end device via the intermediate device, wherein: the intermediate device comprises control means and transmission means, the control means being operable to cause the intermediate device transmission means to transmit an indication of connection stability as a function of at least one connection stability parameter of the intermediate device. |
| US09693281B2 |
Handover between cells based on signal quality and interference estimation
Method and apparatus to trigger a handover of a mobile device from a serving cell to a neighbor cell based on signal quality are disclosed. The mobile device measures signal strength and signal quality for the serving cell. When the signal strength exceeds a network-defined threshold and the signal quality falls below a mobile device defined threshold, the mobile device measures at least one neighbor cell. When a neighbor cell exceeds the network-defined threshold for signal strength and also meets the mobile device defined signal quality threshold, the mobile device sends a measurement report to the serving cell to trigger the handover. The measurement report includes modified values that indicate the serving cell does not meet network-defined threshold values and that the neighbor cell outperforms the serving cell. |
| US09693276B1 |
System and method for intelligent network connection selection
In some embodiments, a device for network connection selection may include a network connection selector configured to obtain historical connection information related to previous network connections utilized by a device. The historical connection information may include connectivity disruptions indicating whether connectivity was disrupted for one or more network connections that were previously established by the device. The network connection selector may be configured to select a network connection for the device among a plurality of available network connections based on an evaluation of the historical connection information such that the selected network connection substantially maintains connectivity to a network for a future period of time. |
| US09693275B2 |
Traffic offload via local network
For traffic offload via a local network, a MME may obtain from a HSS, subscription data including SIPTO related permissions defined on APN basis that indicate SIPTO prohibited, indicate SIPTO allowed excluding SIPTO via Local Network (SIPTO@LN), and/or indicate SIPTO allowed including SIPTO@LN. Then, the MME may obtain information about one or more local Gateways (GWs) capable of offloading selected traffic, such information indicating which of the one or more local GWs provides access to which Packet Data Networks (PDNs), with each PDN being identified by its associated APN. Finally, the MME may process PDN connections and/or PDN disconnections in order to support offloading of the selected traffic. The counterpart UE includes the appropriate means of hardware and/or software that is configured to support and perform SIPTO@LN. |
| US09693273B2 |
Triggering pilot transmission for mobility measurements
There is provided a method for triggering mobility measurements for a wireless device. The method is performed by a radio access network node (RANN). The RANN is configurable to transmit using a set of transmission beams. The method comprises receiving signalling from a wireless device (WD). The user traffic signalling is indicative of a current position of the WD and a performance quality metric of the WD. The method comprises, only in a case the performance quality metric fulfills a location dependent performance quality criterion, activating transmission of mobility pilot signals to the WD in at least one transmission beam in the set of transmission beams. The method comprises, thereafter, instructing the WD to perform measurements on the at least one transmission beam. |
| US09693271B2 |
Adaptive cell range expansion mechanisms for LTE cells
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to devices and methods that provide adaptive CRE-based offset parameters that take into account the speed of a UE and that take into account the DL/UL traffic balance being experienced by the UE. For example, if the speed of a UE is greater than the predefined speed, the UE utilizes an adaptive CRE-based offset parameter that has a low value or is equal to zero. Similarly, if the balance of downlink/uplink traffic being experienced by a UE is mainly downlink traffic, the UE utilizes an adaptive CRE-based offset parameter that has a low value or is equal to zero. Consequently, the embodiments disclosed herein reduce the handover failure associated with CRE particularly for high speed UEs while also being able to increase downlink system capacity if the balance of the downlink and uplink traffic experienced by the UE is mostly downlink traffic. |
| US09693270B2 |
Control device, control method, and communication system
A control device includes: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: acquire congestion information indicating a congestion state of communication of wireless local area networks (LANs) which are connection destination candidates of a mobile terminal configured to switch a state thereof between a first state and a second state, in the first state the mobile terminal being wirelessly connected to a radio base station of a mobile communication network and not performing a detection operation of a wireless LAN among the wireless LANs, and in the second state the mobile terminal performing the detection operation and being wirelessly connected to a detected wireless LAN, and perform switching control for switching a state of the mobile terminal from the first state to the second state when the congestion information satisfies a given condition. |
| US09693266B2 |
System and method to assign an internet protocol address to a mobile device during a handoff
A method includes receiving, at a mobile device during a first association with a first access point (AP), a first internet protocol (IP) address assigned by a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server. The method also includes, based on handoff of the mobile device from the first AP to a second AP, sending an association request from the mobile device to the second AP. The association request includes the first IP address. The method further includes receiving the first IP address at the mobile device during a second association with the second AP, the first IP address reassigned to the mobile device by the second AP. |
| US09693265B2 |
Method and apparatus for mobile terminal mobility
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided herein to enable a current release timer value to be transferred to a target access point (e.g. target cell) in an instance in which a mobile terminal is performing a handover or has recently attached to a target access point. In some example embodiments, a method is provided that comprises determining that a handover condition exists for a mobile terminal. The method of this embodiment may also include determining a release timer value for the mobile terminal. The method of this embodiment may also include causing the release timer value to be transmitted to a target access point. In some example embodiments, the release timer value is configured to trigger a release timer in the target access point. |
| US09693261B1 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving a packet with a traveling pilot in sub-1 GHz band via one or more space time streams based on capabilities information
A first network device including a physical layer (PHY) module and a medium access control (MAC) module. The MAC module, in a sub-1 GHz band, transmits the capabilities element to a second network device. The capabilities element includes: a multi-bit field indicating whether transmission of a packet with a traveling pilot is supported by the first network device; or a field indicating whether transmission of a spatial stream over a 1 MHz channel to the second network device is supported by the first network device. The MAC module, subsequent transmitting the capabilities element, forwards data to the PHY module. The PHY module: generates the packet to include the data, where the packet includes the traveling pilot if the capabilities element indicates transmission of the packet with the traveling pilot is supported; and according to the capabilities element, transmits the packet to the second network device via the spatial stream. |
| US09693259B2 |
Method in a base station, a base station, computer programs and computer readable means
The invention relates to a method 20 in a base station 2 of a communication system 1 comprising a transport network 7 interconnecting the base station 2 with at least a gateway node 8. The communication system 1 further comprises one or more user equipment 3, 4 .The method 20 comprises: obtaining 21 transport network congestion information, and adjusting 22 , based on the transport network congestion information, a radio resource utilization parameter for at least one of the one or more user equipment 3, 4 , wherein the radio resource utilization parameter comprises a ratio of used radio resources in a predefined block of radio resources and the number of network congestion radio resources of the predefined block. |
| US09693258B2 |
Base station, and a method for adapting link adaptation in a wireless communications network
A method in a base station for adapting link adaptation of a transmission between a user equipment and the base station is provided. The link adaptation relates to an initial value of a Block Error Rate, BLER, related to the transmission. The base station decides that the user equipment is in congestion responsive to a scheduling bit rate for the transmission in relation to a rate of data packets arriving to or being sent by the user equipment being below a first threshold. Responsive to the user equipment being in congestion, the base station adapts the link adaptation by increasing the value of the BLER of the link adaptation in relation to the initial value, until the user equipment is out of congestion or until the base station detects that any one of the user equipment and the base station tries to send high priority data. |
| US09693252B1 |
Detecting device presence for a layer 3 connection using layer 2 discovery information
Techniques for monitoring presence of a remote device at Layer 2 that allow reducing power consumption without compromising the device's availability. A device that pairs with a remote wireless device may establish a Layer 3 connection, such as an IP connection, to the remote device to provide services to a user. The Layer 3 connection may be formed over a Layer 2 connection via an access point or as a peer-to-peer wireless connection between the devices. When the Layer 3 connection is not actively used to access the remote device, the Layer 3 connection and the supporting Layer 2 connection (e.g., WI-FI, WI-FI DIRECT™ or BLUETOOTH®) may be terminated and presence of the remote device may be monitored using a Layer 2 device discovery mechanism. The Layer 2 and Layer 3 connections to the device may be reestablished when use of the remote device is desired. |
| US09693250B1 |
Systems and methods for monitoring electromagnetic compatibility
Disclosed is a Link 16 terminal having a receiver and a transmitter. The receiver may be configured to process received signals in a receive mode to produce digitized samples, which may then be processed in a digital signal processor. The transmitter may be configured to produce a transmit signal that is provided to an antennas for transmission during transmit mode. The transmit signal may also be provided to the receiver in transmit mode to produce digitized samples of the transmit mode, may then be processed in a digital signal processor for compliance with requirements for Link 16 transmissions. |
| US09693249B2 |
UE signal quality measurements on a subset of radio resource elements
A user equipment (UE) receives a radio signal which includes a time-frequency grid of radio resource elements. A UE detector measures a signal quality parameter associated with a subset of the radio resource elements in the time-frequency grid. The subset of the radio resource elements is less than a total number of the radio resource elements in the time-frequency grid and corresponds to an individual radio channel. Radio circuitry in the UE reports to a network node the signal quality parameter measured for the subset of the radio resource elements in the time-frequency grid to enable an operation related, for example, to the individual radio channel. |
| US09693244B2 |
Sensor and receiving device in sensor system
A sensor system in which it is possible to identify a sufficient number of sensors even in a situation where the data length of a packet is limited, as well as a sensor and a receiving device in the same, are provided. A sensor repeating a measurement period for performing measurement and a transmission period for performing transmission at predetermined cycles, includes: a measurement section (11) that outputs during the measurement period measurement information based on predetermined measurement; and a transmission section (12) that transmits during the transmission period, by using a single packet or a plurality of packets, source identification information for identifying a source of a packet, the measurement information, and sensor-related information for identifying the sensor and/or a measurement target equipment of this sensor. |
| US09693242B2 |
Communications links assessment
There is provided a method, a communications device, a vehicle and a computer program for adaptation of operation for communication between communications devices. An application is executed by a first communications device. The application involves data communications with a second communications device. A predicted impact on at least one communications link used for the data communications is acquired. The predicted impact is based on information of current link parameters of the at least one communications link. Operation of the first communications device is adapted based on the predicted impact. |
| US09693240B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for advanced receiver design
Disclosed are embodiments of apparatuses and methods of use thereof for frequency domain (FD) chip level (CL) equalizers used in wireless receivers. The FD-CL-EQ may further selectively apply a higher order matrix inverse or a lower order matrix inverse in the calculation of a channel estimate based on whether interference is present or not. Further disclosed are embodiments of methods and apparatuses for estimating pilot signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) in the wireless receivers. Further disclosed are methods and apparatuses for compensating for phase errors in received demodulated data symbols to improve performance of the wireless receivers. |
| US09693239B2 |
Methods and arrangements for processing of measurement data in cellular communication systems
Unsynchronized internal clocks of user equipments in a cellular communication system are addressed by a mechanism relying on a standalone clock function in user equipments. A network node distributes a time reference to a user equipment (UE), and the UE, using an internal clock function, time-stamps the logged measurements and/or events relative to the received time reference. When the UE has logged measurements, the UE indicates to the network node that it has an available measurement log. The network node may then request several UEs to deliver their respective measurement logs. The network node is then able to retrieve time-stamped measurement information from the measurement log of each UE relative to the sent time reference. The network node is then able to compare measurement information from each UE in a cell provided at the same time interval in all UEs. |
| US09693235B2 |
Methods and devices for securing radio resources for an LTE-U data transmission
A method for securing radio resources for a Long Term Evolution-unlicensed, LTE-U, data transmission is disclosed. The method includes transmitting a plurality of bits in an unlicensed frequency band which are inserted before the LTE-U data transmission. Related communication devices, methods by devices, and systems are disclosed. |
| US09693232B2 |
High security system and method used in radio systems
The present invention relates to a high security system (1) and method (100) which prevents unauthorized (foreign) radios (R) that are not defined in the system from being served by the main communication system (MCS) in professional radio systems and which thus secures the communication of the radios (R) that are registered in the system. |
| US09693229B2 |
Logical subscriber identification module (SIM)
A mobile hub can receive from a mobile device a request to authenticate a user of the mobile device with the mobile hub. Responsive to receiving the request, a user profile of the user can be identified. A first of a plurality of mobile networks indicated in the user profile as being available to the user can be identified. The first mobile network can satisfy at least one user specified criterion associated with the user profile. A subscriber authentication associated with the user profile can be selected. The subscriber authentication can be configured to authenticate the user with the first of the plurality of mobile networks and configured to be processed by the first mobile device to automatically establish presence on the first mobile network. The subscriber authentication can be communicated to the mobile device. |
| US09693228B2 |
Method, device and terminal for binding NFC application and operator
A method, device and terminal for binding an NFC application and an operator are disclosed in the embodiments of the present document. The method comprises: after receiving an operation command sent by an upper application program of a terminal, an NFC middleware judging whether the operation command is within an NFC service permission opened by the terminal at an operator; when determining that the operation command is within the NFC service permission opened by the terminal at the operator, sending the operation command to an NFC device; the NFC device reading original NFC data according to the information in the operation command; and after performing data processing on the original NFC data, sending the data to the upper application program. |
| US09693226B2 |
Method and apparatus for securing a connection in a communications network
Method and Apparatus for Securing a Connection in a Communications Network A method of operating a user equipment (UE) using a Generic Bootstrapping Architecture (GBA) is provided. The method includes establishing a shared secret between the UE and a Network Application Function (NAF). An authentication request is sent to a Bootstrapping Server Function (BSF) by the UE. An original parameter intended for a key derivation function and a bootstrapping transaction identifier is received from the BSF. An application request, including the bootstrapping transaction identifier, is sent by the UE to the NAF. A modified parameter is derived by the UE from the secret and the original parameter intended for the key derivation function. A cryptographic key is determined using said modified parameter in place of or in addition to the original parameter in the key derivation function, and communications with the NAF are secured using the key. |
| US09693224B2 |
Restricting software to authorized wireless environments
An apparatus for restricting execution of software is disclosed. The apparatus includes a telecommunication device configured to communicate with a wireless device (e.g., an RFID device) using a first wireless communication protocol. The telecommunication device is configured to determine whether or not the telecommunication device is located in an authorized wireless environment, based on wireless devices detected by the telecommunication device. The telecommunication device is also configured to execute a program in response to determining that it is located in an authorized wireless environment. Conversely, the telecommunication device is also configured to inhibit execution of the program in response to determining that it is not located in an authorized wireless environment. |
| US09693222B1 |
Sharing social media profiles using wireless identifiers of a communication device
Methods and systems for associating or accessing one or more social media profiles are disclosed herein. The system may include one or more unconnected (Wireless Enabled Devices) WEDs which may broadcast or detect a beacon message, where the beacon message may include the MAC address or other wireless identifier of the broadcasting WED (Wireless Enabled Device). The detecting WED may send a query to an API for accessing or retrieving one or more social media profiles that may be associated with the detected MAC address. The API may check the detected MAC address against a plurality of MAC addresses previously registered in a registry. The API may retrieve links stored in the registry and associated with the registered MAC address. The API may send these links to the detecting WED which may use the links to automatically retrieve one or more social media profiles from third-party providers. |
| US09693220B1 |
System and method of using dual subscriber identification modules for advertising
A system that includes a processor, a communications means connected to the processor, wherein the communications means is operative to connect to a wireless communications network, a means for accepting two subscriber identification modules (“SIM”), and computer executable instructions readable by the processor, and operative to determine whether a local SIM and a second SIM are present in the means for accepting two SIMs, wherein the local SIM is assigned to a traditional phone number and the second SIM is used to receive or transmit communications to or from the advertisers, where the second SIM card is accessed through an application program (“app”). By downloading the app, the user can access a suite of various application programs, programs and/or advertisements that are accessible through the second SIM card. |
| US09693218B2 |
Mobility management system, mobility management method, access GW apparatus, mobility management control apparatus, and computer-readable medium
A mobility management system in which mobility management for a mobile terminal is performed, including a plurality of mobility anchor nodes configured to communicate with an external network; an access gateway configured to communicate with the mobile terminal and the plurality of anchor nodes, and configured to send, to at least one of the mobility anchor nodes, a packet being relayed between the mobility terminal and the external network; and a control unit having at least one hardware processor configured to execute modules to control the access gateway to switch a destination mobility anchor node of the packet. |
| US09693215B2 |
Electronic apparatus and wireless device checking method
An in-vehicle apparatus is capable of connecting to wireless devices by using a plurality of wireless communication modes and includes a wireless device retrieval section configured to retrieve a connectable wireless device for each of the plurality of wireless communication modes, and a wireless communication mode display processing section, a display processing section, and a display device that are configured to display wireless communication modes corresponding to connectable wireless devices whose existence has been checked by the wireless device retrieval section. |
| US09693212B1 |
Devices and methods for efficient emergency calling
Disclosed are devices, systems, methods, and media for efficient emergency calling using digital devices. In some embodiments, a user is able to make an emergency call by a one-touch or dual-touch process. An authentication process may reduce inadvertent and unauthorized emergency calling. Persistent emergency buttons are also disclosed that may be used for calling emergency in different states of the device. |
| US09693210B2 |
Customizing wireless emergency alert messages using network analytics
A method, computer-readable medium, and apparatus for broadcasting a wireless emergency alert message are disclosed. For example, a method may include a processor receiving a request to broadcast a wireless emergency alert message, determining an anticipated increase in a network usage in response to broadcasting the wireless emergency alert message, determining that a capacity of the network will not be exceeded with the anticipated increase in the network usage, and broadcasting the wireless alert message in an alert area. In one example, the request comprises a type of alert, the alert area, and a message content. In one example, the wireless emergency alert message that is broadcast includes the message content in a format that deviates from a default format when it is determined that the capacity of the network will not be exceeded with the anticipated increase in the network usage. |
| US09693208B2 |
Do-not-disturb modes
Methods related to do-not-disturb modes activated by a mobile device are provided. An example method may include receiving a do-not-disturb notification by a mobile device indicating that the mobile device is in a do-not-disturb mode. The method may further include temporarily disabling, when the mobile device is in the do-not-disturb mode, causing at least one communications feature associated with the mobile device and one or more additional communications features associated with one or more ancillary devices to be temporarily disabled. Another example method may include detecting whether a mobile device is in one of a stationary display screen face down state or a moving display screen face down state, and, when the mobile device is in at least one of the stationary display screen face down state or the moving display screen face down state, causing a first communications feature associated with the mobile device to be temporarily disabled and sending a do-not-disturb notification to a server. Systems and computer-readable media are also described. |
| US09693205B2 |
System and method for providing message delivery and paging to a group of users in a network environment
An example method is provided in one example embodiment and may include configuring paging parameters for a group of one or more user equipment (UE) based, at least in part, on a group identifier (ID) for the group of one or more UE; communicating the paging parameters to each of the one or more UE of the group; and paging one or more idle mode UE of the group according to the paging parameters to transition the idle mode UE to a connected mode for receiving a group message. In some instances, configuring the paging parameters can include configuring a paging frame and paging occasion for the group of one or more UE based on the group ID; configuring extended paging cycle radio frames for the group of one or more UE; and/or configuring a paging group Radio Network Temporary Identifier for the group of one or more UE. |
| US09693201B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating location reference information
An approach for enabling the generation of a location record at a device based on a location not associated with a pre-stored location record is described. A location reference platform determines at least one location is not associated with one or more pre-stored location records at at least one device. The location reference platform also causes, at least in part, a generation of at least one location record for the at least one location. The location reference platform further causes, at least in part, a transmission of the at least one location record to the at least one device for storage with the one or more pre-stored location records. |
| US09693199B2 |
Location information management system, mobile station, service management server, movement sensing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A location information management system includes: a mobile station (30) that is located in a mobile communication network; and a service management server (40) that receives a movement sensing request to sense a movement of the mobile station (30) from a service providing server (50), the service management server (40) thereafter notifying the service providing server (50) that the movement of the mobile station (30) has been sensed upon an occurrence of the movement of the mobile station (30). The mobile station (30) receives first area information included in information that is periodically transmitted to each mobile station located in the area, the mobile station (30) thereafter sensing that the mobile station itself has moved upon receipt of second area information, and the mobile station notifying the service management server (40) that the movement of the mobile station itself has been sensed. |
| US09693198B2 |
Method and system for location determination and navigation using textual information
Methods and systems for location determination and navigation using textual information may comprise in a wireless communication device: capturing one or more images of one or more sources of textual information in the vicinity of the wireless communication device, extracting text from the one or more sources of textual information, and determining a position of the wireless communication device by, at least in part, determining a distance to a letter at a beginning of the one or more sources of textual information, determining a distance to a letter at an end of the one or more sources of textual information, and triangulating the position using the determined distances. An orientation of the text in the captured one or more images may be sensed relative to the wireless device. An orientation of the wireless device may be utilized in conjunction with the extracted text for the position determining. |
| US09693190B2 |
Campus security in a close proximity notification system
According to an aspect, a method for providing assistance to a user of a mobile device includes receiving a signal from a short-range wireless communication transmitter. The signal includes an identification code, and the receiving is by a mobile device of a user located within the space. The signal is processed on the mobile device and includes: determining whether information associated with the signal is stored on the mobile device; and identifying a retrieval location of the information based on the determining and on the signal. The processing of the signal is performed exclusively by a software application located on the mobile device and independently of any networks. Based on the processing, information that includes an address of a security system is retrieved using the mobile device. The mobile device is monitored for inputs and based on receiving a security request, the security request is transmitted to the security system. |
| US09693189B2 |
System and method for determining a subscriber's zone information
Systems and methods for delivering customized content to wireless service subscribers are disclosed. According to the disclosed embodiments, wireless access points can be grouped into various zones. Some of all of these zones can be further associated with predefined service types or other customized attributes. When a wireless subscriber connects to an access point in a given zone, the subscriber can be provided with content and/or services based on the zone to which he is connected. |
| US09693187B2 |
Geo-location of a WLAN device
A passive geo-location method for determining the location of a wireless device. The method includes receiving, by a measuring receiver at a first position, a first beacon transmitted to the measuring receiver by the wireless device, and receiving, by the measuring receiver at a second position, a second beacon transmitted to the measuring receiver by the wireless device. When the first position differs from the second position by less than a predetermined distance, the method further includes determining a relative drift between a clock associated with the wireless device and a clock associated with the measuring receiver, and determining a location of the wireless device based at least on the determined relative drift. |
| US09693185B2 |
Method and arrangement for retrieving geographic location
Method and Over The TOP (OTT) service providing node for retrieval of geographic location information of a communication device communicatively coupled to the OTT service providing node. A request for an OTT service is received from the communication device, and an identifier of the communication device is determined. An operator of the communication device is determined, by utilizing the determined identifier of the communication device. An identifier of an Operator Location Service (OLS) node of the operator is determined. A location request is sent to the OLS node for requesting geographic location information of the communication device, the location request comprising the identifier of the communication device, the identifier of the communication device to be utilized by the OLS node for retrieving the requested geographic location information from a location server, and the retrieved geographic location information to be sent by the OLS node to the OTT service providing node. |
| US09693181B1 |
Surveillance detection based on an identification of a carried mobile device
A surveillance detection apparatus for detecting an intruder to a restricted space includes a short range radio transceiver and a processor. The short range radio transceiver, which has a predefined limited range, causes the surveillance detection apparatus to send an intrusion signal to the processor in response to the short range radio transceiver receiving a short range radio signal from a communication device that is in the possession of an intruder, who is not pre-authorized by the processor to be within the predefined limited range of the short range radio transceiver, and thus the restricted space. In response to determining that the communication device is not pre-authorized to be within the predefined limited range of the short range radio transceiver, the processor generates an intruder alert. |
| US09693180B2 |
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving audio streams in wireless communication system
In a method for transceiving audio streams in a wireless communication system according to the present invention, a method performed by a first device comprises performing an audio link connection procedure related to transceiving an audio stream with a second device, the audio link including at least one isochronous channel; transceiving an audio stream to and from the second device through the at least one isochronous channel; and transmitting a command message to the second device to perform a specific function related to the audio stream. |
| US09693175B2 |
Method and system for broadband near-field communication utilizing full spectrum capture (FSC) supporting configuration and regulatory requirements
A wireless communication device generates and transmits wireless broadband signals at a power level that is below a spurious emissions mask such that the transmitted wireless broadband signals occupy a designated frequency spectrum band. A bandwidth of the wireless broadband signals may occupy approximately 800 MHz within a range of 0 Hz to 1 GHz. The transmit power utilized for transmitting the wireless broadband signals may be spread over a bandwidth of approximately 300 MHz within the 800 MHz bandwidth. The spreading results in a power spectral density of the transmitted wireless broadband signals approximating thermal noise at a distance of approximately 3 meters. Available channels within the designated frequency spectrum band may be sensed for the transmission of the wireless broadband signals. A plurality of the sensed available channels may be aggregated for the transmission of the wireless broadband signals. |
| US09693165B2 |
Validation of audio calibration using multi-dimensional motion check
Examples described herein involve validating motion of a microphone during calibration of a playback device. An example implementation involves receiving motion data indicating movement of a recording device while the recording device was recording a calibration sound emitted by one or more playback devices in a given environment during a calibration period. The example implementation also involves determining that sufficient vertical translation of the recording device occurred during the calibration period. The example implementation further involves determining that sufficient horizontal translation of the recording device occurred during the calibration period. The implementation involves sending, by the computing device to one or more playback devices, a message indicating that sufficient translation of the recording device occurred during the calibration period in vertical and horizontal directions. |
| US09693158B2 |
In-ear monitors and methods of manufacturing
An in-ear monitor and a method for manufacturing the in-ear monitor from a block of solid medium made from a combination of wood and acrylic and finished with an acrylic coating. The manufacturing process utilizes computerized numerical control techniques to subtractively manufacture the in-ear monitor from the block of solid medium. Acrylic pieces are embedded into the wood randomly or in a desired pattern so that each block has a unique design pattern. Each in-ear monitor is manufactured from a block of solid medium, will therefore, have a unique design pattern as well. |
| US09693154B2 |
Modular connection assembly for a hearing assistance device
The present subject matter relates to an improved connection assembly for hearing assistance devices. The improved connection assembly provides a connection system that is reliable, straightforward to manufacture, and easy to use. The present connection assembly provides a rapid replacement option for the cable and/or the receiver or other electronics connected to the cable. The present subject matter provides for a connection assembly that can be extended to provide connections for a variety of applications which are not limited to a speaker (receiver) in the ear. Sensors and new configurations of component placement are supported using the present assembly, including, but not limited to telecoils, and GMR or TMR sensors. Various electromagnetic interference issues are addressed. In some examples a shielded set of wires are included. In some examples a twisted pair of wires is included. Various combinations of wires for different applications are supported with the present connector system. |
| US09693143B2 |
Multi-layer laminate with high internal damping
The invention relates to a multi-layer composite for the production of membranes for electroacoustic transducers, comprising a first and second cover layer, a first and second damping layer and a separating layer, the first and the second damping layer consisting of adhesive compositions the respective glass transition temperatures TG (DSC) of which differ by at least 10 K. |
| US09693142B2 |
Housing of electronic device and speaker
A speaker includes a shell and a vibration device. The vibration device is fixed on the shell. The shell defines a closed space. The closed space is filled with gas. The vibration device can drive the shell to vibrate to produce sound. A speaker is also provided. |
| US09693141B2 |
Fluted and elongated aperture for acoustic transducer
Embodiments are disclosed for a loudspeaker for producing directed acoustic vibrations. In some embodiments, a loudspeaker includes an electromagnetic transducer including diaphragm configured to generate acoustic vibrations. The loudspeaker may further include an aperture positioned in front of the diaphragm in a direction of propagation of the acoustic vibrations, the aperture including an opening having one or more protrusions forming an opening shape having non-uniform edges. |
| US09693138B2 |
Audio speaker protection system and method
A circuit may include an audio amplifier (314) configured to amplify an input signal (SAUDIO) to generate an output signal (SOUT+, SOUT−) suitable for driving a loud speaker (316). A first circuit (318) may be configured to generate a first analog signal (SI) based on a current level drawn by the loud speaker (316), and a second circuit (320) may be configured to generate a second analog signal (SV) based on a voltage supplied across the loud speaker (316). A third circuit (322, 312) may be configured to generate a third analog signal (RESIDUE) based on the difference between the first and second analog signals, and modify the input signal (SAUDIO) based on the third analog signal. |
| US09693136B2 |
Digital speaker driving apparatus
A digital sound system suitable for a digital speaker device to directly convert analog sound by a circuit using a ΔΣ modulator and a mismatch shaping filter circuit to output a plurality of digital signals and a plurality of speakers driven by the plurality of digital signals. A digital speaker driving device includes a ΔΣ modulator, a post filter, s driving circuits, and a power supply circuit to supply power to the ΔΣ modulator, the post filter and the s driving elements, and the s driving circuits are adapted to s digital signal terminals. |
| US09693125B2 |
Loudspeaker cabinet stand
A stand that is adapted to support an upper loudspeaker cabinet relative to a lower loudspeaker cabinet. The stand has a first structure that is constructed and arranged to be directly coupled to a first portion of the lower loudspeaker cabinet in a stand stowed position wherein the stand is stowed on or in the lower loudspeaker cabinet, and a second structure that is constructed and arranged to be directly coupled to a second portion of the lower loudspeaker cabinet in a stand deployed position wherein the stand is supported by and extends above the lower loudspeaker cabinet. The stand is further constructed and arranged to support the upper loudspeaker cabinet when the stand is in the deployed position. |
| US09693123B2 |
Optical switch
An optical switch suitable for use in an add/drop of an optical network node having F>1 optical fiber per direction, the F fibers together carrying optical signals comprising up to N independent wavelength channels, is disclosed. The switch includes an Optical Cross-Connect (OXC) having F input ports and N output ports. F optical splitters are connected to the OXC, the input and output ports of the optical splitters defining ports of the OXC. The OXC is controllable to switch optical signals arriving at any of the F switch input ports to the input port of any of the F optical splitters such that each switch input port is switched to an optical splitter having at least as many splitter output ports as the number of independent wavelength channels received at the switch input port. A method for splitting optical signals is also disclosed. |
| US09693111B2 |
Video transmission system
A video analysis system includes memory having stored therein video analysis software and a processor configured to execute the video analysis software to receive from a mobile video system a dynamic network address, to associate the dynamic network address with a unique identifier of the mobile video system in the memory, and to communicate with the mobile video system using the dynamic network address based on selection by a user of the unique identifier. |
| US09693110B2 |
Dynamic content stream management
Dynamic content stream management of may be provided. A selection of a content element may be received and an encoding scheme may be selected. The content element may be transmitted to the requesting client in the selected encoding scheme. During transmission, a different encoding scheme may be selected according to changing conditions, such as network congestion. The client may be switched over to receive the content element in the new encoding scheme instead of the originally selected encoding scheme. |
| US09693105B2 |
Digital video recorder state cache
A digital video recorder control database is maintained for a digital video recorder in communication with a plurality of set-top boxes. The database includes program content, associated programming metadata, and a recording schedule. A subset of the digital video recorder control database is pushed from the digital video recorder control database to the plurality of set-top boxes for local caching on the plurality of set-top boxes. The subset includes at least a portion of the recording schedule. |
| US09693099B2 |
Apparatus and methods for resolving recording conflicts of a digital video recorder
Apparatus and methods are provided which facilitate the resolution of recording conflicts of a digital video recorder (DVR). A DVR identifies a recording conflict between a first recording timer associated with a first television program and a second recording timer associated with a second television program. A communication is initiated to a communication device associated with a user of the digital video recorder to inform the user of the recording conflict. Responsive to the communication, the user provides information to the DVR via the communication device requesting to resolve the recording conflict. The DVR utilizes the provided information to modify one or more of the conflicted recording timers to resolve the conflict. |
| US09693095B2 |
Device and method for composing programmes from different sources in baseband
The invention concerns a device for inserting additional video content (inlays, secondary programs) into a main video program. Said device works in baseband within a single encoding box under the control of a common supervisor. The supervisor is configured to pass metadata associated with the images to the coder, said metadata comprising temporal, spatial and dynamic data relating to the planning of the insertion, and analysis data for the image files, which analysis data have been produced prior to the insertion. The coder receives said metadata and is configured to deduce therefrom optimization strategies for the coding that are implemented by line coding and file coding processes that are capable of being carried out simultaneously or sequentially. |
| US09693093B2 |
Method of processing EPG metadata in network device and the network device for controlling the same
A method of processing EPG metadata in a network according to one embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of performing a services discovery procedure utilizing multiple service discovery metadata components supplied by a service provider and processing an EPG metadata. Preferably, the performing step includes the steps of receiving a master SI table which locates in a master SI table location in provisioning information, wherein the provisioning information includes multiple elements, an EPG provider information element in the multiple elements having both a first target virtual channel map identifier element and an EPG data locator element, the first target virtual channel map identifier element indicating that services are covered by each of the EPG metadata provider's EPG data sources, receiving a virtual channel map table which locates in virtual channel map locations in the received master SI table, receiving a virtual channel description table which locates in virtual channel description table locations in the received virtual channel map table, and receiving a source table which locates in source table locations in the received virtual channel description table. |
| US09693092B2 |
Method and system for transmitting network video
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method includes: sending, by a terminal device, video server name information in video request information to a local domain name server; receiving, by the terminal device, address information of a buffer sent by the local domain name server, and sending the video request information to the buffer according to the address information of the buffer; detecting whether a video resource corresponding to video identification information in the video request information exists in the buffer; and if the video resource corresponding to the video identification information exists in the buffer, sending, by the buffer, the video resource to the terminal device. The present invention is applicable to transmission of a network video resource. |
| US09693087B2 |
Communication apparatus, control method, and recording medium
The communication apparatus obtains a projection image to be projected. In a case where a change from a first projection image to a second projection image has been detected, the communication apparatus distributes second distribution data based on the second projection image to an external apparatus. In a case where the second distribution data has already been distributed, the communication apparatus controls not to distribute data based on the second projection image as new distribution data. |
| US09693075B2 |
Picture encoding device, picture encoding method, picture encoding program, picture decoding device, picture decoding method, and picture decoding program
A candidate list construction unit selects a plurality of blocks each having one or two pieces of motion information containing at least information about a motion vector and information about a reference picture from a plurality of neighboring encoded blocks of an encoding target block and constructs a candidate list containing candidates of the motion information used for the motion compensation prediction from the motion information of the selected blocks. A selected candidate generator generates a new candidate of the motion information by combining the motion information of a first prediction list derived by the first motion information deriving unit and the motion information of the second prediction list derived by a second motion information deriving unit. |
| US09693072B2 |
Moving picture compression apparatus, image processing apparatus, moving picture compression method, image processing method, and data structure of moving picture compression file
A frame sequence of moving picture data is divided into a tile image sequence, and the color space of the tile image sequence is converted to generate a YCbCr image sequence. Each frame is reduced to ½ time in the vertical and horizontal directions, and a compression process is carried out to generate compression data of a reference image. The compression data of the reference image is decoded and decompressed similarly as upon image display to restore a YCbCr image as the reference image, and a difference image sequence is generated from the reference image and the original YCbCr image. Then, compression data of a difference image is generated, and compression data obtained by connecting the compression data of the reference image and the compression data of the difference image is generated for every four frames of a tile image. |
| US09693070B2 |
Luma-based chroma intra-prediction for video coding
A method for luma-based chroma intra-prediction in a video encoder or a video decoder is provided that includes down sampling a first reconstructed luma block of a largest coding unit (LCU), computing parameters α and β of a linear model using immediate top neighboring reconstructed luma samples and left neighboring reconstructed luma samples of the first reconstructed luma block and reconstructed neighboring chroma samples of a chroma block corresponding to the first reconstructed luma block, wherein the linear model is PredC[x,y]=α·RecL′[x,y]+β, wherein x and y are sample coordinates, PredC is predicted chroma samples, and RecL′ is samples of the down sampled first reconstructed luma block, and wherein the immediate top neighboring reconstructed luma samples are the only top neighboring reconstructed luma samples used, and computing samples of a first predicted chroma block from corresponding samples of the down sampled first reconstructed luma block using the linear model and the parameters. |
| US09693063B2 |
Video analyzer
A content receiver and a method for controlling the same are provided. The content receiver, for example, may include, but is not limited to, a communication system configured to receive video content comprising a plurality of video frames from a content source, and a video analyzer configured to determine when compression of the video content is causing blockiness in one or more of the plurality of video frames, and trigger at least one content receiver response when the compression of the video content is causing blockiness in one or more of the plurality of video frames. |
| US09693061B2 |
Method and apparatus for hierarchical data unit-based video encoding and decoding comprising quantization parameter prediction
A method of decoding a video includes determining an initial value of a quantization parameter (QP) used to perform inverse quantization on coding units included in a slice segment, based on syntax obtained from a bitstream; determining a slice-level initial QP for predicting the QP used to perform inverse quantization on the coding units included in the slice segment, based on the initial value of the QP; and determining a predicted QP of a first quantization group of a parallel-decodable data unit included in the slice segment, based on the slice-level initial QP. |
| US09693052B2 |
Method and devices for predictive coding/decoding with directional scanning
A predictive coding system can encode motion vectors by determining a motion vector of a target partition in a frame picture of an encoding target; determining a first motion vector predictor candidate from a motion vector or motion vectors of one or more partitions belonging to a left-neighboring region to the target partition; determining a second motion vector predictor candidate from a motion vector or motion vectors of one or more partitions belonging to an above-neighboring region to the target partition; selecting an optimum motion vector predictor and outputting motion vector predictor indication information to specify the selected optimum motion vector predictor, the optimum motion vector predictor selected based on comparison between one or more motion vector predictor candidates including the first motion vector predictor candidate and the second motion vector predictor candidate, and the motion vector of the target partition; and encoding the motion vector predictor indication information. |
| US09693051B2 |
Video coder providing implicit coefficient prediction and scan adaptation for image coding and intra coding of video
A predictive video coder performs gradient prediction based on previous blocks of image data. For a new block of image data, the prediction determines a horizontal gradient and a vertical gradient from a block diagonally above the new block (vertically above a previous horizontally adjacent block). Based on these gradients, the encoder predicts image information based on image information of either the horizontally adjacent block or a block vertically adjacent to the new block. The encoder determines a residual that is transmitted in an output bitstream. The decoder performs the identical gradient prediction and predicts image information without need for overhead information. The decoder computes the actual information based on the predicted information and the residual from the bitstream. |
| US09693050B1 |
Automated measurement of mobile device application performance
Methods, systems and apparatuses, including computer program products, are described for determining a performance metric of a mobile computing device application. A test computing device captures a plurality of images displayed on a mobile computing device based on execution of a mobile computing device application. The test computing device determines a first property for first and second images of the plurality of images. A first performance parameter is set based on a difference between the first properties of the first and second images. The test computing device determines a first property for third and fourth images of the plurality of images. A second performance parameter is set based on a difference between the first properties of the third and fourth image. A performance metric is determined based on a difference between the first performance parameter and the second performance parameter. |
| US09693047B2 |
Transparent stereo display and operation method thereof
A transparent stereo display includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a common electrode, a display medium, and a patterned phase retardation film. A plurality of pixel structures is disposed on the first substrate. The pixel structures include a plurality of right eye pixel structures and left eye pixel structures. Each pixel structure includes a display region, a first region, and a second region. The patterned phase retardation film includes right eye polarized patterns and left eye polarized patterns. The right eye polarized patterns are disposed corresponding to the right eye pixel structures, and the left eye polarized patterns are disposed corresponding to the left eye polarized patterns. An edge of each right eye polarized pattern overlaps with the second region of the corresponding right eye pixel structure. An edge of each left eye polarized pattern overlaps with the second region of the corresponding left eye pixel structure. |
| US09693045B2 |
Organic light emitting display and driving method thereof
An organic light emitting display is driven in a simultaneous (or concurrent) emission scheme. The organic light emitting display includes: a display unit including a plurality of pixels coupled to scan lines, control lines, and data lines; a control line driver for providing control signals to the pixels through the control lines; and a power driver for applying a power at different levels to the pixels of the display unit during a plurality of periods of one frame. The control signals and the power are concurrently provided to the pixels included in the display unit. |
| US09693044B2 |
Method for constructing a stereoscopic light recycling device
A method for constructing a stereoscopic device is provided. A chassis with front and back openings and that forms a housing framing the front and back openings is constructed. A beam splitter constructed of substantially orthogonally polarizing material faces the back opening and is captively held to the chassis. A single phase shifting optic having a reflective surface coated by a phase shifting film on which the divergent image light is received is placed at an angle non-perpendicular to the divergent image light, such that the phase shifting optic is facing toward the front opening and is substantially parallel to the polarizing material of the beam splitter. The beam splitter and phase shifting optic are in optical alignment with each other within the chassis. A modulator sized to cover at least a portion of the front opening is positioned in front of the front opening. |
| US09693040B2 |
Method for optically measuring three-dimensional coordinates and calibration of a three-dimensional measuring device
A method for scanning and obtaining three-dimensional (3D)l coordinates is provided. The method includes providing a 3D measuring device having a projector, a first camera and a second camera. The method records images of a light pattern emitted by the projector onto an object. A deviation in a measured parameter from an expected parameter is determined. The calibration of the 3D measuring device may be changed when the deviation is outside of a predetermined threshold. |
| US09693031B2 |
System and method for capturing and processing a live event
A system comprising a lead computer a plurality of receivers and transmitters for capturing audio and/or video signals and converting the audio and/or video signals to a transmittable form, wherein at least one of the plurality of receivers and transmitters is associated with at least one individual of a group, wherein the lead computer includes a computer processor for processing a selection of the group and a selection of the transmittable audio and/or video signals of the at least one individual transmitted over a network to the lead computer, wherein the lead computer includes a display device having one or more view windows for playing the selection of the group alongside the selection of the transmittable audio and/or video signals of the at least one individual. |
| US09693027B2 |
Increase in dynamics in color-coded triangulation
An arrangement is disclosed for increasing dynamics in color-coded triangulation by using an adapted narrow band color filter. Spectral passage ranges of the color filter overlap with sensitive spectral ranges of a camera sensor. However, the spectral passage ranges are, in contrast to the sensitive spectral ranges of the camera sensor, spectrally disjunct, and the transmitted colors can therefore be clearly identified. |
| US09693025B2 |
Image projector, image projection method, and recording medium
An image projector includes a light source to emit light, an image forming device to form an image based on a reflected light of the light emitted from the light source, a color wheel disposed between the light source and the image forming device so as to pass the light emitted from the light source to the image forming device through an optical path, the color wheel including a plurality of color filters, at least one lens to project the image formed on the image forming device to a projection surface as a projection image, and circuitry to cause the color wheel be moved away from the optical path for the light emitted from the light source, when a brightness of the projection image is to be increased. |
| US09693024B2 |
Visual inspection device
A visual inspection device includes a body having a support portion and a grip portion extending from the support portion. The device also includes a flexible cable having a first end portion coupled to the body and a second end portion, and a camera assembly coupled to the second end portion of the flexible cable. The camera assembly includes an image sensor operable to transmit image data through the flexible cable. The device further includes a display supported by the support portion of the body. The display is electrically connected to the flexible cable to display image date from the image sensor. The device is powered by a rechargeable battery pack removably coupled to the body. |
| US09693020B1 |
Producing and viewing publically viewable video-based group conversations
A system and method for producing a video-based group conversation for viewing over a network. The system is configured to generate a display at a first user computer which includes a plurality of sections in a single screen display, including at least a preview section configured for displaying an indicator for each of one or more viewers who are viewing the video-based conversation, and a media player section configured for displaying a video signal including at least some of the video feeds. The creator of the publically viewable video-based group conversation controls which users can participate in the publically viewable video-based group conversation by enabling video streams provided by those users to be displayed on the screen and viewable to other users who access the group conversation. |
| US09693015B2 |
Presentation and display equipment
A presentation and display system comprising a pedestal mounted on a plinth and a display screen or monitor carried by the pedestal, in which the individual components of the system are secured together by manually operable releasable fasteners. |
| US09693011B2 |
Upgraded image streaming to legacy and upgraded displays
A display system and method including (a) at least one input source encoding images to be displayed in a first format with a first resolution and in a second format with a second resolution higher than the first; (b) a first and second display for displaying images with the first and second resolution, respectively; and (c) a shared resource network linking the at least one input source with the first and second displays. The images encoded in the first format with the first resolution are sent over the shard resource network through a first cable. A first part of each image encoded in the second format with the second resolution is sent over the shared resource network through the first cable. A second part of each image encoded in the second format with the second resolution is sent over the shared resource network through a second cable. |
| US09693009B2 |
Sound source selection for aural interest
A viewer-selectable audio display region is associated with certain pixels of a video feed visible to the viewer of the video. Directional microphones provide audio signals for specific audio sources within a three-dimensional (3-D) video recording space. The recorded video signal is augmented with the audio signals and identified sound sources. The sound sources are mapped to pixels on the display. When the viewer selects the pixels, one or more audio recordings are: (i) played; (ii) amplified; (iii) mixed; and/or (iv) otherwise processed. |
| US09693005B2 |
Electric apparatus and an operation method thereof
The present invention discloses an electric apparatus and operation method thereof. The electric apparatus includes: display unit to display the output content from said electric apparatus: operation unit used to operate said electric apparatus; the apparatus further includes: the primary indication unit, when the primary indication unit is started up, the operation unit is in visible status and otherwise the operation unit is in invisible status. The design of the present invention improves the front visual effect and the interactive performance of the electrical apparatus. |
| US09693001B2 |
Image sensor, operating method thereof, and system including same
A method of operating an image processing system includes storing differences between first analog pixel signals and second analog pixel signals and converting the stored differences to one-bit digital signals, the first analog pixel signals being output from a plurality of pixels and corresponding to a previous frame, and the second analog pixel signals being output from the plurality of pixels and corresponding to a current frame. |
| US09693000B2 |
Image processing apparatus and method for controlling image processing apparatus
A first area of an image is generated from a plurality of pixels existing on a line of interest that is set so as to pass through a pixel corresponding to a correction target pixel. A plurality of second areas are generated, each second area based on the positions of a plurality of pixels existing on at least one reference lines that are set so as not to pass through the correction target pixel. The value of the pixel corresponding to the correction target pixel is corrected using a value of a pixel on each of the at least one reference lines, the value being determined based on the amounts of correlation between the respective second areas and the first area. |
| US09692995B2 |
Flare detection and mitigation in panoramic images
Lens flare mitigation techniques determine which pixels in images of a sequence of images are likely to be pixels affected by lens flare. Once the lens flare areas of the images are determined, unwanted lens flare effects may be mitigated by various approaches, including reducing border artifacts along a seam between successive images, discarding entire images of the sequence that contain lens flare areas, and using tone-mapping to reduce the visibility of lens flare. |
| US09692993B2 |
Illumination estimation device, illumination estimation method, and storage medium
Illumination estimation device includes: target object area extraction unit which extracts an object area from a multispectral image, the object area being an area, including specular reflection, of an object; distribution characteristics estimation unit which estimates information representing a subspace that approximates a distribution of observation values in a spectral space, as distribution characteristics, the distribution characteristics being characteristics of a spreading manner of the observation values in the object area within the spectral space; dimension reduction unit which selects a distribution characteristic to be used from among the distribution characteristics estimated by the distribution characteristics estimation unit depending on the number of dimensions to be reduced, the number of dimensions to be reduced being determined in advance by a light environment; and illumination estimation unit which estimates spectral characteristics of illumination based on the subspace information to be represented by the distribution characteristic selected by the dimension reduction unit. |
| US09692987B2 |
Method for applying multi-layered film grain and texture mapping to a digital video image
A method for processing digital video to have grain corresponding to a motion picture film, the method having the steps of: receiving a plurality of different grain assets corresponding to different film exposure levels; receiving a digital video image; separating the digital video image into a plurality of luminance delineated matte images; adding a different grain asset to each of the plurality of luminance delineated matte images to create a plurality of asset plates; and combining the plurality of asset plates to form a final digital video image. |
| US09692986B2 |
Display device and method for shooting and displaying images
The present disclosure relates to a display device and a method for shooting and displaying an image. The display device includes a displayer and a camera installed in the displayer and configured to shoot images of an external object directly facing the displayer. The camera includes a plurality of lens components installed at intervals on a surface of the displayer, a plurality of photosensitive components matched with the plurality of lens components respectively, and a set of image processing chips configured to process the images generated by the camera. |
| US09692985B2 |
Image processing apparatus and image processing method for tone control by applying different gain
An image processing apparatus includes: a reduced image generation unit configured to obtain a reduced image; a gain data generation unit configured to obtain gain data; and a determination unit configured to determine a control gain required to amplify the input image based on the generated gain data, and letting first gain data be the gain data for an image having a relatively high frequency, and second gain data be the gain data having a relatively low frequency, the determination unit determines the control gain based on a first addition result and a second addition result. |
| US09692978B2 |
Image capturing apparatus, control method therefor, and storage medium
There is provided an image capturing apparatus. A detection unit detects a position that has been designated by a user on a first display screen. A display unit displays, on the first display screen, a captured image generated by a image capturing unit. A transmission unit transmits the captured image to an external apparatus, the external apparatus being configured to display the captured image on a second display screen and detect a position that has been designated by the user on the second display screen. An obtaining unit configured to obtain, from the detection unit or the external apparatus, position information based on the position designated by the user. A selection unit selects a partial region of the captured image based on the position information if the position designated by the user is within an effective range. |
| US09692976B2 |
Imaging apparatus with shake correction function
An imaging apparatus has one of the interchangeable lens and the camera body acting as a master and the other acting as a slave. The master has a shake detection unit configured to detect a shake of the camera body and/or the interchangeable lens; and a shake correction processing unit configured to calculate an amount of shake correction for the correction lens and the imaging device based on an output from the shake detection unit. The shake correction processing unit performs arithmetic processing for calculating a shake correction signal and separates the shake correction signal into a low frequency domain and a high frequency domain. One of the lens driving unit and the device driving unit performs the image blur correction based on the shake correction signal of the high frequency domain, and the other performs the image blur correction based on the shake correction signal of the low frequency domain. |
| US09692975B2 |
Motion blur-free capture of low light high dynamic range images
Embodiments of the disclosure compensate for global movement and in-scene movement during image capture by a computing device. A sequence of images is accessed by the computing device. Accelerometer readings and/or gyroscope readings corresponding to each of the accessed images are used by the computing device for calculating global movement among each of the accessed images. Each of the accessed images is re-aligned based on the calculated global movement. The re-aligned images are combined into a single output image. The intensity values of each of the pixels in the re-aligned images are compared with the intensity values of each of the corresponding pixels in a reference image. Based on the comparison, the intensity values associated with the pixels in the re-aligned images are selectively accumulated to generate an output image that is blur-free, low-light enhanced, and high dynamic range. |
| US09692972B2 |
Stabilization of low-light video
In one embodiment, a method includes determining a maximum exposure time for capturing one or more image frames of a video clip. The maximum exposure time represents an exposure time below which the captured image frames are substantially free of motion-blur artifacts and above which the captured image frames exhibit motion-blur artifacts. The method also includes capturing the image frames with an exposure time that is less than or equal to the maximum exposure time. |
| US09692965B2 |
Omnidirectional image editing program and omnidirectional image editing apparatus
This invention has an object to provide an image editing program and apparatus allowing users to intuitively produce images covering the omnidirection. In a virtual space, an omnidirectional image is projected according to a coordinate conversion and displayed at a display device 20. For omnidirectional image edition, a view direction and a view angle are changed in the virtual space with a pointing device 30, and under control of a central control unit 11, display of the omnidirectional image in a screen image is renewed to perform two-dimensional drawing to an image for drawing having the same coordinate system as that of the screen image with the pointing device 30 using the screen image as a clue. After the end of drawing, the coordinate conversion is made to the drawing image to project the image at a proper position of the omnidirectional image. The omnidirectional image is thus completed by repeating the steps of view direction changes and drawing. |
| US09692960B2 |
Method and system for enabling camera of mobile terminal to automatically adapt camera parameters according to scene motion
A method and a system for a mobile terminal camera, to automatically adapt to scenarios, may include collecting motion data of a mobile terminal, within a predetermined period of time, via a sensor, acquiring a number of times when a maximum value of the motion data exceeds a predetermined value, obtaining a current motion scenario through analysis of the motion data according to the number of times the motion data exceeds the predetermined value, and automatically adjusting camera operation parameters according to the current motion scenario. Thereby, the present invention may make it unnecessary for a user to conduct frequent operations, so the user can conveniently and rapidly take pictures or videos in agreement with a current environment. |
| US09692958B2 |
Focus assist system and method
Focus assist systems and methods for imaging devices are provided. The focus assist systems and methods display focus level data to a user. There are a variety of methods of displaying focus level data to a user, including, but not limited to, graphs, highlights, symbols, and varied levels of brightness or color. |
| US09692950B2 |
Display method for video conferencing
A display method for video conferencing and an associated video conferencing system are provided. The video conferencing system includes a display, an image capturing unit, and a network interface unit. The method includes the steps of: utilizing the image capturing unit to capture images of a local user in a video conference; performing foreground segmentation on the captured images to obtain a foreground object; flipping the foreground object horizontally; identifying a human face from the flipped foreground object and correcting a facing angle of the human face; determining interaction data from the local user on the display; encoding the interaction data and the flipped foreground object into an interaction stream and a video stream, respectively; packing the interaction stream and the video stream into an output stream; and transmitting the output stream to a remote user of the video conference through the network interface unit. |
| US09692949B2 |
Ball with trajectory control for reconnaissance or recreation
A ball with a housing suitable for being thrown or projected into an airborne trajectory, the ball capable of deforming a portion of the exterior surface of the housing for the purpose of controlling the direction of its airborne trajectory. Also disclosed is a ball with a housing suitable for being thrown or projected into an airborne trajectory with means for shifting its center of mass away from the center of the housing for the purpose of controlling the direction of its airborne trajectory. A golf ball with one or more deformable dimples is also disclosed. |
| US09692940B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium
Jaggies in an edge portion are reduced while suppressing deterioration of an image to a minimum. There are provided a determination unit configured to determine an edge of an object from input image data, a unit configured to generate edge correction data used to correct a pixel value of a pixel constituting the edge, a screen data generation unit configured to generate screen data by performing screen processing on the input image dada, and an image combination unit configured to generate output image in which a screen dot existing in the edge in the screen data is shifted into the inside of the object. |
| US09692939B2 |
Device, system, and method of blind deblurring and blind super-resolution utilizing internal patch recurrence
Devices, systems, and methods of blind deblurring and blind super-resolution utilizing internal patch recurrence. Small signal patches tend to repeat “as is” across multiple scales of a natural signal. This fractal-like behavior is utilized for signal processing tasks, including “Blind Deblurring” or “Blind Super-Resolution”, namely, removing signal blur or increasing signal resolution without a-priori knowledge of the underlying blur kernel. While the cross-scale patch recurrence is strong in signals taken under ideal conditions, the cross-scale patch recurrence significantly diminishes when the acquisition blur deviates from an ideal blur. These deviations from ideal patch recurrences are used for recovering the underlying (unknown) blur kernel. The correct blur kernel is recovered by seeking the kernel which maximizes the patch similarity across scales of a related “reference” signal. For example, this reference signal may be the low-resolution input signal, the sharp deblurred-version of a blurry input signal, or the like. Quantitative and qualitative experiments indicate that this approach yields improved or superior results, in “Blind Deblurring” and in “Blind Super-Resolution”. |
| US09692937B1 |
Methods and apparatus for identifying lines in an image and using identified lines
Methods and apparatus for: identifying perimeter lines in an image, e.g., document border lines forming a non-rectangular quadrilateral corresponding to a scanned document, determining document corner points, and correcting the input image based on determined corner points are described. Lines are identified in the input image and a line weight is generated for each identified line. The identified lines are classified into two different groups based on direction, e.g., predominately vertical or predominately horizontal. For each group at least two, and sometimes more, candidate perimeter lines are determined to be kept, based on line weight and line length, and other lines in the group are eliminated. Two best candidate perimeter lines are identified from each group, e.g., based on distance between the remaining lines in the group. Four document corner points are determined based on the remaining lines in the two groups. |
| US09692933B2 |
Image forming apparatus that ensures execution of asynchronous information sharing without using mail server, image forming method and recording medium
An image forming apparatus that executes information sharing among a plurality of image forming apparatuses includes a communication circuit, a set value management circuit, a storage circuit, and a distribution hold list management circuit. The communication circuit ensures communication with another image forming apparatus of the plurality of the image forming apparatuses. The set value management circuit distributes, based on a master authority as an authority for distributing a changed set value to the other image forming apparatus, the changed set value to the other image forming apparatus. The storage circuit, when the distribution fails, stores a distribution hold list that includes a combination of: an identifier of another image forming apparatus where the distribution has failed, and an item name and value of a set value where the distribution has failed. The distribution hold list management circuit manages the stored distribution hold list. |
| US09692929B2 |
Method and system for correction of an image from a hand-held scanning device
A method for correcting an image acquired by a hand-held scanning device. A binarized image of an acquired image is cropped by removing columns on the left end and on the right end of only first components. A work image is created from the cropped image by replacing in each row of components series of first components smaller than a predetermined distance with series of second components. In the work image, a central line is identified. The identified central line in the work image is used to identify the corresponding central line in the cropped image forming a central line image, and in the central line image, the central text line is straightened. |
| US09692928B2 |
Network system for resolving image-forming-apparatus firmware and application version conflicts
A program exchange system includes an exchange information managing server and a program exchange server. The exchange information managing server manages exchange information, the exchange information indicating a necessity to exchange at least one of a firmware program and an application program, corresponding to a combination of a version of the firmware program on an image forming apparatus and a version of the application program on the image forming apparatus. The program exchange server exchanges the program on the target image forming apparatus. The program exchange server determines the necessity to exchange the program on the target image forming apparatus based on the combination of the version of the firmware program on the target image forming apparatus and the version of the application program on the target image forming apparatus, and the exchange information managed by the exchange information managing server. |
| US09692927B2 |
Device, information processing system, and information processing method
A device includes an input part configured to input data, a first transmission part configured to transmit the data to a predetermined transmission destination, a second transmission part configured to transmit the data to a transmission destination different from the predetermined transmission destination, and a transmission control part configured to cause the second transmission part to transmit the data in response to receiving a request to transmit the data from the first transmission part. |
| US09692925B2 |
Image processing apparatus that facilitates restoration from protection mode of included hard disk drive, method for controlling image processing apparatus, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes a mounting information holding circuit, an abnormality determination circuit, and a mounting execution circuit. The abnormality determination circuit determines whether or not a predetermined abnormality determination condition is met based on mounting information related to already-executed mounting held in the mounting information holding circuit when a hard disk drive is inaccessible. The mounting execution circuit sets a power supply of the hard disk drive in ON state after once setting in OFF state, and then executes mounting of the hard disk drive after the setting in ON state when the abnormality determination circuit determines that the abnormality determination condition is not met. |
| US09692919B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image editing method and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium for forming an image on a recording medium based on an image displayed on a display section
An image forming apparatus includes a position detecting section detecting a position of contact with a display screen of a display section and forms an image on a recording medium based on a display image displayed on the display section. The display image includes an object image indicative of an object for an image formation and a medium image indicative of the recording medium, and the image forming apparatus selectively edits the object image or the medium image based on positions of two points detected by the position detecting section. |
| US09692917B2 |
Operating information storing system, operating information storing method, and non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing an operating information storing method for storing information from volatile memory to non-volatile memory
An operating information storing system includes a master apparatus and multiple slave apparatuses. The master apparatus and each slave apparatus respectively include a first processor. The master apparatus includes a nonvolatile memory, the first processor that acquires operating information generated by each slave apparatus, stores the acquired operating information, and determines if at least one operating information indicates specific operating information, and a first transmitter. Each slave apparatus includes a volatile memory, a second processor to store generated operating information in the volatile memory sequentially, and a second transmitter that transfers the operating information stored in the volatile memory to the master apparatus. The second processor stores the specific operating information in the volatile memory until the second transmitter transfers the generated specific operating information to the master apparatus based on the request transferred by the first transmitter in the master apparatus if the specific operating information is generated. |
| US09692915B2 |
Server apparatus providing portable information terminal and image forming apparatus with cloud image processing service
An image forming apparatus 176 capable of easy log-in to a desired cloud service includes a print engine communicable with a cloud server 170 for printing a print job received from cloud server 170, a reader/writer 174 capable of proximity communication with a portable terminal 172, and a log-in executing device receiving log-in information to cloud server 170 from portable terminal 172 through reader/writer 174, for executing the log-in process to cloud server 170 using the log-in information. |
| US09692909B2 |
Techniques for zero rating through web reconstruction
Techniques for zero rating through web reconstruction are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a client access component operative to receive a web request from a client device, the web request for a web page hosted on a network server device; and transmit a zero-rating transformed web page to the client device in response to the web request; and a web reconstruction component operative on the processor circuit to retrieve the web page from the network server device; identify one or more non-zero-rated resource references in the retrieved web page; transform the one or more non-zero-rated resource references to form one or more zero-rated resource references; and replace the one or more non-zero-rated resource references with the one or more zero-rated resource references in the web page to form the zero-rating transformed web page. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09692907B2 |
Device and method for GSM call identifier
A network node for a GSM network, arranged to receive a TDMA frame comprising a plurality of timeslots, each of which comprises payload from one or more calls. The network node extracts payload from calls and to assigns the extracted payload a corresponding identifier identifying the call of the payload. The network node is also arranged to generate a data packet comprising the extracted payload from calls together with their corresponding identifier, and places the corresponding identifier in a header in the data packet. The network node is also arranged to transmit the data packet to another node in the GSM network. |
| US09692905B2 |
Proximity based call transfer back based on increasing distance
A communication system includes logic to detect a second communication device in proximity to a first communication device engaged in a call, and to provide a substantially uninterrupted transfer of selected parties to the call to the second communication device. A proximate device may be identified as one capable of rendering a particular data type, and a substantially uninterrupted transfer may be performed to the proximate device of data of the communications having the data type. An application associated with communication data may be identified, as well as a proximate device capable of providing the application, and a substantially uninterrupted transfer may be performed to the proximate device of data associated with the application. |
| US09692904B2 |
Tree-based broadcasting service over push-to-talk mobile IP network
A method for generating a plurality of messages for inviting communication devices to a communication conference comprises: establishing a first communication conference with a plurality of first communication devices, receiving a plurality of communication device identifiers from a communication device participating in the first communication conference, which communication device identifiers identify the communication devices to be invited to at least a second communication conference, determining the communication devices from the plurality of the communication devices, which are already involved in the first communication conference, generating messages for inviting communication devices to a communication conference only for those communication devices which are not involved in another communication conference. |
| US09692902B2 |
Method and system for forwarding or delegating modified mobile device functions
This provides for controlling mobile device functions and features. For example, it limits or disables the use of some of mobile device features which could cause distraction to the user, when the user is engaged in another activity. In an example, it enables other mobile device features based on occurrence of events related to the user or environment. Another example addresses controlling the mobile device features, such as SMS, while the user is in a vehicle or driving. Another example restricts the ability of the driver of a vehicle to text, while the vehicle is in motion, by automatically disabling the texting ability of mobile device within and around the perimeter of the driver's seat. Other variations, examples, improvements, detection mechanisms, models, techniques, calculations, verification mechanisms, and features are also described in details. |
| US09692901B2 |
System and method of intelligent call routing for cross sell offer selection based on optimization parameters or account-level data
An apparatus and methods for a call routing system is disclosed whereby the call routing service provider is associated with a series of partners. By providing a system supporting not only the main user, but also the partners, efficiencies are gained through cost-spreading. Agents can be qualified to field calls for multiple business entities. Cross-selling and proactive servicing based on caller demographic and profile data can be effectuated. The system employs a centralized or global bank of shared Interactive Voice Response (IVR) units so that unnecessary post-routing and call site interflow are reduced. The system comprises a central server system that interfaces with a long distance provider so that route requests are received, caller data is retrieved from one or more databases, routing and handling strategies are developed, load balancing is effectuated, and calls are appropriately routed to one of a plurality of geographically separated call center systems with queues staffed by agents. Each call center system is designed to support various queues, and agents may be qualified or assigned to various queues based on their skill sets and skill levels. |
| US09692900B1 |
Strategic intelligent decision engine
One or more embodiments of the present invention pertains to an apparatus and method that detects a condition of the customer when an incoming call is received from a customer and directs or transfers the customer to an agent to service the customer based on the detected condition. |
| US09692898B1 |
Techniques for benchmarking paring strategies in a contact center system
Techniques for benchmarking pairing strategies in a contact center system are disclosed. In one particular embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for techniques for benchmarking pairing strategies in a contact center system comprising: cycling, by at least one processor, among at least two pairing strategies; and determining, by the at least one processor, a difference in performance between the at least two pairing strategies. |
| US09692896B2 |
Communication dashboard with dynamically configured interface
The method and system of the present invention include, responsive to a receipt of a customer input, customizing an agent interface menu. The customizing includes selecting a plurality of action items for the agent interface menu, and ordering the plurality or more action items in the agent interface menu. The customizing is performed using the customer input and an item of stored customer information. The method further includes presenting an item of the customer input in an agent interface. The agent interface includes the agent interface menu, a communication window, and a customer attributes display. Responsive to a selection of one of the plurality of action items, wherein the plurality of action items is presented by the agent interface menu, an input field in a form provided in support of an action selected from the agent interface menu is populated with the customer input received from the customer interface. |
| US09692892B2 |
Trading exchange for local data services
The present invention provides a method and system for trading exchange to facilitate local data services for roaming users. The trading exchange includes an ecosystem of a plurality of operators, having home network (HPMN) and visited network (VPMN) operators. The trading exchange further includes a gateway for facilitating local data services for users, where the user is roaming in VPMN, by configuring a Domane Name Resolution (DNS) of the VPMN's Gateway General Packet Radio System (GPRS) Support Node (GGSN) for its users. The trading exchange further includes an interface maintaining a bi-directional connection with the gateway to exchange information related to the roaming services, and a bi-directional connection with users via their mobile devices' user interface. |
| US09692891B1 |
Methods and systems for blocking unwanted communications
Methods and systems are described for processing call blocking instructions and for managing mobile messaging. A method of processing call blocking instructions is described. A call processing system receives a call from a caller intended for a first user. A notification regarding the call is transmitted to a mobile device associated with the first user. A message from the user is received via the mobile device, wherein the message is a text or multimedia type message. At least partly in response to the message, the caller is placed on a blacklist indicating that future calls from the caller to the user are to be blocked. |
| US09692881B2 |
Electronic device, information processing method and information display method
An electronic device includes a first display unit which displays information about an active application, which is an application being executed; a touch sensor which is overlapped on the first display unit and which detects a touch thereto; and a control unit which, in a state where information about the active application is being displayed on the first display unit, performs processing on the active application when a touch to the touch sensor is determined as a first touch, and executes, as the active application, another application different from the application being executed when the touch to the touch sensor is determined as a second touch which has a wider region than the first touch. |
| US09692874B2 |
Adjusting alarms based on sleep onset latency
In some implementations, a mobile device can adjust an alarm setting based on the sleep onset latency duration detected for a user of the mobile device. For example, sleep onset latency can be the amount of time it takes for the user to fall asleep after the user attempts to go to sleep (e.g., goes to bed). The mobile device can determine when the user intends or attempts to go to sleep based on detected sleep ritual activities. Sleep ritual activities can include those activities a user performs in preparation for sleep. The mobile device can determine when the user is asleep based on detected sleep signals (e.g., biometric data, sounds, etc.). In some implementations, the mobile device can determine recurring patterns of long or short sleep onset latency and present suggestions that might help the user sleep better or feel more rested. |
| US09692872B2 |
System and method to customize a telephone
Methods and apparatus for customizing a telephone are disclosed in which preferred communication services are conveniently accessible to a user, in which a telephone is tailored to the specific requirements of a user. |
| US09692870B2 |
Monitoring camera system
In a monitoring camera system, a master device registers a smart phone and a wireless router therein in advance. If sensor detection information is received from a human sensor, the master device requests a monitoring camera to transmit image/audio data, and sends image/audio data transmitted from the monitoring camera to the smart phone via the wireless router. The smart phone displays the image data sent from the monitoring camera on a touch panel. |
| US09692868B2 |
Mobile terminal and control method for the mobile terminal
A mobile terminal including a display: a wireless communication unit configured to pair the mobile terminal with a doorlock device; and a controller configured to receive an image captured by the doorlock device, display the received image on the display, and control the doorlock device based on a touch input applied to the displayed image. |
| US09692865B2 |
Mobile terminal and menu control method thereof
A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to provide wireless communication, a display, and a controller configured to, activate a mode for voice recognition in response to a touch input to a soft button displayed on the display or to a hard button on the mobile terminal, receive a first voice input associated with a phone call relating operation of the mobile terminal, display an indicator on the display indicating the voice input is being recognized by the mobile terminal, analyze the context of a voice command in the voice input, execute the call relating operation only if there is a single contact in a phonebook that matches the voice command in the first voice input, if there is no single contact that matches the voice command of the received voice input, display a plurality of candidates that is analyzed based on the voice command, receive a second input according to a plurality of candidates, and execute the call relating operation based on the second input. |
| US09692864B1 |
Attachable cosmetics case for a cellular phone
An attachable cosmetics case for a cellular phone including a substantially rectangular case having a substantially rectangular primary storage compartment and a U-shaped back side having a right wing, a left wing, and an elongated substantially linear middle portion. A top lid is hingedly attached to the case. A cellular phone charging connector plug is medially disposed on a middle portion of the back side of the case. A charging port is disposed on a right side of the case, and a headphone port is disposed on a left side of the case. A plurality of secondary storage compartments and an applicator compartment is disposed within the primary storage compartment of the case. The case is removably attachable to a cellular phone, with the cellular phone charging connector plug disposed within a charging port of the cellular phone. |
| US09692861B1 |
Internal magnetic locking for mobile devices
Systems and methods for assembling a mobile cellular device do not require screws or adhesives, allowing for more efficient and less wasteful rework of the device when needed. In an embodiment, one or more fixed lock elements are attached to one a screen assembly of the device (or the device housing) and a locking shaft is retained in the housing (or the screen assembly). The locking shaft includes blocking sections that block passage of the lock elements, and non-blocking sections that permit passage of at least part of each lock element. In this way, when the screen assembly is mated to the housing, each lock element aligns with and at least partially passes over one of the non-blocking sections, such that when the locking shaft is slid axially, the lock elements align with and are retained by the blocking sections. |
| US09692845B2 |
Permanent presence for polite block and confirm
The present invention relates to a method and devices for operating a communication network, in particular a presence SIMPLE network applying polite block and confirm for subscribers to presence data. A method for operating a communication system comprising a presence server and a presence document server is provided, the communication system being adapted to communicate with a first client requesting subscription to the presence data of a presentity using a second client, the method comprising the steps of: sending, in case the subscription is to be confirmed or politely blocked, a request for presence data from the presence server to the presence document server; receiving a message comprising presence data of the presentity from the presence document server; and sending a notification message to the first client based on the received presence data of the presentity. |
| US09692843B1 |
System and method for associating individual household members with television programs viewed
A method executes at a server system with one or more processors and memory. The server receives demographic information for a plurality of household members. The demographic information includes at least age and gender. The server receives web activity information for the household. The server identifies one or more web activity sessions from the web activity information and selects one of the web activity sessions. The server identifies one or more web sites visited during the selected web activity session and accesses demographic skew data for at least a subset of the web sites visited. The demographic skew data for a web site identifies fractions of visitors to the web site from predefined demographic segments. The server associates a household member with the web activity session at least in part by correlating the demographic skew data of the web sites visited with the demographic information of the first household member. |
| US09692842B2 |
Automatically generating web conference recording bookmarks based on user analytics
Arrangements described herein include accessing user data associated with a user participating in a web conference. The user data includes user analytics generated by tracking and analyzing use, by the user, of web based resources unrelated to the web conference. A plurality of topics discussed during the web conference can be identified in real time. For each respective topic that has a high probability of being of interest to the user, at least one bookmark for the web conference can be generated. Data contained in the bookmark artifact can be applied to a recording of the web conference to bookmark in the recording of the web conference each respective topic that has a high probability of being of interest to the user. An association between the recording of the web conference and the user can be created. |
| US09692839B2 |
Context emotion determination system
Systems, methods, and devices for determining contexts and determining associated emotion profiles using information received from multiple emotion sensor enabled electronic devices, are disclosed. Contexts can be defined by a description of spatial and/or temporal components. Such contexts can be arbitrarily defined using semantically meaningful and absolute descriptions of times and locations. Emotion sensor data is associated with or includes context data that describes the circumstances under which the data was determined. The emotion sensor data can include emotion sensor readings that are implicit indications of an emotion for the context. The sensor data can also include user reported data with explicit descriptors of an emotion for the context. The emotion sensor data can be filtered by context data according a selected context. The filtered sensor data can then be analyzed to determine an emotion profile for the context that can be output to one or more users or entities. |
| US09692838B2 |
Generating business insights using beacons on online social networks
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from beacons of a third-party content provider (e.g., a business), session information for users of an online social network. A mobile device of each user may have been in at least one wireless communication session with at least one beacon, and during the session the mobile device was proximate to the at least one beacon. The session information may include an identifier for each of the users, which may be used to access social-networking information for each user. A report of business insights may be generated based on aggregated social-networking information (e.g., demographics) and aggregated session information (e.g., average duration of sessions) of the users. For example, the report may include statistics regarding the business' clientele. User-specified permissions may delimit which information may be included in the report. The report may be sent to a third-party system for display. |
| US09692837B2 |
Federated application services
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request from an application for access to a service. The application is one of a number of applications that each includes software for accessing the service. The method includes selecting one of the applications to use to access the service, and providing the requesting application access to the service through the selected application's software for accessing the service. |
| US09692836B2 |
Method, apparatus and system for device discovery
The present invention provides a method, an apparatus and a system for device discovery. The method includes: acquiring, by a first device, a user identification of a target user, and acquiring, according to the user identification of the target user, broadcast information of a second device which the target user logs in; when broadcast information of another device is monitored through a D2D function, matching, by the first device, the monitored broadcast information with the broadcast information of the second device, and if the match is successful, determining, by the first device, that the second device and the first device are within a preset distance. According to the present invention, the accuracy of discovering a short distance user is improved and, thus, the problem in the prior art that the accuracy of discovering a user in a short distance cannot be guaranteed by using a cell ID is solved. |
| US09692834B2 |
Multimodal conversation transfer
In one embodiment, a user may transfer multimodal conversation. A multimodal conversation may have a first mode communication session and a second mode communication session. A first user point of presence may execute a first transfer of the first mode communication session with a first partner point of presence from the first user point of presence to a first target point of presence. A second user point of presence may execute a second transfer of the second mode communication session with a second partner point of presence from the second user point of presence to a second target point of presence. |
| US09692830B2 |
Systems and methods for identifying and characterizing client devices
The teachings herein generally relate to client-server communications and the delivery of content over computer networks to clients, and provide improved methods, systems, and apparatus for identifying and/or characterizing client devices that are requesting content from a server. For example, based on information sent in a client device's request for content, a web server modified in accordance with the teachings hereof can identify a set of characteristics associated with that client device. Such characteristics might include the model name of the client device, the screen dimensions of the client device, information about the particular operating system or browser name/version it is running, content formats it is capable of consuming, and so on. The web server can use this information to modify and customize its response for the given client device. |
| US09692829B2 |
Medication delivery system and method
A medication delivery system includes a medical server configured to send and receive and process data, a medication device configured to administer a preselected medication, a sensor circuit configured to detect selected parameters relating to medication delivery and transmit information, a transmission hub configured to communicate with the medical server and the sensor circuit. The transmission hub is configured to receive a signal from the sensor circuit and exchange the information. An application is configured to facilitate exchange of information between the sensor circuit and the medical server. The application has a preselected set of protocols. The application monitors usage of the medication device and location of the medication device by connecting to the medication device via the transmission hub. |
| US09692827B2 |
Systems and methods for provisioning sensing resources for mobile sensor networks
An aspect of this invention is a method that includes a computing apparatus estimating geographic locations as a function of time for each of a plurality of sensor nodes. The method further includes estimating a quality of information as a function of time for sensed data to be sensed by the plurality of sensor nodes at the estimated geographic locations; and sending the estimated quality of information as a function of time to one or more applications or consumers of the sensed data. |
| US09692826B2 |
Collection folder for collecting file submissions via a customizable file request
A content management system for collecting files from one or more submitters in a collection folder. A collector, who generates the collection folder, can invite one or more submitters to submit one or more files to the collection folder via a customizable file request. The one or more submitters have limited rights to the collection folder. The limited rights can include uploading rights and prohibiting a submitter from viewing files that other submitters associated with the collection folder submitted. Thus, the collection folder is able to store files from the one or more submitters, but prevent them from viewing other's submissions. |
| US09692825B2 |
Endpoint caching for data storage systems
A data storage system including a central storage system, at least one endpoint computer system in network communication with the central storage system by a network infrastructure, and a storage accelerator in communication with a CPU of the computer system, wherein the storage accelerator provides endpoint caching of data on the central storage system that is accessible to the at least one endpoint computer. Preferably, the storage accelerator is positioned at a location where a throughput of data from the CPU to the storage accelerator is greater than the throughput of data through a connection from the CPU to the central storage system. |
| US09692822B1 |
System and method for optimized content synchronization for mobile devices
A mobile device may download preconfigured synchronization settings from a server machine. An application running on the mobile device may have special control logic that works with the server machine to implement a mobile synchronization algorithm. The control logic may collect information on communication system elements including device attributes, static channel attributes, dynamic channel attributes, or a combination thereof. The server machine may determine communication settings based at least on the collected information. The mobile device may, based at least in part on the determined communication settings, perform a synchronization process and obtain one or more synchronization items from the server machine to update content, graphics, and/or behavior of the application. Upon completion of the synchronization process, statistics may be collected and used in a subsequent dynamic synchronization process. |
| US09692818B2 |
Automated application deployment based on server utilization
Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for deploying an application in a networked server environment. In some embodiments, the method monitors server metrics and deploys the application according to prioritization criteria associated with the application. The system, method, and computer program product are configured to identify a plurality of servers connected via a network; monitor a plurality of metrics associated with each server, wherein the metrics are associated with server performance or server communication over the network; receive a request to deploy an application on at least one of the servers, wherein the prioritization criteria rank the metrics in order of importance to the application; determine a deployment server for the application based at least in part on the metrics and the prioritization criteria; and deploy the application to the deployment server. |
| US09692816B2 |
System and method for global load balancing of requests for content based on membership status of a user with one or more subscription services
The present description is directed towards systems and methods for directing a user request for content over a network to a given content server on the basis of one or more rules. Methods and systems implemented in accordance with the present description comprise receiving a request for content form a user, the request for content including a profile of the user identifying one or more characteristics associated with the user. One or more rules are retrieved for identifying a content server to which a request for content is to be delivered, the one or more rules including at least one of business rules, network rules, and user profile rules. The one or more retrieved rules are applied to the request for content to identify a content server to which the request for content is to be delivered and the request for content is delivered to the identified content server. |
| US09692814B2 |
Integrating social-networking information
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a message associated with a user at an information exchange system. At least one correspondent associated with the user may be determined, based on the message. A social connection between the user and the at least one correspondent may be assessed with respect to a social-networking system. The information exchange system may provide an interface for display to the user, the interface comprising information associated with the message. If the social connection is confirmed, the interface may include social-networking information associated with the at least one correspondent. Otherwise, the interface may provide functionality to create a social connection between the user and the at least one correspondent with respect to the social-networking system. |
| US09692812B1 |
System and method for providing access to data objects based on proximity
A system and method for providing access to data objects based on proximity. The system and method allow sharing of data objects by identifying one or more client devices proximate to the sharing device. The user of the sharing device may then select one or more of the identified devices with which to share the data object. Aspects of the invention include the ability to enable a “sharing mode” on the client devices to opt-in and allow communication with other similarly configured devices in the area. Access to the data object may be managed via an access control list present on a remote server, with the remote server hosting the data object. |
| US09692807B2 |
Mobile itinerant software agent carrying itinerary and data within
A method and data processing system for using agent software to perform data processing on multiple computer systems. The agent software is sequentially migrated from a user computer system to each system of N computer systems, after which the agent software is returned to the user computer system with a final result that includes output results obtained from execution of run time instructions in the agent software on each computer system of the N computer systems. N is at least 1. |
| US09692803B2 |
Computer device, system and methods for controlling an exchange of objects between devices
A computer device includes at least one processor in communication with a database storing at least one first object having one or more characteristics and at least one second object having at least one different characteristic to the characteristics of the first object, the at least one processor being configured to control an exchange of the at least one first object or the second object between a first device and a second device, the control comprising the steps of retrieving an identifier associated with the second device, selecting the first object having one or more characteristics or the second object having at least one different characteristic in dependence on the identifier associated with the second device and at least one predetermined rule, and transmit the selected first object or the selected second object to said first device. |
| US09692800B2 |
Enhanced streaming media playback
A streaming video playback system is provided to generate locally a manifest file associated with a streaming video for a media player of a client device. The locally generated manifest file helps reduce startup time for the media player and the manifest file is locally generated based on streaming metadata associated with the streaming video and the manifest files includes HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) based master playlists and media playlists. The locally generated manifest file also provides better adaptive bit rate control by enabling pre-fetching of video segments of a streaming video and caching during playback. The streaming video playback system reduces the size of media playlist transmitted to a content sharing service using index of the last video segment and makes it practical to have DVR-able live video streaming with a larger seek window. |
| US09692798B2 |
Method for routing in a central conferencing routing server
Aspects of the present disclosure involve systems, methods, computer program products, and the like, for collaboration conferencing with multiple participants over a communications network, and more specifically for a conferencing routing service for managing and routing collaboration participants. A collaboration conferencing routing server may provide configurability in routing a collaboration conference to a conference bridge based on any number of criteria and information about the requester and the communications network on which the conference occurs. |
| US09692797B2 |
Collaborative browsing on a network site
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating collaborative browsing of a network site by multiple users. A user interface is rendered by a computing device, and the user interface facilitates participation in a collaborative browsing session by multiple users including a master user and one or more other users. The user interface includes a browsing window that facilitates browsing of a network site by the master user. An indication of a status change of the browsing window is sent to another computing device when the computing device corresponds to a client in use by the master user. |
| US09692796B2 |
Apparatus and method for setting disposition with respect to document share
Provided is an apparatus and method for setting disposition with respect to document information share. To this end, once a transmission-side server forwards a document forward request message including a document disposition rule with respect to a document to a reception-side server, the reception-side server checks a preference with respect to the document forward request message by using a preset user preference to notify a document change, and stores document data together with a disposition rule regarding the document data, such that efficient management and disclosure of private information forwarded to a user become possible and thus a CAB service can be easily and rapidly provided according to user's selection. |
| US09692795B2 |
Dynamic group and event update method in phone based impromptu meet-up app
This disclosure relates to generating a group of invitees in a wireless communication system. An embodiment of the disclosure receives criteria for an event from an organizer of the event, compares the criteria to contact information of each contact of a plurality of contacts, assigns a recommendation ranking to each contact based on the comparison of the criteria to the contact information for each contact, and displays a subset of the plurality of contacts sorted according to the recommendation ranking. |
| US09692792B2 |
Method and system for managing security policies
A system and method of managing security policies in an information technologies (IT) system are provided. In an example, the method includes receiving an input indicating a high-level security policy for the IT system, the received high-level security policy relating to non-functional system attributes for the IT system and received in a format that is not machine-enforceable at an enforcement entity of the IT system. A functional model for the IT system is determined, where the functional model indicates functional system attributes of the IT system. At least one pre-configured rule template is loaded, and at least one machine-enforceable rule is generated in a manner compliant with the received high-level security policy by iteratively filling the at least one pre-configured rule template with functional system attributes indicated by the functional model. After the generating step, the at least one machine-enforceable rule can be distributed (e.g., to an enforcement entity, an Intrusion Detection System (IDS), etc.). In another example, the receiving, determining, loading, generating and distributing steps can be performed at a policy node within an IT system. |
| US09692791B1 |
Network-based security services for software applications
A software application may be registered for network-based security services that help ensure that the software application only communicates with network devices (e.g., application servers) for which permission is expressly given or network devices otherwise deemed trustworthy. A network server may monitor network traffic originating from the software application installed on a user device. When the software application causes the user device to communicate with a network device for which permission has not been given and/or that is untrustworthy (e.g., for having a reputation of being associated with malicious software), the network server may prohibit the software application from sending information to the network device. |
| US09692789B2 |
Techniques for cloud security monitoring and threat intelligence
Systems and methods for cloud security monitoring and threat intelligence in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a process for monitoring and remediation of security threats includes generating a threat model using a first portion of activity data, identifying, based upon the threat model, a threat using a second portion of activity data, selecting a security policy to implement in response to the identified threat, identifying cloud security controls in a remotely hosted cloud application server system to modify in accordance with the selected security policy, establishing a secure connection to the remotely hosted cloud application server system using login credentials associated with a tenant account with the cloud application, and sending instructions to the remotely hosted cloud application server system to set the identified cloud security controls with respect to the tenant account in accordance with the selected security policy. |
| US09692784B1 |
Security appliance
A security appliance may incorporate a touch screen or similar input/output interface, providing command and control over network functionality and configuration, without requiring log in via a network from another computing device. During denial of service attacks, commands from the local interface may be given priority access to processing resources and memory, allowing mitigating actions to be taken, such as shutting down ports, blacklisting packet sources, or modifying filter rules. This may allow the security device to address attacks without having to be manually rebooted or disconnected from the network. |
| US09692783B2 |
Method and apparatus for reporting a virus
According to an example, a client device determines at least one virus sample according to at least one anti-virus engine, transmits sample information of the at least one virus sample to a server, such that the server determines a first virus sample set needs to be reported according to the sample information of the at least one virus sample and a predefined sample information list in the server, and returns to the first virus sample set to the client device. The client device receives the first virus sample set needs to be reported and performs a virus reporting operation according to the virus sample set. |
| US09692782B2 |
Detecting malicious resources in a network based upon active client reputation monitoring
Systems and methods for detecting malicious resources by analyzing communication between multiple resources coupled to a network are provided. According to one embodiment, a method is performed for client reputation monitoring. A monitoring unit within a network observes activities relating to multiple monitored devices within the network. For each observed activity, the monitoring unit assigns a score to the observed activity based upon a policy of multiple polices established within the monitoring unit. For each of the monitored devices, the monitoring unit maintains a current reputation score for the monitored device based upon the score and a historical score associated with the monitored device. The monitoring unit classifies one of the monitored devices as potentially being a malicious resource based upon its current reputation score. |
| US09692781B2 |
Detecting unwanted intrusions into an information network
The present invention relates to a device for detecting unwanted intrusions into an information network comprising a module for receiving raw data from the network, a plurality of search engines configured to detect an attack indicator and any derived data which may be corrupted, a distribution module suitable for allocating at least one search engine to each piece of raw data, an administrator module linked to the search engines and to the distribution module and configured to transmit each piece of derived data to said module as new raw data if it has not already been processed by said same search engine(s), so as to provide recursive analysis of each piece of raw data received by said receiving module. The invention further relates to a process implemented by a device of this type. |
| US09692777B2 |
Monitoring and managing user privacy levels
Various embodiments pertain to techniques for measuring a user's privacy level as a user interacts with various web services. In various embodiments, entities with which the user interacts are detected and sensitive information shared by the user is logged to determine what a given entity knows about the user. In some embodiments, sensitive information that is shared by a user can be processed using a predictive algorithm to ascertain a user's level of privacy. When a user's identity is predicted by the algorithm, a user can be alerted to the loss of anonymity. In various embodiments, user-defined areas of anonymity can be used to measure a user's definition of privacy. In some embodiments, alerts can also be provided to the user when a new, previously undisclosed, piece of information is shared by the user. |
| US09692776B2 |
Systems and methods for evaluating content provided to users via user interfaces
The disclosed computer-implemented method for evaluating content provided to users via user interfaces may include (1) monitoring, as part of a security application via an accessibility application program interface provided by an operating system of a computing device, accessibility events that indicate state transitions in user interfaces of applications running on the computing device, (2) receiving, at the security application, an accessibility event that indicates that a user of the computing device is viewing a user interface of an application running on the computing device, (3) identifying, as part of the security application via the accessibility application program interface, content that the user is attempting to access via the application, (4) determining, as part of the security application, that the content is harmful, and (5) performing, as part of the security application, at least one security action in response to determining that the content is harmful. |
| US09692771B2 |
System and method for estimating typicality of names and textual data
According to one aspect, a method of assessing typicality of a first name that includes a plurality of characters includes obtaining the first name, determining at least a first N-gram size, and extracting a first plurality of N-grams of the first N-gram size from the first name. The first plurality of N-grams is analyzed with respect to a model. Analyzing the first plurality of N-grams with respect to the model includes obtaining a first score. Finally, the method includes determining whether the first score indicates that the first name is typical. |
| US09692764B1 |
System and methods for providing query-based permissions to data
A method includes generating a database query in a database; receiving a first request to execute the database query on behalf of a first user; in response to the first request, executing the database query to generate a first set of results such that the first set of results is limited to data with which there is a semantic relationship in the database to a first datum representing the first user; receiving a second request to execute the database query on behalf of a second user; in response to the second request, executing the database query to generate a second set of results such that the second set of results is limited to data with which there is a semantic relationship in the database to a second datum representing the second user, where the first set of results and the second set of results are at least partially non-overlapping. |
| US09692761B2 |
System and method for controlling a DNS request
A system and method of controlling communication. An appliance is provided with a program suitable for issuing a DNS request and a control program enabling the DNS request to be intercepted. The control program includes communications elements for communicating with a DNS server to which the DNS request is transmitted, and for communicating with another server for authorization. An authorization request, distinct from the DNS request, including an identifier of the user of the appliance and the domain name, is transmitted to the DNS server. The authorization server returns to the DNS server a response established as a function of the identifier of the user of the appliance and as a function of the domain name contained in the authorization request. The communications elements for communicating with the issuing program transmit to the issuing program an IP address defined as a function of the response from the authorization server. |
| US09692760B2 |
Browser device access proxy
In a web browser (100) access is controlled with respect to at least one user data providing device (102), the web browser comprising a browser engine (106), a browser application (104) and a device access proxy, DAP (108). Access is acquired, in the DAP, to at least one user data providing device and a request is received from a web application (110) for user data from a first user data providing device. In response to the request, default data (112) is transmitted from the DAP to the web application. A user data access confirmation signal is obtained, and in response to the user data access confirmation signal, the transmission of the default data is discontinued and the requested user data is transmitted from the DAP to the web application. |
| US09692758B2 |
Authentication techniques utilizing a computing device
A pre-registration procedure is utilized to create a user profile for a user of a multi-factor authentication (“MFA”) service. A client application installation procedure is utilized to install a client application on a computing device that is to be utilized as an authentication factor for the MFA service. A computing device enrollment procedure is utilized to enroll the computing device on which the client application was installed for the MFA service. A voice enrollment procedure is utilized to create a voice print for the user of the computing device that is to be utilized as an authentication factor for the MFA service. An authentication procedure is utilized to provide multi-factor authenticated access to a service, such as an online service that provides access to sensitive account information. |
| US09692752B2 |
Ensuring information security using one-time tokens
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for ensuring information security using one-time tokens are presented. In one or more embodiments, a computing platform may receive, from a user device, a request to access an online banking portal using a user account. Based on the request, the computing platform may generate and send a notification to a registered mobile device linked to the user account. After sending the notification, the computing platform may generate a one-time token message that includes a prompt for authorizing the user device to access the online banking portal using the user account. The computing platform then may send the one-time token message to the mobile device and receive token response input from the mobile device. Based on the input, the computing platform may prevent the user device from accessing the online banking portal or, alternatively, may provide the user device with access to the online banking portal. |
| US09692751B1 |
User actuated release of a secret through an audio jack to authenticate the user
A technique provides a secret to authenticate a user. The technique involves storing, by processing circuitry, an initial secret in local memory. The technique further involves receiving, by the processing circuitry, a release command after the initial secret is stored in the local memory. The technique further involves, in response to the release command and based on the initial secret, outputting a released secret through an audio jack which is coupled to the processing circuitry. With such a technique, the secret is only exposed in response to user actuation thus providing improved security against an attacker vis-à-vis a conventional authentication token which constantly generates and outputs a series of one-time use passcodes (OTPs) on a display based on a seed stored in memory. |
| US09692746B2 |
Single sign-on processing for associated mobile applications
Systems, methods and computer-readable media are disclosed for performing single sign-on processing between associated mobile applications. The single sign-on processing may include processing to generate an interaction session between a user and a back-end server associated with a mobile application based at least in part on one or more existing interaction sessions between the user and one or more back-end servers associated with one or more other mobile applications. In order to establish an interaction session with an associated back-end server, a mobile application may leverage existing interaction sessions that have already been established in connection with the launching of other associated mobile applications. |
| US09692738B1 |
Returns in a multi-seller marketplace
Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating item returns on behalf of customers of an electronic commerce site. Embodiments of the disclosure can, in one example, facilitate item returns on behalf of a buyer where the seller is a seller in a multi-seller marketplace. A return shipping label can be generated on behalf of the seller as well as communications between buyer and seller archived in the event of a subsequent dispute. |
| US09692737B2 |
System and method for product registration
A system and method for controlling a production process for producing a product is provided in which overproduction may be inhibited by introducing a separation of duties within a production process. Typically a producer will contract out the various stages of a production process to multiple contractors. In general, separation of duties involves purposefully separating production stages, for silicon chips or other products, so that the end product has been handled or “touched”, by each subcontractor, in order for the end product to be fully functional. |
| US09692735B2 |
Systems and methods for decryption as a service via a message queuing protocol
Systems and methods for decryption of payloads are disclosed herein. In various embodiments, systems and methods herein are configured for decrypting thousands of transactions per second. Further, in particular embodiments, the systems and methods herein are scalable, such that many thousands of transactions can be processed per second upon replicating particular architectural components. |
| US09692732B2 |
Network connection automation
A computing resource service provider receives a request from a customer to establish a physical connection between a provider network device and a customer network device in a colocation center. Once the connection has been established, the customer may transmit cryptographic authentication information, through the physical connection, to the provider network device. The provider network device transmits this information to an authentication service operated by the computing resource service provider to verify the authenticity of the information. If the information is authentic, the authentication service may re-configure the provider network device to allow the customer to access one or more services provided by the computing resource service provider. The authentication service may transmit cryptographic authentication information to the customer to verify the identity of the computing resource service provider. |
| US09692728B2 |
Packet filtering at an application-processor-to-modem interface
An application processor circuit comprises an interface circuit configured to communicate with a separate modem device, a user application module configured to execute one or more user-installed applications, and a core application module configured to execute one or more core applications and to access one or more modem services on the modem device, using the interface circuit and an IP socket application protocol interface (API), wherein packets sent to the modem device for accessing the one or more modem services include a destination IP address corresponding to the modem device. The application processor circuit further comprises an IP filter module configured to identify and discard outbound packets that include a destination IP address corresponding to the modem device and that originate from any of one or more disallowed applications in the application processor, without sending the identified packets to the modem device. |
| US09692725B2 |
Systems and methods for using an HTTP-aware client agent
Systems and methods are described for using a client agent operating in a virtual private network environment to intercept HTTP communications. Methods include: intercepting at the network layer, by a client agent executing on a client, an HTTP request from an application executing on the client; modifying the HTTP request; and transmitting, via a transport layer connection, the modified HTTP request to a server. Additional methods may comprise adding, removing, or modifying at least one cookie in the HTTP request. Still other methods may comprise modifying at least one name-value pair contained in the HTTP request. Corresponding systems are also described. |
| US09692724B2 |
Network connection status detection system and method thereof
A network connection status detection system and method thereof. The system comprises a network address translation (NAT) router, a server end and at least one network electronic device. The NAT router is a bridge for communicating an intranet with an extranet. The server end is disposed at the extranet and connected to the NAT router through a network. The network electronic device is disposed at the intranet and connected to the NAT router. When a channel is established between the network electronic device and the NAT router by executing a connection configuration so that the network electronic device connects to the server end, the network electronic device sends a connection detection signal to the server end. If the server end receives the connection detection signal and returns a confirmation signal, an indicator of the network electronic device will remind a user in a predetermined way. |
| US09692723B2 |
Network management of devices residing behind a network device
Network device management may be provided. By utilizing a network ID tag (i.e., a switch identifier) corresponding to a network switch, a network management platform on a server may access network devices that exist behind the network switch. The network switch may comprise a network address translation (NAT) device. The network devices may comprise an industrial network comprising groups of machines that exist as islands behind their own respective network switches where each group of machines may utilize the same internet protocol (IP) addresses as other group of machines in the industrial network. |
| US09692722B2 |
Computer implemented methods and apparatus for integrating a social network information feed with a network communications application
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, and methods for integrating an information feed. In various implementations, an identity of a user may be determined based on authentication information, where the authentication information identifies a user profile. In some implementations, profile information is identified based on the determined identity, where the profile information identifies one or more entities tracked using one or more information feeds associated with the user profile, and where the one or more information feeds comprises one or more feed items stored in a database system. In various implementations, the identified profile information is associated with a user account provided by a network communications application. |
| US09692721B2 |
Invitations for establishing relationships
Techniques for invitations for establishing relationships are described. In at least some embodiments, an architecture is implemented which provides simple and integrated ways for establishing relationships between various entities. The architecture includes invitations that can be used to invite users to establish relationships with entities. A user that receives an invitation can interact with the invitation, such as to accept or decline an invitation to establish a relationship with an entity. If a user accepts an invitation, a relationship can be established between the user and an inviting entity. In at least some embodiments, the relationship can enable the user to perform various actions and/or access resources associated with the entity. |
| US09692720B1 |
Preventing modification of an email
In an approach for preventing the modification of an email by the recipients of the email, a processor receives an indication that an email message is composed. A processor receives an indication that modification of contents of the email message, by one or more recipients of the email message, is to be prevented. A processor converts the contents of the email message from editable text to a non-editable format. A processor sends the converted email message to a recipient. |
| US09692715B2 |
Multiple ethernet ports and port types using a shared data path
In an embodiment an interface unit includes a transmit pipeline configured to transmit egress data, and a receive pipeline configured to receive ingress data. At least one of the transmit pipeline and the receive pipeline being may be configured to provide shared resources to a plurality of ports. The shared resources may include at least one of a data path resource and a control logic resource. |
| US09692711B2 |
DNS redirecting for data roaming offering
A device may receive a request for domain name system (DNS) information to be provided to a user device communicating via a visited network. The device may identify roaming policy information associated with the user device and, based on the roaming policy information, may determine that the user device is restricted from sending or receiving data via the visited network. The device may determine DNS information, to be provided to the user device, that includes information that identifies a restricted DNS server to which the user device is to be directed. The device may provide the DNS information to the user device to cause the user device to be directed to the restricted DNS server. The user device may be directed to the restricted DNS server to permit a user of the user device to authorize the user device to send or receive data via the visited network. |
| US09692706B2 |
Virtual enhanced transmission selection (VETS) for lossless ethernet
In one embodiment, a system includes a hardware processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being adapted to receive a traffic flow having a plurality of packets, classify the traffic flow into a traffic class based on a characteristic of the traffic flow, the traffic class being selected from a plurality of traffic classes, store an identifier of the selected traffic class to one or more of the packets, and transmit the traffic flow according to its destination based on a priority of its selected traffic class. In more embodiments, additional systems, methods, and computer program products for prioritizing traffic flow handling are described. |
| US09692703B2 |
Network traffic management in high bandwidth applications
A method for managing data communication traffic in a network routing device includes monitoring a bandwidth utilization of the network routing device and determining whether the bandwidth utilization exceeds a threshold. The method may additionally include receiving a first signal, the first signal having a first bandwidth, the first signal further having stream of packets. A second signal may be generated based on determining that the bandwidth utilization exceeds the threshold. The second signal may include the stream of packets. The second signal may additionally have a second bandwidth, where the second bandwidth is larger than the first bandwidth. The method may be continued by routing the second signal along a loopback path external to the network routing device. The method may then include extracting, based on determining that the bandwidth utilization is at or below the threshold, the stream of packets from the second signal for processing. |
| US09692701B1 |
Throttling client initiated traffic
In one aspect, a method includes electing one of a plurality of browser tabs at a client device as a master browser tab based on a timer value associated with each of the plurality of browser tabs, each of the plurality of browser tabs running web pages or web applications maintained by a common service being served by one or more servers, issuing a request from the master browser tab to the one or more servers, receiving a response to the request including a time value indicating the next time a request should be sent to the one or more servers at the master browser tab, updating, by the master browser tab, a local storage accessible by the plurality of browser tabs with the time value and resetting the timer value at each of the plurality of browser tabs according to the time value in response to receiving the response. |
| US09692700B1 |
Processing data flows based on information provided via beacons
A first component of a network device may provide an offload request to a second component of the network device to offload a data flow from the first component. The offload request may direct the second component to provide the data flow towards a destination device and bypass the first component. The first component may receive a beacon from the second component. The beacon may identify information regarding one or more data flows offloaded from the first component. The first component may process the one or more data flows based on the information regarding the one or more data flows included in the beacon and without receiving the one or more data flows. |
| US09692697B2 |
Control channel establishing method, forwarding point, and controller
A control channel establishing method, a forwarding point, and controller. The method includes sending, by a first Forwarding Point (FP), topology information of the first FP to a second FP by using a Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP), receiving, by the first FP, first routing information that is sent by the controller and is used by the first FP to reach the controller, where the first routing information is generated by the controller according to the topology information of the first FP, and establishing, by the first FP, a second control channel with the controller according to the first routing information. |
| US09692696B2 |
Managing data flows in overlay networks
Embodiments relate to managing data flows at a virtual forwarding element. A method for managing data flows at a virtual forwarding element executing in a host that has a network interface card (NIC) is provided. The method receives, from a virtual machine executing in the host, a packet that belongs to a data flow originating from the virtual machine. The method identifies a network identifier for the data flow based on a mapping between a plurality of virtual machines executing in the host and a plurality of network identifiers. The mapping is provided by a network controller that configures the virtual forwarding element. The method encapsulates the packet with the network identifier and a tunnel header that includes network addresses of the host. The method sends the encapsulated packet to the NIC. The NIC transmits the encapsulated packet out of the host and towards a destination of the packet. |
| US09692694B2 |
Multi-protocol routing system and method driven by application and network in convergence
The present invention relates to a multi-protocol routing system, comprising a route determining module and a forwarding module which are located in network layer, wherein the route determining module is used for determining, based on the related information of applications and networks, the types of routable protocols and the next-hop path which are to be selected in the current routing phase; the forwarding module, including different routable protocols and corresponding routing information, is used for periodically calculating the newest remaining network resources and the state of link during a routing process and updating the forwarding table in current state. By integrating various characteristics and states of applications as well as different routable protocols, the present invention realizes real-time protocol selection and dynamic routing. Moreover, the present invention is easy to be expanded to other protocols, thus being adaptive to the continuous development and evolution of network services. |
| US09692693B2 |
Bandwidth control for ring-based multi-protocol label switched paths
Techniques are described for specifying and constructing multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) rings. Routers may signal membership within MPLS rings and automatically establish ring-based label switch paths (LSPs) as components of the MPLS rings for packet transport within ring networks. In one example, a router includes a processor configured to establish an MPLS ring having a plurality of ring LSPs. Each of the ring LSPs is configured to transport MPLS packets around the ring network to a different one of the routers operating as an egress router for the respective ring LSP. Moreover, each of the ring LSPs comprises a bidirectional, multipoint-to-point (MP2P) LSP for which any of the routers can operate as an ingress to source packet traffic into the ring LSP for transport to the respective egress router for the ring LSP. Separate protection paths, bypass LSPs, detours or loop-free alternatives need not be signaled. |
| US09692687B2 |
Method and apparatus for rapid rerouting of LDP packets
A u-turn fast rerouting capability is provided. A first node propagates a packet toward a second node based on selection of a first routing path for routing the packet from the first node toward an intended destination node. The second node received the packet, determines that the packet cannot be delivered to the destination node via the first routing path, inserts a u-turn label into the packet, and returns the packet to the first node. The u-turn label indicates that the packet is being returned to the first node by the second node due to a condition preventing propagation of the packet toward the destination node using the first routing path. The first node receives the packet including the u-turn label, selects a second routing path for routing the packet toward the destination node, and propagates the packet toward the destination node based on the second routing path. |
| US09692685B2 |
Heterogeneous network system, network apparatus, and rendezvous path selection method thereof
A heterogeneous network system, network apparatus, and rendezvous path selection method thereof are provided. The heterogeneous network system includes several partner network apparatuses and a network apparatus. The network apparatus stores at least one weighting table, wherein each weighting table is related to one network service condition. The interface types of the transceiving interfaces of the partner network apparatuses and the network apparatus are not all the same. The network apparatus measures at least one first transmission parameter and receives several second transmission parameters. Each of the first and second transmission parameters is related to transmission between two network apparatuses neighboring each other. The network apparatus enumerates several paths toward a target network apparatus and calculates a path cost corresponding to each of the paths according to one of the weighting table(s) and a portion of the at least one first transmission parameter and the second transmission parameters. |
| US09692682B2 |
Methods and network nodes for handling handover failures
There is provided a method performed by a first network node (101) for handling handover failures for a target cell (112), which target cell is applicable for handover of a wireless device (121) in a wireless communications network (100) from a source cell (111) to the target cell. The target cell is associated (202) with an indication indicating that the target cell is unsuitable for handover, when an amount of failed handovers from the source cell to the target cell exceeds (201) a failure threshold. |
| US09692681B2 |
Link speed fluctuation reduction
Link speed fluctuation reduction can be useful in a variety of communication systems. Such smoothing may have various benefits and may be achieved in various ways. For example, a policy and charging rules function can be leveraged to avoid repeated transfers of a same section of over-the-top video. A method can include detecting, for a link, a link traffic condition above a predetermined threshold. The method can also include estimating link speed to obtain an initial link speed value. When the detected link traffic condition is above a predetermined threshold, the method can further include limiting fluctuation of the link speed to within a threshold amount of the initial link speed value. The method can additionally include periodically re-estimating the recently achieved link speed as an updated link speed value and limiting the fluctuation based on the updated link speed value. |
| US09692680B2 |
Centralized, scalable, resource monitoring system
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are disclosed to provide host-independent resource monitoring for distributed networks. The method includes determining, from a set of jobs, one or more jobs to execute that monitor the status of resources within a distributed network. The method determines one or more environments in which to run the one or more jobs, and instantiates the one or more jobs with one or more environment variables for the determined one or more environments such that the one or more jobs are configured for operation in the determined one or more environments. The method accordingly displays, using a graphical user interface, a job environment matrix including a list of the set of jobs in conjunction with a running status of each of the jobs in each of one or more environments. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also provided. |
| US09692676B2 |
Scalable off-load of applications from switch to server
Systems include a network element with a plurality of server blades, including a control server and one or more application servers. The control server communicates with each application server to acquire state information about each application server. A switch is in communication with each server blade. The switch is configured to communicate with the control server in order to obtain therefrom the state information acquired by the control server about each application server. |
| US09692672B2 |
Communication system, and corresponding integrated circuit and method
A communication system for interfacing a transmitting circuit with a receiving circuit includes a transmission interface for receiving data from the transmitting circuit and transmitting the data received over at least one data line in response to a transmission clock signal. The communication system also includes a reception interface configured for receiving the data in response to a reception clock signal and transmitting the data received to the receiving circuit. In particular, the system is configured for generating a plurality of clock signals that have the same frequency but are phase-shifted with respect to one another. In addition, during a calibration phase, the system is configured for selecting one of the clock signals for the transmission clock signal or reception clock signal via selecting at least one of the clock signals for transmission of test signals via the transmission interface and verifying whether the test signals received via the reception interface are correct. The system is further configured to use, during normal operation, the clock signal selected during the calibration phase for transmission of data. |
| US09692669B2 |
Determination of internet access
Internet access or connectivity is determined by sending a request to a third-party service to which connectivity is desired with an application on a client computing device and responsive to receiving a response, attempting to rule out a false positive response from an entity other than the third-party service. |
| US09692666B2 |
Container manager
The present invention relates to a method for managing containers in a could computing environment, the method comprising obtaining current information on resources available at hosts, obtaining information on host resources needed for a new container and allocating the new container to a selected host based on the resources available at the host and the host resources needed for the container. The present invention further relates to an apparatus and a computer program product implementing the method for managing containers. The method and the apparatus beneficially speeds up the process of allocating and replacing containers and ensures that only the latest version of the applications placed in containers are available in the cloud computing environment for client devices. |
| US09692664B1 |
Method, topology and point of presence equipment for serving a plurality of users via a multiplex module
A number of users interface with a network via a multiplex module, on a communication path established between the multiplex module and a point of presence. Some users may be served by one or more first channels of the communication path while one or more remaining users may be served by one or more additional channels of the communication path. Users having a basic service level agreement may be served by the first channels while users having an extended service level agreement may be served by the one or more additional channels. Allocation of users to distinct channel types based on their service level agreements may apply at a primary point of presence or may apply at a redundant point of presence. |
| US09692663B2 |
Methods, systems, and computer program products for user side optimization of acquisition of virtualized resources
A method includes receiving a request for access to an instance of a computing resource, the request having a performance standard associated therewith, requesting the instance of the computing resource from a computing resource provider, evaluating a performance of the instance of the computing resource provided by the computing resource provider to determine if the performance of the instance of the computing resource complies with the performance standard associated with the request, and providing access to the instance of the computing resource provided by the computing resource provider responsive to a determination that the performance of the instance of the computing resource complies with the performance standard associated with the request. Related systems and computer program products are also disclosed. |
| US09692661B2 |
Bandwidth prediction apparatus and method for predicting a bandwidth at a first position, and non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program for enabling a computer to execute such bandwidth prediction
There is provided a bandwidth prediction apparatus. An acquisition unit is configured to acquire position information indicating a first position at which a bandwidth is to be predicted. A prediction unit is configured to predict a bandwidth at the first position by using respective measured values of bandwidths measured in advance at a plurality of second positions. |
| US09692660B2 |
Election and use of configuration manager
In an approach for election of a manger for a network, a processor detects that a first set of management tasks is not running. A processor identifies at least a first node in a network and information about the first node. A processor determines that the first node is capable of performing the first set of management tasks based on the information about the first node. A processor elects the first node as a manager in the network to perform the first set of management tasks. |
| US09692659B2 |
Managing mapping in networks
A method for managing mapping in a network includes: programming mapping relationships between a VSAN and a VLAN of a fabric in advance, which include mapping relationships between VSANs and VLANs programmed in advance for each FCoE switch needed by the fabric; obtaining mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs configured currently for all the FCoE switches of the fabric, when obtained mapping relationships are inconsistent with the programmed-in-advance mapping relationships, automatically updating mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs configured in FCoE switches corresponding to the inconsistent mapping relationships, and/or mapping relationships between the VSANs and the VLANs programmed in advance for the FCoE switches corresponding to the inconsistent mapping relationships. |
| US09692658B2 |
Wireless network monitoring device, method and device in wireless communication system
There is provided a wireless network monitoring device, method and device in a wireless communication system, the wireless network monitoring device including: a network distribution space information acquiring unit configured to acquire network distribution space information of a three dimensional distribution space of a network to be monitored; a network status information acquiring unit configured to acquire position information of network nodes in the three dimensional distribution space and performance information of the network nodes, thereby obtaining network status information about the three dimensional distribution space; and a display unit configured to display the network distribution space information and the network status information which are superimposed. According to embodiments of the disclosure, it enables a user to obtain better network service experience. |
| US09692657B2 |
Node-pair process scope definition and scope selection computation
A connected directed graphical representation of a process model that includes a plurality of process nodes and interconnections between the process nodes of the process model is displayed. A user selection of a subset of the process nodes of the displayed connected directed graphical representation of the process model is received. A process scope definition represented as at least one begin-end node pair is computed. The at least one begin-end node pair is usable to identify all selected nodes and interconnection path links that are reachable in a traversal from a begin node to an end node of each of the at least one begin-end node pair of the received user selection of the subset of the process nodes. The computed process scope definition is stored. |
| US09692653B1 |
Automatic generation of validators to validate deployment code used for configuring servers
A validation system is configured to automatically generate validators for one or more target systems. The validation system includes: a memory storing a computer process, a network interface configured to interface with the one or more target systems over a computer network, and a processor executing the computer process. The computer process is configured to parse the deployment code to identify components in deployment code, generate validator code for each identified component, and use the network interface to transmit the validator codes to the one or more target systems. |
| US09692651B2 |
Method and apparatus for improving network performance
A method for improving performance of a network includes identifying at least two communities of users within the network, analysing a structure of each community and clustering the communities according to community performance. The method further includes comparing a structure of a lower performing community with a structure of a higher performing community, and changing the structure of the lower performing community substantially to resemble the structure of the higher performing community. Related computer program product for carrying out a method of introducing connections among users of a network and an apparatus configured to introduce connections among users in a network are disclosed. |
| US09692644B2 |
Dynamically adjusting network parameters using weather forecasts
In one embodiment, network parameters are dynamically adjusted using weather forecasts. The embodiments include determining a weather forecast that predicts a weather condition proximate to a network. Network parameters are then selected for adjustment based on the predicted weather condition. The selected network parameters are adjusted to improve performance of the network in response to the predicted weather condition. |
| US09692641B2 |
Network connecting method and electronic device
A first electronic device stores first configuration information of the first electronic device collected by a tamper-resistant chip on the first electronic device and approved by a third-party device in the portable medium. A second electronic device stores second configuration information of the second electronic device collected by a tamper-resistant chip on the second electronic device and approved by the third-party device in the portable medium and acquires the first configuration information from the portable medium. The first electronic device transmits the first configuration information of the first electronic device and the second configuration information of the second electronic device acquired from the portable medium to the second electronic device over a long-distance network. The second electronic device controls connection between the first and the second electronic devices over the long-distance network based on the first configuration information and the second configuration information received from the first electronic device. |
| US09692637B2 |
Fault protection method and fault protection apparatus in a multi-domain network
The present invention relates to a fault protection method and a fault protection device for an inter-domain link of a multi-domain network. The invention may be particularly applied to multi-domain networks providing end to end services such as an Ethernet service. Embodiments of the invention use a link protection group for an inter-domain link. Link protection group information relating to the link protection group is used to identify a replacement inter-domain link for a faulty inter-domain link that is configured for an inter-domain service. Once the replacement link is identified, the routing of the inter-domain service may be re-configured from the network element ports of the faulty inter-domain link to the network element ports of the identified second inter-domain link. |
| US09692633B2 |
Role-based resource navigation
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer-implemented methods for providing role-based resource navigation. An example method includes identifying a particular navigation intent from a user associated with a particular user role, the navigation intent representing an action associated with the particular business object; determining a particular target mapping associated with the particular navigation intent based at least in part on the particular user role, the target mapping associated with an application to be executed in response to identification of the associated navigation intent; and executing the application associated with the particular target mapping in response to determining the particular target mapping. |
| US09692632B2 |
Migration to managed clouds
A foreign instance is transferred from a customer environment to a target infrastructure-as-a-service cloud environment as an image. The foreign instance is adjusted to standards of the infrastructure-as-a-service cloud environment to obtain an adjusted instance. The adjusted instance is registered into a management system of the infrastructure-as-a-service cloud environment. |
| US09692628B2 |
Methods and systems for dual-using a reception channel
Various embodiments of wireless communication systems and methods in which the system seamlessly dual-uses a receiver chain for incoming transmissions and for other signal sensing purposes. The system is configured such that there are multiple receiver chains, and at least one receiver chain alternates between receiving a communication signal with information payload and receiving other signals solely for the purposes of monitoring and/or improving some aspects of the system. In various embodiments, the alternating receiver chain receives alternatively signals with information payloads and signals which have passes through a power amplifier with amplifier distortion characteristics. In various embodiments, the alternating receiver chain receives alternatively signals with information payloads and signals which may be associated with background noise, or other radio transmissions. |
| US09692627B2 |
Method for reducing PAPR of OFDM signal and OFDM transmitter using the same background
A method for reducing a PAPR of an OFDM signal and an OFDM transmitter using the same are disclosed. In an OFDM transmitter, a signal processing circuit for reducing a PAPR of a modulated signal includes: a peak detector configured to detect peaks having sizes above a threshold value from an IQ baseband signal of the modulated signal and to output information on a position, a size and a phase; a memory configured to store a reference peak in time domain; a peak generator configured to generate an inverse peak signal for canceling a part of an amplitude of the IQ baseband signal from the reference peak based on the information on the position, the size and the phase; and a signal processing unit configured to add the inverse peak signal to the IQ baseband signal to constrain the amplitude of the IQ baseband signal. |
| US09692622B2 |
Equalization with noisy channel state information
Systems and methods related to improved coherent demodulation and, in particular, improved channel equalization that accounts for variation in an effective channel estimation error with transmitted symbols are disclosed. In one embodiment, a wireless node includes a receiver front-end, a channel estimator, and an equalizer. The receiver front-end is adapted to output samples of a received signal. The channel estimator is adapted to estimate a channel between a transmitter of the received signal and the wireless node based on the samples of the received signal. The equalizer is adapted to process the samples of the received signal according to a modified equalization scheme that compensates for variation in an effective channel estimation error with transmitted symbols to thereby provide corresponding bit or symbol decisions. In this manner, channel equalization is improved, particularly for a wireless system that utilizes a modulation scheme with varying amplitude. |
| US09692621B2 |
Decision feedback equalizers and operating methods thereof
A decision feedback equalizer (DFE) includes a sampler for receiving a first input signal and comparing an amplitude of the first input signal with a first predetermined voltage level and a second predetermined voltage level. The DFE includes a DFE logic circuit for receiving at least one first sign signal based on comparison results, and for selectively updating a tap coefficient based on the at least one first sign signal. The DFE logic circuit is configured to update the tap coefficient when the at least one first sign signal indicates the amplitude of the first input signal is not between the first predetermined voltage level and the second predetermined voltage level. The DFE logic circuit is configured to maintain the tap coefficient when the at least one first sign signal indicates the amplitude of the first input signal is between the first and the second predetermined voltage levels. |
| US09692619B2 |
Non-underdetermined estimation for compressed sensing
Nonzero elements of a signal vector, which may be a sparse signal vector, may be determined based on an observation vector representing a set of underdetermined observations using a compressed sensing optimization and a non-underdetermined estimation method such as iterative linear minimum mean-square error (“LMMSE”) estimation. Compressed sensing optimization may be used to obtain a subset of potentially nonzero elements of the signal vector, and LMMSE estimation may then be used to find the nonzero elements among the potentially nonzero elements. The identification of nonzero elements may then be used to recover the signal vector from the observation vector. This technique is useful for recovering compressed data such as a sparse frequency space representation of audio or video data from a measurement. The technique is also useful for identifying at a base station a relatively small number active devices in an overloaded communication network. |
| US09692612B2 |
Distributed CCAP cable modem termination system
Distributed CMTS device for a HFC CATV network serving multiple neighborhoods by multiple individual cables, in which at least some and often all of the QAM modulators that provide data for the individual cables are remote QAM modulators ideally located at the fiber nodes. A CCAP set of IP/on-demand data is transmitted to the nodes using an optical fiber, often using digital protocols such as Ethernet protocols. Optionally a basic set of legacy CATV QAM data, transmitted using RF waveforms transposed to optical frequencies, may also be transmitted to the nodes using either the same or different optical fiber. The nodes extract the data specific to each neighborhood, and inject this data into unused cable QAM channels along with any optional legacy CATV QAM waveforms as desired, thus achieving improved data transmission rates through finer granularity. A computerized “virtual shelf” control system for this system is also disclosed. |
| US09692611B1 |
Context-based sensor selection
Pending execution of a sensor function for use in operation of an application executing on a computing device may be determined. At least a first sensor and a second sensor associated with the computing device may be identified, the first sensor and the second sensor both providing at least a portion of the sensor function. A current context associated with the pending execution of the sensor function may be determined, the current context being defined in terms of context parameters. Selection criteria defined in terms of the context parameters may be accessed, and the first sensor may be selected to execute the sensor function for the application, based on the selection criteria and the current context. |
| US09692606B2 |
Management of a policy controlled group
There are provided measures for handling policy controlled groups. Exemplarily, such measures comprise receiving, in a first rules function, a notification informing that a user equipment is to be included in a policy controlled group, checking whether the policy controlled group is controlled by the first rules function, and, in case the policy controlled group is not controlled by the first rules function, causing a transfer of the policy control session for the user equipment to a second rules function controlling the policy controlled group. |
| US09692604B2 |
Probabilistic key distribution in vehicular networks with infrastructure support
Method and system of key distribution by trusted nodes for a vehicular ad hoc network, the nodes of said network having at least one pair of public-private keys and the corresponding certificates, issued by a CA, said method comprising each vehicle node, on entering said network region, requesting a set of keys from an RSU node that is within range and within that region, said RSU node sending said vehicle node a set of private keys, selected from a pool of private keys, and a list with the key identifiers of the private keys shared by said vehicle node and the other vehicle nodes that have most recently contacted said RSU for a predetermined period of time; such that two nodes are able to establish a secure connection without further interaction by deriving a shared secret which is a cryptographic hash function of the keys shared by said two nodes. |
| US09692602B2 |
Method and apparatus for mutually authenticating a user device of a primary service provider
A system and method for communicating between a secondary content provider and a user device includes a primary service provider having an authentication server of a primary service provider authenticating the user device. The primary service provider provides primary content to the user device. The system also includes a supplemental service provider. The authentication server authenticates the service provider. The user device and the supplemental service provider mutually authenticate each other. Thereafter, the supplemental service provider communicates supplemental content to the user device. |
| US09692601B2 |
Automatically preventing unauthorized signatories from executing electronic documents for organizations
In some embodiments, an electronic signature service automatically updates electronic documents to prevent execution by an unauthorized signatory. The electronic signature service can receive an electronic document to be electronically signed on behalf of an organization. The electronic signature service can retrieve organization data indicative of signatories that are authorized to electronically sign the electronic document. The organization data may be inaccessible to a first signatory that is associated with the document. The electronic signature service can determine from the organization data that the first signatory is not authorized to electronically sign the document. The electronic signature service can update the electronic document with a second signatory that is determined from the organization data as being authorized to execute the document. The electronic signature service can prevent the first signatory from executing the document and provide access to the electronic document by a computing device associated with the second signatory. |
| US09692600B2 |
Device and method for re-signing application package, and terminal device for running application package
A device for re-signing an application package is provided. The device includes a communication unit configured to receive an application package comprising a signature key, and a control unit configured to re-sign the application package with a conversion key corresponding to the signature key. |
| US09692598B2 |
Multi-use long string authentication keys
An authentication system that uses a multi-use long string authentication key to authenticate client device access to protected resources, is presented. The authentication system is based on a shared knowledge of long string authentication key. The authentication key is used as a platform to derive digital signatures for access to protected resources. One or more authentication parameters can be used in combination with the authentication key to derive or validate digital signatures. The one or more authentication parameters can include a key index parameter, a key offset parameter, and a key length parameter. The digital signatures derived from authentication keys can be used to control access to various types of protected resources such as, digital house, a vehicle fob key, a remote garage door opener, a hotel room card key, credit or debit cards magnetic strip or chip, online financial accounts, computer or control systems, or website authentication. |
| US09692597B2 |
Apparatus and method for content handling
An apparatus for content handling is provided. The apparatus comprises a content server arranged to provide a content analysis environment to a client terminal, and to provide content to the client terminal for analysis within the content analysis environment once the content analysis environment has been established at the client terminal, wherein the client terminal is arranged: to download the content from the content server into the content analysis environment; to encrypt the downloaded content and store the encrypted content therein in a persistent form; to decrypt the encrypted content into working memory therein for analysis within content analysis environment; to encrypt analyzed content and store the encrypted analyzed content therein in a persistent form; and to decrypt the encrypted analyzed content and to upload this decrypted content to the content server. |
| US09692592B2 |
Using state reordering to protect against white box attacks
Some embodiments provide a method for performing an iterative block cipher. Line rotations and column rotations are combined to have a diversity of representations of the AES state. These protections can be performed either in static mode where the rotations are directly included in the code and the tables or in dynamic mode where the rotations are chosen randomly at execution time, depending on some entropic context variables. The two modes can also be advantageously combined together. |
| US09692591B2 |
Cryptographic method and apparatus
A method of formatting data for transmission to another party including the step of incorporating in the data a flag indicative of the absence of data for authentication of the sender. An authentication tag length is also included to permit variable length tags to be used. |
| US09692590B1 |
Serial data multiplexing
In one aspect, a method includes receiving n data bits in parallel, receiving a data command signal, receiving a clock signal, transmitting the n bits in serial and encoding one of the n bits, after receiving the data command signal, to include at least three logical states. The number of states is a function of the clock signal. |
| US09692589B2 |
Redriver link testing
A redriver is provided that includes a receiver to receive a signal from a first device that includes a portion of a defined binary sequence, a drift buffer to retime the binary sequence and provide a seed to a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) from the binary sequence, the LFSR to generate an expected version of the binary sequence from the seed, and pattern checking logic to compare a sequence in subsequent signals received from the first device with the expected version of the binary sequence generated by the LFSR. |
| US09692587B2 |
Phase tracking
Techniques for pilot-aided carrier frequency and phase synchronization may use a three-pass process. In a first pass, initial frequency offset may be addressed, and a frame start time may be established. In a second pass, a fine frequency correction may be performed. In a third pass, phase variation may be tracked and corrected using a minimum set of pilot symbols. |
| US09692584B2 |
Methods of radio communications using different subframe configurations and related radio and/or network nodes
A method may be provided in a radio node capable of operating in a Radio Access Network according to at least first and second UpLink/DownLink subframe configurations that are different. The first UpLink/DownLink subframe configuration and the second UpLink/DownLink subframe configuration may be used for operation in a first cell and a second cell respectively, and/or the first UpLink/DownLink subframe configuration and the second UpLink/DownLink subframe configuration may be used in the first cell or the second cell at non-overlapping times. A configuration message may be received at the radio node relating to the first UpLink/DownLink subframe configuration and/or the second UpLink/DownLink subframe configuration. An operation may be performed at the radio node on signals transmitted to and/or received from the first cell and/or the second cell based on the configuration message relating to the first UpLink/DownLink subframe configuration and/or the second UpLink/DownLink subframe configuration. |
| US09692579B2 |
Multiple description media broadcast aided by a secondary base station
According to some embodiments, a secondary network node detects a first data transmission of media content from a primary network node to a first wireless device. The first data transmission has a first data quality description D(n1) and a first transport format T(k1). The secondary network node selects a second data quality description D(n2′) and a second transport format T(k2′) for a second data transmission. The second data quality description D(n2′) and second transport format T(k2′) differ from the first data quality description D(1) and first transport format T(k1), respectively. The secondary network node transmits the second data transmission to a second wireless device according to the second data quality description D(n2′) and the second transport format T(k2′). The second data transmission includes at least a portion of the media content. |
| US09692577B2 |
Method for acquiring channel state information in FDD MIMO wireless networks
This invention presents methods and circuits for a BS to acquire DL CSI in a FDD wireless network comprising switching the normal transmitting and receiving frequencies in a first and a second FDD apparatus, and using UL pilot signals to estimate the DL CSI based on reciprocity of the over the air channels. |
| US09692575B2 |
Method of receiving uplink control signals identified by cyclic shift values in wireless communication system
A method and a base station for receiving uplink control signals in a wireless communication system are described. The base station receives a first uplink control channel in a mixed resource block from a first user equipment. The mixed resource block includes a plurality of subcarriers. The base station receives a second uplink control channel in the mixed resource block from a second user equipment. The first uplink control channel is identified by a first cyclic shift value. The second uplink control channel is identified by a second cyclic shift value that is different from the first cyclic shift value. The first uplink control channel carries a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) of the first user equipment. The second uplink control channel carries a channel quality indicator (CQI) for the second user equipment and a HARQ ACK/NACK of the second user equipment. |
| US09692572B2 |
Terminal, base station, communications system, and communication method for allocating hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledge resource using control channel
A terminal that communicates with a base station monitors a physical downlink control channel allocated in a physical downlink control channel region and an enhanced physical downlink control channel allocated in a physical downlink shared channel region different from the physical downlink control channel region. If the enhanced physical downlink control channel is detected, the terminal reports response information via a physical uplink control channel resource corresponding to the resource in which the enhanced physical downlink control channel was detected. |
| US09692570B2 |
Method for multiplexing control signals and reference signals in mobile communications system
A reference signal multiplexing method for multiple mobile stations includes: grouping together control signals for the multiple mobile stations; and multiplexing reference signals corresponding to the control signals by CDM over the same bandwidth as that of grouped control signals. |
| US09692569B2 |
Method and apparatus for control channel resource allocations in constrained and unconstrained subframes in a wireless communication network
Among other advantageous aspects, the teachings herein provide network-side and device-side apparatuses and methods that preserve normal Resource Element (RE) aggregation levels for the transmission of Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channels (EPDCCHs) in “constrained” subframes, where “constrained” refers to any subframe having fewer REs available for EPDCCH usage within a base set of PRB pairs than are available in a “non-constrained” or “normal” subframe. Non-limiting examples of “constrained” subframes include special subframes in Time Division Duplex, TDD, operation, which comprise a downlink portion that is abbreviated to accommodate an included uplink portion, along with a guard portion between them. Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network, MBSFN, subframes represent another example of a constrained subframe, where only the first two OFDM symbols within the subframe are available for EPDCCH transmissions. |
| US09692568B2 |
Device, method, mobile station, and digital storage medium
A device, a method, a mobile station and a non-transitory computer-readable digital storage medium are provided. The device comprises a quadrant classification unit to classify a plurality of symbols in an input shared channel signal into a plurality of quadrants in a complex plane, an energy determination unit to determine a real part energy and an imaginary part energy for the plurality of symbols in each of the plurality of quadrants respectively, an energy summing unit to determine a real part energy sum EI and an imaginary part energy sum EQ by summing the real part energy and the imaginary part energy for the plurality of quadrants respectively, and an estimation unit to estimate a SubChannel Power Imbalance Ratio (SCPIR) of the input shared channel signal the real part energy sum EI and the imaginary part energy sum EQ. |
| US09692566B2 |
Inter-cell interference mitigation
The present application discloses a method for mitigating inter-cell interference (ICI) by scheduling user equipments. The method comprises estimating inter-cell interference tolerance of each of at least one neighboring cell during uplink transmission of the user equipment; and coordinating uplink scheduling of the user equipment in accordance with the inter-cell interference tolerance. The present application also discloses a base station, a radio network controller and relevant signaling for mitigating inter-cell interference (ICI) by scheduling user equipments. |
| US09692560B1 |
Methods and systems for reliable network communication
Methods and systems for network communication are provided. One of the methods includes receiving an out of order packet at a requestor device that is communicably connected to a responder device; storing the out of order packet at an out of order buffer location; and sending a lossy reliable connection (LRC) packet to the responder device when selective acknowledgement (SACK) is supported between the requestor device and the responder device, with information regarding an updated sequence number in a LRC extended header (LRCETH) that indicates to the responder information regarding in-order packets that have been received by the requestor device. |
| US09692557B2 |
Apparatus and methods for administering treatment within a bodily duct of a patient
Apparatus and methods for administering treatment within a bodily duct of a patient. According to one implementation a treatment catheter having an expandable structure disposed at an end thereof is provided that includes an elongate hollow shaft having a one or more first through holes and one or more second through holes spaced axial apart, the one or more first through holes residing beneath the expandable structure. A sleeve positioned along an outer surface of the hollow shaft is moveable between first and second axial positions to respectively permit or inhibit the flow of a treatment agent through the one or more second through holes into the bodily duct. An elongate wire having a seal unit is positioned within an inner lumen of the hollow shaft. The seal unit is moveable between first and second axial positions to respectively permit or inhibit the flow of an inflation medium between a cavity of the expandable structure and the inner lumen of the hollow shaft through the one or more first through holes. |
| US09692553B2 |
Method and device for decoding a transport block of a communication signal
The present invention relates to a device and method of decoding code blocks of a transport block of a communication signal using a decoder. The method comprises making an assumption about how many decoder iterations should be used for different code blocks of the code blocks of the transport block, wherein the assumption is made based on a study of code block soft-bits. The method also comprises decoding the transport block using different numbers of decoder iterations for the different code blocks, based on the made assumption about how many decoder iterations should be used for the different code blocks. |
| US09692552B2 |
Systems and method for link adaptation for variable link conditions
Systems, apparatus, methods, and manufactures for performing link adaptation in a communications system are described. The methods may employ an error rate table that has a channel condition value dimension and a transmission parameter dimension. The elements of the error rate table include expected error rates for data transmitted at various channel conditions according to various transmission parameters. Also, the various transmission parameters may each be associated with a data transmission rate. For a given channel condition value, the methods may determine expected throughputs for each of the transmission parameters according to the associated expected error rates and data transmission rates. A transmission parameter may be selected according to the expected throughputs. |
| US09692548B2 |
Techniques for blind equalization of high-order quadrature amplitude modulation signals
A blind equalization technique of high-order QAM signals is provided. A method implemented at a receiver-side in an optical communication network receives an optical signal and performs a two-step polarization tracking process on the received optical signal. Using another method, a polarization multiplexed optical transmission is received by a receiver and a polarization tracking process is performed by applying two different algorithms in parallel. One algorithm may be a decision directed least means square (DD-LMS) algorithm. Another algorithm may be a constant modulus algorithm (CMA). |
| US09692544B2 |
Method and apparatus for a reconfigurable optical add/drop module with loop-back functions
A method and apparatus for approaches for troubleshooting optical networks, particularly ROADM-based networks is described. The method includes designating a first port, of an optical communication node of a transport network, as an ingress for a loop-back optical signal to troubleshoot the transport network, designating a second port, of the optical communication node, as an egress for the loop-back optical signal, and establishing a loop-back connection between the first port and the second port to transport the loop-back optical signal. |
| US09692543B2 |
Optical transmission system
A receiver is configured to have two coherent receivers using two pieces of local oscillator of optical frequencies f11 and f12 close to optical frequency f1 of signal light, the two pieces of local oscillator being controlled to have a predetermined optical frequency spacing ΔF, and a digital signal processor demodulating transmission data signal sequences based on outputs from the coherent receivers. When the frequency difference Δf1 of one of the two pieces of local oscillator from a virtual reference frequency f1′ close to the optical frequency f1 of the signal light is set, the digital signal processor obtains the frequency difference Δf2 of the other of the two pieces of local oscillator by calculating Δf1−ΔF, inputs electric signals output from the two coherent receivers, and compensates the phase rotation caused in the electric signals by frequency differences Δf1 and Δf2. |
| US09692542B2 |
Method and system for generating channel codes, in particular for a frame-header
A method for generating a channel code, in particular for a frame-header, wherein at least a code-word of the channel code is obtained by means of at least a concatenation of code-words of two constituent codes and such concatenation is performed on subsets of code-words of a first constituent code, having maximum length, with code-words of a second constituent code. |
| US09692539B2 |
Incremental interference cancelation capability and signaling
Incremental interference cancelation (IC) capability management and signaling is disclosed. A mobile device selects certain groups of its individual IC capabilities to deactivate in response to various operating conditions it is experiencing. The mobile device reports its currently active IC capability to a serving base station, which uses information to determine whether to modify any existing communication conditions with respect to the reporting mobile device. The base station detects and analyzes the current communication conditions with respect to the reporting mobile device in light of the mobile device's currently active IC capabilities. The base station may modify such conditions through actions such as signaling the mobile device to activate or deactivate certain other groups of IC capabilities. The base station can make other modifications such as changing the communication schedule for the mobile device, modifying the control loop for channel quality indicator (CQI) reporting, and the like. |
| US09692538B2 |
Latency mitigation
A network including a plurality of wireless communication devices capable of operating according to a wireless protocol that imposes no common timebase at the network level, the plurality of devices comprising: an initiator device configured to detect an event and in response transmit an event message having a payload comprising a time field; and a set of appliance devices configured to receive and automatically retransmit messages received from others of the devices, each appliance device being associated with an appliance supplementary to its wireless communication function and being configured to, on receiving an event message comprising a time field, cause their respective associated appliance to perform a function at a time indicated by the content of the time field in the received message. |
| US09692533B2 |
Operating a user equipment in a wireless communication network
A method for operating a user equipment in a wireless communication network and a user equipment are described. |
| US09692532B2 |
Method and wireless communication device for antenna deployment determination
A method of antenna deployment determination in a wireless communication device is disclosed. The method includes transceiving a radio signal via the a first antenna port of the wireless communication device, obtaining a first strength result corresponding to the radio signal transmitted or received via the first antenna port, and determining a connecting status of the first antenna port according to the first strength result. |